The part of me that desperately missed Halloween and pumpkin food in Japan when I was there in the early ’10s is very pleased, but 2015!me is a little alarmed by how quickly it happened, if 10 years is “quick.” Globalization is a factor, of course, but just as much at work is Japan’s marketing of seasonal goods.
Tag: pumpkin
Pumpkin-Orange Scones with Candied Ginger
My favorite weekends now include what I call Hannibrunch, which is my old Saturday-Morning-Fannibal routine kicked up a notch into Brunch with Friends. Not only do I get to relive the psychological thrills of season 2, I get to bake breakfast foods for a group instead of just for myself. For our last session, I got a request for…
2014 Pumpkin Beer Masterlist
This year’s winner: Elysian’s Punkuccino. I was a little skeptical of a coffee-chocolate-pumpkin beer, but the flavors are perfectly balanced–a molasses-malt head, rich pumpkin, coffee, and stout with a little sweetness. I got to try a lot of these at the Great Pumpkin Beer Festival–highly recommend the event. Special thanks to my family in…
Kitchen Library 2013.12.13
Working on a big recipe write-up of my new party trick while preparing for holiday travel and a new computer (transfer ALL the files?) has me busy, so in the meantime, here’s what I’ve been reading.
Spooky Chocolate Pumpkin Cake
Happy Halloween, readers! How about a spooky chocolate-pumpkin cake with cupcakes that you can make in Japan?
Spooky Drinking: Pumpkin Beers 2013
I went to QFC tonight to pick up some pumpkin beer, and there was only one kind on the shelf. One. Normally I”m not overly concerned with Christmas decorations coming out before Halloween, but how am I supposed to celebrate the spooky season with no pumpkin beer? EDIT: I raided the local QFC a week…
Whole-Wheat Ginger-Squash Muffins with Chocolate Chips
One last(?) squash purée recipe for the season! I live in a country where the only cold cereals available at regular grocery stores (Tokyo Metro, you don’t count) are frosted flakes and cocoa puffs.* As a result, I’ve learned to make a variety of breakfast foods. I’m actually not sure how I only ended up…
Kitchen Library– 10.29.2012
Thanks to Jessica Goodfellow of Axis of Abraxis and Ashley of Surviving in Japan for featuring my kabocha purée recipe on their sites!
Halloween Taste-Testing: Koshiyama Kanseido Pumpkin Dorayaki
This is a bit ぎりぎり since Halloween is right around the corner, but if you are in Kanazawa or will be there this weekend for Halloween festivities, be sure to try the pumpkin dorayaki at Koshiyama Kanseido.
Halloween Taste-Testing: Mister Donut and Doughnut Plant
I distinctly remember saying last year that I wished that Mister Donut would get a pumpkin-flavored doughnut, and this year, my wish came true!
Kabocha Squash Purée (Pumpkin Purée Substitute)
Have your pie and eat it, too
Kaga Yasai: Aka-Kabocha with Sesame Sauce
This article will be featured in J. Festa August 2011 edition: “Food in Japan,” hosted at japingu. ほっこりしている (hokkori shiteiru): to be warm and fluffy Traveling around Japan has really widened my understanding of Japan’s local foods. For instance, because dried apricots are nearly impossible to find in my bayside town, I assumed that there…
I'll Make It Myself! 