I’m really enjoying cooking again. I fell out of the habit while I was studying and single. I tried to avoid using the kitchen as much as possible by using a combination of not eating and getting reasonably healthy and cheap take away (damn I love living near the markets). I think the VNM doubted that I could cook at all. But over the few months, I have been trying out old favourites and new interests, and I have hardly cooked any dish twice. It has all been varying degrees of good, and Im back to feeling like its a fun thing to do, rather than a chore. Having people to share it with helps.

Right now, my cooking challenges are the following:
I do not want to spend any money at either Cole’s or Woolworth’s, and would like to avoid supermarkets in general where possible.
I want to eat fresh, locally grown, organic produce as much as possible.
I dont have much money, but I’m willing to spend a bit on quality.

So thats my context, this is the menu (for one) at mine this week:

Coffee/tea/chai
toast w/ eggs
Warm and nutty cinnamon quinoa with fruit - both a version of the original and Kristen’s KI version
roast veg with hummus and onion jam
Jamie Oliver’s roasted chicken pieces, tomatoes and new potatoes
broccoli pesto w/ quinoa and spiralli
honey chicken wings w/ greens (komatsuna mitsukatta!)
gnocchi w/gorgonzola sauce
green lentil and brown rice pilau
red lentils and veg for one
cornbread
chocolate/butterscotch self-saucing pudding

I may not end up making all these bits, but I have the makings of them sitting here all ready to go. Some of the makings are recent leftovers. Actually, I should go cook something right now… hmmm, might start with the chicken wings I think while the greens are still super fresh!

Ever since my first Winter in Tokyo - 1997 - I have experienced sciatic-related back pain. That first Winter was much colder than I expected, and all I had was a thin futon on the tatami, and one quilt to cover me. I spent the whole winter sleeping curled up in a ball. And then my back started to hurt, and it has been hurting in the cold ever since. I love all the seasons for different reasons, but I started to dread the inevitable pain that Winter would bring. Last year was pretty bad, with the pain setting up residence in my left leg instead of the right, just for a change. Up until then it had been fading in and out, but with the shift to the new leg, it got quite fresh and ouchy. I got my first hoop about this time of year, and found it difficult to hoop for any length of time due to the pain it caused at the time and the couple of days that followed.

And then I met a Very Nice Man.

This Winter has been completely pain-free, the first in 12 years. I attribute this largely to the VNM. I think that all the woolen thermal layers I bought back at the start of Winter may have been a contributing factor, and I think hooping might have been too, but mostly I think being so warm, all night, for so many nights, has done wonders. So now I need to find a way to express my gratitude…