Summer harvests

Green pea rice/豆ごはん

Our small back yard garden is doing well. We harvested green peas twice and made my favorite-green pea rice (which my son dislikes). My husband grew up on a farm so he loves to go out in the garden. He brings out a long hose to water those precious plants although we had automatic dripping system put in but I won’t say anything. This is one way for him to unwind from hectic life as a salary-man （サラリーマン). Still he does not have enough time to do it all, he slides on weeding often to let natural stage of garden come out. He eats as he picks and the neighbor’s cat follows him sometimes for chance of getting a pat on its head. Then he could hear other neighbor’s dog barking over the fence. After all these years of him being out in the garden, the dog should learn his smell by now?

I read an article in Japanese newspaper in June. Someone bought a rare watermelon at an auction for something like $26,000!!! I could not find the article now so that might not be accurate number but even if it’s one 0 off it still sounds so expensive. Blackish green with no stripes and is intensely sweet it’s said (How did they know though?). My number one  question is really who bought it? Followed by Holy cow! Did you put that in the refrigerated vault for safe keeping or did you eat it right away?  Are you the same millionaire who bought a Yubari (夕張） musk melon for $45,000 last year?  Did you hear about somewhere in Africa people are dying of starvation? You could buy lots of foods with the money minus $40 which is the going rate for a good size watermelon in Japan right now. I’m just saying… it’s your money but hey, I’m just saying, you know.

I’ll betcha 10 bucks you can’t tell the difference in a blind taste test.

Fresh green pea rice for 4 people

• 2 rice-cooker cups short grain rice
• 1 tablespoon sake
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
• 1 and 1/2 cup freshly picked green peas shelled.

1. Wash rice and put it in the rice cooker. Add cold water to just below the recommended water line. Soak for 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Add sake, salt, soy sauce and green peas. Cook.
3. Stir to combine rice and peas. Add more salt if the taste is too bland.

If you don’t like mushy peas then you can cook rice and peas (boil in salted water for until desired doneness) separately. Some people put 1 tablespoon of granulated chicken stock powder in the water but I like the simpler flavor, little mushy peas and all. Bring me a sprinkle of happiness. My husband puts teaspoon of butter on it to make a richer taste. Pork miso soup, scallop with cherry sauce and mame gohan

Blueberries

Shiso

Peas

Japanese seedless grapes

Kabocha

Desert King Figs