August 2014 Archives

A Social Weirdo

By Kristen on August 28, 2014 2:07 PM | No Comments
The other day, I was talking to Tod about how seeing people's summer festival photos on Facebook makes me sad. There are a lot of interesting little festivals in Japan - creative events combining music, camping, and flow arts. I rarely go to them, even though they seem interesting and many people I know go.

Because when I do attend them, I see a very bleak side of myself. The one that can't communicate in language or, maybe more critically, in culture. I just don't fit in. As a result of numerous stilted conversations that the other half quickly abandons with a smile and a wave, I spend the weekend feeling alone in a crowd. I retreat to the edges, busy myself teaching, and insert my weird foreign ways as clownishly as I can. A bit Puddles Pity Party, really.

"You're the (insert name of socially awkward friend) of these things, aren't you?" Tod said. Insightful. Ouch, I am. 




Gyoza Variations

By Kristen on August 18, 2014 7:36 AM | No Comments
1500847_10152708058771869_2512979461783238162_o.jpg
I don't know why this didn't occur to us sooner, but gyoza wrappers work well with non-traditional fillings. We've been experimenting and two of our favorites are spinach and feta (gyozakopita), and potato with sauerkraut (pieroza). You can use your favorite spanikopita or pierogie recipe, or try ours.

Gyozakopita Filling

1 onion
1 clove garlic
2 bunches spinach
1 Tbsp dried dill
handful of fresh aromatic herbs, like oregano and thyme
pinch nutmeg
50 gr feta cheese, crumbled

Chop the onion & garlic into small pieces. Saute until golden. Rinse and shred the spinach; add to the pan with the onion and allow to cook down. Remove from the heat and drain the excess water from the pan. Stir in the herbs, nutmeg and cheese. Season to taste. Allow to cool.

Pieroza Filling

2 large potatoes
1/2 cup sauerkraut
1/4 cheddar or cottage cheese (optional)
salt & pepper

Steam or boil the potatoes and mash them. Add the sauerkraut and optional cheese. Season to taste. Allow to cool. 

Assemble & Fry

15-20 wrappers per filling
water
oil

Spoon a bit of filling onto the gyoza wrapper. Wet your finger and run it around the edge before folding the wrapper in half and fluting the curved edge. Make all the gyoza before you start frying.

In a fry pan, heat some oil and place a layer of gyoza close together. When the bottom of the gyoza are crispy and brown, add some water and cover with a lid to steam them. Tod likes to turn them to get two crispy brown sides before steaming them, but turning is optional. When the water evaporates, remove the lid and let the gyoza fry a bit longer in any remaining oil. 

Plate and serve. We like fried onions to top the pieroza and regular gyoza sauce (soy sauce, vinegar and sesame oil) for the gyozakopita. Serve with a culturally appropriate salad.


Women's Genesis Art Retreat in Gifu

By Kristen on August 18, 2014 6:07 AM | No Comments
Genesis Art Retreat at the Irori
The Genesis Women's Art Retreat participants, aged 13 - 80, with art gifts.

I spent a pleasant week at a farmhouse in the Japan Alps with Liane Wakabayashi and a group of artistic women that spanned three generations. We gathered to create intuitive art using Liane's own Genesis cards.

1 question, 3 answers
One question with three answers: If I spoke Japanese fluently, how would my life change?

Intuitive art is not about creating Art, but about relaxing into the moment, finding answers to questions, and allowing your subconscious to have expression. The first day was very challenging as I put aside my own drawing style and picked up Liane's softer mediums and techniques. Once I let go of my need to draw my own way, I loosened up and had fun. 

Art and shirt
Sometimes I felt a bit sideways...

The Genesis cards are a bit like a tarot deck.  Each card has a beautiful painting full of colorful details as well as a title. There is a guide book to help you with meanings and ideas in each card. The cards can give insight into questions or help you to add elements to your own art to complete it. It is fun to compare your art to the card you selected, or to ask a question, choose cards and then combine their elements to create a visual answer to your question. Sometimes there are connections you don't even realise, like the design on my shirt reflected in the drawing I did above.

The Princess' Wedding
My favorite of the week, The Princess' Wedding (she is dressing in the tower)

If you are in Tokyo, I recommend booking into one of Liane's workshops. You may discover something about yourself that you didn't even suspect (I did!). Check the schedule or buy your own set of cards: http://www.genesiscards.com/

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