Menu:
– Miso soup with silken tofu, rapeseed flower and eggplant [Recipe]
– Japanese rice with BarleyMax barley [Recipe]
– Chikuzen-ni (Simmered chicken and vegetables) [Recipe]
– Harusame salad (Glass noodle salad)
– Cucumber and bean sprout salad with yukari (dried red shiso)
Paired tea:
– YUCa’s Tea : Chiran Cha
Chikuzen-ni (筑前煮) is a traditional Japanese simmered dish that originated in Fukuoka Prefecture, formerly known as Chikuzen Province. Chikuzen-ni is made by simmering chicken and root vegetables—mainly burdock root, lotus root, carrot, shiitake mushrooms, and konnyaku—in a sweet and savory broth seasoned with soy sauce, mirin, sake, and sugar. The dish is known for its well-absorbed flavor and gentle, comforting taste that pairs perfectly with rice.
Menu:
– Rice and nori chips [Recipe]
– Teriyaki salmon [Recipe]
– Sesame salad with cabbage and cucumber [Recipe]
– Miso soup with tofu and komatsuna [Recipe]
– Cheese
– Orange
Behind the scenes:
This time as well, I created a menu themed around a traditional Japanese breakfast. For the soup, I chose miso soup packed with leafy greens and protein. The rice dish is a chip-style rice ball, made by sandwiching rice between sheets of nori and cutting it into bite-sized pieces so it’s easier for children to eat. For the main dish, I prepared the classic grilled salmon. As a side dish, I included a salad with vegetables that children often tend to avoid, dressed in a sesame sauce to make them more appealing. Additionally, I included processed cheese to help with calcium intake, and for dessert, an orange to provide a boost of vitamins.
Note : This recipe was first submitted on December 14, 2020, and resubmitted on April 10, 2025, to reflect additional information.
Menu:
– Miso soup with wakame, fried-tofu, eggplant and silken tofu [Recipe]
– Japanese rice [Recipe]
– Grilled salmon
– Japanese omelette [Recipe]
– Natto *fermented soybeans
– Sweetened black beans
Paired tea:
– YUCa’s Tea : Chiran Cha
Menu:
– Tuna Mayo Onigiri/Roll [Recipe]
– Veggie miso soup with cabbage, tofu and wakame
– Cucumber and bean sprouts salad with yukari
– Japanese omelette [Recipe]
– Kimpira gobo [Recipe]
– Yogurt with marmalade and blueberry jam
Behind the scenes:
This time, I created a menu themed around a traditional Japanese breakfast. For the soup, I chose miso soup, which provides plenty of dietary fiber and protein. By scooping the top layer, it helps reduce the salt content. For the rice dish, I made tuna mayo seaweed rolls and cut them into bite-sized pieces for easier eating by children. The side dishes include a protein-rich tamagoyaki (Japanese omelette), a yukari seasoning mix with bean sprouts and cucumber to help them gradually get accustomed to new ingredients and textures, and the classic kinpira gobo (sautéed burdock root and carrots). For dessert, I focused on providing calcium and vitamins with yogurt, topped with colorful apricot and blueberry fruit jam for added flavor and appeal.
Note : This recipe was first submitted on February 9, 2021, and resubmitted on April 3, 2025, to reflect additional information.
Menu:
– Miso soup with komatsuna, fried-tofu and silken tofu [Recipe]
– Japanese rice [Recipe]
– Nikujaga [Recipe]
– Onsen tamago
– Natto *fermented soybeans
– Pickled plum
Paired tea:
– YUCa’s Tea : Tosa-cha
Miso soup is an essential part of Japanese cuisine. It is usually made by simmering various ingredients in a base of dashi (Japanese soup stock) and miso (soybean paste). This time, I will make miso soup using my family’s favorite ingredients : wakame seaweed, tofu, and Fu (wheat gluten).
🍱 Menu
– Rice balls with various toppings
– Miso Mayo Chicken [Recipe]
– Potato Croquette
– Tofu salad
– Nori seaweed
– Miso soup with wakame and fried tofu [Recipe]
– Yogurt with strawberry jam
🎬 Behind the scenes
This menu was created when my child was still very young. I chose onigiri—mixing various ingredients with the rice so they can be easily eaten by hand—and opted for chicken to provide a good source of protein. Since my child doesn’t eat much soup, I served it in a small bowl. I also included seaweed, rich in dietary fiber and minerals, as a snack-like side. Finally, yogurt topped with strawberry jam was added to help supply calcium and vitamins.
Note : This recipe was first submitted on January 12, 2021, and resubmitted on March 21, 2025, to reflect additional information.
Yuzu is a citrus fruit native to East Asia, particularly Japan, Korea, and China. It has a unique flavor that is a cross between lemon and lime, with a tart and aromatic taste. The fruit is often used in Japanese cuisine, both for its zest and juice. Yuzu is popular in dishes like sauces, dressings, and marinades, and it’s also used in sweets, teas, and cocktails. The zest is highly valued for its fragrant, zesty aroma. Recently, yuzu has gained international popularity and can be found in many food products worldwide. I bought a lot of small yuzu fruits and decided to make a simple yuzu syrup to preserve them and enjoy the flavor for a long time.
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Sakura Mochi (桜餅) is a Japanese confectionery associated with cherry blossoms and is made by wrapping rice cake sweets in cherry leaves. This wagashi is made with a special flour called domyoji flour and steamed to give it a unique texture.
There are two types of what are called “sakura mochi,” one invented in the Kanto region and spread mainly in eastern Japan, and the other invented in the Kansai region and spread throughout Japan.
Although it is a confectionary eaten year-round, today it has become one of the essential sweets for the Dolls’ Festival, partly because it is colored pink to resemble cherry blossoms with food red, as the name implies.
