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Nikujaga is a representative Japanese home cooking dish. It’s a sort of dish that makes us remember the taste of mom’s cooking. In other words, it’s one of the most popular dishes that girls want to master for her boyfriend.

Ingredients for 2-3 people
-thinly sliced beef (150g)
-potato (2 or 3)
-onion (1)
-carrot (1)
-soy sauce (tbs 3)
-sugar (tbs 2)
-cooking wine or cooking sake (tbs 2)
Prepare these ingredients.

Chop potatoes into chunks and immerse them in water.
Chop carrot and cut onions into wedges. Chop beef into bite-size.

Put 1 tbs of oil into the deep pan, heat it and put the beef inside.
Stir-fry it roughly and add soy sauce, sugar and sake.

Add potato, onion and carrot. Then turn down the heat to medium low with the lid over the pan.

Simmer it for 20-25 minutes, check inside from time to time.

It’s done when the soup is almost gone.

Ta-da~~!! ^__^

Usually most of Nikujaga recipes will say we need to add Dashi, but this way is easier, takes less time and tastes great. So why not? I have used Dashi for Nikujaga but my problem was I often made it taste less due to too much Dashi sometimes. That’s why I ended up simmering for a long time until the ingredients can absorb the Dashi and sugar/soy sauce taste well. This recipe was shared by Chika, and I quite liked it when I tried it. You can easily make Japanese dish like this at home.

Also, pork can be substitute for beef. Especially in east Japan, beef is quite expensive and some people prefer using pork instead. People from west Japan would think of beef when they hear Nikujaga because beef is frequently used and I guess not so expensive there. Since my father is originally from Osaka, it was definitely beef inside Nikujaga in my house. I never thought of pork Nikujaga as an option. Thus, I was so surprised to see pork Nikujaga served at my hubby’s parent house for the first time. He told me it had been always pork Nikujaga in his house when it comes to Nikujaga. Gradually I started to use pork now because he doesn’t like beef (I think it’s just that he is not used to) and now I like pork more than beef. ^ ^;

How would you like Nikujaga? Looks easy, huh?

I’m a frequent user of Groupon. Have you ever checked Groupon in your area? In my case, I often check Groupon in Tokyo, Kawasaki and Yokohama area. Groupon allows steep discount by gathering certain number of people and let them pay in advance by credit card or paypal or some other online payment services. This discount rate can be more than 50% and this is the most attractive aspect for most of the users. At the same time, shop/hotel/restaurant owners can let people know the simplest fact that they exist in the neighborhood by offering such a big discount through Groupon.

A trial lesson of arranging preserved flowers was one of them. I found it on Groupon. Preserved flowers are often sold at flower shops but they are very expensive. I was delighted to find that I could have one-day lesson at 1980yen (62% off from official price of that school) with everything included.

It was in Kichijoji, Tokyo. The lesson was given by a school named Blanche Neige.
Luckily other 2 people canceled that time, I was an only student who could easily ask the instructor to take my pictures for TKE blog. We enjoyed chatting casually and relaxed. She seemed to be interested in what I am doing with TKE blog.

First I selected 3 preserved roses and 2 kind of preserved leaves from several different colors. (I was busy choosing mine and completely forgot to take pictures of the colorful flowers and leaves.) Since it was just a 2-hour trial lesson, I was not able to learn how to make preserved flowers. They were already made.

This is a picture that shows when I put ribbons on the surface of the pot by sticking them with a special glue.

I remembered one time when I had a trial lesson of flower arrangement using fresh flowers. That was terrible. I totally messed it up. -_- But this time as I didn’t use water, it was no problem. ^ ^;

This is a picture that shows when I roll a tape around the wire.

It was fun to insert one by one…

I finished it so soon.

I’m pretty much satisfied with what I made! ^_^

These days I’m slowing down my work and having fun by myself. I loved this experience and I hope to come back here to make something more, because it’s less expensive if I make it than I buy it. Moreover making it by myself is so much fun to me. Of course, from next time it’s no longer 1980yen, (Groupon is purchasable only 1 time per coupon.) but considering that the preserved flowers will last for over 3 years, it’s not bad if I had to pay 4000-5000yen for another work. ^ ^;

BTW, it’s said sometimes Groupon ends up with less participants (people who buy the coupon) than aimed. Then discounted coupon is not issued and your money is to be returned. So far some people had uncomfortable experience with them especially who ordered Osechi through Groupon Japan. Because it was so shocking, I believe there are still many people who have negative image against Groupon. But as for me, I totally enjoy it. If I have a chance to travel other part of the world where Groupon is also available, I’ll definitely try some from there!

Have you had a nice or terrible Groupon deal in your area? What was it?

entry #16
Tokyochel

These are pics of my ever-growing Hello Kitty/Sanrio collection.

My super kawaii dog Houdini posing with my two favorite Hello Kitty plushies.

A purikura pic I made of me and my kitty Bella.

Follow Tokyochel on her blog, if you like makeup, Hello Kitty, and video games.

Thank you Tokyochel! Your kitty is so cute! How you took purikura with her? Did you take her to purikura store near your house or something? Or did you make the photo look like purikura? It’ so lovely!! I wish I could take purikura with my dog (Pi-chan) just like you did with your Bella! How cute!!! Your dog and cat play together? I’m definitely a dog person but your kitty is so cute!! Thank you for sharing.

Are there any more entries for My Kawaii Project? It’s a good chance to let other readers know what you love!