Wagashi and Other Forms of Happiness

It's only Wednesday, but this week has already been pretty awesome. Since jumping on this new project, I've been partly obsessed with trying to make desserts that look like wagashi, traditional Japanese sweets, but don't taste like wagashi. Unfortunately enough, I feel like most Americans (i.e. my future costumers) wouldn't really like the taste of traditional Japanese desserts because they contain things like azuki bean paste and mochi (think marzipan, but with sticky rice and no sweetness). I've decided to combat that with the wonder food-clay, marzipan. How can one not like marzipan (unless you're allergic to almonds)? I want to eventually be able to emulate these:








I started small today and made little "sushi".

Aren't they cute? I think I need to stop asking my roomie for her thoughts when it comes to Japanese stuff. She's not very helpful, although I do have to admit she tries. She did comment that my marzipan was good, despite my failure to grind the almonds fine enough. Oh well. The "sushi" looked good anyway. I did have a problem with molding, which I hope to fix by early next year.

The point of all this baking is for a fundraiser for this new project, Aisuru Nippon. Since it's being run by my BFF Raven, we needed a way to fund things. What better way than a "bake sale"? We hope to have a loli inspired tea party fundraiser early 2009. Right now, I'm trying to figure out what would be best to use for the party and the mail-order baking that we plan to do.

I also made a brisket last night. It was cheap, and I love to cook, so I roasted it with some potatoes, carrots, garlic, and onions. Me, my roomie, and my friend Kessy ended up having dinner together before my roomie's Glee Club concert. Kessy, me, and other members of crew ended up going to support her. I believe Das Weibcheneselgesicht only showed up to support Der Fliegende Holländer, but I liked the concert despite her presence. Then we all journeyed to the Grill to "conversate". I believe the waitress was a little peeved that two of our party didn't get anything. I did get a IBC root beer, but she was a little "eh" to our end of the table.

It was only after the chillout did I realize how cold it's starting to get. I need to get realistic since it's the end of October, but I don't have an affinity for cold weather. What gets me its all these people walking around in 35 degree weather in the mornings like's 70 outside. I want people to put on the heavy winter coat that I have before they get sick. I feel like I look weird bundling up when they're obviously the weirdos. It's too cold to be wearing flipflops. PUT THE FLIPFLOPS UP AND PUT ON A REAL JACKET! Those stupid North Face things aren't made to hold up against a windchill below 30 degrees.

Huge House update: HOUSE TOTALLY KISSED CUDDY! I managed to watch the episode thanks to my buddy Leo from France. I'm so excited, but I've totally seen this coming for the longest time. House and Cuddy need to be together, considering the fact that noone else in their right mind would take House. And since Cuddy didn't get to have her adopted baby after all, someone needed to make her feel better, if you get what I'm saying. I can't wait for what's gonna happen next.

Anyway, things are getting better, and Lord willing, I will be getting better too.