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DO: Bring Japanese Christmas Home

‘Tis the season to be jolly, and whilst the western world celebrates with tinsel-laden trees and plates piled high with mince pies, Japan has its own set of Christmas traditions. So, if you’re tired of turkey and flinch at the mention of Mariah Carey, why not try something new this year by bringing the spirit of Japanese Christmas home?

Read on and get ready to add yuzu to your cocktail cabinet and hang baubles on your bonsai tree.

Image:How About Orange

1. Yuzu cocktails

Winter in Japan is yuzu season. From November to January the tangy citrus fruit can be found in abundance, from lemony yuzu tea to zesty confectionary and even medicinal yuzu baths. With flavour that packs a punch, adding yuzu to your Christmas cocktail cabinet is a great way to inject your celebrations with some Japanese flair. Best mixed with gin, bitters and soda, try this simple yuzu fizz recipe from White on Rice Couple.

Image:White on Rice Couple

2. Christmas Bonsai

Bonsai, Japan’s perfectly proportioned miniature trees, have graced the courtyards of Japan’s Temples and Imperial Palaces since the 12th century. Artfully cultivated through years of mindful tweaking and pruning, these tiny trees are no stranger to cultural celebrations and as such make an ideal pocket-sized replacement for a traditional Christmas tree. So, once you’ve sourced or grown your bonsai, get ready to decorate with miniature baubles, tiny tinsel and a handful of delicate fairy lights.  

Image:Bonsai Empire

3. Japanese Christmas cake

Ever wondered what the origin of the emoji is? Probably not, but you may be surprised to learn it’s not a slice of Victoria sponge, but strawberry shortcake, or Japanese Christmas cake. Light and spongy topped with whipped cream and strawberries, Japanese Christmas Cake bears no resemblance to the sticky fruit cakes eaten in the West, and makes for a refreshing alternative. Bring a taste of Japanese Christmas to your table this year by following Japan Centre’s easy-to-follow recipe.

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4. Festive Wagashi

Often served with a cup of hot green tea, wagashi are traditional Japanese sweets made from sticky mochi rice and azuki bean paste. Using creative flavours and decoration, wagashi appear in countless seasonal shapes throughout the year, with Christmas being peak wagashi season. Taking inspiration from celebrations in the West, wagashi take on a myriad of festive forms throughout the winter months, from miniature reindeer to Christmas trees, snowmen to Santa-San. For those who like a challenge in the kitchen, whip up your own wagashi at home by following this recipe from Instructables.

Image:Ayaya55a

5. Origami Decorations

Fromorigamitokirigami, no one does paper crafts better than the Japanese. So, visit Japan during the winter months and it should come as no surprise to find shop shelves brimming with breath-takingly beautiful greeting cards and decorations. To create your own Japan-inspired Christmas crafts, try your hand at some simple origami using festive patterned papers and seasonal designs. For inspiration, a quick online search will bring up countless craft blogs featuring step-by-step guides to festive paper-folding, from simple 2D motifs to complex 3D baubles.

Image:Giochi Di Carta

6. Japan’s Christmas Soundtrack

We all know Christmas is around the corner when familiar festive tunes take over the radio waves. But if weeks of Mariah Carey on repeat leaves you reaching for your earplugs by Christmas day, we suggest swapping Michael Buble for Yumi Matsutouya and John Lennon for Keisuke Kuwata. To sample the sounds of Christmas in Japan, Gaijin Pot have compiled the ultimate playlist to accompany your Japan-inspired celebrations.  

Meri Kurisumasu! From ANA

You think you’re over breakfasts …and then morning comes …everyday

Sourdough English Muffins almost ready to put on the griddle. #recipedeveloper #recipeideas #sourdough_mania #sourdoughrecipe #homemadefoodjunkie #foodie #foodbloggerlife #foodie #organic #organicflour #organicfood
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Ever have one of those mornings where you are absolutely ravenous? Often induced from an - accidental, of course - extra couple of glasses of wine than anticipated. This is the ultimate vegetarian alternative option to a classic fry up. It’s not terrible for you so you don’t need to add on any guilt over eating it on top of the headache you might already have. 

Ultimate Vegetarian Breakfast

Ingredients (for one):

- ¼ block halloumi

- fresh basil

- chopped large tomato 

- avocado 

- 2 slices sourdough 

- 1 cup spinach

- 2 large free range organic eggs (the more local the better) 

- 2 linda mccartney sausages (swear by these and would never use another brand) 

- olive oil

Directions:

1. Preheat your oven to 180* and pop in a pan greased with a drizzle of olive oil. Roughly chop your halloumi and tomatoes. Once the oven is preheated and your baking tray is hot add the halloumi and tomatoes with a drizzle of olive oil and some fresh basil. On the other side of the tray make a nest of spinach and crack your eggs in to the middle (this does not need to be dainty, it can absolutely be a mess - call it rustic. Also add your sausages to the pan and cook per instructions. 

2. Toast your sourdough. Slice your avocado. Make a coffee. Drink the Coffee. Butter your sourdough (i’m using violife’s coconut butter at the moment, it’s great). 

3. Serve it all up and add salt and pepper. It can be a mess, no one cares. The main thing is all that gorgeous colour being on one plate and all that yummy food in your belly!