menu for December 10th, 2022

Sayuri’s note for December 10th, 2022

As the start of winter approaches, daylight is getting shorter and shorter. Compared with summer, it may not look like there is much in the garden, but I am so happy that the weeds slow down, and we have our favorite winter vegetable, greens! We also planted winter rye for “green manure,” that we will till into the soil in the spring. Garlic and onion also keep growing through the winter. Using fabric row covers, we are able to extend other vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, napa cabbage, daikon, dill, broccoli, green onion too. When I peek under the row cover tunnels, I’m happily surprised by the growth! You’ll see some of these vegetables in the salad and the main dish tonight!

December 21st is the shortest daylight of the year, the winter solstice. In my state in Japan, Yamanashi prefecture, we have a tradition of eating Hōtō, miso-based flat noodles with Kabocha squash and other vegetables on the winter solstice. Eating Hōtō on the winter solstice gets the good nutrients from winter squash and other vegetables, and it warms you up to survive the cold winter. Our family and a lot of people in our region eat this every year on the solstice night. Hōtō has become so popular these days among tourists that we eat it anytime now! My grandma used to show me how to make it. It’s simple but it’s pretty hard to knead. You actually have to knead with your whole body weight – that warms you up too! Thinking about dessert, the darkest night made me choose chocolate mousse pie. We hope that the meal and the dark chocolate mousse will revive you tonight, and you all stay healthy and have a good new year!

Here is the menu: