Month: June 2004

The story of Momotaro, the peach boy.

This weekend we will be making kibidango in our mochi machine.
Web link of note: Momotaro
(At http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/nanjo/nanjo14.htm)

Make kibi-dango – this one does a blender (we will be using an actual mochi machine)
Web link of note: Kibidango
(At http://www.kevinryan.com/student/projects/jdish/kibidango.htm)

The parents of my brother’s friend gave us the “Save the whales” game back in the mid 1980s. It is basically Monopoly with whales… except much much less competitive.

The beaver one is pretty good too. It comes with little matchstick “logs” to build the dams with. I haven’t played the honey bee game but it looks good and friends liked it.

Now, I’m not a psycho Ayn Rand fanatic, but a completely cooperative board game seems a little boring to me. Making a board game that is inclusive is a real challenge… which I would say these guys have met.
Web link of note: Cooperative Games
(At http://www.cooperativegames.com/)

Brief recipe for kibi mochi, which I am assuming is the same as for kibi dango, the thing Momotaro uses to recruit allies in his journey to fight oni.

Now I have to figure out the difference between millet and “sweet millet”
Web link of note: Home Japanese recipes year round
(At http://ww4.enjoy.ne.jp/~shokujin/english/foodca.html)

Awesome!
Web link of note: List of things in Fraggle Rock
(At http://vr.ncsa.uiuc.edu/BS/Muppets/fraggle_list.html)

There were a total of 96 episodes in four seasons.

Looks like a British DVD has been released in the UK, but it only has 12 episodes on it in a “best of” collection, and the transfer is not to hot. Plus, it is in PAL obviously.

I have seen some bootleggers selling video CDs of the entire series!
Web link of note: Fraggle Rock Episode Guide
(At http://www.punchandjewelry.com/legacy/html/eps_short.htm)

We popped amaranth the other night. Keep in mind the pan should be very hot and the amaranth needs to be in the pan, popped or unpopped, for the shortest period possible.

1. The trick is to heat the ungreased, completely dry metal pan with a few test kernels in it… when they pop you are almost ready.
2. Heat a little more and remove from heat.
3. drop a tablespoon or two of amaranth into the pan…
   make sure the pan is covered!
4. wait about five seconds. If they don’t pop, it’s not hot enough
5. after you hear them no longer popping, dump the popped amaranth into your serving bowl
6. the result is like tiny little popcorn. Great on salads, or as a dusting on other vegetarian sides, like a couscous or a quinoa
7. put the pan back on the stove for another batch. As you get better at your timing, the resulting popped amaranth will get fluffier and whiter

Adorable and catchy music video with a little plastic Dubya.
Web link of note: Amurka
(At http://www.amurka.com/)

Did the Passion of the Christ spoof short- twisted!
Web link of note: Jason Woliner
(At http://www.jasonwoliner.com/)

Sort of looks like an Arcology doesn’t it?
Web link of note: Vertical Farm
(At http://www.verticalfarm.com/)