Sterilizing Canning Jars

dalam making jam or some call jelly, some use pectin but i did not.
these are some direction..very important ones when making jam:

Sterilizing canning jars: Wash the containers in hot, soapy water and rinse. Sterilize the jars by boiling them 10 minutes, then keep the jars in hot water until they are used. Keeping them hot will prevent the jars from breaking when filled with the hot product. NOTE: If unsterilized jars are used, the product should be processed for 10 minutes. However, since this additional 5 minutes of processing can result in a weak gel, it’s best to use sterilized jars.

Wash and rinse all canning lids and bands. Treat the lids as directed by the manufacturers. Lids can be used only once.

Processing: All jellied products must be processed in a boiling water bath to prevent mold growth. To process jellied products, pour the boiling product into a hot, sterilized canning jar, leaving ¼-inch headspace. Wipe the jar rim, and close with a treated canning lid and screw band. Place on a rack in a canner filled with boiling water. The water should cover the jars by at least 1 inch. Cover the canner. Bring the water back to a boil and boil gently for 5 minutes. NOTE: If you are at an altitude of 1,000 feet or more, add 1 minute to the processing time for each 1,000 feet of altitude. Then remove the jars to a protected surface and cool away from drafts.

Storage: It is essential that jellied products, especially jelly, be allowed to sit undisturbed for 12 hours after they are made. Moving them could break the gel. After the jellied products have cooled for 12 hours, check the seal, remove the screw band, label and store in a cool, dry, dark place. The shorter the storage time, the better the product. Though most jellied products should keep for a least a year, their flavor and quality begin to decrease within a few months.

Persimmon Jam

lupa nak ambik gambar persimmon sebelum potong..

in your eyes

this is again dedicated to me.
tq i think.

MY FIRST TANKA - わたしの最初のたんか

じんせいで
ひとりでたって
こうさてん
みぎかひだりか
いつもまよって

in life
standing alone
junction
right?left?
always confusing

Haramaki はらまき

Its cold here in Tokyo and other parts of Japan.Some parts are even snowing.In the beginning of autumn or rather late summer,the stores started selling autumn's get-ready-go.

The hit this year is HARAMAKI. The Japanese believe that the belly ('hara') is the center of the human spirit and the source of 'ki' energy". Hence,Haramaki is something u wear across ur belly.It warms u, and not only your belly but also the whole body. Can be found in silk and some other wool like stretchables. my first haramaki was a silk one. and believe me, it did help me sleep that night and many nights till today.It does work as a tube too.They are worn in the West by bikers and snowboarders. In the East they are worn by some guys, a comfort to pregnant women (or for cramps) and by Tibetan grannies and grandpas as well. The idea is that if one warms the kidneys, the blood that circulates will be warmed.

When i checked with my friend Mr. Wiki, i got this for HARAMAKI-

' Haramaki was a component of the samurai class attire primarily during the Sengoku period (16th century) of Japan. Haramaki are belly protectors, generally made of silk, and lined with various materials. Haramaki contained chain mail or articulated plates of iron. When the haramaki is worn, it is to be put on from the front and then fastened behind with cords'

'Haramaki are considered to have many health benefits and practical reasons to be worn. Because they support and boost blood circulation in the midsection, they are used for relief from abdominal distress, digestive problems, light support for pregnant women's bellies, and menstrual cramps. Because they provide warmth to a central portion of the body and increase blood circulation, they boost temperature throughout the body and are therefore practical cold weather garments as they do not add too much bulk to an outfit and can be easily removed if the wearer becomes too warm'

Even undergarments brands like Triumph and Wing are selling them! trust me they are great.i am a big fan and never leaving home without them. i feel hugged all the time. (am i over acting here? hmm.. thats the difference between a nite and morning entry haahahha....)

p/s..and before anybody starts asking, NO! that is not my belly..:(

My Favourite Ambulante Cafe

yes, ambulance, hence ambulante cafe- the ambulante is a volkswagon wagon.
meaning, its mobile. so its a mobile coffee shop. the coffee taste great- freshly brewed and the owner (kinda cute) is currently looking for a shop. i had his coffee twice, both at the same location, during visiting a flea market next to the Tokyo International Forum.

the owner said to check his web always, so u will be informed where his shop will be.

p/s: i am making persimmon jam today. hope it turns out ok.

OOTOYA AND COLD STONE CREAMERY

that was what i had for dinner in Ootoya.There is a huge variety to choose from, and i chose the above.its the recommended menu at the moment (Osusume). its fried oyster with rice, grated cabbage n egg mayonaise. truly delicous and costed me 724yen.This is my first time and Ootoya is definately an eatery to return to!



After fried oyster, i had dessert. dah two weeks in a row makan dessert. very sinful lak tu...as the usual, being the kampung girl, i didn't know the existence of COLD STONE CREAMERY. Luckily my kawan2 bandar bagitau..heheh

If u watch the youtube clip closely, u will realize that the ice-cream is scooped, then placed on a flat area before other ingredients and mix-ins are added. that flat thingy is the COLD STONE. Customers choose their "creations" from an assortment of flavors and mix-ins, which the staff campur2 the order on a granite stone chilled to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. Serving sizes range from the size of a tennis ball to the size of a softball and are called "Like It," "Love It," and "Gotta Have It." they also have a choice of freshly baked crispy waffles to go together with the ice-cream.

i wonder if COld Stone has a outlet in Malaysia.di Indonesia ada.they sing while they mix the ice cream..URUSAIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII..heheh

More of TOkyo TOwer

nampak sama cam the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it has the height of 333m. i heard Tokyo TOwer dibina sebab nak balas dendam kat France, betul ke dak taktau. by the way, tokyo tower is 50 years this year.

It is the tallest self-supporting steel structure in the world, the tallest artificial structure in Japan and is the 20th tallest tower in the world.This Eiffel Tower-like structure supports an antenna that broadcasts television and radio signals for important Japanese media outlets such as NHK, TBS and Fuji TV.

the Look Down Window is a must try!

TOKyo tower

My weekend dessert treat

sedap nak mampos. green tea ice-cream n dessert. definitely something to kill for. i had to line up for almost 30 minutes!the shop is called Tsujiri and originated from Kyoto. the shop in Tokyo is in Caretta Shidome, which is a walk away from Shimbashi Eki.

enjoy the BEFORE n AFTER photos!

Sejuk

Starting esok, the weather will be cold.
berita dari:
hibernating bear :)

Autumn 2008 Colours

HUSSAIN and ISRAEL

President elect Obama's middle name: HUSSAIN
White House new Chief of Staff Rahm Emanual's middle name: ISRAEL.

Middle East?

Looks like the Middle East won't been given a name.

Banana Craze

Chinese Proverb

"A speech will either prosper or ruin a nation."

best giler!

Lama...

salam..

lama tak melayari blog orang lain. these few weeks..i have actually been focusing on MYSELF.

happy belated bday pah.

adusss..

Found this:

' DON'T MAKE SOMEONE YOUR PRIORITY WHEN THEY MAKE YOU AN OPTION'

Ada sapa-sapa terasa pedas?

Consumer price index (CPI) rises 2.3% in Japan

Cheaper gas fails to offset growing energy and food costs as CPI jumps 12th straight month


Japan's key consumer price index in September rose 2.3 percent from a year earlier for the 12th straight month of increase on growing energy and food prices, although gasoline prices showed clear signs of slowing their rise, the government said Friday.

The core nationwide CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at 102.6 against the base of 100 for 2005, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said in a preliminary report.

The pace of growth in the core nationwide CPI shrank by 0.1 percentage point from August, marking the first such drop since March, excluding a temporary decline logged in April following the expiration of a provisionally raised gasoline tax.

Energy prices as a whole grew 14.7 percent. Under the energy category, natural gas prices were up 6.0 percent and electricity prices rose 5.1 percent.

Petroleum product prices increased 23.7 percent with propane gas up 11.3 percent and kerosene up 50.3 percent.

Although gasoline prices rose 20.7 percent, the pace of growth represented a relatively sharp drop, compared with the 26.4 percent rise logged in August, and prices looked likely to decrease further in the coming months, a ministry official said.

Economic and fiscal policy minister Kaoru Yosano said there would be "a considerable time lag" until consumers can actually feel the benefit of a recent decline in crude oil prices, but called the current CPI level "healthy."

"The reason why crude oil prices declined is because the age of feverish oil buying came to an end," Yosano said at a press conference. "The outlook for global demand for crude oil seems to be weakening a bit."

The ministry also said nonperishable food prices rose 4.2 percent. Prices for cheese climbed 38.0 percent, spaghetti rose 33.5 percent, instant noodles 22.0 percent, and wheat flour 20.0 percent.

Yasunari Ueno, chief market economist at Mizuho Securities Co., said it was clear that the core CPI rise has peaked at 2.4 percent, which was logged in July and August. He said he expects the index to fall on a year-on-year basis at some point during the latter half of fiscal 2009, which ends in March 2010, due to deflationary pressures caused by an economic slowdown and a stronger yen.

"Excluding external shocks like rises in energy and food prices, there was no real inflation that results from an increase in wages," Ueno said.

"Falls in crude oil and grain prices as well as a stronger yen and deterioration in economic conditions are starting to have an impact," he said.