Mochi Mochi Mochi - Mochitsuki 2011

It's that time again! My family and friends got together on December 26th for our annual mochi making day!

These unsweetened rice cakes are eaten on New Year's Day in a special soup called ozoni to bring about good fortune and health and all that jazz. Our family has been getting together since 1955 to make mochi. We have two electric machines and a bunch of gas steamers to cook the special Koda Farms Sho-Chiku-Bai sweet rice (old school method is with a pound it by hand with a mallet.)

I think this year was a record - 190 pounds of rice! That took about three hours alone just to wash and soak on Christmas day (thanks Mom for doing that!)

Rice is steamed in steamers then poured into the machine. It comes out piping hot! Little bits are cut off and shaped into rounds. They are cooled on racks and then dusted with mochiko (rice flour).

All hands on deck for mochi making! Often, this is the one time a year we see some of our aunts, uncles, cousins and their growing children so it is a very important tradition for my family. And, of course, we have a bouncy house...just like our ancestors had I'm sure...

Um, we had two food tables and one salad table...making mochi definitely stirs the appetite!

Yum! Yum! Yum!

And this year lots of my friends dropped by!

We can't forget the desserts too! My auntie made this delicious cookie tray, JustJenn brought delicious and cute cupcakes and my cousin made these fried cookies.

Days later, my cousin and I are still cleaning the house and putting back things (we need to clear out three rooms of the house for mochi day). Of course, the benefit is that I'm eating fresh toasted mochi every day!

Looking forward to joining JustJenn's family for her annual New Year's feast...featuring our mochi for the ozoni soup! :)

Happy New Year everyone! 2012 is going to ROCK! - mary the food librarian

Other mochi-related posts: 2010, 2008, 2007 family event, sweet mochi with red beans, zunda mochi from sendai, blueberry mochi cake.

Merry Christmas from the Food Librarian & Cidney the Dog

Why yes, my cousin and I did dress up Cidney the Girl Dog. After the graduation hat and Halloween sessions where Cidney just pretty much sat there, you can expect lots of torture, I mean, fun with the dog.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!

On Monday, my family descends and we make 150 pounds of mochi!

Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Happy Holidays!

- mary the food librarian

"Okay, I'm done until the next costume. Where's my biscuit?"

Holiday Treats from the Food Librarian

Here are a few holiday treats you might want to make for your friends and family this holiday season. I can't believe the holidays are here already!

Please click on the link to go to the original post and recipe :)

Broken Glass Jello

Always a huge hit and so easy to make. Give yourself at least a day in advance to let the Jello set up...but your hands-on labor is only about 15 minutes!

Cafe Beaujolais' Buttermilk-Cinnamon Coffeecake

This is a great coffee cake to have on hand for visitors or overnight guests during the holiday. It feeds a lot of people and is simple to make...you may have all the ingredients handy. Last year, my uncle ate three pieces during our mochi making!

Baked Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

Pumpkin pie is great and all...but these little donut-y muffins are divine. Have the kids help you roll them in cinnamon sugar...Santa will want to grab a few of these.

Noodle Kugel

My friend's mom makes this delicious noodle kugel for Hanukkah! (Note to Mrs. S - I miss you and hope to see you soon!!!)

Chocolate Rice Krispies with Bittersweet Chocolate Drizzle

Dressed up rice krispies. Yum! You can make these while the kids are running around. Hey, make they work a bit by stirring together this easy treat.

Happy Holidays! - mary

JustJENN Designs for the Holidays! Small Business Saturday

My friend JustJENN has a great online stationery store, justJENN designs. AmEx and others have deemed Saturday "Small Business Saturday" - encouraging you to shop local with small businesses.

justJENN designs is having a special offer - FREE Shipping til Monday, 11/28/2011 (U.S.)

Jenn designed the popular "I Like Big Bundts" button and has cards and buttons available! Here are just a few of the offerings!

Handcrafted holiday tags. All of Jenn's work is careful and precise. Remember the Doll Bundt and the handmade bag she made!? She's an architect so all the cuts are perfection!

Personalized stationery. Who doesn't want a notepad with message from their kid or dog?!

My favorite everyday card is this one: You're Awesome.  Seriously, you can get a card for yourself (hee hee) and give some out to those who deserve it.

For Christmas I hope you get.... corporate bailout, pony and less guilt from your family. Check all those that apply!

O.G. (Original Grandma) Gift Pack - O.G. Favorite Recipes Comic/Cookbook, OG pin, sticker and pad and recipe cards!

Support a small business today...and you don't even have to leave the house (or get pepper sprayed)! Click here for the justJENN designs website!

Happy Halloween from Cidney the Girl Dog

Happy Halloween from Cidney the Girl Dog!

Cidney just turned two years old, and is the perfect model. She just sat on the lawn for 5 minutes in this pumpkin costume! I picked it up at Target in November for 75% off and waited all year to put it on her! Oh dear, I've become that person who dressed up the dog....

Next year, I'll need to find her a Bundt cake costume.... Just kidding!

Happy Halloween everyone!!!

- mary the food librarian