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January 1, 2006

happy new year!


I wasn't planning to create any fancy sweet on the very first day of the new year, but somehow found myself working in the kitchen in the afternoon, putting together a few small afters for dinner.

Rather fancy it may appear, this really was simple white sesame mousse, topped with strawberries and white-chocolate mizuhiki cord. For a second I was being a little ambitious, thiking about making layers of mousse of different flavors and/or decorating with chocolate sauce or something, but I dropped that idea before thinking twice; it seemed too much for a task to be done on the New Year's day - you're supposed to laze around, people.

Making okay-looking white chocolate mizuhiki was a bit of challenge, though. Considering me hopelessly being clumsy, these turned out good enough, I guess, and they sure looked festive with a few edible gold flakes.

My new year's day has past eventless, and I will probably be working like normal from tomorrow on. But today I would like to wish every one of you a wonderful new year, and hope this year will see you all happy and healthy, full of love and smiles. Thanks for letting me share what I make, eat, and think with you here. Happy 2006!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Chika,

Happy new year to you.
This dessert is extremely pretty. Perhaps you could tell us how to make the white sesame mousse and the mizuhiki? It seems quite seductive.

I've been reading you for a while and appreciate very much your blog.

Best greetings,

Camille


 

Posted by camille

Cathy said...

Happy new year Chika! They're gorgeous - wintery and festive! 

Posted by Cathy

Anonymous said...

Hi Chika,
I think your result looks very pretty AND it is ambitious for the first day of the year! Sesame mousse sounds yummy, I'd love to know more details on how you prepared it, too :) (I had a sesame panna cotta on my mind for quite some time now, but haven't found a recipe I want to try yet.)
A very happy 2006 to you and many more of your gorgeous posts! 

Posted by Nicky

RealLifeReading said...

oh gorgeous!
Pardon my ignorance but what does mizuhiki  mean? 

Posted by olduvai

Anonymous said...

Thank YOU  for sharing with us what you make, eat and think here. Best wishes to you in the following year. :) 

Posted by meow

Chocopie said...

It looks very luxurious and special. Special cord is very impressive. My 1st day of new year was eventless. But thanks to your fantastic menu, I have fully enjoyed the special day feeling.
Thanks for your best wishes. Happy new year !
 

Posted by Chocopie

Estelle Tracy said...

Happy new year, Chika, may it be delicious and sweet! 

Posted by Estelle

Reid said...

Hi Chika,

Those look so beautiful and festive. I think they look more than just "good enough". Hope you had a wonderful New Years! 

Posted by Reid

santos. said...

gorgeous! very impressive for someone "lazing around" ;)

happy new year! 

Posted by santos.

Anonymous said...

Oh, sooooo beautiful! Happy new year!
 

Posted by Dagmar

Anonymous said...

What do you mean "okay looking"?! They're fantastic! So cute and elegant! ^_~ Happy New Year!! 

Posted by Tea

chika said...

Thanks everyone for the comments and new year's greetings!

To those who are interested in how to make the mousse: I basically used this recipe  but it's in Japanese. I basically don't publish a translation of recipe in Japanese unless I get permission to do so, and this isn't an exception. You might want to try a web-based translation service, like this one. One tip; 1 cup in Japanese recipes usually refers to 200ml, unlike a US/UK cup which measures 240ml. For the mizuhiki cords, I simply drew lines with melted and slightly cooled white chocolate in a plastic bag with one corner snipped off.

olduvai - mizuhiki is a traditional Japanese decoration made with strings, used to celebrate events such as new year and a wedding.

Thanks again for your compliments and I hope you all had a wonderful new year's time! 

Posted by chika

Basak said...

This is art! Looks amazing.

Thank you for all of these recipes. I'll keep on reading your blog in 2006.

Best wishes...

Eva said...

Hi Chika,
Happy new year!! I hope you will continue blogging about so mant wnderfull things. I just had a quick question about the puddings , which look stunning as ever, what did you make them in (tinwise) as they are such a nice shape. Thanks very much and I look forward to reading more :-) 

Posted by eva

fiordizucca said...

how beautiful..