Maitake Soup

Maitake has become the topic of health news here in Japan for the scientist found that its consumption can increase immunity system. So those of you feeling tired or having an early symptoms of cold, try this very easy 10 minutes recipe:

1. Get fresh maitake and finely blend it until it turns into very tiny pieces (you can also add other type of mushrooms, for variety or more rich taste)

2. Slice onions very thinly and use butter to stir fry it 5 minutes

3. Pour the fine mushroom into the onion mixture, then pour milk/soy milk accordingly (adjust according to texture that you like)

4. Heat the mixture while continue stirring .... salt & pepper for taste and if you have chicken stock/beef stock in cubes.... use them, as they will make it taste even better.

Another Super Nut - Chestnut

My favorite snack in autumn is chestnut. The easiest way to cook it is to boil, however if i go to China town, they are usually cooked on a big wok using charcoal. Compared to other fruits, a 100 gram of chestnut contains more vitamin B, 4 times the vitamin C in apple, calcium, kalium and zinc, which are important minerals to our body. So don't miss it this season - go for chestnut :)

Autumn Calls For Mushrooms

How many types of mushroom do you know or find at the supermarket near you? Here in Japan, mushroom is almost inevitable in day to day cooking. We have about 9 typical Japanese mushrooms sold in the market, such as dried shitake, raw shitake, enokidake (white- see photo), eringi (or japanese-king-trumpet-mushroom - see photo), nameko, hiratake, funasimeji, maitake and matsutake mushroom.

Mushroom contains fibre, vitamin B1, B2, D2 and lots of important minerals, like Potassium/K, Lin, Iron and important source of Amino acid. Autumn is also the best time to eat mushrooms since it is the season for collecting mushrooms.

I heard from a radio news that in Canada shiitake mushroom is considered a special gourmet. In Japan "matsutake mushroom" (left) is the so called "king of mushroom", not only that it is very rare, but it is also the most expensive mushroom (the cheap one is from 2000 Yen each). People are willing to pay such price for its great flavor and aroma. There is even a special tour for the local people to walk up the mountain and find wild matsutake, or a gourmet tour for matsutake lovers.

The truth is, many matsutake sold in Japan are actually imported from countries like China and Canada ... :) business is always attractive for this "rare" and "wanted" items.

Note:

*Do you know that dried shiitake has the highest level of potassium, calcium, lin and iron compared to other mushrooms?

*Do you know about beta-glucan, found in shiitake and maitake, is a substance that can increase immunity system and is currently studied in Japan to possibly become a natural remedy for swine flu? For further info about beta-glucan: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta-glucan

DHA & EPA From Mackerel

What is the cheapest fish in autumn? Mackerel!

In fact, autumn is the best season to eat mackerel, a fish that was found to contain a very high level of DHA & EPA (please check: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omega-3_fatty_acid for nutrition details).

The best way to consume mackerel at its best level of DHA & EPA, is to eat it raw or my favorite, is to cook it with spring onions & miso, that way you don't loose a lot of its precious fat, like you would if you grill it.

Why DHA & EPA is good?

1. Brain health -> such as to reduce risk of stroke

2. Cardiovascular health -> such as to reduce risk of heart attack

3. Immunity system -> overall health system

Mackerel caught in autumn has the highest level of DHA & EPA. The nature works in a wonderful way that if we just look for if, we can get to eat the healthiest food every season.

Super Easy - Nice To Have In The Fridge

Dried young sardines sauteed with salmon flakes and seaweed

Use it as topping for rice, children love it :)

Chinese cabbage, finely sliced pork, spring onions, ginger all put in layers (15 cm height) &

pour soup stock (chicken/fish), salt and pepper. It tastes better than it looks.

When you eat, dip them in a sauce made of soy sauce and squeezed lemon juice first.

Goes well with beer - a light time snack for adults

With just some oil on the frying pan

left over spring onions, dried shrimp, powder stock (a little), salt and pepper

all mixed well with sake, water and flour for frying

Super Food Is Walnuts

Just by consuming 7 walnuts a day (best to choose walnuts with shells on for freshness), it will provide you with enough Omega 3 fatty acid that is important for your body and help you to achieve the following benefits:

Reduce risk of having a heart attack/heart disease

Lower your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Lowered

Lower CRP (C-Reactive Protein) Lowered —CRP was recently recognized as the key independent indicator/predictor of heart disease.

Lower your blood pressure

Improve your brain function — because Omega 3s support healthy brain function, by maximizing the brain cell’s ability to usher in nutrients while eliminating wastes which is important to healthy cognitive function and brain health.

Antioxidant/Anti-Cancer—Walnuts contain Ellagic Acid. Ellagic Acid protects healthy cells from free radical harm, detoxifies cancer-causing substances and prevents cancer cells from replicating.

For more info on walnuts please also check this article:　http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=99