Osechi 2010

Above is the "Osechi" Japanese New Year speciality.
This is my first time to make the complete three layers of boxes.  All of the ingredients carry certain meanings of fortune and good life of a new year.  Such as herring roe symbolizes a wish to be gifted with children, black beans for the good health.

In our tradition, women prepare these boxed before the new year and the family have them on first of January to the third.  The contents are mostly without raw foods and can keep up several days.  This meant for women to rest from the kitchen for couple days in new year.

今年は初めておせちを作ってみた。
おなます、伊達巻き、海老などが抜けていてまだまだ。弁当箱並みの小さなお重のおかげでなんとか埋めることが出来きた。

おせちは夫にかなり不評で、結局一人でつまむことになるが、日本の伝統を忘れないためにこれからもめげずに毎年作ろうと思う。