Miso

Just like my previous post about pineapples, I am also no expert on miso's various types and forms, but I do know that it is a Thing I Like. The only other thing I know is that it is sitting in a plastic package in my fridge in a goo-form and that it is delicious. Oh, also, if you add too much of it to food, it becomes inedible. I am not a very adventurous cook and am pretty much seasoning-knowledge deficient, so miso is a pretty good thing to have around. You can add it to water and make a broth that is tasty and only required one simple step. On Monday, I put some miso in water, heated it up, added some dehydrated tofu and seaweed (both purchased at the Mitsua Market in Arlington Heights), with fresh bok choy, broccoli, and sprouts and voila! Chunky miso-flavored soup for dinner!

In March when we visited Japan, my partner geniusly crafted a noodley miso soup with ingredients from a local convenience store right in our hotel room rice cooker. Seriously, brilliant! All 24-hour stores should carry miso, rice noodles, and tofu!

Pineapple

I really like pineapple, but I don't always particularly care for cutting up a whole pineapple. Fortunately, I have a really great partner who doesn't seem to mind doing the pineapple dirty work. This one is from a few weeks ago and it was de-licious! I also associate pineapples with one specific event in my life. Years and years ago, I was headed to New York for my yoga teacher's birthday celebration and didn't have the foggiest idea what to bring to such an event. What do you get an advanced yogi for his 60-something-ith birthday? And there in the produce market at Essene in Philadelphia (my former city of residence), I was struck by a lovely sight: the perfect pineapple (no, not these!!!)! I tied a bow around it's spiky top and carried in my backpack via New Jersey Transit up to Manhattan. After an amazing yoga practice, I fluffed it's flattened bow and (VERY) shyly presented my carefully selected pineapple. He brought it to his face, smelled it, smiled, and kissed me! I was thrilled. The sight of a whole pineapple always brings me back to that moment and I always smile. The perfect gift.

(Writing this entry I also got curious about when pineapple was in season and I found this very informative website! I now know so much more about pineapples than ever before.)