January 20, 2010 - Shiojake and nagaimo

Tonite's meal:
- Rice
- Miso soup with tofu and wakame
- Shiojake (salted salmon)
- Kimpira gobo- (braised burdock and carrots)
- Nagaimo (mountain yam) with ponzu

I would say these are typical dishes in Japanese home cooking.  Often people that know about sushi and teriyaki ask me what actual Japanese people eat at home.  I find this really difficult to answer, because often a meal consists of multiple dishes, and it's hard to explain what they're like in a generalized way.  This is also why I find Japanese cooking so challenging - when it comes time to make a meal, you have to think of so many small dishes to prepare! 

 Here's a close up of the nagaimo.  Looks familiar?