Growing up, New Years was spent deep in Palolo valley with my grandmother at the stove, skimming the soup until it’s clear. The weather is chilly, with the streets blanketed in red paper and smoke. Our tradition is to eat at midnight, just after the loudest barrage of fireworks. The first meal of the year for good luck. Continue reading “New Years Ozoni”
Tag: mochi
Mochi-Tsuki
Mochi-Tsuki is a Japanese new year’s tradition for our family and many other local families. From what I know, it’s a tradition that has been passed down from my husband’s great-uncle to my father-in-law, and now to my husband. Although he had a lot of help from mom and dad, this was the first year he was officially in charge of organizing our annual mochi-tsuki.
The day starts early in the morning before the sun rises at my in-laws house. This time of year, the weather is cold and crisp in Mililani. Mochi rice is washed and soaked days ahead, the red bean paste (anko) is prepared, and the actual mochi pounding is hard work. Continue reading “Mochi-Tsuki”