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In Champaign... winter is coming soon. I don't like cold, I might be a bear in winter.. Anyway, I possess with making VIDEO these day.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Soy -sauce makes food delicious!! (Journal)


Soy-sauce is one of the seasoning, which is made of soybeans and used in the entire world. The usage depends on people and food. How do you use the seasoning? In my friend’s case, she put a bit of say-sauce on the steamed rice and just eats. When I have an avocado, I usually dip a slice of avocado in soy-sauce with wasabi, which is called Japanese horseradish in English. Don’t you think entertaining way to eat? As you know, Soy-sauce has a wide range of abilities to match with variety of tastes. Since soy-sauce is one of fermented food, such as Douchi in China, Cheese in Europe, and Miso in Japan. This type of food is said as “treasure house of amino acids” according to Ajinomono.Co. What is relationship between taste and amino acids?

Amino acids have 20 kinds and needed to make up proteins. “These of 9 must be taken from food since they are not synthesized in the body. Therefore, they are called "essential amino acids".” Each amino acid is given respective taste. For instance, aspartic acid and glutamine have sore and Umami tastes, and valine and leucine have a bitter taste. Valine has also sweet taste as well as Glycine and alanine. It seems that “combination of amino acids with their respective tastes is a key determinant for the taste of food. Furthermore, it infinitely expands the possibility of a new taste or function.”

Soy-sauce carries out the essential function. In the process of making up soy-sauce, wheat, soybeans, and the Fungus which are named Aspergillus oryzae are required at least. This Fungus is the most important of all ingredients since it produces a lot of amino acids among fermentation. Finally, they are mainly taste in soy-sauce, and gives variety food new taste. Therefore, soy-sauce is all-purpose seasoning!!

Lastly, I would like to introduce to you some unique ways to use soy-sauce. Surprisingly, it is to sprinkle a bit of soy-sauce over the top of the vanilla Ica cream. Kikkoman.co.which is one of the famous soy-sauce companies in the world, says that say-sauce draws out the flavor of the ice cream and gives it a delicious caramel-like aroma. Other one is to dip a slice of tomato into a bit of soy-sauce. It seems that soy-sauce makes the tomato sweeter. If you are interested in these usages, you can try! Also, please let me know how to use soy-sauce if you have any unique experience.

Reference
・http://kikkoman.com/soysaucemuseum/making/01.shtml
・http://www.ajinomoto.com/amino/eng/food.html

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Japanese food party


On saturday, I had a small party with my friends and I cooked Japanese food, a bowl of curry rice and nikujyaga which is made of potatoes, carrots, onions and pork meat with two spoonfuls of soy sauce, a bit of salt, a bit of sugar, a spoonful of japanese wine, and a poonful sweet sake for seasoning. These were AWESOME!!!!! All of friends were satisfied and pleased to eat dishes! Afterwards, we played exciting game for a few hours. My holidays were so sweet☆ And....study harder!!

Thursday, September 3, 2009

BBQ


I had BBQ today!! Since I joined International Illini whcih is one of the Illinois organization. I think that it is hard to make American friends in classes becase we have to move to next class after finishing a class, right? That's why I signed up some organizations. Oh! I have a funny story about organization. Last wednesday, I joined Yoga Club. And, there were too many students to enter a room in Union. So, we found new place, Quad and did Yoga. I was embarrassed becase people who passed around there looked at our appearance. Anyway, I had good time last monday, also today!!

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Life Orientation

I attended IPENG(International Programs in Engineering) orientation! It's a kind of mandatory orientation and required attendance for exchange students. But, I saw a few students in room...I wondered where other students were. Anyway, TAs explained how to have fun in U of I!! Also we shared our information which were name, major, home country and e.t.c. Afterwards, I had dinner with friends who I met there!!

Monday, August 31, 2009

My introduction(The assignment)



I am Yayoi Inoue and an exchange student from Japan. I came to University of Illinois Urbana Champaign so that I want to improve English and to learn foreign culture. I think that it is convenient place to get chance to do both of them. Until next May, on which I have to go back my country, I will do my best to achieve my goals. I have stayed here for three month. Before the fall semester began, I studied at the Intensive English Institute (IEI-please look at picture). I spent good time there with a lot of international students. Additionally, I hope to make friends more from now on and have fun with them. Thank you.

I am BLOGGER!!!!

Hi, everyone!! I am Yayoi Inoue from Japan. Please call me Yayoi.
I am going to stay U of I for one year . I think that my English is the poorest in this class...... But, I will try my best. Thank you!