New Year's Oshogatsu at JustJenn's House 2011

Happy New Year! It's Year of the Rabbit in 2011!

My friend JustJenn came over for my family's mochi making and walked away with two trays of mochi. Her kids ate it every morning and night. But the main reason for all the mochi is for ozoni soup on New Year's Day!

Jenn made lots of traditional and not-so-traditional but yummy foods for her annual New Year's Oshogatsu luncheon.

Last year, I got some comments that indicated people thought I made all this food. No. JustJenn made everything unless noted! She is a Oshogatsu machine. I'm sure she'll have lots of good luck in 2011!!!

Check out this spread! JustJenn is amazing!

 

Nothing like a mountain of desserts...that I kept returning to over and over!

JustJenn's mom brought sushi from old school Sakae Sushi. This little store has been around forever, and they don't do cream cheese in their sushi. As if. If your grandma made sushi, this would be the kind. They sell out of their New Year's orders in November.

Traditional foods...read JustJenn's story of shopping for these at the Japanese market.

A few non-traditional, but delicious meats!

Making Ozoni soup. We used the fresh mochi made with my family! You have to drink this soup or you'll be out of luck for the new year. ;)

All the traditional foods have meaning. Eating shrimp will give you long life, somen or soba noodles will give you more long life (see why the Japanese have the greatest life expectancy of any country in the world?!), those black beans give you health and success, and the little fish give you good harvest and wealth.

I brought over some Broken Glass Jello and Cream Puffs...yeah, not so traditional, but fun to eat. JustJenn and I made homemade mochi on New Year's Eve (I'll post about that next) and Jenn made delicious Milk Tea Cupcakes.

Happy New Year everyone! Thanks Jenn for inviting me to your delicious celebration! I hope everyone's new year is filled with peace, love, joy, bundt cakes, mochi, friends and family! :)
- mary the food librarian

P.S. Here is JustJenn's post with links to recipes!!