New Year’s Day 2019

January 1st, 2019 by justJENN

I don’t know how this time rolls around so quickly each year but here we are again—time for oshogatsu—a huge Japanese-American New Year’s Day feast! I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve finally learned that by spacing out my cooking to three days it actually makes my life easier.

Three days of cooking may sound crazy, it’s a lot of planning and yes I even make spreadsheets and schedules to make sure everything is hot and ready at the same time. It’s a lot of logistics, but I’m a woman on a mission and in the end everyone is fed and happy and that’s all that matters.

My menu consists of Japanese-Ameican food, Hawaiian food, lots of desserts, and “that old food” as my kids call it: traditional Japanese good luck food. Eat it and you’re absolutely guaranteed to have a good year, that is if you can stomach a spoonful of the black beans and fish.

Once again the Food Librarian graced me with her Broken Glass Jell-o Bundt, and the 100 pounds of mochi we made at her family’s annual mochitsuki is what makes my ozoni unique.

In addition to that here’s a breakdown of everything I made, and while you’re at it take a look back at 10 years of my past New Year’s Day oshogatsu parties.

New Year’s Day Menu:
Kalua Pig
Char Siu
Garlic Shrimp
Hawaiian Fried Chicken
Somen Salad (noodles for a long life)
Potato Salad
Spam Musubi
Garlic Shrimp
Tazukuri (teriyaki fish for a prosperous year)
Kuromame (black beans for health and success)
Kurikinton (sweet potato w/chestnuts for wealth)
Gobo (burdock root for a strong family)
Ozoni (traditional new year’s day soup)
Mochi (longevity)
Kamaboko (joy, happiness)
Broken Glass Jell-o Bundt
Pink An (azuki bean) Mochi
Butter Mochi
Red Velvet Cupcakes
Oranges (long, happy life)

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