Non-Sumo -Omochi-

[moti <motid@bigfoot.com>]

Irene (Takanomizu) wrote:

<They're pounding mochi, which is traditionally made and eaten at New
Years.
Two men alternate with mallets, while a third darts in and turns it. 
Mochi is made from glutenous "sweet" rice. These days people use an
electric 
mochi maker at home, or buy it already made. At New Years its put into a 
soup/stew called Ozoni, made with daikon and taro. But it's usually
served 
grilled, wrapped with shoyu and nori, or quickly dipped into hot water
the 
rolled in a mixture of kinako and sugar. (kinako is roasted, ground soy 
beans). When we lived in Japan, millions of years ago, there was a
recipe in 
the Japan Times for "bacon butter mochi," which was delicious, but too
death 
defying to make past my youth.>


As an aside, this O-Mochi stuff is a lethal weapon.Many people
traditionally suffocate every year whilst trying to swallow the
stuff.It's like chewing a tire, only it's white. When I was 10 and
growing up in Japan, I was offered some omochi at a festival on New
year's. I recklessly declined. I live. On the other hand,the kid who sat
next to me in school tried it and nothing happened to him. Some story,
huh?

Mochi