As promised, I'm sending you a few recipes that you might need in order to prepare for New Year's Day. Aside cooking Ozoni, one should not cook on New Year's Day so prepare your food in advance and give yourself an excuse to relax with family and friends.

Don't forget to give your home a thorough cleaning to whisk out the "old" and open your doors to fresh new energy for a year of good fortune!

Here are the latest articles from the Japanese Food site at BellaOnline.com:

Toshikoshi Soba Recipes
Toshikoshi means “end of the year” and these buckwheat noodles are eaten on New Year’s Eve to ring out the old year. Here are several ways to enjoy them.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art47319.asp


Osechi Ryori Japanese New Year Foods
Foods symbolic of good health, wealth and luck help usher in the New Year with delicious tradition in Japan.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art39542.asp

Ozoni New Year Good Luck Mochi Soup
A true Japanese person will not usher in the New Year without eating a bowl of ozoni, if he can help it. One’s entire year of luck hinges on this auspicious mochi soup.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art32808.asp

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Your Japanese phrase of the week: "Akemashita Omedeto Gozaimasu!" Happy New Year!

I wish you all good things--and the most important things--in the coming year!

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To participate in free, fun online discussions, this site has a community forum all about Japanese Food located here -

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=357

I hope to hear from you sometime soon, either in the forum or in response to this email message. I thrive on your feedback!

Have fun passing this message along to family and friends, because we all love free knowledge!

Chidori Phillips, Japanese Food Editor
http://japanesefood.bellaonline.com

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