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# Basics of Happy

Searching for happiness left, right and centre.

## Posts

- [#007: Get in to the healthy ritual of dry body brushing! (plus get a poster for you to download!)](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/dry-body-brushing/) - Dry brushing is a safe, self-massage technique that helps the lymph liquid that contains infection-fighting white blood cells flow around your body better. This flowing liquid (which was squeezed out of your blood vessels by the way) sweeps up any infection to the nearest lymph nodes where infection-battlers called B cells and T cells reside. B & T will gang-up (= multiply) and fight the bad stuff then filter through only the cleaned lymph liquid, which will flow back in to the blood circulation.
- [#023: How to make homemade miso 101](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/023-how-to-make-homemade-miso/) - Miso making 101. Read the detailed step by step recipe.
- [#022: Handmade gomashio recipe -  Japanese sesame salt condiment that’s worth their salt!](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/022-handmade-gomashio-recipe-japanese-sesame-salt-condiment-thats-worth-their-salt/) - This method is still very straightforward to make: we simply chuck in the sesame, water and salt in a pot and cook them down until the water completely evaporates. I guess the only trick is to really evaporate the water, so that by the end of it, the sesame seeds are toasting at the bottom of the pan. They'll turn a perfect golden colour and award us with sweet roasted aroma.
- [#021: Food will be extra delicious depending on how you cut it! (considering the fibre direction together with the Ying and Yang-ness)](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/021-food-will-be-extra-delicious-depending-on-how-you-cut-it-considering-the-fibre-direction-together-with-the-ying-and-yang-ness/) - Cutting the vegetables, meats and fish in a particular direction according to the direction of the grain or muscle will change the mouthfeel, as well as the taste such as level of bitterness and sweetness.
- [#019: Cancer busting carrot, turmeric and ginger soup recipe](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/019-cancer-busting-carrot-turmeric-and-ginger-soup-recipe/) - This carrot soup is part of my anti-cancer regime. It has multiple key ingredients that has especially powerful medicinal properties that are beneficial to ward off or fight cancer. The health benefits of the carrots, turmeric, garlic and ginger will boost immune system, improve memory, contribute to healthy digestion, combats nausea and sickness, improve cholesterol level, and reduce blood pressure. Furthermore it also has superb antioxidant properties which decrease swelling and inflammation.
- [#020: Devilled jackfruit salad on grilled sourdough bread](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/devilled-jackfruit-salad-on-grilled-sourdough-bread/) - This salad orchestrates the multi-flavour in depth; the zing from the lemon and the tang from the plain yogurt makes the dish refreshing. The mild chilli-ness wakes the senses up, and the subtly pungent spring onion and the fragrant coriander (cilantro) makes the ensemble complex overall.
- [#010: I am still in love with my plastic-free kettle~!!!!](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/my-plastic-free-kettle/) - I bought this after hours of searching high & low! Trying to find a kettle that is truly free from plastic touching the water is near impossible! - So here is a round-up of the non-plastic kettles out in the market right now in US & UK!
- [#013: The best recipe for maple (or honey) teriyaki sauce that I know!](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/013-the-best-recipe-for-teriyaki-sauce-that-i-know/) - The standard teriyaki sauce has just 4 ingredients, which are soy sauce, Japanese sake, mirin and sugar. And to figure out how much of each ingredient, you can simply apply the following ratio 2:1:1:1 (double of soy sauce compared to each ingredient). It's that simple that it’s easy to remember off by heart.
- [#014: How to weave a tortilla basket](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/how-to-weave-a-tortilla-basket/) - Please don’t judge me on what I do with my spare time. LOL. But I suddenly had this urge to weave tortilla wraps, and make an edible woven basket. Have a go, it’s kinda therapeutic once you get into the rhythm of it.
- [#015: Tofu and soya mince vegan/ vegetarian meatballs recipe](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/015-tofu-and-soya-mince-meatballs-vegetarian-recipe/) - Up the umami by incorporating shiitake mushrooms, which is famous for having oodles of umami. As you’ll see in the recipe, I use the frozen kind. When you freeze mushrooms, the guanylic acid (a chemical compound that is the source of umami) becomes 1.9 time more. When this is combined with hijiki seaweed, onion and ginger, it creates what’s called an ‘umami synergy’, whereby it amplifies the umami, elevating the dish from lacklustre to mouth-wateringly hard to resist.
- [#016: Kitchenware wish list - TOP 5 -](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/016-kitchenware-wish-list-top-5/) - Beautifully crafted wooden grain mill to a manual coffee machine that was in James Bond's 'Live and let die'. - I want them all.
- [#018: In response to Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/in-response-to-flatland-by-edwin-a-abbott/)
- [#005: “Look Mamma, there are living creatures in our fridge…!” :-) (Traditional rye sourdough starter recipe)](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/traditional-rye-sourdough-starter-recipe/) - Good thing that the rye starter is surprisingly resilient despite a month+ of no feeding yet rise back to life after the emergency op. (Apparently that's because whole grains contain more nutrients and sourdough-friendly microorganisms than plain flour.) ​
- [#017: Top 10 tips for holiday in Iceland](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/017-top-10-tips-for-holiday-in-iceland/) - The blue lagoon tips - Icelandic Money tips - When flying IcelandAir - Airbnb it! (with £25 discount!) - Food and things really are expensive! - Places to visit and not to visit - Rent a 4×4 car - About car navigation - What to wear -
- [#012: Monthly food seasonality screensaver](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/twelve-month-food-seasonality-screensaver/) - One of my bugbears when going shopping in supermarkets is that the produce that are not-in-season sit shoulder to shoulder with in-season ones. So I’m extremely proud to share with you a set of monthly seasonal food screensavers/ lock screen wallpaper that I put together. 
- [#003: The ultimate crème caramel recipe ~ O.m.g. it's the creamiest! And so delicately soft! It makes me so happy!](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/ultimate-creme-caramel-recipe/) - It is dead-easy to make too if you follow certain steps. Crème Caramel in basic terms is literally just a three-step method: mix, sieve & water bath, with the most simplest of ingredients (eggs, sugar, milk & cream optional). The most important trick to keep in mind is to try NOT TO incorporate AIR, as the final silky texture will suffer greatly.
- [#011: Exploring the world of Panna Cotta ~ with the perfectly balanced recipe for Panna cotta with roasted rhubarb ~](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/011-exploring-panna-cotta-with-the-perfectly-balanced-recipe/) - When panna cotta is made from all-cream, it is luxuriously rich. But indeed as you'd suspect, it is heavy on the palate (especially if eaten on its own with no sauce to accompany it). The dessert is just 'set' cream after all, so what do you expect? I don't know if it's just me, but after a while, I find the heavy cream sickly, and the initial grin (that is reminiscent of the cat that got the cream) lower to a lesser degree as I eat. This is often the case for me especially if the dessert is after a big meal. Who knew that sometimes too much luxury is an over-kill!
- [#009: The ABC of miso soup (poster)](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/abc-of-miso-soup/) - For every Japanese person, rice and miso soup go hand-in-hand. Here is an A to Z poster introducing you to the world of miso soup!
- [#008: 355 words to describe food (downloadable poster)](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/abc-of-miso-soup-2/) - Ever been stuck with how to describe food? Well, here is a downloadable poster with 355 words that describe food!!!
- [#006: Macrobiotic Umeshō and Sannenbancha (plus recipe for homemade umeshō)](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/macrobiotic-umesho-and-sannenbancha-plus-recipe-for-homemade-umesho/) - Umesho is a paste made from plum pickle (= UME-boshi), soya sauce (= SHO-yu), and ginger. It is super-salty and has a strong taste, so, in macrobiotic terms, it is an extremely contracting yang food, compared to expanding and yin foods such as sugar and alcohol. ​
- [#004: There are times when people need to hear thank you](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/there-are-times-when-people-need-to-hear-thank-you/) - Recently, I am consciously searching for opportunities to appreciate & say "thank you" more often. ​- Soon as I started this practise, not only did I easily find people to appreciate and say thank you to, like to the familiar people in life, such as family & friends, I found appreciation in the surrounding environment also, such as being able to eat delicious rice everyday, being able to wake up pleasantly, feeling the sun's warm rays on my skin... & so on. - This made me happy because it was a confirmation that I was in a good place.
- [#002: Recipe for fluffy & plump Japanese brown rice](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/fluffy-plump-japanese-brown-rice-recipe-embracing-brown-rice/) - Did you know that if we sow brown rice, it will sprout? Whereas white rice will just rot? Brown rice, even the rice that’s been packaged & sit on the shop shelves, is still alive. ~ Life dwells in brown rice ~
- [#001: This is that beginning of 'something'](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/this-is-that-beginning-of-something/) - Here's to the next chapter! Cheers! Gān bēi! Santé! Proost! Kanpai! Cin cin! Salud! ;-)​

## Pages

- [About](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/about/) - Hi! My name is Tamami, & I'm a Japanese living in London, UK. I have two children (a girl & a boy) & have a partner we will call Mr.D for here. I have been blogging since 2006 (!) on Coco&Me, but have decided that time is ripe to start afresh (~ you'll read the reasons on that website ~), so here it is!!!
- [recipe](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/recipe/)
- [Shop the good stuff](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/shop/)
- [Archive](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/archive/)
- [Contact](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/contact/)
- [recipe collection](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/recipe-collection/) - I enjoy writing recipes from the cook’s point of view & get nitty-gritty with the detail. I’m known for being an all-or-nothing type of gal & like to leave no stone unturned, so there are loads of footnotes to these recipes in the hope of helping you as much as possible without actually being there with you in the kitchen!

## Categories

- [Breast cancer](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/breast-cancer/)
- [Food related subject](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/food-related-subject/)
- [Japanese recipes](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/recipe/japanese-recipe/)
- [Kitchenware](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/kitchenware/)
- [Macrobiotic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/macrobiotic/)
- [Messages](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/messages/)
- [Non-plastic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/kitchenware/non-plastic/)
- [Downloadable posters](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/posters/)
- [Recipe](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/recipe/)
- [Savoury recipes](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/recipe/savoury/)
- [Well-being](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/well-being/)
- [Dessert recipes](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/recipe/dessert-recipe/)
- [Etsy](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/etsy/)
- [How to's](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/how-tos/)
- [Holiday](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/holiday/)
- [Book review](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/book-review/)
- [salad](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/category/recipe/savoury/salad/)

## Tags

- [broadway market](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/broadway-market/)
- [coco&me](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/cocome/)
- [cocoandme](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/cocoandme/)
- [Creme caramel](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/creme-caramel/)
- [dry body brushing](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/dry-body-brushing/)
- [hollistic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/hollistic/)
- [Japanese brown rice](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/japanese-brown-rice/)
- [Kitchenware](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/kitchenware/)
- [Macrobiotic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/macrobiotic/)
- [new blog](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/new-blog/)
- [Non-plastic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/non-plastic/)
- [plastic-free](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/plastic-free/)
- [Recipe](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/recipe/)
- [Rye sourdough](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/rye-sourdough/)
- [Sannenbancha](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/sannenbancha/)
- [Savoury](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/savoury/)
- [Sourdough starter](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/sourdough-starter/)
- [stainless steel kettle](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/stainless-steel-kettle/)
- [tamami](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/tamami/)
- [tamami haga](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/tamami-haga/)
- [Umesho](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/umesho/)
- [Well-being](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/well-being/)
- [health](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/health/)
- [plastic free shop](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/plastic-free-shop/)
- [living with less plastic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/living-with-less-plastic/)
- [without plastic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/without-plastic/)
- [plastic alternative](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/plastic-alternative/)
- [no plastic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/no-plastic/)
- [the best kettle](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/the-best-kettle/)
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- [healthy and stylish kettle](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/healthy-and-stylish-kettle/)
- [miso](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/miso/)
- [miso soup](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/miso-soup/)
- [abc poster](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/abc-poster/)
- [downloadable poster](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/downloadable-poster/)
- [about miso soup](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/about-miso-soup/)
- [japanese cuisine](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/japanese-cuisine/)
- [basics of happy](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/basics-of-happy/)
- [www.basicsofhappy.com](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/www-basicsofhappy-com/)
- [fermentation](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/fermentation/)
- [soy beans](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/soy-beans/)
- [words to describe food](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/words-to-describe-food/)
- [food words](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/food-words/)
- [poster](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/poster/)
- [brushing](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/brushing/)
- [How to Do It the Right Way](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-do-it-the-right-way/)
- [dry body brushing poster](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/dry-body-brushing-poster/)
- [directional poster](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/directional-poster/)
- [macrobiotic recipe](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/macrobiotic-recipe/)
- [bread starter](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/bread-starter/)
- [rye](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/rye/)
- [thank you](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/thank-you/)
- [say thank you](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/say-thank-you/)
- [brown rice](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/brown-rice/)
- [rice](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/rice/)
- [panna cotta](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/panna-cotta/)
- [cream dessert](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/cream-dessert/)
- [seasonality](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/seasonality/)
- [food calendar](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/food-calendar/)
- [food chart](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/food-chart/)
- [season](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/season/)
- [table](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/table/)
- [screensaver](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/screensaver/)
- [lock screen](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/lock-screen/)
- [teriyaki sauce](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/teriyaki-sauce/)
- [teriyaki](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/teriyaki/)
- [the best](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/the-best/)
- [sugar alternative](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/sugar-alternative/)
- [tortilla wrap](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/tortilla-wrap/)
- [tortilla](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/tortilla/)
- [tortilla wraps](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/tortilla-wraps/)
- [weaving](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/weaving/)
- [woven](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/woven/)
- [soya-mince](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/soya-mince/)
- [tofu](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/tofu/)
- [vegetarian](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/vegetarian/)
- [holistic](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/holistic/)
- [coffee machine](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/coffee-machine/)
- [stick blender](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/stick-blender/)
- [hand blender](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/hand-blender/)
- [Bosch](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/bosch/)
- [dualit](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/dualit/)
- [La Pavoni](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/la-pavoni/)
- [KOMO Grain Mill](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/komo-grain-mill/)
- [Fissler stock pot](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/fissler-stock-pot/)
- [Bosch Hand Blender](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/bosch-hand-blender/)
- [Iceland](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/iceland/)
- [Holiday](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/holiday/)
- [Holiday tips](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/holiday-tips/)
- [Summer holiday in Iceland](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/summer-holiday-in-iceland/)
- [Iceland tips](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/iceland-tips/)
- [flatland](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/flatland/)
- [book review](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/book-review/)
- [Edwin Abbott Abbott](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/edwin-abbott-abbott/)
- [animation](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/animation/)
- [carrot soup](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/carrot-soup/)
- [breast cancer](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/breast-cancer/)
- [anti-cancer](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/anti-cancer/)
- [cancer fighting](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/cancer-fighting/)
- [salad](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/salad/)
- [healthy](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/healthy/)
- [vegan](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/vegan/)
- [refreshing](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/refreshing/)
- [jackfruit](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/jackfruit/)
- [ying yang](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/ying-yang/)
- [how to cut](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut/)
- [vegetable grain](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/vegetable-grain/)
- [vegetable fibre](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/vegetable-fibre/)
- [how to cut meat](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut-meat/)
- [how to cut food ingredients](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut-food-ingredients/)
- [how to cut vegetables](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut-vegetables/)
- [how to cut chicken breast](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut-chicken-breast/)
- [how to cut peppers](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut-peppers/)
- [how to cut sashimi](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/how-to-cut-sashimi/)
- [gomashio](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/gomashio/)
- [gomasio](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/gomasio/)
- [condiment](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/condiment/)
- [sesame](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/sesame/)
- [homemade miso](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/homemade-miso/)
- [miso making](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/miso-making/)
- [miso recipe 101](http://www.basicsofhappy.com/tag/miso-recipe-101/)