the kaiseki dinner presentation when we stayed at a ryokan in Japan last year
one of my favorite go-to easy winter meals is hot pot (aka shabu-shabu or steamboat). essential ingredients: the freshest medley of favorite veggies, seafood, and protein (if you want to indulge, get some quality thin cuts of lamb or wagyu beef), cooking broth, add some mushrooms and vermicelli noodles, and just cook everything tableside. savor with some favorite dipping sauces (i'm partial to Sriracha and Chinese bbq sauce), and it's magic on a frigid winter's night.
on a particularly dreary evening last week, i decided to finally buy a proper electric skillet for hot pot/sukiyaki. easily the most excitement-inducing thing i've bought recently. inspired by our trip to Japan last year, i also got a copy of Tadashi Ono's Japanese Hot Pot cookbook. can't wait to dive in and test out some of the recipes!
one of my favorite meals during our Japan trip:
the amazingly good local Tajima beef during the hot pot portion of the kaiseki
what have you been cooking lately? do you have any favorite winter recipes?