"Sekihan"

A few Weekends ago, I tried to do "Hanami" with friends.  Unfortunately weather did not cooperate.  But we prepared snacks for it the day before, so we decided to get together at my home at least to enjoy those snacks.
In Japan people go to places where we can find Cherry Trees to have picnic in the Spring time.  We sit under the Sakura Blossoms to enjoy ourselves with special food and sometimes with drinks.  That is the "Hanami"
For this Sakura Season which is almost a month earlier than normal, I really wanted to do "Hanami" with friends.  I asked my friend Mari and her mother to make "Sekihan Ball."  And I told them that I'll make some things to go with it. Something very Springly !
"Sekihan" literally Red Rice is a Japanese traditional dice dish.  It is Sticky Rice, steamed with Azuki beans which give a reddish color to rice, hence its name. "Sekihan" is often served for special occasions thoughtout the year in Japan, for example, birthdays, weddings and some holidays.  "Sekihan" is so strongly connected with celebration that the phrase "Let's have O-Sekihan" has acquired the meaning "Let's Cerebrate !"  It is believed that "Sekihan" is used for celebration because of its red color, symbolic of happiness in Japan. (This is Wikapedia's definition for Sekihan.)
So, having " Sekihan Ball" for "Hanami" is perfect.  Let's cerebrate Spring's early arrival with Pink Sakura Blossoms ! 

"Sekihan Balls"

Mari thought that it is easier to have Sekihan in Balls.

Sekihan is traditionally eaten with Gomashio,

a mixture of Sesame Seeds & Salt.

"Green Pea  & Mint Soup"

This soup is good to serve cold or hot.

"Sunchoke with Orange Gremolatta"

 My go-to Veggie Side Dish.

 I served with thinly sliced Carrots Chips shape like Sakura. 

"Daikon Quick Pickle"

This Spring's New discovery is "Micro Shiso Leaves"

I sliced Daikon very thin, sprinkled Salt. leave for a few hours.

Wash them with cold water then squeezed all water.

Mixed with Yuzu-Juice, before serve them mixed with "Micro Shiso"

They are very small leaves but strong flavor is unmistakably there. 

These sprouts will become my favorite thing for the Spring ! 

 I only need to make some "Sakura Tea"

By the time we were ready to start our "Hanami Lunch", the Sun came out.  We could pack up then go out.  But we were so ready to start tasting everything we had prepared that we decided to stay in.  

Some Sakura has blossomed already, but most of the Sakura are still not opened yet.  That means we still have a chance to do "Hanami."  Since we did not tasted snacks under the Cherry Trees, we may have to plan one more time to have "Sekihan."  After all we must have Red Rice under Sakura Trees to cereblate Spring, don't we ?