Resilience - Sakura Project-Last day for Japan Earthquake Relief Give-away

Chika's fundraising give-away closes today West Coast Time around midnight.

Please consider donating/signing up for the Japan Earthquake Relief. 

In keeping with the theme of Sakura (cherry blossoms),  I made a Sakura panna cotta. I did spy panna cotta on Chika's blog, but I've decided to change it up a bit. (Partially because the strawberries in California are....mediocre at best, and more like, I just don't do rhubarb)

I also have to admit that cherry blossom flavoring and cherry leaf flavoring is really really powerful, and a bit overwhelming at times. However, used sparingly, the fragrance can be just as subtle and sweet as an orchard full of blooming trees.  

In my panna cotta, I've infused a cherry tea from Lupicia Tea called Cerisier to the milk/cream mixture.

This tea is quite sweet and fragrant, more of cherries than of cherry blossom. Just the way I like it!

I contemplated what type of sugar to use to flavor the cream. 
Brown sugar would be too overwhelming, granulated sugar would be too straight forward in the sweetness, and honey would be just too cloying.

I decided to use wasanbon in keeping with the Japanese theme of this no-longer just Italian dessert. 

For the sakura component, I made a sauce from salt-cured cherry blossoms (Sakura no shio zuke) and a little bit of raspberry champagne jelly from Robert Lambert. 

The hint of raspberry really brings out the cherry and cherry blossom notes!

Hope - Sakura Project

My friend Chika of She Who Eats, has updated her blog in regards to her Japan Disaster Fund Raising Project.

As Chika mentions in her blog, green tea powder (matcha) pairs beautifully with sakura desserts and she is planning on including it (a really nice one from Kyoto!) with one of her give-away sets.

By coincidence, I had baked a marbled tea cake last night with my stockpile of matcha that I brought back from Japan last year.

I still need to tweak my technique on marbling, but the bittersweet matcha is definitely a nice contrast to the vanilla based cake.

Ganbare Nippon!

Stirred - Japan Earthquake Relief with Sakura

Food Blogger and good friend Chika has started a Fund Raising Campaign for the massive earthquake and tsunamis that hit Japan.

The devastation is so extensive that help will be needed for both immediate relief and long term re-building of lives. If you are able to, please make a difference by donating.

For those of you who have asked about my family, thank you.
Most are in Tokyo and they are all accounted for.

In keeping with Chika's theme, I will be posting (more regularly) with Sakura (cherry blossom) related notes and recipes. Last night, I made Hoji-cha Biscotti with Cherry Blossoms. I was inspired by re-reading her blog entry from last spring, and yes, I had these ingredients on hand. :-)

Salt's Cure - My new favorite place