When I was young my Obachan (Aunt Misato), who was spritely right up until the time of her death, would prepare home made creams and lotions. She made these for family and friends, and as gifts for special visitors to take with them. Word would spread around Nagano prefecture’s southern villages that my Obachan would soon be knocking on doors to deliver small jars of sweet smelling cosmetics that she had made by hand. People loved receiving them. And I loved accompanying her on those short delivery runs. It always made me happy knowing that I was related to Obachan – a proud, self-reliant woman in what was, and in many ways still is, a male-dominated society. Although Japan is slowly changing, I know that being a single parent was never...

This is an old standby. My Uncle Ivan loves Caesar Salad. Consequently, I grew up eating it most evenings during the summer months. Believe me, that’s quite some pedigree. I still love the flavour combinations that pervade a well-made Caesar. And, when fresh organic ingredients are used, there’s no salad that comes close to it. Actually, I lie. There are a few other great salads besides this one. But more about those later. Let’s get into some Caesar action. But don’t underestimate this dish. Many people do. They feel that, by virtue of the fact that they’ve had it served to them in a decent restaurant on a handful of occasions, they’re adequately prepared to do it justice. Sometimes, they’re not. And the results can be unflattering....