People are not sure but it is said in the early 15th century Zenshu, a Chinese priest, brought into Japan a new type of wheat called buckwheat. Buckwheat came in the form of a cookie, which later developed into a pasta called Udon. During the Nara period, it was again transformed into a new type of pasta called Soba. This transformation occurred because of the development of the techniques used for making Soba and Udon. These transformations were made in the same way that Italians made spaghetti, Read more [...]

Generations ago, before the introduction of artificial colorings and egg dying kits, eggs were colored with natural ingredients. Naturally-dyed eggs have an old-fashioned muted look that is an interesting contrast to our modern day egg dyes. Onion skins, which boil down to a rich golden color, were often used in Mediterranean countries, as was the juice of red pomegranates. In fact, decorated eggs have their origin in the Middle East. Egyptians used the egg as a symbol of the universe with Read more [...]