Spring's Revenge

It is an intensely cold day. After an unseasonably warm September, it's almost as if a disgruntled Spring enlisted the help of Winter to fight off an over-zealous Summer which could not contain itself until December. So Nathan has taken to warming himself under the only heater we've got, that being the light in the bathroom, whilst I've spent the day with frozen extremities, huddled under a blanket. I'd really like to, for literary exhibitionism, describe in great detail the way the dark clouds rolled in to form an iron-grey sky, the howling winds stripping trees and bougainvilleas of their modesty, but DAMN, my fingers are cold.

Instead, here's a great recipe which entails broiling, so the oven doubles as a heater.

Daphne’s Nasu no Dengaku

One medium eggplant sliced in half and scored

50ml mirin

50ml sake

1 level tblsn caster sugar

3 large tblsn miso

toasted sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS

Combine mirin, sake and sugar in a small saucepan. Bring to boil, lower heat and simmer until sugar dissolves. Add miso and reduce until mixture becomes a sticky sauce.

Brush eggplant with sesame oil and broil until cooked. Spoon sauce over and return to oven for about 1-2min until sauce is brown and bubbly. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.