How to Grow Green Onions in Water : My 2022 Experiment

 

How to Grow Green Onions in Water : My 2022 Experiment

       In 2022, I decided to grow green onions in water at home. The main reason was the dramatic price increase, with green onions jumping from $0.25-$0.98 per bunch to around $3. As green onions are essential in Japanese cuisine, I felt the need to grow them myself. Although I generally don’t recommend home gardening to save money (as noted in my previous entry, “Money Saving Mistake I Made #1: Growing Vegetables”), the inflation in green onion prices in 2022 led me to give it a shot after many years. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the experience, even though I only did it for a month. Now that green onion prices have returned to pre-pandemic levels, I no longer grow them at home. However, I wanted to share my experience with my readers. I took many photos for this post and should have shared it sooner. Today, I’ll explain how I grew green onions at home in 2022, inspired by this Japanese YouTube video.

 

What You'll Need

Empty Plastic Bottles

Green Onions with Roots

Scissors

Sharpie (Permanent Marker)

1. Remove the plastic labels from the plastic bottles.

2. Cut the plastic bottle with scissors about 2 inches (5cm) from the top.

         By the way, you'll use the top and bottom pieces of plastic bottles like this below.

3. Prepare green onions. Cut the green tops 1 to 2 inches above the roots. We only need the bulbs with roots, so feel free to use the tops in your cooking.

4. Insert the green onion bulbs into the mouth of the plastic bottle.

5. Fill the bottom of the plastic bottle with water until the roots are almost entirely soaked. Use a Sharpie to mark the water level, so you know how much to pour next time.

Day 1

6. Set your bottles of green onion plants where they can get plenty of sunlight. Change the water once or twice every day.

Day 19

7. Once they’ve regrown beautifully, harvest the tops for your cooking.

         The green onions I grew indoors were delicious with udon noodles. 😋

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1. Why Couldn't You Save Money?

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3. 3 Steps : How to Start Saving Money

4. Cost of Eating Out vs Eating at Home

5. 9 Ways to Save Money on Food - Grocery Shopping

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Hotel Room Tour and Review - Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree National Park

 

Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree National Park

       During our visit to Joshua Tree National Park in April, my husband and I stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms hotel, which is owned by Marriott, for one night. The hotel’s proximity to the park made it easy for us to explore its unique desert plants and animals. We also enjoyed the included breakfast, particularly the great-tasting coffee, which set us up nicely for our day of hiking.

 

Fairfield Inn & Suites Twentynine Palms-Joshua Tree National Park

6333 Encelia Dr

Twentynine Palms, CA 92277-1969

 

Parking

On-Site Parking $10 Daily 

 

Featured and Amenities

Free Coffee and Tea (Their coffee tasted so good!)

Free Continental and Grab n go and Hot Breakfast

Fitness Center

Outdoor Pool

Laundry 

Pets Welcome ($100 per stay, Maximum 2 Pets per Room)

 

 

Studio, King Bed with Sofa Bed Room (288 sq ft)

       The room was both nice and clean, with sufficient space for our stay.

         The room was equipped with a sofa and table, making it easy for us to enjoy the burritos we purchased from Nydia’s Mexican Kitchen, which is just a short distance from the hotel.

        The room featured both a microwave oven and a mini fridge, providing us with the flexibility to store our groceries and heat up meals at our convenience.

         In our room, there was a coffee maker along with a pack of ground coffee. Additionally, complimentary coffee was available near the lobby around the clock, and I believe it was 24/7.

      The bathroom was impeccably clean and featured a spacious vanity countertop, providing ample room for all our toiletries and personal items.

      The fixed showerhead wasn’t as convenient as the handheld ones I prefer, but it did have impressive water pressure.

       In the shower room, there were Alice + Co Botanicals shampoo, conditioner, and body wash available.

Overall

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed their coffee and found the hotel’s location to be incredibly convenient for exploring Joshua Tree National Park. Given the positive experience, I would love to stay at this hotel again the next time I visit the park. The combination of great coffee and a prime location makes it an ideal choice for future trips.

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1.【Hike】Vernal Fall via Mist Trail

2.【Hike】Mirror Lake

3.【Hike】Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point

4. What I Purchased at Yosemite National Park

    This is my entry related to Hawaii hikes.

■ Exploring Paradise: Six Must-Hike Trails on Oahu Island

         If you like hikes, you can check out my previous entries related to hike I tried from the book, 50 Hikes in Orange County.

1. San Gabriel River to Turtle Overlook (Long Beach/Seal Beach)

2. Dana Point Headlands (Dana Point)

3. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (Huntington Beach)

4. Bayview Trail (Newport Beach)

5. Crystal Cove Tide Pools (Newport Beach)

6. Aliso Peak (Laguna Niguel)

7. Pecten Reef Loop (Aliso Viejo)

8. Bommer Canyon (Irvine)

9. Laurel Loop (Laguna Beach) 

10. Mariposa Trail Loop (Laguna Beach)

11. Little Sycamore Canyon Loop (Laguna Beach)

12. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (Irvine)

13. Wood Canyon Trail (Aliso Viejo)

14. San Onofre State Beach (San Clemente / Oceanside)

15. Guna Peak (Laguna Beach) 

16. Oak Canyon Nature Center (Anaheim)

17. Horseshoe Loop at Irvine Regional Park (Orange)

18. Upper Hot Spring Canyon (Lake Elsinore)

     There are my entries related to my hikes I found on AllTrails App.

1. San Clemente Beach Coastal Trail (San Clemente)

2. Talbert Regional Park and Fairview Park (Costa Mesa))

3. Turtle Rock and French Hill Loop (Irvine) 

4. Back Bay Loop Trail (Newport Beach)

5. Black Star Canyon Falls Trail (Silverado)

6. Vernal Fall via Mist Trail (Yosemite National Park) 

7. Mirror Lake (Yosemite National Park)

8. Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point (Yosemite National Park)

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How to Make Crispy Celery and Tofu Skin Salad : A Refreshing Chinese Dish

 

How to Make Crispy Celery and Tofu Skin Salad

        Whenever I visit a Chinese restaurant, I always choose the celery and tofu skin salad, my favorite dish. In Japanese, tofu skin is known as yuba (湯葉), a traditional delicacy in both Japanese and Chinese cuisine made from soybeans. As a Japanese person, I think of yuba as a luxurious part of traditional Kyoto cuisine, typically enjoyed at fancy ryotei (料亭). Kyoto (京都) has many yuba restaurants, which has always made me curious about how Chinese tofu skin salad is made. After watching this YouTube video, I learned that it’s made from dried bean curd sticks, which I hadn’t seen in Japan. A month ago, I found dried bean curd sticks at my local Chinese supermarket and decided to make celery and tofu skin salad based on the video. Today, I’m going to share with you how I made this refreshing Chinese cold salad.

Dried Bean Curd Sticks

 

Ingredients (12 Servings)

 6 oz (170g) of Dried Bean Curd Sticks, Tofu Skin

1 Bunch of Celery Sticks (12 Sticks)

1 Tablespoon of Soy Sauce

3 Cloves of Garlic (Minced)

1 Red Chili Pepper (Minced)

1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil

1 Tablespoon of Sesame Seed Oil

Salt

 

 

1. Prepare the Bean Curd Sticks: Let the bean curd sticks sit in warm water for 15-20 minutes until they become soft. Once softened, cut them into small pieces.

        If the dried bean curd sticks are too long to soak in warm water, break them into smaller pieces to fit in the bowl.

2. Prepare the Celery: Separate the celery stalks from the bunch and cut them into pieces. Boil a pot of water with a pinch of salt, add the celery, and cook for 1 minute to soften. Remove the celery, rinse with cold water, and drain thoroughly.

3. Cook the Bean Curd Sticks : Use the same boiling and rinsing process for the bean curd sticks.

4. Mix Ingredients : Combine the celery and bean curd sticks in a large bowl. Add the soy sauce and mix thoroughly.

5.  Prepare the Dressing: In a small pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red chili pepper. Stir for 10-15 seconds, then remove from the heat and pour over the celery and bean curd mixture. Combine them thoroughly.

6. Lastly, drizzle the sesame oil and mix thoroughly. Add salt to adjust the seasoning as required.

7. Serve and Enjoy!

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Hiking Adventures in Joshua Tree National Park: My Top 5 Hikes

 

     My husband and I visited Joshua Tree National Park in April. The springtime blooms of the desert plants were stunning, and we were lucky enough to see some desert animals for the first time due to our frequent hikes. Today, I’ll be sharing our top five favorite hikes from the trip.

     Before hiking in Joshua Tree National Park, be sure to bring plenty of water and wear heat protection such as high SPF sunscreen, a high UPF hat, and clothing to protect yourself from heat exhaustion. It’s also a good idea to start your hike before 9 AM or after 5 PM.

 

 

 

1. Mastodon Peak

Moderate

2.63 miles

Mastodon Peak

      Mastodon Peak Trail was my favorite trail in Joshua Tree National Park. Although it was more challenging than I had anticipated, the effort was well worth it. Along the way, I encountered a variety of desert animals and plants that I had never seen before, making the hike an unforgettable experience. 

Mastodon Peak

Mastodon Peak

Ocotillo

       I found the ocotillo plant particularly interesting. At that time, its branches were covered with numerous green, oval-shaped leaves, thanks to the spring rains in April. The seasonal moisture brought the desert landscape to life, making the ocotillo’s vibrant foliage stand out even more.  

Mastodon Peak

Mastodon Peak

      While I was climbing up to Mastodon Peak, I found some interesting lizards. It was my first time seeing a common chuckwalla, which was quite exciting.

Common Chuckwalla

          These lizards are native to the desert and have a unique appearance that really caught my eye.

Common Chuckwalla

The Summit of Mastodon Peak

          While at the summit of Mastodon Peak, we enjoyed rice balls and marveled at the breathtaking view. The serene environment and the beautiful landscape made our meal feel like a special moment.

2. Heart Rock and Arch Rock via Arch Rock Trail

Easy

1.96 miles

Heart Rock and Arch Rock via Arch Rock Trail

        This trail was quite easy, and along the way, you can see the famous Heart Rock and Arch Rock. These unique rock formations add a special touch to the hike, making it both enjoyable and memorable.

Heart Rock and Arch Rock via Arch Rock Trail

Heart Rock and Arch Rock via Arch Rock Trail

Heart Rock and Arch Rock via Arch Rock Trail

       As you make your way toward Arch Rock, you’ll encounter several Joshua trees along the path. Their unique shapes and striking presence add to the beauty of the hike.

Joshua Tree

Arch Rock

        There were many large rocks in the area, and we climbed up to Arch Rock, a famous natural arch in Joshua Tree National Park.

Arch Rock

Heart Rock

        Heart Rock was adorable, and many people were taking photos with it. This unique rock formation, shaped like a heart, is located near the Arch Rock trail and stands about 10 feet tall.

Northwestern Indian Paintbrush

          You can enjoy seeing unique rock formations on the Arch Rock Trail, including the impressive Arch Rock itself and other fascinating geological features that make the hike truly memorable.

3. Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Moderate

3.19 miles

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

       We wanted to see the oasis in the vast desert. The Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail is a 3-mile round-trip hike. It’s a moderate hike in the early morning or evening, when the temperatures are cooler and the sun is less intense. However, if you hike around noon, it becomes very difficult due to the lack of shade and the intense desert heat.    

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

       A warning sign at the trailhead alerts hikers. Each year, rangers and volunteers rescue many people from heat exhaustion on this trail, so it’s crucial to be well prepared before you begin.

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

       While visiting Fortynine Palms Oasis, I tried to count the palm trees. I couldn’t count them all, but it seemed like there were more than 49. Despite its name, the oasis now has more than 49 palms, as more have grown over time.

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Fortynine Palms Oasis Trail

Brittlebush

4. Ryan Mountain

Moderate

3.11 miles

Ryan Mountain

     Ryan Mountain is one of the most popular hiking trails in Joshua Tree National Park. The 3-mile round trip can feel quite long, especially in the desert.  I visited in April around noon, but luckily, it wasn’t as hot as usual because it had rained earlier. The wind also helped keep us cool. We thoroughly enjoyed our hike on the Ryan Mountain Trail that day.

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain

Ryan Mountain

Mojave Yucca

         While hiking, I encountered several unique trees. I first assumed they were young Joshua Trees, but I later found out they were Mojave Yuccas.

Ryan Mountain

      Once you reach the top of the Ryan Mountain Trail, you’ll experience incredible 360-degree scenery of Joshua Tree National Park.

Ryan Mountain

5. Cholla Cactus Garden

Easy

0.31 miles

Cholla Cactus Garden

        The Cholla Cactus Garden, with its numerous teddy bear cholla cacti, is a top photography spot in Joshua Tree National Park. When I visited in April, the blooming cactus flowers added an extra layer of beauty to the scene.

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden

       The 0.3-mile loop trail may have been short, but it was filled with the enchanting sight of numerous teddy bear cholla cacti, making it a delightful walk.

Hedgehog Cactus

       I also enjoyed seeing the spring flowers of the hedgehog cactus, which added to the beauty of the experience.

Cholla Cactus Garden

Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus

     The unique sight of numerous teddy bear cholla cacti was unforgettable.

Beavertail Cactus

       The Beavertail Cactus was flowering beautifully.

Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus

      These are my entries related to Yosemite National Park.

1.【Hike】Vernal Fall via Mist Trail

2.【Hike】Mirror Lake

3.【Hike】Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point

4. What I Purchased at Yosemite National Park

    This is my entry related to Hawaii hikes.

■ Exploring Paradise: Six Must-Hike Trails on Oahu Island

         If you like hikes, you can check out my previous entries related to hike I tried from the book, 50 Hikes in Orange County.

1. San Gabriel River to Turtle Overlook (Long Beach/Seal Beach)

2. Dana Point Headlands (Dana Point)

3. Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (Huntington Beach)

4. Bayview Trail (Newport Beach)

5. Crystal Cove Tide Pools (Newport Beach)

6. Aliso Peak (Laguna Niguel)

7. Pecten Reef Loop (Aliso Viejo)

8. Bommer Canyon (Irvine)

9. Laurel Loop (Laguna Beach) 

10. Mariposa Trail Loop (Laguna Beach)

11. Little Sycamore Canyon Loop (Laguna Beach)

12. San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (Irvine)

13. Wood Canyon Trail (Aliso Viejo)

14. San Onofre State Beach (San Clemente / Oceanside)

15. Guna Peak (Laguna Beach) 

16. Oak Canyon Nature Center (Anaheim)

17. Horseshoe Loop at Irvine Regional Park (Orange)

18. Upper Hot Spring Canyon (Lake Elsinore)

     There are my entries related to my hikes I found on AllTrails App.

1. San Clemente Beach Coastal Trail (San Clemente)

2. Talbert Regional Park and Fairview Park (Costa Mesa))

3. Turtle Rock and French Hill Loop (Irvine) 

4. Back Bay Loop Trail (Newport Beach)

5. Black Star Canyon Falls Trail (Silverado)

6. Vernal Fall via Mist Trail (Yosemite National Park) 

7. Mirror Lake (Yosemite National Park)

8. Four Mile Trail to Glacier Point (Yosemite National Park)

       My entries related to wild animals can be seen here.

       My entries related to hiking and walking can be seen here.

       My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.