On cold winter nights in Tokyo I loved nothing more than sliding my legs under the warm kotatsu table and enjoying a big pot of nabe. Nabemono (or simply nabe) is a  Japanese dish that is also known as “one pot” food. It can consist of a variety of ingredients: fish, meat, chicken, tofu, vegetables, noodles, or a combination of all. Probably the most well-known types of nabe here in the U.S. are sukiyaki and shabu shabu.

For a teacher on a meager salary in blindingly expensive Japan this was a fairly economical meal to prepare, yet it seemed so expensive and exotic. I’d go into the basement of the Sogo department store (where all the foods were) and pick a bit of vegetable here, a little tofu there, some thinly sliced beef, noodles, and whatever else looked good. All got thrown into the pot with either a dashi or soy sauce-based broth. Perfect with hot sake or an ice cold Kirin beer.

With a houseful of family here for the holidays we decided to put together a nabe meal, something everyone could enjoy cooking together at the table. In the center we placed our little portable stove with our nabe pot, and put out platters of paper thin pork, brisket, and beef short rib; mizuna (Japanese mustard greens), fish cake, eggplant, and sliced shiitake mushrooms; vegetable tofu and little tied bundles of konnyaku noodles (a yam-based noodle); tender scallops and shrimp.

I know everyone is happy when their hashi (chopsticks) are click-clicking away and their sake cups are frequently in need of refilling.

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We’re all busy this time of year. On top of the craziness of the season some of us are plagued by colds and longer commutes due to icy roads, are frantically wrapping up the 4th quarter at work, or working long hours launching a new business (hey, that’s us!). Few of us have the luxury of a private chef. Or a even butler named Hobson to take your coat and offer you a hot toddy when you return home. How nice would that be! Sigh…

Pull out that crockpot, fill it with a few choice ingredients, and when you come home from work you can pretend that Hobson spent all day whipping up a perfect hot meal for you. After a long hard day there’s nothing like coming home to the aromas of a hearty home-cooked meal. Just lift the lid and serve.

Beef Pot Roast

Large cut of beef pot roast
2 cups red wine
2 cups water
Yellow potatoes, quartered
Onions, quartered
Carrots, roughly chopped
1 Bay leaf
1 sprig rosemary
2 cloves garlic
Salt and pepper

Marinate the meat overnight in the red wine, keeping liquid after marination. Sear both sides of the roast then place in the crockpot. Add all other ingredients, including the red wine marinade, cover and set crockpot to manufacturers recommended setting.

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