[Elderly] Feel the Arrival of Spring with Snack Activities! Recommended Menus for March

Three-color agar jelly cake

[Hinamatsuri Cake] Quick and Easy! Hinamatsuri Agar Jelly Cake

At the Doll’s Festival (Hinamatsuri), you often see foods inspired by three colors, such as hishimochi and hina-arare.

This time, we’re introducing a three-color cake made with agar.

Because it uses agar, it’s suitable even for those who find hard foods difficult to chew or swallow.

First, prepare a cake mold.

Next, make the white agar cake mixture.

Heat milk, sugar, and agar to dissolve and combine.

Since we’ll make three colors, add matcha to part of the mixture for green, and food coloring to another portion for pink.

Pour the green agar mixture into the mold and chill.

Once it sets, pour in the white; after that layer sets, add the pink, creating distinct layers.

While the agar is setting, prepare decorative dumplings.

Thoroughly mix shiratamako (glutinous rice flour) with tofu, then divide the dough into four portions.

Use food coloring to tint each portion white, pink, yellow, and green, and roll them into small balls.

Cutting shapes with cookie cutters is also cute.

Boil the dumplings, then place them on the set agar cake.

Finish by garnishing with your favorite fruits and cream for a festive cake that everyone can enjoy.

Please consider using this for your Hinamatsuri recreation!

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kojifumi

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Hinamatsuri Crepe

Strawberry Hina Doll Crepes — for Hinamatsuri

I think many senior care facilities display Hina dolls, but how about preparing edible Hina dolls as well? Make crepe batter with eggs, cake flour, and sugar, and cook it thoroughly on both sides in a frying pan.

Put a ball of sweet red bean paste inside gyuhi made by melting mochi, then wrap it in the crepe like the triangular kimono of the Hina doll.

Leave a small opening where the doll’s head would be and place a strawberry there to finish! All the steps can be done easily while seated, so please try making them together with the seniors.

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SAKI

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Easy botamochi made with a rice cooker

[With a Hack] How to Make Ohagi/Botamochi: Easy in a Rice Cooker | Quick, Time-Saving, and Delicious! Ohagi Recipe and Method — Clear Steps Even for First-Timers, Perfect for the Equinoctial Week!

In March, there is a traditional Japanese event called the Spring Higan.

This time, we’re introducing “botamochi” made with a rice cooker, inspired by the Spring Higan.

You can make three kinds at once: kinako (roasted soybean flour), sesame, and sweet red bean paste.

We cook glutinous rice in the rice cooker along with regular white rice.

Doing so is said to keep the botamochi from hardening over time.

There are plenty of clever tips to make it easily and deliciously, even when homemade.

Some older adults may have made botamochi to offer during Higan.

It’s a recommended activity for March that’s likely to spark nostalgic conversations while you cook.

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Nakajima Junko

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Sakura Panna Cotta

Sakura Panna Cotta [Easy in the Microwave]

This dessert evokes spring with pink, cherry-blossom-flavored jelly atop pure white panna cotta.

Bloom powdered gelatin, then mix it with milk, heavy cream, and sugar, and heat in the microwave.

Let it cool slightly, pour into containers, and chill until set.

Pour the pink liquid extracted from salted cherry blossoms along with jelly mix over the set panna cotta.

Add the salted cherry blossoms, chill again until firm, and it’s done.

With the salted blossoms and their fragrance, it’s a dish that can help older adults feel the spring season.

It can be made while seated, so many seniors are likely to join in for a snack-time activity.

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Nakajima Junko

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strawberry daifuku

Easy in the microwave! How to make Strawberry Daifuku—soft and chewy even after it cools ~ Strawberry Daifuku Mochi Easy Recipe | HidaMari Cooking

How about welcoming spring with a cute Japanese sweet filled with strawberries—ichigo daifuku? You can make it authentically using shiratamako or mochiko, but if you use pre-cut mochi blocks, it’s easy to whip up! Put the mochi blocks, sugar, and water in a bowl and microwave until it forms a gyuhi-like dough.

Dust it all over with potato starch, cut into your preferred sizes, then wrap red bean paste and strawberries inside to finish! Another great option is to fill only with red bean paste and place the strawberry on top.

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SAKI

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Hina-arare (colorful rice crackers for Hinamatsuri)

Easy with kirimochi! Homemade Hina Arare without frying

Hina-arare, a must for the Doll’s Festival.

Traditionally it’s made by deep-frying glutinous rice and the like, but if you use leftover New Year’s kirimochi, you can make it easily without frying! Cut the kirimochi into small pieces and bake them in a preheated oven until crispy.

Put strawberry or matcha powder or kinako into a plastic bag, add the baked mochi once it has cooled slightly, and shake to add flavor and color—that’s it.

When plating, mix the different flavors for a more festive look.

They’re small and easy to eat, but be sure to chew well so you don’t choke.

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SAKI

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matcha parfait

[Super Cheap 30 Yen] Easy Microwave Matcha Jelly for a Homemade Japanese-Style Parfait! Japanese Style Parfait Matcha Jelly

Matcha parfaits are packed with traditional Japanese elements and are a great dessert recommendation for seniors.

With mildly sweet components like matcha and sweet red bean paste, they’re easy to enjoy.

Today I’ll show you how to make a matcha parfait.

First, make the main component: matcha jelly.

Simply mix matcha powder, gelatin, and sugar, then let it set—that’s it! After that, it’s just an easy task of arranging all the components.

The real skill shows in how you plate it.

It looks luxurious and I think it’s the perfect dessert for a Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) party.

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Nanaka

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