I have sworn off New Year’s Eve parties. There’s always too much pressure and I’ve found that it always falls short of expectation. I’ve had memorable ones though, including one time many, many years ago Queen Viv, Miss America and some friends accidentally ate at the wrong restaurant from where we booked at, accidentally forgot to pay the bill and we lost Queen Viv (she was busy being sick from too much champagne a few streets away). And please believe me when I say that we have never skipped on a bill, eaten at the wrong restaurant or lost Queen Viv prior or since this incident.
Bleigießen figurines
This year we had intended to book into a restaurant and take advantage of Sydney’s spectacular harbour views and let someone else cook. But then my friend M told me about Austrian NYE traditions and I was instantly intrigued. In Austria they use tin ornaments called Bleigießen as Oracles.
You choose a tin shape (there’s a variety although they all weigh the same) and melt it on a spoon, and then cool it in a cup of water and you can tell your New Year’s fortune through the shapes. Call it a Teutonic version of tea leaf reading! M’s sister sent her 2 sets and M bought 2 sets on ebay. Sod the restaurant, we were having a party! Oops sorry, curse that word, we were just having a small get together.
Melting my little toadstool
Once melted it was poured into cold water sounded with a loud crack
We patiently burnt the red hot lead shapes and quickly poured the liquid into a glass of cold water and “read” our fortune using the key provided. My fortune, what sort of looked like a dragon signaled not to lose my temper (haha!); my husband’s was “Don’t get too full of yourself”; Queen Viv’s was a Demon who warned against seducers; M’s said that she was a good person; S’s said that he will be spoilt (haha too late!) and In’s said he needs to be patient for good fortune.
My husband’s bird shape fortune
I thought I’d combine this with a Japanese NYE celebration (Ohmisoka). Even though I’m not Japanese I adore Japan and I have lots of fond memories of NYE Hatsumōde celebrations in Tokyo walking through Meiji shrine after midnight in the brisk cold with several thousand Japanese, with clouds of cold breath and the rhythmic crunching sound of thousands of feet against the tiny pebbles that lay on the walk. Bells ring 108 times to help ring away the evils of the previous year. Everyone was jolly, after all for Japanese it is a time to forget the old grievances and start anew. The idea behind Hatsumōde is the idea of experiencing things for the firsts of that year and this would be the first sunrise.
Cold Soba, dipping sauce and wasabi
I recall reading in my trusty copy of Japan Times how noodles, longtime considered a good luck item in Asian cuisine, are eaten in Japan particularly the Toshikoshi soba noodle variety (Toshikoshi literally meaning “being close”). My Zarusoba (cold soba noodles with dipping sauce) was an attempt to combine the tradition of eating Soba noodles with a weather friendly option. During Japan’s swelteringly humid Summer, cold Soba is the dish many turn to to cool them down. I know because I’d often eat this to help sustain me and it worked a treat.
Mochi sweet desserts
Ozoni soup, an item I had at Iron Chef Michiba’s fantastic Ginza restaurant is also served which is a clear broth with meat, vegetables and chewy mochi rice flour balls. Mochi pounding is said to be a holiday activity. Sadly the amount of the ultra chewy mochi eating over the break means that many elderly Japanese choke on it and in 2003 there were 6 people who died. The holiday mochi death toll is usually published in newspapers on January 2nd.
Tokyo Mart, Northbridge
Another New Year’s ritual is Susuharai, or soot-sweeping – that is cleaning of the house. This was a bit harder to convince Mr NQN that it was actually part of a tradition rather than a ruse to get him to clean up. For our supplies we visited Tokyo Mart in Northbridge and whilst they didn’t have any Toshikoshi soba or Kadomatsu (floral decorations for outside the house), we stocked up on ingredients for the Ozoni soup.
A NYE party, ahem… I mean gathering, always calls for a cocktail. A Pomegranate cocktail was on the order as with each year there’s a New Year’s Resolution to pay attention to health. The lovely people at POM Wonderful sent me some bottles, glasses and a cocktail shaker and I was more than happy to try these. Apart from the many health benefits (cardiovascular, antioxidant, erectile and prostate), I’d even spotted these in Rita’s refrigerator on Dexter (Season 3 Ep 1) and if it’s good enough for my favourite serial killer’s girlfriend, it’s good enough for me 
And as always Dexter was right, it’s a sweet but tart and almost syrupy juice, like cranberry’s healthier cousin (and better looking cousin-yes I’m a sucker for packaging).
As for the fireworks, we get a lovely view of all 4 sets of Sydney fireworks from our place. Happy 2009 everyone! I hope it’s a year filled with much love, luck, happiness and food
Lots of love,
Lorraine/NQN
xxx
Cold Soba (Zarusoba)
Serves 6
- 500g/1 pound dried Soba noodles
- 400ml/13.5ozs bottle of Soba dipping sauce
- 1/2 cup finely sliced Spring onions/shallots
- 2 tablespoons Sesame oil
- 1 Dried seaweed sheet (Nori) cut into little matchsticks
- 3 tablespoons Sesame seeds toasted in a dry pan until golden
- A small amount of Wasabi according to taste
1. In a large pot of boiling water (no need to salt), cook soba noodles as directed on the packet (about 4-5 minutes), just al dente, not too soft on a simmer not a rolling boil like pasta). Plunge in a bowl of ice water to cool immediately and once cooled, strain OR just run cold water over them immediately until cold and strain. Ensure that the water runs clear, you may have to rinse this a few times.
2. When ready to serve, place soba noodles on a dish and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds and sliced seaweed strips with wasabi on the side. In a separate bowl, place Soba dipping sauce, sesame oil and thinly sliced spring onions. Dip the refreshingly cold soba into the sauce and slurp heartily.
NB the Soba can be cooked ahead of time earlier in the day and chilled until ready to eat (ensure all water is strained). As long as you’ve washed out the starch it should be ok. Just re-rinse under cold water and drain to refresh.
Ozoni Soup
Recipe makes 4-6 servings if served with an entree
Ingredients
- 4-6 teaspoons dashi powder (or stock powder)
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1.5 litres/1.5 quarts of water
- 1 stick of Naruto Maki Fish cake (available at Japanese grocery stores)
- 1 packet of Fried Age Fish cake (”Age” means fried not old, available at Japanese grocery stores)
- 2 medium carrots sliced into flowers
- 18 snow peas
- 18 dried shiitake mushrooms
- 12 mochi rice cakes (I prefer round for a soup)
- Shallots/spring onions to serve
Directions
1. Soak shiitake in a bowl of warm water until soft. Reserve soaking liquid.
2. Slice carrots into a flower shape or whatever shape you wish and top and tail snowpeas. Slice stick of Naruto Maki Fish Cake into thin discs.
3. Put 1.5 litres/quarts of water to boil and add dashi and shiitake mushrooms and soaking liquid.
4. Cook carrots and mochi and add fish cake slices. When mochi is soft throughout (about 3 minutes if cooking from frozen), serve soup with a scattering of green onions on top.
Pomegranate Cocktail
One of the very few times that Nigella steered me wrong was with her method of extracting the seeds from the Pomegranate. She suggested cutting it in half, getting a wooden or heavy spoon and thwacking the shell hard to have the seeds rain down. They did rain down – sort of, but some steadfastly refused to leave the relative shelter of the shell and whilst I had some fun whacking at it, when I looked down at my clothes, I saw something similar to what a serial killer looks like after a night out… well, serial killing. My husband has never forgiven me for ruining his favourite tshirt and even now whenever we buy Pomegranates he is hesitant, asking me suspiciously how I’m going to take out the seeds.
The best way I’ve found is by cutting the Pomegranate in quarters. Then using your fingers or a small teaspoon prise out the seeds. You can bend the shell back and the seeds wil uncover themselves and you can slip them out with your fingers. For this cocktail, try and remove all traces of the cabbagey white folds that the seeds cling onto as it will detract from the rubied drink.
- 3 ozs/85ml raspberry vodka
- 6 ozs/170ml Pom Wonderful juice, chilled
- 6 ozs/170ml lemonade, chilled
- Ice cubes
- Seeds from 1 pomegranate
1. Combine vodka and juice in a cocktail shaker and shake to combine. Top with lemonade and serve in martini glasses with Pomegranate seeds.
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38 Comments | Add your own
The fortune figurines are really cool!
Happy New Year to you, too. I enjoyed reading your post and learning the different cultural traditions in ushering in the new year. We eat 12 grapes representing the 12 months. Lovely pics!
Happy New Year!
You’re lucky to not have to leave home to see the fireworks.
I love zarusoba, I make it very often as it’s a very simple meal. Your ozoni soup looks good, I’ll have to try it one day.
p.s Nice nails!
x
Happy New Year! Those figurines are so interesting. I wasn’t aware of that tradition before. They are so cute though, that it seems a shame to melt them
I’ve never heard of that custom! It’s really neat though. Your husband’s tin shape looked like a dancer to me.
Happy New Year! My family made mochi last weekend for new years…I gave some to my friend and warned her, don’t choke!
Happy new year NQN, and thank God I am not the only one who can’t whack a pomegranate like Nigella, I thought it was only me! I made Nigella’s festive cous cous this Christmas with pomegranate on top – I also had to use fingers and a spoon, no way does that work except in TV land!!
Happy New Year! I really toyed with the idea of coming for NYE for the fireworks. I’m glad you got to enjoy them!
Hey NQN,
Happy New Year, May 2009 bring you a lot of happiness and success!
I’m hoping it brings me lots of yummy food!
happy new year, lorraine…wishing you a fabulous 2009! those fortune figurines are amazing…wow! never heard or seen them before! what a great thing to do!
Happy New Year! I’ve recently found the best method to extract pomegranate seeds is to quarter them then soak in a bowl of water for about 10-15 minutes. Then use your hands to gently prise them out. I find using spoons etc kills too many of the precious seeds…
Happy New Year ^^! The Bleigießen fortune reading is very interesting and sounds like fun hee hee I want to try! Happy eating in 2009!
Happy New Year! Cut pomegranates into quarters, submerge into a bowl of water, invert the peels, and pop the seeds out with your fingers to avoid the stains.
Happy New Year Lorraine. I love the concept of reading your fortune by melting tin, and ooh you can’t beat zaru soba on a hot summer’s day – or mochi! yum yum!.
Happy New Year! I’m looking forward to read more of your food adventures!
Hi Arwen-They’re fabulous indeed and so interesting!
Hi Bren-Thanks so much, I love learing about other cultures too
What a great tradition, I’ve never heard of that! :O Happy New Year!
Hi Su-yin-We are indeed, we’re lucky we get to see them from the comfort of our place and saves us jostling elbows!
It’s so nice in Summer, I should definitely make it more as it doesn’t get much easier than that. Thanks, I was hoping for a festive nail look!
Hi Y-I had no idea either until my friend M told me about it. I’m leaning all about Austria which is fun!
Hi Blond Duck-I can definitely see the dancer in the shape too!
Hi food librarian-Happy New Year to you too!
Oh that’s so nice of you and good to warn her too. I told everyone to chew and about the death toll but I think that just excited people 
Hi Paula-haha I always thought it was just me (or the pomegranate I had bought). Good to know we aren’t the only ones! The couscous sounds lovely. Happy New Year Paula!
Hi Barbara-Happy New Year! Oh yes that would have been a wonderful time. Maybe another year you could come back for NYE?
Hi Cappucino-Thankyou so much and Happy New Year to you too and I hope it brings you neverending food and the ability for me to send you food via an ultrafast safe means
Hi Sinead-Happy New Year to you and your loved ones! Hope you’re having a great time in Bali and so glad to see that you’re baking the cupcakes!
Hi Reemski-Happy New Year! Yes soaking would be a great idea. I used a demitasse spoon so it was pretty small but mostly my fingers as they were able to get into the little crevasses holding all the seeds.
Hi FFichiban-It’s fabulous, although the interpretations are in German so you might need a bit of translating for that but it’s ever so much fun! Happy New Year to you!
Hi pumpkinpie -Cool! Sounds like soaking them is definitely the way to do it. Happy New Year!
Hi Lilia-Thankyou so much! Happy New Year to you too!
sounds like quite a party – oops – get together! I like learning about foreign traditions and would love a glass of that cocktail (and I know the serial killer look of the pomegranate – had that look in my kitchen after pitting cherries on new year’s eve) – happy new year lorraine!
Happy new year!
Great cocktail..n certainly thanks to POM.
Loved that oracle…u bet its intruiging.
Happy New Year
hugs
navita
well darn. i wish we had fireworks to ring in the new year.
happy 2009, lorraine!
In Finland there is also a similar New Year tradition of melting tin, but instead of the cute Austrian figurines only ordinary simple tin rods were melted. After reading about your Austrian New Year I remembered this childhood family tradition and the excitement of seeing into the future by looking at the magical transformation of tin into beautiful tiny sculptures.
Fun! I love Ozoni soup…
Happy New Year darling! Those POM cocktails look wonderful. And the red nails… oh my!
When we made cold soba with dipping at Kai’s noodle making class, after you’d finished dipping and eating your noodles, she put some of the hot noodle cooking water into the dipping sauce and we drank it. It was delicious.
Hi Johanna-Ah yes the red fruit, so juicy but so deadly looking
Happy New Year Johanna! 
Hi Kevin-Happy New Year to you too!
Hi Navita-I loved doing the Bleigeissen! Made for a very interesting NYE
Happy new Year to you too darling! *hugs*
Hi grace-Wow you don’t have fireworks? I assumed everywhere had them. A good reason to come to Australia I think!
Happy 2009 Grace! 
Hi tuulikki-It’s definitely a great way to look forward to the new year! I didn’t realise they did that in Finland too.
Hi Jude-Oh cool, it’s great!
Hi Christie-Welcome back and Happy 2009 dahlink! I felt red was very festive
Hi SydneyGal-What did it taste like? A soup? Interesting, if I had known, I would have saved it. They were advertising that class at the Tokyo Mart.
Arrrgh ok well I’ll change it but I’ll have to edit your comment too. But you do know, as far as spoilers go, that is a very minor one!
I enjoyed your post.
May I suggest an easier way to harvest pomegranate seeds
cut or break pomegranate in half, then immerse it in a bowl of cold water. let it soak for several minutes, the white membranes will become soft, then underwater, peel away the membranes and slightly aggitate the water. the seeds will sink and membrane float. just drain the seeds after collecting the debris
Hi sharon-Thankyou. That definitely sounds like a good way to do it, thanks
Happy New Year! Love all the information about the Japanese celebration, and who can go past a pretty pink/red pomegranate cocktail?
Hi Cakelaw-Happy New Year to you too!
Thanks, I always love learning about how each culture celebrates it and I have to say, the Japanese have a lovely way of doing so. Meanwhile I’m addicted to the Pom juice 
What part of Sydney are you in, we can see all 4 sets of Fireworks from our place in the Italian Forum which is why we’ve decided to start an annual party rather than the horror of cabs, bookings and seedy nightclubs.
Hi Amaya-We live on the Lower North Shore so probably the opposite vista to you guys.
I’ve never seen those tin figures before; they’re so cute that I’m not sure I’d be able to melt them!
Anyway, happy new year!
Lorraine,
I am absolutely smitten with those figurines!!!
I can not wait for an excuse to buy some and use them. I think this is the single most adorable discovery I have made so far this year…. Thank you!!!
Happy New Year
Ali
x
Hi Su-lin-I know, they’re so adorable and quite detailed so it feels funny to melt them but melting them is quite fun I have to say. Happy New Year to you too!
Hi pea and pear-For next year if you’re interested you can get them on ebay. I’m so glad that you like them. My friend M is such a fabulous ambassador for all things Austrian! Happy New Year Ali!
x
As you can tell, I’m WAY behind on my blog reading! I LOVED this post, it made me totally “homesick” for Japan. I love all of the Japanese New Years foods, especially ozoni! So glad you had such a wonderful New Year!
Hi Fuji Mama-Welcome back! Aww yes it did the same for me. Ozoni is so delicious isn’t it! Happy New Year to you and your family!
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