An Introduction to Seven-Herb Gratin Toast for Parents Who Want to Be Popular
(To the kids)Do you want to be popular?!
(To the kids)Do you want to be told it's delicious?!
For those of you who shouted "Yeah!" and raised your fists, I recommend serving the seven herbs as gratin toast instead of porridge on the upcoming January 7th.
Balancing the "ideal" breakfast with "popularity" (what kids like) is a difficult challenge.
A menu that is nutritious, colorful with seasonal ingredients, incorporates Japanese culture and events, and is enjoyed by the whole family with smiles...
Even if you have such ideals, it is realistically quite difficult. I suspect many parents have experienced that a parent's enthusiasm is not proportional to a child's reaction.
What about seven-herb porridge?
I will state this upfront: I am a porridge supporter. The culture of wishing for good health, the gratitude for soothing a stomach exhausted from a series of feasts. Intelligence and peace. The white and green have a sense of transparency. Seven-herb porridge is the best. If I were to marry, it would be seven-herb porridge.
However, whether that leads to popularity—that is, being liked by children—is another story. After all, there are many things in this world that captivate children.
Can seven-herb porridge beat character bread? Can it beat muffins or smoothies packed with bananas?
It is a cruel reality, but that is what it means to beat the cuties at breakfast. There are mornings when you cannot fight with just intelligence and transparency.
In fact, in our home, we have suffered consecutive defeats for the past few years. Even when I tried making it into a risotto or using plum, shiso, or yuzu, the children's reactions were lackluster.
Should I just skip the event this year? But I don't want to throw away the seasonal atmosphere entirely...
I want to send our dear seven-herb porridge to the front lines of popularity!
I did not give up.
After repeated passionate thoughts and mental simulations,the embodiment of popularity, "Seven-Herb Gratin Toast,"was born.
Crispy toasted bread with the creaminess of white sauce. And on top, the green of the seven herbs adds a soft splash of color.
As a major premise, bread alone is popular with children.
Gratin for breakfast also has a special feel, making it even more popular.
x = Popularity × Popularity (not ×2, but squared)
I want you to try solving this equation of popularity.
Yes, the answer is
x (Seven-Herb Gratin Toast) =∞Popularity
Infinite popularity. Infinity popularity. Even I, who am bad at math, can solve this. There is no way this wouldn't be popular.
Imagining such a breakfast that is too popular with popular toast, I eagerly bought the seven herbs.
If you prepare the white sauce by the day before, the morning will be easier. You can make it in the microwave, and it can also be frozen.
The ratio is 1:1:10 for flour (we use rice flour), butter, and milk (soy milk is fine too). Adding nutmeg or consommé is standard, but combining it with mentsuyu to make it Japanese-style is also delicious. *In that case, use a little less milk.
(In our house, we love using Happo-dashi, a mentsuyu with extra dashi.)
Spread it on bread and top with the seven herbs.
Top with cheese and bake.
It would have been even better with breadcrumbs.
......Would you like to know just how popular I became with my children?
It was a dream-like morning. Every second button on their uniforms was snatched away, and a storm of kisses covered every inch of exposed skin... It goes without saying that I, with a huge grin on my face, had the sound of Dom Perignon calls ringing through the floor.
I believe it's best to enjoy culture and events in your own way, within your own limits. It's fine to enjoy them in the classic way, or to arrange them for your own family. Food is more forgiving than you might think.
As for the seven herbs, I went all-in on popularity this year, but I'm sure the day will come when I can enjoy the compassionate deliciousness of porridge with my children. As long as you're alive, the texture and direction of popularity, as well as people's tastes, will change. That change is something to look forward to as well.
Anyway, if you are looking for a seven-herb menu that will make you popular with your children, please consider this gratin toast arrangement. I am secretly praying that on the morning of January 7th, there will be happy screams at every dining table.
🍚 back number 🍞
[Dish 1]The Beginning of Autumn, and Dragon Fruit
[Dish 2]Pizza Toast of Hope
[Dish 3]For Now, Egg Drop Soup
[Dish 4]Tofu Shiratama Dumplings for Days When You Feel Cynical
[Dish 5]As Expected, Radish Leaf Furikake
[Dish 6]Go! Canned Mackerel Curry Toast
[Dish 7]Gluttony Over Salmon Roe Bowls and Autumn Psychological Warfare
[Dish 8]Morning5-Minute Stewed Apple-Style Jam