Summer signals the start of freedom: School vacations, celebrations of independence in the US and France. Thanks to a #SundaySupper Twitter chat, you’ll also be able escape a hot kitchen while temperatures soar. A treasure trove of tips and no-bake recipes will be shared. Scroll down and you’ll see details on how to attend the Summer Chillin’ #SundaySupper hosted by one of the smartest bloggers on the web, Alaiyo Kiasi of Pescetarian Journal. (Apologies to my friends shivering in Argentina and Australia, this post may not be very helpful.)
A minimum of prep work and a maximum of dessert pleasure:
Raspberry and Japanese Yuzu Citrus Bar
Delicate raspberries and puckery yuzu citrus are a heavenly flavor combo so I’m contributing No-Bake Raspberry and Japanese Yuzu Citrus Bars. Crushing Pocky (Japanese chocolate covered biscuit sticks) for the crust of my Summer Chillin’ dessert, I thought about all the “cool” festivals which occur in summertime Japan. Like the Tanabata Festival. The Japanese festival celebrates the one night where the Romeo and Juliet of the star system, Altair, the Cowherd Star and Vega, the Weaver Star reunite.
The summertime sky allows the Romeo and Juliet of Japan
to reunite during the Tanabata Festival.
Photo Courtesy of 123rf.com
The Milky Way separates the two stars during the year. However, on the seventh eve of the seventh month, the lovers reunite. Depending on a region’s adherence to the solar or lunar calendar, the festival occurs on July 7th or August 7th. Prayers and wishes written on brightly colored paper are hung on bamboo trees during this time. Many hope that like the lovers they will realize their heart’s desires.
Tanabata Festival prayers and decorations dangle on
bamboo branches in the summer.
Photo Courtesy of 123rf.com
Spirits of deceased relatives are also said to return for a summertime visit during the Obon Festival. (Again, depending on a tradition of following the lunar or solar calendar, the festival is celebrated in July or August.) The summer ritual includes great taiko drumming and folk dancing. Sometimes even dancing in the streets!
Traditional Japanese Obon folk dancing
Photo Courtesy of 123rf.com
No worries. Nobody dances in the middle of traffic. The Buddhist festival is celebrated on sanctioned streets. Lanterns also play a part in the Obon Festival. As the festivities wind down; the flickering lanterns are tossed onto rivers and lakes so the deceased can safely find their way back to the land of spirits.
Dreamy creamy No-Bake Raspberry and Japanese Yuzu Citrus summertime fun!
So you can find your way into your loved ones’ hearts, I’ve created No-Bake Raspberry and Japanese Yuzu Citrus Bars. Biting into the summertime dessert is summer fun! A crunchy chocolaty Pocky crust says cheers as a creamy citrus center dotted with pretty raspberries sweeps in with a sweet pucker.
