This time of year is always crazy busy for me. Tough to stay caught up with everything.
How fun, Fi, and for a good cause!
Damien, I have to postpone my project to learn how to make steam buns. For filling, you're using the same mixture that goes into your gyoza dumplings, right? I also have an unused can of sweet red bean in my cupboard, so I'll eventually get around to it and post pics.
Kath, you have a lot on your plate, don't push to hard. You mentioned quail eggs in an earlier post. Although they are available at several local asian markets, I don't buy them often. I wish there was greater general demand for it, and quail. Then, I would feel more confident that what's on the refrigerated shelf is as fresh as can be. If you order chilled buckwheat noodles at a Japanese restaurant, you'll be asked whether you want a quail egg, for cracking open and mixed raw into your dipping sauce.
Here's a simple tsukemono of quail egg that's fun for bento.
1. hard boil (maybe five minutes) and peel
2. refrigerate at least an hour in marinade
3. miso paste, and sweet mirin, maybe 6:1 ratio
Little savory-sweet candy poppers!