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Umami Days

Umami Days

Congee days and ramen nights

  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Main courses
    • Side dishes
    • Sweets
    • Snacks
    • Beverages
  • Cooking tips
    • Kitchen how-tos
    • Cooking ingredients
    • Kitchen tools
  • Food stories
  • Umami Art Club
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Salads
    • Soups
    • Main courses
    • Side dishes
    • Sweets
    • Snacks
    • Beverages
  • Cooking tips
    • Kitchen how-tos
    • Cooking ingredients
    • Kitchen tools
  • Food stories
  • Umami Art Club

Kitchen

Divided into three sub-categories — ingredients, how-tos and tools — this section includes tips on choosing a kitchen countertop (in case you're remodeling) and kitchen organizing.

Dill growing in the garden

What is dill? Is it the same as dill weed?

An annual herb that's related to celery, fennel and parsley, both leaves and seeds of dill are edible. Dill leaves are also known as dill weed (or dillweed).

Read more →What is dill? Is it the same as dill weed?
Boiled pork and vegetable soup

The smart way to reheat meat and vegetable soup

Meat and vegetable soup is lovely when newly cooked. But, when reheated, the vegetables get overcooked to a mush. How can that be avoided? I have a trick.

Read more →The smart way to reheat meat and vegetable soup
Scooping tomato core and seeds with teaspoon

Should tomato core and seeds be removed?

In most cases, there is no need to scoop out the core and seeds of the tomato. In some cases, it is advisable (though not essential) to remove them. Read on.

Read more →Should tomato core and seeds be removed?
Oregano with white flowers

Oregano in the kitchen and garden

A culinary herb and staple of Mediterranean cuisines, true oregano grows in spikes during warm and sunny weather, and has tiny leaves.

Read more →Oregano in the kitchen and garden
Mortar and pestle made of unpolished granite

Mortar and pestle for the home kitchen

Stone or wood? Polished or unpolished? Smooth or coarse? We've gone through dozens of mortars and pestles, and here's what we learned.

Read more →Mortar and pestle for the home kitchen
Ube rolls by Alex Veneracion

Purple yam (ube) and halaya (jam)

It is Dioscorea alata, a purple-colored tuber (not be confused with taro or purplish sweet potato). We grow it in the garden to make halaya (jam).

Read more →Purple yam (ube) and halaya (jam)
Dried black fungus and shiitake before and after rehydrating

How to rehydrate dried mushrooms

Yes, you just soak them in water. But what should be the temperature of the water? And how long do they need to soak? How do you know when they are sufficiently …

Read more →How to rehydrate dried mushrooms
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Created by a human for humans · Copyright © 2026 Connie Veneracion · All Rights Reserved