Happy Thanksgiving! Amazing how many Americans ask me if they celebrate Thanksgiving in Japan? Of course not, other countries do not celebrate Americans being thankful that the first European settlers were helped by native Americans to survive. I do celebrate Thanksgiving no matter where I am because I'm American and it's my tradition. My Japanese family enjoys the food. This year I made sweet potato pie because I couldn't find any canned pumpkin. I found a really good recipe try it.

Ingredients

• 1 (1 pound) sweet potato
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 (9 inch) unbaked pie crust

Directions

• Boil sweet potato whole in skin for 40 to 50 minutes, or until done. Run cold water over the sweet potato, and remove the skin.
• Break apart sweet potato in a bowl. Add butter, and mix well with mixer. Stir in sugar, milk, eggs, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until mixture is smooth. Pour filling into an unbaked pie crust.
• Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 55 to 60 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Pie will puff up like a souffle, and then will sink down as it cools.

Tags: thanksgiving, recipe, sweet potatoe pie

I have returned to Japan this month and decided to visit the old capitol of Kyoto. I went to Kyoto once 17 years ago, it's always been a place I've wanted to return to. The last time I went there I was pushing a baby cart. Kyoto has many National Treasures and World Heritage Sites. It's the place everyone must visit if they come to Japan. It's such a beautiful city, especially in autumn and spring with its many gardens.

Kiyomizu Temple





Yasaka Shrine



One thing I don't like about the modern world are all these wires.

Scary booby monsters asking for money.

Ryoanji Temple. This is my favorite place, it's a very famous rock garden. Unfortunately the temple was under reconstruction.

Giant Tori in front of the MOMAK (Museum Of Modern Art, Kyoto)

If you saw the movie "Memoirs Of A Geisha" you might remember the little girl running through this pathway of gates.

How not to use a squat toilet.

The bamboo forest.

We stopped to have tea and this cat next to me never moved the whole time I was there.

Nijo Castle. The art work was amazing in this castle, over 3000 painting on the walls, doors and ceilings. No cameras allowed.

In Kyoto station there were some beautiful Christmas decorations.

Tags: Kyoto, Japan, Autumn, Kiyomizu Shrine, Tori,