Categories: Vegetables, Sept. 
      Yield: 1 servings 
  
      1 c  Short grained japanese style 
           Rice (wash thoroughly) 
      4 c  Water 
      2    3 rounded tablespoon white 
           Miso paste (more or less to 
           Taste) 
      1    Or 2 large salted preserved 
           Salted plums---umeboshi (to 
           Taste) 
      1    Cake kinugoshi tofu 
      1 c  Fresh spinach 
      1 c  Fresh nappa cabbage 
    1/8 t  Sake or mirin (optional) 
  
  "Okayu" - Japanese-style porridge. 
   
  While you wait for your water to boil: 
   
  Break apart tofu into little chunks (dice or just use hands) Wash spinach 
  well and cut into 1/4" segments Wash nappa cabbage and cut into 1/4" 
  segments take seed out of umeboshi and cut into small pieces 
   
  When water is at a nice rolling boil: 
   
  Add miso (make sure it completely dissolves in water) (At this stage, taste 
  to make sure you have enough miso in water and add more miso or water for 
  desired taste.) Add rice, tofu, spinach, nappa cabbage, and umeboshi Add 
  mirin or sake (optional) 
   
  Once the mixture come back to a nice boil, put cover on pot and reduce heat 
  to low simmer for 30 minutes.  Stir occasionally.  Cook longer if you like 
  a more creamier porridge. 
   
  This makes a nice replacement for soup on a cold day.  If eaten as a meal, 
  I like to puree some raw daikon with a tiny smidgin of fresh ginger, lemon 
  juice, and soy sauce as a garnish on top of my okayu. 
   
  From: gif@netcom.com (John Totani).  rfvc Digest V94 Issue #200 Sept. 17, 
  1994. Formatted by Sue Smith, S.Smith34, TXFT40A@Prodigy.com using MMCONV.