e-Learning and the art of making taiyaki

Let me start out by saying, most of what we learn in life is through the informal learning process, that is, not through a formal structured class. This informal process is almost always a form of independent study that we choose to engage in. But at times this informal learning process can even go undetected by us such as learning a habit.

Sometimes it is just a process of absorbing the information around us as we are exposed to it. Even though I lived in Japan for three years (1983-89) I never came across taiyaki. I first learned of it about six years ago through a Japanese animation titled “Nuku Nuku”. Although the anime did not explain it, I learned through other animes that it was a type of desert or snack shaped as a fish.

While doing some more research about taiyaki on the on the internet, I actually found some taiyaki makers (griddles) for sale. Soon I had the griddles and ingredients to make my own taiyaki. The ingredients consist of a pancake-like batter and sweet red bean paste (oguga an) filling; the paste can be found in Asian markers, stores or even online. Actually you can fill it with anything you desire but the traditional taiyaki uses the red bean paste.

Soon I had a griddle and ingredients and set out to make taiyaki. Needless to say the first few runs were disastrous. After a few months and much trial and error I was starting to get the hang of making it, but it was really still a hit and miss of how well they turned out.

I went back to the internet for more research. This time I specifically looked for videos on making taiyaki. I found some and through these videos was able to adapt what I saw to my griddles; not all griddles are the same. While I still am learning to perfect my taiyaki making process, it has greatly improved.

E-learning help turn a curiosity into a reality. When I first can across taiyaki, I was then able to research what it was, what the ingredients were, where to buy the griddles, and find videos on how to make it. There might be a book out there on it but so far I have not come across any, so I can honestly say that if it were not for e-learning I would not be enjoying my taiyaki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiyaki

http://www.amazon.com/TAIYAKI-Japanese-fish-shaped-cake-maker/dp/B00065YBEU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HD7JjeupVt0

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&q=taiyaki&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=LKU3SraLAoqmM6v1hY0N&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&resnum=7&ct=title#