Natsukashii

I can relate....

2012-02-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Via the adorable Shoko @ Sho & Tell

すみながし

2012-02-07T18:09:00.000-08:00

Photo via Frugal Family Fun Blog

A fun future project for all ages....Suminagashi is the Japanese art of marbling paper with ink. I found this post from Frugal Family Fun Blog. Here were the results of the beautiful prints created! This would be perfect wall art. Marbling Kits can be purchased here or here. Stay creative and keep having fun! :)

Have a sweet weekend!

2012-02-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

After "one of those weeks", an oh so kind friend treated me to a lovely afternoon of the best macaroons and tea (here) - sharing laughs over stories of awkward moments.

Thank you my dear!! xo

I'll Stick With These...

2012-01-30T16:10:00.000-08:00

While in the check out line at Sprouts yesterday, I had a cute encounter with a young boy & his father. Whenever I buy fennel, inevitably someone asks what it is and how I prepare it. The father asked and so I told him what it was and said I like to julienne it into a salad (this one in particular). I said that it has a bit of a licorice taste to it. I hadn't noticed but the only two items on the counter for the young boy were two boxes of licorice (apple and watermelon). The father looks at his son and says "Hey, why don't we get fennel instead! It tastes just like licorice!" The boy shyly hiding behind his father laughs and politely says "No thank you! I'm going to stick with these." :) (He was probably thinking, "Don't be giving him any ideas lady!")

I bought a few bulbs of fennel for Sara's Fennel Slaw and also for this new one I found - Quinoa Salad with Apples, Walnuts, Gouda, Cranberries (plus other goodies!) over at Fine Cooking - posted about over at Jora's blog Domestic Reflections.

Jora was right. A winner for sure. I love the fresh ingredients. It also has caramelized red onions, celery & fennel. I'm addicted now to the whole organic, sweetened dried cranberries TJ's. No sulfur dioxide preservative in it. I'll be mixing these with almonds & cashews for my after workout snack!

Happy noshing!

The Flute Never Looked So Hip

2012-01-30T12:38:00.000-08:00

Three Beats for Beatbox Flute Movement I - Originally by Greg Patillo

She's rockin' it!!

Check out Annie Wu's version here.

She plays an amazing 5 minute piece.

These girls competed in the National Flute Association High School Competition.

w-o-w

Happy Monday!

Thank you So Good and Tasty!

2012-01-27T15:35:00.000-08:00

This creation by Jacqui at So Good and Tasty did not disappoint! Perfect blend of flavors. A spelt flour crust with a hint of rosemary. And the Greek yogurt & tartness of the lemons..y-u-m! I added some fresh blueberries and a scoop of French Vanilla ice cream.

I used Meyer Lemons and reduced the juice amount just a tad. Also used evaporated cane juice sugar which gave it just the right amount of light sweetness. A must for dessert or just because!

Thank you Jacqui! We really love it!

Here is a similar recipe for a

Blueberry Quinoa Tart with Lemon Whipped Cream from Kiss My Spatula.

Have a great weekend all!

On my agenda...

2012-01-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

... this Lemon Tart with Rosemary Crust from ~ So Good & Tasty via Happyolks

... these Salted Peanut Butter Cups (a vegan recipe) from Sarah Yates' blog ~ a house in the hills

These are seriously multi-talented & stylish ladies...

You can find Jacqui at So Good and Tasty, also a graphic artist, over at her etsy shop - Slide Sideways

and Sarah Yates at her professional photography blog -

Birds of a Feather.

Oh Honey!

2012-01-23T12:25:00.000-08:00

Honey is one of my favorite natural sweeteners to use in place of sugar. Recently, Sara of Sprouted Kitchen posted about all of the alternatives she uses in her pantry. Such a wide variety of options and ones that are beneficial to the body. Please check out her post if you get a chance :) She also gives the recipe for Baked Apples with Spices in there too. Mmmm...

Photo via Sprouted Kitchen

This honey is one of our favorites. We've been able to score a few jars from J's brother who lives near Berkeley.

It is made locally by a crafty gentlemen who also works at Inn Kensington restaurant. I'm not sure how to go about getting some more other than begging my brother in law. Hehehe. If you are ever in the area, eating breakfast at Inn Kensington is a must. Their biscuits with butter & jam are delish! J and I ate there two mornings in a row on our last visit.

Down in our neck of the woods, we've been wanting to get to a meeting about beekeeping, hosted by Backwards Beekeepers - a group of organic, chemical-free beekeepers. They also have a bee rescue hotline where they will come and collect your bees who have made hives in the most precarious places around your property. Check out out some of their posts, pretty-darn- cool! Here are a few links from their site of local chemical free honey producers in the L.A. area:

Feral Honey & Bee

Kirk's Local Honey

Our 'Happy' Hour

2012-01-19T07:39:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but sometimes week night dinners can be a hurried thrown together last minute thing because of the busy-ness of work and everything else that pops up in between! J & I try to make it a point to use our dinner time to relax over the meal and talk about the goings on of each other's day.

Of course, it doesn't look like this every night!! But why not try to make a little special now and then - just because? J had worked a long day and was sick on top of it. Poor babe! :( Add a little music from the iPod and it's a homespun happy hour success :)

The Art of Making Bread

2012-01-13T13:47:00.001-08:00

Love this beautifully made video by Tiger In A Jar for Kinfolk Magazine. If you haven't heard of Kinfolk Magazine, it is a journal focusing on small gatherings with family & friends over great food. Right up my alley. Their recent issue has gorgeous shots taken by one of my favorite photographers, Tec Petaja. I've previously posted a video made by Tiger In A Jar for making a Beet Cake which I would love to try. So many things to attempt! Maybe we'll get in a bread making lesson from my brother-in-law after the busy-ness of having a newborn daughter. ;) Enjoy....

Well Hello Again!

2012-01-12T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hello Dear Friends ~ It's been almost 6 months since my blogging hiatus began. I've missed you all and this space! Having a bit of time to reset and take care of, well, life in general has been great. The last year has helped me to really take stock of the basics, revisiting unused skills, learning new ones, recycling & repurposing old possessions, working on improving what I need to do everyday, staying motivated and creative. I've found that looking back at highlights and moments that have filled our lives is a good thing to do. It's a reminder to appreciate what we do have and what lessons have been learned along the way. Here's my look back in photos ....

January & February

Food has been a strong running theme for me.... Found many new blogs to get inspiration from!

March

My sister-in-law and I worked on a gardening project - our first Seedling Swap. It was so much fun and we learned so much. Had a group of about 14 family & friends join in. We even had Northern California and New York participants!

April

Celebrating my parents 40th Anniversary. An old shot of their house they still live in!

Watching our adorable nephew grow up....He loves to sweep up the floor. :) My sister & brother-in-law are such great parents!

And thank you to my crafty husband for up-cycling our unused patio out back to make some fabulous raised beds in time for our spring garden.

May

Experiencing the beauty of Big Sur with J.

Seedling Swap Day ~ Everyone brought their babies they'd been caring for to exchange. Big success!

Garden progress photos...

May - August

Busy gardening and harvesting. Giving away & eating the fruits of our labor.

This was one of the most rewarding highlights for J & I.

August

Sold our beloved VW. It's been on many a fun road trip adventures, acted as a quasi-ambulance, helped our friends move, hosted picnics and carpooled many!

September

Getting my sewing skills back with fun projects. Amazing what free tutorials are out there!

Girl's day out at the Santa Barbara Farmer's Market & Zoo

October

Special visit to NYC. Good times with long time friends! Thank you all for your hospitality!

Exploring Williamsburg

November

Our 4 Year Anniversary ♥

December

Front yard remodel under way... J has been DIY-ing almost everything. Go love!

Arrival of our new niece and crafted pom poms for a graduation celebration...

Thanks for taking a peek back with me.

Already this January we've had a cousin's baby shower and another addition to the family with a new nephew! We are looking forward to the coming year and what else it will bring. Hope you stop in again soon!

Simple Summer Eats & Drinks

2011-07-30T19:06:00.000-07:00

Caprese Salad is just about the easiest salad to make. Mozzarella, Tomatoes & Fresh Basil. Drizzle Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar. Voila! The combination of flavors is just sooo good! We picked some basil & tomatoes from the garden last night had this with some Italian Chicken Sausage, Pasta & Vodka Sauce.

We've also been drinking this easy summer cocktail found via Ready Made Magazine contributed by Heidi Swanson of 101 Cookbooks. Check out her site and cookbook(s) you won't be disappointed!

Spanish Red Wine (Rioja)

Sparkling Lemonade

Fresh Lime Juice

Lots of ice!

It's so refreshing and kind to the pocket. We got a bottle of D arien Rioja Tempranillo at TJ's for $6 and the Lemonade for $3. The other mix we've been making is a combination of citrus Vodka and TJ's Sparkling Clementine. Sooo good! Happy mixing!

PS ~ My drink above is in a POM juice glass I saved way back when...

Then and Now

2011-07-29T13:35:00.001-07:00

June 24th

July 29

Amazing how things develop in just one month.

Looking forward to lemon cucumbers and melon!

Have a great weekend!

Lately...

2011-07-25T17:33:00.001-07:00

Salad mixed with white peaches, tomato and gorgonzola.

Our volunteer heirloom tomato plant has seriously produced the best tomatoes we've ever tasted...

plus more Roma Tomatoes on the way!

Here are a few dishes discovered around the web on my list to try...

.... this appetizer of Grilled Brie, Thyme Honey & Fresh Figs

... these Steamed Clams with Garlic & White Wine

.... this Easy Bourbon & Chocolate Cake

... these Peach Popsicles

via Bakers Royale

Don't they look incredible?

Oh, I'm seeing a trend in the recipes I picked - bit of alcohol to add another level of yumminess to the mix! ;)

Also discovered this wonderful magazine - Kinfolk via Hither & Thither.

Focusing on small, simple & intimate gatherings with good friends and good food.

Lastly, this lovely video that's been floating around the web by Tiger in a Jar...

Happy Monday!

From Garden to Table...

2011-07-11T17:33:00.001-07:00

Adapted from: Steamy Kitchen's Stir Fried Long Beans

1 small bunch Chinese Long Beans - washed & trimmed to desired length

3 cloves of garlic - minced

1 stalk green onions - sliced

1 T canola oil

1 tsp sesame oil

1/4 C water

2 T hoisin sauce

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp chili paste

Handful of fried shallots

Heat wok, add oil. Coat wok thoroughly. Add garlic and fry for just a few seconds as you don't want them to burn. Add long beans, fry for 30 seconds and toss to coat. Add water, hoisin sauce and soy sauce. Mix to coat beans. Cover wok. Let the beans steam for 5 minutes on medium heat. Check for tenderness, as you don't want them too soft. If still to hard, steam for another 1 minute. Turn off heat. Uncover and let the rest of the liquid evaporate.

Note: I didn't have oyster sauce as the original recipe called for. It noted 1 T of oyster sauce. I substituted in hoisin sauce instead. Also added some Thai Chili Paste for a little kick and topped it w/Fried Shallots (which you can fry on your own or use store bought - I did) :)

We enjoyed our with some Brown Jasmine Rice!

On another note, my sister in law suggested we try pickling our ever growing cucumbers! We are going to try this recipe. Thanks JMP!

Easy Summer Salads

2011-07-07T12:44:00.001-07:00

With the crazy heat, we haven't felt like turning on the stove or oven!! Salads are always a great light meal and easy alternative. Here's one made with a few simple ingredients (half of the them came from our garden!):

Mixed Salad Greens

Cucumbers

Tomatoes

Radishes

Avocado

Goat Cheese

Walnuts

Toss with your favorite dressing and enjoy! :)

Here is another I've been making quite a bit - Shaved Summer Squash Salad - found at Bon Appetit's site.

Photo via Bon Appetit

Add a little chicken. It's delicious!

Harvest from the garden lately...

We've been delivering cucumbers to friends and neighbors.

They've been growing like mad!

Tuna Melt

2011-06-30T17:11:00.000-07:00

Had one of those must have cravings at lunch for a good ol' tuna melt! Growing up, my mom always made it in a sort of tuna salad / egg salad mix. Had to follow my taste for nostalgia. :) She also mixed in finely chopped green onions, a bit of Italian dressing, salt & pepper and of course mayo - always Best Foods.

First green onions picked from the garden :)

I added dijon mustard, sliced avocado and colby/jack cheese onto some 7-grain bread.

Pressed it in the George Foreman grill to toasty perfection!

The other day J and I were reminiscing about our childhoods and how we made everything in a little toaster oven. Mini pizzas and tuna melts on English Muffins... to this day my dad still cooks his steaks in there! :)

And thanks to our friend GG for giving us some yummy Shiro Plums off her tree!

Garden Update

2011-06-24T08:06:00.000-07:00

Oh what a little sliver (seriously!) of side yard can produce! Don't rule out those little spots around the house my friends! :)

Love the early mornings in the garden...

it's starting to produce now that summer is here!

Our volunteer tomato plant is producing loads of fruit! Funny because this was the plant we saw during the late winter and didn't even pay any attention to it.

Chinese Long Beans (Yard Long Beans)

Climbing the trellis. J had to add another level to it. They are now about 8 feet tall!

First sign of beans!

Cucumbers

Roma Tomatoes

Green Onions

Cosmos - Attracting lots of beneficial insects, like ladybugs and parasitic wasps. My army against pests! Yeah!

Raised beds

Carrots - Finally! :)

Lemon Cucumbers (Curious to see how these will taste!)

Radishes

Can't wait for when harvesting is in full swing!

Leftovers

2011-06-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

I had a little left overs from my Ikea fabric. Not quite enough to cover the whole thing, but made a few panels for the kitchen window.... love the color and dimension it adds to the room.

Reversible Bag

2011-06-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

A few posts ago I mentioned a craft that I wanted to get re-acquainted with again = sewing. This has been a loooong time coming. After I inherited an old sewing machine and scouring the blogosphere for tutorials, I came across this very crafty site, verypurpleperson. Novita is adorable and an extremely talented seamstress who has been sewing and making patterns for her family's wardrobe. Very inspirational! Her pieces are clean, stylish and simple. Right up my alley. And she lives in Japan - so she has a vast selection of great fabrics and patterns at her disposal! Jealous! :)

I chose to try out her Reversible Bag for my attempt and well, I couldn't be happier with the way it came out. I used a heavier fabric from Ikea and an old piece of black fabric we happened to have laying around here. Please take a peak at her site!

Happy Sewing!

Blooming

2011-06-16T17:38:00.000-07:00

Cosmos in the garden...

Harvest in our Garden lately...

2011-06-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg variety of radishes. Ate these these with a little butter & sea salt last night. Yum.

Bunting

2011-06-06T17:03:00.000-07:00

I've been spotting all sorts of adorable bunting designs for desserts on the web. With a recent assignment to bring dessert to a housewarming, I gave it a go! So much fun! :)

I had some wooden skewers handy in the kitchen, along with some baker's twine. I made the design on the computer, printed it out on regular paper, cut out the triangles, used a little adhesive and folded the top over the twine. Try it on your next dessert! Happy Bunting!

P.S. The dessert from a Mascarpone Strawberry Tart recipe I've posted about before. This time instead of Nilla Wafers for the crust I used Trader Joe's Almond Butter Windmill Cookies. Yum-my!!

72 hours in Big Sur

2011-06-03T21:18:00.000-07:00

J & I snuck away for a few days up north to Big Sur. The California coast is breathtaking and beautiful. Wanted to share some shots from our getaway...

Carmel Highlands

View from Nepenthe - Big Sur

It was a perfect evening. Warm and calm. Nepenthe has the quintessential view of the coast. A bit pricey for dinner so we opted to split a meal and a Guinness Stout. Better to enjoy this spot for a cocktail before sunset.

We've been finding we can avoid the crowds and score better deals on lodging by leaving on the day of a holiday instead of before.

View from our room at Glen Oaks Motor Inn

We found this spot through Sunset Magazine. The property has been updated to a more modern eco-vibe. There are regular rooms but also individual cabins located off-site by the river. Our room had an wonderful bathroom with heated tile floors and sizeable walk-in shower. J & I are now contemplating how to install a heated floor in our bathroom at home. Hehe. There is no television and no cell service so we were off the grid. L-o-v-e it!

The next morning we found a great spot for breakfast at Deetjen's.

Very cozy and our meal was delicious!

The grounds at Deetjen's Restaurant - Big Sur Inn

There are many hiking trails to explore in Big Sur. We opted for some easier ones. Valley View Falls Trail and McWay Falls Trail.

McWay Falls has got to be one of the most beautiful sceneries I've come across on the coast.

Oh...one thing to be careful of in Big Sur is the poison oak. It is e-ver-y-where!!

Goofing around while waiting for the sun to set near Pt. Sur Lighthouse....

Our last stop before heading out was Point Lobos State Reserve on the outskirts of Carmel We only had time to explore a tiny bit. It's a beautiful spot to get lost in.

Whaler's Cove - Point Lobos

Missing the fresh & starry skies! Thank you Big Sur for refreshing us!

California Coast

2011-06-02T15:00:00.000-07:00

On the drive down to Big Sur from Carmel....Gorgeous

Streaming...

2011-05-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

When I'm working on the computer I usually have a mix of things playing.. either Pandora or KCRW.... I like looking back at old sessions on Morning Becomes Eclectic. I came across this one from Adele.

Love it! This one's for you BL! :)

Happy Monday!

Pops of Color

2011-05-20T12:28:00.000-07:00

Heading into the weekend and looking forward to a great program in store at tomorrow's Special Assembly.

Starting on a few little projects. I've got this baby up and running after inheriting it from my Mom! Love you Mom! :)

Found these great fabrics to get going. Love the bold and modern colors & prints...

From Ikea's Susanna Line

From Joann's Fabrics - Fat Quarter Remnants

I hope my first project turns out!

Tagged along with J to work yesterday down in the OC. Stopped to take a few shots of Monarch Beach in Laguna. Gorgeous day...

Have a beautiful weekend all!

Photo Wall

2011-05-18T20:39:00.001-07:00

Wanting to update and add to our photo wall in the office and maybe start one in the living room. There are newer photos from recent trips and older family photos that are waiting to be hung! I think a mixture of lighter colored frames will be better and not just black. Time for an Ikea run? :)

Green in the Spring

2011-05-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Early mornings and evenings are by far my favorite time to tend to the garden in the spring. The air is cool and it feels good. In the mornings with coffee in hand I walk my little side yard to check on the plants and give them a good watering. These were taken this evening. I love the different shades and textures....

Cucumbers on their way...

The Chinese Long Beans let out a very cute heart shaped leaf.... so random but so cute!

Cosmos and Nasturtiums...can't wait for the blooms

A little helper in the garden...

Chop Chop!

2011-05-09T15:17:00.000-07:00

Made this Mango Salsa for the Seedling Swap on Saturday... Lots of chopping but oh so good! Here is the recipe from an older post on the blog (which included papaya too!)

Saturday's Swap Day!

2011-05-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

The labor of love prepared by my sister-in-law and I finally had it's moment .... so happy it turned out great! We're hoping to have a harvest party in the summer if it all takes and decides to keep growing!! :) Can't wait!

Good Times on Mt. Fuji

2011-05-03T08:07:00.001-07:00

These get me every time!

Love ya' Big Sis!

Springing Up!

2011-05-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

What a difference one month makes!

Cosmos Flowers

Bell Peppers and Cucumbers

New Beds!

2011-04-28T19:21:00.000-07:00

They are in, leveled and ready to be filled with soil! Thanks Love! J found a great supplier referred by our friends at Sego Nursery for buying in bulk amounts. We will be saving about $50-60 per bed by going this route vs. buying bags at your local nursery or home supply store. Woot!

Our Pineapple Tomatoes are starting to kick in. Mmmmm :) I read that this is a high yielding variety and these babies can grow up to 2 lbs. each! Yowza! I forsee some salsa in our future...

I am the Spring

2011-04-20T18:58:00.001-07:00

I am the Spring

Ground down

I know that you’ll feel fine

If you let me in, hand in hand

I’ll show you the way

Our life

Is always on the line

If we just begin our hope

To suit you some day

I am the spring

Love is blossoming

You take the fall

And sacrifice

I’ll cheer you up

Fill your empty cup

A weekend song

On summer skies

Nervous

I’m knocking on your door

Will you let me in?

Face to face, I’ve something to say

Stranger

We should be intertwined

Like it’s always been

Yes, I know, I’ll suit you someday

I am the spring

Love is blossoming

You take the fall

And sacrifice

I’ll cheer you up

Fill your empty cup

A weekend song

On summer skies

I am the spring

Love is blossoming

I’ll take the fall

Fall for you

Beautiful Song & Lyrics By - Morcheeba (Vocals: Skye Edwards)

Listen here & View here

Photo via ~ Our Garden. More blossoms on their way!

Up-Cycling

2011-04-18T13:23:00.001-07:00

Progress on our raised beds! Woo hoo! :)

Unused patio area

Cleared out

Wood planed and cut

Mock-Up!

Can't wait to fill these babies with goodies!

Thanks soooo much Love!

Finally Friday!

2011-04-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

Busy busy but a great week! Now it's taco time!

Have a beautiful weekend!

Shabu-Shabu

2011-04-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Here's another fun interactive meal that keeps people at the table over good food & good times! Shabu-Shabu is a hot-pot meal that is full of fresh and tasty ingredients. There are a ton of great recipes online. I got one from an old recipe from my mom, borrowed her vintage 40+ year old Corning Ware skillet and went to town. I remember eating sukiyaki from it growing up. Aaaah memories :).

The great thing is that you can pretty much add any vegetables you like and beef sliced practically paper thin. If you go to your local asian market, you should be able to find it labeled specifically for Shabu-Shabu. We added a little tofu, shitake & enoki mushrooms, bean sprouts, bok choy, spinach, green onions & beef.

The foundation of the dish is in the soup base (dashi). You can also find recipes for it under Katsuobushi Dashi. It is made of dried kelp (kombu) and dried bonito flakes. There are also instant varieties at the market but beware of MSG (ajinomoto). I prefer it without. Once the dashi is prepared, add it to the hot pot, heat it to a slight boil, and start throwing in all your ingredients. Cook and keep adding as you eat...

For the dipping sauce we used one consisting of Ponzu citrus sauce (I used Marukan brand), freshly grated daikon radish (love this), ginger & chopped green onions. The combination of flavors is fantastic!! If you wander through the kitchen accessories section at an asian market you can find these great tools to make the grating a snap!

We used the the leftover veggies for round two a few nights later, vegetarian style. :)

Itadakimasu!!!!

Veg-ing Out

2011-04-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

I've been going meatless this week including lots of juicing and its been really great! We had a lot of veggies stocked up in the frig and it made for a great dinner last night! I apologize for the multiple-pan/pot recipe this turned out to be! Many things going on at once. I just kinda of went with a flow as the ideas struck... This recipe is really loose with the amounts, go with what feels right for you :)

Linguine & Roasted Vegetables

linguine pasta

8 carrots (sliced thin)

1 bunch asparagus (cut into 3's)

1 -2 zucchini (sliced thin)

1/2 bunch kale leaves (trimmed/chopped)

1 shallot (chopped)

4 cloves garlic (chopped)

olive oil

2 tablespoon fennel seeds

garlic salt to taste

sea salt to taste

lemon pepper (I used Spike brand) to taste

fresh ground black pepper to taste

fresh basil (chopped)

parmesan cheese (grated)

Preheat oven to 425. Prepare pasta as directed on package, drain & set aside. Toss sliced carrots in olive oil, garlic salt & fennel seeds to coat thoroughly. Place on lined baking sheet (I like using parchment paper). Cook for about 30 minutes until tender and edges are browning a bit. Toss sliced asparagus with enough olive oil to coat, sea salt & black to taste and place on a separate baking sheet. Cook in oven on the lower rack for about 7-8 minutes only or until tender. Remove and then continue cooking carrots. In large pan heat up olive oil on med-high, sprinkle lemon pepper on zucchini and saute until tender. Remove zucchini. By now, carrots & asparagus have roasted and are ready. Add more olive oil, add chopped garlic & shallots and cook on med-high until golden. Toss in all vegetables (carrots, asparagus, zucchini, kale) and pasta in pan and combine. Serves alot of hungry people. :)

Serve with fresh chopped basil, parmesan cheese and a nice glass of red wine.

We've been loving Three Knights Merlot from TJ's.

Mangiamo!

Out back...

2011-04-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

We have been busy bees trying to prepare for the garden... amending soil and cleaning things up. This spot on our side yard is really just a sliver, but it produced so much last year. Don't count out those tiny spots around the yard!

We had this old patio / deck that was not being used and so we are taking it down to make it the future home of our raised beds. J will be reusing the beautiful redwood for the planters. Can't wait!!!

Our grapefruit tree has been doing so well. It really bounced back after the last rains. The smell of the blossoms and the sound of the bees buzzing is a welcomed sign.

This orchard cactus we picked up last year from Island Nursery has been happy and producing sooo many blooms. We only had two last time. I'll have to keep my eyes open to take some photos since they only stay open for 1 day!!!

Picture from last year. Gorgeous.

Today...

2011-03-30T16:10:00.000-07:00

We moved our table and chairs inside from the patio (technically we don't have an indoor dining 'area'). What a difference a little furniture rearranging can do. It makes it feel like a whole new room! :) Had breakfast, coffee and a little studying there this morning. It was so nice! Hoping to make it a regular ritual.

Went on a walk up and around the hills near our house. 3 miles. Felt-so-good! Who needs a gym when you can enjoy the spring outdoors!! Trying to build up to a future 5 or 10k.... I hope!? This photo is a view from about mile 2.5 on my path from Dec last year. Errr I hope it hasn't been that long since I've taken this walk??

Planted more seeds for the Seedling Swap. Some Thai Basil today. These are Cosmos flower seedlings emerging. Hopefully they'll attract some ladybugs to protect the garden!

Then of course... Work, work, work!

Thankful to have some!

Nippon...

2011-03-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

It's taken me a while to get my thoughts together about the devastation in Japan. I mean, how can you put it into words? The pictures that have been broadcasted have spoken too many words of loss. My heart, thoughts & prayers have been going out to those there.

My mother's side of the family is quite a bit further south from Tokyo, originally from Ise on the eastern coastline. A town known for culturing pearls. I remember visiting there when my grandmother was still alive. About an hour and half train ride and then another hour bus ride on a long road with a million switchbacks and we were there. It was beautiful. It seemed untouched by the modern advancements in many ways and I do believe it was intentional. My grandmothers older sisters (at the time in their 90's) seemed to be untouched by the advancement of time too. Skin still so smooth and cheeks so rosy. The smell of the ocean was always in the air. Islands speckling the ocean. We got to take in a piece of our heritage.

This picture has been kept by my mother of her mother's family. My grandmother is 2nd from the right in the back row. We don't know the exact year it was taken but it is mostly likely in the late 1920's or early 1930's. I love the fact that my great-grandfather is holding his fedora while wearing the traditional Japanese attire. Maybe he did want to add a little bit of modernism in with the traditional. A trendsetter! ;)

Photos do speak many words - with time I do hope that our images of Japan will change from loss to beauty once more.

View from my kitchen window...

2011-03-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

I'm just in love with this lone little flower coming from a string of pearls.... It's about the size of the tip of my index finger.

Getting Back to Basics....

2011-03-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

With our garden preparations underway, J and I have our minds swirling with other ideas and goals. What do you do when you have way too many thoughts going on at once???! Well, today there was nothing like a little rigorous weed pulling to help us let out some of that pent up energy. Our front yard is looking less like an eye sore and one step closer to getting our neighbors to speak with us again! One of them actually came up to introduce herself from across the street! Lol!

Seriously though, this year has been good in learning to get back to basics. Learning the elementary things (and re-learning - I just found out I am going to inherit my mom's sewing machine! Woot!) and not have everything pre-made.

Ok, so we haven't gotten to the level of having our own chickens, for now we are content with working on our vegetables this season. Reminders of being self-sufficient are always a good shot in the arm!

I have found some new blogs that have been pretty motivating. Root Simple and Ramshackle Solid. Also these books: The Urban Homestead, Urban Pantry and Seed to Skillet have got me curious. There is a ton of information on the urban farming community in our area. All this came from listening to the Good Food segment this morning on KCRW. One click led to another and well.....Thanks Evan!

On J's list... bee keeping. Still a possibility. We hope we can go to one of these meetings in the future - hosted by Backwards Beekeepers. Sounds pretty fascinating!

We've only scratched the surface...just a drop in the proverbial bucket.... excited about what more we will learn & experience. Thank you to my loving husband who teaches and shares so much with me everyday! xo

Photos from Trip to Los Olivos 2010

More Isn't Always Better...Sometimes It's Just More.

2011-03-13T21:38:00.000-07:00

Breakfast for lunch today. Trying to reflect and appreciate the sunnier side of life. The simplistic things are the most satisfying and not to be taken for granted.

Thinking about this quote I read via Stephmodo via mnmlist

Getting ready for another week! And meeting up with my partner in farming tomorrow for some more Seedling Swap organizing!

Linked In

2011-03-09T08:08:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to feature these great custom made cuff links by one of my favorite jewelers, btanjerine! Please head on over to their Etsy shop to take a peak!

On another note ~ I've been crushing on these beauties in their shop!

Images via btanjerine

DIY Save the Dates

2011-03-07T09:50:00.001-08:00

So our Seedling Swap preparations are getting under way and we are so excited to get started! While stuck at home under the weather, it gave me an opportunity to work on these Save the Dates. Thanks to my husband J for giving us the idea to include a pop-up feature! :) Love how it gives it dimension. The pop up plant design was printed on card stock, cut out, folded with a skinny tab at the bottom, attached to the card and the surrounding extra card stock paper was used to create a little tab to attach it on the back.

Design created on Pages (iMac).

Puff Pastries....

2011-02-24T15:17:00.000-08:00

Adapted these from this recipe over at Sprouted Kitchen. Sara's advice for creating the shells (from pre-made dough) was great ~ as always!

I added some heavy whipped cream to create a creamier (less dense) version of the filling. Added a drizzle of vanilla extract, a bit more honey and some powdered sugar. It was yet another one of those experimenting moments.... I'm hoping to think of other savory filling ideas for next time. Any suggestions? :)

These were eaten at a few different occasions over the weekend...one being an anniversary! Hope you enjoyed them K & K! Happy 19th!

Tumeric Rubbed Shrimp Stuffed w/Garlic & Cilantro

2011-02-21T10:18:00.000-08:00

This recipe has a minimal list of ingredients but is so flavorful! The shrimp is rubbed with tumeric, coriander, olive oil, salt & pepper. Stuffed with chopped garlic & cilantro. (I used 10 cloves!) Baked in the oven to perfection! Found it over at Dani Spies.... Click here to check it out.

D, this one's for you :) It's gluten free! We ate this over some quinoa. Combine it with a favorite salad or vegetable side and and it's an amazing meal. xo

Happy Weekending!

2011-02-18T21:51:00.001-08:00

Photo via Our Backyard :)

Need this bit of sunshine - it's raining & hailing really hard out right now!!

Patterns

2011-02-16T12:46:00.000-08:00

Loving these designs....

Tribal bath mat by West Elm

Dwell Tile Collection by Heath Ceramics. Check into their blog for news & events which are held often at their locations in Sausalito (Factory & Showroom), San Francisco (Ferry Building) and Los Angeles (Beverly Blvd.). They give free tours of their factory in Sausalito.

Poster for National Poetry Month by artist Marion Bantjes. I just read an article over at NPR (A Modernist's Take on Frilly Fonts) about her new book - I Wonder.

The cover in itself is a visual feast!

I'm All Upside Down!

2011-02-14T21:46:00.000-08:00

Boy, being under the weather for the last week has felt like an eternity! I don't know about you but it takes me a while to feel back on track with everyday things.... but here's a little something that eased the pain a bit! ;)

I adapted this recipe for an Apple Upside Down Cake from The Best of Cooking Light 12 - All Recipe Special Edition (on newsstands until April 2011).

I had some pineapple and macadamia nuts so I swapped those in instead of the apple & walnuts. (Side note: Cook the sugar mixture a bit longer to dissolve and make golden brown.)

BHLDN

2011-02-14T10:04:00.001-08:00

Just when you thought Anthropologie couldn't get any better....The anticipation of this debut has been posted over the blogosphere the past week over at Cup of Jo, Oh Joy and Cupcakes and Cashmere. These ladies were invited for a pre-debut sneek peak of Anthropologie's new wedding collection BHLDN. Well, all I can say is the collection is just delicious. A completely gorgeous line of gowns, dresses, jewelry, shoes, lingerie, accessories....

Head on over for some inspiration ladies.

Happy Monday!

All images via BHLDN

Happy Friday + The Flu Blues..

2011-02-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

My mind is in a fog and it seems to keep running .... this is not the kind of "free time" I was hoping to get! I'll be thinking about my sister & friends who are going wine tasting in Santa Ynez tomorrow! Have fun everyone!! I must relinquish myself to this downtime to merely vegging out and getting well! Here's what I've been "doing" with my free time... lol. I came across this Etsy vendor via Elephantine. I'll leave you with these pieces ~ inspiring effortless simplicity and loveliness. Enjoy the weekend!

Via Three Little Ducks

All Dressed Up

2011-02-10T16:22:00.000-08:00

J has recently been concocting his own salad dressing - lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, ginger, agave syrup, salt & pepper to taste. It's sooo tasty! He inspired me to try something (not original but adapted) new and since our grapefruit tree is producing like mad I gave this recipe for Shallot & Grapefruit Dressing a shot.

(A side note though ~ I think I used grapefruits that were still too young. They were pretty bitter so I added a bit more olive oil, some agave and garlic salt to take out the bite.) We tossed it over some thinly sliced fennel, bartlett pears & gorgonzola. Enjoy!

The Apprentice

2011-02-09T15:26:00.001-08:00

How cute is he?

Here's a shot of our nephew busy at work putting together a birdhouse J made for him. J sent the pieces up to him and then he & his dad assembled it together. Great job M! :) xo

A little arranging...

2011-02-07T20:29:00.000-08:00

Some flowers from TJ's :)

Oh What a Talented Pair!

2011-02-05T22:14:00.000-08:00

I just read an exciting post over at my favorite food blog - Sprouted Kitchen. Sara Forte, the creative talent behind the blog, and her photographer husband Hugh have been dishing out delicious recipes that I (and so many others in the food blog world) have been eating up.

Both are creative and inspiring and now they are working together on their very own cookbook! Hugh Forte recently has set-up his portfolio page and its full of wonderful images. Oh and before I forget you can see this adorable pair's recent wedding at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs, which was posted here over at 100 Layer Cake. Congratulations you two!!

All images via Sprouted Kitchen

Thinking of....

2011-02-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

Lazy afternoons in Zihuatanejo....

Pom-Poms in Joshua Tree....

Virgin River in the early fall....

Lavender fields in Los Olivos....

Have a beautiful and relaxing weekend! xo

What Shall we Pair with Pears?

2011-01-28T09:05:00.000-08:00

Hello and Happy Friday!

With a few Bosc Pears ripening in the kitchen, I wanted to create a light and vaguely sweet dessert for the week's end. And what a week it's been! Thank you to my sweet sweet husband for always inspiring me to create!

The dough in this recipe is light and flaky and the whipped cream's hint of almond paired well with it! Add a little sprinkle of cardamom to the pears and we had a winner! :)

Bosc Pear Galette with Almond Whipped Cream

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen's Simplest Apple Tart recipe

Dough :

1 C unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp sugar

1/8 tsp salt

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened & cut into 1/2 pieces

3-1/2 Tbsp chilled water

Filling:

2 large Bosc Pears (ripened, peeled, cored & sliced)

2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

2 Tbsp sugar

1/8 tsp cardamom

Whipped Cream:

16 oz Heavy Cream

1 tsp almond extract (or less depending on taste)

1/3 c powdered sugar

For dough: Combine flour, sugar & salt in a large bowl. Add 2 Tbsp of the butter. Blend in a mixer until dough until coarse. Add remaining butter, mix until biggest pieces look like large peas. Add a little water, stir, then add in more until dough hold together. Toss with hands, letting it fall through fingers. If there are still dry patches, add another Tbsp of water. Keep tossing until you can roll dough into a ball. Flaten into a 4-inch thick disk. Wrap in Saran Wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F. Remove after 30 minutes or more, let soften a bit so it's malleable but still cold. Smooth cracks at edges. On a lightly floured surface, roll into a 14-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Dust excess flour from both sides with a dry pastry brush. Place dough in a lightly greased 9-inch round tart pan or simply on a parchment lined baking sheet. You can go free-form or galette style by simply folding the edged over after filling with fruit.

For filling: Combine sliced pears, 2 Tbsp melted butter, 1 Tbsp of sugar and 1/8 tsp cardamom. Mix together until pears are evenly coated.

Fill the center of the rolled out dough with mixture. Fold over edges of the dough toward the center and create pleats in the dough at 1 inch intervals. Brush remaining melted butter over the pears & top of dough. Sprinkle another Tbsp of sugar over the top. Bake in center of oven until pears are soft and crust is golden brown around 35 minutes. Make sure to rotate galette every 10 minutes.

For cream: Whip cream on med-high with mixer, adding almond extract and powdered sugar. Whip until soft peaks form. Refrigerate.

Remove galette and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Serve with chilled whipped cream.

Enjoy!

This recipe was also inspired by Hither & Thither's Pear Upside Down Cake.

Check out Aron & Ashley's blog here.

Have a beautiful weekend!

Lunch Lately...

2011-01-26T11:49:00.000-08:00

Easy, healthy, fresh!! I make a batch of this and it serves as a lunch in itself and a side for dinner. Just cook the desire amount of quinoa and cool completely (I got this red quinoa from Trader Joes), chop up some english cucumber and grape tomatoes, add a little crumbled gorgonzola, squeeze some meyer lemon juice (from the tree - woot!), a drizzle of olive oil, a dash of sea salt & pepper. So tasty!

P.S. ~ 1/4 cup of dry quinoa has 6g of protein and 10% of your daily allowance of iron! :) And it's gluten free. Way to treat a body good!

Yum! Peanut Buttery Goodness

2011-01-23T15:18:00.000-08:00

Cookies baked from recipe via Nicole Spiridakis' article for NPR:

Peanut Butter: It's More Than a Sandwich

Time for Some Cake!

2011-01-19T17:57:00.000-08:00

Pancakes that is! I don't remember the last time I've eaten or let alone made pancakes... It's a shame too because J loves them and has settled with ordering them whenever we go out to breakfast.... I guess I'm finally catching onto the hint! ;) Thanks for your patience love! I hope to try these soooon!

From Sprouted Kitchen - Pear & Buckwheat Pancakes w/Honey Butter

Photo via Sprouted Kitchen

From Food Blogga - Better than IHOP Pancakes

Photo via Food Blogga

Sprouted Kitchen's recipe is adapted from the cookbook Good to the Grain - By Kim Boyce.

And you can check out more of Susan Russo's work and recipes over at Food52.

Good Night & Sweet Dreams

2011-01-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

Sunsets will continue to be one of my favorite scenes to photograph....so beautiful and serene no matter where you are.

Winding down for some good sleep and getting ready for the week ahead!

Meltdowns & Life's Lemons

2011-01-14T19:04:00.000-08:00

The other day I read a friend's blog post about a mini meltdown - to which no one is a stranger. (If you are one of those people, then what is your recipe?!) Then I happened to read another post about "when life hands you lemons...". The latter post linked a site that gave hilarious endings to the quotes that finished that saying off. My personal favorites are "When life gives you lemons, suck out all the Vitamin C and yell "EAT THAT, LIFE!" and "When life gives you lemons, alter their DNA and make super lemons!"

I figured... why not switch it up and say, "When life gives you meltdowns, melt down some chocolate and have a fondue party!" or "When life gives you meltdowns, make a heart stoppingly amazing grilled cheese melt!"

Well, you get the picture... lol. Ok, I'm starting to start corny. Hey we need to go have a mojito! ;)

We love you my friend! xo

2011

2011-01-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

A friend texted yesterday when it was 11:11am on Tuesday 01.11.11. Ok, random I know... This week I've been in a whirlwind not remembering what day it is!! Anywho, in line with keeping better track of my days this year I was on the hunt for a cute calendar (or two!) for the house. I recently got this one from Reform School Rules by Krank Press (which was featured in Sunset magazine's latest issue). It lists what to plant and what's in season here in the Southland...not to mention I love the adorable letterpress design! This will be very helpful with the upcoming Seedling Swap!

Here are a few more great designs for the year! Enjoy!

Flora and Fauna of the Pacific Northwest from Mossiere (also at Unruly Things)

Seasons of the Wreath Calendar from ohmydeer's Etsy shop

Linen Calendar from Linea Carta's Etsy shop

Adorable Pocket Calendars from dozi's Etsy shop

Too Cute

2011-01-09T09:13:00.000-08:00

Via You Tube & NPR's Music Blog...

Father & Daughter singing Home

Her dad has some serious whistling skills! :)

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

A Little Jaunt Up North...

2011-01-03T13:56:00.000-08:00

J & I took some time off to visit two of his brothers who live near the Bay Area. We had a really relaxing time there with family. Thank you guys for a perfect time away! Usually we try to stop into San Francisco to hang out but this time we chose to spend it exploring around Berkeley. I'm so glad we did! So many great spots to check out and with many adorable neighborhoods...

The next time we are up there we'll have to stop at the Monterey Fish Market on Hopkins for some fresh fish!

I didn't get any shots of lunch, but we met up for some darn good pizza at The Cheese Board Pizza Collective. The line was snaking out the door but it was well worth it even if we did have to eat it outside in some pretty chilly weather! The pizza of the day was Wild Mushrooms, Goat Cheese, Onions, Mozzarella, Fresh Herbs & Garlic Oil. Also on the "next time" list is to buy some fresh bread and cheese next door at The Cheese Board Collective.

Stop by if you are there ~

Laying Low on Sunday Night

2010-12-27T18:25:00.000-08:00

Fire & A Puzzle

At home with J...Perfect.

Food & Fun Filled Weekend....

2010-12-25T18:07:00.000-08:00

Remember your first place? One that was all your own? :) Recently our good friend moved into hers. And she has definitely made it her own. I'll have to post her painted living room wall if she lets me ;) It is fabulous. She was very excited about her ice cream maker being one of her recent kitchen additions. Can't blame her! She found a Cuisinart for a steal!! I sent her this link from David Lebovitz's food blog for a variety of ice cream recipes... Coconut Saffron, Pumpkin, Caramelized White Chocolate... she's going to be having some fun! I also found a great cookie recipe on his blog and baked a batch for some family & friends. I opted to add dark chocolate and pecans.

They had a bit more crunch to them than I expected but that means they are perfect for dipping. ;) Enjoy!

Indoor Potted Gardens

2010-12-22T16:46:00.000-08:00

After talking with my friend T in New York about having a herb garden indoors in the smaller quarters of NY apartments...I remembered these photos and posts. Here is one from sfgirlbybay's nook. Love the wall color and her lighting fixture from School House Electric.

Photo via School House Electric - Get Inspired

Here is one more via A Cup of Jo...

Photo by Patrick Cline for Lonny

It's nice to bring a bit of the outdoors inside!

Boursin Cheese via North Carolina

2010-12-18T16:22:00.000-08:00

This isn't exactly what the French might call Boursin, but it sure is one of the most delicious alternatives I've had! We got this recipe while visiting dears friends in North Carolina. Thank you K! They served this on homemade rosemary crackers (still need to get that recipe!). I've made this spread for many events and it's been a huge hit - no wonder because it's chock full of butter!! Isn't that always the case with butter??

Boursin Cheese

2 cloves of pressed garlic

16 oz. cream cheese

8 oz. of butter

1/4 tsp thyme, white pepper, salt

1/2 tsp basil, marjoram

1 tsp dill weed, fresh chives

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mix with hand mixer on low until thoroughly combined. While mixing continually work out the mixture from the attachments as it sticks together - slowing the mixer down. Do not over mix. Form into whatever shape you like. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for a few hours. Roll in walnuts or pecans if desired. Freeze if needed.

P.S. It can feed 1 to 20 persons - depending on how much one person ends up eating! :) Enjoy!

Is There a Fungus Among Us?

2010-12-13T16:43:00.001-08:00

Ok, not the kind you might have been thinking of! I'm so wishing that we had a workshop like this one here in my area. Check out Fungus Workshop in Hong Kong (perhaps a wee bit too far for a weekend trip! Lol)...

I have been searching for a leather crafting class around here and they are scarce!! Oh well the search will continue....check out these creations from the workshop...love it!

Images via Fungus Workshop

I'm bound to find one soon or maybe get my hands on a DIY book!

Meal Planning....

2010-12-09T21:40:00.000-08:00

Trying to get more organized in grocery shopping by making menus for the week.... found these great weekly menu ideas on Jora's blog - Domestic Reflections. So great - love them! And her house.... a mid-century modern dream! View it here via Apartment Therapy .

Photo via Apartment Therapy

We've been on a raw foods diet since Monday - fresh, uncooked vegetables and fruit & juicing just to get "reset" in a way. It's been pretty good minus a few weak moments!! After this week though we'll be indulging here and there in some richer dishes.... for one, we're going to make a turkey together for the first time next weekend! Maybe I'll try this dish to go with it - Butternut Squash & Mushroom Risotto via Heart of Light's blog. Mmmmmm!

Photo via Heart-of-Light

It's almost Friday! Woohoo!

Having Fun with Balloons....

2010-12-06T16:38:00.001-08:00

A card made on Pages for a recent baby shower....

XO's to J. Can't wait to meet him!

Essie's Fall Collection

2010-12-05T20:57:00.000-08:00

Loving these new colors from Essie...

Sew Psyched

Little Brown Dress

Merino Cool

I recently tried this one. Absolutely love it!!

Have fun trying some new colors!

Group Garden Growing Initiative: Seedling Swap!

2010-12-03T19:24:00.001-08:00

Last spring my sister-in-law and I both started our own veggie & herb gardens. After spending a season enjoying the growing and harvesting, we thought why not host a plant swap next spring to encourage our family & friends to start one too!

Too make it more of a group project, we'll be sending out a packet of seeds to each participant and a list of some very inexpensive DIY supplies. After the seedlings have emerged we'll all get together and be able to swap and go home with hopefully around a dozen or more seedlings to start a well rounded garden! With these more difficult economic times, planting and harvesting your own meals is a definite help!! It's about as close to being a locavore as you can get! Not only that but it's such a great way to introduce the planting & growing process to the kiddies! We are very excited and are getting the details ready for it's pre-springtime introduction!

Check back to our blog for updates ~ www.seedlingswap.blogspot.com

Temaki Time!

2010-11-28T22:54:00.000-08:00

Over the long weekend a friend & I got together to experiment in a little sushi hand roll making and of course.... eating! This is something we always do together. Her family has been integral in teaching and feeding us wonderful Vietnamese dishes. I am a bit embarrassed to say that although being Japanese(-American!) this was my first time doing it on my own. When it comes to Japanese food, I'm always enjoying the fruits of someone else's labor, especially my Mom's! So when I told her about my little endeavor she let me borrow her hangiri (traditional wooden bowl to season & cool the rice) and sent me home with her new discovery... sushi seasoning in a bottle! Ok, this is a shortcut and I'm so happy that she is up for them! (She was so proud of the fact that it didn't have MSG and kept pointing that out to me. Love you Mom!)

We had a line up of goodies we prepared to include, spicy tuna mix, salmon, avocado, egg... and added some other finds - fresh shiso leaves and enoki mushrooms. I sauteed the mushrooms quickly in garlic and a little oil. The shiso added a wonderful flavor!

By the end of the night we were so stuffed and a few days later her dad sent J home with some homemade soup with Duck & Bamboo Shoots. It was sooo delish!! Gotta find out how to make that!! Next up on the Vietnamese cuisine list... Banh Xeo (Vietnamese Crepes with Tumeric & Coconut Milk)! Stay tuned!

Tongue Thai-ed!

2010-11-25T16:09:00.000-08:00

With our garden dwindling down in these colder months, I wanted to hurry and use the Thai basil and lemongrass. I remembered I've had a recipe from Sunset Magazine for Thai Chicken Coconut Soup in the arsenal but never tried it. It's full of mushrooms, chicken, ginger....the blend of flavors is delish!

It really is oh so simple with minimal prep & cooking! Be sure to use Thai basil instead of the regular sweeter variety. It has more spice and a taste of licorice and mint to it. You can find it at your local Asian market. I used light coconut milk instead and added a bit more of the Thai chili paste to kick it up a bit. And it's even better the second day... Enjoy!

DIY Wedding Invitations

2010-11-22T23:05:00.000-08:00

Celebrating our anniversary got me reminiscing about our wedding and I was thinking about the invitations. Looking back, maybe it was a little over ambitious to make and print them all. Thankfully we had a small & intimate wedding. :) But it was so much fun and very sentimental to put a personal touch on each of them. I ended up purchasing most of the supplies at Paper Source in Pasadena (there's also a Beverly Hills location). They have so many great ideas and a huge selection of color and styles. I loved the chartreuse, cream and black combination.

Here is the end product... the gingko leaf was actual a sticker I scanned and added on and the ribbon is from Michael's.

A little layering and trimming did the trick!

This one was a sample we kept...a little worse for wear....had made a few of those "samples" before I finally got it down!

Check out their goods here and have fun crafting!! :)

Happy 3 Year Anniversary My Love...

2010-11-17T10:32:00.000-08:00

I'm In Love...

2010-11-15T20:13:00.003-08:00

It's French beauty has inspired us!

Pour notre famille aimante - Nous vous remercions beaucoup!

It's Soup Weather!

2010-11-08T18:17:00.000-08:00

Finally a little cooling off here in SoCal! Not for long though... the weekend is supposed to warm up ...again ... Well, I've been telling J that I want to try to cook bigger dinners on Mondays since we have a pretty busy Tuesday - from morning till night! That way I don't have to cook and we have enough to eat from the night before. I love that he's so easy going about our meals and is willing to eat anything... well, almost anything!

Here's a recipe I found from Sunset magazine for Caramelized Vegetable & Meatball Soup. I adapted mine a bit. I used sweet potato instead of regular, minus the carrots, added a zucchini and a crookneck squash. I also swapped out the turkey meatballs and used Italian chicken sausage. I didn't have time to make meatballs from scratch!!!

Anyways, this recipe is loaded with garlic (15 cloves! that'll keep the flu (and people) away!) and some yummy leeks and fennel.

And I used parsnips for the first time. I even had to ask the produce guy to point it out for me. Lol.... Sprinkle with a little grated parmesan cheese and enjoy!

à la mode

2010-11-07T21:20:00.000-08:00

A new found favorite food / photography blog I've stumbled across is à la mode, chronicling L.A. based photographer Rick Poon's culinary and travel journeys. His images are rich and capture the essence of a dish, making the image itself good enough to eat!

Here's a a little peak at some past posts....

some from his trip to Istanbul, Turkey (Hey, D! Hola!)

and of his guest post with Design Sponge's In the Kitchen With series. He made Chocolate Hazelnut Baklava. I die!!

Lastly, some work he did for a feature in Little Saigon in Garden Grove, CA. He hit some of our favorite restaurants down there. Vien Dong and Brodard.

Happy browsing!

All images via à la mode*.

Playing With The Moon

2010-11-04T09:13:00.000-07:00

I love checking out NPR's - The Picture Show. Always full of interesting perspectives! Saw these photos today of astronomy photographer Laurent Laveder's work. Check out his pet project called "Moon Games" here at NPR and on his professional site.

Logo via NPR

Minimalist Tote Bag Tutorial

2010-11-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Saw this cute DIY tote bag on Design Sponge.... hmmm first maybe I need to get a sewing machine?? Love the leather handles and rivet detailing.

Photo via Design Sponge

Foodie Fotos

2010-11-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

Here's another delicious food blog, Seven Spoons, with some recipes that must be tried! Looking forward to tasting these desserts..... soon I hope!

Caramel Self-Saucing Walnut Pudding

Strawberry Ice Box Cake

Photos via Seven Spoons

This one intrigues me because technically I don't know if I'd call it a 'cake' since it's made from graham crackers and no baking is involved! :) Doesn't it look fab-u-lous?

A Week Night Date Night

2010-10-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, J & I ended up winning tickets to see Corinne Bailey Rae through KCRW!! They do some pretty great giveaways (hint: the weekday giveaways are harder to score but the weekend ones give you a better chance!)

We hopped on the Metro's redline train over to Hollywood and met up with another couple last night to see Corinne at the Avalon (aka The Palace), smaller more intimate venue. She was beautiful and gracious.

A powerful voice from a delicate woman. It was such a great night out! Thanks KCRW! :)

Scenes & Sights from Joshua Tree

2010-10-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

Meditative Monday.....

2010-10-25T09:57:00.000-07:00

Boy, do I have a serious case of the Monday's...... maybe its because I'm sad to have left vacation-mode? Not sure, but I'm trying to get that push to keep me moving for the week! It's easy to start thinking of the day to day as monotonous. But I need to keep in anticipation of what's around the corner...

the bigger picture...

Have a great week everyone!

A Gem In the Desert

2010-10-24T17:27:00.000-07:00

Our good friends had recently taken a trip to Joshua Tree and recommended a place to stay and we were oh so happy with it! They weren't able to stay last time because they wanted to take their pups along for the trip. So they stayed at Roughly Manor in Twentynine Palms - very cute bed & breakfast and, according to them, they serve breakfast to die for! More french toast please!! :)

We stayed at Spin & Margie's Desert Hide-A-Way. Loved it!

Tucked off the highway with 5 suites - it really was an oasis in the desert. 4 of them have their own kitchen and the courtyard is very welcoming with fountains and seating. Ours (Suite 3 - The Sonoran Traveler) also had a private patio and we made good use of our little kitchen with a whole lotta goodies we packed from TJs.

The owner of the inn, Mindy, is so wonderful and made sure we were taken care of with recommendations of things to do and places to eat in the area. Our room had a selection of movies to watch and so we popped open a bottle of wine and relaxed for the night! Thanks again Mindy for your hospitality!

Thinking of....

2010-10-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

J & I just got back from a much needed break. We had the best time at Joshua Tree National Park.... More highlights to be posted a lil later! Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Interactive Dining

2010-10-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Some time ago I posted about Spring Rolls.... they are one of my favorite meals. So fresh and delish! You can devise your own rolls with just about anything. Maybe some grilled lemongrass tofu, or mushrooms and onions.... this last time I used black pepper & garlic marinated pork and some shrimp pan fried with a touch of butter.

The other great thing about eating spring rolls is that you can lay out all the ingredients on the table and everyone can fill and wrap their own. It's a way to sit, wrap, eat, talk, wrap some more, eat some more.... it makes you take the time to break between bites and have fun at the table!

Nom Nom Nom Nom

2010-10-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most people have seen or heard about all the gourmet food trucks roaming the streets! Nom Nom Truck has been on our radar and they were finally in our area today.

J & I met up for a quick bite of delish Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches. Grilled Lemongrass Pork filled with pickled carrots & daikon radish, cilantro, jalapenos...mmm mmm mmm! Add a Mint Lemonade to that and I was a happy nomster :)

Since they were on Food Network's Great Food Truck Race, they've become quite sought after around here! Glad I showed up early cuz the line was snaking all the way down Ventura Blvd! I have to admit it was a little hard paying extra for it since we're so used to getting them for less at Sandwich Express, but it was a fun and yummy little stop for today! Happy Monday!

Road Trip!

2010-10-06T11:59:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's already been 1 year since J & I went to Zion National Park...

...and the Grand Canyon.

That was an amazing trip filled with gorgeous scenery and great memories. This time we're heading to Joshua Tree National Park and we couldn't be more excited. Looking forward to exploring and getting some great shots of the desert sky at dusk! We usually pick out some road tripping music - some old or new albums. It's always fun to tie in great memories when you hear a song! Last time we had Emiliana Torrini and Band of Horses' last album. This time I think we'll be taking along their new one - Infinite Arms....What oldies or newbies have you listened to lately?

Extended Summer....

2010-09-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

Well, summer was supposedly "officially" over according to the calendar but the cool break was just a tease here in So Cal. This past weekend and coming week has been in the triple digits and will be in the 90's for a while... The weather has been really bizarre today. Ominous clouds with 95 degree weather... threatening to rain but never coming. A rainbow appeared but it came and went pretty quickly. I was able to catch these shots from my front yard today.

Love these sunsets on a warm summer evening!

Thinking of Tonight's Dinner

2010-09-20T14:19:00.000-07:00

Our leeks in the garden are just about ready... not as hearty as we would have liked but we're going to give them a try in this dish tonight. Another amazing dish from my favorite...Sprouted Kitchen of course! Scallops on Creamy Leeks.

Image via Sprouted Kitchen

Yum! Part Deux

2010-09-19T17:02:00.000-07:00

With J off at a study session last night, I took the opp to try out the recipe from Design Sponge I wrote about on my last post. Oh my! The flavors are so subtle but you can definitely pinpoint the pistachios & olive oil. I wanted to keeping eating the cake batter off of the spoon. The fig compote is delectable. Reduced and sweetened with the fresh juice of one orange and some honey. Mmmm...mmm...mm

After J came home we enjoyed a slice with a cup of tea.... fall is not too far off... I can feel it in the night air!

Yum

2010-09-13T17:31:00.000-07:00

How amazing is this layer cake? This delectable creation is from Ming Thompson. Found this via "Design Sponge's In the Kitchen With:" series.

Pistachios, olive oil, figs, orange, cream cheese.... love love love. Must try. Reminds me of something we would be eating in the fields of Tuscany. (Side note: Ming is also known for her cupcakes. Check her out here.) - Photos via Design Sponge.