I bought these pumps on sale... I should have bought it in every color.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
About A Shoe
I love jcrew. Over the years, its style has changed and its prices have gone up, way up. But the series of shorts on their website serves a sort of an explanation. You get what you pay for.
I bought these pumps on sale... I should have bought it in every color.
I bought these pumps on sale... I should have bought it in every color.
My Favorite Night of the Week
Happy Thursday Night! I love Thursday nights. The anticipation of Friday and the weekend fills me with happiness! By Thursday night, I am no longer drowning in the chaos of the week and I feel like I finally have things under control.
To celebrate, I made peanut butter pecan biscotti. The recipe was a cinch and I am definitely a dunker!
From Joy the Baker (http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/)
4 T Butter
1/3 C Natural Peanut Butter - I used Trader Joes Creamy
1 C Sugar
1 Large Egg
1 Large Egg Yolk
2 C Flour
1 t. Baking Powder
1/4 t. Salt
1/2 C Pecans
Preheat oven to 325. Line one baking sheet with parchment paper.
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter, peanut butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add egg and egg yolk until well blended.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
5. Add pecans.
6. Divide batter into two batches and shape into loaves.
7. Brush the loaves with heavy cream (my friend told me to use the egg white for breakfast - it's a better use of a good egg white).
8. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Put into oven for 35 minutes or so (the loaves should be golden brown). Take out, cool and slice loaves into biscotti pieces, about one inch thick. Place the pieces back on the baking pan and bake for another 15 minutes.
Start your dunking!
To celebrate, I made peanut butter pecan biscotti. The recipe was a cinch and I am definitely a dunker!
From Joy the Baker (http://www.joythebaker.com/blog/)
4 T Butter
1/3 C Natural Peanut Butter - I used Trader Joes Creamy
1 C Sugar
1 Large Egg
1 Large Egg Yolk
2 C Flour
1 t. Baking Powder
1/4 t. Salt
1/2 C Pecans
Preheat oven to 325. Line one baking sheet with parchment paper.
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.
2. In a large bowl, beat butter, peanut butter and sugar until fluffy.
3. Add egg and egg yolk until well blended.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix until incorporated.
5. Add pecans.
6. Divide batter into two batches and shape into loaves.
7. Brush the loaves with heavy cream (my friend told me to use the egg white for breakfast - it's a better use of a good egg white).
8. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.
Put into oven for 35 minutes or so (the loaves should be golden brown). Take out, cool and slice loaves into biscotti pieces, about one inch thick. Place the pieces back on the baking pan and bake for another 15 minutes.
Start your dunking!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Keep it Simple!
There are so many cooking blogs out there, so many recipes, so many ideas. In the end, my favorite cook and recipe author remains... Ina Garten. She keeps everything simple and delicious. I am thinking about cooking my way through her recipes for the month of March. I will have to think through this challenge.
In the meanwhile, I want to keep things simple and delicious this week. Some ideas...
What to do with a lone zucchini. Slice them up. Lay them flat and salt them. Dredge them in flour and dip them in an egg wash.
And tada...
I also made some salmon. Get a container and line with sliced up onions. Pour marinade:
5 T Soy
4 T Brown Sugar
a good amount of minced garlic
2 T Sesame Oil
a shake of sesame seeds
Put your salmon right in there, skin side up and let it hang out.
I cooked these filets in oven at 375 and promptly enjoyed them without taking a picture.
Here's to a week of simplicity and deliciousness!
In the meanwhile, I want to keep things simple and delicious this week. Some ideas...
What to do with a lone zucchini. Slice them up. Lay them flat and salt them. Dredge them in flour and dip them in an egg wash.
And tada...
I also made some salmon. Get a container and line with sliced up onions. Pour marinade:
5 T Soy
4 T Brown Sugar
a good amount of minced garlic
2 T Sesame Oil
a shake of sesame seeds
Put your salmon right in there, skin side up and let it hang out.
I cooked these filets in oven at 375 and promptly enjoyed them without taking a picture.
Here's to a week of simplicity and deliciousness!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Happy Love Day!
We made these lovely crayon hearts to celebrate Valentine's Day. We are now off to a Valentine's Day dinner at my sisters. Yay!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
More of Korea
During our very short trip to Korea, my parents arranged for a quick trip to the seaside (I like saying that). My mom was born on the seaside. She was definitely in her element. I think she enjoyed the trip the mostest.
The resort was sooo nice!
It was really cool to see the sunrise.
My eemo took us out to lunch.
The resort was sooo nice!
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| Totally in her element! |
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| Doesn't this look like an album sleeve picture? |
My eemo took us out to lunch.
Korean food almost always leaves a hankering for coffee.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Slow Start
As someone recently put it, "Life is hard." It really is. Sure, there is a sweetness to life but you have to work at it.
Four days into the week and I feel like I can do something other than get up, make lunches, go to work, work, come home, make dinner, clean, spend time with the family, get the kids to bed, get myself to bed, sleep. So here I am, writing. There is soup on the stove for tomorrow and something baking in the oven! I am actually going to stay up after 9:00 p.m. tonight!
I love lemon frosting and shortbread so this recipe for glazed lemon shortbread bars was a must try.
I am now patiently awaiting for the icing to cool. By the looks of the sad pictures, I think I need another camera.
Four days into the week and I feel like I can do something other than get up, make lunches, go to work, work, come home, make dinner, clean, spend time with the family, get the kids to bed, get myself to bed, sleep. So here I am, writing. There is soup on the stove for tomorrow and something baking in the oven! I am actually going to stay up after 9:00 p.m. tonight!
I love lemon frosting and shortbread so this recipe for glazed lemon shortbread bars was a must try.
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| The crust was sandy. I used my hands to press the sandish dough into the pan. |
 |
Yum! |
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Things I Was Doing While Not Blogging (Contd.)
Korea was cold. Thank God for my mom's long wool coat with a fur collar! Now I know why people wear fur.
My cousin's wedding was the day after I arrived so it was go-go-go! The happy couple and my go-mo and go-mo-bu.
Most weddings in Korea are held at wedding halls, not in churches or temples. The ceremony itself is pretty contrived with opera singers (a la three tenor style), bubble machines and lots of fog.
Go-mo on her heavenly throne...
Do Chanel bags go to heaven?
I had a great time seeing all of my relatives and especially spending time with my grandfather. Everyone knows that I am his favorite (haha). He is 90 years old and still very active. He is also quite the dancer - it runs in our blood!
I also had the opportunity to participate in a pae-baek. It's a traditional Korean thing. Something I didn't do for my wedding. I'm not exactly sure what it all means but the newly wed couple greets the groom's side of the family then pours each of them a drink. Various family members give them words of advice like, "Have a lot of kids and be happy!" Oh, I almost forgot the part where after the greeting, the family members give the couple envelopes filled with cash! I think that might be the point of the whole thing.
Here is Hoonie pouring me a drink. My word of advice..."Marriage is a lot of work (but a lot of fun)."
What a torturous shot...awkward.
Post wedding food. The bride's family sends special traditional foods to the groom's side of the family to thank them for taking their daughter off their hands. Not really, I just made that up. I am not so well versed in Korean wedding traditions.
My cousin's wedding was the day after I arrived so it was go-go-go! The happy couple and my go-mo and go-mo-bu.
Go-mo on her heavenly throne...
Do Chanel bags go to heaven?
I had a great time seeing all of my relatives and especially spending time with my grandfather. Everyone knows that I am his favorite (haha). He is 90 years old and still very active. He is also quite the dancer - it runs in our blood!
My dear seesters...
I also had the opportunity to participate in a pae-baek. It's a traditional Korean thing. Something I didn't do for my wedding. I'm not exactly sure what it all means but the newly wed couple greets the groom's side of the family then pours each of them a drink. Various family members give them words of advice like, "Have a lot of kids and be happy!" Oh, I almost forgot the part where after the greeting, the family members give the couple envelopes filled with cash! I think that might be the point of the whole thing.
Here is Hoonie pouring me a drink. My word of advice..."Marriage is a lot of work (but a lot of fun)."
Post wedding food. The bride's family sends special traditional foods to the groom's side of the family to thank them for taking their daughter off their hands. Not really, I just made that up. I am not so well versed in Korean wedding traditions.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
No Fail Dinner
Ina Garten changed my life. I had never attempted a recipe until I met Ina Garten. Her recipes never fail. Her instructions are easy to understand, the ingredients easy to find (you might even have them all in your pantry). The end product is simply good food. Nothing complicated at all.
Panko Breaded Salmon (adapted from Ina Garten's How Easy Is That?)
2 Filets of Salmon (With Skin)
1 C. Panko Breading
1 Small Bunch of Parsley Chopped
Zest of 1 Lemon
3 T. Olive Oil
Mustard (I use Trader Joe's Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce)
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Dry the filets with paper towel. Salt and pepper the salmon filets.
3. Spread mustard on the filets, skin down. Be generous.
4. In a bowl, mix panko, parsley, lemon zest and olive oil.
5. Cover the salmon with panko mix. Press down on the filet to help the breading stick.
6. Place filets skin down onto a well heated cast iron or alike for about 3 minutes (until the skin gets crispy). Make sure that the pan can transition from the stove top to the oven.
7. Put the pan into the oven for 5-7 minutes. For the last minute, broil to brown.
I also served roasted brussel sprouts. Roasting vegetables is another thing I learned from Ina. Easy and always good. Just use lots of olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. Toss together with your hands and bake for 15 minutes at 400. Never fails.
Panko Breaded Salmon (adapted from Ina Garten's How Easy Is That?)
2 Filets of Salmon (With Skin)
1 C. Panko Breading
1 Small Bunch of Parsley Chopped
Zest of 1 Lemon
3 T. Olive Oil
Mustard (I use Trader Joe's Aioli Garlic Mustard Sauce)
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Dry the filets with paper towel. Salt and pepper the salmon filets.
3. Spread mustard on the filets, skin down. Be generous.
4. In a bowl, mix panko, parsley, lemon zest and olive oil.
5. Cover the salmon with panko mix. Press down on the filet to help the breading stick.
6. Place filets skin down onto a well heated cast iron or alike for about 3 minutes (until the skin gets crispy). Make sure that the pan can transition from the stove top to the oven.
7. Put the pan into the oven for 5-7 minutes. For the last minute, broil to brown.
I also served roasted brussel sprouts. Roasting vegetables is another thing I learned from Ina. Easy and always good. Just use lots of olive oil, kosher salt and pepper. Toss together with your hands and bake for 15 minutes at 400. Never fails.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Things I Was Doing While Not Blogging (Part II)
I had the enormous privilege to travel back to Korea for a cousin's wedding! I say enormous, because I have two kids and a husband and a full time job and limited financial resources. Add it up and it never equals travel. But my dear John made it happen. He purchased my ticket using his own personal miles and I was fortunate enough to get the time off! The last time I was in the Motherland was in 1996 (you read that right).
Not only did John use his miles, he booked me in Business Class! I felt like an imposter sitting in the plush, roomy seat. It's different world! As soon as I walked on the plane, I was greeted by a nicely wrapped comforter (yes, comforter, not a thin, small piece of cloth) and a fluffy pillow! I didn't have to wonder if the blanket was clean. The leg room was fantastic (I could stretch out my legs without touching the seat in front of me... okay my legs are on the short side).
The food is well, still airplane food, but it all looked so very nice...
They also passed out Bose headphones and coffee was free flowing whenever I wanted some! I finally got to watch Mad Men to see what the big deal is all about.
Some 15 hours later, I arrived in Seoul. It was late and since I didn't get a wink of sleep on my flight (too busy trying to enjoy every amenity), it wasn't long before I fell asleep.
It felt great to be in Seoul. My first meal cooked by my mom:
Lots of different kinds of kimchee and fresh raw oysters (on the white square plate) bought that same morning at the wholesale market. It was so fresh and tasty dipped in a vinegary hot pepper sauce! And yes, this was breakfast!
Not only did John use his miles, he booked me in Business Class! I felt like an imposter sitting in the plush, roomy seat. It's different world! As soon as I walked on the plane, I was greeted by a nicely wrapped comforter (yes, comforter, not a thin, small piece of cloth) and a fluffy pillow! I didn't have to wonder if the blanket was clean. The leg room was fantastic (I could stretch out my legs without touching the seat in front of me... okay my legs are on the short side).
The food is well, still airplane food, but it all looked so very nice...
They also passed out Bose headphones and coffee was free flowing whenever I wanted some! I finally got to watch Mad Men to see what the big deal is all about.
Some 15 hours later, I arrived in Seoul. It was late and since I didn't get a wink of sleep on my flight (too busy trying to enjoy every amenity), it wasn't long before I fell asleep.
It felt great to be in Seoul. My first meal cooked by my mom:
Lots of different kinds of kimchee and fresh raw oysters (on the white square plate) bought that same morning at the wholesale market. It was so fresh and tasty dipped in a vinegary hot pepper sauce! And yes, this was breakfast!
Love It!
I received a Kindle from John for Christmas. He followed it up with this cute leather cover, complete with a light!
I was one of those book snobs who looked down on the e-readers when they came out. I valued the experience of flipping though the pages, the musty smell of old books, dog-earring the pages to mark your place, highlighting a line that spoke to you. Well, I've not only changed my mind but I am a huge advocate (read: pusher) of the Kindle! I can carry around three or four books at a time without running out of purse space. I now click through the pages, mark my place with an electronic dogear and I can even highlight/make notes without worring about running out of space in the margins! I hear rumors that the Kindle may be available in 2011 for $99! Do it! You won't regret it!
I just finished reading:
This is a satisfying quick read about the complicated relationships between white women and their black housemaids in Jackson, Missippi as they struggle to find their place during the beginnings of the civil rights movement.
I just finished reading:
This is a satisfying quick read about the complicated relationships between white women and their black housemaids in Jackson, Missippi as they struggle to find their place during the beginnings of the civil rights movement.
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