July 2011
1 post
2 tags
Scallop Salad
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I have a constant love-hate relationship with salad. Love them. Love them too much. Get bored with them. For this last reason, it makes me on the constant lookout for new recipes that can give a jolt to what I usually defer to (mesclun greens, toppings, and a lemon vinaigrette). While going through Food & Wine the other day, I came across a recipe that definitely added some spark. Here is...
June 2011
1 post
2 tags
How To: Mini Burger
Bite size food really brings some added fun to any food. The creation of mini burgers tops my list because it’s perfect for the summer time, and lets you make each burger with a variation of toppings. For this go around, i decided to keep it classic with the toppings and beef to focus on the american cheese, yes.
Ingredients:
85/15 ground beef
mini buns (whole foods)
arugula
american...
May 2011
2 posts
2 tags
S'more Cookies
Apologies on the huge gap of being MIA. The sad thing is I am quite possibly in front of my computer, but time forsakes me. Anyways, not to say that my sweet tooth has been anything less than relentless and as I am sure you have seen, you’ve noticed the s’more cookies that are around.
I improvised on the recipe, mainly cutting out graham crackers as I was really after the...
Up and Coming
So there is a new site soon to launch in NYC and I am counting down the days. MintCastle has recently launched in LA, and I can already tell from their features that this is a site I will actually subscribe to and read! With cool get-aways and restaurants with stellar reviews, I’ve finally found a site amongst all the other ones that I can count on. They’ve sponsored On The Mend 4...
April 2011
4 posts
1 tag
Bold and the Beautiful
I have to admit, I am really enjoying all of the bright colors popping up right now. The colors are a great way to add some fun to your outfit, whether its some colorful bangles or a bold red dress. Here are some colorful pieces I am eyeing at the moment.
Zara Three-Tone Stretch Sandals $99
Forever 21 Vibrant Bangle Set $7.80
Asos Suede Color Block Belt $35.86
Topshop Red Raised Flower...
2 tags
Creamy Pasta
Creamy, hearty foods are a staple in my apartment during these cold dreary days. I won’t go on, but you know what I mean. A beautiful sunny day followed by winter…the only way to survive is through great company and delicious food. I made this dish the other night because it is a great comfort food from the rain outside. Here is the recipe I made up, and the extra creativeness really...
2 tags
Lemon Ricotta Cookies
I always forget how infrequently I bake cookies. Something about them, baking in the oven and filling the apartment with wonderful sweet smells was enough of a reason to try out this recipe here. Perfect for the Spring weather that was finally come out, they are light and fluffy with hints of lemon. Do note - best to consume the entire batch within the first 2 days for optimal freshness....
Surprises
Where to begin…I got back a couple days ago from a much needed trip to the beach. Trip was perfect with sunny weather and a beautiful beach. All the while, I was wondering how my boyfriend was surviving back in New York without me…And here is the first thing I saw when I returned home.
I do tend to dominate the kitchen so it’s fair to say my boyfriend rarely can get in to even...
March 2011
7 posts
Hello Beach
It’s that time of year, and with much anticipation, I cannot take this 5 month long winter any more. Goodbye 28 degree weather. I am eloping to the beach and no one can stop me. Much excited, picked up a some beach coverups like this here, and new reading material, which will make for the perfect day on the beach. I can quite literally taste the rum punch in my hand…Here are a few...
2 tags
Kimchee Chigae
End of March. Still cold. Wishing for the spring to hurry up already. This wave of cold winter called for another stew, and I deeply hope this is one of the last times I am making it for the season. I carefully chose this chigae recipe here, and it did chigae justice. A couple notes, do omit the miso (too sweet), and if available, get the sour kimchee so it won’t be an additional...
1 tag
Happy Meal
Sometimes the best things in life, you find at the bar. Going back to basics, the standard bar menu of hearty mac n cheese and hot wings are the ultimate comfort food to have at home. Feeling a bit lazy to wander down the street to the Upper East Side bars, I figured it was time to try it out in my kitchen. Since spice is continuously at the top of my list, the macaroni and cheese had a bit of...
1 tag
Homemade Granola
I’ve always loved breakfast because of the options for salty and sweet foods. Right now, I am completely hooked on Greek yoghurt. Figured it was time to make it special with homemade granola and concocted this recipe. Topped with honey, this makes the ultimate savory meal to start the day, or good snack any time.
Ingredients:
2 cups real dry oats
1/4 cup of honey
1/4 cup packed brown...
1 tag
Fried Bananas
This past weekend I was in Seattle, and my family went to our favorite Thai restaurant. It’s been a few years since I last went, so I made sure to order the fried banana for dessert. If you haven’t tried, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. I wanted to share this delectable dessert with my boyfriend so I whipped up a simple batch last night. Paired with vanilla ice cream and...
1 tag
Mini Brioche Rolls
This past weekend, I was finally inspired to bake something from scratch. Sometimes thinking about favorite meals, vacations, or restaurants serve as the perfect inspiration. Since bread plays a large role in my life, I knew I had to try this recipe here. It took a full 2 days to prep and bake, but worth it because the fragrant smell of home baked rolls in your kitchen smelled divine. ...
1 tag
Chicken Noodle Soup
This past week, I have had the pleasure of catching another cold. It isn’t ideal, but I guess I am not handling this extremely cold winter very well. I knew I needed to make a massive pot of chicken noodle soup, but the just the thought of made me think of all the hot sauce it would need. This soup has never seized to impress me, due to its lack of zest. Luckily, Anne Burrell has the...
December 2010
5 posts
Two Thousand Eleven
Happy last day of 2010! As 2011 is mere hours away, do you have your new years resolutions ready? There is no better time than now to start accomplishing your dreams, happy new year!
Stuck In The Middle
Happy Belated Holidays! Hope everyone had a nice holiday with their friends and family. It was really good to see everyone since I usually am only able to go back to Seattle for Christmas. But as of now, I am stuck between Seattle and NY - in Chicago. I definitely got hit by the eastcoast blizzard, so as my boyfriend told me, “Enjoy the airport, make friends, fall in love”. I took to...
Apt Sprucing
I have been so busy lately, I apologize I have not been around lately! Though in the midst of holiday shopping, getting ready to go back to Seattle and work, I did manage to get in a thorough cleaning and re-decorating in this weekend. I ordered these cute wall decals and put it over the bed yesterday. It’s a nice faux headboard to have since a full size headboard would take up more space...
Wooden Plates
Sometimes I can’t help but laugh at what really makes me smile. If I tell some of my friends (whose expertise and fun comes from outside of the kitchen), they merely cock their heads to the side and give me a look. Even so, I still share my excitement of these these beautiful wooden bowls I picked up the other day at Sur La Table. When I saw these Rustic Wood Plates, I had to have them. So...
November 2010
7 posts
Ricotta Gnocchi
I look forward to the weekends so much because I have time to do all the things I don’t have time to do during the week. Painting my toes, cleaning my apartment (yes this makes the list! Great exercise and your place will smell fresh). And most importantly it gives me time to experiment with recipes that require a bit more kitchen time.
I finally made homemade ricotta gnocchi, and it...
Aritichoke Spinach Salad
I am happy the weekend was so beautiful! Even though it has only been winter coat cold for a few weeks, it sure felt refreshing to feel the sun. Yes, it does make me wonder if I should move back to the West Coast, like southern California to see if I can bear one season all year round (I am pretty sure I can!).
So the weekend was a success. My friend needed to go shoe shopping and I...
Quesadillas
Last night I didn’t have much time to cook anything that could take much longer than Top Ramen or a fried egg. I first thought to call the local Chinese Take Out Restaurant which quite literally, as soon as you place an order, you hear a knocking at your door 12 minutes later.
But Thursday night was not Chinese food night. Luckily, quesadillas easily go into this quick-fix meal if you are...
Cinnamon Rolls...
Another great weekend has passed and the new week has crept up on me - again…But luckily, I had a lot to do and many meals to eat. I saw an old friend whom I haven’t seen in at least 6 months because the Bolt Bus divides us, but we made up for lost time with many drinks and a late night diner.
I also made time to bake cinnamon rolls! Something that has been on my ‘To Do’...
Cute Colander
I haven’t been accessorizing my apartment as much these days since I have been fairly pre-occupied with other things, like weekend brunches, not doing laundry, and trying to find thick fuzzy warm sweaters. Oh, and I am seriously running out of free space and wall space, so that has also served as hesitation. The newest addition is a wonderful glass coffee table, courtesy of my friend who...
Chicken Cacciatore
Me and chicken go way back. We have had our share of ups and downs, and the relationship is still a struggle. But because I want to make it better, I am really trying to enjoy chicken without the frying aspect. Really hard and a work in progress…
This recipe here is ideal because there are a lot of flavors and veggies included so it keeps the meal pretty interesting.
Ingredients:
1...
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Breaking news - I have a new oven! Yes, my old oven has finally been replaced with a standard one, with all the bells and whistles. I have voiced my complaints many times before about burning my hand on the oven door, the stove burners not working when the oven is in use, and the big kahuna - the dial contains no temperature settings. Yup. Now I often wonder how I was even able to bake anything...
October 2010
11 posts
Octoberfest
I am sad I didn’t make it to any of the Octoberfest festivities that have been going on, so I decided to have my own celebration in the comfort of my own home. I used delicious chicken bratwurst (first boiled, then grilled in the skillet), 1/2 head of cabbage, 2 onions, sauteed in plenty of butter.
And where’s Waldo? Waldo is the beer, and not pictured because it did not make it to...
Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes
Brunch is by far my favorite meal because you can go sweet and salty. I do find myself craving pancakes/waffles with a side of sunny-side up eggs smothered in hot sauce. Buttermilk pancakes called to me this weekend, and this recipe here was simple and perfectly indulging.
I also added in lemon zest to accent the blueberries and buttermilk, which was also a very good decision.
Greek Potatoes
Since the weather has been a bit chilly the past few weeks, it was a huge treat that it was warm and sunny over the weekend! I tried to be outside as much as possible, did some much needed laundry (4 weeks worth), and made some delicious Greek Potatoes.
I love the standard Greek food like lamb gyros, but what I love more is the lemon potatoes. The potatoes are slow roasted in the oven with a...
French Apple Tart
Apples have always been underrated in my book. Probably as a child I associated them with being a bit too crisp in Costco apple pie, but I have since learned homemade is the only way to go. Apple pie, and apple tarts done right are the best dessert to follow dinner, or hey, breakfast too! The recipe here was right on, and so easy to make, I might bring this one back for Thanksgiving. Even easier...
Biscuit Lover
I have been holding back on one of the most amazing jams I have ever tried in my life. Exaggeration? I think not. I took a family trip to Portugal a couple summers ago and a local friend there showed us all the great hot spots (both historical monuments and amazing bakeries), and told us about a locally grown pumpkin jam. The pumpkin is breed only grown in Portugal, and not available elsewhere....
Ramen Exploration
If you have not noticed my obsession with Ramen, this is me telling you - I am obsessed with Ramen. Not just any ramen but good quality Ramen, that can only be compared back to the bowls I had in Tokyo.
This past weekend my friend introduced me to Menkui Tei Ramen Shop. I had high hopes when I asked if they had Kyu-Shyu style ramen and they immediately pointed to the one most similar....
French Toast
This past weekend was unbelievably relaxing, filled with cat naps, sunny weather, and delicious meals. French toast was a major perk to go with a freshly brewed french pressed coffee too. I feel absolutely refreshed, now can we please always have 3 days weekends or pick up the European siesta? Yes, please, let’s enjoy every meal with wonderful company and play as much as we work. Oh,...
Brussel Sprouts Dressed Up
I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to be inventive and creative when it comes to eating my veggies. I eat them, be it a raw cucumber or bell pepper, but I have found it an obstacle to find a recipe that lets the veggies be interesting and not filled with butter.
This recipe here was fantastic. With no need for butter but instead pancetta and radicchio, this dish can easily serve...
Cookie Monster
I am having a massive attack of sweets the past couple of weeks, which took me by surprise because you know how much I love hot sauce and salt. The other night, I realized I had to have a good quality cookie, not store bought and not from a bakery (so I could have an endless supply). This recipe here did the trick!
I confess - yes, I ran out of brown sugar, yes I ran out of butter. But fear not...
What Your Dentist Didn't Tell You
Crazy story, and thought I would share it. After, you can decide to believe it or not. I grind my teeth like there is no tomorrow, so badly that afterwards I cannot eat a whole meal. I had enough, and decided to consult a holistic dentist. She informed me my gums were double the size of the norm and on my way to a root canal, unless we took preventative action (all due to my teeth...
Oyster Po'boy
Oy, oysters, where to begin? Okay, I will start at the beginning - I was in the Korean grocery store the other day stocking up on necessities like miso paste, tofu, noodles, etc, and nonchalantly decided to throw in frozen oysters. Definitely not on the grocery list, but still made it’s way in.
2 weeks later, and I remember those bad boys are hanging out in my freezer. Crap. Need a good...
September 2010
11 posts
Disney Gumbo
Awhile back I found this picture of me (about 4 years old), pouting at Disneyland, because I was lost. Who hasn’t right? My general memories of Disneyland are on a happier note of Mickey and Minnie, the Teacup ride, churros, and gumbo. I hold the Disneyland gumbo on a pedestal, bread bowl and all! And now, I think any gumbo I have should be exactly like so.
Came across this recipe, and...
Family Secrets
I have always been envious of those girls with hair that is so shiny, you think it can’t be natural, and they must have a family kept secret that they are holding out on from the rest of the world. Every time I watch that Kardashian show, it just re-reminds me of the dry brittle hair that I have.
I decided to put a stop to my hair misery and swept through sephora.com for the best I could...
Truffle Fries
One potato, two potato, three potato, more! My friend and I were reminiscing about food the other day, and all of our favorite hot spots we love, and the signature dishes to try. The conversation turned ugly (in a good way), when french fries dominated all conversation for 20 minutes. It planted a seed and I was craving truffle french fries until I finally made them the other night.
Here is a...
Wonton Soup Challenge
I have been a “foodie” since apparently a young age, and always indulged myself in my favorites like, salami, beef, ribs, and wonton soup. I have my own recollection of the story, but this is my mother’s version ~ she was busy making wontons in the kitchen and every time they were done, I would eat them. All of them. Yes, an 8 year old ate 30 wontons.
I will take her word...
Bucatini
Being that I am part Italian it makes obvious sense that I have an obsession with pasta. I usually don’t stray from my standard way of making a classic red sauce, but when I saw this recipe here, I knew this was going to be the replacement.
A real physical light bulb went off when Guanciale popped off the page. Duh. Why did I not think of it before? It’s okay though, I have forgiven...
The Wrap
I am fortunate to like love veggies. A meal without them is like a day without wine. So if you are one who finds it hard to get in your portion of veggies, take note of the way Korean food is wrapped! Grilled barbecued meat wrapped in lettuce leaves is unbelievably delicious, and you secretly get in some greens. Variations are easy to muster up. For these, I marinated meat in soy sauce, sugar,...
Avocado-wich
Avocado and toast go together like spaghetti and tuna fish. Perfect pair. If you don’t know the joke, it’s because I have seen Big Daddy a few too many times. But avocado is one of the best things out there and in its simplest form, I eat this a many nights when I do not feel like reaching for the box of cereal.
Directions:
Toast a couple slices of whole wheat bread, slice a very...
The Man Meal
Men can’t cook. This is a fact. Ok, this is a semi-fact? Some men can, some cannot. And for those who are lost in the kitchen, the best thing made is often scrambled eggs or top ramen right? My brother once sought my advice to help him make dinner and my strict parameters were 5 ingredients or less with minimal chopping/cutting.
Let’s just say I came up with a great list and still -...
Chap Jae
Korean food is a must for me at the minimum of one time per week and if this does not happen, well you have just created a monster. No joke. Unfortunately, it can be a bit tough getting to Korea-Town, even with the great feature that every restaurant is 24 hours.
I tried my hand at chap jae (korean noodles) and yum! They are delicious, healthy and full of veggies. Definitely going in to my...
Donut Muffins
I love donuts like I need a hole in my head (favorite saying from my mother). But they are so good! Why are the best things in life so often bad for you? I don’t care, old fashioned and powdered donuts scream my name and I am happy to devour all in sight.
When I came across this recipe, I knew it was too good to be true. A muffin that tastes like a donut? I made them and they really do...
UES Brunch
The other weekend I met up with my long lost friend for brunch on the Upper East Side since we both live in the area. This has to be one of the greatest things about living in Manhattan - to be able to take a stroll a few blocks and be accessible to everything. From restaurants, parks, delis, bars, it is all at your finger tips!
We met here at Cafe d’Alsace. Their brunch menu was...
August 2010
17 posts
Everyday Obsession: Clay Baking Dish
I am always in need of multi-purpose bake-ware because I constantly find myself limited to dishes that are on the smaller side. Can you say mini-lasagna? Where in need, shop and find the perfect dish! Which is exactly what this clay baking dish is. It is the perfect size to bake cobblers, and grill paninis on the stove top. Plus the fact that it just looks plain cool and rustic. This one is a...