Snow cones

2011 has been a very good year. After all I did start this blog, a good documentation of materials & ingredients I've experimented. Still knee deep in yarn, knitting scarfs & hand warmers as winter gifts, but also picked up crocheting - which is a lot faster but not as intriguing. I've started playing around with polymer clay and as a result, creating jewelry again. Yes, there is a lot 'making' going on at this moment, thanks to the many holiday days off!

If you haven't seen a flake of snow in NY since that bizarreness on Halloween, perhaps this set of snow cone earrings can help you through. This is just a sneak peak of my etsy shop coming in 2012.

Hope your New Years Eve will be a sparkling one no matter how you spend it!

Eggbot

It is a designer's dream to be able to print on spherical surfaces such as an egg, lightbulbs, christmas ornaments, etc. and that is exactly what an Eggbot will do.

My friend introduced me to this nifty machine that he already purchased, and I am totally psyched to try it out. Imagine all the possibilities this open-source, build-it-yourself machine.
Perhaps this will make it onto your Christmas list in time!

Details on how it works + purchase here: egg-bot.com

U-knit decorations

Everything about the Christmas holiday season makes me buy into the kitschiness of it all. Which is why when I heard Baftani was hosting an event call Knit & Eat, I had to jump on the chance to make it festive!

As a designer, there is a slight hoarding tendencies in me, especially when it comes to paper. For decorations, I like to use scrap materials saved from over the years, left over wrapping paper, old magazines, shirt fabric to reduce creating new waste.

For this Knit & Eat event I wanted to create a cozy, artisan atmosphere. Triangle fabrics flags and yarn pom-poms hung across the room can create that intimate mood by lowering the ceiling.
These zig-zag paper ladders were so easy to deck out any room.

This past saturday afternoon started with Lauren on some light stretching, ate homemade treats, all the while knitting with the talented Pegah and company.


Recipes for these unconventional party dishes seen below can be found on Lauren's website. I definitely recommend trying them out for the upcoming holiday parties as a healthier alternative, especially the Black Bean Brownie Bites, sounds weird but oh-so-delish!

Raspberry Oats Bakefast

 

Unlike many out there who despise oatmeal for breakfast, I happen to like it. Yes, oatmeal can be quite boring on its own since it is only a type of grain, but that is the fun challenge, to make it interesting. 

Made a batch of Raspberry Baked Oatmeal for a co-worker's birthday at the office, quite pleased with the turnout and there was enough left overs to last me a week! 

You start out by lightly frying two bananas in the pan with cinnamon, nutmeg + sugar

Detailed recipe here.

Thankful for Furniture

Just want to share the latest love in my apartment, the LIATORP desk and INGOLF chair from IKEA. I had acquired this set second hand from a friend of mine that was moving. This replaced a small, very old, ugly crappy desk that my cousin got years ago from Staples. It was so old that the thin wood sticker covering the 'engineered  wood' would peel off whenever I wiped it. With this pristine upgrade to 55-inch space, I feel imposing and inspired to get things done!

I'm even slightly shamed to show you my old desk, but it did last me through multiple moves in college then some post-college shenanigan.









Now I'm an adult!

Tossed Baggage Salad

Greetings! Although It is good to be back, I am missing my carefree vacation in Taiwan. Traveling abroad has left me with new revelations and a shift in priorities, hopefully these fond feelings will stick around long enough to make a lasting impact. 

Cabbage salad:
Red & green cabbage, fennel, lemon juice, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt + pepper. Chop, toss and fridge overnight. Topped with sesame and seaweed seasoning. Avocado and rice crackers on the side for a complete meal.
Upon my return, I was embraced with cabbage, a hearty fall vegetable. This salad, similar to the bean salad was easy to put together, has a light refreshing taste due to the fennel & lemon, and the crunchy texture is satisfying next to any meal. Until next time, here are some baggage that I came across in China, luggage options to consider for the next vacation?!

Purse Pastries: Flaky dough with fried noodle as a handle, vegetable fillings inside.

Large soup dumplings to-go! Yes, the straws are for drinking the soup inside the bun when you really need a dose of animal aspic. yummy!

再見! Bye for now!

In preparation for my upcoming trip to Taiwan, I've been flipping through photos when I was there last, March of 2009. A little more than two years ago, I was jobless and in a rut, went back to Taiwan mostly to escape the staleness that comes with winter blues in NY. A good amount of energy went into researching and planning a five day half-tour of the island. Utilizing my forth-grade level Mandarin, I rented a car and drove from the west coast, over the mountains to the east shores, staying at hostels/homestay along the way. It was a good learning experience, and I got to see first hand the dynamic landscape of this Formosa island.

Scenery aside, I am very excited for the variety of food to come. Taiwan is known for Night-markets, which are open into wee hours of the night with carts that sell ''small eats'' all along the streets. These markets always surprise me with innovative combinations of ingredients and flavors.

Clockwise: taro ice cream on crush peanuts wrapped in flaky rice crepe, man making 'Oil-rice', freshly steamed black sesame bun. And lastly, my mom's cooking!


Before I go, if you would love a postcard from the my motherland, please email your mailing address, and I'll be sure to get around to it!

The only Eggplant I would eat....

 

It was how I felt about eggplants growing up when my mom would serve a plate of stir fry purple-brown stuff. But I've come to enjoy this fruit for its lovely color and versatility in cooking. Since eggplants are in season, I got two small ones at the farmer's market. Unsure which direction these eggplants should go, they sat in the fridge for a week, then was inspired by the prettiness of it on Smitten Kitchen.

As always, mine are slightly different from the original receipt. After baking the sliced eggplant, a layer of quick-boiled spinach went over. Then the marinara sauce with onions and cubed baked tofu. Sprinkled with germinated rice crackers and a fresh basil leaf! Similar to a bruschetta, the baked eggplant acted like a piece of soft bread, needless to say, I ate all of them in one sitting.

Tutu

For the annual KickBall dance, I decided to wear the one thing that I've always wanted to wear but perhaps got too old to - a tutu skirt! An adult tutu skirt is difficult to come by, pretty pricy for layers of tulle, so I decided to make it myself. Slightly daunting at first, but the process was quite simple, for an overall pink color I sewed an extra layer of tulle over the knotted strips of fabric on elastic band, and there were layers of tulle underneath as well, to cover my bum. This skirt made the night so much more fun & only costed me a total of $25 in materials!

Pumpkin patch

I hate to see summer go, so in an effort to welcome the change of season, I made Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies. Altering the original recipe just a slight, coconut oil is what I have on hand instead of vegetable, whole grain pastry flour instead of white. These were easy to make and ready to eat in under an hour. They turned out soft & bready, just the way I like my cookies! 

Hoarvesting

Had found this curvaceous lamp almost a year ago in the garbage, tacky plastic flowers filled inside with a dusty, musty smelling lampshade. The clear wide vase made my mind race with possibilities.  My first desire was making it into an aquarium but the logistics of it is more complicated, hence the discontinued product. Another was a miniature dollhouse with a spiral staircase around the spin of the lamp. But having miniature items around always makes me feel like a giant, which depending on the day, can be a great feeling or a depleting one. During spring-cleaning of the apt, the yarns found themselves out of a plastic bag and into the vase. The white lampshade also presented itself to me on the side of the street just last week. It came together just in time for those gloomy fall days.

And if I was miniature, this would be my oasis.

Beets Me!

This Beet Brown Rice salad started out as two different dishes that were missing parts of the ingredient the other complimented. So, they came together to be a new recipe that suited my convenience.  The beets were made following this recipe, without the fusilli pasta. Cubed cucumber, chilled brown rice + quinoa were mixed in with carmelized onions + mushroom. Topped with the very versatile fruit, avocado. 

Leafing Lettuce Alone Salads

Just the idea of turning on the stove or the oven in these summer heat waves make my armpit sweat. So, I've been exploring with summer salads. These salads are not the traditional chopped lettuce with dressing, but more like dishes that doesn't need reheating. Also taking advantage of the farmer's market by the office, getting in season produce and eating locally makes a big difference in how fresh dishes turn out.
I enjoy buying ingredients that interest me first while shopping, then look up recipes to make with them, and substitute where ever needed. Which is why a site like Gojee.com is convenient for me. The site allows you to input ingredients on hand, cravings/dislikes, and large photos of dishes you could be creating appears before you.

The above Zucchini Quinoa salad started out with finely minced garlic and onion sauteed in coconut oil. Sliced zucchinis were tossed in followed by small white beans from the can. A final stir with cooked red quinoa and black rice. Salt & pepper to taste. Topped with a handful of cilantro, lime juice, and feta cheese for a slight creamy kick.

Potato salad, paired with a side of red quinoa on a bed of lightly sauteed kale in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Team Spirit

This summer has been a continuation of revamping my kickball team, The People's Court jerseys. The above was our first year edition uniform, hand printed in Brooklyn. Making the sleeves into ruffles really spruced up this battered old tee. I will string these uniform series together in the near future.

Summer Glow

8:25pm

Been spending time outdoors, taking in the abundant length of the sunlight. After dinner walks are most enjoyable for me during civil dusk, when the sun is 6 degrees below the horizon in the evening. This light creates a soft ambient glow upon everything. However, looking upwards is a stark contrast perspective, it often reminds me of The Empire of Light painting by surrealist René Magritte.

8:42pm

8:50pm
As with all things few minutes can make such a dynamic change.

Ladies 4th

Few of my favorites from the this past weekend...

For Ladies First Friday, we held our affair at Brooklyn Winery where I discovered Hell Or Heigh Watermelon beer (Yes, it was a winery with a great selection of beers too!). You can see the full collection of patriotic illustrations from 21st Amendment Brewery. Lady Liberty looks quite relaxed on the Golden Gate Bridge with a boatload of watermelons at hand. The beer was as refreshing as it sounds.

A friend of mine made the 'very' American dessert: chocolate wafer cream cake with strawberries to top off the occasion, dont worry, pie also made an appearance. Although not a Budweiser drinker myself, I couldn't resist their bold American design for Independence Day, simply elegant. Crown die cut on the red tab was a nice touch.

Last but not least, the sandwich I was looking forward to making when my co-worker informed me she was having a bbq and a charcoal grill would be present.

Large portobello mushroom grilled for 5 mins on each side, layered over avocado, beets marinated in balsamic vinegar, feta cheese and some freshly picked basil. This might be my best creation yet!

Quinoa-Miso

All of the sudden, this 'pseudocereal' Quinoa (keen-wa) is everywhere, featured in magazines, in restaurant menus and people are talking about it. Plentiful in nutritional benefits, quinoa is also very versatile in cooking. With a couscous like texture and a slight nutty flavor, it is enjoyable cold or hot once cooked. This is my usual go-to dish when making quinoa - original recipe from Whole Foods, with variations depending on what left-over vegetables I have on hand. This case peas were replaced by 毛豆soybeans, and its the miso ingredient that really gives the dish body + flavor.

Bean there, done that.

Three-bean salad has been done countless times in countless ways, but I never realized they were so easy to make. Once put together, they are able to last in the fridge for up to a week, but it usually doesn't make past the fifth day in the company of some tortilla/pita chips. This can also be packed as lunch with some quinoa or rice. 

Ingredients top down: red onion, celery, fresh corn off the cob, kidney beans, edamame, pinto beans, and most importantly cucumbers. Drowned in apple cider vinegar, olive oil / sesame oil, salt + pepper. The cider vinegar and cucumber makes it real refreshing on a warm day and the beans are what makes this salad filling on its own. The dish gets better overnight in the fridge.

Definitely making an appearance at the next Forth of July BBQ!

A.S.S - Avocado Sandwich Series!

It is rare that I put together a sandwich for myself, mainly because the bread is such a crucial structure, not being able to finish a whole loaf before it goes bad is often not worth the purchase. But on a special occasion that I come across fantastic fresh bread, and the weather has to be just right for a room temperature meal, I desire a well put together sandwich. Usually I get carried away with piling ingredients, that the top slice of bread gets nipped- resulting in these open face sandwiches. Although not a vegetarian, I've cut meat significantly from my diet, thus more difficult to create a full-bodied combination. Ingredients for these Avocado Sandwich Series didn't vary  much since it was all within the same week. These were all constructed at the office, I pack the components in a container the night before and wrap the bread separately. This method saves time in the morning and bread is never soggy when I'm ready to eat. To keep cut avocado from turning brown for next day use, squirt some lemon juice over and air seal with plastic wrap.

Fresh seven-grain bread (Old Poland Bakery- 190 Nassau Ave + Humboldt) toasted with butter, avocado, lemon drizzle, left-over steamed salmon, alfalfa sprouts, topped off with sautéed onion & mushroom in balsamic vinegar.

Bread toasted with butter, avocado, pesto, tomato slices and alfalfa sprout.



On garlic hummus is sautéed onion + mushroom in balsamic vinegar, topped off with grape tomatoes. Other half is just avocado on buttered bread with lime juice.

Breakfast inspired: Scramble eggs with fresh picked basil, topped with avocado over naan bread from Trader Joe's, then drizzle on soy sauce to bring out the sweetness of avocados. Very yum and filling. Feel free to share any of your favorite sandwich combos with me!

Reupholstered

This was on my list of projects-to-do for a while, materials/tool gathering and timing all came together this weekend, so I set out to tackle it. The turnout was more rewarding than I had expected!

It started out with used outdoor furniture given to me by my mother's friend, the bottom of the chair legs were slightly rusted, original chair cushions were grey velvet corduroy, and murky from five years of wear in my apt plus unknown amount of outdoor time before then.

Voilà! They even match my paintings in the kitchen.

Sail me to the shorts!

Summer has finally arrived in NY. After this past winter, at times it felt like years of winter, I dusted off my summer clothes, and found these shorts for welcoming spring days and dreams of sailing to distant shores. But these boardshorts from two summers ago never fit right and looked even more frayed with the fading colors. The "saggy in the behind" look is never flattering on anyone. But by rolling up the shorts, the fabric actually gathers together and create a more voluptuous look from the back.
So, lets show off those legs!

Knot me up

Sleeves off, because it's summer time! Those sleeves became part of the knot.

Inari Zushi

Over the Memorial weekend, I had the pleasure to attend one of my dear friend's birthday picnic party. Knowing the amount the giggle juice this bunch would be consuming after an afternoon of lounging in the sun, I wanted to bring something that would be substantial food, but also suitable to partake on a blanket over course of a few hours.

Inari-zushi were one of my favorite dish at Japanese restaurants growing up, they were the alternative to getting the raw stuff that creeped me out when I was younger. It mainly consist of vinegar bean curd pocket filled with rice. I've incorporated more ingredients to make it filling as a mini-meal.

Cook 2 cups of Brown Rice. Boil some spinach and mushroom in a bit of salt and sesame oil, run them through chilled water when done to prevent further cooking, then cutting spinach down to about 2" in length. Stuff soybean pockets with ingredients and top if off with cucumber strips.