Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Crab Boil


Micah and I
decided to
take a...

spur-of-the-moment

vacation to
Bellingham
to hang-out with
family.

And 
last night
we had an
amazing
Crab dinner...


We drove
to the bay
to purchase
the crabs...


walking along
discarded
oyster shells..


picking out
our Crabs
that were
soon-to-be
devoured...


preparing them
to be boiled...


boiling them...


and enjoying
them...


Monday, March 29, 2010

Unaccustomed Earth

If you are looking for a good book to read...
then look no further.

This book is wonderful!

A collection of short stories all surrounded around Indian families who have
arrived in America to start new lives, and who encounter the struggles of raising
their children in a culture that is not their own.

Go out and read it now!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Tablescape


This is so
beautiful.


Makes me
want to
throw a
party
just so
I can
decorate
like this.

Found via:
Ruffled 


Posted 1 Year Ago: "1930's and a Circus"

Friday, March 26, 2010

Shrimp Lo Mein


I saw this
recipe
on one
of my
favorite
food blogs...


and I
had to
try it.



Shrimp Lo Mein

1 lb Pad Thai Noodles
2 tbsp peanut oil
4 scallions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 Cantonese Sauce (3 parts soy sauce, 2 parts oyster sauce, 1 part sesame oil)
1 cup broccoli florets
3/4 lb shrimp


1. Bring water to a boil in a stock pot; pad thai noodles according to package directions. Do not cook all the way through; the noodles will finish cooking in the sauce. Drain, but do not rinse, and reserve the cooking water.

2. In a large wok or frying pan, heat the oil. Add the scallions and stir fry for 1 minute. Add the garlic, broccoli, and mushrooms, and stir for 1 minute. 

3. Add the Cantonese 3-2-1, plus 1-2 tablespoons of the reserved cooking water, then add the shrimp and cook for 2 minutes, until they just begin to turn pink and curl. 

4. Add the cooked noodles and stir thoroughly and constantly for 2-3 minutes, turning the noodles over and over, until the ingredients are combined and the sauce is absorbed into the noodles. If needed, add more soy sauce and oyster sauce, to taste. Serve hot or at room temperature.



It was
delicious!


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Found some more..." 

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Spring Lookbook by {twin set}


I introduced
you to

I love
their site...

and they
have
just released
their new
spring lookbook!




These 
are my 
favorites.
 

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Fey Handmade


Check out this
beautiful 
site.


They have
so many
beautiful
handmade
things.

They have
house-ware...



and art...



and photography...



and dinner-ware...



and vases...



and jewelry...



It is
such a
wonderful
site.

And a
wonderful
blog!


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Ginger Chicken and Bok Choy"

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes



Well,
I guess
today
officially
starts my
catch-up
on what
I have been
up to
this past
week.

Even though
my blog
was down
for a
few days...

I was still
able to find
(and cook)
some
amazing
things!




Like these
delicious...

Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

The recipe
is from
my all-time
favorite
cupcake blogger...



Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

1 cup coconut milk
1 tbsp instant espresso (or coffee) powder - you can use Starbucks Via!
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
Frosting:
1/4 cup cocoa powder
2 cups powder sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/8 tsp salt
3 tablespoons coffee (not the powder, the real stuff)
1/2 tsp vanilla


Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. On your stove top (or in a microwave) heat the coconut milk (so it is hot but not boiling) then add the instant espresso powder. Whisk in the sugar, canola oil, and vanilla.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and powder, and salt. Add the wet ingredients and beat until no lumps remain.

4. Pour into liners (they will rise, so make sure not to fill the liners too full. About 1/4 cup will do).
5. Bake for approximately 20 minutes.

For the frosting, cream the butter, sugar, and cocoa together slowly. Add the coffee and the vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.



 

I also made
mini mocha 
cupcakes.

I hope
everyone
who was
able to
have one
enjoyed 
it!

We are back!!!!!


Thanks
to my
wonderful
bro-in-law
Jeremy...

my blog
has been
saved!!!


So because
I am
so happy...

I leave you
with this
picture
that I
adore.



It reminds
me of...

Little Red Riding Hood,
The Wizard of Oz.
and
Alice in Wonderlad
(all combined together).

Found via: Audrey Hepburn Complex

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Camping Beauty



Camping season
is quickly
approaching...
and
Micah & I
LOVE
to camp!





Speaking of
love...

I would
love
to go
camping
in this!

I found
this beauty
on 

Ruffled
is one of
my newly
favorite
blogs.



Posted 1 Year Ago: "Polaroid'

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Scarfu



I found
another
wonderful
(and budget friendly)
clothing site!


Here are
a few
of my
favorites...








Posted 1 Year Ago: "Warming Up"

Friday, March 12, 2010

Cupcake Kits


If you
know me,
then you
know that
I love
making
cupcakes.

Especially making
cupcakes
for celebrations!

And these...






would be
so fun!

I found 
them at...

Plates and Napkins


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Before & After"

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Nest Pretty Things


I found
another
beautiful
jewelry
creator!


 


  


  


 



is full of
so many
beautiful
things!

You must go
check it
out.


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Hardcover"
 

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Remodel


Micah and I
are in the
middle of
reflooring
our home.

So while
we are
reflooring...

I have been
dreaming of 
remodeling
our bathroom.

 

This bathroom
would be
absolutely
ideal.

It even
has a
small
fireplace!

I found
this picture
on the
wonderful blog:



Posted 1 Year Ago: "Costume Lovers Beware"

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Paella



I get the
catalogue
in the mail.

And they
usually have
quite a few
 recipes
tucked away
within the
pages.

Here is one
that I
made for
dinner
tonight.

And it
was so
tasty!

 

Paella
 
Ingredients:
1 rounded cup dried large white beans
1/2 cup olive oil
1 chicken about 3 lb., cut into 8 serving pieces
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp. saffron threads, crushed
4 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
4 cups chicken stock
1/2 lb. green beans, trimmed, blanched for 3 to 5 minutes and drained
2 fresh rosemary sprigs, tough stems discarded, leaves chopped
2 1/2 cups rice
1 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Lemon wedges for garnish

Directions:

Place the white beans in a large bowl, cover with water and refrigerate overnight. Drain the beans and place in a saucepan with water to cover by about 3 inches. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer and cook until the beans are tender, about 1 hour. Remove the beans from the heat, drain and set aside.

In a paella pan over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Season the chicken or rabbit with salt and pepper and add to the hot oil. Brown well on all sides, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Remove the meat from the pan and set aside.

Add the onion, garlic, saffron and tomatoes to the hot pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables have softened, 6 to 8 minutes.

Return the chicken or rabbit to the pan, add the stock and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the white and green beans, rosemary and rice and stir to mix. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, without stirring, until the rice is nearly tender, about 20 minutes. Tuck the shrimp into the rice during the last 5 minutes of cooking. Let the paella stand, covered, for 5 to 10 minutes so the rice absorbs all the liquid. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately.
Serves 6 to 8.
 
 
 
 
Posted 1 Year Ago: "Orange Blackberry Muffins"



Saturday, March 6, 2010

Quick Chicken & Cheese Tamales


These are
super quick
super easy
and super tasty!

 

Quick Chicken-and-Cheese Tamales
Adapted from Food & Wine Magazine

2 cups masa harina
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 1/4 cup cool water
1/2 cup vegetable shortening (3 oz)
1/2 cup chicken stock
3 1/2 cups shredded chicken
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 scallions, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1. In a large bowl, mix the masa harina with the baking powder and salt. Add the water and mix. Add the vegetable shortening in clumps and drizzle with the chicken stock. Mix (with you hand is best) until smooth and evenly blended.

2. Mix into the masa mix the chicken, cheese, cilantro and scallions.

3. Tear sheets of plastic wrap apart. Spoon a scant 1/2 cup of the tamale mix into the center of each sheet. Press tamales into a 4-by-2 inch rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. Fold up the plastic wrap around each individual tamale.  

4. Arrange the tamales seam side down in the bottom of a large steamer pot. Steam over 2 inches of boiling water for 25 minutes. 
   


Posted 1 Year Ago: "French Onion Soup"

Friday, March 5, 2010

Chanel Tattoos


What do you
think of the 
fake tattoos
that were
all over the 

 

I think 
they are
so fun!

Image Via: Garance Dore



Posted 1 Year Ago: "Fairy Tales and Nursery Rhymes"

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Milly


Check out
the
shoes!

 

The outfit
is so
cute...

but
the shoes
are my
favorite
part.

Created by:

Monday, March 1, 2010

Shakespeare Retold


Have you
seen the
BBC
mini-series...


It is
so
good!

 

  

  

  
 


Classic
Shakespear
set into
modern
day.

Macbeth
was my
favorite!


Posted 1 Year Ago: "Charade