So hungry!

I am waiting for a delicious pasta meal and right now (noodles, fausage, butter+sage sauce) and I am  thinking I could eat everything my heart desires.  My eyes are huge!  I want to eat this for dessert.  With a glass of this.  (It ain't gonna happen).

It was very chilly outside today.  It inspired me to hunt down an eternity scarf that I've been not been able to find. It was a nice day to buy a scarf. 

My cat Gus

My cat Gus in a chicken hat

My cat Gus in an alternate universe

Doing a little daydreaming...

Hello Honeymoon! I've been dreaming of you..

I hope we are able to do this.  When I went to Italy in high school, I was in heaven.  But I was only able to be there for 2 quick days before jetting off to another European country (I know, poor me).  I want to go now!

 

Mint and Green Tea Cupcakes

My main contributions to this blog thus far seem to have been food. Hmmm. Oh well, here's another: mint and green tea cupcakes.



I went all out on these as they're a gift for our friends who are moving to Ann Arbor and we're going to say goodbye to them this evening. Also, I have loads of fresh mint from my in-laws' garden and I'm thinking of fun ways to use it. Here's the pre-oven shot. I was drinking wine and lit some candles and really treated myself to a baking session.


I made candied mint leaves, which are pretty and really tasty. I also used the angelica my aunty sent me from England (thanks, Lyra). I even use mint flowers and buds because they're tasty too and look great.



I didn't have a recipe, I just went for it. But they're pretty and really delicious. Yay for green things :-)

Visitors!

My best friend from Kansas came to town this weekend, accompanied by her fiance buddy, Mike.

We went to the Hopleaf and were there for 5 hours.  It was awesome!  I love beer!

Yes, that's a mustache on Mike "Emo" Tiffany's shirt.

We also went to the zoo.  I thought this Lion was the finest choice for my "polaroid" camera.  This lion started freaking out and roared over and over in such a funny way.

Photobooths

 

Are. So. Much. Fun.

World Music Fest '09 - Fool's Gold

This weekend I had a lot of fun at a show on Navy Pier, where an excellent band called Fool's Gold played 2 wonderful sets.



Fool's Gold put pan-African rhythms and sounds together with Hebrew vocals and something a little alternative too. They make everyone dance.



Their music made me very happy, and has kept making me very happy since!



www.myspace.com/foolsgoldla

Superfood!

Tonight I felt the need to treat myself to something good and healthy. I had a fridge full of broccoli, so I searched my favourite recipe website for some ideas, and came up with my own variation on 101cookbook's Double Broccoli Quinoa


Here's my take on this recipe:

1 cup lentils
1/2 cup barley
1/2 cup basmati rice

2 large heads of broccoli
Handful of toasted nuts, diced
2 medium cloves of garlic
Juice of 1 lime
Heap tablespoon of Greek yogurt
Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

Salt, black pepper and fresh basil to taste.

Cook the grains together in a rice cooker with the stock of your choice. Meanwhile, cook the broccoli florets - steam or boil, and remove from boiling water when still firm. Run cooked broccoli under cold water to retain color. Set aside.

Broccoli pesto: Combine 2 cups of the cooked broccoli with the garlic, lime juice, yogurt, olive oil, and blend until it forms a paste. Add sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Mix the warm grains with the pesto - adjust the grain to pesto ratio as you see fit (you might well have some of the grains left over for another recipe). Toss in the toasted nuts, and the remaining broccoli florets (I like to add the crunchy stalks too). Sprinkle with freshly cut basil. Nom. Nom. Nom.

A wedding!

This weekend I jetted off to New York for my friend Sarah's wedding. 

It was in an adorable barn with adorable lighting.

There was a pinata filled with liquor! (Obviously)

Siblings!

Cuties!

New bff's

Apparently my new worst enemy. 

I do love my Badger

Dinner made with love

What's more exciting than a dinner party after some of your closest friends return from their honeymoon?  Not much, really.  Salad with warm Bree and roasted vegetables. Anna makes everything awesome.

 

Spinach and feta quiche!  Without mushrooms, just for me.  She really is good to me.

I mean, just look at that spread...

That day, my fiance was out partying  and I cut my hand pretty bad.  But this cheered me right on up.  Thanks Mrs. D'Cruz-Chwalisz!