For this Thai-inspired dish, I like to use rice noodles, fresh herbs, a little lime juice and garlic.
1 box Rice noodles or Bean threads if you want something different
Can of coconut milk or 2 cups of boxed coconut milk
Chicken Bouillon (I recommend the Better Than Bouillon, which is like a paste)
grilled chicken cut into pieces
fresh basil, chives, and/or lemongrass chopped fine
2 cloves of garlic
juice from half a lime
Salt and Chili pepper
Add the noodles to boiling water and cook on low for about 8 minutes. Be careful with rice noodles because they tend to overcook much faster than wheat noodles and you don't want your dish to turn into a bowl of shreds! Heat up a saute pan on medium and add the chopped garlic with a little oil (coconut is best, olive is yummy). Let the garlic fry for two minutes, and add coconut milk and chicken. If you use the canned milk, you are going to get a creamier sauce (which I personally prefer) but if you use the boxed kind, the sauce will be a bit thinner and you will want to add some cornstarch or arrowroot powder to thicken it. Once the milk is hot, stir in a spoonful of chicken bouillon. Add the lime juice, salt and chili pepper to taste. Add the herbs last, right before you serve.
One of my favorite Role models - a modern man who lived true to himself.
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, Turin, Italy, 1922
(1901-1925)
"Young people today who are looking for a role model will find someone to identify with in this vibrant young outdoorsman who combined a deep love for Christ, a desire to serve the needy, and a mission to imbue society and politics with Christian ideals."
First the House. I'm really intrigued by tiny houses lately. Part of being a minimalist means having less space to have to fill! I love the idea of being able to afford something pretty and since it is so small, buying only the best for everything inside. I would buy a piece of ocean front land and put it there, and then I could go surfing or sailing everyday, spring to fall. I'd have a cozy little house, but I'd be close to nature too.
2. Swedish Stripe Cotton rug by Dash and Albert. I mentioned before how I love rugs. Well, I fell in love with this one. Its so simple and yet does so much for the room that you put it in.
3. The Dolphin Explorer Boat Toy for my babies. So much fun in the tub, the sink, the rug. And so cute too. I'm forever looking for pretty toys. 27.99 at Petit Tresor.
4. Diptyque - L'Eau des Hespérides Cologne - 100 ml
I've seen Diptyque everywhere but was never interested until now. I have to say that that bottles are very lovely with their Art-Nouveau label.
I've been wearing it lately from a sample, and it always makes me feel like a mysterious lady ...
And ok, so you may say that, what does perfume have to do with a house? But I say everything - it provides a lovely scent to the atmosphere, a decoration to a table and pleasure to the person living inside it!
My daughter and I went kayaking the other morning and discovered that the lake has become a garden too! We picked a bouquet of water lillies and put them in a big bowl. And then I did a sketch of them later.
I like to use up everything from a dinner if I can - but leftovers warmed up are so blah. Yesterday, I got the idea to make fish cakes out of the flounder that my grandparents made for dinner. I actually followed a recipe for crab cakes in the latest House Beautiful magazine, with some obvious changes of my own. I had to also modify certain things to fit my grandparents diet (for example they prefer cayenne pepper to black pepper and coconut milk to cow's milk) It came out very good and it was really easy to make.
Fish Cakes with Basil Dressing and Marinated Tomatoes
The I'm-a-Gourmet-Elitist Marinated Tomatoes Use a quart of cherry tomatoes and cut them in half. Chop a small bunch of basil leaves and add. Add olive oil, juice from a quarter of lemon, Old Bay Seasoning, Sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste. Its a good idea to make these first so that they can chill in the fridge for at least a half an hour.
Basil Dressing 1/2 cup of Mayonnaise (I used one made with Grape Seed oil)
1/2 a cup of Sour Cream
1/2 a cup of Coconut Milk (the regular recipe used Buttermilk)
Juice from half a lemon
1/3 cup of basil leaves
1/4 cup parsley
Sea Salt and a Pinch of pepper
Mix all ingredients in the blender until smooth. Cover and place in the fridge.
Fancy-Pants Fish Cakes
A Cup of Cooked Flounder (or whatever fish you want to use)
1/2 cup of bread crumbs (I used Ezekiel bread)
The juice from Half a Lemon
One Large egg
2 Tablespoons of Mayonnaise
Sea salt and pepper
Blend this mixture until smooth, and then put in the fridge. Let sit for at least ten minutes. Put your frying pan on low to medium and let it get hot before starting. Add lots of coconut oil to the pan when you are ready to fry the cakes. Use a tablespoon to portion the cake batter onto the pan and press gently to flatten the cake. Fry the cakes until you can flip them without breaking.
Put cakes in a pretty plate with a drizzle of dressing and some tomatoes and enjoy!
As a child, I loathed ballet for the simple reason that all the little girls at school who did ballet seemed very snotty. I was never exposed to a live ballet until about the age of 15, when I went to see The Nutcracker with my family and discovered what magic the Ballet really is. But by then, I felt I was too old to learn. Now I'm not really ashamed to be in a beginner class, at least just for the fun of it. According to Style.com "Mary Helen Bowers—former ballerina and the woman responsible for Natalie Portman’s lithe figure in Black Swan—is now available whenever and wherever you are" in an online ballet class. "The live feed works by syncing with a participant’s Skype account; you can choose to set up a private session or go for the group class, which can include up to 12 people." Seeing as she's a famous person, its probably tres expensive but look at how pretty she is! I could settle for an adult class at a local studio though.
Ballets I've seen so far: The Nutcracker and Onegin. I need to collect more! Does The Red Shoes count?
When I lived in Arizona, my East Coast style came with me, and I have to say that I looked like a fish out of water. What I should have done, I think, was maybe find some western style icon to channel, at least in small ways so as not to look like such an outsider. (I was stared at on a daily basis with my high heels on the reservation - yah, I think boots would have been better) But at the time I was homesick, and I refused to change my style, so off I went with my heels and my head high.
If you are vacationing in New England this summer, on Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, or the Berkshires, for example, I think the best style icons to channel are Jackie O naturally, for older women. and maybe for younger women, Ali Mcgraw as Jennifer Cavillari in Love Story. Look for clothes made from fine cottons and linens and simple shapes without alot of flashy beading or extra stuff. New England style is all about good quality and flattering cuts.
I wouldn't call myself any connoisseur of poetry, but sometimes there are certain poems that attract me, the same way the light and color in a particular painting does. I came upon Eugene Field's Poems of Childhood this winter after my son was born. It was very snowy and cold outside, and I had no intention of emerging with my little one out into the Arctic, so I would send requests to my husband to pick up certain titles at the library. I was only interested in this initially because I knew that Maxfield Parrish illustrated it - I actually thought that the poems were for children and I started reading it to my daughter. She liked listening to the poems, even though I don't think she understood them. It was the poems that surprised and impressed me (even if the pictures are none the less bright and charming) and Field's own whole-hearted love of children, and I often discovered very bittersweet reminisces of a child who had died. I suppose that was something much more common in Field's day.
In summary, the poems are beautiful and they helped me to meditate on what treasures children really are - even in the midst of overwhelming situations or less-than perfect environments - the innocence of children is a treasure. The world would be so grey without children and babies to brighten it. I suppose I'm thinking of all this because I have several friends who are expecting babies, and I don't know if any of these babies were planned so to speak, but does everything in our lives have to be planned? I've always found the unplanned occurances in my life were the most dramatic, i.e. meeting my husband, having my two babies, surfing after a storm and getting hit in the head!? Hey you get the idea.
And for Mommy goodies : I am loving that website Earth Mama Angel Baby - talk about hooking me in with a very unique name. I want to try out the Baby Balm and the Happy Mama Spray. Every time I get stressed while two small children are screaming and clawing at me, I spray it and poof! they look at me and snif, sigh and smile. Wouldn't that be amazing? :)
I think what they say about exercise being good for the brain is true, because I felt so lethargic today and uninspired until I went for a swim and that's when I got the idea for this post! In all the places I've traveled, I was always so excited to go, and then equally excited to come back. As much as I'm charmed by the beauty and old-world romance of Europe, I became very aware of my own national identity when traveling to other countries. The security I enjoyed and took for granted among my own people (that includes all the demographics that I've grown up with) was suddenly gone, and I didn't quite know what was the acceptable way to act, or just the little customs amongst our own cultures; so small they are barely noticed, but immediately reveal an outsider when they are not followed. (An example: my father spear fishing in Spring Lake and almost getting the cops called on him) This was particularly clear to me when I stayed with friends in Hungary. After the trip, I was so grateful to land in Boston, I realized that somehow, I could call this "my city" even though I live about an hour away from it. I even felt that I could breathe freer when I stepped out of the plane and into the airport. Everything about it, the harbor, all the little pubs, even all the Masshole drivers suddenly became beloved. This was a place I knew, these were people I understood. And so, I've thought of some examples that could describe our country as a foreigner might discover it.
National Dish: Pot Roast? :) The best pot roast I've ever tried was at the Pig Stand in Ville Platte, Louisiana along with their potat-ah salad and rice dressin'! Hot dogs and Hamburgers. The double cheeseburger. yum. Americans like to grill - everything and anything. And as much as people complain about how depleted in nutrients our foods are, they do taste delicious.
Landmark: Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon. If you are ever on your way to the Grand Canyon, take a pit stop in Gallup, NM. They have tons of great shopping for beautiful Navajo rugs and jewelry, right on Rt. 66. Stay at the El Rancho hotel, a place that hasn't changed since its retro origins and was frequented by some of the old Hollywood stars. The food isn't that great there though - my favorite place was the little Mexican joint next to the Days Inn about a mile down the road. I think it was called the Sunset Grill.
National Costume: Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. But my favorite is Narciso Rodriguez. Cowboy clothing too - boots and hats and big belts.
National Music: Johnny Cash
National Literature: Parker's Back by Flannery O'Conner and Dayspring by Harry Sylvester (my current read) National Scent: Kiehl's Musk. Polo Blue. Estee Lauder White Linen.
Favorite American Actors: (these are my favorite American actors- but I think they are good examples of Americanism) Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Gary Cooper, John Wayne.
Happy 4th of July! Did I mention I also looooovvvve fireworks? That means I'm a good American. ;)
My dad on a normal day may not appear like much of a fashion guy, but let me tell you - he is. The most glitzy jewelry and watches has always inevitably come from him. I'm always a little surprised by his gifts because if I were to buy something, it would probably be a lot more understated. I tend to favor more subtle jewelry and clothing - my dad likes the typical Latino flair. I guess I'll have to take a picture of him when he is all dressed up! Anyway, whenever I'm given these gifts, I'm usually thinking at first "wow, what am I going to wear with this?" But you know what? If you are open minded, and are willing to experiment, you might find that your style will transform in positive ways that you didn't expect. I was never much of a watch person - I normally don't wear a ton of jewelry either - I think I've always been a little scared of accessories. But my dad and my grandmother are always getting me them. Now I really like wearing watches as part of an outfit, or using a bold bracelet or necklace to liven up dull clothing. All I'm saying is that personal style doesn't always have to come directly from yourself.
The latest crystal encrusted offering from my growing jewelry collection.
