tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65366090606795462222024-02-07T07:58:01.623-05:00food and lifeeating, inspirations, places I love and island views from a Hawaii expatJudehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.comBlogger150125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-86709277556398512872010-12-23T01:30:00.023-05:002010-12-23T01:30:00.447-05:00Happy Happy Holidays!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EXm3xyAKUHqGhR6DwBLQWmI7YiC4qJqgBcHC_1DVn8hUcin0TVe21LT7sg5dkGdnkdexzgEyxfoi-ijhq0gSW2KTiiQgikyLwUl8UTdSZXmuby2DQCyBWRUtwXJVA_fR30-3ImyJxmw/s1600/Honolulu+palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7EXm3xyAKUHqGhR6DwBLQWmI7YiC4qJqgBcHC_1DVn8hUcin0TVe21LT7sg5dkGdnkdexzgEyxfoi-ijhq0gSW2KTiiQgikyLwUl8UTdSZXmuby2DQCyBWRUtwXJVA_fR30-3ImyJxmw/s400/Honolulu+palm.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">{I'm dreaming of a tropical Christmas}</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I'll be signing off and spending next week with family, but wishing you a Happy Happy Holiday and New Year's! May yours be filled with peace and wonderful moments among loved ones!<br />
<br />
Take good care and can't wait to see you again in the new year!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNE8cK9ZSDR0ZSnNHjgGnTuIGoC35O9NiOTLSc5WSobj9LUbhyphenhyphenMdhZLij9i2hUrlkerTQV0KbDsdwfnMbnNMQkMA4UJegaXpqOIKIyKY7sw6ypi5MCUTCkNbI_dgN0FGo4dpVKvjKWxsE/s1600/IMG_5125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNE8cK9ZSDR0ZSnNHjgGnTuIGoC35O9NiOTLSc5WSobj9LUbhyphenhyphenMdhZLij9i2hUrlkerTQV0KbDsdwfnMbnNMQkMA4UJegaXpqOIKIyKY7sw6ypi5MCUTCkNbI_dgN0FGo4dpVKvjKWxsE/s400/IMG_5125.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">{Santa and Mrs. Clause - tan and barefoot in Hawaii :)}</td></tr>
</tbody></table>{Photos taken in Honolulu, Hawaii.}Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com87tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-73243234956246261992010-12-22T08:40:00.000-05:002010-12-22T08:40:44.786-05:00Craving<div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5509800411873534242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVzMktEAwSLcMT6381GQ9NFCeDmqGIXtVIN_SAvzca4RGs6pHTaTejoMiNmoC4tol3ipjUtr2_7nWKk6JC_57zq5-fIh7-6sY3ZdDU4zr-KQX7kKEFHyd5vmsUX78j-ttn7v_002APRnU/s400/694797171308_0_ALB.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></div>Mangoes - a juicy, tropical staple from my childhood.... <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsOc6hKxfxT84rZOAW0k_a2GSs5LZ8NhTylpJEgzGxqEtZkRxD_8n2ncbyGng82qSDGJwpiAR2Jo8KPAnb0c4B-twCL2wtK4d0ThDGODFxUx6Z2CsRKpM15PB02SAhHMkztZ5jSs2-6c/s1600/matsumoto+shave+ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsOc6hKxfxT84rZOAW0k_a2GSs5LZ8NhTylpJEgzGxqEtZkRxD_8n2ncbyGng82qSDGJwpiAR2Jo8KPAnb0c4B-twCL2wtK4d0ThDGODFxUx6Z2CsRKpM15PB02SAhHMkztZ5jSs2-6c/s400/matsumoto+shave+ice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The rainbowed goodness of a refreshing Hawaiian shave ice (kind of like Italian ice)...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3_RU2HvGDcZt68L-8TT36xkUtoYrl_yWUy0197Jf0zLtjfJ7ekfwzSacSDys6ffAhjFqScfqexi4DBrPXAzgv-8QRTSB_WjKhVXFie2X5VlFodznVVMqeTqa4LJCqt8Z7fwrlfRtfOY/s1600/molokai+kepuhi+surf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW3_RU2HvGDcZt68L-8TT36xkUtoYrl_yWUy0197Jf0zLtjfJ7ekfwzSacSDys6ffAhjFqScfqexi4DBrPXAzgv-8QRTSB_WjKhVXFie2X5VlFodznVVMqeTqa4LJCqt8Z7fwrlfRtfOY/s400/molokai+kepuhi+surf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The sight of big waves pounding Hawaiian shores in winter! <em>(Can't you tell I want a tropical vacation? :))</em><br />
<br />
(Top photo of mango taken in Honolulu, Hawaii. Middle and bottom images via <a href="http://www.justhungry.com/oahu-hawaii-north-shore-kahuku-shrimp-shave-ice" target="new">Just Hungry</a> and <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1747600" target="new">Panoramio</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-55021920016524833572010-12-21T01:30:00.003-05:002010-12-21T01:38:53.889-05:00Nightlight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-0Vakp3aOZv40Hi0zFm_gVAebXW3L4Y7ZxAmh4JXHfxLnh3EeQUaDkfVie-DuwYNlVftCwtNGQ0CxtpZ0AIlXqU_0BaO3bngM_leGee9e0yjcj22LYYNJjqYX32HoKxOhgb4E8sjAmg/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-0Vakp3aOZv40Hi0zFm_gVAebXW3L4Y7ZxAmh4JXHfxLnh3EeQUaDkfVie-DuwYNlVftCwtNGQ0CxtpZ0AIlXqU_0BaO3bngM_leGee9e0yjcj22LYYNJjqYX32HoKxOhgb4E8sjAmg/s400/IMG_0121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A moment of calm in recent days. (Sorry! As you can see, I have no idea how to take lowlight photos - but I couldn't resist the moon through hazy clouds.:))Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com42tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-72211169215818280452010-12-20T01:30:00.004-05:002010-12-20T01:30:00.178-05:00Warming up for a new week: Cauliflower soupHope everyone had a lovely weekend & I must apologize for my unintended weeklong hiatus - sudden work travel & deadlines kept me from going online much. But I'm so looking forward to visiting!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkcD0asWOfeaG_HuYc-WDaJNErnixPSfrsu934SysTuLnar6NNWJSD755WKV_Qz6qV2WaHaqPazRqPkZoIHDCeKodxmVwoj1W2wbiNa-1q7Ov-LOFEzz6-sBbadrvir-AJyD_hEKk24w/s1600/cauliflower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFkcD0asWOfeaG_HuYc-WDaJNErnixPSfrsu934SysTuLnar6NNWJSD755WKV_Qz6qV2WaHaqPazRqPkZoIHDCeKodxmVwoj1W2wbiNa-1q7Ov-LOFEzz6-sBbadrvir-AJyD_hEKk24w/s400/cauliflower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Meantime, what could be better for fortifying ourselves against a new week than warming soup? My significant other greeted my return with this soothing recipe - perfect for body and soul! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>~ Wishing you a perfectly soothing week ahead! ~</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>***</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPAAoc76j9ELDHA_ret7_t0PJQnjGASrinYTEujXZLdFI6260oXsd7vE5j7iwZFRnfoSIZ4s0Jq3AR103_nachb3cgLQhIVSflyurnXU5Ej16BgZtfTNknkX1ESxYzha9DYMjJxcif3k/s1600/cauliflower+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPAAoc76j9ELDHA_ret7_t0PJQnjGASrinYTEujXZLdFI6260oXsd7vE5j7iwZFRnfoSIZ4s0Jq3AR103_nachb3cgLQhIVSflyurnXU5Ej16BgZtfTNknkX1ESxYzha9DYMjJxcif3k/s400/cauliflower+soup.jpg" width="302" /></a></div><strong>CREAMY CAULIFLOWER </strong><strong>SOUP </strong>(Serves 4 to 6)<br />
<em>Adapted very slightly (skim milk, not whole) from a <a href="http://www.cooksillustrated.com/" target="new">Cook's Illustrated</a></em> <em>recipe I jotted down ages ago.</em> <em>This soup can be pureed in one batch in most 5-7 cup blenders. </em><br />
<ul><li>2 tablespoons (~30g) butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil</li>
<li>1 medium onion, 3 medium shallots, or 1 medium leek (white and light green parts only), chopped</li>
<li>2 tablespoons (~30ml) white wine</li>
<li>1 medium head (about 2 pounds, or 32 ounces) cauliflower, stems discarded and florets cut into bite size pieces to yield 5 cups</li>
<li>2 cups (~500ml) chicken or vegetable stock</li>
<li>Salt and ground white pepper to taste</li>
<li>1 teaspoon (~5g) ground coriander</li>
<li>1/2 to 3/4 cups (~125-155ml) skim (fat-free) milk</li>
<li>Optional: minced fresh chives or parsley</li>
</ul>Heat butter or oil in a large (easily-pourable) saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion; saute until golden, about 5 minutes. Add wine & cauliflower; stir until wine evaporates, about 30 seconds.<br />
<br />
Add stock, salt and pepper to taste, and ground coriander to saucepan; bring to boil. Reduce heat to simmer; cover & cook cauliflower until tender, about 12 minutes. <br />
<br />
Pour or ladle cauliflower mixture into blender. Add 1/2 cup milk; blend until very smooth. Return soup to saucepan; cook over low heat until warmed through. If soup is too thick, stir in more milk. Adjust seasonings. <br />
<br />
Ladle soup into individual bowls. Garnish with minced chives or parsley and chow! (Preferrably with crusty bread :)).<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Little notes: <br />
If you don't have a standard blender for pureeing, the next best thing is a handheld immersion blender, but don't use a food processor because it tends to leak hot liquid. (I think I mentioned this tip in the past, but since I keep making this silly mistake myself, I thought it was worth repeating!)</i></div><br />
(Images via <a href="http://mixedgreensblog.com/2009/01/30/local-living/farmers-markets/an-alluring-cauliflower-soup/" target="new">Mixed Greens Blog</a> and <a href="http://www.parade.com/food/2008/10/simply-delicious-soups-tips" target="new">Parade</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-25116088779122974772010-12-11T14:23:00.000-05:002010-12-11T14:23:44.227-05:00InsideThanks so much for your lovely comments about our new place, made me feel better about our chaotic move! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI89oVWr0o-n0VjA6L4xIp6pVZTHMJzlIe0QFe7A2pSI2ourzOR1MQ3aQrxroL5oDa139-jwMBEVSlz5n5q7HtZ_ePXCTAwyq_VAYd7wLbdKjXrdwEgpsnIHvoVpU0oCRzwxAzk1jR5eY/s1600/inside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI89oVWr0o-n0VjA6L4xIp6pVZTHMJzlIe0QFe7A2pSI2ourzOR1MQ3aQrxroL5oDa139-jwMBEVSlz5n5q7HtZ_ePXCTAwyq_VAYd7wLbdKjXrdwEgpsnIHvoVpU0oCRzwxAzk1jR5eY/s400/inside.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>You may also "visit" my new world at lovely <a href="http://ladyofthearts.blogspot.com/2010/12/around-world.html" target="new">Ren at Lady of the Arts</a> and her amazing <a href="http://ladyofthearts.blogspot.com/search/label/Around%20The%20World" target="new">Around the World</a> series, if you like. Meet bloggers worldwide as they interpret inside, outside, creative space, and wild card through photos. <br />
<br />
<em>Hope you're having a sweet weekend! </em>:)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-47042466312254883502010-12-10T01:30:00.140-05:002010-12-10T01:30:00.452-05:00Find simplicity<div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7NnEq1OjV2pcmNxa7ovgdHPkfXJfjWht2oFCr3htZM6fnOFaPe55syecGY7ZtZz_YMBBJx4rffBwta8cYQlI8PX39iA8Ml0R-ejqARqTe64N_BbAG2VFfiOULcf1b_uKhqlTPnXErVI/s1600/spare+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7NnEq1OjV2pcmNxa7ovgdHPkfXJfjWht2oFCr3htZM6fnOFaPe55syecGY7ZtZz_YMBBJx4rffBwta8cYQlI8PX39iA8Ml0R-ejqARqTe64N_BbAG2VFfiOULcf1b_uKhqlTPnXErVI/s400/spare+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">{A moment of sweet sun in our new place}</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Out of clutter, find simplicity. <br />
From discord, find harmony. <br />
In the middle of difficulty, lies opportunity. <br />
-Albert Einstein<br />
<br />
Although it's been a too-long workweek and I'm still finding new rhythms in a new town, we're sloowly creating order from chaos, forging new chapters. I wouldn't want it any other way. <br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><em>~ Have a wonderful weekend, full of simple harmony! ~</em></b></div><br />
P.S. Just for fun, has anyone seen <em>Black Swan</em>? I'm so intrigued!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8McAjtdNCxJ8jUlJYQ54Dn-wnRywvOA2YWb1sCC0oonxsmsf5GgBujMMAgCK_F1YCfhKW77zUpGjCti-8VbpzNxEj2Ba2szcNfMn3bd4L4mFCPPTitwfe8L7jUiblPC1fzuNm46gPG4/s1600/Black-Swan-natalie-portman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" n4="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8McAjtdNCxJ8jUlJYQ54Dn-wnRywvOA2YWb1sCC0oonxsmsf5GgBujMMAgCK_F1YCfhKW77zUpGjCti-8VbpzNxEj2Ba2szcNfMn3bd4L4mFCPPTitwfe8L7jUiblPC1fzuNm46gPG4/s400/Black-Swan-natalie-portman.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
(<em>Black Swan</em> image via <a href="http://www.fanpop.com/spots/natalie-portman/images/17204681/title/black-swan-photo" target="new">FanPop</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-81396391580508719322010-12-09T01:30:00.063-05:002010-12-09T01:34:54.450-05:00Sunrise in Florence, Italy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY0dGuA4WnWbrmOhi95vxZRM1Yq-YvajBrirVGoHzamn1XRWbi4XPPw-F26Smems0rTg0WpaUofHAaZJgP-86_LQ0cIrs5dEvzIxPYfOuoVLVQXhvDXeXame9k_RrsrcrBsFoNIHLto4/s1600/Florence_Arno+River_Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY0dGuA4WnWbrmOhi95vxZRM1Yq-YvajBrirVGoHzamn1XRWbi4XPPw-F26Smems0rTg0WpaUofHAaZJgP-86_LQ0cIrs5dEvzIxPYfOuoVLVQXhvDXeXame9k_RrsrcrBsFoNIHLto4/s400/Florence_Arno+River_Sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arno River, Florence</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Digital cameras keep getting better, but there's something I find romantic about film. This fuzzy shot was from a disposable camera I toted through Italy and multiple Italian rainstorms (yet lasted!).<br />
<br />
P.S. For the full effect, try this Puccini aria (used in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091867/" target="new"><em>A Room with a View</em></a>), about throwing oneself into Florence's Arno River over tormented love. Dame Kiri Te Kanawa's voice makes me weepy.<br />
<object height="320" width="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/vhyyqxiuJx0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/vhyyqxiuJx0?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="320"></embed></object>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com44tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-1096221102334194442010-12-08T01:30:00.079-05:002010-12-08T01:30:00.423-05:00Things I learned at the dinner party<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dZ43_qTHi9-IBcXY1LcZeZGXIwOApVT6BxG4u1q_6zIpWQ1J6Roa9RTVyk1p0-1nt6i1LX73p3XB4Vo8RxSlyiT4Nm0dIa3n4SGsCUsj3z3DB9nU2ZcdytQL0THfDipJHTZ8lpf6RuQ/s1600/art+of+eating+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dZ43_qTHi9-IBcXY1LcZeZGXIwOApVT6BxG4u1q_6zIpWQ1J6Roa9RTVyk1p0-1nt6i1LX73p3XB4Vo8RxSlyiT4Nm0dIa3n4SGsCUsj3z3DB9nU2ZcdytQL0THfDipJHTZ8lpf6RuQ/s400/art+of+eating+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 82%;">{Gifts from the New World}</span></div>#1. If you say you're from Hawaii, people get <em>very</em> curious.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#2. No matter how smart you think you are, you'll feel dumb in a room full of famous Ivy League professors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">#3. About 60% of the world's crops originated in the "New World" - the Americas: tomatoes, peanuts, potatoes, avocados, zucchinis (courgettes), eggplants (aubergines), vanilla, chocolate... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of course, #3 got me thinking (and taking a page from writer <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/billbryson/about.html" target="new">Bill Bryson</a>) - not only did New World food get incorporated into foreign cuisines, it <em>became</em> the foreign cuisine...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7Suwrvdg52f9IY5xerBJakPspYfuBlAnM2ID0SLwdvkNqiT0ZbA70fwTF95eghFUsyX_i_h-TjdN2XVRg7ZVh-CQuDCtfNZMDDVTpWlQUtegRybH0astcIRZ6kzml7KPS4DgRXRh70Y/s1600/tomatoes+and+pasta.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="296" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7Suwrvdg52f9IY5xerBJakPspYfuBlAnM2ID0SLwdvkNqiT0ZbA70fwTF95eghFUsyX_i_h-TjdN2XVRg7ZVh-CQuDCtfNZMDDVTpWlQUtegRybH0astcIRZ6kzml7KPS4DgRXRh70Y/s400/tomatoes+and+pasta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you imagine Italian food without tomatoes?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlIkFhkVd20ccGyS9HeW7yFRdtQ9QjQrHh1LoN5GgdQntb1O2P5N56qmLVu4CHTIFDdGBPGELNABPAp-8fNkGhS2vQraHtR__sZzPIYmYlyCQtNEhVE6YutYPOOleZ3tRszpoSWnsXKQ/s1600/peanut+sauce+thai.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="332" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlIkFhkVd20ccGyS9HeW7yFRdtQ9QjQrHh1LoN5GgdQntb1O2P5N56qmLVu4CHTIFDdGBPGELNABPAp-8fNkGhS2vQraHtR__sZzPIYmYlyCQtNEhVE6YutYPOOleZ3tRszpoSWnsXKQ/s400/peanut+sauce+thai.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or Thai food without peanut sauce?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6uKTLVOoDrf2D9t7MdgSDDWZLLKV8TRPPqvJLHvZL_nXhaDpoC2hNop9XVXBzkrWEvII84xsVxJuzm7AEKeux-R4NaLWMB2ato90OqMS_9Hj-Od1n8m6c7aGliV-Q8AraA0mZ6iEGeE/s1600/fish_chips.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="278" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn6uKTLVOoDrf2D9t7MdgSDDWZLLKV8TRPPqvJLHvZL_nXhaDpoC2hNop9XVXBzkrWEvII84xsVxJuzm7AEKeux-R4NaLWMB2ato90OqMS_9Hj-Od1n8m6c7aGliV-Q8AraA0mZ6iEGeE/s400/fish_chips.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or English fish and chips without chips? (Terrible thought!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">P.S. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/opinion/08ono.html?_r=1&src=ISMR_HP_LO_MST_FB" target="new">The Tea Maker</a> - a short, sweet tribute to John Lennon.</div><br />
<em>And before I sign off, a big thank you to lovely <a href="http://twentyyork.blogspot.com/" target="new">Marilou at Twenty York Street</a> for passing on a blog award! More soon!</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Images via <a href="http://www.edibleportland.com/2008/07/recipe_frittata.html" target="new">Edible Portland</a>, <a href="http://thestir.cafemom.com/food_party/107807/eat_pray_love_eat_your" target="new">The Stir</a>, <a href="http://www.ifood.tv/recipe/thai_peanut_chicken" target="new">iFood</a> and <a href="http://www.virginmedia.com/homefamily/fooddrink/best-worst-british-foods.php?ssid=1" target="new">Virgin Media</a>. Some thoughts on food history are from writer-journalist Bill Bryson's <em><a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/features/billbryson/" target="new">At Home</a></em>, chapter on "The Dining Room.")</div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-16105735459645002022010-12-07T01:30:00.014-05:002010-12-07T01:30:00.297-05:00Not a creature was stirring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGL7nnV1Bu5597D1vmjC_My-yqZNb8337cadaS_9CO1nk-WE77oT0QgKND2tHT94f_i9JY-AzzBrJsrt8jXdT4_mkZVL7WSU_kRDY0-Swuq37Qgj9kTRJjB8bmwM9h93cY8_pIKAY5yE/s1600/LA+Burdick+chocolate+mice.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGL7nnV1Bu5597D1vmjC_My-yqZNb8337cadaS_9CO1nk-WE77oT0QgKND2tHT94f_i9JY-AzzBrJsrt8jXdT4_mkZVL7WSU_kRDY0-Swuq37Qgj9kTRJjB8bmwM9h93cY8_pIKAY5yE/s400/LA+Burdick+chocolate+mice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Not even a (chocolate) mouse!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDa3jSS-nWwtFzqm24qAsMaMbHf2xXf6XalOVPlO5Dr0y0iDV0LySDdUHtJ7DDjf0_4AzSiJQCs-BcwdRTVDB9eqy44C3LdsCLvj7ZBD7DD6yGxROOjEh4Twwe2mRndf23BS8-mwP3XY/s1600/LA+Burdick+chocolate+mice+winter.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDa3jSS-nWwtFzqm24qAsMaMbHf2xXf6XalOVPlO5Dr0y0iDV0LySDdUHtJ7DDjf0_4AzSiJQCs-BcwdRTVDB9eqy44C3LdsCLvj7ZBD7DD6yGxROOjEh4Twwe2mRndf23BS8-mwP3XY/s400/LA+Burdick+chocolate+mice+winter.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's hard to say no to these <a href="http://www.burdickchocolate.com/item-details.asp?I2084=Christmas-Chocolate-Mice&C125=Christmas%20Gifts" target="new">L.A. Burdick sweeties</a> :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zR60sjAJ1i5V94wxwMoLtPfGKRgOh6MBXw_X7KiZ5YujQY5rx9eTDnnc_ui97AP1qAs8_wXlGdNlgBrUQ-xkLba3fAzo2b2ftQWidfcc4HRnTbLM_0j533Upp7WIxIsHlwVrHkfmgaY/s1600/la+burdick+mice+box.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="342" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zR60sjAJ1i5V94wxwMoLtPfGKRgOh6MBXw_X7KiZ5YujQY5rx9eTDnnc_ui97AP1qAs8_wXlGdNlgBrUQ-xkLba3fAzo2b2ftQWidfcc4HRnTbLM_0j533Upp7WIxIsHlwVrHkfmgaY/s400/la+burdick+mice+box.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And if chocolate's not a good enough reason, just look at those <a href="http://www.burdickchocolate.com/item-details.asp?I2084=Christmas-Chocolate-Mice&C125=Christmas%20Gifts" target="new">little faces and satiny tails</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Strength is the ability to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of those pieces." - Writer Judith Viorst</em></strong></div><br />
P.S. The dark chocolate mice have an orange interior, the milk chocolate ones a mocha interior, and the white chocolate ones a cinnamon interior - yum! (And their ears are almonds.)<br />
<br />
(Images via <a href="http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2010/01/cant-make-it-to-la-burdick-order-their-mice-o.html" target="new">Serious Eats</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=471165153811&set=a.448103108811.246800.17284808811" target="new">L.A. Burdick</a> and <a href="http://tasteshop.wordpress.com/2010/10/14/the-wooden-box-l-a-burdick/" target="new">taste.shop.</a>)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-47994112137350948522010-12-06T01:30:00.040-05:002010-12-06T01:30:00.944-05:00A walk in the woodsEven in this bare-branch season, the great outdoors treats us to sweet, little surprises...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTukpD1szgrXOBfrrUgq5mNUxi8hEvOVyi8Qfk5raFRuF0hln25Sn_aDidgUlh_uhd5J7nXBOpBMJ_WbJZdhfaj-zGWE8Cezia8MBocnDVQEBdumn-XgZjwPVz6Vb6IKnhkE3v9TiDMik/s1600/IMG_0154.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTukpD1szgrXOBfrrUgq5mNUxi8hEvOVyi8Qfk5raFRuF0hln25Sn_aDidgUlh_uhd5J7nXBOpBMJ_WbJZdhfaj-zGWE8Cezia8MBocnDVQEBdumn-XgZjwPVz6Vb6IKnhkE3v9TiDMik/s400/IMG_0154.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A sudden pile of pretty-shaped leaves, as we stepped outside...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpTk-H7uqwljiE3TlfL51OdJq1DATiNO5Euvi-GQAIGu35G36KDiTZiBTBbcz8EPI7lcESNBVRfW3PLB4pdMMR2OFf7F47ZRpSs-ROGs7CYJsxcgCyEHyKxP0JIMD6GnWujWjHCNGUKc/s1600/tree+bark.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpTk-H7uqwljiE3TlfL51OdJq1DATiNO5Euvi-GQAIGu35G36KDiTZiBTBbcz8EPI7lcESNBVRfW3PLB4pdMMR2OFf7F47ZRpSs-ROGs7CYJsxcgCyEHyKxP0JIMD6GnWujWjHCNGUKc/s400/tree+bark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The cool, rough pattern of an old tree trunk (I love old trees)...</div><br />
<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYWNxtw6RTVSYhfOgy7qYTrhrnAMlvuTN2Ka65MZHqH1VEnfRA4qc8a-wOKXk9ggOeugA5XyNcIQjDr5TgUPB5kEnDbh1P32aUnDbNRlZbc6y-pSd4bxEG_dVguTRIFyVNAXwFIJl30M/s1600/late+fall+tree.bmp" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHYWNxtw6RTVSYhfOgy7qYTrhrnAMlvuTN2Ka65MZHqH1VEnfRA4qc8a-wOKXk9ggOeugA5XyNcIQjDr5TgUPB5kEnDbh1P32aUnDbNRlZbc6y-pSd4bxEG_dVguTRIFyVNAXwFIJl30M/s400/late+fall+tree.bmp" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Mother Nature's last splash of red, still hanging on...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1Mio5QGrETSIkltWbEf9BtF4SpUOL97wy4Ns388w9r8YVpJJTvRFc18gNd1Dp5wzMx1c2Pa6Tnb7QYD-VnmPV-wxPvdmQxclyOxfUlhJKmd9BSM2bEhvoODkUF5PtsGozNVWIO5QB6Q/s1600/walk+marker.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1Mio5QGrETSIkltWbEf9BtF4SpUOL97wy4Ns388w9r8YVpJJTvRFc18gNd1Dp5wzMx1c2Pa6Tnb7QYD-VnmPV-wxPvdmQxclyOxfUlhJKmd9BSM2bEhvoODkUF5PtsGozNVWIO5QB6Q/s400/walk+marker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A stone marking the route of George Washington's march by night to a battle against the British in 1777... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>{I love that almost 250 years later, an American and a Brit would stumble on this American-British war site, during a peaceful walk in the woods, hand-in-hand, in love.} </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong>~ Wishing you a peaceful week ahead, full of sweet, little surprises! ~</strong></em></div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-5609864581884060682010-12-03T01:30:00.004-05:002010-12-03T01:30:00.113-05:00The Cheat: Almost-instant corn soup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyPEwljr-oju5R_WYNPizoEAmCTNJFZMGWkYPV8oXKR8S2TjKiLZLIWLI7OQIe83vNh_Nl1TV6lnL3zZCkZUD4MLlWSoouI1-J1Y6YL5B7ejJLQLZT9QrZr1CqXaLvnZd6yxkP2bY9dk/s1600/chicken+corn+soup.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyPEwljr-oju5R_WYNPizoEAmCTNJFZMGWkYPV8oXKR8S2TjKiLZLIWLI7OQIe83vNh_Nl1TV6lnL3zZCkZUD4MLlWSoouI1-J1Y6YL5B7ejJLQLZT9QrZr1CqXaLvnZd6yxkP2bY9dk/s400/chicken+corn+soup.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/chicken%20corn%20soup/pazcooks2/cornchickensoup791.jpg" target="new">via</a>)</span></div>For those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days when you've barely enough energy to think about food (never mind cook!), this is warming, light and almost-instant.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>~ Have a warm weekend, full of peace and relaxation! ~</em></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><strong>ALMOST-INSTANT CORN SOUP </strong>(Serves 2-3, Time: 10 min)<br />
<em>A simplified version of the corn soup you find in most Chinese restaurants, but without the artificial flavourings. </em><br />
<ul><li>One can (~14.75 ounce) cream style corn (total cheat - using canned/tinned ingredients!)</li>
<li>Using the can from the corn, about 1 can of water or chicken stock (for thicker soup, use less) </li>
<li>One egg, lightly beaten</li>
<li>Fresh-ground black pepper, salt, butter</li>
<li>Optional: Bit of cornstarch or flour mixed with water for even thicker soup (~1/2 to 1 teaspoon mixed well with ~1/4 cup water)</li>
<li>Optional: Chicken breast, minced (or canned crab meat)</li>
<li>Optional: Scallions (green onion), cilantro/coriander or other favorite vegetables, chopped</li>
</ul>If using, mix minced chicken breast with water to cover and set aside. In saucepan, mix water or chicken stock and cream corn. Stir well and boil. Add optional chicken breast (or crab meat), stir well until mixture boils again. <br />
<br />
Slowly add optional corn starch mixture, stir until everything boils again. Add beaten egg and turn off heat, stirring constantly until egg turns opaque. Add pepper, salt, butter to taste + veg. Stir well & chow!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Extra notes:</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>I confess, I know people either cringe at cream style corn, or embrace it and run with it (e.g., dressing this up with fancy white asparagus, fresh ginger, saffron etc). I'm the latter - I'll embrace anything that makes my eating life easier, *especially* if it's reasonably healthy! :)</em></div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-74195662004386597792010-12-02T01:30:00.019-05:002010-12-02T01:30:02.580-05:00The Double Life of Veronique<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXlCcvQCaBtWNi_wv6GCTL_c3a8kylgVy-O_XHP80f81PMIfSrrr627x7iaY9MBgaRs0gZRjubi6qbsQdofaFQPj4FqAvuyzPeWrICqeSeNVi6OXhLTCXCpPGuJFtyTkZuWcxt1Bo3zw/s1600/double+life+of+veronique+reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="243" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXlCcvQCaBtWNi_wv6GCTL_c3a8kylgVy-O_XHP80f81PMIfSrrr627x7iaY9MBgaRs0gZRjubi6qbsQdofaFQPj4FqAvuyzPeWrICqeSeNVi6OXhLTCXCpPGuJFtyTkZuWcxt1Bo3zw/s400/double+life+of+veronique+reflection.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuVyhO-BJiL4jrlHaSYkl9P_JyYgaqk5pCQnjo_Z3gsPDPcd_j41f73IMtqW3UQDYlvDLgqA2PS5NnK_mhqPC2jK9Nx5migsDm4rP1QWn83hqoqfJIfEcMHivfABfCZd7kQQtAA6VNC4/s1600/the+double+life+of+veronique+protest+in+square.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="243" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuVyhO-BJiL4jrlHaSYkl9P_JyYgaqk5pCQnjo_Z3gsPDPcd_j41f73IMtqW3UQDYlvDLgqA2PS5NnK_mhqPC2jK9Nx5migsDm4rP1QWn83hqoqfJIfEcMHivfABfCZd7kQQtAA6VNC4/s400/the+double+life+of+veronique+protest+in+square.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHQQkFdfWQVpxRdHTtquOxMh5DcufPR_PMrSux70hskfpJo5OTNLp_tj3mvYYYATcVLogBdZsQnV5d3V-Pp53b6opcxPIqDgOqjjPq3kEFYbRc4CPgIrvtXco3_ZsIrsnOdonZtXhaNk/s1600/double_life_of_veronique+music.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHQQkFdfWQVpxRdHTtquOxMh5DcufPR_PMrSux70hskfpJo5OTNLp_tj3mvYYYATcVLogBdZsQnV5d3V-Pp53b6opcxPIqDgOqjjPq3kEFYbRc4CPgIrvtXco3_ZsIrsnOdonZtXhaNk/s400/double_life_of_veronique+music.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK7S0Q6wa8AHDq-H-7tO-suOIskvFAuJl-efzQ7m6Odf8nkjjNdd3ZnQDm32vP4CW994vPYOu5GxAca1us5JsP5vOFpLaIFmfXYrbeWvMB8W7DgBDOsK8HjuJ2yGsU-4af84e97uhN7U/s1600/la-double-vie-de-veronique-original.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="225" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKK7S0Q6wa8AHDq-H-7tO-suOIskvFAuJl-efzQ7m6Odf8nkjjNdd3ZnQDm32vP4CW994vPYOu5GxAca1us5JsP5vOFpLaIFmfXYrbeWvMB8W7DgBDOsK8HjuJ2yGsU-4af84e97uhN7U/s400/la-double-vie-de-veronique-original.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM3vVcWG-3k75hLUYeUfESEYEnIYP9phOW25uOn6VVuhEv9Q5iGbOellcYHx2HJQl8YnSO4dKqt0TzwgFtDa1g6_VXKNlEzmO98JhSTnDZ33q-eBriVtVufHPhjrBtfoOgH50El4A1wo/s1600/double+life+of+veronique+window.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBM3vVcWG-3k75hLUYeUfESEYEnIYP9phOW25uOn6VVuhEv9Q5iGbOellcYHx2HJQl8YnSO4dKqt0TzwgFtDa1g6_VXKNlEzmO98JhSTnDZ33q-eBriVtVufHPhjrBtfoOgH50El4A1wo/s400/double+life+of+veronique+window.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Only because it's one of my favorite <a href="http://www.criterion.com/films/214-the-double-life-of-veronique" target="new">movies</a>, exploring life's mysteries. I get a different feeling each time I watch it and the cinematography (another kind of photography :)) is lovely.</div><br />
(Images via <a href="http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/review-la-double-vie-de-veronique-the-double-life-of-veronique-1991/" target="new">Bill's Movie Emporium</a>, <a href="http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2009/12/05/the-double-life-of-veronique-by-allan-fish/" target="new">Wonders in the Dark</a>, <a href="http://kintespace.com/rasxlog/?p=660" target="new">the rasx context</a>(#3,5) and <a href="http://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1600" target="new">the moviedb</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-43418901230094108432010-12-01T01:30:00.136-05:002010-12-01T01:30:03.575-05:00Photo du jour: Palm trees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G5dsS1mzRKpjHZrzf_XcElDPE9pCO8V4S3hq72ak-PJc9v2lnUnUIiMjEUfbATaZKptHUmjJDtg0QWwAJ9XYJsLhCzPZCYhE5g6lsFh7IUEsxOM65vVgVc1eKUtzXt0Gn71BScAWsWQ/s1600/palm+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_G5dsS1mzRKpjHZrzf_XcElDPE9pCO8V4S3hq72ak-PJc9v2lnUnUIiMjEUfbATaZKptHUmjJDtg0QWwAJ9XYJsLhCzPZCYhE5g6lsFh7IUEsxOM65vVgVc1eKUtzXt0Gn71BScAWsWQ/s400/palm+trees.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 82%;">{Kakaako, Hawaii - a popular sunset-watching spot}</span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Just an injection of the tropics on this December day. :)</div><br />
{Photographed on island of Oahu.}Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com59tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-81587351417659722642010-11-30T01:30:00.021-05:002010-11-30T01:30:00.505-05:00Mini world food tour: DoughnutsI had no idea when I posted on Hawaii's <a href="http://judefoodlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/malasadas.html" target="new">malasadas</a> that similar doughnuts were so universal! Thanks to your sweet comments, I got a delish education on sugary dough treats around the world...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9KPJzxs5-VB6yE-7hLAI9OZfPnouZNQ72dHkS2lKBdpBLlbAUhmaxCYSHTQOC2F7Vue7KQ-V77alN0_RaG_PrEqQz-U4l8uBarm3xNPTwiLF_uFMA9qTwH0YF035A-Hu-E_3NPmNAGk/s1600/donut_oliebollen.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="590" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9KPJzxs5-VB6yE-7hLAI9OZfPnouZNQ72dHkS2lKBdpBLlbAUhmaxCYSHTQOC2F7Vue7KQ-V77alN0_RaG_PrEqQz-U4l8uBarm3xNPTwiLF_uFMA9qTwH0YF035A-Hu-E_3NPmNAGk/s400/donut_oliebollen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Dutch oliebollen (thanks <a href="http://signepling.blogspot.com/" target="new">Signe</a> and <a href="http://lilla-fashion.blogspot.com/" target="new">Inez</a>!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGk77uZG22kYFPsOdeqrXPpV5W0t9xyuznAlirtpgCD351FbvvYck_ImtUt_t_5cJz3IXS1PSQYi-AaI7TewKSWmQujxdu956hHCWSifHaKaufqD_Io_utk7k2964v19iTo4EqXualzo/s1600/donut_sufganiyot.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGk77uZG22kYFPsOdeqrXPpV5W0t9xyuznAlirtpgCD351FbvvYck_ImtUt_t_5cJz3IXS1PSQYi-AaI7TewKSWmQujxdu956hHCWSifHaKaufqD_Io_utk7k2964v19iTo4EqXualzo/s400/donut_sufganiyot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Jewish sufganiyot (thanks <a href="http://ladyofthearts.blogspot.com/" target="new">Ren</a> and <a href="http://topcoatfashionblog.blogspot.com/" target="new">Topcoat</a>!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqSTtqBYp71etKTqSdTREtdIvSz5MuB3u9mMol4MTaaOe81poaeBItGoWsTAxvVA1c0R-MbVFBhg1nmFBM9dmxBG0vpzwF0Kd1uxLP6D36wogEhRnXZ5I4Lf_IariZXC9T65xnz_tFIc/s1600/donut_paczki.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqSTtqBYp71etKTqSdTREtdIvSz5MuB3u9mMol4MTaaOe81poaeBItGoWsTAxvVA1c0R-MbVFBhg1nmFBM9dmxBG0vpzwF0Kd1uxLP6D36wogEhRnXZ5I4Lf_IariZXC9T65xnz_tFIc/s400/donut_paczki.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Polish pączki (thanks <a href="http://just-dotblog.blogspot.com/" target="new">Just</a>!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-qILuLb836vxYsTeOlXl4sp-Mzq1RTiWfh3KZDoCI3N9NhJGhoQl4-EBYRpyMAuJLiGojQN6WGMSIfCFT1-SwN_9gCfHYb-n7MCH6flHgSmMruW2tZW8NkzJbKDc5PtTX5P3xm67Zck/s1600/donut_krafna.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-qILuLb836vxYsTeOlXl4sp-Mzq1RTiWfh3KZDoCI3N9NhJGhoQl4-EBYRpyMAuJLiGojQN6WGMSIfCFT1-SwN_9gCfHYb-n7MCH6flHgSmMruW2tZW8NkzJbKDc5PtTX5P3xm67Zck/s400/donut_krafna.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Croatian krafne (thanks <a href="http://croatia-eolivas.blogspot.com/" target="new">Elisa</a>!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqKc_1-KP5G949wIsKUGSCmkqc4rE0IdSRgCzal1T8SUs4QxVmB-Fh3Ip5ZRsN70lxj7ra767zHS3FPo02-CBhg3A3MJ6plVScRevFmXwG7JlkZX73KE5c0TSC113Qduu1vfokVrdEpA/s1600/donuts_beignets.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqKc_1-KP5G949wIsKUGSCmkqc4rE0IdSRgCzal1T8SUs4QxVmB-Fh3Ip5ZRsN70lxj7ra767zHS3FPo02-CBhg3A3MJ6plVScRevFmXwG7JlkZX73KE5c0TSC113Qduu1vfokVrdEpA/s400/donuts_beignets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I knew about this one, but I'll post it anyway!<br />
New Orleans-via-France beignets (thanks <a href="http://therunawayromantique.blogspot.com/" target="new">Runaway Romantique</a>!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd_NV_neA5g-U_WFswV-lTcn7Ghu2_C8lSNnG2fWM-o37_xuaaD33cDggzSaFc493nAygM954HXhZDMuGaRPfStdZNsGC28lopQmOy16N_au0dWUQZHAzmL8wT9w1R8CspEK1FCtD8Yk/s1600/malasadas1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd_NV_neA5g-U_WFswV-lTcn7Ghu2_C8lSNnG2fWM-o37_xuaaD33cDggzSaFc493nAygM954HXhZDMuGaRPfStdZNsGC28lopQmOy16N_au0dWUQZHAzmL8wT9w1R8CspEK1FCtD8Yk/s400/malasadas1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Another peek at Hawaii-via-Portugal <a href="http://judefoodlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/malasadas.html" target="new">malasadas</a> :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijk6TBSQthux3AXmEr5vLbAJzl1KFEAbIoVzfrRIk9k3N97IQ3yjM9s5b1av_QaJ95WgDxhrqDjbkYThYY6C7SQRvaS6BOnNe0CJIVo8PzxiXE4Vat95Tz7E-wncWiMOz8m44Nh_70sRA/s1600/donuts+around+the+world.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="261" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijk6TBSQthux3AXmEr5vLbAJzl1KFEAbIoVzfrRIk9k3N97IQ3yjM9s5b1av_QaJ95WgDxhrqDjbkYThYY6C7SQRvaS6BOnNe0CJIVo8PzxiXE4Vat95Tz7E-wncWiMOz8m44Nh_70sRA/s400/donuts+around+the+world.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And much more <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~osoono/ethnic-doughs.htm" target=new>fried dough around the world</a>!<br />
<em><strong>Is there a similar treat that you know and love?</strong></em></div><br />
(Images via <a href="http://tippinthescales.wordpress.com/2008/12/26/oliebollen-or-dutch-doughnuts/" target="new">Tippin' The Scales</a>, <a href="http://apinnick.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/sufganiyot-donuts-at-hanukkah/" target="new">This and That</a>, <a href="http://mysore.blogspot.com/2009/02/today-is-paczki-punch-key-day.html" target="new">No Sleep Til Mysore</a>, <a href="http://croatia-travel-info.blogspot.com/2009/02/krafne-or-pokladnice-croatian-doughnuts.html" target="new">Croatia Travel Information</a>, <a href="http://chuckpalahniuk.net/forum/1000026/post-here-to-see-what-possibly-cliche-louisiana-item-you-are?page=1" target="new">Chuck Palahniuk</a>, <a href="http://www.teamvisionvirtual.com/post/tvvs-must-dos-in-hawaii" target="new">Team Vision Virtual</a>, and final collage images via <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~osoono/ethnic-doughs.htm" target="new">Fried Dough Around the World</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-37099424310059799582010-11-29T01:30:00.105-05:002010-11-29T01:30:01.739-05:00In the holiday mood: Etsy loveliesHope you had a fantastic weekend! I had a delicious <a href="http://judefoodlife.blogspot.com/2010/11/midnight-turkey-quiz.html" target="new">Friendsgiving</a> (btw, using Kahlua instead of marsala wine makes tiramisu extra-yum!) and browsed Etsy lovelies to welcome the giving season -- here's just a few lovelies to get you in the holiday mood! :)<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><em>~ Have a lovely Monday and week ahead! ~</em></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsmz_yyLOgTRI39vECm5gYZH844dOykHimdaM96wkpJkG_7u1CIs4PPaWLCI8frPBhf_7mK_X_WQPKb1wpBkXGiup2xwBRGqKbK1cLqk4LNqSxA_3ZM4SVATmPucAQFTch7ABcDYY2js/s1600/red+silk+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="599" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsmz_yyLOgTRI39vECm5gYZH844dOykHimdaM96wkpJkG_7u1CIs4PPaWLCI8frPBhf_7mK_X_WQPKb1wpBkXGiup2xwBRGqKbK1cLqk4LNqSxA_3ZM4SVATmPucAQFTch7ABcDYY2js/s640/red+silk+dress.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><em>{<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60965856/abstractly-gathered-silk-rose-dress?ref=pr_shop" target="new">Red silk rose dress</a></em><em>}</em><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGl5cYQoAo9y2e41EOLj67H-GEm8_lsL2CtLlOLobCDYoRUAuiglFHRC18nGjwONKSlFbfrLWTNKO-Ax8erkiVVxvXskvlqR0nftq-OC9dpWZqS5Izl3Ocal4AzMgUV5Bhvk6CitpnGc/s1600/etsy+wants_larch+bag+brown.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMGl5cYQoAo9y2e41EOLj67H-GEm8_lsL2CtLlOLobCDYoRUAuiglFHRC18nGjwONKSlFbfrLWTNKO-Ax8erkiVVxvXskvlqR0nftq-OC9dpWZqS5Izl3Ocal4AzMgUV5Bhvk6CitpnGc/s400/etsy+wants_larch+bag+brown.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>{<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60353366/larch-bag-in-brown-buffalo-hide-clip-on" target="new">Brown Larch bag</a></em><em>}</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfIWiP9w7Etdhp5CvrnFahWo0DZ44H1PkDKJteL4a3nfEYUOi2Kc4BjBpwSPEYqrgfILaThnPvKjM8Zk0aNdDcZd2fjup_zDsG3Bes1eXwZLCU_s6BaDz2xx6XbIqfI7yDM1hU4w7gdk/s1600/Etsy+wants_Coco+silk+organza+dress.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" ex="true" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfIWiP9w7Etdhp5CvrnFahWo0DZ44H1PkDKJteL4a3nfEYUOi2Kc4BjBpwSPEYqrgfILaThnPvKjM8Zk0aNdDcZd2fjup_zDsG3Bes1eXwZLCU_s6BaDz2xx6XbIqfI7yDM1hU4w7gdk/s400/Etsy+wants_Coco+silk+organza+dress.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>{</em><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/54992804/incredible-silk-organza-coco-cocktail" target="new"><em>Silk cocktail dress</em></a><em>}</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gatuKLOdDFCWc-HzOn41wi1qc9E8_B157XiHAZMtt9jCHZWogktzfwpA4r4hzpQCj0F_YIGTJ5tVonfx5E2oCsvv3hJprpaZZoK3FVAnywHmrJsFiDsxki_2M8KR8y14FHGRVOR-3Yg/s1600/soft+orange+leather+bag.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="306" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gatuKLOdDFCWc-HzOn41wi1qc9E8_B157XiHAZMtt9jCHZWogktzfwpA4r4hzpQCj0F_YIGTJ5tVonfx5E2oCsvv3hJprpaZZoK3FVAnywHmrJsFiDsxki_2M8KR8y14FHGRVOR-3Yg/s400/soft+orange+leather+bag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>{<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/62177280/on-sale-orange-soft-leather-bag" target="new">Soft orange leather bag</a></em><em>}</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ELtOfOuK2Qenh2A6IcbsAUg_K_ZbWU9V_TUmaH_dKuVyceYXraBOeJHTNufoxN1JwhWJI5HVhn7mFPo3ZywXiEEIKgSHdzIZZHWs-UflqNS8yN-GrUBJ009Z631QJVXDgzeEA2a0UKE/s1600/peach+champagne+ring.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ELtOfOuK2Qenh2A6IcbsAUg_K_ZbWU9V_TUmaH_dKuVyceYXraBOeJHTNufoxN1JwhWJI5HVhn7mFPo3ZywXiEEIKgSHdzIZZHWs-UflqNS8yN-GrUBJ009Z631QJVXDgzeEA2a0UKE/s400/peach+champagne+ring.jpg" width="395" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>{<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/59141503/6mm-peach-champagne-rose-cut-raw-diamond" target="new">Peach champagne diamond ring</a>}</em></div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-39722087762834264282010-11-24T01:30:00.021-05:002010-11-24T01:30:01.356-05:00Have a Happy Thanksgiving!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZZm7xl3hVpABbicp6UaXH63GFiSwySjoERkaGUd3eMLMlfeTTJmdjKyFG_bvyCx6WI2Gc3BAicqP-IzE1y5rpzWQOi-PmF4GxYKSVYl2Yd7-HNpxxJCEs6s6xrQh0JffKUOTpRI6Avo/s1600/charlie-brown-thanksgiving.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="328" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnZZm7xl3hVpABbicp6UaXH63GFiSwySjoERkaGUd3eMLMlfeTTJmdjKyFG_bvyCx6WI2Gc3BAicqP-IzE1y5rpzWQOi-PmF4GxYKSVYl2Yd7-HNpxxJCEs6s6xrQh0JffKUOTpRI6Avo/s400/charlie-brown-thanksgiving.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(<a href="http://cliqueclack.com/tv/2008/11/27/tonight-on-the-tube-happy-thanksgiving/" target="new">via</a>)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't we have so much to be thankful for? In the spirit of the (US) Thanksgiving holiday, amazing <a href="http://twentyyork.blogspot.com/" target="new">Marilou at Twenty York Street</a> has tagged me to share a gratitude list. Thank you <a href="http://twentyyork.blogspot.com/" target="new">Marilou</a>! I couldn't be happier to oblige. :)</div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>I am thankful to be alive - a privilege denied many</em></div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>For having a roof over my head & place to sleep each night</em></div></li>
<li><em>For not having to worry where my next meal will come from</em></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>For my safety - I can walk down my street without fear of bombs, war, torture</em></div></li>
<li><em>And for what I have - more health than sickness, loved ones, priceless immaterial experiences, passions to pursue</em></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong>~ I'm signing off early this week, but wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving full of laughter, peace, thankful thoughts, and nourishment in body and soul! ~</strong></em></div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-1422585702017759372010-11-23T01:30:00.001-05:002010-11-23T01:51:48.790-05:00A Midnight Turkey {+quiz}<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG2MZXUfd_o9Mz2-gucb-QpXtNbfMYBPi3zK5C5Ox1pisv6s3HRzsjhhyphenhyphenY2KNeZGjCONc6HmGIbU3946a0aIv1molErwoKFpYEgUohYWpynvcxbWWCZ3lB-zEqgaFE8KiVRiIJ_n9Q78/s1600/Thanksgiving+turkey+simple.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="260" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTG2MZXUfd_o9Mz2-gucb-QpXtNbfMYBPi3zK5C5Ox1pisv6s3HRzsjhhyphenhyphenY2KNeZGjCONc6HmGIbU3946a0aIv1molErwoKFpYEgUohYWpynvcxbWWCZ3lB-zEqgaFE8KiVRiIJ_n9Q78/s400/Thanksgiving+turkey+simple.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I once co-hosted a Friendsgiving, to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday, with my urban NYC tribe. <br />
<br />
To paraphrase a friend, we drew on one another's cooking skills to round out (and heck, overstuff) the meal. The turkey was served at midnight, but it didn't matter - the city never sleeps! <br />
<br />
To see our <a href="http://acommonthreadblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/midnight-turkey-italian-way.html" target="new">Midnight Turkey recipe</a>, just head on over <a href="http://acommonthreadblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/midnight-turkey-italian-way.html" target="new">here</a>. :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Meantime, I've been tagged by </em><a href="http://huntingandgatheringblog.blogspot.com/" target="new"><em>Ginta at Hunting and Gathering</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://hitomineko-hn.blogspot.com/"><em>Hitomi Neko</em></a><em> to answer the I Love Your Blog quiz! Thank you! <a href="http://huntingandgatheringblog.blogspot.com/" target="new">Ginta</a> has a lovely way of mixing terrific 2nd-hand finds with current pieces to create something utterly new. <a href="http://hitomineko-hn.blogspot.com/" target="new">Hitomi</a> says she's a blogging newbie, but I've already enjoyed her film reviews. :) Here goes...</em></div><br />
<strong>1. Why did you create the blog? </strong>I may have mentioned this before, but because of my nomadic life, it was a way to feel more connected to faraway family & friends. <br />
<br />
<strong>2. What kind of blogs do you follow? </strong>I love blogs by people who have a passion or just good fun writing about their joys! <br />
<br />
<strong>3. Favorite makeup brand? </strong>I'm not terribly loyal, I'll try anything that sounds promising. :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSgh2iXFD1o4HRwJeuaMnfBuyVIB_Xj8v9AqGW9b2JOz3zCB6_QZiie2CAUA6JV704QtJC1RHXS1hDpWZGfZfNfm8Q3LGIypCxVHUS_KtI5xpV77UwTRVAalcS8oIUw1SuDn6IrvIfj0/s1600/JasonWuSpringSummer2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSgh2iXFD1o4HRwJeuaMnfBuyVIB_Xj8v9AqGW9b2JOz3zCB6_QZiie2CAUA6JV704QtJC1RHXS1hDpWZGfZfNfm8Q3LGIypCxVHUS_KtI5xpV77UwTRVAalcS8oIUw1SuDn6IrvIfj0/s400/JasonWuSpringSummer2011.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Wu's Spring 2011 collection</td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong>4. Favorite clothing brand? </strong>My latest kick is <a href="http://www.jasonwustudio.com/" target="new">Jason Wu</a>. So classic and feminine.<br />
<br />
<strong>5. Your indispensable makeup product? </strong>Burt's Bees lip balm. <br />
<br />
<strong>6. Your favorite color? </strong>For clothes, lilacs, dusky roses and rich browns. For interiors, bright colours (one of my last apartments was completely in primary colours!) or soothing neutrals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm1QPIlCm1_FlKaeYG_i8upLMfAi_KV6PaPQuRdIkNRwNNUQ2FsHuEb__cwc07eiKEGyrLBzqBcF2pzeX7qU6lFr9gcnfFmzK60mb3f9UOK2a6O4jEN4_YJ-G7arLcVy6HdixO37QouA/s1600/Kiehls+Musk+and+Agatha+Ruiz+de+la+Prada+Flor.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm1QPIlCm1_FlKaeYG_i8upLMfAi_KV6PaPQuRdIkNRwNNUQ2FsHuEb__cwc07eiKEGyrLBzqBcF2pzeX7qU6lFr9gcnfFmzK60mb3f9UOK2a6O4jEN4_YJ-G7arLcVy6HdixO37QouA/s400/Kiehls+Musk+and+Agatha+Ruiz+de+la+Prada+Flor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><strong>7. Your perfume? </strong>These days, very occasionally, <a href="http://www.kiehls.com/Musk/body-musk,default,sc.html" target="new">Kiehl's musk</a>. Before that, girly <a href="http://www.agatharuizdelaprada.com/store/flor.html" target="new">Flor</a> (and I'm not that girly, even!).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQvNEy2VrCXlV0MEOgc7DjtWkMZe16kYGhh1tmpghlQUjtprgDt1TvPzpOKTfAPTCOWgXiwBPcx1EdkMH4FTtKpB5Sj2tdwTRFXc3alhYYDDItvo6FuH9UEq-7yFh7aLX7xt9cKy0Fcs/s1600/lady_chatterley.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeQvNEy2VrCXlV0MEOgc7DjtWkMZe16kYGhh1tmpghlQUjtprgDt1TvPzpOKTfAPTCOWgXiwBPcx1EdkMH4FTtKpB5Sj2tdwTRFXc3alhYYDDItvo6FuH9UEq-7yFh7aLX7xt9cKy0Fcs/s400/lady_chatterley.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><strong>8. Your favorite film? </strong>Most recently, the French film <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0459880/" target="new">Lady Chatterley</a> - not at all rubbishy, more like a sensitive love story with the exquisite <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0359652/" target="new">Marina Hands</a> as leading lady.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqHyb_dBntDT4nndyCyIMTQqLXjCMxks4eMYerIV2E71DSb9N82Io6TGt5kiZJVuiDF9H1YCxU31jHpXbHKSN4a7QCWvk4ojuLX1RbK2aBXvTjrFKnV_GYY8nA5tJSamDyYzghY_0np4/s1600/italy-verona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqHyb_dBntDT4nndyCyIMTQqLXjCMxks4eMYerIV2E71DSb9N82Io6TGt5kiZJVuiDF9H1YCxU31jHpXbHKSN4a7QCWvk4ojuLX1RbK2aBXvTjrFKnV_GYY8nA5tJSamDyYzghY_0np4/s400/italy-verona.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verona, Italia</td></tr>
</tbody></table><strong>9. What country would you like to visit and why? </strong>I'm dying to return to Italy, and always wanted to visit an old friend in Norway (I owe her several trips!) <br />
<br />
<strong>10. Make the last question and answer to yourself: What invention would help your life? </strong>Something that instantly transports me to any part of the world! And anything that makes me look like I get 8 hours of sleep & workout 2 hours everyday!;) XO<br />
<br />
(Images via <a href="http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/seasonal/christmas" target="new">Channel4</a>, <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/jason%20wu%20spring%202011/newbatteri/Dream%20of%20Horses/JasonWuSpringSummer2011.jpg" target="new">newbatteri</a>, <a href="http://travel-holiday.org/" target="new">Travel Holiday</a>, <a href="http://www.fragrantica.com/perfume/Agatha-Ruiz-de-la-Prada/Flor-1921.html" target="new">Fragrantica</a>, and <a href="http://www.destination360.com/europe/italy/verona" target="new">Destination360</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com47tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-46555302561686431432010-11-22T01:30:00.006-05:002010-11-22T01:30:01.528-05:00Stuff that made my weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqOTW6MTu0l_JhjYGYMDCcra0r5bjKY2oSuHKrybGMz4dzlMk-3MibaJkrKi8BxLQkLLIgcdlIJQT0zTJkrEafFwuyfsYloeR_2gcWzS5yVXcSXYAvCM2Fusn9gFEMUdWP_CrL5oL5No/s1600/GW+Bridge_Fog.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="272" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqOTW6MTu0l_JhjYGYMDCcra0r5bjKY2oSuHKrybGMz4dzlMk-3MibaJkrKi8BxLQkLLIgcdlIJQT0zTJkrEafFwuyfsYloeR_2gcWzS5yVXcSXYAvCM2Fusn9gFEMUdWP_CrL5oL5No/s400/GW+Bridge_Fog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finding this fuzzy photograph I took with a disposable camera, the view from my second-to-last apartment in New York City </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SkAwIYEWZH1Zq-EgFCxnjcW8LGG42OZ2r0l8ONjzi9CuWTqdQFq0oRDoP7REF2ZAXDkeZ-HspfgpF8fn1B21xNj844ej8FE2-3hixRxi4VIeDZUeqeFjKUjjRn65KJJA3PbX61c7k-U/s1600/stuff+chocolate+babka.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SkAwIYEWZH1Zq-EgFCxnjcW8LGG42OZ2r0l8ONjzi9CuWTqdQFq0oRDoP7REF2ZAXDkeZ-HspfgpF8fn1B21xNj844ej8FE2-3hixRxi4VIeDZUeqeFjKUjjRn65KJJA3PbX61c7k-U/s400/stuff+chocolate+babka.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Incredibly dense, moist chocolate babka </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAp3rxmFY5CTepJK2QlrlhFjzfVg7673LSVKRa4c5IqzzDPLT5aR38t83d_16-_8H0hIIRL8ZJVB3-eczCsaLxtQNi7mStzCBiSxd7Z6Li5oBNNknc0EFbep3xp_BcePzrN1lvWtNEVA/s1600/stuff+harry+potter+deathly+hallows.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="302" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAp3rxmFY5CTepJK2QlrlhFjzfVg7673LSVKRa4c5IqzzDPLT5aR38t83d_16-_8H0hIIRL8ZJVB3-eczCsaLxtQNi7mStzCBiSxd7Z6Li5oBNNknc0EFbep3xp_BcePzrN1lvWtNEVA/s400/stuff+harry+potter+deathly+hallows.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 82%;">{<em>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</em>}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hearing just British accents (and glimpsing London) again :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNwp8X05SWs_A2aCpsJnrsTS6v_2s5CryEZNJ7HTec3EXICofI60sFUHCAyUavlm4ax6w0GQfzL23XFsiGCpVrpQq-iYK05XvIxIhrOaVfsh70Vn1w3RH-nDEQfeLS41LLjLAlm6z4ho/s1600/stuff+wai+lin+tse+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="270" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNwp8X05SWs_A2aCpsJnrsTS6v_2s5CryEZNJ7HTec3EXICofI60sFUHCAyUavlm4ax6w0GQfzL23XFsiGCpVrpQq-iYK05XvIxIhrOaVfsh70Vn1w3RH-nDEQfeLS41LLjLAlm6z4ho/s400/stuff+wai+lin+tse+floor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 82%;">{<a href="http://www.wailintse.com/index.php?/photos/isabel/" target="new">Isabel</a>}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBoggOgXKq8dgRZlstnf2v-eCy-rGFJLFLNZbUunypKMf6cSGaNtJfT6u8FsWgqvc5gxdCuXTBp9XzIfcACsfXqnFt_LwQpt4m4QuI6in9G9VgDNMgp2cOitp1AgP-akys78Rd7fxEJg/s1600/wailintsedoori.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBoggOgXKq8dgRZlstnf2v-eCy-rGFJLFLNZbUunypKMf6cSGaNtJfT6u8FsWgqvc5gxdCuXTBp9XzIfcACsfXqnFt_LwQpt4m4QuI6in9G9VgDNMgp2cOitp1AgP-akys78Rd7fxEJg/s400/wailintsedoori.jpg" width="312" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 82%;">{<a href="http://www.wailintse.com/index.php?/photos/underligne-by-doori-ss10/" target="new">Underligne by Doo.ri dress, SS/10</a>}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More lovely photographs from <a href="http://www.wailintse.com/" target="new">Wai Lin Tse</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYfGjdSumfvdvIqbeKXrB6-im0ELxDCwyXUpfbJtqBg9Yu1YlxMCz3uFhQ5eVz1GBjQoFty5yS9VetYLS0nvhA4Pm_T29G5fsbfBdxc3x6jgHgotySeonWRjO_RJMAZ_2aEYbD0Ed9b4/s1600/stuff+jumping+for+joy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="218" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYfGjdSumfvdvIqbeKXrB6-im0ELxDCwyXUpfbJtqBg9Yu1YlxMCz3uFhQ5eVz1GBjQoFty5yS9VetYLS0nvhA4Pm_T29G5fsbfBdxc3x6jgHgotySeonWRjO_RJMAZ_2aEYbD0Ed9b4/s400/stuff+jumping+for+joy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Unpacking the last box from our latest move, yippee!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>~ Wishing you an incredible week ahead! ~</strong></em></div><br />
(Top photograph was taken in Manhattan, of George Washington Bridge in the mist. Remaining images via <a href="http://www.goodbreadthis.com/" target="new">Good Bread This</a>, <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2010/11/19/2010-11-19_harry_potter_and_the_deathly_hallows_part_1_earns_24_million_in_midnight_showing.html" target="new">NY Daily News</a>, <a href="http://www.wailintse.com/" target="new">Wai Lin Tse</a> and <a href="http://blog.gigpark.com/2009/08/11/and-the-winner-is/" target="new">GigPark</a>.)Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com53tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-79381605556339924952010-11-19T01:30:00.161-05:002010-11-19T01:30:01.806-05:00Broccoli Rabe with Sausage and Grapes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbql2MYmXt3zunZ5LOItbC_7X1RK3oZKH5bIXWZ8Hhd8WoTPOn2nDIKIbl4i58cH_8TmQohzL6Up9-UKlNc2BW61RzczKA7MuYPQ_sayrcQvMv7K4pj_ZMoYIOL2Cfsk8ClWdedsnDr4/s1600/BroccoliRaabSausageGrapes.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpbql2MYmXt3zunZ5LOItbC_7X1RK3oZKH5bIXWZ8Hhd8WoTPOn2nDIKIbl4i58cH_8TmQohzL6Up9-UKlNc2BW61RzczKA7MuYPQ_sayrcQvMv7K4pj_ZMoYIOL2Cfsk8ClWdedsnDr4/s400/BroccoliRaabSausageGrapes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I fell a little in love with this comforting dish after a friend made it one autumn. The sharp broccoli rabe is a great contrast with sweet grapes & people always ask for the recipe - a creation of the NY Times's <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/features/diningandwine/columns/the_minimalist/index.html" target="new">Mark Bittman</a>, a fave (see gossipy notes below :)).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Before I sign off, a big thank you to <a href="http://www.atasteoft.com/2010/11/friendly-relay-award.html" target="new">Tanya at A Taste of T</a> and <a href="http://a-whole-lottalove.blogspot.com/2010/11/relay-of-friendship.html" target="new">A Whole Lotta Love</a> for passing on a blog award! More soon!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>~ Have a sweet and lovely weekend! ~</em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>BROCCOLI RABE WITH SAUSAGE AND GRAPES </strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(4 servings, ~30 min)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>From Mark Bittman's "<a href="http://www.howtocookeverything.tv/product.php%3Fproduct_cd=0764578650.html" target="new">How To Cook Everything</a>," I've included some broccoli rabe prep instructions (it's a separate section in Bittman's book) here.</em></div><ul><li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 1-1/2 pounds (24 ounces) broccoli rabe (rapini), trimmed and cut-up [Do this by stripping stalk of leaves - you can cook these leaves if you like. Remove bottom inch of stalks, or wherever it's dried out. Peel tough outer skin of stalk as best as you can without going crazy. Cut stalk into equal size pieces and break head into florets.]</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 1 pound (16 ounces) sweet, garlicky sausage </div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 cloves garlic, slivered</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 1/2 pound (8 ounces) seedless grapes</div></li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste</div></li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bring salted water to boil in medium saucepan. Boil broccoli rabe stalk sections ~2 minutes, add florets and cook ~2-6 more minutes until bright green or tender. Drain and plunge into cold water for a few moments, or run under cold water. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cook the sausage over medium heat in a large, deep pan (note from me: I like to use a bit of olive oil in the pan), pricking it with a fork or knife a few times, and turning occasionally until nicely browned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remove sausage from pan (don't worry about it being done) and cut into bite size pieces. Return it to pan, over medium heat; cook, turning occasionally, until <em>all</em> sides of the cut sausage are nicely browned, about 5 more minutes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Squeeze excess liquid from broccoli rabe and chop it coarsely. Add it to the pan along with the garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-4 minutes. Add the grapes and heat through. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Gossipy notes:</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>OK, there was just one time a bunch of us lost our appetites for Bittman's recipes - it was after he broke up with a woman he was dating on our street in the most ungentlemanly manner. Needless to say, I've come round to using his recipes again!</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Image via <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2010/10/healthy-delicious-broccoli-rabe-turkey-sausage-grapes-recipe.html" target="new">Serious Eats</a>. Thanks Eugenia!)</div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com60tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-36015475230091179982010-11-18T01:30:00.062-05:002010-11-18T01:30:01.759-05:00Malasadas!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd_NV_neA5g-U_WFswV-lTcn7Ghu2_C8lSNnG2fWM-o37_xuaaD33cDggzSaFc493nAygM954HXhZDMuGaRPfStdZNsGC28lopQmOy16N_au0dWUQZHAzmL8wT9w1R8CspEK1FCtD8Yk/s1600/malasadas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkd_NV_neA5g-U_WFswV-lTcn7Ghu2_C8lSNnG2fWM-o37_xuaaD33cDggzSaFc493nAygM954HXhZDMuGaRPfStdZNsGC28lopQmOy16N_au0dWUQZHAzmL8wT9w1R8CspEK1FCtD8Yk/s400/malasadas1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Addictive malasadas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Thanks to this <a href="http://katnsatoshiinjapan.blogspot.com/2010/11/hirakata.html" target="new">delish post by Kat</a> (and a comment by <a href="http://rubbahslippahsinitaly.blogspot.com/" target="new">Rowena</a>:)), I've been crazily craving <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malasada" target="new">malasadas</a> - that addictive, hole-less sugary donut brought to Hawaii by the Portuguese in the 1800s.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH74Xz9gcQAR4VTDCi2Iv9o5JJSZlHNB480B6JTh-3lVRyzy6WBthnamrVkdPSCyIMsMj_vcZurqoAf6VSaxoaLspOBpSJPN_MwQYabVrh6jgpN42YrD-uGvZU_Tu9534GrVV4OjR0gM/s1600/malasadas2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirH74Xz9gcQAR4VTDCi2Iv9o5JJSZlHNB480B6JTh-3lVRyzy6WBthnamrVkdPSCyIMsMj_vcZurqoAf6VSaxoaLspOBpSJPN_MwQYabVrh6jgpN42YrD-uGvZU_Tu9534GrVV4OjR0gM/s400/malasadas2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Malasadas are crispy outside, gooey inside - so lovely when fresh. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In Hawaii, they're synonomous with old-school <a href="http://www.leonardshawaii.com/" target="new">Leonard's Bakery</a>.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx8bHMSG9FGWmSK3JkGDPEbf7UHn_b5AbQ0xQEC56yvmWl8b3Yh2gcaQoN9z5A7tXNJRA7xIpuXDu8Ny14L9qSjboL4Xu0UOe2Xihr7QyV_L3I49ZF6pBXoPmOcG01GN9S6cJo2ZEScg/s1600/Leonards+Bakery+Malasadas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJx8bHMSG9FGWmSK3JkGDPEbf7UHn_b5AbQ0xQEC56yvmWl8b3Yh2gcaQoN9z5A7tXNJRA7xIpuXDu8Ny14L9qSjboL4Xu0UOe2Xihr7QyV_L3I49ZF6pBXoPmOcG01GN9S6cJo2ZEScg/s400/Leonards+Bakery+Malasadas.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hawaii's malasadas - the Portuguese treat I couldn't find in Portugal</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>Embarrassingly, I visited Portugal so excited to eat malasadas (like going to Japan for sushi!) - but no one knew about it! A Lisbon resident explained maybe it was unique to Madeira Island. (He also said 'malasadas' meant 'badly-cooked' - so I went around Portugal asking for a badly-cooked thing to eat!)</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Images via <a href="http://www.teamvisionvirtual.com/post/tvvs-must-dos-in-hawaii" target="new">TeamVision Virtual</a>, <a href="http://media.photobucket.com/image/leonards%20bakery%20malasadas/jamesmargaret3rd/february%25202010/IMG_3556.jpg" target="new">jamesmargaret3rd</a>, <a href="http://www.hawaiivacationinsider.com/dining_oahu.ivnu" target="new">Hawaii Vacation Insider</a>, <a href="http://www.tasteodyssey.com/hawaiian-local-food-favorites-oahu-windward-side-food-guide/" target="new">Taste Odyssey</a> and <a href="http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Writeup.aspx?ReviewID=1022&RefID=1022" target="new">Road Food</a>.) </div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com61tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-7987782720957989072010-11-17T01:30:00.107-05:002010-11-17T01:30:00.960-05:00Midweek music energy: Una Notte a Napoli<div style="text-align: left;"><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ICfue4iDseU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/ICfue4iDseU?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="320"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 82%;">{Original YouTube clip <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICfue4iDseU&feature=related" target="new">here</a>}</span></div>A romantic, fun love song - of angels, Naples and amore - by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Martini" target="new">Pink Martini</a> (saw them last week). The song seems so glam 70s Italian. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4Czet0ZR9AOSXgwPw_-28xLC5jfDDQdiqs0lhS7n3ty8S-bBQZGWUR3LMxpTOIMpx8UOzvXI5yqhbpEHopuya2r5vS-nm-VxoHpYvT4OpqxCXJy31mc2xPwrncgdSE0j6Bgz9nM1UsU/s1600/alba+clemente.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd4Czet0ZR9AOSXgwPw_-28xLC5jfDDQdiqs0lhS7n3ty8S-bBQZGWUR3LMxpTOIMpx8UOzvXI5yqhbpEHopuya2r5vS-nm-VxoHpYvT4OpqxCXJy31mc2xPwrncgdSE0j6Bgz9nM1UsU/s1600/alba+clemente.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Probably because Pink Martini wrote it<em> </em>with Alba Clemente (above), a totally glamorous 70s Italian actress!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Fun fact: Pink Martini has played a multi-lingual repertoire from Carnegie Hall to Cannes - they sang in English, French, Italian, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish & Turkish just in the concert I saw!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoot2SP5KhDpL9uAkgpOOLA52s8o7DvcOnoMRO7nWmQPhJHTkPHJQg5plTQqythKlRSBzvdbuDaloQNljIdlrcF99sRlVZxhLmMkZsTzzZV8nA4LU3LHlC_wAWrbGS0k5zaRq801-ujg/s1600/pink+martini.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoot2SP5KhDpL9uAkgpOOLA52s8o7DvcOnoMRO7nWmQPhJHTkPHJQg5plTQqythKlRSBzvdbuDaloQNljIdlrcF99sRlVZxhLmMkZsTzzZV8nA4LU3LHlC_wAWrbGS0k5zaRq801-ujg/s400/pink+martini.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>{We should all sashay down city streets dressed like this.}</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Images via <a href="http://www.maxmara.com/it/Icon-101801/MaxMara/Foto/0/5" target="new">Max Mara</a> and <a href="http://anewscafe.com/2009/10/06/pink-martini-success/" target="new">anewscafe</a>.)</div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-50477979241368363872010-11-16T01:30:00.015-05:002010-11-16T01:30:00.781-05:00Tea for two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuuyJNUn-HI58C2m4d-J_bwisNBjXFYFxeLVh_iyk59oFRx34NKpRUuA149fOZo70rq1j1PT_i3P5aI7YzA4-uU0XZkF0jjkLOXqU-fB5PLhPC6-hGawh7NzvQqRPPo1LyA_PA_0CLWs/s1600/teafortwo+frog.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOuuyJNUn-HI58C2m4d-J_bwisNBjXFYFxeLVh_iyk59oFRx34NKpRUuA149fOZo70rq1j1PT_i3P5aI7YzA4-uU0XZkF0jjkLOXqU-fB5PLhPC6-hGawh7NzvQqRPPo1LyA_PA_0CLWs/s400/teafortwo+frog.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUsULQayXJc9ZCC2-FSw0EFyO2EaYJgOM5mWvH6iOY3FHiw36CeeVJKLIGMcg4Q4UnaTld4z1yQOOb4D6tvw8sFDx0QWYpnMzfv3_LfIZ7OXmyxd6YbK6Fp5tMD5zZr5i5Uc90bpI7ps/s1600/teafortwo+pig.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUsULQayXJc9ZCC2-FSw0EFyO2EaYJgOM5mWvH6iOY3FHiw36CeeVJKLIGMcg4Q4UnaTld4z1yQOOb4D6tvw8sFDx0QWYpnMzfv3_LfIZ7OXmyxd6YbK6Fp5tMD5zZr5i5Uc90bpI7ps/s400/teafortwo+pig.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I'm <i>not</i> usually into too-cutesy kitchen stuff, but I might have to make an exception for these Tea for Two sets, from Japan-based <a href="http://shinzikatoh.com/shop/catalog/default.php?cPath=31_456" target=new>Shinzi Katoh Design</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNtEPtseZeh8BiaHFF7eQB9rfTEK1nNMxTavy3dCeGSsEvho86QO5JudXLNauUJ41CM9adp7opjx_ginomhEj7lpILWGiSueLVTb2vVhZF6sYWISPM8ZkOhoQ7Os8qzau1IvlY178-xo/s1600/teafortwo+bee.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGNtEPtseZeh8BiaHFF7eQB9rfTEK1nNMxTavy3dCeGSsEvho86QO5JudXLNauUJ41CM9adp7opjx_ginomhEj7lpILWGiSueLVTb2vVhZF6sYWISPM8ZkOhoQ7Os8qzau1IvlY178-xo/s400/teafortwo+bee.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RxuerwKwCsNLN4WDtxZYwfiyo6NSDEMOApHfzkW32njV-ITK6KwtJ-pNUSt7EBXW8_TeAkPQV6CO1BFy4ZJB-cUtBHfoXe0HHClNnnb1nMkz0-WRKHlVb-ebtH13YrZTojctfg6Nimo/s1600/teafortwo+elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3RxuerwKwCsNLN4WDtxZYwfiyo6NSDEMOApHfzkW32njV-ITK6KwtJ-pNUSt7EBXW8_TeAkPQV6CO1BFy4ZJB-cUtBHfoXe0HHClNnnb1nMkz0-WRKHlVb-ebtH13YrZTojctfg6Nimo/s400/teafortwo+elephant.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the cheery feel and how little cupboard space they take up - perfect for city apartments! (Like the tiiiiny one we had in Central London:)).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(All images and products via <a href="http://shinzikatoh.com/shop/catalog/default.php?cPath=31_456" target="new">Shinzi Katoh Design</a>.)</div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-80185579836785019342010-11-15T02:00:00.007-05:002010-11-15T02:05:38.533-05:00Some local island flavor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYOx6MtTkjvj_E1hueodBUwT-hycUnZQgCMeSa1oCsxv9n7YCV_jShf7u2TgynHzRkEPHywMwrp6ztnXf2nWuEPgS5n2fTxZS_DG3jIXT9g8j14FgucSclX495TjjnV8y0hoDvIYJSSA/s1600/Honolulu+diamond+head.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYOx6MtTkjvj_E1hueodBUwT-hycUnZQgCMeSa1oCsxv9n7YCV_jShf7u2TgynHzRkEPHywMwrp6ztnXf2nWuEPgS5n2fTxZS_DG3jIXT9g8j14FgucSclX495TjjnV8y0hoDvIYJSSA/s400/Honolulu+diamond+head.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 82%;">{Honolulu photographed from Diamond Head volcano summit}</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The blue, blue sea and skies around you </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQXF6998Bszl2m41as_rQVnA2l4ijbEVLqBMTzkUI6lN3frzccoO_5-Uhel4uMCXMru1DaJcDjtjgS2qQHwf6ay7UfYaEesgaxhioH4V1FNu32Pb9aPLkIv4KfuFE6KeO216mYk7nt90/s1600/Honolulu+lei.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpQXF6998Bszl2m41as_rQVnA2l4ijbEVLqBMTzkUI6lN3frzccoO_5-Uhel4uMCXMru1DaJcDjtjgS2qQHwf6ay7UfYaEesgaxhioH4V1FNu32Pb9aPLkIv4KfuFE6KeO216mYk7nt90/s400/Honolulu+lei.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tropical lei (men traditionally wear leafier leis)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlXqs7jKzEo7E328klxsCitn_DOE5teo6hdoy9F_64bnyUGS7NRhyJ77cRlxLLPlhooYKxG5pdCcv0os7lJhrN5NyYnFuemCVUDaIipZj58yJ5G3fA1gfAn_RXEs4onwQvJiSVPi8qFo/s1600/Honolulu+sharka.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlXqs7jKzEo7E328klxsCitn_DOE5teo6hdoy9F_64bnyUGS7NRhyJ77cRlxLLPlhooYKxG5pdCcv0os7lJhrN5NyYnFuemCVUDaIipZj58yJ5G3fA1gfAn_RXEs4onwQvJiSVPi8qFo/s400/Honolulu+sharka.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sharka the cuddly toy shark (<em>very</em> popular!) won't bite</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZotKnPY5_knK7Q350_xZw2wuzM5WTUf-__4mELlfhxzKiO7M3jEWC6W2Zhs1Rvx47vK6asQc6xQhL3xq_um6yObrUiIolT_dQMVboGJMKKSy5yrmD-BYLD_8e9BQr99_amSbmWVCUOQ/s1600/Honolulu+friendly+monster.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="352" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZotKnPY5_knK7Q350_xZw2wuzM5WTUf-__4mELlfhxzKiO7M3jEWC6W2Zhs1Rvx47vK6asQc6xQhL3xq_um6yObrUiIolT_dQMVboGJMKKSy5yrmD-BYLD_8e9BQr99_amSbmWVCUOQ/s400/Honolulu+friendly+monster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friendly monster at Kailua Beach :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>~ Wishing you a week filled with blue, blue skies (at least in spirit)! ~</em></strong></div><br />
{All photographs taken in Hawaii, of course. :) Friendly monster made by my brother.}Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-7148701014488174372010-11-12T01:30:00.158-05:002010-11-12T01:30:00.426-05:00Popovers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIysm7aHMWvYfLeltHyPRzStMaeyny0zpGLscE5xQrzp_GrcpWELHiSWxQjWIuaEgXgXoUZRrpcjnV_4e2ByNQQJJ4BLCQ22mnQ6QcSRLe49JgpIlydCzsBPQlzBP_cqWZ3oiGYJ_5Dks/s1600/popovers.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIysm7aHMWvYfLeltHyPRzStMaeyny0zpGLscE5xQrzp_GrcpWELHiSWxQjWIuaEgXgXoUZRrpcjnV_4e2ByNQQJJ4BLCQ22mnQ6QcSRLe49JgpIlydCzsBPQlzBP_cqWZ3oiGYJ_5Dks/s400/popovers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Popovers are so easy to make, you could engage a child in the activity (and he or she would probably love it!). For a time, I made these from scratch in the mornings, before work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgfa-3L1TShvfsCC8ShoIV1CWPNl1lw3UzqTo2ttH5hNPOITcIfc_8thQ7A6MdRYB23S9aNzGgZ9K1ncptY_A1KfIQ_WT7ZSB2WWtV_ciOePhPCEDMDnlx3twica8xaPBrWad6uk7dg0/s1600/popovers+with+honey.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgfa-3L1TShvfsCC8ShoIV1CWPNl1lw3UzqTo2ttH5hNPOITcIfc_8thQ7A6MdRYB23S9aNzGgZ9K1ncptY_A1KfIQ_WT7ZSB2WWtV_ciOePhPCEDMDnlx3twica8xaPBrWad6uk7dg0/s400/popovers+with+honey.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Popovers are best piping hot from the oven. They've a light, airy feel - and make a nice alternative to 'heavier' breakfast breads.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em><strong>~ Have an easy, relaxing weekend! ~</strong></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">***</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>POPOVERS </strong>(Yields 12 popovers)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time: 35-40 minutes of mostly baking time</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><em>Adapted from "<a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781883672065" target="new">Pretend Soup and Other Real Recipes</a>" by Mollie Katzen and Ann Henderson; this child-friendly version appeared in NY Times Magazine (as usual, I never wrote down the issue)</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About 2 tablespoons (~30g) butter</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">2 eggs</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 cup (~240ml) milk</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1 cup (~130g) all-purpose flour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">1/4 teaspoon (~1g) salt</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Extra butter, jam, honey or maple syrup for popovers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (~190 degrees Celsius or moderate/medium-hot oven). Melt the butter. Brush insides of 12 popover or muffin cups with melted butter. Break eggs into a mixing bowl, add milk & beat well. Add flour & salt and whisk until reasonably well blended - it doesn't have to be perfect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Use a 1/4 cup (~60ml) measure with a handle to pour batter into each popover/muffin cup. They should be a half to two-thirds full. Bake 30 minutes without opening the oven. Remove popovers and prick with a fork to let steam escape. Serve immediately with butter or jam. (They also taste great dipped in honey or maple syrup).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">(Images via <a href="http://justataste.com/2009/03/19/mini-popovers-with-whipped-strawberry-butter/" target="new">Just a Taste</a> and <a href="http://twentytwopleasant.blogspot.com/2010/02/popovers.html" target="new">twenty-two pleasant</a>.)</div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com74tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6536609060679546222.post-80422827503121283382010-11-11T01:30:00.077-05:002010-11-11T01:47:24.993-05:00Complete food randomnessSince it's almost-Friday, something more kooky & random :)....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG47JdF6vsd0lDJrBH5UqPImT7oekxnMj11a6sOGRxY4ryQn5_kMKfsJtM0PDeF6-NJN8NsZZpMeQXAVo27xpFqYw7ClSTOenZCItL-xJC6AVi18s_b4xYlrxGEgZauy70V_Qr44D47vE/s1600/food+randoms-Komforte-Ramen-chocolate+bar.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG47JdF6vsd0lDJrBH5UqPImT7oekxnMj11a6sOGRxY4ryQn5_kMKfsJtM0PDeF6-NJN8NsZZpMeQXAVo27xpFqYw7ClSTOenZCItL-xJC6AVi18s_b4xYlrxGEgZauy70V_Qr44D47vE/s400/food+randoms-Komforte-Ramen-chocolate+bar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Random <a href="http://www.cardullos.com/products/view/komforte-komforte-ramen-noodle-bar" target="new">chocolate bar</a> ingredients</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyPw2jMjMJw32BBsWkyZVvnNnzyzsMbfRQTy5IVbB7bG1k5i7aiYqFi2b090rEHyLbqBctbxcp9818ZzJdAQ7XP8dsqz4AyV44NZ0wd8CRAT0Zpakos1EnXqmA8cQ8aYAuqpul_kBn6U/s1600/random+food+ad+-+whopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="new"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyPw2jMjMJw32BBsWkyZVvnNnzyzsMbfRQTy5IVbB7bG1k5i7aiYqFi2b090rEHyLbqBctbxcp9818ZzJdAQ7XP8dsqz4AyV44NZ0wd8CRAT0Zpakos1EnXqmA8cQ8aYAuqpul_kBn6U/s400/random+food+ad+-+whopper.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Random food ad (desperately wish I could read this!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j5brB-5CYdW9IRquRIaM8eal1L2sEUtbwxhBngoR8DynEBbhC3ZwQ-9IE6swAKRUow_hO167n5rQCevIGKE9dHrwWGyOku5LjqqVXaVg6vichoFfL5Lj6KbfYhHSfoka3__9Eqe6JY0/s1600/london+pubcrawler.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="301" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3j5brB-5CYdW9IRquRIaM8eal1L2sEUtbwxhBngoR8DynEBbhC3ZwQ-9IE6swAKRUow_hO167n5rQCevIGKE9dHrwWGyOku5LjqqVXaVg6vichoFfL5Lj6KbfYhHSfoka3__9Eqe6JY0/s400/london+pubcrawler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Random imbibe-and-pedal <a href="http://www.pubcrawler.uk.com/" target="new">mobile pub</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAas9sEq1x0SupojzIPO_oQfRM7C7ag3CSHyTZrgpNBp3YwQHYy6acORqXsjRyirtRn3ZHsxMR0XXJDb5XCTLZ7gYZkClsQ9l03QNqvZOgWbicicSRl0-WvcjQJPOMIc7lMv14EMwL4P0/s1600/Great+Expectations+Miss+Havisham+contraband+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAas9sEq1x0SupojzIPO_oQfRM7C7ag3CSHyTZrgpNBp3YwQHYy6acORqXsjRyirtRn3ZHsxMR0XXJDb5XCTLZ7gYZkClsQ9l03QNqvZOgWbicicSRl0-WvcjQJPOMIc7lMv14EMwL4P0/s400/Great+Expectations+Miss+Havisham+contraband+cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Random cake show entry: <a href="http://hothamstreetladies.blogspot.com/2010/09/contraband-cake.html" target="new"><em>Great Expectations</em> Miss Havisham cake</a>, complete with "vermin" (Would Charles Dickens approve?)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZMhWK8sGZ5ui2YDji17bHytleYMpu5ufDx9aASaphHTUYZ5ngQtlxJjeBfCHtNpZDC62tI-2JloAE_VgBenxEQ53q6hyKSyio6EOklY5yTjWV7V9KvKYKxzycAyRSN-GwTGXW-ddbfY/s1600/random+snow-village-restaurant+finland.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZMhWK8sGZ5ui2YDji17bHytleYMpu5ufDx9aASaphHTUYZ5ngQtlxJjeBfCHtNpZDC62tI-2JloAE_VgBenxEQ53q6hyKSyio6EOklY5yTjWV7V9KvKYKxzycAyRSN-GwTGXW-ddbfY/s400/random+snow-village-restaurant+finland.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Random restaurant: Finland's <a href="http://www.snowvillage.fi/icebar_icebar.htm#tyhja" target="new">Snow Village IceBar</a> is made entirely of ice, even the tables and chairs! (And you can reserve it for <i>igloo disco</i>)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">(Images via <a href="http://www.cardullos.com/products/view/komforte-komforte-ramen-noodle-bar" target="new">Cardullo's</a>, <a href="http://blog.paxholley.net/2010/03/08/welcome-to-all-of-my-new-readers-some-reading-suggestions/" target="new">Calvacade of Awesomeness</a>, <a href="http://londondailyphoto.blogspot.com/2009_09_01_archive.html" target="new">Ham at London Daily Photo</a>, <a href="http://hothamstreetladies.blogspot.com/2010/09/contraband-cake.html" target="new">Hotham Street Ladies</a> and <a href="http://www.delish.com/food-fun/weird-restaurants" target="new">delish</a>. Thanks Ada for the cake link!)</div>Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08389719396641163323noreply@blogger.com41