I love the homemade Paneer. I was super easy to make, 2 ingredients, and delicious. I'm thinking lasagnas, and all sorts of yumm cheesiness. The pictures may not look super appetizing but it was and you should try making paneer.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Palak Paneer
I love the homemade Paneer. I was super easy to make, 2 ingredients, and delicious. I'm thinking lasagnas, and all sorts of yumm cheesiness. The pictures may not look super appetizing but it was and you should try making paneer.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.
So I made another pot of hot and sour soup today. I guess I didn't get enough of it last weekend. Now I'm people watching on my balcony and talking about it in my blog. How creepy am I! I just watched Factory Girl. I love Andy Warhol and am a little bit obsessed with him. I think I would have made great muse minus all the drugs and eventual death. For some reason I wish I lived in earlier year.
WOW someone, the guy in the the 1st apartment to the left to be exact, is using way too much lighter fluid.
I'm not sure when but I find it very fascinating. Does that mean that I'm not living my current life to its fullest potential or maybe I just watch way too much tv. The fantasy of working in an ad agency on Madison Ave in the 60's sounds soo intriguing. I love the old ads and the thought and skill put behind them. Now, it's all just mirrors and smoke creating the illusion of art. Modernizing the trend setters of years past. Nothing is original any more. There was something artistic and beautiful about early advertising. Intrinsic and elegant much like the garb and manorisms of the period.
But then moving into the late 60's and 70's, yes, all doing drugs but ironically liberatingly free. They were radical and earth changing. Can you even imaging walking around NYC and seeing Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollack sitting outside having brunch. Really not the same as spotting Paris Hilton rushing into her car from some posh resturant. Or is it? Maybe it is. Not to pick on Paris, but what has she become famous for? She stands for nothing. Andy was making art. Changing the way people viewed life. Mentoring the young by actually making them think outside the box. I love that. Despite odvious idiosyncrasy he was a brilliant inventive artist that managed to shape the modern society.
Ahh such is life. I'm heading back inside. It's getting chilly out here.
WOW someone, the guy in the the 1st apartment to the left to be exact, is using way too much lighter fluid.
I'm not sure when but I find it very fascinating. Does that mean that I'm not living my current life to its fullest potential or maybe I just watch way too much tv. The fantasy of working in an ad agency on Madison Ave in the 60's sounds soo intriguing. I love the old ads and the thought and skill put behind them. Now, it's all just mirrors and smoke creating the illusion of art. Modernizing the trend setters of years past. Nothing is original any more. There was something artistic and beautiful about early advertising. Intrinsic and elegant much like the garb and manorisms of the period.
But then moving into the late 60's and 70's, yes, all doing drugs but ironically liberatingly free. They were radical and earth changing. Can you even imaging walking around NYC and seeing Andy Warhol and Jackson Pollack sitting outside having brunch. Really not the same as spotting Paris Hilton rushing into her car from some posh resturant. Or is it? Maybe it is. Not to pick on Paris, but what has she become famous for? She stands for nothing. Andy was making art. Changing the way people viewed life. Mentoring the young by actually making them think outside the box. I love that. Despite odvious idiosyncrasy he was a brilliant inventive artist that managed to shape the modern society.
Ahh such is life. I'm heading back inside. It's getting chilly out here.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Homemade Flower tanks
I think they came out rather well. One is a gift. I try different things... I'm already thinking ruffles down the front. It was so easy and I don't even sew. I should really learn. I can't wait to wear mine!
Monday, August 24, 2009
I had something witty and funny to tell you but I have since forgotten. If I remember I will be sure to write it down. Alas some images for your viewing pleasure.
Wontons, a staple late night come home from the bar food in my house.
I make and keep them in the freezer. I love them boiled with a little chili oil... yumm!
I'm not so sure if this actually looks appetizing but let me assure you it was. In all its hot and sour glory after three days in now rests in my belly. All gone and well worth it.
Better late the never right?
Drunken bears from the 4th.
They were a big hit.
Also from the 4th lemon thyme chicken and rosemary garlic london broil.
Oh I remembered what I wanted to tell you.
There has been a mini van in the parking lot for about 6 months. It's a newer model Honda with Virgina plates. Some time ago someone put a green "if you don't move the car it's going to get towed" sticker on the window but it's still sitting there, but both back tires have been flat. Very odd right?! Well after logging several hours or Operation Repo I feel qualified to say that the owner is hiding it from the repo guys and has let the air out of the tires so they can't tow it. BUT today as I was pulling into the parking lot and noticed the tired was inflated! humm...
Wontons, a staple late night come home from the bar food in my house.
I make and keep them in the freezer. I love them boiled with a little chili oil... yumm!
I'm not so sure if this actually looks appetizing but let me assure you it was. In all its hot and sour glory after three days in now rests in my belly. All gone and well worth it.
Better late the never right?
Drunken bears from the 4th.
They were a big hit.
Also from the 4th lemon thyme chicken and rosemary garlic london broil.Oh I remembered what I wanted to tell you.
There has been a mini van in the parking lot for about 6 months. It's a newer model Honda with Virgina plates. Some time ago someone put a green "if you don't move the car it's going to get towed" sticker on the window but it's still sitting there, but both back tires have been flat. Very odd right?! Well after logging several hours or Operation Repo I feel qualified to say that the owner is hiding it from the repo guys and has let the air out of the tires so they can't tow it. BUT today as I was pulling into the parking lot and noticed the tired was inflated! humm...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Not So Basic Dog Food
1 part mixed veggies (carrots, edamame, green beans, corn, peas)
2 parts lean protein - I use chicken unless I can get venison (chicken, venison, lamb, beef)
3 parts whole grain - I use brown rice or bulgar wheat (bulgar, brown rice, whole grain pasta, rolled oats)
I make big bags of food and freeze it. It's just as easy as buying dog food but cheaper and much healthier.
I love my rice cooker. It has a steamer basket on top so while I'm the cooking rice I steam the veggies and meat on top. I can make about two weeks worth of food in it, but I also have a 7lb dog. This is super easy and the dogs LOVE. Chop up the veggies and meat into equal sized pieces depending the size of your dog. I use frozen veggies unless I have fresh on hand. Mix meat, veggies and rice on a baking sheet and freeze for 4-6 hours. Remove from freezer. Crumble into scoopable pieces and place in a freezer bag. You should be able to portion it out just like dry dog food with a scoop. I scoop and microwave for 30-60 seconds, depending on how much, and serve! To transition to homemade dog food. Mix half dry dog food and your mix. Gradually reduce the dry dog food.
2 parts lean protein - I use chicken unless I can get venison (chicken, venison, lamb, beef)
3 parts whole grain - I use brown rice or bulgar wheat (bulgar, brown rice, whole grain pasta, rolled oats)
I make big bags of food and freeze it. It's just as easy as buying dog food but cheaper and much healthier.
I love my rice cooker. It has a steamer basket on top so while I'm the cooking rice I steam the veggies and meat on top. I can make about two weeks worth of food in it, but I also have a 7lb dog. This is super easy and the dogs LOVE. Chop up the veggies and meat into equal sized pieces depending the size of your dog. I use frozen veggies unless I have fresh on hand. Mix meat, veggies and rice on a baking sheet and freeze for 4-6 hours. Remove from freezer. Crumble into scoopable pieces and place in a freezer bag. You should be able to portion it out just like dry dog food with a scoop. I scoop and microwave for 30-60 seconds, depending on how much, and serve! To transition to homemade dog food. Mix half dry dog food and your mix. Gradually reduce the dry dog food.
Hot and Sour Soup
There are quite a few ingredients for my liking but the results are worth it. To make it super quick and easy I gather all ingredients and tools. I gather and prep all ingredients before I start assembling. It really makes for and organized, quick and delicious soup. And it's low carb!
Ingredients:
1 bundle of green onions
1 pkg dried shitake mushrooms
1 can of bamboo shoots
1 can of straw mushrooms
1 pkg of firm tofu
1 lb of pork sliced in 1/4" julienne
48oz box of chicken broth
2 cloves of garlic
1" piece of ginger
1/2 c soy sauce
1-2 tbls chili flake (depending on how hot you want it)
2 tbls sesame oil
1/2 c lime juice (3-4 limes)
4 eggs
2 tbls cornstarch
Directions:
Place dried Shitake mushrooms in a bowl and pour 2 cups of boiling water over them and let reconstitute for 15 min.
While they are soaking open and rinse the bamboo shoots and straw mushrooms and set aside to drain. Chop green onions, bamboo shoots, and straw mushrooms into bite size pieces and set aside on a plate. (Some times I skip this step but I always end up burning my lip on a hot mushroom.) Slice tofu into 1/2" sticks and set aside on a few pieces of paper towel to drain. Slice pork (I just use a package of center cut thin pork chops.) Pull shitake mushrooms out of the water, remove stems and chop into bit size pieces. Strain mushroom liquid through a colander lined with paper towel to remove any grit.
Add sesame oil and sliced pork soup pot and cook over medium heat until opaque. Add chicken broth, reserved mushroom liquid. Using a microplane grate the garlic and ginger into the pot. Add soy sauce, chili flakes and tofu. Cook for 5 min on medium heat. Reduce heat add tofu, shitake mushrooms, straw mushrooms and bamboo shoots, green onions and lime juice. Simmer on low for 5-10 min.
Meanwhile crack eggs into bowl and beat. Add a few table spoons of water to the cornstarch and combine. Add the cornstarch to the soup while stirring. Bring back up to a boil to thicken. While stirring in one direction slowly add beaten eggs. Let simmer on low for a few minutes and serve.
Serves 6-8
Ingredients:
1 bundle of green onions
1 pkg dried shitake mushrooms
1 can of bamboo shoots
1 can of straw mushrooms
1 pkg of firm tofu
1 lb of pork sliced in 1/4" julienne
48oz box of chicken broth
2 cloves of garlic
1" piece of ginger
1/2 c soy sauce
1-2 tbls chili flake (depending on how hot you want it)
2 tbls sesame oil
1/2 c lime juice (3-4 limes)
4 eggs
2 tbls cornstarch
Directions:
Place dried Shitake mushrooms in a bowl and pour 2 cups of boiling water over them and let reconstitute for 15 min.
While they are soaking open and rinse the bamboo shoots and straw mushrooms and set aside to drain. Chop green onions, bamboo shoots, and straw mushrooms into bite size pieces and set aside on a plate. (Some times I skip this step but I always end up burning my lip on a hot mushroom.) Slice tofu into 1/2" sticks and set aside on a few pieces of paper towel to drain. Slice pork (I just use a package of center cut thin pork chops.) Pull shitake mushrooms out of the water, remove stems and chop into bit size pieces. Strain mushroom liquid through a colander lined with paper towel to remove any grit.
Add sesame oil and sliced pork soup pot and cook over medium heat until opaque. Add chicken broth, reserved mushroom liquid. Using a microplane grate the garlic and ginger into the pot. Add soy sauce, chili flakes and tofu. Cook for 5 min on medium heat. Reduce heat add tofu, shitake mushrooms, straw mushrooms and bamboo shoots, green onions and lime juice. Simmer on low for 5-10 min.
Meanwhile crack eggs into bowl and beat. Add a few table spoons of water to the cornstarch and combine. Add the cornstarch to the soup while stirring. Bring back up to a boil to thicken. While stirring in one direction slowly add beaten eggs. Let simmer on low for a few minutes and serve.
Serves 6-8
Friday, July 3, 2009
I designed that!
Eco-Friendly Gift Bags - I love that other people are blogging about gift bags that I designed. I also love going to the stores and hanging out by my bags to see what people think. Something to think about next time your in a store talking about a product... the designer could be standing next to you... you never know.
Who's going where what?
I haven't blogged since march 1st! Yes, I haven't done much since then but work work work. Spring is the gift packaging busy season, or should I say Targets busy season. Target is our largest gift packaging client and the most stressful one. QC is ridiculous but I guess they have the store synergy to prove it. Well, now that that's coming to a conclusion I get to start all over for 2011, but for now I will try to keep blogging and hopefully become more religious about it. Hopefully creating some new recipes, starting some hot debates and sharing my luscious life.
Tomorrow is the 4th. I'm heading to the beach and bbqing for about 20 people. I managed to do it all on the shoestring budget of 60 bucks. Seriously, 60 bucks... I love party/menu planning. I really do. There are so many things I love. I plan in living several lives.
On the menu (for only 60 bucks)
Hummus
Grilled lemon thyme chicken
Grilled rosemary garlic london broil
(They have been marinating since yesterday. It is going to be very tasty. Pictures to come... it's just yucky raw meat right now.)
Panzanella salad
Green salad
Brownies
AND Drunken bears!
(something I haven't made since umm college.)
I went for a simple clean menu with a little something for everyone. Some good protein and carbs for optimal drinking potential.
Wednesday Frankie and I are getting our hair done and Saturday is my birthday!
I promise to keep up and share pictures.
xoxo ~ Ladibug
Live the life you love!
Tomorrow is the 4th. I'm heading to the beach and bbqing for about 20 people. I managed to do it all on the shoestring budget of 60 bucks. Seriously, 60 bucks... I love party/menu planning. I really do. There are so many things I love. I plan in living several lives.
On the menu (for only 60 bucks)
Hummus
Grilled lemon thyme chicken
Grilled rosemary garlic london broil
(They have been marinating since yesterday. It is going to be very tasty. Pictures to come... it's just yucky raw meat right now.)
Panzanella salad
Green salad
Brownies
AND Drunken bears!
(something I haven't made since umm college.)
I went for a simple clean menu with a little something for everyone. Some good protein and carbs for optimal drinking potential.
Wednesday Frankie and I are getting our hair done and Saturday is my birthday!
I promise to keep up and share pictures.
xoxo ~ Ladibug
Live the life you love!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Satay Chicken Pasta Salad Recipe
Satay Chicken Pasta Salad
8 oz uncooked bow tie pasta
1 cup lite Asian vinaigrette salad dressing
2 tbsp Asian Seasoning Mix
2 tbsp peanut butter
2 medium carrots, peeled
1 medium red bell pepper
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts
1 cup lightly packed fresh basil
3 cups diced cooked chicken (about 1 lb)
Additional chopped peanuts (optional)
Cook pasta according to package directions in (4-qt.) Casserole. Drain pasta using Colander; rinse under cold running water. Once pasta is cool, transfer to Stainless (6-qt.) Mixing Bowl and set aside.
Meanwhile, for dressing, combine vinaigrette, seasoning mix and peanut butter in Small Batter Bowl; mix well using Stainless Whisk and set aside.
Cut carrots into julienne strips using Julienne Peeler. Cut bell pepper lengthwise into 1/4-in. strips using (5-in.) Santoku Knife. Cut carrots and bell pepper strips crosswise into 1-in. pieces. Chop peanuts using Food Chopper and basil using Chef's Knife.
Add chicken, carrots, bell pepper, peanuts, basil and dressing to pasta; mix well. Garnish with additional chopped peanuts, if desired.
Yield: 6 servings (8 cups)
Nutrients per serving: (about 1 1/2 cups): Calories 450, Total Fat 16 g, Saturated Fat 2 g, Cholesterol 60 mg, Carbohydrate 45 g, Protein 31 g, Sodium 750 mg, Fiber 3 g
Cook's Tip: If desired, one 1-in. piece peeled fresh ginger root, finely grated, 2 garlic cloves, pressed and 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper can be substituted for the Asian Seasoning Mix.
© The Pampered Chef, Ltd., 2001
MY NOTES: I love this recipe and not just because it uses a lot of PC tools when I'm doing demos. It is super easy and as you can see from my photo versatile. I usually use left over chicken and what ever pasta I have on hand. this would also work with rice noodles (would use a thicker one not the vermicelli.) You can also give it a little squirt of lime to brighten it up. It can be served hot, cold or room temp. Great "pasta salad" to bring to parties. I prefer to a little more chicken, less pasta and load up on the veggies. Baby bok choy, spinach, bean sprouts, nappa cabbage and cucumbers would be some great additions.
No Pants Saturday!
Outside my back window in the fog. On a clear night you can see about two or three towns away.
Sunset out of my front window!Yes, my apartment is up on a mountain and I'm thankful I have a garage because it gets super windy. I have gone for weeks with out getting my mail due to the cold wind and well probably just laziness. I guess that is what happens when you clear off the top of a mountain to build 1250 apartments. No pants Saturday is coming to an end... the food network has become the adult version Saturday morning cartoons! I really need to go to Shoprite and JCrew, but reversed. I know, odd combination. Thanks for the poopy brown sweaters mom! I think I will get some salmon and make Gravlax to snack on this week.
That is Spoon, hence the hilarity of the farting.Friday, January 2, 2009
ITALIA HIGHLIGHTS
Beautiful day, beautiful picture makes up for the scary lion earlier.
Frighteningly gorgeous statue in Florence.
There's not much I can say about this one... but that it was more difficult that one would think to master the art of the cheese tourist picture.
The cups were over flowing in Venice, much like the canals.
That pretty much summed up Venice in one window frame! Actually, Venice held my favorite basilica, Basilica San Marco, the mosaics on the ceiling, the alter and the bronze horses were all extraordinary in their own right.
The bronze horses.
OOO the beautiful ceiling of Basilica San Marco... soo sparkly!
The vineyard I silently claimed while on the coach to Venice.
The top of the Spanish Steps and sunset.ITALIA FOOD HIGHLIGHTS
Yes, that cheese in my refrigerator.
Boar sausages for Charlene :-(
A beautiful spread with some lightly toasted flat bread. YUM!
Starter at our Florentine lunch feast!
Doesn't that look fantastic? Well, it was!
Emma took us to this great pizza place in Roma. Who knew that pizza could be so light and tasty even when it is as simple as dough, sliced potatoes, a little salt and rosemary.
Super delicious gelato in Venice despite the cold rainy mess.
Look at those tomatoes in Demember. I'm soo jealous (of myself?) I just had rock hard white ones in my salad for lunch... come on, just leave them out of the salad if they look like that.
Beautiful little bowls of oranges at the Autogrill. So fresh they still have leaves attached. I challenge you to find a "rest stop" like that in America.Spoon Just Farted
The first post... what to write. 2009 is definitely going to be a good year.
I will start by sharing my new years resolution. So here it is straight out of the journal.
1. Have more cocktails for breakfast.
2. Exercise at night.
3. Host more dinners (I have decided the last Thursdays of every month... just show up!)
4. Smaller portions bigger flavor, make everything count! Starting after the two fists full of baked Cheetos I just at for breakfast.
5. Start a blog. 5a. Maintain the blog.
6. hug things out.
Then, I had a late addition... write more recipes, get them published and make the big career change! (that was taken a little out of context and edited just because I couldn't really read what I wrote.)
I think that's a good start.
Spoon just farted and I totally heard it.
I will start by sharing my new years resolution. So here it is straight out of the journal.
1. Have more cocktails for breakfast.
2. Exercise at night.
3. Host more dinners (I have decided the last Thursdays of every month... just show up!)
4. Smaller portions bigger flavor, make everything count! Starting after the two fists full of baked Cheetos I just at for breakfast.
5. Start a blog. 5a. Maintain the blog.
6. hug things out.
Then, I had a late addition... write more recipes, get them published and make the big career change! (that was taken a little out of context and edited just because I couldn't really read what I wrote.)
I think that's a good start.
Spoon just farted and I totally heard it.
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