Happy Friday, and cheers to the end of a very rainy April in Seattle!
There’s no noodles recipe this week, but I have something food-related you might enjoy watching..
I’m currently loving these two video clips from IKEA’s “Art of Cooking” — directed by Carl Kleiner. Aren’t they cute??
{Via iGNANT}
Giuseppe Mastromatteo – Art & Creative Director
I am blown away by these stunning portraits/collages that expose humanity through impossible and illusory dimensions.
You must also check out his commercial work for some of the most unique and creative ads ever created.
{Images via Giuseppe Mastromatteo}
{Kate Spade}
{Inside Out via Yanko Design}
{ISABRELLA – 0% by OFESS}
{I’m sooo smitten over this dress for summer! H&M.uk}
{Lovely clothing line from JulyS. I’m drawn to the grays and loose fabrics of these pieces. Au natural.}
Happy Friday!
If you live in Seattle (or somewhere else in the world) and the weather is still soooo cold in Spring–especially in the morning, here’s a hot and comforting noodle soup recipe for you to try this weekend (serves 1):
Udon Noodle Soup w/ Shrimp & Mushrooms
a few shiitake mushrooms
a few bunashimeji mushrooms
3-5 pieces of raw shrimp, peeled
2 nappa (the leaves)
1/4 onion, sliced
cilantro, chopped
green onion, sliced
a few sprigs of shingiku (garland chrysanthemum)
1 pack of udon noodles
dashi (one 4 grams package of dashi flavors 4 cups of water for stock)
4 cups of water
1 egg, beaten (optional)
ichimi pepper flakes
1. To make the stock, add about 1 tablespoon shoyu (adds saltiness) and mirin (adds sweetness) to the water.
Note: adjust the seasoning when you’re almost done, because the vegetables will add a lot to your stock. If you like the soup stronger, use a little less water. Or a little more dashi.
2. Add the mushrooms, onions, noodles, nappa and then the shrimps to the stock.
3. When the noodles boil, you can add a beaten egg. Let the egg sit in the pot for 20 to 30 seconds before giving it a light stir.
4. Add your quick cooking greens and stir gently.
5. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then turn off the heat.
***If you want miso flavoring or a miso broth, add the miso after turning off the heat.
Miso: mix about a tablespoon of miso with a little water to make it easier to mix into the broth.
Serve in a bowl and sprinkle some ichimi pepper. Enjoy!
{Image and recipe from FOODjimoto}
I recently discovered amazing artist Jim Denevan on Angel’s blog {77inspire} and just had to check his work out.
Denevan composes unique and temporary drawings on beaches and dry lake surfaces around the world. I was browsing through all of his works on the website, and was in complete awe the entire time. This is another great example of someone focusing on one thing, and doing it so well.
These {temporary} images only last until the next wave or tide comes in, erasing whatever it could from the completed picture.
In 2010, Jim began making enormous drawings on dry or frozen lakes. Each of these drawings measures several miles in diameter, and they’ve become the largest artworks ever created. The photo below is from his project in Lake Baikal, Siberia.
To find out more about this project, visit the ANTHROPOLOGiST.
{Images from Jim Denevan’s website}
{Via 77inspire}
I want these Filigree Creations lampshades in my home. So bright, fun and pretty!
There’s also a DIY tutorial I found on The Sassy Bride if you just rather make a similar non-lampshade one yourself. You know, for party decorations and stuff. The white ones in that tutorial are great for weddings or bridal showers!
{Lovely vintage outfits from Persephone Vintage. I love the way Susan C. styles these pieces together!}
“April showers bring forth May flowers.”
I hope you had another great April weekend. The weather in Seattle was surprisingly decent {warm & somewhat sunny} so I can’t complain. I cannot wait for May to come, though.
By the way, you can now find a collection of my paper goods on Felt & Wire!
Happy Friday, everyone.
If you don’t know already…I’m not much of a cook. So I ALWAYS shy away from complicated recipes/dishes with a lot of ingredients. Maybe once I move back in with my mom, she can teach me her amazing cooking skills.
If you’re looking for something to make this weekend, try this really simple recipe in 5 easy steps:
Scallion & Ginger Noodles
15 oz dried yellow noodles (cooked from package instructions)
2 tbsp ginger, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced
3 tbsp soy sauce
½ tsp sea salt
6–8 tbsp peanut oil
1. Heat the oil in a large pan or wok until smoking and remove from the heat.
2. Add in the ginger, garlic and scallions.
3. Give the mixture a quick stir and toss in the noodles.
4. Season the noodles with soy sauce and sea salt.
5. Serve warm (with your choice of toppings–in this case, a sunny-side up egg).*
*Serves 4
{Image and recipe from Angie of seasaltwithfood}
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By the way, today is the last day to make your purchase in my shop and have 30% of the sales go towards AmeriCares to help the Japanese earthquake and tsunami victims!
Wrote something up for today’s post, but decided to scratch it.
I am wary of the future, even my next day. Suddenly seems pointless as I carry on with life.
Now, I question everything.
Sometimes I don’t want or need colors to brighten my day. Honestly, a bit of white, black or other shades in between looks just as pretty and refreshing! I think my closet also displays more whites and blacks than any other color.
And speaking of closets, mine has been looking so drabby and uninspiring lately because I haven’t added anything new to the collection. I really really want a big {summer} shopping spree right now.
. . . . .
ETSY FINDS:
1. sweetfineday: kitchen conversion print
2. french felt: silver maille mesh french purse
3. little retreats: groucho marx meets charlie chaplin photo booth prop on a stick
4. elephantine: thelma bracelet
5. andrea0503 {MIRTAjewelry}: eye herkimer diamond oxidized silver ring
6. the little factory: serif tote bag
This famous young hat/headpiece designer Arturo Rios has his high-fashion coutour/avant garde hats worn by celebrities, and they have also been featured in many fashion magazines.
→ Visit his shop on Etsy here.
I usually like simple and subtle things, but when it comes to these avant garde hats, I’m thinking…the crazier, the better! I don’t know where I would have the chance to adorn one of these hats, though.
Check out his over-the-top collection too, where you’ll see presents and ice cream cones on your head. Okay, those might be TOO crazy for me. But…I wouldn’t mind wearing them to a costume party!
I hope everyone had a lovely weekend, probably with more sun and warmth than us folks in Seattle!
Ever since I came back from Vietnam, I feel like my weekends have been more and more unproductive {but very relaxing}. Maybe I’m just preparing myself for ANOTHER move at the end of May, which basically means there’s going to be another big change in mine and N’s lifestyle.
So I didn’t get as much done as I thought/hoped I would. I did watch a very sweet and touching Italian movie Life is Beautiful, though. The main character really moved me, and watching him brought back memories of my dad {again}. But what doesn’t nowadays? Anyway, I highly recommend this movie for everyone. :-)
I also tried cooking with frog legs (albeit the recipe I found online turned out to be a not-so-great one) over the weekend. I wanted to fry the frozen frog legs I bought from the local Asian supermarket. Unfortunately, they only come frozen around here, so that was probably the first sign telling me it wasn’t going to be as good (also considering how tricky frog {legs} meat can be).
Marinade: flour, beaten eggs, chopped green onions + garlic, salt, pepper (sit for 1 hour)
Cooking: fried in oil until brown (in this case, I should have deep-fried the legs instead so the batter is evenly coated)
Results: the meat was a little tough and the batter marinade + frying method added no flavor or crispness to the legs.
I will have to try a different recipe next time! I still love frog legs, though. And I’ll always remember the best frog legs salad I’ve ever had in Vietnam several years ago.
Happy Friday, everyone!
It will just be another relaxing {and uneventful} weekend for me, but that’s okay. I’ve got some new product ideas for the shop, a lot of organizing to be done and more foreign movies to watch (my queue is getting really long now).
What about you? What are your weekend plans?
{One of the many clocks from Art is Everything I want to display in my home.}
Parsley & Pesto Soba Noodles
12 oz dried soba noodles
¾ cup italian parsley, roughly chopped
2 tbsp pine nuts, toasted (optional)
2 cloves garlic
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
½ tbsp sesame oil
1 ½ tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp grape seed oil, or other neutral tasting oil
Heat a large pot of water to a boil. Add soba noodles, stir as they soften, and bring water back up to a simmer (not a boil). Simmer for 6-7 minutes or according to package directions. Noodles should still have a slight firmness, and not be mushy. Strain soba and rinse well using the correct water temperature. If serving warm, rinse under hot water, if serving soba at room temperature, rinse under cold water.
While soba cooks, make parsley sauce. Combine parsley, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, sesame oil, soy sauce, and grape seed oil in a food processor and blend ingredients together until smooth. Toss noodles with sauce and serve.*
*Serves approx. 4
NOTE: The sauce would also be great for dressing chicken, fish, or on salads. If you have raw pine nuts, to toast, heat a dry pan over medium heat, add pine nuts and toast until golden, shaking the pan frequently to help pine nuts toast evenly. Can be served at warm or at room temperature, depending on your preference. If serving warm, make sauce first.
{Image and recipe from Todd and Diane of White On Rice Couple}
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And please don’t forget to continue praying for Japan!
{Dream of pastels. Check out the new clips + headbands today in the shop.}
And I tried making a second skirt last week. So far, it’s been a skirt/year…but I want to change that. The final result was better than my first attempt in terms of execution, but I know it still needs a lot more tweaking and practice to look perfect/polished.
Here are the sneak peeks (look familiar..?):
These are some of my favorite items from Tokyo Milk {by Margot Elena}. I also love the whimsical graphics and names on the packaging.
Her scented collections include: perfume, cosmetics, soaps, candles, stationery, pocket mirrors and more! There’s also a new collection for perfume and lip balm called Tokyo Milk Dark.
Check out the website here.
{I’m also waiting excitedly for the Le Petit No. 2 travel candle to come!}
Happy Monday, everyone! I’m excited to announce that my shop is on papernstitch now!
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my full collection on Etsy!
