Merry Matryoshkas on the move.

If you have downloaded my merry matryoshkas gift tags set, printed, and heck, you still don't know what to do, hop over to SweetTidings now! Christy had creatively transformed (again) a predictable tags into one of a kind treasure! Steal her ideas and get crafting!

Larut...

Malam semakin larut......

Kulihat bintang jatuh, kusampaikan keinginanku didalam hati.....

Semoga Tuhan kabulkan.......

apa yang menjadi keinginan.....

Bulan mengintip dikegelapan.....

Seakan ikut mengamini do'aku......

Langit malam terlihat cerah, menambah keanggunan suasana....

Confuse...

I must be able to make use of what that i have and determined whatever that must be given precedence to....

This confusion was enough to make me become restless, like plants In dry wheater...

Restless hoped for the arrival of rain....

Like the traveller who was lost in jungle, was casted ashore in fatamorgana....

Was cheated would the shadow of life appearance......

The lord created humankind with all perfection compared with the lord creation that was other in the wild this universal....

But why was felt heavy this life in an effort to gain the hope and feelings.... where the location of the perfection?

The location of the perfection was in the mind and thoughts of humankind, we were given by the capacity in thinking and analysing something.....

Certainly when the confused condition or experienced the problem, we were prosecuted to think clear and made use of the healthy genius in order to be able to solve the problem that happened....

Indeed I must count on all the risks of being not wrong the step and got best results... amen

Merry Matryoshkas!

Matryoshka. I spend hours typing that word. Is it right now?

Without further ado...remember the matrysohka pattern I showed you earlier? You don't?? How dare you!! ... You know I'm kidding, you can always go back in time in blogs, so head here if you do forget. I was in a blogger swap, and one of my swap item was previewed there. Since the swap is over, I decide to share with all of you who were not in the swap, my merry matryoshkas gift tag set.

download

Enjoy everyone, and don't forget to share back what you've enjoyed. You don't have to have a blog and post about it, just a simple Flickr upload, or email me the photo will make my day. :)

Have a nice weekend.

*update* From now on all my printables will stay forever on the net! Tell me which of my previous printables you're craving about (just click freebies on the category on your right hand side) and I will share them again, eternally!

Charmed, I'm sure.

Christy's a charming lady who owns a charming shop and runs two charming blogs. If you already know that (or not, it's OK), you'll be thrilled that she's having a charming giveaway right now on the blog with lots and lots of charming goodies. Charmed? I bet. Tell the charming lady I sent you. :)

Chinese Noodles: Recipe

I'm sure Asian cooking guru Jaden of Steamy Kitchen would cringe if she saw this noodle recipe, but I can't help it. It was my go-to dish my last year in college and it's a keeper. My senior year I shared a big beach house with four other girls in Santa Cruz, California. I seemed to be the only one really interested in cooking. One was a Japanese American basketball player who ate bowls and bowls of rice, one was a perpetual dieter, another favored baked or fried foods that always seemed to incorporate Crisco, and one was a pint-sized Chinese American sophomore from Sacramento who came from a very large family. She didn't cook very frequently, but this easy noodle recipe was something I learned from her.

I recently received a number of Annie Chun's noodles. The dried chow mein noodles reminded me of this long forgotten recipe. Perfect for a college student or anyone else for that matter, it's fast, cheap and easy. It can be eaten very simply or dressed up any number of ways with toppings. It's good served hot or cold. I like it with a sprinkling of chopped cilantro and green onions and shreds of chicken. But it's surprisingly satisfying plain too. I have no idea if it is in any way authentic, I only know it makes a comforting meal when you can't think any further than the pantry.

When you make chow mein noodles be sure to rinse them or they can get very sticky. I've used this sauce on flat rice noodles and even on spaghetti in a pinch. While the recipe I learned was equal parts ketchup and oyster sauce, you could add ginger, toasted sesame oil, Chinese chile garlic sauce, Sriracha sauce, whatever you like! It is one of the reasons I always have a bottle of good quality oyster sauce on hand.

Chinese Noodles
serves 4

12 ounces dry chow mein noodles
3 Tablespoons ketchup
3 Tablespoons oyster sauce

Optional garnishes:
Sliced green onions, cilantro, cucumber, roast pork or shredded chicken

Cook noodles according to instructions and rinse briefly. Combine ketchup and oyster sauce in a large bowl, then add noodles and toss to combine. Top with any garnishes you like.

Enjoy!

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Note: This recipe is very similar to one in the New York Times by Mark Bittman called Egg Noodles with Soy Broth. It calls for noodles dressed in equal parts soy sauce, ketchup and a dash of rice wine vinegar.

Bali Week

I've been to paradise.. for my brother's in law wedding.
(excuse me for such badly taken photographs, I shot more, but these are the most decent looking one, of course without me grinning stupidly, blocking the view)

also... here's a giveaway link you don't want to miss.

Cooking with Amy on View from the Bay!

Last week I was on View from the Bay and you can watch me demonstrate a recipe with only three ingredients! Ok, it has four if you count the salt.

There are also three delicious Spring recipes reprinted from my book, Williams-Sonoma New Flavors for Appetizers: Chilled Pea Soup with Creme Fraiche and Chives, Fava Bean and Ricotta Crostini with Fresh Mint and Deviled Eggs with Watercress. If you can't find or don't want to bother with fresh fava beans, edamame make a great substitution. For the demo I used frozen green peas in the soup. Only use English peas if they are sweet and not starchy.



I was also on Dining Around with Gene Burns yesterday. It was a great experience, Gene is a wonderful interviewer. You can download the podcast or listen online if you like.

My Ten Things....

I procrastinate.

I am a skeptic. (bah, who says that?)

I think Johnny Depp is the most handsome (does anyone still use this word? All I read now is "hot" and "sexy" nowadays) man on earth.

I think Tim Burton is far from handsome, but his works are.

image

I love food and everything about it, including eating it.

I am really really bad at social games/sport, like on the pool table, karaoke, bowling, poker, etc.

handmade daisy headband by Mandizzle.

I love putting something pretty upon my head.

I can't bend my thumb backward and I'm sure you're all bending your thumb backward just now.

polaroid transfer by shehitpausestudios.

I love playing the piano, but not very good at it.

I am addicted to video games, but not playing any recently, because my husband won't let any device into my home. (even the computer is video game free)

image

I broke a kitschy toy parrot...

... it used to be one of hanging features of a kitschy baby mobile toys (made in China, about 1.2US$). The noise it makes, I think, is more suitable keeping a baby awake and alert than drowsing her to sleep. So I used this as a tug-o-war rope with my strong 8 months old baby (hanging mobiles don't really fascinate her now). And.. I pulled the parrot off.

Although he is a kitschy parrot, I thought he looked a little sad....so I took a picture of him to cheer him up. Enough about him, I'd like to share a very great news!! I received my 3rd and 4th award simultaneously!

I'd like to give the biggest warmest hugs to Petrushka and Olly, who both run a wonderful blog on their own! So here's the first award.

The rules of this award are:

1. Each blogger must post this rules

2. Each blogger starts with ten random facts / habits about themselves.

3. Blogger that are tagged need write about their own blog their ten things and post these rules. You need to choose ten people to get tagged and list their names.

4. Don't forget to live them comment telling them they've been tagged and to read your blog.

...and here's the second one.


So... OK, I have received 2 blog award previously, and both previous precious (say that 5 times!) awards was passed along to my blogger friends on my daily read lists. Why don't we switch the tagging method this time? I want to share this blog award to you! Yes, you my lovely readers! Instead of my daily blog read, I tag you, my daily readers.

How it works?
The first 10 people that comment on this post will receive the first Cute'sBloggerAward I got from Petrushka, and the next ten will receive TheKreativBloggerAward that I got from Olly!! So hopefuly I'll be seeing 20 comments! But please, if you have one or both of these two awards, please don't be greedy, hold your comments until the 21st, OK?

..and to both award, I'll be listing my favorites and my daily facts/habits on later posts. Have a great weekend, folks.

Transform...

When still children who most often were asked about were they future destination what?

When being asked how in order to be able to be reached?

Hard-working studied the answer...

When the age around mature that most often was asked about was to want the work where? When being asked how him in order to be able to work?...

Hard-working sent the application letter that answer…...

The difference of the answer not something that must be questioned, but that happened was Transform….

The change will always happen in the human life...

The age increased will improve also it change, phisik, the heart, the health, economics in fact, wishing…

The change not something that must be frightened and also could not be avoided, faced and underwent anything the change ….

To face the change in humankind was obliged to always prepare himself was born and the heart, continue to preferably we held on to our answer during the period of small that is “Study”.

Learned to face the change …

I'm back...

... from where, I don't want to tell you that now. It's going to be on my posts to come and I'm still uploading and selecting the pictures. For the mean time, since I really really miss you guys (and ladies!), I'm here to share with you a link to Lotta Bruhn's sticker set to download and print. Isn't she talented or what?

The Sweet Life in Paris: Book Review

I know why David Lebovitz gets inundated with questions from people planning trips to Paris. I know why perfect strangers want to visit him or better yet, dine with him. In addition to knowing exactly where to get the perfect baguette and being on a first name basis with every important chocolatier in town, he's also very funny. If you've ever visited his blog, you know what I mean. An artist friend of my parents moved to Paris and because, horrors! he still wasn't online, I printed page after page of it for him, in part, to convince him he needed to get online, if for no other reason than to read David's blog.

While I am a fan of his cookbooks, his latest book really takes the cake. And yes, that would be chocolate cake. In The Sweet Life in Paris his observational powers and his equal parts snarky and self-deprecating humor give that other ex-pat David, a run for his money. In fact, perhaps that's why David Sedaris moved to London. Paris might not have been big enough for two hilarious American Davids.

I got through almost 4 pages before laughing out loud. I challenge you to do the same. In between laughs you can pick up nifty recipes for mostly sweet but also some savory dishes like chicken mole or tagine with apricots and almonds, tips on where to find great hot chocolate or how to make your own, and a list of essential addresses in Paris. It's the perfect book for anyone who dreams of living in Paris or who actually does.

Homeland

Already for years was left by me this city...

I know that just only friends of the Primary School previously...

That too already did not know where all they currently was...

Currently I come back to the town that my birth with the uncertainty lost the work...

I myself tried for opened myself here, tried to gain the dream that was not yet fulfilled...

Was seen by the river current musi, made me increasingly was motivated to continue to struggle in my town personally.... it is hoped.

Weekend Embroidery

Got nothing to do this weekend and still no plans in your agenda (...boy, do I envy you!)?
For embroidery enthusiast, may I present you, my first embroidery pattern. Of course, keep in mind that I don't embroider myself, so when you're stitching up and down and find an obstacle which could be my fault, please give me feedbacks and criticism. Don't hesitate to use your meanest, harshest words in complaining, I really look forward to provide better pattern here.

Just click on the image, it'll sure take you to the biggest view, save, and print. If you need color reference, you can always look at this one, but you're welcome to alter it in anyway you like. If you feel like selling your tea towels/bags/clothing/socks/etc that containing the embroidery, you are most welcome, but please don't sell the pattern itself, it's free! If you are not satisfied with this pattern and on the lookout to something better, you can always check Penguin&Fish and doe-c-doe daily. Don't forget to let me know about your finished products and the inputs too!

Frommer's 500 Places for Food & Wine Lovers

I would love to tell you about the decadent and exotic trips I have planned this year. But my only travel plans are as follows--a trip to Seattle this weekend for the food blogger conference and two 3-day wedding weekends, one in Portland, Oregon and the other outside of Denver. Not exactly Paris, London, Barcelona, if you know what I mean. If last year was the year of the "staycation" I'm pretty sure this year will be the year of armchair travel for many people.

When it comes to salivating over future destinations, I've got a great book to recommend, Frommer's 500 Places for Food & Wine Lovers. This is a compilation, with highlights from various guides chosen by none other than Holly Hughes, a name you may recognize as editor from the annual Best Food Writing series.

Now the cover of the book features an "Outstanding in the Field" dinner. Not exactly the most accessible type of travel experience since dinners generally sell out months in advance and start at about $150 per head, but getting past the cover, what I like about the book is that destinations run the gamut from once-in-a-lifetime experiences like Crystal Food & Wine Festivals aboard luxury cruise ships to deep dish pizza in Chicago. In other words, something for everybody. The book covers shops, restaurants, cooking schools, festivals, tours, markets, wineries, you name it.

You could take this book on a road trip, but I suspect it will be the perfect book for your next trip to the sofa. Snuggle up and read about where to get Burgoo stew in Kentucky, a famous food emporium in Milan, or the malt whisky trail in Scotland. It's the virtual vacation that won't cost you a dime, once you've paid for the book, of course.

I'm giving away two copies of the Frommer's 500 Places for Food & Wine Lovers. Simply leave a comment with your suggestion of a favorite place for a food or wine lover, the more detail the better! While the book is primarily focused on the US there are recommendations from all over the world so don't limit your suggestions to just domestic ones. One entry per person. You must be a US resident or have a US mailing address to win. Winners will be chosen at random and while you must fill out your email address in the comment submission form, it will not be visible to anyone other than me. Good luck!

CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED, CONGRATULATIONS TO STEPHANIE AND ALLISON WHO EACH WON A BOOK

Unemployee Scream....

The unemployment was the person that was or did not have the work, both that the work continue to and not continue to...

The unemployment became a problem that was difficult enough for the government even the family unemployment that personally...

The unemployment was caused by several matters, could because in PHK, did not yet get the work completely and did not have capital to run a business...

Why could emerge the unemployment was caused also by several matters including the condition for the labile economy, the narrowness of the field of the work because of the number of seekers of the work with the availability of employment opportunities was really not balanced. Spoke concerning the unemployment in the eyes of most people of more elements of his negative, and that was supported from incidents that happened in the civilitazion...

Saw for example to have the news of the robbery or the theft, in clarified with very clear by the narrator of the news if his perpetrators were an unemployment...
That not to mention opinions from several books, that said only lazy people that did not work! .... Imagine how bad is the unemployment noose...

In fact became the unemployment not the wish from someone this, not because he /she the lazy person or not creative...

The People must choose?

Saw the development of presidential candidates in the general election that will come, for some people to become confused. Saw the movement from Mr Jusuf Kalla that isolated him from Mr SBY and attracted Sir Wiranto to his representative. Whereas Mr SBY again "stranger" he attracted the person who nowhere near was known diperkancahan the world of politics, so as to raise the protest from the Coalition Party him.

Matters that happened above was some that were normal in the world of politics, but for the general population was something that was strange and confusing. So as the possibility of the group's white emergence or the nonvoting group will very possibly happen. How not, the people possibly many that wanted the couple SBY-Kalla to stay united to lead, so as with the existence of the reality that happened they became lazy at choosing new candidates available. The white group has personally been prohibited by the government and has been ratified by some Muslim scholars.

However saw the available condition apparently would many social classes that will choose the Nonvoting Group and these voting rights could not be prohibited. Necessarily these presidential candidates thought how him to take to heart his people not only took the decision to be based on the personal interests or the group. Appeared very much if what happened above was a decision that was taken not was based on the interests of the people. Indeed was the natural matter if in a process of the election, the voter was presented by several options so as to have a consideration that were more heterogenous in chose.

However once more will be better if the available choice was people that really appropriate or was tested good that from the aspect of the mental quality, kerpibadian and the quality of his brain. now this the people has agreed and really was satisfied with results of leadership of SBY-Kalla, so as many that expected them to team again up.

Indeed as our people only could moan and complain and must continue to have an obligation to choose. Basically the president's Election that will come apparently will become an obligation that was difficult for some peoples because the presidential and vice presidential candidates's available option was not in accordance with the wish. Therefore should not blame if later many that did not choose, it might be better than be forced chose.

More Chow Tips!

Here are two more Chow Tips--one about how to get more juice and peel from lemons and another about extending the life of fresh herbs.





In case you missed the last set of tips, here are links for:
* An easy way to roast and char eggplants for baba ghanoush without a grill
* The quickest way to marinate beef
* The tastiest technique for cooking whole baby artichokes
and
* What to do with leftover risotto

Things ...

...which are beautiful beyond words, I'd rather stop typing and share them with you.

Nicoletter home in Germany by Decor8

lovemaestore's wall decals.

DanaandCarol's paper wreath (thank you Akane!).

aviewto's color letter card.

Amy Lau's via ApartmentTherapy.

Two Wins in a day!!

I have to buy a lottery ticket, seriously. I won both mommainflipflops' and justinejustine's giveaway this morning!! No, I don't know either of them before..so I'm not cheating, yes I'm not!! Yaaaay!! What did I win?? Both are special too!! A 25US$ gift card to customizedgirl and this lovely Acai (the same acai Oprah and Dr. Oz were bragging about) bracelet. Anyway I can't show you the t-shirt I made at custmoizedgirl here (that's the point at customizedgirl, you pick up a T-shirt and design what to be printed on it, and they'll ship your own designed T-shirt to your home! You It's really easy and fun!) but Here is the link to my T-shirt design.
If I could I'd run to Vegas now.

*update* I'd like to share this lucky vibe with you, my friend gave me this wonderful earring giveaway link, the entrants are only 18 so far, so the odds are great. And no, I'm not entering this time, I might win again ;)..haha.

Bittersweet: Book Review

It's Mother's Day and I can't think of a more fitting tribute than Bittersweet:Lessons from My Mother's Kitchen. Lots of "memoirs with food" are about discovery and love and various happy episodes in life, but Bittersweet is not that kind of memoir. A seasoned war correspondent and Pulitzer prize-winning author, Matt McAllester begins his tale with the death of his mother, a woman who struggled for years with mental illness and alcoholism. He is someone who knows how to write about pain, but this is another kind of pain altogether. It is personal.

Just as food is a way to explore pleasure, it is also a way to explore grief and healing. McAllester tries to find the mother he has lost and that the world lost to madness, through her recipes and his recollection of meals she prepared for him in happier times. His writing is masterful and deeply confessional. The recipes, and the sense of discovery and understanding that come from this journey are bittersweet indeed, but beautiful, at times funny, and always very moving.

Although Bittersweet is not a happy-go-lucky kind of story, it is absolutely compelling. Tastes of British, Italian and French cooking, and the wisdom and influence of Elizabeth David are woven into the story of his mother and his road back from grief. There are recipes for scones from Scotland, an improvised cassoulet and an almost mythical strawberry ice cream. Even without the recipes, Bittersweet would be haunting and lovely. The book made me care deeply about the author and the sad story of someone brilliant who slipped through the cracks and most of all, it reminded me that food is sometimes the thing that gets us through the most difficult times as well as the happiest ones.

Little Forest Friends

I have reached 100th post~~no, not this one, apparently, this post is the 102th. How come I missed it?! Aaargh! I should celebrate!! (maybe this is why celebrate rhymes with late, you always celebrate late, no? You don't? Just me? Ok..then..umm...)
I'm kidding about the whole celebration, I'm not going to throw a huge party or anything. Nothing's special about 100th post, I think, there's a long long way to go for this blog, hopefully, I can be a better friend, better listener (or in this case, reader), and of course, write better posts and take/make better pictures.

But, to leave you all my sweet readers occupied and not bored with this post, I make a new picture of little forest friends playing. I am thinking of making an embroidery pattern, if you like, out of this pic, but I can't embroider myself, so I don't know if this pic can work as a pattern. If you're an embroidery expert please, please, tell me of how can I make this pic into a better pattern. Is it fine, or should I narrow the lines, etc? Give me your inputs, lovelies!

Apricot Stuffed Pork Loin: Recipe

A few years ago I discovered a wonderful mustard at the Fancy Food Show. I wrote about it and not long after it won the gold prize at the Napa Valley mustard competition. That was just one in a long line of award winning products. Pam Kraemer founder of Dulcet Cuisine has a real knack for creating outstanding mustards, sauces, and now ketchups.

I'm always excited to try new products from Dulcet Cuisine and play with them. Kraemer uses very high quality ingredients and isn't satisfied until her products are the best they can be. They don't just make great condiments, they really shine as ingredients in recipes. She usually does all her own recipe development, but now and then I get to help out and share my creations.

I have to admit, I had never stuffed a pork loin before. But it turns out to be very easy and impressive. Rather than butterfly the whole loin and stuff, roll and tie, I just created an incision in the loin and made a pocket large enough to accommodate a very savory and sweet stuffing with a kick of spice. This recipe uses Dulcet Cuisine's wonderful new Sweet Orange Chili Mustard as part of the filling and the glaze. It's sweet and has a real kick to it and a rough texture. Once you have the basic technique down, you can change this up any number of ways--use different kinds of bread, dried fruit, liquid, mustard, etc. I think it would be a great dish for a dinner party.

Apricot Stuffed Pork Loin
serves 4 - 6

1 boneless pork loin roast, about 2 1/2 lbs
2 Tablespoons oil
Salt

Stuffing:
1 cup wheat bread cubed, about 2 slices
1/2 cup dried apricots, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 Tablespoons Sweet Orange Chili Mustard
2 Tablespoons orange juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Glaze:
1/4 cup Sweet Orange Chili mustard
1 Tablespoon honey

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make a hole for stuffing that runs lengthwise through pork loin. Insert a sharp long thin knife lengthwise toward center of loin, then repeat at opposite end of loin to complete incision running through middle.

Combine the stuffing ingredients and mix well. Stuffing should be very moist. Open up incision with your fingers, to create a 1 1/2-inch-wide opening, then fill with stuffing, pushing from both ends toward center.

Pat pork loin dry and and season well with salt. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over high heat until very hot, then brown pork on all sides, about 2 minutes.

Place stuffed loin on rack in a foil-lined roasting pan. After 30 minutes, baste with the glaze, baste again 15 minutes later. Roast to about 160°, about 1 1/2 hours. 


Enjoy!

Decorate those Shoulders!

Oddly (well, not too odd if you know me well), I have been super fascinated by shoulder decorations. I even dream about shoulder decorations!! ("what are you talking about, you crazy chick?"). I know, I know, I invented that term. Words sometimes fail me, so here's a quick glimpse of what I'm talking about.

on your left hand side
artlab's aphrodite cotton tank
AAliciaAccessories' corsage brooch (via Modish)
KatieDid's flower collar tutorial (via oneprettything)
on your right hand side
stephanieteague's upcycled dress (via Modish)

Aren't they the perfect things for such adoration?

Stiker Kaca Buat Cover Laptop

Banyak tuh dijual di toko perlengkapan laptop, stiker covernya laptop. Mulai dari yang polos transparan sampe yang ada gambarnya Winnie The Pooh, pemandangan, mobil, dll. Sebetulnya laptopku udah berstiker. Tapi bosen, lebih dari 1 taun gambarnya sama.
Sempet tergoda buat beli stiker laptop yang baru tapi kok harganya 100ribuan. Mending buat makan ato beli baju, hahaha.

Beberapa hari lalu aku ketemu Aya, laptopnya dihiasi stiker transparan yang ada motif bunder-bundernya. Langsung aja aku nanya, "Ya ampun Ya' lucu banget stikernya? Berapaan??"
"Murah kok! Ini aslinya stiker kaca!" kata Aya.
Aya bilang dia dikasi saran ma tante Fila (nih rekan bisnis tas laptopku, hehe), katanya:

1. Stiker kaca amat sangat lebih murah dibandingkan stiker laptop di pasaran. Kalo stiker laptop biasanya 100ribuan, stiker kaca cuma 14RIBU per meter. Cukup beli 1/2 meter = 7RIBU itupun masih nyisa.
2. Stiker kaca nempel dengan rapi, kalo dilepas juga gak ada sisa lem-nya!

Waaaawwwww.... mupeng banget!! Langsung aja waktu lagi jalan2 ke delta sama Mirsa, temen labku, aku beli stiker kaca motif daun. Cuma 7ribu bokk....
Sampe rumah aku pamer ke ibu dan nawarin untuk masang di laptop beliau. Eh ibu kesenengan dan sisa stiker diminta lagi buat ditempel di dalemnya laptop. Kata ibu, "Kamu beli lagi aja ya. Paling ibu minggu depan udah bosen, ntar bisa ganti2 yang lain."
Hahaha iya juga ya, karena murah, ganti2 juga ga masyalah... sapa tau makin menginspirasi kalo ngerjain TA :D

Worth to try on!

Laptopku + stiker kaca motif daun-daun, pengen cari motif lain, aah...

*Stiker kaca dapat dibeli di Delta Plaza Surabaya, sebelahnya toko Smile

Girls girls girls...

...are so pretty. Although I'm a girl (not the little pretty one, though, I won't address myself to that kinda girl anymore, nor I'd like to be called a lady, but you know what I mean, I am the one born with both X chromosomes), I love seeing, drawing, painting, anything about them. Let's face it, girls are so much fun to look at (than fat hairy men and skinny geek boys, although sometimes they are quite fun to look at). Even in their 'low brow' state...and no, I'm not fancying girls in "that" way.

Here are my favorite artists that portrayed girls in a low brow celebration..

Nicoletta Ceccoli

Benjamin Lacombe

Audrey Kawasaki

There are girls painting girls! So I'm not crazy. And oh I've always been a fan of the master of them all, Mark Ryden. But of course, you must have guessed that.

Chow Tips starring me!

I could spend hours surfing over at Chow.com. It's that hip food site that was briefly a magazine. It includes not just recipes but blogs, stories, message boards, cool videos and one of my favorite features, Chow Tips. At 45 seconds a piece, they don't take much time to watch and give you just the details you need.



When I talked to the video producer at Chow I suggested six different ideas for tips, and to my surprise, she said yes to all of them! Here are the first four, two more are on their way. I hope you enjoy watching them as much I enjoyed shooting them.



As an added benefit, Chow has also also posted the recipes for Roasted Baby Artichokes with Meyer Lemon-Saffron Aioli andCheese Stuffed Risotto Cakes from the cookbook I wrote, Williams-Sonoma New Flavors for Appetizers.



cheers,



Amy

It was as Strong That We Struggled ?

The struggle for the life indeed an effort...
That not will have stopped being carried out by humankind that still was living...

There were those who there is one that is easy...
There was strong humankind underwent them was also that not...
People say lived that the struggle...
When doing anything was needed by the struggle...

That distinguished was the level of the difficulty in facing them...

Once we in a condition where we had difficulty for did what was wanted by us...

Like us in the unemployed position (did not yet work, not had the production)...
And our choice at that time was for efforts, already planned...
But capital that was needed by us did not yet descend also...
In fact we were pursued by time or needed immediately the minimal activity that results...
Hope of the existence of the work call was also thin...
What we must do with this condition?

Soooo...

..Aqua! The color of the ocean and a bright sunny sky. My Etsy favorites sporting the color..
(clockwise from top left)
Aqua blue button ponytail holder by vickiesuniquebows at 2.oo$ each, Every Beat of My Heart print by misterrob (don't you love the shop's name?), vesselsandwares' hedgehog bowl for 12.00$, poster by SparklePower at 12$ each.

Tea Together Jams: Favorite Things

Some people don't like receiving product samples, but I don't mind. Of course I'm pretty fussy about what I'll consider and not everything I try is wonderful. But I never know what unexpected taste will inspire me. Over the past few years I've discovered some wonderful things that have become staples in my overflowing pantry.

Perhaps from my recipes you can tell I favor classic recipes with a twist--an unexpected flavor, ingredient or technique. A few weeks ago I received some samples of Tea Together organic jams and marmalades and here's the thing, they are each a bit out of the ordinary. Just check out these flavors--Blackberry & Elderberry with Fresh Ginger, Summer Pudding with Vanilla Pod, Orange Marmalade with Cinnamon Quill, Lemon Marmalade with Earl Grey Tea. See what I mean? The jams and marmalades are bright and intensely flavored but still retain a good texture even without added pectin. Made in the north of France in the village of St. Remy au Bois, from nothing but pure fruit and sugar, and perhaps some tea or spice. Each jar or set is packaged simply, but a real treat, nonetheless.

I think a sample of them or one large jar would make a lovely Mother's Day gift paired with fresh English muffins or crumpets and some tea. They really are special jams that will perk up breakfast toast or afternoon tea. Tea Together has a retail shop in Millburn, New Jersey or you can find their products online and at some retailers. An edible gift is always a nice way to show your appreciation, not just to your mom, but to those who produce high quality gourmet products with care and love.

Happy Mother's Day

I didn't know when international mother's day celebrated on, I just found out that it was on every second Sunday of May. Phew. I thought I was to late. So here's my gift to all daughters/sons everywhere, download the card, print it, and give it to your dear mothers.

Here are some trivia about Mother's day (according to Wiki, not me!):

• Only Indonesia (that's where I'm at!) celebrate Mother's Day on Dec 22.
• Close enough, is Panama, on Dec 8.
• Father's day is recognized first, Mother's day was made to complement it.
• (funny, in Indonesia we don't celebrate Father's day, poor daddies..:))
• There is a Mother's Day International Association!!! (wonder what they're doing on other 364 days?)

So enjoy your printable and have a great weekend with your mom!