Greek Style Smorgasbord

We have been having a heatwave here in Portland. It has been in the 100's everyday this week - 107 yesterday. I am not a fan of this kind of heat and I certainly don't want to cook when it's so hot outside. My friend Kyle was telling me about a "smorgasbord" her family has for dinner that sounded really fun. Basically, she just serves a bunch of different foods around the table and everyone just

Harta Karun Masa Lalu

Komik made by me: digambar pake drawing pen, di-scan, trus diwarnai pake Photoshop.

Ini komik buatanku jaman kelas 3 SMA. Dulu, bersama teman2, diriku ketemu sama seseorang yang bikin tabloid independen di Surabaya. Trus mbak-nya minta kami kirim karya2. Aku bikin komik itu. Tapi baru diterbitkan part 1, berikutnya tabloid itu udah gak terbit lagi dan ga jelas kabarnya...
So, here I'll put my precious treasure: A touch of creativity!
* Sekarang otakku semakin "kiri" sejak masuk TI... jadi kurang kreatip... hahaha..

The Jihad

The jihad was fighting in the way of Allah…
The soldier must be ready to Jihad against the enemy in the war…
The worker must be ready to Jihad for results that optimal…
The student must be ready to Jihad to can understand…
The father must be ready to Jihad formed the family that “sakinah”…
The mother must be ready to Jihad educated his child with kind…

So the shape of the jihad that reality….!
Struggled for kindness…
By Means Of that right…
And in accordance with the situation and condition…

What has heavent…
The bombing cruel…
Who the perpetratos
was the person who considered himself…
And that not the Jihad!!!!

Blueberry - Yogurt Muffins

My wonderful neighbor Jack recently gave me a huge gallon sized bag filled with fresh blueberries. I placed them in the freezer and have been making all sorts of goodies with these sweet berries ever since. The kids were craving muffins the other morning (prior to the heatwave) so I found this recipe in "The Complete Cooking Light Cookbook". My daughter helped bake these muffins and she did an

Answered me.......

When meeting you...
I apparently liked you...

In fact...
You standart…
Not charming…
Also not sweet…

But...
U are interesting...
How the way u talk...
How the way u respons...
Made me interest...

Maybe this is love...
Also maybe just temperory feel...

All just maybe...
The possibilitiy because curious...
Because unknowledge...

That will be the assurance...
if u give me that answer.

House Salad

I love a good salad - something quick and easy to prepare that is filled with fresh vegetables and topped with a tasty dressing. This is my version of a house salad. It's a family favorite and always a big hit with our friends. It's so simple, fresh and delicious. It has a salty/sweet/crunchy factor that makes it very appealing. This salad goes well with most any protein or main entree.House

When I meet u

Ketika bertemu denganmu…

Aku sepertinya suka padamu…

Padahal…

Kamu biasa saja…

Tak menawan…

Manispun tidak…

Tapi…

Kamu menarik…

Caramu bicara…

Caramu menanggapi…

Buatku tertarik…

Mungkin ini cinta…

Mungkin juga hanya sekedar rasa sesaat…

Semua serba mungkin…

Kemungkinan karena penasaran…

Karena ketidaktahuan…

Yang akan menjadi kepastian…

Apabila kamu, beri aku jawaban.

Internet Connection

I'm so sorry I haven't updated this blog for such a long time . My internet connection is just bad . Can't upload any photos . I hate it . Well , I'm going to move to my new house on Saturday , and the internet connection is better than here . So will be updating soon ! Don't forget me okay . Miss you all . Thanks for all of the nice comments . :D

xoxo ,
Becky

Friendship forever

Be reminded at the time…
During together the best friend…
was felt beauty…
Really mean it…
Remembered them…
Mutual time shoulders liked and sadness…

Really…
The warm still…
in the niche …
I really missing that…
Could not be replaced…

Now…
The time has changed…
Responsibility already not to alone…
The Demand of the life not only just for…
Destiny has different…

But…
Even did not like before…
We always continue to one heart…
Continue To mutually love…

Remind this…
The Gathering must not with meet each other…
Despite missing…
Really previously indeed could not backward…
Despite with the time machine…

My friend, My Brother…
The Bad Memory…
Must not forgotten…
Because……
That it’s for us to understand…
Would the meaning of the friendship and brotherhood…
That was established by us with time.

Together...

Teringat waktu lalu…
Saat bersama sahabat…
Bersama saudara…
Terasa indah…
Sangat berarti…

Ingatkah kalian…
Canda tawa kita…
Tangis sedih dan bahagia…
Saling bahu kala suka dan duka…

Sungguh…
Kehangatan itu masih terasa…
Didalam relung nurani…
Kurindukan…
Tak dapat tergantikan…

Kini…
Masa telah berganti…
Tanggung jawab sudah bukan untuk sendiri…
Tuntutan hidup bukan hanya tuk sekedar…
Jalan hidup telah berbeda…

Tapi…
Walau tak seperti dulu…
Kita tetaplah sehati…
Tetap saling asih…

Ingatlah…
Kebersamaan tak harus dengan bertemu…
Meskipun rindu…
Masa dulu memang tak bisa kembali…
Meskipun dengan mesin waktu…

Sahabatku, saudaraku…
Kenangan buruk…
Tak harus dilupakan…
Karena……
Itulah yang buat kita memahami…
Akan arti persahabatan dan persaudaraan…
Yang telah kita jalin bersama waktu.

Black Bean, Green Chile and Caramelized Red Onion Chimichanga

This recipe is a new favorite. It's quick, easy, fairly healthy and so delicious. We had "make your own burrito night" recently - this is my creation. I love the creamy beans with the flavorful chiles and caramelized onion. It goes together nicely with the extra sharp cheddar, salsa verde, sour cream and guacamole. I am looking forward to making it for lunch this week.Black Bean, Green Chile and

Extravagant Eggs

Eggs are basic and yet one of the harder things to cook well. My two favorite ways to eat eggs are poached or softly scrambled. I like creamy scrambled eggs, cooked low and slow, and so soft that no curds form. When it comes to poached eggs, the yolk should be runny and the white should be firm, but not rubbery. It's crucial to dry the eggs after poaching, so they aren't waterlogged. Both recipes take patience to master, but once you do, you will have so many options.

The great thing about eggs, scrambled or poached, is that they pair well with so many other flavors and can be eaten any time of the day. I particularly like them for dinner. You can serve eggs with anything from the simplest fresh herbs to the most luxurious ingredients such as lobster, gravlax, caviar or truffles.


Earlier this month instead of going out for our anniversary, Lee and I stayed in for an over-the-top breakfast for dinner celebration for two. I supplemented some homemade gravlax (thanks dad!) with some Tsar Nicoulai caviar I bought. I folded the caviar into the hollandaise sauce and served it on top of the gravlax, poached eggs and English muffins, eggs benedict style. Mixing the caviar into the hollandaise sauce helps extend it and makes a dramatic presentation. You need about an ounce for two servings. Any kind of caviar would work, from less expensive paddlefish to high end osetra.


A few weeks later when the folks at Mirepoix offered me a couple of Summer truffles, I again thought of eggs. This time I scrambled six large eggs gently in butter with a knob of fontina and served them on top of sliced toasted brioche with a healthy shaving of fresh truffles. The earthy nuttiness of Summer truffles is easily overpowered with other ingredients but a delicate and mild preparation of eggs makes the perfect foil. I used one large truffle, about one ounce for two servings. Because they are so subtly flavored, it's wise to use Summer truffles as a topping, rather than cooking them. For a less expensive version of this dish using truffle salt or truffle oil instead of fresh truffles, check out my recipe for Creamy Scrambled Eggs.

With both of these dishes I would recommend drinking cava or Champagne. Something sparkling with a bit of sweetness. The bubbles help cut through the richness but don't overwhelm the subtle savory flavors.

What's the most extravagant egg dish you've cooked or eaten?

Could not in ignored.........

The age was the parameter...
The parameter that has been standard...
Could not be changed or was removed...
Also could not be stopped...

By the quantity will continue to improve...
By the quality will continue to decrease...

When increased the age...
Will be increasingly mature...
In thinking...
Was current...
And have an attitude...

However many adults...
That could not be better...
In thinking...
Was current...
And have an attitude...

Did not change...
Even more serious!!!

One certain...
Definitely will change...!!!
When be older...
Skin was wrinkled...
The backward eyes also plus...
Black hair faded became white...
Teeth gone step by step...
The sturdy road to stand began to be bent ...

So the life panorama...
Could not in ignored.

Older.....

Usia adalah parameter...
Parameter yang sudah baku...
Tak bisa dirubah ataupun dihapus...
Tak bisa pula dihentikan...

Secara kuantitas akan terus bertambah...
Secara kualitas akan terus berkurang...

Katanya semakin bertambah usia...
Akan semakin dewasa...
Dalam berfikir...
Berlaku...
dan bersikap...

Namun banyak orang dewasa...
Yang tak bisa lebih baik...
Dalam berfikir...
Berlaku...
dan bersikap...

Tak berubah...
Malah lebih parah!!!

Satu yang pasti...
pasti akan berubah...
Ketika...
Kulit kerut tak bisa terhapus...
Mata minus tambah pula plus...
Rambut hitam memudar menjadi putih...
Gigi merapuh dan bertanggalan ...
Jalan tegap berdiri mulai bungkuk tertatih...

Itulah panorama kehidupan...
Tak bisa di abaikan.

Tomato, Basil, Feta and Garlic Pizza

I was craving a margarita pizza for lunch so my son and I decided to make our own version. We had a great time making lunch together. My son spread the sauce and cheese all over the dough. I sprinkled a bit of fresh minced garlic and freshly chopped basil on top. We baked it before topping it with extra basil, tomato slices, sea salt and freshly cracked pepper. We all really loved this

Award and Birthday Party Sneak Peak..

I thought yesterday was my first time cradling Baby G on my arms, now she can't barely sit on my lap, always on the run, even if I get a hold on her, she won't stay still. 1 year passes so fast, and being a baby is a short time, now she's going to be an infant, a toddler, finally a small little girl. But I love calling her Baby G, nonetheless, Infant G or Toddler G is just too awkward..

So as you may guess, Baby G's first birthday party is coming close. First! Can you imagine? Her first year of life! She won't be realizing about it, but I'm nearly wetting my pants here. So, as a good mom (yeah, right), I'm browsing all through the net for a good inspiration for her upcoming celebration. I was first thinking of fairy princess theme party, and then think..mm.. It's much more fun for older kids, so I will keep it for the next 3-4 years..Circus/carnival theme...eliminated for the same reason..then I found this particular theme, I can't seem to put a word for it, but I am having the color scheme and all! See these...

from top, left to right :
my2penn'orth. cath kidston. martha youknowwho. cath kidston. little circus.

And this is by far, I have made for the party, it's the favor, an activity book, it's only a proof print, not bound together yet. I will come up with more posts about my preparation, and of course the full post about the party! Yay! I'm so excited!


And by the way, belen of belen: beh-lehn (her name is Stephanie) is giving me this award!! This is surely a day-turner! You know, when I had a "blue" day, this award is suddenly cheer my day up into one bright orange day!! And I guess I have to play along then because the rules of the award stated that I need to divulge ten things about myself that most people don't know and award this to 10 fellow bloggers.
Right.

1. I hate clipping my nails, not that I like them long and spiky (shudder), but I am just too lazy to do it, for me it's the most boring activity I have to do once in a week or two. For the same reason I hate getting a manicure, I always fall asleep at the beautician and it's not a good view.
2. I really really am afraid of frogs, yes even the tiniest most un-harmful one.
3. I enjoy horror movies but a really scaredy cat. (hey, there's a huge difference between a movie and real situation)
4. I am having oatmeal stir fried prawns for dinner (now, that I've mentioned it, I run out of garlic powder, mmm..)
5. I can adapt to most food served in the world, I am thankful for that, as long as the food is not too extreme it made to an episode of Fear Factor.
   
6. On the other hand, I can't adapt to most public lavatories in the world. They have to follow several of my regulations before I can use them, squeaky clean, fresh-smelled, silent (bars and pubs'? no.), and not moving (airplane's? no). I get many complains about this.
   
7. Though I seem to like all things cute and lovely, which I really do, I adore gothic and dark stuffs. Wednesday Addams to me is like Hannah Montana to every little girl born in the 21st century.
8. My husband, which I rarely talk about in this blog, is actually a very nice likable person. I have nothing more to write about him.
   
9. I have many things in my mind I want to be better at. One of them is cooking.
   
10. My best cooking so far is fried banana with brown sugar. duh. Any 3rd grader can do that!

So that's it for now. I'm awarding this award to 10 persons who suggest the best name of the theme of Baby G's birthday party!

Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express

Mark Bittman is a genius when it comes to combining a few ingredients to create a great dish. In his Minimalist column in the New York Times, he simplifies recipes down to the bare bones and yet they retain all the appeal of more complicated dishes. I have several of his cookbooks, including the dog-eared How to Cook Everything Vegetarian and have given several of his books as gifts. I eagerly look forward to his columns in the New York Times, his Bitten blog posts, and especially his popular "101 lists."

Here they are in case you missed any:

* Summer Express: 101 Simple Meals Ready in 10 Minutes or Less

* 101 20-Minute Dishes for Inspired Picnics

* 101 Simple Appetizers in 20 Minutes or Less

* 101 Simple Salads for the Season

The loose format of these recipes works. Sometimes you don't need the typical list of ingredients and measurements, you just need good ideas and Bittman delivers plenty of them. So I was excited to check out Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express which consists of, 404 seasonal recipes that you can make in 20 minutes or less. Similar to the New York Times lists, they are written in paragraph form, though with a bit more detail. The flexibility of the measurements assumes a certain level of knowledge, but makes for a free and easy style of cooking I particularly like. The recipes themselves are intriguing though some more than others. Melon soup with pancetta, simplified sesame shrimp toasts, deconstructed raspberry souffles, and broiled eggplant with miso walnut vinaigrette are all flagged in my book. Other ideas feel too simple and obvious such as steak with gorgonzola or miso soup with tofu.

Unfortunately what works online, on Twitter and in a newspaper article is not the same as what works in a book. I find that hundreds of recipes in paragraph format organized primarily by season, make the book difficult to actually use. The recipes follow a progression from breakfast-oriented dishes to soups, salads, main dishes and desserts, but it's still unwieldy and frankly, many ingredients are not really all that seasonal. Recipes featuring ingredients such as boy choy, bacon, frozen peas, canned beans, eggplant, shrimp, raisins and olives could easily fit in more than one season.

The "More Ways to Navigate" section provides lists of recipes under headings such as Brown Bag Lunches, Desserts You Can Eat Any Time of the Year and Recipes to Toss with Pasta. I would have preferred if the book had been organized using those categories instead of just the seasons or the more typical headings--breakfast, soups, salads, desserts, etc. You can find what you are looking for fairly easily in the index if push comes to shove. Bottom line, if you are a seasoned cook looking for inspiration, this may be a good book for you, but a much more accessible book, in my opinion, is Mark Bittman's Quick and Easy Recipes from the New York Times.

Note: Still curious about Mark Bittman's Kitchen Express? You can browse inside the book here.

This Girl can Draw!!

It's time for another illustrator interview!! I'm so excited, that Noemi Manalang lives in Jakarta, Indonesia! Well, hello, neighbor!! Noemi was born in the Philippines 19 years ago (I envy her youth!) but she has spent her whole life in Indonesia. Having a painting lesson as a child, she didn't automatically pursue a painting career nor joining an academically painting schools, she's self trained and much much experimenting on her own afterward. She has been in several exhibitions, and in her leisure, still very much enjoy viewing other art exhibitions. She took fashion design in my course, but yes, she still constantly draws (Thank Heaven for that!).


I just love how her flowy, soft, and subtle watercolor first caught my eyes, as a girly kind a girl, I always have a soft spot for soft watercolor illustrations. I must say that I really connected to her illustrations mainly because I'm a girl, and her poetic, dreamy illustrations seem like my own thoughts. Well, if you're in love with her illustrations too, you can always check out her shop, niminami on Etsy. Now's in time to get to know her personally!


What's your most favorite thing to draw?
Leaves are my favourite. And eversince I took a course in fashion design, painting watercolour girls has become one of my favourites too. Sometimes I also like doodling some text art. It depends on my mood.

What/who inspires you the most?
I'm inspired by the things around me. Mainly about nature & people. Sometimes, when I look out the window, I could just stare at a beautiful tree and admire it from a distance. (ah, we do get a lot of beautiful trees here) Then maybe I start drawing it. Little and simple things inspire me and give me ideas.

What's the sweetest thing a person has said about your work(s)?
It was when a friend of mine wrote a comment about my artworks that she wishes to have my hands. Well, not literally cut it of course. Hehe meaning the ability to draw, if you know what I mean. But every compliment is the sweetest thing.

On the contrary, what's the biggest, heart crushing, gut melting criticism you have ever taken?
I have yet to face some criticism. Hopefully, if ever, it would be constructive. Something that will push me to improve.

Is there any things (objects/techniques/material,etc) you wish to master more right now?
Recently, I've just moved from oils to watercolours. Its very light and flowy compared to the heavy oil paints so I have yet to learn more of it. I think it suits my personality more.

This is a little out of the topic, but how do you like living in Jakarta, not to mention the recent suicide bombing?
Oh, the suicide bombing. Such an unfortunate thing that happened and to the poor victims. It's scary, but it doesn't mean I don't want to live here again. I grew up here and there are good people here. Some deserve to be punished for what they've done against humanity.

Finally, what's your biggest beast in making art? (by "beast" I mean obstacles, hindrances, or anything else that put you of making good art, like laziness, perhaps? well, that's my beast :))
Ah, yess, like laziness.. Its procrastinating. I usually put things off till to later because I always think there's still lots of time. Time is money. Hehe its something I have to change.



Thank you for your time, Noemi!!

Chicken Pot Pie

We've had friends in town for the week and we've been very busy doing a bunch of fun things around Portland, like going to the zoo, checking out Mt. Hood and heading to the coast twice. After a long day wandering around the zoo, I picked up a roasted chicken at the store to use in a pot pie - it was much too hot to roast my own. I adapted the recipe for the filling from a Cooking Light magazine

Love, Marriage and Oysters

A couple of years ago during the screenwriter's strike Amy Ephron contacted me about writing for her site, One for the Table. I was honored and what a treat to finally meet her in person on my recent jaunt down to Hollywood! She gave me a very personal tour of the farmer's market at Third and Fairfax and afterwards we enjoyed breakfast and an order of pancakes, for the table. It was like hanging out with a long lost friend.

Mostly my pieces on One for the Table are reprints from this blog, but from time to time I write something new. The current posts are all about seafood and mine is about love, marriage and oysters. It's a bit of a departure from what I usually write on Cooking with Amy, I hope you enjoy it.

Have you heard of..

..of Rice? Well, it's a shop and since the webpage left me speechless, I'll just share with you some pictures and let them do all the talking. You'll get it.

The Hope

The hope like dream
Hope was The wish…
That for humankind survive…
Humankind had a great hope…
Hope to happyness…
Satisfaction…
The enjoyment…

Sometimes hope became the reality..
Sometimes also only to shadow…
Sometimes the shape of hope was felt sweet…
Sometimes also bitter…

When alone hoped a lover…
When not alone hope searched replacement…
During did not have, want to have…
During had, bored came...

There were also those who are bored hoping…
because never come real…
Miserable without the power…
Posses without word…

All that reality…
Where not all produced a honey…
must sincere struggled for reached…
Sincere accepted anything the result…
Although operational being difficult…
but has become compulsory…
as a person...
the creation Of The GOD.

The Wish

Harapan itu seperti impian…
Harapan adalah keinginan…
Yang buat manusia bertahan…

Manusia punya banyak sekali harapan…
Harapan untuk kebahagian…
Kepuasan…
Kenikmatan…

Kadang harapan menjadi kenyataan..
Kadang pula hanya sekedar menjadi bayangan…
Kadang wujud harapan terasa manis…
Kadang pula pahit…

Dikala sendiri berharap seorang kekasih…
Kala tak sendiri berharap mencari pengganti…
Saat tak punya ingin punya…
Saat punya, bosan melanda…

Ada pula yang jenuh berharap…
Karena tak kunjung nyata…
Merana tanpa daya…
Termenung tanpa kata…

Semua itu realita kehidupan…
Dimana tak semua hasilkan madu…
Harus ikhlas berjuang tuk menggapainya…
Ikhlas menerima apapun hasilnya…

Walau sulit dijalankan…
Tapi sudah menjadi keharusan…
Sebagai seorang insan…
Ciptaan Tuhan.

Cilantro Lime Shrimp with a Honey Lime Dipping Sauce

I wanted a quick and tasty dinner that was easy to make. I grabbed some shrimp and marinated them in lime zest and juice, cilantro, olive oil and garlic for an hour then had my husband grill them. I had leftover honey lime dressing from the Grilled Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad, so I used it for a dipping sauce and it was so delicious. My whole family really loved these shrimp - we gobbled

Soft Sunlight..

I took this picture while I was at my mum's, she collected orchids too. Second place from the cacti family, this is the flowers I love the most. I'm not much of a photographer but I somehow like how this turned out, maybe all of you professionals are getting a big laugh by now, but hey, not that it's going to win an award or something, I am just surprised at how good it turned out.

To celebrate more warm, soft midsummer sunlight, let's satisfy our eyes from the better photographers...

A denim shirtdress.. on top of my list! here.

swoon. here.

Sun after the rain, ah, my favorite scent. here.

Neighborhood. here.

..and when the sun hits the room, here.

Grilled Corn, Avocado and Tomato Salad with Honey Lime Dressing

When looking for a tasty salad on the Internet I came across this one from Jehan Can Cook. It sounded perfect. I love all the ingredients and flavors used so I was really excited to try it. It was so quick and easy to make and tasted fantastic. We all really loved this salad. The dressing was delicious and the salad was filled with great textures and flavors. I will make this dish over and

afraid why?

You smiled...
Why? ....
I did not know.... (replied you)
I was frightened of revealing what I feel that...
For instance...
I possibly fell in love...
But I was frightened of this feeling...
I was frightened restless this...
I was frightened of my fear...
Let...
Your feeling flowed...
Frightened that was humane...
Struggled...
To gain what was wanted by you...
Prayed ...
So that that was undergone by you and faced...

r u afraid?

Kamu tersenyum...
Kenapa?....
Aku tak tahu.... ( jawabmu)
Aku takut ungkapkan apa yang kurasa...
Katakanlah...
Aku mungkin jatuh cinta...
Tapi aku takut dengan rasa ini...
Aku takut resah ini...
Aku takut dengan ketakutanku ini...
Biarkanlah...
Rasamu itu mengalir...
Takut itu manusiawi...
Berjuanglah...
Untuk meraih apa yang kamu inginkan...
Berdo'alah...
Agar yang kamu jalani dan hadapi...
Diridhoi oleh Tuhan yang Maha Kuasa...
Amin...

Soda Stream Sparkling Water

When the waiter asks what kind of water I say "tap," but my other half says "sparkling." Until recently we had been drinking plain filtered tap water at home, but not anymore, now our water sparkles there too. My dad used to buy seltzer water in cans by the case and then by the liter until he got a carbonating machine. He's been raving about it for ages, so when Soda Stream offered me a unit to review I said sure.

Soda Stream sells an entry level soda machine for under $100 and frankly, I can't imagine why you'd buy any other model. It's easy to use, takes up barely any counter space and doesn't even require an electrical outlet. You do have to buy carbonator cartridges, but the cost per liter comes out to only about 20 cents. I'm particularly impressed that the water bottles you get with the machine keep the water very fizzy even after they have been repeatedly opened and closed.

I'm fine with a glass of sparkling water garnished only with a slice of lemon or lime, but if you want to make soda, they also sell various syrups to mix with the water. The soda mixes I tried were too sweet for my taste, but then again, I'm not a soda drinker. If I was going to make soda, I'd use the lovely syrups from Sonoma Syrup.

Having switched to drinking carbonated water I can really see the appeal. Little bubbles just make water even more refreshing somehow. Last year I wrote about cocktails and spirits over at Glam and this year I've been writing on the same subject for Project Foodie. I don't have much experience as a bartender but I think I may start experimenting now that I have soda water on hand...

Sugar Snap and Beef Stir Fry

I found this recipe in my newest Cooking Light magazine. I adapted it just a bit by adding some chili sauce, garlic and sesame oil to the marinade as well as some extra veggies to the stir fry. The beef turned out extremely tender while the vegetables were slightly crisp. It was a light, healthy and really delicious meal that my entire family loved. I liked how quick and simple the recipe was

A Culinary Vacation in Campania

It's hard to believe it was a year ago I travelled to Campania to eat, explore and enjoy. I saved many of my discoveries for an article and slide show that is now up on Epicurious. Please head over for a peek at A Culinary Vacation in Campania, The top nine things to eat and drink in Naples, Benevento, Sorrento, Amalfi, and Salerno, including pizza, cheese, and pasta.

Coffeecake Muffins

My kids really wanted muffins for breakfast so I found a recipe for coffee cake muffins on a website called CookiePie. They looked really delicious and sounded like the perfect breakfast treat. The recipe was really easy to follow - the only change I made was to add a bit of cinnamon to the muffin mixture. They were quick to make with little clean up. My kids and husband LOVED the muffins...I

Eep!

I won a giveaway hosted by Kimberly not too long ago, I was so excited! Not only I get picked by Mic the dog (hey, I am loved by all creatures, two legged and four!), but Kim is a real sweetheart!

I love her photography, she shoots the best moods and details, all through the giveaway time I kept my fingers crossed (and maybe my eyes too, but I didn't realize it) and by winning the giveaway, I got to pick my favorite from her shop (yaaaay!).

I want to be honest with her, maybe she really need, so I tell her that my actual personal favorite is this "Swing" but my mom, whose birthday is closing in, loves flowers, and I wanted to give her, this "Sharry Baby". And the package arrived.... I was looking at beautiful Sharry Baby, I turned her around and saw that it was signed by Kim, dated, and titled "Swing", I was, "What? I must tell her immediately that she titled it wrong!" ..but then I saw the note...

I went numb..and eeep! She gave me not one but two prints!! Not to mention the postcard and her lovely note and business card. I'm in love!!


You should check Kim's shop now before July ends, just figure this, she gives me this whole lotta bunch of goodness, what will she give to her customers? She's a gem, I tell ya. Don't forget to make her blog, MyAlternateReality a frequent pitstop too, she's a talented photographer, what would you think her blog made of? Eye candies, yup!!

Salmon with Kiwi Sauce: Recipe

I hate wasting food but sometimes it happens. I buy too much of something or it just gets lost in the back of the fridge. The worst is when I buy a lot of food and then am not home to cook it. Some foods can be saved like mushy bananas that become banana bread. Floppy carrots, onions and celery go in my chicken stock to give it flavor.

I always used to throw away overripe kiwi fruit, but not anymore. In addition to my kiwi cake recipe, I discovered that mashed kiwis make a great sauce for fish. Next time you have overripe kiwi fruit, try mashing it in a bowl and tasting it. It's tangy and sweet at the same time. The crunch of little seeds adds nice texture. I added Asian flavors and put the resulting sauce on top of a simply cooked piece of salmon, but I bet this sauce would be good on halibut, scallops, shrimp or even fried calamari. The sauce keeps in fridge for at least 3 days.

Another way to use mashed kiwi fruit is in guacamole. It has an amazing ability to keep your guac from browning, must be all that vitamin C. What fruits or vegetables have you saved from the compost heap? I'd love to hear your success stories!

Note: When you cook fish you may be frustrated that it is overcooked by the time it gets to the table. Always take the fish off the heat or out of the oven a minute or two before it is completely cooked since it will continue cooking with the carryover heat.

Kiwi Sauce for Salmon
serves 2

2 fillets wild or sustainably farmed salmon, about 12 ounces
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 garlic clove, grated or finely mined
1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

Sauce
1 green kiwi, a bit overripe is fine
1/4 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon soy sauce
Sriracha hot chili sauce, to taste, a couple of drops is fine

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place fish skin side down on a foil-lined rimmed sheet pan, season with salt and pepper and rub with grated garlic and ginger and bake until not quite cooked through, about 10 minutes, it may take a few minutes longer if your fish is very thick.

Meanwhile mash the kiwi in a bowl and add the ginger, soy and Sriracha sauce and stir to combine. Plate fish and top with sauce.

Enjoy!

Zespri is sponsoring a kiwi recipe contest, if you have a recipe to submit, find more details here.

Pink

Hoodie : I&U . Tights : Mangga Dua ITC . Wedges : Tracce

p.s. Sorry for wearing the same shoes again and again ! I promise I will buy new shoes soon :D

Bomb....Again????

There was the bomb again!!!!
The explosion sounded in the morning!!!
Humankind with the blood clothes was sprawled...
The scream was hurt and the fear...
What appropriate humankind died like that...
During breakfast...
During all already plan today...
When being not ready to die!!!

The death indeed could not be suspected…
And could come anytime…
And only Gods that decisive.
Not by humankind!!!

Pain my heart it seems...
Saw the cruelty like that happened...
Disappointed and was not finished thought...
Why must be repeated again...
Cruel and not humane...

Oh lord...
Give your guidance...
Be not enough the world law...
Consiously them...
Be not enough the death sentence...
Washed clean his mistake...
Be not enough the blood flood and crying...
For their heart touched...
And did not repeat again...

The lord...
We the slave you...
Excused himself and beg to you...
Show your Power...
Open their good side that uptil now was shackled...
Amen...

Again????

Ada bom lagi!!!!
Ledakan membahana dipagi hari!!!
Manusia berbaju darah bergelimpangan...
Jeritan kesakitan dan ketakutan...
Apa pantas manusia mati seperti itu...
Saat sarapan pagi...
Saat semua sudah terencana hari ini ...
Saat tak siap untuk mati!!!

Kematian memang tak bisa diduga…
Dan bisa datang kapan saja…
Dan hanya Tuhan yang menentukanya.
Bukan oleh manusia!!!

Perih dihati rasanya...
Melihat kekejaman seperti itu terjadi...
Kecewa dan tak habis pikir...
Kenapa harus terulang lagi...
Kejam dan tak manusiawi...

Ya Tuhan...
Berilah petunjukmu...
Tak cukup hukum dunia...
Sadarkannya ...
Tak cukup hukuman mati...
Mencuci bersih kesalahannya...
Tak cukup banjir darah dan tangis...
Buat hati mereka terenyuh...
dan tak ulangi lagi...

Tuhan...
Kami hamba-Mu...
Bermohon dan bermunajat pada-Mu...
Tunjukkan Kuasa-Mu...
Bukakan sisi baik mereka yang selama ini terbelenggu...
Amin...

Shredded Chicken and Black Bean Tostadas

I had some leftover chicken breast to use up so I decided to make tostadas. I normally use the plain shredded chicken but this time I decided to flavor it up a bit - I am so glad I did. I will never use plain chicken again! I shredded the chicken then added the juice of one lime, finely chopped red onion, cilantro and a bit of salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. It tasted so good! I

Back to School Labels!

I just realized that the new school year has begun! Well, at least, in Indonesia that is; my nephew started his kindergarten class this week. But for all of you from around the globe, summer holiday is over, and probably going back to school is the next thing in your home's agenda.

download here.

Fret no more, prepare well, I have got something for you! Labels! For books, pencils, lunch bags, and everything else. I know, I made up cooking class and animal science just because I love pie and hedgehogs images. I get a lot of comments saying my printables are directed for girls only, well, looking back, yes, they do look feminine. I try to include both gender this time, so moms of boys, please feel free to download too.

p.s. The girl/boy image are based on average portrayal of a child, if you wish for a personalized one (braids or freckles perhaps?) please do ask. I will make you a set of labels with your child's image and name.

Oatmeal Cake with Coconut Pecan Frosting

My father in law is a huge fan of desserts, so he is very lucky that his wife Coleen is an excellent baker. When we were visiting them in Idaho a few weeks ago, Coleen made several mouth watering desserts - this oatmeal cake was my very favorite. It's a moist and delicious cake with the best frosting ever - toasted coconut pecan. We were heading to a friend's house for dinner recently and I

Always responsible

Are you regretted? ....
Moreover me…
but all already heavent…
Let it…
That important you realize…
What that to mistake…
Calm down…
I definitely will be responsible…
was not possible i leave u…
should not continue that u think…
Make this some lesson…
To better in future…
Now…
Previously tidy u'r clothes...
U'r hair…
And removed u'r tear…
With my handkerchief…
Come On we restart again…
was bought by us the newspaper tomorrow…
Who knew was that adjust…
prepared all with smart…
Type with tydy…
put the envelope and sent through the post or tiki…
was waiting and be patient…
definitely will have the call in several day…
Just remember…
Never had the same mistake for twice…
underwent what must faced…
Strengthen u'r heart and prepared u'r self…
the Struggle for the life not only to here.

always beside u...

Kamu menyesal ?....
Apalagi aku…
Tapi semua sudah terjadi…
Sudahlah…
Yang penting engkau menyadari…
Apa yang menjadi kesalahan…
Tenanglah…
Aku pasti akan bertanggung jawab…
Tidak mungkin engkau kutinggalkan…
Jangan terus kau pikirkan…
Jadikan ini suatu pelajaran…
Untuk lebih baik dimasa depan…
Sekarang…
Rapikan dulu pakaianmu…
Sisir rambutmu…
Dan hapus air matamu…
Dengan saputanganku…
Ayo kita mulai lagi…
Kita beli koran besok pagi…
Siapa tahu ada yang sesuai…
Siapkan semua dengan teliti…
Ketik dengan rapi…
Masukkan amplop dan kirim lewat pos atau tiki…
Tunggu dan sabarlah…
Pasti akan ada panggilan dalam beberapa hari…
Ingatlah…
Jangan sampai ada kesalahan sama untuk kedua kali…
Jalani apa yang harus dijalani…
Tekadkan dihati dan siapkan diri…
Perjuangan hidup tak hanya sampai disini.

Asparagus Summer Salad

I found a really delicious looking recipe for a summer salad in Sunset Magazine and instantly knew I would make it. I adapted the recipe a bit by using the fresh herbs I had on hand and reducing the olive oil. I really, really loved the flavor of the salad dressing with the cool and crisp asparagus. The cheese gave the salad a bit of creaminess and the nuts and onions gave a nice crunch. My

Happily Ever After

I know, you probably has seen these photos everywhere by now. It's Disney's theme parks advertising shot by the great Anni Leibovitz. You don't question the quality of her photographs. Ever. 'Nuff said. So yes, I love the series (but on some characters I think they have mis-casted, guess which one(s)?). Check them all here.

On the other hand, Dina Goldstein, a Leibovitz heir to the throne someday ;), has shot the other side of the Princess' coins. Funny, but true. What happens after a happily ever after?


I hate being a spolier and ruin your surprise factor so see and laugh at the poor souls yourself here.

ow...allright, this is my favorite so let's compare these two...


HA! I love Prince Charming potrayal on this one, watching a polo match? In thights? :D

r u sure?

Tadinya akan kamu mulai hari ini...
Rencananya memang hari ini...
Niatnyapun hari ini...
Tapi...
Gak jadi...
Kenapa sih kamu menundanya?
Masih ada esok katamu...
Yakinkah kamu?
.......... (terdiam)
Aku yakin karena besok itu pasti ada...
Setelah besokpun masih ada lusa...
Jadi kenapa aku harus gak yakin?
.......... (terdiam)
.......... (sama-sama terdiam)

São Paulo Fashion Week

The São Paulo Fashion Week (SPFW) is a fashion event, held at Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo. During this period the world took notice of models such Gisele Bündchen, Isabeli Fontana, Ana Claudia Michels, among others. Many names of designers came up at that time also, as Ricardo Almeida, Reinaldo Lourenço, Ronaldo Fraga. Years before, international brands such as Chanel and Versace first appeared in Brazil due to the opening of imports of the Collor government. Business owners were forced to invest in technology, machinery and labour-Expertee to compete with the foreign brands that grew instantly in Brazil. That brought a significant change to Brazilian fashion as whole.


sources : Vogue . Wikipedia . http://www.huffingtonpost.com . http://www.coolhunting.com .