Herban Girl

Growing Pangs

2012-01-15T01:29:00.000+09:00

Last weekend we stopped swaddling our daughter and began sleep training (I know, it's controversial. It made sense to us, it might not be a good fit for you. I respect that.) all at one go. Due to a variety of boring reasons, we started all of this on an earlier night that we'd originally talked about. This meant that on my last night of putting our daughter to bed all wrapped up like a burrito, I didn't know it was the last night. The next day I had pangs of disappointment over not getting to "say goodbye" to the baby burrito.

It's hard to believe that at only 4.5 months, she's already leaving some stages and entering others. My camera just doesn't seem to be able to capture everything I want it to. Like the way she violently flings her head forward as she sneezes multiple times in a row, and then ends with a sneeze-less "Ah-hmmm." Or the way her eyes get bigger and her face lights up with pure, unadulterated glee right before she eats. Or my recent favorite, the way she puts her hands on my cheeks, closes her eyes, and lets out a little sigh when I lean in for an eskimo kiss.

I'm trying my best to take a moment every day to fully soak in her Josephine-ness of that day, because I know it will be different tomorrow. And then I just have to trust that my memory will do a better job of capturing these moments than an electronic device ever could.

Why is This Vintage?

2012-01-08T10:21:00.000+09:00

I love this ad. So much.

(Image found on: CMYBacon)

Yes, it also rules because she's a redhead, but it is so refreshing so see a product advertised to girls without gobs of pink, princesses, pink, sparkles, pink, ruffles, pink, flowers, pink, butterflies, pink, bows, and a little more pink. Unfortunately the ad is decades old.

I happen to like all (okay, most) of the above, but hello moderation. I can't say I'm a big fan of the new line of girl LEGO sets (or all of the super specific LEGO sets for that matter - basic LEGO sets are awesome, and encourage creativity!). I think we're overdoing the explosion of gender-specific toys, clothing, and their corresponding advertising. I don't know what this little girl built, but she's certainly happy about it. Can't we get back to encouraging kids to just be kids?

Rhubarb and Raspberry Crostada

2011-09-02T04:00:00.000+09:00

I know. I thought so too.

Rhubarb is a spring treat, right?

One of the first plants to be harvested, it's a sign of the soil awakening and the promise of a bounty of produce soon to be making its way to market.

Well, little did I know that it's possible to get a second harvest from your rhubarb plant at the end of the summer

(don't take it all, just about a third).

Raspberries truly are in season, and it turns out they pair delightfully with rhubarb in this Rhubarb and Raspberry Crostada recipe from Lottie + Doof.

The Power of Beautiful Imagery

2011-08-31T06:49:00.000+09:00

I watched this video yesterday morning

and was compelled to make my own beet cake that afternoon.

Anticipating

2011-08-25T23:00:00.000+09:00

by Deborah Donenfeld (via momfilter)

I'll Pass on the Jerky, Thanks.

2011-08-22T22:15:00.000+09:00

Fair Warning - It's Probably Best To Not Read This While Eating....

I will freely admit to wholehearted subscribing to what some may consider alternative practices during pregnancy.

Drinking red raspberry leaf tea? Check.

Consuming evening primrose oil? Check.

Stocking up on a vast array of herbs for postpartum recovery baths? Check.

But everyone has a line that they won't cross, and I've found mine after reading this New York Magazine article on why new mothers are choosing to eat their own placenta.

39 Weeks Later

2011-08-22T00:04:00.000+09:00

As we get ever closer to our due date, I thought it was time for another round of sharing. (Partly so I don't forget some of the gems that people feel compelled to say out loud before thinking about how they sound in their head.)

1) Please don't make grand sweeping statements like *knowing* that the baby hasn't dropped yet. Regardless of how it may look to your well-trained eye, I've actually been the one carrying this baby around for the past 9 months, and thus probably have the best insight as to where the baby is or isn't.

2) Comments like, "I see you didn't shake the baby loose on the dance floor. Hahaha," aren't actually that funny. Especially coming from a man.

3) Comments like, "Wow, you look so great," when spoken in a stunned tone of voice really just end up sounding like, "Amazing... you don't look like a beached whale!" Uh, thanks?

4) It's not very helpful to ask about my labor/birth plans, and then respond with skepticism. I think we're long overdue for more support and empowerment of every mother's (and her partner's) choices - we're all trying our best to make choices that are right for us and our families. I loved our childbirth educator's analogy of a friend telling you that they were planning on running a marathon. Would your response be, "Ooh, that's going to be really hard. Are you sure you can do it? What happens if you get to mile 13 and feel like you can't do it anymore?"? Probably not. Your response would probably be something like, "That's awesome! Good luck! I'll be cheering for you!"

5) I am completely in favor of Smitten Kitchen's plan for labor and delivery nurse bribery, and fully intend to make these brownies this week.

6) Last time I said that it doesn't get much more amazing than feeling a beansy human doing back-flips in your uterus - well tiny human hiccups feel pretty dang cool too!

Tsukemono

2011-08-19T10:32:00.000+09:00

Our garden is producing cucumbers like crazy.

What to do but make Japanese pickles?!

I de-seeded and chopped the cukes, then tossed them with

salt, sugar, rice vinegar, and sesame seeds.

And then forced myself to wait a couple days

until they reached perfect pickleness.

Mmm.

Birth Beads

2011-08-11T21:55:00.000+09:00

This was a lovely idea from our last baby shower. The hosts had guests bring a bead with them (or pick one out once they'd arrived) to be turned into a necklace that can be worn or held during labor as a reminder of all of the people thinking of you and sending love and support.

We certainly appreciate all of the positive thoughts and good energy sent our way, and feel lucky to have so many people excited for us and our soon-to-be expanding family. Thank you all (and thank you Cara for turning them into a necklace!)!

This Means War.

2011-07-23T05:35:00.000+09:00

Our tennis ball sized watermelon?! Rude tiny critter, very rude.

Us vs. the Yard - Round 2

2011-07-21T06:47:00.000+09:00

The garden is ruling!

House Updates

2011-07-19T05:53:00.000+09:00

Every weekend we're at home - which hasn't been many this summer - it seems like we're trying to knock projects off of our never-ending to-do list. This past weekend was a particularly satisfying one, I think because we accomplished so many cosmetic fixes.

We (Mike) installed a wall nightlight in Pickle's room (replacing a lovely hole in the wall), and he replaced the horrible florescent basement-style lights at the top of the stairs and the second-floor landing with regular non-offensive ceiling lights.

We also hung a couple more pieces of artwork in her room, it's looking like a proper nursery now!

He also washed grime off of our siding, painted a ceiling, and removed a light on our garage that didn't work and was filled with wasp's nests. What a guy!

We also got the stairs painted! The stairs and second floor landing had been covered in carpeting, and after ripping it up, we discovered that the landing had hardwood flooring underneath it, but the staircase was unfinished. We decided that the most economical (and fun) option was to paint them, and agreed upon green tints.

We bought a quart each of white and green patio/floor paint, and I started mixing. My highly scientific method involved filling jelly jars with progressively lower amounts of green paint, and then filling them all to the same level with white paint.

We have 13 stairs, so I used the base green and then made 6 lighter tints. Each color was then used on two stairs, except for the very lightest tint, which was only used on one stair.

We painted every other step so we could still move between floors, and were just careful to keep the jelly jars on the steps they belonged to so we didn't mix up our tints.

I'm really pleased with how they turned out!

Pickled Scapes and Cherries

2011-07-15T07:11:00.003+09:00

Garlic Scapes

2011-07-13T07:09:00.000+09:00

It's a Celebratory Summer: To Follow the Registry or Not?!.....

2011-06-09T08:27:00.000+09:00

It seems like our summers go in waves. Some years there isn't all that much going on, and we fill the weekends with barbeques, trips, and time at the family lake house (sniff - seems that isn't in the cards for this summer). Other years the summer is just jam-packed with weddings and celebrations - this is one of those years.

With a number of weddings, various types of showers, and other celebrations to attend, we are smack-dab in the middle of a gift-buying flurry. About a week ago, I came across an article that was especially timely. The article suggests that while gift givers think that that recipients are going to like surprises, giftees are actually happiest with gifts they've requested.

I definitely do both, depending on the situation. I have some family members who resist giving wish lists as if their lives depended upon it, so surprises for them it is! For weddings, the majority of the time I lean towards the registry - the theory being that they are entering a new stage of life, and they know what they need and what they don't. For friends and family birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, etc, I almost always go with surprises - but with the gift receipt whenever possible. I may think that I've come up with the most clever gift of all time, but you may not, and I'm okay with that. I'm happiest if you're happy - so return that stinker! (Although how anyone could not want a Das Beer Boot especially after watching the music video for it is beyond me....***)

So I'm curious, what do you think? When do you stick to a registry/wish list and when do you go for surprises?

***I am completely kidding. Please do not take that as a request of any sort. Let me be clear that I am not adding this item to my birthday list, christmas list, or wishlist of any kind!!

Us vs. the Yard - Round 1

2011-06-03T23:54:00.000+09:00

Last fall, we dug up a sizeable corner of our backyard, in anticipation of building garden boxes and planting garlic. Fall quickly turned into winter, and we gave up hope for garlic, but come spring, we were determined to return to our project.

Now that Michigan has finally decided to let us have nice weather, we've made quite a bit of progress! Mike built two 5 by 10 feet raised beds (yes, there is room for two more of those beds in the garden, and no, we've never gardened before in anything other than a window box - dream big!) and created a rock wall edge enclosing the garden area. We've been moving the dirt that we'd removed from the garden area, and are creating flower beds around the garden, on the side of the garage, and along the back fence. The garden boxes have been filled with soil and compost, and we've planted loads of goodies.

Next on the to-do list is tackling the field in the middle of the backyard:

Earlier in the spring it looked like this:

Today my very kind parental units are coming to help dig the bulbs out of the field and move them to the newly created flower beds. Hooray for warm weather, sunshine and progress!

27 Weeks Later

2011-05-24T21:14:00.000+09:00

Nope, not a zombie flick. Although it could be a sci-fi...I do have a creature growing inside of me...that's right, I'm 27 weeks pregnant!

Since I'm almost into the third trimester, I thought it was about time that I start to document what I've learned so far:
1) Our baby becomes the size of a new fruit or vegetable every week, this week our wee one is the size of an eggplant (or a head of cauliflower depending on which website you're looking at)! This is darling, and so much healthier sounding than learning that your baby is growing from the length of a Whopper to the length of a king-sized Snickers bar.
2) If you choose to find out the sex of your baby, think long and hard before you tell that information to others, unless you are a big fan of pink=girl and blue=boy. I really wanted to know the sex (not for decorating or clothing purposes - we're having a girl and the nursery is blue), just because I wanted to know. If we were doing it all over again, I would still find out, but either not tell anyone, or tell only immediate friends and family and swear them to secrecy.
3) Think even longer and harder about telling your chosen names to other people, unless you are a big fan of unsolicited opinions (what is it about pregnancy that somehow eliminates people's filters?!) or monogrammed items. Again, if we were starting over, I'd keep my mouth shut.
4) As one of the first couples in our friend circle to enter babyland, it has been incredibly helpful to connect with other moms my age. It is wonderful to have someone who understands that it makes perfect sense that you wanted to fall asleep in your spaghetti during the first trimester, and comes through with registry recommendations in the second trimester. Plus, moms already have the whole patience thing down, so you can barrage them with emails and they don't mind (or at least they don't tell you to shove off).
5) You might have heard that it takes an average of 6 to 12 months to get pregnant? Take that with a grain of salt. It could take more, or no time at all.
6) All of the perks of pregnancy - lush, thick, shiny hair, long nails, and glowing skin? Take that with a grain of salt too. If you were lucky enough to get all of that, I'm very happy for you, but no need to rub it in.
7) Someone needs to come up with a biker-inspired line of maternity clothing. I'm imaging shirts with dainty metal spikes strewn across the belly. This would be SO much easier than glaring at belly-touchers, or coming up with a lame excuse to nicely express what you're really thinking.
8) Despite all of the downfalls of pregnancy, it doesn't get much more amazing than feeling a beansy human doing back-flips in your uterus.

I Love Jeni's Ice Cream So Much...

2011-04-05T08:25:00.002+09:00

...that I even bought a flavor called The Buckeye State. Pretty close to blasphemy for a Michigan fan, but the ice cream just might be worth it. A rich peanut butter base filled with flecks of dark chocolate makes for a killer ice cream sundae when combine with a warm chocolate chip cookie and a drizzle of hot fudge. It's so good you won't even care about the name!

We also tried Dark Chocolate Peppermint earlier in the year, it's one of my very favorite flavor combinations, and Jeni's doesn't disappoint with their version. Unfortunately, unlike The Buckeye State, it is a seasonal flavor, so keep an eye out for it next winter!

I heart prAna.

2011-04-03T04:53:00.000+09:00

I placed my first-ever order from prAna recently (they make super comfy clothes for yoga, climbing...really whatever you want to wear them for) and couldn't be more impressed.

I absolutely love that my items came in an envelope (made from 100% recycled materials) instead of a big box, the product hang tags are made from 100% recycled paper as well, and the hang tags are attached with hair-ties - how fun is that?! And the items themselves? Well they are all that I hoped for and more. Well done prAna.

Sweet Potato Butterscotch Scones

2011-03-01T07:11:00.000+09:00

I had bookmarked this pumpkin scone recipe for a rainy day (or you know, a snowstorm), and on an extra blustery day, I finally got around to making them with sweet potatoes instead of pumpkin.

I baked all of the sweet potatoes I had (5 or 6 smallish ones I think), and once they were tender, I scooped out their plump insides and pureed them. I conveniently ended up 2/3 C sweet potato puree - double what I needed for the recipe, but since the scones were so fantastic I made another batch 2 days later!

My other tiny tweaks to the recipe were:

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
no allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/3 cup soy milk instead of heavy cream
added butterscotch chips before adding the wet ingredients (maybe 1/4 C or so)

These were really really good, so good in fact, I think a third batch is in order!

Hello, Sunshine!

2011-02-17T02:00:00.000+09:00

Yes, there may still be snow outside, but inside it's a tropical paradise. Just look at all of this handpicked and hand-delivered Arizona citrus fruit!! What a wonderful treat!

Thanks ever so much Alice!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-15T08:01:00.001+09:00

I'm happy cuddling up to my sweetheart wherever we are, but in my ideal world, that would be someplace warm, on a beach, looking out at the water. Hey, a girl can dream.

So in the spirit of that, I made Mike a sandcastle cake for Valentine's Day. It is a Tangerine Olive Oil Cake, based on this recipe. I subbed tangerines for blood oranges, and made one and one half times the recipe so I could fill up my bundt pan instead of a loaf pan. I topped it off with a simple orange glaze, and now it's just a matter of waiting to dig in!

Fermented Delight

2011-02-10T23:31:00.000+09:00

Nattō is a traditional Japanese food that people tend to love or hate, there isn't much room for middle ground. It is true that the fermented soybeans have a pungent aroma and a neba neba consistency (really slimy), and there were certainly some really slimy Japanese foods that I'm happy never to eat again - like grated yamaimo.

For some reason though, I loved nattō. And when one of Mike's coworkers recently shared some homemade nattō with us, I couldn't have been more excited for a familiar taste of Japan.

I gave the nattō a quick stir with my chopsticks, added in a bit of mustard, shoyu, and a handful of green onions and piled it all onto a bowl of rice. Delicious!

More Jeni's!

2011-02-08T00:23:00.000+09:00

Wow. This holiday ice cream flavor might rival the White Chocolate Evergreen with a Red Currant Garland for my all-time favorite Jeni's flavor. Granted, it might sound like an odd combination, but the subtle licorice flavor from the star anise combined with the candied fennel made for a fantastic flavor combination. I hope they bring this one back next winter!

We also tried Jeni's Bourbon Buttered Pecan, and while buttered pecan isn't normally a top ice cream choice for me, this had a robust flavor and paired perfectly with the banana dessert I'd made.

Link Love.

2011-02-04T08:33:00.000+09:00

Still looking for Valentine's Day ideas for your sweetheart? These have been all over the internet, but I still can't resist posting them. How darling are these fortune cookie coin purses? What better way to tell your beloved that you feel fortunate to be with them? Every purse is made from recycled leather and features a unique id so you can trace the source of the salvaged leather.

(image from artist's website.)

Or how about a shift from the standard bouquet? Terrain has beautiful blooming options, like my favorite below, the flowering oregano, and they are currently offering free standard shipping on orders over $50 with the code VDAY.

(image from Terrain's website)

My Lucky Day!

2011-02-02T00:08:00.000+09:00

I miss Japan. A lot. One way that I try and stay connected to life there is through my blog friend Kat's blog, Our Adventures in Japan. At the end of January she had a giveaway because she got over 500 followers, and guess who won? Me!!

Needless to say, I was extremely excited, and even more excited when this package showed up on my doorstep - love the Hello Kitty stamps, especially Hello Kitty with the origami cranes (far right stamp).

The anticipation!

And the bounty! Oh my gosh, I was blown away by all of the goodies packed into this box, it was unbelievable!! And Kat sweetly labeled anything that I might have wondered about, which was great, since I haven't tried to read any Japanese in months!

Here are some close-ups of what was in the box - a variety of chocolates and other sweet treats and Hello Kitty band-aids.

Chocolates with mochi, strawberry covered sticks, green tea chocolates, a Hello Kitty towel and Puccho soda candy (blue package). I'm trying to pace myself, so the Puccho soda candy is the only item I've tested so far. Each piece is subtly blue and white striped, and the chewy candy has both little blue gel bits and little white fizzy bits in it, so every bite is a taste and texture sensation. Yum!

Gadgets for making cute bentos, chocolate covered peanuts, a Hello Kitty amulet with Ramune candy, a handkerchief (extra fitting as it is the year of the rabbit!), and a Starbucks "Japan 2011" travel mug. I don't think I ever blogged about it during my time in Japan, but Mike and I collected Starbucks travel mugs from major cities that we visited (each city had their own unique design that captured the highlights of the city). So this is an awesome addition to our collection. Thank you ever so much Kat, what a fabulous giveaway!!

Beer Making: Part 1

2011-01-24T02:04:00.000+09:00

Mike received a beer making kit from the Brooklyn Brew Shop for Christmas, and we were excited to brew up our first batch together - a Chestnut Brown Ale. Although it was all completely new to me (unless watching Brew Masters counts....), Mike had done a little bit of brewing before, so we weren't both newbies! Our set-up in the kitchen was pretty extensive:

Getting started: our mix, roasted and peeled chestnuts, checking the water temperature, and adding in the grain ("mashing in").

Collecting the wort (the liquid from the hot grain mash above). Hana was extremely interested in what was going on, and didn't mind a bit when we accidentally splashed some wort on the floor, she quickly lapped it all up!

We collected about six gallons of wort, boiled it, added in hops and the chestnuts, and after about an hour, set it in an ice bath to cool.

Next we added in yeast, and then had to remain patient for two weeks while the beer fermented. Next up - bottling!

Comfy Time!

2011-01-13T09:34:00.000+09:00

My super talented cousin designed this pattern, and Banana Republic purchased the pattern to use on lounge wear for their 2010 Holiday Collection. How cool is that!?!?

As you can see, I got a pair of pajama bottoms, I love them! Her pattern is also used on a grey over-sized pajama top (I couldn't get my hands on that piece unfortunately). If you want a pair for yourself, the bottoms are on sale for only $15. And thanks to a helpful tip, I learned that you can call any Banana Republic Factory Store, and they'll ship them to you for only $5!

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

2011-01-08T08:23:00.000+09:00

I've mentioned my love of Jeni's ice cream before, and now guess where it's available?! Oh yes, in our grocer's freezer! I'm slowing trying to work my way through all of the flavors (and no, Mike doesn't seem to be complaining about this new quest!)

One of the first up was Oakvale Young Gouda with Vodka Cranberries. The super-cheesy gouda base paired really nicely with the vodka soaked cranberries, they were a perfect complement to each other - but - I couldn't get over the cheesy ice cream taste sensation. Interesting, but not a repeat purchaser.

We also tried the Queen City Cayenne - that one went too quickly to photograph! A rich creamy chocolate base with an intense fiery kick at the end - really unique, but a definitely winner in my book!

Latest Work

2010-12-13T08:51:00.000+09:00

I've shifted away from cards for a bit, and into textiles....

"ripTide"

"Alice Was Right"

and my new name.

Holiday Shopping

2010-12-06T23:10:00.000+09:00

Goodness. I can't believe it has been a month since I've posted! Even with a backlog of photos I've still neglected my little blog...

If you are still working your way through your holiday shopping list, be sure to check out the Dobbin News Holiday Shop with gorgeous knits, jewelry, ornaments, and other lovely items by Wiksten, Lissa, Remade, Fay Andrada, and Odette.

My personal favorite is the Odette Deer Necklace in sterling silver. Just the right amount of holiday to get you in the festive mood!

Pizza Night!

2010-11-07T08:19:00.000+09:00

Have I mentioned lately how much I love pizza? Okay, I have, I know. It's just that it is so versatile and never disappoints. It's like your favorite book - familiar and comforting - only in a delicious edible form. You know it will be good topped with your old standby toppings, but if you're feeling frisky, you can bet it will be good topped with something a little unusual too.

When I saw Lottie + Doof's Garlicky-Sesame-Cured Broccoli Salad, it's probably no surprise that my first thought was - "Ooh, that would be great on a pizza!" My slight tweaks were blanching the broccoli to take the edge off and using umeboshi vinegar instead of red wine vinegar. After sitting for an hour or so, the broccoli salad went on my pizza with a generous amount of smoked mozzarella and more black sesame seeds. It was a different - but delicious - pizza that might just become an old standby.

Fun with Dye

2010-10-28T08:21:00.000+09:00

I had a few items of white clothing that weren't so white anymore, and I had the idea that it would be fun to try and dye them to get a second life out of them. Have you tried looking for Rit dye lately? It's harder than one might think - at least here anyway. I tried craft stores, fabric stores, a hardware store, and big grocery stores, all to no avail.

Thankfully my Mom came through for me, as moms always do, and found some at a hardware store in a different state. Much to Mike's dismay, I had her pick up two different shades of brown for me.

And here are the final results - not exactly perfect matches to the colors on the box, but I'm pretty happy with them nevertheless.

Another Cheddar-Crusted Quiche

2010-10-26T06:24:00.000+09:00

Yup, I was already talking about cheddar-crusted quiche today over at the Real Time Farms blog, and I'm talking about one here too. This one was better though. (Shhhh don't tell Karl and Cara!)

Please excuse the slightly hypnotic coloring. It gets dark around 3 pm or so now in Michigan, so it's pretty much impossible to capture any evening meals without them looking otherworldly. Which I guess is appropriate for the week of Halloween. Everyone have their costumes ready?!

But back to the quiche... This one was filled with fresh eggs, caramelized onions, pickled green beans, Zingerman's burrata (sinfully delicious cheese), and homemade pesto. Delicious!

ArtPrize in Grand Rapids, MI

2010-10-18T22:39:00.000+09:00

ArtPrize: September 22 - October 10

"ArtPrize is a radically open competition. Open to any artist in the world who can find space. Open to anybody in Grand Rapids, Michigan who wants to create a venue. Open to a vote from anyone who attends." Just a few of the many highlights:

Dream Big by Pete Fecteau. This was made entirely out of Rubik's Cubes. 4,242 of them.

Lure/Wave by Beili Liu.

Svetlata by Mia Tavonatti. This is a mosaic. Really.

See? How amazing is that?!

Chihuly: A New Eden

2010-10-11T10:08:00.000+09:00

At the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in Grand Rapids. A stunning exhibition experienced with my mom on a delightfully warm October day.

Kale Bagels

2010-10-04T21:15:00.000+09:00

I'm a big fan of kale chips and potato and kale soup, but sometimes you just need different ways to eat your greens - like in bread products!

Have Cake, Will Travel shared this kale bagel recipe, that I'm pretty sure could convert anyone with an aversion to greens. Plus they weren't as difficult to make as you might imagine - as a first time bagel maker, these turned out beautifully (and deliciously!).

More Pizza - For Breakfast!

2010-09-30T20:57:00.001+09:00

This little beauty is covered in bits of fresh grilled corn and eggplant, soysage, Zingerman's Creamery smoked mozzarella, and a few eggs - and then baked until the eggs are just set. Breakfast is served!

Roasted Veggie Salad

2010-09-27T21:37:00.000+09:00

Inspired by a great lunch over at the Real Time Farms world headquarters, I decided to do something similar for an equally great dinner.

I started with Ree Drummond's Crash Hot Potatoes, and topped them off a a roasted vegetable medley of broccoli, beets, and red pepper, added a can of black beans (drained and rinsed), and tossed all of that with a dollop of Zingerman's Creamery Pimento Cheese, which melted and formed a zesty cheesy sauce.

Proper Pizza

2010-09-23T21:43:00.001+09:00

In Japan, we had "pizza night" once a week for a little taste of home. It certainly satisfied, and was something for us to look forward too, but baking personal sized pizzas topped with mediocre mozzarella in the teeny convection oven was a far cry from what we are able to do now in a regular oven with proper cheese! Hurray for being home!

This one has a base of cilantro and olive oil, topped with tomatoes and Zingerman's Creamery smoked mozzarella.

Cilantro and olive oil base again, topped with green olives, grilled eggplant, and more smoked mozzarella.

Tomato and Corn Pie

2010-09-20T22:34:00.000+09:00

After receiving a plethora of delectable tomatoes from a friend's garden, I was searching all of my favorite food blogs for tomato inspiration, and Smitten Kitchen's Tomato and Corn Pie rose to the top.

A savory biscuit-crusted pie hiding layers of fresh corn, tomatoes, and cheddar cheese - how could I resist?

I didn't! Although our pie had a puddle at the bottom of it (seeding the tomatoes didn't seem to make a difference), I just poured off the liquid, and it still tasted fine.

More than fine actually as I went back for seconds!

Fun With Paint: Part II

2010-09-03T08:43:00.000+09:00

With Mike busy this evening, I decided to be productive and start prepping for the next painting project that we'd planned to tackle this weekend. After all, that's what long holiday weekends are for, right?!........ I was happily listening to a podcast, unscrewing items from the wall and patching holes, when I removed one outlet cover and a chunk of paint came with it.

And by chunk I mean a huge sheet of paint. This paint thinks it is wallpaper.

So now we have a couple of taupe walls and a vibrant peach wall in a bathroom unsuccessfully prepped for painting. I think I need sandpaper. And reinforcements. So, I've decided that productivity is overrated and that a beer and some bad television sounds like a better plan for the night.

Walnut Fruit Butter Cake

2010-09-02T21:00:00.005+09:00

My grandmother is a big fan of putting nuts in cookies and all other types of baked goods. I on the other hand, am not. It's not that I don't like nuts (I do!), and there certainly are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part I think they just throw off the texture of most goodies.

But when I saw Smitten Kitchen's Walnut Jam Cake recipe, I was pretty sure that I'd found a happy compromise. The toasted walnuts are finely chopped, lending a delicious nutty flavor to the cake, without disrupting the cake's soft texture. I made the recipe exactly as printed, except I substituted my homemade blueberry butter for the suggested jam topping. I think it was a hit, as my grandmother went back for seconds!

Pasta with Fresh Corn and Snow Pea Pesto

2010-08-30T21:00:00.003+09:00

More corn! It's just so hard to top Michigan sweet corn, I can't get enough of it! (Don't forget to check Real Time Farms to see where you can pick up some corn for yourself!)

Pasta with Fresh Corn and Snow Pea Pesto
(adapted slightly from Lottie + Doof, who adapted it from the August 2010 issue of Bon Appétit)

soysage of choice (I used half a package of Gimme Lean! Ground Sausage Style)
4 cups fresh corn kernels (cut from about 6 large ears)
1 cup chopped snow peas
2 - 4 large garlic cloves, minced (When it comes to garlic, I'm a big believer in "go big or go home!")
1 1/4 teaspoons coarse kosher salt
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (I used about half of this, go by what tastes good to you)
8 ounces pasta

Cook soysage in large nonstick skillet over medium heat with a little bit of olive oil until browned, stirring often. Remove soysage from the pan and set aside. Add corn, snow peas, garlic, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Sauté over medium-high heat until corn is just tender but not brown, about 4 minutes.

Transfer 1 1/2 cups of the corn and snow pea mixture to a small bowl and reserve. Scrape remaining corn and snow pea mixture into processor. Add 1/2 cup Parmesan and pine nuts. With machine running, add olive oil through feed tube and blend until pesto is almost smooth. Set pesto aside.

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain, reserving 1 1/2 cups pasta cooking liquid. Return pasta to pot. Add corn and snow pea pesto, soysage, and the reserved corn and snow peas. Toss pasta mixture over medium heat until warmed through, adding reserved pasta cooking liquid by 1/4 cupfuls to thin to desired consistency, 2 to 3 minutes. Season pasta to taste with salt and pepper, and top with additional grated Parmesan.

Blueberry Corn Salad

2010-08-27T02:05:00.000+09:00

Before blueberries are completely gone for the season, I'd recommend making this refreshing summery Blueberry Corn Salad from Shutterbean. I served it with salt and pepper pan-fried tofu, lime sour cream, and a dollop of guac.

And I've been absent for so long that I missed my 2 year blogiversary! Sigh. Happy belated birthday Herban Girl!

Make Your Veggies Famous with Real Time Farms!

2010-08-04T01:39:00.001+09:00

Today marks the launch of our "Make Your Veggies Famous" video! Please take a couple of minutes to click the link and watch it, after all, when is the last time you saw a skateboarding watermelon?!

This video kicks off our 5 photo campaign to get 5 photos of every farmers' market and farm across the country, and we'd love your help! We'd really appreciate it if you would share this video with your friends and family so we can get everyone involved in building a nationwide, LIVE, local food guide full of colorful, engaging photos of what's fresh now!

Good News!

2010-08-01T22:44:00.001+09:00

Nagoya is slightly less expensive than it was last year! Among the world's most expensive cities, it has moved down one whole spot to #4! Perhaps it's time to go back for a visit??

(Photo and info courtesy of BusinessWeek)

Five Years

2010-07-29T20:47:00.041+09:00

Today marks our five year wedding anniversary, and due to momentous events like moving back to the States, buying a house, fixing up the house, etc etc, the only trip we'll be taking to celebrate is a trip down memory lane!

We went on our honeymoon early, before getting married, and spent a week in Paris. The temperatures were unusually cold - the Eiffel Tower and Montmartre cemetery both closed due to "ice" and "snow" for a couple days, and we had to sleep in our coats and hats to stay warm. But seeing The Gates of Hell covered in snow at the Rodin Museum, having a snowball fight on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles, and enjoying fantastic (yet cheap) daily meals of cheese, wine, and fresh baguettes all helped to make it a wonderful and memorable week.

So we're celebrating tonight with wee glasses of Farigoule, a thyme flavored liqueur that we enjoyed in Paris, and got a hold of recently thanks to some help from a friend. Here's to five wonderful years and many more to come!

Dog Neurosis

2010-07-28T07:47:00.000+09:00

Hana the Wonder Pup has taken her um 'unique' tendencies to a whole new level. Although she seemingly loves her new food, and eats her meals with a gusto we've never seen before, she has started to fling the dark bits of kibble out of her bowl and litters the kitchen floor with them. Finicky much? Perhaps this is karmic payback for my "I'm not eating anything if it's not a cheeseburger or grilled cheese" phase of my childhood...

The Spice of Life

2010-07-07T21:45:00.000+09:00

We have been spice-less in the kitchen since moving back from Japan. That is a long time to go without even pepper in the cupboards, but we've been too busy to cook on a consistent basis, and when we have, it has been really simple meals.

Last night we went grocery shopping, and I finally picked up a couple spices. Which one was I talking to in the aisle of the grocery store (yes, I did get a funny look from a passerby-er) professing to it how much I had missed it? Jane's Krazy Mixed-Up Salt. Mmmmmmmm

Paint By Number

2010-07-01T22:21:00.000+09:00

This is what happens when two people with very different ideas regarding color try to pick out paint. Maybe we should just stick with the mosaic effect....

Home

2010-06-30T21:08:00.000+09:00

Every day we are getting a few more boxes unpacked, and our house is starting to feel more like our...

Squash Blossom Quesadillas

2010-06-28T21:37:00.000+09:00

These quesadillas are filled with feta stuffed squash blossoms, oyster mushrooms, and habanero cheese. Delicious! And check out the recipe for the israeli couscous over at the Real Time Farms blog.

Purple Peppermint Patty

2010-06-11T09:32:00.000+09:00

How fun is my new ring?! My super talented friend Cara helped me create this one, but you can pick up one of her original creations for yourself over at Sweet Plum Vintage.

Under My Feet Again

2010-06-10T06:51:00.001+09:00

Under My Feet

2010-06-08T06:51:00.000+09:00

You can also now find me blogging at Real Time Farms' blog - join me for delicious seasonal recipes and fun updates on what's to come for Real Time Farms!

Ummm

2010-06-07T21:51:00.000+09:00

Simply Satisfying

2010-06-05T21:57:00.003+09:00

Burritos filled with avocado, habanero cheese, and mashed black beans (drained, rinsed, and heated with a little olive oil and garlic) with a side of jicama and cumber salad (dressed with lemon juice, olive oil, basil, salt and pepper). Best consumed on a porch while people watching with a cold beer.

More Milwaukee

2010-06-03T22:00:00.001+09:00

Milwaukee

2010-06-02T09:44:00.000+09:00

Down to Earth

2010-05-29T21:11:00.003+09:00

Too Good For Words

2010-05-28T07:02:00.000+09:00

Okay, maybe just a few words. Only enough to tell you that these soba noodles with aubergine and mango are so fantastically delicious that you should go make them. Immediately.

Hopeful Home

2010-05-25T21:27:00.000+09:00

I've been holding off on posting about this until our house inspection was over - and now that it is, if everything else continues to go well, this will be our home on June 15th!

(To envision it as I see it in my head, just imagine it without the faux shutters,

different landscaping...ah, the never-ending list begins!!)

Meal Planning Convo

2010-05-21T21:16:00.001+09:00

Me: What sounds good for dinner tonight?
Mike: Whatever.
Me: How about breakfast for dinner?
Mike: Like eggs?
Me: Yeah, and maybe potatoes?
Mike: Sounds great!

Mike: Um. You said we were having eggs and potatoes for dinner....
Me: *confused* Right....this is eggs and potatoes...
Mike: *shakes head* Looks delicious hon.

Sweet Gem Confections

2010-05-20T01:35:00.000+09:00

I went to the A2 Farmers Market this morning to take some pictures for Real Time Farms, and I was struck by how lovely these gourmet chocolates and truffles were at Sweet Gem Confections' stall.

Once I got home and started reading the flavors I started kicking myself for being too wrapped up in photographing the little goodies to make a purchase. Pear with pink peppercorn, fresh mint, and rhubarb with cardamom?! I have to go back!

Home for Now

2010-05-14T20:53:00.000+09:00

We're in a cozy B&B while we search for someplace a bit more permanent. The only thing missing is our pooch.

Seen on Our Last Day in Japan

2010-05-12T20:52:00.000+09:00

Deliciously Familiar

2010-05-11T01:35:00.000+09:00

Nothing says "Welcome back home to Ann Arbor" quite like a margarita at Prickly Pear.

Stateside!

2010-05-07T09:41:00.000+09:00

Sooooo happy to be back in the US with family and friends, but I didn't expect to be so drained from house hunting...

(Cute, eh? Photo found here)

Farewell Parties

2010-04-27T11:54:00.000+09:00

The goodbye parties are in full swing. Lots of speeches, crazy drinks, and a mix of emotions. We've had celebrations this past Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and were thankful for a bit of a break to finish up packing and do a thorough apartment cleaning before our last party on Wednesday night.

Vietnamese Seitan Dip

2010-04-19T08:13:00.000+09:00

The full title of this beauty is Vietnamese Seitan Baguette with Savory Broth Dip, from one of my favorite cookbooks, Veganomicon. Seitan, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, and a really fantastic dipping sauce combine to make one addicting sandwich! If you'd like to try it for yourself, I found the entire recipe posted here.

Mochi-licious

2010-04-17T08:08:00.000+09:00

We've been trying to pass on remaining odds and ends (like furniture, a space heater, a vacuum etc) to friends and coworkers, and have successfully cleared out almost everything that we need to get rid of. When one of Mike's colleagues came over this week with his wife and new daughter to pick up a few items, they brought sweet treats for us. The one on the left is a strawberry wrapped in mochi and was not only pretty, but tasty too. Thanks to a recent entry by the fabulous Kat over at Our Adventures in Japan, I knew that the one on the right was a Kansai (Western Japan) style sakura mochi. The combination of the salty leaf and sweet bean paste with the mochi was really surprisingly good!

Moving Sale

2010-04-15T12:04:00.000+09:00

We're busy sorting and packing, and the same goes for my cards, so it's time for a Moving Sale! Head on over to my shop, songbird notes, and I will match your purchase with an equal number of mystery cards for FREE!! Buy 2 cards and I'll surprise you with an extra 2 cards, buy 4 cards and I'll surprise you with an extra 4 cards!! Don't delay, this offer is only good for one week!

Gah 2.0

2010-04-14T08:47:00.000+09:00

Back in the fall, I mentioned that my wedding rings were causing my fingers to break out in a red itchy rash. I had hoped that rhodium plating would solve the problem for a couple years at a time, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be the case. It has only been about 4 months (almost to the day!) after getting them plated in the States during the holidays that they've started irritating my fingers again. So at some point in the near future I'm going to have to get a new wedding ring, which is disappointing to say the least.

Sayonara Sakura

2010-04-12T09:51:00.000+09:00

It is almost the end of cherry blossom season here. Even the slightest breeze has been knocking the remaining petals off in a flurry of pale pink 'snow,' and the constant rain today certainly won't help either. But it has been a beautiful couple of weeks, and we've tried to soak up every last glimpse with walks in the neighborhood, hanami (flower viewing parties), and a final trip to Kyoto this past weekend.

Fun Finds

2010-04-08T13:38:00.000+09:00

Sometimes it's the little things that are the most exciting. In this case, I'm pretty excited about my recent purchase of an ice ball maker from Muji. Yes, all it does is make a spherical chunk of ice, but think of the possibilities!

I remembered these Halloween ideas I saw on notmartha.org and think I could come up with all sorts of ideas for different holidays. Wouldn't just a few lemon slices or a big fat strawberry suspended in a ball of ice be pretty too?!

(photos from notmartha.org)

Cravings

2010-04-06T08:32:00.000+09:00

Before living in Japan we ate rice occasionally, but it wasn't a huge part of our diet. As you might imagine, that changed after we moved here, and I now wonder how I ever lived without a rice cooker. Since our rice cooker is packed up, I'm finding that I'm craving rice even more (yes, I know, I could cook it on the stove, but I'm lazy, and plus I don't want to buy a big bag of rice when I'm trying to clear out my pantry). So lately we've been picking up tempura vegetables, tsukemono (Japanese pickles), and rice for dinner. In fact, I think I might have to go pick up some more for lunch today...

Empty

2010-04-04T13:49:00.000+09:00

Plum Perfect

2010-03-30T11:10:00.000+09:00

It's not unusual to spot older women here that have purple hair, and whether it is intentional or accidental, from subtle shades to more vibrant hues, I find the look striking and fantastic.

P.S. Everything worked out okay with the meeting today regarding Mike's accident, so we are still headed back to the States on schedule. Yay!

oof.

2010-03-28T17:40:00.000+09:00

It's been a challenging week. Mike has promised to fully cover the drama over on his blog very soon, so the abbreviated version is that Mike got into a small car accident this week, he has been shamed in a variety of ways by his company, and as a result our stay could be extended into the summer. Needless to say, we've both been grumpy and anxious, but there is nothing we can do other than to wait, we won't know more until Tuesday when the police decide the outcome of the case.

So to cheer ourselves up this weekend, we decided to have a slumber party. We made a big bed in the living room, and have spent most of the weekend camped out with books, movies, and popcorn. Nothing like embracing your inner 7 year old to help cheer you up a bit.

And hugs and positive thoughts from friends near and far certainly help too!

Weekend Travels

2010-03-24T10:53:00.000+09:00

This past weekend we went to the city of Ise to visit Ise Jingu (the Ise Grand Shrine), which is arguably the most sacred Shinto shrine in Japan, because it is said to contain a sacred mirror - one of three sacred items given to the first emperor by the gods. The grounds of Naiku (the Inner Shrine) were really lovely, but it was extremely crowded everywhere we went. I apparently still have not learned the lesson that it is better to avoid traveling during Japanese holidays unless you are a fan of massive crowds and seemingly never-ending traffic jams.

This was the line to get up to the main buildings of the Inner Shrine, but since it is such an important and holy site, visitors are not allowed inside. So all of these people are waiting to get up to the gate to pay their respects and pray. You really can't see much more than the roofs of the main buildings from the gate, they are mostly hidden behind tall wooden fences. Despite the crowds, we did manage to do a little shopping. We picked up the two organic beers (on the right) on a little winding shopping street that led to and from the Ise Grand Shrine.

From there we headed to Biyagura, one of Ise Kadoya Microbrewery's restaurants, where we had dinner and then stocked up on a few additional beers to take back with us (the other five on the left). We were lucky to meet the owner, because after we babbled on about our favorite craft brewers in the States and our love of IPAs, he deemed us worthy and brought out one of his Imperial India Pale Ales for us to purchase from his secret stash!

Spring Spring Spring

2010-03-22T10:24:00.000+09:00

I am giddy from sunshine and blossoms!

Kraut Konvert

2010-03-19T08:32:00.001+09:00

I finally got around to making reuben sandwiches again (last time wasn't an overwhelming success), and this time the vegan corned beef turned out really well. What really made the sandwiches though was the sauerkraut. I've never been a huge fan of sauerkraut, even my husband's Polish heritage and my increased exposure to it didn't help. I just didn't understand the big draw. That is until I made my own using this recipe, and I realized how good it can be! I'll still pass on the stuff from a can or jar, but the homemade kraut was so good, I made it again the very next day. Now I just need to figure out how to liven up cabbage rolls...

Boxes

2010-03-17T10:42:00.000+09:00

The shipping company dropped off a number of boxes and packing supplies this morning. We have less than a month and a half left here, and the countdown is feeling more and more real.

Baird Brewing Company

2010-03-15T15:43:00.000+09:00

This past weekend, to celebrate Mike's 30th birthday (!), we went to Numazu to visit Baird Beer's Numazu Fishmarket Taproom. I first learned of the craft brewery and pub from this blog, and their rave reviews were spot-on. Microbrews (especially good ones) aren't always easy to find in Japan, and even though it was a bit of a drive to get there, it was completely worth it, Baird Beer is fantastic!

They have a huge selection to choose from, and I liked every one that I tasted, but my favorite was probably the Morning Coffee Stout. So good. I also loved the beer descriptions, particularly the one for the Obatarian Strong English Ale. I laughed out loud in the pub as I read it. And if you are in Japan, but can't make it to Numazu or Tokyo, you are still in luck. They have an on-line shop where you can order their regular and seasonal beer selections and get them shipped right to your door!

Missed Opportunities

2010-03-09T09:59:00.000+09:00

There are a couple of spots in our neighborhood that I pass by on a regular basis, and at every passing I've thought that I should get a picture of it, but haven't. Either I didn't have my camera with me at the moment, or thought that I'd wait until the sun came out, or I was in a hurry, or whatever other excuse struck me at the moment.

One of these spots was this set of stairs. They belonged to a nearby empty apartment building that had been abandoned for so long the steps were completely covered by a thick layer of ivy. I loved it. It was like nature was reclaiming a few square feet of her territory. But the building was slated for demolition, and was wrapped up like a package with white tarp (pulled apart here for me to snap the photo), and the ivy was stripped away. Now the building is completely gone, and after letting countless opportunities go by to get the image I wanted, I've (hopefully) learned my lesson, and will remember to snap a picture the first time I see something that strikes me.

Garbanzo Bean Cakes with Caper Yogurt Sauce

2010-03-07T08:03:00.007+09:00

This recent dinner featured stir-fried lotus root with a recipe for garbanzo bean cakes from Jessica at the Seaweed Snacks blog. The cakes paired with the caper yogurt sauce were really tasty, and the only change I made was to use two cups of carrots instead of a mix of carrots and fennel. She has so many fantastic looking recipes, I only wish I'd been introduced to her blog sooner. Now I'm actually hoping for more turnips in our veggie box so I can test out her caramelized turnip tart next!

bumbershoot

2010-03-05T14:17:00.000+09:00

Working on a new line of cheeky cards, starting with these. They cover all sorts of oopses, from a missed birthday, to a "gee that stinks" moment, all the way up to a "gosh, sorry I was an idiot" occasion.

Ginger Quinoa Muffins

2010-03-04T08:22:00.003+09:00

This was an emergency breakfast - emergency as in we had absolutely nothing in the house suitable to eat for breakfast and I had to make do with what we had. So I made these muffins. Next time I think I would use only all-purpose flour, as the gritty whole wheat flour I used made them taste very healthy (too much so) and they got a little crumbly after a day or two. When topped with a generous dollop of homemade strawberry-rhubarb jam (thanks to my fabulous foodie aunt and uncle) they were a satisfying start to the day, and good enough to make again even on non-emergency days!

Ginger Quinoa Muffins
Adapted from Everyday Food
(Sharing the recipe exactly as I made it, but would recommend using only all-purpose flour)

1 cup quinoa, rinsed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup yuzu honey

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup soy milk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan, bring quinoa and 1 cup water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer; cover, and cook until water has been absorbed and quinoa is tender, 11 to 13 minutes.

Meanwhile, brush a standard 12-cup muffin pan with oil; dust with flour, tapping out excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground ginger, nutmeg and 2 cups cooked quinoa; reserve any leftover quinoa for another use.

In a small bowl, whisk together oil, soy milk, honey, egg, and fresh ginger. Add this mixture to the flour mixture, and stir just until combined; divide batter among prepared muffin cups.

Bake until toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Cool muffins in pan, 5 minutes; transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 5 days.

Tofu Pudding & Package Exchange

2010-03-02T11:33:00.001+09:00

This tastes like you'd expect it to - the first bite anyway is definitely an "Oh! That sure is tofu!" taste sensation. But with every subsequent bite I enjoyed it more and more, enough so that the following day I polished off the second cup in the package that I had meant to save for Mike....

And if you aren't familiar with oh, hello friend's blog, you should check it out, especially because right now you can sign up to participate in 2010 lovely package exchange. Danni's description of her exchange "i started the lovely package exchange as a way for the blog community to get involved with one another. my hope in the exchange is for you to make new friends with fellow bloggers and express creativity in sending a really thoughtful lovely package." The participate limit is 350 and it is already starting to get pretty close to that, so head on over and sign up right now!

Seeing Japan with Lowell Thomas

2010-02-28T08:07:00.001+09:00

You might have noticed the cover of the Seeing Japan with Lowell Thomas book in my Gifts post last month. It was an especially thoughtful Christmas gift from an aunt and uncle. They found it for us in an antique store, and it appears that it was a Christmas gift in its first lifetime too, as there is a yellowed piece of tissue paper between the pages that reads, "Merry Christmas Gordon - From Eric and Shirley." I love it when used books have little glimpses of previous owners! The book also has this little airplane cutout stuck in it - it has been there for such a long time that it has stained a 'shadow' of the plane onto the pages.

The book was published in 1937, and it made for a really fascinating read, as a lot about life here has changed, but a lot is still very much the same. One thing that has apparently changed is the location of Nagoya...

(Kidding. The map is just incorrect in a couple of spots.)

There are a number of interesting passages, too many to share, but one of my favorites referenced torii, the gates you see at the entrance to a Shinto shrine (although you sometimes see them at Buddhist temples too). According to Wikipedia the true origins of the torii are unknown, and although there are a number of theories, none of them have been universally accepted. The kanji characters for these gates literally mean "bird perch," and as a bird lover, I love the explanation in the book, that torii "were originally perches for song birds where they might sing for the gods at sunrise" [p26].

Salad Pizza

2010-02-26T09:13:00.000+09:00

Depending on your point of view, this might look like either a) a hot mess or b) delicious. I can assure you that it was the later. The base of the pizza was a white bean and roasted garlic spread topped with mozzarella (the cheese was surprisingly extraneous, I think I'll omit it next time), and baked until melty. Then a salad of greens, roasted red peppers, green olives and pan-seared cherry tomatoes and avocado chunks were all tossed with a little lemon juice and olive oil and were layered on top of the pizza just before serving. Yum.

Basil Infused Olive Oil Cupcakes with White Wine

2010-02-24T08:27:00.001+09:00

I'd promised Mike awhile ago, okay months ago, that I'd try and start baking something once a week. Let's just say that I haven't stuck to that commitment very well, but when I stumbled upon Cupcake Project's blog this weekend my motivation quickly returned. How could it not with gems like Absinthe Cupcakes, Tomato Cupcakes (prize-winning!), and Basil Infused Olive Oil Cupcakes with White Wine?!

The cupcakes I decided to try first certainly didn't disappoint. The basil flavor didn't shine through as much as I'd hoped, but I think that was just due to the sad and droopy state of my basil. The wine flavor was subtle but nice - it was the olive oil that really was the star of the show, and since I love olive oil I thought they were really tasty!

Corecolle

2010-02-22T15:26:00.001+09:00

Corecolle is an antique store/resale shop nearby our home that we've driven by a number of times, and had been meaning to venture into for quite some time.

(photo from their website - the USA is now gone, but it looks just as funky!

At least I'm fairly certain it is gone - could I possibly have missed a giant USA due to the huge quantity of stuff outside...?)

Two weekends ago we checked it out, and were almost overwhelmed. The store has two floors, both of which are just packed to the brim with furniture, knickknacks, pottery, artwork, clothing, and even a large selection of English books, all packed into little segmented spaces and rooms. It is one of those places that we wish we'd discovered earlier so we could have shared it with guests, because I think it is almost impossible to leave without finding something you'd like to take home with you, and the items are much more reasonably prices than other resale shops we've been in. We did find an item that we were both pretty taken with, but decided to sleep on it and come back if it was still talking to us. It did, so we went back on Friday afternoon to rescue it.

(photo from their website)

This is one of the most interesting rooms in the shop, an all white "upside down" room, that we'd noticed on our first visit (how could you not?). While there this weekend, we (really just Mike) chatted with one of the employees, and he asked us if would be willing to pose for a shoot in their upside down room. We said that we would, and arranged to come back the following day when their photographer would be in. The room was cleared of merchandise, and the photographer told us that the photos would be "free style" - we could pose however we wanted to. Although we were both initially a bit unsure of what to do, we loosened up and had more fun as we went along, and each came up with some fun ideas. Mike posed us for a timing shot, we both sat on the floor (ceiling) and he tossed a ball up (down) in the air as the photographer captured it, and I posed us on our hands and knees looking down (up) at the floor (ceiling). Anyway, it made for a fun afternoon, and the final results will be posted in the shop for other Nagoyans to enjoy!

Sending Smiles

2010-02-18T08:12:00.003+09:00

Winter can be be a tough time to stay upbeat, especially after getting to spend the holidays with friends and family, and then knowing it will be months before you get to see them again. So you can imagine how awesome it was to get a package this week with loads of sugary goodness and a gorgeous handmade scarf! I've been wrapping myself up to stay warm and to surround myself with the love and care that went into making it.

Gorgeous Getaway

2010-02-16T08:10:00.001+09:00

This past weekend we enjoyed a night at Sugishima onsen in Itadori Village in Gifu. Our first trip there was in June of last year, and one of the staff recommended that we return in February to enjoy the snow on the mountains. We obviously followed up on her recommendation, and I'm so glad we did. It was the perfect way to beat the winter blues.

The inn is really lovely. The halls are lined with antiques, and the complex seems to go on and on, with twisting hallways leading to rooms and private dining rooms. The inn has newly opened public baths, as well as 2 private baths that can be reserved, and a couple of the rooms have their own private bath as well. In the winter (from early December to mid-March) there is a free shuttle bus from Gifu station, which is a really nice option. It was less than $5 (USD) for each of us to get from Nagoya station to Gifu station on the train, and then with the free bus ride we were able to relax and read for the hour and twenty minute ride instead of worrying about whether we'd need to put snow chains on our tires.

The staff is really friendly, and some speak English, so it is pretty easy to call and get a reservation. They also sent us a map in the mail ahead of time showing us where to find the shuttle bus, and it was covered with English notes - really thoughtful. They are happy to accommodate different diets, so I didn't have to worry about whether any of the dishes are vegetarian, and the food is fantastic and plentiful - worth the trip for that alone in my opinion. So if you are in the area, take a holiday at Sugishima onsen!

Winter Olympics

2010-02-14T11:06:00.000+09:00

We watched the opening ceremony yesterday and were struck by the Japanese competitors carrying both the Japanese and the Canadian flags. It seems like such a nice message. Showing pride for their own country, but also acknowledging and showing respect for the host country.

Simply the Best

2010-02-11T09:15:00.000+09:00

My husband is so fantastic. He has dubbed this "Valentine's Week" (kind-of like "Birthday Week" - why limit the festivities to just one day!) and has surprised me with a fridge full of good beer one day and a gorgeous bouquet of flowers the next. Is there a better combo for professing your love? I think not. Swoon.

Super Bowl XLIV

2010-02-09T09:57:00.001+09:00

I tried again (unsuccessfully) this year to watch the Super Bowl, but M was able to watch the highlights after work, and I did find USA Today's Ad Meter which let us watch all of the commercials. I have to say though, I wasn't really blown away by any of them this year. Were there any that you really liked?

The Betty White Snickers ad was pretty cute, and the Doritos one with the dog putting the shock collar on the owner was amusing, but that was pretty much it for me. However I am getting excited for the Alice in Wonderland movie to come out, and I really really really excited about the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal. Yes, I am fully aware of my nerdiness, and completely embrace it, thank you. Mock me all you want over a Butterbeer.

Vegan Macaroni and Cheese

2010-02-07T08:53:00.001+09:00

It's been snowing off and on all this past week (?!?!), which means we've been holing up and craving warm comfort foods (again). I noticed this mac 'n' cheese recipe on The Kind Life, and adapted it slightly to round it out for more of a complete meal.

The recipe called for a lot of oil, so I reduced that to 2 tablespoons. I used penne noodles, and I also added in a few handfuls of chopped greens to the pasta right before I drained it, and then tossed it with the sauce and some white beans, and sprinkled a few pine nuts on top. Obviously since it is vegan, it isn't going to taste like "regular" mac 'n' cheese, but if you are already a fan of nooch (nutritional yeast) or are up for trying something new, I'd recommend it. And yes, we really did eat our mac with chopsticks. Nom nom nom.