Not the greatest pictures, still need to find the proper setting!
there is lace in some of the cream colored ones!
how pretty would these be bunched and pinned on a cardigan, on a necklace, in your hair, on a ribbon belt! ooooh the possibilities!! one thing i might do to make my mundane office environment more lovely would be to string them on a garland in colors of my office (coffee, merlot, gold, cherry wood, chocolate brown, cream)! see the inspiration below!
I'll be making more variety in the next few weeks, yay!!
*tutorial here if you are interested in making your own!
ahhh perhaps i smell a new weekly feature coming along! since i'm not cool enough to have random followers, you all know that i am a wine-o. an EXTREME {cheap, tasty, did i mention cheap?} wine enthusiast, if you will. (Thanks, Papi)
usually, i indulge on the cheaper side (pregames don't call for classy broads), but occasionally i'll mooch off Papi for an nicer bottle...
anyway, this week i'll start with my very favorite.
Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc - a constant value and a constant top 100 wine from Wine Spectator. i found this last week at Costco for 11.95 a bottle, genius. Tasting Notes from their website:
this is perfect. PERFECT. if i was getting married tomorrow, Fig and Blush would be my colors and this would be my PERFECT bouquet. who cares if it doesn't match with my skin color? completely erroneous.
Last night's din consisted of more chimichurri deliciousness! follow the recipe from yesterday (double or triple for more! taste as you go!) to get started! Cumin rubbed Steak
3 lbs flank steak - i forget the REAL name for it. good thing i'm so descriptive.....flat steak.
Goya Mojo sauce (int'l section of the grocery store...hispanic foods)
cumin
s&p
rub the cumin, s&p into the steak and place in a big ziploc or dish - pour liberal amounts of Mojo sauce on top. Marinate for as long as you like (2 hrs for me!) grilling instructions: find them yourself. pan-searing instructions: put some evoo on the bottom of the pan and heat - place steak in and cook about 3 minutes per side if the steak is an inch and a half thick for a pink middle. remove steak once done to your liking, and let it sit for a few before you start cutting it, let the juices settle.
Brown Rice with Red Peppers and Cucumbers
1 cup brown rice
2.5 cups fat free reduced sodium chicken broth
1 cup red bell peppers - roasted (s&p, evoo, diced peppers in glass baking dish for 30 mins on 375 should do the trick)
1 cup diced cucumbers
s&p
1/3 cup evoo
2 lemons - zest and juice
a few sprigs of green onion - chopped (use both green and white parts)
reduced fat or fat free feta cheese - if you please :)
boil chicken broth, add rice, reduce to simmer for 40 mins or until cooked through. in another bowl whisk together lemon juice and some zest, green onions, evoo, s&p. Add peppers and cucumbers. let sit while rice cooks. add rice, stir, yay it's done! so simple! don't forget to top with yummy reduced fat feta cheese! can be served hot, warm or cold :)
this makes me happy, i hope it makes you happy too! it's so simple, and so worth the ridic 40 minute wait for the rice!
This meal was to.die.for. and it doesn't get much healthier!
White, flaky, wild caught fish - baked - and quinoa...a superfood! Throw in veggies, beans, and a ton of fresh herbs - what more could you ask for??
Recipes:
1 lb of Atlantic Cod
evoo
s&p
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. lightly s&p the fish, sprinkle some evoo over the top and place in a cooking dish. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the filets. When it turns a solid white, it's done. Don't overcook this flaky goodness!
1/3 cup red wine vinegar (i used rice vinegar, didn't have red wine - couldn't tell the difference)
2 garlic cloves, peeled (i used way more..probs 6 or 7.)
3/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and wa-la!
Spicy Black Bean and Quinoa Salad (adapted from here):
3/4 cup red quinoa (rice/couscous section of the store...)
1 1/2 cups water (double whatever amount of quinoa you use)
Juice and zest of one lime, about 1.5-2 oz. juice, and 1-2 teaspoons zest
Kosher or sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 scallions, thinly sliced (white and green parts)
1 cup chopped red bell pepper (yellow and orange work well too!)
1 can cooked black beans
1/2 cup picked fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (i think i used more...i LOVE cilantro)
Bring the quinoa and water to a boil in a small saucepan. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
In a large serving bowl, whisk the lime juice with the zest, a pinch or two of salt, the chili powder, chipotle powder, and the cumin. Add the olive oil and whisk until the dressing comes together.
Add the quinoa to the dressing and toss. Add the scallions, red peppers, black beans, and cilantro and toss well to combine. Garnish with additional cilantro and lime zest, if desired.
the texture of this meal is unreal, and it tastes even better than it looks! definitely a repeat!
i suggest a fruity white wine as a pairing....sauvignon blanc (my personal fav!) from the Marlborough district of New Zealand is ALWAYS a winner in my book.
can't read her joker faceeeee 50 lbs of pure athleticism - unlike her momma weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! only sienna would swim in the ocean in the winter....
i mentioned that i'd blog about these flowers long ago - and here you go!
i've been feelin' kinda crafty recently and made these little fabric flowers as hair clips, headbands, brooches...and well, whatever you want really :) i made quite a few for my cousins over christmas and actually remembered to take pictures!
i'd write up a tutorial, but lets face it, i don't even know how i make them. i just "sew" (i wouldn't exactly call it sewing....i have no talent...and i did most of it while watching tv...) little beads on layers of circles - and flower petal shapes - of organza and fabric. i burn the edges to prevent them from fraying! it's fun!
thats most of them - most have alligator clips or bobby pins on the back - but really they can be on headbands or pins or belts too! (sorry for such a shiny picture - organza doesn't photograph well - maybe on the new camera!?!?)
or in sienna's case - a collar! cutie pie is such a ham.
