tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46162108640595132002012-01-30T02:01:05.739-05:00from the rice paddy to your paddy ...Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.comBlogger5561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-27258712379849754552012-01-23T00:12:00.085-05:002012-01-23T00:12:00.856-05:00

january has been lovely so far. seriously lovely. i mean, blustery winds and frigid cold aside. warm blankets. crocheting. knee high socks. eskimo kisses. and birthdays. celebrating birthdays are always fun, uncomplicated family time, time well spent in my opinion. for a beloved cousin one weekend we gathered together, capturing moments of unbridled laughter, maybe even some good natured

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-35132994832338842042012-01-17T00:12:00.000-05:002012-01-17T00:12:01.001-05:00

over the weekend i spent time cleaning ~ the abode, the fridge; the type of frenzied cleaning that occurs prior to a big trip. a big pot of homemade chicken stock simmered gently on the stove, a bowl of soaked spelt flour in the corner quietly sat, while the outside temperature dipped to a chilling 20F. the kitchen window fogged up from the sink-full of hot dishwater, the counter top speckled

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-32478539318355813042012-01-12T00:12:00.001-05:002012-01-21T11:45:57.291-05:00

when i sit in the kitchen, whether it is to do a bit work on the laptop or listen to NPR while dw brews my cup of tea, i almost always prefer the back door open, no matter the temperature outside. not that the cold weather makes much difference, thru the tiny cracks and edges of the door a brisk wind flows thru to caress & lift the hair from my neck or send shivers up my legs as it touches my

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-39489122072117787812012-01-09T00:12:00.078-05:002012-01-21T11:47:32.915-05:00

the thick layers of wool and flannel i've been wrapped up in tells me that Winter is well & here. it has been particularly bitter and brutal these last days, we awoke to 19F this week, the darkness clinging to our lashes, foreboding and cold. i spent time in the kitchen, with the oven or stove top on, in an effort to keep warm while still preparing an honest table to share with my love. the

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-88281638371212518152012-01-05T00:12:00.195-05:002012-01-05T00:12:00.999-05:00

it is a new year. last year, 2011 came in quiet, maybe even a little reluctant. it turned out to be a good year. no. it turned out to be a sort of grace, my saving grace. 2012 also came in quiet and with it, comes a joyful hope that all my blessings will continue to multiply. if it is selfish for me to wish for even better tidings for myself and for those whom i hold dear, then so be it.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-75411030225804521812011-12-29T00:12:00.013-05:002011-12-29T00:12:00.363-05:00

confessions ~dw & i did not celebrate xmas. he's not big on the holiday and since i don't have a strong attachment to it myself, we ix-nayed it. instead, we slept in, took goofy visa pictures of each other in preparation for our Vietnam trip next month, and went to see a movie. (Sherlock Holmes. he rules.) my affection for young adult fiction has merged over to young adult tv shows. i finished

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-32571381780559054742011-12-26T00:12:00.004-05:002011-12-26T00:12:00.319-05:00

it is the day after christmas. the house may still be in disarray. the tree is still merrily lit, the cheerful excitement lingers in the air. it's a magical time. it's a time i've always enjoyed, despite coming down from the holiday high. because now the pressure is gone, the frenzy is over. instead in its place is a peacefulness, and if you're lucky, a quiet joy that warms you to your toes.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-13227688550565051122011-12-22T00:12:00.129-05:002011-12-22T00:12:00.593-05:00

it's a hectic time. it is the holidays after all. but these darker, colder, longer nights call for a slower pace, time to savor the moments with loved ones. my days are spent in the bustle of life, i would rather spend my evenings cozy, going about my home living calmly. over dinner last night, dw & i got to talking. we talked about the time he & i spend together. as sweet as always, he said

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-82704642186394522252011-12-19T00:12:00.189-05:002011-12-19T00:12:01.160-05:00

thus far, i have lived in 5 countries, 3 states, and quite honestly, more towns & cities than i care to recall. in the here & now, i have lived in baltimore for just over 9 years. i have owned my home paid my mortgage for 6 years. due to all the moves growing up, this setting down deep roots in one place is intoxicating. my grandparents' first home in america was a small one bedroom apartment.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-70048092581001886122011-12-12T00:12:00.127-05:002011-12-12T00:12:00.465-05:00

exactly one year ago today it was grey, a rather tired day. in the beginning i thought it was a sign of a dreary year. i was wrong. because, oh, it has been a year. a most perfect year, personally. and to celebrate it, i have cake that dw made with me. because anybody's first day of a yearlong journey around the sun should always begin with a delicious cake. Boston Cream Pie Cake ~ dairy free

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-7587032577696818532011-12-08T00:12:00.071-05:002011-12-08T00:12:01.097-05:00

to my dearest darling December, i don't like that 6:45am rolls in dark and it's when i must rise.i dislike the blustery wind and damp air (is it rain? is it snow? what is this shit?).i loathe that it takes socks, a bathrobe layer AND two throws in my lap to warm up.but of the 31 days you give me, a good majority of them are in celebration of something or other.like birthdays.holidays,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-83821973716673733062011-12-05T00:12:00.003-05:002011-12-05T09:32:13.999-05:00

shortly after dw and i met, he cooked for me. i know. i swooned too. i may have spent a few minutes in the bathroom texting BigK about it. it was our 3rd date. at his apartment. ooh la la. i was nervous. i showed up, in my hands chocolate oatmeal cookies, sans raisins as he is not a fan of the combination of fruit + chocolate. i know. i shake my head about it too. for my one dessert, he had

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-60749492396671542772011-11-28T00:12:00.004-05:002011-11-28T00:12:00.246-05:00

"If you give off signals that you don't want to belong, people will make sure that you don't." ~Pretty in Pink (this was not my most fave John Hughes movie, 16 Candles was (long live Jake Ryan). in fact, i thought the pink polka dot shoulder-less dress molly ringwald designed was truly ugly.) i sometimes go thru phases of not wanting this blog. it's hard work. so i disappear for a few weeks,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-84169404826082547252011-11-22T00:12:00.024-05:002012-01-10T14:05:29.242-05:00

lately i've been under blankets ~ on the couch in front of the television, or in the passenger seat while dw drives and we're treking to a destination or another, or even in bed watching a show on the iPad. it's november after all! don't misunderstand, i am not complaining. i love blankets. in high school, in bangkok, i walked around with a small blanket (i know, i was strange even back then)

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-39752529687120823632011-11-17T00:12:00.078-05:002011-11-17T00:12:00.682-05:00

i am a few days deep back from Kentucky. it is unseasonably warm for November, but what remains the same is that it grows dark at 5pm without fail, it is a month of glutton consumption and i give thanks: pie. a bounty of nature's sweet apples, picked for the express purpose of baking and sharing. washed down with tea, in the afternoon sunlight, with rowdy nephews underfoot. (cheddar cheese

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-26587992644874980692011-11-11T00:12:00.078-05:002011-11-11T00:12:00.127-05:00

do you remember that story about jack & the beanstalk, how he foolishly traded his cow for some magic beans? his pissed off mother kicked his ass, sent him to bed hungry and threw the beans out the window. when he awoke the next morning a beanstalk had grown, high up into the sky. without preamble, a ladder or a parachute, jack climbed that beanstalk. SPOILER ALERT! he climbed that beanstalk 3

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-46209885587593261972011-10-25T00:12:00.029-04:002011-10-25T00:12:00.522-04:00

i know i've said it plenty of times, i love eggs. lately my love for this food has been ... unhealthy a bit much. i actually asked dw to make me an egg sandwich twice last week, once for dinner. typically, eggs + toast is a weekend thing. he does his scientific boiled eggs, makes the toast and we share this breakfast treat (with soy sauce for me, cracked black pepper for him) in front of the

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-84779496182992726982011-10-21T00:12:00.039-04:002011-10-21T00:12:00.381-04:00

i understand. it's a texture thing. that's why i get it when my western peers (except for dw, who'll eat anything and everything at least twice) don't order the tripe with their pho, or how i cringed when i tried cow brains for the first time. slimy slash creamy slash subtle crunch slash goo. yeah. apple sauce can be like that. especially the way i made it this week, i kept the skins on (fiber

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-60526521075633905852011-10-18T00:12:00.035-04:002011-10-18T00:12:00.143-04:00

already. it's past the halfway mark of october. it's autumn temps, curtains fluttering from open windows and our bed dressed with flannel sheets. i've busted out my knee high socks, poor dw doesn't know what to do with all the extra colorful articles of clothing in our laundry basket. this is his favorite season and because i love him, i have embraced it without a grimace this year. we

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-38054848588413101042011-10-14T00:12:00.028-04:002011-10-17T10:20:35.150-04:00

dw & i have had issues recently. they're bean related. not what you think. more like, how to prepare them. we've sworn off the canned stuff and now are using organic dried. and they are taking forever to cook. the first time was with chickpeas for falafel. this time was for chili. it's chili season. dw likes his chili. we crock potted the living shit out of this chili. not because we wanted to

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-4771875874644896902011-10-11T00:12:00.063-04:002011-10-11T00:12:00.397-04:00

dw says i'm an impulsive buyer. i like to think that i'm a decisive buyer. i make a decision quickly, stick to it and unless it blows chunks, will say it's the best buy for me. i don't do much research on things, because the internet is a place that will give you the pros & cons for everything and depending on your own needs, you'll always be able to find information to support your viewpoint.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-80074499759951322372011-10-07T00:12:00.000-04:002011-10-07T07:19:43.236-04:00

it's confession time (again). i made these for ass kissing purposes. last week i had the opportunity to meet Matt Nathanson. it's a Life List item for me, one that is quite easy to fulfill considering the amount of times i've seen this man perform this year and how incredibly accessible he makes himself to his fans. however, when i am in the presence of God of someone i admire or fangirl over,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-12474716256394605182011-10-04T00:12:00.040-04:002011-10-04T00:12:00.348-04:00

the first weekend of october starts off 3 months of extensive socializing, travelling and chaos. hold on tight, it's going to be a very busy Autumn. we spent a decadent 48 hours in philadelphia, walking in the city, the streets narrow and strewn with falling crimson leaves. the air was damp and brisk, seeping deeper than the two layers of clothing i was wearing, giving me chills and forcing me

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-27643757328810541792011-09-30T00:12:00.052-04:002011-09-30T00:12:00.169-04:00

when i was a kid living with the gparents, i bought my lunch. the public school system provided a decent lunch, i thought. granted, at home fare was vietnamese food, so american food was a treat. grandma being the math dictator that she was, she would leave my lunch money in a brown bag and the onus was on me to take the proper amount of change out every morning, bringing home any change in

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-79126689418323675872011-09-27T00:12:00.043-04:002011-09-27T00:12:00.048-04:00

about a year ago i entered a cupcake contest, one that i fretted over, planned for for weeks and drove poor nuria up the wall with different ideas, as well as made two cupcake stands, only to have the event be cancelled due to jackassery unknown reasons. so whatever, this year was better as it was organized by Rachel of Coconut & Lime. i don't know all the specifics but her intern/assistant

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-75762978460341886272011-09-23T00:12:00.024-04:002011-09-23T00:12:00.582-04:00

i've made this bread before, with the addition of autumn apples and dairy products. for this recipe, i used almond milk and vegan veggie margarine. that's really all i have to say. oh, and that we ran out of eggs so i didn't have an egg wash, as a result, there are gaps between the layers. so technically, this recipe is dairy-free and completely egg-less, but still pretty good. this was our

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-51417180935753012942011-09-20T00:12:00.069-04:002011-09-20T00:12:00.623-04:00

i used to hate falafel. i love it now. why, you ask? because: on my 29th birthday i was dumped at a middle eastern restaurant, over a plate of greek salad (mine) and falafel (his). i've had a truce with falafel for awhile, tho decidedly not with that jackass fellow, may he rot in hell forever. in recent months, while attending the various farmer's markets in the city, dw introduced me to the

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-67668362228379297702011-09-15T00:12:00.037-04:002011-09-15T00:12:00.693-04:00

dinner in our abode is a simple affair. it's a duty dw & i switch on. for today's post, it was dw's turn to make dinner while i lazed about in the living room, reading voraciously from my android. see, it was his fault. i came home in a tizzy that afternoon, talking at 500mph about some random YA book called Blood Red Road that i just had to read, but i had a whole list of other books to get

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-73892275617229254582011-09-13T00:12:00.000-04:002011-09-13T00:12:00.361-04:00

there's a lot to be said about the people who have been lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy all their life, the main one being: how do you do it? true, they've been without so they don't know what it's like to be without. but as someone who used to enjoy and heavily indulged in cheese, cold glasses of milk, toast slathered with butter, i'm finding it hard to be without. acceptance is

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-64797258099507274872011-09-08T00:12:00.002-04:002011-09-08T00:12:00.622-04:00

it has to be said: i am glad that summer has come to an end. i've lived in hot climates before (um. africa, anyone? southeast asia actually has africa beat...just saying) but the heat these few months spewed sapped me of any energy or motivation. i'm ready to turn the stove/oven back on, tuck into some hearty soups & stews, bake bread with my darling love (we have our eyes set on croissants!)

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-31511425788316437422011-09-06T00:12:00.003-04:002011-09-06T09:34:41.404-04:00

here's the most important lesson i've learned about going dairy free -- it affects other people too. it's not just about me. it's about making choices of where to share a meal with people who are not afflicted with lactose intolerance but, because they want to hang out with me, or if i'm lucky, because they love me, they will forgo hitting up the city's awesome pizza joint to go to a generic

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-5148662126989505462011-09-01T00:12:00.041-04:002011-09-01T00:12:00.107-04:00

yeah, this is yet another coconut milk-related dish. yes, i know, coconut milk when consumed in huge quantities can be bad. {so's water, it's called drowning.} just to warn you, i have another recipe coming in the next post that uses coconut milk. i spent the entire weekend during Irene's visit using coconut milk in a variety of ways, not feeling guilty, because it doesn't mess up my stomach. i

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-67463037320905553742011-08-30T00:12:00.071-04:002011-08-30T00:12:00.314-04:00

it's been about three weeks since i waged war against all things Dairy. the change in my body and how i feel has been eye opening, as well as a relief. not necessarily revolutionary but the little things add up. i tried lactose-free yogurt that did not tear me up, it still wasn't that pleasant of an experience tho. enter So Delicious coconut milk**. cereal has been reintroduced into my life.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-9606030350375351672011-08-25T00:12:00.045-04:002011-08-25T00:12:00.363-04:00

i've talked about it before, i hate carrots. i tolerate them in stews, and sure, baby-sized with dip. dw knows to immediately start shoving them in his mouth should they appear in any dish i order (bless him, he's so good to me). i baked this cake recently for a new hire orientation, seeing as the new colleague is from the UAE and the ingredients are arab inspired. typically i leave any treats

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-22412419601188216892011-08-23T00:12:00.022-04:002011-08-23T07:22:31.906-04:00

for sweet aliceann's 12th birthday. materials used:pillsbury moist supreme strawberry cake mix (don't judge me for using boxed mix)pillsbury vanilla icingGourmet Writer Food Decorator Pens by Americolor (which sucked crazy crack clown ass, btw)wilton black decorating gelcookie sticks wilton melting chocolate/candy coats, in white & bluechocolate covered sunflower seeds for the nosewhite

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-86666119443522934752011-08-10T00:12:00.069-04:002011-08-10T00:12:03.067-04:00

i had a dream recently that i put my retainer in wrong and woke up the next morning with a very loose front tooth. the horror. i've read the meanings behind such dreams. because teeth are such an integral part of one's appearance, it could mean a fear of looking a fool. well, i do have a number of out of town public engagements where i'll be speaking with industry experts. this is always ripe

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-48185501396857573932011-08-04T00:12:00.030-04:002011-08-04T00:12:00.135-04:00

this was created for a work orientation, since my new hire is Egyptian. i made this along with a special bread pudding called Om Ali. i won't lie, bread pudding is growdy and this version was no exception. but i tried. thank goodness the basbousa came out much better. i used this recipe. i wish i can say that i will make this again but i won't. it was pleasant enough, especially after lunch

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-2602466371893844512011-08-02T00:12:00.041-04:002011-08-02T00:12:00.880-04:00

in case you weren't aware, it's the first week of August. where june & july went i don't know, i just know it's hotter than brass balls out, so uncomfortably warm that the mere thought of turning on the stove makes me wilt a little lot inside. what prompted me to cajole dw into getting green tomatoes from the farmer's market is beyond me, because i knew the only way to have them was to fry

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-84339728413482501592011-07-28T00:12:00.059-04:002011-07-28T00:12:00.507-04:00

as a kid i had a thing against pulpy fruit yogurt -- it reminded me of snot. i preferred the plain, vanilla or lemon flavored yogurts because the fruit flavored ones? they had a concentration of the pulpy snot at the bottom that grossed me out. if i *had* to eat the fruit yogurt, i would skim the top and then sneak chuck out the rest when i reached the bottom. so wasteful, i know. you'll be

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-15798051729840831062011-07-26T00:12:00.045-04:002011-07-26T00:12:00.038-04:00

with this heat that has descended upon the east coast, i've been unable to write -- not because i am lacking in internet hookup but because it appears that the sun has made my brain into a desert and i am wallowing in this scorching madness that is july. i am a sweaty mess, grumpy to the core and the worst? i feel fat. sweaty hot AND heifer-feeling. not a good combo, friends. if time permits

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-5831919225087367222011-07-21T00:12:00.017-04:002011-07-21T00:12:01.348-04:00

it's past the middle of july. i feel like i haven't done anything, tho every single weekend since the end of March has been booked solid. you know how it is, don't roll your eyes, you're busy too. there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in a day to fit everything i want to do, must less need to do. it's all so tragic, isn't it?

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-62409114323777962862011-07-19T00:12:00.041-04:002011-07-19T00:12:01.014-04:00

having two avid cooks/bakers in one kitchen can be chaotic. usually, it's one or the other who's puttering in front of the stove. i tend to read while dw puts together a meal, and he in turn, tries to help me when i take on the duties but as he once told me, i'm usually blissfully unaware of anything and everything around me while i'm measuring and/or stirring. it's not that i think of cooking

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-80170076807212872612011-07-15T00:12:00.013-04:002011-07-15T00:12:05.700-04:00

Photo Courtesy of M. Brent Trostle & used with permission. hello friends! are you ready for the last installment of Harry Potter? i will be a weeping mess this weekend, either from saying goodbye to my hogwart friends or from Dirty South's drunken visit. a few months ago i created HP cake pops for my friend brent's daughter Lizzie. it was a blast! for more pix, hit up the fan page album.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-30084787642635832592011-07-13T00:12:00.068-04:002011-07-13T00:12:01.346-04:00

the best men tell you the truth because they think you can take it; the worst men either try to preserve you in some innocent state with their false protection or are 'brutally honest'. when someone tells you the truth, lets you think for yourself, experience your own emotions, he is treating you as a true equal, as a friend. and the best men cook for you. ~Whitney Otto, How to Make an

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-10431239661458812582011-07-11T00:12:00.137-04:002011-09-13T11:29:32.169-04:00

it was with pleasure that i hosted this month's Delicious Vietnam. Delicious Vietnam is a monthly food event that gathers global food bloggers and promotes & explores the diversity of Vietnamese food. It was formed by Ravenous Couple & a Food Lover's Journey. ChiAnh of Door to my Kitchen is August's host. --- from baltimore, MD, i made bo luc lac for my darling love. from Los Angeles

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-8162194839964866192011-07-07T00:12:00.000-04:002011-07-07T07:53:09.560-04:00

it's amazing how more involved i've become in thinking about the nourishment of my body - what i put into my body is important to me now more than ever. i am mindful of the ingredients that i use, not only the measurement amounts (ok, fine, a general idea of the amounts!) but also, where the ingredients came from. it's not enough that they're local & organic, but how were they cultivated? by

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-15811093862747901982011-07-05T00:12:00.040-04:002011-07-05T16:11:26.098-04:00

in summer, the song sings itself. ~William Carlos Williams repeated ~ berry picking, this time for raspberries in the early morn sun with a dear blog friend.sang ~ or attempted to sing the Star Spangled Banner with my darling love. it was a fail but we giggled like children in the late summer nite.sweated ~ thru the hours of the long weekend, with the fan on full throttle. the heat was

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-23998739897321764582011-06-29T00:12:00.063-04:002011-06-29T00:12:00.488-04:00

some weeks ago dw & i participated in our first 5K together. it was a run for Celiac Disease. he and i are not gluten-intolerant, and except for a spotty lactose intolerance on my part, we can consume pretty much anything. i count my lucky stars that we don't have any food allergies. i can only imagine what it's like for others to have to read the fine print on labels, to figure out what their

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-60705340748185501202011-06-27T00:12:00.075-04:002011-06-27T00:12:00.803-04:00

Here's the thing about eggs, the Noble Egg. i like it. i like it runny, fried, hard boiled, soft boiled, scrambled, omelette'd, poached... i especially like it sunny side up with SOY SAUCE. that is one of my ultimate comfort foods. i went thru a phase in middle school where i hated it, the consistency of it made me gag, and then there was also that one time in high school where a girl hit me

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-14356961223814073222011-06-23T00:12:00.000-04:002011-06-23T00:12:00.403-04:00

know that busy feeling you get right before vacation where you have to balance work, laundry, packing, cleaning, eating, and LIVING? yeah, i'm going thru that right now, except minus the vacation bit. i don't know what my issue is. maybe it's the angst of having to buy a new AC unit or that Harry Potter is coming to an end in a few short weeks or that i've been running since January and i

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-52481147634291366342011-06-22T00:12:00.060-04:002011-06-24T16:16:00.511-04:00

there is a GIVEAWAY. scroll down if you don't want to read thru. i'm not offended. i've been thinking lately about how to write this. this blog has been around for over 3 years and i've done pretty well not doing advertising and too many gimmicky promotional stuff. any giveaways have been from me or from someone i actually know. i'm revising my stance on advertising, reviewing and partnering with

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-58595096336070361592011-06-21T00:12:00.000-04:002011-06-21T00:12:00.780-04:00

there comes a time during the day when i will sit at my desk, bang out a phone call and then i list out exactly what i'll prepare for dinner, complete with 3 different sides (because of course, i'll have ALL the ingredients available) and quite possibly squeeze in a run beforehand. then 4 o'clock rolls in & i've had a killer salary negotiation argument an hour before, i don't actually have

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-77088741003630589082011-06-17T10:16:00.000-04:002011-06-17T10:16:34.468-04:00

all pictures SOOC. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. [Genesis, 1:1-3] saw ... green grass, dotted with blueberry bushes, picked bare. weeds, grown high to neck level and

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-1014629185240139492011-06-14T00:12:00.047-04:002011-10-19T15:28:03.449-04:00

i don't know if you know this but i was a west coast girl for about five seconds 13 months over a decade ago. i was a year out of college, i had nothing better to do than to follow a boy check out what being a beach bum was all about & well. let's just say that didn't work out (neither did following a boy). visiting california is much better, as evidenced by a recent jaunt out that ways..

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-19112148894762328292011-06-09T00:12:00.065-04:002011-06-09T00:12:01.123-04:00

i fear this post is going to be one full of me begging for forgiveness. sorry i've been MIA, i lack organizational skills to sort thru my vacation pictures, and truth be told, i just haven't had anything to blog about. i know i also have a number of comments to respond to, i apologize about that. i swear, before this actually posts, i will get to it. and if not, dude, SORRY! last, this dish is

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-82159123514495360072011-06-03T00:12:00.029-04:002011-06-03T00:12:00.649-04:00

friends, i'm in sunny california. MD is in the grips of a massive heat wave (hello 90+ degrees...). enjoy these strawberry picking pix... they've since been washed and tucked into the freezer to be made into smoothies for my AM breakfast (dw has a vitamix, how in the world have i lived my life without one of these contraptions is beyond me...) i think we will be trekking out again for more

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-4154777360110826902011-06-01T00:12:00.059-04:002011-06-01T00:12:00.151-04:00

i don't know how you measure love but allow me to count the ways i adore dw: 1. he doesn't have a coffee maker, in fact, he hates the taste of it. so every weekend, i wake up gasping for caffeine and like the best boyfriend that he is, he goes with me to the corner Donna's and watches me inhale a cup until i have the good enough grace to say "hey, what's up? good saturday to you, sir." 2. i

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-25695294022010686212011-05-26T00:12:00.057-04:002011-05-26T00:12:00.294-04:00

as a wannabe adequate food photographer i'm on the search for the elusive magical hour, the time early in the morning and the time just before the sun sets ... the time when the light is soft gold, diffused, warm & maybe even dream-like. it is rare indeed for me to rise with the sun, tho i love those hours before the world awakens, and it is impossible for me to make it home in time to put

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-72937353352627175582011-05-19T00:12:00.061-04:002011-05-19T00:12:00.133-04:00

inspiration: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions as of late i've been uninspired. maybe it's allergies. maybe it's lethargy. it might even be because someone else is cooking and i'm just along for the ride. whatever it is, it's merged over to photography and crafting. i haven't picked up a crochet hook in months. i delete pictures on a whim. thankfully my rss feed is

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-62205023202920760412011-05-17T00:12:00.021-04:002011-05-17T08:48:47.944-04:00

it's the time of year where everything is so alive ~ with blooms~ with raindrops~ with shades of green so lush, you want to taste it salt & vinegar kale chips ~ i used rice vinegar & sprinkled with salt & pepper. after some experimenting, i baked for 6 minutes, flipped the leaves and baked for an additional 3 minutes. consume immediately. pan-seared asparagus, c/o dw. lest you think i was

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-7477573152085267412011-05-14T09:58:00.001-04:002011-11-07T16:14:07.912-05:00

remember at the beginning of the year when i said i would make more asian dishes, try different techniques and ingredients? yeah, sorry about that. there was no way to tell that i would be kitchen burned out, or that i would meet someone who would take over the cooking duties while i got over myself. i'm still not completely over my funk, but my cravings for asian food have been strong as of

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-26728940996649239332011-05-12T00:12:00.045-04:002011-05-13T15:15:36.073-04:00

in an ideal world, i'd be able to kiss the sun awake & either run or do yoga, clock 8 hours, hit up happy hour after work AND still make a balanced meal for dinner before 8pm. however, a typical day? eff the exercise in the AM, i'm phew-ing in relief if i can get in the office by 8:30, happy hour is not an option, neither is yoga if i'm to train properly for a half marathon 5K, and dinner? dw

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-26153125197546075122011-05-10T00:12:00.002-04:002011-05-10T00:12:00.747-04:00

The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. - Psalms 33:5

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-60064645382271760292011-05-05T00:12:00.038-04:002011-05-05T00:12:00.767-04:00

a few things about this pie: it's good. it's bloody amazing. it's also calories to your hips. your thighs. your ass. your stomach. but you will eat it. and you will like it. nay. you will effing love it so much, you will have it for breakfast the next day. (shout out to my girl Nancy!) next: i can't tell you what the official name is... unless you call me and i can whisper it to you (pls don't

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-11876307533877367672011-05-03T00:12:00.035-04:002011-05-03T00:12:00.236-04:00

i'm going to keep this succinct: i didn't make this bread, this bread that is the best i ever ate. dw made it for me. we had three overly ripe bananas on the counter and i mentioned to him that i don't like bananas with spots on them, and that they're gonna have to go into a bread or be wasted. {i'm one of those banana snobs.} we made plans to bake a bread together, but as it happened, i woke

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-84183851741271642292011-04-28T00:12:00.014-04:002011-04-28T00:12:00.127-04:00

i was introduced to these chocolate wonderfuls recently. they've since been made twice, once for a bbq and another time for an office function. they're dw's gma's recipe and we all lurve us some gma stories: While he was going to college, my father lived at home with Mama (my grandmother) who sent him off to class each day with a bag lunch. These lunches inevitably included an assortment of

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-48271429529256631142011-04-26T00:12:00.041-04:002011-04-26T00:12:00.179-04:00

the thing about being in a new relationship, you find yourself on your best behavior, you're more agreeable and in my case, completely open to doing things i normally wouldn't do -- like hitting up botanical gardens or opting for whole food/organic ingredients. i also relinquish kitchen control. i'm used to being the one who cooks for others, so when the roles are reversed, it's a pleasant

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-15406545423468333412011-04-22T00:12:00.004-04:002011-04-22T00:12:00.189-04:00

Lent comes to an end this weekend, and the two sacrifices i made will finally return to me. it has not been easy. i dropped the occasional bad word and i fantasized about what my first meat-filled meal would be. i can't say i spent this entire time reflecting, praying or even thinking about what jesus went thru during the 40 days he spent in the desert. no. i thought about when i could cuss and

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-23576188735433286702011-04-19T00:12:00.002-04:002011-04-19T08:59:08.660-04:00

i know, most of the pictures i post in this here space falls into the food category, very infrequently the craft column and as of late (in the last year or so) the still life stuff, usually of the flower and sky variety. the first two, it's pretty obvious why, this is a food/craft blog. but the last? well. i like pointing my crappy lens at things that hardly move, ok? the subjects don't talk

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-28699970905963800632011-04-14T00:12:00.059-04:002011-04-29T12:45:28.407-04:00

"i have an affection for those transitional seasons, the way they take the edge off the intense cold of winter or heat of summer. but i often think that spring + autumn would completely lose their charm without the extremes of weather in winter + summer." ~How to Make an American Quilt, by Whitney Otto since self diagnosing myself as a lactard last year, i've become quite besotted with coconut

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-40549033010751326782011-04-12T00:12:00.005-04:002011-04-12T12:40:30.096-04:00

dw told me once that he likes that i love the simple things: evening walks in the city, hands tightly clasped together, rubbing noses and sunday catnaps. oh, and, Happy Hour Reading. it's the little things that make me happy: scrabble annihilations (to be fair, i've yet to kick his ass in this blasted game but i bet it'd make me happy), hot pink pumas, zombie strategery planning, afternoon

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-76845915538715990662011-04-07T00:12:00.034-04:002011-04-07T00:12:00.351-04:00

i like eggs. i like pickles. pickled eggs tho? not something i ever thought i'd dig into. further, unnatural colored foods, like blue slurpees or green beer? not a fan. PINK PICKLED EGGS? so unlikely to like. surprises of all surprises? i liked these. the thing about being a food blogger (i sound so cliched) is that it's forced me to eat or prepare foods i normally wouldn't. you know. like

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-80413247227584341542011-04-05T00:12:00.029-04:002011-04-05T00:12:00.151-04:00

reasons why i have been so pressed for Spring: half-dressed trees... finally, these bare branches will have leaves and looking up toward the sky won't hurt so. blooms. holding hands, up a road slowly. greetings april. you've been eagerly anticipated. Longwood Gardens weekend set.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-69055482532466463442011-03-24T00:12:00.008-04:002011-03-24T00:12:00.429-04:00

bonheur ~ happiness & good humor. afternoon sun.peanut butter & honey sandwiches. him.baking together.sunday spent in DC & at favoritest museum, holding hands.a fulfilling Lent season, without the swear words or meat, but WITH contemplation and purpose.baked donuts, covered in orange dust sugar and a side of orange curd. note:donuts should be fried. that's not to say these came out badly, they

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-33564495454286568452011-03-21T00:12:00.103-04:002011-03-21T00:12:00.664-04:00

Lent is in full swing. to some people it's a time of reflection and sacrifice, 40 days of diligent remembrance of jesus fasting in the desert, enduring temptation from Satan, ending at Easter. in plain terms, it's the time right before Spring, those days where it's warmer than winter but still with a bite of cold. (at least here in these parts of MD) in recent years i've welcomed Lent, giving

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-17933486034111435642011-03-14T13:47:00.001-04:002011-10-10T12:34:09.906-04:00

March Madness starts this week and unless you're a foreigner like Nuria or don't follow college basketball like dw, or live under a flipping rock, you know what's up. for four weeks i'm actually enthralled with this sport, i follow my brackets closely and i hope for upsets, pray for a repeat year of winning cus mama could use another pair of purple pumas. (never mind that i have a pair of

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-79039965785410095832011-03-08T11:37:00.001-05:002011-03-08T13:38:53.604-05:00

inspiration for mi amor's birthday this year, i made her a live version of Angry Birds. it took me a week to create. originally, i had made rice crispy treats but when i constructed it, it was not strong enough. so i grabbed Little Debbie's Nutty Bars. success. hit up the fanpage for deets (and longer video) or the flickr set for more pix. special thanks goes to: jesse for building the base

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-31680220861446153952011-02-21T00:12:00.068-05:002011-02-21T00:12:00.320-05:00

mayhap you remember last year when i made fondant hello kitty cookies for a friend's 25th. for same said friend this year, i made hello kitty cake pops. as seen here. let's not try to make comparisons between the two versions, k? materials used:pillsbury moist supreme strawberry cake mix (don't judge me for using boxed mix)pillsbury valentine's funfetti frosting wilton's lemon yellow icingred

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-66189775812337398362011-02-16T00:12:00.017-05:002011-02-16T00:12:00.852-05:00

i am so pleased to present my first ever guest blogger. bear is a dear friend who started her own food blog a few months ago: Made With My Bear Hands. we spent saturday afternoon cooking together, catching up & basically being assclowns. i made shepherd's pie and bear created this lemony tart dessert. please do check out her space, she's awesome. My grandma's lemon chess pies were my FAVORITE

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-73052175544353579542011-02-14T00:12:00.000-05:002011-02-14T00:12:00.156-05:00

i'm not kidding when i say that i've been avoiding the kitchen. i've also been avoiding this blog. i have two more posts & then i'm going on a sabbatical. i am available on the interwebs, you know how to reach me. Curried Lentil Soupadapted from Diane Rossen Worthington in Williams-Sonoma Soup 2 tablespoons olive oil1 medium yellow onion (finely chopped) or 1-2 leeks, cleaned, sliced, and

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-13822179973153688462011-02-07T00:12:00.020-05:002011-02-07T00:12:00.125-05:00

look. i know i mostly identify with my vietnamese roots and yet i am calling this year the Year of the Rabbit like the Chinese, and not the Year of the Cat like the vietnamese. i don't know why that is, and frankly, i'm too hung over to contemplate the whys of it all. just know that this weekend was about friends and family, drinks and food, pictures that will hopefully never see the light

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-7311031515532387992011-02-03T00:12:00.048-05:002011-02-03T20:59:57.801-05:00

january wasn't a good cooking month for me. my heart wasn't in it. february is shaping up the same way. it's nothing bad, it's actually quite normal. when it gets frigid outside, i'm a lazy ass. i'd rather be snuggled under my flannel throw, reading or watching tv. further, i'm combatting a cold that just won't quit. today is the first day of the new lunar year. finally, the ferocious Year of

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-42763834052823545832011-02-01T00:12:00.021-05:002011-02-01T09:21:06.483-05:00

{unedited shots taken with my point/shoot. sometimes i don't like to lug the dslr everywhere i go} i gripe every winter about the snow. but with sunsets like these, when the light is more gold than cold, can you blame me for staying put? hi February, there's only 28 days of you this year, and then God willing, March will blow in warm. either way, i am happy to see you.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-4482375219936508482011-01-31T00:12:00.014-05:002011-01-31T00:12:00.575-05:00

i had to bake a sure thing. this is what i baked: beer bread. specifically, Leffe Beer Bread. the bottle was only 11.2oz and the recipe calls for 12oz. i added water for the difference. it was lumpy.it smelled boozy.it baked beautifully.it tasted heavenly. recipe courtesy of amy of poor girl gourmet. what? you haven't gotten the cookbook yet? pity you. currently jamming to this song, that i

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-59823544246377288902011-01-28T00:12:00.016-05:002011-01-28T00:12:00.159-05:00

i am not a fan of snow. i realize i am doing that whole year of living positively thing but damn. this snow stuff? not cool. well played God. well played. recently read: Looking For Alaska by John Green imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia. you spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-29771366911944637372011-01-26T00:12:00.035-05:002011-01-26T00:12:00.374-05:00

i'm a leg girl. always have been. i like my drumsticks, i like dark meat. why have chicken boobies when you can have thighs? yes, i do judge if you only consume the boobies. i am just saying. so i bought a container of chicken thighs, 4lbs to be exact, and i had aspirations to make some badass chicken soup but decided to crock pot it up. i've used this particular recipe twice for pork neck

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-69239177983670456832011-01-24T00:12:00.038-05:002011-01-24T00:12:00.278-05:00

if you recall, last week's bread baking fiasco caused me to take a breather from bread baking. just to be clear, this was supposed to be a BREAK, not a break up. (did you hear that Rachel Green??) this "break" may have just lasted a week, but it was a serious time of Reflection, with hopes of Redemption. this weekend, i chose to make nice by baking brioche. i jammed to dance music, you know,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-64812555805068296042011-01-21T00:12:00.018-05:002011-01-21T00:12:00.520-05:00

as inspired by this pattern, i say inspired because the only things the same are the chain row & the color grey. i did three single crochet stitches for the corners, every two rows i single crocheted in both stitches, while the other rows were in the front loops only. if you don't understand crochet-speak, this paragraph means nothing to you. this took me about a week to create, while i

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-55175783533285231332011-01-19T00:12:00.021-05:002011-01-19T00:12:00.352-05:00

are you ready for another failure? prepare thyself. this is my SECOND attempt at making this stuffed challah ball, only this time filled with chocolate. i tried the 4 braid look, i used whole wheat flour, and i used chocolate ganache (massive mistake, btw). oh my heart is kinda wounded over this. it was dry. it was grainy. i suppose it tastes alright, if you're big on dry and grainy. i used

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-86317953566376683952011-01-17T00:12:00.021-05:002011-01-19T14:47:09.559-05:00

you'll be proud of me, i spent an entire sunday taking pictures of anything and everything BUT food. instead, i walked around fells point with cousins: brunching, thrifting, pastry-ing, laughing and most importantly, just being. doesn't that just sound so beautiful? it was even better living it. and to end such a gorgeous day, i spent an evening with girlfriends watching a soul searing movie

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-74793981872133463522011-01-14T00:12:00.039-05:002011-01-14T00:12:00.093-05:00

there are certain asian foods that i believe shouldn't be recreated at home unless you're Mom (not A mom, but you know... your mom) or you're a professional. foods like dim sum chicken feet, bun bo hue, or pad thai. i don't care how many people say those dishes are easy to recreate, it's still not the same, or better. let me go ahead and be honest with you. i wasn't all that happy with this

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-82327855559652887942011-01-12T00:12:00.022-05:002011-01-12T00:12:00.398-05:00

when i first saw this pattern on ravelry, it was love at first sight. i am not a fan of granny squares and having to sew the pieces is just annoying. but this blanket? it's so pretty. initially i was going to just go 6X6 but went the full 8X8. this project took me 8 months. Nuria did the sewing for me and i gifted it to her mom when we were in barçelona. this is a Life List bulletpoint too,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-78597965009488528302011-01-10T00:12:00.047-05:002011-05-13T21:29:33.910-04:00

imma confess something to you: i'm a terrible asian cook. what i mean by that is that i don't mess around with most asian ingredients like galangal, whatever animal blood, the various million varieties of curry pastes, fermented random stuff etc. yeah i enjoy me some asian foods but my pantry is well stocked with western ingredients. i stand in Hmart's condiment aisle and i have mini anxiety

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-57334003757040996012011-01-06T14:51:00.000-05:002011-01-06T14:51:23.323-05:00

i am jetlagged lazy & sick. but this Life List bullet point has been done with great fanfare, all in part to nuria & her friends & family. if a picture can speak a 1000 words, then this flickr set will pretty much ALL CAPS tell you what an incredible fat ass i am as there are a shocking amount of food shots. sorry about that.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-67149654576600762522010-12-29T00:12:00.001-05:002012-01-04T13:09:29.600-05:00

i am not in my usual corner of the world. in fact, i am in an entirely different time zone, in Spain. tonight, i will dream in spanish, as i have been for the last week, and i will be hopeful of a bright new year, surrounded by new friends & family, good eats & a more positive outlook on Life. to look forward, one must look back.12 things i made & did: Fruit Tart - homemade pâte sucrée & crème

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-64957478098625999892010-12-27T00:12:00.016-05:002010-12-27T00:12:00.760-05:00

i read somewhere once that cookbooks are collected, maybe one or two recipes are made & then the books are shoved on the bookshelf to look pretty & give the homecook some credibility, but are rarely rifled thru again. me. i peruse my cookbooks, all of them, often. sometimes i need the inspiration and other times, well, i just want someone to tell me what to do for once.  pictured:chicken,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-67846654435656668392010-12-24T00:12:00.018-05:002010-12-24T00:12:00.712-05:00

i've said it before, i am no fan of coconut yet i always have it on hand in my pantry. but i make concessions to the stuff, because of the existence of these macaroons. there's a shop in rockville, the name eludes me, that has the best coconut macaroons and now, i can create them myself, thanks to wendi. i followed the recipe straight up. the first 9 were kept in at exactly 15 minutes and my

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-45128411222674919972010-12-22T00:12:00.049-05:002010-12-22T00:12:00.375-05:00

i'll be honest with you, in fact, i've probably alluded to it, but it's been a rather trying season for me. seasonal depression is no joke and combine that with dealing with Real Life, it can sap one of any kind of energy, leaving in its wake restlessness and a serious case of please get the eff out of my face. as a person who has always had rather lukewarm feelings about thanksgiving, xmas

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-54307547228019831472010-12-20T00:12:00.021-05:002011-03-25T09:22:58.034-04:00

i spent all of saturday in georgetown, lunching with friends and vintaging.oh wait, you don't know what vintaging is? shame.shop: Annie Creamcheesesunday i pretended i was willy wonka, only i failed. thankfully, i could fall back on peppermint bark and pop rock lollies. there may have also been some homemade english muffins & fabu apple cranberry rhubarb jam. oh weekend. i am exhausted.

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4616210864059513200.post-14318042554459014352010-12-17T00:12:00.003-05:002011-04-04T22:03:52.066-04:00

unfortunately, this pattern is no longer available. i was lucky, i printed it out before it went offline. a few things: somehow my flower was just 2-layers and that irked me so, i made up the 2nd flower sans pattern. don't ask me how, i don't remember. last, the cowl ended up shaping with a pointed V, which worked out since it's a looped thing but that irked me too. i added this item,

Angry Asianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06108228208656956325noreply@blogger.com8