Friday, August 15, 2008

stress reliever

So this application process for the NBCOT has been ridiculous and quite stressful. In my spare time i've actually managed to pick up an old hobby of mine. Especially since Jo-Ann Fabrics had a huge sale on jewelry making tools and beads. I got even more inspired when i went to the art and craft festival in Baltimore. A whole bunch of independent artists from ETSY was there and i learned as much as i could from them. so here are a few things i made.





Try making the silver bangles above. All you need is:
flat-nose pliers
wire cutters
beads of your choice (12)
3 silver decorative beads
34 gauge wire
3 silver bracelets (which i actually got 12 for 4 dollars from forever 21)



The 34 gauge wire is used to wrap the beads around the bracelet. Use the pliers to put the wire through the bead and then around the bracelet...then bring the wire around the bead and wrap it until you get to the end of the wire. spread the beads out.



The end product should look like this. It really is easy, try it out! you just have to play around with it. Have fun!

who loves eggplant??

I really love eggplant! They are easy to cook and versatile. Well, there was this really good recipe in the Sandwiches and salads magazine that i tried out. It's really simple and requires very few ingredients.

Eggplant Sandwich
"Sandwiches & Salads" p. 56, 57

2c tomatoes
2 T. thinly sliced fresh basil
2 T. balsamic vinegar
1 T. olive oil
Salt and Pepper

1 lg. eggplant
4oz. fresh mozzarella, sliced into 1/2" think rounds
4 sliced baguiette, brushed with olive oil, seasoned with salt

So, the first thing you do is combine the first 5 ingredients. It's pretty much the same ingredients if you were making bruchetta. Most of the work is the eggplant and even that isn't much. Wash the eggplant, of course, and you're gonna peel the eggplant in strips. Then you're gonna cut the eggplant into 4-6 slices depending on how big the eggplant is. Make pockets by cutting each slice 3/4 of the way through. Then insert a round of mozzarella into each pocket. Brush 1 side of eggplant with olive oil and grill the eggplant oiled side down. While that is grilling, brush the top of the eggplant with olive oil then turn it over. While that's cooking, toast a couple of baguette pieces. Once the eggplant is done, place a slice of eggplant on a piece of baguette then top it off with the tomato mixture. It's soo yummy!! Try it out!! You can find more great recipes from the magazine i mentioned earlier.

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I had leftover eggplant and used it the following day with pasta. Actually i didn't have anymore pasta noodles so i improvised a bit. I used zucchini and cut them into strips to look like noodles. i steamed the zucchini and mixed it with diced tomatoes, 21 solute seasoning (from trader joes), and fresh basil. It tasted good, but i overcooked the zucchini and was too soft. It still tasted good!! Try it out!
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