curried lentil burritos

On this oh so fine day filled with snow and brisk cold weather, Don and I made some holiday cookies which i didn't take pictures of because we cheated. :) We did use pre-mixed cookie mix and just added some christmas M&Ms. Then for dinner we made curried lentil burritos. I remember making this recipe in one of my sister's magazine's last summer in maryland. I don't remember what magazine it was but i just remember how yummy it was! Anyhoo, the burrito is filled with green lentils, potatoes, tomatoes, and spices. The sauce is made out of cilantro, scallions, and more spices. Then we cooked the tortilla after dipping it in in egg mixed with parsley. I don't recall the measurements, just the ingredients. I thought it was going to be a disaster because i didn't remember all the measurements but it was still delicious!!

BAD NEWS:
I didn't go to renegade holiday fair because i didn't want to go by myself. Now i regret it.

GOOD NEWS:
I'm gonna be a new auntie again!! Yay Eun and Jay!

What a good idea, no? I love it. compliments to the people at

Land Rich in Brooklyn for the lovely nature bulbs. Ha, you would find

this item on A CUP OF JO. Atleast that's where I found it. Ashley probably has

some hanging in her room right now... :)

different photo light

This artist is named Olivia Bee. She is from Portland, OR. She has landed some publications in the Frankie magazine and Seventeen. She started during the age of 15.

The creator of this photograph is named Sophie. She is a 16 y/o girl finding her talent! I found her on design sponge. The artist writes....

"Despite what the dictionary says, I don't think you have to create beautiful things to consider yourself an artist. Art is feeling and expression and honesty, and if you find a way to create something out of it that evokes feeling in people, even if it is just you...you're an artist, to me."

this photographer's name is laurence asuncion. He's currently a student at the art institute of chicago. He's making his way from biochemistry to a master in fine arts.

You just never know what path you're going to take.

just around the corner.

This past fall, i only got to attend for a few hours and there was just too much to see!! But there's another chance!! Get ready guys!! Who's coming??

Sugar Bliss

The patient doesn't want to do anything, there are three progress notes that need be to done, not enough staff for the day, gotta pick up don at school, traffic on I-290 is 45 minutes to wolf rd.... a typical day. Sometimes a typical day just calls for a sugar bliss.

Thank you Don for the yummy cupcakes!

waiting for new

Okay, so it's been forever since i've last blogged. I'll try to make more of an effort. Anyhoo, so for Mark's birthday we customized a food tour for him sponsored by elaine, ting, den, zab, don, and me! We started off on our journey towards the northside of chicago to try out Hot Doug's. I didn't quite get the message that Saturdays are the busiest days. so... after the long awaited 2 1/2 hours, we made our way in and tried a variety of hot dogs that had ingredients that i've never even heard of!

Then we headed towards piece pizza and put in our names because it was going to be an hour wait. While we waited, we went to our next stop which was Icream.

1. choose a flavor

2. pick a mix in or 2 (you can also add a color for fun!)

3. decided if you want it as ice cream, frozen yogurt, or hot pudding!

Then they put it in their amazing mixers, and then... you get this!!!

Piece

I've actually been here before. They just have good gourmet pizza and a fun environment. They just have limitless toppings. So basically you start with a base price based on the size of pizza you want. Then you add whatever toppings you want! So.. it can get a little pricey, but it's delicious!

I ordered a small white pizza with mushrooms, artichokes, and basil. It was enough for 4-5 people!

Mark picked a medium marinara pizza with pepperoni and sausage and we had quite a bit of left overs. It was splint between 6 people.

The End.

Until next time...

doing something new.

SO. i decided to try something new. I actually bought a basil plantl when I was living at Eun's house and it was great having it at the tip of my fingers! never had to go and buy it! So the other week, they had this compact soil disks that you place in 12 oz water and the soil expands! Then i dropped my precious seeds and it was all set!! Target i'm telling you has the goods! SO..Let's see if i can actually grow some now. My first herb garden! i'm excited! Here's hoping for some good basil, parsley, and chives!!

missing

okay. so it's been 8 months. i've been busy! in a nutshell... i passed the boards, i have my OT license, i moved back home, i'm dating someone, i work at Schwab rehab hospital, and now i'm always tired. i'm tired having too much responsibility. i miss the carefree days. anyways, this is a quick highlight of what you've missed.

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.

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!

Maryland Desserts

Burtonsville Dutch Country Farmers Market
15642 Columbia Pike
Burtonsville, MD

I do like pie. Pie is always a good dessert. Now there are different kinds pies, sweet and savory! There are peach pies, chocolate pies, blueberry pies, etc. But the classic apple pie is ALWAYS good! This past weekend, I went with Eun to the Dutch market in Burtonsville, MD. It's a market that is filled with homemade and home grown goods! They have a variety of produce, dairy, meat, spices, and desserts! Aside from the numerous things we bought, we purchased a apple pie. When Eun picked it up, it was fresh out of the oven. However, we didn't eat it until the evening...but it was still delicious! The apples tasted so fresh! It wasn't too sweet either! Most apple pies i've tasted are too sweet and overloaded with the brown sugar, which masks that tart taste of the apples. But not this pie, it was perfect.

Georgetown Cupcakes
1209 Potomac St. NW
Washington D.C., 20007

Cupcakes are quite the "in" thing these days. There is Magnolia in New York, Sprinkles in california, Cupcakes in Chicago, and now Georgetown Cupcakes. I'm usually a huge fan of red velvet. Sprinkles by far as the best red velvet cupcakes. I actually wasn't too impressed with Cupcakes in Chicago. The cupcakes were actually dry, but the frosting was more whipped. Georgetown Cupcakes' red velvet was also dry and was not very impressive. The chocolate hazelnut was the best. The cupcake was moist and not overbearing in sweetness. The cupcake was made out of valrhona chocolate with chocolate ganache icing and carmelized chopped hazelnuts. Georgetown, Sprinkles, and Cupcakes have a similar presentation. I guess they have this trend of putting a little piece of fondant shaped as something on the cupcake that sets it apart from the other cupcakes. Sprinkles actually does it for all of their cupcakes, however, Georgetown only does it for some. Anyways, Georgetown Cupcakes opened in February and has continued to maintain a long line outside their door. They recommend if you are purchasing a large order to call in advance to avoid long lines.

Pitango Gelato
802 South Broadway, Baltimore, MD.

I'm really picky about gelato. I always thought, if they give you big scoops, it's not real gelato. Gelato usually has this long lasting rich taste that it only requires a small scoop to be satisfied. Just in case you are wondering what Gelato is, it is italian "ice cream". Gelato is made with only five to eight percent milkfat. But aside from containing significantly less fat than ice cream, what truly distinguishes gelato is the taste. Gelato is also churned in a different way than Ice cream. It contains much less air than regular ice cream, which gives gelato (if it's done right) a thick, creamy, dense, and elastic characteristic. Pitango uses certified organic, grass-fed whole milk and cream that they produce from their Pennsylvania farm. All the fruits, nuts, cocao, and spices are all fresh as well.

i can't believe i'm doing this. i was just making fun of Eun for doing it too! ha. since i talk about food so much i might as well write it down. so..here i go!