Things I'll Tell You When You're Older

Maybe it's a little early to be giving my nephew advice, especially since he's not even born yet. But in the midst of planning my big sister's baby shower, I've written down a few things I don't want to forget to tell him...

Lydia's Eggs Benedict

Lydia's Eggs Benedict

When my godmother Lydia announced that she was going to make Eggs Benedict on Sunday morning, I set my alarm clock to wake up early.  If you've ever had Lydia's Eggs Benedict, you'd be up early on a Sunday morning too.

Sweet Potato Enchiladas

Sweet Potato Enchiladas

My love for sweet potatoes is unbounded.  I love them roasted.  I love them fried and dipped in ranch dressing.  I love them pureed and topped with jumbo marshmallows.  I love them curried.  And I especially love them mashed with black beans, corn, cilantro and lime, rolled into corn tortillas, and smothered in homemade enchilada sauce.

I am posting this recipe for my friend Diane.  Diane raves about these enchiladas and even brings them to dinner parties.  Her support means a lot to this little blogger.

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa and Sausage

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Quinoa (keen-wah) and Sausage

A few months ago, my friend Jen gave me this advice: “You better find yourself a guy who works out, has skinny genes, or both.” The more time you spend with me, the more I’ll try to feed you. My roommate can attest to this fact. Cooking for people makes me happy.

"Winter" Gardening

Working in the garden

Winter gardening in Southern California feels like cheating.  You don't have to worry about frost or freezing temperatures.  You also don’t have to worry about frostbite or snow boots or heavy coats.  I love complaining about how cold it is when it’s 65 degrees outside.  After surviving four winters in Boston during college, I feel like I’ve earned the right to whine.

Spicy Eggplant with Fresh Basil

Spicy Eggplant with Fresh Basil

Turning 26 has been pretty great...

I danced... a lot.  When you're six feet tall, wearing heels significantly reduces the number of unwanted dance partners.

I witnessed my two girl friends rough up a guy for trash talking.  Maybe I exaggerate a little bit.  But it was awesome.

My little sister and I had brunch and bottomless mimosas until 5 in the evening.

I sipped on "Red Slippers" while listening to live jazz at the Culver Hotel, where the entire Munchkin cast stayed during the filming of the Wizard of Oz.  True story.

Most importantly, I got to spend time with best friends and family.  You know who you are...  I couldn't ask to know more beautiful people.

Best Friends, Ramen and Hello Kitty Macaroni

Life is full of bare necessities, like air, water, food, and light.  But if you're good, life if also full of rewards, like best friends, Ramen, Hello Kitty Macaroni, chocolate-filled Koalas, and little bowls painted with piggies that say "boo".  Today for lunch, I enjoyed some Ramen with two of my favorite people at Santouka in Mitsuwa Marketplace.  These two favorite people remind me how amazing it is to have friends that surround you with warmth and light, no matter what mood you were in to begin with.  Sometimes, I just can't believe how lucky I am.

Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup

Roasted Carrot Ginger Soup

This afternoon I felt like calling up the neighbor girl and asking her if she could go outside and play.  We could ride bikes, pretend we’re witches, convince my little sister to eat dirt mixed with glitter, transform the swing set into a time machine, or collect roly-pollies in a jar with holes poked in the lid... because they breath air like us, right?  For some reason, the start of school and this gloomy almost-fall weather are making me homesick for being a kid again.

Beets, Gnomes and Life

Gustoff

After a rough year, I'm starting fresh, and so is my blog.  Due to unforeseen circumstances, my blog archives have vanished, but I've learned that when you're starting fresh, you can't sweat the little stuff... so I'm just going to pick up where I left off.