During the summer months, my fridge is a wasteland, holding random condiments and the occasional tubs of greek yogurt. It’s not that I don’t eat. I do, but not normally in my house. Sushi, thin crust pesto pizza, frozen yogurt, fresh fruit, bowls of hummus and warm pita bread. This is my summer diet.
Not too shabby, right?
Hi all! How was your weekend? Mine was just what the doctor ordered. Attempting to make the most of this summer heat wave (100 degrees and above!), I spent the days lounging by the pool, with a tall drink in hand.
I got some fresh apricots and peaches, which are begging to be devoured. And I won’t lie, I enjoyed big cups of frozen yogurt three nights in a row.
Summer living. It’s a blast. Here’s to a great week…
Yesterday, I found myself revisiting my old MJ records and it reminded me of being a kid, dancing around my bedroom to “PYT”. Yesterday, my friends and I enjoyed some happy hour Sangria in his honor and celebrated his legacy. Despite controversies and the media sensationalism these past five years, MJ was one of the founding fathers of pop music. If you are a little down, hopefully my Flickr Favorites will perk you right up. I haven’t done one of these in a while so enjoy…
1. Cookies and cream cheesecakes, 2. Photo by Georg Oddner – 1950’s, 3. 6.15.09 • panini @ bread, 4. Untitled, 5. Told her you were satisfied but it never came across, 6. Untitled, 7. parmesan & white bean dip, 8. Untitled, 9. Untitled, 10. homemade three cheese pasta bake, 11. toasted pbj & champagne, 12. crepes, 13. 40, 14. Untitled, 15. Abacaxi on Steps, 16. headband, 17. Untitled, 18. Untitled, 19. coming soon: pedestal plates, 20. P060609PS-0068, 21. heart on the mountain, 22. Summer Solstice Cupcakes, 23. pb & b pancake, 24. IMG_2380, 25. Untitled
Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.
1. Szarlotka (Polish Apple Tart)., 2. Untitled, 3. Millionaire’s Shortbread., 4. Birthday Cake.
This week’s series is brought to you by Beth a la Soundless Space. Her photos are simply mouth-watering. Her Flickr photostream is full of color and happy faces, making her one of my favorite contacts. I often see her desserts and use them as inspiration for my own sweet cravings.
She also runs a food blog, where she posts some of the recipes that she uses. But on numerous occasions, when I beg for a recipe, she sends one over to me.
Thanks Beth for all the great photos! Keep on making me drool :)
The minute I opened the “Baked” book, I knew I wanted attempt the infamous Sweet & Salty Cake. I even spoke to Sassy who offered some tips and advice about making the cake, which was so sweet of her. I went out and spent big bucks on heavy cream, butter, fleur de del, and good chocolate.
But, I got lazy. I could make up numerous excuses, pretending that I got super busy and blah blah blah. I procrastinated, and procrastinated, and lo and behold, the cream expired without even being open. What a waste of $2.99! I think my reluctance to attempt this recipe coincided with my overall burned-out attitude toward most ktichen adventures, so it was nothing against the book or the recipe. In fact, it still looks allluring and delicious and I will probably try my hand at that cake in a cople of months once I conjure up enough mojo to do it right. I didn’t want to shame the Baked boys and their glorious cake.
In the past month, I’ve baked: one big birthday cake for my mom, a peanut butter pie for a friend’s birthday, peanut butter with chocolate cookies for a baby shower, a batch of peanut butter sandwich cookies for coworkers, a blackberry jam cake that is perfect for picnics, and two other recipes that have yet to featured here. To be honest, I’m exhausted. My kitchen is a mess, and you know you need a baking break when you grimace at the mere sight of the butter and eggs stacking up in your fridge.
Not only that, but it’s summer. Duh. I would rather be out walking around town than be stuck at home slaving away in my kitchen. With 100 degree heat. Not good, my friends.
Unfortunately, things in the baking department will come to a slow halt here. Don’t cry, things will be fine. I will post the remaining two recipes I’ve got and then who knows. I’m going to put a self-imposed baking block for about 4 weeks, which can be a lifetime in the blogging world. But I’m not going to leave you hanging.
When left to my own devices, I would buy every book out there. Last summer, I think I spent over $100 each month on books which got me in a little spending crisis. Now, since I have limited funds and space, I only buy the books that really intrigue me. Those vying for a spot on my baking bookshelf have to meet my standards. They must be hardback, have a clean layout, contain lots of pictures, and be creative. None of this boring 1-2-3 baking crap; I want to feel the creativity coming out of the words and the pictures.
The cookbooks I buy and blogs that I follow are all about the actual creative pursuit and process. Your days don’t have to be boring if you spend your time doing things that make you think or smile. Furthermore, your creative work doesn’t have to be received with fanfare; simply completing what you set out to do is good enough. I used to have the mindset that the things weren’t worth doing unless it turned out perfect and got recognition for it. That frame of mind sets you up for failure because who is to decide what is good and what’s bad? Why not just enjoy the journey and the experience?
Dear California legislators,
Hi, my name is Amanda and I am one of the 300,000 employed by the great state of California. Every day I get up and work to keep this state running, and I am a little anxious about the state’s future. I know you are having a rough year. You haven’t had time to for your luxurious beach vacations. That ritzy timeshare off the coast of Santa Barbara has been empty for most of the year. Heck, you can’t even grab a bite to eat at your favorite steakhouse without feeling pressure. I know, I know, life must be tough. The missus isn’t happy that most of your days are spent up in Sacramento but you have a job to do.
You see, I love working for California. Seeing how the state operates and knowing that your work benefits many gives me the kind of job satisfaction I never knew was possible. I remind myself every time I help solve some potentially disastrous issue at work that I am lucky to work for a state that I believe completely in.
I’m proud to announce that I will be starting a new series entitled “Time Out with..” that will highlight photographers or bloggers that inspire or intrigue me. Every Thursday, I will show you bits and pieces of people that have me glued to my computer. I enjoy getting to know these folks and I think that you all will enjoy this new series as well. If you’d like to be featured, contact me at amanda@slowlikehoney.net. Without further ado, here’s my virgin post!
images from Tina Wong
My first trip to Hong Kong was all most to much for my little 10-year-old brain. From the sights to the smells to the sounds, it was sensory overload. It wasn’t until I got home, jetlagged after a long airplane trip did the city’s charm hit me.
Hong Kong is nothing like anywhere else in the world. Sounds ridiculous, but it’s true. You can see glimpses of New York City and Paris in other cities, but there is no place like Hong Kong. I’d forgotten the city’s beauty until I came upon Tina Wong’s gorgeous photos from her recent trip to Hong Kong.
To say Hong Kong is a bustling metropolis would be an understatement. If I had to describe the city in to two words they’d be: intense and alive. At all times, people fill the streets and lights dance across the sky. With around 7 million people packed in to a small area, you feel like everyone in the city is on the same ride as you.
You might know Tina from her blog, The Wandering Eater. Whenever I look through her photos, I can’t help but feel envious because on any given day she eats glorious pastries from City Bakery or piles of sushi. Who wouldn’t be jealous?! Her recent photos have made me want to visit Hong Kong again, this time as a grown adult, ready to take on the city’s energetic pulse.
The beautifully delicate egg tarts and the pork buns made my mouth water. It’s been forever since I’ve had a pork bun that boasted a rich and deep flavor. Unfortunately, Sacramento doesn’t have a great amount of delicious Chinese food. There’s a lot of the American-Chinese variety but why would I eat that subpar crap when my mom can create an authentic Chinese meal that won’t leave me sick or disappointed.
The bright florals and vibrant street life get me aching to go back. After this Air France disaster, I started rethinking my travel plans because my fear of flying escalated to epic proportions. But I won’t let my fear keep me in my place. Hopefully this year, my mom and I will make the trek overseas to visit family and see old friends.
If you haven’t seen Tina’s wonderful work, I highly encourage you to pop on over to her blog or flickr photostream and check out her gastronomical adventures. I know I will.
Some say that during these economic downturns, we should all count our blessing for the things that we have (jobs, friends, a roof over our heads). For example, I know that I’m lucky to have a job that fills my fridge with food, puts clothes on my back and shoes on my feet, and allows me to go out every now and then. I recognize that mimosas and sushi are privileges, not rights. But I can’t help if I get a little angsty. You see, I had a plan. A big life plan. No, I didn’t have set dates for weddings, babies, etc, but I had a nice idea of what I wanted to do with my life post-college.
That all went to hell once the economy soured. I was supposed to have a great PR job that might not have paid as much as I was worth but I’d be ok with it. I was supposed to have this nerdy and witty boy who’d be able to make me smile all the time. Toss in a couple trips to Italy, Prague, and Turkey and you basically had the rough draft of my life plan.
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