cats, glow, attitude

Last month my dearest Sarah came over to help me re arrange my room because I was feeling cluttered and icky. Anytime I have an idea or project for home improvement Sarah is right by my side ready to get dirty. She is the best, really. She had this magical coral pinky fabric and we used it to make curtains for two of my bedroom windows.


When the sun sets my room glows and it's pure magic I tell you. My mom got me that desk you see as a sewing table. I've been using it to watercolor and draw on with Sarah. We draw elephants and trees and pigs and cats and whatever we fancy. It's been so much fun to test my artistic capability and tap into my creative side.



I've been trying to drink more tea than coffee lately. Coffee is good if I need to jolt awake but I never really feel great after I drink it. My tummy always churns and the crash is harsh and just makes me want to drink more and more coffee. The tea buzz feels more clear minded and alert and it calms me at the same time. My boss (not my direct boss but his boss who I love and adore) loves tea too and we always swap and share. He let me use his tea ball and brought me some of his favorite loose teas. Overall I thought the tea ball was messy but it was definitely stronger and more aromatic than pre-bagged tea.



I am still taking care of sweet kitty Monster. I really love him and will have a very hard time giving him back to Megan when that day approaches. I just switched the cats to a new food because they were puking a lot and I have only seen one puke since! Monster is a bit of a glutton and as soon as I refill the water and food he devours as much as he possibly can and then pukes it all up. Slooow down pal... slow down.
These guys are still gorgeous.


I'm a very happy girl and my motto of the year is this:

In the kitchen

My mom is so sweet and she gets me a valentine every year. I remember coming home from school when I was a little girl and being so excited to find a special gift from her on my bed all neatly wrapped. I felt a bit like a jerk this year because I didn't get anyone a valentine. I need to be more like my mom and try to ignore how annoying and forced this holiday is and just use it as an excuse to celebrate my love for all the people around me.
She got me this awesome set of stackable measuring cups, mixing bowls, colander, and even a sifter! I never sift, I cant freaking wait to sift!! Plus they're bright and colorful and she knows I like that.

Other things going on in my kitchen...


Still cooking my brussels. I've been adding a bit of brown sugar to them and I love how it caramelizes and sweetens them.

I went to a fancy party on Sunday night at my friend Chantelle's house. I brought these yummy little chocolate peanut butter shell cookies. I want to share the recipe with you but I actually had to modify it a bit from what was in the book so I need to perfect it first and remember what I modified before I share it. Curtis said they taste like reeses peanut butter cups but BETTER and KC loved them. Recipe coming soon.



*edit
http://www.theppk.com/2009/03/peanut-butter-pillows/
I've made this recipe for a very similar cookie and they're amazing. The PPK also has a TON more egg/dairy free baking recipes for anyone out there will food allergies.

Lisa it's your birthday.

Whenever Lisas birthday rolls around I get that Simpsons song stuck in my head.

Lisa its your birthday,
happy birthday Lisa...

And I think those are the only words but I sing it over and over. Yesterday was Lisas birthday and I frowned because I could not spend it with her. She went to Vegas with some girlfriends and I wasn't able to join because I had work. We're doing a birthday party for her this weekend at my house so that should make up for it.


I love Lisa dearly and truly admire her bravery and her willingness to just be herself no matter what. We are very different creatures and she has learned to tolerate me and I'm grateful for that. I can't wait to make her a cake this weekend and dance ourselves into paralysis. I count Lisa among my very best friends and always feel like I can learn something from her. I love getting in the kitchen with her and making magic. I love riding my bike next to her. She's legit.

Lisa I love you!

read

My favorite book i've read this year so far is Girl In Translation. It was an easy read and left me feeling grateful for my upbringing and my blankets and sweaters. I recommend.



I am currently reading The Year Of the Flood by Margaret Atwood. It's a sequel to one of my FAVORITE books ever called Oryx and Crake. Atwood is brilliant.



I wish I could quit my job and stay home and read and write all day.

I need

An adventure.

I missed you

Things i've been doing:

reading

laughing

coloring

eating, a lot

baking

sharing

reading

writing

day dreaming

brain storming

petting cats

brushing cats

cleaning up cat puke

learning

making new friends

adoring my old friends

hip hop abs

counting my blessings

reading

thrifting

working

and meowing.

Pesto

I could eat pesto 3 times a day. I shouldn't, but I could. It's rich and bright and gives you really bad breath. Traditional pesto includes basil, pine nuts, and pecorino romano cheese, just to name a few ingredients. Do you know how expensive pine nuts are? What about basil when it isn't in season? I do, and its more than a girl like me can afford but I refuse to live without pesto so I compromise and improvise. I learned that you can use other greens in lieu of basil and less expensive nuts to replace the pine nuts. I usually make it vegan which also saves me some money but i'll offer both versions of the recipe here.


Vegan Pesto, Improvised
3 packed cups of spinach or arugula, or a combination of both
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup walnut pieces
roughly 2 tablespoons of olive oil to bring it all together
2 heaping tablespoons of nutritional yeast

In a strong blender or food processor pulse together the greens, garlic, and nuts. Add the nutritional yeast and olive oil and blend until its a consistency that you like. I like mine less chunky and more smooth. If you like chunks, that's cool. Taste- adjust with salt and pepper if you desire.


If you eat dairy or just don't know what the hell nutritional yeast is then use this version.

Pesto, Improvised
3 packed cups of spinach or arugula, or a combination of both
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup walnut pieces
1/4 C parmesan cheese (shaved or shredded is fine)
roughly 2 tablespoons of olive oil to bring it all together


In a strong blender or food processor pulse together the greens, garlic, and nuts. Add the cheese and olive oil and blend until its a consistency that you like. Taste- adjust with salt and pepper.




Eat this on crackers, toss with pasta, dip carrots in it, dip your finger in it.
Enjoy!