Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Hungry for Hummus

 Love Love Love Hummus.
I haven't made a bath in awhile.  My cousin/former roommate/best friend used to 
make batches and batches of hummus that we would devour within days of creation. 
Craving some right now!
I just love how you can create so many variations of hummus:
Avocado Hummus
Cilantro Hummus
Red Bell Pepper/Cayenne Pepper Hummus
Garlic Hummus
Artichoke Hummus
Basil Hummus...
...the list goes on and on. Creativity is welcomed here!
Aren't these the perfect looking appetizers?!?! 
A Vegan's dreamboat hahaha.

Current Obsession...COOKING

Artichoke and Roasted Garlic Dip with Baked Flatbread Sticks
Serves 5 to 7 Ingredients:
flatbread sticks:
3 sheets whole wheat flatbread, cut into 1”x4” sticks
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon smoked paprika
artichoke dip:

1 head garlic, top sliced off
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
14 oz can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 green onions, thinly sliced
8 ounces mascarpone, softened
1/3 c light mayonnaise
½ cup part-skim mozzarella, shredded
¼ cup parmesan, grated
2 tablespoons hot sauce
2 teaspoon dry mustard
salt and pepper to taste
topping:
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon parmesan, grated
1 ½ tablespoons butter, melted
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Brush the strips of flatbread with the oil and sprinkle with the smoked paprika.
3. Line the strips onto two baking sheets (sprayed with nonstick cooking spray) and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until crisp and golden brown around the edges.
4. Set aside and allow to cool.
5. While the flatbread cools bring the temperature of the oven up to 375°F.
6. Place the head of garlic onto a small piece of aluminum foil, drizzle with olive and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
7. Loosely wrap the foil around the garlic and roast in the oven for about 45 minutes or until the garlic cloves have softened completely and slightly browned.
8. Carefully squeeze the clove into a bowl and discard the peel.
9. Mash the cloves into a paste and stir in the remaining dip ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
10. Stir the mixture until fully incorporated.
11. Scoop the dip into a 3 cup baking dish of your choice and set aside.
12. In a small bowl toss together the topping ingredients and sprinkle over the dip filled ramekin.
13. Bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes or until the top is golden brown.
14. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving with whole wheat flatbread crisps.
This Blog, http://spoonforkbacon.com/ is AMAZING. Every post has the most beautiful food photography and appetizing looking recipes.  The bloggers have great personalities that make cooking seem fun and with no fuss. Can't wait to try their Luna Lovegood Pudding. It's Tea Party friendly--right?

Friday, August 26, 2011

Style Flashback

 Ah, the NBA All Star game...
I loved every single thing about her performance that night.
I even went on a week long binge of YouTube-ing her performance, intense I know.
I loved her OUTFIT, Drake's change up for her birthday (which was that night), the mix of Umbrella at the beginning...Ugh LOVED it. Especially loved the flesh colored fishnets.
Bought some for myself!
Love these two looks too. 
I swear my wedding gown is gonna emulate this dress she wore to the Grammys.
SEXY.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Tears Dry On Their Own

Her influence not only flowed throughout music but fashion as well.  
Award winning fashion journalist Robin Givhan noted such influence in a recent piece shortly after the passing of Miss Winehouse...

As usual, Givhan nails it: "What made Winehouse intoxicating was that she blended vintage style with the fashion industry’s love for destruction, for fetishizing imperfections, and for elevating broken-down beauty," she writes. "Modern style dictates the need for imperfection. Take a luxury garment and wreck it in some way. Pair a fancy evening gown with bed head. Being too polished, too perfect, reads as fake." This leaves some gray areas, however: "The fashion industry has done well in helping folks see beauty in imperfections. But you can’t help wondering whether fashion also has made it more difficult for the public to distinguish between broken-down dolls and broken-down people." 
 All I can ever be to you, 
Is a darkness that we knew, 
And this regret I had to get accustomed to, 
Once it was so right, 
When we were at our high, 
Waiting for you in the hotel at night, 
I knew I hadn't met my match, 
But every moment we could snatch, 
I don't know why I got so attached, 
It's my responsibility, 
And you don't owe nothing to me, 
But to walk away I have no capacity 

He walks away, 
The sun goes down, 
He takes the day but I'm grown, 
And in this grey, in this blue shade 
My tears dry on their own, 

I don't understand, 
Why do I stress A man, 
When there's so many better things at hand, 
We could a never had it all, 
We had to hit a wall, 
So this is inevitable withdrawal, 
Even if I stop wanting you, 
A Perspective pushes thru, 
I'll be some next man's other woman soon, 

I shouldn't play myself again, 
I should just be my own best friend, 
Not fuck myself in the head with stupid men, 

He walks away, 
The sun goes down, 
He takes the day but I'm grown, 
And it's OK, 
In this blue shade, 
My tears dry on their own, 

So we are history, 
YOUR shadow covers me 
The sky above, 
A blaze only that lovers see 

He walks away, 
The sun goes down, 
He takes the day but I'm grown, 
And it's OK, 
In this blue shade 
My tears dry on their own, 

I wish I could SAY no regrets, 
And no emotional debts, 
And as we kiss goodbye the sun sets, 
So we are history, 
The shadow covers me, 
The sky above a blaze that only lovers see, 

He walks away, 
The sun goes down, 
He takes the day but I'm grown, 
And it's OK, 
In this blue Shade, 
My tears dry on their own, 

He walks away, 
The sun goes down, 
He takes the day but I'm grown, 
And it's OK, 
My deep shade, 
My tears dry 

He walks away, 
The sun goes down, 
He takes the day but I'm grown, 
And it's OK, 
My deep shade, 
My tears dry


Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sunday Fun-Day Farmer's Market Style


LA Adventures



From local Taco shops like Palapa, to strolling down Belmont Shores in Long Beach
I try to soak up the environment of my new home.
The beautiful sunset gave a perfect backdrop to our recent trip up to Santa Monica
and my class visit to LACMA was not at all a disappointment.
My favorite piece was the portrait Diego Rivera did of his ex-wife Frida Kahlo
and the great description accompanying it.