Une-deux senses

Almond Custard Buns

2012-01-31T21:04:00.000-08:00

There's one thing I know I love, and it's almond pastries. Give me an almond croissant, almond frangipane, financiers, almond tarts and I'm a very happy girl. There's one thing I also know about my family: they love me most when I make them almond pastries, so what can a girl do but make some almond pastries for her family?

The other thing I know is that almonds are expensive - especially almond flour! Which, sucks because I use almond flour ALL of the time. I'm a lucky girl who was fortunate enough to have Oh Nuts! provide me with plentiful amounts of almond flour to satisfy all of my almond-related baking needs. I'm not even just saying this because I was fortunate enough to get their products sponsored, but because their products are awesome quality. Their almond flour is perfectly and evenly ground, and I cannot say the same when I try to ground almonds myself. They also have great prices, compared to Bob's, which I've also tried. Safe to say, if I ever need almond flour again, I know where I'll be purchasing it from ;)

But, on to my FAVORITE recipe on earth, at the moment anyway... almond custard buns! This is the easiest and most delicious pastry I've ever tried. Literally, the whole thing is pulsed together in a food processor, quickly mixed together and refrigerated for up to 4 days. So if you're in a real pinch, you can make this days ahead and not even worry about it! It's truly sublime...

I added my two favorite things inside: custard and almond paste, baked it and blissfully enjoyed the fruits of my labor... over and over again.

P. S. Stay tuned for the coconut-raisin custard version of this pastry!

P. S. S. Purchase from Oh Nuts! here.

Almond Custard Buns

Yields: 24 buns

Adapted from here.

For the food processor Danish pastry:

1/2 cup warm water

1 cup milk, room temperature

2 large eggs, room temperature

4 1/2 cups white bread flour

2 packages (1/4 oz.) rapid-rise yeast or 2 tbsn. fresh yeast

2 tsp. salt

6 tbsn. sugar

2 cups/ 4 sticks unsalted butter, cold, cut into thin sliced

For the almond filling:

1 7 oz. package almond paste

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup almond flour

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. almond extract

For the custard:

1 small package French vanilla instant pudding

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 cup whole milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup sliced almonds, divided

1/2 cup sugar, divided

1 egg, whisked

To make the bun dough, pour the water and milk into a measuring cup. Add the egg, beating with a fork to mix, set aside. Set a large bowl near your food processor. Using your food processor, pulse the flour, yeast, salt and sugar to combine. Add the cold slices of butter, process briefly so the butter is cut up a little, though you still want to see visible chunks of at least 1/2" pieces. Transfer to the large bowl and quickly add the contents of the measuring cup. Use your hands or a rubber spatula to fold the ingredients together, but do not over mix. Expect to have a gooey mess with some butter lumps in it. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, place in the refrigerator and leave it overnight or up to 4 days.

To turn the dough into pastry, remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. Dust your surface with bread flour and split the dough evenly in half, then roll each half into a 20" square. Fold the dough into thirds, like a business letter, turning it afterward so that the closed fold is on your left, like the spine of a book (it will still look very messy). Repeat this process 3 more times with each half; each time the dough will get smoother and better looking. Wrap each rectangle in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Or refrigerate half to use now and freeze the other half to use later.

To make the almond filling, cream together the almond paste and butter in a food processor until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time until well combined. Add the almond flour, all-purpose flour and almond extract and pulse until combined and smooth. Set aside until needed. To make the custard, combine everything in a medium bowl and mix until combined and starts to thicken, about 3 minutes. Refrigerate until needed.

To assemble the buns, working with one rectangle of dough at a time, roll the dough into a 20" x 8" rectangle or loosely so. Spread half of the almond filling mixture across the whole rectangle. Spread half of the custard mixture on top of the almond filling, then sprinkle the whole surface with slivered almonds and 1/4 cup sugar. Roll the entire thing up like you would when making cinnamon rolls, long side in. Use your fingers to pinch the end of the roll into the dough to seal it, to ensure custard doesn't escape. Using a sharp knife, cut the long log into 12 equal pieces and place, swirl side up on a parchment-paper lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining rectangle of dough. You can separate each bun, leaving them 3" apart or you can have them all touch sides. It does not affect the baking time but it is up to you whether you want them to be separate or communal. Let the buns rise in a warm place for 45 minutes. Preheat the oven to 375 F. Before baking brush the buns with the whisked egg and sprinkle with more sliced almonds and sugar. Bake for 18 - 22 minutes or until golden brown.

Mint Lemon Drops

2012-01-25T16:07:00.000-08:00

Gosh, I just don't know what's up with me! I just haven't been in the mood to blog much lately, and cook/ bake really either. I mean of course, I've been cooking and baking, but mainly out of necessity and even then, I haven't had the chance to photograph any of it - for months! Hopefully I'll be out of my slump soon, but until then, I have a couple backlogged posts that will be showing up.

To me, mint and lemon is the perfect summer combination and whether its summer or not, this cocktail is so simple that it's the perfect porch sipper. It's January for peet sakes and we've been having uncomfortable warm weather - uncomfortable mainly for me because I'm longing for a cold, rainy winter where I can don scarves and boots. But might as well make the best of it with something like this to sip on!

Mint Lemon Drops

Yields: 1 serving

2 shots vodka

1 large lemon, juiced

1 tbsn. sugar

1 bunch of mint leaves, roughly chopped, plus extra for serving

lemon wheels or twists, for serving

In a shaker filled with ice, add the vodka, lemon juice, sugar and mint. Shake vigorously for about 1 - 2 minutes until very cold and combined. Strain into a martini glass. Top off with a lemon wheel, twist or fresh mint. You can also sugar the rim, if desired.

Mixtape

2011-12-10T15:45:00.000-08:00

tycho . hours (teen daze remix)

{you know how i love my instrumentals}

childish gambino . heartbeats (no pets allowed remix)

{this kid is a wonder. first, he's hilarious in community, then he sings and dances too?! geesh.}

dillon francis . I.D.G.A.F.O.S.

{dillon is quickly becoming someone i'm obsessed with. the melody is contagious}

big boi . shutterbug (unlimited gravity remix)

{getting my thug on... that's right, you heard me}

avicii / nicky romero . unknown track

{personally anything avicii does is perfect to me, but collaborating with nicky romero is perfection on another level! this track still has that awesome melodic avicii signature too}

swedish house mafia/ knife party/ tim berg . alcoholism antidote (pressure 12 step bootleg)

{sweden to the fourth power + a little knife party mixed in}

birdy . young blood (the naked and famous cover)

{umm, can i officially say i'm jealous of a fifteen year old... her voice is beyond}

boxer rebellion . spitting fire

{a perfect fall driving song}

leonard cohen . winter lady

{classic folk}

daft punk vs. dj fresh . something about gold dust (jimi needles blend)

{a funkier, more soulful version of the daft classic}

david guetta . titanium ft. sia (arno cost remix)

{my favorite of the remixes to this song. maybe not as hard hitting as the others but the melody melds perfectly into the original}

frank ocean . girlfriend's best friend

{yea, you already know i'm obsessed with this guy. just another track i swoon over}

porter robinson . unison (knife party remix)

{another artist i've been swooning over! super hard electro house crafted from the hands of a 19 year old hailing from north carolina that just makes me want to jump around. i'm so bummed i missed him when he was in town... womp womp}

friction . someone ft. mclean (the prototypes remix)

{just love the smooth vocals contrasted against the dubby interludes}

nujabes . the final view

{been a long time fan, and am seriously itching for the post-humous release of his debut album. rest in peace, jun seba. your music is everything.}

madeon . icarus (unreleased preview)

{madeon is a teen genius, seriously... he's 17. waiting patiently for this song to be released, until then, i'll be looping the youtube video...}

lana del rey . born to die

{there's a lot of controversy over lana del rey, mainly about her lips which makes me laugh but i must say, i am a big fan of this song... video follows!}

{all images found via google images}

Quinoa-Farro Salad with Grilled Lemon Chicken

2011-12-08T15:09:00.000-08:00

This quinoa salad has been my lifeline for the past month... and this just in: I'm still not sick of it!

It's love.

Inspired by a salad from a restaurant, I was determined to make it myself at home. Simply determined. So the next day I went to my local market to get my hands on some farro, which I must say is quite expensive compared to other grains! But on the upside, it's delicious and has this amazing toothy quality that adds to the quinoa's soft almost rice-like texture. If you want to keep it low budget - I suggest trying barley instead (I plan on trying it myself soon).

Anyways, with all the fresh herbs and veggies, it's simply perfect. I had never tried farro before and was stunned at how much I loved it. The combination might not sound so appetizing to non-health freaks but I swear, everyone who has tried has loved it! The lemon-y dressing and French feta make it so irresistible and all of the textures keeps your taste buds guessing at each bite. This salad is equally amazing with some grilled shrimp on top!

Quinoa-Farro Salad with Grilled Lemon Chicken
Yields: 10 servings

For the chicken:
10 chicken tenders
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lemon, zested and juiced
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt

For the salad:
1 cup quinoa
1 cup farro
2 large red bell peppers, seeds removed, sliced, cut into 1" pieces
5 Persian cucumbers, seeds removed, sliced into 1 cm pieces
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 cup golden raisins, rehydrated in warm water
1 cup French feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup fresh mint, chopped

For the dressing:

1/3 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup olive oil

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. crushed dried mint

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1 tsp. seasoned salt

To make the dressing, whisk together everything in a small bowl to blend and set aside in the refrigerator until needed. For the chicken, add the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper into a large bowl. Mix together and add the chicken. Stir well to coat, then cover the bowl in plastic wrap. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight. Before grilling, allow the chicken to come to room temperature. Grill over a medium-high flame until cooked through, about 5 minutes on each side.

To cook the quinoa, add the quinoa and 1 1/4 cups of water into a rice cooker. Cook using the 'white rice' setting. Once done, remove the quinoa and allow to cool to room temperature. While the quinoa is cooking, heat a large sauce pot over high heat. Add the farro and 2 1/2 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low to a simmer. Cook for 20 - 30 minutes until tender. If there is excess water remaining, drain the farro and set aside to cool.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooled grains, all of the vegetables and drained, re-hydrated raisins. Mix to combine. If not serving immediately at this point, you can refrigerate this mixture until ready to eat, it usually keeps in my refrigerator for up to a week. When ready to serve, toss in the feta cheese and enough dressing to lightly coat. Eat cold or at room temperature and serve with the warm chicken.

Tailored Tuesday & Travel

2011-12-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

1. Milly 'Snake-effect leather shoulder bag'

so posh.

2. Kain 'Alva open-knit linen-blend cardigan'

perfectly lightweight for summer nights.

3. 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Knot-front textured silk playsuit'

playsuits were not my thing, they just didn't work but now with all the new styles, they've magically grown on me.

4. Paloma Barcelo 'Amalaga mesh and leather espadrille wedges'

chic & casual.

5. Scosha 'Set of three 10-karat gold and diamond bracelets'

a mix of boho and chic.

6. Marni 'Resin and ribbon necklace'

a stunner.

7. Stella Mccartney 'Elodie hopping underwire bra'

can lace ever not be pretty?

8. Olympus 'PEN camera'

slim, lightweight and perfect for on the go.

9. Kai 'Perfume oil'

my favorite perfume ever!!! so fresh smelling - too bad it costs an arm and a leg...

10. Tom Cecil 'Hipflask'

classy trashy.

11. Clinique 'Black honey almost lipstick'

the best subtle lip tint that works on almost everyone!

12. Temple 'Repurposed u-zip duffel bag'

i just love anything in olive green.

13. Maybelline 'New York lasting drama by eyestudio gel eyeliner'

what i'm currently using - and i must say, it's just as good as mac's fluidline.

14. Galleria 'Pansies auto folding umbrella'

how freaking cute would i be walking in the rain with this?

{zurich}

i'm a sucker for cityscapes in the midst of large bodies of water.

{philadelphia in the fall}

fall is the best season EVER.

{st. petersburg, russia}

looks like something from a fairytale.

{riddarshomen, stockholm, sweden}

big big dream to go to stockholm.

{mandarin oriental hyde park, london}

wonder if i could afford this place if i planned on visiting london...

{slovenia}

teeniest island ever!

{myanmar, mandalay}

oh yea, that's gonna be me one day in that hot air balloon.

{venice at night}

how incredibly romantic...

Chambre de Sucre

2011-11-28T19:18:00.000-08:00

The lovely Kathy of Chambre de Sucre was so lovely as to send me a generous amount of samples. When she contacted me, I was excited. I drink tea almost daily, if not multiple times a day and even though most of the time I prefer it unsweetened, there are those days when I do need a little sugar fix.

The sugars from Chambre de Sucre are the most exquisite and delicate sugar fix you could ever get your hands on. Each type of sugar I was sent was beautiful and perfect. I never thought I'd describe sugar as such, but visit their site and you'll see how adorable everything is. Perfect for tea parties or get togethers with your girlfriends.

Anyways, I just love getting sent such beautiful products! Gives me the opportunity to shoot the heck out of them and then devour them afterwards - what a good deal.

I decided that the best match for such beautiful sugar was my most delicate tea, rose tea!

Their rock sugars were my favorite. I just love the rawness and natural look of it.

Visit their website here.

Current Favorites

2011-11-19T15:52:00.000-08:00

this man's voice is impossible to forget - it's soulful and deep and probably why he is the only person on earth who could cover an etta james song with as much power and soul as etta herself. his debut album, produced by diplo & switch is amazing, to say the least. the bass in all the songs just emphasizes the emotion in his voice.

hummingbird

up all night

caroline

damn your eyes (etta james cover)

frank ocean is an amazement. he's 23, for one and has been writing songs for the likes of justin beiber, john legend, beyonce and more. what i most love about him is how when signed to a major label, who ignored his talent, he decided to release his album himself on tumblr for free! now if that isn't endearing and openly heartfelt, i don't know what is. to top it off, his music is amazing.

strawberry swing

thinking about you

pyrite {pdex remix}

sbtrkt is a producer from london who perfectly mixes electronic music with soul. it's dance-y but slow and has a whole lot of feeling. he wears a mask out of anonimity, because he prefers to let his music speak for itself and because he's not a social person, which i can totally relate to! i just love the concept.

hold on {slavish cold as ice remix}

wildfire ft. little dragon

never never

trials of the past

special features aka eden anderson is a newly born dj and house producer who also hails from london. his remixes are just gold and i love the liveliness he adds to all of these tracks - especially to strobe. it is amazing!

calvin harris . feel so close (special features remix)

deadmau5 . strobe (special features remix)

avicii & david guetta . sunshine (special features remix)

{links are to where you can download the songs // not hosted by me}

Chocolate Éclair Cake

2011-11-16T20:17:00.000-08:00

I love anything that has to do with custard, as you know well by now. It's just the perfect food; creamy, sweet, so unctuous! I've been wanting to make this Chocolate Éclair Cake for a while, but I was kind of iffy about all of the processed products in it and whether or not it would turn out tasty. Despite my own cautions about the cake, there were numerous glowing reviews about how easy and how incredibly delicious this cake is... so I went ahead and bit the bullet!

This icebox cake is everything everyone says it is. First, it's easy as hell, I mean seriously, all you have to do is assemble the dang thing, then let is rest in the refrigerator overnight. Secondly, and most importantly, it's effing delicious!!! Yes, I had to use multiple exclamation points because it is so yummy. It's custardy and rich and chocolatey all at the same time.

I went ahead and did myself a favor by using all low-fat or sugar-free products to reduce my caloric intake. Something so luxurious to begin with can get away with shedding a few unneeded indulgences. Magically, this concoction does taste like an eclair, and if you love them, you must try this recipe! Something to note, the chocolate frosting makes the cake extremely sweet, so I suggest using a chocolate ganache instead, unless you like sticky sweet desserts.

Chocolate Éclair Cake

Yields: about 15 - 20 servings

Original recipe here.

1 package low-fat graham crackers

2 packages (3.4 oz.) sugar-free instant French vanilla pudding

8 oz. package fat-free Cool Whip

3 cups nonfat milk

16 oz. can chocolate frosting (or homemade chocolate ganache)

In a large bowl, mix together the milk and pudding mix until well combined, then fold in the Cool Whip. Arrange the graham crackers in a single layer in the bottom of a 9"x13" baking dish (you may need to break some crackers to fit the dish). Top with a layer of the pudding mixture (about 1 cm thick), then top with another layer of graham crackers. Continue this process until you finish the graham crackers. Spread the chocolate frosting or homemade ganache over the top of the last layer of graham crackers. Refrigerate for at least 5 hours and up to overnight before serving.

Jägerhaus {Anaheim, CA}

2011-11-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

I haven't ever had German food really, so when my cousin told me there was an authentic hole-in-the-wall restaurant near us, we had to go immediately! After a grueling, mud-filled run through the ROC race, we were ready for a huge meal... and what better way to fill our stomachs than with tons of sausage, German pancakes and spaetzle.

I didn't have my camera on hand, so I hope these Instagram pictures will do - what would the world do without our ever handy cell phones huh? Anyways look at that gorgeous thing above! It's the traditional German pancake, served simply with powdered sugar and lemons. It was beyond! Unlike any pancake because first, it was ginormous, and second, it was deliciously crispy... still dreaming about it.

I chose to get schnitzel with a mushroom cream sauce and spaetzle. It was definitely what I was craving - full of flavor and carbs. The spaetzle wasn't the best I've tried because it tasted like it had been cooked and re-heated but it still hit the spot.

My dish also came with a side of sauerkraut. I thought I would have like it but I've come to the conclusion that I don't enjoy sauerkraut as much as I'd thought. My sister enjoyed it so it was probably some damn good sauerkraut.

This place is famous for their homemade plum jam so I knew I had to steal some from my friend since my dish didn't come with any. Good idea on my part because it was AMAZING. So fresh and not too sweet. Wow, plum jam, I'm just in love with you.

Yum, yum. Overall, I really enjoyed this place. It's home-y, no frills at all, which I enjoyed a lot.

Yelp

Website

Manicure Mondays

2011-11-14T18:32:00.000-08:00

Ah! Favorite bad-ass manicure ever - and it's not as hard as it looks!

Basically all you have to do it paint your nails a base color, in my case, black, then wait for it to dry completely. And I mean, completely because if you don't the base color will peel off. I like to wear the base color for a day or two before doing the second step of this manicure.

To create the stripe pattern, cut some scotch tape into thin strips with some scissors. Apply in any pattern you like. I've done horizontal stripes, vertical stripes, but this time I wanted to go all out and do a diagonal v-pattern. Make sure to press down on the tape to make sure it is secured. Paint the second color on top and pull off the tape immediately. Let dry for a minute or so, then apply topcoat and you are done!

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

Wet n' Wild black creme

ORLY luxe

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Tailored Tuesday & Travel

2011-11-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

1. Sass & Bide 'The walk metallic open-knit linen sweater'

gosh i love this dearly.

2. Kain 'Washed silk tank'

basics.

3. Marni 'Studded leather shoulder bag'

at first glance, i thought this bag looked kinda weird. looking at it more and more... i kinda like it.

4. J. Crew 'Deena twill shorts'

gah such a pretty color!

5. Military of Switzerland 'Rucksack'

i love myself a good backpack.

6. Paloma Barcelo 'Brussel metallic leather multi-strap sandals'

would match almost everything!

7. Veer 'Woodgrain iphone skin'

lovely!

8. Forever 21 'Travel kit'

i love these things - perfect for overnight trips and the perfect size for carry-on airplane liquids!

9. Sennheiser 'HD 25-1 II'

music is a great companion. good headphones make that bond even stronger.

10. Forever 21 'Glittered makeup brushes'

pure fun.

11. Forever 21 'Polka dot nail file trio'

for those pesky nail snags.

12. Cle de Peau Beaute 'Concealer'

supposedly the best... hmmm i am intrigued.

13. Nars 'Nail polish in schiap'

sassy in a bottle.

14. John Freida 'Funky Chunky'

this is discontinued but i used to love this stuff! perfect bed head product.

15. Urban Decay 'All nighter long-lasting makeup setting spray'

sweating off all your makeup a problem? this can help.

16. Modcloth 'Travel adapter'

for the savvy traveler.

{rainbow stairs, germany}

awesome.

{sedona, arizona}

must visit soon... so close...

{garvin gardens, arkansas}

ummm can i get married here?

{argentina}

whatttt? i went to argentina... wish i saw this!

{world's largest tree house, tennessee}

who is the genius that made this?!

{tulip fields, holland}

amazing!

{brazil}

beach party!!!

{hong kong}

i want to sail in one of those gorgeous red boats on this gorgeous water!

{roatan, honduras}

the sea always has a way of putting me in a good mood.

German Chocolate Cake

2011-10-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a food post in ages! I miss them but recently I haven't had the urge to bake, let alone take photos of it all. Since I was 'forced' to bake for my godfather's birthday, why not at least take a photo of what ended up to be a beautiful cake. Well, forced sounds horrible, I was happy to make the cake but it was however, under deadline... eek!

To be honest, I'm not the hugest fan of German chocolate cake. I love chocolate cake. I love chocolate cream cheese frosting. I love coconut and I love pecans. But the combination of all of those things together just does not do it for me for some reason.

So when I tell you I didn't like this cake, please don't be discouraged or swayed away from trying this recipe! I made it for my dear Godfather's birthday and he loves German chocolate cake. That being said, he said this was one of the best ones he's ever had. I can't tell you if he was saying that to be sweet to me or if it was true, but since he's a pretty honest man, I think it's probably true - whew! Let me just say though, the cake alone was fabulously moist and the frosting was deliciously smooth and tangy.

German Chocolate Cake

Yields: 24 cupcakes

Original recipe here.

For the chocolate cake:

1 box Devil's food cake

3 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 cup buttermilk

1 cup sour cream

For the German chocolate frosting:

1 cup evaporated milk

1 cup sugar

3 egg yolks, lightly beaten

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans

1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

For the chocolate buttercream:

4 oz. cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups powdered sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsn. milk or cream, if needed

Preheat the oven to 350 F and line two muffin tins with liners, set aside. In a large bowl, combine the oil, eggs and vanilla. Sift about 1/3 of the cake mix and mix until combined. Add the buttermilk and stir until combined. Add another 1/3 of the cake mix, stir to combine. Add the sour cream, then the remaining cake mix and stir until combined. Fill the cupcake liners 2/3 full and bake for 18 - 22 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

To make the frosting, over medium heat in a saucepan, constantly stir the evaporated milk, sugar, egg yolks and butter until thickened (basically until it boils, about 15 minutes). Stir in the vanilla, pecans and coconut. Let cool. To make the chocolate buttercream, beat the cream cheese and butter for 4 minutes, add the cocoa, powdered sugar and vanilla. Let beat for 3 minutes. If it is too thick, add some milk. If it is too thin, add some more powdered sugar. Pipe the chocolate buttercream along the edges of the cooled cupcakes to create a barrier, then add a small scoop of cooled German chocolate frosting into the center.

Video(s) of the Week

2011-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

You might know Duck Sauce from their 'Barbara Streisand' fame, but I think this new video is ridiculously hilarious and deserves equal amount of fame! A-trak (half of the Duck Sauce group) said that the 'Big Bad Wolf' could refer to anything really so why not go all out and turn them into crotchfaces? Amazing concept to say the least.

Deadmau5's shows are more than just a concert, they're a whole production! Witnessing it first hand was a whole body experience. Seeing how much effort goes into producing an his concerts is totally awesome.

I loveeee this song, as previously stated here, and the video is so, so perfect. It's completely emotional and reminds me a lot of Skins, a show I was addicted to for a while...

Layer Cake Bakery {Irvine}

2011-10-11T17:52:00.000-07:00

I'm always on the prowl for a good French macaron. I've successfully made them myself probably three out of ten times, so buying them is definitely a better option for me haha! I'd love to perfect my technique sometime in the future but realistically, if I want a French macaron, I'm best off buying them.

I decided to visit Layer Cake Bakery in Irvine because I'd heard from multiple people about how great their macarons are. I was happy to finally hear that I could get a macaron in Orange County rather than having to travel miles to Los Angeles for my favorite 'Lette macarons.

Above is a canelé, which I've been trying to try for years. I wanted to make them myself a while ago after coming across them online - they sounded delicious, chewy and custardy... how could I not want to eat them? I couldn't make them because I didn't have the proper pans, so I pushed them out of my radar but the instant I saw them in this bakery, I was so happy!

The canelé was awesome - exactly as I imagined. So crispy and crunchy on the outside and fabulously chewy on the inside.

Now on to the main event: the macarons! These were pretty darn good and I've come across many macarons in my day. They were the perfect crispy-chewy texture and the fillings were smooth and sweet. Being that I'm picky, the fillings though weren't my favorite because I'm not the biggest fan of buttercream fillings in French macarons. I much prefer ganache but don't get me wrong, these were still amazing!

Yelp

Website

Manicure Mondays: The Accent Nail

2011-10-10T15:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I like to keep my manicures simple but on the other hand, have this urge to glitterize everything. The accent nail is the answer to this problem. Sometimes a full 10 fingers of glitter is too much for everyday life and something I like to save for things like... Vegas! But... one glitter nail? Oooooh so pretty!

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

Essie tart deco (for the main color)

ORLY luxe (for the accent nail)

Milani jewel fx specialty nail laquer in gold (for the accent nail)

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Re:generation

2011-10-06T20:19:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of all types of music (with the exception of pure screaming), so I'm definitely a big fan of this. Can't wait to hear the musical mash-up.

Mixtape

2011-10-04T12:25:00.000-07:00

IT IS THAT TIME (aka new music time)!

oregon bike trails . cayucas

pure summery, folky goodness.

the rapture . how deep is your love {a-trak remix}

this song is already hot as shit, but a-trak remixing it takes it to a whole new level!

neon indian . polish girl

awesome synth bleeps that make me want to break out my disco dance moves. pure electronic bliss.

the bloody beetroots . rombo ft. congorock

when you combine the bloody beetroots and congorock, you can bet that you'll get a badass, hard-hitting tune. this is it.

DEVolution . good love {alesso remix}

alesso always knows how to make a feel good song - this is no different!

lips . everything to me {christian strobe remix}

love this chill-out song. perfect for the start of fall when i like to start listening to my "gloomy day" weather music.

jhameel . the human condition

reminds me a lot like dan black, whom i adore. so naturally, i adore jhameel too.

pretty lights . hot like sauce

pretty lights has been KILLING IT. i want to see him live so badly... like NOW, please!

dada life . happy violence

dada life is simply one of my favorites. their music is pure ridiculousness in a good way. seeing them live puts them on another level too - their energy is insane. i mean come on... champagne + bananas? how can you beat that combo?

afrojack, steve aoki . no beef ft. miss palmer

i love this song. pure house madness. the end.

the generationals . when they fight, they fight

pure, unadulterated goodness. makes me want to put on a circle skirt and sashay a bit!

dillon francis, cory enemy . who the fuck are you

dubstep goodness on crack! people like to rag on dubstep a lot, but just accept it and enjoy the weird, repetitive, choppy existence that it is!

delorean . simple graces

listen to the first five seconds and you'll be hooked instantly. i promise you.

bag raiders . snake charmer

bag raiders is the shit! that is all.

aphex twin . windowlicker

oldie but a goodie.

dirty south . walking alone

cannot wait for this to be released! my horrible ripped version has been on loop nonetheless.

the honey trees . moon river

moon river is a henri mancini classic. i love this ethereal cover.

zedd . the anthem

i love zedd. i think he is one of the best live shows i've seen yet - every song he threw on made me want to dance ridiculously!

avicii . fade into darkness {albin myers remix}

always love for avicii. after hearing him play this remix at nocturnal, i knew i had to get my hands on it!

robyn . call your girlfriend {feed me remix}

always love for robyn, too! her music always pulls me in some way.

rihanna (produced by calvin harris) . we found love

i ADORE this song!! house is invading the entire music scene like BOOM, so you'd better get used to it!

florence + the machine . shake it out {the weeknd remix}

the weeknd is the shit. they're huge right now and with this remix of florence, i'm sure they'll get bigger and bigger with time.

* all links are to where songs can be downloaded or listened to

Swedish Semlor

2011-09-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

I love anything involved with cream or custard. Cream puffs are just a complete celebration of the gorgeous lusciousness that is custard, which is why, naturally, I'm in love with them. After seeing gorgeous photos of Swedish semlor on Pinterest, I was intrigued and decided to find out a little bit more about them.

The Swedish have this lovely tradition called 'fika' which is basically a time in the day where they take the time to relax with some coffee and pastries. I think it's the most lovely idea ever, if only we could all take some time out of our busy lives to enjoy some fine company and fine pastries - I think it would do us all a big favor. Anyways, semlor are the Swedish version of cream puffs, but a little bit more involved and fragranced with the slightest bit of cardamom and almond.

Soft, cardamom spiced buns filled with custard and whipped cream and topped with just a bit of powdered sugar... come on now, how can it not be good? Plus, they're really pretty too!

Swedish Semlor

Yields: 8 large buns or 16 mini buns

Adapted from here.

1 large egg

1/3 cup butter, melted

3/4 cup warm milk

1 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

2 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. ground cardamom, plus more for filling

1/2 cup flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 cup milk, or as needed

3 oz. marzipan

1/4 tsp. almond extract

1 cup heavy whipping cream

powdered sugar, for dusting

In a large bowl, whisk together the egg with the melted butter and milk. Sprinkle the yeast on top and allow to soften for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, sift together the 2 1/2 cups of flour with 1/4 cup sugar, salt and ground cardamom. Once the yeast has softened, stir the flour mixture into the milk mixture until a soft dough forms. Cover the bowl with a towel and allow to rise in a warm spot for 30 minutes. Sift together the remaining flour and baking powder. Stir into the risen dough, then knead until smooth. Form into 8 equal balls or 16 if you'd like smaller buns. Place onto a greased baking sheet, cover with a towel and allow to rise until doubled in bulk, 35 - 40 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Bake the buns for 10 - 15 minutes until golden brown and the center is firm. Cool the buns on a wire rack until room temperature. Once cool, cut about 1/2" thick slice off the top, set aside. Scoop or cut out the center of the buns, leaving a shell about 1/2" thick. Tear the removed bread into small pieces and place into the bowl of a food processor. Add the milk and marzipan to the mixture and process until smooth, adding more milk if necessary. It should be the consistency of pudding. Add the almond extract and a pinch of cardamom and process until combined. Scoop this mixture into the hollowed buns. Whip the cream with 2 tbsn. of sugar to stiff peaks. Pipe the whipped cream on top of the filling to 1/2" over the top of the bun. Replace tops onto the buns and dust with powdered sugar.

Manicure Mondays: Zebra

2011-09-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

Ever since it has been getting hot in my parts, all I've wanted to do is wear the craziest, most colorful nails around! I just got this new, absolutely gorgeous Zoya color that epitomizes summer - the brightest, boldest hot pink ever. I'm not a pink girl by any means, but this just screamed out to me.

I thought I'd kick it up a notch even more by adding some badass zebra stripes using a striping brush. Just two coats of the Zoya color, then by using a striping brush, I added random and slightly messy horizontal stripes across my nail. Since it's supposed to be kind of organic, it wasn't too hard to make it look good. Mistakes are welcome!

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

Zoya lola

Cacee color artist with striping brush in black

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Nicole by OPI drying drops

Frangipane Fruit Tart

2011-09-22T15:36:00.000-07:00

This, my friends, is one of my favorite things I've ever made. Ever.

It's the epitome of desserts I love because it is both rich tasting and refreshing at the same time! Plus, it has custard and of course, anything that has custard in it is a win in my book. Let me just emphasize again that this fruit tart is amazing; not only does it taste amazing, it's literally breathtaking to look at. It starts with a chewy and sweet sugar cookie crust, which is then filled with the most fragrant and delicious frangipane filling. On top of that is a layer of creamy vanilla custard that helps keep the whole tart moist and enables the fruit to stick to the tart. If you can imagine anything more this tart needs, it is then topped with a medley of fresh fruit and beautified with an apricot glaze that makes it even more stunning to look at!

I know this sounds really tedious, having five components and all, but the way I make this tart (using shortcuts) makes it do-able and when you take a bite of this gorgeous thing you just made, you'll start thinking of when you're gonna make it again and again! I've made it almost 10 times already... not joking!

French Fruit Tart

Yields: 2 9" tarts

Original frangipane recipe here.

http://gourmeted.com/2010/07/28/blueberry-frangipane-tart/

For the crust:

1 package dry mix sugar cookie dough

+ the ingredients needed to make it, according to the package

For the custard layer:

1 small package of French vanilla pudding

1 cup whole milk

3/4 cup heavy cream

1 tsp. vanilla

For the frangipane layer:

8 tbsn. unsalted butter, softened

2/3 cup powdered sugar

1 cup almond meal or ground almonds

4 tsp. cornstarch

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 tsp. almond extract

For the glaze:

1/4 cup apricot jam or orange marmalade

2 tbsn. water

For the filling (any assortment of the below will work):

raspberries

golden raspberries

blueberries

strawberries

blackberries

kiwi

peaches

mango

mandarin oranges

First, prepare the frangipane filing. Combine the butter and sugar in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the ground almonds and pulse to blend. Add the cornstarch and pulse. Mix in the egg, egg yolk and almond extract. Scrape into a bowl and chill in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before using.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Prepare the sugar cookie mix according to the directions on the package. Divide the dough among two 9" tart pans with removable bottoms. Spread evenly along the entire surface and up the sides (don't worry if it looks thin - it will puff up during baking). Bake for 8 - 10 minutes until just barely golden. Set aside to cool a bit. Once room temperature, divide the frangipane filling among the two par-baked tart shells and bake for 10 - 15 minutes until slightly puffed and golden brown. Remove to a rack to cool completely.

To prepare the custard, combine all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk for 3 - 5 minutes until thickened and smooth. Let sit in the refrigerator for at least 10 minutes to chill and thicken up some more. Once thickened, use a offset spatula to divide the custard among the two tarts, spreading the custard over the entire surface in a smooth layer. Top with your assortment of fruit in any manner that you like. To make the glaze, heat all of the ingredients over medium heat in a small saucepan. Stir to combine. Once thinned, remove from the heat and use a pastry brush to glaze the entire surface of the tart. Chill the tart for at least 1 hour before serving. Enjoy!

Manicure Mondays: Shattered Glass

2011-09-19T20:58:00.000-07:00

The minute I laid my eyes on Color Club's "Covered in Diamonds" flake polish was the minute I decided I needed it in my life! It's the most unique nail polish I've ever seen and it's utterly gorgeous. I love it over black because all of the colors shine over it, but it's equally as gorgeous on any other polish you can imagine.

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

Wet n' Wild black

Color Club covered in diamonds

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Pureed Mushroom Soup

2011-09-16T17:27:00.000-07:00

I have reached mushroom nirvana!

This soup is pure, unadulterated mushroom goodness and goodness is the perfect word to describe this soup. Since it's pureed, it's creamy as hell, yet, if you can believe it, has no cream, milk and only 2 tbsn. of olive oil! The addition of 1 single potato makes it thick and luxurious and it really is magical. If you love mushrooms, this soup is for you. It's pure mushroom flavor and super easy to make.

Pureed Mushroom Soup

Yields: 4 - 6 servings

Adapted from here.

2 tbsn. olive oil

1 onion, coarsely chopped

3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

20 oz. button mushrooms, trimmed and quartered

1 baking potato, peeled and cut into 1" chunks

2 sprigs thyme, leaves taken off the stem

2 14.5 oz. cans of reduced sodium chicken stock

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 - 7 minutes. Add the mushrooms, potato, thyme, broth and enough water to cover, about 2 - 3 cups. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the mushrooms and potatoes are tender, about 20 - 30 minutes. Using a blender or an immersion blender, puree the broth and veggies until smooth. If using a blender, work in batches and fill only halfway, allowing the heat to escape. Transfer to a clean pot as you work. Adjust the soup's consistency with a little water if needed, and season to taste with salt, pepper and lemon juice.

Product Love

2011-09-14T20:47:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows I love products. Even if I find a 'staple,' I can't help but keep on trying new products to see if they'll out-do my favorites. What I love even more is when people share their own favorite products with me. I love word-of-mouth products, so, I thought I'd do the same and share some of the things that I like to use!

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

i've stopped looking. by far the best!

Loreal Voluminous Million Lashes

i change mascaras like i change my socks, but so far this one has proved to be lengthening, curl-enhancing, dangerously black and waterproof!

Sephora Crayon Jumbo 12 Hr Wear in Black

chunky and large for messy smoky eyes. i tested this on the back of my hand, waited a minute for it to set, then tried my best to smudge it and it wouldn't budge - winner!

Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

i used to use mac gel liner, but this is cheaper and equally as good.

Jemma Kidd Liquid Liner in Sculpt

by far my favvv for winged liner. lasts ALL day long - no joke - only makeup remover will take it off.

Make Up For Ever Waterproof Eyebrow Corrector

new product that i have been just loving, lasts longer than anything i've tried thus far.

Bobbi Brown Shimmering Nudes Eye Shadow Palette

i got this before urban decay's 'naked' palette, which i have and love. this bobbi brown palette though is perfect for everyday and has more matte colors vs. all the shimmers in the 'naked' palette.

Hello Kitty for MAC Powder Blush in Tippy

first of all, it's hello kitty so naturally, i already love it. besides that, the bright fuchsia color is perfect! the prettiest blush for my darker olive skin.

Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette

a palette for all situations - dark undereye skin, zits, you name it!

Tarte Amazonian Clay Long-Wear Blush in Tipsy

great formula! seriously lasts almost all day long and this color looks good on everyone! perfect for summer.

Benefit High Beam Luminescent Complexion Enhancer

i DIE for this stuff. makes you look like you're glowing but it's not too sparkly or shimmery where you look like a disco ball.

Lush Ocean Salt

my favorite scrub - for your body or your face! and if you happen to eat some of it on accident, don't worry it's all natural and kinda tastes like a margarita - yay!

Complex 15 Therapeutic Moisturizing Face Cream

i have combination skin with mainly an oily forehead. this face lotion moisturizes my skin without feeling greasy or too heavy. i'm addicted to it.

Burt's Bees Repair Serum

when i need heavy duty moisture, this is it. just rub a dime size amount onto your face before sleeping and your face will feel buttery soft in the morning, plus, it's full of all kinds of good things.

Basis Cleaner Clean Face Wash

also a Über fav of mine. strong enough to strip away makeup and grease without over-drying. the scent is really fresh too.

Burt's Bees Rosewater and Glycerin Toner

love the scent of this. alcohol-free so it doesn't sting.

Goody Spin Pins

asian pin-straight hair sucks for messy buns. spin pins are my messy-bun savior!

H&M Hair Barettes

just recently picked these up at h&m and i'm in love. classy and cute.

Sally Hansen MetaGrip Premium Bobby Pins

i have Über thick hair and i've tried every bobby pin out there. i was sadly depressed at the lack of good bobby pins until i met these. strong, sturdy and cheap ftw!

Tresemme Foam Mousse

i wave my hair almost all the time to get volume. instead of hair spray, i love using mousse to add some texture and keep the waves up all day.

Pssssst! Dry Shampoo

asian hair tends to be on the greasier side, so by the end of the day, i like to perk my hair up with some dry shampoo if i'm heading back out into the night.

One n' Only Argan Oil

i'm sure you've heard of the wonders of Moroccan Oil. basically, this is the same stuff (aka Argan Oil) but cheaper. it smells delicious and gives your hair the perfect amount of shine and moisture.

I used to be obsessed, and I mean obsessed with lipgloss. I had a collection that I can't even bear to share with you because I'm embarrassed by how much money I spent on lipgloss! I guess it was because I had small lips and wanted to do anything to get those Angelina Jolie-esque pouty lips.

Well now, I've graduated to lipstick. I still love lipgloss but sometimes the sticky mess of it all can be much more trouble than i'm up to. Lipstick, ah, my new love. I have an insane amount of lipsticks as well, but I've found my favorites from drugstore brands so I'm not as embarrassed to show you my favorites ;)

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Fuchsia

the perfect bright Barbie pink.

Maybelline Lipstick in Red Revival

classic, classic, classic red. would look good on almost any skin color.

Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Orange Flip

a bright orange coral that just screams summer.

Revlon Moon Drops Lipstick in Persian Melon

an even brighter Barbie pink!

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry

for when i'm feeling vampy.

Maybelline Lipstick in Yummy Plummy

my ultimate favorite color... it's so darn pretty! it's a bit darker than my natural lip-tone so it's perfect for everyday.

Bobbi Brown Lipcolor in Sandwash Pink

the prettiest light pink - think Audrey Hepburn!

Maybelline Lipstick Totally Toffee

my perfect nude.

Obviously, you guys know I love nail polish since I've been posting my nail creations lately in my 'Manicure Monday' series. So, that being said... I have a LOT of nail polish and naturally, favorites as well.

Deborah Lippmann Bad Romance

deborah lippmann, hands down, makes the best glitter polishes. they are definitely an investment because whew, they are pricey, but i make the splurge because they're definitely glitters that you can't get anywhere else!

Deborah Lippmann Boom Boom Pow

Deborah Lippmann Today Was a Fairytale

Milani Jewel FX Gold

all i can say is... VEGAS.

Santee Rich Gold

the prettiest gold-ish-silver foil color and was only a buck!

Nicole by OPI Nicole's Nickel

one of my ultimate favorites ever! it's the perfect pewter color and shines like no other in the sun.

OPI Spark de Triomphe

has a bit of silver glitter and gold glitter that makes it undeniable.

Essie Sew Psyched

a grey-ish military green that's an edgy neutral.

Essie Wicked

my favorite vampy nail polish. so classy.

Essie Really Red

whenever in doubt, wear red. i swear, i'll be wearing red on my wedding day.

Essie Island Hopping

a pretty mauve.

Essie Sand Tropez

my favorite beige.

Essie Dive Bar

such a sassy color. dark base with shimmery turquoise notes.

Zoya Lola

i diee for this bright fuchsia with a shimmery blue note. perfect for summer and tan skin.

Forever 21 Lavender

surprisingly, forever makes pretty good nail polish. this one's the prettiest pastel bright.

Zoya Pippa

the perfect yellow - not too pale or too bright.

Zoya Shawn

a fun mossy green.

Essie Aruba Blue

this blue is so dynamic. when you put it on, you'll see what i mean. it shines from within when in the sun, so perfect.

Essie Tart Deco

just fun. that's all.

Revlon Craving Coral

a more muted coral compared to essie's 'tart deco' which makes it more versatile for every day wear.

A Profile (My Jewelry).

2011-09-13T20:32:00.000-07:00

I have a love for collecting things.

I went through a phase of headbands which happens to be completely useless now since I've discovered headbands don't look all too good on me. For a while it was vintage belts... I've tossed many of those away too since my style has completely evolved. One collection that I still use and add to today is my costume jewelry collection.

Ever since I was in high school I scoured thrift shops for chunky necklaces and unique, often weird earrings. Now, I have a love for costume jewelry and all things dripped in gold (color, not the actual metal, of course... cause sadly, i'm poor). My go to place for costume jewelry is Forever 21 because it's cheap and if it happens to be a "fashion mistake" in the future, well, at least I didn't spend too much on it right?

Here's a photo diary of my recent favorites:

In the center is my Forever 21 Chain Web Necklace. I love long necklaces! They are the perfect slimming tool, seriously. Sounds kind of ridiculous but they really do cut your body up and give a slimming effect. The chains are edgy but the ribbon gives it a girly, more feminine feel.

Forever 21 Textured Geo Ring.

I totally love this ring and have been getting an enormous amount of compliments on it. It's so unique, yet so simple. Such a find.

Forever 21 Spiked Stretchy Bracelet.

I'm a pretty simple dresser. I love black, button downs and clean lines, which is why I love to up the volume with my accessories. This is pretty bad ass and I love it so.

Forever 21 Rhinestone Flower Necklace (no longer available).

Same as above, bling livens any outfit.

Forever 21 Demure Rhinestone Necklace (no longer available).

How amazing is this necklace? It's such a beautiful design and has this kind of retro feel to it.

Amrita Singh Faye Earrings - but I got them for an amazing price on Hautelook.

These are the ultimate glam girl piece. Every time I just try them on, I feel like I should be hitting up Miami Beach in my best clothes at the best party. The color is gorgeous as well.

Forever 21 Woven Chain and Rhinestone Bracelet (no longer available).

Forever 21 Gold Hinge Bangle (no longer available).

Forever 21 Woven Rhinestone Bracelet (no longer available).

Forever 21 Pyramid Stud Stretch Bracelets in Silver and Gold.

Obviously I love metals... I might as well give half of my paycheck to Forever 21... jeez.

My mom's vintage gold oversize chain necklace.

I've held onto this piece ever since I discovered it in my mom's jewelry drawer. I snuck it out and was pretty pleased when she didn't notice it's disappearance. It's a great length for button-downs that I love so much because it just peeks out behind the color for a bit of glam.

Forever 21 Feather Fringe Necklace.

Forever 21 Gold Fringe Chain Necklace with Leather Detail (no longer available).

These are both some of my more "fun" necklaces. Pieces that probably won't last long in my closet but are super fun for right now! I've been wearing these nonstop!

Red Velvet Pancakes

2011-09-08T22:20:00.000-07:00

Ah! This last installation in Pancake Week is a little bit late but I've been overcome with heat and sickness. That's me being dramatic but I have been spending my last days in bed with nothing but my laptop and occasionally my super cute dog!

A while back ago, a reader suggested that I make red velvet pancakes. She said that they would be the perfect fit for my blog, and as soon as I read her comment, I wholeheartedly agreed. I love kitschy food! Most people are sick of red velvet now, but I could never get sick of something so lovely. I mean anything that gives me excuse to eat buttermilk and cream cheese frosting is okay by me.

These pancakes are just plain fun. The red color is stunning and immediately evokes a giggle out of me. These would have been extremely lovely with a light cream cheese glaze but unfortunately I didn't have any cream cheese on me. I made a buttermilk syrup instead and it was equally as lovely. I just love buttermilk syrup because I can never find a way to use up all the excess buttermilk I have in my refrigerator! Plus, it sure is tasty.

Red Velvet Pancakes

Yields: 2 servings

Original recipe here.

1 cup flour

1 tbsn. cocoa powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsn. sugar

1 large egg

1 tbsn. melted butter or vegetable oil

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

3/4 tsp. red food coloring
buttermilk syrup, for serving

Preheat a lightly greased or nonstick skillet on the stovetop. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt and sugar. Add the egg, melted butter, buttermilk, vanilla and food coloring and whisk well until the better is smooth and few lumps remain. Drop the batter into the hot skillet and cook until the edges are just starting to set and the bottom is lightly browned, about 2 - 3 minutes. Flip and cook again until the bottom is lightly browned, about 1 - 2 minutes. Serve immediately with syrup, berries, or whipped cream.

Lanvin Love

2011-09-01T22:56:00.000-07:00

LOVE THIS. That is all.

Farm Fresh Berry Silver Dollars

2011-09-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

When you come home from the farmer's market with an abundance of perfectly ripe and sweet berries, your mind becomes swamped with ideas of how to use them. Of course, me being the pancake lover that I am, I had to make fresh berry silver dollars. After a reader sent me the recipe for Clinton St. Baking Company's pancakes, I knew I had to try it.

I've never tried a pancake recipe where the whites were separated from the yolks, whipped and then folded back into the batter, but when I thought about it... it made perfect sense. We all relish in the fluffiness of pancakes and whipped whites would make the fluffiest pancakes ever! No wonder I fell in love with Clinton St. Baking Company's pancakes immediately.

These pancakes were so lovely. Fluffy, bursting with bites of juicy berries. I topped them off with even more fresh berries and a bit of maple syrup. If I'm not mistaken, I'm pretty sure that day, I was in heaven.

Clinton St. Bakery's Pancakes

Yields: 9 - 10 3" pancakes

Original recipe here.

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/neils-pancakes

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1 1/2 tbsn. sugar

pinch of salt

1 large egg, separated

1/4 + 1/8 cups whole milk

1 1/2 tbsn. unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tsp. unmelted for cooking

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 cups blueberries or sliced bananas (optional)

1/4 cup powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)

maple butter, for serving

Sift together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt into a large bowl, set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the yolks, milk, melted butter and vanilla until combined. Whisk the yolk mixture into the flour mixture until just combined; the batter will be slightly lumpy. Place the egg white in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or whisk by hand, until medium peaks form. Gently mix half the egg whites into the batter with a rubber spatula. Gently fold in the remaining whites - the whites should not be fully incorporated into the batter. Heat a griddle until hot, about 350 - 375 F. Add the remaining unmelted butter to the hot griddle. Add 1/4 cup pancake batter and let set. Sprinkle with 1 tbsn. blueberries or sliced bananas, if using, over pancakes. When bubbles begin to form, lift the pancake, if golden brown, flip it. Cook until golden brown on the remaining side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple butter.

Spiced Peach Pancakes

2011-08-30T16:30:00.000-07:00

Guess what friends?! This week at Une-deux senses is PANCAKE WEEK!

There's no shortage in my love for pancakes here. You've seen me make oodles of pancakes, from chai-spiced, to creme fraiche & pear, to matcha, to mango & coconut, to ricotta hotcakes, and even cornmeal hoecakes! Whew, that was exhausting going through all the kinds of pancakes I've made... so it's pretty clear then that I love them so dearly right?!

If you can believe it, I have tons more of pancake recipes just waiting to be published in my arsenal of good eats here at Une-deux senses. So I decided to just bang them out in a lovely week I've entitled: PANCAKE WEEK. I just realized I repeated myself but oh well, the excitement here is beyond!

What better way to celebrate a summer breakfast with fresh, juicy peaches? Surrounded in a slightly spiced and fluffy batter and topped with even more juicy, sweet peaches? Dang, I'm in heaven. I caramelized some peaches in butter and brown sugar to top my pancakes with, but that's completely optional. What a great start to my PANCAKE WEEK!

Spiced Peach Pancakes

Yields: about 12 large pancakes

Adapted from my favorite pancake recipe, here.

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup cake flour or ap flour

3 tbsn. sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp. ground cardamom

1/4 tsp. ground ginger

pinch of salt

2 eggs

2 cups lowfat buttermilk

2 tbsn. butter, melted

2 - 3 large, ripe peaches, sliced thin

crème anglaise, for serving (recipe here)

Preheat a griddle over medium heat. In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients; set aside. In a large bowl whisk together the wet ingredients. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, being careful not to over mix. Throw some water on the griddle, if it sizzles, it's ready. Turn down the heat to medium-low and grease the griddle with cooking spray. Ladle the pancake batter onto the griddle and lay about 3 - 4 slices of the peaches on top. Cook until bubbles start to arise to the top of the pancakes and the edges lose their sheen. Flip, then cook until golden brown.

Manicure Mondays: The Double Funky French

2011-08-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Plain as pie: I love experimenting with my nails! It's kind of ridiculous... my nail color changes bi, if not tri-weekly. This manicure is something new I tried, inspired by this. This was pretty time intensive only because I wanted to save my "french manicure stickers" and re-used them to make the double stripe. It would have been much easier to just use more "french manicure stickers" and just get it all done at once.

Pretty simply, all you have to do is apply your base coat, then follow with 2 - 3 coats of your base color. Once completely dry, apply "french manicure stickers"to each nail. You want to use two nail strips per nail, leaving space between the two strips - the width being completely up to you. Apply your second color until opaque - usually only takes one coat if you are using a dark color. Remove "french manicure stickers" immediately, let dry, then apply your top coat.

P.S. By "french manicure stickers" I mean those little guide stickers that you can buy in the nail section of any drugstore, such as this.

{what i used}

CND stickey anchoring base coat

Essie sew psyched (base color)

Wet n' Wild black (stripe color)

Seche Vite dry fast topcoat

Vietnamese Green Mango Salad/ Goi Xoai

2011-08-24T23:32:00.000-07:00

I'm Vietnamese and I love Vietnamese food. It's my ultimate fave. I love almost all kinds of ethnic foods but even if I wasn't Vietnamese, I think it would still be my favorite. Most people who aren't Vietnamese don't have a clue about what real Vietnamese food is. People tend to think all Vietnamese food is beef noodle soup aka Pho, fried rice or spring rolls. But it's so much more than that - I can testify!

I think this dish is the epitome of why I love Vietnamese food. Our food can be so light and refreshing and often highlights seasonal ingredients. Since it's so damn hot in Southern California right now, this meal is the perfect solution to ending your day with a meal that can be made without slaving over the stove (just the grill for a few minutes).

Mango is my favorite, so it's probably obvious that I adore this green mango salad. Since the mango is green, it's not too sweet, but delightfully tangy. To freshen it all up, a bunch of fresh herbs are thrown in and the salad gets a bit of bite from some onions. The dressing adds the sweetness that is missing from the mangos and takes it to this whole other dimension. I just love this salad, simply.

Vietnamese Green Mango Salad/ Goi Xoai
Yields: 4 - 6 servings

For the salad:
3 green mangoes, cut into matchsticks
1/4 cup dried shallots, fried
1/2 cup vietnamese coriander (rau ram), chopped
1/4 cup sliced onions
1/2 cup peanuts, toasted and roughly chopped
20 medium shrimp, shelled and de-veined

For the sauce: (makes much more than needed for the salad)
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup fish sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup lime juice

In a large bowl, toss together all of the ingredients for the salad. To make the sauce, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and fry until golden. Lower the heat to medium-low and add the fish sauce, sugar. Boil until the sugar is dissolved, let cool slightly, then add the lime juice. Add more sugar if needed. Heat a grill over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with some salt, pepper and olive oil. When the grill is hot, add the shrimp and cook on both sides until done, about 3 minutes each side. When ready to eat, divide the salad among the serving dishes and top with shrimp. Drizzle each serving with 1 - 2 tsp. of the dressing.

Tailored Tuesday & Travel

2011-08-23T16:24:00.000-07:00

This sweltering heat bores me. I'm ready for fall!

1. Erickson Beamon '22-karat gold-plated necklace'

stunning much?

2. Chloe 'Matte silk satin pussybow blouse'

hahah pussybow blouse. love it.

3. J Brand 'Maria high-rise skinny jeans'

j brand always makes the best jeans.

4. Tory Burch 'Elmini leather knee boots'

gosh these are lovely. i want.

5. Deborah Lippman 'Nail polish in boom boom pow'

have it. love it.

6. Veuve 'La grande dame champagne'

champagne always makes everything a bit more lovely doesn't it?

7. Oliver Peoples 'Emelita square frame acetate sunglasses'

seriously oliver peoples, stop it.

8. Christian Louboutin 'Dancing queen calf hair box clutch'

quite possibly the cutest clutch ever.

9. Forever 21 'Full look lashes'

i have no idea if these are good quality but they sure are pretty.

10. Tom Cecil 'Hipflask'

everyone needs a flask. whether it be this glam is up to you.

11. Chanel 'Perfume in no. 5'

classsssy.

12. Levi's 'Made and crafted canvas holdall bag'

love the colorblocking.

13. Erik Arien 'iPhone facets case'

sooo awesome. now i just need an iphone...

{san gregorio state beach, california}

ummmm why have i not been here yet?

{early autumn lake, bulgaria}

these colors are astounding.

{the stone mirror, antalya, turkey}

this is sooo cool.

{skogafoss, iceland}

i need to be that guy right now.

{bay of fires, tasmania}

after my trip to utah, my love of orange rocks has grown infinitely.

{copenhagan, denmark}

what a nice walk that would be...

{la poulbot, le montmarte, paris}

cobblestone streets. chic stores. yes!

{alaska}

a nature lovers dream.

{penninsula of quiberon, brittany, france}

i'd sure love to enjoy a sunset here one day.

Summer Tequila Coolers

2011-08-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

Friday marks the start of the weekend... so you know what that means! C-O-C-K-T-A-I-L time!

I love this because it's super easy to whip up. Just throw everything together and the ingredients are pretty low-key. Every time I see a delicious cocktail I want to try out, it ends up having endless amounts of liqueurs that I don't have on hand of exotic ingredients that I don't even know where to find. Pineapple juice is almost always on hand since I keep some cans in my pantry and you can literally throw any kind of fruit you want in these! Add a stipey straw and I'm ready for a fun weekend...

Summer Tequila Coolers

Yields: 1 cocktail

Adapted from here.

3 oz. fresh pineapple juice

2 oz. blanco tequila

1/2 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice

fresh fruit (I used peaches but raspberries, kiwi or mango would be lovely)

Combine the pineapple juice, tequila and lime juice in a cocktail shaker. Add some ice, shake, strain into rocks glass full of ice. Garnish with spear of pineapple and some fresh fruit.

Tailored Tuesday & Travel

2011-08-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

1. J. Crew 'Jersey cardigan'

my love for cardigans will never go away. this one is especially pretty - love the color.

2. Juicy Couture 'Printed silk chiffon dress'

very classic - would last a lifetime.

3. See by Chloe 'Fluffy cherry small suede shoulder bag'

my weakness for bags come in the form of cross-bodies - this one is so freaking pretty.

4. Linda Farrow Luxe 'D-frame tortoise shell acetate sunglasses'

i love vintage-y sunglasses.

5. Zoya 'Nail polish in freja'

mmm metallic.

6. J. Crew 'Luggage'

gaaaaaahhhh j. crew.

7. Lights Out 'Sleep mask'

trouble sleeping on planes? this would do the trick splendidly.

8. ROC Nation 'Aviator headphones in black'

very sleek and classic.

9. Canon 'EF 85mm lens'

one of my dream lenses... one day... one day.

10. Nars 'Velvet matte lip pencil in cruella'

vampy love.

11. Converse 'Studded high tops'

pair a bit of trashy with a bit of classy and you've got the perfect outfit.

12. Forever 21 'Leopard laptop case'

leopard is always a win.

{bangkok, thailand}

possibly going to thailand this year. be jealous.

{antarctica}

i don't think i'd ever get the chance to visit antarctica. but i will always have my dreams...

{tel aviv at night, israel}

i love city lights.

{nepal}

wow, i bet nepal gets the prize for the most beautiful night sky. it's a shame we can't see stars that well where i live.

{golden ray migration, off the mexican coast}

this is beyond...

{monterey, california}

finally, a place i've actually been to. and yes, it is this gorgeous!

{the colosseum, rome}

i wish the sky looked like this all the time!

{bologna, italy}

looks like a little slice of heaven.

{red autumn woods, portugal}

i'm a big lover of red. this is win win win.

{phantom ship island, crater lake national park, oregon}

that's it... oregon, i'm coming for you!

Chapter One: The Modern Local {Santa Ana, CA}

2011-08-15T18:58:00.000-07:00

A night out with girlfriends deserves a meal to be remembered. I had heard about The Modern Local for months and when it was time to choose a place to dine out at, the choice was pretty easy. When we first entered, I loved the feel of the place. Casual but hip and definitely the kind of place you'd want to be at on a Friday night.

To start, my friend ordered the scotch egg: a hard-boiled egg wrapped in ground turkey, coated in panko and fried to a golden crisp. By the description, you can probably tell that it was pretty damn delicious. Crispy on the outside and meaty on the inside. Perfect.

For dinner, I ordered the Moroccan chicken sandwich to go alongside my Dutch Courage (an alcoholic concoction made with gin, banana-infused rum, lime juice, acai, celery bitters and simple syrup). The sandwich was served with a simple lentil salad. My meal, along with the martini was a bit sub-par. The sandwich was good but not great and the lentil salad was extremely bland - sadly.

Even though the drink sounds super exotic, it wasn't exotic tasting. It was weird - I didn't not like it, I just didn't love it and nothing really stood out, taste wise.

My friend got the Italian Burger, which was cooked perfectly medium rare. The burger was thick, just as it should be and paired with a meaty portobello. Served alongside duck-fat fries, it was pretty delicious.

My other friend got the southwest salmon blt. Sadly again, it gave us the promise of grandiose flavors. I wish all promises people made were kept. Again, good but not great.

For dessert, we opted for two, even though we were stuffed. But hey, there's a different stomach for desserts right? On the left is the 'milk & cereal' dessert which was a vanilla panna cotta served with cinnamon toast crunch ice cream and seasonal fruit. The panna cotta was all wrong in texture but still had a subtly great flavor. The best part was the ice cream - it tasted exactly like cinnamon toast crunch!

On the right is the 'soft chocolate,' which was a soft chocolate ganache, served with crispy wonton strips, chocolate soil and sesame powder. This was a bit too rich for me and the texture was a bit wonky. Not totally creamy and a bit hard - weird. I didn't enjoy this one too much.

I really wanted to love Chapter One: The Modern Local, but it just did not deliver for me. Since I loved the atmosphere so much and did have a great time with my friends there, I'd definitely give it another chance - especially since they have $5 endless mimosa brunches on Sundays!

Website

Yelp

Lychee Martinis

2011-08-05T07:45:00.000-07:00

A little libation for your Friday?

Lychee martinis are one of my ultimate favorites. If you've never heard of the lychee, it's a fruit that comes from Asia that's sweet and a bit floral-y. Besides the mango, it's one of my favorite fruits ever! Please enjoy your Friday with one of these - sure makes them go by faster :)

Lychee Martini

Yields: 2 servings

Original recipe here

1/2 oz. dry vermouth

3 oz. gin or vodka

2 oz. lychee juice, strained from pureed lychees (optional)

2 oz. lychee syrup, from canned lychees

2 whole lychees, for garnish

Fill a cocktail halfway with ice. Add the vermouth, gin/ vodka, lychee juice and lychee syrup. Shake thoroughly until well chilled, strain into two chilled martini glasses and garnish with the whole lychees.