Kitchen Mini-Makeover

On a recent productive weekend we installed a new kitchen cabinet and dramatically increased the usefulness of the entire room.

We found the cabinet and shelves at IKEA (of course).

Now there is a place in the actual kitchen for cookbooks as well as evidence of my excessive purchasing of coffee k-cups for my fancy coffee machine, a new home for my best craigslist find ever (the mixer) and a place of honor for my giant bean spoon (this was a gift after I became obsessed with a TV shop depicting an old woman making a vat of beans with a giant wooden bean spoon). I've yet to try this one out but I think it looks good now.

Here is the sad before picture:

Sewing: Potholders

This weekend I finally finished a sewing project that I started without half of the necessary materials. What ironic is that I started it because I wanted to use the small blocks of fabric I bought before I had any sewing project plans at all. Well I'm pretty happy with most of the results. They definitely look handmade but I like that about them.

I also got the change to meet up with my friend Lauren in Palm Springs. I don't know why but I liked the place. Seems like a great place to do nothing. However, should I go back I need to remember to get the original date shake. How awesome does that sound?!

Home from the Range

El Paso, TX

Mark and I went to El Paso, TX this weekend for his birthday. Despite a lack of clarity going into it of things to do, we managed to keep ourselves entertained and sample some delightful Texas specialties (meat). Check out my photo album by clicking on the image above. (See Thuy, I CAN remember to take pictures!)

Thank you for the Crock-Pot!

Mark and I got a crock-pot for Christmas from Spanky. How did she know we needed some slow cooked meals?

So tonight I tried the chili recipe from the instruction manual. I can't say that I have total confidence in the recipes in the manual now but I managed to make enough tweaks to have it taste pretty good - despite a rather thin consistency. Nothing a lot of cheese can't fix right?

I will learn to roast potatoes.

I took the day off from work today (for the most part) and decided that I should have a tasty hot breakfast. I rescued some new potatoes, an onion and an aging yellow bell pepper from the refrigerator drawer and got to work.

It took over an hour but with some eggs on top, I was pretty happy with it.

Winter Gardening Follow Up

You know, I have a history of thinking something isn't working very well only to find that my expectations were too high. When I was in the girl scouts we had a badge for gardening where we had to grow sprouts in an old jar through some complicated process that involved pit of sort and toothpicks and water (of course). When it came time bring it in I was like: "I don't know what's wrong with mine, its not doing well." this went on for weeks and when I finally gave up and brought the thing in it became clear that mine was crazier than anyone else's. Somehow it had looked different all alone on my kitchen counter.

So with that in mind, I bring you pictures of my "winter gardening."

Tamales

I don't know if I've mentioned but I'm kind of obsessed with tamales. Its a bit of a lazy obsession (I haven't started seeking them out yet) but I fear it may morph into a full fledged active driving-to-scary-neighborhoods obsession soon.

Last night I flew back into Los Angeles and Mark and I made our "reward for picking someone up from the airport" trip to Titos Tacos. I'm not going to lie. When I first had Titos Tacos I did not enjoy them. however their mild but delicious salsa won me over and in time I learned to love the beef tacos as well (I think they only have beef tacos). These beef tacos are essentially shredded beef stuffed in a corn tortilla and then the whole thing is deep fried. After that a friendly Tito's employee pries the tacos open with their fingers and shoved some iceberg lettuce in there and, if you want, shredded American cheese. I would recommend not getting the cheese and instead drenching it in the salsa.

So anyways, last night I saw that they have new chicken tamales on the menu so I ordered one up for today's lunch. I'm not an expert but man I am enjoying lunch. Its cubed chicken with green chili sauce and comes with a dark red meaty sauce (that I can't identify at all) that is quite tasty.

If you ever go there, I would recommend the tacos without cheese, the salsa and chips that will come with your order (you don't need to order extra unless you, like me, want a gallon of the salsa), the chicken tamales and I've enjoyed the burritos in the past. I still do not love the guacamole or the chili beans so maybe don't order those.

I'm ready for a nap. Afternoon.