Green Porno

[Image from Sundance Channel]
Green Porno is a great little project by Isabella Rossellini featured on Sundance Channel (viewers beware). Personally I love the artistry behind these films - the costumes are great. Rossellini fits the role perfectly.

If you enjoyed these film shorts you should read Dr. Tatiana's Sex Advice To All Creation. The book is written in a Dear Abby style - but addresses questions and insecurities faced by insects and their lovers. Very interesting take on the biology of sex.

This is... an outfit that expresses my individual style.

This week's "this is" was tricky. I've always struggled with my individual style - mainly because I felt like I never had one. And if I did, it was probably "cute", not elegant or refined or sexy. I feel the classiest when I wear black, even if it is just a black shirt and flip flops.

For a color I would probably choose some shade of red or pink or a jewel tone. I love hemp/straw purses; I usually have one every summer, but use it so much that it's torn or broken by the end of the season.

[Images created at polyvore.com]

The Indian Garden

247 E. Ontario Street, 2nd Floor
Chicago IL 60611
http://www.indiangardenchicago.com

Friday marked my first taste of Indian food. I'll admit I was a bit apprehensive, but one our interns at work is from India and she was a great help in explaining her native cuisine. She suggested I would really like Murg Makhani (Chicken pieces roasted in a clay oven & then folded into a creamy tomato sauce). In one word - delicious! I loved it! It wasn't spicy, but had just enough 'pep'. I also tried some of her rice dish, also great. I'm sure our carry-out food was toned down from her usual meals, as she said her family's food is generally much hotter. Regardless, it was fun to try a new cuisine!

Little People In The City

Check out the great photography of Slinkachu at his blog, Little People - A Tiny Street Art Project. I love the pictures! If you love them too, you're in luck - he'll have a book available later this year.

Elsa's Procession

"Bridal Procession in a Spring Landscape" by Adrian Ludwig Richter (1847)

The garbage on Food Network

Literally. I mentioned Rachel Ray's "Garbage Bowl" in a previous post, but I didn't know it was actually sold at stores! I was passing through the kitchen/cookware aisles at Kohls last week and caught glimpse of a goofy looking bowl. Since it was orange, I had the fleeting thought that it'd be funny if it was a Rachel Ray garbage bowl. Not actually seeing the garbage bowl before on her show, I was amazed to see that it WAS the Garbage Bowl. What?! Pay $20 for a garbage bowl? What sense does that make? I understand paying for a garbage can - people don't have 13 gallon buckets setting around in their cupboards... but bowls? Wow.

Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!

Salmonella is no laughing matter. However... I can't help but find a tiny bit of humor in the warnings about the tainted tomatoes. Does anyone remember the cartoon "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes!"? There was a movie as well, but I believe the cartoon was around in 1990 or so. Classic.

This is...my pet.

[Image from serrotoicram]

When I was younger I wanted a white cat so badly. I had a stuffed white cat radio, a cat night light, white cat key chain, everything. When my family moved to the farm, the fascination with white cats resulted in Fluffy - my first cat.

While I don't have any pictures of Fluffy here in my apartment with me, use your imagination. Poor fluffy passed away (actually, I think the highway won) and we buried her under our cherry tree.

Fluffy started our farm's crazy history of cats. Now that we don't have any cats (after having up to 15 at one time!), I think my dad's missing the companionship - or he just misses that morning meeee-ow when he walks outside.

To the cats of yesteryear: Fluffy, Buffy, Cinnamon, Sugar, Ginger, Lydia, Midnight, Smokey, Mittens, Biter (that was my brother's creation), Muffin, Tabby, and all the others!

A Wedding Shower to Devour!

Congratulations to the "Bride and Groom"-to-be!

Jake jumped at the opportunity to cater the wedding shower for his brother and future sister-in-law. After much planning - including numerous conversations revolving around millions of food ideas - the food turned out amazing. It was great that Jake recruited some top-notch Sous Chefs to aid in the kitchen that weekend, and during the shower (yes - this is a nod to Sous Chef K and myself).

Guests were dazzled with an impressive spread - all homemade and from Jake's heart:

Olive Medley in olive oil, lemon peel, fennel, and garlic
- gaeta, kalamata, picholines, niCoises, arbequinas, moroccan oil cured, and green olives.


Cheese Platters, Fruit Platter, Vegetable Platter


Hors d'Oeuvre Trio
- Pepper-crusted filet with chive flower butter
- Whiskey-glazed ham, mustard butter, sour pickle
- Cucumber and curry butter

Faux Sushi Due
- Amaretto fig gelee, marscapone in risotto with prociutto wrapper
- Asparagus, portobello, and goat cheese in truffled risotto

Mesculn Basket - baby salad greens in homemade bread bowl
- served with bleu cheese crumbles and candied almonds


California Chicken Salad sandwiches

Pulled Carnitas sandwiches slow roasted chili-rubbed pork shoulder cook with oranges
- served with cilantro pesto and pineapple salsa on mini hawaiian roll

Cucumber Mint Shrimp


Goat Cheese Crustini