Saturday, February 27, 2010

My Desk!

Maybe that's misleading, my desk is far too messy to show off right now. But here's the few things I've tacked up.

20100227desk

From the left: Robot lino-print I did in 2005, Postcard and "no dogs allowed" sign sent to me from sleepytako, vintage postcard of Laguna Beach picked up at the Alameda Antique Faire.

I'm sorry for the lack of posts this past week! We've been bad. The weather has also been no good either, too dark to take pictures. Today is absolutely beautiful but I'm staying in to bake cookies for my friend's birthday party tonight. It's perfect hiking weather, hopefully other people are spending the day out :)

Sunday, February 14, 2010

My First Homemade Bento

totoro bento before
This morning I made my first "kyarabento" (character lunchbox) It was a lot of fun even if it took hours! I made Totoro not just because he is adorable but also because he is an easy shape and good (appetizing) colors to make out of food.

I've been on a big Japanese food kick lately, can you tell? These lunchboxes were very tasty!

Click the picture to go to my flicker page with more details and photos of the bento and our lunch at the zoo!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

A Basket of Mis-sized Fruit

While visiting our local Ranch 99 Asian market I turned the corner in the produce aisle to find the most beautiful golden fruits. Pomelos! And not just the round yellow ones from California that I usually see, but also a beautifully pear-shaped Tawainese pomelo!

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Posed with a medium-large lemon to show off their size! My fruit bowl can't fit anything else!

Of course what do I see down the next aisle
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THE TINIEST WATERMELON AND BANANAS EVER.

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Winter is my favorite season because I love citrus fruit, I can't wait to eat all of these :)

Saturday, February 6, 2010

All Creatures Great & Small

Many of you probably know that I have spent the last six months volunteering at the Oakland Zoo as an animal management apprentice. My apprenticeship officially ended Thursday, and I can definitely say it was one of the most life-changing, educational, and worthwhile experiences of my life. I am very sad that it's all over, but I'm glad to know that the Oakland Zoo will always be there for me to visit, and perhaps someday volunteer again. If you are in the area and have never been to the zoo, or haven't been in a while, I couldn't recommend it more. An amazing place to see some amazing animals, who have amazing keepers who care tremendously about each and every individual creature.

For now, I'd like to recommend a perusal of the Oakland Zoo's Flickr photostream, which features some truly gorgeous shots of almost every species on exhibit at the zoo. Give it a look! Below are just a few of my favorite shots.

White Handed Gibbon

Malaysian Flying Fox

Wallaroo

upon arrival

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Acrylic Tigers

1.31.10 paint doodles
This year is my year! Year of the tiger. These are some doodles I made with left over acrylic paint.

I was inspired by these New Year stickers sent to me by Sleepytako.
1.31.10 tiger stickers
Aren't they cute?

I apologize for the quality of the pictures, they were photographed. I hope to rearrange my desk this weekend and set up the neglected scanner :)

Monday, February 1, 2010

Sunday Cooking

One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is cook. There's usually plenty of time and come Monday if I've baked too much I can take some to my Boss or even to my TA hours.
Last night while grocery shopping I decided to buy some zucchini, it's not something I usually eat but something in my brain said to get it.
Well, my brain had clearly predicted that I wanted to bake this Chocolate Zucchini Bread recipe I saw while browsing the Closet Cooking blog months ago.
1.31.10 Sunday Baking
It was really tender and delicious. It had a little more cinnamon than I would have normally used, but tasty nonetheless! Not the healthiest thing, but zucchini bread isn't healthy either, ha!
By the way, do you like our place mat? We have quite a few, mostly of Mucha art, made by Caroline's aunt. :)

I also decided to go all out for dinner, making Japanese style curry and tonkatsu. It was my first time making it, but it was so easy and delicious! I've been a little homesick for Southern California lately, so it reminded me of my family's frequent visits to the Mitsuwa mall in Costa Mesa. My mother also often treated me and my brothers by making Japanese curry at home.
1.31.10 Dinner
Another great place mat, the tiger on this one is very handsome.
This curry and katsu went fast! I will probably make the curry a lot more in the future, but maybe not the katsu, since I cook with meat sparingly. Also, what do you do with all that oil when you're done frying? Since my family never did that much frying growing up, it makes me feel kind of wasteful using and throwing out so much oil.

Anyway it was such a treat and made me super happy the rest of the evening :) I feel a little silly that I consider Japanese food part of my home cooking, not really being exposed to it until I was already a teenager, but you can't help what dishes make you warm and fuzzy inside, it just happens!