InspirationPerspiration

I'm kind of getting sick of eating fish. I think I overdid it with bringing fish to lunch everyday with rice pilaf that I wanted to take a break. So, I splurged a little and got myself a vegetarian burrito at the most expensive friggin mall food court food ever.

 This little beauty cost me about $8 with my employee discount. I was baffled about spending that much on a burrito, I mean, Chipotle gives you a crap load of food with TONS of guacamole for the same price! Anywho, besides the price, it was what my soul had ordered. Delicious flour (although I always prefer corn!)tortilla wrap over cilantro rice, salsa, guacamole, black beans and a ton of cheese. Paired with a side salad and tortilla chips. I also had a lot more salsa (yay for salsa bars!) and onions. The onions were a horrible idea because I had onion breath =P

I've also been having such an itchy yearning to be creative and treated myself to a Moleskine notebook.

 Only one is a real Moleskine. The others are notebooks that I bought from Borders for maybe a third of the price of a Moleskine. I realized that although having a journal is basically a blog but I want to be able to have these notebooks for a long time and hope that my children will read these and see how I was like when I was much younger. I don't know if websites will be around still in 50 years. So it's a precaution.

Unfortunately, I have no inspiration at the moment.

Goodnight.

a n n i e

1fish2fish3fish

I think I realized I love being a pescatarian! First off, it makes me depend on other source of protein, My hair is getting healthier, I feel healthier and my tastebuds applaud me.

I've been trying out new types of fish as well!

 I've always been wanting to try swordfish but never had the chance due to my neurotic creature of habit mentality and thus going for salmon everywhere I ate. Then my sister and I went to a Mediterranean restaurant and due to limited vegetarian options I decided to try swordfish.

Verdict?

DELICIOUS!

 Then after couples therapy, Richard and I went to Park Chow and I noshed on a fish I've never heard of. I forgot what it was called but it was a very dense fish but had a mild taste. It cut like pork! I even asked the waitress if there was a mistake, asking if it was pork or not. This was served on top of veggies, garlic mashed potatoes with buerre blanc.

Unfortunately, since I love flaky light buttery fish, I wouldn't get it again. However, it was a fun experience!

Tonight was a simple baked mackerel, eaten with rice with hot water. This was major comfort food. I only ate this and bean sprouts when I was younger so it took me back to my childhood. It was simple yet flavorful.

Well I need to get my beauty rest since I will be working straight through Thursday.

Goodnight.

a n n i e

For the Soul

Most of the time less is more. I can appreciate the complexities of a gourmet meal with their foams and de-constructing ingredients. But, sometimes something so simple can be as satisfying.

I first got this recipe from Richard but I've made my own little tweaks.

 I first put some olive oil and heat it up a little. Richard wouldn't actually cut the tomatoes in half but he's patient. He waits until the tomatoes split open and he squishes them. Me? I cut them in half to get them cooking faster. You see them white flakes? That's not cheese, that's garlic! Yes, I love my garlic! You obviously don't have to overdose on garlic like I do. Just a smidge would do.

Here it is cooked down. The tomato juice thickens up and makes a nice sauce.

I added sliced brussel sprouts for my dish. I sliced them so I didn't have to steam them in advance. Make sure to add enough seasoning although you can probably go without salt. I'll tell you why later.

I added a few ladle full of starchy pasta water to make more "sauce" and thoroughly cook the brussel sprouts.

Toss the pasta and you're ready!

I not only overdose in garlic but parmesan cheese as well. This is why I don't think salt is necessary because you can use salty cheese like parmesan or pecorino.

There you go! I used to always make this pasta dish when I needed to use up my rotisserie chicken but it's just as good without the meat.

Enjoy!

a n n i e

The Great Grain Experiment

Since I have made the conscious decision to go pescatarian I knew I had to depend on other protein and maybe eat more grains to keep me satiated. Such as:



Couscous! Food so nice they named it twice! I never really liked this grain before and decided to give it another go and found that I love it! I've been pairing couscous with different veggies and different spices and I am now couscous' number 1 fan.

This led me to the idea of trying other grains and see what is out there. So, I have been browing Bob's Red Mill and found a bunch of grains I want to try.

(image taken from http://www.bobsredmill.com/)

 Lentils. I love lentils in soup but I've never had it any other way nor did I ever make it myself. It's time to do some research and make some!

(image taken from http://www.bobsredmill.com/)

 I keep seeing wheat berries in lots of blogs and I realized how versatile it is. I've seen it mixed with oatmeal, mixed in yogurt or mixed with salad.

(image taken from http://www.bobsredmill.com/)

 Bulgur. Just because I love tabboleh and I want to be able to make it myself.

(image taken from http://www.bobsredmill.com/)

Corn grits just because I like it =)

Of course I will eat more couscous, oatmeal, brown rice, wild rice and barley because they are my favorite.

But I thought why not try new grains for the new year?

a n n i e

Snow Falling

I have been very stressed lately. Many symptons of my depression are paranoia, lack of sleep, hysteria and lack of appetite. Half those symptons have been cured (hysteria and lack of appetite) my lack of sleep hasn't. I keep getting these creepy nightmares with dark settings and snow falling. I obviously researched on dream dictionary and found that snow falling means I'm feeling neglected and alone. Ever since watching Inception, I'm thinking snow is my subconscious. It's twisted but beautiful at the same time.

Anywho, I have succeeded the past 3 days in eating vegetarian/pescatarian! However, I am getting very hungry after two hours and I'm wondering if I should add more protein to my diet. I know I love tofu and cottage cheese but I need more protein ideas.

Last night I had soba noodles. It's a Japanese cold noodle dish but it's too friggin cold here in San Francisco so I changed it up a bit and added boiling soba noodle water to my sobu dipping sauce. Then I added the usual wasabi, green onions and seaweed to it. It was actually delicious and very filling.

Then this morning I had a TON of coffee.

Love my new mug? Richard got it for me. Little does he know, he's being an enabler to my coffee addiction.

My breakfast setting. A brussel sprouts omellette with roasted potatoes and ketchup. Eaten along with coffee, Perez Hilton and notebook of ideas and lists.

I've also been online shopping because of the holiday deals!

Like this beautiful leather trim jacket by Robert Rodriguez. Retail: $430 Sale: 214.90. Price is ridiculous but this jacket is too delicious.

Then This Trina Turk caught my eye. Retail: 250. Sale: $80. Sale price is awesome. I love plain structured dresses that I can accessorize. I'd pair this dress with pearls, leather belt, ruffled skirted slip and bracelets over the sleeve. I die.

Goodnight.

p.s. I didn't buy the jacket or dress =(

a n n i e

Oscentatious/Pretentious

I have to admit, I miss being sharp and on top of things. So as another part of my resolution, I've decided to read more. Not all the junky hilarious celebrity gossip stuff but good solid substance stuff. Stuff that I had to read (but enjoyed!) at school and written reports about.

So I got subscriptions to:



(image taken from http://www.google.com/)


National Geographic. I know that this picture says Mercury Geographic but I was trying to find one of those covers with the Amazonian women with the huge boobs but decided the cannibalistic pug-looking dogs were quite amusing.

(image taken from http://www.google.com/)

  I've also got a subscription to The New Yorker because for once I want to be able to get the New Yorker comics and laugh along to Brian from Family Guy. BTW, I LOVE that episode.

(image taken from http://www.google.com/)

 I've also been drooling over this Kolo Essex travel book. It is THE notebook of notebooks! Many friends know I always have some random notebook where I compile my lists, doodling and memos. I decided I needed to upgrade and get the best notebook there is. You see, this book can hold up to 3 different types of little booklets and it's held together with stretchy rubber bangs.

(image taken from http://www.google.com/)

Delicious. And very necessary.

Goodnight.

a n n i e

Hello TwentyEleven

I must admit I went all out for New Year's eve. I hated 2010. I loathed it, I hated it so much I wouldn't even wish my shitty year to Hitler. It was painful, excruciating and yet I was scared of the new year. I had such fear thinking maybe this year is going to be a lot worse. I even stood in the cold and rain and watched the fireworks praying that the worst is over. I couldn't help but to be so emotional and I prayed to God for his helping hand for the rest of my life.

I think I pretty much rocked 2010 New Years eve. I made sure I ate all my beef cravings and bid adieu.

I woke up late (which was my plan so I can party hardy all night) and went to lunch with my bestie, Jena. We've been wanting zazangmyun forEVA and decided it was best to get it on the last day of 2010.

We got sweet and sour pork to eat with our noodles.

Jena saw me bust out my iPhone and thought I was trying to take a picture of her. I amused her and did so. LOL

This was orgasmic. 

Then while we were drunk we got on top off her boyfriend's roof and listened to the ukeleli. It was freezing but I really enjoyed the view and company.

 

My last meal of 2010. A double double at In n Out. This was more orgasmic than the zazangmyun.

Then I downloaded Hipstamatic app and been enjoying it quite a bit.

Obligatory Martinelli's sparkling cider at work.

Then I made my coworkers pose. The lens is kinda awkward so I took bad pictures.

They look mad because I was being way too horrible.

Well now it is 11:22 and I can safely say that Day 1 of my pescatarian resolution was a success. Now I need to go sleep and work tomorrow.

Goodnight.

a n n i e