The Page of Elegant Ramblings

nostalgic tripping

2012-02-11T14:53:00.002-05:00

some postcards and pictures of Toronto beaches half a century ago...

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dessert polaroids

2012-02-09T00:33:00.001-05:00

Made a tiramisu layer cake for Iron Chef!

Taken with an iPhone 4S. Awesome camera.

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tumblr

2012-02-01T11:15:00.001-05:00

I would totally wear this

fancy pants

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chanel s/s 2012

2012-01-29T22:12:00.000-05:00

some fancy wardrobe inspiration for this summer... from Chanel S/S 2012

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thumbprint cookies

2012-01-26T16:59:00.004-05:00

Here's the recipe:

Thumbprint Cookies

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/4 cup (50 grams) granulated white sugar

1 large egg, separated

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup (80 grams) hazelnuts, almonds, pecans or walnuts,toasted and finely chopped (See Note)

1/4 - 1/2 cup (60 - 120 ml) raspberry jam/plum jam

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer),beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the eggyolk and vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Addthe flour mixture to the batter and beat just until combined. If the batter istoo soft to roll into balls, refrigerate for about 30-60 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C) and place rackin center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a small bowl, whisk the egg white until frothy. Place thefinely chopped nuts on a plate. Roll the dough into 1 inch (2.5 cm) balls.Taking one ball of dough at a time, dip first into the egg white and thenlightly roll in the nuts. Place on the prepared baking sheet spacing about 1inch (2.5 cm) apart. Using your thumb or end of a wooden spoon, make aindentation into the center of each cookie and fill with about 1/2 teaspoon ofjam.

Bake for about 12 - 15 minutes, or until cookies are set andthe nuts have nicely browned. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool.

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my summer wardrobe

2012-01-21T09:09:00.001-05:00

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there're veggies in my cake

2012-01-13T14:25:00.002-05:00

Making carrot cake is definitely justifiable. I'm eating my veggies!

My dad was cooking fish while I was working on the cake :P

Homemade chili oil on the right :)

Here's the recipe:

Carrot Cake

Wholewheat Flour - 1 cup

Finely grated carrots – 1 1/2 cup

Vegetable Oil – 1/2 cup

Sugar – 1/2 cup

Eggs 2

Baking Powder – 1 tsp

Cinnamon – 1 tsp

Salt – a pinch

Vanilla – few drops (optional)

Chopped Walnuts/ Almonds/ Raisins/ Dates/ etc – 1 cup

1) Grease baking dishwith oil and dust with flour. Keep aside.

2) Sift flour alongwith baking powder and salt. Keep aside.

3) Whisk eggs, addall the ingredients except the flour.

4) Fold in thechopped nuts. Finally fold in the flour mixture gently.

5) Pour the batter inthe greased baking dish and bake at 160 degrees centigrade for about 25minutes. Skewer test it to see if it is done.

Try this recipe to get the best, warm, fuzzy carrot cakethat is not only healthy but tastes great.

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regally blonde

2012-01-10T21:02:00.003-05:00

(Title comes from the movie "Legally Blonde")

The different fabrics and textures from this collection by Valentino are just stunning- I love the lace, the flowers, and the models' braided crowns!

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Shortbread and Roses

2012-01-09T17:13:00.000-05:00

(Title is an allusion to 2000 film "Bread and Roses")

My family's not Irish, but I'd say my parents' taste palate's definitely suitable for the Irish. We love everything from shortbread, to biscuits, to soda bread. So a fews days I made almond shortbread for my mom's second birthday (she has two; it's a long story). They were so simply and crumbly!

We have a gigantic knife haha :D

We played mahjong while they were the in oven

I packaged them in lovely little boxes to share with my friends the next day too!

Here's the recipe:

Almond Shortbread
(adapted from the Food Network)

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/1 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into chunks

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Add the flour, salt, and powdered sugar to a food processorand pulse to combine. Add in the vanilla, the butter and the 1 teaspoon ofwater. Pulse together just until a dough is formed. Put the dough on a sheet ofplastic wrap and roll into a log, about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and 5 incheslong. Tightly twist each end of the wrap in opposite directions. Chill thedough in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Slice the log into 1/3-inch thick disks. Arrange on nonstickcookie sheets, parchment lined or silpat lined baking sheets, 2 inches apart.Bake until the edges are just light brown, about 12 to 14 minutes, rotating thepans half way through the baking process. Remove from the oven and let cool onthe cookie sheets for 5 minutes. Tansfer to wire racks and cool until roomtemperature. Enjoy!

Tips: Store in airtight container for up to a week or freezeuncooked log for up to a month. Also, use the freshest ingredients possible forthe best tasting cookies.

Do you like shortbread as much as we do?
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ladylike spring

2012-01-07T10:55:00.004-05:00

What I want to wear when spring comes!

I'm so obsessed with prints right now!

And backless/deep v!!!

Shirts!!

Of course, eyelet

And tweed suits!

Oh I wish I had them all :P

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to grandmother's cookies we go

2012-01-06T00:26:00.000-05:00

(Title is an allusion to 1992 movie "To Grandmother's House We Go")

During exam week, we were offered amazing cookies from Crossroads Cafe almost every night, and I fell in love with their AMAZING oatmeal cranberry cookies. I tried to recreate these cookies the other day (because of some serious oatmeal cravings), but didn't have any cranberries on hand, so just made so-called grandma's oatmeal cookies to satisfy of the cravings. :P

These cookies were very soft and had a spicy taste. It wasn't exactly the chewy and sticky/buttery texture I was looking for... but still, they were very popular with everyone I shared them with, including my neighbours, parents, cousin, friends, everyone! :)

Here's the recipe:

Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup white sugar

2 eggs well beaten

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

3 cups oats (Old Fashioned. Do NOT use instant.)

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (use 1/2 cup if using raisins)

1 cup raisins (optional)

METHOD

1 Cream butter and sugars, add eggs and vanilla and beatwell.

2 Sift flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Add to firstmixture and mix well. Add raisins (if using) and nuts. Add oats last.

3 Spoon out by rounded tablespoonfuls on to greased cookiesheets. Bake at 350°F. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove to wire rack. Coolcompletely.

Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

What do you do to make CHEWY cookies? Do you have any good oatmeal cookie recipes?
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save the last ballet

2012-01-03T19:12:00.000-05:00

(Title is an allusion to 2001 movie "Save the Last Dance")

Last week I went to see a ballet- one of my favourite things to do in the city :) It was the holiday classic, the Nutcracker, enacted beautifully by the National Ballet.

I love the Four Seasons, it's so beautiful!

I'm wearing: vintage blouse, lovely cameo necklace my daddy gave me, golden maple leaf earrings, my mom's vintage bag, Zara trousers, and Palanco riding boots!

Got a photo with one of the ballerinas! :)

I wish I could go to every single ballet here, but unfortunately I don't live in the city anymore..

Do you go to ballets often?
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she's out of my town

2012-01-01T13:36:00.000-05:00

(Title is an allusion to 2010 movie "She's Out of My League")

One of my favourite things to do is going on a road trip to small towns- I find it both relaxing and full of adventure. You can listen to music while snacking on Timbits along the way, and when you're there, you just let spontaneity take you to the most wonderful and strange places.

So two days ago I decided to out on a whim to take a trip to the beautiful town of Kleinburg north of Toronto. It's been voted one of the prettiest towns in Ontario with lovely little boutiques and a quaint little neighbourhood.

Indeed, it did not disappoint- although the town was tiny, the main street was filled with antique shops and restaurants and cafes and a gigantic Christmas tree!

This was one of the creepiest house ever seen, so we went up close to read what the sign said, thinking it was like a haunted house or something; but instead, it was a florist!

Kleinburg didn't take us long to tour and as we were about to head back, my dad decided that we should take another 2-hour journey up north to Casino Rama! Apparently he felt like it was his lucky day to gamble so away we went!

Unfortunately I wasn't allowed to even set foot on casino grounds because I wasn't of age, so I hung around in the hotel and shops- so much to do there!! Because the area was also a First Nations reserve, there were so many boutiques with First Nations thingamajigs, like feather headwear and fossils and rabbit hide!

I thought the hotel was beautifully decorated! I wish my house was decorated like this!

It was a really fun road trip because I got to spend time with my dad and cousin, both of whom I haven't seen for so long because I've been away at school. Only one more week left to school starts again! Gotta visit some more towns before I leave. :)

What are some towns you've visited that you really liked or thought were quirky and cute?
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The Cupcakes with the Red Velvet Swing

2011-12-30T20:20:00.002-05:00

(The title is an allusion to the 1955 film "The Girl with the Red Velvet Swing")

For my mom's birthday a few days ago, I decided to bake something for her since she always enjoys my baked goods. Red velvet cupcakes were the first thing that popped up in my head- the rich red symbolizes my unconditional love for her. Plus, white and red is just so christmasy and holiday-y, and they're the national colours of Canada! :) Bamn! 3 birds with one stone! Haha

I wish I had one of those cupcake batter gadget that lets you piper batter into liners evenly and perfectly.

I made several batches, some muffin-size and some mini size :)

One of the mini cupcakes piped with cream cheese frosting and little heart sprinkles. I also wrote her a lovely little card :)

I received this huge Audrey Hepburn picture book from my two best friends! Love the photos in there :)

Here's the recipe:

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
(from Joy of Baking)

1 1/4 cups (125 grams) sifted cake flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoons (10 grams) regular or Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature

3/4 cups (150 grams) granulated white sugar

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup (120 ml) buttermilk

1 tablespoon liquid red food coloring

1/2 teaspoon white distilled vinegar

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and line 12 muffin tins with paper cupcake liners.

In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cocoa powder.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter until soft (about 1-2 minutes). Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy (about 2-3 minutes). Add the egg and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the vanilla extract and beat until combined.

In a measuring cup whisk the buttermilk with the red food coloring. With the mixer on low speed, alternately add the flour mixture and buttermilk to the butter mixture, in three additions, beginning and ending with the flour.

In a small cup combine the vinegar and baking soda. Allow the mixture to fizz and then quickly fold into the cake batter.

Working quickly, divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups and smooth the tops with an offset spatula or the back of a spoon. Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 18 -23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cupcakes comes out clean.

Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes and them remove from pan. Let cool completely before frosting. Either spread the frosting with a knife or offset spatula, or use a large 1M Wilton open star decorating tip to pipe the frosting.

Makes 12 cupcakes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup (60 grams) confectioners' (icing or powdered) sugar, sifted

2/3 cup (160 ml) cold heavy whipping cream(double cream) (35-40% butterfat)

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the vanilla and confectioners sugar and beat until smooth. Using the whisk attachment, gradually add the heavy cream and whip until the frosting is thick enough to pipe. Add more sugar or cream as needed to get the right consistency.

What do you make for birthdays? Any special recipes you'd like to share?

love,

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I wish I wish... for the fifties

2011-12-29T20:56:00.000-05:00

I always find myself admiring and sometimes, even gawking at everything fifties. I wish I was born in the era when Audrey Hepburn was in her prime and when society valued etiquette and social discipline more. I wish to dress in petticoats and swing dress, to dance to jazzy music (okay, this might be a bit 20s), to attend high-class balls where I could wear an embroidered gown with petals and diamonds and pearls, to ...

These are unfortunately just dreams, but I try my best to pretend that I'm living a 50's life.

Perhaps it does not even matter which era I physically live in, if I simply value the same ideals as people did in the 50's. And dress in vintage.

What would you do if you wanted to relive the 50's?

love,
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Equestrian dressing

2011-12-27T13:27:00.003-05:00

There's still no sign of snow anywhere in Toronto, which means no skiing, no ice fishing.. basically anything winter-y. So I thought I'd stay in today and clean up my folder of pictures (fashion, food, miscellaneous) and post some random pieces of photos from perhaps a month ago.

Sorry about the mess in the room. I realized after that I should have closed the closet door before taking these pictures haha.

I'm wearing: Club Monaco blazer, vintage earrings, and my new Palanco riding boots!!! These boots took my parents and me about 3 hours to get (since there was only one store in Toronto (that we knew of) that had these). So gonna treasure these :)

I've always been a fan of equestrian dressing, so hoping to get some more riding pants, and shirts and maybe polos...

Hope your holiday's going well!
love,
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Irish Soda Bread

2011-12-23T19:00:00.001-05:00

I can finally bake in the comfort of my own kitchen! One of the best things of being back home is that I can bake/cook any time I want now, with plenty of supplies and ingredients on hand to use. So since we ran out of bread last night, I whipped up a loaf of super speedy Irish Soda Bread.

This bread is for those who like their bread hearty, wholesome, and somewhat dense. It's quite moist inside, but quite thick. I love eating the cracked crust :)

Here's the recipe:

Irish Soda Bread
1 cup all-purpose flour2 cups whole wheat flour2 tablespoons molasses 2 tablespoons old fashioned rolled oats (optional)1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon salt1 1/2 cups (360 ml) buttermilk (soured milk)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) and place the rack in the center of the oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, molasses, oats, baking soda, and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add most of the buttermilk. Using yours hands, or a wooden spoon, mix (adding more buttermilk if necessary) until you have a soft moist dough.
Transfer to a lightly floured surface and gentlykneadthe dough into a 7 inch (18 cm) round that is about 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick. Place the round on your prepared baking sheet and then, with a sharp knife or clean kitchen scissors, cut a 1/4 inch deep "X" across the top of the bread.
Bake for about 40 -50 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. You can also test that is fully baked by tapping the bottom of the bread - it should sound hollow. Remove from oven. This bread is wonderful when served warm with butter and jam. It also makes great toast.
Makes one seven inch (18 cm) round soda bread.

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COS printemps/ete 2012

2011-12-19T18:23:00.000-05:00

These are some outfits I'd love to wear in the spring/summer- from COS printemps/ete 2012. I love the tailored pieces and the different shades of blue! The fancy green pants also add a nice touch of quirkiness to collection. :)

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Back in TO

2011-12-14T12:56:00.002-05:00

Had an amazing time back home. In TO! :)

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Finally got to cook chinese food at Midd

2011-12-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

After three months of eating dining hall food, I finally got to cook up some homemade Chinese food. :)

Fried rice with chicken

Tomatoes & eggs

Veggie stir-fry

One more week till home!! :)

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Thanksgiving break adventures

2011-12-07T00:00:00.001-05:00

After three months of living in a small rural town in the middle of Vermont, it was quite refreshing and at the same time intimidating to spend a few days back in the city. We journeyed up to good old Montreal for a few days to experience some downtown city life- so different from Midd!

These pictures are from the Musee de Beaux-Arts' Big Bang exposition.

Enjoying sushi at Kanda

"Humans are like stuffed animals"

I loved these dog beds!!!

Finally at one of my favourite places in the whole world! Centre Bell aka home of the Habs!!!

It was an amazing trip, especially since I got to get out of my comfort zone and got to spend a lot of time just hanging out with friends!

What do you think of the exposition at the Musee?
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Gourmet Fireplace Cafe

2011-12-03T21:23:00.001-05:00

Ever few Thursday nights, my friend Ell and I get to show off our "esoteric" cooking at the Fireplace Cafe. We basically get to run a social space provided that we cook/bake some goodies and provide some entertainment. Trying for something gourmet this past Thursday night, we went for Crackers with blue cheese spread and grapes, and Croquembouches.

The blue cheese spread is quite delicious, made of crumbled blue cheese, cream cheese, and chopped walnuts. Sandwiched between a Ritz cracker and half a red grape, it is an amazing amuse-bouche.

The Croquembouche is basically a tower of Belgian cream puffs (aka "balls of heaven") drizzled with chocolate (semi-sweet, white, milk and peanut butter kinds) and white chocolate chips, with red grapes as decorations.

You might have noticed that we aimed for a red and white colour scheme since it was World AIDS Day. I thought it was so pretty with the perfectly-fitting plates and tablecloths. :)

Have you baked anything delicious recently?
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Paul Smith

2011-12-02T16:43:00.001-05:00

I'm loving the menswear look right now- looking for chic and preppy shirt with roll-up sleeves and boyfriend blazers! :) Chino pants and loafers are also a must.

Paul Smith

What's your favourite menswear look?

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flying with birdies

2011-11-26T12:30:00.001-05:00

Just got these birdie print pants from ASOS :) Loving them to the fullest! :)

And wearing a white chunky sweater that my mom knitted ! :)

Hope everyone's enjoying their Thanksgiving!
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by the lounge

2011-11-24T21:21:00.001-05:00

Taken just before leaving for the International Dinner :)

As you can see, I'm obsessed with hunter green lately.
My mom said that these pants make me look like a postman! :P

Happy thanksgiving everyone!!!

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plaid

2011-11-21T21:35:00.001-05:00

Wearing the plaid scarf that my mommy gave me as a birthday present :)

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vintage paris

2011-11-20T15:58:00.001-05:00

Oh how I wish I was spending my afternoon at a cafe in Paris...

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Up I go!

2011-11-18T22:46:00.001-05:00

Up I go!

What are you up to this weekend?

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maroon for the ball

2011-11-16T17:32:00.001-05:00

Getting ready for the ball... and being obsessed with maroon lately.

Can you believe it's already Wednesday night?! Time passes by wayyy too quickly...

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my wall

2011-11-15T23:28:00.001-05:00

Sores pictures of me goofing around, in front of my fashion collage :)

Are you excited for Thanksgiving? I know I am!! Get to go back home for the first time since college started.. :)

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See by Chloe Hiver 2012

2011-10-23T18:56:00.003-04:00

Some photos for inspiration from See by Chloe Hiver 2012

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Evening with Paul Lewis

2011-10-22T09:29:00.000-04:00

Friday night I went to see Paul Lewis, a concert pianist hailing all the way from Britain in concert. And I got to go backstage after the concert and met him in person! His programme was entirely Schubert, and I really loved his articulations and trills. It was a beautiful evening, and I'm so looking forward to the other performances coming up! :)

Wearing: vintage polka dot dress, skinny belt, sparkly earrings, braided clogs, vintage Versace handbag.

Hanging out at the Grille later that night..

It's finally fall break!! (at least for Middkids). What are you up to this weekend?

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comptoir des cotonniers AW 11/12

2011-10-20T23:08:00.002-04:00

Just some pictures from Comptoir des Cotonniers A/W 11/12 for inspiration :)

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Beautiful fall scenery

2011-10-17T16:46:00.000-04:00

Oh the fall scenery here in Vermont's soooo gorgeous... I could stare at the orange, red, and yellow leaves all day. So we decided to take a stroll around Battell Beach and just look at the mountains in the distance! :)

Wearing: vintage white blouse, tan riding pants, vintage lace-up boots, pearl necklace, giant maple leaf earrings, Alexa bag.

Ah it feels so good to be in Vermont during this time of the year :)
What does fall look like where you live?

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lovely baked goodies

2011-10-16T22:50:00.002-04:00

Still continuing my baking adventures here.. last week's baked goodies include: rocky road bars (white and milk chocolate), croissants (peanut butter and jam, cheese).

And on Friday we made a birthday cake with M&M's and KitKat bars with a ribbon wrapped around. :) Freshmen 15 here we come! :P

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Dolce & Gabbana S/S 2012

2011-10-16T10:37:00.002-04:00

Some lovely prints for next year! :) from Dolci & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2012.

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Hall Passage

2011-10-13T11:39:00.002-04:00

Some random pictures from my hallway.. wearing: vintage blue coat, vintage elephant brooch, sparkly earrings, BCBG dark grey dress, vintage skinny belt, tights, and vintage lace-up boots.

I'm so in love with black/white and sepia effects right now! :)

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red plaid by the elevator

2011-10-10T22:58:00.000-04:00

Wandering in the hall... wearing: mom's blue coat, vintage elephant brooch, vintage plaid dress, skinny belt, sheer tights, and vintage lace-up boots.

Went to see a jazz concert tonight- it felt sooo good. I miss live jazz... :)

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AQUILANO.RIMONDI

2011-10-09T09:01:00.003-04:00

Sorry I'm sick so I haven't been taking pictures but here are some from Aquilano Romondi's Spring 12 RTW collection for inspiration :)

Aquilan Rimondi

I love the feminineness and elegant chicness of the dresses.

love,

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purple polka dots and mom's blue coat

2011-10-07T13:01:00.002-04:00

Playing around in my room... wearing: blue coat (my mom's when she was young), vintage elephant brooch, vintage purple black polka dot scarf and vintage pearl earrings.

I love this last picture- the vintage polaroid effect!!!

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adorable siblings

2011-10-06T12:47:00.001-04:00

Just one of the most adorable lookbook pictures I've seen yet! From Rodarte for Opening Ceremony Fall 2011/2012

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bright in the daylight

2011-10-03T23:57:00.003-04:00

Friday's outfit- thought I'd wear this because it could be worn to parties. Classy ones, at least. ;)

Vintage maroon red sparkly dress, vintage chunky pearl necklace, skinny leather belt, vintage grey strappy flats, vintage giant golden maple leafs earrings.

love,
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Polaroids

2011-10-03T00:11:00.001-04:00

Took some polaroids with my friends today- don't these look so 70's? (I'm the one pointing the finger, on the bottom in the second picture, and on the right in the bottom picture.) :)

Baby blue polka dots

2011-10-02T15:14:00.000-04:00

Felt like wearing something office-y so went with this:

Vintage white silk blouse, baby blue polka dot pencil skirt, Swedish clogs, blue pattern watch, Alexa bag, and vintage baby blue earrings.

I love sitting in those adirondack chairs. :)

love,
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Fall Floral

2011-09-30T14:50:00.003-04:00

Felt like wearing this print dress because it was the last sunny day here in Middlebury!

What I'm wearing: vintage floral print dress, chunky pearl necklace, crispy green ballet flats, and my go-to Alexa Chung bag.

love,
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Bold colours for fall

2011-09-29T00:21:00.001-04:00

Absolutely in love with Sessun's Fall/Winter 2011/12 collection...

I'm going to be posting some outfit pictures soon so stay tuned! :)

love,
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Green plaid and thigh highs

2011-09-23T15:21:00.000-04:00

A post from Midd! College has been keeping me on my toes, so I haven't had the time to blog but finally decided to take a little time to take a few pictures to share with you guys. :) The scenery here's actually amazing- I'll have to explore the campus further and take more pictures at various places!

Sorry about the quality- pictures were taken with my BB instead of a proper camera. :P

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Hilarious campaign

2011-09-09T21:22:00.001-04:00

Every time I see this campaign by Lanvin, I laugh like crazy. Can't help it. The models' movements are just too funny. :D

I love their funny poses :)

love,
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Resort White

2011-09-04T08:42:00.001-04:00

Thought I would do a continuation of The Row- now what I'd wear for Resort season :)

I'm so obsessed with white lately that I've decided to decorate my college dorm all in white (well with hints of pastel rose). Just look at these Scandinavian homes for inspiration:

They're just so relaxing and serene. All these pictures are from the awesome blog "My Scandinavian Retreat". I love admiring the houses posted... they're all so breathtakingly gorgeous!

Feel free to leave your comments! :)

love,

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P.S. I'm at college now! :P

What I want to wear this fall

2011-09-01T11:54:00.000-04:00

September's here already! Time really flew by this summer... (like every other). I just got a new computer for school but somehow my old one stopped working so I'm not able to upload a lot of nice pictures saved on there. Hopefully it'll function again soon so I can post them more lovely pictures from this summer.

For now, a few pictures from The Row Fall '11, of the lovely Olsen twins.

Really wish I could afford to buy all of these outfits. They're very elegant and classy, and the dress reminds me of Mad Men. The mustard colour's also a want, especially since it's like the colour of the season. Amazing silhouettes as well. Gorgeous maroon/wine colour in that last one.

What do you guys think?

love,

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Adorable bathing caps

2011-08-26T10:05:00.000-04:00

A quick little post before I leave for the day- I found these adorable vintage bathing caps on Miss Moss' blog. I really wish they were still around !!

Aren't these just adorable?

love,
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I love Syrup

2011-08-25T16:09:00.000-04:00

Something quirky now- I just discovered this really cute and fashionable Japanese label called "Syrup". Looking through their lookbook and catalog, (just the pictures since the site's entirely in Japanese), I found their outfits have a sort of a reminiscence for vintage with a slight touch of modern Japanese style. I love the patterns and florals and the simplicity of the ensembles. The pictures just make you feel you feel so relaxed- I personally these outfits can be worn whenever- even when you're not in the mood to put any thoughts into how you're going to dress for the day. The looks are effortlessly adorable. :)

I hope you love this collection as much as I do, feel free to let me know what you think!

love,
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Buttermilk Cakes

2011-08-24T11:27:00.000-04:00

Just a quick little recipe that I tried two days ago when my mom craved those butter cakes they sell at those Chinese bakery shops. I couldn't find any recipes for authentic butter cakes, so here's a somewhat close one - Buttermilk Pound Cakes.

Here's the recipe:

Buttermilk Pound Cake (from Allrecipes)
Makes 1 9-in or 10-in round cake or 12 cupcakes

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
3 cups white sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk

1.Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease one 9 or 10 inch tube pan. Mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.

2.In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar. Mix in the eggs, one at time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the lemon and the vanilla extracts. Gently mix in flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk. Pour batter into the prepared pan.

3.Bake in preheated oven for 90 minutes. Do not open oven door until after one hour. When cake begins to pull away from the side of the pan it is done. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

love,
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Spread the Cheese Biscuits Around

2011-08-22T10:59:00.000-04:00

Last week my "baking friend"- that's what I call her since she loves baking as much as I do and always has fresh ideas and recipes to try out- anyways, she asked me to have a little baking get-together. We tried my hand-crafted cheese biscuits recipe while playing "La Vie En Rose" and it was a great success!

She wanted to have a little fun arranging the biscuits on the plate :D and we ended up with a somewhat awkward-looking turtle haha.

Here's the recipe:

Cheese Biscuits
Makes about 18 small rectangle pieces

2 cups flour
about 1/4 cup butter, cold, cut into 1-cm cubes (plus about 1-2 tbsp melted for brushing later)
1 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
about 1 cup grated cheddar cheese, cold (or you can add other cheese if you want)
a little bit shredded cheese for sprinkling
about 3/4 cup heavy cream, cold

Preheat oven to 425F. Combine all dry ingredients (not cheese) and whisk until blended.
Rub cold butter into dry mixture using fingertips until crumbs are not bigger than teh size of peas.
Add grated ceese and blend together.
Add cream and gently mix together to form dough using fingertips without kneading too much.
Roll lightly into a long flat rectangle shape, and moisten the surface a bit (ex with the heavy cream or butter bits) and then fold over in half. Repeat this two times.
Cut into squares/rectangles and place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Lightly brush melted butter over biscuits and on the sides. Sprinkle shredded cheese over biscuits.
Bake at 425F for about 13 -15 minutes, or until the edges begin to turn golden brown. Cool on pan for a few minutes, then cool completely.

These cheese biscuits are very rich, soft, flaky, and layery ... They're way better than the ones at Timmy's or McDo's. :P

love,
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Leopard Print and Brown Skirt

2011-08-21T22:40:00.000-04:00

I've never worn leopard print in my life. So last weekend, I decided to give myself a little challenge- well, I only took a little step but it was something new- I sported a leopard print silk headband (actually a scarf) matched with a brown corduroy skirt, paired with my beloved Swedish clogs. :)

I'm also sporting a simple white eyelet top (because it's like one of the few white spaghetti tops I own).

The skirt was a little loose because it belonged to my mom from the 80's I believe, so I tightened the waist with an ultra-thin brown-reddish belt.

I decided to have a little fun with the camera myself :P

I visited the St Lawrence Sunday Antique Market that weekend, where there were like a million little antique stands showing off vintage treasures from ancient Inuit costumes to 50's records and cameras.

We passed by a little galerie while walking down King Street, and I thought these little sculptures were absolutely adorable! :)

Also ran into a funny little puppet at the market :)

It was most definitely very overwhelming for the eye.

I ended up taking home a pair of blue rhinestone earrings in quite an irregular shape- I'll probably blog about it soon (or maybe not soon, since it's more for a formal affair). But they were indeed gorgeous. :)

love,

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Parisian Macaron au Cafe (+Simple Frosting/Buttercream)

2011-08-18T11:47:00.000-04:00

While I was in La Pocatiere, I visited the town's newly-opened Patisserie d'Oliver, and had about a dozen macarons, one of the each flavour. It was the best day ever and I made a vow that I must learn how to make these delicious goodies in my kitchen.

I've always heard that macarons are really difficult to make; even professional chefs sweat about the techniques and perfection needed. I found a few recipes online and read about a dozen books and articles with tips and tricks of making the perfect macarons. The first macarons au cafe recipe I tried comes from My Diverse Kitchen.

The cafe flavour was my favourite at the patisserie, so I decided to add quite some espresso/instant coffee. The taste was glorious afterwards! I don't own a piping bag/tip, so I had to use a ziploc bag with a cut corner to pipe the batter- and since I suck at piping, you can see the tops aren't exactly like the super smooth ones you see at bakeries. :)

I was bored so added a little cafe icing hearts on top. :) As for the buttercream filling, I used the Simple Frosting recipe from Alice Waters, and just made a coffee version of it. The two recipes combined was absolutely amazing! My mom can't have enough of the macarons. :)

Here are the recipes:

Macarons au Cafe
Macaron batter (from My Diverse Kitchen)

1 cup powdered sugar (could lower this somewhat because I found the macarons a bit too sweet)
½ cup powdered almonds
1 tsp instant coffee powder
2 egg whites, at room temperature (aged for 2 days)
5 tbsps granulated sugar

Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and have a pastry bag with a plain tip (about 1/2-inch, 2 cm) ready. You may also use a Ziploc bag with the tip cut off, for piping.

Grind together the powdered sugar, the powdered almonds and coffee powder so there are no lumps.

With a hand held electric mixer, beat the egg whites until they begin to rise and hold their shape. While whipping, beat in the granulated sugar until very stiff and firm (about 2 minutes).

Carefully fold the dry ingredients, in two batches, into the beaten egg whites with a flexible rubber spatula. When the mixture is just smooth and there are no streaks of egg white, stop folding and scrape the batter into the pastry bag/ Ziploc bag (standing the bag in a tall glass helps).

Pipe the batter on the parchment-lined baking sheets in 1-inch circles (about 1 tablespoon each of batter), evenly spaced one-inch (3 cm) apart.

Rap the baking sheet a few times firmly on the counter top to flatten the macarons. Keep them at room temperature for about an hour till a thin film forms on the macaron batter. If you lightly touch a macron and the batter doesn't stick to your finger, then it is ready.

Bake them at 160C or 170C for minutes. Let the macarons cool completely then slowly peel off the parchment paper.

Store the macarons in airtight containers till ready to fill.

Simple Frosting/Buttercream (from Alice Waters)
Makes enough frosting for a 9-in cake or 24 cupcakes

Beat until light and fluffy 12 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

Beat in 1 and 1/3 cups powdered sugar, sifted

Continue beating until light and fluffy , add: 1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp fresh lemon juice (i replaced this with really strong espresso for the macarons au cafe), you can also make a bunch of variations if you add 2 ounces melted bittersweet chocolate, or with 1/2 tsp lemon, orange or tangerine zest, or some other extract

Hope you enjoyed these! If you've never tried macarons, you need to get up right now and go to the nearest patisserie :) I swear you won't regret it :) And if you have tried macarons before, what are your favourite flavours?

love,
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The Best Pizza

2011-08-16T10:20:00.000-04:00

For me, pizza's one of those things that you just have to eat once in a while. However, chain-store pizza just isn't my cup of tea, because they're most of the time quite greasy and the crust is too thin, and there's insufficient toppings. So, I decided to make homemade pizza from scratch. And they turned out amazing!!

Starting out with fresh ingredients for the million toppings I was gonna have. I picked tomatoes, two kinds of sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, and yellow and green zucchinis. I slightly sauteed the veggies so they're cook better in the oven.

For the dough, I used half white and half whole wheat flour.

Here's the pizza before going in the oven- with grated mozzarella and parmesan.

Finished pizza! :)

I ate about 6 slices in one sittting, haha. But I think the reason I like them so much is because they are so thin-crusted and I love the homemade feel to it.

Here's the recipe:

Best Homemade Pizza
Makes 4 thin-crusted pizza

White Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (Adapted from 101 Cookbooks)

4 1/2 cups King Arthur White Whole Wheat Flour
1 3/4 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon instant yeast
1/4 cup olive oil
1 3/4 cups water, ice cold
a few tablespoons chopped herbs (optional)
Semolina flour or cornmeal for dusting

Stir together the flour, salt, and instant yeast in the bowl of an electric mixer. By hand stir in the oil and the cold water until the flour is all absorbed. Add the herbs. Switch to the dough hook and mix on medium speed for 5 to 7 minutes, or as long as it takes to create a smooth, sticky dough. The dough should clear the sides of the bowl but stick to the bottom of the bowl (to me it looks like a tornado). Add a touch of water or flour to reach the desired effect. The finished dough will be springy, elastic, and sticky, not just tacky.

Transfer the dough to a floured countertop. Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces and mold each into a ball. Slip into plastic sandwich bags. Refrigerate.

When you are ready to make pizza (anytime in the next few days), remove the desired number of dough balls from the refrigerator at least 1 hour before making the pizza. Keep them covered so they don't dry out.

At the same time place a baking stone on a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees (you can go hotter, but I like the results I get at 450). If you do not have a baking stone, you can use the back of a sheet pan, but do not preheat the pan.

Generously dust a peel or the back of a sheet pan with semolina flour or cornmeal and get ready to shape your pizza dough. Uncover or unwrap the dough balls and dust them with flour. Working one at a time, gently press a dough round into a disk wide enough that you can bring it up onto your knuckles to thin out - you should be able to pull each round out to 12-inches or so. If the dough is being fussy and keeps springing back, let it rest for another 15-20 minutes. Place the pulled-out dough on the prepared sheet pan, and jerk the pan to make sure the dough will move around on the cornmeal ball-bearings (you don't want it to stick to the pan).

Add your toppings and slide the topped pizza onto the baking stone. Bake until the crust is crisp and nicely colored. Remove from the oven.

Pizza sauce: I used tomato sauce, and garlic BBQ sauce (it tasted surprisingly good!)
Toppings: any sliced veggies, pepperoni, sausages, etc... finish with grated cheese.

I hope you enjoyed this somewhat improv pizza! The pizza dough didn't even stay in the fridge long- I finished the 4 pizzas in 2 days. :D

Let me what you think and your special pizza-making tips!

love,
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Green in Wonderland

2011-08-15T13:04:00.000-04:00

I'm a busy lady. :) But sometimes I just got to relax and enjoy whatever's out there in nature. So I took some time yesterday to take in what my backyard/the ravine had to offer before going shopping for 14 hours straight.

I really love the green-ness of everything. And I thought my chiffon green dress blended in pretty well. It'll be a great alternative to camounflage when I go hunting, haha.

My mom got me those green-blue glass earrings that matched perfectly with the dress.

The braided Swedish clogs I'm wearing are one of my favourite pairs of shoes.

Just checking out the bushes. :D

Hope you enjoyed this, and I've got a lot of new posts lined up - I just haven't had the chance to upload the pictures and organize everything yet- I've been sooo busy.

How have you guys been lately? I'd love to hear about your summer activities! :)

love,

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What's for dinner + Starbuck's Low Fat Blueberry Muffins

2011-08-12T09:53:00.000-04:00

Just thought I'd post what I cooked for dinner- again, a mix of Italian and Chinese cuisine. :)

I made quick stir-fried okra - it was my first time cooking with them! My family absolutely adored the dish, it's going to be a family staple from now on. :D
This was served along with fried eggs with tomatoes, another family favourite of ours; then I made minestrone soup, served with pasta and noodles. My dad really loved the minestrone soup!

We wanted some baked goods as well, and since my dad loved the blueberry muffins so much I decided to try them out from scratch this time. I chose Starbuck's Low Fat Blueberry Muffins recipe- to be honest, the muffins are the best. I think I would rather have Dr Oetker's. :D They're quicker and tastier, yet still low in fat.

I have to say, they do look from darn good though! :)

* Oh, what's that you notice in the background? I won't give away too much but let's just say they're are THE MOST DELICIOUS THINGS ON EARTH. Post coming up soon! :P

Anyways, here's the recipe for the muffins:

Starbucks Low Fat Blueberry Muffins
Makes 12

3 cups unbleached flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup skim milk
2/3 cup applesauce (can substitute 1/3 cup melted margarine) or 2/3 cup pureed pears ( can substitute 1/3 cup melted margarine)
2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups blueberries
vegetable oil cooking spray Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Blend dry ingredients and set aside.

Combine milk, apple or pear, egg whites; blend well. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork until just blended. Gently fold in blueberries.

Spoon batter into muffin tins lightly sprayed with vegetable oil.

Bake until golden brown (approx 20-25 minutes).

More delicious goodies coming up soon!

love,
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Dr Oetker's Quick Blueberry Muffins

2011-08-11T16:18:00.000-04:00

We again realized that we had no bread for breakfast, so I decided to make muffins for the first time from a pouch mix! I chose Dr Oetker's Blueberry Muffin mix, and got 6 muffins (conveniently and exactly enough for a family of 3 :)) out of the oven in less than half an hour!

My family's not that much of a sweets type, so we never really have muffins. But this morning, my dad left a note for me saying that he absolutely loved the muffins, and that he was sorry he had half the muffins in the box! :D No worries, daddy, I'll make you more if you like them! :)

These muffins were very soft and healthy! It's really a quick and easy way to serve breakfast when you've got no time.

Here's the recipe: (I adapted it from the back of the pouch, making it slightly healthier)

Dr Oetker's Blueberry Muffins
Makes 6 muffins

1 egg
1/3 cup cold water
1 tbsp oil
1 tbsp applesauce
1 pouch Dr Oetker's Blueberry Muffin mix
1/2 cup of blueberries

Preheat oven to 425F. Beat eggs, cold water, oil and applesauce together, then add Muffin mix. Blend until the mixture's smooth. Add blueberries and mix gently. Pour into lined muffin pan (6). Bake for about 18-20 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes. Cool on rack completely.

I really enjoyed these quick and healthy muffins. But I've got to try to make muffins from scratch some time! :)

love,
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Caesar Salad with Cold Chili Flake Noodles/Spaghetti

2011-08-10T15:50:00.000-04:00

While I was in La Pocatiere, the one dish that I enjoyed 100 times more than others was the caesar salad. I would go for endless seconds (guilty) like a million times. However, my friend D told me that it was notoriously unhealthy. So, when I returned home, I vowed that I would make myself a healthier caesar salad.

Last night along with the caesar salad, I made potato pepper stir-fry for dinner, served with cold chili flake noodles/spaghetti.

I visited the Great Cheese Factory on the weekend, where I picked up a huge block of parmesan cheese and some goat mozzarella. It was really funny when we entered the store, because my mom immediately cried: "oh god, this store smells horrible!" while I took a deep breath and said: "it smells so cheesily good in here." :)

Here are the recipes: (sorry for not having exact measurements, I tend to eyeball everything and improv as I cook...)

Caesar Salad

Serves 4

Half a head of romain lettuce

3-4 pieces of bacon

About 1- 1 1/2 cups of garlic croutons

A small block of parmesan cheese

Fat free caesar salad dressing (I used Kraft)

1. Wash and cut the lettuce into medium pieces. Place into large bowl.

2. Panfry the bacon strips. When cooked, transfer onto paper towel to get rid of the excess oil. Tore the bacon into tiny bits and add to the salad bowl.

3. Add the garlic croutons to the bowl.

4. Shred the parmesan cheese into the bowl.

5. Add dressing, and mix. Serve.

Cold Chili Flake Noodles/Spaghetti

Serves 3-4

Spaghetti, enough for 3-4 people (I used half organic and half whole wheat)

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp quality chili oil

2-3 tsp quality hot chili paste/sauce

2 tbsp dried chili

Salt, to taste

1. Bring water to boil, and cook spaghetti until al dente, about 9 minutes.

2. Repeated add cold water to cooked spaghetti and then dumping the water out, until spaghetti's cold.

3. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix. Serve cold.

My parents and I really enjoyed this dinner, which was a mix of Italian, French and Chinese cuisine all in one. :)

Stay tuned for more!

love,

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Beer bread

2011-08-09T10:33:00.000-04:00

My family woke up this morning with nothing in the fridge for breakfast (this was due to our hectic weekend). And then, I spotted the last bottle of beer sitting in the fridge- and suddenly, an idea popped up in my head. I'm going to make beer bread!

Mixing the batter.

Our neighbour had just returned from vacation, and he brought over some Ginger Peach Marmalade from the country. It was the most wonderful timing- my mom thought it went hand-in-hand with the beer bread. :) I, on the other hand, opted for good old peanut butter because the marmalade was a little too sweet.

Here's the recipe for the beer bread (I'm going to be honest, it's not the best bread ever. If you like dense, moist bread instead of light, airy sandwich bread, then this is for you. If not, sorry. :()

Beer Bread
Makes one 9X5-in loaf

3 cups (15oz/470g) all-purpose flour
3 tbsp firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 bottle (12 fl oz/375ml) beer, unopened and at room temperature
4 tbsp (2 oz/60g) unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for serving

Preheat oven to 375F. Grease a 9X5-in loaf pan.

In a bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Open the beer and add it all at once; it will foam up. Stir briskly just until combined, about 20 strokes. The batter should be slightly lumpy. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and drizzle with the melted butter.

Bake until the top is crusty, about 35-40 minutes. Let rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature the day it is made. Cut into thick slices and accompany with plenty of butter.

Serving Tip: Serve this bread with hearty soups, stews, and braises. Use strong beer for a stronger taste/scent, such as porter.

Enjoy this atypical breakfast!

love,
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Polka Dot Navy

2011-08-08T09:56:00.001-04:00

One of the things I enjoy tremendously is opening good old-fashioned snail mail and parcels. I love the excitement of finding out what's inside that little box. I was in for a wonderful treat when I arrived back home, because there was a huge pile of about 30 packages waiting for me! (Imagine 5 weeks worth of goodies!) I eagerly digged through every packet - it was an awesome afternoon; it felt that Christmas morning when you're opening all your presents and everything. :) And since I'm back in Toronto now, I have the opportunity to take pictures again!

So yesterday my mom and I went shopping for bedding for Midd (where I'll be in September!) I wore a vintage navy sailor dress with a polka dot necktie that I recently bought, a pair of new vintage Bass navy tassle loafers from Etsy, and a new pair of pearl earrings (sorry they're hard to spot in the picture).

This dress kind of reminds me of the sweater dress Kate Middleton wore on her tour in Canada. :) Another comment I received was that I looked like an air stewardess. Haha..

I plan on enjoying everyday I have left in Toronto to the fullest, so I'll be posting pretty often this month! :) And then when September comes, there will be a change in scenery!

More to come,
love,
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White chocolate chip cookies

2011-08-07T21:42:00.000-04:00

Before I left for La Poc, I had a huge craving for white chocolate. So, I decided to make white chocolate chip cookies by slightly adapting the original Nestle Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies recipe. They turned out amazing!

I boxed them up to give as a birthday gift.

I think the box is gorgeous- just ignore the "salt shaker & pepper shaker set" :D

Here's the recipe which I adapted from the original Nestle Tollhouse Chocolate chip cookies recipe:

White Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) white chocolate chips
1 cup chopped macadamian nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 375° F.

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in white chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Let me know what you think!

love,
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Sandrina Fasoli Autumn/Winter 2011

2011-08-06T14:20:00.000-04:00

See, I told you I'd come back soon! :P But I have so much designers and collections from the Autumn/Winter 2011 season to share! First up: a newly discovered (I mean by me)Belgian designer Sandrina Fasoli.

Unfortunately, the site uses flash, so I'm unable to save all the pictures and post them here. However, I did discover a link to all its campaign and lookbook pictures in a handy little booklet format in pdf. Here's the link: http://musemylife.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/sandrina-fasoli-fall-winter-2011-2012-lookbook-email.pdf

I really love the neutral tone, mixed with the backyardy green feel.

Coming up soon, chic white chocolate cookies. :)

love,
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La Pocatiere

2011-08-05T11:26:00.000-04:00

I know I know, I'm back from my quite sudden hiatus. But all's well- I've spent my past five weeks in La Pocatiere, a tiny little town in Quebec, on the bank of the St Lawrence River, where I had to speak French 24/7 or risk being sent back to Ontario. :) But today's the last day, so I thought I would finally post something on the blog because there's been so much food and fashion related thoughts jumping around in my head, and I've been waited soo patiently to be able to blog in English again! :)

I do have some pictures I've taken here that I'd like to share. :)

Just look at the different shades of green!

Moi avec mon amie Dayoung :)

Just plain gorgeous.

Hiking in the woods

La Poc is really a serene little riverside town, with not much to do but to just breathe in the fresh air and relax. It was quite an experience! :)

More to come, and with love,
page

have some biscotti

2011-06-30T19:39:00.000-04:00

Biscotti are one of my favourite foods of all time- but I'm not talking about those super hard-to-bite traditional biscotti that make you frequent trips to the dentist, my biscotti are crumblier, more cookie-like, and taste wayyyy better! :) I guess you can say they're more North American.

Biscotti are also sooo much more healthier than cookies, and way easier to make! :)

And chocolate chip ones are the best!

I'm very fascinated with lavender right now, hence the lovely box. :)

My mom packaged this box- it's so much neater than mine.

This is the one I packed- way messier :D

Anyways, this recipe isn't from the internet- it's from my best friend Romy and it's like the first thing I ever tried as a baker.

Chocolate Chip Biscotti

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temp
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Line baking sheet wth parchment paper.
Whisk together flour, salt and baking powder in a bowl.
Use an electric mixer to beat sugar and butter and vanilla in another bowl to blend. Beat eggs in one at a time.
Add flour mixture and beat until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Form dough into 16-in long, 3-in wide logs.
Bake for 30 minutes until golden brown. Cool on baking sheet for 20-30 minutes.
Use a serrated knife to cut on the diagonal into 1/2 to 3/4 inch slices. Arrange cut side down on baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes until golden brown. Let cool completely.

Hope you enjoyed these! And now, since it's summer I'm going to have more time to bake, so I'll have more posts coming up soon! And I also just got a bunch of new stuff like chino trousers and vintage dresses for my wardrobe. So hopefully I'll be able to post more fashion-related posts soon! :)

love, page

when you're eggless

2011-06-28T20:54:00.001-04:00

The past few days have been so hectic - I baked literally every single day! All sorts of celebrations are happening, like birthdays, going-away parties, and grad (which was today!! woohoo!), so I've had to bake for a bunch of special occasions. Two days ago I wanted to bake a cake for my doctor because he's helped me so much but unfortunately I didn't have any eggs and I had to have something in like 5 hours, so I painstakingly went on a hunt for a good eggless/vegan cake, and I did it! :) This is a vegan chocolate cake with french vanilla frosting. I hope you guys enjoy this!

Just plain old chocolate cake. without eggs.

Looking like a giant rectangular woppie pie! :D

the silky french vanilla frosting...

Sorry about my horrile icing skills - it was my first time! :)

And here's the recipe:

Vegan Chocolate Cake with French Vanilla Frosting

Cake

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon distilled white vinegar

1 cup water

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x5 inch loaf pan.

Sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add the oil, vanilla, vinegar and water. Mix together until smooth.

Pour into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.

French Vanilla Frosting

1 cup milk

3 tbsp flour

Make a white sauce of above. It will be very thick. Boil for 1 few minutes. Cool completely.

1/2 lb. (2 sticks) butter
1 c. granulated sugar
2 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter. Add sugar and vanilla. Combine white sauce and beat at high speed on food mixer for about 5 minutes. Makes enough to fix and frost a 2 or 3 layer cake.

I hope you've enjoyed this and happy whatever special occasion you're celebrating! :)

love, page

A new era...

2011-06-23T22:04:00.000-04:00

School's officially over!!! :) Finally I get to do what I really want to do- shopping, blogging, baking, and just plain relaxing!
I really wish I could just head out to the sea side like last summer and just sit on a calm beach, listening to music, watching the sunset...

Ah those good times.. :)

Anyways since exams are now done, I have time to bake again! I made fudgey brownies with Snickers for the very first time yesterday, and they turned out amazing! Here are some pictures along with the recipe:

I used this special effects thing, and don't the Snickers bits look 3-D?!

Sorry, my photography skills aren't exactly top-drawer- I couldn't get the gooeyness onto the pictures :D But they really are fudgey!

Fudgey Brownies with Snickers (or whatever topping you like)

1 1/3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 cup cocoa
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 Snickers bars (or whatever chocolate/candy/nuts/topping you like)

Stir together flour, baking podwer and salt in a small bowl.

Melt butter in a large saucepan. Remove from heat. Stir in cocoa. Blend in sugar, eggs and vanilla. Blend in dry ingredients and Snickers/other chocolate/candy/nuts. Pour batter into a greased 9x13in pan.

Bake for 30-35 minutes at 350°F Cool.

Hope you enjoyed these! :)

love,
page

golden cupcakes with chocolate frosting

2011-05-11T19:15:00.002-04:00

So there was another huge fundraising event at school last week, and of course, I baked for! These golden cupcake with creamy chocolate frosting were sold out!!

Don't these look amazing?

Here's the recipe:

Golden/Vanilla Cupcakes with Creamy Chocolate Frosting

Makes: 12 golden cupcakes

Ingredients:

Frosting
6 ounces semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

Cupcakes
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk

To Decorate
Sprinkles, confetti candy, coarse sugar, or any edible decorations

Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 350°F. Line the muffin pan with the paper liners.

Make the frosting

Put the chocolate on the cutting board. Using the serrated knife, chop the chocolate into small pieces. Transfer the chocolate to 1 of the medium bowls. Pour the cream into the small saucepan and place over medium heat, just until it begins to boil.

Turn off the heat.

Immediately pour the cream over the chocolate. Let the mixture sit for 2 minutes, then whisk gently until blended and smooth. Set aside to cool, whisking gently every 15 to 20 minutes, until the mixture has the consistency of a creamy frosting. You can even do this the night before, cover it with plastic wrap, and leave it on the counter.

Make the cupcake batter

Sift together the flour, baking soda, and salt into the other medium bowl. Crack the eggs into the small bowl and add the vanilla. Using the fork, beat the eggs lightly, until just evenly mixed.

Place the softened butter and sugar in the large bowl. Using the mixer, cream the butter and sugar for 6 to 7 minutes, until they are very light, almost white, in color. Turn off the mixer. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with the silicone spatula. With the mixer running on medium speed, add the egg mixture slowly, about a tablespoon at a time. Let each addition blend into the butter completely (it will only take about 5 seconds) before adding the next. Once you are finished, turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Add half the flour mixture to the bowl. Turn the mixer on low speed, and beat just until the flour mixture is blended in, then add half of the buttermilk. Beat it in on low, just until blended, then repeat with the remaining flour and buttermilk. Mix only until you don’t see any more dry patches. Turn off the mixer. Scrape down the bowl one last time, and make sure there aren’t any dry bits or butter clumps hiding in the bottom of the bowl.

Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. They should be no more than 1/2 full. Bake for 20 minutes, or until the tops of the cupcakes are firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Using oven mitts, transfer the pan to the cooling rack and let the cupcakes cool completely (at least 40 minutes) before topping with frosting.

Frost the cupcakes

Lift the cupcakes out of the pan and put them on your work surface or a piece of parchment paper. Divide the frosting evenly among the cupcake tops. There is enough frosting for about 2 level tablespoons on each cupcake. Use the offset spatula to spread it close to the edges. Decorate the top with sprinkles or whatever you like. You can keep the cupcakes at room temperature for 2 days, and after that store any leftovers in the refrigerator.

Hope you enjoyed this!
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red velvet cupcakes

2011-05-05T17:13:00.000-04:00

I think I have a problem: I'm addicted to pastries and desserts. I mean before I was never that much of a sweet tooth but now I just cannot live one day without having at least a couple of croissants, bourekas, tarts, bagels, danishes... and I recently made some red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting which are one of my specialties.

Just some leftover batter put into ice cream cones.. :) creative eh?

Wintermelon pastry... sooooo good :)

Here's the recipe (from Bakerella)

Red Velvet Cake

2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 Tablespoon cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups oil

1 cup buttermilk
1 Tablespoon vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 oz. red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour two 8 inch cake pans.
Lightly stir eggs in a medium bowl with a wire whisk. Add remaining liquid ingredients and stir together with whisk until blended. Set aside.
Place all the dry ingredients in your mixing bowl and stir together really good with another wire whisk.
Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix on medium-high for about a minute or until completely combined.
Pour into cake pans and then drop the pans on the counter a few times to release any air bubbles.
Bake for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
After about ten minutes, remove from pans and cool completely on a wire rack. I also cover in plastic wrap while the cakes cool.
Then make the frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 cups confectioners’ sugar

Sift sugar and set aside.
Beat cream cheese and butter on high until creamy. Add vanilla.
Then, add the sugar in batches. Scrape down the sides in between each addition.
And frost away.

Note: I just made cupcakes out of the batter (baking time is around 13 minutes for mini cupcakes) and I also found that there was too much oil in the cake batter so you can probably decrease it to 1 cup oil and still be fine.

Hope you enjoy these!

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alexander the great

2011-04-22T11:18:00.001-04:00

Some breathtaking pieces from Alexander McQueen's past collections for inspiration... can't wait for the Costume Institute Gala!!

Source: Vogue Culture

This last one reminds me of Ophelia from Hamlet... (ugh too much Hamlet! :( )

love,

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banana muffins

2011-04-19T23:51:00.000-04:00

I always have to apologize when I post something- I always forget to take pictures of my baked goods and desserts before I devour them in one sitting so I'm very sorry for that. I've recently been baking pretty much every other day and eating so much! Here are some banana muffins I made last week- to be honest, they were not as delicious as I thought they'd turn out, so I'm not going to post a recipe. But here are some pretty ugly pictures for inspiration! :P

By the way, I thought I'd make them mini so they're actually somewhat bite-sized, which makes them cuter! :)

I recently discovered/invented a new recipe and have been baking that almost everyday so I'll have to post that up asap. :)

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