Tamales, made fresh, made easy

Tamales really aren't that hard, but they do take some time to make and cook. They are especially EASY when you by the pre-mixed Masa dough at your neighborhood Mexican supermarket. 5 pounds for 5 bucks. I made 28 veggie tamales. Enough for a very large family or for a small family like mine to eat for 3 days.
What else do you need? Corn husks (be sure to soak them in a pot of water for an hour before you try to work with them), and fillings: I used roasted green chiles and cheddar cheese and green salsa. You can use anything you like.

 

Open the husk, spread a handful of dough in there, lay in a bit of filling, and fold it up like wrapping a present.

 

I stood mine all up in a large stock pot with my old metal steam tray in the bottom. Make sure the water is below the tamales. Keep adding a bit of water, every 15 minutes or so, add a cup. Do not let the pot run dry. Cover the pot. Steam for an hour, or more as needed.

YUM!!!
And it's the season for Tamales -- their are a holiday staple in Mexican families. Enjoy some today! :)

Thai Noodle Soup: street food recipe

Still enjoying the Lonely Planet Street Food cookbook. Travel photos, stories of food culture around the world and recipes... combines some of my favorite things. This one is a tasty easy soup-- a staple in Thai street food and home-cooking.
My recipe...
Boil chicken stock (32 oz) (or veggie stock, but add a bit of oil).
Add white pepper and ground ginger, 1-2 tsp each.
Add 1 cup of sliced mushrooms.
Drop in meatballs (1 in. in diameter) made with pork or turkey, or a mix of both, or use tofu.
Let meatballs boil 5 min.
Add rice noodles, which you have already soaked for 5 minutes.
Boil 5 more minutes till noodles are soft and meatballs are done.
Garnish each bowl with cilantro, green onion, Bamboo shoots, and lime juice.

Yummy breakfast I made for Mia the next day... half of a mini chocolate croissant, ham&cheese scramble and melon. The picture is too delicious not to share.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Crazy Pants: fruit print

I know it's been a trend for a year, but I didn't want to buy any print pants. My closet is absolutely busting at the seams. No purchases for a while. BUT... I can't help sewing new things. I use reclaimed fabrics and patterns to make something new and unique. All part of the NO WASTE rule at my house. Next time you are gonna toss something, think about how you can re-purpose it in some way. Clothes that I can't re-cut into something new, I donate to Goodwill and when I do buy from thrift stores, I see it as a trade for what I was able to donate. Anyway... back to the pants. I was gifted this fabric, so I decided to make some simple pants. I love polka dots, so I figure I'd wear these, and could pair them with a variety of solid T's and sweaters. They are fun and funny. I love them.

Silly fruit print pants.

Here the pattern. 60's separates set - love it.

Have a happy day. <3

High Tea at Rose Tree Cottage

I treated myself to lovely afternoon tea at Pasadena's Rose Tree Cottage. It is a ladies' must-do in LA. Delightful ambiance, delicious tea (have it with milk, the English way), and delectable sandwiches, scones, and petits fours. Once I went to high tea at the Four Seasons in Boston. That was a very different experience. Posh, but not "English." Since an older retired English couple run this place, it has some authenticity about it. Don't miss the elderberry wine (non-alcoholic). It was a lovely day.

God Save the Queen.

Strapless Summer Dress

It's a hot summer day (yes, it's still summer in LA in October!) and I decided to wear this bright strapless dress (plain ol' cotton). How to make it less revelaing for the office? A loose knit sweater over the top. Gold belt, large charm necklace. Viola! It's very "spring" with bright pink and green floral pattern, but it is fun and necessary to get out of my style rut. Gotta break up the routine. Adventures in fashion...

After the workday is through, that sweater becomes a shrug, showing off just a little skin. :)

Be adventurous today, even in a small way.

Veggie Tempura

Really, folks -- It's easy! Choose your veggies, and get tempura flour from the Asian market. Most large grocery stores have it now in the Asian food section too. But be patient - it takes time to prep and time to fry all this up. Mix the flour with water till you get the thin batter consistency you like, fry it in hot veggie oil till the batter is done/crispy. Drain on paper towels. To get the most authentic batter, add 2 cups tempura flour with 1 cup rice flour (but i don't often have it on hand so I skip it). I love all veggies and recommend you use whatever you have on hand. Today I've got potato and sweet potato (both steamed) and freshly sliced eggplant, mushroom, and zucchini.

Fry it up then serve over rice, or over noodles. We have soba (Japanese buckwheat noodles - YUM!!!!) Serve the noodles warm in some of the water from boiling and add in some Memmi (Japanese noodle soup base). You can also use Memmi + soba water for your tempura dipping sauce (or buy a tempura sauce at the market). Tanoshinde ne!

Givenchy Vintage: Made by Me Rose Dress

The famed Givenchy 1956 evening dress pattern (my most coveted vintage pattern and a valuable antique). Finally done. OMG! I love this pattern. It calls for a long bow tail in the back which I skipped this time around. I just figured I wouldn't really wear that. This silk (a gift from Nancy) was perfect for this dress. The back is airy and open, the bodice has a comfortable fit (a bit loose, but room to stretch my shoulders). And I love the rhinestone buttons down the back. Happy day. Dress fabulous, feel fabulous.

Korean Tofu Salad with Citrus Dressing

When I was in Korea, I had this amazing salad at the Hancook Restaurant at Seoul Tower. So I tried to recreate it. Thinly sliced firm tofu, fried in a bit of oil, then cut in triangles. Very thinly sliced green peppers (and red and yellow and orange if you like) and red onion sauteed for just a few minutes to soften them just a bit. The dressing was veggie oil, sesame oil, soy sauce, vinegar and lemon juice. Toss it all together and let it sit in the fridge to marinate as long as you want. I served it over a green salad.
Mine wasn't as good as the one I had in Korea. Their dressing was a bit sweet. Maybe I'll add agave or brown sugar next time I try to make it. I've also read about some soy+sesame+orange juice dressings -- that sounds good too. Happy cooking.... <3

Made by me: 1940's Blouse

Oops, I did it again.

I disappeared for 2 weeks. Life is busy. It happens.

I finally finished this great blouse. The 70 year old pattern (!!!) was very delicate and I was a bit scared I'd rip it to pieces but I think it's gonna survive, and I hope to make at least one more top from it. I just love the style. It's well fitted, has pretty details (like gathering at the neck, a nice square shoulder, and buttons down the back). I'm sure I'll be able to pair it with other items. But when I was sewing it, I had this teal skirt in mind. I'll have to let my imagination roam wild...
:)

Have a great weekend. I'm trying some new recipes this weekend. I'll have a report for you next week.
xoxoxoxo

Summer dressing: T-shirt dress

You can't have enough light fabrics for SoCal summer dressing. I scored this Jason Wu for Target jersey dress in the spring and am finally wearing it! No, it's not the 4th of July, but I think I've clearly established a "red, white & blue is good all summer" theme. And I'll wear anything that vaguely matches these shoes so I can wear them as often as possible. I found this awesome purse when I was in Korea last month. I wanted one similar that I'd seen on ModCloth, but then I came across this one for 1/10th of the price in Seoul and I had to have it. The only issue I have with T-shirt dresses is they have no shape. Gotta belt it. Otherwise, I feel like I'm wearing a muumuu or caftan, and this isn't Hawaii or Morocco. I cannot rock that. Happy summer day. :)

Made by Me: 1960's shift

I finally finished this dress... and have already begun on a vintage top made from the same fabric. I like the eyelets in the fabric and the blue and teal flowers. But I think a heavier fabric with a lining would hang better because of the weight. But I live in warm SoCal so I use very light fabrics for most everything. And re-claimed and re-purposed is my favorite kind of fabric!

I got this pattern and fabric for a dollar at an estate sale.

 

I LOVE my nude patent wedges! They are perfect for summer, and go with just about everything.

Happy sewing!!!!
xoxoxo

Made by Me: July 4th T-shirt

I'm always ready for the Independence Day holiday. There is nothing I love to celebrate more than INDEPENDENCE. Not necessarily my country's, but the independence of the mind, of the spirit, of creativity, as well as the ideas of being responsible and self-sufficient. And let's throw "fiscal" independence in there too. I like the idea of being "independent" in all of these ways. So to celebrate I threw on this festive "cut-up" t-shirt I made a few years ago. Rebellious, yes, but in the spirit of the history of the holiday.
Hope you had a great holiday!
xoxox

Made-by-me skirt too. Remix wedges. Worth every penny.

My assistants, making their first blog entry.

When In Seoul, Shop!

In Seoul the thing to do is shop. If you ask anyone what are the must-see-sights, they might say go to one of the historical palaces or the fabulous N Seoul Tower (both of which i LOVED!) -- but you can be SURE they will tell you to go to at least one if not SEVERAL street markets. There are so many areas where the shops just spill out on the streets and you can enjoy fresh air, people watching, the sounds, smells and energy of the busy city. And the styles for summer are very, very cute. Enjoy these inspiring pics.
Happy shopping and/or travels!

 

Red, white, and blue continued

I love nautical this summer....maybe that is always in style for summer? I think so.
I'm so ready for the 4th of July! All I need is a sparkler.

(Target skirt with BIKES on it -- a great find for $17. H&M top from last winter $12. My new favorite navy booties which I wear nearly everyday now from Amazon.com. Made-by-me ring :)

TREND ALERT!!!

I just got back from East Asia. let me tell you what is on every young thing right now. Lacy doily collars!! Who would've guess that is THE spring/summer icon. It's on every little dress and top you see at every shop in Korea and Japan. Coming to U.S.??? We'll see....