Spring Outfit

The last few days have made me missed the sun. To the point where I had to create an outfit, just to console myself! So here is my spring inspired ensemble filled with color, life, and fun.

~Hong

Chandelier Earrings

Lately, I have been obsessed with chandelier earrings. They are easy to dress up or down and can add some character to an outfit. Especially now that it is spring and the sun is poking itself out more often, I have been looking for pieces with color. One color in particular that I love is turquoise. So during my last outing to WorldMarket, I knew I had to pick up these beauties:

They hang about 2 inches and are just a gorgeous turquoise hue.

The second pair I snagged was actually picked out by my husband. It kind of reminds me of an ombre affect from a light blue, faded yellow then bright blue. Definitely a piece that screams spring!

What cute items are you guys finding for spring?

~Hong

Happy Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day!

Hope everyone got a chance to enjoy all the little wonderful things that make our Earth so awesome! Remember, it is up to us to keep this Earth beautiful! Although I had to worked (darn that American Dream), I took a moment to enjoy the beauty of the Earth.

Of course, our kitties took the whole day to enjoy this gorgeous sun!

Ava, snuggling with my current crochet project!

Then no one enjoys the sun like Simon: 

The sun never goes to waste in our house as long as Simon is here!

Hope you guys enjoyed Earth Day!

~Hong

The Start of Summer

I don't know why, but I love a good hoodie with a pair of jean shorts for cool summer nights. Sure, it's not summer quite yet but I'm just planning ahead. For these types of outfits I like to keep it simple. A casual leather watch, stud bow earring, a strappy leather sandal and I'm good to go!

~Hong

Colorful Summer

Yellow makes me think of summer, sun, warmth, and just plan happiness! So for this outfit, I chose a zippered, yellow t-shirt and paired it with a denim jacket, white shorts, mint crossbody and t-strapped sandals and mint nail polish. Then some nautical themed necklace and earrings and a good old large fashion ring, sunglasses and simple top knot bun. Summer is here!

~Hong

Marinated Tofu

I LOVE TOFU! I could literally eat tofu everyday. It's versatile and comes in several textures including silk, soft, firm and extra firm. Some people have a texture preference, but I love them all! I eat it steamed with a mixture of fish sauce and garlic chili paste, I throw them in soups and stir fries, and stuff them with all sorts of meats and vegetables. The wonderful thing about tofu is it captures the surrounding flavors so spices and marinades are awesome with tofu!

Not too long ago, my sister had a dinner party and she made this wonderful marinaded tofu that I had share with you guys. The list of ingredients seems a little daunting but is really is quite simple.

My block of tofu

Minced garlic and chopped green onions (note that the julienne ginger is missing from this picture).

Rice vinegar, marin, sesame oil, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, & black pepper.
Mixed to create a sauce.

Cut the block of tofu into cubes, broil for about 20-30 minutes till the edges start to look toasty.

On medium heat, cook the garlic, ginger, and green onions till fragrant. Stir in the sauce till it starts to simmer. Finally add the tofu.

Allow the tofu to simmer in the sauce, turning the tofu so all sides are marinated.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Marin (sweet rice wine)
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1 block of tofu, cubed
• 1 inch knob of ginger, Julienne cut
• 1/2 cup chopped green onions
• 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
• 4 tsp red pepper flakes or to taste
• Pepper to taste

Directions

• Combine vinegar, Marin, sesame oil, soy sauce, salt and pepper, red pepper flakes. Set aside.
• Cut tofu into blocks, broil in oven for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
• Saute ginger, garlic and green onions till fragrant.
• Add prepared sauce and heat for 5 minutes.
• Add bakes tofu and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

This can be eaten either hot or cold. I like to eat it hot with jasmine brown rice or quinoa. Hope you guys give this a try. If you do, let me know what you think!

~Hong

No Meat-Spicy Asian Noodles

Pasta is one of my favorite dish to make. Lately, I have been looking for dishes that do not include meat. Not to say I am now a vegetarian, but there are days when I am simply not in the mood for meat. This is an easy dish that is full of flavor without a lot of ingredients or prepping and can be whipped up fairly quick.

So let's begin. I started by chopping the green onions and cilantro along with shredding the carrots.

Then I lightly toasted the peanuts over medium heat.

Once the angel hair pasta is cooked, the peanuts toasted and crushed, the sauce created. EVERYTHING gets thrown into the pot with the pasta and mixed!

 

Ingredients

• 1 box angel hair pasta
• 1/2 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup sesame oil
• 1/2 cup low-sodium soy sauce
• 4 tbsp red pepper flakes or to taste
• 3/4 cup organic honey
• 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 cup green onion, chopped
• 4 medium carrots, grated
• 1/4 cup peanuts, toasted & coarsely grounded
• Salt & pepper to taste

Directions

• Cook the angel hair pasta as directed, drain and place back into the pot.
• On medium heat, toast the peanuts for about 10 minutes stirring constantly. remove and crush till peanuts are coarse.
• Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the sesame oil and add the minced garlic. Stir and cook for about 2 minutes.
• Add the soy sauce, pepper flakes, and honey. Stir continuously on low heat for about 4 minutes.
• Place the pot with the pasta on low heat. Add green onions, carrots, cilantro, peanuts along with the sauce and mix till all ingredients are combined well.
• Pasta can be served hot or refrigerate and serve cold.

 I hope you guys give this recipe a try and let me know who it turns out! Enjoy!

~Hong