i made soup

After over a year without a food blender, I finally caved in and bought a cheapie from Target after work today. Within hours I had put my new purchase to good use with some healthy homemade soup... nomnomnom!

Mushroom & Spinach Soup (makes 2 servings)
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic
1 1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 onion
1-2 cups chopped mushrooms
baby spinach (3 handfuls)
1/2 cup sweet potato
1 can vegetable broth
fresh basil (to taste, plus garnish)
salt & pepper (to taste)
cream (I used approx 1/2 cup)
parmesan cheese (optional)

...and I'm sure you'll work out what to do with the above ingredients! Enjoy :)

i make cards

Oh hey 2013, nice to meet you!

Christmas time got me back into my card making mode, and my lovely family and friends were subjected to receiving my crafty efforts. Of course, when I start making cards... I don't stop. My batch of Christmas cards lead on to other cards, and then my best friend got engaged and that put me on a whole other path.

These are some of the latest batches I've dabbled in... I shall return to my photography cards some day soon...

x pixiele

sometimes i like to cook...

MasterChef, eat your heart out. I recently had some lazy days off. Oh how I enjoyed them! I decided to try a pizza dough with only two ingredients. Yep, you read right... two! The magical ingredients: greek yogurt + SR flour. Worked a treat. So much so, that with the left over dough I made a bread roll the next day. Deliciousness.

Pizza Dough / Bread recipe:
1 cup SR Flour
1/2 cup Greek/Plain Yogurt

>> I'm lazy. I merely put the ingredients in a bowl. Gave it a bit of a mix with a spoon. Kneaded it slightly to make sure it looked alright, then (as I didn't have a rolling pin) I just flattened it with my hands for the pizza base... and voila!

While I'm at it, here's a pancake stack I made too. Happy eating!

an island in a cone

CONEY ISLAND (Surf Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11224)
NATHAN'S FAMOUS HOT DOGS (1310 Surf Avenue, New York, NY 11224)
NEW YORK AQUARIUM (Surf Avenue, New York, NY 11224)

If you've got some time to spare and you want to get off Manhattan Island, hop on the subway and head down to Coney Island. I went in winter when the park isn't operational, but I hear that it's a happening and buzzing place come summer. I'd go back again, just for the cool pic I got! Note that every Sunday at 1pm, November to April, the Coney Island Polar Bear Club go for a swim in the freezing Atlantic Ocean (they so cray cray) and especially on their New Years Day swim, there will be massive crowds. My friend and I also visited the New York Aquarium in the afternoon -- from memory, it's a decent size, but needs a lot more love and attention. Oh, and don't forget to pick yourself up a hot dog from Nathan's Famous Hot Dogs, they're fairly popular.

fotografia

THE ANNENBERG SPACE FOR PHOTOGRAPHY (2000 Avenue of the Stars #1000, Los Angeles, CA 90067)

If you're into photography, I suggest popping into a little gallery in Century City. It's nothing big, but they have some great exhibitions there with some amazing photography. I've seen Beauty Culture, Digital Darkroom, and now Who Shot Rock & Roll. All fabulous. Last night I attended a free lecture by Henry Rollins, who showed 61 of his 'amateur' photography and the stories behind his adventures. The exhibitions are free to attend, you just pay for parking. Alternatively you can get 3hrs free parking at the Westfield Century City Mall... and go for a spot of shopping!

dodging balls

ANGELS STADIUM OF ANAHEIM (2000 East Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, CA 92806)

I went to my first baseball game. It was pretty awesome sauce! I was lucky enough to score some free corporate tickets (with some lovely people) to see the Dodgers vs Angels. Some spectacular fireworks at the end, which really topped off a great evening. We had fantastic seats, 6 rows from the front, and took the time to walk around the entire stadium. Lots of food everywhere, but no garlic fries which I'm told is a must eat at the Dodgers Stadium.

hollywooooooood

HOLLYWOOD SIGN (N Beachwood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068)

Hollywooooood! Yup, that's how the recorded announcer says it on the Hollywood bus, which is kind of a nice reminder of where I live these days! A MUST do on your to-do list of LA, is to visit the sign. Back in the day it read HOLLYWOODLAND, advertising a new housing development. Over time, the 'land' fell down and, well, the rest is history... Firstly, you can't get right up close and personal to the sign, but you can hike up to the ledge right below it, or hike up just above it. I've done the latter trail, and my friends and I decided to take a shortcut and scaled a cliff to get there. I probably wouldn't recommend doing that though...

FYI: drive up Beachwood all the way until you can't go any further, you'll come to a point where Sunset Hollywood Ranch is on your left, park somewhere around there. If you head towards the right, you'll find a little spot where most people take photos from, or follow the trail right around on the left and keep on going to get a closer look. Seriously peeps, there's no point coming to Hollywood if you haven't seen the sign!