Thanks for visiting my blog, full of several different topics and photos and hopefully inspiration and encouragement for all

31 January 2009

Someday..


My family will look like this! A really big dog and a really small one..
Very tired.
ox

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30 January 2009

My Latest..

..craving of energy and sunshine!
..want..teacup yorkie..
..project - knitting a black scarf with the knitting kit Trish got me for my birthday..
Can I just say, big needles = fast work!!
Seriously.
Shocked..but..
..encouraged!
..food craving..bibimbap!
I just want to mix and gobble it up.
What is with my obsession with Asian food!?
Those are my latest craving, wants, needs, loves.
Anybody else craving it too? I'm definitely craving sunshine. Not even heat, just a good source of natural light.
oxox
Anne

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29 January 2009

Simple ways to make sushi

Welcome to making sushi with Anne 101, six gun stylee.

First off you will need to make sure you buy/have the following:
QUALITY:
-Bamboo Mat
-Sushi Rice
-Sushi Mix (alternatively you can make it with Japanese Mirin, Japanese Rice Vinegar and sugar)
-Sushi Nori (seaweed)
-Fresh Fillings, for this roll I used Crabstick(I tempura fried it), Wasabi Mayo, Avocado, Philedephia Cream Cheese and I topped with friend panko (Japanese Bread Crumb)

All items I found at my local grocer, Tesco, you may have to visit and asian market.

Rice:
1. rinse your rice! I used a sieve to rinse mine until the water ran clear. Do not rinse it with hot water, this will start a cooking process, you want to rinse with cold water.
2. place rice in rice cooker (or in pan) cover with water. An easy way to figure out how much water to use is sticking the tip of your finger on the rice, the water should come up to your first joint, approx. 1 cm above the rice.
3. cook rice. My rice cook says when it's done and keeps it warm. If you are cooking on a stove top, cook on low heat with a lid, DO NOT stir or lift lid. You want all the steam to cook the rice, you will ALWAYS have rice stuck on the pan but a good soak takes care of that.
4. cool rice. This is very important. It stops the rice from cooking any further and turning to much. I spread mine over a large glass cake pan.
5. add sushi mix. I used Clearwater's Organic Sushi Mix today, usually I make it with (for 2 cups of rice) 4 tablespoons Japanese Rice Vinegar, 2 tablespoons Japanese Mirin, 2 teaspoons white caster sugar. The premade mix was wonderful! Pour this over the rice and keep fluffing to cool, alternatively you can prepare the rest of your sushi by letting it cool slowly to room temp.

Now you are ready to rock and roll!

Make sure you have your ingredients cut and ready, if you use wasabi mayo - mix that ahead of time etc.

Place your nori shiney side down onto the mat. Wet your hands and spread the sushi rice over the nori, leave about 2 cms at the bottom and 3 or 4 at the top. This rice is super sticky, the water helps it from sicking to your finger tips.

Add your main filling first, mine was tempura crabstick.

Next add the rest of the fillings, make sure most of the soft fillings are in the middle, and the harder fillings (like the avocado) are at the top end so that you use that border to tuck your sushi in.

Wet the nori that is closest to you, gently pull the mat up wards using your fingers to tuck fillings to the middle and roll it up just past the rice, wet the nori furthest away from you and the press the rest of the roll firmly onto it.


Use the mat to press the sushi into a squarish shape.
At this point I like to refridgerate my sushi for about 10 or 15 minutes. This makes it easier to cut as it's a little bit stiffer. But the sushi with a very sharp wet knife. Cut it in half then 4 ways making 6 even pieces and two ends. Rewet your knife with every cut.
So, I've made my menus and am open for business, check out my site Sushi Fridays. This is my favourite roll:
It is the one I had for lunch, it's a Philly Crab Roll with Panko and creamy sauce and tangy sauce (special recipe). I was sooooo full after I finished.
Let me know what you think.
If you have ant questions about sushi feel free to ask, and check out Sushi Fridays for any ideas.
ox

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Just a quickie

Hey everyone. I made the sushi and it was delicious!! The point was to get the pictures to make my menu and boy did I get some good ones. Delicious. I'm going to post a tutorial when I unload and resize the pics so keep an eye out in this space! I'll also let you know where you can order my sushi (in my neck of the woods ;))

Very excited.

Oh and guess that else!? I could swallow today!! It doesn't kill. If it's a fluke I'll be so frustrated but I think it's beginning to heal more. I think some of scabs have fallen off, releasing pressure etc. but where they have it stings when I eat some foods. But I can eat I can eat I can eat. Thing is, I haven't eaten in so long, I get full quick! I guess that's good hey! Oh man, I have a smoothie in the freezer and jello in the fridge too..but those are always tasty.

Ok I will post later! Thanks!!

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28 January 2009

Sushi Morning!

Provided there is a good amount of natural light, and I get some sleep tonight, I think I will make the sushi for my menu and photograph it tomorrow. How exciting, it's one step closer to opening my sushi business (for this area). Hopefully I'll be doing some tutorials along the way and let you know a thing or two about making sushi.


Today I starting typing up the book that my friend hired me to type up. It's pretty much one of a favorite books he's read me for the past two years..close to a finish but I am getting to type from the beginning and it's so fun because I had forgotten some of the story and I play a part in what is going to be the next best seller in books and great screenplay for a movie. Only - he has very messy handwriting, but I'm sure with colaboration I will start to get the hang of his scribles.


Upon looking online for some inspiration, I found Silje rendition to Rachel Denbow's "Headband/Big Bow" and it is just sooo cute. She's been spinning and dying her own yarn and the results are just fantastic. This girl among a few others from the last couple years are people that inspired me to start knitting. I'm pretty good at the basics, I need to learn and remember a few things but I am ready to do a few more knitting projects this year. My friend Trish Delacruz bought me a knitting kit for my birthday! It's the really big wooden needles and a carrying case, you can throw some yarn in a knit on the go, which is perfect for me as I have knitting and crochetting projects lying around, now I can keep focused and in one place. Very excited to see what comes my way.


On that note I'm out, I need sleep and I think tonight is the perfect night to get some good rest and watch "Made of Honor" all alone up in my room. And be amazed at how similar it is to my life! (only the girl obviously) Or so people tell me it's like my life and um a certain someone else is the guy, hehe.


Much love
ox
Don't be shy, leave comments and I will check your blog out too, I love reading blogs! xx



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27 January 2009

ETSY UPDATE

In my brief moments of energy I managed to make a few products, re-photograph some, and update my shop. I'm still in a lot of pain radiating from my throat to my tongue, to my teeth to my ears and cheeks. I also had a diddle around on some friends etsy's to see what's going on.

These awesome polaroid albums that Leigh-Ann from frecklednest.etsy.com. I personally have had polaroid cameras in the past and I think they make some of the coolest photos! However, in this digital age I don't have many if any prints anymore unless I order them. Well you can change digital photos to polaroid prints by doing them on POLARDROID! They would look oh so cute in this album!

The RVA shop is getting closer and closer to opening! You can expect to see tonnes of cute things to buy very soon. You can keep up with shopping online and check the proogress of the shop opening at http://redvelvetart.com/ Holy Cute..

On to my update..
love.Love turtle valentine. This little cutie is a print gocco print that I made with my christmas present. Great to give as a gift, use as art or postcard. It's cute way to tell someone you are thinking about them this year. They come in packs of 5..and there are there packs available in my shop so get there soon!!

I re-photographed my mango madness. Oooh the cute paper behind is some scrapbook paper I got for Christmas (Thanks bro's and sis's for the gift cards!!)


I also re-photographed the Banana Choc Monkey. It tastes as good as it looks. If you have any ideas about flavors for lip balms let me know.

A new art journal!! Classy, classic. With a beautiful pressed flower on the top. It has canvas paper, and white paper and also some ideas and outlines for skteching and painting.

Cuuuuute felties! These two hearts are soooo adorable. I want to keep them. But I won't. They look very cute on a window sill with candles. Mmm.

Well kids that's all for now. I'm getting dizzy hehe. I think Friday morning I will try to make my sushie to photograph it for the menu. I'll show y'all how it looks!!
Love,
ox

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26 January 2009

Things I wish I could eat but absolutely can't because of pain



















































































































































































































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23 January 2009

Sushi



I've been getting alot of ideas for my sushi lunches and platters. Next week I am going make a photograph them for my menu. I need to come up with some great prices. Keep in mind, the only place in my immediate area to buy sushi is the grocery store, and it's like rubber there. Sooo if you have a price in mind let me know.

I can't wait to make and photograph it, because well, then we get to eat it!!

Very sleepy, need rest.

PS. today I'm finding it hard to drink. Everything soft or wet just seems to go up my nose!

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22 January 2009

No more tonsils..

I am in the process of getting one of these darlings!! I know someone who sells them for only 100 quid, not sure when he will have another litter, can't wait!!

I would love some green tea icecream. I had some Tuesday for my Birthday at Aki-Teri in Cambridge. I also had some yummy sushi. I loved it. Thanks Buffy and Trish. My birthday is actually tomorrow but I won't be celebrating much, you'll see why at the end of this post!!

I am going to make one of these fat mini books!! I dunno if I will use only the paper bags, but I'll definitely incorperate them!!



I would really like one of these..not exactly right now, maybe tomorrow though.




Because I had a laser tonsilectomy. It hurt. It still hurts. Ouch.
Much love, I probably won't post until next week. Daniel will be here this weekend to keep me sane.




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20 January 2009

www.semiprecious1.etsy.com

I know I know, I already featured a seller today, but I had to give props to this shop! With beautiful pieces and elegent designs the Semiprecious Designs E-Boutique is the place to find that just-right piece this year.

Not only are they incredible pieces, but they can be custom made. That's right, that little photo in the bubble pendant, could be you, your little ones and loved ones.


A beautiful gift for your daughter, wife, girlfriend or any woman in your life this Valentine's Day or any day!!



Fresh and elegant! When I see these pieces I immediately am drawn to them on the simple fact that they are unique and one of a kind.


Find this seller at http://www.semiprecious1.etsy.com/ a member(like me) of http://www.kcetsy.ning.com/.







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