Honey Walnut Shrimp.

Success! Honey Walnut Shrimp is a dish I crave when I'm pregnant. I've tried my hand at different variations of this recipe, but have had disastrous results. Last night, I finally made some that turned out wonderful.

Honey Walnut Shrimp 

Serves 4

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
  
• 1 Tbsp white wine
  
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
  
• 1 egg white
  
• 1/2 tsp salt

• cornstarch
  
• canola oil

Sauce:

• 1/4 C mayonnaise 
  
• 2 tsp honey
  
• 2 tsp rice vinegar
  
• 1/4 tsp salt

Honey walnuts:

• 1 C walnuts 
  
• 3 tsp honey
  
• 1 tsp water

• cilantro
  
• toasted sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Beat egg white till foamy. Mix rice wine, white pepper and salt to egg white. Toss shrimp in mixture. Let shrimp rest in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

For honey walnuts, mix the honey with water. Place walnuts of a baking sheet, bake 15 minutes. Cool.

To make the honey mayo sauce,  whisk mayonnaise, honey, vinegar and salt. 

Heat oil to 350 degrees in shallow pan. While heating, take marinated shrimp and coat with cornstarch. Fry shrimp, about 1 minute in each side. Toss shrimp with honey sauce mixture. Add honey walnuts, cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve with rice.

Baking: From My Home to Yours.

I am a lover of cookbooks. For someone who doesn't really like to spend time in the kitchen, purchasing a cookbook might not be the best Christmas gift. For me though, they are lovely. I like to just sit and read them.

Here's a book I recently purchased for myself:


More than I like to cook, I love to bake. Baking: From My Home to Yours is a James Beard Foundation Book Award Winner and is the 9th cookbook of Dorie Greenspan. In this cookbook, not only does she share over 230 recipes, but she also walks you through the steps like she is right there with you. I've already spent most of my afternoon reading about pound cake. Bookmarked shortbread cookie recipes. Thought about what cake I want to make for my birthday (yes, I want to make my own celebratory cake this year).

Good thing I've sworn of refine sugars for the remainder of the month -- otherwise I would be in the baking in the kitchen right about now.

iCandy Pear.

This stroller is sold only in the UK, and I think I want it (whether or not I can afford it is another story). We'll be in London for two months this summer so maybe I can test it out then. It just might be my perfect double.

Why does Europe get the coolest strollers companies? And why do they take forever to come Stateside?

International Symbol Magnets.

I like these colorful international symbol magnets. I feel kind of foolish though. I thought I was well traveled, but I don't know what a few of those symbols mean. What's your guess for the one on the top left?


I think these would make a great gift for a co-worker.

Bouchon Cookbook.

If you can't fork up $240 for a nine-course meal at Thomas Keller's The French Laundry restaurant (or any of his other amazing eateries), then maybe you can try your take at his recipes at home.

A great gift for any foodie, Keller's cookbook Bouchon will delight even the most basic chef:


I say basic, because this collection of recipes and techniques is more everyday user-friendly than his more complicated French Laundry Cookbook. (Unless of course, you're not like me and you have things like foie gras and pig's head readily in your kitchen.)

Sadly, I do not own this book myself (what-you-can-get-me-for-Christmas plug here) but I've read enough mouth-watering reviews to predict this cookbook will not disappoint. I have however, tried my hand at Keller's Over-the-Top Mushroom Quiche (which was taken from his Bouchon book), and will now and forever use this recipe for quiche.

In fact, it's on the menu for this year's Christmas brunch.

Good Night Moon Game.

The book Goodnight Moon has been a bedside companion to my little girl since she was born. She loves this book. I think any kid familiar with the illustrations would also love this game too.


(lowest price in my search was at Wal Mart for under $15)

Fallen Feathers Tree Skirt.

I'm going to keep my Holiday decor in the blues/golds this year. I think this Fallen Feathers Tree Skirt would be just lovely under my tree.

Smeg Refrigerator.

Is it crazy that I think this refrigerator would make an ultra cool Christmas present?

Fuzzy Gold Chain Garland.

I have been sooo bad at updating this site. I'm super sorry. I'll flash my "I'm pregnant" excuse card now, thank you.

Now that the Holiday Season is approaching, I've been inspired to do more creative things. Like, recreate this fuzzy chain from last year's West Elm decor (found on Domino):



I think these chain links would look so cute made out of gold pipe cleaner. As soon as I actually complete the project, I'll post my results.

Muumuus.

I lived in Hawaii for a year and a half and feel in love with many things in the Aloha state. One of them being muumuus. I love muumuus. I especially love them when I am pregnant because they are so roomy and comfortable. Not to mention extremely beautiful. 

I currently only own two, but if I were ever to be more ambitious with my sewing, I would get these fabulous vintage Victoria Jones patterns:

Hawaiian V-neck Yoke Muumuu

Hawaiian High Neck Muumuu

The Veeda Weekly.

Sorry I've been absent all summer. It's been a crazy crazy time out East and honestly. I never thought I would say this, but it's sure nice to be home in Utah.

Because I am very unorganized and somewhat inconsistent, I am putting "Here Kitschy Kitschy" on the back burner for the next few months. I have a writing project I'm trying to complete by the end of the year and I am going to focus my efforts on it.

I'll be blogging my daily word count and more general happenings at my other blog:
The Veeda Weekly

This was my first blog baby, and I've done lots of experimenting with it. It's been taken down. Gone private. Now back to public domain. 

Please visit me there for the next little bit! 

xoxo,
Veeda

Brief Hiatus.

I'll be packing up my little family again this week to move up to Washington D.C., and I'm amazed at how much I need to do before we leave. We don't have much stuff, but it seems like we have things scattered everywhere! As much fun as this summer has been, I will be happy when one day we are home again and not living out of suitcases.

I'm not sure how the internet connection will be in our next destination, so I decided to also pack up this blog and put it on the shelf for awhile. Oh, but I'll try and post the curry before we leave.

I'll be back sometime in August, have a great summer everyone.

Mugga says, "I'll see you soon!"

Quiche and French Toast.

Well, I didn't get the chance to make that quiche till late late Friday evening. Axel and I ended up eating it for a midnight snack, and was it good. Unfortunately I don't have a picture, but here's the shot from Food & Wine:


Over-the-Top Mushroom Quiche

In our household, we don't appreciate things like mushrooms as food, so I used some smoked sausage instead. I will never make that substitution again. The quiche was already extremely rich and with the added meats, it was a little out of control. Maybe I'll use asparagus next time.

On Saturday, I tried the french toast recipe I didn't get to last week for a breakfast brunch with friends. It was a hit! This recipe is a keeper. Courtesy of Martha Stewart of course, but it's not her recipe. She had Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson from Balthazar restaurant in NYC on her show. They made their yummy french toast, and I'm glad I now have it in my collection. You can watch the show on the recipe link too:

Balthazar Brioche French Toast

I used challah bread instead of brioche and I loved, loved, loved it.

Oh, and just to let you know, I had breakfast today too. Nothing special, just cereal. But maybe, just maybe, breakfast will stick.

Thai Green Curry.

This morning's meal may not seem appealing to some of you, but having leftover Thai Green Curry from dinner last night was just the thing for my breakfast. Reasons why curry is so perfect:

1) I am too tired and too impatient to wait for my planned quiche to cook (the recipe I'm using takes hours, but it's a Thomas Keller recipe so I'm sure it's totally worth it).

2) I woke up this morning really wanting to eat last night's leftovers. I really love green curry.

3) I can pretty much eat anything for breakfast and I do. I'm asian. We do things like have dinner for breakfast.

I don't have a recipe to share because all the steps and measurements are in my head. It's the version my mom taught me and I should probably write it down one day. If anyone really wants it, I suppose I could try to figure it out on paper.

Tonight though, tonight I'm having quiche for dinner. I'll post the results of that later. Don't you think breakfast for dinner is a great thing too?

Eggs Benedict.

I absolutely love Eggs Benedict, but it's a dish I'm always a little nervous to try. Sometimes it seems like it could be so easy, but I have my doubts. It's that darn hollandaise sauce. It seems so impossible to get right. Before today, I've only made it one other time and it turned out pretty bad. I think I was using a low-fat rendition or something.

Well, I'm not sure my attempt this morning would sell in a restaurant, but I think I managed to make myself a passable breakfast. I can poach eggs okay (they aren't the prettiest things though). Plating the eggs on an english muffin and slice of canadian bacon isn't hard either. It's just that darn hollandaise sauce. My sauce taste just fine, but it was on the thin side.

Oh well.

I think I heard somewhere that Trade Joe's sells hollandaise sauce in a jar. If so, I'll have to go stock up on that stuff before I leave the East Coast. Oh, how I love Trader Joe's. Especially their Orange Juice. My husband thinks it's a little strange that I can love a grocery store so much.

Anyway, the recipe I tried was from the Martha Stewart web site. It's courtesy of Josh Eden, a pretty amazing NYC chef.

Eggs Benedict

Peanut Butter on English Muffin.

Today I feel like a minivan mom. Partly because I'm driving a minivan this summer and also because I've been playing chauffeur since 5:50 a.m. I've dropped Axel off at the bus stop, another person off at the airport, ran errands and only got lost once.

So ... this morning all I had time grab was a whole wheat english muffin with peanut butter. Oh, and some strawberry yogurt. I was running so late, I didn't even have time to document my breakfast with a picture.

Sometimes there's just no time to eat a good breakfast.

Cereal Muffins.

This morning for breakfast I had yogurt and cereal muffins. I've had a recipe for bran muffins for awhile and I've always wanted to try it. Since I don't happen to have any bran cereal on hand, I went with my next best alternative: Cranberry Crunch Total.

Growing up, my parents always bought Total. To this day, I still hate that cereal. It's nasty. No amount of sugar poured over that stuff can make it good. Believe me, I've spent many years trying.

Since I married a man who has eaten grown-up cereal all his life, my cereal consumption has changed over the years. I don't buy Reese's Peanut Butter Puffs anymore. Or Cocoa Crispies. We hardly even eat Pop Tarts in our house (but that's an entirely different breakfast component).

Axel has gotten me to eat cold cereal with more grains and you know. Good for you stuff. It's a gradual process though, he eats Kashi brands, I can swallow down Special K.

Well, these cereal muffins I made today might be a good alternative to adult cereals. At least for me, it's one way I can eat any form of Total cereal. 

The muffins are pretty tasty, they are nice and fluffy and I like the tall tops. Oh, and did I mention, it doesn't even taste like Total cereal?

Cereal Muffins

• 1 c. shortening
• 2 c. sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 qrt. buttermilk
• 5 tsp. baking soda
• 4 c. cereal
• 2 c. boiling water
• 5 c. sifted flour
• 1 tsp. salt  

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs. Pour boiling water of cereal, mix together. Add cereal to shortening and sugar mixture. Sift flour and salt. Add baking soda to buttermilk. Mix half of flour mixture to cream mixture.  Then add half buttermilk to batter. Add rest of flour, then remainder of buttermilk.

Fill muffin tins 2/3 full, bake 20 minutes.

Carrot Cake Pancakes.

I've never even thought that things like Carrot Cake Pancakes would exist. When IHOP starting flashing their recent commercials, I decided I wanted them. Like right now. Since I am pregnant and very susceptible to food cravings, I sometimes have to close my eyes when food commercials come on TV. Most of the time I think, Oh, no. Not another burger commercial.

I don't want a burger. I don't want a burger. I don't need a burger.

"Honey?" I call to my husband in the next room. "Can you get me a burger?"

After lots of Internet searching, I decided to use this recipe I found on this tasty food blog. It has all the components I wanted: no pre-made pancake mix, no raisins, no pineapples. and yes, just like real carrot cake, the recipe also includes a cream cheese topping.

This morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. to whip these babies up. Axel leaves for work a little before 6 a.m., and I wanted to cook for him. I consider it payback for all the late night burger runs. The pancakes are super fluffy, just the way I like them. It's a pretty good recipe. On the cook's suggestion, I sweetened the cream cheese with some powder sugar. When I plated the cakes, I put the topping on the side. It may be optional for some (like my toddler) but not for others (like me who enjoys dessert for breakfast).

The best part of the pancakes? My little Mugga loved 'em. She ate them even with out syrup or any additional sweeteners. I feel pretty good knowing I just gave her carrots first thing in the morning. And she didn't even notice. Hah!

Carrot Cake Pancake Recipe here.

Challenge: Breakfast

I'm really bad about eating breakfast. It's a little boring to me. Usually just cold cereal. Peanut butter toast. If I'm ambitious, I'll fry some eggs.

I think one of the reasons why I don't look forward to breakfast is because I'm usually eating it by myself. It's something I shove down my throat out of necessity, something I know I need to do but don't particularly enjoy. Well, I recently read an article in New York Magazine that has my mind thinking differently about the most important meal of the day:

How I Learned to [Heart] Breakfast (or at Least What to Eat for It)

I'm not going to go into the article, but it's so interesting. It caught my attention enough, that I decided that this week, I'm eating breakfast. Not only am I not skipping my morning meal, but I'm going to make some recipes I've always wanted to try.

So, this week I'm thinking about breakfast. Because I want to look forward to my mornings, I'm making dishes that aren't so healthy, but definitely worth waking up for.

Top Chef.

I have been heartbroken for the last few weeks since Dale left Top Chef (but so happy to see him make an appearance last week). Tonight's the finale and I'm super excited.

I'm crossing my fingers Stephanie's the winner. Although if Richard takes it, I would be happy too.

Real Simple Essay Contest.

I know by posting this, I'm just asking for more competition. I'm always one for fair game though. Real Simple is offering their first essay contest, and I'm excited about it. You can be published in the mag, and recieve $3,000.

Rules and details here.

Crocs.

I have friends who tell me that Crocs are where it's at. Especially when you are pregnant. And have big feet. And your feet will just get bigger when your belly gets bigger.

I've heard how comfortable they are, how great they are in the summer (even winter), yet I find myself so extremely hesitant. I can't bring myself to do it. They are just so ugly.

Well, after a conversation with a friend just a few days ago (again, a Croc supporter) I decided to look again. I found these styles that aren't too bad ... I dunno. Maybe I can give it a try.

Eat What I Make You?

Here are a few questions for all you parents out there. Do your kids eat what you make them? Do you make special meals during chow time? Do you enforce the "Eat What I Make You" rule?

I always thought I would be the enforcer-type of mom. The one who says, "You kids eat what I make -- end of discussion." Yeah, I pictured myself stern and firm just like that.

Well, now that I have a toddler, I see I'm not as tough as I thought. I'm quite the pushover, really. At meal time, I find myself spending more time rummaging through the kitchen in search of something that my gal will find palatable at the moment (because, of course, the dinner I cooked that night just wasn't good enough). I don't know why I do it ... well, I do. I don't want her to be hungry. She's just so little.

Axel is always reminding me not to cater towards my daughter's sometimes picky/sometimes not eating habits. Yup, you guessed it. Dad is definitely the Enforcer.

I guess I've worried that my girl is too young to follow the eating rules ... but am I wrong? Is an almost 2-year-old mature enough to handle the "Eat What I Make You" rule? Is it too late? Can I still be an Enforcer?

Your comments are much appreciated.

Sugar Rush.

This weekend I was able to escape the 100 degree weather (plus humidity) and walk around the Tysons Corner Mall. My favorite part about shopping?

Going to Cakelove.


You may know I'm a lover of cupcakes, and I was super excited to try Cakelove's treats. We had the German Chocolate and the Brown Velvet with Cream Cheese Frosting. Delish!

I'm still hoping to visit the famous CakeLove and Love Café on U Street in D.C., and go to the cupcake bar. Here, you can create your own cupcake concoction. Oh, or maybe I'll even take one of their baking/decorating classes this summer.

The sugar possibilities are endless.

East Coast I love you, but you're bringing me down.

I know, I know. I said I would be a better blogger, and look. It's taken me almost a week again to post something.

Well, I blame tornadoes, crazy mean thunderstorms and super bad internet connection. Yes, this is the welcome the East Coast has given me. The very first day we are here, there is a tornado warning.

Yesterday, we were out power all day and night. Axel was almost blown over at a bus stop in D.C. on his 2 hour commute home, and I had absolutely no techology for most of the day. No cell phone, no central air, no TV, no nothing. Just me and the baby. Watching the sky grow dark.

Well, this morning things are starting to look better. The AC finally kicked back on an hour ago, just in time for Mugga to watch Yo Gabba Gabba and for me not to shower in the dark.

So, right now I'm off to do something fun. We're hitting the mall. And some Popeye's Fried chicken. See ya.

Packing.

We leave tomorrow morning, and as of right now, I haven't put a single thing into my suitcase. Yeah, so I'm totally not stressing.

Also, I am always so amazed how much stuff one little toddler needs for a trip. I'm not just talking clothes and car seat. Stuff like, portable DVD player, cartoons, snacks, diapers, sippy cup, books, her baby and blankie.

This is just stuff I'm thinking off the top of my head too. There's probably a few things more. You may think I'm obsessive, but the other travelers on the plane will think I'm amazing when I keep my kid quiet. If I'm lucky, it might be for few hours or so.

Missing In Action.

Well, hello there.

Remember me? I used to be a blogger and post here quite often. I'm sure I've lost all my blogging friends by now, I completely understand. It's a consequence that happens when you sudden drop of the face of the blog-o-sphere.

Things in my household have been quite busy these past few weeks, but the thing keeping me the busiest is this:



By busy I mean too nauseous to want to live, by busy I mean to tired to do anything but nap, by busy I mean occupying my time by shoving lots and lots of low sodium saltine crackers into my body. I don't think I've done anything productive in like, a month. There are some women who are fantastic pregnant. They either don't get sick, or their sickness doesn't affect them much. Me? I'm a complete mess the first trimester.

Super moody, extremely tired and ridiculously picky about the food I put into my mouth. It seems like so many things make me want to hurl. This of course, explains my Crock Pot Challenge disaster of 2008. Unfortunate for me, my morning (okay really, it was all freaking day) sickness kicked in during the middle of that challenge. Now it's all I can do to keep myself from gagging whenever I see a slower cooker.

Also, needless to say I never even started my quiet book challenge. Oh, and don't ask me the last time I'm tried writing something to get published. (Me in the first trimester also makes a bad freelance writer.)

But thankfully I'm feeling much better now after my first three months. Which is good, because I have a pretty filled summer ahead of me. Our family is headed out East for an internship for Axel at the end of the week. He starts Monday in D.C., and I'm not even remotely close to getting the house in order or packing for 10 weeks. I suppose it's fortunately that I'm already with a chubby belly, because this limits the wardrobe I'll take. Also, now I have a great excuse to hit up the H&M Mamma section.

So, I promise I'll be a much better blogger from now on. I don't have any more first trimester excuses, so I should be back quite regularly.

We are so excited for our growing family ... I'm starting to think baby stuff all over again. You can bet I'm already dreaming about double strollers.

Challenge: Quiet Book

I've been planning this lil' project for awhile now, and now I'm finally committing. For my challenge this week, I'm going to make Mugga a quiet book of her very own. The best part of my design so far? Minimal sewing! (I'm embarrassed to admit I have a fantastic machine I hardly use.)

I'm making up my own story and pattern, but if you want a few ideas of your own here are a couple how-to links:

Martha Stewart

HowtoMe (this one looks much too complicated for me)

Here are two bloggers I found that made their own quiet books too:

Fowler Family

itybtyfrog's ideas

Since I've done nothing but buy materials, I don't have anything interesting to post right now. I'm aiming to do an 8 page book, so maybe I can whip up two or so pages a day (including cover). Hopefully the book I have pictured in my mind will be the book I see finished on Friday.

Us.

Sorry I've been absent from the blog this week. I'll make up for it more come Monday ... because I'm doing a challenge! (More on that later)

If you've been wondering what my little family looks like, here is the most recent photo of us documented by the most wonderful Cindy at friendly gathering last night:

{there is me. Then Axel. and Mugga. One day, I will think of a clever alias name to give myself. Feel free to offer any suggestions.}

Mike and Kim were great hosts. They even supplied a trunk full of toys for Mug. Oh, and Rock Band for us older kids.

Twilight Trailer.

I admit it, I'll be in line to watch this come December 12th.

Rite Of Passage.

It kills me that she is trying to erase her permanent marker mess off the Magna doodle.

Six Reasons to Love Gossip Girl.

I just got my copy of New York Magazine yesterday (I always get mine a little late since I'm not living in NYC), and much to my surprise, the cast of Gossip Girl was on the cover!

{Insert happy squeal here}

Inside is a 5,000 word article on why you should openly love this show and not be ashamed of it's teenage plot. True story. It's a great article, check it out for yourself:

The Genius of Gossip Girl

Family Vacations.

Up until last weekend, I had my doubts about family vacation spots and vacationing with children in general. I love traveling, and I love exploring off the tourist track. I usually try to avoid places that are overflowing with souvenir shops and filled with everyone and their family reunion. Kid-themed attractions also top this list.

Now that I have my own child, I have different expectations. I don't think I can take Mugga backpacking across Thailand. I for one, am not up for that sort of thing anymore. (Hostel hopping has never been my thing.) I also don't see us dining in gourmet restaurants in NYC (Mug is really into chucking things off the table lately) or shopping for hours at Piccadilly Circus in London (it might interfere with nap time).

There are times when I have thought, "Man. My days of real traveling is so over. Now I'm stuck with a kid, and she's gonna slow me down."

But after taking Mug to the beach for the first time in her young life, my perspective is changing. She was afraid of the water at first and shrieked when the wave licked her toes. After a few minutes, she was loving it. She loved, loved, loved the beach. Absolutely fascinated by the sand, Mug spent about 45 minutes shoveling it into this yellow bucket:

(Notice the lack of swimming suit. Like everything else in her wardrobe, it was left at home.)

Seeing Mug's reaction to her first real elephant at the wild animal park was also completely priceless. She got one look at the giant Asian elephants and screamed to go inside their gated-off home.

"Ed-di-die! Ed-di-die!" she pleaded. ("Ed-di-die" is her word for "elephant.") Mugga almost feel over when she came face-to-face with a stray duck in the park. She's seen ducks before, so a second encounter was a real treat.

There were other kids in the park experiencing this same wide-eyed captivation, and it touched my cold, traveling heart. My reservations melted away, and I too, became fascinated again to see a lion up close. Wow, those things are scary.

It's interesting how everyday, my outlook on life changes now that I'm a mom.

I love to travel and explore the world because I like to expose myself to new and different things. I feel like it opens my horizons and helps me be a better person. I thought that vacationing with a child would limit this experience. I would be stuck visiting contrived kiddie attractions with absolutely no interest to myself.

But traveling with Mug isn't as bad as I thought it would be. If fact, it's actually better. To see my little one experience these new adventures, to touch the ocean for the first time ever, see a real giraffe, listen to the laughs of a spider monkey -- these are the greatest explorations. Her eyes are opening to new things, and at the same time, mine are too.

Whisper lamé tiered skirt.

I love this outfit from J. Crew. It's positively ethereal.

Flower Child Double Strap Footbed.

I cannot believe the Birkenstock look is back.


Flower Child Double Strap Footbed by Free People

No!!!

I hate that these two are together. Man, do I love this show.

Flowers to Go: Favor Bags.

I've mentioned before that I've been helping my sister plan her wedding. This is a cute idea for favors: waterproof bags to hold flowers from the reception. The personalized message printed on the bag is adorable.



via Martha Stewart