Moving on for now

I've decided to transition to Instagram since it's so much easier to post pics . . . I think many blogs have died as a result. 

Eggs in a Basket via Trails Cafe

I was reading about the Trails Cafe on the Selby the other day (via Refinery 29 - sometimes I visit this site to keep in touch with trends), and 1) I learned that the co-owner of the Trails Cafe is Korean American (cool!), and 2) found a recipe for savory baked eggs in a basket.

When I saw this recipe, I thought "Hey, I have all these things in my fridge right now."  So I made some tonight for a quick breakfast-for-dinner meal.

I had a bottle of this green sauce (below) in my freezer that needed to get used.  I pureed some parsley and other herbs with olive oil a few weeks ago since the herbs were going bad.  It was perfect for my eggs in a basket.

I didn't have giant muffin pans so I improvised with parchment paper and it was fine.  I also used less butter than the recipe called for.  You could do so many fun things with this recipe--like add ham or prosciutto, different cheeses, and sauces.  Yum, I love eggs and improvised meals.   

The unforced rhthyms of grace

Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned out on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

 --Book of Matthew, chapter 11, The Message by Eugene Peterson

Instagram

I've been away from this blog for awhile because of Instagram!  I've been having fun taking pics with my new iPhone (new phone as a result of losing my old one).  My ID on Instagram is thingsontables if you'd like to follow :) 

Here are some of the photos I took in the past few months . . . I'll still post on this blog though.  I'd like to write more even if it's short so we'll see.

Community garden

There's a community garden not too far from where I live.  I paid a visit last week since they were having an event.  I even signed up on the waiting list for a plot--we'll see if I get one!

Excuse to post dog picture

I hope I didn't sound whiney in my last post . . . I'm grateful for a job since many of you know that it took me a long time to find one, and I'm trying to embrace the cool experiences coming my way even though they feel out of my comfort zone.

Anyhoo, on another note, I got to spend some time with a friend from church last night.  Her dog, Shanae, is the sweetest.  God bless all creatures great and small.

These days

This is the view from a home in the Hollywood Hills.  I was here for a work party last week with directors, producers, and Hollywood people.  My work is taking me to glamorous places I never thought I'd go and connecting me to people I never thought I'd be in the same room with--but it's also been the source of some of the hardest experiences and relationships I've ever faced in my life.  You can definitely ask me more about it if you'd like, but let's just say it's been trial by fire. 

To quote Radiohead, "for a minute there I lost myself" but thank the Lord
for rest . . . for nature, for art, for wholesome and simple food, for quiet, for growth, for hope.  

Pasta with Tuna and Tomato Sauce

I made this tonight and it turned out well so I thought I'd share it here.  The first time I tried this dish was when a work colleague brought this sauce with rice to an office potluck.  I like that the majority of ingredients come out of the pantry. 

I tend to cook by intuition and taste so my directions are not exact.

Ingredients:
-1 pound of pasta (corkscrew would work nicely since it holds thick sauces well but I had linguine--it turned out fine.  Rice is also good with this sauce).

For the sauce
-1 large can of crushed tomatoes
-2 T of tomato paste
-2 shallots minced
-1 tin of anchovies (in olive oil)
-2 T of capers
-1 large can of tuna (in water--or olive oil)
-pepper
-oregano
-brown sugar to taste if sauce is too acidic

I drained some of the oil from the anchovies to cook the shallots first.  Then I added tomato paste, anchovies, and capers.  Then came the crushed tomatoes, and then the tuna (drained).  You can add a bit of pepper, oregano, and sugar (if it tastes too acidic).  I didn't add salt because of the capers and anchovies but then again it's up to your taste.  Another method is to use store-bought marinara and add the tuna, capers, and anchovies (I think I will cook the shallots with carrots and celery next time to give the tomato sauce more depth).

Cook the pasta according to the package.

Add a few tablespoons of the pasta liquid to the sauce, toss, and serve immediately. 

I had ingredients for a simple salad (and I made croutons with leftover bread) but I think this dish would go nicely with roasted brussel sprouts or perhaps a green salad with red onion, white beans, and artichoke hearts.

Schindler House

I paid a visit here tonight with my friend from church who is in architecture school.  It was a cool place to visit.

Untitled

 

Untitled

The light and plant were so pretty outside our balcony today. 
The recipe for oatcakes is shared here!  They are really good with jam and yogurt. 

All photos taken while driving

Love your city

I've driven past this mural a few times . . . it always puts a smile on my face.  I took a picture of it today and noticed there was tagging on the bottom right corner.  I also noticed that it was painted by lovebrand.com which after researching online, found out that it's a men's bathing suit company.  Maybe I didn't read it correctly.  I need to go back and check again.

I don't blame the tagger though--it's hard to love your city if your city's not loving you back.

These days . . .

Jam-making session with wrinkly old fruit and dates, kitchari and kale (good but also an acquired taste-thing going on--gotta play with the recipe), and the park--it was a nice day today.

The aesthetic of funk

"This is my message to the community.  We can create currency from anything we apply our creativity to." 
Xenobia Bailey is another artist I discovered via Etsy videos. 
What an amazing woman.

Artist Discovered: Nancy Hom

I alluded to a wonderful moment at the Autry's California's Designing Women exhibit last week.   All in all it was a wonderful show and I loved getting a chance to see an exhibit devoted to the cutting edge craft of women in the Golden State.

One artist's story really spoke to me (many artists were profiled via short videos).  Nancy Hom is a Northern California artist, community leader, and writer who creates screen prints and sculptures, amongst other forms of expression.  I was listening to her interview and was touched by the way she described herself -- as an artist for the community, a servant artist who takes the joys, struggles, and experiences of the people around her and tells their stories via bold graphics.  She also shared about her working class poor immigrant family background and her focus on themes centered on the feminine, on compassion, and on mothers and children.

Image via here.

Vacation - Staycation

I've been on vacation since Christmas and it's been nice to stay home, visit local museums, and see old friends.  I've been sleeping and napping non-stop!  I must have been tired. 

Here's my list of what I wanted to do while on break (and I'm happy to say I've done most of them):
-Make oatcakes via the recipe from 3191 Quarterly and eat with apples and cheddar . . . also really good with blackberry jam.
-Buy ingredients at the Indian grocery store to make kitchari (bought the ingredients but haven't made the kitchari yet).
-Go on a long hike with Cody (this unfortunately was cut short due to spotting two coyotes).  Sigh, I don't think I can take him on hikes anymore due to the coyotes--they're everywhere in Southern California!  Cody and I did get to go on a nice long walk with my friend, Cynthia and her son Milo through their quiet neighborhood.  The last picture is from our walk.
-Visit the Autry Museum to see this exhibit.  So amazing!  I cried watching one of the artist videos . . . will have to write about that later.

Ah, I'm so grateful that I have a job that gives me this long of a break.

The feminine hand in craft

I've been a fan of Tanya Aguiniga for the longest time.  I love her resourcefulness, and that she uses her background growing up in Tijuana to influence her design philosophy and craft.  I also love that she creates things that reflect the feminine hand--that she embraces texture and warmth.  Yet, at the same time her work reflects strength, resourcefulness, and industriousness (all feminine characteristics as well).  I want to learn how to use power tools!

In her studio.

Wearing her rope jewelry.