NY Times Reading for Wednesday

Source: weheartit.com via Silvia on Pinterest

It's been too long since I've sat down and paged through the NY Times.

Some interesting reading:

Before Wolves May Be Hunted, Science, Faith and Politics Clash

AND the follow-up:
Appeals Court Allows Wolf Hunts

Ugandan Gay Rights Group Sues American Evangelist

Detention for Immigrants That Looks Less Like Prison

Brushing up on some sports:

D’Antoni Resigns as Knicks’ Coach

And something super-adorbz:
Why Does the Penguin Get the Aisle Seat?:
In a YouTube video, a passenger on a recent Delta flight captured two unlikely seatmates in first class: a couple of penguins from Sea World.

Domestic Goddess: Kale-Butternut Squash Salad + Lavender Lemon Cake

In effort to avoid law school, yesterday was a day of relaxation and creativity. I did Bikram in the morning with Kat followed by iced mate and earl grey tea. Then I came home, did some laundry, went to Lowe's to pick up some lavender and potting soil (for my mom.) And then embarked on some new recipes I've been wanting to try.

Last night's menu:

Roasted Butternut Squash with Wilted Kale Salad
Spicy Pork Ribs (my own recipe - see below)
Lavender Lemon Cake (my own recipe - see below)

So, not going to lie, I was impressed with myself. I love cooking and baking, but sometimes I get a little rushed bc I'm so type A and things don't turn out to my standards. However, last night was a win.

Today, I went to yoga, had a wonderful brunch with Kat (my mom made us a spinach goat cheese egg souffle) and I've been doing a little reading here and there :-)

Pork Ribs "Recipe" - there isn't really a recipe, I lied. Generally, buy pork ribs. Salt and pepper them, wrap in tin foil, and roast at 250 for an hour and a half. Then baste with a sauce - I improvised a jamaican jerk recipe. And bake at 400 for another half an hour. Yum.

Lavender Lemon Cake:

I bought my lavender plants yesterday and was eager to use it. So I looked up a few lavender recipes and crafted this one from my mom's poundcake recipe.

• 1 1/4 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 large lemon, zested and juiced
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 8 sprigs fresh lavender buds (just the flower bits and remove them from the stem)
• 2/3 cups milk
• whipping cream
• For glaze: juice of one lemon and a few tablespoons of confectioner's sugar.

I blended the lavender, lemon zest and juice, vanilla, and sugar first, so it was a smooth sort of paste. Then I sifted the dry ingredients, add the milk and eggs, and stirred in the paste. I poured the batter in a loaf pan. Baked at 350 for about 50 mins.

While that was going on, I juiced half a lemon and added that and confectioner's sugar to the blender I had processed the lavender in. Mixed it all up and created a glaze, which I then drizzled over the cooled cake.

Top with fresh whipped cream. Perfect with tea this afternoon and even my brother liked it.

Pretty Clothes

Perusing lady-like fashions for my summer internship :-)

1. Pretty Penny's new line via Wit + Delight

2. Shoes to drool over via Ill Seen, Ill Said

3. Marion and Lindie Autumn/Winter 2012 via Lanalou

4. Junkaholique's new Opaque Rings

5. Current/Elliot Spring 2012 via CaliVintage

Baking Bits

Last week, I made Espresso Triple Chocolate Brownies with a Nutella Buttercream Frosting for my Sunday Library-Goers as a little encouragement for our torts midterm. So now I'm back on a baking kick :-)

Strawberries + Cream Pie via Spoon Fork Bacon

Blue Moon Cupcakes via Spoon Fork Bacon

Chocolate Chess Pie Pops from my friend Carrie at South by San Francisco

Earl Grey Chocolate Cake by Shutterbean

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles by Brunch at Saks

{Music} Indie-Folk: Bird Courage, Beach House, Alexi Murdoch

I've been all over the place. I'll update later, but I'm off to Bikram!

Here are some saving graces:

{Music Monday} Skrillex - Cinema

Yes. Rain. I finally get to wear my trenchcoat today :-)

In the library, doing work I probably should have done over the weekend, which was beautifully relaxing and included brunch yesterday with Seda and Meri (yum crepes) and then dinner with Katherine and Paul and the fam (Steak and guinness pie and red wine. Win)

Tonight, probs a pub trivia night, coffee with Devon and maybe a Lady Danville show if I can keep my energy up.

xoxo

Addicted:

Friday Festivities

This week has been, well, crazy. Amidst mock interviews (fun), being cold-called when I had accidentally done the wrong reading (nerve-wracking,) catching up about wedding plans with Rahia over wine and cheese (exciting), and schoolwork/gym/volunteering (exhausting), I received news that my grandmother on my dad's side, Melba Lorene Bissell, had passed away. Grandma had been sick for a bit, but it was still a shock; she was one of the sweetest and compassionate people in my life and I will miss her. I'm relieved that she is no longer in pain and in a better place. Love you, Grandma <3.

The photo below is from the late-50s. That's my grandma with my dad on the far right, and my uncles Jeff and Craig :-).

So by the time Friday rolled around, I needed some relaxation. After studying at the libs a bit, Gillian, Anthony, Michael, Evan, and I went for a beer at Trader Vics at LA Live, which has very entertaining decor. It was the first time in two weeks I had gotten off campus with law school amigos just to chill so it was really fun to chat, gossip, whine, etc.

Then my old friend Jeffy-poo, who knows where all the best restaurants are, picked me up and we went to Baco Mercat, this new tapas style restaurant in Old Bank District of DTLA. We had to wait a bit, but the food was phenomenal. We order the King Mushroom, the "Ham, Egg, and Cheese" flatbread (which had ricotta, pancetta, and egg), and the Original Sandwich, made with pork belly. I had a glass of the house red (slightly acidic, but doable) and Jeff had the ginger-pop (I could drink this all day, everyday). My fave dish was the original sandwich, which had such a complex flavor and was perfectly cooked.

Then Jeff and I hit Syrup for a Nutella hot chocolate for me and a Vietnamese Iced Coffee for him. It was amazing. Until I realized they had overcharged me by $70(!) on my credit card and had to drive back to have them void the sale. And then, on top of all that, they had the audacity to ask to swipe my card again to charge me. Um. No. On top of overcharging me, having me drive back, wait while the barista chatted with a only-moderately-attractive patron, and making me wait longer to have you figure out the card machine while my friend is circling the block, YOU WANT ME TO PAY AGAIN??? I politely told them that I didn't think it was unreasonable to be comp'ed for the my drink and peaced the eff out. It was good, but certainly not worth the below-par service and the inconvenience they caused me.

Despite that, I had a great Friday night and got to come home and cuddle with the fam.

Today's itinerary includes shopping with my mom, yoga, coffee with Priyah, a night out with the roommates and getting that torts outline done. Tomorrow, brunch with Seda, Meri, and Araksya and dinner with the fam and Katherine and Paul. I'm so lucky to have such amazingly supportive and funny friends. <3 <3 <3