RED BEAN TOAST // HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!

since earlier this week, when i admitted that i had forgotten all about the chinese new year and didn't make party plans like i have the past few years, i've felt a little bad. like my chinese half was neglected. so this morning i brainstormed some chinese recipes to make, gluten free ones that eggboy could enjoy. rice noodles, fun rolls, other rice things... i even dug out the glutinous rice flour and sat on my couch for a good moment of time, watching videos on how to make 紅豆沙. 

eventually hunger and not wanting to get cornstarch and sesame seeds everywhere and a desire to eat healthyish in anticipation of the super bowl and a lack of an entire crew of people to come over and make dumplings and take instax pictures got the best of me and i decided to just make a toast. a toast for one in my chinatownless town.

but what a pleasant toast it was! a slice of oatmeal wheat with homemade red bean paste accompanied by coffee in a red cup and the decision to only use red utensils and wear red clothes. 

gung hay fat choy!

now where is my red envelope... 

-yeh!

WEEKEND WARRIORS

note: to accurately experience this post, i need you to pinch your nose shut and then read out loud.

we made horsey friends this weekend and now i am paying for it by way of sneezies and snot.

it was worth it, of course it was worth it. we took snowshoes out to see the furry friends and they let me pet them while they told me secrets. they were so sweet. i'm afraid i'll want my own someday... but shhhhh i can't tell eggboy yet because he is only just getting used to the idea of getting goats. one farm friend at a time, you know?

i think the horsies were jealous of our snowshoes... i can't imagine how difficult it'd be to gallop through the snow with those dainty little hooves. 

*achoo*

after our hang with horsies, i hurried back home to study kate soper's voices from the killing jar. it is such a good piece, you guys. i can't recommend a better start to your week than by watching this with a big old bowl of pimento cheese. which is what i did last night.

i made pimento cheese for the first time (and now my life will never be the same). 

-yeh!

FIGHTING OFF THE JANUARIES

ah, yes, the monday of months. 

no gift giving holidays, no swimming pool weather, and it feels just a wee bit early to make a valentine's cake.

sometimes during january it's like what else is there besides new girl and youtube videos of last year's world synchronized skating championships and dumb made up holidays?

...i spent yesterday with waffles. so there's that.

and einstein on the beach is streaming, so there's that too.

oh! and the turkey meatballs from jerusalem. they's good.

(could it be? is this turning into a happy list?)

marzipan balls.

fleece lined things.

my new vintage coffee pot with the colorful chicken on it.

kelsey's take on january.

all this talk of man buns. jason brown's pony tail.

and no, but really, you need to get into synchronized skating. if nothing else, just please watch this.

a blizzard is a comin! so what else is new. these days i believe that the best warmth comes from a risotto pan. minutes and minutes stood at a risotto pan, spoon in one hand, wine in the other, stirring your little bum off until you can stir no longer and you're just so hungee and before you know it you're down to one layer because the heat! there's a blizzard outside??

happy watch-all-the-heath-ledger-movies day!

-yeh!

THE FRIES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HAPPY MEAL BAG

1. if ever you find yourself in chicago, you simply must go to dillman's and eat a matzo ball the size of your head.

2. a few weeks ago, my darling lemon thyme went to vietnam and instagrammed all about it and it was one of my most favorite things. a pop of color to a snowy instagram world.

3. this blog is so wonderful and creative. it combines food and... (wait for it) books! i made a little appearance on it yesterday where i admitted that i am a full blown book abandoner.

4. whenever this lady posts a photo of a new photo prop, i nearly barf because it is so pretty yet so vintage and one of a kindy. i mean she has heart shaped cast iron cornbread tins!

5. out of the bazillion cookbooks i got at the library last week, this is a cookbook by max and eli sussman has got to be the one with the most chutzpah and the most recipes that i actually want to try.

6. sista had me at tahini. i'll best be making these soba noodles soon.

7. if you have not read nico's review of the new beyonce album, you should.

8. can anyone point me in the direction of a homemade boloney recipe?

-yeh!