Get in My Belly

A little while ago, the fabulous Jen tagged me to list 10 Things that made me happy. As I started to think...all I could think of was food...HA. So, here are ten tasties {in alpha order} that I couldn't possibly do without.
Side Note: If you know Jen but you haven't stopped over there recently, please do, and give her some hugs. She could use them.

Breakfast Saturdays

 

Homemade waffles with a ras-straw-berry sauce. And some uber crispy bacon.

It's the one day of the week I tend to feed S make a proper breakfast, which normally includes pancakes or waffles, bacon and eggs. Well, proper in my eyes.

Grilled BBQ Short-Ribs {Korean}

Delicious almost bite-sized pieces of grilled beef short-ribs over a bed of rice in a very hot stone pot. You can hear the BBQ sauce sizzle. Mmm. Mmm. Good.

Chocolate

For most of my life I ate at least one chocolate bar a day. That is, until I was about 25 or 26 when a co-worker was horrified to hear this. It suddenly dawned on me that perhaps one chocolate bar a day wasn't normal. Hmmmm...so strange. I figured I'd try to cut back and find a healthier alternative. Like an apple a day. Not so much. But now I can go a few days, maybe even a week, without a chocolate bar. Some of my faves: Twix, Aero, KitKat, Cadbury...

Gummi Bears

Now seeing as some of you know how much I love chocolate and gummi bears, some of you suggested I try some chocolate covered gummi bears. And so, I did. Here's the thing, I love chocolate. I love gummi bears. Separately. Together, I gotta say, I did not know what was in my mouth. I don't mean to hurt your feelings if you love them, maybe I had the wrong kind...but not quite the heavenly taste I had imagined...

Poutine

 [via Google Images]

Yes, you are looking at cheese and gravy atop a bed of fries. Have you had it? Don't knock 'til you've tried it. It's very Canadian. And it's soooo good. Trust.

Prime Rib or Roast 

Medium-rare with lots of gravy, mashed potatoes, yorkshire pudding and some really good horseradish on the side. Yum.

Shellfish

Lobster, crab and shrimp. With lemon-butter sauce. Yes please. 

Steak

Medium-rare please. I find that most people who don't like steak have only had it well-done. And trust me, well-done does not equate to well done. A quick bite of medium to medium-rare and I've seen some converts.

Sushi

At least once a week. And the more wasabi, the better. I love the feeling that super strong wasabi gives, it's like getting punched in the nose. Not that I know what that feels like. Nor do I want to. 

Sweet Potato Fries

 [via Google Images] 

With garlic aioli. Or without. Mmmmmm.

Let's eat!
Happy weekend, munchkins....it's not a dig at your height, I just have the munchies now.

xo Ela
p.s. Are you a rockstar? Enter my girl J's contest here until March 21st.

JUST ADDED:  Hey guys, this was a schedule post, but just got back from a memorial service for some very dear to me and S. I don't feel much like blogging right now so if I don't make it to your blog today or get to catch up this weekend. I'll see you Monday. xoxo

Addicted to Molasses

No, it's not the name of a cool indy song, it is however, the truth. These darn Molasses Spice cookies have me climbing the walls when I can't have one. I'm obsessed with having some in the cookie tin at ALL times and the minute I see that we're I'm running low, I immediately bake more. Like drop what I'm doing and bake more. As though something terrible should happen if one lone cookie stays in the tin, all alone without any cookie friends to keep his cookie goodness company. Have I mentioned, I'm obsessed?

Who knew molasses was so darn addictive? Before these cookies I thought molasses = ick. Molasses is dark, sticky and smells like bark. Or something. But I picked up the carton from the store and it was sealed and everything so I know it hasn't been laced with anything. Right? Right??? Because if it were, it would explain the *mild* obsession I am having with these cookies. I'm cooky for cookies. And suddenly sound like a cereal commercial. Oy. I need to be stopped. Seriously. But just in case it's not such a bad thing, I thought I'd share the recipe with you. Then you can obsess right along with me.

Ingredients (Makes 36)

• *2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• **3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup molasses

* I add an extra 1/2 C to make them fluffy.

** I use salted.
Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. In a shallow bowl, place 1/2 cup sugar; set aside.
2. With an electric mixer, beat butter and remaining cup of sugar until combined. Beat in egg and then molasses until combined. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in dry ingredients, just until a dough forms.
3. Pinch off and roll dough into balls, each equal to 1 tablespoon. Roll balls in reserved sugar to coat.
4. Arrange balls on baking sheets, about 3 inches apart. Bake, one sheet at a time, until edges of cookies are just firm, 10 to 15 minutes (cookies can be baked two sheets at a time, but they will not crackle uniformly). Cool 1 minute on baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.

A few other things I'm addicted to these days:

- Hershey's Eggies ("Hershey's Eggs" in the US) They're egg-tastic! I could eat my weight equivalent. Even better than Cadbury Mini Eggs. Trust.

- Hawkins Cheezies Crunchy orange sticks have never tasted so good. I'm pretty sure I'm retaining water like a wishing well but I really don't care.

- Pickles The whole sour dill kind in the big jars in the refrigerated section, NOT the ones in the condiment aisle.

Are you at all concerned about what I'm eating? 
Don't be. I promise I eat "real food" in between.
Anything you're addicted to these days?

Oh and thanks to all who entered the Orient Watch Giveaway. I nearly went bananas when I found out the winning comment (via random.org) was lucky no. 8...congratulations, Mayra!!!

xo Ela

Apparently I Like Being Told What to Do

Okay fine, that's a big fat lie. I don't like it and probably never will. But I AM loving the recipe calendar I picked up late last year.  A new recipe each and every day. And though I haven't gone all Stepford on the hubs, I am loving trying 2 or 3 different recipes each week so we're not stuck having heck knows what for dinner night after night.

 

[via amazon]

I'm thinking I need a calendar like this for all aspects of my life. Of course I wouldn't do everything it told me to, but it'd be nice to eliminate some "hmmm, what should I do?" moments. 

Like when your girlfriend's 1 yr old wants to stick the drooly plastic stick he's been chomping on, into your mouth. Because he doesn't know you're the BIGGEST germaphobe ever. Or does he? I mean do you a)Smile and let him stick it in your mouth and say "nom, nom, nom" b)Politely decline and get him to stick it back in his mouth or c)Smack it out of your face and say "heck no". 
C of course is not an option. 
But it might be if a calendar told me so.

Or when family members tell you you've gained weight. Then wink. Do you a)Smile and say "thank you(?)" b)Cry because you're not pregnant but your dress makes you appear as though you are or c)Tell them their hairlines have receded since the last family BBQ. 
Of course B and C aren't options.
But they could be...

Or when the driver in front of you decides to drive 40km/h in a 70 zone. Do you a)Pretend he has a bumper sticker that says "Honk if you Love Dogs" b)Get out from behind him, siddle up and ask if he'd like to drive a donkey cart instead or c)Pull over and walk home. It'll be faster.
Of course A, B or C aren't options.
But they could be...

I kid. I couldn't do it even if a calendar told me to. But catch me on a bad day...

Embellished Tunic - F21, Leggings - Aritzia, OTKs - Guess(2008)

With my type A personality, I like order in my life so I tend to stick to what I already do or know. But maybe, in doing so, I've missed out. Maybe not on the drooly stick. But I kinda dig this trying new stuff. Is it weird that I'll take dinner suggestions from a calendar rather than just have S tell me what he'd like to eat? 

I suppose it helps that the calendar won't make a sad face if I say "no".

xo Ela
Hope you had a fabulous weekend!

What Took So Long?

The above question is pretty much how I feel about a lot of things lately. Patience...I have it...but I don't. Anyhoots, this is my 100th post and I can't believe it took me only 7 months to get here! GAH! Obviously, I need to get back on track and up my *postage*.

This past weekend, S and I put on our tourist hats and went for a drive...

 

my tourist hat looks more like a beanie but whatevs...

we drove 1 1/2hrs. to get some of this...

at the Brazillian Steakhouse, Copa Cabana

photo via Copa Cabana because truth is, when the steak was in front of me, I couldn't care less where the camera was.

I heart meat.

We also drove to see this...

Frozen Water? Why yes. 

I heart ice.

Better known as this...

 

[Niagara Falls via Google Images]

 

WEE!

I love this photo taken by S. The hotel had a package that included tickets for the Sky Wheel. Half Gondola/Half Ferris Wheel with an RPM a hamster could outdo, perfect for taking in the sights. From a distance cause we had no desire to actually walk by the frozen falls. It's breathtaking but we've seen it a thousand at least 10 times.

 

baby it's cold outside...

After a good 10 minutes outdoors, we hit the arcades to 

"Feed Big Bertha" and beat the high score of "Belly Bomber" 

That's S' ear and plaid shirt.

I heart that the games we played were food/stomach based. Seemed to be the theme of the weekend. We ended it off at the Melting Pot, for some amazing fondue.

I heart big melted pots o' chocolate.

Can't wait to see what you've been up to! Happy mid week, loves!

xo Ela

p.s. Giveaway to follow

p.p.s. Don't forget to enter my Shabby Apple Giveaway

p.p.p.s Wearing Beanie - Forever 21, Coat - Laundry by Shelli Segal

Sweet and Sour

S is always teasing me about having a "refined palette". He says I like "bland" food. I say, I enjoy subtle tastes. I also just need one bite in order to appreciate flavours. He however, needs a mouthful to savour the tastes. We eat the same amount but go about it differently. For example, I eat one chip at a time. And one popcorn kernel at a time. Partly because I enjoy it best that way...and partly because I know it drives S mad. He on the other hand, shoves a handful at a time so he can "actually taste" it.

Apparently, he's not that great at detecting "sour"....

S: [Chuckles to himself] That's funny.
E: What is?
S: Sweet and Sour Chicken.
E: Mmmmkay....if you say so.
S: [Stink eye] It's not really sour...
E: Uh, sure it is.
S: No. It's just sweet.
E: No it's not!
S: YES it is.
E: Fine. It's not "sour" per se, but there's definitely a tang to it.
S: Tang's not one of the four tastes.
E: But it's a type of sour...and there's five not four.
S: Five what?
E: Tastes
S: [Eyes bugged out. Insert heckling here] Name them.
E: Sweet, sour, salty, bitter and...
S: HA!
E: Give me a sec...I've got mushy brain [pause] Spicy!
S: Bwahahahahahahahaha. That's not a "taste"!
E: You can taste it can't you?
S: [Pause] No...it just burns.
E: Sweetheart, for people with taste buds, spice is a taste.
S: [Sad puppy face] But it just burns...
E: I don't know what else to tell you, hon....just eat your "sweet" chicken.

Leather Moto - Ralph Lauren (circa 2002), Plaid Top - Winners, 

White LS Tee - F21, Leggings - Aritzia, Boots - Lucky Brand {being sold here}

Gotta bundle up!

Scarf - via sample sale

Please excuse the bedhead, pale face and um...lack of eyebrows HAHA - hair/makeup to be done in car, hence the sunnies (YSL). Lipgloss was on though.

Well, since rehashing our convo. I've come to learn that I'm wrong. Shhh...I haven't told him yet. In 2002, they did indeed introduce the fifth taste: Savory. However, if you go by the ancient Chinese Five Elements Philosophy (according to Wiki), spicy is the fifth. Since, I'm Asian (oh and 1/8 Chinese btw) I think that makes me partly right, no?

Happy weekend, loves!
xo Ela

Tie it With a Bow

I've been a terrible blogger as of late...
S has had the flu, he was getting bettter then got hit with a fever for 3 days. So, I've been busy ignoring him playing nurse chef/errand runner/babysitter...ever notice when grown men get the flu, they suddenly act like babies? He says he can't help it. That's okay, I love him, big baby and all.

Though last night, S seemed to feel a ton better. And suddenly decided he needed to buy a MacBook Pro. That very night. So he called up his friend C who qualified for an "educational discount". We all headed to the Apple store and C showed his student card to get the discount. When the total was rung up and the rep expected C to pay, C turned to the rep, motioned at S and said, "My uncle will be paying for it". 

My Uncle???
Did I mention C is Chinese.
And S isn't even Asian.
Never mind that there's only a 6yr age gap between them.
And here I thought I was a terrible liar.

Anyhoots, we left the store. S giddy with having a brand new Chinese nephew MacBook Pro. Then headed a few stores down to get me a box of Cinnabons. Mmmm...cinnabons. It was the first (and last) time, we left the mall with S' total wayyyy exceeding mine.

I was just too tired to even bother looking - let alone shop. I think my body's been trying to fight off his flu cause I've been super duper tired. These days I just want to stay in my pj's all day. Too tired to even think about what to wear. It's no wonder the last thing I wore was inspired by an after dinner snack...

 Skirt with pockets - Penguin, Shoes - Winners, Belt - H&M

Bow Blouse with Gold Pinstripes - Juicy Couture

Blue Snakeskin and Gold Bow Bangle - Rachel Leigh  

Black/Gold Bangle Watch and Unicorn Bangle - Vintage/Thrifted

The after dinner snack that thoroughly amused me...
 

"vacuum sealed corn???", you ask. 

wait, it gets better.
it comes with a paper bag... 
"uh huh," you say...

but you see, the bag keeps it cozy while in the microwave...

and after a few minutes,

 

it comes out looking like this...

with a cob left to nibble on...
maybe you've all seen this and I'm years late in this discovery but it amused me nonetheless. "before"

"after"
 
Hope you're having an amazing week!
Anything you've discovered recently? 
xo Ela
p.s. Please read Lilu's Love Harder post or make a donation directly at http://www.loveharder.org/

Tastes Like Gasoline

Dress and Boots - Zara, Cropped Blazer - Morphine Generation

 Belt - F21

The pictures can't capture it but I love the bow neck tie of this dress, 

it's a little librarianesque but I dig it. Snagged it 3 years ago for $10.99.

The buttons of this blazer are brass then covered in black mesh, wish I dig too.

A few days ago S woke up and decided we should have McD's for breakie. Knowing full well his wife wakes up hungry and moves like a blind turtle doesn't function at the speed of light in the morning, he said "we'll just do a drive-thru so don't worry about getting dressed...we'll just go in our pjs". Um OK. So we brushed our teeth, but not my hair - that's what hats are for, put on some shoes and hopped in the car.
He placed our order but just as we were about to pay he decided he wanted to add a Cinnamon Melt. Then I told him about "Choco Melts".
S: What?
E: It's like a Cinnamon Melt but chocolate.
S: They have those?
E: Uh huh.
S: OK....

So as he was paying he asked the lady to add a *Choco Melt* to our order. "No problem" she smiled. My mouth was watering at the thought of having this:

 Off we drive to the second window to pick up our order. 

We are handed a paper bag. And this:

What the heck???

Sigh. So then I had to hear about how he should've just asked for a Cinnamon melt. And how now neither of us got what we had in mind. Blah, blah, blah...

I tuned him out till he no longer bored me just long enough to remember that I canNOT drink chocolate milk. Nope, not since a bad experience I had in my last year of college. I was finishing up my last semester, interning at an Ad Agency. Yes, the same agency that later hired me on FT and paid me just slightly more than what I was previously making as an intern. Which was nothing.

Anyhoots, to gear myself up for free labour 5 days a week, I would start everyday the same way, I'm all about routine - asking what I had done to deserve this with a bagel and a chocolate milk, which I'd pick up from two separate places in the lobby. Then have my breakie at my desk.

Just as I did every morning, I popped open the carton of milk, plopped in a straw and took a big gulp. Well on this particular day, I took a gulp. Made the biggest stink face I could muster. And spat out the milk into my garbage can. I always thought bad milk would taste sour. Well it doesn't. At least not bad chocolate milk. Bad chocolate milk, tastes like gasoline. I kid you not. That stuff is toxic and pretty much tastes like it could drive my car.

I looked at the date on the carton. Yup expired. After a trip to the ladies room to rinse out my mouth, I went back down to the lobby to the milk place and got them to take a sip told them what happened. With full on face effects. They laughed apologized and gave me a new carton. Of course, I couldn't drink it. Nope. And haven't touched the stuff since.

Needless to say, but I shall say it anyway, when we got home from McD's I plopped the thing on S' side of the table. "Guess who's drinking that..." I said as I left the room unable to even watch him drink our *choco melt*.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention. Seated in the passenger seat as we headed home I caught a glimmer of white out of the corner of my eye.

E: Are you wearing white socks...with brown shoes???

S: [Said in a 5 yr old's voice] Don't look at me.

Yeah, he totally was.

xx Ela

[via Google Images]
p.s. My SFAM and favourite Taco is celebrating her 1yr Blogiversary this week. Show her some love and drop by. And you can even enter her giveaway! I dare you to stop by and not fall in love with her.

Three Little Piggies

I don't have sisters. However, I've got two amazing cousins, who happen to be sisters, who happen to fill my sisterly void just perfectly. I love 'em.

We went for lunch to celebrate at my fave Japanese/Korean resto. Here's a shot post-gluttony. We're all pretty happy because we stuffed ourselves silly.

Cousin J - Me - Cousin T

Some quick facts about my cousin J and cousin T...
Cousin J loves muffins. Do you know The Muffin Man?
She does.
She wants to marry him.
And have his little muffin babies.

So she can eat them.

You will never meet a girl who LOVES these faux cupcakes more. Trust.
The last [oh, and I do mean LAST] time we did a Drive-Thru at McD's it went like this:

Order Box: Hi, can I take your order, please?
CJ: Can I get a muffin?
Order Box: What kind of muffin? Sausage McMuffin, EggMcMuffin?
CJ: [wrinkling her nose] Ew, no. Just a muffin.
I die.
Order Box: Oh ma'am, I'm sorry, I forgot it's after 11:00, we don't serve breakfast anymore.
CJ: No-no-no-no. I want a MUF-FIN.
Me [wondering: if it's only 2 syllables does it really help if you break it down?]
Order Box: Sorry ma'am, it's our po-li-cy, we don't serve breakfast after 11:00am...
CJ: Um, a MUF-FIN [making muffin shapes with her hands]. You know? Muffins?
Order Box: Er...what ma'am?
Clearly, not everyone knows The Muffin Man.
CJ: [speechless, still going on with the hands and *sligthly* panicked she's not going to get her hands on a precious ball of lard]
Order Box: Ma'am? Are you still there?
CJ: [yells at the box] A MUFFIN!!!
I die.
Order Box: No, ma'am. It's now 11:15.
I die.
CJ: A muf-fin. [desperation in her voice] I just want. A MUFFIN!!!
Order Box: Sorry, ma'am. Really, we cannot serve breakfast after 11:00...
They went back and forth for a few more times... I went from laughing hysterically to realizing that the madness may never end and realized that as amused as I was, laughter would not actually fill my empty gullet.
Me: [stretching over cousin J, as I yell into the box] She wants a MUFFIN. The things you bake that look like cupcakes. Not an EggMcMuffin or any type of McMuffin. JUST A PLAIN OLD MUFFIN!!!
Order Box: OH! [we have lift off] A muffin!
CJ: [jumping in the driver's seat, giddy with excitement] Yes! Yes!
Order Box: [chuckles] What kind would you like ma'am?
CJ: [goofy grin, making googly eyes at box] What kind do you have?
Me: [thinking: after all this time, you haven't actually considered what TYPE of muffin you want???] I die.
Order Box: Um, chocolate chip, double chocolate, blueberry, cranberry-orange, bran....
CJ: Hmmm...can you repeat that?

How could I not love her?

Side Note: I had a Quarter Pounder Meal, in case you were wondering.

Dress - Ella Moss, Boots - Seychelles, Handbag - LV Speedy 25
Favourite feature of this dress: the studded details on the back, neckline and front pockets

Now for Cousin T. She just got engaged about a month ago! WOOT!
She ties the knot in 2010.
I don't care how old she gets or what other grown up things she decides to do in her life, she will always be Lil Cous to me.

Cousin J, her sister, will be her MOH.
Which means, you can bet your hiney there'll be muffins at the shower.

I, have been asked to be a bridesmaid. I tried to tell her I was too old to be a bridesmaid. That at this point I should be producing offspring to provide her with a wedding party. A mini me to be her flower girl. And a mini S to be her ringbearer. I however = too old.
Cousin T: Well, you should've thought of that sooner.
Ouch. She wasn't having it.
Help. Me.

Hope you all had the best long weekend!
Tell me, what'd you guys all do?
xx Ela
p.s. Sorry I'm still MIA...it's almost over :)

Went for Chinese....

[EDIT: ADDED CLOSE UP OF ACCESSORIES AS PER THE LOVELY MS. CONSTANTINE]

...the other night but failed to take pictures of the delicious food we glutted ourselves on. However, the meal did get S off his photog strike! Here are some shots he willingly took...I didn't exactly bribe him with food, but I'm sure it helped...

Favourite Grey Blazer - Thrifted (Boys Suit Jacket)
Basic T - H&M
Silver Clover Earrings - Heidi Klum via Hautelook.com
Glasses (so I can see) - Chanel
Jeans - SevenFAM
Metallic Peeptoes - Prada
Navy Handbag (again) - Katherine Kwei I love the art of Chinese Knotting she infuses in her designs

I know I said I've been wearing more masculine pieces since the cut but as you can see, it's starting to wear off as I throw more splashes of girly in there...though to my disdain, my brother wears skinnies...

One thing I have to mention is that S is pretty bossy behind the lens...telling me to follow his finger with my eyes (as though I'm getting an eye exam), then to turn my head not just my eyes...

...blah, blah, blah...but we love it :)

In the end my cheeks are always sore from laughing...

...and he always feels smug. It's a win-win!

When we got home from dinner, he decided some indoor shots were necessary...

Apparently he thought a shot casting a HUGE shadow would be um... flattering???
I posted it because it reminds me of the Alfred Hitchcock Silhouette...and what girl doesn't want one of her own?
Click to enlarge...even more fun!

I know I missed the food photos but I did manage to take S' fortune home and take a shot of it...

Poor thing...
I'm more of a "told you so" type wife...
...only when he deserves it, LOL.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!
xx

~Ela

[CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE]

Summer Linen

I was recently inspired by Dapper Kid's recent post, "A Simple Kurta" which reminded readers
that one way to stay cool during Summer's high temperatures is to opt for lightweight clothing.

Further, the simple embroidery on the neckline of his kurta reminded me of a dress I had purchased from Zara about 2 years ago during some pre-vacation shopping. The embroidery and pearl buttons are exactly why I fell in love with it.

Paired it with my Miu Miu satchel and my Aldo rhinestone sandals, which I definitely remember being more comfortable than what I found tonight.

Decided to keep it simple with some pearl earrings, a Danielle Stevens gold bangle with my husband's initial and a ring my grandfather brought me back from one of his trips to Thailand.













S and I headed to Baton Rouge for a very early dinner (we hadn't eaten breakfast or lunch) so 'dinner' was served at 4:00pm! After some yummy appetizers that I neglected to photograph, due to gluttony, we ordered our usuals.

I have dreams about this Chicken Tender Salad, it's soooo good!
It's such a huge serving(that's a photo of it after I've already devoured half) but I don't mind, I could eat it for days.
There's my honey mustard dressing (extra) on the side, just how I like it!

S always orders the Rack of Ribs and a double order of fries
I always sneak a rib or two whenever his mouth is too full to protest :)

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Happy Independence Day weekend (wait that sounds funny) to my neighbouring Americans :)

~Ela

p.s. In case you're wondering why my hair is always up, it's because it's in dier need of a cut. I'm growing it out but it's in that awkward in between stage. Appointment is set for Monday so I'm excited :)