semi-expensive hobbies

Avocado & tomato sauce, Catalan chick peas

Yin — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:20:40 +0000

*dusts off blog* I’m back, with a new dSLR. :D

From The Traveler’s Lunchbox,
· Catalan Chickpeas with Tomatoes and Almonds
· Pasta with Fresh Tomato-Avocado Sauce

I didn’t make these quite so perfect, but the flavor still came out well, so I guess that’s what counts. I’m going to add in comments to Melissa’s original recipe based on my experiences making these.

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Eggplant stackers

Yin — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 22:05:56 +0000

I’m back in my apartment at school, which means my own kitchen, fridge, and pantry again. I share with two other girls, but hey, I’m a college kid! I know how to share living space.I bought large eggplants the other day as they didn’t have baby ones. (I prefer baby eggplant while making 烧茄子 (shao qie zi). I haven’t a clue what the English name is.) But then! They had baby ones when I went to Geagle two days ago, so hah, couldn’t resist and bought them. So what do I do with all this eggplant? Luckily, I’ve been browsing Tastespotting (god I love that site), so I came across the recipe for Eggplant Parmesan Stackers.

Due to limited time, energy, and patience, lack of materials, and general all-around laziness, I didn’t make it exactly as the original recipe details. Mine follows behind the skip.

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Kenka, St. Mark’s Place

Yin — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 01:56:53 +0000

On Sunday, I hung out with Endy in New York. After eating takoyaki and okonomiyaki and then watching No Reservations (which, by the way, is so very cute and happy and oh, it cheered me up so much), the two of us were starving for more food.

We hit up Kenka, which, I would like to put on the record, is possibly one of the strangest places I’ve ever eaten at. No, seriously. I regret not taking a picture of the front of the menu, because it was very very Special.

(Thanks to Endy for letting me use her camera for the macro pictures. My memory card was full, and her camera has better macro anyway. XD;)

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IHOP & Rice to Riches

Yin — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 00:45:50 +0000

[06/03/2007]

Okay, don’t laugh at me. Before the 3rd, I’ve never been to an IHOP. There was never a need! Eating out for breakfast usually meant dim sum. However, it was 2:30pm and Tak & Pris hadn’t eaten yet, so off to IHOP we went! It’s a 60 second drive from my house to it.

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La Casa, Shadyside, Pittsburgh

Yin — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 23:20:29 +0000

[5/18/2007] It was the end of the semester, and with most of the group leaving and Mark going abroad all of next year, he decided to take a bunch of us out to eat at one of his favorite places to eat, La Casa, a tapas and wine bar in Shadyside. It was me, Mark, Ruby, and Andy.

We got there around 7:30 and were immediately greeted by the super friendly manager-type person, whose name I can’t recall off the top of my head. Mark’s been there many times, so they all know each other by name. We sat in the back of the restaurant, outside. Very cosy little area, though it was chilly that day. From there, Joel (sp?) gave us our menus & asked us about drinks.

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