1/30/13

Instaweekend: 5k, Parade, Big Breakfast and Couch Surfing

 
As this week wears on, I become more nostalgic for precious weekend moments, big and small.  Thank goodness I captured them on Instagram! 
 
1.  Lovely building I snapped on the way back from a 5K on Saturday.
2.  Homemade blueberry Belgian waffles and bacon (yum).
3.  My favorite place on a Sunday afternoon.
4, 5, and 6. Gasparilla Pirate Festival Parade in Tampa, FL.
7.  Unique chocolate flavor I spotted in Walgreens (too skeptical to try it).
8.  Shadow and light, dancing on my armchair.

1/29/13

Etsy-static: Graphic Tees


One way to make a style statement without saying a word is with the graphic tee.  Etsy has a ton of handmade screenprinted tees to choose from.  My favorite casual cool way to wear a graphic tee is under a blazer. ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

1/26/13

Delicious Dishes: Asian Marinated Swordfish with Lemon Rice



Need a quick and healthy weeknight meal?  This asian marinated swordfish with zesty citrus-infused rice is just the thing to liven things up.  Serve with a salad or steamed veggie of choice for a completely satisfying dinner.  With a bit of timing, you can prepare the whole meal in about half an hour.  Let's get started!

 
To make the marinade, combine olive oil, teriyaki sauce, minced ginger, diced onion, honey (or maple syrup) and smashed whole garlic cloves in a bowl.  Marinate swordfish for 15 minutes while you cook the rice.
 
 
 The key to getting this meal on the table, in 30 minutes or less, is timing. While your swordfish is marinating, cook the rice.  Squeeze the juice of half a lemon into the boiling water you will be cooking the rice in.  Cook rice according to package directions.  Once the rice is done, stir in the lemon zest.
 
 
Remove the fish from the marinade being careful to remove any pieces of onion, ginger or garlic.  Set the marinade aside.  Allow your pan to get smokin' hot before adding the fish. No need to add additional oil because of the residual oil from the marinade.  Sear the fish until you have a browned crust on one side (approximately 3 minutes; the thickness of your fish determines how long it takes to cook).  Flip it over and cook for an additional 3 minutes (be careful not to overcook this fish, it becomes extremely dry when cooked too long). 
 
 
Because of the honey in the marinade, your fish will develop a very dark crust during cooking...it's not burned, that's "flavah"!  After removing the fish from the pan, add vegetable stock to the marinade and bring it to a boil.  Stir the additional lemon juice into your rice. To serve, Add rice to a platter or bowl.  Place fish on top, and pour the strained pan sauce over it. Garnish with chopped green onion.  Enjoy!
 
Asian Marinade
 
1/2 cup teriyaki sauce
1/2 cup olive oil
4 whole garlic cloves, smashed
1inch piece of ginger, peeled and minced
1/2 small onion, diced
1 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup)
salt and pepper to taste
 
Whisk the ingredients together and adjust salt and pepper to your taste before adding the raw fish.  After marinating the fish, save the marinade to boil, with 1/4 cup of vegetable broth, for at least one minute.  Strain to remove the marinaded vegetable pieces.
 
Lemon Rice
 
Add the juice of half a lemon to the water you intend to cook your rice in.  Cook the rice according to package directions.  Add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and the juice of 1/2 a lemon to cooked rice
 
 
 
 

1/25/13

Shoe Spot: Triple Threat

My co-workers were shoeing showing out!  At every turn there was a different, yet equally fabulous type of footwear.  So "Today was a Good Day" like in the song, by Ice Cube,  cuz I "messed around and got a triple double" for ya'll.  You're welcome.

1/24/13

Etsy-static: purlBknit

 
purlBknit is an etsy seller that specializes in fine natural knitwear. When I first saw these items, it made me want to learn how to knit, but then I came back to the reality that even if I did know how to knit, I would probably not be able to create such stunning wearable works of art.  So now I just wish I lived in a colder climate, so I could wear these lovely pieces for more than two days out of the year!