Category: FUN

Anything to do with fun & enjoyment

FUN

Food:  Onion Pie

This delightful dish that’s very similar to quiche comes courtesy of our friend Ruth.  IMG_20150208_184532She brought it over for a Grammy party and everyone raved about how amazing it tasted so it was only right to ask her to share the recipe.  She said she didn’t have one (don’t you hate it when people say that?) but thankfully she wrote down the steps:

For the Pastry:

To make one 9” pie crust:

1 cup of *pastry flour (either whole wheat or white)

½ tsp. salt

1/3 cup butter

3 Tbsp. cold water

Directions:  Cut cold butter into small cubes.  Then with a knife cut cold butter into sifted flour/salt mix.  Add water until you have a workable dough.

Roll out and line pie plate.  Place in freezer until the filling is ready.  Doing this helps to make the crust flaky.

For Filling:

1 ½ cup finely chopped onions or combo of onion & mushrooms – sauté onions until caramelized.  Ruth sautés the onions and mushrooms separately.

½ cup of grated sharp cheese like Cheddar or Gruyère

½ cup milk

1 Tbsp. of **non-instant powdered mik

2 Eggs

¼ tsp. salt

1-2 Tbsp. fresh Thyme

2-3 Tbsp. Nutritional Yeast

1 Tbsp. Oil (your choice – olive, avocado, coconut or grapeseed)

Directions:

Mix milk (both wet & dry), eggs, salt, thyme, nutritional yeast and oil in blender.

Layer onion (then mushroom if using), then cheese in pie plate.

Pour blended mixture over top.

Bake at 375F for 10 minutes then turn oven temperature to 350F.  Bake an additional 15-30 minutes until brown.  Check with a toothpick inserted in the middle to make sure it’s not too wet.

Enjoy!

*make sure it’s pastry flour & not all-purpose

**There are two basic kinds of powdered milks, instant and non-instant or “regular”.  They are processed a little differently so the end results are not the same.  The texture is also different. Some instant powdered milks look flaky but the non-instant is definitely “powdery”.  Non-instant milk is denser and more concentrated. Maybe not as easy to find as regular.

 

FUN

Have a heart!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!heart8

Fancy chocolate, heart-shaped pasta, red lipstick, and nostalgic candy are just a few of the Valentine’s Day things to make us happy.

Christian Louboutin
Christian Louboutin

496389_WM_S_VALENTINE_PASTA_17.6OZ___ Of course new shoes can make us happy any old time.  And it goes without saying that whatever makes us happy will put a smile on our face and lessen our stress – which is healthy.  At least that’s my excuse.  heart7heart5heart1valentine5valentines7valentines6

 

Have a LOVEly day.

FUN

beauty– lemon lights

DIY natural highlightslemon - CopyYears ago there was a spray-on hair lightener called sun-in which  to my surprise is still on the market.  It was used to brighten & lighten blonde to medium brown hair.  You used it by dampening your hair and combing through to evenly distribute the product.  For a sun-streaked look you sprayed on only the stands you wanted highlighted.  It was heat activated,  so you just relaxed and let the sun do the work for you or you could bring the hightlights out with a blow dryer.  It now comes in “lemon fresh” and “tropical breeze”.  Who knows what all of the ingredients are but for sure there was some lemon in the “lemon fresh”.

There was a lemon tree with tons of lemons outside the bungalow we rented in Palm Springs so I got the fresh idea of doing my own lemon lights.   I mixed ½ cup of fresh squeezed lemon juice with ¼ cup of conditioner and combed it through my damp hair.  Then I sat out by the pool for an hour and a half while my hair slowly turned to straw.  At first it was scary because it seemed possible that my hair would just break off but after washing and putting tons of moisturizing conditioner on it – voila! It turned out to be at least one shade lighter.  FullSizeRenderFor DIY natural highlights you just repeat until you get the lightest shade you want.  It works.  You just need a sunny day.

Have you done this or used any of the products that claim to lighten your hair?

 

 

 

FUN

Food:  making mayo

This post came about after I was out looking to buy an ordinary sandwich condiment – known to compliment everything from tuna to egg salad sandwiches. 20150127_140851It was difficult to find a low-fat healthy mayonnaise. By now I’m way more careful about reading labels. You may have some idea that mayonnaise is not exactly a healthy condiment, but you may not be aware of just how high in fat and other harmful dietary elements it really is.  Every single mayo jar I came across including ½ the calories (in fact specifically half the calories) contained high fat.  Which made me question how many people actually pay attention to what they use in countless recipes.  I mean you can make a sandwich without mayonnaise but honestly the stuff really does add to the overall taste.  So if I can make my own mustard then I can certainly make my own mayonnaise.  It’s very easy and a whole bunch healthier. Have a look at two DIY recipes.

 1) Healthy Mayonnaise Recipe

Please note: it is very important that all the ingredients are at room temperature for this recipe. Having ingredients that are too hot or too cold can cause the mayo to separate or not emulsify. Any oils can be used for this, though I prefer coconut, olive, walnut or other healthy oils.

Ingredients

  • 4 egg yolks at room temperature
  • 1 TBSP lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tsp regular or Dijon mustard (or ½ tsp dried mustard)
  • Salt and pepper
  • ⅔ cup olive oil
  • ⅔ cup coconut oil (warm) or other healthy oil (macadamia works well)

Instructions

  1. Put egg yolks into blender or bowl and whisk/blend until smooth
  2. Add lemon juice or vinegar, mustard and spices and blend until mixed
  3. SLOWLY add oil while blending or whisking at low speed, starting with olive oil. Start with a drop at a time until it starts to emulsify and then keep adding slowly until all oil is incorporated.
  4. Store in fridge up to 1 week.

Author: Wellness Mama

This is a good store-bought veggie mayo - from health food stores.
This is a good organic store-bought veggie mayo – from health food stores.

2) Best Homemade Mayo

ingredients

    • 2 whole pastured eggs
    • 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
    • 3/4 tsp. salt
    • 2 tsp. prepared mustard
    • 2 cups light olive oil (not a vegetable blend)

instructions

  1. Blend eggs, vinegar, salt, and mustard in food processor. While machine is running, slowly add oil, VERY SLOWLY!! Continue until all of the oil has been added and the eggs and oil have formed an emulsion or Mayonnaise. Taste for salt and adjust if needed.

Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

NOTE: Be sure to use eggs from a healthy, trusted source.  Most people worry about raw eggs, but there is no need to worry if you purchase pastured (NOT pasteurized) eggs from a local farmer whose chickens freely roam, eat off of the land and are well-cared for.   There are MANY more cases of salmonella from processed, cooked foods than from using pastured, raw eggs.  Just a thought.

Adapted from Satisfying Eats Cookbook

Have you tried making mayo?

 

 

FUN

health MATTERS: a walk in the PARK

What a great idea!  I think there should be more parks like this one with exercise equipment sprinkled throughout, nice water fountains and especially a Healing Garden.herb01herb11fragrant & healing GARDENherb10  (double click to enlarge) to know about all the benefits of these historical herbs. Many are readily available at your local supermarket.

 

 

When life throws you a bunch of lemons, make the most of them!

herb1herb2herb4herb5herb6
herb3

this sign was a bit faded
Some signs are a bit faded

herb9

Jojoba & Lavender oils are used in my new natural skincare line.  I’ll tell you about it soon.

LIVE WELL!
LIVE WELL!
I guess just the smell alone will make you feel happier
I guess the smell alone will lift your spirits to make you feel better.

 

Photos: d. king

 

Do you have a favourite herb?

 

 

FUN

Feel-good Friday: Fruitful

Grapefruits the size of footballs, Oranges the size of Watermelons and Lemons the size of Grapefruit…

the bowl is a fairly large
this is a fairly large size bowl

picked or fallen from the trees right outside our front entrance.

Not until I cut the orange in half did I realize it was not a grapefruit.  Have you ever tried eating a huge orange, grapefruit style?  It works if the orange is really juicy – a pleasant discovery.  What a treat.

What’s your favorite citrus fruit?

Photo: d. king

FUN

beauty– eye Draw the Line

With Stila, Kat Von D, Nars, Marc Jacobs and More

Eye just can't make up my eyes mind
Eye just can’t make up my eyes mind…they’re all pretty nice.

So happy to have discovered this curated collection of cult classics at where else….Sephora.  Surprise, surprise.   I sometimes shop the little local beauty boutiques (I like supporting them too) but must say that Sephora really knows how to put a pretty package together – especially around the holidays.  I specifically went to buy the mascara set (the lash stash) as a gift – they only had two left.  Anyway,  “Draw The Line” is a selection of six leading eyeliners designed to mix and match.  How could I resist?  You can buy them all individually as I’m quite certain the kit is no longer available.  They sell out fast.

SEPHORA COLLECTION Contour Eye Pencil 12hr Wear Waterproof in Black Lace

These pencils have a very smooth application, so they are ideal when you want to contour the shape of your eye. They also work well for smoky eyes, as they blend well and are long wearing.

STILA Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Dark Brown

This is waterproof and one of the easiest liquid liners to use. The chocolate brown color is subdued and optimal for creating a daytime winged look.

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper

This pen’s application is super precise. The brush tip has a multitude of fibers that give your hand control and stability. It’s perfect for creating any graphic liner look.

NARS Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Veneto

The color in this pencil is rich and creamy, and it lasts 12 hours. It’s great for creating a deeply saturated waterline, as well as a blending.

Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayon in Blacquer
These pencils come with a sharpener on the end, so they are self-contained. The rich, waterproof formula glides on effortlessly and deposits just the right amount of color onto the eye. They are also excellent for smudging out.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Double Ended Eye Pencil in Perversion and Rockstar

The convenience of having two eyeliners with different finishes in one pencil is fantastic. The soft tips make them very easy to apply and create smoky eyes. Perversion (matte black) and Rockstar (dark purple) look beautiful when worn together or alone.

Not since I purchased the Fresh “sugar lips” set have I had so much fun playing with makeup.

What’s your obsession?

FUN

Style – my new TRINA TURK Tankini

Along with shoes, handbags and sunglasses…a girl can never have too many bathing suits20150120_103657I brought two bikinis to Palm Springs but was really craving a retro one-piece that would be perfect for poolside.  Okay maybe it was just an excuse to buy a new swimsuit.  Then my sister told me that Trina Turk, who has a beautiful store in Palm Springs, was most famous for her swimwear.  Fast forward…to my new tankini – which reminds me of Emilio Pucci 60’s mod-style glamour.  It will look great while sipping mimosas poolside…and oh yeah, swimming.

About Trina:trina1

Infused with bold signature prints and dynamic hues unique to each collection, Trina’s modern and optimistic outlook meld the best of classic American design with a California confidence, incorporating beautiful fabrications and impeccable quality for the effortless elan and carefree glamour.

trina3Founded in 1995 by Trina and her husband, photographer Jonathan Skow, as a women’s contemporary clothing line, Trina Turk has evolved into an iconic lifestyle brand, celebrating California style with eleven annual collections of chic women’s ready-to-wear and accessories, plus swimwear, recreation/activewear, a Mr Turk menswear line, and residential décor and textiles. Joining the lineup as of 2014 came  innovative footwear, handbag and jewelry collections.  Oh, I even like the ice buckets.

I love their active wear
I love their active wear

The Mr Turk menswear linehm_cs1_resort_v2 conveys a California dapper style and carries on the brand’s affection for vibrant color and print.  Men who want to make a sartorial statement can now select from among jackets, shirts, pants, shorts, swimwear, ties and bowties designed by Jonathan Skow. A well-known stylist and photographer, Skow does all the photography for the Trina Turk and Mr Turk brands, and also designs the distinctive men’s line.

The couple split their time between two historic, mid-century homes in Los Angeles’ creative enclave of Silver Lake and in Palm Springs, interspersed with travels up and down the coastline and around the world.  A favorite pastime is vintage shopping and their educated collectors’ eyes discover inspiration in any new destination, near or far. They also share a keen passion for architectural preservation.

Source: Trinaturk.com

 

FUN

Food: make a Super Bowl of creamy Three-Cheese Artichoke Dip

Artichoke dip is popular for good reason: it’s a bubbly, cheesy crowd-pleaser.

 Photograph: Jennifer Olvera
Photograph: Jennifer Olvera


                                                                                                           And if you’re watching football, it’s essential to have the perfect dip on hand. When tensions are running high, you need to be able to reach your chip into a delicious dip without peeling your eyes away from the screen. You need to know it’ll be just right: gooey, satisfying, and deeply flavorful.  Okay, I admit I’m not even a big football fan I just like to look at what the players are wearing and watch the commercials but I’m certainly game for this dip.

Note: Leftovers are tasty tucked into skin-on, bone-in chicken breasts. Just slice chicken horizontally down the center until you can open it like a book. Fill with about 1 ½ tablespoons of artichoke dip, and roast in a preheated, 375°F oven until an instant-read thermometer reads 165°F, 30-35 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise 
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ scant teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup Romano cheese, grated
  • 2 (14-ounce) cans artichoke hearts packed in water, drained and chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup mozzarella cheese
  • Pita, warmed and cut into wedges

Procedures

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and preheat oven to 375°F. Beat cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, onion powder, paprika and salt in a large bowl using a hand-mixer set to medium speed until fluffy and thoroughly combined, about 2 minutes.

Using a wooden spoon, fold in Parmesan, Romano, artichokes and garlic. Spray a 9” x 13” baking pan with cooking spray and spread mixture evenly in pan. Sprinkle with mozzarella.

Place in oven and bake until heated through, bubbly and lightly browned, 30-35 minutes. Serve immediately with pita for dipping.

Superbowl Sunday is February 1st

Source: Jennifer Olvera is the author of Food Lovers’ Guide to Chicago, and she has all-but tested and developed recipes since toddlehood. She writes the Sunday Supper column for Serious Eats and regularly contributes food features to Chicago Sun-Times. She can often be found tending her garden, canning and traveling to far-flung destinations, where she writes about local edibles for pubs like Los Angeles Times and Frommers.com.