Wednesday, September 29, 2010

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Ronfifi" 100 Boot by Christian Louboutin
Retail: $947.98

Quick and (nearly) painless Samosas!


I started making these almost a year ago when I read the recipe in the Kent Reporter. Samosas are mostly thought of as being Indian, but really everyone has a version of them (except maybe the U.S./Canada...all of the countries who consider cabbage a main food group...) and they are all delicious! The selling point: It's just not possible to screw them up--pan fried, meat/veggie stuffed pastries...they're going to taste good no matter how horrible of a cook you are! The biggest problem I've run into, however, is after I make them I realize that they really do need to be dipped into something...what has worked best for me is using a plum sauce or mango chutney, both of which can be found in the international/kosher section of most grocery stores or at any Asian food market.

Ingredients:

Filling:
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 large chopped onion
  • 2 tsp grated ginger/ginger paste/(or just use the 1 tsp of the spice, really doesn't matter much)
  • 3-4 cloves of minced garlic
  •  SPICES! (I always make a spice mix of 1 tbsp garam masala, 1 tbsp curry powder/tumeric, pinch of salt, cinnamon and nutmeg) 
Dough:
  • 2 cups flour
  • 3/4 tsp salt
  • 1 1/2 tbsp veggie oil/canola oil
  • 1/2 to 3/4 cup water
Directions:

For filling
1. Combine spices and using your hands fold into the raw ground beef.
2. Cook meat with onion and grated ginger in a skillet over medium heat. Set aside.

For dough
1. In bowl, sift together flour and salt. Using your finger, make a divet in the center of the dough (deep, but not to bottom) and fill with oil and water. Using a fork, stir quickly until sticky dough forms.
2. Knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes on generously floured surface until elastic. Cover bowl with damp towel so as to allow the dough to not dry out when not in use.

For assembly
1. Break of a piece of dough about the size of a golf ball and with your fingers, stretch out into a flat circle (like you're making a tiny pizza).
2. *This part varies, depending on what shape/consistency of dough you want your samosas to have* I usually stick a spoonful of filling in the center of the dough and wrap in up like a potsticker; if you would like to make triangles (thinner, crisper dough) you should cut your dough circle in half, place filling on one side and then place the other half of dough over the one with the filling as though you are making a sandwich; then, use your fingers to seal the edges and form samosa into a triangular shape.
3. Once you've assembled your samosas, heat 1/4 cup (probably more) of oil in skillet and fry pastries four or five at a time until crisp and golden brown on all sides.
4. Serve with plum sauce/chutney. Enjoy!

Photo: Taste.com
Recipe: A la moi and the Kent Reporter

Monday, September 27, 2010

...Aaannnd we're off!



As Fall Quarter gets underway, my days as an undergraduate are officially numbered (literally, check the upper left hand corner!). The panic among my public relations peers is practically palpable (I couldn't help myself) and everyone is in a frenzy trying to prepare for life after college.

Wherever I go, I see seniors packing away mini skirts, flannel and artfully torn jeans and dusting off their interview suits. While the sophomores and juniors are playing beer pong, we're frantically sprucing up the old resumes, updating Linkedin profiles, retweeting and tweeting to potential employers and posting our availability and desperation for work to the masses! The race is on ladies (and the 15 percent of the PR field which is men) and may the best grads (from Western!) win the unpaid internships!

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Fun with Google maps: Marseille


View Larger Map

Sometimes, when I'm feeling down in the dumps after hearing one of my peers recount their recent trip to Paris/backpacking across Germany/skiing in Switzerland/eating waffles in Belgium, etc, etc...I like to travel the world with Google maps! Oh the places I'll go; oh the things that I'll see; I can't afford airfare; but Google maps is free!

Fries and a Shake with Manolo Blahnik

Ready. Set. Go.

Today is the last first day of classes I hope to ever experience in my life. Six books, three language classes and two cups of coffee later, I can already tell that I will be spending most of my time in the library this quarter. I'm really starting to wish that countdown would roll a little faster...

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Slingback Scoops: Thursday, September 16

  • Twenty Seattle styles--no, we do not all walk around in flannel and torn jeans... Seattle Magazine
  • ...Someday...*sighs* BBC
  • Mexico celebrates 200 years of independence. CNN
  • Uh oh...Le Monde
  • Evening Magazine's Best of Western Washington contest is open for voting! Duo Dribble 
  • Check out this awesome blog on Seattle street fashion! Le 21eme Arrondissement

Monday, September 13, 2010

and...DONE!

With screwing the last knob in on my dresser, the last of my summer projects is finally complete--and with no time to spare! In six days, I move back to school for my last quarter of college and then (hopefully soon after) I will be able to move all of my renewed furniture into my new place!

Friday, September 10, 2010

Keeping up: Google Docs



My office is thinking about experimenting with Google docs and I have only used it once or twice; this video is both amusing and educational and I will dedicate it to the ladies of WLC!

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Flesh lace pump" by Alexander McQueen
Retail: $667.75

Best Burger Battle: Five Guys v. Red Mill


Burgers have, over the years, become a staple of the American diet. While the concept is fairly simple (patty + sauce + buns = magic), perfecting the recipe is a labor of love. While it's easy to find a place to buy a burger on almost every corner--hunting down those truly delicious, works of greasy art is like the quest for the holy grail.

Five Guys:
Five Guys is an east coast burger chain that has a restaurant over by Northgate. Five Guys prides itself on its fresh patties and unmatched flavor. The fries (cooked in peanut oil) were pretty good, but the burger was pretty blah. I've had better burgers at backyard barbecues and I'm not really interested in re-patronizing somewhere that sells food I could have made (and made better) myself. But then again, (despite all of their attempts to mask the restaurant as a family-owned greasy spoon), Five Guys is a chain and it's to be expected that quality gets lost in translation. I just don't understand all of the hype!

Red Mill:
Red Mill Burgers is a local business with two restaurants in the Seattle area (one in Phinney Ridge off of 99 and the other in the Interbay area). This is the best burger I have ever had in. my. life. Man versus Food even paid the Phinney Ridge restaurant a visit just to sample their mouth watering onion rings! The inviting, intimate atmosphere is just as wonderful as their food. When you visit, remember cell phone use is discouraged and they only except cash or checks!

Winner:

Red Mill; hands down!


Five guys photo: Courtesy of Sun-Sentinel
Red Mill photo: Courtesy of Phinneywood

Monday, September 6, 2010

The last of the summer projects...



My last project in refinishing my bedroom furniture is this mammoth dresser. It's made out of different kinds of wood, which is going to make it a monster to try and fix up, but I think it's possible! Wish me luck!

Drawers, sans pulls

Friday, September 3, 2010

Slingback Scoops: Friday, September 3, 2010

  • Estimate of oil spill cost rises by $2 billion in the past month. BBC
  • Gypsies boycott french products over civil rights. Le Monde
  • Everyone is hating on Taylor Swift! Leave Tay alone! Dlisted
  • How to follow Hurricane Earl's path of destruction from the comfort of your own home! (which hopefully isn't any where near the eastern seaboard...) Mashable
  • Did you know you can use table salt to remove stains from tea cups? New uses for old things at Real Simple
  • No need to check for blue mountains; 200 year old champagne and beer recovered from ocean floor. CNN
  • Fall fashion, hot off the runway. Harper's Bazaar
Featured slingback: "Clou Noeug Shoe" by Christian Louboutin