the cooking project part 1

Through these past days, I've been craving over food that have been hidden way back in my head. And if you're wondering, no, I'm not pregnant. I'm just going to blame this on my second round of the film Julie & Julia. I recall pulling out recipes I wanted to eat after watching the DVD. Then I thought, why not give myself a project. Plus, I need to learn to cook more various menus anyway. My dish-list consists of Asian dishes except for a breakfast casserole which looked so easy to make. So, my project target will be 5 dishes with a time span of 1 week starting from today. This includes taking a serious nice picture of each dish for proof. What's to cook (and can't wait to eat!): 
1. Lumpia sayur (vegetable spring rolls)
2. Asem-asem (sour vegetable and meat dish)
3. Soto ayam (a chicken turmeric soup)
4. Spicy tofu 
5. Breakfast casserole. 
The order of making shouldn't matter. Okay, here we go. Wish me luck!
Images: from around the web
photoshop by sheila

red bottoms, please!

I need red jeans... or red culottes... and pair it with those aviators... and try to pull that look. I never thought I would ever want to wear red for trousers, but now I suddenly do. They would make any simple t-shirt or blouse look fancier. Plus, they'd really brighten up these gloomy days of dark clouds and rain. 

strawberry choco dips

My strawberry dipped-into-chocolate-snack for the Icip-Icip article I made years back. This would make a lovely sweet-sour snack for this particular hour, don't you think? Right, with a glass of iced coffee, please! 

How to make: Melt a block of dark chocolate in a bowl on top of a boiling pan. Make sure no water drips in to the chocolate. Dip in your washed strawberries in to the chocolate and leave to rest on a plate. After all done, refrigerate all berries until the chocolate has hardened. 

Photo taken by: Yuniardi P.

thirty two

That number is how old I turn exactly today. I'm feeling so surprised by how time flies, gosh! Today, I didn't plan for anything fancy. I did plan to cook a lasagna and cupcake but that didn't turn out due my lil' boy catching a fever :( Still, I feel blessed so much by the birthday wishes sent through to me and the positive people who surround and care about me. Love! Thank you!

Let me tell you a bit about the image I chose. It was pictures I took at my birthday surprise during a work trip to Germany, 4 years ago. The sponsors from Germany managed to find out it was my birthday and ordered cake and sparkles at a restaurant we stopped by before watching the Beethoven Orchestra in Bonn. As I was the birthday girl, I got to choose first between the variety of cake. I chose the spongecake with prune fillings. Oh, the taste and the view of the restaurant overlooking The Rhine River... It was a lovely lovely overseas surprise. I'm still smiling inside:)

popperca

                 

Popperca is a cool shop my sister and I found in Jogja. It sells cute creative stuff -from stuffed toys, hats, laptop holders, to tops and dresses- made from printed cotton fabric or left over material. I find this shop amusing! Located in the centre of Jogja, in a quiet neighborhood, this shop will make you want to stay longer. If you ever visit Jogja, you should stop by just to look around. But with everything cute and the reasonable prices there, you are bound to step out with something. The first picture is what I got: a shopping bag, two stuffed rabbits with attachable keyrings, and a small purse. Luv it! Popperca is located at Jl. Sagan III No.5 Jogja :)

eid this year

We spent this years Eid at my parents home in Jogja. I loved the feeling being home with family, taking Fabian to do the Eid Prayer, plus the menu for our Eid breakfast couldn't be more tempting :) Eid Mubarok!

 

Our lengendary menu of Ketupat and Opor with Semur Daging, Sayur Nangka made by Mum, plus Moussaka and Roti Cane made by myself. Even Toula (the cat) sat at the table waiting for her turn to dine. 

ceasar salad

This has been my breaking-fast menu for these several days, after a cup of tea. It's deliciously healthy, refreshing, and dead simple :) All you need is a bunch of fresh lettuce, washed, chopped, and patted dry. For the dressing, I used 2 tablespoons of mayo, half a teaspoon of mustard, 1 small garlic chopped finely, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, salt and pepper. Mix all together before mixed with the lettuce. Make your own croutons by cutting 2 slices of bread into cubes, then bake with butter in a nonstick pan until golden brown. Serve immediately.