Travel Thursday: St. Thomas

Frenchman's Reef & Morning Star Marriott Beach

I can’t believe it has been 6 months since our last vacation in St.Thomas/St.John for our 1st year anniversary. It definitely felt longer than it has been, and I’m so ready for a vacation. However, it doesn’t look like we are going anywhere soon. Therefore, I’m reliving the memories and present you our trip in St.Thomas, I'll have to do another post for St. John.

Thit Kho Trung (Vietnamese Braised Pork With Eggs)

I often made this dish for Mr.K since he’s a meat lover. We usually pair this dish with cooked rice, green pickled mustard green, pickled bean sprouts, kimchi, or even some romaine lettuce.

Ingredients

1 ½ lb boneless pork picnic
5 all natural eggs, less or more if you wish.
3-cloves garlic (minced)
1-small red onion (diced)
2-teaspoons Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
2-teaspoons 3 crabs brand fish sauce
1-teaspoon mushroom seasoning
3-teaspoons Black Sweet Soy Sauce by Dragonfly
½-teaspoon black pepper
½-teaspoon Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
¼-teaspoon sea salt
1 tsp sugar
1-cup coco rico coconut soda
1 ¼-cup water

Canh Bi Do Ham Dau Xanh (Kabocha Squash with Mung Bean Soup)

Kabocha Squash with Mung Bean Soup

 Ingredients

1 kabocha squash (2lbs)
1 ½-quart water
1 lb Spare pork ribs (chopped 2 inches)
1/3-cup mung bean
1-inch ginger (slides)
1-small onion (peel)
1-teaspoon sugar
½- teaspoon sea salt
½- teaspoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
1-teaspoon mushroom seasoning
¼- teaspoon black pepper

Weekend Recap: Photography Session

Hope you had a nice weekend. We had a lovely weekend; it started out right on Friday evening after work. We met up with one of my bff and her fiancé in DC to soak in the sun and cherry blossom before the ugly weekend coming our way. The fiancé even gave us a personal photography session, and the pictures turn out awesome. Well more like a photography session for me and my bff; let me tell you we are crazily and superbly comfortable with each other. Do you have a girlfriend that you have slumber party, and stay up to chat away until the morning, eat boiled eggs and rice cracker in the middle of the night? That was us in the old days, now a day we’re happy to once a while get to see each other. The night ended with some sushi, sake and people watch on a patio.

Despite the fact that it was rain all day Saturday and Mr.K had to work, I had to do laundry. We still had some quality time with friends at night, eat, drink and chic chat.

The sun finally came out on Sunday afternoon. We ran some errands, went bike shopping for Mr.K, and found one. I’m exciting that we’ll finally able to do some biking up coming months. What a better way to unwind a long busy work week. Nevertheless, here comes Monday and it’s Déjà vu all over again. Until then have yourself a nice work week.

Here are some of the photos, Thank You and credit to our photographer Mr. Huan Ton:

My bff & her fiance, soon to be Mr. & Mrs. Ton!

Patterns and Items I'm Currently Eying

These are some of the patterns and items I'm currently eying. Most of it seem like a small budget item, but if you add them all up could break the bank.

Found this image on onekingslane.com and I love the Chevron Runner! On the hunt for it!

Vargas Cutwork Vase from onekingslane.com

Love this

FENDI Zucca Fabric Clutch

Can I get one of each please, gray, red, yellow and blue

Love this Ikat Pillow

vases from west elm

Fabrics that I love to have and to use as deco pillows

Travel Thursday: Cancun, Mexico

We’ve been to Cancun two times, and if you ask Mr.K where is his favorite place to travel he will says Cancun at the heart beat. Amazing beach, not too long of a flight to us, and decent price are what got us hook. Matter of fact, I like to dedicate this post to my partner in life, Mr.K; cheers to good time!

Grilled Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs with Lemongrass

Ingredients

5 boneless chicken thighs (about 1.8 lbs)
1 stalk lemongrass (chopped). Here is instruction how to use Lemongrass
4-cloves garlic (minced).
1 chile pepper
¼-teaspoon sea salt
¼-teaspoon black pepper.
1-teaspoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
1-teaspoon Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
½-teaspoon Mushroom Seasoning
½-teaspoon Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
1-teaspoon Black Sweet Soy Sauce by Dragonfly
½-teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2-teaspoons honey
1-teaspoon Golden Bell Curry Powder
1-teaspoon panda brand oyster sauce

 

Raised Garden Bed and Random Things That Make Me Happy

I love it went we have a productive weekend, well more like a productive Saturday. The weather was supper nice, so we worked on cleaning up the back yard, chopped trees, a trip to  Home Depot, and build a 3'8x12 inches raised garden bed for my veggies and herbs. I still have not plant anything yet, waiting to see if the weather fluctuate.

My Raised Garden Bed 

Green Orchid, currently blooming at our house

Pretty flower in our back yard

Sup Ga, Nuoi Bot Gao (Rice Macaroni Chicken Soup)

Happy Monday!

We had such a productive weekend, but that will be a post for later.

Today I present you with a recipe of my own "Rice Macaroni Chicken Soup"

This recipe will give you 4 bowls

 

Ingredients

4 chicken drum stick (chopped into 3 pieces)
3 small carrots (slices)
1 small white onion
1 piece of ginger 2 inch ( smashed)
2 stalk scallion (chopped)
Cilantro (chopped)
2 1/2 quarts of water
2 1/2 cup Rice pasta macaroni
2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon mushroom seasoning
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground chili in soya bean oil
Black pepper

My "David Yurman" Wish List

All images via http://www.davidyurman.com

Dot Dau Hoa Lan Xao Toi (Snow Pea Leaves Sautéed with Garlic)

Ingredients:

1 lb Snow pea leaves
3-tablespoons olive oil
8 cloves garlic (sliced)
2-teaspoons 3 crabs brand fish sauce
2-teaspoons Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
2-teaspoons sugar
1-teaspoon Mushroom Seasoning
pinch of sea salt
shrimp powder

Prepare:

• Wash Snow pea leaves 2 times; let it dry out the water (use a salad spinner if needed)
• Slice the garlic not to thin. 
• In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients together, except garlic. 

Grilled Porterhouse Steak

Ingredients:

2 pieces of Porterhouse steak, total 2lbs (in this recipe I used Porterhouse, but you can use any steak of your choice. My favorite would be T-bone)
1 tablespoon Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
1 tablespoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon Mushroom Seasoning
1 1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce

Prepare:

• Washed and dry the steak
• In a small bowl, combine all the ingredient and mix it up really well
• Place steak in a tray, pour the mixed ingredient over steak both side
• Set in the fridge for 30 minutes

Chao Thit Bo (T-bone Steak Congee)

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of Rice
1/2 cup of Mung Bean
1 lb T-bone Steak
1 small White Onion (peeled)
2 small Carrots (peeled and diced)
1 inch of Ginger (peeled and sliced)
3 stalk scallion (chopped, separated the white and green)
Cilantro (chopped)
3 quarts of Water
1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
1 tablespoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
1 tablespoon Mushroom Seasoning
3/4 teaspoon Sugar
Dried Onion

National Capital Boat Show

Few pictures taken by iPhone at the National Capital Boat Show we went yesterday.

Like my new boat? dreaming...this thing cost as much as our house!

Here is a peek at the inside of that boat.

Mr's Dream Boat!

Mr's Dream Boat Close up!

We picked up a business idea, party boat on the Potomac River. lol

Feature Friday - Projects That Caught My Eye Lately

Gardening Without a Garden: 10 Ideas for Your Patio or Balcony

Growing Citrus Indoors: 5 Helpful Tips

I want this “Casablanca CraftStencil” to try out for decorative pillows and other crafty items.

This chevron pattern wall feature on http://www.apartmenttherapy.com keep popping up in my mind. It is perfect for my entrance wall.

centsationalgirl's patio is to die for.

Travel Thursday: Maui, Hawaii

September 2010

Have I mentioned I love Maui, Hawaii? If you've read my previous post on "Places I've Traveled To and Some of the Highlights" you would probably guessed. I LOVE MAUI, there yah go, I hope one day to be back. 

It was such a wonderful experience and quality time together. We stay at the “The Fairmont Kea Lani” in a big amazing garden/mountain view suite. There was renovation while we were there, but it didn't bother us, the staff was super friendly. They lend us the CD to listen in the car when we did the drive “Road to Hana”, it helps us spot out landmarks that we should stop by.

The Fairmont Kea Lani

We were only there for 3 days 2 nights, because prior that we were in Oahu for 4 days 3 nights.Although, it was a short time, I felt like we have explored all the key points in Maui included:

The awesome Road to Hana

(didn’t made it all the way but that’s a story for another day,  we were really closed to the end though)

Love My New "Reflections Cabinet 3 Piece Set"

Remember the "Reflections Cabinet 3 Piece Set" that I want for the dining room from the "Dining Room Mood Board", and guess what? I GOT it! I think it's no longer available on http://www.homedecorators.com. So I'm really happy that I got it before it goes away. The design is so chic and modern; however, it takes up too much space in my small dining room and it won't showcase this beauty very well. So I'm thinking put it in the family room below the TV. But here it is temporary after I unpacked. Please excuse all the mess and Leilani (my dog was as exciting at I was) in the reflections.

Reflections Cabinet from http://www.homedecorators.com

Grilled Vegetables

In this recipe, I used whatever I’ve in the refrigerator which included: squashes, pepper, and onion. However, you can use any vegetables combination that you like. I’ve used eggplant and okra before and really yummy.

Pair this recipe with my Suon Heo Nuong Xa (Grilled Pork Ribs With Lemongrass) or Chim Cuc Nuong Xa (Grilled Quails with Lemongrass) and you'll have yourself a nice meal. 

 

Ingredients

1 yellow squash
1 green squash
1 red bell pepper
1 red onion
1-tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Grilled Vegetables

Prepare:

• Wash and cut the squashes, red pepper in 3’ long, and onion into wedges.
  
• In a bowl, mix the vegetables with 1-tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, ¼-teaspoon sea salt, ½-teaspoon black pepper.

Grill:

• Preheat the grill.
  
• Place the vegetable on and grill on med-high heat for a few minutes, give it a toss around to get the even grilled mark.

Note: the grates on our grill have big gaps, so I either have to cut my vegetables big enough that it won’t fall through, or I placed them on a foil and poke holes.

Suon Heo Nuong Sa (Grilled Pork Ribs With Lemongrass)

Ingredients:

2 lbs pork spare rib
1 fresh Lemongrass stalks. Here is instruction how to use Lemongrass
4 cloves garlic
1 fresh chile pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 teaspoon 3 crabs brand fish sauce
2 teaspoons Golden Mountain Seasoning Sauce
1 teaspoon Mushroom Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce
2 teaspoons Black Sweet Soy Sauce by Dragonfly
1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Grilled Pork Ribs With Lemongrass

My Daily Handbag

For years, I’ve been carried a handbag that is similar to this Longchamp in black, but I bought my on the street in Paris. I love it so much, it's flexible, I can stuff almost everything, it's not high maintaining, no worry about getting dirty,  and I love to travel with it. However, after many years of wear and tear, it’s time to retired it. I really wanted to get a Longchamp to replace it. But Mr.K got fancy and bought me the Coach’s Madison for Christmas. I didn’t really like the 3 different compartments. Also ready for a change, I want a cross body bag, so I opted for Coach’s gift card. Recently Coach come out with “new KRISTIN METALLIC LEATHER ROUND SATCHEL”, I scored one in Champagne color and loving it. Very spaces, handles are soft and longer strap for shoulder wear.

Coach's KRISTIN METALLIC LEATHER ROUND SATCHEL

Coach's KRISTIN METALLIC LEATHER ROUND SATCHEL

What is your favorite daily bag?

Disclaimer: I don't get paid to write this.

I Like to Think I Have Green Thumb!

I love flowers and plants, especially orchids; they make me happy. I wish one day I'll have my own green house; but for now, I am utilizing our bay window. Current collection included purple and yellow Cymbidium orchids; white, purple, green Phalaenopsis orchids; Jasmine; Aloe; Christmas cactus; miniature pomegranate; and some other Bonsai that I don't know the name.

I don't just love Trader Joe's for groceries, I also love the flowers/plants section. I got most of my Orchids from there; variety selection and they last really long. Friends and family also gave some of the plants for my collection. (Thank You!)

New addition to the collection, Yellow Cymbidium from trader joe's

New addition to the collection, Yellow Cymbidium from trader joe's