Won-TONS of flavor!!

I have been wanting share some of the newest recipes we've been trying out recently, so here they are. These come courtesy of ABC's "The Chew". If you have yet to see it, I highly recommend it! It is on in the mornings and it features Clinton Kelly (TLC's "What Not To Wear",  previous "Top Chef" contestant Carla Hall, Chef Michael Symon, Chef Mario Batali, and Daphne Oz.

The first recipe is Clinton Kelly's Sesame Chicken Wontons. These are super delish and really simple to make. It takes about 20 minutes if you buy a rotisserie chicken and a bit longer if you cook your own.
The link for the recipe is after the break.


Here are a few pics we snapped while we cooked.

Here is the link for the recipe:  Clinton Kelly's Sesame Chicken Wontons

***

ingredients

• 1  Finely chopped Rotisserie
• 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
• 1 tablespoon Ginger (minced)
• 1 bunch Scallions (finely chopped)
• 3 tablespoon Soy Sauce
• 2 tablespoon Rice Vinegar
• 1 tablespoon Toasted Sesame Oil
• 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 pound Wonton Wrappers
• Vegetable Oil (for frying)

In a large, non-reactive bowl, combine all ingredients except for wonton wrappers and vegetable oil. Mix well.

Fill a small glass or bowl with water to moisten fingertips.

Place about a tablespoon of the mixture into the center of each wonton wrapper, and run finger along edges of two sides of the wrapper so that when folded into a triangle, they close wet surface to dry surface.

Preheat oil to 350F.

Drop wontons into oil, cook until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate and allow to cool before serving.

***

I really recommend going to their website and checking out their recipes there. They have a really nice, clean layout that makes it super easy to read and follow. It even specifies what cooking tools you will be needing depending on the recipe. 

We will definitely be posting some more recipes from the Chew as well as some we have come across that are definitely worth trying! 

Are you a fan of wontons? Do you think you'll be trying this recipe? 

Let me know if you decide to try this recipe. I would love to hear your thoughts on it!

Damarys

Birthday post!

So it's been another few days since I wrote but February has been a really trying month for me. My birthday was this past Saturday and although I have a great man who loves me, I was unable to enjoy my day like I would have liked to. Mostly, I was bothered that out of the six people in my very small family, only two called and wished me a happy birthday. Of course there have been other things plaguing my thoughts but this was overwhelming. It still makes me sad to think about, but I digress.

I just want to take a few minutes to thank the one person who was truly there for me from the beginning. Ever since we met, you have been my strength, my rock, my everything. Miguel, thank you for being the bestest best friend anyone could ever ask for. Thank you for loving me despite all of my faults. Mostly, thank you for being YOU...  you are truly amazing.

***

On a different note, I couldn't decide how I wanted to paint my nails for my birthday so I ended up trying out two of my newest polishes, OPI "Not Like The Movies"  and Finger Paints "Asylum" Flakies. I'm not entirely sure I love the outcome, but it was different. Here is a quick snap I took with my new macro lens for my iPhone.

As far as gifts go, Miguel, his parents, my little brother and our neighbors gave me some pretty awesome stuff which helped make my day brighter. Here's a pic of the loot.

Miguel did not have birthday wrap so he opted for Christmas. lol

His parents gifted me this sweet Lomokino camera with its very own film viewer. I already shot almost a full roll. Can't wait to get in the darkroom and develop it. I'm hoping it'll look awesome! :)

Miguel gifted me the Xbox Kinect sensor that came packed with four games (Kinect Adventures, Fruit Ninja, The Gunstringer, and Child of Eden)! After battling with some xbox live updates for the better part of four hours, I was finally able to get it working today! I played a tiny bit of Kinect Adventures and The Gunstringer. I have yet to play Child of Eden, but I will very soon!

The Kinect is pretty fun but it takes a little getting used to. Incredibly though, I managed to actually break a little sweat and tire my arms out. I fully realize this means I am completely out of shape! lol

I also got some cool socks, a tiny macro lens for my iPhone 4s, an Anthropologie dress (which sadly, was a size too big), some earrings, a scarf, two cute tops, and some nice little kitchen gadgets (measuring cups and spoons, a little cutting board, and a graduated cylinder/measuring cup).

Here's a pic of a cute little dinosaur that came with my socks from Edge of Urge




















Here's a pic of me holding the duck (with beaver tail) that held my leftovers from dinner at El Divino.

Here's the duck again next to a pic of my birthday dessert (banana spring rolls)

My birthday may have started out rough, but it ended on a good note. Thanks again to Miguel, and everyone who thought of me and made me smile.  :) I really appreciate it!!

I'm Back... Valentine Update!

I ended up taking a little time off to figure some things out, but now I'm back! I had the chance to finish a little DIY project I did for my nephew (Photos will be coming soon!), a new Valentine's Day DIY (I know a bit late but still a good little easy project to decorate for next year), an easy peesy Valentine/February polish design, and a few recipes we have tried that were pretty darn amazing! I'll be posting all of those real soon... I sure do have some catching up to do!

How was your Valentine's Day? We ended up staying in and I made a lasagna and paired it with a nice bottle of pinot noir, while Mike made a new recipe I found a while back for Carrot Cake Cheesecake! It was yummy!

So I didn't get any good pics of our carrot cake cheesecake but here is the original recipe with a pic by Sarah at Sugar Cooking!

Mini Carrot Cake Cheesecakes
Ingredients: 

• 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted

• 8 0z cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg, room temperature
• 1/3 cup of sugar
• 1 tablespoon flour 
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and finely grated
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 lemon extract (or a squeeze of lemon juice) 

Directions: 

• To make the crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray mini cheesecake pans with non-stick spray, or line mini muffin tins with paper liners. Combine graham cracker crumbs, butter, and sugar. Press into pans (I used about 1 tablespoon per cheesecake). Bake for 10 - 12 minutes until golden brown. 
• To make the cheesecake: Beat cream cheese and sugar with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the egg. Add carrots, flour, spices, and vanilla extract. Spoon on top of crusts so they are about 3/4 full.
• Bake until set, about 18 to 22 minutes.
• Transfer pans to a rack and let cool. Refrigerate until ready to frost.
• To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and extracts. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost with cream cheese icing. Enjoy! 

If you try this recipe, make sure you stop by and say hi to Sarah and give her props on a great recipe!


By the way, Mike got me the Meaningful Beauty skin care kit I had been wanting! I am on the third day/fourth night and I can honestly say, I can see a difference already!! I love it!

He also got me these super cool earrings from Nervous System

They have some amazing stuff. Go check them out!

What did you guys do for Valentine's Day? 

Damarys

Chalupa and Breakfast!

Sunday night turned out to be Funday night! Ha! Lame! Anyway, it was! We went to my boyfriend's parent's house, ate some meatloaf, drank some wine, and played some chalupa (Mexican Bingo aka Loteria). It was fun except for the fact that my grandma kept winning despite never having played before! She made out with about $8.00 in change. At $0.30 a game you can imagine how many times she kicked our butt! Beginner's luck I guess!

I actually woke up early Monday morning and made my boyfriend, Mike, some delicious breakfast! Holla!

I made him a two egg omelette with diced red bell peppers and onions, monterrey jack cheese, bacon, and avocado. It was amazing if I do say so myself. He loved it!  :) 

As promised, I took my grandma and my uncle to the antique shops. Sadly, almost all of them were closed with the exception of one. The things in that shop were not really antiques though. I could best describe it as bright, cheap 80's dresses that were in desperate need of lit match! lol Seriously, those things were hideous. The few things that stood out to me were the small fake pearl tie on a headless mannequin form that was full of tacky pins, a few typewriters, and a mounted deer head by the door that was sporting some bright red lipstick! I do apologize for the lack of pictures! :( My curiosity got the best of me and I completely forgot! I might just go back just to take some pics and post them here. Perhaps I'll drop by later on in the week when the store next door will be open. Maybe I can find some hidden treasures and kill two birds with one stone... figuratively, of course!!

Still working on the bib. Unexpected issues have risen. Will post pics as soon as I am finished. 

Thanks for reading! 

Damarys