Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki - 1

Wikipedia:
“Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き^?) is a Japanese savoury pancake containing a variety of ingredients. The name is derived from the word okonomi,meaning “what you like” or “what you want”, and yaki meaning “grilled” or “cooked” (cf. yakitori and yakisoba). Okonomiyaki is mainly associated with Kansai or Hiroshima areas of Japan, but is widely available throughout the country. Toppings and batters tend to vary according to region.”

The last time I had okonomiyaki, my ex-boyfriend made it for me and he did a pretty good job.  But I haven’t had it since then and I think it’s about time I reacquaint my tastebuds.

On the opposite end of the spectrum…

In light of the zen and healthy state of mind I’ve been in lately, my stomach has put in a request for something different and quite opposite.  Actually not so much requested, but demanded unhealthy, fattening, horribly artery-clogging eats.  I don’t know if anyone else suffers from this affliction, but there’ll be periods where I’m eating healthy.  I’ve been a good girl.  Then from the depths of some place unseen, my body is really, REALLY wanting the bad stuff.  And this isn’t even when I’m PMS’ing!

What am I craving?  What exactly do I want dancing on my tongue?  Who do I turn to?

Nigella Lawson.

If I have to have any kind of girl crush besides Angelina Jolie (sorry Team Aniston fans), it’d be Nigella Lawson.  I love watching her on tee vee.  I love how she bashes things about; makes no apologies for her love of food; and makes raiding the kitchen in the middle of the night almost seem guilt-free.

Several months ago, I was watching one of her Nigella Bites episodes.  I watched rapt, still, and hungry while she made Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding.  I saw it, tried to find when it would air next and hit record on the PVR.  I wanted to make this and I wanted to make it quite badly.  But, as aforementioned, that was several months ago.  How could I go from such a state of sheer absolute need and NOW! to one of, I can wait several months??  I’m not entirely sure.  My parents came over for Sunday dinner and I needed to make a dessert.  Well, I didn’t need to but since mum had made dinner – it was the least I could do.  Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding it is!

Chocolate Pudding

When I'm busy making macarons and saving the world, Bob gets to feast on boxed pudding.

Hmmmm…. pudding.  It is so good, non?  Love it as a snack for work and sometimes as a sweet treat after dinner.   When I get a chance, I do make it from scratch with the milk, the cream, the chocolate and the corn starch.  But lately, I’ve been buying the Hunt’s Snack Packs for my Bob because i) he likes them and ii) I simply haven’t made much time or effort to make homemade pudding for him.  Horrible wife – YIKES!

I stumbled upon this Dairy Free Chocolate Pudding when I was looking for recipes with chia seeds.  I’ve tried making it twice because I actually wasn’t all that fond of the original.

I Heart The Killers

Before I disappear for a while ~ sharing great music on a sunny day.

Love The Killers.  Love Brandon Flowers.  How can you not: “I’m from Las Vegas! I can’t understand why more people don’t wear sequins…” – Brandon Flowers, Glastonbury 2007.

ex’s + oh’s…..

Visiting Eat It/Denise’s Carrotphobia muffins

My lovely girlfriend, Leah, has been extolling the virtues of organic and healthy eating to me for as long as I can remember.  I am not entirely against eating healthy or organic, but my pocket book just isn’t exactly equipped for such a lifestyle change.  Heck, I don’t even remember the last time I went to an actual shopping mall to buy my clothes.  Lately I’ve been grocery shopping at Superstore and heading to the Joe section to check out what they have.  You just can’t go wrong with buying super cute tops for $3,99.  Buying/eating organic vs. buying clothes made in Bangladesh/Thailand/Peru… Hmmm… Kind of a disconnect, non?

The brand goodies we decided to check out were from Yummy Earth, Navitas, and Nature's Path.

One of Leah’s places to purchase organic is Eat It – “Winnipeg’s 1st & Only Online Organic Store!”  It’s one of the places in the city that I’ve been meaning to visit and finally took some time to go check it out with my sister.  Admittedly, it’s not as big as Whole Foods (we don’t have one here in Winnipeg) but it isn’t as small as Organza and Vita Health.  Maybe it’s just the dim lighting that gives off a less lacklustre appeal.  Besides the dim lighting, and somewhat narrow aisles, the store is jam packed with lots of great produce and products.