Block Print Duvet and Pillow Shams

Hello hellllllllllo, its been a while :)
With a friend's birthday coming up I thought I'd try making a duvet set with matching pillow cases.

Duvet and pillow sham set: from overstock.com
Block print pattern material: cardboard
Paint: fabric paint from Michael's Craft store in azure blue

Candied Lotus Root and Baked Pasta

Jamie to town!

Sooo the apt is slowly coming together, and the best part is entertaining :)
Pink flowers for Ms. Jamie and chocolate cupcakes with classic vanilla icing


























Also had a chance to pick up baby plants from my parent's home this weekend :) We're still deciding on names for them, but they sure do look lovely against the grey wall :)

Miso Marmalade Chicken

with Bok Choy and Ground Beef/Squash pancakes

First cooked meal in the new home!

Ra Bok Ki, Kiwi Beef, Kimchi Bokkeum

The great things about friends is that they will be willing to cook for you when you don't feel like it :)

Thanks Aram!!

Mussels in White Wine Garlic Sauce with Butter Toast

Even after the storm, I found myself grocery shopping in Chinatown. :)
What can be better than seafood on a rainy day?

Chicken Florentine with Sauteed Spinach

I had company over for dinner tonight and decided to make this dish that I learned off of Food Network back in my early college days. This dish has yet to fail me :)



INGREDIENTS
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons shallots, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
1 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen cut-leaf spinach, thawed, drained

INSTRUCTIONS

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
Dredge the chicken in the flour to coat lightly. Shake off any excess flour.
Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a heavy large skillet over medium heat.
Add the chicken and cook until brown, about 5 minutes per side.
Transfer the chicken to a plate and tent with foil to keep it warm.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic and saute until the shallots are translucent, stirring to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the skillet, about 1 minute.
Add the wine. Increase the heat to medium-high and boil until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.
Add the cream and boil until the sauce reduces by half, stirring often, about 3 minutes. Stir in the parsley.
Season the sauce, to taste, with salt and pepper.
Add the chicken and any accumulated juices to the sauce, and turn the chicken to coat in the sauce.

Meanwhile, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in another large skillet over medium heat. Add the spinach and saute until heated through.
Season the spinach, to taste, with salt and pepper.


Just for your visual pleasure, let's start and end with something green :)