finally, friday

I am so ready to get this long weekend started. I'll be relaxing, hopefully heading towards the coast for a bit, celebrating a birthday, and hanging out with good friends. Have a great Labor Day everyone and enjoy the sun. Onto Friday's roundup...

I hope this project works to help preserve the kelp forests along Palos Verdes. Random fact: did you know kelp is and ingredient in your ice cream (Oh, the things I remember from oceans week in elementary school)? Even though I'm not out there working on grand projects like this, I'm trying to do little, every day things to help the environment.

This tea gelee looks delicious and really cool, I'd love to go back to Japan and try it some day.

David Chang made the first season of Mind of a Chef so good, so I'm hoping this second season will be just as enjoyable.

I love a good, al dente vegetable, but this article makes me want to try something a little different.

And lastly, I leave you with The Greatest Artist of All Time

music mondays

finally, friday

Homemade white wine clams over pasta

With the recent news of the Fukushima nuclear plant leaks, I'm wondering how much longer I can go pescetarian... should I be concerned? But how nice would it be to have a bowl of the above pasta right now? Yes, for my breakfast. Anyway, feel free to nerd out on this Friday's links.

There's so much we don't know about the amazing big blue but we get closer each day.

I love this idea, it's the start to cutting back on harmful plastic in the environment.

These examples are great to look at for incorporating ethnic prints into your home.

It's so amazing that they knew metal-smithing to make jewelry even back in the day.

Happy Friday folks!

with my best bud in the golden hour

Free People tank, Paige denim, Madewell shoes, Kenzo sunnies
PC: Alison Tsang

Got to spend a little time with one of my favorite furry friends recently, and in some of my favorite threads. 

music mondays

finally, friday

I'm so glad it's Friday, time to enjoy the weekend!

It's a long video, but shows the devastation of the Tsunami first hand. Crazy. My heart goes out to the people of Japan.

Leave it to the Japanese to be super innovative with beer!

If I were in elementary again this would be my pick for a lunchbox.

Would love a relaxing weekend getaway in what has to be one of the most fabulous houses on Lake Tahoe.

music mondays

finally, friday

Really, really missing Japan

It's Friday, so you know what that means. Here's my roundup for you and happy weekend!

There's no avoiding it, I'm coming up on the big 3-0. I'm taking notes, Olivia.

Very awesome video, but makes me remember how much we pollute their home with all our man-made things. Thanks, ilovebluesea for sharing this vid and providing people with better, sustainable seafood options.

I think I have an obsession with Japan (as hinted from above photos). Not a huge surprise since everything there is super kawaii and cool. These narrow houses included.

One more song to share from the drama that consumed many of my days this past week. Anyone have any suggestions for a new k-drama to watch?

homemade fish cakes

There's nothing better than eating my grandmother's home cooked food. I've had the opportunity to learn how to make a few of her delicious chinese dishes (her potstickers being one of them), and recently asked if she would teach me how to make her deliciously yummy fish cakes. We spent the day hanging out and making the fish cakes, and at the end of the day enjoyed them together with our family.

Making fish cakes "back in the day" must have been very time consuming... having to chop, chop, chop all the fish so it's teeny-tiny pieces. Now, we luckily have the wonderful invention of the food processor, so bring it on out for this recipe.

Bobo's homemade fish cake

2 large filets of white fish (you can use any white fish, but I used Tai)
20 pieces of deveined and shelled shrimp (about 10 for every filet)
4 stalks of green onion
4 tbs cornstarch
1 1/2 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 tbs light soy sauce
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sesame seed oil
1 1/2 tbs chicken broth
2 tsp sugar


Put fish and shrimp in food processor and run until they are tiny bits and pieces (it should almost look like a thick paste). Put processed shrimp and fish into large mixing bowl. Chop green onions and add to fish and shrimp. Mix cornstarch, pepper, soy sauce, salt, sesame oil, chicken broth, and sugar together. Add liquid mixture to fish and shrimp and mix well (about 1.5 minutes constant stirring). For taste, pan fry a small piece and add salt/flavoring if more is desired. Place in refrigerator until ready to cook.

To cook:

In a large skillet, heat oil and pan on medium. Once pan is hot, place spoonfuls on pan and smash down until flattened (feel free to make smaller fish cakes or larger ones depending on what you like) about a quarter of an inch thick. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until it's turned a nice brown color.

Serve fish cakes with rice and veggies, or slice them up and add into fresh spring rolls. Let me know the various ways you've eaten fish cakes!

music mondays

Loving this song. ♥

And even better, this one.

finally, friday

Craving pie from this wonderful little pie shop in Petaluma

Will be a busy weekend, but I'm especially looking forward to the start of Shark Week! Happy Friday, and happy weekend!

I know I'm a little late to the game since it's been out for a while, but I recently started watching this K-drama and I'm hooked.

Love sharing this video on how to take makeup from day to night in just a few minutes. Perfect for the woman on the go.

Brunch can be so much more fun by having this mimosa bar that was at a floral workshop hosted by DLF. Definitely happening at my next brunch gathering.

Looking for a new end-of-summer-take-me-into-fall hat and just my luck there's a sale!