Friday, January 25, 2008

Dinner Menu

Dinner Menu:
Breaded Skinless Fish Fillets with Red Pepper Mayonnaise
Red Rice
Steamed Broccoli
I am working on dinner menus again. I try to keep organized and get menus for the week but then I come across a recipe that just jumps out at me. This time I was reading Bon Appetit, the January issue of this year, and there is a recipe for breaded skinless fish fillets (I am using a petrale sole) with red pepper mayonnaise. Thin fillets with a last coating of crustless French bread crumbs. The whole coating tastes light and with the fillets being sauteed quickly, I have a tender, flaky texture with LOTS of flavor without the greasiness of fried fish. I just have to add this fish recipe to my regular dishes. I also love rice but I needed something that added a little extra flavor to go with the medium punch delivered by the Red Pepper Mayonnaise so a nice red rice dish combining fresh tomatoes, onion, chili powder and diced red peppers was going to be my easy side dish. The whole dinner took less then 35 minutes to cook and I had a healthy meal on the table.

Breaded Skinless Fish Fillets with Red Pepper Mayonnaise

Ingredients:
1 7 to 8-ounce red pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/2 c. mayonnaise
1 T. finely chopped fresh chives
2 t. fresh lemon juice
1/2 t. cayenne pepper
1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. salt
1/2 t. coarsely ground black pepper
1 large egg
2 T. milk
2 1/2 to 3 cups fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French bread
4 5- to 6-ounce skinless thin fish fillets (such as flounder or petrale sole)
2 T. (or more) butter
2 T. (or more) olive oil

Directions:
Using on/off turns, chop bell pepper in processor until juices form. Transfer to small sieve set over bowl; let drain 10 minutes. Mix next 4 ingredients in small bowl. Stir in 1/2 cup bell pepper. Season mayonnaise with salt and pepper.

Do Ahead: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Mix flour and next 2 ingredients in pie dish. Whisk egg and milk in another dish. Place breadcrumbs in third dish. Sprinkle fillets with salt and pepper. Coat each side with flour, then egg mixture, then breadcrumbs, covering completely.

Melt 2 Tablespoons butter with 2 Tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches if necessary, add fish to skillet. Saute until just opaque in center and crust is golden brown, adding more butter and oil as needed, about 4 minutes per side. Serve fillets with red pepper mayonnaise.

Red Rice

Ingredients:
1 c. uncooked rice, not instant
2 T. peanut oil (I usually use grape seed oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium onion, chopped
2 ripe tomatoes, chopped
1 8-ounce can tomato sauce
1 c. chicken broth
1 T. chili powder
salt to taste
Diced red or green pepper if desired

Directions:
Heat oil in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add rice and stir. Heat until rice is just golden brown. Add garlic and onion and saute until onion just begins to brown.

Add tomato, tomato sauce, chicken broth, chili powder, and salt. Also add diced peppers if using.

Lower the heat and cover.

Simmer 25 minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat and allow to sit covered for 5 minutes.

Fluff with a fork and serve.

Looking back: Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton

Here's a look back on Takashi Murakami's Louis Vuitton designs. I'm sure every fan of LV has at least one of these. The designs reinvented the usual and commonplace look of Louis Vuitton and made it vibrant and...well, cute.

Rilakkuma Card Case
Rilakkuma long wallet
Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton
Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton
louis vuitton monogram cherry blossom
Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton
Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton
Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton
Takashi Murakami on Louis Vuitton
eye love monogram

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Adidas takes part in the Olympic spirit

The previous post showed Gucci's Beijing Olympic commemoration. Now we go to a brand that - well you can put it this way - knows its sports: Adidas.

Adidas will release shoes, apparel and accessories that will reflect the Olympics, each sport played there, the countries participating and different athletes. The items will be under Adidas Originals and will be called The Original Games and the different theme will be called "packs": Medal Pack, Pictogram Pack, Oddity Pack, Country Pack, Generic Pack, China Pack and the Greatest Moments Pack. Examples of each pack are as follows (order given above):

Adidas - The Original Games Medal Pack Adidas - The Original Games Pictogram Pack Adidas - The Original Games Oddity Pack Adidas - The Original Games Country Pack Adidas - The Original Games Generic Pack Adidas - The Original Games China Pack Adidas - The Original Games Greatest Moments Pack

Source

To celebrate the 2008 Olypics...

Gucci decided that it wants to have a share at the hype more commonly known as the "Olympics". Well the Olympics really is a much-anticipated event so I can understand the intention of cashing in on this once-every-four-years sportsmanship spectacle.

Anyway, in order to "commemorate" the Beijing Olympics happening this year, Gucci will release a special collection called 8-8-2008 on January 28, 2008 - a few days from now. The items that are part of the collection, with the exception of the watch, will be sold exclusively in Gucci stores in China and Hong Kong only. The 8-8-2008 collection is a limited edition one, so if you're into collecting limited edition designer releases, good luck in getting your hands on these:

Gucci 8-8-2008 Olympics Collection
Gucci 8-8-2008 Olympics Collection
Gucci 8-8-2008 Olympics Collection
Yes, that's a mahjong set. A Gucci mahjong set.

Source

Happy Birthday, baby!

Time flies! This picture was taken 7 years ago (when I first started getting into cookie decorating). My baby is 9 today. He doesn't want cookies anymore; he wants cheesecake. :) That's OK. Happy Birthday, sweetie!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 Jewelries

These are Yohji Yamamoto's Spring 2008 Jewelries collection. I really love their innovative design and the white gold/silver base color topped with jewels of different color!

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 JewelriesWhite gold ring with quartz overlay

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 JewelriesWhite gold disc necklace with white pearls

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 JewelriesWhite gold disc necklace with white pearls
Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 Jewelries
White gold drop earrings with black and white pearls

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 JewelriesWhite gold disc earrings with pearl inset

Le Cri cord necklace

Yohji Yamamoto Spring 2008 JewelriesGold earrings with pearls and diamonds

White gold disc ring with white pearl

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture Bags

These are some of the bags featured in the Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture collection. I can only see a couple that can be used with everyday clothes but the rest are mostly for formal and other dressy occasions.

Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture
Armani Prive Spring 2008 Couture