Unicorns, Rainbows and James Van Der Beeks Head on a Wall

Big, Bold, and Beautiful! Yep, that describes me!

But we are not going to talk about me too day. Look at what was just launched today online at Crate & Barrel!!! It's the Marimekko web shop! Apparently, Crate and Barrel have been selling items from the Finish textile firm for a while but now they get their own category on the website. Yay, for big and bold moderndesign! Doesn't it just make you happy??!! Well, almost.

For example: this lovely mug

Beautiful, bold and graphic: it will cost you $19. If you want it to have a handle it will cost you an extra $1. And this is not for a set of 4. Nope! It is the price for just one. So that would explain why I never knew Crate & Barrel sold Marimekko: I can't afford it! Also why I never shop at Crate & Barrel. But it is nice to know it is there so I can dream while I'm drooling at the catalog like I do with the Ikea catalog. Oy! Maybe some day.

Cute Cartoon Animals + Hipsters= Adorable Obnoxiousness! PS I Want to be the Full Time Esty Crafter Owl.

What's better than Cartoon Hipster Animals?! Nothing I can think of. Even though I try to deny it, I am a hipster and looking through the descriptions, many of my friends are hipster too. But having hipsters in cartoon animal form makes the idea a little more tolerable and well adorable. I want to be the the Full Time Esty Crafter Owl.

Savory Baked Miso Tofu

I love baked tofu, but it is so expensive to buy in the store. I really cheap so I started experimenting off and on with baked tofu recipes a few years ago. I have a few recipes that turned out really good, but I have to say the miso tofu is my favorite. I have had a craving for this all week so I decided to share this recipe on the blog today. Also certain family members have requested that I share the recipe with them. My ever loving family, here it is...


Ingredients
1 package extra firm tofu (about 15 oz)
1 cup warm water
2 tbsp miso paste
2 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tbsp dried basil
fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions

pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Press the tofu for 20 minutes between two plates with a little weight on top of the plate to get the excess water out. I use a small cast iron pan, but cans of soup would work. Drain the excess water after the 20 minutes is over. Then cut the tofu in to cubes. I do it by cutting the tofu in 1/2 horizontally. Keeping the two 1/2 on top of each other cut the tofu in to fours the long way and then cut in to fives the other way.

Add the miso paste and Dijon mustard to a medium mixing bowl. Measure out 1 cup of warm water. I just use water from the tap. Add a few tablespoons of the warm water to the bowl with the miso and Dijon and mix it until it is all combined and the miso and Dijon mixture is a bit watery. Now add the rest of the water to the bowl and mix. Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, dried basil and black pepper.

In a large zip-lock bag add the tofu and marinade. You are going to need get out the excess air from the bad. I usually push out the extra air first with my hands then I zip the bag almost all the way and suck the rest of the air just before the marinade reached the top of the bad. put in the fridge for at least 1 hour to 3 hours. Spray a baking sheep with non-stick cooking spray. Dump out the excess marinade and place the tofu cubes on the greased cookie sheet. Place in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Check it at 15 minutes to make sure that the bottom doesn't burn.

A Recipe From the Old Blog: Mock Taco Meat.

Tacos, one of my favorite childhood foods that I don't eat much of after becoming vegetarian. I've played around with some recipes before using tofu and packaged taco seasoning mix. It did the trick but I defiantly missed the meaty taste and the texture was off. Also the packaged seasoning mix was way too salty. Then I started using store bought mock chicken pieces while they help with the meaty taste, I still wasn't a fan of the texture, the big pieces or the price. So I set off to come up with a really good recipe that not only tasted like meat but also had a good meaty texture and cost effective. After looking at other mock taco meat recipes online and spending some time in the bulk food aisle of my local food co-op I came up with this recipe. I hope you enjoy.

Ingredients
-2 cups of TVP (textured vegetable protein) available in bulk section or health section of most groceries stores
-2 cups of mock chicken or beef broth or a combination of both ( I use powdered that I buy in the bulk section of my co-op. You can use mock broth in a box in the soup aisle.
-3 tablespoons soy sauce
-1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce ( I prefer Lea and Perrins)
-1 small onion
-2 cloves of garlic
-2 tablespoons olive oil
-2 heaping teaspoons ground cumin
-2 teaspoons chili powder
-1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
-1 teaspoon cilantro flakes
-ground black pepper to taste


Directions
Heat up a large frying pan on medium low heat. While the pan is heating up measure out the 2 cups of TVP and set aside. Then measure the 2 cups of broth and set aside. Dice the onion and add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the frying pan. Set the other tablespoon of olive oil aside for use later. Add the onion to the hot oil and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent . Just before the onions are done and the two cloves of garlic (I use a garlic press for this but finely minced garlic will work just remember to mince it right after you put the onion in the frying pan) and saute for one minute. Add the 2 cups of broth and let it warm up for 2 minutes. Then add the 2 cups of TVP and stir until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Then add the soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, rest of the olive oil, cumin, chili powder, cayenne pepper, cilantro flake, and ground black pepper. Stir until all the ingredients are combined and let cook for a few minutes. Make sure that ALL the liquid has been absorbed.

Third Time is the Charm!

So this is my third attempt at staring a blog. I always have this great idea for a blog, I start it and after about a week neglect it. But this time is different... I swear (yah right, like I haven't said that before)! As I sit in my Ikea Poang chair, in my father's yellow and burnt orange office , drinking a glass of wine, trying to come up with something clever to write; I am at a loss. So here is my blog in a nut shell: it will be chalked full of foody, crafting, thrifting goodness and what ever else I deem blog worthy. Hopefully we'll have some fun times.