j 3/13/12 j 3/13/12

Pecan & Blueberry Waffles

waffle mix (yep, sometimes I use a mix)
ground flax seed
frozen blueberries
chopped pecans
olive (or coconut) oil
egg whites

j 3/11/12 j 3/11/12

Pinot Noir Cake with Vanilla Cream Frosting (no alcohol)

--A new take on Red Velvet

Sorry again for no recipe - nothing got measured, but here's the ingredient list:

sugar
coconut oil
3 whole eggs
dutch cocoa
baking powder
salt
red food colouring
unbleached flour
unfermented pinot noir (grape juice)
water

Bake until a toothpick comes out clean:

Cool on wire rack:

Then prepare the frosting:

greek youghurt
granulated sugar
icing sugar
cream cheese
vanilla bean

Fresh vanilla bean - nothing else will do:

Whip then chill:

Final Product:

j 3/8/12 j 3/8/12

Complete: Asymmetrical Collar Pullover

Original sketch found here: Concept: Asymmetrical Collar Pullover Constructed from cotton blend interlock knit. Final product:

j 3/5/12 j 3/5/12

Baguette with Black Truffled Brie

A nice and crusty baguette is amazing; complemented only by the exotic black truffle brie... and a few microgreens for some colour and nutritional value.

j 2/29/12 j 2/29/12

Concept: French Cuff Dress Shirt with Contrasting Collar/Cuffs

j 2/27/12 j 2/27/12

A new way of planting

Generally things get planted under the soil. However, for root crops, that means a lot of digging. This year I'm trying a new method:

First, till the ground - very shallow; 1-2 inches.
Then sprinkle a bit of rich soil atop the ground and arrange the root seed on the soil.

Then cover with adequate mulch

Finally top with more soil - it will eventually wash through the mulch, so expect to add a bit more before the shoots appear.

I'll see how it goes and keep posted on the progress. You may have noticed that I planted a lot of potatoes in a small space. I generally dig potatoes when they're new, and small. You can always thin them later if you decide it's too dense.

j 2/25/12 j 2/25/12

Bon week-end!

Lots of friends over at jLAmode today. We cooked a mixed cuisine with Italian/Mediterranean, American and Asian food.

Antipasti
Curry
Tinaktak
Chamorro Red Rice
Penne & Marinara
Caprese salad
Olive bread
Monkey bread
5 layer bars

Towards the evening, we worked on some couture things. We didn't end up with a lot of final product, but had fun with design ideas and working with the machines.

I forgot to take photos before we devoured it all, but here's some of it:

j 2/24/12 j 2/24/12

Taters and Onions

This afternoon was unseasonably warm, so I got a chance to work in the garden... and mow the lawn. I put in some cold weather crops: red, yellow & white onions and red potatoes. It was fun work, but I'm glad for the Day of Rest.

j 2/24/12 j 2/24/12

New textile stock

I just got some new fabric stock. They're kinda pricy but they're some of my favourites. Natural fibres: Silks, linens, cottons and wool.

Tomorrow's also going to be a good day - got some friends coming over to jLAmode to learn/design and create.

j 2/23/12 j 2/23/12

Roses in the winter! [Aus dem Garten - first post]

Here's the first post for the Aus dem Garten category. It's only February, and sill winter here, but the roses are are already sprouting leaves!

In spite of recent rain, making the ground sloppy and heavy, I planted some new nursery stock: The JFK Hybrid Tea Rose.

So far it's the only white rose I have in the dozen+ that grow in the garden. As they start producing, I'll post a gallery for 2012's rose blooms.

j 2/22/12 j 2/22/12

Greek Yoghurt Parfait

Although best with fresh fruit, some frozen can be used.Simply layer yoghurt, granola and fruit.

(don't use granola with raisins)

You can use vanilla yoghurt or make your own: Mix nonfat, unflavoured Greek yoghurt with vanilla, sugar, honey and a dash of cinnamon.

j 2/21/12 j 2/21/12

Fleece lined Jacket

j 2/18/12 j 2/18/12

Cocoa!

Vanilla frozen youghurt with cocoa puree; garnished with fleur de sel and cocoa nibs.

On a whim, I decided to try making chocolate. It didn't work out at all, but I was able to repurpose the concoction.

First, take cocoa nibs: (these are organic, fair trade cocoa nibs)

Then, pulverize them in a food processor with sugar, vanilla and olive oil... that's where things didn't work so good. Even processing for 3o minutes, it never got ultra smooth.

Since cocoa is about 50% fat, much of it saturated, it solidifies quickly. Also, to ensure consistency, strain the purée.

This was the result:

It was surprisingly good and given its naturally rapid solidification, I supposed that it would make a good shell for ice cream (or fro-yo).

j 2/16/12 j 2/16/12

Art meets science [cooking without recipes].

Most people who know me consider me a scientist, or a technologist. So, people are often surprised to find that I cook, design clothing and farm.

Science and Art, in spite of the contrast between the two, are fundamental friends. Architecture, for example, relies on science for stability and art for aesthetic.

Art can originate from composing music; composing an image with paint, charcoal or clay; composing clothing from fabric, or gastronomic works from raw ingredients ... the list goes on.

So, I feel thusly about recipes. They're like a paint by number - a metering of art. For food is art, fashion as well, and construction, generally, regardless of medium, is art. Thereby, how does one artist say to another, "this is ugly" or "that is beautiful" as beauty is, clicheedly, in the eye of the beholder. Recipes have a place for ensuring consistency and paint-by-number, despite its less-than-great-reputation, has its place as well. Both allow an individual to reproduce an existing thing.

This is why I provide ingredient lists rather than recipes. The list describes the art but lets the reader interpret and be inspired.

j 2/14/12 j 2/14/12

Strawberry Shortcake (from scratch)

Easy and tasty:

First make the shortcake and let it cool. You can use a baking mix, or the following ingredients:

flour
sugar
salt
baking powder
vanilla
shortening (coconut oil)
dashes of: nutmeg, cayenne pepper and pulverized lavender blooms

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes

Whip the cream with some sugar and vanilla - a few specks of nutmeg, too.

Stop whipping when the cream is soft

Dudes: impress your chick with this - she'll love you for it Chicks: make this for your dude - he'll love you for it

j 2/13/12 j 2/13/12

Gift bag

With plain muslin cotton fabric, you can create a classy custom gift bag.

This is a good beginner project because it is straight forward, however, it uses several techniques. It can be done (almost) entirely on a either serger or a plain sewing machine.

Some helpful tips:

use starch and iron everything (before, during and after construction)
use a cardboard/foamboard/plastic reenforcement for the bottom

j 2/9/12 j 2/9/12

Concept: Henley Hoodie

j 2/9/12 j 2/9/12

Crêpe... kinda

Hungry for crêpe, but can't spare the time? Although blasphemy for a Parisian, flour tortillas can be a handy shortcut. The reality is, for me, crêpe is usually just a vehicle for Nutella.