Spicy Sesame Stir-Fry

Here is one of those "toss everything in a pan and hope it turns out alright" recipes.  This is usually my method for cooking and sometimes, I have better luck than others. I like this recipe because it is simple and made with stuff I usually have hanging around the fridge and pantry.

Ryan likes things to be spicy and strong-flavoured, so I ventured this sauce and it was a hit. You'll see the vegetables I used listed below, but I would say you could use just about anything in here. A warning for future recipe posts: I use bell peppers in EVERYTHING. They are delicious and good for you. I don't think I need to explain myself. But, you could also use mushrooms, spinach, bok choy, carrots, celery...whatever strikes your mood.

A word of caution: for those who are sensitive to spice, tread lightly friends! Sambal is delicious but can be deadly if you go crazy with it. Add a little and taste as you go to see if it is to your taste.

Now, go forth and stir-a-fry!

Stir-Fry-ables
1/2 a medium sized onion - diced
2-3 cloves of garlic
1/2 -3/4 lb chicken breast or tofu
1/2 each red and orange bell pepper
1 cp broccoli florets
1/2 cp zucchini

Sauce
1/4 cp brown sugar
1/4 cp soy sauce
1-2 tbsp sambal olek (according to you taste)
2 tbsp crunchy peanut butter

Garnish
2 tbsp toasted sesame oil
handful of sesame seeds
parsley or cilantro - diced

First, dice your onion and garlic and set to simmering on medium to low heat. Now would be a good time to prep the vegetables you'll be using as well. I recommend cutting them into medium-sized pieces. Set veggies aside.

Next, cut chicken into long thin pieces. Or, if using tofu, into bite-sized cubes. Add to pan when onion and garlic are translucent. Brown chicken/tofu - this should take about 5 minutes - do not overcook!

Add sauce ingredients. Allow to simmer about 8 minutes, until chicken/tofu is cooked through and sauce has thickened. Add vegetables.

Cook about 5 minutes or until veggies are just tender. Toss with sesame oil and seeds. Serve over rice and garnish with parsley (or cilantro if you are into that sort of thing).

Sweater Weather

Fall is officially here on Vancouver Island. Some may be crying out in protest, begging the sunny days of summer to return for just a little while longer. But, I am thrilled.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy summer as much as the next girl.  But even more than sun-bathing and cocktail-sipping, I love the cool mornings, crackling leaves and harvested abundance of autumn.

Besides, fall is sweater weather! Who doesn't relish an excuse to bundle up in a much-loved sweater? This time of year (in Canada anyway) is the perfect balance of cool enough for a sweater, but not cold enough for a coat. And I love it.

But, let's not let the sweater get all the glory. Fall accessories are part of the fun too. Knitted hats! Fingerless gloves! Boots!  Oh my goodness, the boots! All in lovely warm colours like mustard yellow, burnt orange, chocolate brown and deep red.

I ask you, how could one not fall in love with fall?

Here are some selections from the shop and some other favourites to warm up your autumn style:

Sweater - honey pie vintage • Jeans - Clever Nettle • Boots - BetsyLuxe Vintage • Hat - Maison d' Hibou 

Sweater - honey pie vintage • Jacket - In the Closet • Boots - Girl Least Likely • Beret - Verite Vintage  •  Gloves - Smarmy Clothes

 Dress - honey pie vintage • Heels - Autumnal Tea  • Vest - Double Rainbow Vintage  • Belt - This Other Thing • Scarf - econica

Backyard Bounty : Humble Crumble

Living on the West Coast has many perks. Beautiful mountain views and temperate weather are great, but I have to say one of my favourite aspects of living in Victoria is the bountiful harvest of summer and early fall. Our new place is blessed with blackberry bushes and plum trees that produce a seemingly endless supply of deep purple deliciousness.

Last weekend Ryan and I added to our bounty by collecting apples from his cousin's heavy-hung apple trees. We brought home a box-full and every time I walk out onto the porch I get an intoxicating whiff of fall fruit.

So, what to do with all of this freshness? Near the end of summer, I made lemon-blackberry tarts and plum chutney.  But, with last of the plums hanging about and some apples thrown into the mix, what else could I make but crumble?

Ah, the humble crumble. The lazy-man's pie. Crumble is great because it is simple, delicious and even some-what healthy.  

So here's my version of the crispy dish:

Topping
3/4 cp flour (I used whole wheat)
3/4 cp rolled oats
3/4 cp brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cp cold butter (Earth Balance vegan butter works great too!)
handful of walnut pieces (optional)







Filling

1/2 lb Plums (about 10-12 small prune plums)
1 cp blackberries (fresh or frozen)
3 or 4 apples
juice and zest of 1/2 a lemon
2 tbsp white sugar
1 tbsp corn starch



Preheat oven to 375 degrees (Fahrenheit).

Combine dry ingredients for topping. Cube cold butter into small pieces and sprinkle over dry ingredients. Using a pastry mixer or two forks, work into dry mix until mostly crumbly. Set aside in the fridge (the butter needs to stay cold!) until the filling is ready.

First step for the filling is to pit the plums. This can be time-consuming and messy, but think of it as a zen exercise.  Cut the plums length-wise all the way around and twist open. Remove the pit. The riper the plum, the easier the pit will come out.

Next, core and slice your apples into thin-ish slices. No need to peel unless this is your preference - but the peel contains most of the nutrients and fiber. Besides, why make more work? This recipe is for the lazy, remember?

Mix pitted plums, apple slices and blackberries and the remainder of your filling ingredients in your baking dish (roughly 9 x 9 should do), ensuring your fruit is evenly coated.

Sprinkle filling with crumble topping.

Bake at 375 for 40-45 minutes or until topping is golden and crisp.

And what would be crumble without an ice cream accompaniment? Like cocoa without the mini marshmallows. I'm not great with dairy, so I had mine with So Delicious Coconut ice cream and it was delightful. But, any way you serve it, this humble crumble is sure to please your autumn fruit-tooth.

Long time no see, little blog.

Well, I'm back. Nice to see you again my little blog. Don't worry, the whole time I was gone I was thinking of you. You may have been lost, but not forgotten.

I've decided we need to make some changes if our relationship is to flourish. I think we need to broaden our horizons and explore a little more in the world. Vintage fashion is all well and good, but I want to share recipes! DIY projects! Restaurant reviews! My everyday adventures as a communications student!

What do you think? Can we make this work?

Pinky Swear: Happy 25th to an 80s Classic

 Who says that nothing good ever happens in February? In fact, yesterday, the last day of that most miserable of months, was the 25th anniversary of the release of the 80s classic Pretty In Pink.  

Written by the late, great John Hughes, Pretty In Pink encapsulated the teen angst of a generation disenchanted with a decade rooted in greed.

Hughes was a champion of the teenage condition and like many of his other films (The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off) Pretty In Pink explored a range of serious issues amidst the humour. Andie, the stylish heroine, must tend to her unemployed and emotionally fragile widower-dad, while struggling with being a bit of a social outcast and crushing on one of the rich kids.

Twenty-five years later, Hughes' classic  is still a relevant commentary on teenage-hood, not to mention more fashionable than ever.  Molly Ringwald's Andie is a stark contrast to the "cool" kids. While they don their Miami Vice whites, she dresses in thrift-store, grandma's closet, DIY duds, singling her out as an alternative free thinker. Today, of course, Andie's look is sought after and adapted to our modern sense of style.  Over-sized 80s glasses? Frumpy vintage cardigan? Reworked prom dress? Andie would be the hippest hipster in highschool nowadays.

But, let's not let the pouty redhead in pink steal the spotlight here.  How could we forget the slightly annoying, but mostly endearing character of Duckie played by Jon Cryer.  Having been in love with Andie for years, Duckie aligns himself with her in alternative teen-dom.  To go along with his outgoing character, Duckie's style is even more outrageous than Andie's,  with layer after layer after layer of whimsical, patterned madness.

The epitome of fashion in this movie, though, is not the love-struck heroine or the over-attentive best friend - it's the always lovely Annie Potts as Iona the record shop owner.  In my opinion, she completely steals the show. Talk about versatility. Iona's fashion jumps from 1930s vixen to 1980s punk with a bit of 50s and 60s in between.  There is just a single scene in which you see her in "typical 80s fashion" and for my money that makes her the true fashion icon of this film!

If you're a child of the 80s, Pretty In Pink is probably so ingrained in your psyche that it is influencing your fashion fantasies even as we speak. If not, it's still impossible to avoid the lasting effects of Hughes' rag-tag trio of stylish 80s stars.

Mr. Hughes, you certainly knew how to make a good movie. If only you were around today, so you could tell me how to dress 25 years from now.

For the in vogue Andies, and the modern-day Duckies:

Pale Salmon Mohair Cardigan by Allen Company Inc.

Andie would have loved this warm and cozy cardi.  

Satin and Lace Dress by Upscale Vintage

This looks like Andie's reworked prom dress in reverse. Complete with classic 80s lace!

Dear Granny Ankle Boots by Electric Warriors

Those boots that Andie wears throughout the film are so badass, but I think these are even better.

Chocolate Bliss Hat by Prance and Swagger

A chocolatey brown version of Andie's black hat.  I especially love the vintage pin adorning the side!

Into the Plaid-lands Boyfriend Jacket by Vintage Fashion Retro 

Ok, the jacket is great, but how perfect is it paired with that colourful sweater? This is Duckie style for certain.

Reflective Black Sunglasses by Max and Chichi

To really top off the Duckie look, you've got to get your hands on some roundies like these.

For more on Pretty In Pink:

Huffington Post on Hughes' Class Distinction

New York Times Review from 1986

Buy the Soundtrack

Man in the Mirror: MJ's Jacket Magic

I have been listening to a lot of Michael Jackson lately.  More specifically, I have had Bad and Thriller (arguably two of the best albums to come out of the 80s) on a steady rotation for the past two weeks. Whatever your opinions are about the man himself, it is hard to deny that MJ was a musical genius.  Seriously, I challenge you to sit still when the badass beats of Bad start pumping out of your stereo.

Sweet 70s style on young MJ

Michael Jackson pumped out hit after hit, broke new ground for his contemporaries, boldly went where no pop star had gone before and all the while being a furiously independent fashion icon.  Sometimes crazy, usually awesome, always unique, MJ's style was a force to be reckoned with. Mostly, it was the jackets. Yes, the jackets.

The Thriller Jacket

Even as a youngster in the 70s, MJ had some serious style. As he got older and branched out as a solo artist, he defined himself with a signature look. Tight pants? Check. Jerry Curl mullet? Check. Sweet red leather jacket? Check mate!
                                                                  

Notice the similarities
with the 19th c. jacket below?

MJ did nothing less than rock the hell out of the leather jacket in the 80s. During theThriller years he could be seen wearing his signature red and black jacket from the iconic Thriller video or another red piece embellished with gold and zippers.  This was the beginning of MJ's love affair with the military style. 


Those outrageous 80s styles may seem a far cry from the military gear, but the leather jacket actually has its origins there.  In the 1920s, the leather jacket was adapted for use with the new fangled motorized bike and rose to popularity after being immortalized on film by the likes of James Dean and Marlon Brando.  

19th c. British military jacket

Oh Michael, you so bad.

Michael certainly capitalized on the idea that leather = lawlessness for his Bad album, but underneath it all, there was always that element of military style.   Throughout the 80s, the reference was subtle. But, as his fame grew, the word subtly disappeared from the King's vocabulary. His style became outrageous, unapologetic and undoubtedly influenced by military history.  His beautifully detailed jackets were reminiscent of 19th century British army uniforms - if the British army planned on storming Broadway and doing a dance number.

Even when he delved into futuristic styles, MJ still looked like he was channeling some alien armed guard. This whole military business is a bit of a conundrum considering his rather shy demeanor. But, alas, perhaps he was just trying to stylishly arm himself against an unforgiving world.

Amazing military style, MJ.

In any case, Michael Jackson: you were one stylish dude with some dangerously danceable tunes.
And I salute you.

And now, some MJ inspired awesomeness:

Sexy Black Military Dress by Majikhorse

This is a great example of how Michael influenced the whole fashion world, including the little black dress.

Super Rad Blade Runner Jacket by Sweet Cecelia

A sweet version of Michael's classic Thriller Jacket. I love the cross-over lapel.

White and Red Leather Jacket by Ramblin Vintage

A beautiful white alternative to the iconic red. But remember that suit on the the Thriller cover? Michael dug white too.

Black Leather Pants by Rerun Vintage

Don't forget the pants! The MJ look would not be complete without a pair of awesome painted-on leather pants like these! 

Red Plaid Button Jacket by Other Peoples Property

This jacket is just so rad (rhymes with plaid!) I think MJ would have worn this on his more casual days, like on a picnic with Bubbles the Chimp.

Blue Jean Baby: Denim Never Dies

There are some designs in the fashion world that are so useful, so versatile, so awesomely universal that they stand the test of time. Without a doubt, one design in particular stands out above the rest: Jeans.

No matter who you are or where you live, you most likely know what jeans are and probably own at least a few pairs.  That is because jeans have a long history and a pervasive presence all over the world.

Some good ol' miner boys
hangin' out in their Levi's

Denim trousers had humble beginnings 500 years ago in Europe, invented as a sturdy material for Italian sailors.  The term "jean" is said to be derived from the french term "bleu de Genes" or "blue of Genoa".  Over the centuries, these denim trousers (not yet called jeans) became more and more popular, but strictly for the likes of hard-working, dirty job doing men.  You may have heard of a little fashion pioneer by the name of Levi Strauss? Well, in 1872 he and his partner, Jacob Davis, brilliantly invented the concept for riveting 

 jeans for further stability. Their design was a hit on the West Coast of North America, but still only served a purpose for miners and marines. 

Then came the beloved decade: the 50s. With all of it's on-screen media and burgeoning teen rebellion, it's easy to understand how jeans began to become more popular in everyday fashion. Stars like James Dean popularized the wearing of jeans (then known as "waist overalls") and teens wishing to rebel against the straight-laced style of their parents ate up the blue collar style.

Woodstock. Need I say more?

This trend exploded in the 1960s as jeans became a uniform for the hippie movement.  Companies like Levi's recognized the potential in the teen market and came out with all sorts of free loving designs, including huge bell bottoms and peace sign button flies.  

A young Brooke Shields  poses in one
of the first Calvin Klein jean ads.

Despite their vast popularity in the 60s, jeans didn't become truly "fashionable" until the 1980s when they were introduced as "designer".  Brands like Jordache and Calvin Klein hopped on the denim bandwagon and all of a sudden jeans were oh-so-stylish and stupidly expensive.  

Stonewash! Fringe! Bedazzling!
And SO MUCH DENIM.

Since then, jeans have gone through a seemingly ever-changing slew of different shapes, sizes, colours, and cuts.  In the  80s, it seemed that anything and everything could (and should!) be made of denim. Stonewashing became increasingly popular as did the lost art of bedazzling.  The 90s saw jeans become baggier and brighter, with colours like yellow, purple and red stealing the spotlight from traditional blue.

And here we are in the year 2011 and jeans are as popular (if not more so) as ever.  No matter your shape, size, colour or creed there is a pair of jeans out there to make your ass look great. There's probably even a jacket and shoes to match. There are jeans for dogs and jeans for babies. Heck, there's even something out there called "Pajama Jeans" (because real jeans are just "too hard to put on"!).  

Jeans are truly the fantastic faded blue proof that a classic never dies.

Some vintage denim for a modern world:

Cat Stevens Bell Bottoms by honey pie vintage

These maybe the most comfortable jeans on the face of the earth! And they don't look too shabby either!

Squeeze Denim Dress by honey pie vintage

Vintage denim dresses tend to be big and shapeless. I love that this one has great curve-hugging structure.

Light Denim Skimmers  by Old Baltimore Vintage

A great example of the versatility of denim. These are sweet, simple and make me want to go sailing. Anything that does that is just plain awesome.

Purple Vintage Jeans by Kimberly Danielle

Classic 90s colour. These amazing purple jeans have all the great character I love about 90s denim.

Overalls Onesy by Vintagetwists

Not just overalls, super belled culotte overalls! I love this variation on a traditional style.

Easy Breezy Mini by Storied

It's not easy to find a unique and stylish vintage denim skirt. This one certainly fits those needs and has great contemporary style with that high waist, brass buttons and lovely light colour.