Mochi

This is mochi. It is very delicious. And pink. Well if you dye it pink. And you should.

So I went to the Chinese Market about 30 minutes from Provo with some of my roommates last weekend. I didn't get much that I wasn't familiar with, mostly stuff that is at the Korean Market in my hometown. (Or even my grocery store. Who knew I was so spoiled at our local stores in CA?) 

So, me being half Japanese (if you didn't know that, you can read my rant) I picked up some random stuff, but mostly got Mochiko, some mochi bits for ice cream and smoothies and such, and of course, chocolate mochi ice cream. Okay, I don't even know how common it is in Japan to eat mochi, but my grandma used to make it at holidays and it has good memories for me. Plus it tastes amazing.

What is mochi you ask? Well I can't say that I wasn't a little surprised that none of my roommates knew what mochi was (except the one from china) cause apparently I live in a little California bubble where most people have at least heard of mochi ice cream. I mean come on, it's the way americanized version of a japanese dish. I think. I'm not really that asian guys.


(Sold at wonderful places like Trader Joes. If you don't have one near you... sorry?)

Well Mochi is a Japanese dessert (Well I think you can have it more savory, but seriously, why not make it a sweet?) made from rice. There's a whole long process of soaking, cooking, and pounding, rice to make mochi, but thankfully now you can buy a box of Mochiko (sweet rice flour) and cook in in the microwave. Or buy it at asian markets.

If some of you think you have never seen mochi, you may have seen this stuff at a frozen yogurt place. It's mochi.

ehh bad picture. But trust me, it's usually there. At least in CA. But apparently I live in a bubble, so maybe not.

Okay besides this little lesson on Japanese food for you guys, I was posting because I made bibingka (it's actually a Philippino dessert) and my roommates were intrigued. It's pretty delicious if-I-say-so-myself, especially if you aren't sure about mochi, this will slip you into it a little easier.

Because when you make mochi it's just the sweet rice flour, water, and sugar and cooked into deliciousness together. But this recipe adds egg and milk and sugar and vanilla to it, topped with brown sugar and coconut and baked. If any of you want the recipe, ask and I'll update the post with it. Otherwise, I'll keep it in the family.  Bibingka recipes are pretty varied on the web, so I don't know how authentic or not mine is, but it is yummy.

It can look kinda like this, But my recipe has more topping and a little gooier looking.

Sometimes

Sometimes I wish I could gather up all my favorite people and keep them with me all the time.

..... And definitely, definitely not, be away from all of them at once.

Happy Father's Day!

"Hold on!" you say? "Father's Day isn't till Sunday silly, you are a couple days too early!" you say?

Well that just makes this post even more exciting in my book because you get the joy of reading this when there isn't an influx of love for Dad. 

Aaaand because I feel like writing it now. You guys are just way too spoiled.

I gots my Dad a card for Father's Day, and because I felt so clever I decided to share it with you (minus the personal note on the left inner side, cause that part is boring.)

See?? See how I added in that oh-so vital top line so that the card included me?

I know, I know. I'm pretty special right?

Okay, now we really do need a new house...

So in searching for a new house, I have *of course* started looking for new furniture for my room. I find this is less controversial than trying to decorate the rest of the house *cough* my sister.  So far I pretty much need: (I am pretty sure I won't get it though)

 

 

Any design tips?? (I really like white stuff and 17th century style french and english stuff. If only it wasn't so darn expensive to decorate!)


I should really go to Goodwill tomorrow as my cousin at Buffalo Gal suggests. Or maybe I should wait till we get a house...



PS. This was an inspiration from the post La Jeune Marie posted a bit ago, gushing over the room Cote de Texas did for her daughter. I, too, fell in love with it.

PS. PS. Isn't this bathroom that Corey from Tongue in Cheek has in her home to die for?? I love her style, and her stories about her and her French husband are too cute! (She moved to France after marrying him without knowing the language!)

It went from this:

To this:

tres impressive, no?

I'm totally good at giving

{A Little Sussy}

Don't you love the plaid wrapping paper?

... except not really.

You know those people that just give AMAZING gifts, that are exactly what you wanted but you didn't know it? And it's completely thoughtful and original and awesome?

I am not one of those people.

Ergo, my sister (one of those people I described above) and I always split presents for our parents. She figures it out and researches it, I pay for half. It's a deal that has worked for many years.  Except that it leaves me on my own on what to get her.


Example of my limited skills at getting others good gifts:

-Last year I got her a certificate for a facial.

-This year I was planning on the same, but she said she would rather have money. So I am giving her cash. This idea makes me cringe a little on the inside, I mean it doesn't get much less thoughtful than that does it? At least, I can only improve from here.

 It's the thought that counts right??

PS. Did I mention that it's also her birthday on Christmas? She is going to be 25 and that totally blows my mind. Where did all the time go??

Prayers

Today I had another meeting with the missionaries, and it was extra special because my cousin Corinne was able to join us!

Aaaand she shared some amazing stories of how her prayers have been answered. It was really inspiring to learn the ways in which Heavenly Father responded to her. One of her stories (I hope it's ok that I'm sharing this) was that she had been praying for an opportunity to serve others. Then about a week later she had an urge to go to up to her neighbor's house, whom she didn't really know, and ask if they needed help. She didn't know why she was going over there, except that she knew she should.

It turned out that her father was dying. Corinne described how the woman's eyes welled up with tears, and was so grateful for the unexpected kindness of her neighbor.

{prayer}

Beautiful story, don't you think??  Do you have any you would like to share?

Days with my Father

A beautiful site filled with little tellings of this man and his last years with his father.

In between crying I found myself laughing. Highly recommend visiting it.

Reading it reminded me how much I miss all of my grandparents and family that have passed on.

I wish I could have spend more time with all of them.

Days with my Father

discovered at Le Love