Summer Bucket List recap

October 3, 2015October 3, 2015 Caitlyn2 Comments

Now that we’re several days into fall I think it’s time for an update/recap on my Summer Bucket List for this year!

Read at least three books [√] — Check out this Bookspiration post to learn more!
Do yoga at least 4 times a week [X] — I thought I was going to be one of those glowing, energetic pregnant women–HA! But I have been walking every day, and I try and squeeze in yoga and other exercise when I’m not dead from work.
Celebrate our 7th anniversary [√] — We went to Hakone and really enjoyed the Open Air Museum (read more here).
Try paper quilling [√] — I made a pretty sunflower card and really enjoyed the craft (see my card here)!
Eat s’mores [X] — You know, I didn’t get around to s’mores this summer. I did, however, enjoy a lot of early-released fall treats, so I think I made up for it!

Left: sweet potato Kit Kats and chestnut flavored taiyaki; Right: chestnut flavored soft oreos, pumpkin flavored Kit Kats, and sweet potato chips. You can heat up both the types of kit kats. I didn’t try them warm, but they were yummy as is!
Go swimming [√] — I was lucky to go swimming in a hotel pool during our Thailand trip, and then again at Shirahama Beach with Chad and his brother Quint.
Chad and Quint running into the gorgeous water.
Beautiful mermen!

Baby bump at 22 weeks (about two weeks ago, and already looking small to me!)
Make a hot air balloon craft [X] — I had all the best intentions, really. But I’ll be working on an easy one this week.
Try kirigami [X] — Once again, good intentions on this one. It’s been moved to my Fall Bucket List, though!
Go to Studio Ghibli [X] — Oh my goodness you guys. It is impossible to get tickets on weekends or on any other days we have off. I will keep trying again and again until we leave Tokyo!
Enjoy kakigori (Japanese shaved ice) [√] — I had some lovely strawberry milk kakigori after visiting Sandanbeki Caves with Chad and Quint.

Above: One view from the caves.
The “milk” was actually sweetened condensed milk. Mmmmmmm….!

I also tried a totally different version of shaved ice in Thailand called “Ruam-mit.” My Thai friend says that means “mixing everything together.” Below you can see the stand with choices you can make for your own bowl, and then the four different bowls we sampled with our friends. We liked the ones with coconut milk the best!
Go on a picnic [√] — we went on several 🙂
Have a fancy night dressed up around town [√] — Um, do you remember when we went to Chez Olivier? We actually went back again when Quint was here, too. Still drooling at the thought of both visits….
Do at least 3 Writing Prompts [X] — I did one writing prompt, and really didn’t like it. Time got in the way of trying for another two.
See fireworks [√/X] — So I didn’t actually see live fireworks, but I did do a really cool craft with my students. Here’s the link on pinterest!
Do pirikura [√] — As you know from my last post, I totally got down with this one and used it as a baby announcement!

All in all I’d say I gave this year’s bucket list a pretty good go, especially considering I was primarily in my first trimester for a good chunk of it! My fall bucket list is ready now, too, so I’ll be sharing that soon!

What are some fun things you did this summer?
xxCaitlyn

Friday Five · Seen/Heard/Tried

Ten New Foods I Tried this Year

February 22, 2013March 17, 2013 Caitlyn4 Comments

We were fortunate enough to travel a lot within the last year: We went to France, Italy, Spain, Holland, Michigan, the Philippines, and Thailand. Whew! I know we will probably never be able to travel like that again, and I am so thankful we had that opportunity. Lately I’ve been dreaming about going back to Europe especially. I was making spaghetti the other day and dreaming about our picnic in Villa Borghese, Italy, and remembering going to the same amazing restaurant 3 nights in a row to try different pastas and pizzas… And this morning I was enchanted with this blog post showing a gorgeous apartment in France. I immediately wanted to return to Paris and enjoy croissants, crêpes and macaroons–and of course the amazing architecture and museums and history! (And can I please have that exact style in a house in Michigan!?) We learned so much through our travels, and tried many new things.

As you may have guessed, one of my favorite things about traveling is trying the food (I think I mentioned that before). Don’t get me wrong, the history and architecture are huge for me too, but food is so revealing of a culture. Here are ten (out of many more!) new foods I tried this year:

1. Pistachio Gelato (Rome)

2. Savory Empanadas (Barcelona)

3. Tortellini Stir Fry (Amsterdam)

This was an amazing Italian-Asian fusion, and I have yet to find a recipe like it. Please let me know if you have one!!

4. Dutch Apple Pie

Of course I had tried apple pie before, but not this apple pie. It was recommended to me by a Holland native, who just so happens to have a recipe on her lovely blog. The crust brings back a feeling of Windmill cookies from Michigan, paired with a thick apple-raisin filling. So. Good.

5. Halohalo (pronounced with a soft “a” sound, Manila)

Can you see the sweet red beans and the sweet potato ice cream?

6. Crickets (Koh Samui, Thailand)

Chad was more adventurous than me, and tried one of every kind of insect available.

7. Marshmellow “Tacos” with coconut shavings (Koh Samui)

We had the pleasure of trying many kinds of amazing street food in Thailand, and this was one of them!

8. Durian, the King of Fruit (Bangkok)

We didn’t have a chance to try Durian our first time in Thailand, so we had to try it the last time we went! The smell is so strong, and the texture feels like biting into the skin of an orange, but with the taste of old pineapple with a cheesy texture. It’s kind of hard to explain, but what I can say is I’m not missing it!

9. Fugu, or Blowfish (Ise, Japan)

We tried many different styles and were pleased to survive each bite! I thought it was pretty good, but Chad said it was his new favorite fish!

10. Blueberry Daifuku (Kobe, Japan)

I love the traditional ichigo daifuku, so I was excited to try this blueberry version. It is sweet blueberry-flavored mochi, or rice cake, with sweet bean paste flavored with blueberry and a strawberry in the middle. The juicy strawberry provides a bright contrast from the thicker mochi.

I can’t wait to see what’s in store for my taste buds next! The biggest challenge will be recreating some of the foods I loved. Here is a recipe for some other street food we tried in Thailand called Pakora:

Crispy Vegetable Pakora

And here’s another recipe we tried and liked for Falafels (reminding us of Amsterdam):

Spicy Falafels

Also, here’s a link to a really interesting podcast episode of “The Splendid Table” in which British gastronaut Stephen Gates is interviewed about trying insects in Cambodia and Thailand, and about letting go of food preconceptions/the notion of disgust.

Will eating bugs solve the world’s food problems?

What have you tried recently, or what would you like to try?

This post was supposed to be a bonus edition of Friday Five, but I am posting it today because we went out for amazing ramen and then watched Elementary last night. These things happen.

Seen

Thursday: Seen

February 7, 2013July 31, 2013 Caitlyn3 Comments

This morning on the train I seemed to stumble upon one interesting article after another on twitter, and one of them was about the history of one of my favorite foods in the world: Pad Thai. The article even had a recipe for the dish, though I’ll stand by the one I got when we took a Thai cooking class in Bangkok a few years ago 😉

We just went back to Thailand for our winter holiday in December, and I can say with certainty that we ate Pad Thai at least once a day. So. Friggin. Good. Remembering our recent trip to Thailand immediately brings words like “paradise” to mind. We had an amazing time (though we were still homesick for a Christmas back home with friends and family!) and it was a much-needed vacation.

One of the things we did during our leisure time on our Thai vacation (besides eat amazing food all day…) was read. I was pleased that I had saved the book Talking with My Mouth Full for the trip. I first heard about the book on my favorite podcast, The Dinner Party. On the podcast there is a segment called “Eavesdropping” that features a short excerpt of a book read aloud by the author, and in one episode they featured Gail Simmons reading about her experience interning for Vogue food critic Jeffrey Steingarten. That was enough for me to add the book to my reading list, and I am glad I did!

Reading and relaxing~~ahhhhh…

I enjoyed the book for many reasons. Firstly, if you haven’t already gathered, I have a passion for food. In the book I was able to learn about the life of a chef, the life of a “professional eater,” different cooking techniques, and more. Secondly, I can really relate to Simmons’ love of travel, which is a huge part of my life. Putting those two things together makes for an excellent read, in my opinion.

“…immersing yourself in a totally different world than your own is the perfect way to gain perspective on the troubles that plague you. When you travel, you don’t have the option of closing the door and weeping in your bedroom.”

“Food is, naturally, an extension of this. Foreign flavors convey so many priceless lessons: discovery, elation, pleasure, nostalgia, comfort, and fear. The food of a new place teaches you so much about its culture. It offers you a window into other people’s lives, history and values. It allows you to see that the world is much bigger than you and your broken heart.”

I totally agree with what she says about food being a window into culture and history–I think that’s why trying new foods while traveling is my favorite part of going somewhere I rarely go to or haven’t been before. Even the process of eating and the intimacy of sharing a meal (no matter where you are) can be so revealing!