Not Your Ordinary Hot Cocoa

It'll instantly feel like Christmas, I promise :) Heat 3/4 cup of almond milk with three pieces of Dove Dark Chocolate in the microwave or—even better—on the stovetop. The resulting hot cocoa tastes like authentic Filipino tsokolate de batirol.

I recently got into making my own almond milk; it's unbelievably easy and so much fun to do. Here's the Instagram pic from earlier this month:

Homemade almond milk stores perfectly in glass bottles. This is from one of Organic Avenue's green juices.

The following two recipes are actually better suited for All My Sugar, but I'd like to close 2013 on a sweet note over here at Ny Minute Now. (I know, I know—I've been MIA on the blogosphere for a while now…oh well.)

Almond Milk

• 1 cup raw almonds
• 2 cups cold filtered water
• Strainer + cheesecloth (optional)
• Glass bottle or jar

Soak almonds in tap water for at least two hours. They'll get squishy enough to peel easily. Drain and rinse peeled almonds and blend with the filtered water until mixture turns into a frothy white "shake." Strain into a large liquid measuring cup and transfer into bottle or jar. If using cheesecloth, place it above the strainer and squeeze the almond pulp with hands, as you would traditionally with coconut milk. Otherwise, press liquid through the strainer using the back of a spoon. Refrigerate almond milk for up to three days.

Gushing yet again: You'll end up staring delightfully at the resulting liquid as it's unbelievably creamy and, well, milk-like. The general almond-to-milk ratio is 1:2, but feel free to play around with the proportion.

Option to add vanilla or dates for flavor and sweetness.

Hot Cocoa

• 3/4 cup almond milk
• 3 pieces Dove Dark Chocolate

Combine the two ingredients in a small saucepan and simmer over low heat. Serve hot. This I guarantee, it tastes like hot chocolate from back home—thick, chocolatey, the perfect nightcap.

Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2014 to us all!

Random Realization

As much as I find the idea of working from home quaint, novel, and highly desirable, I now realize that I need a physical office away from home in order to keep my beauty copywriting career at its full and optimal potential. The only things that I find that I'm able to do sufficiently well at home are the following:

- Cook
- Eat
- Write about what I cooked and ate
- Browse the internet (because believe it or not, I rarely leisurely browse when I'm at work)
- Plan a yoga class
- Do yoga
- Write about life and yoga
- Nap and sleep

So, unless I take steps to make some of the above become my full-time occupation—food blogging, yoga teaching, and yoga/life blogging—I shall continue to be part of the daily hustle and bustle of working in New York City, being a copywriter in the fabulous world of beauty.

Now, getting to the office is one thing. I do love and enjoy having an office and being among coworkers (surprisingly, what with my social awkwardness). My ultimate goal/dream/wish as a professional is to be shuttled back and forth via car service. I want to work as hard as Bloomberg, but not have to be in a jam-packed train during rush hour. But then again, the mayor himself takes the subway—and so do CEOs, Julia Stiles, Scarlett Johansson, Jay Z*, et.al.—so touché!

(*Maybe Hova doesn't count, probably had a full security detail in tow, hah!)

Now here's another one...

...on my wish list for the home:

Adorable kubyertos from the Paola Navone Collection at Crate & Barrel :)

Ikea + Marimekko

I'm a fan of high-and-low pairings—in fashion, beauty...and the home!

Case in point, I want these Marimekko bowls:

Marimekko Small Siirtolapuutarha Bowl, $24.

Marimekko Large Siirtolapuutarha Bowl, $52.

And these Ikea plates and bowls:

Ikea Promenad Series bowls and plates, $3.99–4.99 each.

Scandinavian treats for the home, satisfied, in one fell swoop! :)

(Screenshots from: http://usstore.marimekko.com/home-decor/kitchen-and-dining.asp and http://onlinecatalog.ikea-usa.com/us/en/ikea_catalog)

Fall Shopping

We're on the last weekend of summer before Labor Day—then it'll officially be fall. Le sigh.

On the bright side, holiday weekend sales are happening and aplenty!

These caught my fancy over at Rebecca Minkoff:

1) The Maria

I instantly thought of my niece, Maria (who's no longer so little) and sent the link promptly to her mom. :) I love the punchy color combination, the envelope design, and the pleats. And it seems roomy enough to stash essentials and more.

2) The Coco Clutch

I would love this for myself, but alas, I rarely ever go out for cocktails or events these days. (Maybe if I start blogging more I can revive my editorial life, haha.) But then again, I think this can work at the office—I always carry a second, roomier bag anyway (e.g. my reusable Trader Joe's shopping tote).

3) M.A.C. Clutch

It's white! It's laser-cut! It's adorable! This reminds me of an old pair of pointy slingback flats I had a long time ago...

There's hope for me!

"She has learned that if she makes herself stay for a fixed period, she often gets over her social awkwardness and ends up having fun."

—Yahoo! CEO Marissa Mayer on wanting to leave any party within the first fifteen minutes and disciplining herself to deal with shyness; Vogue September 2013

New York Summer Streets

Bikers on Park Avenue.

"Summer Streets is an annual celebration of New York City’s most valuable public space—our streets. On three consecutive Saturdays in the summer, nearly seven miles of NYC’s streets are opened for people to play, walk, bike, and breathe... On August 3, 10 & 17, from 7am to 1pm, nearly seven miles of New York City’s streets are opened up for everyone to play, run, walk and bike." Source: NYC.gov

Here are pics from yesterday's lovely walk down Park Avenue from 42nd St. by Grand Central, down to the Flat Iron District in the 20s. Summer Streets goes the full stretch from East 72nd St., all the way downtown at Brooklyn Bridge. Here's the route from the website:

Summer Streets route, including rest stops.

Park Avenue tunnel closed to traffic from 7am to 1pm.

Sharing the streets.

Bikers, rollerbladers (even skateboarders and unicyclers) all welcome!

It looks like they added more Citibikes for rent for this event.

A Gotham-y shot near 23rd St.

Summer Highlights

One of the challenges I find with blogging these days is the "real-time-ness" of posts—chronicling notable and bloggable events on the same day. I'm constantly playing catch-up...or going completely M.I.A., as you can tell with my complete lack of posts for the month of July. Sigh.

But, moving along. I have been meaning to write about season's highlights. I'm a summer girl at heart. Summer is my favorite season, summer is when I feel the most nourished, summer is when I get an ample dose of Vitamin D, and summer is also when I can get dressed in five minutes flat (I'm a matchy-matchy kind of person so you can just imagine the agony of putting together layers in the winter time).

Without further ado, highlights from the last couple of weeks (which, in the blogging world, is eons!):

1) Summer Beauty
Well, it was still technically spring when I purchased these two lip treats from Sephora: Bite Beauty High Pigment Matte Pencil in Pomegranate and YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Color in Succulent Pomegranate. The former does say 'matte' but it goes on soft and creamy, leaving a rich hue on lips, while the latter is indeed a colored gel-balm that leaves a nice hint of sheer cherry. YSL's packaging is absolutely adorable and I certainly got it for prettiness.

A couple of weeks back, before it got really hot, I got a tube of Brazilian True Tan to kickstart my summer sun-kissed skin. I'd originally planned on purchasing something from St. Tropez, but, after reading the ingredients and giving it a whiff, I went for the former. Brazilian True Tan's formula is supposedly infused with AHA, so you don't have to exfoliate before applying. The color you get is very subtle, hence the claim "non-streak" on the packaging, because you can build on color, instead of slathering it on in one dark dollop. As with any self-tanner, you still have to watch it when it comes to elbows, ankles, and knees—wipe off any excess on these areas.

Okay, it's the weekend—I'm a beauty copywriter by day so writing about beauty on my day off feels like a bus driver's holiday—so I'm moving on to the next summer highlight...

2) Summer Solstice!

Next to Christmas, this is my favorite time of the year. It is the longest day where we get the most sunlight. Fortunately, my husband spotted the invite in the mail to sign up for the yearly Solstice In Times Square event. It was so surreal doing yoga right there, that I kept on peeking during Savasana to look at the buildings towering above me.

Bright and early!

I believe Vasisthasana (Side Plank) was the peak pose for that morning's session. That's me on the left, in the rainbow pink top. I'm quite proud of my Vasisthasana, simply because I could barely do one only a few years ago. Next stop: the full expression of the pose (yogi toe lock, leg extended at a 45-degree angle).

Fun and surreal doing yoga in Times Square!

3) Hova brought sexy back.

We got to see Jay Z and Justin Timberlake in concert at Yankee Stadium! :) The Legends of Summer tour paired the two music heavyweights, resulting in a concert experience to remember! Happy Summer days indeed.

Made With Love

If there's one thing I learned amidst the dizzying yet important elements of Ayurveda and nutrition is that anything made with love at home energetically trumps anything from the finest restaurant, even if it's organic. Actually, I've picked up a bunch of things during this weekend's workshop with the very knowledgable Ayurveda and yoga teacher, Maria Garre. But, I'm not going into specifics as I'm blogging about tonight's dinner recipe: Grilled Flounder Pita Pockets with Sriracha-spiked Sweet Yogurt and Garlic Dipping Sauce.

Absolutely easy to make. I recently purchased a non-stick grill pan so it's been a breeze to get things out the kitchen. If you don't have a grill, no problem—pan-frying in olive oil works just fine (you just won't get those pretty grill marks!). Note: The recipe may look long, but believe me, it's pretty quick and easy—I'd say ready in under 30 minutes.

INGREDIENTS & DIRECTIONS

3-4 flounder fillets

4 small pita pockets

lettuce sliced into strips

Dutch edam or any hard cheese, cut into sticks

sliced onion and/or cucumber, optional

Rub for the fish:

salt and pepper

dried thyme

paprika

turmeric

olive oil

• Rinse and pat the fish fillets dry and proceed to season each with the above spices and drizzle with olive oil. With clean hands, 'massage' the flavors in.

• Cook one side on medium-high heat. After two to three minutes, flip and lower heat to medium. While the first side is cooking, combine the following in a small bowl:

pinch of salt and pepper

juice of half a lemon

1 tsp maple syrup

a splash of orange juice

drizzle of olive oil

• Use the above concoction to brush the fillets on the cooked side. Repeat on the other side. This keeps the fish moist (and shiny) and gives a subtle sweetness that complements the savory spices.

• Once fish is done, set aside on a plate. Wipe grill clean with a damp paper towel, and warm the pitas; turning them once or twice and lowering the heat if necessary.

• This is my favorite part of the recipe: Use the leftover liquid marinade that you brushed the fish with for the dipping sauce, and add the following:

3 heaping spoonfuls of plain yogurt

1 minced garlic clove (or garlic powder, to taste)

squirt of Sriracha hot sauce

• Mix well and transfer into a small bowl. Add more Sriracha if desired. Swirl and marble it in for extra prettiness!

• Slice each pita on one side to open up the 'pocket' and fill each one with the cheese, fish, lettuce, and onions/cucumbers (if using the latter—I didn't, for these). Serve the sauce on the side and drizzle on every bite as you eat. Enjoy!

Dressing Appropriately for One's Age

Lately, I've been thinking more and more about age-appropriate dressing. At 33, I'm doing a wardrobe update of sorts, adding more "grown-up" pieces—e.g. shift dresses, collared (sleeveless) buttoned tops, and skirts—infusing the same pops of color and play on prints that I've come to love all these years.

Oddly, I dressed more like a 30-year-old in my twenties and a 20-year-old in my thirties; a teen when I was a tween and a tween when I was a teen!

That said, I'm a lover of clothes (and accessories!). I remember as a child, my mom and I would go on regular visits to the town's seamstress who would make us pretty things that I will brazenly say resemble Resort pieces in a prepster kind of way. Back in the day—which really isn't too far back as this was only the eighties—it wasn't unusual for people to go to a family tailor or seamstress to have clothes made.

Fast forward to 2013, we have Zara, Gap, H&M and a hooplah of ready-to-wear pieces that frankly, do a fine job of translating high fashion to us mere (rent-paying) mortals. I'm just a bit more scrutinizing of fabrics these days, after having read "Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of Cheap Fashion," a thoroughly researched book by Elizabeth Cline. Check out this New York Times review.

So, back to the age-appropriateness of my wardrobe. I've recently put together a peg that more or less encapsulates my game plan for this age and stage. It's a happy hodgepodge of pages clipped from the March 2013 issue of Vogue that I've been using as a guide for shopping. (Trivia: I'd inadvertently picked out Pantone's "color of the year," emerald green, as seen below on the Eres ad. Who knew?)

Clockwise from top left: structured "corseted jacket" with tortoiseshell-plexiglass belt and breastplate, Alexander McQueen; cutaway top with "fishline detail," Alexander Wang; black tweed top and shorts, Sandro; happy pops of colored enamel, Revlon; model-y looks e.g. silk pants paired with a printed blazer, A-line demi and pencil skirts by Proenza Schouler (the latter look as seen on Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr, I totally intended to copy with a recent purchase of a sheer black top and brocade skirt); cute green bra, Eres; scents from Balenciaga and Narciso Rodriguez.

Oh, and yes—my take on age-appropriate dressing? Wear what makes you happy, confident and comfortable! True, I do cringe at the sight of skimpy clothing, especially on mature women and teenagers... or make that, in general. But then that's just me, I may have grown more conservative over the years in terms of that balance between going short here, long there; business in front, party in the back, etc. But, who knows? Maybe one sweltering day I may just bust out a tube top and mini myself!

The Blondness of It All

Because my teens and twenties were marked with drama, upheavals, and crises of different sorts—including spending a big chunk of my teenage years in a household that, while loving and truly well-meaning, tended to be overtly psycho-analytical when the literal and verbatim would have been better for my psyche—now that I'm 33 and finally happy(!), I am more and more inclined to have a sense of humor about life, even if it means taking a simplistic approach to a lot of the "major" things.

I do not mind being the blond in the room.

(By the way, this reference is merely for illustrative purposes only and I have no intention whatsoever to offend or discriminate. However, if you are a blond in real life and are offended by this on some level, you are most welcome to crack an Asian joke and we can call it even. :) And, just so you know, if I weren't as averse to the scalp irritation that peroxide can bring, I'd have long bleached my hair a nice strawberry, gold, or platinum. Heck, I already use Jolen on my brows!)

At this point in my life, there is comfort and wisdom in not knowing and not having to project knowledge. I am completely comfortable in being more of a voyeur, soaking all the information in. Of course, it's a slightly different story and path when it comes to my work and career, where taking a bit more of an authoritative approach better serves the situation and is the wiser move...if I want to keep paying for yoga classes!

Speaking of which, I've just started my 300-hour yoga studies and from the first weekend alone, I have a clearer vision of the kind of yoga teacher I'd like to become. I want to be that teacher who can let students find meaning in the mundane, and pique their curiosity enough to venture out and explore further, and maybe go deeper into their personal paths to enlightenment...or not. If I can tap into the physical and make classes fun and approachable to get people going and moving (and perhaps score FLOTUS points/earn a thumbs up from the First Lady), then I've done my part.

If I can do my best to give anatomically spot-on alignment cues, encourage mindful breathing, and cultivate inspiration—with people leaving the room feeling invigorated and kinder, or experiencing an incredibly relaxing Savasana (one of my teachers refers to a "blissed-out" one and getting people to "la-la land"), then I've really done a marvelous job and I would simply be grateful for having had something or anything to do with it.

The rest is then up to the students, each of whom, by virtue of being a living and breathing inhabitant of this planet, I assume is innately smart.

When Kids Speak

Because kids tend to speak their minds in the most unfiltered way, what they end up saying is on-point and more often than not, incredibly hilarious—even if at times, morbid. It reminded me of an older post from when one of my nieces was seven and she said something about flies sucking blood from your eyes. :)

I had the pleasure of spending Easter weekend with not one, not two, but three adorable children from my family. Each had something to say at one point that cracked me up.

Nine-year-old boy cousin from Manila who looves mac-n-cheese to my 10-year-old brother, who is American who doesn't really care for the dish:

"You know if you don't like mac-n-cheese and want to try it, go to Italianni's*."

*Italiannis is a resto from back home where my cousin apparently orders two of these. He was also was also very amusing/entertaining with his use of the word "dude."

Seven-year-old cousin to me, while walking into Toys 'r' Us:
"There is a skeleton puppet that says, 'I kill you!'"

According to my quick Google search, she was most likely referring to Achmed the Dead Terrorist. Note, this little girl is incredibly smart. I could barely figure out the game she had on her iPad called Doors & Rooms.

And last but not the least, my little brother:
Me: "How old am I?"
Bro: "33."
Me: "Good, you know, wow. You're 10, right?"
Bro: "Yes. And you're the oldest. When my friends and I talk about siblings, they either have a younger brother or sister; or an older one who is a teenager, and you're the oldest." :)

[Photo: Gorgeous day at the Intrepid Museum.]

Spring Equinox

It seems as if I completed this year's 30-day Blog Challenge and then took off and abandoned blogging altogether. But between my last post—a month ago!—and today, I had quite a lot on my plate...literally and figuratively.

Most notable was our Sonoma-Napa-Cali trip for our third wedding anniversary. It was awesome; the food, wine, and sights were all spectacular!

Because work keeps me busy these days, evenings and weekends have become even more precious—my much-needed time to rest, recharge, and recuperate. I love what I do—it's amazing and unbelievable to see the amount of work that goes into products!—yet I am also keen on maintaining my work-life balance. Hence, there's yoga. And God :)

Spring Equinox, is when the tilt of the Earth's axis is inclined neither away from nor towards the Sun, the center of the Sun being in the same plane as the Earth's equator. A second equinox also occurs in the Fall, in September (Wikipedia). Simply put, today is the first day of springtime! So, Happy Spring, friends! Until my next post :)

*This photo was taken earlier at work right outside my office building. I looked up the gazebo/open dome and saw this magnificent view; I just had to take a pic!

Valrhona Fudge Cakes

Finally got to blog about these at All My Sugar :) Click on the link for the recipe!

Happy Valentine's Day!

This sweet vanilla cupcake topped with a rich, creamy swirl of Valrhona chocolate butter frosting will make your heart swoon and make you fall in love with life itself!

For this, I referenced the recipe in my "Cupcakes a la NYC" post (also at Allmysugar.com). They're inspired by Magnolia Bakery's vanilla-chocolate cupcakes, or even Eleni's—both in New York.

Because I forgot to get some at the grocery earlier, I substituted the melted unsweetened chocolate originally called for with the Valrhona cocoa powder I already had in the pantry. Unfortunately, I didn't measure it out and just kept adding cocoa by the spoonfuls to the frosting, until it tasted just about right. I'd say about five tablespoons, but let your tastebuds be the judge :)

Have a sweet Valentine's Day! With love from NYC :)

Mushroom Stroganoff

Nice and easy: Mushroom Stroganoff recipe by Alton Brown.

Link to recipe: Foodnetwork.com

I just made this and so far, it turned out yummy. I used regular onions instead of the green onions originally called for. Also, I halved the recipe—give or take a few ounces of certain ingredients (i.e. mushrooms, egg noodles).

Two suggested tweaks:

• Add red pepper flakes when heating up the butter (also in the bowl, when serving)
• Add thyme while sautéing the mushrooms

And this completes the 30-day Blog Challenge, woohoo!

Will share my thoughts on this year’s Challenge in another post :)

Happy weekend, everyone!


Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 30

Malt Ball Overload

At Dylan's Candy Bar :) 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 29

Harper’s BAZAAR, we meet again :)

The Moroccanoil print ad I wrote is in the March 2013 issues of Harper's BAZAAR (where I worked in international marketing when I had just moved to NYC), Elle, InStyle and the gigantic Vogue with Beyoncé on the cover!

The universe has a sense of humor—I've always wanted to write for magazines here in the U.S., picking up from where I left off as beauty editor at Hearst international titles Seventeen and Cosmopolitan. I've also contributed to sister publications Good Housekeeping and Marie Claire. So, now, my words are actually in these well-respected magazines, at least in the advertising section.

Now, if only I could make the jump back into the editorial pages, that would be FANTABULOUS! :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 28

Bravo, Dyson. Bravo!

View the complete hand dryer range at Dyson.com :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 27

Yoga Journal

Tuesday night reading; channeling peace, kindness, and relaxation: #yogajournal #magazine (free, w/ my teaching liability insurance!) 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 26

“You can’t please everyone—but you can be democratic by being kind to everyone.” 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 25

Beyoncé @ Superbowl 2013

I don't think you're ready for this jelly… ;)

(What a surprise—Destiny's Child!)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 24

1, 2, 3…Gnocchi!

Georgeous dumplings: chewy and delicious with this homemade gorgonzola sauce!

If you love gorgonzola cheese, then this dish is for you. It’s unbelievably easy too—you can make it in 20 minutes flat. If you’ve never had gnocchi, its chewy texture paired with the savory combination of garlic, toasted walnuts, creamy gorgonzola, will perhaps make you fall in love. Dip a soft or crusty hunk of bread in the velvety sauce, and you’ve got yourself a winner.

You’ll need:

(Serves one)

• 3/4 cup gnocchi (this looks like too little but trust me, once it cooks and mixed in with the other ingredients, it’s hefty)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• half a teaspoon of crushed garlic (more if you like) 
• a handful of walnuts (option to chop, crush them with your fist, or just mash them with a wooden spoon as you’re making the dish)
• 3 tablespoons of crumbled gorgonzola (more if you like)
• 1/2 cup milk

Sauté until edges of gnocchi are ever-so-slightly browned

Directions:

1. Cook gnocchi according to package directions—which simply means, boil water, add salt, add gnocchi, and fish them out once they float to the surface. Save 1/3 cup of the cooking liquid for later (this will help create a thick, yummy, creamy sauce).
2. On medium low heat, warm the olive oil then add the garlic (don’t let it brown).
3. Up the heat to medium and sauté the walnuts until toasted, and add the cooked gnocchi.
   
4. Toss in the gorgonzola, and as it melts, add the milk, then the pasta water. Season to taste and turn off the heat once sauce starts to thicken.
5. Serve in a bowl, top with cracked black pepper and crumbles of gorgonzola.

Gnocchi in a creamy gorgonzola sauce cooked with garlic and walnuts.

Note: As I’ve mentioned in the intro, you MUST have a hunk of bread to dip into the sauce; it’s part of the experience. Glass of wine is optional :) Enjoy!

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 23

Oops, I did it again!

I’ve been missing my meditation and Nadi Shodhana minutes lately. As for the blogging, well, I guess my All In A Day’s Work Instagram post counted for Friday, although I would’ve wanted to have written something down for the night.

Instead, the above :) I got home from work, showered right away, and enjoyed dinner and wine with the husband; caught up with this week’s episode of White Collar, then went to bed.

Ahh… Friday :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 22

Dip, Stir, Enjoy!

Le Pain Quotidien Bâtonnets Chocolatés au Chocolat Noir Belge
(Hot Chocolate Sticks with Belgian Dark Chocolate)

Dip in hot milk...

Stir... and enjoy!

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 21

Le Pain Quotidien Bâtonnets Chocolatés au Chocolat Noir Belge

Organic, delectable, and plain awesome. Le Pain Quotidien Bâtonnets Chocolatés au Chocolat Noir Belge (Hot Chocolate Sticks with Belgian Dark Chocolate)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 21

Oops Post

I didn’t get to do my Day 20 post on this date. I got home from work and did about 40 minutes of yoga…and fell asleep! So I also didn’t get to do Nadi Shodhana. Oh well, another day, another night. ;)

I’d meant to post this song, “Cross The Line” by First State ft. Relyk. I heard it over the weekend at SoulCycle—the spinning session, a whole other post altogether!

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 20

"Be kind to your body… Do what you want to do, not what you think you should do." 

—heard in yoga class earlier; sound advice also applicable to life! :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 19

Linguine con le Vongole

Linguine con le Vongole made easy, thanks to Trader Joe’s Steamer Clams :) 

Recipe from Tyler Florence on Foodnetwork.com.

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 18

Norwegian Benedict at Smörgåschef

Norwegian Benedict at Smörgåschef, Scandinavia House 

58 Park Ave New York, NY 10016

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 17

CCKT One-Minute Chocolate Cake, Revisited

Yes, you can make a messy, gooey, single-(or double)serve chocolate cake in your microwave!

Back in August, I blogged about vegan dessert blogger Chocolate Covered Katie’s One Minute Chocolate Cake recipe, over at my food blog, All My Sugar. It’s unbelievably easy and you actually make it in a microwave oven—a-mazing!

I think Katie has a note about not reposting her recipes verbatim, so please click on the link above if you’re interested in the full recipe.

My modifications:

• regular 2% milk instead of almond milk

• 2 tbsp spelt flour and 1 tbsp of all-purpose flour (instead of spelt all the way)

• melted butter instead of vegetable oil

• added a splash of coffee to the batter

For the frosting, I poured a handful of chocolate chips into a small microwavable glass bowl, added a splash of milk, and microwaved it for a minute. This served as my instant-ganache frosting. Again, super-duper easy!

Oh, and I doubled the recipe to make two little cakes in two little ramekins. :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 16

Meta Kindness

At my previous job, I had the following inspirational quote from Dr. Wayne Dyer running along the bottom of my daily task sheet, which I blogged about back in September:

SUCCESS IS AN INSIDE JOB. 

Being relaxed, at peace with yourself, confident, emotionally neutral, loose, and free-floating—these are the keys to successful performance in almost everything you do.

At my current job, I have the words META KINDNESS on my Copy Project List on Excel.

According to Wikipedia, “Mettā” translates to “loving kindness,” which means, I have to edit my note to correct the spelling :)

Kidding aside, this is a wonderful type of meditation wherein you start by radiating ‘metta’ toward yourself, and then passing it on (in thought) to someone close to you, and then to a person you know, and then a stranger, or even someone you’re at odds with—expanding the ‘circle of kindness’ outward. [“The cultivation of loving-kindness (mettā bhāvanā) is a popular form of meditation in Buddhism.”]

First, you say the following phrases to yourself. Or, if I understood this correctly, any positive, loving and kind thought would also suffice:

“May I be filled with loving kindness. May I be well. May I feel peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.”

Then, think of someone you love.

“May you be filled with loving kindness. May you be well. May you feel peaceful and at ease. May you be happy.”

And then keep going as you ‘radiate’ out, wishing people kindness and wellness along the way.

Try it! See if you like it :)

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 15

And then I bit into it ;) 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 14

Too cute to eat! @moroccanoil cookie. 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 14

80’s Flashback

80’s flashback: Hershey’s Miniatures, Mr. Goodbar and Special Dark :) 

Mariel Jimenez | 30-day Blog Challenge 2013 | Day 14