It's the Final Countdown, Y'all!

Three days to Hawaii! We can hardly contain ourselves. So ready to be pampered by the Aloha Spirit. 

Kukui nut lei. Only necklace I use there.

Aloha shirt for all occasions

Ready to see Humuhumunukunukuapua'a?

Humuhumunukunukuapua'a

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Toast to Royal Baby Boy

I can't think of a better excuse to make a Pimm's Cup to celebrate the Royal baby who was born today! I didn't have an orange or cucumber, but I did have frozen berries. Maybe I can add a splash of Hendrick's gin and orange bitters?

Frozen berries in Pimm's Cup

Royal Baby Pimm's Cup

Pimm's No.1
Hendrick's gin
Ginger ale
Splash of orange bitters
A lemon wedge
Frozen raspberries
Fresh blueberries
Mint

In a tall glass, fill ice cubes about half way, and pour a shot of Pimm's, a shot of Hendrick's gin and a splash of orange bitters. Top it off with ginger ale. Squeeze and throw in a wedge of lemon and frozen berries. Tear some mint leaves in and stir. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Our dogs also celebrated for the people from their land! (Really?)

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Zucchini Tomato Mozzarella Bake

Summer vegetables are delicious now. I pan-seared the zucchinis before a quick broil for a few minutes. Everything in here is already tasty all by itself without anything added to it, so you can't really mess it up.

Summer goodness on a plate 

Zucchini Tomato Mozzarella Bake

2 zucchinis, sliced 1/2 inch thick
2 Kumato tomatoes, sliced
3 fresh mozzarella balls, sliced
1 clove garlic, smashed with knife
1/2 Tbsp butter
1 tsp olive oil
Sprinkle of nutmeg
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
A sprig of basil

Brown both sides for more flavor.

Top this with parmesan cheese. No such thing as too much cheese!

In a skillet, warm butter and olive oil with a smashed garlic. Brown both sides of zucchini slices on med-high to high heat. Sprinkle nutmeg, salt and pepper. Transfer the zucchini slices in a baking dish and line them up. Take slices of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese and stick them in between the zucchini slices. Sprinkle parmesan cheese. Brown the top and melt the cheese under broiler, for about five minutes. Garnish with a sprig of basil. I sprinkled some Hawaiian pink salt on top, it was delicious.

Don't over cook it. Zucchinis should be al dente.

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Doggie Gate to Dining Room

Our dogs are welting with this summer heat. They were sleeping on the opposite side of the entry way to the dining room, like those lion sculptures at the gate of some mansion. How cute!

"We're protecting the dining table. Are we ferocious?"

"...like these guys?"

"...or like these guys?"

"...or how about these guys?"

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Time to Clip Slippers

Clip slippers? What? Those little feet that are covered with so much hair are sometimes called slippers. I guess they do sort of look like those germ-ridden bunny slippers. He slips and slides on the hardwood floors because he gets no friction on his feet. 

"I can tell Mommy is up to something..."

Our dog's "slippers"

Bunny slippers

After clipping
"I knew she was up to something...."

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Roasted Broccoli with Nutritional Yeast and Almond Butter

Until about a week ago, I had never heard of nutritional yeast. The mysterious name doesn't even sound tasty. Nutritional yeast is deactivated yeast and full of protein and B vitamins. I hear that vegans can eat this as a substitute for cheese because it tastes like parmesan cheese. I had to try it out.

You would not know it's not cheese!

Roasted Broccoli with Nutritional Yeast and Almond Butter

4 cups broccoli florets

4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 heaping Tbsp almond butter

3 heaping Tbsp nutritional yeast

Dash of garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

Nutritional yeast. Don Draper should come up with a better name and ad campaign!

"There's nothing I can't do."

Almond butter gives extra crunch and natural sweetness.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, toss broccoli florets and olive oil. Add almond butter and massage the florets with hands so each floret has a good coating of almond butter. Add garlic powder, nutritional yeast, salt and pepper and toss again. Spread the florets on a parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until they are slightly brown.

Coat the florets well and spread them on a cookie sheet.

Just make yourselves comfortable. Don't let me bother you guys.... 

After baking. Golden brown just like parmesan cheese.

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Mom's Natto Cheese Omelette

When I was a teenager, I really didn't have the time to eat breakfast. I spent all of my time fixing my hair perfectly and had to make it to school in time. But I always took a glance at the dining table to see if my mother had made this omelette. My version has a little bit of mayo in the egg mixture so it will be extra fluffy. Try that trick!

This flavor combo will pleasantly surprise you.

Mom's Natto Cheese Omelette

2 eggs
1 package natto
Handful of shredded mozzarella cheese or 2 Tbsp of cream cheese
1 Tbsp butter
2 tsp mayonnaise
1 tsp aonori seaweed flakes, it's fragrant almost like a herb.
Salt and pepper to taste

Natto, fermented soy beans

Seaweed flakes...

Looks like this...

Eggs with mayo and seaweed flakes

Mix natto with a touch of soy sauce until slimy. In a bowl, crack eggs and add mayonnaise, seaweed flakes, salt and pepper. Whisk well. Pour the egg mixture in the warm (med to med-hi) skillet with melted butter and make an omelette. I like mine almost runny inside. While the eggs are still cooking, add natto and cheese in the middle of the skillet and fold the egg. Transfer to a plate. 

Gently fold it and cover the stuffing

Transfer on the plate while flipping it over.
 Just take your time.

Who could imagine that there is a gooey slimy mess inside this omelette?

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Whisper and Butter

Summer is the perfect time to try out vivid lip colors. So I am sharing a couple of drugstore lipsticks that I love at the moment. They are Maybelline's Color Whisper Lip Color and Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butter. The colors are sheer and the application is smooth and moisturizing. I'm loving mixing my favorite two colors. 

My faves at the moment...

Color Whisper in Pink Possibility and Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya

Two colors combined (left), Pink Possibility (middle), Juicy Papaya (right)

Color Whisper in Pinup Peach

Think of them as lip balm with sheer wash of color. Vivid colors without being too heavy or waxy on your lips. The only drawback is that they don't last long, but I don't mind reapplying them. And YES, they are all different, and I couldn't just choose one!

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