Mexico & Me.

I bounced down to visit my friend Ms. Cinthya in Mexico in early March. It was my first bounce out of these lovely States since I actually started this blog is October '09. It was also the first time I learned what it means to take a vacation. It certainly wasn't easy for this city girl to lazily chill on a beach all day but I got into the swing of things by day two. Playa del Carmen is a super clean, beautiful, peaceful, barely Mexican town. It was a huge adjustment for me photographically. There was barely any dirt, or grit, or filth for me to capture. So I embraced my surroundings and decided it was okay to shoot pretty things. Shout out to Ms. Cinthya! Thanks for the great time. 

Who know there was such a high demand for tea at the laundromat?

Zuke Girl!

I remember eating {and loving} a lot of zucchini growing up. We usually had it sauteed in some butter. It was heavenly. It's back in season now, so I decided to buy zucchini and carrots, then put my kitchen gadgets to work. 

I wanted to make several dishes using the vegetables in a similar fashion but with different flavor combinations. Take a goose, take a gander. 

Omelette with shredded veggies. 

Swai in a Balsamic Peanut Sauce w Garlic Sauteed Zucchini

Swai w Curry Sesame Seeds & Balsamic Peanut Veggies. 

Old School Swag.

"We are like a living museum here."

This weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the failed Bay of Pigs mission. But who are the real victors?  For Castro, Bay of Pigs is a perfect example of winning the battle but not the war. He successful staved off American efforts to squash his revolution, however his people have suffered tremendously. And what about us? What kind of commentary is it on our government to say we've held a grudge for political decisions made half a century ago? I can only hope both governments will eventually, at the never least, agree to disagree because ultimately we the people are the ones who feel the pain in the end. 

Photo of the Week.

Negro y Amarillo.

I bounced out abroad in early March and returned about a month ago. I like to say I didn't take a trip, I had a journey. One of my first dishes I made when I returned, after battling a few days of intense indigestion, brought some of the overseas flavors home. Above is cumin swai fish with black beans and corn over brown rice. 

Birthright.

My mother was baking cookies when she went into labor with me. It's really a chicken vs egg situation. Was she baking cookies because I was on the way or did the smell of the cookies tempt me out of the womb? Considering the intensity of July heat, I'd like to think my sweet tooth was already calling the shots. 

I decided it was high time I start whipping up a few batches myself after I bought a Cuisinart last fall. It was the first time taking a crack at them since my sophomore year at Rutgers. Cookies are deceptively tricky to back. It's all about finding the right recipe and keeping your eyes on the clock. So far, I've made chocolate cookies with peanut butter chips and the reverse. 

Los. Ninos.