1. Weekend Bits

    May 20, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    1 A bon voyage dinner of summer salad with spinach, goat cheese, toasted walnuts, strawberries and lemon vinaigrette, bruschetta, and lasagna {Hi, Daddy}!

    2 The fudge meant for ice cream {not into my mouth by the spoonful}

    3 Breakfast the next day.  These chubby babies are studded with toasted coconut, toasted walnuts, carrots, apples/applesauce, raisins, and spices.

    4 …and I ate every last bit + stole a bunch of fries ;)

    5 A super spicy dinner of yum.

    6 and dessert my bff brought over after we baked cookies, who also saved me from all my computer woes.  You are the freaking bestest best.  That is all.

    7 Fluffy, cinnamon scented, icing dripped clouds for breakfast the next day from my absolute favorite bakery.

    8

     

    Dinner later that night

    IMG_8816 and you can’t forget about the donuts!  Why yes, I did have a glazed, chocolate glazed, and jelly filled.

    9 The exit to the antique shop though now, I’ve decided that everything in my possession that is “old” shall now be deemed “vintage.”  e.g. my old school dell that finally crapped out on me…I kid {sort of}

    IMG_8814 Who used to watch The Rocky & Bullwinkle Show?  {This girl}!

    and speaking of old school, I fondly remember watching episodes accompanied by…

    tumblr_lhrsxqw4hn1qze8b3o1_500 Remember these?  Ah, to be a child again and your biggest concerns regarding whether or not you’d have enough cream for the cookie stragglers.

    IMG_8813

     

    I found these on my walk.  Don’t you just love the vibrance of Spring?

    I hope y’all had an amazing weekend too!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Life | 27 Comments

  2. Chocolate Crème Brûlée

    May 18, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    Wanna know a secret?  A crazy one at that?  I used to not be such a big fan of chocolate.  I liked it ok but didn’t get what all the who-ha was all about but as I’ve gotten older, the craving has evolved into something fierce with a life all of its own.  Case in point, I have absentmindedly been licking off homemade fudge by the spoonful all day today.  I meant to reserve it for a bucket of pistachio-pistachio ice cream but it sat there on the counter, ever so not innocently and that was my mistake.  Now I’m making jokes about being air-lifted out of my house on Facebook (but seriously, I kid.  If you want something, I’m a firm believer that you should go after it.  However, it should be good to point out that moderation is key, a word that I know nothing about obviously).

    That being said, won’t you indulge in a bit of chocolate fun with me?  It has less calories that way (I hear) ;)

    How to Make Chocolate Crème Brûlée

    5.0 from 5 reviews

    Chocolate Crème Brûlée
     
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    Ingredients
    • 2 room temperature egg yolks
    • 1 tb sugar
    • ¾ c room temperature heavy cream
    • 1 tb sugar
    • ¼ c chopped bittersweet chocolate (or chips)
    • 2 ts kahlua (or vanilla)
    • ¼ ts fine salt
    • Sugar for sprinkling (I like using raw sugar but regular granulated works)

    Instructions
    1. In a bowl, whisk together your yolks and 1 tb of sugar.
    2. In a pot over medium-low, heat your cream, 1 tb sugar, and chocolate. Whisk until the chocolate melts and sugar dissolves.
    3. Splash in your kahlua or vanilla and sprinkle in your salt.
    4. Slowly scrape in your yolk mixture and continue to whisk until slightly thickened.
    5. Strain through a mesh sieve and pour evenly into ramekins set in a larger dish and slowly pour hot water half way up the sides.
    6. Bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes. Cool for about 30 minutes and refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours.
    7. Before serving, liberally sprinkle with sugar and caramelize the tops with a hand/blow torch (or use the broiler in your oven)

     

    Categories: Chocolate Recipes Sweets Videos | 39 Comments

  3. Throw Back Thursday

    May 16, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    IMG_8110 Me and my very first best friend, Daniel :)

    IMG_8164 It’s the 70′s and Mama and Daddy are 2 kids so in love–I especially love the little sailboat in the background and how Daddy is looking over at her ;)

    IMG_8124 Daddy rockin’ some cool fringe in Europe {while he was in the military}

    As I grow up, I reflect back on earlier years and hope that the world will still continue hold as much wonder for me as when I was 6 and softly chuckle at the realization that my parents were once 2 cool kids, flirting and canoodling, way before any of us came along and I thumb through more pictures and just continue to smile.

    What is your favorite memory?

    Hosting family supper tonight,

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Life | 39 Comments

  4. Weekend Bits

    May 14, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    This weekend was non-stop between baby brother’s arrival, mother’s day celebrations, and J’s birthday, but boy was the entire stretch delicious!

    IMG_8592 Lunch with mama {for the noodle & beef recipe}

    IMG_8604 Late night dinner

    IMG_8605 Lobster fondue

    IMG_8651 Afternoon BBQ at friend’s

    IMG_8698

    IMG_8655 Red Velvet birthday cupcakes

    IMG_8680 Cheddar eggs, bacon, and cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing–yum!

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    IMG_8697 Mother’s day/birthday dinner

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    photo and I capped off the weekend with a swing in the hammock and fresh, hand picked flowers.

    How was your weekend?  What did you do?

    Love,

    Your very full Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Life | 44 Comments

  5. Loving Lately

    May 10, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    seeds {Grapeseed Oil} I’ve been slathering this stuff all over my hair and it’s been thanking me.

    amy & brian coconut juice with pulp My fave at the moment.  Really, it just happens to be whatever’s on sale at the moment but too often, it comes without the pulp which makes me a very sad Squishy Monster so this one makes me very happy.  Who wants a naked drink anyways?

    litchi-188 {Lychee} I can’t get enough of these babies!

    94803-Licorice-Lines So yummy.  Real strawberries + pink + $1 = score!

    ad95c2bd84e7a86d6ac0a3068a83d91d Really diggin’ on these chevron print pillows

    Feel good-Gorillaz (Cover) Celia Pavey

     

    What’s currently on repeat.

    What are you really into right now?

    Wishing y’all a beautiful and delicious weekend {especially to the Mama’s}!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

     

     

     

    Categories: Life | 46 Comments

  6. A Very Sweet Mother’s Day

    Panna Cotta

    May 8, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    I will eternally be grateful to my mother for her unconditional love and support, not to mention all the lessons she taught me along the way.  I am the woman I am because of her and honestly, I feel like everyday should be mother’s day!  It is from her that I watched and learned how to work hard, persevere, and never give up on what’s important to you.  My mama would work 12-14 hour days while taking care of 2 tots, breast feeding one or the other, and making sure there was a hot dinner on the table every night, never once making us feel neglected or unloved.  She also had the strength to smear on her lipstick and don on her sunday best to sing in the church choir *whew!*  Just thinking about it all makes me dizzy!  Not to mention, mama’s are constantly doing things behind-the-scenes that children are never keen to be it your favorite box of cereal that magically appeared in the pantry, rips and tears that were quietly sewn, or kisses that were gently pressed into the faces of sleeping children.  That’s just what mama’s do.  So whether you’re a mama, have a mama, or know a mama, show them some love!  {and you might be able to start with these incredibly decadent panna cotta} ;)

    Mother’s Day Recipe Panna Cotta

    5.0 from 7 reviews

    Panna Cotta
     
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    Author:

    Ingredients
    • 1 c whole milk
    • 4 ts unflavored gelatin
    • 1½ c heavy cream
    • ½ c sugar
    • 2 ts pure vanilla extract
    • ¼ ts fine salt
    • ½ c pureed berries*

    Instructions
    1. Over medium-low heat, stir together your milk and gelatin. You don’t want this to boil.
    2. Stir in everything else until the sugar dissolves.
    3. Remove from the heat and cool for about 10-15 minutes.
    4. Ladle into serving glasses and refrigerate for up to 6 hours.
    5. Garnish with fresh berries (or chocolate curls, candied fruit, etc) and serve cool.

    Notes
    *you could also use the same amount of an infused tea, citrus, coffee, chocolate, etc.

    Last years Mother’s Day treat.

    Happy {early} Mother’s Day!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

    I love you very, very much, Mama Squishy!!!!!

     

    Categories: Holidays Recipes Sweets Videos | 42 Comments

  7. Weekend Bits

    May 6, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    2 weekend features:

    a1 A month long feature in Elevate Magazine.

    a2 and a review of a local hot spot.

    a3 As I perused through the shelves of my local library, trying to find a Frida Kahlo biography, I stumbled onto this gem and it worked out to be the best book I’ve read all year. It’s a memoir of Kang Chol-Hwan and unravels the formidable first hand accounts of a 9 year old boy, shoved by force into a decade of hard labor, malnutrition, disease, agonizing punishment and death. (The book takes place mostly in Yodok and is said to be one of the mildest concentration camps among those scattered all over North Korea, if you can imagine that). It is heinous, terrifying, compelling, and heart wrenching all at once. I highly, highly, highly recommend it.

    IMG_8557 I couldn’t put the book down and finished it within a few hours and so, how appropriate was it that I was rewarded with the richness of Korean culture via our traditional Fan Dance. How stark the contrast of not only their brightly colored han-bok, but of the happy occasion of smiling children regaling the crowd, when those on the other side are not as lucky and do not have access to even the basic necessities, let alone a beautiful han-bok. There’s nothing that breaks my heart like North Korea.

    IMG_8499 Another smiling face. Credits to J for capturing a silly candid.

    IMG_8567 a hearty brunch of pancakes, dumplings, veggies, meatloaf and ham…here’s to rolling your eyes at bikini season! ;)

    IMG_8507

    photo 1 (1) IMG_8519 photo 2 (1)

    Weekend jam:

    Korean Girls Sing Gangnam Style by PSY – AMAZING Cover!

    Hope y’all had a great weekend!

    Love,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Life | 51 Comments

  8. Cinco de Mayo!

    Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes

    May 4, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    I’ve begun my festivities early as I’ll be spending Sunday with the family watching traditional Korean fan dances, (true story). I took these over to a get together yesterday and they were a hit so my test panel agrees that you should totally try these ;)

    Cinco de Mayo Recipe Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes

    5.0 from 6 reviews

    Strawberry Margarita Cupcakes
     
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    Author:
    Serves: 1 dozen

    Ingredients
    • 1 c unbleached flour
    • 1½ ts baking powder (not soda)
    • ¼ ts fine salt
    • 6 tb melted unsalted butter
    • ¾ c sugar
    • 3 room temperature egg whites
    • ½ c room temperature whole buttermilk*
    • Zest/juice of one lime
    • 1½ tb tequila**
    • ¼ c strawberry puree**
    • 1 c unsalted room temperature butter
    • 2 c- 2½ c sifted powdered sugar
    • 1-2 tb heavy cream
    • 2 tb tequila
    • Zest of 1 lime
    • Coarse salt/limes for garnish

    Instructions
    1. In a bowl, sift together your flour, powder, and salt. Set aside.
    2. In a separate bowl, cream together your butter and sugar.
    3. Add in your whites one at a time.
    4. Slowly pour in your buttermilk then zest/juice your lime.
    5. Splash in your tequila.
    6. Add your puree.
    7. In 3 separate additions, begin sprinkling in your “dry bowl” to your “wet bowl.” Just mix to combine (do not over mix).
    8. Bake at 350 for 17-19 minutes.
    9. Meanwhile, whip up your frosting.
    10. Break up your butter and slowly add your powdered sugar.
    11. Splash in a bit of cream and tequila and keep checking the consistency.
    12. Add in your zest and more powdered sugar as needed.
    13. When your cakes are cooled, frost (I used a 2D Wilton tip) and sprinkle with a bit of coarse salt and add a lime wedge.

    Notes
    *You may also sub with almond/coconut milk. **You can omit the tequila altogether, just replace with 2 ts vanilla extract ***You can also omit the strawberries with other berries.

    Wishing everyone a happy and safe Cinco de Mayo!

    Love.

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Cakes/Cupcakes Holidays Recipes Sweets Videos | 30 Comments

  9. A Berry Good Week

    May 1, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    I don’t know about you, but rainy days tend to make me a bit somber, especially the cold, drizzly kind where just being outside makes you shiver. It feels like it’s been raining straight through since last week (+ a full moon which makes me nutty) but the show must go on, no matter what. All the rain even cut out plans to go strawberry picking. Yesterday, I taped another segment for Charlotte Today and I almost didn’t make it due to car troubles and then, Obama’s speech cut through my time by half but again, the show must go on.

    IMG_8461 I made these little cuties

    IMG_8437 and met Noah Guthrie

    IMG_8467 and a local farm was even there passing out fresh strawberries! Rain=0, Me=1!

    IMG_8466

    Car troubles made me skip breakfast so me and mama had a considerable Korean meal with all the fixin’s. I had the soondubu jjigae.

    IMG_8427 and I made a meat and potato supper later.

    IMG_8468

    with even more fresh berries to get in on the mix.

    This morning, me and my bestie had more Korean (yay for round 2)!

    photo Bibimbap after perusing the local Asian market. I hope one day, I can get all my groceries in one spot.

    IMG_8469 and a mammoth-sized pizza for later.

    What’s been your favorite meal this week?

    {On top of car troubles, I also ran into some computer issues so I should have a video up by the weekend at least}.

    Despite some hiccups, it’s been a fairly nice week…wishing you an even nicer one!!

    Love always,

    Your Squishy Monster ^.~

    Categories: Life | 39 Comments

  10. Weekend Bits

    April 29, 2013 by The Squishy Monster

    photo 3 (1) My pink flower that wishes me a good morning every day ;)

    photo 2 (2) Ice cream for the first meal of the day {ain’t nothing wrong with that}!  Especially when it’s locally churned ice cream.

    IMG_8333

    photo (22) {eel, salmon, and crab}

    IMG_8346

     

    Recipe here

    IMG_8347 IMG_8257 My glorious haul from the triple couple event. Total cost?  $20.

    Over the weekend, I also catered my friends studio opening/burlesque show.

    IMG_8403

     

    IMG_8405

    A little one enjoying my lemon curd cupcake.

    IMG_8404 Por Cel Ain

    Weekend chuckles:

    IMG_8289 I do this more often times than I’d like to admit.

    IMG_8290

    Favorite song of the weekend:

    Yuna – Thinkin Bout You (Frank Ocean Cover)

     

    Hope your weekend was faaabulous!

    Love,

    Your-still-laughin’-bout-that-turtle,

    Squishy Monster ^.~

     

    Categories: Life | 33 Comments

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    Welcome to The Squishy Monster!

    Here, I'll share the stories of my on going love affair with food as well as step-by-step tutorials/cooking videos featuring original recipes. I'm a firm believer that despite our differences, our one commonality as humans? Food.
    I'm 100% Southern & 100% Korean. My name is Angela and my friends call me The Squishy Monster.

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