RC, Author at loveRavayna

0 In travel

maracas beach

Trinidad was just such an amazing trip. It wasn’t perfect though- one of the more frustrating incidents was our Maracas Beach day. We’d cleared the whole day, woke up early to prep and load up a dozen people, and headed off in a caravan to drive around the island to Maracas.

As we stopped for snacks and pictures at the overlook en route, we realized that the grey morning mist looked atypically thick. It was still cloudy when we unloaded and sent our driver off, and that mist promptly turned to rain. Fortunately, the rain was warm, so we decided to stick it out, make the best of it, and just have lunch first.

Maracas is known for its shark-and-bake, a Trini fried fish sandwich. Richard’s is legendary, and has always been our favorite. But we had time to kill as we waited out the storm, so we had a progressive lunch and ate at Daphne’s as well. It was yummy, but Richard’s was still my fave- I adore piling my bake with spicy slaw, salted cucumbers, mango chutney, and plenty pepper sauce.

I had used my Silhouette to cut vinyl labels for some covered sip-a-mugs, figuring they’d be useful at the beach, and they were! We used bits of soca lyrics for the personalization, and they made for vacation-long jokes on very handy cocktail cups.

The sun didn’t come out, but it did dry and warm up a bit post-lunch, so we were glad. We walked the beach for a while, and eventually meandered in to wade in the water (and compare tans). Erin won… David lost, as if anyone’s surprised by that.

The water was really pretty nice, and I do hate crowded beaches, so it wound up working out okay, all things considered. It just made me sad that the views were so dreary, because Maracas is stunningly beautiful on a clear day, and I wish I could share that with you.

After a while, storm clouds rolled in again, so we decided to cut our losses before another drenching. I called our driver Kevin, and got him to come pick us up earlier than we’d planned.

And of course, we made a stop at the the fruit stand on the way home from the beach. So much fresh local produce, as well as sugarcane juice, freshly pressed by the friendliest vendor.

We shopped and made friends, until Kevin rounded us up and home we went, to rest up before that night’s fete.

loveRavayna

June 19, 2016

0 In travel

moorten botanical gardens

Even in familiar places, like Palm Springs, I’m always looking for new adventures. When we ran away for the weekend a few weeks ago, we made a point of visiting the Moorten Botanical Garden and I was so glad we did! Established in 1938, it’s the loveliest enclave.

I’ve never seen more variety of cacti, succulents, and other desert flora in one place…. I was a kid in a candy store. I love succulents- I carried them in my wedding bouquet- so I moseyed down the paths like molasses, inspecting the gardens carefully.

Some of those cacti are older than I am, which is kind of mind boggling to think about. It was really interesting to see the transition in texture from rough bark to smooth flesh on the oldies. I have a special soft spot for agaves- we have a few in our backyard, and they’re a favorite chicken snack, so not nearly as stunning as these.

The property is just gorgeous- beautifully yet authentically landscaped. There’s a small greenhouse, which is full of a million amazing spiky varietals, labeled and arrayed in a magical little space.

Marimekko Target set (kids, sold out) // jean jacket // hat // gladiators

Creosote- that bramble with bits of white fluff- is such a weird plant, and I just love it. I was perpetually burying my face in it and inhaling. It looks so delicate, but is actually hardy, and it smells like fireworks or a campfire, sharp and smoky. I especially adore it when intermingled with really fragrant florals, like tuberose or peonies- it’s a lovely little contradiction.

But when I made it to the succulent nursery section, my day was made. Table after table of beautiful succulents at amazing prices… I wanted dozens, not gonna lie. But I limited myself to a small mix-and-match of $1 baby succulents. I spent far too long deliberating, but it was hard to decide which were sturdy enough to survive my epic black thumb. All are still hanging on at home, out of reach of chicken nibbles, so I’m feeling hopeful over here!

loveRavayna

June 15, 2016

0 In beauty

my skincare regimen

I’m really particular about my skincare- you could say obsessive. I’ve tried a variety of regimes, but in the past year it’s evolved into a multistep, flexible routine of mostly Asian skincare products. I’ve come a long way- I grew up wearing baby oil en lieu of sunscreen, used tanning beds, and made a habit of sleeping in my makeup in college. It all makes me so mad with my past self! I’m trying to undo the damage now, and prevent more wrinkles, while keeping my skin clear and even.

Since beginning an Asian skincare regimen, I’ve been much happier with my skin, and comfortable wearing less or no makeup. I’ve had more than a few questions and comments, so wanted to share what I’ve been using (unsponsored, though some links are affiliate) to care for my skin.

Skincare is incredibly personal, totally dependent on your body chemistry, and so ymmv. The best advice I can give when modifying skincare routines is to do your research, patch test thoroughly, and be patient and kind to your skin.

Despite my devotion to Asian skincare products, I don’t presume to know much of anything other than what I’ve tried. So I’ve done a lot of learning from bloggers like Chel and Fiddy, their podcast the snailcast and the asian beauty subreddit.

One of the main ideas of Asian skincare is that it consists of a flexible wardrobe of products, and each day’s routine may vary, according to what your skin wants and needs. Also, some times you have more time and energy than others. So I’ll first share the products currently in my skincare wardrobe, then I’ll break down the different routines I might use them in.

cleanse

bioderma crealine micellar water | tosowoong enzyme powder cleanser | su:m37 miracle rose cleansing stick | the face shop rice water bright cleansing light oil | skinfood egg white pore foam

The evening double cleanse is a major tenet of Asian skincare- the first removes makeup, sunscreen and grime, while the second truly cleanses skin. I almost always use the face shop cleansing oil as my first cleanser. The su:m37 rose stick is really gentle, so I alternate that with the enzyme powder cleanser. It’s often a location thing- rose sticks are in the shower and my travel kit, powder is at the bathroom sink and in my gym bag. I’ve mentioned my love for Bioderma before– I most often use it in the morning or to refresh my face after evening acids.

prep and tone

cosrx aha/bha clarifying treatment toner | missha the first treatment essence | cosrx galactomyces whitening power essence | hada labo gokujyn hyaluronic acid lotion

Toners can be totally different products with totally different purposes- it’s one of the more complicated parts of Asian beauty. The Cosrx is a ph-adjusting toner to be used before actives and other products to prep skin. The Hada Labo is a moisturizing toner, layered on later in the routine. The Missha used to be my favorite first essence, but I think the Cosrx galactomyces may have bumped it.

actives and treatments

These actives are the heavy hitters in my routine as far as sun damage and texture issues. The Vitamin C is my morning product, and the rest are used at night. The Cosrx products are really gentle, so I like that they don’t fry my skin even though I use them both most nights and I tend to be lazy about wait times. I skip the pair sometimes, though, and use Retin-A, prescription tretinoin, instead. I use the A-sol morning and night regularly, but clindamycin is mostly a spot treatment.

serums

shark sauce (10% off through that link| tosowoong propolis sparkle ampoule | ljh tea tree 90 essence | skinfood peach sake pore serum

My skin has really responded to layers of light products, so serums work fantastically. Shark sauce is a fabulous handmade co-op product, and has paired amazingly with the propolis serum to brighten skin and fade spots and marks- I’ve had some nasty red marks totally disappear with a little diligence. The tea tree serum helps fight blemishes, and the peach sake pore serum is great for mattifying on hot days.

moisturize

mizon snail recovery gel cream | dr jart ceramidin cream | embryolisse | guerisson 9 complex horse oil cream

With moisture, the name of the game is options. Some of these feel lighter than others, while some are super emollient- I count on the Dr. Jart to save me from the peelies Retin-A can cause. The snail recovery gel is especially healing- great on scrapes and dried cuticles, and absolutely genius at healing burns with minor scarring.

seal and protect

This overnight lip balm is amazing- it’s super rich, if a bit sticky, and still feels freshly applied when you wake up. I use the rosehip oil around my eyes and on dry patches, and keep the sleeping pack on my nightstand for one last layer of goodness. And real talk- none of these previous products would have made the slightest difference were I not also using SPF religiously. Sunscreen is a non-negotiable around here, especially since some of my actives can make my skin more photosensitive. The watery essence is my go-to, everyday- the texture is amazing, even under makeup. It’s not waterproof though, so I use the uv perfect milk if I need splash-proof protection. The powder sunscreen lives in my purse- it’s perfect for reapplication on the go and over makeup, and it’s not ashy at all!

masks

skinfood black sugar strawberry mask | aztec secret healing clay | manuka honey | carbonated bubble clay mask

Y’all, I mask a lot. Several times a week, sometimes a few different kinds in succession, or a multi mask. The first set are wash off, with sugar scrub, clay, and carbonation as active ingredients. Manuka honey’s there too- it’s super healing and moisturizing all on its own.

If you follow me on snapchat ( loveRavayna ) you’ve likely seen me horrifying my seatmates with sheet masks on plane flights. I’m shameless when it comes to taking care of my skin, and I love a good sheetmask- my girlfriends know they can expect me to always have a few in my suitcase. And the Cosrx patches aren’t a mask, but a clutch tool in the overnight pimple battle.

I’m also working on testing some new products and working them into the routine. I’ve been loving Pixi glow tonic lately- I could see it replacing the Cosrx AHA long term. I’m trying a brightening eye serum, an old-fashioned drawing paste as a spot treatment, and a hydration mist, and am liking them, but need a few more weeks to make sure. I also might have finally discovered some wipes that aren’t horrible for your skin, so I’ll be sure to update.

All the time, lotions and potions are paying off, though. My skin has been looking much more even and vibrant, like I’ve said. But the best validation has been at the Sk-11 counter, where a Magic Ring skin analysis a few years ago was the eye-opener to my sun damage and skin issues, though I tested at an accurate skin age of 28. A more recent Magic Ring analysis returned much improved scores and an overall skin age of 22, so I’m literally managing to turn back the time over here.

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Now, I obviously don’t use all these products all the time- I’d never make it anywhere. But here are some of the sequences I might use them in.

In the morning:

most days, pre-makeup

splash with water
vitamin c serum- wait 20 minutes
Bioderma on a cotton pad
first essence
tea tree essence
shark sauce and propolis serum, mixed in my palm
moisturizer of the moment
sunscreen

I’ll skip the Vitamin C and wait time if I’m eyeing the clock, but try to make it happen most mornings.

if I’m staying at home and skipping makeup

splash with water or use rose stick
Vitamin C serum- wait 20 minutes
Bioderma on a cotton pad
first essence
A-sol
shark sauce
Tosowoong propolis serum
tea tree essence
moisturizer of the moment
sunscreen

if I’m headed to late morning spin class

splash with water or use rose stick
tea tree essence
sunscreen

if I’m going straight to the gym

splash with water or use rose stick
Vitamin C serum
powder sunscreen and/or baseball hat.

In the evening:

my base evening routine

oil cleanse
rose stick or enzyme powder cleanser
Cosrx toner
Cosrx AHA- wait 15 minutes
Cosrx BHA- wait 15 minutes
first essence
A-sol
shark sauce
Propolis serum
moisturizer

About 3 nights a week, I replace Cosrx acids with prescription tret, and add some more moisture

oil cleanse
rose stick or enzyme powder cleanser
first essence
A-sol
shark sauce
Hado labo toner
Propolis serum- wait 5 min
Retin-A – wait 15 minutes
Dr. Jart cream
rosehip oil
sleeping pack

if I have time to pamper

black sugar strawberry or bubble clay wash off mask
rose stick or enzyme powder cleanser
Cosrx toner
Cosrx AHA- wait 15 minutes
Cosrx BHA- wait 15 minutes
first essence
A-sol
shark sauce
propolis serum
Hado Labo toner
sheet mask
moisturizer
rosehip oil
sleeping pack

if I’m totally exhausted

oil cleanse
rose stick or enzyme powder cleanser
A-sol
shark sauce and propolis serum, mixed in my palm
moisturizer

And I’m always more diligent the day after a lazy night.

Whew! So much info from this skin obsessive, hope it’s helpful for the curious. Feel free to request any more info on specific products or clarification, I just figured this was plenty long enough!

loveRavayna

June 10, 2016

8 In lifestyle/ travel

totally Trini

One of the best things about our Trinidad vacations is how much it feels like home. That expectation’s should be a little unrealistic- we moved to the States in time for me to start kindergarten, and I didn’t return to the island until I was a grown woman. But from the time I feel the humid air at Piarco, Trinidad embraces.

Part of it is our guest quarters. My aunt Annemarie hosts us all (David and I, our besties Erin and Craig, my mom, aunt and uncle, my cousin and her new fiancé- a whole crew!) at her lovely home, and it’s perfect for playtime and partying… ‘liming’ is the Trini translation. She’s just the most gracious hostess, and makes her home a pleasure for us to visit.

Auntie has the loveliest ladies helping her at home. They spoil us rotten, and take such good care of us. Mrs Rose and her daughter kept us in literal feasts, and Mrs Rhona (to my mom’s right) kept us in stitches too. We always joke that their goal is to fatten us up till our costumes don’t fit- these women are some talented cooks.

More on Trini food in an upcoming post… Back to the party! says Auntie Angela. ?

The house pretty much has a revolving door, so the soca music starts the party early in the morning, and it goes all day. Aunties and family and friends stream in and out as Craig, the most patient bartender in the world, keeps drinks full and strong. Poolside is a sociable place to be in the Trini heat on the days we stay in.

Each of us maxes out our duty -free purchase upon arrival in Trinidad, and we stock the bar. Absolut Karnival is a bit of a thing on our trips- it’s a local market limited edition, flavored with passion fruit and orange blossom, and we drink it with soda, lime and bitters. When we’re not drinking rum, that is. We drink a lot of rum. It’s a Trini ting.

The house has plenty: people, food and drink, bright colors, photos of my auntie’s winning carnival costumes. And Lola, my aunt’s parrot- she’s something else. My mom taught her to say my name on a previous trip, and hand to g-d if Lola doesn’t call for me incessantly. Bless his heart, Craig spent some time trying to teach her other names, but no such luck.. She only wanted to sqwawk ‘vayna, vayna’ ad infinitum every time she saw me or heard my name.

If you visit our family, someone’s going to tell you about the savannah, (Queen’s Savannah Park), and claim it as the largest roundabout in the world. I don’t know about all that (proof or it didn’t happen), but it’s home to good stuff. Aside from the carnival festivities it hosts, there are vendors of every stripe dotted along the roundabout all the time- fruit, drinks, oyster shooters, kebab, roti, and more.

For us, it’s always about going to see the coconut man. Normally we’d do oysters, then coconuts but we kept missing the oysterman. It’s not like the street food vendors are on some kind of easily accessible schedule, and rumor and routine are only so reliable on Trini time.

Coconut water in bottle or can can be as cold-pressed and raw as it wants, but it can’t compare to a fresh Trini coconut hacked open. After all the water has been drunk, the coconut and machete meet again, to expose the yummy coconut jelly ready for eating.

We’re always interested in shopping local, seeing markets, and engaging with the vendors. We made a trip with Auntie Annemarie out to El Soccoro Road, where lots of fruit vendors are. The produce is arranged prettily, like at an American farmer’s market, but the varieties differ greatly. I was totally intrigued by the fresh pigeon peas in their pod, and the assortment of chilis made me realize exactly why homemade Trini hot sauce is so good.

I spent some time chatting with the shop owner while I browsed, and while he chopped my sugarcane to reasonable lengths. Trini people are just chatty. Auntie enjoyed art directing from the idling driver’s seat- peep her there?

similar black dresses // vintage chambray dress similar // similar // gaimo espadrilles similar, 2

The sun was setting as we headed home, so we took a long detour to go up to the lookout. Port-of-Spain and the sea beyond were really gorgeous as the sun slipped below the horizon and pinpricks of light sparked on.

loveRavayna

June 7, 2016

0 In food

thai tea boba smoothie

Thai tea has been one of my favorite flavors since college, when a coffee shop on Maple Street started serving boba. I adore that it’s pretty much a caffeinated milkshake. It’s my perpetual order, but it’s really so easy to make at home that you might not find yourself going out for boba often! A good blender, and a trip to your local Asian grocery (or trusty Amazon prime) is all you need for lots of creamy Thai tea shakes.

There’s a little prep work involved- you’ll want to brew the tea and freeze it in advance. But once you’ve got tea cubes in the freezer, it comes together in the time it takes to boil water for instant boba. It’s such a good afternoon treat as the weather warms up- quick to make and refreshing to enjoy! Consider yourself warned though- thai tea has powerful colorants, so prepare to have your fingertips dyed orange.

Ingredients

loose Thai tea
boiling water
instant tapioca boba
4 tbsp sugar, or to taste
sweetened condensed milk
cold water

Preparation

Brew tea according to package directions (I use a French press), sweeten lightly with sugar, cool, then freeze tea into cubes.
When ready to serve, prepare boba according to package directions. Set aside.
Place tea ice cubes in blender. Pulse, adding cold water as needed to crush ice. Add a few spoonfuls of condensed milk, blending till smooth.
Serve over boba, with an extra drizzle or three of condensed milk and a wide straw. Enjoy!

loveRavayna

June 3, 2016

0 In food

recent eats

I’ve been testing recipes and making lots of delicious things to eat while I’m home in my kitchen. I miss cooking when I’m on the road! I wanted to share some of the yummies we’ve had around here lately… a little food porn is a good thing.

Roy Choi is one of my fave five chefs, and not just because he is such an incredible human. He’s masterful at creating harmony from dissonant flavors, and this popcorn (served at A-frame) is a perfect example of that. Kettlecorn is mixed with corn pop cereal (I use Buc-ee’s beaver nuggets because I have a serious addiction), crispy bacon crumbles, and chunks of dried pineapple. It’s drizzled with brown butter, then showered with wasabi furikake for the most craveworthy salty-spicy-sweet-savory combination. I’ve been known to make and eat a batch, calling it dinner- it’s killer with prosecco or champagne.

I’m dying to go back to Paris to do some more exploring and eating, but that’s totally not in the budget right now. I put some delicious aged gouda into a cheese soufflé to soothe my wanderlust and it was a scrumptious life choice.

This is a go-to dinner in our house- David grills steak and asparagus, and I roast sweet potatoes dusted with cumin, greek seasoning, smoked paprika, s&p. They get tossed with crumbled blue cheese while hot, and spicy pecans add crunch.

I made some blueberry Dutch babies for breakfast, I’ve been making this recipe since college, and it’s practically foolproof if you pay attention. I up the cardamom, because I love it, and also add ground ginger and the zest of a lemon.

I can do some serious damage at Chipotle, so we had burrito bowls at home. I topped cilantro-lime rice with crockpot green chile carnitas, black bean ragout, Trader Joe’s corn salsa, cheese and avocado. So so good.

We grill pizza weekly when the weather’s this nice- homemade dough is just too easy not to. Some weeks it’s fancy, like roasted chicken, Gorgonzola, peaches, and arugula. But we kept it super simple most recently, with fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, red onions, pepperoni and basil.

Since the girls started laying, we’ve been eating lots of their delicious eggs. They make an easy bacon-and-eggs breakfast extra delicious, especially when that bacon is home-cured and thick cut.

Those two ingredients also combine into an epic carbonara, bright yellow from the grassfed yolks.

We also had backyard eggs (along with purchased quail eggs) on these delish lamb sliders. We ran a lamb shoulder through our grinder with a bit of beef, adding shallots, garlic, rosemary, and a feta core. The Hawaiian rolls were toasted, then smeared with garlic confit and harissa ketchup before we stacked the burgers with arugula and fried eggs. Cucumber-feta-shrimp orzo, one of our favorite pasta salads, was on the side.

My college girlfriend Elyse came to visit the same weekend as one of David’s groomsmen, so we had a group over for a little brunch. David helped me mix up a sparkling blueberry basil lemonade rum punch, and I had frozen basil sprigs into ice cubes. Inspired by Eggslut at Grand Central Market, I poached eggs layered with parmesan-chive mashed potatoes and served them with warm flaky buttermilk biscuits. A platter of gorgeous fresh fruit with maple yogurt and a big pile of bacon rounded out the spread. And every time I entertain, I’m grateful to my mother-in-law for gifting me gorgeous heirloom silver. I’m so old-fashioned sometimes, but it just makes me smile every time I use it.

loveRavayna

May 29, 2016

0 In style

wishing on too many candles

Around here, a birthday is pretty fun, even when I’m into these dreaded thirties. If you’ll recall from holiday posts, I’m a firm believer that true love is picking out your own presents. I normally don’t have much on my ‘want’ list, but it’s overflowing with cute stuff this season. I pulled together a few of the things I’m lusting over right now into a birthday wishlist. And spoiler alert- wearing one of these items already!

Imelda over here, always about the shoes. I love tennies for summer and have been eyeing these classic black New Balances (1). I bought these grey Bensimon tennies (2) when we were in Paris last spring, and wore them frequently, until they disappeared from my locker at the spa the other week, so I need another pair. I’m also a major espadrille fan, and this Rosè all day pair (3) is too cute! I’m wanting Tieks too, with all the walking we do. I just can’t decide between shimmery (4) and bright fuchsia (5).

I’ve been wanting a pair of tassel earrings, and I love the navy beading and touch of sparkle on this Baublebar pair (6). And these stunning Kendra Scott earrings (7) remind me of the North Star. I’m obsessed with Honeysilk ribbons, so a stylist box (8) would make me squeal, and be so fun to style. Cute workout clothes are a motivating must- I love the bow back on this Kate Spade yoga bra (9). I’ve been dying for a Letterfolk board (10) since I first spotted them on Instagram. I want all the sizes and especially the limited edition white, but I think the grey fits my style best.

Speaking of grey, my hair’s pewtery these days, and I want a silver circle clip (11) to accent that. Looking ahead to summer hostessing, I want this carafe and glass set (12) for the guest bedroom, this wicker beverage set (13) for outdoor entertaining, and a disco drink tumbler (14) for happy hour!

Let’s be real, though. My birthday wishes are incredibly entitled and utterly first world when I think of others. Specifically when I think of my birthday buddy. If you follow me on Facebook, watch the Ellen show, or are a major Saints fan, you’ve probably heard about my friends Brian McKenna (happy birthday, twin- I love you!) and Jackson Smith. Feel free to catch up on how Brian’s spirit and Jackson’s service combine to swell my eyes with tears and heart with emotion. Brian was one of the first friends I made at Tulane, and he and Jackson are so kind and positive. Brian is celebrating his birthday too today, and I can’t help but want to celebrate and love on him- he is a miracle and an inspiration and honestly? His wants trump mine any day, so please donate to his care if you are feeling generous.

loveRavayna

May 25, 2016

0 In style

an afternoon at the venice canals

Sometimes in life you’ve got to stop and smell the roses. These, in a yard along the canals in Venice, were amazing- they reminded me of the roses in my bridal bouquet. Sure, I’m wishing I was enjoying springtime in the Italian Venice, but Californian Venice has its own special beauty. The paths and bridges are shared by locals and visitors on foot and bike, and it’s a lovely place to go for a wander.

We spent some time in Venice after a tsukemen ramen stop, showing one of my college besties around. It was kindof shocking how it was broiling hot and sunny leaving our house in the valley, but cool and very windy out closer to the water and near the canals. The neighborhood is always so pretty though, that the weather matters not.

I’ll admit I was over-anxious to wear this dress. I picked it up at Anthropologie, and am a bit obsessed with the raw edge of the midi skirt and the slash pockets. But I was in between sizes, and opted up; this denim number has a far more flattering fit now that it’s been nipped around the waist and bust, and doesn’t have a saggy kangaroo pouch ?.

I’ve been so into changing up my jewelry game as my hair color evolves, and Rocksbox has been perfect for that. I put these Kendra Scott earrings and wrist chain on my wishlist, and was excited to see them show up in my mailbox! My stylist sent them with this sterling Gorjana lariat, and I was kindof in love with all of it. I couldn’t help myself- I kept the earrings when I sent the Rocksbox back yesterday! The deal was just too tempting. The retail is $85, Rocksbox price is $68, and monthly shine spend discount dropped them another $10, and so I added them to the collection. If you like jewelry, or mail, or free stuff, you should probably use my code RAVAYNAXOXO for a month of free designer jewelry signing up for a Rocksbox delivery.

denim midi // similar wedges, 2, flats // earrings // bracelet // lariat // nails

loveRavayna

May 20, 2016

0 In food

Mad for mango (and coconut rice, too)

It’s Ataúlfo mango season, and they are one of my very favorite fruit varieties. Mexican-grown, they are smaller, sweeter, and far less fibrous that the Tommy Atkins mangoes available nearly year-round at our local markets. I rarely purchase those bigger ones, but when Ataúlfos come in, I scoop them up by the caseful… it’s mango mania over here! I make big batches of mango chow (a Trinidadian sweet and spicy preparation) when food prepping, but most of the mangoes are devoured for dessert Thai-style- served on sticky rice, drizzled with homemade coconut cream.

Though Thai sweet glutinous rice is traditionally used in khao niao mamung (I stock up at Ranch 99), most any glutinous short grain rice will work. I have a bit of an obsession with forbidden rice, so I use that often- I love a blend of the two in this dish. If I can spare the time and effort, I steam the rices separately and then combine, as I did here. Cooking them in the same pot totally works, the forbidden rice just dyes the white rice during the process.

Ingredients

1 cup (200 g) sticky rice
1 can full-fat coconut milk, well-shaken, divided
1/2 cup (100 g) sugar, divided
2 teaspoons (6g) cornstarch
kosher salt
two ripe mangoes (preferably Ataúlfo), peeled and chopped
toasted sesame seeds, for garnish

Preparation (adapted from Serious Eats)

In a medium bowl, cover rice with water by several inches and let soak at room temperature for at least one hour, up to overnight.
Drain rice, and place in steamer lined with cheesecloth or a clean kitchen towel, making sure to level the surface to form an even layer. Bring water in steamer to a boil over high heat, cover, and cook until rice is tender, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, place a small saucepan over medium heat and add half the coconut milk. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Whisk in 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and a large pinch of salt. The coconut milk should balance between salty and sweet.
Move the steamed rice to a large heatproof bowl and pour coconut milk mixture on top. Stir well to combine, cover with plastic, and let stand until liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, add remaining coconut milk to saucepan. Return to simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. In a small bowl, mix cornstarch with a couple of teaspoons of the hot coconut milk to form a slurry. Whisk cornstarch slurry into coconut milk and simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes. Whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and a pinch of salt. Keep coconut cream warm.
For serving, plate coconut rice and arrange sliced mango alongside. Drizzle with coconut cream, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and serve right away.

loveRavayna

May 12, 2016

0 In home/ lifestyle

chickens and eggs

Our girls are huge, it seems! As far as chickens go, they are actually on the small side, but they have just grown so much, so quickly.

Once they made it out of the awkward teenager stage, they began to look totally different. Nugget is the fluffy-cheeked blonde, while Mimosa’s rocking the red mohawk. She looks a bit suspiciously roosterlike, but she’s definately a hen. Both of these ladies are supposedly Easter Eggers, but we think Mimosa is crossed with Rhode Island Red- her appearance and blush eggs are my clues, but I’m really just learning from Google over here.

I can’t even believe I actually feel this way about chickens, but they are really cute. They are adorably codependent- they follow each other all over the backyard and will call for each other if separated. They are especially adorable dust bathing – they fluff up and shake and roll and it’s pretty precious.

To be honest, apples aren’t falling far from the tree over here. These girls are assertive and opinionated, for sure! They’re more often that not a bit big for their britches- Nugget is happy to help herself to a snack, and seems very intent on roosting as high as possible in the yard, ideally on top of their cabin.

Sometimes they’re super cuddly, and other times they are having absolutely none of it, and will go squawking away. The chicken jailbreaking actually got a little out of hand for a bit, with frequent uninvited visits to the neighbors. Nugget even went for a brief swim in the neighbors pool, till David hopped the fence on lifeguard duty.

So to limit the chicken capers, we had a little wing trim session. I watched a few YouTube videos, and it was quick, easy, and totally painless to trim their flight wings so they can’t make it over our (rather tall) fence. You can spot Mimosa’s haircut in the above pictures if you look carefully…. it’s not exactly super even!

But I think the naughtiest thing that happened was the egg hidey-hole situation. After the first few eggs from Mimosa, and just one aqua egg from Nugget, they went on an apparent strike- no eggs for over a week. After a literal egg-hunt in the backyard, we found a dozen and a half eggs hidden in the wild sage!

Their eggs are pretty tiny- above with a quail egg, and an xl white store egg for a comparison. At first, some barely tipped the egg scale, but nowadays most are almost or into medium sized.

They’re obviously richly colored compared to the store egg, and stunningly more tasty. They make the most incredible carbonara, and scrummy fried eggs, and everything else. We feed the girls organic layer feed, lots of kitchen scraps, and plenty of treats and grit, so these are some spoiled chicks.

I’m clearly obsessed with these girls, so bonus windblown chicken picture (how hysterical are they?) if you made it through all this chicken chat!

LoveRavayna

May 8, 2016

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