Earthquake in Haiti

Now for my first PEACE segment! As most people already know, there was recently an earthquake in Haiti. Currently youtube has a link on their homepage that leads you to where you can donate and help these truly unfortunate people. Mind you hospitals and government capitals were DESTROYED, and the death toll is projected at 50,000. This has been devastating for the small poverty ridden island and every little bit helps, thank you.

Taya

UPDATE: Cheap clothing site

Hey my huns, the clothing site I posted earlier has been suspended (Don't know the details, I had no problems dealing with them) but here is another one, the selection isnt as good nor are the prices but the stuff they do have IS cheaper than retail, ENJOY! Click here

Onigiri

OK, anyone that knows me knows that I absolutely LOVE Japan and Japanese Culture (and CUISINE!!!) so I decided to post one of my favorite Japanese recipes. Onigiri. Onigiri is a traditional dish that could only be compared to the great sandwich in America and is often sent as a lunch food.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound salmon fillet
• 4 cups uncooked, short-grain rice
• 5 3/4 cups water
• 2 sheets dried nori seaweed, or pretoasted nori sheets
• 2 large pickled plums, pits removed and coarsely chopped
  
• 1/4 cup dried bonito flakes
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dark soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons black sesame seeds, toasted

Directions

Sprinkle the salmon fillet with salt and let stand for 2 hours.

Meanwhile, wash the rice thoroughly in cold water 30 to 60 minutes before cooking and let drain in colander. Place rice and water in a heavy, tightly covered saucepan over medium-high heat. When water just begins to boil, turn the heat to high and let it come to a vigorous boil. Reduce the heat to low and cook until all the liquid is absorbed by the rice, about 12 to 13 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the rice stand, covered, for 10 to 15 minutes. Using a flat wooden spoon or rice paddle, fluff the rice with a cutting motion. Stretch a towel under the lid and cover tightly to keep warm until ready to use.

Toast the nori sheets over a high gas flame, and cut crosswise into 1-inch wide strips, or use pretoasted nori.

Mix the bonito flakes with the soy sauce. Rinse the salt off the salmon, pat dry, and grill for 3 to 5 minutes. Use a fork to break the salmon into small pieces.

Wet your hands with salted water to keep the rice from sticking to your hands. Cup one hand and place a handful of rice, about 1/2 cup, in your hand. Make an indentation in the rice and tuck in one of the fillings: a teaspoon of soaked bonito flakes, a few flakes of salmon, or a few pieces of pickled plum. Close the rice over the filling and mold it into a triangular shape. Mold the rice firmly, pressing just hard enough to hold it together. Set the rice triangle down on one of its sides and cover the top peak with a strip of nori, shiny side out, like a roof. You can also make cylindrical shapes and wrap the nori around the middle. Sprinkle sesame seeds over the rice shapes. These are great lunch treats.

Sorry Huns, hope this makes up for my recent abandonment! .: Cheap Hollister!!!:.

OK, so I KNOW everyone strives to walk about in the latest Hollister, AE, or A&F clothing, but with the price tag.. :S, not very economical. Well for those of us who have become one of the 'Go Green & Save Green' movement, there is china-clothing-wholesale.com. translation: Brand name duds at dirt cheap prices! They carry most brand name clothing, including: Hollister, Baby Phat, Bebe, A&F, AE, D&G, and a CRAP-LOAD more (sorry for AERO fans though :'(, guess they just couldn't manage to get those shrts any cheaper). But definately worth checking out if your on a budget, have had no problems as of yet!

As Always,
Taya

Another Contest

WIN A CINEMA CUBE! http://thedirtytshirt.com/brite-view-cinemacube-review-and-giveaway

REALLY sorry i havent posted, this week has been hectic, but theres this AWESOME contest out where u can win a new digital camera! CHEK IT OUT! http://www.goodgollymissblondie.com/2009/07/casio-exilim-digital-camera.html

ICED MOCHA!

ok, today WAZ my fashion day (as soon as I actually get this up 4 about a week ull c a pattern in my posts) but I found this absolutely DLIGHTFUL iced mocha drink! i ♥ mcd's iced mocha but I cant afford 2 just go there every day 4 an iced mocha (the closest 1 is 25mi away!!!) so i experimented and came up w/ this!!!

ICED MOCHA

There are lots of ways to make an iced mocha, this being one of the simplest and most delicious. I like how the brown sugar adds a slight caramel note to this refreshing coffee, and I think you will too. If you’re in a hurry and want to skip the “special occasion” flourishes, omit the whipped cream and chocolate garnishes. But just know that they do make the coffee extra special with very little added effort. This would be great to serve at a summer patio party, in lieu of dessert.(The recipe makes just 2 servings but can be easily multiplied.)

• 1 1/2 cups strong hot brewed coffee
• 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chocolate syrup, such as Hershey’s
• 1 cup ice cold milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Handful or so crushed ice
• Lightly sweetened whipped cream, for garnish
• 1 small piece semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, for garnish

1. Combine the hot coffee and brown sugar in a large measuring cup and stir until the brown sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate syrup. Transfer to a shallow bowl. Cool briefly at room temperature, then chill until ice cold. You can accelerate this step by putting it in the freezer, but just make sure it doesn’t start to ice.

2. Combine the chilled coffee, milk, and vanilla in a small pitcher; stir to blend. Divide the coffee between 2 serving glasses, adding a small handful of crushed ice to each. Top each glass with whipped cream then grate a little chocolate over each one. Serve with straws.

Makes 2 servings

ENJOY! :)