Friday, February 26, 2010

POMEGRANATE SALAD

First, I thought to make other pomegranate salad in a classic combination with my all time favorite aubergines. But I stumbled upon an unexpected problem - a sudden total lack of aubergines in my area! I've raced to all the super-mega-hyper markets in my place, but...nothing, though yet about a week ago they were there! Anyway I already had a tempting pomgranate specimen waiting up in my fridge, so for now I've settled on this fast and yummi recipe found at AzCookbook.

Nar Salatı
Ingredients:
  • 1 medium pomegranate
  • 4 medium potatoes, boiled and peeled, cut into small bitesize cubes
  • 1 small red onion, cut in half lengthways and finely sliced along the grain
  • ½ cup chopped fresh dill or cilantro (coriander)
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise or more, to taste
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste (optional)
Method of Cooking:
  1. Extracting the seeds: With a sharp knife, cut off the crown top of the pomegranate. Make a shallow spiral cut in the skin around the fruit. Holding with both hands, pull the pomegranate apart to break into half, then into quarters. Invert each pomegranate quarter by pushing the skin with your thumbs to let the seeds fall out. You may need to pick the remaining seeds with your hands. You should be able to get about 1 cup of pomegranate seeds. Remove any white pith and membrane that may have fallen into the bowl, as they are bitter in taste.
  2. In a mixing bowl, combine potatoes, onions, pomegranate seeds and fresh herbs. Add mayonnaise, taste for saltiness, then season with salt and pepper to taste, then mix thoroughly with a spoon. If you prefer a moist salad, add more dressing, to taste.
  3. Chill in refrigerator for at least 20 minutes before serving. Serve plain or with bread.
Rovinj_pomegranate-tree
Pomegranate tree near a private house in Rovinj (Croatia) - still green but so attractive!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

A POMEGRANATE SUNDAY

With this post I am aiming to do three things at once (was just about to say "killing three birds with one stone" but to me this expression somehow happened to sound too cruel and thus definitely not fitting with the nice topic I'm going to write about;)
Well, first thing is wishing my dear readers and friends a marvelous relaxing Sunday (or any kind of your most liking)!
Second is to share my latest finding - a lovely painting featuring a fruit for which I've always been having an immense passion and love it in each and every way - as a food in all its existent variants and also collecting inspiring pomegranates images, for example like the one below!

pomegranate2
This amazing oil painting is by an US artist Elizabeth Floyd

At first, I was going to post a series of pomegranates images, but I think this picture doesn't need a company being so beautiful - filled with much fresh light and juicy colors it is perfectly performing a solo.
And finally, the third thing is about dropping a hint on what my next to come post will be about.. :)
Happy Sunday!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

HAPPY SUNDAY

“Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake.”
Wallace Stevens

There are places on earth, with such an inexplicably magnetic, almost magical aura, which, once you are there, make you feel completely yourself filling up with true peace, harmony and joy. I don't know where this beautiful photo was made but it takes me back to a very special place where I used to feel like that...

Photo by the courtesy of Kimico

I love this soft, as if enveloping light and the texture is perfect contributing to a warm nostalgic mood.

Sad I can't step inside the picture right now, but... I know where I should go this Summer;)

Thursday, February 11, 2010

New Start for my Blog Design

Hi, I've been absent for a while here but look what I've done today - a second sidebar!

This was a long-time cherished little dream of having another sidebar to get arranged everything in a more appropriate and easy to deal with way, and I've tried several tutorials layed out in the web but with no success.
Thus I was about to put up with the fact that my blog has only one sidebar and I'd have to somehow manage everything in the narowness of one column...

But I've come across an absolutely wonderful tutorial at
Seo Tips Blogger and after following easy and clearly explained steps HERE IT IS!
So if some of you may have the same problems still unsolved, I highly recommend this site which has lot's more practical advices for creative and successful blogging:)

Monday, February 8, 2010

DRESS UP A WALL

Yes, I always thought too that the right place for pot holders is in the kitchen, but don't you think they may wonderfully serve as wall decorations!?

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The photo via Style-Files - a beautiful blog on design and lifestyle by Danielle.

Friday, February 5, 2010

PURSES, BAGS and other uplifters

These lovely things are made by an Australian (Tasmanian) textile artist and designer Tara Badcock . First it was discovered through Brabourn Farm blog and then my curiosity lead me to Tara Badcock's Flickr Gallery where I've picked up to share some images I like the most.
And first of all it's her amazing tea-time collection of purses - freehand machine or hand embroidered drawing-like elements on silk and Tasmanian wool. I don't know why, but the vintage style of these embroidered drawings brings up in my mind an association with Alice in Wonderland.

mosaic14c11a444c16cd596622f919837157cc1b48f761

My favorite birdy theme is also very charming here..

mosaic847135c5f3d823cf79f42bee69c4258020d407c3

11 3
2 1

And here's the description by Tara for the image below:
"I've just made this purse for my dear friend and very talented jeweller, Anita Dineen for her Christmas present.We both share a love of Frederic Clement's "The Merchant of Marvels
& The Peddler of Dreams"
book, pulished by Chronicle Books in 1995 and the original French title is "Magasin Zinzin ou Aux Merveilles d'Alys".

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The image is taken from page 15 which has this text:


"Amazingly Enough.....I also have a troop of elephants
all as small as specks of sand

who come trumpeting from time to time

into my teacup."