Tuesday Tunes #18: Trombone Shorty

Welcome to Tuesday Tunes, where I share a musical inspiration or discovery for the week. Please feel free to do the same. Shortly I will be adding a link-up form so it will actually be a 'thing'. Woo get excited!!

Today's feature is a big band New Orleans favorite, and amazing musician - Trombone Shorty (and Orleans Avenue). When I hear this kind of big band, horns and all music it just makes me want to get down and dance it out. It's so contagious! I'm just organizing and packing things and playing this short playlist is perfect. Hope you like (it may be impossible to not)!

Glad you stopped by today, happy week!

Birthday Celebrations

Happy week everyone! So you know Saturday was the 14th. But did you know it was my birthday? The neat thing about December 14th is that my grandpa was born on this same day nearly 90 years ago. And on that very date I also came along. I just made the cut off at 11:53 at night! I kind of love that my birthday is in December, such a culminating time off year. I mean there's holiday excitement, wrapping up and preparing for a new year, it's a time of change and renewal. 

Welp, here's some photos from that lovely day (and please excuse the horrid quality - the lighting was difficult for the camera). I'm so glad I had people to share my day with :) 

Part 1:

I was glad it was on the weekend this year and I hardly worked :) But there was a little holiday celebration at my work, which was fun. They sang and gave me a panetone with a candle on it. And it was also a 'see ya later' for the holidays since several of us are heading out for awhile.

Part 2:

In the afternoon my hubby and I were looking for some mini-apartments (which turned out to never exist - who posts false places for rent anyway??) ...On our way to dinner, we walked through a residential complex where Rafa grew up as a child. He told all the stories and memories with a smile of wonderment from those times long ago. He showed me where he used to play, what he remembered about several big earthquakes,  where his friends lived, where he first told a girl that he liked her (awww). Even his pre-school and elementary schools were in the complex. It was a really neat experience to be with him remembering all this and see what his life as a kid was like. I felt that much closer to him. 

So after walking down memory lane (kind of literally), we arrived for dinner. It was both of our first times to this sushi place, called Kaori Sushi Bar. We had really good luck because one of the rooms with the special tables was available. We were able to take our shoes off and climb into the table booth. That was a fun new experience for us! 

Here's a little preview of what we had, which was not so little.

I learned that it's called "gustito" (literally little liking) when you go out to a restaurant and splurge on a lot of good things. We definitely did just that. It's not something we do often, so it was even more special and we really savored it all. Did I mention, the food was delicious!!! Here's our empty plate: 

My birthday ended very full and happy.

Do you have any birthday traditions or stories? Do you like to celebrate big or more on the down-low?

Pumpkin Wantans

Wow, it's totally winter (north of the equator) I realize...But let's just rewind back a minute to fall and pumpkins. These pumpkin wantans are delicious, slightly sweet and would be great for appetizers, snack, or even main course. The ingredients are fairly simple, but the time to assemble them and boil can take up to 45 min. If you have some time, they turned out pretty nice for me.

The original recipe and idea is over here. And now for my rendition!

Yep. This is pretty much all you need: 

wantan wrappers (from Asian market) // pumpkin puree (recipe here) // a little water for sealing wrappers

If you put a pot of water to boil while you're putting the wantans together, it's more time-efficient. 

Moisten two sides of the wantans with water. 

A little dollop in the middle of the wantan and fold it over. Make sure you don't over-stuff the filling or it will be difficult to seal up. Take out some if it starts seeping out.

Tightly hold the folded sides together and use your finger to 'iron' over the corners. 

I kind of made up this method of wantan-folding. You can go with it or look for another way too! I fold the two adjacent corners into the center...

...and pinch with a dot of water to close it.

Lovely wantans ready to go!

When water is good and boiling, carefully slide in prepared wantans. When you first put them in make sure to give a stir so they don't stick to the bottom. You really want to take care of them in this stage because if they break or leak it's a sad story and you'll end up with empty wantans. So if you're just starting out, it may be a good idea to try this recipe with more solid fillings - I was very successful with broccoli and onion. Some others that would be nice: Spinach and garlic, cheese and bacon, sausage and broccoli, etc.

They will sink at the beginning and float when they are ready. And also change from white to an almost see-through color. Use a spatula with holes or a grid so the water can drain. They're kind of delicate, so I took mine out one at a time.

Now you've got some lovely cooked wantans! Add some soy sauce for a sweet-savory combo or sesame seed oil for a mild flavor. Yum, enjoy!

Tuesday Tunes #17: Local Natives

Oh happy day! I suppose it's actually night now, but I'll go with the rhythm (also because we saw a lovely choir show last night and this motivating song stayed in my head)...Busy and long days before the holidays have commenced! Like I mentioned, we're on the prowl for a little department in Lima, which is quite a feat because of our specifications (in part due to proximity to work). We've been stalking internet websites with offers, calling people, and I've been squeezing in some visits during the day. Something's on its way we hope...Send some good thoughts our way that we find something before I go to visit the states so Rafa doesn't have to do everything by himself! 

Tuesday Tunes

So it's still Tuesday and I want to share this band that I'd just heard of last week. Truly, I've have them on play pretty much non-stop since then. Their style is upbeat, harmonious, and heart-felt. It makes me feel like driving to the beach and blasting this. I find it pretty nice and relaxing, with a fun edge - and at least half the band have some impressive mustaches. Now, have a little listen!

Artist: Local Natives
Song: Ceilings
Recommended: Airplanes; Wide Eyes

How is your holiday season going?

My Top 10 Peruvian Foods ~ The Expat Diaries

Hello friends. And hello to winter holidays in the heat of summer! The holiday season hasn't quite hit me because of the weather and the under-commercialization of Christmas here in Peru. Although, I was really glad to indulge in all kinds of Thanksgiving delights last weekend with good friends. Life's good, I can't complain :)

Woohoo - I'm linking up with Rachel, Chelsea, and Kayleigh for The Expat Diaries!! Thanks gals for opening up this community space for expats and travelers to share. I'm going to bring the focus back to food...I hope you're on-board with that. 

So Peru is becoming more and more well-know in the food scene. Before I even came here I began to notice quite a few Peruvian restaurants popping up back in states. While there are tons of dishes and things out there I could go on about (perhaps there'll be a 2nd edition), I just narrowed the list down to 10 that I find particularly delicious and/or interesting. So, join me for dessert (it's always first, right?)?

Top 10 Peruvian Foods

Uno. PICARONES: These are pretty much fried sweet potatoes dough drizzled with a spiced honey syrup. Oh my yum (can you tell by my expression?)

{photo: Katie Alvarado}

Dos. ARROZ CON LECHE and MAZAMORRA: Another typical dessert which is sweet rice (with milk and cinnamon) and a pudding-like sauce from maÍz morada (purple corn). Mixed together, they're a perfect combo in my book!

{source}

Tres. ANTICUCHO: A very typical street food that are basically meat skewers, punctuated with a potato. In the evenings, mamítas(women) bring out their barbecues to grill these up! Oh, and they're typically made from beef heart (I'm not fond of) but there are other types too.

{Photo: Jan Ger}

Cuatro. CHOCLO: This is a variety of corn. I think it's really fun to eat because the kernels are so big! It's often boiled in a big pot right on the street corner and served with some squeaky (and salty) Andean cheese.

Cinco. CEVICHE: One of the most typical dishes in Peru. If you want some good ceviche, there are lots of good places I've heard on the coast in Lima. While I'm not a huge fan, most people really love this fish cooked by a lime marinade. Plus, it's a classic so it had to make the list!

{Photo: Jan Ger}

Seis. CUY: Aka, guinea pig! Yep, this is a special plate often found in the Andes for birthdays or other celebrations. It's pretty taste-y if well-prepared, as I describe in {this post}. If you can get over the little claws and head (nothing is hidden here), then I'd recommend giving it a chance. And you get bragging rights :)

{Photo: Frances McCorkle}

Siete. SALTADOS: Chicken, lamb, noodles...These are typical Peruvian-Asian fusion. Before coming to Peru I had no idea that there is such a large Asian influence (a Chifa post will come), much less that it would show in its gastronomy. This plate is one of my favorites because it's pretty much a stir-fry (can't go wrong!). In this picture, I attempted to reproduce pollo saltado in California for my parents...it turned out pretty well - I think they'd vouch for me ;)





Ocho. HUATIA: This isn't as much a type of food as it is a festival/tradition. Essentially, in the Andes during the harvest, people create underground ovens to cook veggies like potatoes, beans, etc. I really love this celebration of the season!

{read and see more here}

Nueve. TAMALES: These are another absolute favorite (I guess that's obvious because it's on this list)... Typical Limeño tamales are very different from Mexican tamales I'd had often (I'm from California p.s.). First they're wrapped in banana leaves for some extra flavor. And they don't have much meat in them. They are so delicious and the olive just tops it off wonderfully!

Diez. SOUPS: So in the U.S. occasionally you have the choice between a soup or salad at meals. Well, in Peru it's soup, soup, and soup! In fact, it's a typical part of nearly every meal. I miss having salads but I really like this tradition of having soup too. This one below was an interesting one made from some type of banana in the jungle.

Welp, thanks for having a little taste with me! Have you tried any of these? Or do you have another Peruvian favorite?

P.S. Another of my food-y posts here! Expat to Expat Q+A: Yummy Food

Sunshine Award

Good morning all. And wow, it's really December already! It's exciting and slightly nerve-wrecking because so much is happening this month - my birthday is just around the corner, then helping Rafa get ready to move us to a new place, saying goodbye to him,  flying to good old Cali for holiday madness, catching up with family and friends, etc. etc. Doesn't the end of the year always end with a bang? This year feels especially like that.

So, awhile back I was nominated for the Sunshine Award by the lovely Nicole over at Letters from Nicole! I'm so glad she tagged me to participate, thanks Nicole! So here's a whole lot of things about me:

11 Random Facts: 

1. I really love avocados. So delicious in so many ways :)

2. Street art mesmerizes me. {see my Graffiti in Granada post}

3. One day I am going to write a children's book!

4. I am terribly torn between simplicity and excessivity (new word!). I love the feeling of purging things and not having much of anything. But at the same time, I like having little trinkets and art supplies, books. It´s all about balance for me...

5.  One of my favorite hobbies is jewelry-making. I love designing and creating something with my hands.

6. I wear skirts more than pants. They're just so comfortable and feminine!

7. My middle name is Margaret - I was named after both my grandmas (it's their middle name too).

8. I was my own wedding designer {some of my wedding DIYs}

9. In 2011, I posted  a Rock Wrapping video and it seems to have a lot of attention in the YouTube world. 

10. I married my Peruvian sweetie this year.

11. I often smile or laugh to/at myself.

11 Questions from Nicole:

1. What is one thing that defined your childhood?
Rolly-pollies, butterfly catching, and playing in the plants.

2. What is the last book you've read?

The Language of Flowers - this is such a wonderful book! It's about a woman who grew up in foster care and learned to communicate through the meanings of flowers. 

3. What is your favorite holiday and why? 

I love all of the fall/winter holidays. It's just a cozy time of year to be together with friends and family. Plus, pumpkins and peppermint!

4. Which fictional character would you love to meet? 

Hmmm...The Little Prince :)

5. What was your favorite activity in gym class? 

Probably playing volleyball and learning different kinds of dances.

6. Would you rather vacation in Hawaii or Alaska and why?

Oh! I'd say Alaska because I've never been there and would love to experience the desolate whiteness that I imagine. After I experience it once I'd choose Hawaii - I love it's tropical weather/plants and the relaxed lifestyle.

7. What would your perfect day consist of?

Taking a hike up to a beautiful lake with friends. Also, cooking a nice meal with my husband and watching an interesting film.

8. What was your first job?
My first job was when I was probably in 8th grade. I started babysitting and tutoring younger kids.

9. Gold or silver?
Silver. I like gold sometimes but not as jewelry - for some reason it seems tacky to me. 

10. Do you collect anything?
Why, yes! I love collecting jars! And I also started a little tea pot collection a few years back.

11. What's your zodiac sign? Do you 'believe' in it?

I'm a Sagittarius. I definitely believe that it can help to understand people and relationships.

Last year in the paradise of Hawaii! 

Bloggers I'm Tagging:

Anna @ Eat, See, Do.

Laura @ The Pink Herbivore

Bri @ Pocket Full of Pollies

Angela @ The Clutter Box

Claire @ Somewhere Beyond the Sea

Diane @ The Sweet Catastrophe Blog

Megan @ Neither Here Nor There

Jamie @ Ink + Adventure
Any- and everyone else who'd like to join in!

11 Questions.

1. What is one thing you couldn't live without?

2. What's one thing you LOVE about yourself?

3. If you could learn any skill or hobby, what would it be?

4. Where is your 'happy place'?

5. Favorite kids book:

6. A quotation:

7. Piece of advice to a younger you:

8. What song/artist is currently playing?

9. Favorite thing about winter:

10. What's something you aspire to do one day?

11. Where would you like to travel to?

Here are the rules to participate:

Acknowledge the blogger who nominated you

Share 11 random facts about yourself

Answer 11 questions the nominating blogger has created for you

List 11 bloggers

Post 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate and let them know they have been nominated

Well, I hope you enjoyed learning about me. What's a fun/weird fact about you??

Tuesday Tunes #16

Hey there! I'm back from my little trip. And thanks to some awesome ladies and our cooking skills, it was really wonderful. I'm so lucky to have these good people in my life :)

This morning I luckily stumbled upon this amazing song-writer and performer, Lucy Spraggan. She has such a way of story-telling. I found myself listening, as if she were reading a book to me. Her music is full of emotions from joyous to reminiscent. It seems most fitting to start out the day by sharing this upbeat song, Lighthouse.

What do you think? Have a great day!