Wednesday 31 October 2012

Jon Rafman: The Nine Eyes of Google Street View.



Yesterday I took the trusty 319 Bus to Sloane Square. You've got to love that there's a bus that leaves a  few blocks from my house directly to the King's Road. Yes please.

Agenda: purchase some warm clothes, and take another trip to the Saatchi.

Why the Saatchi again? I wanted to see Jon Rafman's 'The Nine Eyes of Google Street View' before it was gone.

I'll let you read what he had to say...


Pretty neat idea hey? Have a look.







Just a baby. All alone. NBD.


FYI- The top picture (below) is Cambie Street in Vancouver. Seriously.









And my personal favourite...

A reindeer running along a highway in Norway.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!

Mom's awesome pumpkins (inspired by this post)

















Tuesday 30 October 2012

Ratatouille.


As most Londoners will attest, winter arrived this week. It only took one hour on the windy platform at Clapham Junction with my light fall jacket, a cancelled train, and a post-swim wet pony tail,  to get the message across. I think I was frozen for 48 hours straight after that.

Time for the comforts of seasonal cooking. For me, this means grilled vegetables. I love, love, love, love, grilled vegetables. We had some leftover chicken from last night's roast chicken dinner, and S suggested I make a Ratatouille with it. What's Ratatouille? No, I haven't seen the movie.

I looked it up. Game on.

And here's what you'll need to buy....

3 Courgettes (Zucchini..but when in Rome!)
2 Aubergines (ahem...eggplant)
1 yellow pepper
1 orange pepper
1 red onion
4 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
3 tsp Thyme
8 tbsp Olive Oil
Sea Salt
Pepper
1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
1 tsp sugar
Feta (to sprinkle on the top)


Method (this is where you'll realize I cheated- Sauteed and didn't grill):

1) Chop Courgettes, Aubergine, peppers, and onion into decent sizes pieces (see photo)

2) Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet, add Aubergine and cook for 5 mins (do not overcook) and sit aside. (I added sea salt as I was cooking to the Aubergines and the courgettes)

3) add another tbsp of oil and cook the courgettes for 5 mins and sit aside.

4) do the same with the peppers

5) chop the thyme and garlic finely

6) Add a tbsp of oil to the pan and cook the onions for 5 mins. Add the garlic and cook for another minute.

7) Add the red wine vinegar, sugar, and tomatoes, and some of the thyme. Add the rest of the pre-cooked vegetables back into the pan, along with the rest of the thyme. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add Sea Salt, and pepper


Admittedly having too much fun making the aubergines look like fish. I know.













Tonight we are serving it with leftover Cauliflower mash, but polenta is another yummy suggestion. Garnish with Feta or Goat cheese.

.....Ta Daaaaaa.




Let me know what you think.



Monday 29 October 2012

The Great Watermelon, Charlie Brown.

The judges are still out from our pumpkin carving festivities, but to give you an idea of the pressure I was under, let me show you one line from an email I received last week:

"No pressure but I'm expecting something along the lines of Michelangelo's David given your current schooling."

While I definitely didn't attempt David, I took the Michelangelo thing to heart...

After a little research, S and I decided on Watermelons...
I dare you to attempt toting four watermelons on London transport on a Saturday night.



Can you guess what we carved?
Yes, all four Ninja Turtles. 


This did however result in a 'Who's your favourite Turtle?' debate. I would back Michelangelo all the way to the bank, but I was quickly put in my place. 


Kat toasted yummy pumpkin seeds with three different flavours. Who knew Taco Seasoning made for killer pumpkin seeds?


Despite how it looks, Paul still has all of his fingers.


How to successfully scare away all small children from ones doorstep...well done Crosby.

"No, it's not Batman!" Wu-Tang Pumpkin expertly carved by Matt Baird
Inspired by the most stolen artwork of all time.






'A' for effort Chuck and Jordan ;)

And then we named all the Vancouver Grizzlies that ever lived....oh, nostalgia.

What did one ever do before smart phones?!

Alright, give it to me straight. Which pumpkin / watermelons take the cake?

...and I'll leave you with this: