Sideshow by the Seashore

Moved....

2011-10-17T20:30:00.001-07:00

I'm posting now to my stefmcdonald.com site....

Dandelion on a Grey Fall Day

2011-09-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Love on a Rock: Rock of Love

2011-09-18T20:49:00.000-07:00

Love on a rock. Rock of love. Love is rock solid. (Photo taken in a house full of love.)

Santa Ynez Discovery: The Garlic Guy

2011-09-15T08:47:00.000-07:00

On a trip to Santa Ynez Valley last weekend, we happened up the farm stand of the Garlic Guy. Poul Palmer has his stand in Los Olivos on Grand Avenue, the main strip with numerous wine tasting rooms. Poul said he has grown 100 varieties of garlic and we tasted a few. Yes, tasting garlic. I asked for a good garlic for making a marinara sauce and he said he was sold out of the first varieties he would ordinarily recommend. Then he peeled back a clove for me of the Rose de Lautrec and I sniffed it, then timidly touched my tongue to it. Woweee, that was good and strong. Sold. Then Mr. MVP came over and asked for a taste and he less timidly took a bite out of a Burgundy clove.

In addition to numerous varieties of garlic, he also sold salsa boxes. The box contained four heirloom tomatoes, two jalapeno peppers, two bulbs of garlic, and one onion. How perfect: simply chop up the ingredients and you've got yourself a pico de gallo. A traditional pico de gallo doesn't call for garlic, but this was coming to us from the Garlic Guy, so we couldn't resist. A dash of salt and fresh pepper, plus a squeeze of lime to finish it off, and it was all set. Yum.

Harvest Weekend in Santa Ynez Valley

2011-09-12T13:46:00.000-07:00

Photos taken in Santa Ynez Valley, CA.

Side of the Road: Pepperdine's 9/11 Memorial

2011-09-11T15:13:00.000-07:00

Photo taken from Pacific Coast Highway of Pepperdine University's annual 9/11 memorial, with one flag for each life lost.

Heart in NY

2011-09-09T08:03:00.000-07:00

My home 10 years ago. I have also posted photos of window displays in my neighborhood on my style blog.

Beach Art: Burning Sun Backdrop, Four Figures in the Sand

2011-09-08T08:18:00.000-07:00

Sand sculpture discovered on a walk in Venice Beach, CA.

Written in the Sand with Shells: I Heart U

2011-09-05T08:27:00.000-07:00

Discovered on the sand this morning in Venice Beach, CA.

BIg Surf, Sea Bird, Crescent Moon

2011-09-02T07:11:00.001-07:00

Photo taken in Venice Beach, CA.

Leftovers Recipe: Grown-Up Sloppy Joe Sandwiches

2011-08-30T08:11:00.000-07:00

Original Meal:
Mixed grill with baby back ribs, flank steak, plus pasta and salad sides

Leftovers:
Grilled flank steak

Leftovers Meal:
Grown-up sloppy joe sandwiches

Making the sloppy joe stew: Chop a whole onion and a few cloves of garlic and saute in olive oil in a large stainless pot. Dice the steak and add it to the pot with a can of whole tomatoes, 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds, and salt and pepper. Simmer on low heat for 3-4 hours. Serve on baguette. Enjoy.

Super Bowl for Chips

2011-08-22T07:29:00.000-07:00

If you're going to have a BBQ on your fantasy football draft day, you should have a football bowl for chips.

Food is Love: Holy Cannoli

2011-08-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at a local pizza place in Santa Monica, CA. My grandmother always said, "Food is love." (And she loved a good cannoli.) I like "eat love," too.

Piece of Cake, Piece of Mind

2011-08-12T21:25:00.000-07:00

Mmmmm, cake. Photo taken at the Fruit Gallery in Venice.

Venice Beach Morning Zen Break

2011-08-06T07:39:00.000-07:00

Give it a Try: Mermaid with Flower

2011-08-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

Purple flower in mermaid's arms from the plant on our porch from the nursery guy who said, "Not sure if this plant will flower or if it will live, but plant it and give it a try."

Love and Good Food

2011-07-30T11:55:00.000-07:00

"Food is love" was something my grandmother liked to say (before, after, or during meals). I think she would have liked this message as well. Photo taken at Oscar's Cerveteca in Venice Beach, CA.

Leftovers Recipe: Burger Salad

2011-07-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's meal: Burger and hot dogs, with side salads

Leftovers: A couple of burgers and a part of a sliced tomato

Today's leftovers meal: Burger salad

This one is super-easy. Greens, tomato, sliced pickles, crumbled up burger. Dressing for the salad is blended mayonnaise, ketchup, salt and pepper (with a bit of pickle juice).

Signs: Laugh

2011-07-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

Photo taken in Portland, OR.

Bit-O-Honey, Lots-O-Love

2011-07-20T08:32:00.000-07:00

Friends Spencer and Regina were married this month and gifted wedding guests with jars of honey (with honeycomb), plus bags to fill with Bit-O-Honey candy. Sweet.

Leftovers Recipe: Caprese Pasta

2011-07-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

We picked up some beautiful heirloom tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese to make caprese salad the other night, using fresh basil leaves from the garden. But we made too much and I put the leftovers in the fridge.

Yesterday:

Caprese salad

Leftovers:

A couple of slices of tomato and mozzarella

Today's Leftovers Meal:

Pasta with caprese

Pasta with Caprese

Pasta of your choice

Mozzarella

Tomatoes

Basil

Olive Oil

Garlic

Salt and pepper

Saute a few cloves of chopped garlic in olive oil. Add al dente pasta and the chopped tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Enjoy.

Carmageddon Weekend Detour: Smurfs?

2011-07-17T07:44:00.000-07:00

It's Carmageddon weekend in Los Angeles--two days of planned road work on the 405 freeway that prompted the city (and media) to go into full panic mode. So when I saw these sign posters from the distance yesterday, I thought, What? Another road closure? No, just a promotion for the upcoming Smurfs movie.

We Smell Good: Sweet Pea Flowers

2011-07-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at the Saturday Portland Farmers' Market.

Worth It For the Cover

2011-07-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

I've been collecting old paperbacks with great covers for years. Seeing this at Powell's Books in Portland made me believe even more that it's one of the best bookstores.

Rock-n-Roll Graffiti: Peace and Love

2011-06-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Shout-outs on the wall to rock legends Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon. Photo taken at Sycamore Canyon beach.

First Day of Summer Lunch

2011-06-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

First day of summer and I walked by a Ben & Jerry's during lunchtime. Oh yeah, ice cream for lunch.

Upcycled Find: Vintage Tins as Planters

2011-06-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

Vintage food tins used as planters at Venice Beach Wines.

Joy of Eating

2011-06-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

You know you will have a good meal at a friend's house when you find something like this on a bookshelf.

World Oceans Day

2011-06-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

Happy World Oceans Day. "Flowers by the Sea" by William Carlos Williams is a poem I carry in my wallet as a reminder of its beauty and majesty.

Recipe: Chicken Tortilla Soup with Lime

2011-06-07T19:52:00.000-07:00

There's a delicious chicken tortilla soup at a favorite local restaurant, Tlapazola Grill in Venice. What makes their soup so special is in the name; it's listed on the menu as lemon chicken tortilla soup (and they're generous with the lemon juice). We tried it at home with leftover chicken and used fresh lime juice.

For our version of chicken tortilla soup with lime:

Add leftover chicken to a simmering pot of homemade chicken-vegetable stock, with roughly chopped celery, carrots, and fennel. Fennel until vegetable are softened but still firm. Before serving, add the juice of one or two limes and chopped avocado, then finish with broken tortilla chips. Optional: Add queso fresco (i.e. Mexican cheese) and cilantro.

Message on the Steps

2011-06-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Photo taken at Big Red Sun in Venice, CA.

American Flag Waving in the Neighborhood

2011-05-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

...And Here Comes Summer

2011-05-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Purple Blossoms

2011-05-25T12:14:00.000-07:00

Blooming lilac, jacaranda, and chive flowers. Purple blossoms all around.

Street Art: Jon Stewart, Maverick

2011-05-24T14:08:00.000-07:00

Photo taken in West Hollywood, CA.

Monday Morning Zen: Coffee at the Shore

2011-05-23T10:48:00.000-07:00

Walk to the shore, finish coffee, fill cup with shells.

Rapture Mixed Tape

2011-05-20T16:50:00.000-07:00

I like to think every occasion deserves a mixed tape (and I prefer "mixed tape" to "playlist," even if it shows my age.) With Blondie's "Rapture" stuck in my head all day--I started singing it when I read something this morning about the proposed end of days on May 21--I decided to get it out of my head by listening to other songs appropriate for the occasion. Radiohead's "Reckoner" popped in my head, then Prince's "1999" and, well, a lot of my favorite artists have something that seems just right for judgment day. More to be added to this, I'm sure.... Songs on Grooveshark are here.

"Reckoner," Radiohead

"Today is the Day," Yo La Tengo

"Rapture," Blondie

"1999," Prince

"It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," R.E.M.

"The Night's Too Long," Lucinda Williams

"The World's A Mess; It's In My Kiss," X

"What Difference Does It Make?," The Smiths

"Road to Nowhere," Talking Heads

"Road to Joy," Bright Eyes

"Paint it Black," Rolling Stones

"The Promised Land," Bruce Springsteen

"Save Me," Aimee Mann

"We Shall Overcome," Pete Seeger

"We'll Meet Again," Johnny Cash

"When the Ship Comes In," Bob Dylan

"Blue Thunder," Glaxie 500

"After the Gold Rush," Neil Young

"Redemption Song," Bob Marley

"Highway to Hell," AC/DC

"Hell Yes," Beck

"Raising Hell," RUN DMC

"Jesus, Etc.," Wilco

"Stairway to Heaven," Led Zeppelin

"Just Like Heaven," The Cure

"When the Stars Go Blue," Ryan Adams

"What a Wonderful World," The Ramones

"Gimme Gimme Gimme," Black Flag

"Hallelujah," Leonard Cohen

"Good Morning Heartache," Billie Holiday
"Here Comes the Sun Again," M. Ward

"Here Comes the Sun," The Beatles

Recipe: Kale Salad with Radish, Fennel and Parm

2011-05-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

I'm suddenly crazy for kale and made this salad, based loosely on one a friend recently ordered from the deli section of Rose Cafe in Venice--I reached across the table with my fork to try it and made a mental note to make it at home. I don't recall all the ingredients in their version of the salad and it's not on their online menu, but I remembered the kale and radishes. To make it more of a meal, I added quinoa. To make: Simply blanch the kale and let it cool, then toss it with some quinoa, radish, fennel, and a handful of shaved parmesan. Dress it with a basic lemon-olive oil vinaigrette. Yum.

Clover Love

2011-05-08T20:04:00.000-07:00

How sweet to see that the same wild clover clusters in the yard have infiltrated a potted plant on the porch with purple and green clover.

Everything's Better with Avocado

2011-05-06T20:55:00.000-07:00

Photo taken of the Lardon food truck in Venice, CA.

Drink Recipe: Hibiscus Green Tea

2011-05-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

This drink is simple to make and tastes crisp and refreshing. I made a large batch for a Cinco de Mayo celebration (turning in into a hibiscus green tea margarita with a splash of tequila and a lime slice and adding hibiscus tea ice cubes), but you can also make a single or small serving easily.

The hibiscus tea isn't really tea; it's an infusion made by simmering dried hibiscus flowers in a pot of water for about 10 minutes. (I get the dried flowers from my favorite specialty food shop in LA, Surfas). Without sweetener, the hibiscus tea is super-tart, similar to cranberry juice. To make the tea, I blend 1/3 green tea with 2/3 hibiscus tea, let it cool, then sweeten it to taste with agave syrup. Yum.

Arbor Day Love

2011-04-29T10:55:00.000-07:00

Screensaver on my phone, to remind me of a lovely afternoon spent under a tree in a park with my love. Trees rock.

Mermaid Mural

2011-04-28T13:51:00.000-07:00

Mermaid mural photo taken in Venice, CA.

Honeysuckle Days

2011-04-27T14:40:00.000-07:00

Hoorah, it's honeysuckle season.

Long Live the Typewriter!

2011-04-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

News reports of the last typewriter factory closing? Boo. Here is my vintage Underwood typewriter (a flea market find from several years ago), currently being stored with my family and used here by nieces Mary and Lucy.

Peeps and Food Rules

2011-04-25T12:15:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of Peeps marshmallow treats and discovered that putting a flame to it gives it a sweet caramelized coating. I've toasted Peeps over a Weber grill and a fire pit; the one pictured here was toasted on a skewer over the flame of the gas stove.

I have been breaking a couple of my food rules on holidays like Easter, when I give in to temptation and eat candy with artificial colors and artificial flavors (and other ingredients I ordinarily avoid). Peeps and Jelly Belly jelly beans are against the rules, but I made an exception. This year, I also had a bag of Surf Sweets jelly beans, which are made without artificial colors or flavors, and I ate more of those than the less-natural Jelly Belly beans. It's always exciting to find a better-for-you replacement for a favorite sweet treat. I haven't had Red Vines licorice in a year and still miss it, but I developed a love for the more-natural licorice from Paul Newman Organics. So far, I have not found a pure version of Peeps, but I have an alternate plan for next year. I use Michael Pollan's "Food Rules" as my guiding force in making choices on what foods to consume, and one of Pollan's rules is you can have junk food if you make it yourself. So, for next year: homemade Peeps with ingredients I choose and approve.

Easter Breakfast of Champions

2011-04-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

I gave up sugar for Lent. Here is my Easter breakfast.

Recipe: Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Parmesan

2011-04-23T10:36:00.000-07:00

I saw a Martha Stewart recipe for arugula salad with strawberries and thought there was parmesan in it, but I had that wrong. I like shaved parmesan in a salad, so I improvised and added it to my version of the salad anyway. I love the peppery arugula with the sweet strawberries.

Arugula Salad with Strawberries and Shaved Parmesan Cheese
Baby arugula
Sliced strawberries, quartered
Shaved parmesan cheese

For the vinaigrette, whisk together two parts olive oil to one part balsamic vinegar, with a squeeze of honey, a dash of sea salt, and cracked pepper.

Song in My Head: Wilco for Earth Day

2011-04-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Wilco's "Hummingbird" popped in my head this morning when I remembered today was Earth Day.

Happiness is Fluffy and Sweet

2011-04-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

Photo taken in a Long Island shop (thanks, Kristen!)

Recipe: Vegetable Stock

2011-04-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

I recently started making my own vegetable stock and cannot believe I went all these years without using the vegetable castoffs that usually get tossed in the garbage. This couldn't be easier and more satisfying to make. Simply take all the ends, peels, skins, and other vegetable parts you would ordinarily throw out and save them in a securely covered bowl in the fridge. When you have at least a few cups of vegetable remains, put them in a large pot, cover with filtered water and add a handful of peppercorns, a teaspoon of sea salt, and a bay leaf or two. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Let cool and drain, storing the stock in glass jars.

Recipe: Chicken and Chorizo Paella on the Grill

2011-04-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

Mr. MVP and I have made a seafood paella before and now we've got a great version of chicken and chorizo paella. Biggest way this differs from most recipes is that we use tomatoes instead of peppers.

Chicken and Chorizo Paella on the Grill

1 pound of chicken thighs and legs

2 links of chorizo sausage

6 cups chicken stock (or vegetable stock, or combination of chicken and vegetable stock)

1/4 cup olive oil

1 onion, chopped

10 garlic cloves, 5 of them chopped, 5 left whole

3 cups cherry tomatoes or grape tomatoes (or both)

1 chili pepper, chopped without the seeds

3 cups Spanish rice

1 tsp. saffron threads

1 tsp. sweet paprika powder

1 tsp. smoked paprika powder

1 tsp. salt

3 lemons, cut into wedges

Parsley

Salt chicken and cut chorizo into 1-inch pieces, then set aside meat before lighting the wood-fired grill. Heat the olive oil in the paella pan over the grill and brown the chicken and chorizo. Remove meat from the pan and set aside. Add the onion, chili pepper, and garlic to the pan and stir gently, letting them soften and lightly brown. Add the rice and stir it in the pan as the color changes slightly, cooking for 4-7 minutes. (Note: no more stirring from this point on.) Add the stock and spices and let it simmer until it looks like more than half the stock has been absorbed. Add the tomatoes and half the lemon wedges and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the meat and cook for another 5 minutes with the top down, to pick up smoke flavor from the grill. Serve with the remaining lemon wedges and parsley sprinkled on top.

Stopping to Smell the Rose

2011-04-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

One of those great moments: I was on the other side of the fence yesterday when I witnessed a passerby stop to lean over and smell the rose.

Sign: Tsunami Hazard Zone

2011-04-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

I like signs for public safety, but I'm not sure I like the image of the person running from the tsunami wave.

Gatsby Green Light

2011-04-03T15:12:00.000-07:00

Love the green light on this neighborhood house, which reminds me of "The Great Gatsby."

Jury Duty Lunch Break Photos

2011-03-30T22:18:00.000-07:00

Lunch break during jury duty, playing with the Hipstamatic app.

Spring Flowers

2011-03-21T08:37:00.000-07:00

Spring Strawberries

2011-03-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

More than 30 strawberries in the pot.

Mermaids: Mardi Gras King Cake with a Twist

2011-03-08T07:54:00.000-08:00

My friend Rebecca went to college in New Orleans and suggested we mark Mardi Gras with a New Orleans King Cake for dessert following our Sunday dinner party. The traditional version of the cake has a plastic baby doll hidden inside, but I suggested a small plastic mermaid (the kind you find on the side of a cocktail glass; we keep a few in our garden). Our friend Maya was the lucky one who found the mermaid in her piece of cake.

Beach Art: Paper House

2011-03-05T21:00:00.001-08:00

Discovered during a walk on the beach in Venice, CA.

Leftover Meat Mondays: Pasta with Sausage and Baby Broccoli

2011-02-28T21:56:00.000-08:00

Mr. MVP and I talked about being part of the "Meatless Monday" movement. We didn't have to be convinced that going meatless at least one day a week can be good--for the environment, for your health, for your wallet. So we enjoyed a few consecutive meatless Mondays. But then we had extra chicken from a Sunday barbecue and wanted to make tacos with the leftovers on Monday. And then we had some remaining steak from another Sunday dinner and decided to make bolognese sauce the next day with the leftovers. We grill a lot on the weekends and don't like to let leftovers go to waste, so now we're going to try for Meatless Tuesdays or Wednesdays and we're going to make sure we compose leftover meals that don't feel like leftover meals--making them good enough to be prepared and enjoyed any day, even if you aren't trying to use what you don't want to waste.

Yesterday:
Italian sausage on the grill, part of a mixed grill and pizza dinner

Leftovers:
Sausage

Today's Leftovers Meal:
Pasta with baby broccoli and sausage

Pasta with Baby Broccoli and Sausage
While pasta of your choice is cooking, cut the leftover sausage into bite-size pieces. In a saucepan, saute several cloves of garlic in olive oil until garlic is soft but not browned. Add 1/2 cup vegetable stock and baby broccoli and cover until broccoli is tender but still firm. Remove broccoli and add sausage bites to the saucepan with a splash of some more vegetable stock and cook on medium until heated. Toss pasta with sausage, broccoli, and parmesan cheese. Enjoy.

Dreamy Inspiration

2011-02-28T08:44:00.001-08:00

Photo taken at Will Rogers State Park.

Memory Lane: Coach's Lessons Part 2

2011-02-25T08:51:00.000-08:00

I love finding inspiration in unlikely places, like on the side of a cookie box. I posted last week about a Teddy Roosevelt quote I learned from my high school track coach. The quote is printed on a box of Bart's cookies I found at Whole Foods. I bought the cookies because of the claim on the front of the box that they're "The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World." Them's fighting words--and then I spotted the real fighting words on the side. Good cookies, but I still believe homemade ones are best.

Memory Lane: Coach's Lessons

2011-02-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

I had the voice of my high school track and cross country coach, Frank LaBianca, in my head today. This is always a good thing. Coach was also the school's print shop teacher and he printed pearls of wisdom for us on cards; a sampling of ones I have saved are posted above. These are wallet-sized, but Coach also printed banners and posted them on the walls of the print shop, where we held team meetings. The one I memorized was a quote by Theodore Roosevelt that began, "Far better is it to dare mighty things...." I remember surprising him one day by finishing the quote for him when he began it. (I still know it by heart.)

Street Art: JR's Eyes on Abbot Kinney

2011-02-17T23:01:00.000-08:00

How great to see public art on Abbot Kinney in Venice by TED Award-winning artist JR.

Blood and Chocolate: Valentine's Day Dinner

2011-02-14T20:56:00.000-08:00

For our "Blood and Chocolate" dinner, we served steak for dinner and chocolate fondue for dessert. Guest brought the steaks: rib eye, New York strip, filet mignon, chuck roast. We added buffalo tri-tip to the mix. (It wasn't all meat; we also had roasted root vegetables and a salad of mixed greens with pears, Pecorino Romano and crispy prosciutto). Dessert was chocolate fondue (recipe from Eric Ripert via Food & Wine), with pound cake, toasted croissant, banana, raspberries, caramel, and sugar shortbread cookies for dipping.

Jasmine Valentines

2011-02-14T20:26:00.000-08:00

Jasmine flowers in bloom for Valentine's Day.

Roadside: Little Red Bicycle

2011-02-02T21:20:00.000-08:00

So much depends on a little red bicycle. Photo taken in Venice Beach, CA.

New MissStefanie Necklaces: Vintage, Upcycled, Valentines

2011-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

Just in time for Valentine's Day, I've added upcycled and vintage necklaces to my MissStefanie Etsy shop.

Some are vintage, featuring brooches, clip-on earrings, pendants, or charms hanging from the necklace. Others are upcycled, with single or multiple pieces from thrift store jewelry on the necklace. Sometimes the necklace has a chain from a thrift store necklace, and other I make the necklace using recycled material from black T-shirts (softer than a leather necklace; other colors available upon request). The necklaces made with the T-shirt material are 22-24 inches in length, but can be adjusted to be shorter or longer. You can wear one or layer two or more. I photographed the necklaces with a white button-down shirt, to show how they look styled with a shirt; I usually wear mine with my usual uniform of a tank or T-shirt under a cardigan or jacket.

So, Valentine's Day. A few necklaces have hearts, flowers, or bows. One has a heart and skull and another is a locket with flowers and a unicorn (a unicorn!). And here's the thing about Valentine's Day: it's a Hallmark holiday, sure. But I've always loved little trinkets and started a tradition years ago of treating myself to something for Valentine's Day. You can have someone special in your life or you can fly solo--but treating yourself is always a fine idea. Chocolate, check. A one-of-a-kind necklace in the $20 range? Check 'em out.

Photo: Message of the Day

2011-02-01T13:50:00.000-08:00

Spotted on a lunchtime walk.

Photo: Eat Lotsa Lobster

2011-01-21T09:04:00.000-08:00

Photo taken in Santa Barbara, CA. Words to live by: Eat lotsa lobster.

Touchdown: Chili Recipe

2011-01-13T07:39:00.000-08:00

Mr. MVP said the football playoffs called for chili dogs, which gave me a chance to play with my recipe.

Chili Recipe
3 lbs. ground meat (pork, beef or combo)
2 10 oz. cans of pinto beans, drained
2 28 oz. cans of chopped tomatoes

1 carrot, chopped

6 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 onion, chopped

1 chili pepper, chopped and with seeds removed

1/2 jalapeno pepper, chopped and with seeds removed

1 tbsp. chili powder

1 tbsp. oregano
1 tbsp. sweet paprika
1 tbsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1.5 oz. dark chocolate (1/2 large bar)
1 tbsp. honey
1 cinnamon stick

Brown the meat with salt and pepper (optional: add sprinkle of paprika).
Layer ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on high for four hours.
Serve and enjoy.

Thrift Shop Oddity: Animal Head

2011-01-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

Making a donation to one of my local thrift stores, I spotted this animal (dog? wolf/dog?) in a box. Scary!

Sunset, Friday, Weekend, Ah

2011-01-07T22:07:00.000-08:00

Lone Tree

2011-01-07T08:33:00.000-08:00

I've seen a lot of Christmas trees on curbs around LA, waiting to be collected and recycled. But this one, still standing in a field used to sell trees prior to the holiday, struck me.

Venice Graffiti Wall: Cecile Said Yes

2011-01-02T19:59:00.000-08:00

Photo taken in Venice Beach, CA. I don't know Cecile, but it looks like she said yes. Sweet.

Hats Off to 2011

2011-01-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

Photos taken on New Year's morning in Venice.

He Sees You When You're Sleeping: Vintage Santas

2010-12-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

Some vintage Santas I've encountered recently, some exceptionally jolly-looking (or downright creepy, depending on your perspective). Ho ho ho.

Moment of Zen: Waterfall

2010-12-23T15:19:00.000-08:00

Video taken at Temescal Park, the first rain-free day in a week.

Crafty: Book and T-Shirt Holiday Wreath

2010-12-23T14:52:00.000-08:00

After crafting a recycled Christmas tree using pages from "Vogue" magazine, I decided to make a paper wreath for the front door. I used pages from an old paperback that was falling apart ("Brideshead Revisited" by Evelyn Waugh), and simply taped the cut leaves to a cardboard base. The idea for this was borrowed (and I cannot locate the blog I landed on that showed a wreath like this); my own personal detail was to add a bow made from a cut up old T-shirt (from the bin of tees and scraps I use for my Miss Stefanie Etsy shop). Voila.

Vogue Magazine Recycled Christmas Tree

2010-12-16T20:18:00.000-08:00

Our recycled Christmas tree. Or: What I did with my September issue of "Vogue" magazine. Ho ho ho.

Lounge Chair: Party On

2010-12-12T21:24:00.000-08:00

Photo taken on Ocean Front Walk in Venice Beach, CA.

Shirt Mannequin

2010-12-10T23:12:00.000-08:00

I've been looking for a better dress form or mannequin to use for photographing the shirts I remake and sell for my Etsy shop. Walking in Venice, I spotted this. Look at those feet!

Beach Work

2010-12-08T08:48:00.000-08:00

Photo taken in Venice Beach, CA. Signs for a beach preservation project.

Burgers: Rectangular and Just Right

2010-12-05T12:22:00.000-08:00

Best thing since sliced ciabatta bread? Mr. MVP had the ingenious idea to make rectangular burgers to match the ciabatta bread.

Coin Vending Machines: Homie Clowns and Seed Bombs

2010-11-30T19:14:00.000-08:00

Photos taken in Venice, CA. Homie clowns and seed bombs. That's Venice for ya.

Wild Child Bus

2010-11-30T08:33:00.000-08:00

Photo taken in Venice, CA. Song stuck in my head (perfect for playing when sitting at the back of the bus): "Real Wild Child" by Iggy Pop.

Miss Stefanie Etsy Shirts Modeled

2010-11-28T17:11:00.000-08:00

My sweet friend Madelyn modeled some of the upcycled shirts I made for my Miss Stefanie Etsy shop, to show how the shirts look layered over a long sleeve shirt. Shirts in a woman's size small or extra-small are shown here to fit her frame (various sizes are in the shop); I get the shirts from thrift stores, so what I get is what I remake and they're all one-of-a-kind. She's also wearing the denim nautical-style bracelets for sale in the shop, made from denim scraps from rescues pairs of jeans. (The Mickey Mouse shirt is the one she kept.) Note: Holiday sale going on now! Save 15% through December 5 by entering HOHOHO as the coupon code. MissStefanie.etsy.com.

Mexican Train Dominoes, Mexican Wrestler Dolls

2010-11-28T13:40:00.000-08:00

Mexican wrestling doll invasion of a game of Mexican Train dominoes.

Wild Things at Charmlee Wilderness Park

2010-11-27T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hello, rattlesnake. Hello, coyote family. We're just passing by... Photos taken in Malibu, CA.

On Top of the World

2010-11-27T15:02:00.000-08:00

Photo looking down on Point Dume in Malibu, CA.

Denim: Recycled and Recreated

2010-11-26T11:09:00.000-08:00

I see an old pair of jeans and think the possibilities are endless. Here are some of my recreations; items available for sale online at my Etsy shop: MissStefanie.etsy.com.

Apple Pies: One for Breakfast, One for Dessert

2010-11-25T08:56:00.000-08:00

Here Comes the Sun: Beatles, Apple, Etsy

2010-11-17T14:24:00.000-08:00

Upcyled shirt from MissStefanie.etsy.com

I've had "Here Comes the Sun" by the Beatles stuck in my head since the news that Apple finally got the Beatles collection for iTunes and it inspired me to create a sun-themed Etsy treasury. The song is one of my favorites and the one I chose to learn when I took a singing class (brilliantly called "Singing for People Who Think They Can't") in New York several years ago, which makes it one of the few songs I feel confident singing around a camp fire (or in the living room when my musically gifted friends pull out the guitars). Not in the Etsy treasury (because I save self-promotion for here) is the pictured Coppertone upcycled shirt, remade by me with scissors and some needle and thread.

I couldn't find a video online of the Beatles performing the song live, but here's George Harrison singing it at the concert for Bangladesh.

Lined Up: Lifeguard Towers

2010-11-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

Towers lined up for the season. Photo taken in Venice, CA.

Photo: Leaf, Shore

2010-11-10T08:23:00.000-08:00

Photo taken in Venice, CA. It was there, just like that in the sand.

Pink Up, Down, All Around

2010-11-08T20:38:00.000-08:00

Pink roses, pink sky.

Indian Summer Jasmine

2010-11-05T08:07:00.001-07:00

Heat wave and jasmine's in bloom.

Fired Up: Peeps on a Stick

2010-10-31T22:02:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what would happen if you toasted Peeps on a fire like you would ordinary marshmallows? Toasted marshmallow goodness, with a crunchy candy coating from the caramelized sugar. Yum.

Miss Stefanie: Halloween Shirts

2010-10-31T13:18:00.000-07:00

Shirts in the Etsy shop for Halloween: A vampire, a monster, a woman who is always in costume.