May/ June Randoms

Man, I am so behind on blogging. My free time is so different now then it was before. All of my free time is outside of the house, which I'm still getting used to. That means less cooking, more working out, more working and less blogging. But can't complain, it's great, just different.

Anyway, here are some snapshots of the past two months, including our transition from being residents of Illinois to Missouri. Which reminds me, I need to get a new driver's license. 

Seoul Taco- Kimchi bulbogi burrito, YUM!

Look at my handsome PhD! I'm so proud of my Doctor!

Becky's birthday, love painting with her

Saying goodbye to my co-workers in Champaign. I miss them so much!

I have experience stacking cargo y'know?

Got our keys to our new place! 

First night at the new house. No food, no furniture. Board games on the floor with beer and candy.

Unpacking can be... fun?

Trying some vegan food at Lulu's Local Eatery

Prepare to spend many hours and many moneys

Pho is life; Pho Grand

Eating ice cream in Saint Charles

Milkshakes and BBQ from a local favorite, Sugarfire

Kimchi bloody Mary is my new favorite from Treehouse

But first brunch (Treehouse again)

Berry and Lime & Cucumber Mint sorbetto for dessert from Gelato de Leone

Neapolitan ice cream cupcake from Jilly's Cupcake Bar

Popsicles from Whisk on a hot day at the farmer's market

Tower Grove Park

Brazilian Brunch Buffet, say that three times. Brasilia

Whatchu looking at? Laumeire Sculpture Park

Reminds me of the sculpture at UH

Latte and chocolate peanut butter smoothie from MoKaBes

Drinking cocktails with Billy at Shakespeare in the park

Love it when we get to eat with our hands. Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant

Finished a DIY project: reupholster dining chairs

Double Benedicts for brunch at Mangia

Holy moly we ate a lot of restaurants in June. But I guess that's what happens when you insatiable and move to a new city with lots of restaurants. And there's more where that came from. We've only been to less than half of the restaurants in our neighborhood, and we need to go back to some for something other than brunch. The future is looking bright, and just a little chubby. But happy belly leads to happy life, no wonder I have to spend all my free time at the gym. 

Happy eating!

-Akemi-chan

Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby

I was watching an episode of Bob's Burgers, one of my favorite binge shows, when I came to the Dutch Baby episode. Everyone goes to diner that advertises their Dutch Baby, and despite it's long prep time and Bob's impatience, Linda orders the pancake.

oooOOOOooo a Dutch Baby!!! lol

I've never made or had a Dutch Baby, but the idea of a puffy silky pancake could convert this waffle-lover. Think of a custardy cake that is also crunchy and fluffy. How is this possible?! I can to find out.



Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby
4 tbsp butter
2 granny Smith apples, sliced thinly
3 tbsp sugar, divided
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk
2 tsp cinnamon


Preheat oven to 400 degrees. While the oven heats, dived butter in 4 pads and put into 12" skillet. Place skillet in oven for a minute to melt butter. Once butter is melted, remove from oven, don't forget your oven mits. Take apple slices and arrange in the skillet.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk dry ingredients (flour, baking powder and 1 tbsp sugar). Then add wet ingredients (eggs, vanilla and milk). Whisk to combine. Once combined, pour over apples in skillet. Sprinkle with remaining sugar and cinnamon. Place back in oven and cook for 20-25 minutes.

We cut ours with a pie server and drizzled everything from maple syrup, to molasses, honey and chocolate syrup. All delicious.


I need to make this every weekend, and I mean EVERY weekend. So easy and delicious I cannot live without it. There will be many Dutch Babies in my future. Now, if you will excuse me, I need to find a Dutch Baby fan club.


-Akemi-chan

January/ February Randoms

I'm over Winter. When will the warmth come? I'm trying to keep spirits up, and honestly we've had a couple of days of sunny and 60 degrees, which I am grateful for. But I can't wait for continuous sunshine.

We're currently training for the Illinois Marathon 5k. I know to some people a 5k seems like a piece of cake, but this will be my first official run. I'm proud of the progress we've been making and training and conditioning has given me something to look forward to every week. Plus it helps me keep track of my food consumption, which we all know about my monster appetite. 

Here are some random pictures from the first two months of the year. Enjoy!

Pulled pork toast with fried egg and salsa verde

Matching my baby

Roasted root veggies: radishes, carrots and fennel

Bone broth, yum

Yeah I ate pie with Doritos and wine. Sorry not sorry

Steak sandwiches

Grease fruit and bacon egg bowls for breakfast

Snow bing, coffee and macaron for scrabble date night

Shrimp spaghetti with tomato basil sauce

Frozen lake and Crystal Lake Park

Witches hats, I ate like five

More snow bing

Meat and cheese from Pizza Antica

Getting fancy at Art Party Studio

60 degrees and drinking outside in shorts. So Midwest

Soon it will be Spring and I'll head home for a week and run a 5k. Many things to look forward to, including my last birthday as a 20-something year old. Eekkkk!

-Akemi-chan

Peanut Butter Protein Waffles

With the New Year, I'm trying to be healthier. How stereotypical. But I'm talking about getting serious. Since I have a more regular schedule and a less physical job, I need to get into a regular heathly groove. Ya dig? Haha.

Step one: get new running shoes, check. Step two: join a gym, check. Step three: set a tangible goal (aka run a 5k), check. Step four: track food intake, check. 

So now that I keep track of my food I get to see what I'm overdoing and lacking. After a week of tracking my food intake, I've discovered a few things. I don't eat enough protein, I don't eat enough fiber, I don't get enough calcium and I consume too much sugar. Getting fit, is more than counting calories, it's eating a complete meal.

I normally would not eat protein until the end of the day, which is bad. I told myself I was being vegetarian for most of the day, but it backfired. So now I'm on a little protein missing. Protein in every meal, lean if possible. 

Here's my first breakfast solution: peanut butter protein waffles.

1 cup all purpose flour

4 scoops of vanilla protein powder, I used EAS

1 whole egg

2 egg whites

2 cups of milk

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

6 tablespoons of peanut butter, I used crunchy 

Mix all dry ingredients together. Mix all wet ingredients together, including peanut butter. And combine two mixes. Add more milk if the batter is too thick. Coo in waffle iron until preferred doneness. 

This recipe makes 12 regular sized waffles, or 24 mini waffles. I like the minis because they're stackable like pancakes, cuter and they get that crunchy texture faster than the bigger waffles. 

I ate mine with bananas and maple syrup, Bryan ate his with jelly, like a pbj. Next time I might add more peanut butter as a topping, just for that extra oomph.

Refrigerate any left overs for the next day, or freeze for future use. Just microwave or put in toaster.

Enjoy!

Akemi-chan

V Picasso

Champaign-Urbana is going through a little bit of a culinary makeover, and I for one am not complaining. Many local restaurants used to boast affordable prices, greasy diner food and homemade cooking. Now, we have gastro-pubs, Asian fusion, tapas and craft beer. A little hipster nation. I joke, but if loving hipster food is wrong, I don't wanna be right. 

One of our new favorite restaurants is V Picasso. Tapas, wine and cocktails. We went three times in one month. Yes, the girl who normally loves off of homemade dinners and fast food, went outdo a fancy restaurant three times in a row. Kaboom! Now you may drool over our meals. 

Drool worthy cocktails here

Charcuterie 

Rabbit and morel pasta with asparagus

Chocolate mousse, shortbread crumbs, raspberries and wasabi whipped cream

Cocktail time

Saffron ice cream

Brunch: Eggs Benedict, Carrot cake pancakes, bacon and Bloody Marys.

Me and my porcelain doll

My favorite part is that the menu changes with the seasons. That means I can come back and the menu will have brand new, seasonal, fresh, innovative options. 

-Akemi-chan