December Project: Vegetables

I know corn salad on Christmas Day doesn't necessarily scream festive or seasonal, but that's what the Teo clan dined on for our Christmas lunch. Ha! 

I first busted out this recipe in the Summer when my friends and I took our picnic basket to Griffith Park to watch Shakespeare in the Park (A midsummer Night's Dream). This corn salad really epitomizes the freshness of Summer (or Christmas, if you're a Teo?). The sweet corn kernels merry well with the tangy tomatoes and kick of red onions, while the balsamic vinegar adds a nice caramel acidity. 

Ingredients

8 ears of corn
2 quarts cherry tomatoes ( I used baby heirloom tomatoes the first time and then those yellow ones for Christmas)
3 tablespoons high-quality balsamic vinegar
1 medium red onion
1 quart sugar snap peas (Optional)
1 handful rough-chopped basil or flat-leaf parsley (Optional)
salt, preferably a large, coarse sea salt like Maldon.
pepper

Directions 

1. The recipe calls for you to strip raw corn from ears, but I par-boiled mine first for 3-4 minutes since I am not a huge fan of raw corn.

2. Slice all tomatoes in half or quarters depending on your preference. Chop the red onion into a large dice. If using the sugar-snap peas (they can be hard to find when the corn and tomatoes are available -- their seasons barely overlap, and even then you're likely getting corn and tomatoes from the south and sugar snaps from the North.) Anyway, if you're using them, cut in half or thirds to make more bite-sized. Blanch these briefly in salted boiling water. Rough chop the basil or parsley if you are using them.

3. Toss all vegetables in a bowl, along with the vinegar, salt and pepper. That's it!

Serves 4

Recipe from Food 52

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Having been raised in Singapore, I obviously didn't grow up celebrating Thanksgiving. Rather, we would have Thanksgiving food- Turkey, Ham, Green Bean Casserole and the works- on Christmas eve. And then, my Church friends and I would celebrate "Thanksgiving" on the 31st of Dec by gathering together and sharing what we were thankful for that year.

Isn't it weird how we appropriate what is an American holiday and make it our own?

Anyway, now that I do live in the United States, Thanksgiving is my one of my favorite holidays because it means two things- food and family (or friends). This year, I am spending Thanksgiving with my brother and Co. down in Orange County. I am always THANKFUL for having family so close by.

On another note, aren't these Thanksgiving themed platters pretty? I would order them for myself but really, I am never going to host Thanksgiving dinner at my place for a long time more. But someone really should get them. They are too cute to not have on your thanksgiving table.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! Gobble Gobble!

Details:

Sesame Letterpress Harvest Entertaining Platters
West Elm 
$15-$31 each

At the Beach for Under $100

Back in my swimming days, my skin used to be a constant shade of sun-kissed olive. I was tan and toned. Now that I no longer spent 2-4 hours a day working out under the hot sun, I'm a pale yellow.

So, while it's awesome that skin cancer is not in my immediate future, boy oh boy do I need some color.

Inspired by this desperate need of outdoor sun time, here are some things that I'd love to take with me for a day at the beach. And guess what, it's all under $100!

Image above, Clockwise from top left: Olive Swim Top & Bottom $16.50 each (such a sophisticated color), Beaded coral reef necklace $18.00, Seahorse Charm Necklace $29.00, Panama Hat $58.00, Chiffon Oversized Button-up $58.00, Monday Round Sunglasses $38.00 (A little geek-chic is sometimes needed), Natural Burlap Women Classic's $54.00

Image above, Clockwise from left: Printed Beach Club Caftan $49.99, Green Woven Shopper $59.00,Peacock Beach Towel $22.00, Phytoplague Protective Beach Hair Spray $22.00, Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Face Lotion $9.00, Yellow Tangled Twist Slingbacks $80.00