Month: November 2014

Pumpkin Soup with Goat Cheese & Crispy Sage

Naomi Journal, Mains, Recipes, Starters, Uncategorized Tags: , , , , Leave a comment

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Thanksgiving has become my tinker-toy holiday.  Don’t get me wrong – I adore it – but it can be lonely being an American expat during this holiday. No one else, with the exception of the Canadians, celebrate this holiday. And even they mark it several weeks before us.

It’s difficult to plan a day-long culinary extravaganza when you live in a country that doesn’t share the same national holiday. But it’s even more difficult to get into the Thanksgiving swing of things when few others share in the excitement of this culinary celebration. Continue reading →

A Kitchen in Need – Stencilling 101

Naomi Home Creations, Home projects, Journal Tags: , , , 6 Comments

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I come from a long line of painters. Sounds strange to say aloud, but when I look at my family history, that’s what sticks out.

My grandfather was a custom house painter, as was my uncle. My father spent his youthful summers working with his father, as did my brother. My grandmother in Japan was also a painter, albeit slightly different from my American side in that she preferred oil on canvas and traditional calligraphy. As did my mother. Continue reading →

Pulled Pork Fajitas

Naomi Journal, Mains, Recipes Tags: , , 5 Comments

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Pulled Pork Tacos – Saved by the Slow Cooker

I’ll be the first to admit it – I’m not a huge fan of the slow cooker. Don’t get me wrong, it’s an absolute Godsend for those on a time crunch. In the first few months after Aidan was born, it was my go-to kitchen appliance. I used it for soups, for scalloped potatoes, for stews, you name it. Chuck whatever you can find in the fridge, set it for 5-6 hours, and be on your way. One-stop pot, one-stop cleanup. Worked for me.

As time passed, however, I grew weary of it. Mostly because I was finding that recipes you would normally make over the stove top or oven lost a bit of their flavor when substituted with the slow cooker. Continue reading →