pickle

one of the many things i've been wanting to do once i got my own apartment (and kitchen) was to start jarring fruit and veggies, making my own jams, and pickling things. yesterday was sunny and warm so i went on a neighborhood stroll and bought some carrots and daikon root and stopped at the hardware store and bought a bunch of jars. my first project was to pickle them in an attempt to recreate banh mi, delightfully light and refreshing vietnamese sandwiches. i made the baguettes in the early afternoon and then, while the dough was rising, sliced up the veggies and bottled them up with some white wine vinegar, warm water, salt and sugar. i then made some homemade mayonnaise and a coconut milk corn soup and proceeded to enjoy the meal with more than my fair share of wine and beer.



the corn soup i kind of made up as i went along, but it turned out really delicious; i've become obsessed with soup recently because my sister bought me an immersion blender for my birthday last year and it makes it so easy to turn anything into a soup. i start with a veggie and basically just add stuff until it tastes the way i want it to. as a result i'm usually full by the time the soup is done, but i always find room for dinner.

coconut corn soup

2 ears of fresh corn
2 TB butter
one can of coconut milk
about a cup of vegetable broth
a few strands of saffron
plenty of salt
white pepper
cayenne

i cut the corn off the ears and put them in a large pot with the butter. sauté the corn until it is pretty soft and tastes about right; salt to taste. i added some cayenne at this point, then poured in the coconut milk and let that simmer for awhile. add the vegetable broth and continue to simmer. add about 4 strands of saffron, a couple pinches of white pepper, and as much cayenne as you want to give it some spice. you can blend it at this point or just let it be a little chunky. salt more to taste and voila! i served mine with a sprig of cilantro and a slice of avocado.



i ordered this sweater off gilt a few months ago, after stressing over whether to order and extra small or a small. at the last minute i went with the small and i've regretted it since - the sweater is just a littttle too baggy to be cute, but not quite big enough to wear as a dress. i compromised by wearing it with these very loud sparkly leggings from american apparel. i am not a proponent of leggings as pants, but if the sweater is long enough to cover your rear, i think exceptions can be made.

sweater: cacharel, gilt
leggings: american apparel
shoes: pour la victoire

to everyone who asked about the thrift store i visited while in philly, i asked sam and apparently the shop was in camden, not philadelphia proper. it was definitely a somewhat sketchy neighborhood, but isn't that always where the bargains are? the name of the thrift store was 'the village. check it out if you have the chance.

until we meet again,

xo audrey