"The Ball Just Dropped..."

" 2017 / Year of Rooster "

"R.I.P. Debbie Reynolds"

Just a day after, she followed her daughter
Now they will be together forever.

"R.I.P. Carrie Fisher / Princesa Leia"

We miss you !  

You are so much more than just a Feminist Princess from another galaxy.

"How do you measure masculinity ?"

This year has been a really rough year for celebrities dying and rubbish political decisions. With George Michael’s passing on Christmas Day it added another tragic layer to all the losses of greats this year.

I found this image on tumblr with a comment about these men teaching the world that you can do masculinity any damn way you want. The gay world is still full to overflowing with discrimination of effeminate or camp men, idolizing the traditional views of masculinity. To me that traditional view of masculinity feels outdated. Why can men only be muscular, gruff, hairy and emotionally stunted? To the gay men that are total tops because of some warped view of masculinity, does that mean you think the men you fuck are less masculine or even just “less than” you?

David Bowie was fairly well renowned to be bisexual and played enthusiastically with an androgynous image especially in his early years. We really did lose a pioneer earlier this year with his passing. Prince was a legendary ladies man, bedding all sorts of gorgeous women but his image was perhaps one of the most camp out of the three. How does that sit with everyone’s notion of masculinity? George Michael looked way more camp in his closeted days at the beginning of his career. In later years he was all about sharp suits and sophistication.

There are no rules to masculinity and I would say that I see being truly masculine means being yourself without regard to what is expected of you and your image. I’ve done drag and I’ve rowed surf-boats. Two activities about as far apart on the scale of traditional masculinity as it’s possible to be but they are both very comfortable aspects of me.

Thank you to these legendary men for being brave enough to do things your own way.

" in a Small Galaxy Far Far Away..."

" almost time for the Bells..."

"Santa Alter"

" time to send a card..."

"4 More Nights..."

"getting ready for a Christmas Trip ?"

"Only 7 Days Left to...."

"A Crudite Basket for a Holiday Party"

It is getting Cold.  And the Holiday Season is in full swing.  As every year, between Thanksgiving to Christmas is the Busiest Social Time of the year.

Last weekend I was invited to a Holiday Party and was asked to make a Crudite Basket for cocktail hour.  These days, I'm getting a reputations for it.  After all I have been making Crudite Baskets for parties for 10 years or so....

It is getting hard to get a variety of vegetables at the Farmers' Market in the colder months.  But I still like to get as colorful veggies as possible at Union Square.  
And you can always find things like string-beans, fennel, and cherry-tomatoes at super markets.  I do my best to get fresh and colorful veggies for my arrangement. 

< Prep Work >

When you clean vegetables for the Basket, water is your best friend.

Just keep them in a bowl of water, it will help clean them and keep fresh.

Sometimes you don't need to dry them, 

the water will help them stay moist in the basket.

Other thing I must have is a cup of coffee to stay alert with a knife.

< Filling the Basket >

Lining the Basket 

First with Plastic Wrap. This will protect the basket from moisture.

Keep covering with the Basket by Rainbow Char.

Confetti made of left over veggies will become your basket stuffing.

Sometimes you need to elevate the bottom of the basket.

 

Outer leaves of cabbage make perfect bowls for small veggies.

Cleaned Peppers will make perfect containers for dips.

Don't forget Pepper Cups for Dips to be positioned correctly in the basket.
And filled with dips after placing the basket at the party site.

" Vegetable Cups for Thanksgiving "

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday.

We went to our friends Jonathan D. & John's Home to celebrate this Holiday with friends as every year for last about 15 years or so.  They have been hosting this great Holiday Dinner for 48 years.  Yesterday was a another fantastic one as always.

They asked me to make a side dish instead of a Veggie Basket this year.  And I was getting a little tried of making it.  So, when they asked me to do a side dish, it was a happy surprise.  This thanksgiving I made "Stewed Hijiki Seaweed with Edamame." 
But, I still wanted to bring some veggies for cocktail hours.  Since this was my extra contribution to the party I had freedom to do it with different presentation for CRUDITE.  I was wondering if I can use cabbage leaves as a cup to hold vegetable sticks.  And if I make small cups for guests they can hold own cups, then don't need to stand by the table with their drinks.  I thought that will make conversation flow before the dinner.  Result was....

Vegetable Sticks are Watermelon-Radish, Daikon-Radish, French-Breakfast-Radish.

Sugar-Snap-Pea, Japanese-Turnip. 

Cups are filled up with Carrot-Ribbons before I placed vegetable sticks in.

I also made Miso-Goma Dip and Dukkah-Dry-Dip(always served with Olive-Oil).

They are ready for Guests' Arrival.

If you are wondering what was on the plate, here is the menu.

By the way, Jonathan F. designed the menu for the night.