Happy International Women's Day

“A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms.”

— Zen Shin

Happy International Women's Day! Ladies, my wish for you all is that we will all be able to live freely and know that you can do ANYTHING you set your mind to! YOU can be anyone you want to be because you're crazy beautiful, smart and amazingly talented in your own right. We are all unique. I love you all, through good and bad because even though we are flawed, this will never take away our self-worth because we all matter! It's what you do is what counts. To each and every day, I hope yours is as wonderful as you are.

So, why do so many women have 'frenemies', then? You know, the women who say they want you to win but deep down, hope you lose. Ick! I can't stand anyone who thinks they're better than someone else for whatever ridiculous reason they've concocted up in their head. I'm a lover, not a hater. I can, within five minutes after meeting someone, tell whether or not they're a genuine person. And no, I'm not always 100% right (because who is) and yes, people still surprise me but in light of taking better care of myself, I've steered clear of anyone who brings any kind of negative or fake vibe. It's such a loss of time and energy. I just can't.

See to me, the community of women is greater than competition. That's the beauty of New York as well. You never know who you're going to meet or what you'll end up doing! But when it comes to some women and their attitude towards their driven career paths, they can very much be 'mean girls'. Which is why last week when I attended a blogger network party, thanks to the wonderful hostesses from Out of Office NY, I was a bit uncertain of what the environment was going to be like and also what kind of women I'd be meeting. But to my pleasant surprise, everyone was so genuine and sweet as cherry pie! I loved how we were all rooting for each other rather than talking behind each other's backs. I'm all for celebrating every woman's success, both in work and in life. I very much look forward to getting to know these fabulous women better and meeting other like-minded bloggers in the future!

Lastly, here are some selected photos from the New York Botanical Garden's desert section. You know what's one of the things on my bucket list? To see the sunrise alone in the desert. There's something completely isolating about it, yet at the same time, overwhelmingly connected to everything. The older I get the more I'm in tune with mother nature. I respect her and admire her. And yes, I am convinced she's female! :) Hope you all enjoyed my favorite photos from the NYBG. (Click source below for all the orchid photos.) Coming up next on the blog is a new food recipe! I'm not telling you what it is, but know I'm sticking to Korean fusion cuisine! Stay tuned...

Love & xx's,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

The Way of Tea

80 bristles made of bamboo, this exquisite Matcha whisk is utterly sublime.

Next and last pick-up: a tea scoop (茶杓 chashaku)

Ready to be whisked!

Starting the process...

Almost finished...

Refreshment at its finest!

Gorgeous Japanese stoneware Matcha bowl from Teavana.

I woke up to some devastating, heartbreaking news. A friend of mine was killed in the line of duty yesterday afternoon in Euless, Texas. Officer David Hofer served with the Euless Police Department for two years and previously served with the New York City Police Department for five years, where during that time frame I met him at a Union Square bar, originally called Forum. He was a giant teddy bear with a quiet but confident demeanor. What first struck me about David was his never-ending wit and sense of humor. Being that I almost became a cop at some point in my life, I found this attribute to be rare and extremely endearing. I liked him immediately. He moved to Texas for a better quality of life and to embark a new beginning with his fiancée. He was only 29. 

I had planned to blog about my new favorite obsession with Japanese matcha tea this morning, but after hearing about David, I'm finding it difficult to write, let alone concentrate. This hits so close to home. Why do the good die young? You never really know when it's going to be your last day, so you better be doing something you abso-FU#*^ng-lutely LOVE. Nothing less than that. So in honor of my friend, I'm going to keep it moving and keep pushing forward. This cup of tea's for you, dude. (Since I don't drink very much alcohol, if ever.)

Did you know that powdered green tea was first used for religious rituals in Buddhist monasteries? Matcha, the Japanese ceremony tea has been around since the 12th century. The style of the tea preparation where green matcha powder is placed into a bowl, then hot water added, and finally the tea and hot water whisked together, was introduced to Japan by a monk, on his return from China. The little tea seeds he took back with him eventually produced tea that was considered to be the finest quality in all of Japan. I think they were onto something because ever since I've been drinking matcha tea, I'm more focused and energized and with an extreme appetite like I haven't had in YEARS. Especially in the morning after a run or rollerblading session with MaQ, that cup of tea makes me ferociously hungry for breakfast. Overall I'm feeling healthier and because I've been taking extra steps in taking care of myself, I have never felt better!

If you are into tea, matcha is the way to go. I'd strongly recommend purchasing a matcha whisk like this one from Teavana. It is carefully well-made with 80 bristles of bamboo, which won't misshape or break easily. You'll be whipping up a great, smooth cup of matcha every time. There's also a wide range of sizes and styles when it comes to tea bowls, and they're used for thick and thin tea. Shallower bowls, which allow the tea to cool extremely quickly are used in summer; deep bowls are used in winter. This beautiful white clay tea bowl, also from Teavana, was exactly what I was looking for when it came to my first real Japanese tea bowl. And the color of the stoneware complements with the green matcha color very well.

No one is getting any younger and in my opinion the earlier you start to think in terms of your body being a temple and that it should only be worshiped, the better you'll start to feel about yourself, both physically and mentally. Whatever you intake is also the final output of yourself. In everything you do. Botox won't take care of you. Neither will liposuction. That's only temporary and you're injecting your body with poison! Think in a non-materialistic way, such as eating right, drinking healthy goodies such as water, natural juices and tea, exercising and doing WHATEVER it takes to be at your best all-around. And don't do it because it'll make you into a skinny-mini or because it's some hot, new current trend - do it because you're genuinely interested in taking care of YOU or because you actually enjoy/love it! Whatever that may be, as long as you're not hurting anyone or yourself, you're good to go! That's the way I've always seen it. For example, I'm not even close to being Japanese, but the Way of Tea brings me peace of mind. And this has been my highest priority for 2016 because I believe everything else around my life will follow in this Way of Thinking. Taking care of me comes first. Mind. Body. And Soul.

Hug your loved ones a little tighter today. There is so much to be thankful for.

LOVE & XX'S,

SHOP THE PRODUCT

Mini Open Faced Turkey Avocado Sandwiches

Mini Open Faced Turkey Avocado Sandwiches

with Havarti cheese, cucumber and roasted red pepper mayo

Mini Open Faced Turkey Avocado Sandwiches

Serves 2-4

Ingredients:

French baguette bread, approx. 6-8 slices

Smoked turkey deli meat, cut into rectangles

Havarti cheese, cut into rectangles

Cucumber, peeled and cut with Mandoline slicer

1 Avocado from Mexico, sliced

4-5 Tablespoons mayo

7 oz. Cento roasted red peppers

Red pepper flakes for seasoning

Don't forget to jazz it up with red pepper flakes or fresh black pepper!

Directions:

1.     Puree roasted red peppers and mix in with the mayo.

2.     Slice baguette bread, turkey meat, cheese, avocado and cucumber.

3.     Spread the roasted red pepper mayo on each baguette.

4.     First layer with cheese, then a few slices of turkey, two slices of avocado and last, cucumbers slice.

5.     Season to your liking with red pepper flakes or fresh black pepper.

6.     Enjoy every single bite!

These little mini turkey bad boys are fresh, healthy and abso-freaking-lutely delicious!

Close-up view of the mini open faced turkey avocado sandwiches.. YUM.

Ready to devour these cuties. Be back later.

Monday's lunch got me all inspired after hearing about Chef’s Roll's March Madness style competition leading up to the Final Four. Their “Avocado Madness”, sponsored by Avocados From Mexico, is starting on March 1st with a line-up of 64 chefs who will develop avocado-inspired recipes through a possible 6 rounds of competition. Each week only half will make it through to the next round until there are only four remaining.  From those finalists, two will be selected to travel to San Diego for a live head-to-head competition on April 11th, 2016 where the final contestants will create an avocado-inspired menu in front of the city’s best chefs and culinary press for a chance to win some amazing prizes. Eeeek!

Since my friends have been encouraging me to venture more into the cooking world, and after seeing this contest with a serious passion for avocados, I figured why the heck not?! So here you have it folks. First round's an avocado-inspired sandwich/wrap recipe, so for preparation today, I made mini open faced turkey avocado sandwiches with Havarti cheese, sliced cucumber, roasted red pepper mayo, sprinkled with red pepper flakes. I've been making this for years and usually I just do a regular sandwich with all the same ingredients but I wanted to create something more aesthetically pleasing to the eye. And this would be a killer hors d'oeuvre /appetizer for a lunch/dinner party. I'm digging this open faced sandwiches' versatility! What do you guys think? I'm ready to hork these bad boys down, stat!

Wishing everyone a great week! Check y'all later! 😉

Love & xx's,

Meisterdish

Incredibly easy dinner meal kits delivered on-demand, no subscription.

Everything is prepped, Meisterdish saves time in the kitchen for us busy New Yorkers!

Cherry, kale & walnut salad with radicchio, Pecorino cheese and pumpkin seeds. Yum!

Cherry, Kale & Walnut Salad with Lavender Steak on Pearl Couscous from Meisterdish in NYC.

This past week I tried out Meisterdish — incredibly easy dinner meal kits for New Yorkers delivered on-demand, no subscription. You can choose from a daily menu curated by top chefs. I went for the cherry, kale and walnut salad with radicchio, Pecorino cheese and pumpkin seeds as the starter and then for the main course; a lavender steak on a beet-reduction pearl couscous with green beans, leeks and cashew nut. Can I just say that I've never had lavender spice with steak and HOLY MOLY is it off the chain! And the beet juice rendered into the couscous was absolutely delicious. I'm still dreaming about it! 😊

I really love how the ingredients come washed, prepped and chopped, where I've heard mixed reviews on Blue Apron's prep time. Why bother getting a dinner meal kit when you have to do all the work to begin with? Sort of defeats the purpose, in my opinion, but with Meisterdish you can complete a complete, savory meal in 15 minutes! They've got a killer Korean bulgogi meal up this week but note that their menu changes on a daily basis, which was the only little thing I hope they'll be able to fluctuate in the future.

As a New Yorker who is crazy in love with cooking & food, my crazy schedule tends to make it nearly impossible to cook dinner every night. I don't even have time to prep in advance like some of my friends do! This is such a terrific option for those busy nights where you literally have only twenty minutes to whip something up in the kitchen. And no subscription required is definitely a plus in my book! I will definitely be trying Meisterdish again soon. If you're in New York City and into Blue Apron, I strongly recommend trying Meisterdish!

Get 50% OFF your first order by going HERE! Have a nice weekend, everyone. ❤️❤️❤️

Love & xx's,

My Favorite Breakfast

Avocado, I love you. 💚

For the longest time, when it came to what I ate first thing in the morning, I only opted for coffee & cigarettes. I love sandwiches but before you mistaken me for Joey from F.R.I.E.N.D.S, what I love even more is open-faced sandwiches. And what seals the deal? A-V-O-C-A-D-O. I love avocado like a fat kid love cake! It goes well with so many different types of food but the combination I'm most crazy for is eggs and avocado. It's my favorite go-to breakfast on a daily basis.

Not only do I love the creamy, rich taste and texture of avocados, I'm also really down with the benefits of eating them. Did you know avocados have more potassium than bananas? Avocados are also a good source of monounsaturated fatty acids (my favorite source for healthy fat), and they have a low sugar content. They are also rich in fiber and are a good source of energy and contain a number of essential vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, phosphorus and zinc. They've also been known for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, preventing cancer and even aiding in the relief of arthritis! These green gems are packed with nutrients and may even help you lose weight.

Close-up of the avocado and egg open-faced sandwich. Yum!

The combination of egg and avocado is simply sublime. But my favorite way to cook eggs are sunny side up eggs. That or over-easy, or even poached. Heck, who am I kidding... I love eggs. Period. To go with my favorite brekkie, I always sprinkle some red pepper flakes to give the sandwich an extra zing to the dish. Since I also love spicy foods, I also eat this sandwich with either hot sauce or salsa (depending on what's in the fridge). It's such a party in your mouth!

Nothing like a glass of OJ to help wash it down! So refreshing, mmmm! :)

I am a huge coffee drinker but I've limited it to only one cup per day. So with my meal, I usually accompany it with a glass of orange juice or sometimes if I feel like being extra healthy, I'll do a green/fruit smoothie. I'll go this route after a strenuous run or training session with MaQ. What's your favorite kind of drink in the morning besides coffee? How many cups do you (truthfully) have per day? 😉

Salsa, salsa, salsa! 💃

And what did you have for breakfast today? What's your favorite, quick and easy recipe for the morning? I'm so glad to break bad habits. For the longest time I wouldn't even eat in the morning, as coffee and cigs do not count! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I truly feel the benefits of packing in some fuel to get my day going. Got questions about my favorite open-faced sandwich? Feel free to comment below, I always love hearing from other fellow bloggers and foodie lovers! Have a great Tuesday, everyone! 😘

Open-faced sandwich with egg and avocado. Yum!

Love & xx's,