Cooking Tutorial: Creamy Penne Pasta!

So! I've been experimenting alot lately with food. Pasta is my absolute favorite thing to eat in this whole wide world (not to mention caramel apples!). This is a very quick and easy recipe for a fancy dinner without that fancy time wasted. C; Let's jump right into the tutorial!

Ingredients:
-2 slices of bacon
-2 tsp of minced garlic
-2 tbsp of butter
-1 onion
-1 green onion/spring onion
-1/3 cup of fresh basil (I used dry because I forgot to pick some up!)
-250g (8oz) of Ricotta
-325g (11oz) of Penne Pasta (or any other pasta)
-1 Cup of cherry tomatoes--halved
-half & half cream (the kind for your coffee!)
-Any grated cheese of your choice

Optional:
-Pico de Galo/Salsa
-Garlic Bread

*Sorry if you feel like i'm constantly going back and forth between the sauce, pasta, and chopping--I've put up the steps in the order which they happened to me.


Gather up your ingredients!


First, boil some water for the pasta!


Also prepare a pan with a semi-deep, wideset body for the sauce we're going to make.


Take those cherry/grape tomatoes, wash em, and half em!




By this point, your water should be at a nice rolling boil.


Well?! What're you waiting for! Put in how much you and your partner want to eat!


Now, since it's not boiling anymore, lets go back to the chopping!


Chop up them onions!


By now, the water should have come back to the boil--but this time, with foam that threatens to overflow C;


This is a secret I learned from my mom from boiling noodles--just throw over some cold water on top of the foam! It'll settle down, and come down to the slightest little boil.


Throw the lid on, and let it sit! This will speed up the process of cooking your pasta by a long run.


This is optional, but if you want to have some garlic bread with your pasta, this is the time to toast it! I'm lazy, so I went ahead and bought premade garlic bread.


It has butter, roasted galic, herbs.. oh man. i'm getting hungry.


And pop it in a little conventional oven! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know when it's done...


Before your water wants to overflow again, take off the lid, and give your pasta a stir. Make sure you try it once in awhile to estimate how much long you need to cook it!


Now, take out your bacon slices!


Cook them in the saucepan that we're going to use for the sauce!


Cut up the bacon into little bits with a scissor. We do this after it's fully cooked, because raw-anything will refuse to be cut.


Take a paper towel and blot the excess oils!


When that's done, throw in your onions, tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, salt, pepper, and green onions.


Before you do anthing else, make sure you don't over cook your pasta and drain it--SAVE THE DRAINED WATER! We will use it for the sauce!


Add in your butter, and sautee your ingredients real good.


Finally, add in your ricotta, shredded cheese, and half & half. I won't say exactly how much--you'll know how much by looking at the consistency of it. Also, ladle in your drained water from your pasta to dilute it a bit. This way, the water isn't plain water, but still has the flavors from the pasta leftover. Finally, add in your penne! The more you mix, the better the sauce will become incorporated with the pasta!


Make sure you don't burn your bread!


Now, transfer the pasta into a serving bowl.


Serve it with your garlic bread C:

Finished!
This is a very quick and easy pasta recipe that you'll absolutely love. You can control how thick/watery your sauce will be by adding in more half & half to dilute, or more ricotta to thicken. Remember, you're unlimited to what you want to put in! If you're not a fan of bacon, throw in some chicken! Or if you're a fan of seafood, go ahead and throw in some shrimp, muscles, clams, or even tuna! As you've seen, i've included pico de galo in my optional list! Sometimes, pasta can get a bit dull for me, so I like to eat it with a bit of salsa. You have endless possibilities!

Bon appetit!
-Jinna

Stay tuned for some great desert recipes!

Review/Demo: Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque

Many of you are probably already aware of what this is, and just how amazing this is. =) This is my ALL-TIME FAVORITE mask! It's one of those very few masks where you can actually feel the difference as well as see the difference on your skin. The mask comes in either a tube or a jar.

CVS used to carry them in the tubes, but just recently, they've stopped. Just 2 weeks ago, I asked one of the stockers, and they say that they think it's either discontinued, or just not making it in the tubes anymore. HORRIFIED, I went directly to the closest Sally's Beauty Supply store. They carried it in the jar--which is larger than the tube. I bought it right away!

Mint is a natural remedy for many things. While mint oil is a good anti septic and anti pruritic, mint juice is also an excellent skin cleanser. It soothes skin, cures infections, itching etc., and is also good for pimples. Its anti pruritic properties can also be used for treating bites of insects like mosquitoes, honey-bees, hornets, wasps, gnats etc.



The texture of the mask is a clay. And guess what? It's betonite/kaolin clay! That's the stuff used in those ridiculously expensive volcanic clay masks you can get at a spa! But this stuff is only around $5!
The clay claims to dry up pimples and shrink enlarged pores. Does it actually do it? Yes! absolutely. This clay contains sulfur, which is used to treat acne. It also has Zinc Oxide in it, which is found in the Earth's deepest layers--which is used for mineral makeup. There are also no harmful chemicals, as well as artificial coloring. The mask is its natural color.

Now... after cleansing your face, apply the mask and spread it evenly. I concentrate the thickness on my t-zone. (especially my nose!)


Let it completely dry. It'll take about 10 minutes max.


When it's dry, you can see the oils and impurities that have been soaked up by the mask--even you just washed your face! (gross!) So all of your pores will be visible. I'm warning you, it doesn't look so pretty...

yeh yeh yeh, I know, it looks pretty nasty.

Wash it all off with luke-warm water. But after, I like to rinse off with icy water to re-tighten those pores. Use a washcloth if you have to! It takes a bit of effort to get it all off. Finish it off with some toner--to pick up any leftover residue, your treatments/serums, and your moisturizer! I wish beautiful skin for the both of us!
-Jinna

What's In My Purse: Travel Beauty Kit to Korea ;)

Hey all C:
This is just a post on what skincare and make-up essentials I brought along with me on my trip to Seoul over the summer break. I didn't bring much of anything, since the weather is so hot and humid in Korea during the summer, I knew I wouldn't be wearing any make-up. Also, if I wore eye make-up, all the people would think I'm some rebellious daughter, since most girls my age there would be at a point in their lives where they have to study like no other to get into college :P

So here goes!

This is my travel beauty bag :) It fits EVERYTHING in here!

These are the only brushes that I bought with me--all face brushes! I did also bring liner brushes, but they aren't photographed. :) From the left: MAC 187, Anastasia Brows Mini Duo Brush #7, CVS Concealer/Foundation brush, Estee Lauder Blush Brush, & The Body Shop Kabuki Brush.

Here's the foundations I chose to bring along--MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural, Afterglow Cosmetic's Mineral Foundation, MAC Studio Fix Powder,& Sally Hanson's Spray Foundation (AMAZING!! review comming up!).

Blushes! Pur Minerals' Marble Blush Powder, NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo, MAC Hello Kitty "Fun and Games".

And.. just a couple things for the eyes :) I went wayy overboard on bringing so many eye products, when I couldn't wear them half the time :p

Now.. for skincare!

I bought along...
From the left: Clinique's All "About the Eyes Rich" Eyecream, "Moisture Surge Extra" Gel Moisturizer, "Superdefense SPF 25" (yeah, it's spelled with an "s"!) for combination oily to oily Skin types (there's so many types for this same product!), EUMIA "Clarifying Serum with Vitamin A", MAC FIX+ Spray, T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel, Queen Helene's Mint Julep Masque, Neutrogena "Healthy Skin--Anti-wrinkle/Anti-blemish" clear skin cream, & my St. Ives Apricot Scrub "Blemish & Blackhead Control" (not pictured).

Here's all the rest of the junk I carry in my purse! My Ipod, make-up bag, book, wallet, cell, moisturizer, hair ties, oil blotting paper, sunglasses, and glasses! Yeah, I carry a LOT of things. If you look carefully, you can see both my sunglasses' and glasses' cases by Gucci are DESTROYED by my dog's teeth. Damn, he loves those leather cases...

And they all snuggly fit in my bag! I got this from American Apparel--you can buy it online or at their stores (http://www.americanapparel.net). Isn't it adorable?! They also have it in leather and in different colors, but I like this one alot. C;

On a side note, I managed to pick up Lancome's Virtuose Mascara at the Duty Free store in the airport! It's absolutely fantastic for volume, but not much of a lengthener! I have to use a legnthening mascara with it to produce my desired outcome. The brush is curved--the hollow side for volume, and rounded side for legnth!


Here's to those who love them beauty hauls!
Cheers!
~Jinna :))

Review: Miss Rose Palette

So! I received this palette awhile back, but never had the chance to post about it! This palette is by Miss Rose, a Chinese brand manufactured in Hong Kong. I purchased it on Darline's blog sale site--http://whatever-darl.blogspot.com/ check it out! She has everything from clothes, shoes, leggings, to makeup!

I first ran into this palette in one of RoseBabe's videos. If you're not familiar with her, she's a guru that is highly underrated on Youtube. She is just fantastic. I saw a couple of her looks made with this palette, and it just sent me bonkers to find it. After MONTHS of searching, I was FINALLY able to get my hands on one of these. Miss Rose has other palettes, but I like this one alot. You can purchase them on ebay by searching "wet eyeshadow".

SO! This palette has a wide range of colors--from champagnes, pinks, golds, silvers, blues, greens, purples.. you name it! It has graduations from a highlight color to an intense liner color. The pigmentation of this is absolutely fantastic. You can either use it wet or dry, but using it dry already looks like it's wet when applied! The colors are SUPER vibrant even without a base.

All of the colors are shimmery. The texture of the shadows are very sponge-y. As in.. if you pressed down on the pans, your finger would leave an indent in it. There is a bit of fallout, but it's worth it, and doesn't waste product. You don't need much!

Here's some pictures!

Woot! Finally got it. (yeah yeah yeah, my mom's name is Hyeja. That's what you get for using her credit card!)

Here's the outside--the case is really sturdy!

Here are the colors! Aren't they vibrant?!

Selecting this blue/green color...

I BARELY ran my finger across the pan, and look how vibrant the color is!

Here's the swatch-- I have no primer/base on my wrist!

After all that, look how much there's left on my finger!

Overall:
Quality--9/10 (I really don't like the fallouts, it gets messy)
Texture--10/10
Pigmentation--10/10
Packaging--10/10 (for a palette!)

Comments:
I wish some of the colors weren't shimmery! Since they all are, you can't really wear an of these fantastic colors in broad daylight. Save em` for those clubbing nights or for a fun night out!

~Jinna

Cooking Tutorial: Soba/모밀 국수

Hiya all~ C:
Yeah yeah yeah, I know, it's been awhile since i've been back from Korea, but I've been so busy with cello stuff I haven't been able to sit down and spend the time to upload/resize pictures. But.. now I do! I'll have my pictures from korea posted soon (most of the pictures were taken on my sister's dica, and she's at UCI, so I don't have alot of them :/ )! I also have this AMAZING new palette to share with you guys :)) Along with a new baking tutorial! whooo! keep em` comin`~ hahah :D I also have a DIY facial mask comming up, so stay tuned!!

Alright, enough with the chitchat. This is the EASIEST thing to make on a hot day! I know when the weather is unbearably hot outside, you don't really want to spend much time in a hot kitchen. This recipe is for Soba! Soba noodles are made from a type of root/buckwheat, and are not flour noodles. So even after you stuff yourself with it, you won't feel all groggy and gross :) It's healthy!

Here's what you'll need:

-Buckwheat Noodles
-Soba Soy Sauce (you can buy this at any asian stores C;)
-Radish (optional)
-Plain nori/seaweed/김 to garnish (and tastes good~)
-Green Onions

So let's get started!

These are the noodles that I'm using.

Boil a bit of water depending on how much of the noodles you're making. Remember, boiling more is always fine, but being short on water always makes things a hastle! (the opposite for making ramen/라면 X) )

The brand that i'm using actually already divided the serving portions, so I made 2. (since it's me and my mom!)

Now.. whip out those traditional soba dishes! (Of course, this isn't necessary.)

Now, once the noodles are done, prepare a drainer and large bowl.

Drain the noodles, and wash them in icy cold water!

Now.. prepare your dipping sauce! Try going 1/2 of the base and 1/2 of water mixed together. Here is where you would add your radish shavings--(it always tastes better with them, but I ran out!). Add ice if it's not icy cold.

And Serve! Seriously, how easy is this? What a lame post.

This is a perfect way to cool yourself down a really hot day. =) It's quick, and it's yummy!

Update later!
~Jinna