Fifi Lapin

After spending every spare moment reading her adorbs blog, I've decided to introduce you all to an established fashion icon in her own right for the past 4 or 5 years: Fifi Lapin.
I've included the link into the title so if she makes you squeal like me, feel free to click and see some more of her fabulous bunny self ("lapin" is French for "rabbit").
So far, these are just a teensy amount of the darling designer outfits she wears. What's funny is that her cute wardrobe has inspired me in some ways to spruce up my own (I'm on a very tight budget, as money is coming in small amounts to my purse), namely to buy a few yellow accessories. I have a feeling it will be a good statement color to add to my Spring/Summer clothes and fun to wear when the weather gets drab this upcoming rainy Autumn.
Another one of my absolute favorites! To those of you who know me personally, I'm positive you could picture me wearing this library-chic dress -- ha!

Postscript: Of course, none of these drawings are mine! They are all Fifi Lapin's.

Sour Girl

She turned away, what was she looking at?

She was a sour girl the day that she met me

Hey, what are you looking at?

She was a happy girl the day that she left me

She turned away, what was she looking at?

She was a sour girl the day that she met me

Hey, what are you looking at?

She was a happy girl when she left me

What would you do?

What would you do if I followed you?

What would you do, I follow?

Don't turn away, what are you looking at?

He was so happy on the day that he met her

Say, what are you looking at?

I was a Superman but looks are deceiving

The roller coaster ride's a lonely one

I'd pay the ransom note to stop it from steaming

Hey, what are you looking at?

She was a teenage girl when she met me

What would you do?

What would you do if I followed you?

What would you do, I follow?

The girl got reasons

They all got reasons

What would you do?

What would you do if I followed you?

What would you do, I follow?

Hey, what are you looking at?

She was a happy girl the day that she left me

The day that she left me

The day that she left me

She was a happy girl the day that she left me

The day that she left me

The day that she left me

She was a sour girl the day that she met me

Lemon Broccoli and Mashed Potatoes

Lemon Broccoli

(from November 2011 issue of InStyle magazine)

3 large heads broccoli, cut into spears

1 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/4 cup slivered almonds

1/4 cup olive oil

1 clove garlic, chopped

2 Tbsp lemon juice

1/2 tsp salt

Garnish: lemon wedges (optional)

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil.

2. Add broccoli and blanch for 2 minutes.

3. Remove broccoli and rinse with cold water to prevent further cooking.

4. In separate pan, melt butter and add almonds, sautéing over medium heat until lightly browned (about 5 minutes).

5. Transfer almonds to a plate and wipe down pan with a kitchen towel. Add olive oil and sauté garlic until fragrant Add broccoli and stir. Sprinkle with lemon juice and salt; cook 1 minute more.

6. Remove to a warm dish; garnish with almonds and lemon wedges.

The almonds look like this right when you need to take them off the stove.

My suggestion to make this recipe easier: measure and prep everything while bringing the water to a boil. Trying to get the ingredients ready while you're browning the almonds will just lead you to burn the almonds :(

Olive-Oil Mashed Potatoes

(from http://www.gourmet.com/recipes/2000s/2008/09/olivepotatoes)

2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, cut into 2-in chunks

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1. Cover potatoes with cold water in a pot and add 2 tsp salt. Boil, partially covered, until tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

2. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain potatoes.

3. Heat oil in pot over medium heat and remove from heat. Force potatoes through ricer into oil in pot. Stir in cooking water, 1/2 tsp pepper, and salt to taste.

I don't have a potato ricer, but I do have this handy masher!

These potatoes will most likely taste bland but I really liked them. I wanted a different taste and to use an alternative as opposed to butter. Perfect for a rainy day when you need some comfort food.