The Picnic Girl: February 2013

2.27.2013

Make: Less-Guilty Panna Cotta

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Yesterday, I decided to take a quick break from the February workaholic urge (after almost screaming for help to escape from myself..lol). So instead of burying myself in a huge pile of paperworks, I get out of the cave and decide: "This is it, it's the moment when you deserve a yummy dessert, rinse it with a good coffee, and repeat.".. and of course, rinse and repeat cycle indeed it was!

I am currently into Panna Cotta and order it in almost any restaurant I visit for the last three weeks. Knowing that Panna Cotta is made with so much heavy cream, I can't help but feeling completely guilty eating it (you know..that kind of bride-to-be guilty pleasure). So this time, I made a little adjustment to create a 'Less-Guilty Panna Cotta' for my rinse and repeat dessert cycle.

Instead of using 4 cups (!!!) of heavy cream, I substitute it with milk (preferably low fat) and non-dairy creamer. The result is a lot lighter than the original version of Panna Cotta..but I guess it'll do. What I love about making this kind of dessert is how unbelievably fool-proof it was! It only takes 15 minutes to make (plus the torturing 4 hours wait for it to set in the fridge, tho..) On the topping, I literally grab anything in sight.. strawberries, crunchy cornflakes (so un-Italian), and lychee-rose honey.

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Here's the recipe for 10 cups of Panna Cotta:

(Mix 3 cups of non-dairy creamer and 2 cups of milk, bring to boil, add 1/2 cup of sugar, stir well. Mix 6 teaspoons of gelatin with cold water, mix it with the milk,creamer,and sugar. Bring to boil. Divide the mixture in 10 cups. Cool it in the fridge for 4 hours or till the mixture is set. Serve with topping. For the sauce, I mix sugar-free lychee syrup with rose water and honey-- bring it to boil until it reach a caramely texture. Serve cool.)

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Recipe and photograph by Miy

2.24.2013

Read: Smith Journal

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Meet Frankie's little brother: Smith. Just as quirky, as geeky, as playful, as neatly designed, and just as interesting.. but this one is for boys (and girls like me who sometime enjoy dreaming about being a little bit more tomboy).

Smith Journal is published by the same press as Frankie. I was totally hooked by their first edition's introduction about being imperfect..and it says "This magazine is for anyone interested in the world, for everyone who has been out there living life & not just studying it from afar."..and my childhood fantasy of being one of the curious and playful lost boys found its match.

Meet Smith here.

Read their newsletter here.

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(as quirky as it can be, they gave away vintage carrot and cabbage seed in one of their edition!)

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{some articles that I love}

(about ice cream vans)

(about a designer of kodak instamatic-and more iconic stuff)

(disassembling stuff- so boyish!!)

(mike and maxi's excellent adventure--on bikes!)

(typewriter and some men of the history)

(boat house!)

Photographed by Miy

2.17.2013

Do: The First Two Weeks of February

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Inspired by my dearest fellow blogger Much Love, Anna's Just a Minute in January post, I guess I'll share a glimpse of my crazy February when I decide to work my heart out..and mean it. That way, I would feel like I deserve a holiday in the sun at the end of the month (which.. judging from the schedule.. would only mean the middle of March..or April..or after the wedding..)

Sometime, being busy can be so fun..even addictive. It's only the first two weeks of February and my aunt is already complaining and wonder whether I can give myself a month off? (even the thought of having a month off gives me goosebumps..seriously..when that workaholic part rises, it's hard to tame it back)

So, here's a glimpse of my February:

Do.. getting the engagement photos-invitation-souvenir done for the wedding, renovating the house, preparing an exhibition for March, write-write-write (for a graphic novel, two articles for an interior magazine, a project proposal, and two books project) while trying to keep up with my baby Lir (and by far, failing)..

Go.. to Cemeti's 25th anniversary at the weekend, spent the first Monday holiday at the beach and at Semarang with my bf on the second Monday holiday.

Read.. a stack of visual art books and interior magazines.

Eating.. lots of rujak (spicy fruit salad) for lunch

Drinking.. coffee. black. no sugar. three times a day. and lots of water. (yes, boring).. but recently I tried a very yummy organic hazelnut milk from Kedai Kolondjono and caramel milk tea from Teapresso which is really addictive :9

Be..trying not to turn into a bridezilla that often

See.. Howls Moving Castle (love! love! love!)

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The Visual Diary

(the 'light-house' project I'm currently working on)

(the moment when I died a little on Valentine's day)

(one of the nicest dog I met this month)

(the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow)

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So, what you up to this month?

2.14.2013

Feel: Loving is Easy when I'm with You

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Few days ago, Dito and I decided to grab a tripod and a camera, ask a friend to assist the process, decided to stop at an empty field, and walk randomly trying to find interesting wall as a background-- Dito took our engagement pictures himself. There was no fuss.

Dito got a new haircut and I grab a dress to doll myself up just like I do everyday..and that was it. Easy, just like a Sunday morning, people say. Less than a day later, we had decided which pictures we'll display on the wedding day and edited it the way we wanted. With him, love is that easy too.

How easy, you asked? Hmm.. once I asked Dito to get me flower just because he never get me those.. Dito said that he will buy me a good cup of coffee in a place where we can sit and talk intimately instead because he knew I need my daily dose badly that day and the intimate conversation will do us better than a bunch of flowers.

I couldn't agree more. :)

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Inspired by Amanda Jane's My Better Half project, we decided to scribbled some facts about us on the final pictures that we will display on the d-day. Here are some things that we had in mind:

Miy

1. Love the nature more

2. Heavy coffee drinker

3. Writes

4. Floating through life with her head upon the cloud

5. Addicted to books

Dito

1. Love the city more

2. Heavy milk drinker

3. Takes pictures

4. Prefers to keep his feet above the ground

5. Addicted to magazine

Together

1. Fall for each other since 13

2. Grew up together | Growing old together

3. Both enjoy creating space

4. Both are excited about culinary and daily life of people in different place with different culture

5. He makes her laugh | she makes him feels safe

And here's Our Story.

About the final scribbled engagement pictures? that's for later.

Posted below are some pictures that we like but decide not to use on the d-day.

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♪ ♫ ♪ Recipe for Making Love - Harry Connick Jr. ♪ ♫ ♪

Photographed by Dito Yuwono

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Happy Valentine's Day!

2.11.2013

Soirée: One Night Stand*

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‘One Night Stand’ is a party hosted by Cemeti Art House in celebrating their 25th anniversary. The idea was to held a one-night art project where everything is ‘happening’ simultaneously. Artists and art practitioners will be asked to contribute ‘anything’ for one night, to bring in artworks to exhibit or create an artwork on the spot, such as murals, performances, and video works.

Being 25 and famously known as the pioneer of contemporary art in Indonesia, Cemeti has distinctive charisma that makes almost anything displayed and performed in the space breath art. Something they deserve throughout the 25 years commitment, for sure.

Well.. just let the picture do the talk.

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