samedi 23 août 2014

ALS Ice Bucket Challenge!

Here is a little out of the theme of Eat, Read, Watch, but it is worth the rea none the less (if not more).
I got nominated for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by Shena Wolf. :) ( THank you Shena!)

You can read a bit more on ALS  on the english website: http://www.mndassociation.org/

I took the challenge, and donated five pounds, because I think doing it without donating would be totally pointless...
So don't hesitate to donate by mobile, ICED55 £5 (or more, or whatever you can afford) to 70070.

I nominated David Carden (vaudevillian troubardour...he has done it in such a dapper way!), Krisandra Adams, and Paul Loudon (the amazing illustrator!).

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=824173604293580&l=4488504125877880828

And honestly, it's not that terrible ;)

THank you for sharing and/or donating!

(Special mention to the lovely Benedict Cumberbatch for the 5 buckets of ice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOa7ZjxRuKM, and the adorable Tom Hiddleston who has nominated him ;) <div id="fb-root"></div> <script>(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/fr_FR/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));</script>
<div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=765532283490559" data-width="466"><div class="fb-xfbml-parse-ignore"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=765532283490559">Publication</a> by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/twhiddleston">Tom Hiddleston</a>.</div></div>
 ) .

mardi 12 août 2014

Eat: Raspberry and Espresso Biscottis

One month ago, I was invited by Java, to a girls clothing swap. I had brought along some homemade biscotti, and out of craziness, dipped one into some fizzy wine. And surprizingly, it worked really well! it reminded me of these pink biscuits "biscuits de Reims", from the north of France, which you can dip in champagne (but I'm not a champagne girl).
It made me think i could try to add fresh raspberries into these wonderfully crispy biscuits!

 Biscotti means "cooked two times". The biscuits were particularly useful during journeys, and were a staple food in roman legions.

                              This japanese plate is a present my grandad made me years ago. :)
   ( Grand-Pere et Serge, je pense a vous a chaque fois que je presente mes biscuits dans ces assiettes!)

You can hardly find a much healthier breakfast biscuit (without the glass of alcohol of course). There is no fat, it's rich in almonds, and hence will bring you energy, and the rasberries bring a subtle sweetness to it.

So here is the recipe:

Dry ingredients:
260 g organic flour
200 g sifted brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon sea Salt

Liquid ingredients:
1/4 cup strong coffee (room temperature)
1 teaspoon almond extract
1 big egg

Ingredients to add in the last step:
100 g almonds
1 cup of fresh raspberries, slightly crushed

Preheat oven at 170 degree Celcius

Toast the almonds 15 minutes until fragrant and golden.
Mix all the dry ingredients together.
In another bowl, mix the liquid ingredients.
Chop the almonds coarsely.
Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients without overmixing.
Finally, add the almonds and the raspberries (don't add the raspberries at the liquid state, I find bigger chunks of rasberries are lovely)
Mix the preparation.
Separate it into two streched logs (the size of the lengh of the tray), and place them on two baking trays, covered with baking parchement.
Bake 30 minutes or less, depending on your oven. the logs should be firm to the touch.
Change the temperature of the oven to 150 degree celcius

Take out from the oven and let them rest 10 minutes.

Slice the logs into 1cm thick slices.
Place the biscottis on the trays. Let them cook 5 minutes or more on each side, or until firm to the touch.
Let it cool down (otherwise the taste of rasberry won't be as strong as when it's cold ;) )...try to resist!









vendredi 8 août 2014

Read: Nimona, by Noelle Stevenson

 I think around 6 months ago, I was out of comics to read, and I wanted a little something to follow a few times a week. I found on a few websites (including the Mary Sue http://www.themarysue.com/40-webcomics-you-need-to-read/), regular high praise about Nimona.




I got so wrapped up in this webcomic, that I caught up with everything in a single night, finishing at dawn. And then I had to start WAITING for the chapters, like everyone did, twice a week!
The end is nigh for Nimona, we are coming to the final chapter, and I could not have gone without making a blog post about this beautiful webcomic.

One day, Lord Ballister Blackheart, a supervillain, takes under his wing Nimona, a shapeshifter.
But Ballister is not a villain as we could think, and he is trying to reveal the dark plots behind the people who claim to be the righteous ones, who are the "protectors of the Kingdom". He will try to canalize Nimona, who has quite destructive and explosive ideas.

First, the character of Nimona, I love the fact that she is no cliche girl, she has a punk hair style, piercings, and a generous body shape! exit the cliches of super slim heroin like we can see all the time. She can transform into a shark (to bring the best sense of humor), or into a dark beast (for the most dramatic scenes).
I love seeing the different transformations of Nimona, who reflect so well her emotions.
She is a whole mystery during the whole series, and you will be heart broken to discover her backstory.

Lord Ballister Blackheart is a splendid SuperVillain, who never accomplishes much, until Nimona pops into his life. Little by little, we will discover how he lost his arm and got his scar. His relationship with Nimona is of a father daughter relationship. He tries to calm her down, and understand her, and will go very far to help her. But Nimona is so deeply hurt I cannot help but wonder if it is going to finish nicely for these two.

Sir Goldenloin is the archeitypical knight in shiny armor (with a codpiece ;) ), and has become Ballister's Nemesis. I'm curious and anxious about his fate following the last few pages.

Overshadowing all this story, is the Director, a not so human character, head of dark scientific studies, she is pulling the strings of the Kingdom.

The world itself is a mashup of fantasy and science fiction.

Noelle Stevenson's style is really evolving through the whole run of the story. Her line is tender, and so is her story. She can bring you from laughter to being left eyes all watery, and the whole story develops beautifully. You might know of her as she has worked on Adventure Time

I have grown so fond of her characters, and the whole world of Nimona. When the comic is going to end, it's going to feel a bit empty.
But it is definitely a read I recommend you warmly. :)

Just so you know, there are some news about Noelle Stevenson's publishing!
Nimona will be published into two books by Harper and Collins (I cannot wait to hold it between my hands!), and she will also work on the adaptation of Sleepy Hollow comic books (which is a double hurray, two of my favorite "things" fused together!!).

Here is the link to Nimona, have a good sleepless friday night!
http://gingerhaze.com/nimona