I'm sitting here eating a Curly Wurly aka gift from heaven (remember the WigWag my Canadian amis?) and thinking about having a cocktail at 1:30 in the afternoon. You know what that means? It means it's long weekend time my friends - at least for those of us in the US. Most of you have probably already long checked out, but here in the West we're only on the verge.
Just in time for the sun (she silently dares the weather) here is my second post featuring the amazing Eugenia Kim for Target. If you're out and about this weekend why not stop by and treat yourself to one of her amazing hats...you've gotta keep that sun out of your eyes after all. Uncertain as to whether I'll do a post on Monday, if not I'll see you Tuesday!
Here are some pictures of her Mint Green Straw Fedora with Black and White trim - still available online too!
The day we took these pictures was perfect for a hat. I never really noticed until now, but the pastel contrast would have made this an ideal Easter photo. The full outfit shot gives you an idea of just how versatile these hats are.
They are perfect for a breezy kind of day just like the one we had here. Aside from the minty green color, the striped ribbon detailing is my favorite thing about this one.
Here it is from the side. Just a nice little flip up in the back to add that extra pizazz.
Have a fantastic weekend everyone!...and don't be afraid to treat yourself to this shoe either. Was out doing some work for a client the other day and had a few minutes to spare, so ran into Payless Shoes and almost fell on the floor and cried when I tried these on. So cute and virtually painless in price! JACKPOT
Outfit Details:
Fedora - Eugenia Kim for Target, Sweeping Ruffles Shirt by J.Crew, Denim - Lucky Brand (mine are 5 years old and they don't make them anymore, but this pair looks close), Hampton Studded Clog by alice + olivia for Payless
Jumat, 28 Mei 2010
Kamis, 27 Mei 2010
Birding in Guyana Part 4: On the Road to Iwokrama
In part 3 of my series of posts about birding in Guyana, I promised to show you some of the birds we saw on our six-hour drive along the road from Rock View Lodge to the Iwokrama Forest Reserve and Ecolodge.
My mind is back on Guyana for a couple of reasons. First of all there is just so much to share about my trip there. Secondly, the upcoming issue (July/August 2010) of Bird Watcher's Digest features Guyana in our regular travel column "Far Afield." Julie Zickefoose writes about her trip to Guyana in an article entitled "Journey to the Lungs of the Earth."
Thirdly, I've just finished the rough edits on a podcast about Guyana for "This Birding Life." That should be ready for listening within a few days.
In our last Guyana blog post, we left off just after a flight from Georgetown to the Annai airstrip in the interior. We lunched at Rock View Lodge and climbed aboard three 4 x 4 trucks for transport along the lone road in the interior of Guyana to Iwokrama. The road bed was red clay and very dusty. I felt lucky to be in the lead vehicle, which was also the lone truck with air conditioning. The day was as hot as the hinges of Hades, but even the delicious comfort of the cool truck cab could not keep us from leaping out each time we spotted a new bird.
King vultures mixed with blacks and turkeys overhead. Several species of caracara added themselves to our list, including a screaming family group of red-throated caracaras. Small clusters of swallow-tailed kites skimmed the tree tops. The landscape was changing from open savanna scrub to forest edge and then to proper forest. As it changed, so did the bird life.
Swallow-winged puffbirds sallied forth from snags. Macaws and parakeets whirred across the roadway opening. Roadside hawks lived up to their names.
Strange bird shapes appeared everywhere, causing excited shouts from our truck.
We'd get out, optics swinging onto targets and shout out names, or more likely families of birds, or even MORE likely things like "I have a large dark raptor with a long tail." Or "I've got some sort of jacamar on that snag on the left."
Or "Some tiny green thing is singing and hover-gleaning over here in this fruiting tree." Our guides helped call out the birds' names when they could.
The farther along the road we we, the deeper and older the forest got. Soon we passed through the gate into the Iwokrama Forest Reserve and it was here that we entered the true rain forest.
We continued driving and stopping for birds for the next few hours. When all the trucks in our convoy finally got together, our tour leaders told us we were running really behind schedule. Since we still had a long way to drive before reaching the Iwokrama River Lodge, we had to swear that we'd only stop for the rarest of the rare. Suggestions were made for what would qualify as a stop-worthy sighting: Jaguar, harpy eagle, and anaconda were all mentioned. I threw in "A Pittsburgh Pirates' World Championship" knowing full well that we'd be more likely to find the other three creatures together, playing poker in the middle of the road before I'd see the Pirates hoist the World Champion flag over their stadium.
We made better time the rest of the way, but still stopped a few times. Once for a long, bright green snake that had been killed in the road.
And a few times for new bird species. We arrived at Iwokrama well after dusk, dusty, hot, hungry, and tired—but happy for a great day of birding along the only read road in Guyana's interior.
Here are a few of the bird images I captured that day.
Undercover-up
With Memorial Day weekend officially marking the beginning of summer comes the grim reality that it's time to start thinking about the swimsuit. This time the actual bikini is not what's getting me down (thankfully the painful process of finding a couple happened late in the season last year - she types while wiping sweat from brow), but rather getting myself from home to beach or poolside and everywhere in between suitably clothed. I'm just not that girl who strolls the streets and shops of my beachtown in only the bikini, and you won't find me riding a beach cruiser in one either. So, like clockwork, every year around this time I begin to visualize a classy, fun and simple beach cover-up that will take me from home to watery tanning destination. While combing through sites last night in search of "the one", I realized why my cover-up tends to almost always consist of a t-shirt and cut-offs...
...a lot of chic numbers that slide over swimsuits are pretty pricey! Despite that, I did select some classic shapes we could all live with and now just have to go comb Gap, Old Navy, Target and the like to find their less expensive cousins :) If you have found a great cover-up or two please feel free to share the details. This is one journey I'd like to cut back on!! (but will probably fall slightly off the wallet for anyway, knowing me)
Upper Left - Roberta Roller Rabbit Tunic $77, Middle - Lemlem Lucy Patio Dress $200, Upper Right - Topshop Embroidered Smock Coverup, Lower Left - Missoni Bosforo Caftan $592, Lower Right - Forever21 Strapless Boho Dress $14.50 (JACKPOT)
...a lot of chic numbers that slide over swimsuits are pretty pricey! Despite that, I did select some classic shapes we could all live with and now just have to go comb Gap, Old Navy, Target and the like to find their less expensive cousins :) If you have found a great cover-up or two please feel free to share the details. This is one journey I'd like to cut back on!! (but will probably fall slightly off the wallet for anyway, knowing me)
Upper Left - Roberta Roller Rabbit Tunic $77, Middle - Lemlem Lucy Patio Dress $200, Upper Right - Topshop Embroidered Smock Coverup, Lower Left - Missoni Bosforo Caftan $592, Lower Right - Forever21 Strapless Boho Dress $14.50 (JACKPOT)
Cara Merawat Cucak Rowo
Burung Cucak Rowo merupakan burung yang mempunyai tempat tersendiri di hati penggemarnya. Ketenarannya tidak pernah pudar. Bagi sebagian masyarakat Indonesia, memelihara burung ini menyangkut status sosial seseorang di dalam masyarakat. Disamping dipelihara sebagai klangenan, burung Cucak Rowo juga sering diturunkan di arena lomba. Suaranya yang sangat keras dan lantang, membuat taste tersendiri didalam menikmati nyanyian burung Cucak Rowo.
Memelihara dan merawat burung Cucak Rowo sama dengan merawat burung berkicau jenis lainnya. Walaupun demikian, ada beberapa hal mendasar yang tetap harus kita perhatikan.
KARAKTER DASAR BURUNG CUCAK ROWO
- Semi fighter. Burung ini bukanlah burung petarung murni, daya tarung yang ada pada burung ini cenderung akibat tingkat birahi pada level tertentu yang akan membuat burung ini menjaga daerah teritorialnya.
- Sulit beradaptasi. Burung Cucak Rowo tidak mudah beradaptasi terhadap lingkungan yang baru. Disamping itu, burung ini mudah kaget apabila di sekitarnya ada sesuatu yang mengganggu ketenangannya.
- Memiliki tingkat stress yang tinggi. Dalam kondisi tertentu, burung ini mudah panik dan stress apabila merasa terancam.
- Mudah jinak. Dalam waktu tertentu dan perlakuan serta perawatan yang baik, burung ini mudah menjadi jinak kepada pemiliknya.
PEMILIHAN BAHAN BURUNG CUCAK ROWO YANG BAIK
Ada beberapa hal penting yang harus diperhatikan dalam pemilihan bahan atau bakalan pada burung Cucak Rowo.
- Postur badan. Pilihlah bahan yang berpostur besar memanjang dengan panjang leher, badan dan ekor serta kaki yang serasi. Jangan memilih bahan yang berleher, berbadan pendek dan berpostur tubuh kecil.
- Bentuk paruh, sebaiknya pilih bentuk paruh yang berpangkal lebar, tebal, besar dan panjang. Paruh bagian bawah harus lurus. Jangan memilih bahan yang memiliki paruh bengkok. Posisi lubang hidung pilih sedekat mungkin dengan posisi mata.
- Sayap mengepit rapat dan kaki mencengkram kuat, ini menandakan bahan tersebut sehat. Warna kaki tidak berpengaruh terhadap mental burung.
- Lincah dan bernafsu makan besar. Ini merupakan ciri-ciri bahan yang bermental baik.
- Rajin bunyi, ini menandakan burung tersebut memiliki prospek yang cerah.
- Leher panjang padat berisi. Menandakan burung ini akan mengeluarkan power suara secara maksimal.
MAKANAN YANG SESUAI UNTUK BURUNG CUCAK ROWO
- Voer (sebaiknya pilih yang berkadar protein sedang yaitu: 12%-18%, belum tentu Voer yang berharga mahal akan cocok dengan sistem metabolisme setiap burung Cucak Rowo. Voer diberikan sebagai pelengkap kebutuhan nutrisinya. Selalu ganti dengan Voer yang baru setiap dua hari sekali.
- Buah Segar, burung ini sangat menyukai buah Pepaya, Pisang Kepok Putih, Apel, Pir, Tomat dan beberapa buah lainnya. Sebaiknya perbanyak pemberian buah Pepaya, karena buah Pepaya mengandung vitamin C yang tinggi sehingga membantu meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh. Disamping itu, buah Pepaya sangat mudah dicerna dan sangat cocok dengan sistem metabolisme rata-rata burung pemakan buah.
- EF (Extra Fooding), pakan tambahan yang sangat baik yaitu: Jangkrik, Orong-orong, Kroto, Ulat Hongkong, Ulat Bambu, Kelabang, Belalang dan lainnya. Pemberian EF harus selalu disesuaikan dengan karakter pada masing-masing burung dan juga harus mengetahui dengan pasti dampak klausal dari pemberiannya EF tersebut.
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN HARIAN
Perawatan harian untuk burung Cucak Rowo relatif sama dengan burung berkicau jenis lainnya, kunci keberhasilan perawatan harian yaitu rutin dan konsisten.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan harian dan Stelan Harian untuk burung Cucak Rowo:
- Jam 07.00 burung diangin-anginkan di teras. Jam 07.30 burung dimandikan (karamba mandi atau semprot, tergantung pada kebiasaan masing-masing burung).
- Bersihkan kandang harian. Ganti atau tambahkan Voer, Air Minum dan buah segar.
- Berikan Jangkrik 5 ekor pada cepuk EF. Jangan pernah memberikan Jangkrik secara langsung pada burung.
- Penjemuran dapat dilakukan selama 1-2 jam/hari mulai pukul 08.00-11.00. Selama penjemuran, sebaiknya burung tidak melihat burung sejenis.
- Setelah dijemur, angin-anginkan kembali burung tersebut diteras selama 10 menit, lalu sangkar dikerodong.
- Siang hari sampai sore (jam 10.00-15.00) burung dapat di Master dengan suara Master atau burung-burung Master.
- Jam 15.30 burung diangin-anginkan kembali diteras, boleh dimandikan bila perlu.
- Berikan Jangkrik 3 ekor pada cepuk EF.
- Jam 18.00 burung kembali dikerodong dan di perdengarkan suara Master selama masa istirahat sampai pagi harinya.
PENTING
- Kroto segar diberikan 1 sendok teh maksimal 2x seminggu. Contoh setiap hari Senin pagi dan hari Kamis pagi.
- Buah Segar diberikan rutin setiap hari, dengan format: Hari Senin sampai hari Kamis berikan buah Pepaya, hari Jum'at dan hari Sabtu berikan Apel atau Pisang atau buah lainnya.
- Pengumbaran di kandang umbaran dapat dilakukan 4 jam perhari selama 4 hari dalam seminggu.
- Berikan Multivitamin yang dicampur pada air minum seminggu sekali saja.
- Berikan buah pisang yang yang telah diolesi Madu setiap hari Sabtu.
PENANGANAN APABILA KONDISINYA OVER BIRAHI
- Pangkas porsi Jangkrik menjadi 2 pagi dan 2 sore
- Bisa diberikan 2 ekor Ulat Bambu dalam 3 hari berturut-turut
- Frekuensi mandi dibuat lebih sering, misalnya pagi-siang dan sore
- Lamanya penjemuran dikurangi menjadi 30 menit/hari saja
PENANGANAN APABILA KONDISINYA DROP
- Tingkatkan porsi pemberian Jangkrik menjadi 8 pagi dan 4 sore
- Tingkatkan porsi pemberian Kroto menjadi 3x seminggu
- Mandi dibuat 2 hari sekali saja
- Burung segera diisolasi, jangan melihat dan mendengar burung Cucak Rowo lain dahulu
- Lamanya penjemuran ditambah menjadi 2-3 jam/hari
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN UNTUK LOMBA
Perawatan lomba sebenarnya tidak jauh berbeda dengan perawatan harian. Tujuan perawatan pada tahap ini yaitu mempersiapkan burung agar mempunyai tingkat birahi yang diinginkan dan memiliki stamina yang stabil. Kunci keberhasilan perawatan lomba yaitu mengenal baik karakter dasar masing-masing burung.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan dan Stelan Lomba untuk burung Cucak Rowo:
- H-3 sebelum lomba, Jangkrik bisa dinaikkan menjadi 8 ekor pagi dan 4 ekor sore.
- H-2 sebelum lomba, burung sebaiknya dijemur maksimal 30 menit saja.
- 1 Jam sebelum di gantang lomba, berikan Jangkrik 3 ekor dan Ulat Hongkong 10-20 ekor.
- Apabila burung akan turun lomba kembali, berikan Jangkrik 1 ekor lagi.
PENTING
- Jangan memandikan burung pada saat di lapangan, karena dapat membuat birahi burung tersebut menjadi sangat tidak stabil.
- Berikan kesempatan pada burung untuk beradaptasi sebentar pada suasana lapangan, agar burung tidak kaget.
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN PASCA LOMBA
Perawatan pasca lomba sebenarnya berfungsi memulihkan stamina dan mengembalikan kondisi fisik burung.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan dan Stelan pasca Lomba untuk burung Cucak Rowo:
- Porsi EF dikembalikan ke Stelan Harian.
- Berikan Multivitamin pada air minum pada H+1 setelah Lomba.
- Sampai H+3 setelah Lomba, penjemuran maksimal 30 menit saja.
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN PADA MASA MABUNG
Mabung (Moulting) atau rontok bulu merupakan siklus alamiah pada keluarga burung. Perawatan burung pada masa mabung adalah menjadi hal yang sangat penting, karena apabila perawatan yang salah pada masa ini akan membuat burung menjadi rusak. Pada masa mabung ini, metabolisme tubuh burung meningkat hampir 40% dari kondisi normal. Oleh karena itu, burung butuh asupan nutrisi yang berkualitas baik dengan porsi lebih besar dari kondisi normal. Hindari mempertemukan burung dengan burung sejenis, karena akan membuat proses mabung menjadi terganggu. Dampak dari ini adalah ketidak seimbangan hormon pada tubuh burung. Proses mabung juga berhubungan dengan hormon reproduksi.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan masa mabung:
- Tempatkan burung di tempat yang sepi, jauh dari lalu lintas manusia. Sebaiknya burung lebih banyak dalam kondisi dikerodong.
- Mandi cukup 1x seminggu saja dan jemur maksimal 30 menit/hari
- Pemberian porsi EF diberikan lebih banyak karena sangat diperlukan untuk pembentukan sel-sel baru dan untuk pertumbuhan bulu baru. Misalnya: Stelan Jangkrik dibuat 10 ekor pagi dan 6 ekor sore, Kroto 1 sendok makan setiap pagi dan Ulat Hongkong 3 ekor setiap pagi.
- Berikan Multivitamin yang berkualitas yang dicampur di air minum 2x seminggu.
- Perbanyak pemberian buah pepaya, karena buah pepaya sangat mudah dicerna sehingga melancarkan proses metabolisme tubuh burung. Disamping itu buah Pepaya banyak mengandung banyak vitamin C yang akan membantu meningkatkan daya tahan tubuh burung.
- Lakukan pemasteran. Masa mabung membuat burung lebih banyak pada kondisi diam dan mendengar. Inilah saat yang tepat untuk mengisi variasi suara sesuai dengan yang kita inginkan. Lakukan pemasteran dengan tepat, sesuaikan karakter dan tipe suara burung dengan suara burung master.
Semoga sukses..! Salam Kicaumania...
Sumber:
http://www.smartmastering.com
http://www.smartmastering.com
Selasa, 25 Mei 2010
Shoe Kismet: Miu Miu Satin Sparrow Mary Janes
This weekend while the Chef was watching baseball (curses!) or prepping for our mini-Lost finale extravaganza, here's what I was doing:
These have been in my possession for 9 days and I have barely been able to contain myself. In a pneumonia-like delirium, while on the search for some trinket or another at Crate & Barrel, I asked if we could stop by Miu Miu to see if there had been an act of God and one pair of the Sparrow Mary Janes had been found in the stockroom.
No such luck. The Sales Associate did however whisper to me that another retailer had one pair left in my size. So I busted out in a sweat and ran off like my hair was on fire weaving through crowds to see if luck was on my side...And it was because these are a size 5.5 and I normally wear a 6.
When the Sales guy managed to get a word in edgewise while I skipped around like a fool, he asked me what I was going to wear them with. And in true shoe-crazed form I responded, "Uh, prolly with a dress or a skirt. And with my boyfriend jeans. And my skinny jeans. And, now that I think of it, I'll probably wear them when I get up, when I go to bed and maybe even in the shower." To which he promptly burst out laughing while my poor boyfriend shook his head.
So here they are with my boyfriend jeans. Super cute and casual. Granted they aren't the platforms everyone's raving about, but that doesn't matter I still love them.
I think it's very important not to over think this shoe or you run the risk of getting overwhelmed - at least I almost did. I'm gonna just go with it.
I have a tough time sitting still whether I'm sick or not so if the pictures are a little blurry blame it on the fidget. That aside, here they are with skinny denim at the pre-LOST partay. I didn't have time for a fashion show before LOST started so this is all I've got...still can't believe these shoessleep with me in my bed live in my closet.
This one's for the shoe guy...Bet he thought I was just joking around, huh?
Morgan Freeman wasn't kidding when he said "some birds aren't meant to be caged"...I plan to let them out as often as possible.
If you have a pair of these in platform or in the style I luckily found I would love to see what you're wearing them with...and for those of you still looking: may the shoe force be with you!
Outfit details:
Tuxedo Jacket by Zac Posen for Target
Silk Tank by Vince
Boyfriend Jeans in High/Low by Current/Elliott
Ankle Toothpick Denim in Twilight by J.Crew
Sparrow Print Mary Janes by Miu Miu (this link is the cats at Neiman Marcus)
These have been in my possession for 9 days and I have barely been able to contain myself. In a pneumonia-like delirium, while on the search for some trinket or another at Crate & Barrel, I asked if we could stop by Miu Miu to see if there had been an act of God and one pair of the Sparrow Mary Janes had been found in the stockroom.
No such luck. The Sales Associate did however whisper to me that another retailer had one pair left in my size. So I busted out in a sweat and ran off like my hair was on fire weaving through crowds to see if luck was on my side...And it was because these are a size 5.5 and I normally wear a 6.
When the Sales guy managed to get a word in edgewise while I skipped around like a fool, he asked me what I was going to wear them with. And in true shoe-crazed form I responded, "Uh, prolly with a dress or a skirt. And with my boyfriend jeans. And my skinny jeans. And, now that I think of it, I'll probably wear them when I get up, when I go to bed and maybe even in the shower." To which he promptly burst out laughing while my poor boyfriend shook his head.
So here they are with my boyfriend jeans. Super cute and casual. Granted they aren't the platforms everyone's raving about, but that doesn't matter I still love them.
I think it's very important not to over think this shoe or you run the risk of getting overwhelmed - at least I almost did. I'm gonna just go with it.
I have a tough time sitting still whether I'm sick or not so if the pictures are a little blurry blame it on the fidget. That aside, here they are with skinny denim at the pre-LOST partay. I didn't have time for a fashion show before LOST started so this is all I've got...still can't believe these shoes
This one's for the shoe guy...Bet he thought I was just joking around, huh?
Morgan Freeman wasn't kidding when he said "some birds aren't meant to be caged"...I plan to let them out as often as possible.
If you have a pair of these in platform or in the style I luckily found I would love to see what you're wearing them with...and for those of you still looking: may the shoe force be with you!
Outfit details:
Tuxedo Jacket by Zac Posen for Target
Silk Tank by Vince
Boyfriend Jeans in High/Low by Current/Elliott
Ankle Toothpick Denim in Twilight by J.Crew
Sparrow Print Mary Janes by Miu Miu (this link is the cats at Neiman Marcus)
Senin, 24 Mei 2010
Weekend Brunch - Vegetable Ceviche and Kumquatinis
Isn't this perfect? It's Monday and I'm already thinking about what I'm going to eat this weekend. Niiiice.
A couple of weekends ago the Chef prepared the most amazing brunch. So in the spirit of the kick-off of Summer just a few short days away I wanted to share with you his recipes for Vegetable Ceviche and Kumquatinis. May the weather be with us...
Vegetable Ceviche
INGREDIENTS (makes 2 servings)
1 large tomato cut in eighths
1 yellow bell pepper sliced
1 serrano chili sliced
1/4C red onion sliced
1 clove garlic minced
1T paprika
1t chili flakes
1/4 bunch parsley and cilantro chopped
pinch dried oregano, chili powder
1/4 of a lemon squeezed (you want the juice, not the squeezed lemon)
1/4 of a lime squeezed (again, for the juice, not the leftover lime)
1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
1/2 avocado sliced
1/8 ricotta salata shaved
tortilla chips crushed
Begin by gathering the tomato, yellow pepper, serrano chili, red onion and garlic.
Cut the tomato in eighths and slice the pepper, serrano and red onion in the amounts listed above. Mince (chop finely) a clove of garlic. Transfer to a medium to large sized bowl.
Next, chop a bunch of each parsley and cilantro (or desired amount).
Add parsley, cilantro, paprika, chili flakes, dried oregano and chili powder, lemon juice, lime juice, and olive oil to ingredients already in bowl and toss gently. Taste for seasoning, adjust to preferred taste if necessary.
Doesn't it look good?? Trust me, it smells even better...now let it marinate for a minimum of a half hour.
In the meantime take half an avocado and cut it in slices. Also thinly shave the ricotta salata - you want enough to lightly sprinkle over the salad once it is plated.
PLATING
Place vegetables around plate. Arrange avocados on top of vegetables.
Next, garnish with cheese and crushed tortillas....
As a final touch, once both salads were arranged on our plates, we took the marinade from the bottom of the mixing bowl and drizzled it by the teaspoon until we had just enough on each salad.
Ta-da! This salad is so flavorful and super easy to make. It would be perfect if you wanted to add grilled shrimp for a heartier dish, but you could also chop the ingredients finer and serve it as a salsa with chips on the side.
Kumquatinis - this one's for Cindy and Denny :)
INGREDIENTS
2oz vodka ketel one or your favorite
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
5 kumquats sliced
METHOD
-First, you need to make your own simple syrup for this drink. At first we didn't and while the drink was okay, it was not as good as when the simple syrup was homemade.
So to make simple syrup add equal parts by volume (1cup and 1cup) water and sugar. Add to pot on stove and bring to boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and cool. It's that simple and can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container basically forever.
While this is going on, gather up all your ingredients for the drink:
-Next, slice kumquats, place in shaker and muddle (if you don't have a muddler just gently mash them with the back of a spoon) cover with ice. Combine all ingredients and shake. It'll be kind of fizzy when you take the lid of the shaker off.
-From here you can strain and serve "up" (that's the term for shaken or stirred then strained - I didn't know this before I met him, so thought I'd share with you in case you didn't know either) in a traditional martini glass garnished with slice kumquats for a classic martini.
We just pour all of the ingredients from the shaker into a regular rocks glass (or let's face it - whatever glass you have) and enjoy.
I don't consider myself to be much of a drinker (hence not knowing what served "up" meant), but this drink has become a favorite of mine. I order it whenever it's in season at The Hungry Cat and now enjoy it at home every once in awhile too.
As an alternate option you could also substitute tequila and salt the rim for a Kumquat Margarita. mmmmmm
Let me know if/when you try either of these and if you enjoy them! Would love to hear your thoughts...the Chef is looking to open his own restaurant soon so I have to seize the moment and enjoy the time he spends in my kitchen because it could be short-lived!
p.s. if you like salads then you might want to try this one too (it's my FAVORITE) - The Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad
A couple of weekends ago the Chef prepared the most amazing brunch. So in the spirit of the kick-off of Summer just a few short days away I wanted to share with you his recipes for Vegetable Ceviche and Kumquatinis. May the weather be with us...
Vegetable Ceviche
INGREDIENTS (makes 2 servings)
1 large tomato cut in eighths
1 yellow bell pepper sliced
1 serrano chili sliced
1/4C red onion sliced
1 clove garlic minced
1T paprika
1t chili flakes
1/4 bunch parsley and cilantro chopped
pinch dried oregano, chili powder
1/4 of a lemon squeezed (you want the juice, not the squeezed lemon)
1/4 of a lime squeezed (again, for the juice, not the leftover lime)
1/4 C extra virgin olive oil
1/2 avocado sliced
1/8 ricotta salata shaved
tortilla chips crushed
Begin by gathering the tomato, yellow pepper, serrano chili, red onion and garlic.
Cut the tomato in eighths and slice the pepper, serrano and red onion in the amounts listed above. Mince (chop finely) a clove of garlic. Transfer to a medium to large sized bowl.
Next, chop a bunch of each parsley and cilantro (or desired amount).
Add parsley, cilantro, paprika, chili flakes, dried oregano and chili powder, lemon juice, lime juice, and olive oil to ingredients already in bowl and toss gently. Taste for seasoning, adjust to preferred taste if necessary.
Doesn't it look good?? Trust me, it smells even better...now let it marinate for a minimum of a half hour.
In the meantime take half an avocado and cut it in slices. Also thinly shave the ricotta salata - you want enough to lightly sprinkle over the salad once it is plated.
PLATING
Place vegetables around plate. Arrange avocados on top of vegetables.
Next, garnish with cheese and crushed tortillas....
As a final touch, once both salads were arranged on our plates, we took the marinade from the bottom of the mixing bowl and drizzled it by the teaspoon until we had just enough on each salad.
Ta-da! This salad is so flavorful and super easy to make. It would be perfect if you wanted to add grilled shrimp for a heartier dish, but you could also chop the ingredients finer and serve it as a salsa with chips on the side.
Kumquatinis - this one's for Cindy and Denny :)
INGREDIENTS
2oz vodka ketel one or your favorite
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
5 kumquats sliced
METHOD
-First, you need to make your own simple syrup for this drink. At first we didn't and while the drink was okay, it was not as good as when the simple syrup was homemade.
So to make simple syrup add equal parts by volume (1cup and 1cup) water and sugar. Add to pot on stove and bring to boil for 1 minute, remove from heat and cool. It's that simple and can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container basically forever.
While this is going on, gather up all your ingredients for the drink:
-Next, slice kumquats, place in shaker and muddle (if you don't have a muddler just gently mash them with the back of a spoon) cover with ice. Combine all ingredients and shake. It'll be kind of fizzy when you take the lid of the shaker off.
-From here you can strain and serve "up" (that's the term for shaken or stirred then strained - I didn't know this before I met him, so thought I'd share with you in case you didn't know either) in a traditional martini glass garnished with slice kumquats for a classic martini.
We just pour all of the ingredients from the shaker into a regular rocks glass (or let's face it - whatever glass you have) and enjoy.
I don't consider myself to be much of a drinker (hence not knowing what served "up" meant), but this drink has become a favorite of mine. I order it whenever it's in season at The Hungry Cat and now enjoy it at home every once in awhile too.
As an alternate option you could also substitute tequila and salt the rim for a Kumquat Margarita. mmmmmm
Let me know if/when you try either of these and if you enjoy them! Would love to hear your thoughts...the Chef is looking to open his own restaurant soon so I have to seize the moment and enjoy the time he spends in my kitchen because it could be short-lived!
p.s. if you like salads then you might want to try this one too (it's my FAVORITE) - The Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad
Sabtu, 22 Mei 2010
You Can Leave Your Hat On: Eugenia Kim for Target Pt. 1
I've been sick for 6 weeks and I'm basically over it. I don't mean I'm over it as in getting healthy over it; I mean my patience has worn thin over it.
I've been on lockdown in my house all week with the exception of one handbag extravaganza outing Thursday night so after a day of tying up loose ends at work, last night we decided to get out for a little while to get some fresh air. To say I'm in no mood to mess with the hair is an understatement. Making every effort to hurry before wandering back under the covers, I slapped on one of the new Eugenia Kim hats I snagged at Target shortly after the line launched. Snagged is a word I use nonchalantly here because the truth is I basically stalked those hats down in multiple Targets early in the morning for days on end until the right ones were entered into my collection. At one point I think I owned all but one in the entire collection - it was a mess - but Eugenia Kim is no joke. She makes a mean hat.
When we left the house the Chef got a picture of me in front of my crazy neighbor's truck. That guy loves his truck and now I'm kinda starting to love it too. He glued little skulls on either side of the rear license plate - not decals, but actual 2 inch little skulls with green eyes - and hand-painted the back in red white and black stripes with one of those little paint brushes you use in 4th grade art class. No jokes. I seriously wish I could show you the skulls, but for privacy's sake I don't want to show the guy's plate.
Anyway, here's shot one of EK's Plaid Straw Fedora with blue trim. Can you see the giddy in my eyes? I'm not sure if it's because I'm standing in such close proximity to the truck or because I'm so thrilled with the hat. Maybe both. Oh, and I'm also a hypocrite (confession cleanses the soul?) because I've been ripping on the fedora as dead in the water and overused and overdone for the past 2 years. Now I'm eating a foot sandwich as one (the hat not the foot) that I love and plan to wear all summer appears on my head.
Before my neighbor could come out and rip me a new one for standing by/touching his baby aka the truck, we drove over to the beach. Now you will get the full magnitude of fun this little chapeau can bring to an outfit...
Cute or what?? It's straw so it's really breathable and your head doesn't feel like a sweat fest under the hat.
Here's a close-up...see that funky little parrot on the side? People LOVE him! So do I!!
There, that's a clearer picture for you to see both the parrot and a side view of the hat. I'm really happy I jumped off the fedora hating wagon because this hat is saving me from many a bad hair day right now. I'm giving all the credit to Eugenia Kim because I was a hater until I saw her line.
I'm still pretty sick so don't know if I'll get to Pt.2 of Ms. Kim til next week, but I'll do my best for tomorrow or Sunday before the Lost Season Finale (pins and needles people!). Is anyone going to get off that damn island alive??
Hope you have a great weekend! And no I'm not flicking the bird...some sand got stuck on my lip - oops!
Outfit details: Fedora - Eugenia Kim for Target, Button down tunic - Converse One Star, Denim - Siwy Hannah (these ones aren't the cropped style, but I have that pair also and they're basically the same only differing in length), Sandals - Matt Bernson Barracuda
I've been on lockdown in my house all week with the exception of one handbag extravaganza outing Thursday night so after a day of tying up loose ends at work, last night we decided to get out for a little while to get some fresh air. To say I'm in no mood to mess with the hair is an understatement. Making every effort to hurry before wandering back under the covers, I slapped on one of the new Eugenia Kim hats I snagged at Target shortly after the line launched. Snagged is a word I use nonchalantly here because the truth is I basically stalked those hats down in multiple Targets early in the morning for days on end until the right ones were entered into my collection. At one point I think I owned all but one in the entire collection - it was a mess - but Eugenia Kim is no joke. She makes a mean hat.
When we left the house the Chef got a picture of me in front of my crazy neighbor's truck. That guy loves his truck and now I'm kinda starting to love it too. He glued little skulls on either side of the rear license plate - not decals, but actual 2 inch little skulls with green eyes - and hand-painted the back in red white and black stripes with one of those little paint brushes you use in 4th grade art class. No jokes. I seriously wish I could show you the skulls, but for privacy's sake I don't want to show the guy's plate.
Anyway, here's shot one of EK's Plaid Straw Fedora with blue trim. Can you see the giddy in my eyes? I'm not sure if it's because I'm standing in such close proximity to the truck or because I'm so thrilled with the hat. Maybe both. Oh, and I'm also a hypocrite (confession cleanses the soul?) because I've been ripping on the fedora as dead in the water and overused and overdone for the past 2 years. Now I'm eating a foot sandwich as one (the hat not the foot) that I love and plan to wear all summer appears on my head.
Before my neighbor could come out and rip me a new one for standing by/touching his baby aka the truck, we drove over to the beach. Now you will get the full magnitude of fun this little chapeau can bring to an outfit...
Cute or what?? It's straw so it's really breathable and your head doesn't feel like a sweat fest under the hat.
Here's a close-up...see that funky little parrot on the side? People LOVE him! So do I!!
There, that's a clearer picture for you to see both the parrot and a side view of the hat. I'm really happy I jumped off the fedora hating wagon because this hat is saving me from many a bad hair day right now. I'm giving all the credit to Eugenia Kim because I was a hater until I saw her line.
I'm still pretty sick so don't know if I'll get to Pt.2 of Ms. Kim til next week, but I'll do my best for tomorrow or Sunday before the Lost Season Finale (pins and needles people!). Is anyone going to get off that damn island alive??
Hope you have a great weekend! And no I'm not flicking the bird...some sand got stuck on my lip - oops!
Outfit details: Fedora - Eugenia Kim for Target, Button down tunic - Converse One Star, Denim - Siwy Hannah (these ones aren't the cropped style, but I have that pair also and they're basically the same only differing in length), Sandals - Matt Bernson Barracuda
Jumat, 21 Mei 2010
Cara Merawat Murai Batu
Burung Murai Batu merupakan salah satu burung berkicau cerdas terbaik (dari keluarga Turdidae) yang sangat banyak penggemarnya. Merawat burung Murai Batu sangat mudah dan menyenangkan.
KARAKTER DASAR BURUNG MURAI BATU
- Mudah beradaptasi, burung ini sangat mudah menyesuaikan diri terhadap perubahan lingkungan.
- Petarung yang gampang naik darah. Apabila mendengar suara burung Murai Batu lain atau melihat burung sejenis, maka semangat tempurnya langsung berkobar.
- Birahi yang cenderung mudah naik. Burung ini sangat mudah naik birahinya, banyak penyebab yang dapat membuat naiknya birahi pada burung jenis ini. Stelan EF (Extra Fooding) yang over, penjemuran yang berlebih atau melihat burung Murai batu betina, dapat dengan cepat menaikkan tingkat birahinya.
- Mudah jinak. Karena kemampuan beradaptasinya yang tinggi, maka burung ini mudah jinak kepada manusia.
PEMILIHAN BAHAN BURUNG MURAI BATU YANG BAIK
Ada beberapa hal penting yang harus diperhatikan dalam pemilihan bahan atau bakalan pada burung Murai Batu
- Berkelamin jantan, ciri-ciri burung Murai Batu jantan dapat dilihat warna bulu hitam yang tegas mengkilap dan kontras serta memiliki ekor yang lebih panjang daripada burung Murai batu betina.
- Bentuk paruh, sebaiknya pilih bentuk paruh yang berpangkal lebar, tebal, besar dan panjang. Paruh bagian bawah harus lurus. Jangan memilih bahan yang memiliki paruh bengkok. Posisi lubang hidung pilih sedekat mungkin dengan posisi mata.
- Kepala berbentuk kotak, mata bulat besar dan melotot. Ini menandakan burung ini mempunyai mental tempur yang baik.
- Postur badan, pilihlah bahan yang berpostur sedang dengan panjang leher, badan dan ekor serta kaki yang serasi. Jangan memilih bahan yang berleher dan berbadan pendek.
- Sayap mengepit rapat dan kaki mencengkram kuat, ini menandakan bahan tersebut sehat. Warna kaki tidak berpengaruh terhadap mental burung.
- Lincah dan bernafsu makan besar. Ini merupakan ciri-ciri bahan yang bermental baik.
- Panjang ekor yang serasi dengan postur badan. Pilihlah bentuk ekor yang sedikit lentur.
- Leher panjang padat berisi. Menandakan burung ini akan mengeluarkan power suara secara maksimal.
MAKANAN YANG SESUAI UNTUK BURUNG MURAI BATU
- Voer (sebaiknya pilih yang berkadar protein sedang yaitu: 12%-18%, belum tentu Voer yang berharga mahal akan cocok dengan sistem metabolisme setiap burung Murai Batu. Voer harus selalu tersedia didalam cepuknya. Selalu ganti dengan Voer yang baru setiap dua hari sekali.
- EF (Extra Fooding), pakan tambahan yang sangat baik buat burung Murai Batu yaitu: Jangkrik, Orong-orong, Kroto, Cacing, Ulat Hongkong, Ulat Bambu, Kelabang, Belalang dan lainnya. Pemberian EF harus selalu disesuaikan dengan karakter pada masing-masing burung dan juga harus mengetahui dengan pasti dampak klausal dari pemberiannya EF tersebut.
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN HARIAN
Perawatan harian untuk burung Murai Batu relatif sama dengan burung berkicau jenis lainnya, kunci keberhasilan perawatan harian yaitu rutin dan konsisten.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan harian dan Stelan Harian untuk burung Murai Batu:
- Jam 07.00 burung diangin-anginkan di teras. Jam 07.30 burung dimandikan (karamba mandi atau semprot, tergantung pada kebiasaan masing-masing burung).
- Bersihkan kandang harian. Ganti atau tambahkan Voer dan Air Minum.
- Berikan Jangkrik 4 ekor pada cepuk EF. Jangan pernah memberikan Jangkrik secara langsung pada burung.
- Penjemuran dapat dilakukan selama 1-2 jam/hari mulai pukul 08.00-11.00. Selama penjemuran, sebaiknya burung tidak melihat burung sejenis.
- Setelah dijemur, angin-anginkan kembali burung tersebut diteras selama 10 menit, lalu sangkar dikerodong.
- Siang hari sampai sore (jam 10.00-15.00) burung dapat di Master dengan suara Master atau burung-burung Master.
- Jam 15.30 burung diangin-anginkan kembali diteras, boleh dimandikan bila perlu.
- Berikan Jangkrik 2 ekor pada cepuk EF.
- Jam 18.00 burung kembali dikerodong dan di perdengarkan suara Master selama masa istirahat sampai pagi harinya.
PENTING
- Kroto segar diberikan 1 sendok makan maksimal 2x seminggu. Contoh setiap hari Senin pagi dan hari Kamis pagi.
- Pemberian Cacing diberikan 1 ekor 1x seminggu. contoh setiap hari Selasa pagi.
- Pengumbaran di kandang umbaran dapat dilakukan 4 jam perhari selama 4 hari dalam seminggu.
- Berikan Multivitamin yang dicampur pada air minum seminggu sekali saja.
PENANGANAN APABILA KONDISINYA OVER BIRAHI
- Pangkas porsi Jangkrik menjadi 3 pagi dan 2 sore
- Lakukan pengembunan (jam 05.30-06.00)
- Berikan Cacing 2 ekor 2x seminggu
- Frekuensi mandi dibuat lebih sering, misalnya pagi-siang dan sore
- Lamanya penjemuran dikurangi menjadi 30 menit/hari saja
- Waktu pengumbaran dibuat lebih sering dan lebih lama
PENANGANAN APABILA KONDISINYA DROP
- Tingkatkan porsi pemberian Jangkrik menjadi 5 pagi dan 5 sore
- Tingkatkan porsi pemberian Kroto menjadi 3x seminggu
- Berikan Kelabang 2 ekor seminggu sekali
- Mandi dibuat 2 hari sekali saja
- Burung segera diisolasi, jangan melihat dan mendengar burung Murai Batu lain dahulu
- Lamanya penjemuran ditambah menjadi 2-3 jam/hari
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN UNTUK LOMBA
Perawatan lomba sebenarnya tidak jauh berbeda dengan perawatan harian. Tujuan perawatan pada tahap ini yaitu mempersiapkan burung agar mempunyai tingkat birahi yang diinginkan dan memiliki stamina yang stabil. Kunci keberhasilan perawatan lomba yaitu mengenal baik karakter dasar masing-masing burung.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan dan Stelan Lomba untuk burung Murai Batu:
- H-3 sebelum lomba, Jangkrik bisa dinaikkan menjadi 5 ekor pagi dan 4 ekor sore.
- H-2 sebelum lomba, burung sebaiknya dijemur maksimal 30 menit saja.
- 1 Jam sebelum di gantang lomba, burung di mandikan dan berikan Jangkrik 3-5 ekor dan Ulat Hongkong 6-15 ekor.
- Apabila burung akan turun lomba kembali, berikan Jangkrik 2 ekor lagi.
PENTING
- Sebaiknya, mulai H-6 burung diisolasi. Jangan sampai melihat dan mendengar suara burung Murai Batu lain.
- Lakukan mandi malam (jam 19.00-20.00) pada H-1.
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN PASCA LOMBA
Perawatan pasca lomba sebenarnya berfungsi memulihkan stamina dan mengembalikan kondisi fisik burung.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan dan Stelan pasca Lomba untuk burung Murai Batu:
- Porsi EF dikembalikan ke Stelan Harian.
- Berikan Multivitamin pada air minum pada H+1 setelah Lomba.
- Sampai H+3 setelah Lomba, penjemuran maksimal 30 menit saja.
PERAWATAN DAN STELAN PADA MASA MABUNG
Mabung (Moulting) atau rontok bulu merupakan siklus alamiah pada keluarga burung. Perawatan burung pada masa mabung adalah menjadi hal yang sangat penting, karena apabila perawatan yang salah pada masa ini akan membuat burung menjadi rusak. Pada masa mabung ini, metabolisme tubuh burung meningkat hampir 40% dari kondisi normal. Oleh karena itu, burung butuh asupan nutrisi yang berkualitas baik dengan porsi lebih besar dari kondisi normal. Hindari mempertemukan burung dengan burung sejenis, karena akan membuat proses mabung menjadi terganggu. Dampak dari ini adalah ketidak seimbangan hormon pada tubuh burung. Proses mabung juga berhubungan dengan hormon reproduksi.
Berikut ini Pola Perawatan masa mabung
- Tempatkan burung di tempat yang sepi, jauh dari lalu lintas manusia. Sebaiknya burung lebih banyak dalam kondisi dikerodong.
- Mandi cukup 1x seminggu saja dan jemur maksimal 30 menit/hari
- Pemberian porsi EF diberikan lebih banyak karena sangat diperlukan untuk pembentukan sel-sel baru dan untuk pertumbuhan bulu baru. Misalnya: Stelan Jangkrik dibuat 5 ekor pagi dan 5 ekor sore, Kroto 1 sendok makan setiap pagi, Cacing 2 ekor 3x seminggu dan Ulat Hongkong 3 ekor setiap pagi.
- Berikan Multivitamin yang berkualitas yang dicampur di air minum 2x seminggu.
- Lakukan pemasteran. Masa mabung membuat burung lebih banyak pada kondisi diam dan mendengar. Inilah saat yang tepat untuk mengisi variasi suara sesuai dengan yang kita inginkan. Lakukan pemasteran dengan tepat, sesuaikan karakter dan tipe suara burung dengan suara burung master.
Semoga sukses..! Salam Kicaumania...
Sumber:
http://www.smartmastering.com
http://www.smartmastering.com
Cucak Hijau Jember
Jawaranya Cucak Hijau
Spesialis Menjual Cucak Hijau
Stok Banyak
Mulai dari bakalan sampai yang gacor
Silahkan Datang Langsung Ke Tempat Kami
Jawaranya Cucak Hijau
Spesialis Menjual Cucak Hijau
Stok Banyak
Mulai dari bakalan sampai yang gacor
Silahkan Datang Langsung Ke Tempat Kami
Hub: Joni Perum Pondok Gede Permai
Blok DE- 01
Jember
Jual Ayam Batik Itali, Ayam Bekisar, Ayam Ketawa Dan Ayam Hias
Ayam Jambul Polandia
Ayam Ketawa
Ayam Bekisar
Ayam Batik Itali
Hub: Joni
Perum Pondok Gede Permai
Blok DE - 01
Jember
Hub: Joni
Perum Pondok Gede Permai
Blok DE - 01
Jember