I think I’m going to continue doing food posts this week! Just to break the Hello Kitty habit, heeheehee!

After an appetizer of grilled corn, let’s go on with something more filling! Not that Latin food and Italian food exactly go together though. This is a recipe that was borne out of my husband’s two favorites! He loves aio e oio pasta, and he loves portabella mushrooms too so I combined the two together and voila!

Here’s my recipe (more of Marcella Hazan’s actually):

1 pound pasta

salt

1/3 c evoo

2 tsp finely chopped garlic

chopped chili pepper (red or green, depends on your preference)

2 portabella mushrooms sliced

dried tomatoes

black pepper, parmesan cheese & parsley

1 . Cook the spaghetti in boiling water with extra salt because the salt will not dissolve in the sauce /olive oil.

2. While pasta is cooking, put the olive oil, garlic and chopped hot pepper in a small saucepa, and turn on the heat to medium low. Cook and stir the garlic until it turns to pale gold.  Do not let it brown.

3. Add portabella mushrooms and  dried tomatoes and stir until cooked.

4. Toss the cooked and drained pasta with the entire contents of the saucepan. Make sure to coat the strands evenly with oil. Season with fresh ground pepper. Serve with parmesan cheese and top with parsley.

Try it at home and enjoy!

Currently craving for…

See what I mean?

The image of freshly grilled corn, lightly brushed with mayonnaise (no wonder this is sinfully good, I just discovered this was an integral ingredient while Googling the recipe) and sprinkled with grated cotija cheese, chili powder and a spray of puckeringly sour lime makes me want to go out into the freezing cold just to indulge my deprived taste buds. Sigh!

Can I just say, the La Esquina plastic bag is a major hoot too! Nacho Libre! Hahaha!

Remember this? Well I saw a new Hello Kitty marshmallow pop design at Han Ah Reum again. I guess they come out with new looks each year?

Which one do you like better? In terms of cuteness though, both are kawaii! Admittedly, I have yet to try a marshmallow pop! I pretty much have an idea of how it tastes like though, and besides it’s too cute to eat!

Back when I was a little girl, one of my favorite snacks was Yan Yan. They were stick biscuits that were dipped in melted chocolate and they were so yummy and fun to eat! I haven’t had Yan Yans in years, so when I saw these Hello Kitty snacks that were similar in concept in Mitsuwa, I told Dear Hubby we should buy them! Hahaha!

Of course, I got both flavors, chocolate on the left, strawberry on the right! They were about $3 each.

I had a blast reliving my youth! Dipping the biscuits in chocolate, and then licking the last remaining dregs of chocolate!

We tried the strawberry too! But it had an artificial strawberry taste to it. I don’t think I’ll buy this again.

The verdict on the chocolate? Yummy but nothing beats the original Yan Yans! The biscuits were not as good and the chocolate not the same consistency. Cute packaging though!

Speaking of Kerokerokeroppi, I found this notebook in Target as well for about $4.99. It’s a large notebook, so it’s not that expensive. I also noticed, Target carries Jordi Labanda notebooks as well for about $7.99! I didn’t think Target would have those, but they do! Back in Manila, Jordi Labanda merchandise were only sold in upscale bookstores. So I wasn’t expecting JL merch to be carried by a mass retailer. Then again, Target is pretty cool, so there.

Oh, and yeah, I better take photos of those items too! Just so you can visualize what I mean. Not that this notebook isn’t! See how it looks like inside?

Cute huh?

Since we are on the subject of pajamas, let me show you this Kerokerokeroppi set I found as well! Back in high school, I thought I had enough of Hello Kitty and preferred this funny looking frog. Still pretty cute I think! Although I went back to my first love, Hello Kitty, hahaha!

Here’s a closer, albeit blurry shot of the bottom print!

About $15 in Target if I remember right!

As you can see below, cute Hello Kitty pajama sets aren’t the monopoly of little girls alone. Check out this adorable pj set for big girls like us! Love the little details like the contrasting red buttons down the front, and of course, the Hello Kitty badge by the chest!

Here’s a closer shot of the shirt. I like the henley style, but not so much the fact that it’s quite loose.

The pattern of the pajama bottom looks like this…

This set retails for $19.99 in TJ Maxx.

Ok, what does one wear while opening presents?

More often than not, we’re still in our pajamas when we peel gift wrappers off boxes. This pajama set would be perfect for a Hello Kitty Christmas right?

Here’s the top up close. Do you like the spray-on, painted feel it evokes?

Now for a closer shot of the pajama bottom print:

Take note, this comes in sizes for kids though! I have an adult version up next!

I guess these are meant to stick on walls? For that festive Hello Kitty themed Christmas spirit!

Each pack contains 14 color clings. At least this will go along well with the Hello Kitty Christmas stockings right?

More Christmas-y goodness from Hello Kitty, but this time, it won’t fit a Christmas stocking:

In keeping with the theme of the previous items I shared with you earlier, this prettily packaged box of bathing “essentials” contains 1 loofah, a sponge and 3 bubble baths. This is a gift enough to make a girl from 3 to 35 (is 45 pushing it?) squeal with delight! Makes me want to go take a nice bubble bath right away.

I can’t remember exactly how much this was though, probably less than $15 at Target.