Exhaling Life

Thank goodness that I love cooking smart and not harder; otherwise, I wouldn't have developed a much less work duck leg recipe. Duck meat requires low heat while cooking because the meat has tight muscle fibers and high fat content. It needs time to tenderize and render fat so the meat isn't tough.  Confit de canard usually takes two to three hours of cooking time, while Peking duck takes two to three days, so I decided to test my concept of cooking duck legs in a nonstick pan over medium heat with a weight on the top. Curious? Continue with the recipe. INGREDIENTS one duck leg, about one pound four garlic cloves two and a half ounces of French unsalted butter two twigs of rosemary one tablespoon of French thyme salt and pepper Wash the duck leg under cold running water and pat it dry. Season with salt and freshly ground pepper, and set it aside for about 20 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Place the duck leg, skin side down, and rosemary twigs in a nonstick pan and turn t...

After nearly three months on hiatus from Exhaling Life, I returned to the blog with Are we living in 1864? earlier this month. One of the monthly staples, Style LookBook , will return later this month with September LookBook while I kick off Style Curated.  Summer had been a slow start in Los Angeles. It felt that way for me until recent days. Heat suddenly spiking up has me wondering if the summer will stay later than usual. So, curated style pieces for this month reflects that wonder.  Photo by Andrej Lišakov on Unsplash curated no. one GANNI Cotton-Blend Poplin Midi Dress curated no. two Christian Louboutin Leather Ballet Flats curated no. three MUUÑ Woven Straw Tote curated no. four MIU MIU Glimpse Oval Frame Sunglasses curated no. five GIGI BURRIS MILLINERY Straw Bucket Hat curated no. six DINOSAUR DESIGNS Tortoiseshell Resin Bangle While all are curated by me, I earn commissions on qualified purchases from retailers.

My heart sank. There it was on my iPhone: New York Times headline- Justice Dept. Asks for 1-Day Sentence for Ex-Officer Convicted in the Killing of Breonna Taylor . It took me back to 2020. The deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd made headlines and triggered Black Lives Matter protests across the nation. Thousands of us marched, raised our fists, shouted Black Lives Matter, kneeled, shouted I can't breathe, and continued to march as we shouted no justice, no peace.  It was the year that made many of us realize that we hadn't changed much since the brutal torture and murder of Emmett Till in 1955. He was only fourteen years old when two white men brutally beat and killed him. There was no justice for Emmett Till 70 years ago. The judge rejected the Justice Department's sentence recommendation of one day and sentenced Brett Hankison to 33 months in prison for violating Breonna Taylor's civil rights. Was it justice?  Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash I...

I have three words to say. Summer is here. [TOP] CASABLANCA Striped Polo Top [SHORTS] CINQ à SEPT Aldi Belted Denim Shorts [SHOES] GUCCI Logo-Jacquard Canvas Espadrilles [BAG] CHLOÉ Large Carry Tote Bag [SUNGLASSES] JIMMY CHOO Leti Square-Frame Sunglasses ps: While all items are curated by me, I earn commissions from retailers on qualified items. pss: Items shown are not shown in scale.

Better known as Asian Pear, Pyrus Pyrifolia is my secret weapon for elevating an ordinary tuna salad sandwich to unforgettable delight. There are various Asian Pears with subtle differences, but I use Korean Pear for its more apple-like characteristics—especially for its crispiness and subtle floral sweetness.  INGREDIENTS six ounces of canned tuna, drained zest from one small lemon four tablespoons of Kewpie (Japanese mayonnaise) two tablespoons of finely chopped Asian Pear one tablespoon of finely chopped onion four cornichons , thinly sliced one eighth teaspoon of smoked paprika Mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Depending on how generous I feel, the recipe yields one or two sandwiches. The best sliced bread for me has always been milk bread, toasted, of course. 

It has been a crazy two months, but the exasperating days are now becoming the past from the present so I return to Exhaling Life with Style LookBook: April 2025. March's Style LookBook was skipped in the chaos. As I thought of April's Style LookBook, three words lingered: polished, fierce, and newfangled. I feel at times, I tumble with words triggered by frustration. I need to stop letting my frustrations block the polished and fierce me. I must stop my exhaustion of folks who live through their words rather than actions mute my newfangled perspectives. With those words on my mind, I curated pieces that are timeless individually yet brazen collectively. [TOP] HERNO Sequin-Embellished Knitted Top [SHORTS] SIMON MILLER Como Shorts [HEELS] AQUAZZURA 105mm Bow Tie Pumps [BLAZER] JACQUEMUS La Veste Tibau Double-Breasted Blazer [HANDBAG] TORY BURCH Kira East-West Shoulder Bag ps: While all items are curated by me, I earn commissions from retailers on qualified items. pss: Items show...