CATALAUS

CATALAUS is a resource for inspiration, based in New York, and founded by Cataleya Reyes and Nicholaus Ramirez. Its focus spans from fashion to food to travel and anything in-between.

[cata-laus]

S’mores Cookies

With the holidays coming up, I figured I’d post something... vaguely festive? S’mores are festive, right? I have no idea. But they are delicious and totally worth the inevitable mess.

I don’t normally make cookies or cakes or things like that, but... occasionally, cravings are had (usually at 3 in the morning), and making them is always a billion times better than store-bought junk. Even if it requires more work. So here’s what you need to make 18 cookies:

Graham cracker cookies:

1 1/2 sticks of butter (softened)

3/4 cup granulated white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 egg

2 1/2 cups flour

Preheat your oven to 375°F and while you’re waiting, cream together the butter, sugars, honey, baking powder, cinnamon, vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Once you got a good mix going, add the egg and flour and mix by hand.

Get a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and start scooping the dough. You’ll want them about the size of a golf-ball... unless you’re making them for a county fair. Keep a good amount of space between them, since we don’t want them melding together in the oven. Once you got them in the oven, bake them for about 12-14 minutes, checking periodically to make sure they’re a nice golden brown. Let them cool... Annnnd onto the marshmallow frosting.

Marshmallow frosting:

1/4 oz (1 envelope) unflavoured gelatin

1/4 cup cold water

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup light corn syrup

1/8 cup water

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Dump the gelatin over the 1/4 cup of cold water in a heat proof bowl. Or, if you’re not poor like me, into the bowl for your stand mixer. Either way, you’ll need a mixer. Anyways.

Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and the 1/8 cup of water you got left in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Let it boil for about 1 minute.

Turn your mixer on and slowly add the boiled mix to the gelatin. Beat for another minute. Add the salt and then beat forever and eternally for 12 minutes, or until the frosting is thick and shiny. Add the vanilla extract and mix.

Make sure to frost the cookies while the frosting is still warm ‘cause it’ll thicken as it cools down. Top with pieces of Hershey’s milk chocolate bars.

If you want, after the frosting’s cooled for about 15 minutes, you can use a kitchen torch (or a lighter, who are we kidding, right?) to lightly toast the frosting and melt the chocolate.

Otherwise, you can eat them as they are and they’re still pretty damn delicious.

Hope you guys enjoy. I’ll probably be MIA for awhile while I deal with the insanity that is opening weekend for a Star Wars movie at a theater. Pray for me.

((ooc: Recipe is from here! The cookies themselves are from here.))

[cata-laus]

December 2015 Favourites

Happy Friday everyone!

As promised, I put together some things that honestly just bring me so much joy and comfort (I think that’s two of the most important things in life) to share with you all. So, if you’re interested, keep on reading to check out a list of some of my favourite products for this holiday season. :)

Bath bombs: I love bath bombs, especially after a long day at work. Relaxing in the bath is sure to help ease some of your stress. Pictured are a few from LUSH’s many different varieties, but I’ve found gems on etsy, too!

Too Faced’s Natural Eyes: I can’t believe I never bothered to try this eye shadow palette before. This was actually a gift from my Nona when I was in Peru a couple weeks ago. The colours are very pigmented and just beautiful. This is perfect for what I usually like to wear during the day, and it can easily transform into a nighttime palette as well. And neutrals go with just about anything to me.

Kitty mug: This mug! It’s another gift from my Nona. She found it in Lima when she was looking around thrift stores. I love it so much. Just looking at it makes me smile. I found some similar mugs on etsy and amazon, if you’re interested in this cute little cup.

Byredo Bibliotheque - Bougie Parfumee: Candles are symbolic of ultimate comfort to me. You can never have enough! This is definitely one of my favourites now. It has notes of peach and plum and is very warm. It is on the pricey side ($80!!), but very worth it.

TokyoMilk Travel Candle - Let Them Eat Cake: Another candle! This time, it’s much sweeter smelling. To be honest, I bought this just because of the name, but it is really a great candle. It makes my whole loft smell decadent and rich. It has notes of sugar cane, coconut, and vanilla.

TokyoMilk Mix 'N Match Parfum - Sugar Bomb: This line of perfume is discontinued now, but I love it so much I had to include it still. I don’t usually like sweet perfumes, but this one isn’t so sweet. You get six vials to mix and match, like the name says. It’s fun to experiment with the scents and find the one you love most. :) I found my box on e-bay, and I saw some on amazon, too.

Cat clutch: Last, but not at all least! I love this clutch. I love it. My Nona got this for me, too. It’s just funny to me, imagining her buying that! But she said it reminded her of me. My friends find it funny, some find it creepy, but I like it. Right now, it brings me joy. If you like it too, I found some various styles on e-bay and amazon.

That’s all for now. Hopefully next year I can do a proper monthly favourites for you all. Stay safe this weekend. :)

[cata-laus]

Myra, here! Hello. Nice to meet you. Hold your applause (haw).

It’s nearing the end of 2015, so what better way to kick this year to the curb than by doing a book haul? Here’s my top six of this year, with my unnecessary two cents thrown in for garnish. Don’t digest; it’s just there to look pretty.

Modern Romance - Aziz Ansari

                   Goodreads Synopsis

Anything Aziz and I'm there. This book, although funny, was also a seriously researched, interesting look at how the dating/social scene has changed along with technology. We “Millenials” (barf) have our work cut out for us.

The Buried Giant -  Kazuo Ishiguro

                  Goodreads Synopsis

I’m one of those dirty Ishiguro fans that thought this novel was initially a disappointment, but if you’re a fan of the fantasy genre it’s worth a shot. Maybe keep this one on the backburner if you’re a dirty Ishiguro fan like me and aren’t willing to give it a second shot, or open to ~change.~

Killing and Dying -  Adrian Tomine

                  Goodreads Synopsis

Graphic novel alert!!! This was my favorite read this year. No, really. 

Anyone who knows me, knows that I don’t usually skip down graphic novel lane merrily flipping through its pages and drooling over the story. In fact, the last graphic series I read was the Sandman Series, etc. and that’s only because I’m a die-hard Neil Gaiman fanatic (and let me tell you, the Sandman Series is amazing). I picked this one up on a whim, deciding to be a brave little Myra, and it was not a disappointment in the least. It’s beautifully written, drawn, and will leave you a little emotional. You’ve been warned.

The Water Knife -  Paolo Bacigalupi

                  Goodreads Synopsis

Who doesn’t love a little dystopia during the holidays? Only me? Okay. 

This novel is based on the premise of a drought in the Southwest in the near future (sound a little familiar?), with a plot entrenched in classism, survival, and apooooooooooocalypse. Dun dun dun. It’s an exciting read and believable in its breakdown of society.

The First Bad Man - Miranda July

                 Goodreads Synopsis

This is the out there, lovable novel I’ve been waiting for this year. I don’t want to spoil anything. Just read it, all right? I mean, please. I said please, so now you have to. We cool? C-O-O-L.

The Thing About Jellyfish -  Ali Benjamin

                Goodreads Synopsis

Okay, so this book is aimed for a much younger audience, but I read it anyways because I’m a rebel. Or so I tell myself. Moving on...

The plot made me emotional in a “completely connected to the story” kind of way. You know that kind of way? The one where you’re, gasp, invested in the plot and character[s]. It’s a nice feeling, and this novel doesn’t stop tugging at your heart strings at every turn. Prepare yourself. Hug a pillow and drink some tea. ~Casually side-steps explaining the plot again~

[cata-laus]

Navajo Fry Bread

Since Cat already broke the ice for me, it’s currently 7AM, and I haven’t slept yet, I figure I might as well jump in now while I still got the nerve. I had a few recipes in mind to post first (maybe something holiday related???) but, ultimately, tradition won out. Besides, this is incredibly easy to do once you get the hang of it. So. Maybe it was one part tradition and one part laziness. Anyways.

Quick history lesson before I get into the actual recipe here: Being half Navajo, I feel it’s kind of my responsibility to at least give a quick run down of the story behind this bread. Though there’s about a million different variations of it, the Navajo were the first to develop the recipe I’m about to give you. And that’s because they suffered greatly to come across it. Until 1846, the Navajo traded peacefully with their neighbours (Spanish, Mexican, Pueblos, Apache, Comanche, and the early American pioneers), but when a large number of the pioneers -- along with the Calvary they brought with them -- started to move onto the land, trouble started. And trouble exploded three years later when Narbona, a Navajo leader, was murdered during an attempt to form a treaty.

Eventually, in 1863, the “Long Walks” began. Sent to try and get the Navajos to surrender, Kit Carson ordered to burn the land when no one came to meet him. Attempts were made to starve the Navajo out, and many were captured and taken to Bosque Redondo, near Fort Sumner. It was a 300 mile walk that hundreds died along, and even some of those that made it still ended up dying due to the -- and excuse my language -- shitty conditions they were forced into. There were little supplies. And what the government did supply was usually rancid. Lard, flour, salt, sugar, powdered milk, etc. That’s how Navajo bread came to be.

To many of the Navajo, my dad included, fry bread is a sacred tradition. I was taught by him, and he was taught by his mother, and her by hers, and so on. So... now I pass it on to you. Sorry this was a bit longer than expected. But I don’t feel I can give this recipe without also giving the history. Hope you guys understand. Anyways, time to make some bread.

Here’s what you’ll need (makes 4 flat breads):

1 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp powdered milk

1 tsp baking powder

warm water

vegetable oil for frying (I had to make due with olive, whatever suits you, health-wise)

honey (optional)

Combine the flour, salt, powdered milk, and baking powder in a mixing bowl and slowly add the warm water until dough begins to form. Use a fork to mix. Some recipes will tell you how much water to put in, but honestly, I never measure it anymore. Just add it slowly, check the dough, and add more if needed.

Once you’ve got a nice clump going, flour your hands and mix. Don’t knead, mix. Kneading it too much could make it way too heavy. When you’re done, the dough should be soft and floured and the inside should still be a bit sticky.

Cover the dough and let it sit for about an hour. When you come back, you can start rolling the dough into balls, then flattening it out (WITH YOUR HANDS, NOT A ROLLING PIN!!! You’ll make it too thin) into circles about 1/4-1/2 inch thick. Set them aside.

In a skillet, heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil, making sure it’ll completely cover the fry bread when you drop it in. Once it’s hot enough, start cooking the bread one by one, until both sides of every piece are golden brown. Set them aside on paper towels to drain and cool.

Top with... whatever you want, really. I used honey for the piece I ate, but you can use powdered sugar. Or, if you want to make it a meal, top it with ground beef or chili beans and make Navajo tacos.

Hope you guys try it and like it. I’ve already typed enough now to last me the rest of the year, I think. It’s now 8 in the morning, so... I’m gonna get a nap in before I gotta wake up for work. Good night!

((ooc: recipe and history was mostly taken from here, but I’ve read so many variations of the recipe, I don’t even know anymore. XD))

[cata-laus]

Hello everyone!

I’m so excited, and a bit nervous, to get this blog started! I don’t know if I ever would’ve if my good friend, Nicholaus, didn’t agree to do it with me. It might have been better to start in January since there are only a few weeks left in 2015... But it’s the holidays and we both still have things we can share and blog about before the year ends!

Myself, I recently just got back from Peru with my parents and my boyfriend (he helped me put up my tree and decorate it!). 

We were there for Thanksgiving with some of my family I don’t get to see often, like my Nona and my Abuelo, my uncles and aunts, and cousins. It’s been a few years since I got to see them, so it was really heartwarming. And we had so much food! It was like a buffet. I’ll have to share some of those recipes with you all later.

But right now I’m getting some things ready to do a December Favourites post once I wake up later today. I know it’s a little early to do something like that, but with the holidays coming up, I wanted to give some options for gifts you can get your loved ones and yourself. So make sure to check in for more updates from myself, Nicholaus, Myra, and Lourdes! And welcome to CATALAUS. :)