Recipe Love_Sichuan Pepper Chicken Stir Fry

Today's my wedding anniversary so to celebrate we've been out to Long Bay beach, where Dan proposed to me, for a swim. Precious moments. There's a bottle of champagne in the fridge we'll crack into at sometime soon but before that we've tucked into a hearty stir fry dinner. So delicious - we enjoyed this meal so much and I'm sure you will too.

Serves 4

3 tsp Sichuan peppercorns (I didn't find any so used normal black ones)
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 garlic clove, crushed
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
3 tsp cornflour
500g boneless skinles chicken thighs or breasts, cut into strips
100g dried thin egg noodles
oil, for cooking
1 onion, sliced
1 yellow capsicum, cut into strips
1 red capsicum, cut into strips
100g sugar snap peas
1/4 cup chicken stock

Heat wok (a large frypan is fine) over high heat, dry-fry the peppercorns for 30 seconds Remove them from the wok and crush with a mortar and pestle.

Combine the soy sauce, garlic, ginger, cornflour and ground pepper in a large non-metallic bowl. Add the chicken and toss to coat in the marinade. Cover and marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.

Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil, add the egg noodles and cook for 3 minutes, or until tender. Drain. Toss through a little oil to prevent them from sticking together.

Heat the wok over high heat, add 1 tbsp of the oil and swirl it around to coat the side. Stir-fry the chicken in batches over medium high heat for 5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked, adding more oil when necessary. Remove from the wok.

Reheat the wok, add 1 tbsp of oil and stir-fry the onion, capsicum and sugar snap peas over high heat for about 3 mins, or until the vegetables are tender. Add the chicken stock and bring to the boil.

Return the chicken and egg noodles to the wok and toss over high heat until well combined. Serve immediately.

Recipe Love_Donna Hay's Pea and Zucchini Risotto

It's been a sad, awful week in New Zealand since a second huge quake rocked Christchuch. I've been glued to the news and every photographic or footage udpate. Amidst such tragedy not much seems like it's worthy of posting at the moment. In such a tiny country and with such a small population it seems like everyone knows someone that has been tragically affected. I've prayed and cried for the lost even though they are not known to me personally. It's good to be reminded of what is really important.

One thing that warmed my belly this week was this delicious risotto. Try it out and let me know if you love it too!

Serves 4

6 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup white wine
40g butter
2 leeks, trimmed and sliced
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 cups arborio rice
2 tsp olive oil
3 zucchini sliced
1.5 cups frozen peas
65g baby spinach leaves
1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley leaves
sea salt and cracked black pepper
shaved parmesan cheese, to serve
lemon wedges, to serve

Place the stock and wine in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cover and bring to a slow simmer. Melt the butter in a separate large saucepan over medium heat. Add the leeks and cook for 5 minutes or until soft. Add the garlic and rice and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until the rice is translucent. Pour in the hot stock, 1 cup at a time, stirring constantly, until each cup of stock is absorbed and the rice is just al dente (around 25 minutes). I had to add more water to get to this point. Heat the oil in a medium non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the zucchini to the risotto, along with the peas, spinach, parsley, salt and pepper. Cook for 4 minutes or until the spinach is wilted and the peas are heated through. To serve, top with the parmesan and add lemon wedges.

Urban Nanna Interview 13_ Alice Tiankaizi Bi

Alice and her husband Joshua Yoon are the brains behind 'Little Dot' stationery. They term it 'fashionery'. Little is coined after the adorable, quirky character she created back in 2006.

Take a look on the Litle Dot website. They've quickly found a hungry market and received rave reviews. Even from the holy grail for all those Urban Nannas out there, a Frankie online magazine post.

Urban Nanna: What do you do for a crust? What positive impact has your profession made on you?
I draw what's in my mind and I design what I love - for Little Dot :D This has made me keep my feet on the ground.

Urban Nanna: Any creative or Urban Nanna-ish mediums you are involved in for leisure?
I loooove baking, but have found it hard to get the time to bake these days. I also love to walk in the parks. Just looking really... looking at trees mainly, I always marvel at the numerous shades of green they have, and they look new and different each time I look at them; they fascinate me.

Urban Nanna: What do you enjoy most about the work you are involved with?
When I work, I get to inhabit the child side of me. I like that space because there's no impossibilities or worries. This is all I know and this is what I love. It's work, but also leisure, this is who I am, it's impossible to seperate work and life. I guess wholesomeness is the word I'm looking for.

Urban Nanna: Which sites online do you visit regularly as a source of creative inspiration / information?
I like Frankie :) for obvious reasons heh heh... I also like Amazon, I love searching through different books, finding interesting reading material. I like to watch clips on Canadian illustration and film archive nfb.ca - it's loads of fun!

Urban Nanna: Which artists and creative people do you admire?

I like Charles Schulz, the creator of Peanuts. I guess its the innocence of his characters that trapped me at first glance.

Also C.S. Lewis and Maya Angelou.

That's Intriguing : Rene Gruau - Fashion Illustration Legend

We're not far away from our trip to European shores but I've just spotted the kind of exhibition that makes me swoon (and maybe salivate a little!). It's just finished so we won't be able to get to it sadly. Somerset House in London hosted "René Grau and the line of beauty". Through original works on paper it described the genius which was Rene Gruau (1909 - 2004). Grau collaborated frequently with his longtime friend Christian Dior. Together they created and described the elegance, beauty and drama of haute couture fashion. Grau's work can be found in the Louvre and is credited with influencing the direction of the fashion industry and a generation of fashion illustrators which succeeded him. Aside from his work with Dior he also illustrated for Givenchy, Balenciaga, Lanvin and Shiaparelli.

Personally I have realised my own love for fashion illustration arises out of my passion for branding. Describing a garment (truly an artwork in itself) with colour, line, paper and ink reflects the challenge a graphic designer has when crafting an identity which will represent the core of an organisation. With a few lines Grau captured the elite style of the world's top fashion houses and invited desire for their wares - the type of influence any designer would hope to be known for.

Urban Nanna Interview 12_The Bread and Butter Letter

This is my first interview with a shop but what a fabulous first! Make sure you check out Rosie and Sarah's vintage shop "The Bread and Butter Letter" at 66 New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland or follow them on Facebook. Great finds at great prices!

Urban Nanna: What do you do for a crust? What positive impact has your profession made on you?

R: I'm studying Pop Music at Auckland University and as you know, have just opened my first store! It's the dream job. The most positive impact would be the response from people our age who have been inspired to do things they have also dreamt of doing.

S: I'm a freelance designer and co-owner of The Bread and Butter Vintage and Handmade store. I must say meeting so many people like-minded people builds up your confidence and feeds your creativity, a job where you get to sell things you love and meet amazing people really has no downfall.

Urban Nanna: Any creative or Urban Nanna-ish mediums you are involved in for leisure?

R: I love to sew and quilt but never seem to have enough time to do all that I would like to! I also write music, make home-made cards and bake!

S: Much like Rose i love to sew and bake as well as cross stitching, but really i enjoy any medium which involves material.

Urban Nanna: What do you enjoy most about the work you are involved with?

R: Thrifting. Anyone who is a thrifter will understand the adrenaline rush when you find that one-of-a-kind magic item. Just yesterday I found a 60s swimsuit and I was pumped for the rest of the day.

S: At the moment I love being able to roll out of bed, walk down the stairs, and then straight into my own dream come true shop full of goodies. Plus, trying on pretty dresses while on a ‘lunch break’.

Urban Nanna: Which sites online do you visit regularly as a source of creative
inspiration / information?

R: There are many blogs that I check religously, but my favourites are Wish wish wish, She's got a passion for fashion and NZ blogger A little brighter vintage

to name a few. I like seeing the clothes they thrift and make. They're also all such beautiful, friendly ladies, so I like to fall over their photos and dream about far off places, romances and great op-shops.

S:THIS IS GOING TO BE HARD! Umm...
- Sharon Margaret: My best friend and the best nana knitter I have ever met. She makes knitting dreams come true.
- Willow Ships: Her photos make me want to romanticise my life and wear wonderous clothes everyday.
- Fancy – NZ design blog. They bring me all the fantastic things that are happening in our small little country and I don’t even have to leave my bedroom. Before I found this site I had no idea just how creative NZ really was.
- So much to tell you. What can say, this site is just.. I just L-O-V-E it.

Urban Nanna: Which artists and creative people do you admire?

R: Hmm.. Hard question that. I love the designs from UK label Nadinoo. The pieces are vintage inspired but have originality and fun with their prints. And I'm also inspired by musicians such as Artisan Guns (NZ), Sufjan Stevens, Beach House and Bjork.

S: Oh wow, I thought the last question was hard...
I must say that above anything my friends and family inspire me, they are in all honesty the most creative people I know. They sing, dance, play musical instruments, design, build, create, capture life and love on film. They manage to portray life in everything they do. It blows me away! They want me to achieve more.

As a side note thought, I think the first person who ever swept me off my feet with creativity was Carlos Scarpa. I am a huge fan, his eye for architecture and transforming the land is simply amazing. I’m a huge fan of concrete, and boy does he know how to use it to its full potential.

Urban Nanna Interview 11_Katie Malcolm

Urban Nanna: What do you do for a crust? What positive impact has your profession made on you?

I am a painter. I've managed a studio and community art space in Auckland, and am currently living in the UK, hoping to do the same. My profession has introduced me to a lot of amazing people and challenged me to be more generous with my time and resources.

Urban Nanna: Any other creative mediums you are involved in for leisure?

Swimming and pottery (well really just playing with clay).

Urban Nanna: What do you enjoy most about the work you are involved with making?

It is playful, colourful and joyful. Not too heavy but still serious. Serious fun I guess!!

Urban Nanna: Which sites online do you visit regularly as a source of creative inspiration / information?

I am notoriously bad at not engaigng enough with the internet - I'm not on facebook etc but I do like looking at jensengallery.com, tate.org.uk, suecrockford.com - all for contemporary art.

I also like looking at worldbrand.co.nz, katesylvester.com, karenwalker.com and cybele.co.nzfor fashion.

Urban Nanna: Which artists and creative do you admire?

Bic Runga, Dave Dobbyn - for their lyrics.

Joanna Margaret Paul a New Zealand drawer and water colourist who creates beautiful renditions of everyday scenes.

Rachel Whiteread – for her extraordinary vision.

Be inspired - it's hard not to!

This is incredible. I have heard stories like this but never footage of someone who has gone through the experience. Jeff Markin suffered a fatal heart attack and lived to tell this amazing story. Watch it here