cafe at home - to turn my apartment kitchen into my own cafe is one of my on-going project called “turn everything around you cute and fun” project. i love cafe-life, why not making it at home? i used to go to cafe a lot in japan. “cafe culture” in kyoto is lovely. there are hundreds of cafes in kyoto alone - from nostalgic to contemporary ones.　　my favorite was cafe soiree. founded in 1948, cafe soiree resides humbly by the river takase. the cafe is lit only with blue lights. there’s no music playing, just blue lights and fragrance of roasted coffee. quiet. that’s one of the places i like to stay forever. i wanted to create the atmosphere in my apartment.

at our cafe at home, i cook and paul chooses music.

i like dining out at restaurants but after the easy consumption, sometimes i’m left with vanity. by creating something together at home, everyday life becomes much more fun.

recipe: quinoa pilaf with cranberries

• 1 cup quinoa, rince well and remove any debris
• 1 3/4 cup water
• 1 TB margarine
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tsp lemon zest
• 2 TB fresh parsley, minced
• 1/2 TB dried thyme
• 2 TB green onion, sliced
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• s + p
• dash soy sauce
• dash olive oil

1. place rinsed quinoa in a large non-stick saucepan and toast, until it darkens slightly.
2. add to boiling water, cover, reduce the heat and simmer about 20 mins.
3. in another skillet, heat olive oil; add onion and garlic; and cook until tender. add cranberries.
4. stir in cooked quinoa, lemon zest, thyme, parsley, pumpkinseeds; add margarine, soy sauce, salt and pepper to taste.