these days

There are some new things in my house, including this big brown couch. I'm not sure why the picture turned out the way it did, but I kind of like the uneven lighting. It makes the picture look old, like the couch.

I eat a lot of dumplings, and some people ask me what kind of dumplings they are or how I make them. Here you go - these are the dumplings (they're vegetarian):

I make them by adding about a half inch of water and a couple tablespoons of sesame oil to a frying pan. I put the lid on until they're hot through, then take the lid off and let them get brown and crispy once the water boils off. They stick to the pan until they're crispy, so I wait until they are ready and then I flip them to let them crispify on the other side. Then I eat them with Chinese black vinegar (镇江醋).

I also lost two buttons from my coat and only had one replacement button. So I got a bunch of new red flower-shaped ones. People have been asking me if I got a new coat. They look really pink in this picture, but they are actually maroon and match the coat's lining.
Here's a picture that shows the flower shape better.

I added some links. Some people (hi Mom) will probably really enjoy the cooking blogs that I have been digging recently. 101 Cookbooks and Mahanandi are both vegetarian, but don't let that stop you, omnivores. The recipes are delicious and often inspiring, and the photos are great.