Tonight I made tonkatsu, or breaded fried pork cutlet. It's the first time I've deep-fried anything or used panko (Japanese bread crumbs), so that was exciting. I used this recipe, and substituted arugula for the rice. You could also substitute tofu for the pork to make it vegetarian (use a mix of soft tofu & soy milk instead of the egg).

Everyone found it tasty, but a little bland. Possible tweaks:

• Flatten the pork chops with a meat mallet or cut them in half. These cuts were too thick, and it was impossible to cook both the outside & inside properly. I'll aim for 1/4 to 3/8-inch thickness next time.
• Fry the cutlets in either peanut or sesame oil instead of vegetable.
• Experiment with the breading seasoning. This recipe only called for salt and pepper; other recipes add chile powder or fresh herbs.
  
• Bake instead of fry the meat.
• Marinate the meat in advance (examples here and here).
• Top with a good sauce. Tonkatsu sauce is the standard (we tried substituting regular Worcestershire, it didn't work); I might also try something like this chili-ginger sauce, or even a tomato sauce.

A extra tip from On Food and Cooking: "oil-fried meats are generally cooked until bubbling in the oil ceases, a sign that their juices have ceased to flow."

Finally, a close-up:

A week ago, I expressed misgivings about a recent Forever21 order. Past experiences with the chain disappointed me; their fabrics were at times unbelievably bad. My order this time, though, yielded some pleasant surprises.

Delivery/packaging: I received the clothes within a week via UPS (free shipping for orders over $75). The clothes were in a padded envelope and wrapped in tissue paper.

What I'm keeping: The little black dress ($35), for sure. It's made from a soft poly-cotton blend that hangs well, and the details on the sleeves and waist keep it from being too dull. It is short, but so am I (though anyone over 5'6" should reconsider). The dress is still available in all sizes.

The polka dot top (right, $17.80) will stay too. FYI, I ordered this two sizes too big so it drapes rather than clings. Sizing up is a good idea with this chain.

What's going back: The ugly-as-sin floral scarf. I'm not including a picture, it is that unfortunate.

Also going back is the empire waist shirt ($18), which I ordered in two colors. My roommate greeted the above version with a "Who is that supposed to look good on?" Not me, I guess. Part is the evil empire waist (why do I keep buying these?! I are stoopid), and part is the awkward length.

Finally, I'm returning the green skirt, but only because it's two sizes too big (a clothes-pin is holding it up in the photo). Otherwise, the rich color matches the online photo, and the rosette detail at the hem looks better than the $20 price tag would indicate. I really liked it.

Final word: I'd say F21 has Target-quality clothing with more designer details and less democratic sizing. It's a good option for petites, and more of a challenge (but not unfruitful) for everyone else.

Left to right: Bonnie Flat, $24.00 (sale), Delia's (also in black, blue, & coral); Corsage Flip-Flop, $50.00, YesStyle (also in blue, pink, and white); Poetic Licence Rita Purple Green (also in black orange), $69.00 (sale), Habitat.

• read "The House of Many Ways" by Diana Wynne Jones;
• ate delicious Italian food from Figo Pasta;
• cleaned out my car. Believe it or not, this was a major achievement;
• tried to write 10 blog posts and didn't finish any of them.

I'll do my best to post something Wednesday evening. In the meantime, has everyone seen the Twilight trailer? Oh my sweet goodness.