My List of Christmas Wants
(they are rather essential things which will be useful to my everyday life.. Highly doubtful I'll get many of them..)
1. A DSLR (to capture the beautiful moments in life)
2. A watch (prefer digital as always)
3. A backpack (must be pretty enough for my standards)
4. A new hard drive (to store my gazillions of photos)
5. More shelves / storage space for my junk at home.
6. More pretty work clothes
My List of Christmas Places to Go
(hopefully all will be attained.. depends how much stamina we have, and also depends on the weather..)
1. Christmas Lights @ Capilano Suspension Bridge
2. Christmas Lights @ Van Dusen Botanical Garden
3. Body Worlds @ Science World
4. Queen Elizabeth Park
5. Movie outing + Greek food
6. Boxing Day shopping @ the mall
My List of Christmas Desires
(the things that money cannot buy..)
1. A new job where I will enjoy myself much more, and less brain-degenerating
2. To keep my room in a more presentable state (nearly impossible to achieve)
3. Eat lots of good food and not get fat (HA! first part will be achieved but the latter is hard.. so hard..)
4. Find new TV shows to watch (my mum already thinks I am a "TV Queen" but I don't seem that addicted yet...)
5. Learn Italian again (I am so sad, I have forgotten almost everything I learnt one year ago.. which is really sad..)
6. Spend time more effectively on more things and people..
Just a boring post, my blog is getting pretty dead.. I keep starting new posts but never end up finishing them~~ Sigh..
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Advice on Cooking
My style of cooking; it's a very strange combination of skill and laziness.
I call it "skill" because I have watched tons of cooking shows during my 2 years of living at Gage in UBC, where I was blessed with a TV in our living room. Sad to say, now I don't have a TV and my only complaint is I cannot watch the Food Network anymore~~ Even though I'm working during the hours that my favourite shows are on, I would still like to have a TV.
And I have picked up a lot of tips from watching all these cooking hosts. Like what are the "standard" seasonings for different kinds of cuisines, important theories, what to put together and what NOT to put together, so much more! I could write an entire book on what I've learnt just by watching...
And laziness? That's pretty self-explanatory. Or you could also define it as I-am-so-cheap-I-refuse-to-get-the-expensive-ingredients-like-the-pros-do. I pretty much use whatever I have on hand, and whatever I have on hand is what I "happen" to pick up at the supermarket for that week. There are rare times where I would specially buy specific items for whatever I am making though, depends entirely on my mood.
With this combination of knowledge and non-specificity, I sometimes come up with random recipes. No actually, make that ALL THE TIME. Especially my "Chinese" cooking are the simplest things I usually cook. My usual is a tiny portion of meat, either ground or in small pieces, with a range of 2-5 types of vegetables cut up. First I fry the meat, and then toss in the vegetables. The meat may or may not be pre-marinated, but I have learned to "season every layer of the dish", but I usually put so little seasoning it doesn't really taste very strong anyway. I think this is a healthy diet, especially when served with rice. My meat-to-vegetables ratio is usually 1:3, and I'm proud of that.
When I encounter certain things I feel like baking or trying out, I hunt for the recipe on ever-trusty Google, and then I modify it to whatever I have in my fridge. Except you can't really mess with the chemistry of baking, so I don't alter proportions and try to follow baking measurements to a T. I'm a lot better now, at least my landlord has measuring cups and spoons which I can use, which I never really used in the past. The actual baking time and temperature and oven will definitely not make my baking turn out perfectly, but I have learned to live with such imperfection.
Today, I made hummus. The traditional recipe calls for chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, sesame paste and some spices. I have only the first 2 on the list. Well, I guess I can make do, since chickpeas is the key ingredient in this. I was hesitant to chop up garlic at first (because I was oh-so-lazy) but finally gave in because according to my landlady, "hummus is not hummus without garlic!"
So I blended the chickpeas and garlic together with only a little of the liquid from the can (with my lovely $7 mini food processor), and then added sesame seeds (to replace the sesame paste), and --- oh, that's about it. I added salt and black pepper, and I also decided to be brave and add curry powder. I did not add olive oil because seriously, I don't see the need for it (and I didn't want to scrub a greasy food processor). The curry powder turned out to be a great choice, and after I spooned everything into a container, I swirled in a couple drops of sesame oil to enhance the aroma.
And boy, did that taste good! So, I conclude that you really don't need all the classic ingredients to make a good hummus. And really, that applies to pretty much everything that is not baking.. I suppose if you are really professional then you can fiddle around, but I'm not there yet..
My advice when it comes to cooking: Be adventurous, be flexible, and most importantly, be LAZY! :) Happy cooking everyone!
I call it "skill" because I have watched tons of cooking shows during my 2 years of living at Gage in UBC, where I was blessed with a TV in our living room. Sad to say, now I don't have a TV and my only complaint is I cannot watch the Food Network anymore~~ Even though I'm working during the hours that my favourite shows are on, I would still like to have a TV.
And I have picked up a lot of tips from watching all these cooking hosts. Like what are the "standard" seasonings for different kinds of cuisines, important theories, what to put together and what NOT to put together, so much more! I could write an entire book on what I've learnt just by watching...
And laziness? That's pretty self-explanatory. Or you could also define it as I-am-so-cheap-I-refuse-to-get-the-expensive-ingredients-like-the-pros-do. I pretty much use whatever I have on hand, and whatever I have on hand is what I "happen" to pick up at the supermarket for that week. There are rare times where I would specially buy specific items for whatever I am making though, depends entirely on my mood.
With this combination of knowledge and non-specificity, I sometimes come up with random recipes. No actually, make that ALL THE TIME. Especially my "Chinese" cooking are the simplest things I usually cook. My usual is a tiny portion of meat, either ground or in small pieces, with a range of 2-5 types of vegetables cut up. First I fry the meat, and then toss in the vegetables. The meat may or may not be pre-marinated, but I have learned to "season every layer of the dish", but I usually put so little seasoning it doesn't really taste very strong anyway. I think this is a healthy diet, especially when served with rice. My meat-to-vegetables ratio is usually 1:3, and I'm proud of that.
When I encounter certain things I feel like baking or trying out, I hunt for the recipe on ever-trusty Google, and then I modify it to whatever I have in my fridge. Except you can't really mess with the chemistry of baking, so I don't alter proportions and try to follow baking measurements to a T. I'm a lot better now, at least my landlord has measuring cups and spoons which I can use, which I never really used in the past. The actual baking time and temperature and oven will definitely not make my baking turn out perfectly, but I have learned to live with such imperfection.
Today, I made hummus. The traditional recipe calls for chickpeas, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, sesame paste and some spices. I have only the first 2 on the list. Well, I guess I can make do, since chickpeas is the key ingredient in this. I was hesitant to chop up garlic at first (because I was oh-so-lazy) but finally gave in because according to my landlady, "hummus is not hummus without garlic!"
So I blended the chickpeas and garlic together with only a little of the liquid from the can (with my lovely $7 mini food processor), and then added sesame seeds (to replace the sesame paste), and --- oh, that's about it. I added salt and black pepper, and I also decided to be brave and add curry powder. I did not add olive oil because seriously, I don't see the need for it (and I didn't want to scrub a greasy food processor). The curry powder turned out to be a great choice, and after I spooned everything into a container, I swirled in a couple drops of sesame oil to enhance the aroma.
And boy, did that taste good! So, I conclude that you really don't need all the classic ingredients to make a good hummus. And really, that applies to pretty much everything that is not baking.. I suppose if you are really professional then you can fiddle around, but I'm not there yet..
My advice when it comes to cooking: Be adventurous, be flexible, and most importantly, be LAZY! :) Happy cooking everyone!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Another weird conversation
(Person A) and I were talking about this guy who might be interested in her. Major 180° change in topic as we switched to talking about (Person B).
(Person A): I introduced him to (Person B) -- she's desperate for a boyfriend...
Me: How desperate is she?
(Person A): She asks me and *other friend* to introduce guys to her...
Me: Okay, I should introduce *my boyfriend*'s friends to her then..
*Person A*: Oh really? Please do!! I have introduced all my good friends to her...
I show *my boyfriend* the above conversation.
*bf*: LOLOL! My friends are study dudes, they won't be compatible.. And they are shy too, not "on the bed" type...
Me: LOL! My sentiments exactly!
ROFL. I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for (Person B). FYI I have top-secret access to such information. :D
(Person A): I introduced him to (Person B) -- she's desperate for a boyfriend...
Me: How desperate is she?
(Person A): She asks me and *other friend* to introduce guys to her...
Me: Okay, I should introduce *my boyfriend*'s friends to her then..
*Person A*: Oh really? Please do!! I have introduced all my good friends to her...
I show *my boyfriend* the above conversation.
*bf*: LOLOL! My friends are study dudes, they won't be compatible.. And they are shy too, not "on the bed" type...
Me: LOL! My sentiments exactly!
ROFL. I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for (Person B). FYI I have top-secret access to such information. :D
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Words of Wisdom
(meaningful phrases from country songs)
Life is not about the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away...
I don't want a man I can live with; I want a man that I can't live without...
I believe in angels, 'cause my angels believe in me.
I wanna put you in a melody, so you'll be stuck in my head all day. If I could press play, rewind a couple million times; so let me put you in a song...
You make me smile like the sun, forget how to breathe.. Just the thought of you can drive me wild, oh you make me smile...
I'm gonna change your mind, I'm gonna make you love me...
Life is not about the breaths you take, but the moments that take your breath away...
I don't want a man I can live with; I want a man that I can't live without...
I believe in angels, 'cause my angels believe in me.
I wanna put you in a melody, so you'll be stuck in my head all day. If I could press play, rewind a couple million times; so let me put you in a song...
You make me smile like the sun, forget how to breathe.. Just the thought of you can drive me wild, oh you make me smile...
I'm gonna change your mind, I'm gonna make you love me...
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Day 14
Day 14 - A picture of you and your family
Hello, my parents are too cool to take pictures with me. My mum perhaps might, but not my dad. When was the last time that all 3 of us were in the same country huh?
I wish to start my own family soon so that I can have one to call my own... But that doesn't mean I'm ready to have kids! It's two different stories altogether :D
LOL random twist again.
Hello, my parents are too cool to take pictures with me. My mum perhaps might, but not my dad. When was the last time that all 3 of us were in the same country huh?
I wish to start my own family soon so that I can have one to call my own... But that doesn't mean I'm ready to have kids! It's two different stories altogether :D
LOL random twist again.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Day 13
Day 13 - A letter to someone who has hurt you recently
Dear [name removed],
I try not to take things too personal but ignoring just me is ridiculous. I know you see me as a threat but there's nothing I can do about it. I try to be polite but sometimes I fail. And I can't help it if you are PMS-ing when I am trying to ask you questions. I hope we can cooperate in the future when there is a need to.
Peace.
Dear [name removed],
I try not to take things too personal but ignoring just me is ridiculous. I know you see me as a threat but there's nothing I can do about it. I try to be polite but sometimes I fail. And I can't help it if you are PMS-ing when I am trying to ask you questions. I hope we can cooperate in the future when there is a need to.
Peace.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Day 12
Day 12 - How you found out about WordPress and why you made one
(ahem, I got stuck here on November 6 and now it is November 16... LOOOONG hiatus indeed huh!)
Since I'm on Blogger, let me talk about that.. I heard about blogging in 2004, and then I was in some emotional turmoil so I wanted a place to release all my tensions and troubles..
And then I came to Canada to study and began a brand new blog to keep my friends updated about my exciting life abroad! And it went on for a couple years, with new blogs for a new year, and in the recent 2 years or so, I decided my life was too boring for the public so I made this one and strove to make things more interesting, more typical-interesting/quirky posts and less about my mundane life..
I hope I'm doing a good job keeping y'all entertained, but I must admit, my blogging frequency is becoming more and more irregular... MUST. WORK. ON. THAT!
(ahem, I got stuck here on November 6 and now it is November 16... LOOOONG hiatus indeed huh!)
Since I'm on Blogger, let me talk about that.. I heard about blogging in 2004, and then I was in some emotional turmoil so I wanted a place to release all my tensions and troubles..
And then I came to Canada to study and began a brand new blog to keep my friends updated about my exciting life abroad! And it went on for a couple years, with new blogs for a new year, and in the recent 2 years or so, I decided my life was too boring for the public so I made this one and strove to make things more interesting, more typical-interesting/quirky posts and less about my mundane life..
I hope I'm doing a good job keeping y'all entertained, but I must admit, my blogging frequency is becoming more and more irregular... MUST. WORK. ON. THAT!
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