月曜日, 3月 31, 2008
synopsis
Hello everyone! Hisashiburi!
Right now, I'm yearning for a glass of iced cold CHIN CHOW!
It's a cold night... though I had ten zaru (cold zarusoba) and iced green tea, I still feel I need some cold water! Must have worked out too hard... doing laundry... Haha.
It's been a longggg while since I updated this blog... ever since January!
I had so many visitors I think I kind of lost count...
Starting from January, Jeff & girlfriend came, then brother came for 1 mth! Parents came, CK came, JK came, Maria came, Mingli, Xueli, Huimin came!
I felt so happy that they came, but lonely every since the 3 gals left last friday.
Well, here's an synopsis. I promise to start bloggin abt my travelling adventures... starting with oh-so-serene-even-more-relaxed-than-LAX's- VANCOUVER!
ラベル: Los Angeles, Travel
3/31/2008 12:40:00 午前
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月曜日, 2月 25, 2008
My meals
Recently I've begun to pick up my pans and pots again! It's been a long time since I had my own cooking... haha. AND I've tried to be more adventurous and ambitious (though it's still simple cooking... in many people's eyes).
Hit the Korean supermarket - Freshia at Torrance this weekend. I thought I will be lost in translation, oh well, thankfully only 50% lost. At least I managed to recognise sesame oil haha.
Tried cooking Japchae! It's the first time trying and it tastes nothing like what I tasted that day when Deborah cooked it. Something was missing there... I think it's the soy sauce. I was there sniffing the different brands of soy sauce. Though I was tempted to buy, it was too big a bottle! And mum just brought over my favourite one and only DA HUA soy sauce that I'm used to. Soy sauce is very important in Chinese cooking... and I grew up tasting Da Hua soy sauce. I remember there was once mum changed brands to Tiger brand. And I could tell something was different! Gosh! And she never ever changed to anything else again. I think I am 100% true and devoted to Da Hua. Even the 'branded' brands like Kikkoman or Lee Kum Kee taste different and STRANGE.
Check out the shreds of carrots, greeen peppers, yellow peppers, onions, chicken (though beef is used in the dish, I am a non-beef eater) and spring onions. Actually I improved! I used to take 2 hrs to slice carrots, now I am down to 45mins! hahahaha...... I think one day I will further improve to 30mins! :) Getting better. Of course, a better investment of knives contributed to greater efficiency and concentrating on the carrot fully rather than MSN-ing at the same time helps.
Japchae was saturday night's dinner... and on sunday night, this was what I cooked quickly and gobbled quickly. A DON of tofu and egg. Yummy is what I can say.
Since it was sunday's night, what I cook would spill over to next day's lunch. Actually I've been waiting for sunday night. Cuz thinking of what to cook made me excited enough. Hahahaha. And here was the bento I packed for Monday -
Tofu and egg don with side of Chicken Marinated in Shao Xing Wine and Blanched Spinach.
Yummy.
home around 7plus and couldnt resist cooking again, and quickly whipped up a fried rice. Shit.... I eat for the sake of cooking, and not for the sake of eating. THis is so wrong. NO wonder I am getting FAT.
Nowadays I'm more excited about cooking than eating....
Looking at the fried rice, this reminds me! I forgot to take a photo of the first ever plate of fried bee hoon I cooked in my life! I had fried bee hoon for breakfast. Oh man... so indulgent. Shoots.
ANd here's tomorrow's dinner/lunch.
A pseudo Chicken Cacciatore aided by Roasted Garlic and Basil Pasta Sauce. (organic one btw...)
I still havent thought of what to do with the basil I have in the fridge. It was meant to make pesto sauce. But I decided that it is too much work without a blender or a mortar....
I think I'll make some Thai Style spaghetti with the basil another day.
Btw... suddenly just dawned on me that the stuff I cook look so boring.. everything yellow, green, white, time to crack my brains again. :)
I wish there were some mouths to feed..... sigh.
ラベル: Food, Los Angeles
2/25/2008 07:36:00 午後
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月曜日, 1月 07, 2008
Some pictures from New Year Day!
Happy New Year yah! 1 week has passed in 2008, and it's been a zooming exhilarting start for moi!
Firstly, on New Year Day itself, I visited Little Tokyo which had 4 spots of celebration. Really, it was not my idea to (1) go to Pasadena for the annual Rose Parade or (2) Stay home to watch the Rose Parade. Guess it's something like Chingay, with floats parading around... Heck. Little Tokyo was nice, I was looking forward to eating some Oshogatsu stuff like MOCHI and watching MOCHITSUKI! :) Bleah.... yes I am suaku, I havent seen Mochitsuki before. Btw Mochitsuki is the act/ritual of hitting Mochi many times. I've always wanted to taste how that Mochi would taste. Well, I finally had the chance! HOnestly, it wasn't fantastic. And I suspect it's because the Mochi was hit by audiences (who crowded round the Mochi master) and not everyone hit hard enough. Some how, if you hit CORRECTLY, (ie, mannaka - in the middle) and HARDLY, it will sound different, compared to if you use only a whiff of your energy.
Anyhow, the Anzuki beans stole the show. I think I am falling in love with RED BEANS. Gosh... I have Red bean Tang Yuan, Red Bean MOchi Ice cream, Red Bean paste, Red bean soup, Red Beans in my house right now. All waiting to be DEVOURED by me. Oh sorry for the digression. Here are some pictures from Mochitsuki!
Hitting the Mochi, and preparing the Mochi to be hit. I think these rice cooker looking pots are actually special pots for making mochi. Because the Mochi was actually bouncing in the pots, and if you observe closely, there is no lid, unlike a rice cooker. In fact, the reason why I drew this conclusion is because I've seen Marukai (Japanese Supermarket) or Mitsuwa (Japanese Supermarket) advertise these pots. "Mochi Making Pots". Whoa. How specific.
And after queueing up, like those people you see in the background, you get a box of MOchi for $5. It actually comes with 3 flavours- Red Bean, Peanuts and Radish. But Ka Meng (my friend, who's also Accounting Mgr USA) wanted a Red BEan on her own. (And actually me too...) haha. So I choose Radish to be the other topping. Well, you guys know I'm not a big fan of PEANUTS... hahaha. The Radish turned out WEIRD. cuz it's savoury, while the red bean, I must emphasise again, is HEAVENLY.
Anyway! Enough of Red Bean Mochi, we waited 1 hr for lunch at Curry House,
which had a branch on 2nd floor Weller Court. Well, it was my first time trying, and the stupid guy actually said 15 mins wait, and that was why we waited from 1pm. But we waited till 2pm, and by the time we finished, it was 3pm!!! Sigh... the program at Weller Court was already over! (but not that I'm very interested)... I purposely choose this Shrimp plus Omelette over the normal CUrry sets cuz I thought it will make a better picture. ANd true enough... look...
Hehe... Ok lah, it's an angle problem. See how ANGLES make a picture different! Ka Meng said her beef curry tasted good, but too bad I've abstained from beef. THe corn soup tasted really good though. :)
After lunch, we wandered to Japanese Village cuz the program there was supposed to end at 5pm. THere was a center stage, and pretty much that. Some how, we walked along one of the streets, and we were brought to a small alley leading to a Buddhist Temple. Well, it was a Japanese tradition of visiting the temple on the first day of New Year. ACtually, some chinese (buddhists/taoists) do it too. Now I recall news reports on CHinese New Year day - every year, there's bound to have some news at the Waterloo Street Temple - about devotees wanted to offer their first joss sticks. Anyhow, the Japanese practise Buddhism in a different way, and they don't offer joss sticks. We queued up too - actually it was me who wanted to queue up to offer some prayers, and be blessed - cuz since it was the new year. To wish for a better year ahead, and better health and of course, *something else* hehehee :P. I then bought 2 Jaapanese Omamori - which is like amulet. One for my brother, 2 for myself. oh so greedy. ONe for something general, and another specific which I decline to tell anyone. But well, Ka Meng knows. ANYWAY. I saw this arrow-like omamori. A lot of people were holding it - it was in an envelop. nd in the temple, there was a box that held "OLD OMAMORI". I deduce that you're supposed to hang this arrow like omamori for a year, and then return it. I don't think I am able to return this next year, so I didn't buy the arrow.
Wah... I talk so much about praying
And some photos from performances at Japanese Village Plaza and Weller Court.
Btw, having said so much, just want to de-muddle you. Yes, I was in Los Angeles, and not Tokyo or not Japan. Hahaha.
P/s: Now you know why I like Los Angeles so much!!!!!!!!!
ラベル: everyday life, Los Angeles
1/07/2008 03:03:00 午前
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水曜日, 12月 26, 2007
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Hi everyone! Long time no see on blogsphere!
First of all, Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
It's a time for merry making and self reflection, have you had time for any? I haven't really started to reflect fully and deeply but I feel really blessed this year. It has been quite a rollercoaster ride, things happening, things not happening... Part of me has grown older, another part grown younger... There's always a part of me that does not intend to grow up. And I'm keeping that part of me this way.
I've come up with some categories to help me to reflect on: basically, things that I deem important in life. (1) Family (2) Health (3) Love (4) Happiness (5) Friends. -> in no order of importance. They are all equally important. I just realised that career is not there. Actually, career is not that important for me. As long as I put in my best and be happy, that's more important. It's linked to (4) Happiness.
Shall begin my reflection soon. Can't do it right now, too distracting at work, the emails hounding at me. A little sick with a runny nose. Came in early today, so shall quickly finish off today's emails and make an early exit home. Friends coming back from San Diego, need to go home and vacuum the floor before they come back.
In a gist, in my blogsphere absence, I've been to Desert Hills Premium Outlet, Disneyland, California Adventure Park. I finally went to the touristy places. But I still like gg to the supermarkets, and going really far away to eat authentic chinese food. I worked on Christmas eve and Christmas Day which isn't a big deal for me. Christmas Day just passed like any other day.
The roast duck was really good. So was the Char Siu.
I hope JOSH sees this picture. You'll remember this forever man.
Btw, I made this yesterday. Looks pro and tastes pro. :)
Great CooK!
Treated myself to an Abercrombie Jacket today. Feeling happy and excited. Gonna learn how to ski tomorrow! Yes YEs YES!
ラベル: everyday life, Los Angeles, reflection
12/26/2007 02:38:00 午後
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日曜日, 11月 18, 2007
Radio
Radio is driving me crazy.
I tune in to KOST 103.5FM everyday because it plays all the nice songs like a million times a day. For example, I will hear Chasing Cars on my way to work, and Chasing Cars again on my way back home. I will hear Big Girls Don't Cry on my way to work, and Big Girls Don't Cry on my way back home. Occassionally you get a song that you liked while u were in school and ya da ya da.
But these few days I've been SWARMED by Christmas songs. and they sound really CRAPPY!
I don't know why but these remix or whatever versions are really BAD! I used to sing along with the songs I hear but recently they've just faded into the background! SUCKS!
I dont know how much longer they will keep with this playlist. It is driving me NUTS totally.
I think I prefer the more classical kind of christmas songs. Sheesh.
I'm now tuning in to KISS FM with Ryan Seacrest. No more Mark and Kim on KOST 103.5.
Wonder if I can find the CD changer haha... maybe buy a few CDs and put in in there. Or better still... buy an Ipod! Much cheaper here man!
Anyway I heard on radio breifly that Rob Thomas is getting back with matchbox 20 and they're gonna do something together. GREAT! I love ROB THOMAS! :) I wanna go to his concert.
ラベル: everyday life, Los Angeles
11/18/2007 11:33:00 午前
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火曜日, 11月 13, 2007
Chicken Sukiyaki
You won't believe how much I eat... check out this huge bowl of Chicken Sukiyaki. And it was my lunch on sunday @ a japanese restaurant in Pasedena, this really nice little town. Ohhh I love Japanese food!
Let me put it into perspective for you to understand how big it was...
And of course, I couldnt finish this crazy quantity and did the American thing of packing the rest back. Guess how many variations I came up with?
This was dinner on Monday Night. Fried SHA CHA noodles, Tofu Patties & a little bit more of Chicken Sukiyaki. I added in more napa... btw, the fried noodles was a left over from my cooking on saturday night. So were the Tofu Patties.
Too bad I don't have pictures, but I had it again for Tuesday's lunch. (which is today). Chicken Sukiyaki with Philadephia Sushi. I bought sushi cuz I felt that the sukiyaki tasted good with rice. Wanted to buy Onigiri instead cuz onigiri is full of rice and the cheapest thing around. You know what those suckers at the airport restaurants were selling a pathetic scoop of plain rice for $2.75! Hell no am I going to buy that! I'd rather buy 4 pieces of sushi with salmon and goat cheese in it for $3.79 after discount.
And that was not the end of the chicken sukiyaki story. I just finished the rest of it for dinner... threw in udon, more tow gay, and more japanese squid cake. Whipped up a Koo Chye with Egg. That's it... I had enough.
That pot of chicken sukiyaki fed me for 4 meals. From Sat to Tuesday. Well done.
Cooking is theraupetic. Especially after a good day which turned sickening because of the dreadful news that my application for the nice apartment I was looking at was not approved by the leasing company due to some issues relating to my company. I can't believe they took so long to get back to me. What a waste of time, and what a nice way to spoil my day.
I am so beaten now. Beaten by the invisible hands of fate. The wheel has turned full circle - I wish.
Btw, there is this quite attractive Japanese guy living on the same floor as me. He lives on the other side, but we always meet and walk towards each other in the morning when I go to the carpark to the car.
He is botak btw.
He drives this really lousy blue car, and a few times I swear he caught up with me to take a look at me because when his car stopped two lanes away at the traffic light, he turned his whole head to look at me.
And today, I saw his girlfriend.
Hahaha.
ラベル: Food, Los Angeles
11/13/2007 09:39:00 午後
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水曜日, 11月 07, 2007
Settling in...?
Not quite...
1. Hiccups with apartment
2. Tofu Burger doesn't taste right...
3. Cash running low
Just spent the last one and a half hour chopping carrots and green pepper and smashing tofu, turns out.... some thing is seriously missing. WHere's my recipe? Where's my recipe? WHere's my recipe?
Been cooking a lot and checking out the supermarket aisles and emptying my wallets in supermarkets. Cooking is theraupetic! Last day off was spent searching for apartment... I went to 6 or 7 I can't remember.
Anyway, wanna apologise to Xueli , Ah Na & Jiapei for not replying your emails. I've been wanting to, seriously... but I really have no time... lots of work to catch up with and laundry to do or cooking to do or whatever...
But I have everyone's blessings in my heart and I promise to give you guys a long good email when I've settled into my new apartment. Hopefully that can be done in the next 2 weeks... that's all the time I have now...
Allright, it's time to go to bed.. 1148pm now, and btw, LA is now 16 hrs behind instead of 15 hrs due to daylight savings :)
Time is warped.... imagine, I had to adjust to that 1 hr.... weather is also turning cold. Time to take out the thick long jacket.
Again, I miss everyone at home & hope the 3 little lambs have done well in their O Levels!
Meyyyyyyyyyyyy
ラベル: Los Angeles
11/07/2007 11:40:00 午後
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日曜日, 10月 21, 2007
Sneak Preview... ... :)
Coming to LA, and embarking on this new job has certainly been life changing... living alone and working in a foreign land.
Last saturday I went shopping for some household stuff, drove up to venice & santa monica, and then down south to the chinese supermarket. Shopping is my only way of relaxing and deriving stress. Any trip to the supermarkets or wherever ends up in damages to my thin lining in my pockets. Yesterday Boss and family brought me to the factory outlet an hr north. Ttl damages even greater = 7 working tops, 1 casual top (that can also qualify as working top), 1 coat, 2 pairs of shoes, and 1 namecard holder long coveted. No Coach though... :) Planning a trip during Black Friday which is the day after Thanksgiving because we heard from the locals that there will be deep discounts on this day. Hmmm.... should I get my first Coach bag? Is it worth the $$$?
Anyway, here are some photos from last saturday... I don't want to show too much of the apartment.... cuz it is in a horrendous state. Will be moving to another place next weekend and will take photos of the new place then!
Kitchen in the background...
Living room in the background. I love that rocking chair!
And finally... the day my life changed (again). Hail! The arrival of my CARGO! :)
I think when I move this week, I will have a few more boxes and even more when I leave LA! Shit! It shouldn't be the case!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Less shopping, MOre Control, More sightseeing.... Less EATING!
Shit... I bought a tub of Ben's and Jerry's! And it's a flavor not found in Singapore (i think!) Vermonty Python - Coffee Liqueur Ice Cream wit a Chocolate Cookie Crumb Swirl and Fudge Cows. The Fudge Cows are soooOooooOOoooOOOOoooOOOOO cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:P
ラベル: everyday life, Los Angeles
10/21/2007 12:46:00 午前
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Life Goal
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