Australia Socceroos & The KIWI

Who's winning the footy mates?!

The FIFA World cup will happen next year June 11 - July 11, 2010. I'm sure you guys have your own bet and will be cheering for your favorite footy team. As for Joanie she is cheering out loud for the Australia Socceroos and at the same time for their neighbor New Zealand. Japan was beaten by the Socceroos last June 17 with the score 3-1 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Tim Cahill the Wonder Boy of the Socceroos scored 2 goals for his team. The Socceroos qualified and secured a slot for the FIFA World Cup in Cape Town, South Africa in 2010. Tim Cahill never fails to amaze me with his typical Cahill moves. This Samoan-Irish-English breed with an Australian nationality is also playing for Chang Everton in UK. Every time he will have that classic goal he will be ecstatic and will automatically do the boxing stunts. And that is what I like the most about him aside from his other interesting details. The socceroos team captain is Lucas Neill whom I also admire. To name other Socceroos I remember are Josh Kennedy, Mile Sterjovski, Nick Carle, Mark Schwarzer & Rhys Williams.

Rhys Williams running for the ball

Tim Cahill kick for his classic goal

Victorious moment for the Socceroos

Nice one on the head by Rory Fallon who has a nice ass too =)

Recently New Zealand won over Bahrain and secured a slot for FIFA. As the Kiwi rejoiced for their victory the players from Bahrain went home broken hearted. It was a boring game when there is no action happening after one hour watching it on ESPN live on a Saturday afternoon. But it was exciting when the momentum arrived. I think it was 27 years ago since New Zealand made it to the Finals and that was 1982. Ricki Herbert (NZ Coach) probably repeated the history of what the Australia Socceroos did last November 16, 2005 when they defeated Uruguay in a dramatic penalty shootout to progress to their first World Cup finals in decades. It also prove that this is truly the defining point for the sport of football in that nation. Only after a 32-year absence from football's biggest stage, and countless moments of qualifying heartbreak, could a triumph be as euphoric and memorable as it was for the Aussies that night? The Kiwi coach admitted that they are under pressure but they are enjoying it.

Rory Fallon is the son of the Assistant coach who played during the last NZ World Cup final game in 1982. Rory scored the winning goal using his head literally for New Zealand over Bahrain. He is also my favorite among kiwi footy players. He is the counterpart of my Tim Cahill. But of course Tim Cahill is undisputed here in my heart. My love for Aussie people and Australia as a nation is incomparable. Tim Cahill is like Jamie Oliver in my heart too, but of course Jamie is Jamie. No body can take away this feeling of admiration I have towards him. Just a short story, I hung out with Saigon Raiders the other week and played some football game near where I live. It's truly difficult to run on a big field with all men playing. I feel intimidated and it made me think if I really wanted to play with an all male team. On the other hand I met a footy player from Saigon Saints last Saturday. The opponent of Saigon Raiders. I am thinking which is which? And where will I be at my best? In the meantime I'd like to say GO, GO, GO Tim Cahill and Rory Fallon!!!

Go Australia Socceroos and New Zealand Kiwi =)

hugs,
joanie xxx

dah lameee sgttt nak buat 12 perkara bawah ni

hari tu...

sy masak ayam masak lemak cili padi utk bday girl.

pastu, sy masak custard pudding rainbow2 sbb sy skee...

utk hari - hari yg sy selalu masak ni, menimbulkan pelbagai spekulasi.

terutamanya...

"dah boleh kahwin ni. dah minat belajar memasak tiba - tiba"

dang~ bukannye x reti. minat. tp malas. so, jarang - jarang lah! haha.

bakpe gak baru 20 kawin. gelenyaaa deh! haha. ambik ko bhsa timur.

btw. class minggu ni asyik cancel. terasa seronok plak. haha. ala. class ok je.

tp pas meeting mesti penink hey. haha. muke mule2 happy jaaa... pastu muke senget da.

naiya ajak kuar dgn yamin pon terpakse say NO sbb meeting. miss u girlsss so much!

final project yg semakin bertimbun + menghampiri dateline. grrrr~ final pun less than a month.

jap lg, mama ikut abah blk srwk. mama ajak blk skali raye haji, but i can't. kot~

abah sampai kl mlm semlm and jap lg abah da blk... sob3. less than 24 hours je! huwaaaa.

gile sdeyh plak aih. mcm 1st time je raye bnde2 x skali dgn mama n abah. uhuu...

tp xpe. duit dpt extra. haha. utk MAKAN ok. sumpah lame x shopping etc.

sbb 1 - x de mase nak shopping and x de mase nak hu-ha-hu-ha. kalau ade mase utk dicuri pon,

rase nak rehat manjang. nak spend quality time with fmly pun ssh. and guess what...

berat badan. oh dang dang! kalau nak dicompare, berat badan time sem 2-3 dgn skrng, sem 6,

adelah naik dlm 5-6kg. bongok. bnyk tuh! aishhh... haha. pastuh an. jerawat dkt dahi, dgn tibe2...

tumbuh mcm cendawan lepas hujan. seriously like sgt bnyk, kecik2, merah2, bnyk gilee!!!

i can guarantee lebeyh dr 20 biji jerawat dkt dahi skrng ni, in a week jeee... tp kecik2 n merah2.

boleh kate, every sunday morning sy d tasik ttwngsa skrng ni. aerobic! ho yeahhh.

seronok. seriouslyyy. lantak p la kalo x dpt catch up laju sgt pom, tp, enjoy. haha. last week.

salsa~! skeeeeeee. mmg skeee menari. and minat. tp x de bakat. and, nak blaja sgt3!

and then last week jgk, pergi UIA gombak. register english class. lalalala... ade bnyk category.

sy ambik - communicative english, every saturday. so, ke sanelahhh tiap sabtu.

rnduuu uia gombak, bnyk kenangan~ cheywahhh. tp sumpah harap sgt TAK TERJMPA sesape.

tak nak jmpe sejarah2 dlu pe sume nnt mule la duk sebak sorang2... haha.

and, x leh blaaa class tu siap ade test and exam. tammo lah! huwaaaa. redah je la.

start class this 5th dec. thee. debar plak rase. tah sape2 je 1 class nnt.

actually... dlm life sy ni kan. bnykkk sgt lg bnde sy teringin nak buat.

bnde ni dah lameee nak buat n tak dipengaruhi oleh ape2 / sesiapa ok!

meh sy list down bnde yg sy ingt time nieee je. thee

1. belajar foreign language. mandarin, japan, arabic, france, etc.
2. belajar dancing, esp traditional, salsa, hiphop, etc lah. minat! lame dah.
3. terror memasak esp local and western foods. seriously maw blaja!
4. sy nak g batu caves... haha. sbb x penah gi. tp mama n abah cam ckp x elok
5. sy nakkk sgt gi round over the world esp - mekah, france, italy, japan, NY, HK.
6. sy nak gi rock climbing yg real pnye plg koman pun dkt batu cave. (lagi...)
7. sy dah lameee sgtttt nak gi rumah2 kebajikan, anak yatim, etc. hurm~
8. sy nakkk sgt try makan dkt semua tmpt at least once in a lifetime. haha...
9. dah lamaaa jgk nak naik helikopter sbb x penah dpt naik.
10. music. sy slalu ckp music is my life kan. seriously it is. so, sy maw blajaaa!!!
11. dah lama sy nak derma darah. tp tak pernah dapat derma lg. darah AB! thee.
12. nak gi join ape2 group g melancong, i mean like with others yg kte x kenal. tp mcm under organization lah. such as kotex camp tuh, or something dkt remaja~

wawawa... bnyk lg nih. rumah sakit jiwa sy da penah gi. takot + sdeyh + kesian sume ade.

tak pelah. bnyk lg mase, insya allah sy blh buat semuaaa ni kan? sbb tu la...

kalo blh sy tammo kawin awal2! tammo aih.. bnyk bnde nak kene buat dlu. thee.

masak pun tak layak lg. menjahit? jauh panggang dr api. hahahahahahaha... agame.

lglah. kene benar2 kukuh utk jd isteri / mak berguna nih! =]]

oklah. tu je nak "bercakap tnpa noktah" sekian. =D

Apple cider vinegar for me, please.

If my memory serves me correctly, I was on the "Apple Cider Vinegar Diet" just before converting to Atkins. Yep, 10 years ago I would've done just about anything to not be a size 16 high school freshmen, much less worthy of a Homecoming date other than my BFF. Sob story over. Of course I "saw the light" and am today embarrassed to even admit to my past weight loss endeavors. But hey, most of us have been there at some point in our lives. Well, a lot of us, anyways...

Ends up, vinegar does show some favorable results. While I cannot personally confirm those results myself (as far as weight loss is concerned, anyways), research is in support.

According to WebMD:

Diabetes.

The effect of vinegar on blood glucose levels is perhaps the best-researched and the most promising of apple cider vinegar's possible health benefits.  Several studies have found that vinegar may help lower glucose levels. For instance, one 2007 study of 11 people with type 2 diabetes found that taking two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bed lowered glucose levels in the morning by 4%-6%.

Weight Loss. 

For thousands of years, vinegar has been used for weight loss.  White vinegar (and perhaps other types) might help people feel full.  A 2005 study of 12 people found that those who ate a piece of bread along with small amounts of white vinegar felt fuller and more satisfied than those who just ate the bread. 

An article published in the New York Times states, "One study by Italian researches showed, for example, that when healthy subjects consumed about 4 teaspoons (20 milliliters) of white vinegar as a salad dressing with a meal that included white bread with a little less than 2 ounces (50 grams) of carbohydrates, there was a 30 percent reduction in their glycemic response, or rise in blood sugar, compared with subjects who had salad with a dressing made from neutralized vinegar. In 2004, a study published in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association, found similar effects in people with diabetes or insulin resistance who consumed a vinegar solution or placebo before a carb-heavy meal."

This research was of interest especially since I specialize in diabetes. Who'd have thought apple cider vinegar did such wonders to blood glucose!? While this research is surely fun trivia knowledge, diabetics should obviously not put the fate of their disease on the shoulders of apple cider vinegar.

Have you ever tried something "fad" to lose weight or be healthy? A certain diet? Food product? Exercise? Routine? Supplement?

I have a laundry list: Atkins, Apple Cider Vinegar Diet, South Beach...the list goes on and on. All I can say is that I've committed my life and career to healthful, balanced living, eating, and exercising! Live and learn, right?

The Tastes of Autumn: Squash, Chestnut & Bacon Risotto

When it comes to food, Autumn is the most exciting season. By the time the end of November rolls around, one hankers for rich, big, warming flavours and hearty platefuls to ease the depression of driving home in the dark and fighting through increasingly bad weather.



Large jumpers can hide expanding waistlines and the only way to achieve a healthy glow is by supping an extra glass of wine. It truly is the season for gourmands.

Those earthy flavours so reminiscent of Autumn are a delight to cook with. Their versatility offers infinite combinations, each one guaranteed to be tasty. Pick three of the following and you’re almost certain to achieve deliciousness in perfect harmony:

Pheasant. Bacon. Mushrooms. Pears. Truffles. Pumpkins. Squashes. Rabbit. Potatoes. Pigeon. Chestnuts. Garlic. Thyme. Apples.



In fact, you could probably put all of the above together and create something lip-smackingly good.

I didn’t quite go that far with this risotto but came pretty close.

First step was to roast off a small squash – sliced and cooked until tender in a hot oven, squash develops a rich sweetness that demands to be matched with something salty. In this case bacon, although some melted blue cheese with it would make a good meal on its own.

Once the bacon had been crisped up nicely in a hot pan, the fat rendered out into a tasty sizzling liquid, it was put to one side and a finely chopped red onion softened in a tablespoon of the reserved bacon fat – using the same pan to make the most of the flavours in there (and minimise washing up)

A handful of chestnuts were roasted in the oven until the insides were sweet and the skins had split open. Half were then chopped finely, the others merely split in two to act as a textural contrast.

The risotto was made in the usual way – toast rice, add onions and spoon stock in until rice is tender but still in possession of some integrity. Right at the end, along with the requisite Parmesan and butter, the bacon, roasted squash and chestnuts were stirred in.



The whole thing was topped off with thinly sliced pheasant breast that had been fried off in a little butter, chestnut halves and a little of the reserved bacon. Finally, it was seasoned with a small pinch of ground coffee to add the merest hint of bitterness.

A big, steaming, delicious bowl of Autumn.

How to Make Tortilla Espanola (Spanish Omelette)

A Tortilla Espanola is simply a Spanish style omelette. It is far more substantial than the French style omelette and includes in the ingredients slices of potato and onion. This version of Tortilla Espanola is my own interpretation of the techniques and I hope that you enjoy this slightly different from the conventional dish.

This recipe should be sufficient to serve two people.

Ingredients

4 large eggs
2 small new potatoes (whole and unpeeled)
1/2 medium sized Spanish onion (thinly sliced)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp butter
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

The first step is to put the potatoes in to some boiling water and simmer them for around twenty-five to thirty minutes until cooked. Drain them well and set them aside to cool a little until they can safely be handled.

Break the eggs in to a bowl and beat thoroughly, seasoning with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil to a 10", non-stick frying pan and heat gently, adding the butter to melt as the oil begins to heat up. When the butter has melted, add the sliced onions and cook gently for a few minutes until they take on that luminous sheen.

Chop the potatoes in to 1/2" cubes (skin can either be left on or discarded) and add them to the pan with the onions, stirring well to let them heat through only. Add the egg and turn the heat up to medium to high and cook for around three or four minutes until it can be seen that the egg is almost completely set.

It is normal practise at this stage to turn the Tortilla at least once to cook it on the top side but I prefer simply to place the pan under a hot grill and allow it to finish cooking in this fashion, before serving immediately. Note that I only get away with grilling at this stage as this recipe makes a fairly thin Tortilla.

In Spain, Tortilla are very often served with homemade tomato sauce. If you wish to serve it in this fashion as I have done, here is the recipe for my Spanish tomato sauce. Again, this is my interpretation of Spanish tomato sauce and is a little bit different from that generally served in SPain. (Note that it will be necessary to start preparing the tomato sauce once the potatoes have been put on to simmer.)

Ingredients

1 14oz can chopped tomatoes in tomato juice
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp paprika
2 garlic cloves (crushed)
Salt to taste

Method

Put the olive oil in to a small, non-stick saucepan and gently heat. Add the garlic and stir around for a minute to cook it but not brown it. Add the tomatoes, paprika and salt and simmer as gently as possible - stirring frequently - for around thirty to forty minutes until a lush sauce is formed.

Tortillas are also often eaten cold in Spain. This can either be in the form of slices as with a pie, or even on a bread roll with perhaps a little tomato chutney or relish, as I have prepared it in the photograph above.

Whichever way you choose to eat your Tortilla Espanola, I very much hope that you enjoy this authentic taste of Spain and the Mediterranean as much as I did.



Relevant Associated Links for your Further Information

Spanish Omelette Recipe

How to make Tortilla Espanola on About.com

Tortillas as a Traditional Cuban Breakfast

Video of How to Make a Spanish Omelette

Spanish Tapas Recipes Made Easy

Food Tip of the Day - Tuesday, November 24th, 2009: Tips for Cooking Eggs

Tips for cooking eggs will not only come in many different forms but will often appear contradictory, depending upon from where and whom they come. This is for a number of reasons but chiefly that there are so many ways in which it is possible to cook eggs and that there are so many myths surrounding eggs and the procedures for cooking eggs.

There is a huge myth that eggs are extremely high in cholesterol and are bad for your health but while this is true when eggs are consumed to excess, it is a nonsensical suggestion to make that we should avoid eggs altogether for this reason. The simple fact is that anything consumed to excess is bad for our health.

The link below gives lots of tips for cooking eggs and focuses upon using eggs in a safe and health-conscious fashion.

Tips for Cooking Eggs