Monday, January 31, 2011

Le joie de vivre

  " French Sips" (Bonnieux, Provence)
"French Sips" (Paris bistro)


This must be it.  
Look at these two charming men.  
This must be it.  
What is it about them?  
It must be "Le joie de vivre".  
The unhurried, relaxed pace that Europeans are known for and 
that we Americans are not known for. 
 I can hardly imagine such relaxation.  
Notice.  
They are alone.  
Notice.  
They are peaceful and content.  
This must be it.  
Le joie de vivre.

Quote of the Year Finalist

... I know it's still only January, but this has to be in the running for the quote of the year. Judge Roger Vinson has basically struck down the entire health care bill, saying this:
It is difficult to imagine that a nation which began, at least in part, as the result of opposition to a British mandate giving the East India Company a monopoly and imposing a nominal tax on all tea sold in America would have set out to create a government with the power to force people to buy tea in the first place.
Awesome.

Gamjatang (Korean Pork Bone Soup)



I thought it was almost spring season (well, at least according to the high street shops), but no, winter refuses to budge and it got really cold in London last weekend. What better than a warming bowl of slow-cooked broth, with that bit of spice and asian flavour to remind me of home? Gamjatang is a Korean spicy (adjustable) pork bone soup with fermented soybean paste, hot pepper flakes and lots of vegetables-- a one-pot meal, though Koreans will still have it with rice.

I adapted the recipe from Maangchi (the cutest cook on Youtube), because I'm guilty of seeking shortcuts (like not removing the chilli pepper and soaking the bones), and because I didn't have some of the ingredients. If you have, please use! Everyone on Maangchi's forums seem to love the flavour that perilla leaves added (like Japanese shiso but "better"), and perilla seeds (I used some sesame seeds because I just thought it would be nice, but it's not a replacement). I don't know if I'm missing out a lot, but even without those ingredients, the soup was sooo good and it made me feel warm and happy and Korean.

Gamjatang (Korean Pork Bone Soup)
serves 2-3
Ingredients
For soup base
1kg of pork (spine) bones
1 large onion, sliced
1" ginger, sliced into pieces
2 tbs soybean paste doenjang (like miso, but a stronger flavour, kind of like Chinese taucheo)
1 dried red chilli, seeds removed
3 dried shitake mushrooms
10 cups water
a bit more than 2l of water

For sauce
6 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tbsp of hot pepper flakes
1 tbsp Korean red chilli pepper powder (to replace the hot pepper paste)
3 tbsp Chinese cooking wine (shaoxing/huadiao)
3 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp of white sesame paste (to "replace" the 3tbsp of perilla seeds powder)

Vegtables
3 stalks of spring onions
1/4 Napa cabbage, chopped into bite-sized pieces.
1 big handful of beansprouts
3 small potatoes, peeled and halved

To serve
chopped spring onions
white pepper
(pretty black earthenware bowl if you have, which I don't)

Method
1. Blanch the pork bones in boiling water for 10 min, with half the ginger added. Drain and rinse the scum off.
2. Bring the pork bones and all the ingredients for the soup base to the boil in a large pot filled with about 2l water, then let it continue to simmer for 1.5h over medium high heat.
3. Add the sauce and vegetables to the pot and continue to cook for half an hour more.
4. Serve piping hot (รก la all the Korean dramas hehe) with chopped spring onions and a dash of white pepper.

I love soups, and this one's just rich with flavour (and nutrients). As with all good bone broths, it gels the next day when cooled:


This is fun, I think I should start doing this "gelatin" test for all the bone broths I cook.

This is part of Pennywise Platter Thursday at the Nourishing Gourmet.
This is part of Fightback Fridays by Food Renegade.

Editorial Control

... our Maximum Leader exercises it daily.

It Will Now Be Referred To As The C&W Words

Secular Apostate turns us on to a race spat at UC Irvine that is stereotypical* of the kind of fussing that goes on about race these days.
A California university says it was bad taste to serve chicken and waffles on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Officials at the University of California, Irvine, say the menu of stereotypical black food was served on Jan. 17 — the first day of the school’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. symposium.

The dining hall advertised the meal as an “MLK Holiday Special.”

The co-chairman of the school’s Black Student Union and another student lodged formal complaints.
Complaints about what? Last week I went to Bonnie Jean's Soul Food here in San Diego. One of my friends had their famous ... Chicken and Waffles. The food was great and the service friendly. They make all of their meals from scratch when you order, so it takes about half an hour to get your food. They've cleverly erected** a set of shelves containing family games for you to play while you wait. A couple at a table nearby played Uno*** while their food was prepared.

As for UC Irvine, I wonder if any of the diners listened to Niggaz Wit Attitudes music as they walked up to the dining hall.

Update: The editorial staff of The Scratching Post would like to apologize for showing insensitivity in the previous sentence. We used a term that should not be spoken in polite company and should be a referred to by it's initial. We acknowledge our mistake and beg your forgiveness. No one among the Clever-Americans should ever have to hear the word "wit." We fully support the efforts of sensitive academics everywhere to make our speech witless.

* - This will now be referred to as the "S" word in sensitivity to Abnormally-Normal-Americans.

** - This will now be referred to as the "E" word in sensitivity to Oversexed-Americans.

*** - This will now be referred to as the "U" word in sensitivity to Math-challenged-Americans.

Steamed Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk Custard (Ketan Srikaya)

Steamed Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk Custard (Ketan Srikaya)

Bottom layer :
300g glutinous rice, washed and soaked for 4 hours, drained
180ml santan (coconut milk) from 1/2 coconut
2 pandan leaves, knotted

Top layer :
4 eggs, beaten with 150g caster sugar until sugar dissolves
1 tbsp cornflour
250ml thick santan from 1 coconut
4 pandan leaves (screwpine leaves), pounded to extract juice
a little green food coloring, if desired
1/4 tsp salt

Bottom layer to process first: Put glutinous rice, santan (coconut milk) and pandan leaves (screwpine leaves) into a steaming tray. Steam over high heat for about 30 minutes till the rice is soft. Remove from heat and press with a piece of banana leaf or plastic till firm and level.

Mix all the ingredients for the top layer to get a nice green color. Strain mixture over the bottom layer, the glutinous rice layer. Steam over low heat till custard is cooked and firm (insert a knife to check whether custard is cooked).

Leave to cool completely before cutting into pieces.

Steamed Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk Custard (Ketan Srikaya)

Steamed Glutinous Rice and Coconut Milk Custard (Ketan Srikaya)

Bottom layer :
300g glutinous rice, washed and soaked for 4 hours, drained
180ml santan (coconut milk) from 1/2 coconut
2 pandan leaves, knotted

Top layer :
4 eggs, beaten with 150g caster sugar until sugar dissolves
1 tbsp cornflour
250ml thick santan from 1 coconut
4 pandan leaves (screwpine leaves), pounded to extract juice
a little green food coloring, if desired
1/4 tsp salt

Bottom layer to process first: Put glutinous rice, santan (coconut milk) and pandan leaves (screwpine leaves) into a steaming tray. Steam over high heat for about 30 minutes till the rice is soft. Remove from heat and press with a piece of banana leaf or plastic till firm and level.

Mix all the ingredients for the top layer to get a nice green color. Strain mixture over the bottom layer, the glutinous rice layer. Steam over low heat till custard is cooked and firm (insert a knife to check whether custard is cooked).

Leave to cool completely before cutting into pieces.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Recipe of the Week - Pizza Quesadilla


It's time to share your recipe! Please be sure to link up below and use one of my Recipe of the Week buttons in your post! The link will be open until Tuesday night at 11:59pm.

This weeks recipe is one that my hubby actually heard about from a fellow church member.

Pizza Quesadillas

1 pkg. of pizza crust (the kind you just add water to)
1 pkg. of Morning Star griller crumbles
Your choice of cheese.

Make the pizza dough as directed on the package. Divide the dough in half, placing half on a greased cookie sheet. Fry the griller crumbles until browned and add to the top of the pizza dough. Add cheese onto and place the other half of the pizza dough on top. Bake at 350 for 13-15 minutes (or as directed on the pizza dough package).

You can also add other pizza type toppings as you choose to the inside! It was surprisingly good and hubby liked it too! Enjoy!



Hate the world, it's so romantic! (At The Brandery Welcome Party!)


So this week was The Brandery Winter Edition and of course I went there for two conferences that were very interesting... but before the "working" post, I want to show you a little bit about the welcome party that happened last 26th by night. I went with Laia and there we found Jana, Laia Chic and Lucas... yes, we had a lovely time!


 
 
 
They served these lovely miniburguers!

Laia was so so beautiful... judge by yourself:
 
 

And I was wearing my pink dress with my new heels... you know that I am never quite sure about this dress, but everyone said I was so lovely,with butterflies on my hair!

 
 
 
Josep was there... I didn't see him since last Brandery!

This week there's another fashion event, Barcelona 080... I guess that I would go on tuesday, as tomorrow I'm a little busy... well, I'm so busy these days, as you can see that I'm not posting so much, sorry for that! I must catch up all your blogs!

Hillary and Barack Thread the Needle

I thought this was about as good a response to the Egyptian crisis as one could hope for out of Washington.
WASHINGTON--Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for an "orderly, peaceful transition" to a "real democracy" in Egypt, and said the U.S. wants to see free and fair elections in Egypt as a result of the antigovernment unrest.

Although U.S. officials have been careful not to call for the resignation of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, Mrs. Clinton's comments on the Sunday morning news shows seemed to inch the U.S. government toward pushing the Egyptian president to let go of his grip on power.
It would also seem to doom Mubarak. Elections would not be good to him.

Beach on Saturday

Nathan has been very busy with the First Robotics program lately, so I decided to spend my Saturday at the beach. I took my arse to the barnes of the noble and found an AMAZING book. I had no idea the series Dexter was based off of a book series. I can't wait to read them all. Here are a few random snapshots from my day yesterday.



When I was setting up camp I saw this bug and instantly kicked him out of his spot, until I realized that he was actually a "she" and she had a baby on her back. Then the guilt set in. I picked her up gently and put her on another bed of grass out of harms way. I have no idea what kind of bug this is do you?






a moment ago, i told mama

assalamualaikum. hey :)

i have a confession, which is i'm kinda in a bad conditions, mentally. i'll be okay, everyone has their own bad times, ups and downs, dont ya?

i was spending my time, alone, in front of the lappy and suddenly, i went out of bed, straight to my mum's room. and she was half-asleep. i quickly jumped in, over the bed, and sit next right to her.


"sometimes, i wish i could wake up the next day, and be someone else"

why?

"because i am no good... i'm not pretty, i'm not rich, i'm not clever, i am nothing."

to be rich, u need to work hard. to be pretty, u r pretty the way u r. to be clever, u need knowledge.
u r what u think u r. be thankful and keep getting better..


PAUSE.


people tend to ask, "why are we here in this world? what am i here for?"

maybe, some things better left unsaid.

maybe, we should aware "who do we LIVE FOR?"



good night everyone. :)




The Beginnings of Anarchy

Judith Levy has the best synopsis of the Egyptian rioting and it can be found here. A tidbit:
ON THE STREETS: The beginnings of anarchy. The police have thrown in the towel, leaving the maintenance of law and order to the army -- but the soldiers inside the tanks, who have chosen for the most part to stand by inactive while crowds pour into the streets in defiance of the dawn-to-dusk curfew, are also doing little to keep the protesters safe.
It's definitely worth a click to read the whole thing. Here's some video of the army and the protestors interacting:


More from Ms. Levy:
WITHIN THE MILITARY: Egypt has the draft. Unlike its policemen, its soldiers are not in uniform voluntarily. From Mubarak's perspective, the men inside the tanks could have gone either way, and they are indeed showing themselves to be undecided at best: they are neither cracking down on the protesters nor actively defending them. Many striking images are circulating of soldiers emerging from their tanks to be held aloft on the shoulders of protesters, but less mention is being made of the protesters urging the soldiers to open fire on the riot police -- a step they refused to take. The army has not formally taken any side and is unlikely to do so until it becomes clearer whether or not Suleiman -- an ex-general who is perceived as the army's candidate -- will take power.
Check out all the wreckage in the streets. Also, consider this: the streets themselves are being wrecked. An M-60A1 tank, Egypt's primary tank, weighs in at around 50 tons. Once you start doing donuts around the main streets, the asphalt is toast. After this thing dies down and Egypt returns to something resembling normalcy, shipping within Cairo is going to be problematic.

On the plus side, those tanks are delivering a Keynesian's dream: shovel-ready projects. Yay!

Update: Dig the looting going on in the last 30 seconds of the video. I love the guy with the plasma TV in a box.

Salmon and Coley Egg Bake with Cheese and Herb Crust


This is a recipe comprised of two different types of sustainable fish. Coley is a lesser known member of the cod family which remains plentiful in our seas, while the salmon used in this recipe is farmed. This dish is very easy and fairly quick to make and should serve two people. I have served it with some new potatoes, simmered for half an hour in lightly salted water, and Brussels sprouts, simmered for ten minutes.

Salmon and Coley Egg Bake Ingredients

1/4lb fillet of salmon
1/4lb fillet of coley
2 eggs
2 tbsp fresh breadcrumbs
2oz cheddar cheese
1/4 red bell pepper
1 tsp freshly chopped basil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Sunflower oil for frying fish
Butter for greasing baking dish


Method

The salmon and coley fillets firstly have to be cooked by frying them gently in a little sunflower oil in a non-stick frying pan. Depending on the thickness of the fillets, they should take two to four minutes each side. When the fillets are cooked, they should be removed to a plate, covered and left for around ten minutes to cool. They can then be carefully flaked by hand and this is also a good way of removing and discarding any remaining bones.


The fish flakes should be spread evenly in an ovenproof dish, 6" in diameter and 1" deep, which has been liberally greased with butter. The eggs should be broken in to a bowl, seasoned with salt and pepper and beaten to combine. The egg mix should be poured over the fish and the dish placed in to the oven, preheated to 375F/190C/Gas Mark 5, until the egg can be seen to have set. This should take fifteen to twenty minutes.


While the egg and fish is cooking, the cheese and herb crust should be prepared. The cheese should be grated/shredded and the bell pepper finely diced, before being mixed thoroughly with the breadcrumbs and basil in a bowl. When the egg and fish bake is ready, it should be removed from the oven and the topping spread evenly on top. The dish is now finished under a hot grill for three or four minutes, until the topping begins to bubble and brown.


Running a blunt knife around the edges of the coley and salmon bake should free it easily from the baking dish and allow it to be carefully lifted to a plate with a plastic spatula or fish turner. It can then be halved and served with the potatoes and sprouts.


Remember, you can find lots more recipes for salmon, coley and other sustainable fish via the links in the right hand column of this blog and do your bit to help preserve our declining fish stocks.

Worth Sunday at workshop blog with KaWanku

Hello Sunday!!!
Yeah at the moment I'm at @atamerica at Pacific Place.
Attending KaWanku magz's event, workshop blogging with Raditya Dika and Tiffany William also talking about cervical cancer with dr @adhiatama .

While I'm listening to Raditya Dika speaking about blogging, let me tell a bit about cervical cancer. I have made a documentary film about this, because of that I got a lot information about this cancer. As a woman, cervical cancer is frightening us. Well, it is dangerous but you don't have to be worry.

dr @adhiatama said there are two important points to prevent cervical cancer, which vaccine and pap smear. Have u heard bout that two? So far I knew vaccine for cervical cancer are three times. It's able for woman from 10 to 55 years old. While, pap smear is able for woman who already did sex. By that I means not virgin anymore.

Well hopefully we will not infected by cervical cancer. AMIN. And there's another things to prevent like be faithful with ur partner. To be honest, sex before 17 years old cause cervical cancer too.

You must be jealous because I'm listening tp Raditya dika presenting his ideas about blogging! Hahahaha *devil laugh* well blogging is not always be a personal diary. And for me, it's a gado-gado. Haha can be personal diary, fashion, for publish articles, and so on and so on.

Pssssst, I haven't tell you yet about @atamerica at Pacific Place... Huh. You should know, it's GREAT!!!!!!! Technologies are common here. And I'm using iPad now, hihihihihhi. If u are Indonesian please arrange your time to visit this place. First cultural center of America in Indonesia. You can find out a lot about America cultures. And you also can try iPad like I'm doin now. Hehe *blush*

Sassan I miss KaWanku so bad! *means I'm in that magazine hehe* well for school girls who needs knowledge, fashion, ways to be unbeatable fun girls, lovable girls, and positive just read KaWanku magazine!!

You just life for once, don't waste your life without experiences.

NB : Raditya dike said Indonesian ghosts are funny, not scary. Hahahaha.

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Saturday, January 29, 2011

MIXED VEGETABLE SALAD


Ingredients:
Potatoes ..... 1
Carrots....... 1
Green peas .. 1/2 cup
Beans .......... 6-8
Olives.......... 5-6
Mayonnaise .. 2 tbsps.
White pepper.. 1/2 tsp.
Salt ............... to taste
Olive oil ....... 1 tsp. ( optional)
Method:
1. Cut all the vegetables into small pieces. Boil them ( except olives)adding a little salt. Let them cool.
2. Mix the chopped olives, mayonnaise and white pepper.
3. Refrigerate at least for an hour before serving.
( You may add any vegetables of your choice)

To make the pineapple birds click HERE

Pureness and Light

Weekend Memories with cousins.



Soft baby gurgles of pure delight


Sweet Mommy kisses while holding baby tight


Busy little hands at work making creations hopeful and bright

 While creating memories filled with love, hope and light

Sweets to share and to savor 

To decorate and to favor

With imaginary friends so important in a wee one's little life

Words of wisdom to ponder...flights of fancy to imagine

Happiness in still life so pure and free


The world is theirs to wonder, treasure and mold adding their layer to that special family tree


Project 31. - Day 6.

Day 6.  Jaded Beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?

I can't say that it has "jaded" me in any way. However, it is tiresome to constantly be surrounded by images of "perfect" women. They are obviously photoshopped. As a designer I have seen many before and after pictures of celebrities, and learned that just like the rest of us, they don't have perfect noses, flat abs, and often DO have cellulite on their thighs and the dreaded pooch. I don't let myself get too envious, because I know the trick. Unfortunately many women don't and struggle to have what only exists in a perfect world. We should learn to love our flaws, they are what makes us unique. With that being said, here are a couple examples, and you'll see what I mean.






See what I mean? Now go give yourself a hug!


 Day 1.  What does beauty mean to you?
Day 2.  What makes you uniquely you?
Day 3.  Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?
Day 4.  Style 31.  Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.
Day 5.  Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come alive.
Day 6.  Jaded beauty.  Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded you?
Day 7.  Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.
Day 8.  Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)?  Share, please!
Day 9.  What virtues do you value in yourself?
Day 10.  What are you learning as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)
Day 11.  Post a recipe.  Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about it.
Day 12.  Write about what wears you out as a woman.
Day 13.  Tell us something you would like to change about yourself for the better.
Day 14.  Style 31.  Post an outfit pic!
Day 15.  Write to encourage a friend.  Inspire her beauty.
Day 16.  Write a letter to (daughter,niece,young girl). Tell her what beauty means.
Day 17.  Write about 3 things that make you happy.
Day 18.  Describe your personality.
Day 19.  Write about your favorite comfort food.
Day 20.  Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.  
Day 21.  Write a letter to your husband to encourage him.
Day 22.  Write a letter to your family as a whole.
Day 23.  What are your strengths?  What are your weaknesses?
Day 24.  What are you being taught you presently?
Day 25.  Style 31.  Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.
Day 26.  What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday?
Day 27.  Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence!
Day 28.  Write about your insecurities as a woman.
Day 29.  Write about "a day in the life of me."  (Pics are great!)
Day 30.  Who is your role model as a woman?
Day 31.  Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!