Home Style Nissin Noodles

Fancy name for instant noodles, this. This is a quick instant noodle dish. It beats the hell out of having plain instant noodles, and it definitely rivals those available at Char Chan Tengs! This is particularly useful when cooking for one person!

Matching the flavour of the instant noodles with that of vegetables is not as easy as people think! The chemicals used in the preparation of the soup gives it an unnatural flavour which is hard to match with fresh, virgin vegetables.

Thankfully, most of these chemically induced soups have tomatoes in one form or the other, i.e. colouring, acidity or just plain flavouring. In this little dish, I am adding in tomatoes to Curry flavoured instant noodles. It works remarkably well, giving the curry flavour nice acidity. Cabbages have a neutral flavour and yet add sweetness, and works well too, but in this picture I did not add cabbages.

Recipe:
Pack of Curry flavour instant noodles (I used Maggi Curry Instant Noodles)
1 Tomato
Cabbage (If desired)
Sliced Fish Cake (another Chinese staple for noodles)
Ham
Fried Egg

Cook noodles as per instruction. Add the tomatoes in as early as possible with the noodles.Cook the egg pan fry the sliced fish cake and pan fry the ham separately. When noodles are almost done, add in the cabbage. Lastly, combine the ingredients. Pour out the noodles, arrange the fish cake, egg and ham on top, and voila! Done.

Cupcake in a Jar

I received the cutest Valentine gift from a sweet little girl in my class. It's a cupcake in a jar! How cleaver is that!!! Her mom has a cute little store front in Allen. Check it out Haute Mama Dessert Co.

Last night at dinner I had way too many calories! So therefore, this cute little treat is waiting in the freezer for another day. 

Susan Sweaters Giveaway

Winner of SusanSweaters giveaway!!

#2 Taleah I like the embroidered hankies! My email is in my profile.

Congratulations Taleah! Please contact me in the next 48 hours to claim your win! 

Thanks to everyone for entering! 

A new giveaway; I am very excited! I have a friend who owns her own Etsy shop called Susansweaters. She hand knits and crochet's all of the products on her site, from doll clothes and quilts to seasonal and home decor.

One of my lucky readers will win these cute heart shaped coasters from Susan's store. The giveaway ends on Saturday, 2/19 at 11:59pm

Main Entry:
Please visit Susan's shop Susansweaters on Etsy and leave a comment on what item you would like to get from her store. Please include a valid e-mail address. (1 comment, 1 entry)

Extra Entries:

•  Become a follower of Golden Reflections on Google Friend Connect (1 comment, 1 entry) 
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The giveaway ends on Saturday, 2/19 at 11:59pm. One winner will be chosen via random.org. All winner entries will be validated before the winner is notified via e-mail and on this post.

Good luck and spread the word around about this wonderful giveaway!

Whole Mackerel on Balsamic and Thyme-Roasted Beetroot, with Sauteed Beet Leaves

Here's my last beetroot recipe for the Valentine's day line-up, this time a main course, not just a starter or side. This is a true celebration of the whole beet! Did you know it's not only the beetroot you can eat? You can eat the beet leaves too, it's actually related to the chard, which I love. Also, I want to take this opportunity to show you how you can work with more than just salmon fillets, but the whole fish. Mackerel is a wonderful oily fish that's rich in the same omega 3 fatty acids as salmon, and tastes amazing, but for a fraction of the price of salmon.

Whole Mackerel on Balsamic and Thyme Roasted Beetroot

serves 2

Ingredients

2 small/medium-sized mackerels, gutted but leave the heads and tails intact. (Nothing's wrong with your eyes, I only used 1 mackerel, because it was just for me)

2 small beetroots, peeled and chopped into large chunks (actually on second thought, if you slice it into nice circles, you can do a more classy presentation!)

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

4-5 sprigs of fresh thyme

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

sea salt, black pepper

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees celsius.

2. Toss the chopped beetroot with the balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp of evoo and 1 tbsp of thyme leaves. Roast for 20-25 minutes, till beetroot caramelises on the surface, but the inside is not totally soft.

3. Season the mackerels well with sea salt and pepper (esp the cavity), and tuck 1 sprig of thyme into the cavity of each mackerel.

4. Place the mackerel on top of the beetroot, and return to the oven for another 20 minutes, till the flesh is opaque, and the skin gets crispy. (You can turn the heat up, and change to "broil" for the last 5 min to get that charred effect if you want!)

5. Pour a tiny bit hot water just to deglaze the roasting dish and get the caramalised balsamic-beetroot juices off.

Simple Beet Leaves Saute

This is done in the same way as my Two-Kale Stir-fry, which is the no-fuss method I use on most greens when I just want a simple side.

Ingredients

Bunch of beet leaves from the 2 beets

2 cloves garlic

1/2 small onion

2 tsp of extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp butter

a little balsamic vinegar (instead of lemon, so the whole dish is more harmonious)

sea salt, pepper (to taste)

Method

1. Remove the stalks from the beet leaves. These are harder and take longer to cook.

2. Melt butter with the 11/2 tsp of evoo over medium-high heat, in a large frying pan.

3. Fry the garlic and onion till golden/translucent, not browned.

4. Add the beet stalks first, turn up the heat, then add a splash of water (which quickly turns to steam) and the salt and pepper. 2-3 min later, add the beet leaves.

5. After the beet leaves have wilted and all the liquid is absorbed, remove from heat, add the extra tsp of evoo, and balsamic vinegar. Mix well and serve!

Serve the sauteed beet leaves with the roast mackerel and beetroot, drizzling the beet/balsamic roasting juices over, and sprinkling a few fresh thyme (leaves only) over. A fish cooked whole has has a more moist, flaky flesh, and it looks so impressive on the plate, don't you think? Or maybe it's just me. If you're worried about the head scaring your date off, you could always behead the fish I guess.

This entry is part of Tuesday Twister and Real Food Wednesday.

Menu Plan Monday

Wow, I have really been slacking. I blame it on being sick for the last couple of weeks. First it was strep throat, then I had a sinus infection this past weekend. Talk about being miserable and not feeling like cooking or cleaning for that matter. But I have finally made it back onto the menu planning band wagon! I'm sure my husband will be quite thankful! lol Hopefully I can feel inspired again!


Monday - Black Bean Chili (my own creation)
Tuesday - Fettuccine Alfredo (homemade sauce)
Wednesday -BBQ Chickettes (vegetarian meat) and mash potatoes
Thursday - Faux Chicken Noodle Soup
Friday - Supper at in-laws
Sabbath - Haystacks (Adventist staple of make your own taco salad)
Sunday - Leftover buffet

Other cooking: Museli (Sabbath breakfast), peanut butter carob pie (new recipe) 

Have a great menu planning week!

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On Temptation

Lately, I've been tempted to get some aquariums and try my hand at raising Neon Tetras. I know I'd regret it later because of all the maintenance the tanks would require, but ooh, is it tempting!

I love these little guys.
I tried breeding Glowlight Tetras before and got them to spawn, but didn't get a big enough batch of fry to make the thing worthwhile. It's not keeping them alive that's the big deal, it's the effort required to get the water chemistry and the food just right to bring them to spawn. San Diego tap water is just about the polar opposite of the water in the Neons' natural habitat.

A Little More On Consciousness

I did a littlle bit more digging and came up with this nice summary of "The Grand Design". Hawking and his co-author Leonard Mlodinow don't claim to know everything, they just claim to do away with the need for God. They weasel word their answers in order to strike at theology without making their readers soil their pantaloons with existential dread.

On September 9, 2010, Larry King interviewed Stephen Hawking and Cal Tech physicist Leonard Mlodinow, who together co-authored The Grand Design. In this book, they propose that “God may exist, but science can explain the universe without a need for a creator.” They go on to say that “The scientific account is complete. Theology is unnecessary.”

Apparently, there are criticisms of the construct they use to create something from nothing (Genesis without God, but with Hawking and Mlodinow), but I'll leave those be for now. Here's an interesting quote.

From out of left field, King asked Mlodinow what happens to us when we die. After recovering from being stunned at the question, he deflected it a bit, but it led to a very interesting response about consciousness and the limits of science to quantify it. He said, “there’s no physics explanation for consciousness. And as far as I can tell, I’ve never seen consciousness defined in a way that a scientist can really deal with.”

So why write books publicized as doing away with theology when you know it does away with consciousness as well? The only answer I can come up with is that it sells. It would hardly do to tell you're readers they don't exist. Apparently, that concept is even too scary for some scientists.

As (Dr. Robert Lawrence) Kuhn says in the episode (of Closer to the Truth), What Things are Conscious?, "when all the great answers of physics have been found, we will not have begun to unravel the mysteries of consciousness."

Why? If you've got physics done and all wrapped up, you've got everything explained, right? After all, we're just aggregate blobs of components described by physics. This is just wishful thinking and an appeal to magic to console yourself that you really exist. Applying logic and experimental method to one existential issue, but deliberately avoiding applying it to another while wrapping yourself in the mantle of SCIENCE! is pathetic.

This is real, too, because I want it to be and I'm a scientist.

Down for success

Have u felt like stupidest ever? I have! Well, that is what I feel today. It is really really bring me down. Even at the same time I slapped to be better very soon! What is it about? Well the only thing that could makes me like a yoyo is IELTS test. Ironic! *yes it is*

Several times I asked to my monsy, he said I'm not stupid, but I feel stupid. Why? It is easy! I just can't answer correctly for many practices that I did today as much as before when I took ielts course. Means my score was decrease. Pretty bad, I know...

Because of that, I promise to my self that it will never ever happen again, no reason exception. In addition, my test is getting close, on this Saturday. Fiuh!

However, I do not mean this post as a trashbin of my feelings. I just want to share, my own experience that guided my self to a deep fallen because of my unawareness. For you, all of you, who will face an exam even national exam, ielts, toefl, university test, or many other types of test, just remember : when you planning to be success, do not ever let your self flow the laziness or giving yourslef less-discipliness in anyway. Just do not!

It only four days to go, and I realised I become more not ready. The only way to make up this hot mess only super duper discipline practices! Another tips or advice or whatever u call it; do not let your self stuck on sadness, frustrated, downess, that is harmful!

What I really believe is when we have failed for once, second, third, and so on does not mean we are loser. We are failed for success. On the other hand, when more than three times you have failed, you need to take a time, think carefully, there is something totally wrong on you that is necessary to be changed. The key is never give up!

I love people who wants to fight for his/her dreams does not matter how impossible it looks like. In fact that my Almighty God proved has no limits. People who says impossible only people who scared of miracles and enchanting possible, for me.

Life is about choices. You choose for your own self. Freedom to choose is the greatest thing that given by God for us. Did not mean to be so-fuckin-religius just tell what I thoughts.

Over all, life is ups and downs. You choose your future. When your down, don't forget to wake up quickly, because time will never wait.

Monday's tips : 1. Try to love Monday, then your Monday become lovely.
2. A simple smile able to makes a significant changed.

Groetjes,
Ketty Tressianah

Sent from my BlackBerry®

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The "Urban Market" in Houston

Intricately beaded satin heart cushions

The "Urban Market" event in Houston this past weekend was a terrific browsing opportunity with wonderful antique items.   

The weather was splendid.  

It is still amazing me that I can be out and about 

with cool breezy temperatures in the month of February.  

This event happens only a few times a year 

and even though I had to spend the better part of the weekend in Austin with my daughter, I didn't want to miss out. 

 I wanted to snap more photos of the people there but my camera battery ran out

.

 Events like this really bring out the 'fashionistas' and it was fun to see some Houston style. 

 It was definitely all about the BOOTS.  

It seemed everyone was wearing brown knee-high boots.  

I hope everyone is having a wonderful Valentine's day with their sweethearts.  

I didn't get a photo but I found a wonderful bronze hammered pendant for my daughter as a little Valentine token. 

 She is under so much pressure as she  continues her studies

 in preparation for college exams. 

 Its been a super tough academic load for her this year.

Sweet and old-fashioned Valentine's Day cards

I just loved these ruby red slippers!  

The right person with the right outfit could really pull these off.  However, the right person with the right out-fit is definitely not ME!

I know, these don't have anything to do with Valentine's Day

BUT

I did think these boots were very VERY

Sweet!

Ti Voglio Bene - Strawberry Panacotta

They say when it comes to love, there's no distance nor language is a daunting barrier. But people have to work extra harder to make that phrase possible. Some people want to be with the person they love or like on Valentine's Day but their enemies (which are time and money) always defeat them. It's hard to battle when these two things are your opponents especially when the person you long to see is on the other side of the planet. On the other hand, some people want to express how they extremely feel about the person they love or like but words are inadequate to elaborate their emotions when they struggle and juggle for the right words just to say it. It’s hard again to battle with language barrier but at the end of the day once the essence is captured in the broken English---it will be good enough to melt your heart.

Through the years Valentine’s Day for me is slowly becoming an obsolete thing. I am often affected by the behavior of society. I’ve seen a lot of married couples that both practice infidelity. I do understand that the human needs are endless. Human beings never stop wanting to be taken cared of, to be appreciated, to experience new things or new person and the list goes on. So sometimes I don’t see the point of marriage. But at the end of my own tunnel the famous movie characters like Jonathan Trager, Declan and fictional person John Green with his famous quote, I think still do exist. It’s hard to find them nowadays but you just have to keep looking. Whether I meet someone like them along my journey or not, things will be fine. I may get disillusioned about the concept of marriage but never on falling in love.

Here’s a heart-warming recipe I derived from a famous Italian dessert Panacotta. My version of cooking cream and jelly together. Something I did for Valentine’s Day even though I was in the verge of sleeping last night.

DRUNKEN STRAWBERRY PANACOTTA

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups heavy whipping cream

• 3 tbsp. Vanilla Syrup

• 2 Ounces granulated sugar

• 1 Envelope Knox or other brand unflavored gelatin

• ¼ Cup cold water

• Bunch of Strawerries

• Shiraz Wine

• Brown Sugar

• Butter (of course)

Procedure:

Dissolve gelatin in water. Pour the whipping cream into a saucepan. Take 1 vanilla bean, cut it open, and scrape it out into the saucepan. Then add the whole bean. Add sugar and mix. Heat the mixture over moderate heat (do not oil) and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove pan from the heat and remove vanilla bean with tongs and discard. Stir the mixture consistently while gradually dissolving the gelatin/water into the hot whipping cream. Pour the mixture into pudding cups that have been rinsed out with cold water to chill. Put cups in the fridge for 3 - 4 hours until set. Ready your pan with butter and sauté strawberries. Set aside then melt sugar with red wine. Allow it to simmer until it thickens. Add the sautéed strawberries. When ready to serve, turn the panacotta upside down onto serving plates and place topping over each one.

Buon San Valentino!

big hug,

joanie xxx