Donation...
I am seriously in need of money.
ALOT of money.
Because I want to buy the things listed below:
1) An Esprit brown sling bag ($89.90)
2) A River Island fitted jacket ($133)
3) A River Island vest ($90)
4) A black skirt from Miss Selfrige ($89)
5) A white skirt from River Island ($83)
6) A red and white half jacket from River Island ($113)
7) SingFest Day 1 ticket ($150)
8) A purple couch from Barang Barang ($700+) --> But I have nowhere to place this piece of furniture
9) A tour package to Greece ($3000+)
I thus need a grand total of $4448. Anyone wants to donate a bit?
Shit.
unclaimedpropertyofthecounts
4:24 AM
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Over-ambitious
This hols is about being inspired.
I already wrote about my interest in cooking, although unfortunately, I don't exactly have a lot of talent in cooking. After that dubious oat/soup dish I cooked, which my mom said was surprisingly DECENT, I found courage to embark on yet another cooking adventure. This time, I tried to make ROSE & VANILLA flavored mochi with ROSE & VANILLA flavored jelly in it.
Sounds exotic right?
Well, according to the recipe, the mochi has to be cooked in microwave oven for 3 minutes. I don't have a microwave oven. So after consulting KL, I decided to try her method - to throw the mochi dough I made into boiling water to cook it. You know, the idea is to cook the dough like you would cook glutinuous rice balls.
But somehow, I still cannot quite figure out why and how, the dough MELTED in the water. Defeated, I quickly threw the first batch of dough (which is melting away in the water) I made away. Then, I made another batch of dough. This time round, I devised another way to cook it.
First, I pulled out foil. Then, I lay ALOT of glutinuous powder on the foil. Next, I lay the dough on the powder (to prevent it from sticking to the foil). Then, I put ALOT of powder on the dough again, before sealing the dough in the foil. Finally, I threw the wrapped dough in the TOASTER to toast it.
I don't know how long it takes to cook mochi dough using this method, so I waited until I could smell a vague burning smell before I took the dough out. Luckily, it wasn't burnt. Only the powder that covered it was burnt.
Next, I tried to wrap the rose and vanilla flavored jelly that I made into the dough, but sadly, I failed. The jelly melted before I could seal the dough around it la. Whatever. In the end, I force my family to eat the jelly and mochi together in one bite so that the effect of a jelly-filled-mochi can be acquired. Cheapo right.
Another thing that inspired me alot was re-watching Project Runway Season 4. Omg, I actually wanted to learn how to sew after watching the show can. I even went to a few fabric stores to look at fabric that I would love to use to make dresses and skirts for myself. BUT. But I cannot sew, and I don't know of any tailors who will help me sew. And worse... the sketches that I drew are how supremely abstract I think any tailor who sees them will slap me in the face and send me out of the shop.
Okay. Maybe I need to attend some culinary and design school before I start being ambitious.
unclaimedpropertyofthecounts
6:49 AM
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Jingshi Cooks
I finally finally tuned back to local time and manage to sleep and stay awake at hours that are appropriate. Because sleep is so important to women, football can make us age. Really.
Anyway, I've been watching Discovery Travel and Living so often recently that I am inspired (finally, after 22 years) to cook, much to my mom's terror and delight. Well, terror because there's risk involved in letting me run the kitchen, and delight because I am at last willing to venture beyond "cooking" instant noodles & cracking an egg in it (see, I don't even know how to boil an egg, I can only crack an egg in soup and cook it).
So, I started googling for recipes online. And I copied down recipes when watching food programs on Discovery.
I told my mom I'll prepare a healthy breakfast (note: I didn't promise that the breakfast will taste good) for her tomorrow morning based on a recipe I found online a few days back. But, shamelessly, despite having NO experience with cooking at all, I decided to modify the recipe so that it is truely healthy. No milk, no rice, no cream, NO OIL, no meat.
HAHA.
Well aware that it is gonna taste rather horrific, I decided to try it myself this afternoon. I bet KL will faint when she sees the recipe I developed...
Ingredients:
1) 1 small/medium yellow onion, chopped (Yes, chopping onions does cause tearing. I always thought it's a myth.)
2) 2 cabbage leaves, chopped
3) 3 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
4) 1 egg
5) Unknown quantity of water
Seasoning (I proudly declare that I DID NOT use vegetable or chicken stock!!!):
A dash of salt, black pepper, garlic powder
Garnish:
Dried coriander & parsley
Directions:
Pour a little water (like 3 tbs) into saucepan and bring to boil, throw in chopped onion and cabbage. Cook forever and ever, adding a little water whenever the mixture looks too dry for your comfort.
When you get impatient because the onions and cabbage refuse to soften, and you have nothing else to do, go to the fridge and and find the salt, pepper and garlic powder. Then, shake as much of each seasoning as you like into the saucepan with the defiant onion & cabbage. Remember to stir frequently to ensure that you don't burn the veg. Keep adding water (1/4 bowl each time) if water dries up and the crackling sound of cooking veg in a dried-up pot is too intimidating. Stir stir stir.
When you get really pissed cuz the onion and cabbage just won't soften and turn transparant, lower fire to the lowest possible, put on the lid of the saucepan, and let simmer. Then, go watch TV. Return to check on the fire whenever you feel guilty for not being there to watch the fire. Stir...
When at last, you see that the onion is finally turning colorless and the cabbage totally nua-s, add the oats and stir. When the whole mixture turns thick and creamy, bring to a quick boil. Then, crack an egg into it. Stir!!!
Finally, taste the porridge to see if it's decent. Add more salt and pepper if required. Pour porridge into a bowl, then sprinkle as much or as little coriander and parsley into the porridge.
STIRRRRR... and EAT!!!
Trust me, it is a bloody healthy dish. You have complex carbs, protein, fibre and everything you need in it! I counted the calories okay, approx 245 calories, with very little fat (the only fat I guess is from the egg yolk), and it can fill you up!
Taste wise... errr................ it is NOT fantastic, but I would say it is decent. I mean, if you have super cooked cabbage, onion and garlic powder in a dish, it can't taste bad, can it? Of course, if I used oil to sautee the onion and cabbage, and perhaps, fry some minced garlic and throw them in the porridge, it will taste better, BUT then, to keep your waisteline in check, DON'T do that.
Okay, to ensure objectivity, I will listen to what my mom has to say tomorrow before I defend the first ever dish I cook even further.
Meanwhile, I am gonna try modifying more recipes to whip up a healthier but still nice & thick hot chocolate drink for my dad tomorrow.
I think my parents will disown me after tomorrow's breakfast.
unclaimedpropertyofthecounts
11:24 PM