♥12: Food and Books 











"One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."- Luciano Pavarotti

I've completed reading almost all of Jimmy Liao books. Starry starry night- that's his first book I chanced upon a few years ago. Jimmy is one of Taiwan's very popular illustrator and writer. Very reluctant to start reading his books because I know how realistic and melancholy the stories can go but I would like to look at how he illustrated those gorgeous drawings; quirky imaginative creatures. His books is filled with lively colours but the texts are haunting and a tad bit too sad. How ironic. And so I thought, they're good books and poetic most of the time, however the content is definitely inappropriate for young children. Still, I am mesmerized and admiring his every single drawings; the way he illustrated those perspective and captured the mood/ world he wish to picture.

Lately, I've moved on to continue this psychology book from Dr. Cialdini. Very well researched case studies on the human psyche; giving a good insight to the reasons why/ how people are persuaded to act. More of the social psychology behind compliance strategies are very well articulated. Now, he answered my question to why people comply with requests that sometimes make no sense. Most of the content in the book was familiar but he further examine the concepts deeper in the context of compliance and influence. In case you're wondering, no no, not the kind of book that taught you how to decipher the human mind. Haha!

Recently, I had this conversation with a group of psychology/ communication students, yes, we tend to have the misconception that psychologists are capable of reading minds. In actual fact, they're experts at understanding the human behaviour but is in no way means that they are able to read your mind (given the complexity of it).

Happy Easter day!

 

♥11: It's something "Fishy" 


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Ingredients♥ Salmon fillet- season with salt/ black pepper/ one or 2 herbs/ alittle lemon 
juice/ grilled with butter or olive oil
Mashed Potatoes- Russet potatoes/ milk/ butter/ salt/ pepper 
Broccoli/ Carrots- Boiled with alittle salt 

Happy New Year!

Its a little late contemplating my resolution for the year but I ought to jot it down somewhere, not over here though. By that, its not going to be massive but keeping it simple. More outta life. :D One thing for sure, there will be a trip sometime in October, not sure of the destination but gonna start planning. I can't wait, wherever that may be!

I always want to make a salmon dish, so there you go! Ta-dah~ Presenting the first grilled fishy-dishy of the year. I realized Salmon cant go wrong with herbs, so just season with one or two herbs (+ black pepper and salt) in the pantry and you get to taste the wholesome sweetness of the fish. A simple, healthy and quickie recipie. 

YUM! This is really good! (:

♥10: Cat's Tongue Cookies


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Ingredients♥ Butter/ Icing sugar/ Egg white/ Vanilla essence/ Cake flour

♥09: Meringue Cookies


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Ingredients♥ Egg White/ Caster sugar/ Icing sugar/ Strawberry essence/ Lemon juice

With December 25th drawing near. Happy Holiday!

When I was much much younger, I used to request for a Christmas stocking so Santa could stuff me a gift at the turn of the holiday. So it was a real disappointment to learn that there was no Santa Claus. Those were moments as a kid.  

If you know me, I've always love Christmas :D..it gets so warm and fuzzy despite the weather getting cooler (even in Singapore). It marks the birth of Christ, the day when God had a son, and when everyone celebrates good spirit. Christmas just isn't Christmas unless you spend it with the love ones/ people who are close to the heart- family and friends included, a time of sharing and giving, listening to the Christmas carols, glittering lights of Christmas trees and have some logcake and turkey. It seems like every year is the same ritual. Its so true when they said that the only constant is change but funny how traditions are, they make you feel like at least something in the world doesn't change! (:

To you who are reading, a Berry Merry Christmas in advance!(:  May you have a truly blessed holiday. Sending out lots of love, hugs and cheer over this wonderful season. 

♥08: Osmanthus Flowers Jelly



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Ingredients♥ Konnyaku jelly powder/dried osmanthus flowers/Nata de coco  
(didn't get wolfberries in time; otherwise 2 tsp wolfberries soaked in water until puffy; drained)

Made this specially for Stephanie. She has been craving for this dessert for the longest time. *guilty* Nevertheless, so glad I made this just in time, before she went for her maternity leaves. Safe delivery Steph and looking forward to a healthy baby!(:

Side track a bit. Recently, a friend gave me a pot of Mozzie Buster. There's a piece of cultivation instruction/paper in the pot and it goes like this:-
-All the seeds provided by us are directly from their original places. They are precious.
-And all things with life are precious
-A sprouting plant is as delicate as a new born baby. If you decide to cultivate the plant, please take good care of it with your love

Oh woah. Well-said.This somehow reminded me of a note from J. Krishnamurti.
( J. Krishnamurti is regarded globally as one of the greatest thinkers and religious teachers of all time. He did not expound any philosophy or religion, but rather talked of the things that concern all of us in our everyday lives, of the problems of living in modern society with its violence and corruption. He explained with great precision the subtle workings of the human mind... )

" We never seem to have a feeling for all living things on the earth

It is odd that we have so little relationship with nature, with the insects and the leaping frog and the owl that hoots among the hills calling for its mate. We never seem to have a feeling for all living things on the earth. If we could establish a deep abiding relationship with nature we would never kill an animal for our appetite, we would never harm, vivisect, a monkey, a dog, a guinea pig for our benefit. We would find other ways to heal our wounds, heal our bodies. But the healing of the mind is something totally different. That healing gradually takes place if you are with nature, with that orange on the tree, and the blade of grass that pushes through the cement, and the hills covered, hidden, by the clouds. This is not sentiment or romantic imagination but a reality of a relationship with everything that lives and moves on the earth. Man has killed millions of whales and is still killing them. All that we derive from their slaughter can be had through other means. But apparently man loves to kill things, the fleeting deer, the marvelous gazelle and the great elephant. We love to kill each other. This killing of other human beings has never stopped throughout the history of man's life on this earth. If we could, and we must, establish a deep long abiding relationship with nature, with the actual trees, the bushes, the flowers, the grass and the fast moving clouds, then we would never slaughter another human being for any reason whatsoever.Organized murder is war, and though we demonstrate against a particular war, the nuclear, or any other kind of war, we have never demonstrated against war. We have never said that to kill another human being is the greatest sin on earth.

Krishnamurti on 25th February, 1983 "
(Good read :)

Alrighty, back to my Mozzie mozzie. Have googled further on how to take care of it. I need green fingers. Hopefully, it does blooms into flowers. :D

Jal-ja. 

♥07: Gâteau au chocolat (ガトーショコラ)


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Ingredients♥ All-purpose flour/ unsalted butter/ unsweetened cocoa powder/ dark chocolate chips/ cold eggs/ granulated sugar/ whipping cream/ raspberries/ icing sugar

Ta-dah! Presenting Chocolate Gateau (Japanese keiki), also known as gâteau au chocolat (ガトーショコラ).
For those who like really dark, rich and dense texture, you would probably find this melt-in-your mouth chocolate cake divine.
A little disappointment as it was not the texture I was looking for as I adore cake with texture that are light, soft and moist. So I guess it really boils down to personal preference. Nevertheless, It was fun baking with YongLing-san!(:

By the way, Christmas is around the corner and among the close friends there will be gift exchange. So a friend asked me for my ideal gift. Couldn't give an answer at that juncture.
After some thought;- I hope for the restoration of lives to the victims of the recent disaster in Philippines. So I feel a meaningful gift to me this year is a donation (any amount) to Singapore Red Cross- Haiyan Relief 2013.
   

God bless.

♥06: Shepherd Pie/ All Day Breakfast


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Ingredients♥ wild mushrooms is love/ potatoes/ carrots/ broccoli/ hot dog/ egg/ tomatoes/ cucumbers/ salt, black pepper and butter to taste


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Ingredients♥ Potatoes/ butter/ salt/ ground black pepper/ cooking oil/ ground pork and chicken/ carrots in cubes/ mushrooms in slices/ chopped onion/ corn flour mixed with water


With the popularity of smartphones and digital cameras, everyone can easily be a photographer. It's like a whole new culture ingrained- to capture that moment and sharing them across all platforms (Instagram for eg.) with friends/followers alike.

I always find food difficult to photograph. Fail to use the right angle, composition and natural  light, the dish you're trying to snap might prolly lose its flavour; looking less appetizing. 

And so I feel Food Photography is an art form of its own and the little things in the picture can make a great difference. :D

Happy Sunday! ((:

♥05: Roasted Chicken and Vegetables




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Ingredients♥ chicken/ russet potatoes/ carrots/ zucchini/ cauliflower/ corn/ mushroom/ thyme/ rosemary/ bay leaf/ garlic cloves peeled/ olive oil/ butter/ lemon/ salt/ back pepper to taste

So Summer has arrived and for the students, classes will commence next week. To sum it up, have been really busy busy happy happy. Before i realized, we're already 3rd week into May. Amidst all the busyness, and as much as i like my current team, i do miss my ex-colleagues occasionally. Well, a lot actually. 

Can't wait for Fall to come when things will slow down a little. By then, there will be a lot of catching-up to do. :D

♥04: Banana Blueberry Pancakes


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Pancake Ingredients♥ eggs/ flour/ baking powder/ milk/ butter/ cinnamon/ salt/ banana
Blueberry Jam Ingredients♥ blueberries/ sugar/ lemon/ salt
Caramel Sauce Ingredients♥ butter/ sugar (melted)

Too much cinnamon powder and the pancakes look brown. ): 
These go well with a cup of tea/coffee, i had mine with fruity berries black tea.

I used to find fruit-flavored tea not my cup of tea, i find it too sour; cant imagine people 
drinking tea with no sugar added. But now,i don't put sugar in my tea anymore. So recently, I received another tin of very nice TWG tea from my colleagues. I like how the sweet aftertaste of (fruit) berries that lingers at the back of the mouth for a long time. 
Relaxing mild cuppa berries with a touch of vanilla- taste bud delight!

If only Life is all about watching the clouds float by/ blowing bubbles/ sitting by the beach 
listening to the orchestra of the crashing waves playing a soulful tune / baking/ experimenting with new recipes /reading/ yoga/ photography/ lazy afternoons spend at homey cafes exuding lackadaisicalness with a aroma coffee/tea. 
(See! There's so much to do and i've no time for work! :b Just kidding... )

Speaking of cafes, i'll be exploring Carpenter & Cook coming Thursday- think its going to be an english-themed vintage atmosphere. Guess people don't usually visit cafes solely for the food but more for the beverages and the atmosphere. 

Will be back to work on Monday, hope thing goes well, wish me gd Luck/ best of luck/all the very best ok? :D



Have a good mid-week ♥ (:

Wong Fu Productions . . . 


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"The sound of the ocean captured in a shell, like a memory. Imagine if it held something different, something more than just the sound but just as real. What if we had a chance to remember things that we never actually experienced?
What good is it if it didn’t happen? No one would believe it.
Well, you’d believe it. It’s about the feeling, that’s what matters..." -Wesley Chan
Oh Woah! . . .

Wesley chan can writes real poetic lines and tell really deep story! His no/low budget projects definitely beats most of the high-end films in the theatre thus far.
I like "Shell" and "When Five Fell" the most. Gosh! It's mind-boggling.
How do i put it? It's like how i always feel that one of Man's greatest invention is the camera. It's ability to capture that special moment in time; okay, i mean like literally freeze it.*in a snap!* 
And here, Wes can capture the pure essence of thought; the way he depicted them creatively in his short clips (in "When Five Fell", he portrayed senses based on objects and uniquely Wes's way of course! :).

I am sure the little thing that flows beyond the thoughts of many or those subtle moments that people don't pay attention to or simply can't be bothered with, he paints it very well. I wonder if he zones out alot/wandering in his own imaginary world or simply contemplating most of the time?

Anyway, absolutely great cinematography and incredibly narration in both creative and artistic way! Nice lighting too! Keep going, Wesley Chan!

Please check out " Wong Fu Production" if you haven't. :D
Ps: Find his work/short clips (around 10mins each) on YouTube or http://wongfuproductions.com
Look out for those scripts written/directed by Wesley Chan, alright? (:
Do read his director's note and commentary notes too.

Okay okay! I am switching off *Fan-girl mode*. 
Goodnight! :D 

Mah-sit-sso-yo .. .

o맛있어요! (: 
Cooking is fun & its an art too! Make a grocery list, shop and anticipate to make your own dish! It's really practical experiments/ trial and error; you will only get better. I've been wanting to get an oven for the longest time.. . 


Oh! On a more serious note, recently, CAD are investigating financial transactions of our mega-church in Singapore and just a few years back,we've the NKF/ Ren Ci's saga. 
Sigh! When greed crawls in, and temptation is too hard to resist, man errs.
Investigation is on-going. Although i am in no position to give criticisms, I feel strongly that there shouldn't be any pressure when it comes to donation. It can be as little as a dollar or a thousand if you can spare. Of course, you contribute out of free will and your ability to do so. No doubts, all these tithes/money should righteously goes to the poor as intended and nothing else. Period.


Whether the existence of God or not, I believe nothing escapes the law of cause and effect; "whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap."

Still, we shouldn't pre-jugde but give him the benefits of doubt, till the truth comes to light. 

2,3,4,... i am counting down to Fly-day! :D

Ok. Jal-ja.. (:

Giselle

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Last night, together with Ms Sirie, we witnessed a beloved piece of the Paris Opera Ballet. A 19th century classical dance performing Giselle.

It's a sad tale about this young girl (Giselle) who fell in love with a prince (Albrecht) and eventually dies of heartbroken after being jitled, betrayed and abandoned. She loses all reason and dies in a fit of madness. Later, return as an other-worldly spirit.

You should see how expressive they were with their feet as they danced across the room. Love how Giselle captured the "mad scene" immensely, just right after the prince true identity was revealed.That was definitely great acting married to amazing technique.

However the part that moved me alot is the second act; taking place in a forest graveyard. The wilis, souls of young girls who have died of a broken heart abandoned by an unfaithful lover, relentlessly track any masculine presence. These men will be driven by the wilis to a dance of death and the same fate will befall Albrecht. Despite everything, Giselle implores Myrtha for mercy. However the wilis were unmoved. Even though he is condemned to dance till death, Albrecht is sustained by Giselle's love; tear-provoking.

All in all, the ballerinas possess great drama skills and profound grace. Love how the back drop, props and atmospheric lighting set in perfectly with everything on stage (ballerinas accompanied with live orchestral music..) Just picturing walking into an illustrated book with characters dance to life. Totally in awe with the very impressive choreography as well.

Love classical dance.
To all passionate ballerinas, big applause and salute.

Hello 2012.
Some things i realized in 2011.

1) I've learnt not to over think things but follow your heart, go with the flow and just do it. I like it alot when forrest gump said, "Life is a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get. " Even chocolates have different flavors right? (:

2) I like to preplan ahead of time but many a time planning doesn't mean you don't fail. So now, even if life doesn't work out the way i expect, i'll embrace the change and believe that it will eventually lead to a better plan.

3) If capturing intangible moments taught me anything this year, Henri Cartier-Bresson said it best." You just have to live and life will give you pictures."

I cannot be thankful enough to be surrounded by many warm & inspiring friends. Your support and constant encouraging words have been invaluable to me.
2011 was full of surprises (good & bad) and i can't wait for what is in store for 2012!

Happy 2012 to you who're still reading.(:
Thank you for letting me share alittle bit of my world with you.

People come & go....

oPeople come and go, how i wish it wasn't so.
I am bad with goodbye. I hate bidding farewell. Its really upsetting but that's life. I've a friend that left us not too long ago. A friend whom is always there in times of good and bad. Greatly missed.)):

It takes me awhile to accept the truth and move on. Then again, I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason. So some are here for a season. Once they imparted all you need to know they're gone forever. That said,i am sure many will still stay for a lifetime.
Still, I savour life’s simple joys despite everything.

A friend wrote this on FB recently and i cant agree more. So i thought i should share it here.

"Friends whom you can talk about life with, not superficial stuffs. Don't need many, few will suffice." How true.
So yes, whether you like it or not; accept it or not.
People come and go. . .

On a lighter note, Christmas is around the corner.
Merry christmas to one and all.(:

Ohm...

Breathe (:..... Yess! We ohmmmm before we start our yoga's class.The teacher focus a lot on deep breathing! Yong ling created the character on the right and i did mine on the left!:D.... All in all, happy yoga-ing!(:

♥02: Chicken wrap

Ingredients♥ stir fried chicken breast with herbs, lettuce,cucumber, cherry tomato, egg, potato wrap, dried berry/raisin. Sobz!I bought a packet of cheese but i forgot to add it to my wrap ( blur :x ). It definitely taste better with cheese.(:

♥01: Noodles


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Ingredients♥ noddle,egg,meat,prawn,veggie,mushroom.

Santa Bunny (:

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Merry belated Christmas, a greeting from Santa Bunny from above !(:.....

I simply love christmas because its the season of giving!
Hooray!...Finally done making these bunnies,9 of them altogether and they come with a hp's strap.As much as i would like to continute making,I stopped at no.9 because i am running out of time and energy.Haha!So i've 9 very lucky friends indeed.:D...

Ok, joking aside.It seems like in a few more days,2010 is drawing to a close.Many thanks to all my friends who played a part in my life,enriching it in their own little ways.I guess life is never smooth sailing,more like going through a roller coaster filled with ups and downs,tears and sweat.So,i really appreciate those who are on the ride with me.(:I am counting my blessings and looking forward to a better year!

Anyway,I hope your christmas was nice.
Be blessed. (:(:(:

Long-Doll Bag


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*Blowing cobwebs away*....

"Long-doll bags" are finally completed.=)They were birthday gifts for 3 good friends!When they were finally done, i have to admit i was really sad to see them go.T T....I made 3 of them,but the first Panda was given away before i remember to take a peekture of him.

All in all, I've fun crafting!=) and i will be back with more craft work to share i hope.
Till the next one..=)

Mi Xiu! Mi Xiu!...

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I m currently watching Autumn's Concerto..hehe!
Cant help but to stop at episode 16 because i couldn't resist not drawing Xiao Xiao Bin (小小彬),who plays Xiao Le.

OMG!The little boy is absolutely adorable.=)He made his first appearance at episode 7!..And he has this cassette radio which he used as a transmitter to reach out to his (Alien Daddy)..So cute but heart-wrenching at the same time.

Big hugz to Xiao Le..
米修! ..米修!....

The Little Mermaid


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Happy 2010!=)

I know i am very late,but Shiloh Pepin,...this is for you!
She was born with a rear syndrome known as "Sirenomelia or Mermaid
Syndrome".

I've saw her on a documentary many months ago and was in awe of her
spirit. A colleague told me of her passing sometimes ago and i was really saddened by the news! =(
Gone too soon.

Shiloh's legs can be seperated but she refused to get operated.She feels that her legs made her unique and different from other children.
Indeed,she is special! =)

So , Little Mermaid may you rest in peace ...far away from all the pain and sufferings.=)