Monday 23 November 2009

How To Cut Open A Pomegranate

Have been addicted to the special sweetness of pomegranate. Had bought my second pomegranate in my life, LOL. Was introduced by Justin and See Yee.

The first pomegranate in my life was tidiously delicious. I basically peeled the seeds one by one. My hands were tired, well, more of my fingers. My tongue was also tired. Well, the seeds are small, and I don't like to swallow the seeds. But I like the fruit. And gosh! I never know that pomegranate can stain so much. Fortunately I was wearing my cooking attire with the apron on.

So, I found on YouTube this simple clip...Still tidious, but better than me peeling out the seed one by one. So, do enjoy! And don't forget to read THIS for its nutritious facts.

Sunday 22 November 2009

Quotes From "Bobby"

Watched the movie "Bobby" some time ago. Have been attracted to some of the scripts. Let's learn from it ;)

First :
Conversation between an old married couple
Samantha (Wife) : I bought this dress to go with the black shoes I forgot to pack. I did pack 6 other pairs, none of them black and I have 2 pairs of tennis shoes, just in case you are up to a little game later. See, women have to pack for every occasion making it virtually impossible to travel light. Like tonight is a formal event, so I brought formal wears. But, God has a sense of humour. I bring back up. However, I am doubly screwed. Two dresses, both black and no black shoes. I know, you are probably thinking, “Who the hell cares what colour of shoes she is wearing.” Believe me, Jack, women notice.

Jack (Husband) : So, basically you are saying you need to go shopping, for shoes. Black shoes.

Second :
Jack told Samantha
You are more than the shoes on your feet, or the designer’s dress on your back. You are more than the purse that you carry or the money inside. You and I are more than the stuffs, the things in our lives. Somewhere, in between our things, our stuffs, is us.

Third :
John F. Kennedy's speech (partially quoted)

It’s not a day of politics. I’ve saved this one opportunity, an only event of today to speak briefly to you about the mindless manners of violence in America. But again stains our land and every one of our lives. It’s not the concern of any one race. Victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are most important of all, human beings, whom other human beings, loved and needed.

No one, no matter where he lives or what he does, can be certain who next will suffer, from some senseless act of bloodshed, and yet, it goes on, and on, and on, in this country of ours. Why? What has violence ever accomplished? What has it ever created? Whenever any American’s life is taken by another American unnecessarily, whether it is done in the name of the law or in device of the law, by one man or by a gang, in cold blood or in passion, in an attack of violence or in response to violence, whenever we care of the fabrics of our lives, which another man has painfully and clumsily woven from self and his children, whenever we do this, the whole nation is degraded. Yet we seemingly tolerate a rising level of violence and ignore our common humanity and our claims to civilization alike.

Too often, we are on a swagger and bluster and the wilder of force. Too often, we excuse those who are willing to build their lives on shattered dreams of other human beings. But this much is clear. Violence breeds violence, repression breeds retaliation and only in cleansing of our whole society, can we move this sickness from our souls. But when you teach a man to hate and to fear his brother, when you teach he is a latter man because of his colour, or his beliefs or the policy that he pursues, when you teach those who differed from you, threaten your freedom or your job or your home or your family and you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens, but as enemies, to be met not with cooperation, but with conquest to be subjugated and to be mastered. We learn at the last to look at our brothers as aliens, alien men with whom we share a city, but not a community.

Men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in a common effort. He learn to share only a common fear, only a common desire to retreat from each other, only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. Our lives on this planet are too short, the work to be done is too great, to let this spirit to flourish, any longer, in this land of ours.

Of course, we cannot banish with a programme, nor with a resolution. But, we can perhaps remember, if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life, that they seek as do we, nothing, but the chance to live up their lives, in purpose and in happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment that they can.

Surely this bond of common faith, surely this bond of common goals, can begin to teach us something. Surely we can learn at the least to look around at those of us of our fellow country men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our hearts brothers and countrymen once again.

Tuesday 10 November 2009

Boston Cheesecake

Hmm, cheesecakes...I have never dislike them before. Never(At least till now)! I don't really like cakes with mousse. But definitely, I couldn't resist the temptations of cheesecakes. So off I went, getting my ingredients for my Boston Cheesecake. The process of preparing wasn't long, about 30-40minutes. But the baking part was the one testing the baker's patience.

*Biscuit base for the cake
*Egg whites and sugar...
According to the recipe I got was just merely 1.5hours. I spent the whole 2.5hours thinking that it was done. Yet, it wasn' what I expected it to be. My friends told me they used 4 hours baking, the fastest 3.5 hours. If only I knew it earlier, I would have waited. Thinking that an extra 1hour has passed (by my recipe was 1.5 hours), fearing that the cake will be too dry...ARGH!!!

*Before baking...
Nevertheless, the taste after chilling, wasn't as bad as I have expected. At least it wasn't as eggy as it smelled when it was tasted after 1 hour cooling (after being removed from the oven).

*After chilling for 24 hours...
Anyway, I will try again this weekend for the dinner party. This cheesecake wasn't supposed to look like this... But will see in my Boston Cheesecake II whether it will result in the same texture...

Sunday 8 November 2009

Sesame Chicken Wings With Balsamic Reduction

Simply created this dish, I like it, hope you do too :)


(A)

-Pepper
-Chinese five spice powder
-Worcestershire Sauce
-Sesame Oil
-Wine (I used white wine)

First and foremost, marinade the chicken wings (Preferably overnight). So, I basically marinade them with (A)

(B)
-Finely chopped onion
-Finely chopped garlics
-Finely chopped ginger

Sauté (B) and add the marinated chicken wings. After that, add 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. After about a minute, add a little water and continue to let it boil.

Add some sugar. I used about one teaspoon of sugar for one chicken wing (Don't ask me the logic, I just do it that way) And add a little salt and dark soy sauce.

Continue to simmer till the chicken is darkened with the sauce. Don't forget to add a little water if it dries up. But I don't like it watery (why called it reduced if watery?), so until the sauce is thick and look gravy enough, plate them and sprinkle with some sesame seeds.

Enjoy your Sesame Chicken Wings with Balsamic Reduction.

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Ikan Asam Pedas"Ukrainization"

02.11.2009 is the very first day of the 3 weeks quarantine. So on the first day of quarantine, this is what I prepared. Yes indeed, it is Ikan Asam Pedas, for myself, hehehe. Can't provide with exact quantity of the ingredient. So just estimate yourself, if you ever try on my not so precise, not so profesional recipe. Wahahahahaha!

Ingredients :
Fish of your choice (I like to fry it before hand)
Tomato 1 biji (cut into 8)
Sambal
Onion 1 biji
Garlic 3 cloves
Ginger few slice
Buah Asam
Air asam
Water
Lemon (Coz I like it sour sour)

Method :
1. Finely chop the garlic and cut the Onion in rings, Slice the ginger.
2. Fry your fish and lay aside.
3. Add oil in pan and heat it.
4. Add garlic, onion, ginger and stir fry.
5. Add tomato.
6. Pour the pre-prepared sambal and continue stir fry.
7. Pour the air asam followed by H2O.
8. Add the fish and let it boil for a while.
9. Flavour with sugar and salt, by your liking.
10. After it is boiled for a while, squeeze the lemon juice.
11. Place in the bowl/plate.
12. Prepare to serve.

P/S : Sambal
Simple way of preparing is to grind the chili, onion and garlic. Some people like to add ginger. If possible, belacan is good.

Monday 2 November 2009

3 Weeks Quarantine

Sad to say, the air is circulating, it has taken its turn in Ukraine. Well, actually with globalization, people flyng in-&-out of a country, it's is hard to control H1N1 epidemics. With the travellers, businessmen...Ukraine has been infected! The latest is 53 deaths and counting.

So, now emergency prophylaxis is taken. Quarantines are ordered in all region of Ukraine, meaning CSMU is included. That's how we have a sudden break of 3 weeks. Now what concerns the CSMU students most is the missed 3-weeks classes. That is a lot and a few solutions may be ...

a) Saturday and Sunday is no more rest day after the quarantine
b) No more winter holidays + Weekends classes
c) Postponed graduation/Shortened summer holidays for the 5th years
d) No exam-preparation break for students

Whatever solutions may be, it just doesn't sound very positive. Sudden news of 3 weeks doesn't really seem to excite everyone, given the possible solutions above. And these 3 weeks, we are theoritically "lock" up in our hostel, or more precisely, in Simferopol. No travelling, no gatherings, even the HOW campaign might have to be delayed.

Worse, some students have already paid for their winter trip tickets. If the winter break was to be cancelled, these $ would be flying to heaven...So now they are probably weighing to forego or not their plans for winter, just like 3 months ago when some students were thinking to forego or not their Euro Trip when H1N1 has just started.

But, the most important thing now is nothing more than to stay healthy and strong. Ukraine now faces the deficiency of medicine and masks, especially when people started purchasing them in bulks. Extra help is needed to combat the uprising epidemic, even from medical students. Mission teams from WHO will be sent to study the flu epidemics in Ukraine.

As for now, I think this 3 weeks of quarantine is the time when your body needs sufficient rest and building up stronger immune system. So, stay in room, keep healthy, rest well...And God bless.

~~ Dreams Come True ~~

A place to seek for comfort is none better than to
let yourself know that you are actually much fortunate than many others......