American Ginseng & Pear 泡参炖梨

Was browsing through my rack in the refrigerator (Yes, I'm staying in a 3-seater. And yes, we share the fridge :P), looking at what "leftovers" I may still have. I have roughly 2 months left, not deducting the 2-3 weeks traveling weeks yet. So, yeah, gotta clear stock!!!

So I saw 2 packets of American Ginseng, not sure whether it's 泡参 or 花旗参. But no big deal. I don't feel like doing the old way of making Ginseng tea with few pieces of Ginseng. Therefore, I'd figure how to clear a pack of them, and came out with this soup.

Judging from the ingredients I used, I would say it is definitely healthy and good, especially for the lungs (润肺)?! Hahaha. Ginseng for the energy (气) and 精神 (spirit?) and trust me, it is especially beneficial during the exam period (yeah, Tuesday, 1st June!!! And yet I am blogging?!) Red dates (红枣)for the circulation and I heard that pear when you cook with herbs is good for the lungs??? But, whatever, it is good for health, or at least, I convinced myself so :P

Ingredients :
American Ginseng 泡参 : 50g (But 25g should be enough)
Red Dates 红枣 : 10-15
Preserved Dates 蜜枣 : 3-6
Pear (Better to use 雪梨， but I used 鸭梨) : 2-3
Sugar (optional)

I think I used horribly lots of Ginseng here, so I ended up adding a lot of water later on, too bitter for me :P. I think half of my Ginseng will do. But preserved dates can be more, hehehe

Add everything and water into the slow-cooker and keep on high. Cook for about 4 hours. You may want to add the pear at the last hour (like me) or 2nd last :P
P/S : I know this isn't as healthy but I can't stand bitterness, so I added some sugar.

So, good luck, my friends (and myself :P)! Take good care of yourself especially health-wise when lots of midnight oil is to be burnt :D

Happy studying and all the best in the exams!!!

Kuih Kodok

Went for a 2D/1N trip straight after krok. So the balanced bananas were stuffed into the fridge. When I was back, they are slightly darkened I doubt I could eat it just like that. So came out with this sweet Malaysian Mashed Banana Fritters = Kuih Kodok. Reminding myself that I have about 2 months till I am back in Malaysia for good ... ... Hmm, how I miss Malaysian food!

Look at the consistency inside, looks just like banana cake, but the mini fried version :P

Ingredients :
2 large riped bananas
1 cup flour
1 sharp tablespoonful of sugar
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1 teaspoon salt

Left : Mashed Bananas
Right : Mashed bananas after mixing with other ingredients

Methods :
1. Mashed the bananas with a fork in a bowl.
2. Add in the rest of the ingredients and mixed well.
3. Heat oil in a pot.
4. Take a spoonful of the batter and drop it in the oil (medium heat).
5. It will float when it is done.

Even the Kuih Kodok knew that ... ...

I always cook with love and care :P

Some Meaningful Quotes

Read this from FaceBook from a somebody whom I really do not know, and that means strangers (Ain't FB powerful and super no privacy?). Meaningful and simply want to share this. For those who can't read Chinese, there is something called as Google Translator, (hopefully it's correct hahaha). Enjoy!

1.莎士比亚说:
　　　再好的东西，都有失去的一天。
　　　再深的记忆，也有淡忘的一天。
　　　再爱的人，也有远走的一天。
　　　再美的梦，也有苏醒的一天。
　　　该放弃的决不挽留。
　　　该珍惜的决不放手，分手后不可以做朋友，因为彼此伤害 过！
　　　也不可以做敌人，因为彼此深爱过。

2.几米说:
　　　当你喜欢我的时候，我不喜欢你，
　　　当你爱上我的时候，我喜欢上你，
　　　当你离开我的时候，我却爱上你，
　　　是你走得太快，还是我跟不上你的脚步,
　　　我们错过了诺亚方舟，错过了泰坦尼克号，
　　　错过了一切的惊险与不惊险，我们还要继续错过。
　　　我不了解我的寂寞来自何方，但我真的感到寂寞。
　　　你也寂寞，世界上每个人都寂寞，只是大家的寂寞都不同 吧。

3.刘心武说:
　　　不要指望，麻雀会飞得很高。
　　　高处的天空，那是鹰的领地。
　　　麻雀如果摆正了自己的位置，它照样会过得很幸福！

4.亦舒说:
　　　人们日常所犯最大的错误，是对陌生人太客气，而对亲密 的人太苛刻，
　　　把这个坏习惯改过来，天下太平。

5.郭敬明说:
　　　我终于发现自己看人的眼光太过简单，我从来没有去想面 具下面是一张怎样的面容，
　　　我总是直接把面具当做面孔来对待，却忘记了笑脸面具下 往往都是一张流着泪的脸。

6.刘心武说:
　　　对不起是一种真诚，没关系是一种风度。
　　　如果你付出了真诚，却得不到风度，那只能说明对方的无 知与粗俗！

7.韩寒说:
　　　再累再苦就当自己是二百五再难再险就当自己是二皮脸。

8.安妮宝贝说:
　　　当一个女子在看天空的时候，她并不想寻找什么。
　　　她只是寂寞。

9.遇见平凡说:
　　　缘分像一本书。
　　　翻的不经意会错过童话读得太认真又会流干眼泪。

10.张小娴说:
　　　 爱，从来就是一件千回百转的事。
　　　 不曾被离弃，不曾受伤害，怎懂得爱人？

11.亦舒说:
　　　 无论怎么样，一个人借故堕落总是不值得原谅的，越是没有人 爱，越要爱自己。

12.刘心武说:
　　　 与其讨好别人，不如武装自己；
　　　 与其逃避现实，不如笑对人生；
　　　 与其听风听雨，不如昂首出击！

13.张爱玲说:
　　　 娶了红玫瑰，久而久之，红玫瑰就变成了墙上的一抹蚊子血， 白玫瑰还是“床前明月光"；
　　　 娶了白玫瑰，白玫瑰就是衣服上的一粒饭渣子，红的还是心口 上的一颗朱砂痣。

14.三毛说:
　　　 一个朋友很好，两个朋友就多了一点，三个朋友就未免太多了。
　　 　知音，能有一个已经很好了，不必太多，
　　　 如果实在没有，还有自己，好好对待自己，跟自己相处，也是 一个朋友...

15.雪小禅说:
　　 　我以为终有一天，我会彻底将爱情忘记，将你忘记，
　　 　可是，忽然有一天，我听到了一首旧歌，我的眼泪就下来了，
　　 　因为这首歌，我们一起听过。

16.郭敖说:
　　　 我们始终都在练习微笑，终于变成不敢哭的人。
　　
17.三毛说:
　　 　不要害怕拒绝他人，如果自己的理由出于正当。
　　 　当一个人开口提出要求的时候，他的心里根本预备好了两种 答案。
　　 　所以，给他任何一个其中的答案，都是意料中的。

18.梓色心晴说:
　　 　男人哭了，是因为他真的爱了。
　　 　女人哭了，是因为她真得放弃了。

19.玄漪说:
　　　 能够说出的委屈，便不算委屈；
　　　 能够抢走的爱人，便不算爱人。

20.张爱玲说:
　　　 爱情本来并不复杂，来来去去不过三个字，
　　　 不是我爱你、我恨你，
　　　 便是算了吧、你好吗、对不起。
　　
21.马云说:
　　　 晚上想想千条路，早上醒来走原路。

22.饶雪漫说:
　　　 这个世界欺骗了我，我必须给与还击，我不会放掉任何一丁点 儿属于我的幸福，
　　 　哪怕付出的代价是从此坠入地狱，我也在所不惜。

23.郭敖说:
　　　 每个人一生之中心里总会藏着一个人，也许这个人永远都不会 知道，
　　　 尽管如此，这个人始终都无法被谁所替代。
　　　 而那个人就像一个永远无法愈合的伤疤，
　　　 无论在什么时候，只要被提起，或者轻轻的一碰，就会隐隐作 痛。

24.GARVEN说:
　　　 话是人说的，屁也是人放的，说话和放屁一样，都是一口气而 已。

25.三毛说:
　　　 某些人的爱情，只是一种“当时的情绪"。
　　　 如果对方错将这份情绪当做长远的爱情，是本身的幼稚。

26.张小娴说:
　　　 如果没法忘记他，就不要忘记好了。
　　　 真正的忘记，是不需要努力的。

27.人非草木说:
　　 　再丑的人也能结婚，再美的人也会单身！

28.张爱玲说:
　　　 因为爱过，所以慈悲；
　　　 因为懂得，所以宽容。

Lemon Cupcakes

I made this cupcakes on Oo's Birthday-Present-Giving Day. Yeah, successful attempt, nice cake turned out. I especially like to go with a cup of coffee :P

Hope people out there trying it enjoy it as much as I do :)
Ingredients:
2 2/3C Flour
1/2 tsp Soda
1/4tsp Salt
1C (2 Sticks) Butter
1 3/4C Sugar
2 Medium Lemon Zest
4 Eggs
1 1/4C Butter Milk
4 Tbs Lemon Juice

Method :
1. Sift flour and then mix the soda and salt in it.
2. Cream butter, sugar and lemon zest on medium speed.
3. Add eggs, 1 by 1.
4. Alternately, add flour and buttermilk on low speed. Then increase to high speed.
5. Add in lemon juice.
6. Preheat oven at 350ºF.
7. Fill the paper cups till 2/3 full.
8. Bake in 350ºF until it springs ack when touched (about 16-20mins)
9. Remove and cool on rack.

Have A Marvelous Day!

P/S: This is one of the recipes that were copied out some time ago and tried out like centuries later. So, I apologize to the owner of this recipe, as I really couldn't recall which site I have copied it from. But if anyone happens to know, kindly inform me please. Thank you.

No Water Day

This is a long post. So drink water, prepare your popcorns. Nothing important, nothing special, just something simple. :P

This month I have so many things / topics that are good to blog about, more for my personal memory though, LOL. My birthday celebration---last time in Ukraine, because in the future most probably will be only in Malaysia (unless, of course, if I go traveling, hahaha), my camping experience in Crimea, my last day of class in Simferopol, my city without water...ARGH!!! Yet, time is so little, especially when exams around the corner.

But I must write this blog. Ok, not must but --- I wanted to, of course. It is a no-water-day, Simferopol have no water supply. Precisely, on 12.05.2010, a Wednesday night, I saw this "no water supply from 13/5, 5am to 14/5, 3pm" on the undeniably influential and powerful FaceBook post, by dear DP. DIE!!! When my class ended on 7th May 2010, I am nearly 24-hours in hostel room. No water, is like a living hell, especially the toilet + no bathing !!! *Sob Sob* Luckily, my period is not coming yet *blush*

Then some of us boringly talked about 13/5's dinner, of course, I will be taking the easy way out --- Eat Out!!! Then here is an interesting phone conversation :

Me : So you wanna join me eating out or not?
DP : Huh?! Eat out when there is no water???
Me : Then when? Eat out when there is water supply?
DP : That maybe dirty! They may not even wash the meat and fish.
Me : So you think they'll wash the meat and fish properly when there is water supply???
DP : Hmm, true though.

Ok, ok! I guess I know what you think. They do clean their products when there is water supply??? I don't know. However, I do have confidence in the kitchen staffs' etiquette :P But under these circumstances, I would say that as long as I don't see it, I think it is fine.

And I was told by WeiMin and SyihYing that 1/3 of Simferopol has no water supply because the Lake that supply this region is under cleaning process. WHAT??? Cleaning and you need to cut off our water supply??? Is this logical? Do you suck out every drops of the lake water and store it in a huge gigantic tank and then clean the bottom of the lake??? Does it make any sense? Why are they making our life miserable?

On 9th May, the hostel has no water because the pipe in front of our hostel burst, then now this! Every year (for 6 freaking years) there will be such incidentssss (not once but FREQUENTLY, especially spring/summer when we sweat and stink) ARGH!!! Why can't they just make a good quality pipe??? Can't they see that the cost of using Cheaplak Pipe is higher in the long run??? Somemore, no hot water supply in Summer, more precisely around end May-June. They think their cold water is like Malaysia's. But, hell NO. It's ICE cold water!!! Ah, nevermind, I get used to it (Hmm, have I really???)

But fortunately, the water came at about 6.30am Friday, when I heard the flow of water in the bathroom. What a relief!!! I rushed at the very moment of hearing it, switched off the tap, get back to bed and got up at 7.30am (Just can't wait any longer) to take my refreshing bath...Hmm, so nice!

So now, back to my dinner on Thursday, 13/5 --> I went to "Opex" (English = Nuts, yes that's Russian *wink*) for my dinner with 7 other friends. I have been hearing good comments about it for quite a while. But I think it's a little bit over-rated. The place is actually quite beautiful. Especially the windmill at the entrance is rather captivating. And now that the spring - summer is around the corner, eating open air is just simply sweet. I like the outside decoration of the cafe, especially the ambiance, the drapery curtains, the rattan furniture...

6th Years

Interior

Ying (Top Student) & Min in the windmill

I ordered a Mushroom Cream Soup, Duck with Apple, Boiled Potatoes with Butter and a cup of Chocolate Milkshake, paying a 10%-tax-inclusive uah62.70 (€6.27). Seriously, eating out in Ukraine (if compared to traveling in Europe) is cheap. How can you get less than €10 for a FULL 3-4 course meal with a drink (my friends'), especially for those richer countries using €€€/Pound Sterling? But of course, it's because we are (ok, I am) poor that I have to opt for Ukraine to study. Therefore, eating out constantly is, of course, not a good idea :) Food in Opex I'd give a 70%; but the service is good, I'd put a 85% *Applause*. Just the seats inside the windmill is too too dusty, even to just take a picture :P

When food has not arrived yet

I love this shot! Thank you, SyihYing!

Reading or posing?



Khiu & See Choo

Jackie being "Yeng"

So below will be stretch of picturesssss which I hope will speak for themselves. Prices (if any) are before adding the 10% service tax :D

Creamy Mushroom Soup 14uah

Fish Soup ... " Yxa " 15uah

Shurpa 14uah

Caesar Salad, uah 25

"Okean" Salad, uah28

Mutton, price by weight

Pork Ribs, uah17-18/100g

Pork Roll, by weight

Duck with Apple, uah 25 per plate

Pork, by weight

Fries 6uah

Seafood Rice, 9uah

Dessert --- Ice-Cream uah18

Everyone is busy taking pictures or posing :P

I simply just like this picture, such a coincident to have the same expression on both of them, good shot!


My whole set
A mushroom soup (picture somewhere above) 14uah
Duck with Apple, 25 uah
Boiled potatoes with Butter, 6 uah
Chocolate Milkshake 12 uah

I am that uncivilized, using hands and fingers.

Waiting for the bill :)

Total = uah 591.25

Yan Lee & Izman


Hugging the Top Student

Eat till the night falls

We think he is the owner