A simple Korean meal

Hubby has been going outstation for the last couple of weeks, n that means i was (and still am) home alone. Though it wasn't the first time he had to leave for work, i have to admit i still find it difficult to sleep well without him. I didn't realise this until the other day, a friend of mine mentioned how she couldn't sleep when her hub is away; and i realised i had the same problem! Lol.

And of course, apart from sleeping, i find cooking hard. Cooking for one, or rather for myself, is not something i am keen of, particularly when i have to wash, chop, cook, n wash; all for the sake of feeding myself. And it gives me headache just thinking of what i should eat; can't just have meat or vege dish alone; what's for starch or if  wat i'm about to cook is healthy enough as a meal.

I cooked this korean style stir fry beef the other day for lunch, and i thought it was a masterpiece. LOL. Not only was it easy, it was packed with colourful nutritious vegetables (i added carrots, red, green capsicums and onions) and the taste was superb! The beef was marinated with the korean spicy pepper sauce (sorry i don't know the name in korean) which i bought from a korean store just up the road.

And it goes well with rice of course! A simple and decent meal which now makes cooking-for-one less troublesome for me. Just fry the marinated beef with onions and carrots till cooked and soft before finally adding the capsicum and ta-da!!, u now have a  proper meal.

Easter is coming in less than 3 weeks time, n i am pampering myself with lots of chocolate hot cross buns which i now find myself addicted to, to the point which i can't resist at least two a day! Now, how am i going to keep fit? LOL.

I'm back!

Hihi. Still there?

Yeah. I'm finally back to 'Got Facebook' land with extra many kilos and a rounder ass. LOL. No piece of summer for me except the very day i arrived, which almost got me roasted. Weather in Melbourne is so unpredictable; summer in the morning, autumn/spring at mid noon, and winter at night. Nevertheless, the quality of the air is sooo sooo good; i felt as if i had been deprived of fresh air, i couldn't stop breathing as much as i could the moment i got back here.

Beijing has been treating me well (which explains the extra kgs) but i find myself over pampered  by the comfort and shelter that i received in that city. I find myself no longer able to fight or even surviving in the big metropolitan with the population of the whole Australia. Maybe intimidation has gotten over me. Yeah. Am glad to be back here. HEHE.

60 cupcakes of 4 different flavors in the shape of the number 60 and three tiramisus in between.

Didn't do much baking for the last couple of months, except my dad in law's 60th birthday cupcakes. I didn't have a proper big baking tin back in Beijing that could cater for 30 people, so i decided to make cupcakes instead. 60 cupcakes for a 60th birthday. I had to keep them simple as well due to lack of tools and piping instruments; hence the rather amateur but i guess still a proper birthday presentation?

Airport

Sigh i am bored. My flight is in 3 hours, n the check-in counter is not open. To think that i woke up at 5am, walked 500m uphill out tagging a 18kg baggage with three hand carries to catch the bus at 7.05am by myself, n arrived at the international departure gate 15 mins before 8am makes me feel thankful. Thank God it didn't rain although the sky looked as if it was about to cry (and still does). Thank God for protecting, and always putting things in order when i needed that perfection. Thank God thank God thank God! even for this cup of worst coffee in Melbourne. 

Weather has been so gloomy in Melbourne for the last couple of days since hub's departure, n i wondered where summer has gone? Hiding elsewhere? Or did i bring back that piece of winter from Beijing?  

Anyways, please bless my flight later. More than 14 hours of flight, stopping at Shanghai for an hour and reaching Beijing at 10.35pm (1.35am Melbourne time). I can't wait to see hubby! 

Chaos.. going to get my Bailey's liqueur now. 

I'm flying back to winter again

Here I am. Returned to Melbourne a week ago, n catching another flight back to Beijing tomorrow morning. LOL. Seems like i'll be spending the rest of Jan and most of Feb in BJ. :-) Excited coz i'll be celebrating CNY with family n maybe flying home to KK (crossing my fingers)! Paranoid coz i'm not sure what's gonna happen next n i do do appreciate all your prayers for my in laws n hub. 

Sayonara, no more Facebook, blogging, sunshine n warmth for the rest of my summer hols. But then again, i love winter (makes my skin smooth n fair, lol)  n oooooooooo, foot massage!

At the meantime, Gong XI Gong XI! n Eat more kiu nyuk for me.

Flying up north

Hey hey hey!

We'll be flying off in 15 hours time, n i just cannot comprehend how excited i am to be going home! Haven't been out since i stuck myself down under, n not flying for a while turns me into a messy packer; i don't even know what to pack! Two luggages full with cereal, Old town coffee..lotsa lots chocolates, cookies, gifts and packed baking ingredients. Only three sweaters n a few Ts..i'm ready to head back to winter! *grin**

May not have access to Facebook or blogspot for a month (unless my Hub found his trick around); so here's an early Happy Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year ahead to everyone of you! 

Oh ya, Watch out for my postcards n keep more coming please! 

The Chiffon Infection

Exams over!! Hip Hip Hurray!

Five days since my last paper, and I only manage to breathe this joy of freedom and declare the war is over today all thanks to my assignment mark. I was traumatised; so badly tat my hub thought i've gone out of my mind. If you think you get 28% for your assignment which you have worked so hard on because that was what your tutor keyed in on your portal, i guess you would feel the same way as i did. I couldn't sleep well for a week, checked my softcopy million times, n asked myself nonstop why. Turns out, a blessing in disguise! Thank God!

I promised someone this recipe a while ago, but my hub warned earlier on not to bake anything for the time being (reason: he wans to lose weight), so this is kind of a delayed post. During exams, i was so stressed i baked countless chiffon cakes, not knowing what happened to each of them, but only to realise  i've gained that extra kilos. Yeah, learn and don't fall into temptations.

Oreo. The oreo slice in the middle is supposed to be horizontal, but turns out inclined.

Black Sesame

Sweet Potato

Orange Choco Marble



Nutella Hazelnut



My hub likes to eat them with fresh warm custard

I took the opportunity to bake this cake today as we are going to my uncle's place for dinner tonight. It was not a good day in Melbourne, pardon me for the quality of the next pictures.







It was cloudy n raining when i took this photo.

 

Blueberry Chiffon Cake

Ingredient A:

95g flour

8g corn flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

50g sugar

60g corn/ sunflower oil

60g milk/ orange/ lemon juice

4 egg yolks

Ingredient B:

5 egg whites

1/4 tsp cream of tartar

95g sugar

Ingredient C:

55g fresh bluberries, lightly coated with flour

Method:

1. Preheat oven at 180oC. Sift all dry ingredients in A.

2.Mix Ingredient A together till combine. Do not overmix.

3. Beat Ingredient B till stiff. Add one quarter into Ingredient A and fold in gently.

4. Add remaining whipped Ingredient B into A and fold til combined.

5. Add the bluberries and mix lightly.

6. Pour into a 8" chiffon tin and bake for 35 minutes or until a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clean.

7. Enjoy!

Rain comes, water rises ...

My latest favourite song.

Such an inspiration. Let's persevere on!

Have you ever wondered why, when you have tried so hard, put in all the effort you can, only to realize, it was beyond your control?

This little light of mine, i'm going to let it shine!