That's Just Me (plus Pretty Good Things)

I am going through my seasonal low now. I am surprised I can be that moody. Hormonal, work related or SAD, maybe a combination of all, I don't know. That's just how I feel these days, just wanting to stay home, lack of va va voom.

There are still good things in life. It's just hard to look at the bright side all the time. I keep thinking what's the best way towards life, confronting everything head-on or going around sticking points. Some would probably tell me it depends. Yes, I know it depends, depending on what, how, who and where, sometimes. If I had the wisdom and courage to do what I really think is right, would I lead a happier, more satisfied and fulfilled life? I have no answers. I just know that I've learned to co-exist with myself over the years, accepting that there are personal limitations which I am not motivated to change or improve. These are compromises in life. I know that. You are what you make of yourself. I guess I can't really complain.

With that out of my chest, I am not lost in life, not yet at least. I still know how to make myself happy, by doing a few of my favorite things, such as:

- Spending a nice week in San Francisco this August, combining work and personal holiday. Northern California seems to be a very interesting place to visit, certainly a very pretty one. Have to go back one day. Did I tell you that I got upgraded to First Class on my return flight? Shhh.

- Making my first granola. I've been having granola this year as breakfast. Although I don't like to eat the same thing everyday, I am surprised that I am having granola most of the weekdays this year as breakfast. I had been wanting to make my own but other things got better hold of me. Until I saw Orangette's Granola No. 5 and with a liter bottle of maple syrup flying back with me from San Francisco, I told myself it's time. And yes, I am so glad I did and my mom is into granola now. Smile.

- Making this cake. Yes I did make this famous plum torte and it is as delicious as everyone said it should be. It makes a very elegant afternoon tea accompaniment or after dinner dessert. I also made it twice in the first week, first original and second chocolate and plum. Big smile.

- Re-reading The Examined Life. I will probably read it the third time. It's strangely therapeutic.

- Planting bulbs for next year. How can anyone not hope for the Spring?

Three Pretty Good Things - June 2014

Keukenhof

For a place which only opens one month each year, make sure you visit once in your life. 

Sun-blushed tomatoes

It never occurred to me that it's something I can make at home! I adapted Nigella Lawson's method to roast tomato halves at 100C for two hours. Since my oven is powered by solar panels, they are truly sun-blushed tomatoes. Absolutely gorgeous.

Oven-fried chicken

In fact, I used turkey in the picture, but corn flakes mixed with potato chips work wonder in this dish.

Three Pretty Good Things: 24 January

1. Going home

I am flying back for Chinese New Year, Year of Horse. Now I am getting excited.

2. Friendship

Two of my friends in another continent asked me one after another in 2 minutes about meeting up later next week. Knowing that someone was thinking of you so far away makes me feel special. Yes, I will have two great night outs with my lovely girls.

3. Oh Sherlock

BBC Sherlock Holmes Season 3 is back. Did I tell you I am a fan of Mycroft? Maybe I just like the suits.

Three pretty good things: 7 July

1. My blackcurrant harvest

I planted a little blackcurrant bush about 30cm high last year during spring time. Ben Lomond is the variety I went for, which is wildly available here. Last summer I got about six precious blackcurrants. This year I got more than 800 grams of these babies. Wow, I am very impressed and hugely excited. As the canning bug is still with me, I turned them into five jars of jam. I relied on Dan Lepard's recipe, except for the addition of lemon. Blackcurrants are tart enough and have enough naturally occurring pectin to be jelled on its own. We are all thrilled by the end products. Yes they taste differently from the superb French blackcurrants my father-in-law grows but they are next best things, my English blackcurrants, which are adored just as much.

2. My new cooker

I inherited a camel colored cooker when I moved into this house. The oven and the grill were never working but the gas stove was. It lasted 10 years under my reign and we decided that this year it shall retire. We've got a new one with dual oven. What can I say? I've never appreciated fully a gas cooker until this week. My muffins turned out picture perfect, with cute looking dome shape top and seductively browned. The roast lamb shoulder is perfectly crisp on the skin and ever so tender inside. And the roasted cauliflowers, oh my, hubby said it's a winner in a roast lamb dinner!

3. Olympic torch relay in my town

The Olympic torch relay passed my street today. It was very moving to see the army soldiers being part of the parade. And the torch bearers are chosen not because they are TV starts but because they mean something to our local community. I like that very much. 

Three pretty good things: 14 March

1. Nigel Slater's classical porridge.

How can someone make the humble oat sound so humorous and tasty? I love oatmeal and I adore Nigel Slater.

2. My baking bug has come back. 

Recent goods include a pretty good Blueberry tart, one nearly chewy brownies and a Chinese new year cake to satisfy my Asian stomach. My next target is white chocolate and cherry bars.

3. Spring has finally arrived.

With longer day time and flowers budding everywhere you turn, how can it not make anyone happy?

Three pretty good things: January 21

1. Les Misérables (the musical).

After growing almost 20 years older since discovering it for the first time, I will now call this my favorite musical. Yes, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera is hard to beat but Schönberg's music with Victor Hugo's story just wins out by a long distance for me. The daily human struggle between right and wrong in a society where it is no longer black and white, this transcends all races, cultures, social classes and time. Although Les Misérables means "The Miserable Ones", the story is not about hardship and injustice, but about hope, not giving up and fighting for what you believe in. I simply find it inspiring.

2. Getting onto the list of a patent inventorship.

After working on this project hard for 6 years, finally. I am glad. Thanks, team.

3. Home, at last.

This gives me millions of smiles, always.

Three pretty good things: December 12

1. Catch-up with a long-lost friend. 

In fact, it's me who got "caught" up with him. Funny, once we started to talk, it's as if we've been in contact all these years. The familiarity, the openness and the depth of the conversation, and the humour are just like in the old days.

Thank you, R, for catching up with me. I will not let this friendship slip again.

2. People sharing pretty things.

by Werner Getzmann

3. David Attenborough and BBC. 

Two of my favorite things. Simply wonderful.

Three pretty good things: December 5

1. Friends visiting from far away. 

I feel blessed this year that two of my college friends visited me on separate occasions. They are the few connections I have with my birth country. Without them, I am not sure where I belong.

2. A small cheque from Her Majesty. 

Apparently I overpaid my taxes Six years ago. Well, it's better late than never. Thank you, Elizabeth.

3. TGID. 

D is for December. Two more weeks and I am free...

Three pretty good things: November 28

1. J. and A. 

Kindness from no-longer strangers. Your words mean a world to me. Thank you.

2. Home, after away from home.

 Reminding me how fortunate I am to be able to come back to a place of unceasing caring and love. Thank you, N.

3. Breakfast in pyjamas.

A recent invention from hubby. I have to admit that it's quite good on a lazy Saturday.

Three pretty good things: November 21

1. Masala tea. 

Such an aromatic infusion warming not only the body but the senses. I am still working on my favorite spice combination but at the moment it has fennel seeds, cinnamon barks, green cardamom pods, cloves, black peppercorn and fresh ginger slices. I prefer making my masala tea the whole spice way, meaning no blending all spices into powder. I make my aromatic elixir first by boiling together the whole spices and water, and then steep my tea in this wonderfully warming liquid. Perfect for a cold Sunday afternoon.

2. Porridge. 

It's been a long time favorite breakfast of mine. I particularly like the British way of preparing and eating porridge. Cook the oatmeal in plain water and top it up with brown sugar when eating. How simple is that! And it tastes just wonderful. A nice variation as recently shown by Nigel Slater is to sprinkle some cinnamon powder and drizzle a little bit cold milk on top of the steaming hot porridge. I have to admit that I have been addicted to this way of eating porridge ever since.

3. Barbara. 

Probably my most admired person in the blogsphere. Such an inspiration. 

Welcome back, again.

Three beautiful things

1. Who can put more elegantly than this:

  from here via C&Z and Modern Hepburn

Life is frighteningly short, terribly unpredictable, but still a very good thing. Make it count.

2. Late nights with crime or detective drama.
Listening to hubby changing his prediction of the prime suspect as a story unfolds, minute by minute.
Priceless. :-)

3. Salmon and green onion quiche.
I know that salmon and leeks are, regarded by many, a marriage made in heaven. It's a pretty good combo, I admit, but I much prefer the salmon and green onion (scallions) combination. For me, the pungency of green onions balances out much better the richness of the fish and the cheese. And there is no pre-cooking required. Just snip up the green onions and scatter them around the fish. Pour in the egg and cheese custard. Bake and be hungry.