Can't go wrong with Chinese cooking

Minced pork with leek, served with sliced cucumbers

Was just clearing my fridge today before leaving for the States next week, and the one thing I really want to get rid of is the frozen minced meat passed down by a senior before he left Notts for good. Basically at the end of every term, seniors clear out their stuff and juniors tend to get showered with either (used) gifts or well - junk.

I got both, haha.

Speaking of frozen food, I don't ever freeze my meat longer than the 'best before' date! I don't like the idea of what's going inside of me not being in its 'best' state, and yes I'm an advocate of eating fresh food! 

However, another thing that I'm an advocate of is not wasting edible food. It must have been training since a kid - my parents always made sure that I finish all the food on my plate, and that means every grain of rice. Of course, I don't force myself to finish up anything beyond what I think is suitable for my appetite. It was a problem at boarding school, where the dining hall auntie would scoop a standard portion onto your plate and I'll go "oh auntie/uncle, enough enough enough- or, oh thanks- not so much!!!", haha! Then again, I'm no saint. Before the time when I took the initiative to request for smaller portions, I do remember throwing away quite some leftovers, OR eat everything up and get too full. WHICH IS BAD. You guys should never do that. Over eating is totally unhealthy! I've changed my mindset and told myself nowadays that I'll have to be reasonable and evaluate the situation myself.

Whenever I go out now, I make sure I order something light (it's always better to be just not hungry than to be too full), or, if when I'm with my friends, I'll ask them if they'd like to share the meals with me (Seow Wei you didn't wanna share my chips :'( hehe).

Anyway, this dish above is really simple: 

I used coconut oil to sauté ginger strips and red onions. 

Add minced pork and fry till slightly golden.

Throw in the chopped leek and stir-fry somemore, then add boiled water and allow it to simmer -

this is to make sure that my pork is very properly cooked!  

I added shaoxing wine too, and let it simmer until all the moisture is evaporated.

Add grounded black pepper, salt, sugar and some white pepper - voila! 

Garnished with fresh coriander and served with slices of cucumber.

Happy Tuesday! 

Travelling

There was again a brief hiatus on this blog, and I only have unplugged holidays, uni exams and two new years in a month to blame. December went well with a trip to Southern Germany with Ying Hui, followed by a crazy few weeks of revision, then now, believe or not, I'm in Malaysia to celebrate Chinese New Year with the dearest people to me.

Didn't plan to come home until I graduate next summer, and wanted to travel somewhere in Europe for a treat after our exams (supposedly Netherlands, and ironically I did stop over at Amsterdam for transit on my way back). What changed my mind - I do not know - but what I'm certain of is that getting the flight ticket home was probably one of my best 500 quid spent on something. I kept it away from my family's knowledge for a month, and the expressions on their faces when they saw me at the restaurant last night was really, priceless. 

This also means that I would have to wait a little longer before I can get my 35mm 1.4. But that's okay. 

I want to show you how pretty Triberg was. I want to tell you about my fair share of sunsets, and brag more about the amount of lebkuchens we ate in Nurnberg. There is much to tell but as for now, I'm just gonna head down to the beach and read The Fault In Our Stars till it's time for lunch.

Life at home is good.

wednesday

charlie

I thought that the afternoon looked lovely (for a mere 10 minutes really) and so I got my camera out and wanted to get some random shots around the house. It was between classes, so Nicole and I had less than an hour to spare.

Little did we know, the neighbourhood cat Charlie came dashing in when we opened the door and decided to explore our living space all by himself. We tried to coax him out but into our kitchen he went – right into the tiny room below our staircase (we call it the Harry Potter room) and made himself comfortable there. 

When Charlie started wagging his little ass around, we were very well convinced that he might just poop right in front of our fridge. Nic carried that fatty out there and then, and so the odd-eyed kitty got officially kicked out, ha!

I've always wondered whether or not Charlie might be a wizard cat, but today I found out that the reason for the different eye colours is because of this!

Random afternoon, but fun times! Happy Tuesday guys!

forget yesterday

This is Sze Yinn.

nicole

short walks by the lake

Weather forecasts expected Tuesday to be sunny, and here's the magic it brought.

The beauty of autumn never fails to amaze me. About the same time last year, I remember looking out of my window from Broadgate Park, telling myself to go out to get some photos of the red, vibrant leaves. Little did I know, they were all gone the week after.

Zx and I started out at 3pm after my lectures, and the sun was already setting then. We walked from Portland to the Law and Social Sciences building, then through Millenium Garden and towards Wollaton Park. Didn't make it past Wayne's Manor 'cos the sun was almost gone!

It was a nice evening and I wish I had more good, sunny days like yesterday in a year. 

Why hello autumn, I know you're leaving but please stay.

TGI Monday

With the birthday girl and Komal

It's back to uni Monday. 

Flash updates.

1. Amrita turned 19 today, so she had her party at TGIF and we had dinner served at 10 p.m.
2. I had to turn down my third photography opportunity today because I won't be here during summer.
3. I was 5 minutes late for my first lecture because I woke up half and hour just before 9, but I am very proud of myself for making it there.
4. I bought a journal with a very pretty cover for Amrita.

Have you ever shopped for a friend's birthday but you end up wanting to keep the present for yourself, so badly?