Saturday Afternoon

I spent the whole afternoon in the kitchen making chicken pot pie from scratch. I've been wanting to create and challenge myself something new, so I searched up some recipes and revised some ideas to make chicken pot pie. I went to Nester's Market to look for missing ingredients, and am pretty disappointed by the limited selection (the location of the store is rather small). For this recipe I made my own chicken/vegetable stock instead of buying the can from the market (thought that it would be healthier, I suppose). The crust was made from scratch as well. The soup was delicious and since its winter, this kind of comfort food is perfect. I thought that by not adding store-bought chicken stock the soup would be flavorless, but it tastes great! I was debating whether I should take the solids out of the stock, but in the end I didn't. I think I used too much chicken though.

I'm trying to keep a habit of taking photos after making food everyday. That way, I can keep them as memories and keep track of my progress. Many times though however, I just keep forgetting.

Chicken & vegetable stock. I cooked the carrot/celery and chicken drumsticks (meat and vegetables separately). I popped the drumsticks into the oven (10-15 minutes on 200 F) after cooking until its skin becomes slightly brown. I microwaved the onion for seven minutes before using the saucepan and caramelizing it. I do all these steps before dumping them into the saucepan and add hot water to make the stock.

 Almost forgot to add salt after tasting the soup. 

Garnished the soup with parsley leaves. 

fresh from the oven, after making the crust. 

Merry Christmas!

I wrote this the day after Christmas and had forgotten to publish this blog, hence it was kept as draft. 

Yesterday on Christmas Eve my family and I had a potluck party. I was excited because my mother lets me use the kitchen to serve twelve people with my spaghetti and meatballs as the main dish. To be honest, I'm an amateur at cooking. I've never taken cooking classes before. I just learn cooking through easy cook book magazines. My mom NEVER taught me how to cook, she never encouraged it (in the past). I can't bake very well, and once I've almost set my oven on fire (I had a mini panic attack….actually close to major) and had to convince my mom that I'll promise to be more careful with "her" kitchen (okay, maybe I understand why my mom doesn't encourage me to use the kitchen). It took me a long time to convince her of the benefits if she lets me use the kitchen. I'm really stubborn, so in the end sometimes, people eventually will just let me do what I want, (because to my family, i'm a headache). But anyway, when I was young (like grade 1/2 maybe), I remember that while my mom was taking a nap, I sneaked into the kitchen, took out a baking pan, and start pouring random ingredients together. Like many Asian parent stereotypes in Western culture, my mom was ready to take out her bamboo stick so that her daughter can be disciplined (I would never ever do that to my own children). Because of my quiet appearance (I am an introvert), I seem to get under an impression that I'm a "good girl". And because of this misconception, it is is the very opposite of what I really am because in reality, I talk back, I argue...or otherwise, I just become lazy and not argue. In truth, even when I talk or am obliged to talk with people, I am a bundle of nerves inside.  

 But back to the topic, I felt accomplished yesterday because I felt the rush and stress about getting the dishes together, just prepping and cooking away. The only thing that I didn't accomplish was the "cleaning" part that I left in the kitchen because I felt so pressured and anxious. In the end, it was all worth it. I loved seeing people's faces when they taste my food, and was even complimented by a 19 year old boy of how much he likes my spaghetti! It made my day, and lifted up my spirit  :) 

Nothing beats a beautiful white Christmas (three days before the snow melts on Christmas Eve). I really love my home...

I finished reading a really amazing book called "In Mania's Memory" by Lisa Birnie. I spent a long time reading this, just going back and re-reading it because the biography of the holocaust survivor and the nazi guard is just so unimaginable and remarkable...it was difficult to put the book down. Reading the story was sad and depressing but at the same time however, I liked how the author linked two of the characters' story together, similar to the fictional story of 1Q84 by Murakami Haruki, between Aomame and Kawana Tengo. 

Friday!

A really great way to spend home alone on Friday. Hawaiian macadamia nuts covered in chocolate, steak, potatoes, salad, wine, and Despicable Me 2…I think I'm going to gain some 5 kg by the end of this week.

At the beginning I rubbed olive oil with (expensive.. .) sea salt together all over the raw steak. The cooked steak tastes great once it is garnished with lemon juice at the end (adapted from Jamie Oliver's steak recipe). For some reason, the photo makes the steak look burnt when in reality the steak really wasn't burnt….but nevertheless, it was good!  

For the potatoes, they were really simple. Suggested by my mother, I used the Asian steamer pot for them. Afterwards I roast them using the pan which consists of the left over juice from the steak until the side becomes golden brown which creates a nice aromatic flavour overall. Add some pepper and they are ready to eat. 

Hash brown

My hearty breakfast of the day - sunny side up fried eggs on top of crispy hash brown with roasted cherry tomatoes and asparagus. This is the breakfast that I've been making for Mom and I. Sometimes it would just be eggs, toast and roasted veggies, or just boiled eggs, toast and roasted veggies. 

A hint of paprika definitely gives a nice heat to the flavour.

Bolognese Sauce

I used the famous and passionate (and foul-mouthed) Gordon Ramsay's recipe for lunch. It turned out delicious and all that I am missing in the picture is the grated goat cheese to top it off.

I was at Simon Fraser University - The Christmas decorations were absolutely gorgeous.

Haley getting into the Christmas spirit

Taro Latte

The first time that I tried to make latte was from Miki's Pantry http://www.mikispantry.com/2012/11/how-to-make-taro-latte.html. Instead of milk however, I used almond milk as substitute. I often use maple syrup as substitute too. Just blend the taro, milk, and syrup together into a blender machine then garnish with pine nuts. Overall it gives off a delicious, nutty and sweet flavor; thus, suited to be a wonderful winter beverage to warm up your heart and soul! Yum


Serve: 2 persons
Time: Approximately 10 minutes

Ingredients:
- 1/2 cups Taro
- 2 cup Almond milk
- 2 tbsp Maple syrup
- Pine nuts


Directions
Cut taro into cubed sized pieces. To soften the taro, pour water into a small pot and wait until boiled. Once boiled, put in the taro pieces and once they become soft and tender, drain, then begin mashing the taro.

In a blender, pour the taro pieces, milk and maple syrup inside and blend until smooth (2-3 mins). Once finished, pour the ingredients into a cup and garnish it with pine nuts.




*Note: You may also bake taro until tender (220 degrees F) for about 20-25 minutes until soft. (Usually I wrap taro (pieces of taro) in aluminum foil and place it on a rack inside my conventional oven, which makes it bake faster than baking it without the wrap)…but I think it's unnecessary since that would take twice as long for a simple latte...