Cosy evening

The breezy wind, drizzling sky and a light ray of sun added to the cloudy weather. The inviting chill creeps into me, unwillingly I woke up. Finally, I have a day off the long long weeks of school. All the subjects were cramped in my mighty brain for July test and few months later ( or I could say in a wink ) year end test will be approaching and that ends my incredibly insane, memorable sail of my form four year. At one point, I had hatred towards my class, all the shouting and immature act of my classmates  nearly drive me nuts. Never you can imagine what my classmates did whenever there's teacher around or even when teachers are sitting right in front of the class. So yeah, on the past two days, our test was over, the guys ( only 7 of them in my class ) had a limbo session, sound "interesting" right? That's not the end, they even had butt-hitting session, singing session etc at the alley. They may seem really childish at times and inconsiderate when teacher is teaching but in a positive way, they had brought laughter and joy to us. Although our teacher put high hope on us to shine academically and behave maturely as one of the top class, we did not live up to that expectation but I believe if one thinks on a bright side, my class in unique in its own way.

As today is a public holiday, needless to say I prepared a meal for my family. This is a very first experience for me to venture in kitchen all by my own and I could say it was a success for a first-timer like me. The dishes may not look attractive but at least it's satisfying! At least my brother did not complain *chuckles*

Today's dinner:

1. Garlic Rice

2. Tofu with Century Eggs ( Cold dish )

3. Oven-fried Chicken in Papilotte ( 纸包鸡 ）

4. Tomato and Egg Soup

Garlic Rice ( credits to Table for 2 )
Serves 2-4

• 1 cup basmathi rice *I used the normal type 
• 2 cups water
• 2 large cloves of garlic, grated (Use more if you like) 
• 1 heaped Tbsp grated carrots
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp butter
• Small pinch of turmeric powder for colour

1. Wash the rice. Drain well.
2. Put everything together and cook. (I steam mine for 30 minutes) * I chuck everything into the rice cooker
3. Fluff rice with chopsticks before serving.
* I topped the rice with fried shallots ( not the ready made ones ) , yummy!

Tofu with Century Egg

* I invented the recipe!

Serves 3-4

2 tubes of tofu

2 century eggs

3 teaspoons of oyster sauce

Ground white pepper

1. Slice the tofu.

2. Cut the century eggs into tiny pieces.

3. Top the tofu the century eggs. 

4. Add some hot water into a bowl and mix well with the oyster sauce, along with a pinch of white pepper.

5. Scoop the sauce with a spoon and drip it on the tofu.

6. Steam the tofu for 5 minutes.

7. Serve chill!

Oven Fried Chicken Wings In Papilotte  ( Credits to Min's Blog )

• 4 large chicken wings - cut one wing into 3 parts * I used chicken thigh

Marinade sauce:

• 1/2 cup of chopped onions

• 1/4 cup of chopped ginger

• 2 cloves of garlic- chopped 

• 1/4 cup of chinese cooking wine

• 3 tbsp of oyster sauce

• 1 tbsp of thick soy sauce

• 1/2 tbsp of sugar

• a dash of white pepper

• 4 tbsp of canola oil

• 4 pieces of 8" X 8" parchment papers

• a few pieces of mini  bamboo skewers

1. Stir together the marinade ingredients in a bowl till well mixed .  Pour the sauce over the cut wings and marinate for 3 hours or overnight in the fridge.
2. Wrap the chicken wings pieces (3 pieces) with a piece of 8" X 8" parchment paper.  Use bamboo skewers to seal the edges.
3. Pour a few tbsp of canola oil in a baking pan, deep enough to prevent the splattering of oil , heat it in preheated oven at 200'C for 20 minutes, when the oil is smoking hot , slowly put the parcels into the baking pan and oven fried the parcels for 25 minutes and flip over and continue to oven fried for another 15 minutes or till the paper is browned on the outside.
4. Take the parcels out of the baking pan and drain off excess oil before serving

Tomato and Egg Soup 番茄蛋汤 ( Credits to Table for 2 )

• 2 large tomatoes, cut into chunks. 

• 2 large eggs

• 1L water

• 2 Tbsp cooking oil

• Salt to taste

• Good dash of pepper

• Handful of Chopped spring onions

1. Heat wok/pot and put in oil. Put in tomatoes. Stir fry until slightly soft and put in eggs. Scramble and let the eggs cook until fragrant.
2. Put in water and bring to a boil. Let it simmer for 1 minute, season with salt and pepper. Put chopped spring onions into serving bowls and ladle soup onto the spring onions. Serve hot with rice :)

School Politics

Nowadays, even high school teens face school poltics EVERY DAY. Many will find the society politics or their company politics pretty annoying but for that, you can find a way escape from. But in school, you have no choice to deal with it, there's no second choice for you to change school or whatever ( unless your parents allow you to which I assume not ) . My mum has never understood school politics, she will only thinks naively that who put in the most effort deserve a recognition. And so I gave up explaining!

Today is the very important day for us as the board of committes for the year '13/14 is announced. I have so prepared myself mentally that no matter what, I will still stay strong and tough. Yes, I managed to do so because certain things which you have put so much hope in will not turn out right. I has no bad feeling, instead I can have a grin on my face. I told myself: "No matter what's the result, I will not cry or feel depressed over it. Tomorrow will be a better day for me." 

School politics always happen to us, who are just teens. It really pisses me off at times and at this very moment too. Just because they have siblings, they deserve to be elected. Just because they can talk eloquently till it makes no sense, they impress our seniors. Just because they are 'popular' in school, they manage to get into the board. Like seriously, you may said they are the 'best' and they are 'well-deserved' but never did you try working as a team with them. The experience is totally horrible. I had my worst three days in my division camp this year. I had never told anyone what exactly happened but I couldn't keep this to myself anymore. My team is actually consisted of four of us. All of them are spoilt, pampered kids. Things did not turn our well on the very first day. They brought literally less than five cooking appliance or equipments, some left out certain ingredients. Like seriously, don't you have the passion and honour to do your job well? If not, just leave. And that's not the end. I tried to control myself from raging, I couldn't bear their who-cares attitude. After we have prepared the th dinner on the second night, we gave a sigh of relief but I was pretty tensed up. I wanted everyone to start cleaning uo before the flies invade our place but no one pretty cares. Some of them even simply wash the appliance and left. And at last, I was the only one left when some are having fun at the canteen. Great!!! One of them even came to me and said she felt bad to leave me doing all the things but she has to go and asked me to leave as well. At that time, I have done most of the washing with my SENIOR helping me. I told her that no, because that's not my way of doing things and it's not hygeine at all. On that evening, I washed,swept, rewiped the tables, clean all the spaghetti on the floor. That may seem to be an easy job but definitely not. I was thoroughly exhausted but yet I dont behave like certain people to leave and bathe. Not to mention I actually broke down for the first time in my st john life.

Enough of this bad experience. So the decision made today was out of my expectation due to the reshuffle of post they have made. Some of them DO NOT deserve the post and in fact, some other people who really put in their effort deserve it. Let just say this girl Z, she is totally irresponsible. In our eyes, we have seen everything she has done, from losing receipts to throwing her job to others but yet she was elected today. Some showed no passion in serving for mankind, a really simple thing as a st john. They did not go for duty, camps and if you are to ask who's our state/area commander, they will defintely stare at you blankly.

I know this may or may not be the end of my life in st john. This may be a pitstop for me to overcome. I have really shone as a St John every since form one, I fulfilled the noble mission to serve the society. I have no regrets. I may not be the best but one day, I will prove them wrong.

Hands on the stove

Picking up my new passion - cooking is what I have always wanted to but due to time constrain, I never have the time to cook. Today is the right day for me! It's report card day and I do not have to go to school while mum had gone out since morning. The whole kitchen will be mine! Nothing can beat pasta for a quick and delicious meal. Pasta is always my all-time favourite!

Sad to say, I have to get my hands off the stove and oven because July test is just around the corner but no to worry, they will get back to my routine after exam.

Today's meal:

Creamy Mushroom Spaghetti

- Half packet of spaghetti

- Olive oil

- 3-4 cloves of garlic

- Chicken ( I didn't add any )

- Mushrooms

- 1 tablespoon light soya sauce

- 200ml whipping cream

- Salt and pepper to taste

- Water ( optional - for a more diluted sauce )

* it's up to one's choice to add in any ingredients ( I added sausage )

1. Boil the spaghetti with a pinch of salt till al dente.

2. While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil over medium heat fire. Add garlic and stir fry. 

3. Add chicken and stir fry till no longer pink.

4. Add mushroom, add in soya sauce and saute till mushrooms become soft.

5. Gradually stir in the cream. Simmer for about 5 minutes until sauce slightly thickened and chicken is cooked. 

6. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Drain the pasta. Toss the cooked pasta until evenly coated with the sauce, mushrooms and chicken.( optinally add in some water and sugar if it's too salty )

8. Serve immediately, with a sprinkle of freshly grounded pepper.

Enjoy this simple meal !

Perhaps I live my way ?

I know I may have whined throughout the few post and I assume there are much more to come as I could definitely say this past six months were a roller coaster ride to me. I have been through all different life-time experiences, through total disappointment, down-hill feeling but not to forget contentment.Yeah, you may agree with me that "you only live once aka YOLO" . It was what I look forward to, because you only live once in you high school life so why not live it to the fullest?

I have my own way and principles in dealing with certain things especially when it comes to serious matter. Never take things for granted as you may have to pay back for what you have did. Back to the main point of my post of the day, something really astonishing happened in school today. I may need to keep things within ourselves but yet I have to voice out myself right here :) I will not like to side anyone on what had happened simply because I have not known what exactly caused it and I would not want to put the blame on my friend. Many of them were too superficial to side others with putting a second thought or even blaming others without making things clear. I felt bad for the girl who was blamed though I don't side anyone because it was understandable that every single one of us will define others' words differently and she may feel hurtful for being blamed.

I have gone through much, through all the experiences which I have gained. I have to stay neutral to avoid getting into trouble as I knew this sudden happening is indeed very complicated. Everyone has their personal view, including me as well so I believe that it is harmless for me to not side anyone.

Definition of a friend

How do you consider a friend as a 'friend'? Many would ask this question. Every single one of us gives 'friend' a different definition as we may have different views to it.

To me, a friend is one who understands me, bears with me and ready to listen to my problems. It means a lot to me to have a incredibly close/best friend whom I would call as my sister. She is just my best-est friend on earth. Words could not express how much I appreciate this strong friendship bond and though we don't meet eye to eye at times but both of us will try to mend the friendship. We have no secrets to be kept as we give our trust to one another. We spent most of the time together in school or even after school hours. Sometimes I will which that there is a secret tunnel to connect my house to hers. She will always be the best listener when I'm troubled or down or even when I whined unnecessarily. 

I always have my own principles and definitions to my certain things in my life, just like the word ' friend '. Sometimes, people leave their footstep in my life but will been forgotten soon by me. The reasons can be they are those who I cannot agree with, they gave no meaning to life or they have a unpleasant attitude which I can never deal with. Undeniably, human make mistakes. To me, to forgive someone counts on how sincere that person is. If one has made mistakes but do not make amend, and even seems to have a take-things-easy attitude, forget about forgiving him/her. I can forgive someone who really apologise SINCERELY ( not to pour your heart out but sincerely ). Never I can accept one who just blurt " sorry " which seems to be as easy as ABC, even with a "lah"  I never force you to apologise, you can forget about saying it to me next time because I can't accept such apologies. "Sorry" means a lot, it's not a matter of whether you said it or not, most importantly is that you have realised your wrongdoings which are not intended. There's no point saying that you will pay for my loss when you are not going to do so ( it means you are lying ) and you feel as if it's not your fault. One's attitude in dealing with all these matters really makes a difference.

To end my babbling of the day, I will opt to look at a brighter side of the day to give credit to my best-est friend. She has made the effort to accompany me in every point of my life when I'm going through all the ups and downs. I feel so fortunate that she can carve so much memories in my mind which I will definitely remember forever.

“A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.” ― Elbert Hubbard

 

 

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” ― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh