JUST WHEN YOU'RE NEEDED...

Just realized late last night, to my dismay, that the previous prescription of anti-histamine pills is nowhere in sight. Now, where have I put them? I don't remember discarding them. Therefore, it's either I left it somewhere in my room (but conveniently forgot where the "special" place is), or I left it in the refrigerator/on the kitchen cabinet and the parents threw it away.

I think that medication is just like cabs - they are never there just when you needed them.



Nevertheless, a part of me is secretly rejoicing over the loss of the tablets. It is super drowsy! The only regrettable loss is - without the pills - the production of histamines can't be curbed for the time being; which translates to a continuation of this rashes torture. Grrr!

Anyway, I'm pretty upset because this is a recurrence of the rashes. Up until last month in mid-August, NEVER EVER in my life have I an outbreak of rashes before. It had affected the arms, hind legs, and calves. For this recurrence though, it is mainly affecting the collarbones and shoulder blades; with a couple of random dots down the front and up the neck. When it itches, it really itches. I feel hideous, and I feel that I look like a hideous monkey!







Might be going to the Doc tomorrow to get another prescription of anti-histamines (I'll be sure to ask for the non-drowsy line of pills this time round!) and another bottle of calamine lotion.

IT'S BACK!

They're confirmed back. Sigh!

Dotted on the collarbones; spreading down the shoulder blades.

Don't ask. I'm just as equally clueless.

URBANIZED JUNGLE

I was walking home from the bus stop earlier just now.

I thought I saw a lizard and nearly let out a Y!E!L!P!. Turned out to be a frog. It paused for a moment before continue hopping (rather energetically) across the pavement and onto the grass patch.

This is the, what? 4th time frogs are spotted in my area of residence?

Hihi! I am Frog No. 3.

I literally live in an urbanized jungle. Lizards. Snails. Bats. Centipedes. Millipedes. Frogs.



I'm expecting to see snakes next.

BETTER THAN

It is always more commendable to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.

Even if you fall flat on the face, you're still moving forward.



Move it, girl!

EXPERIMENTS

Time flies, really.

The very first time I tried my hands at baking is earlier this January, which is less than 8months ago. That is not even considered real baking, to be concise; but nevertheless, it had been such a bother (right, PH? DH? Remember how the bones in our poor fingers nearly broke just by crumbling that ONE WHOLE ROLL of digestive biscuits? Should have thought to use a hammer or something. Anyway, to be fair, we did 偷 吃 a little here and there while crumbling the biscuits. Heh!) that I remember telling myself something to the effect that never again would I bake.

Promises of this nature - more often than not - usually do not stick out till the end; which is why one should always be prepared to expect the unexpected, I thought ironically to myself while peeling, de-core-ing, and slicing some Granny Smiths. It has only been 8months, and since that January birthday cake, things have progressed to chocolate cakes and, now, the current apple pies.

The first attempt at apple pie turned out fine; except that it was a tad way too sweet, and the crust was a little odd-tasting; so much so that I personally doubted its' edibility. Thus, this time round though, I kapok-ed my mum's dough recipe and reduced the amount of white sugar by half, choosing to leave the quantity of brown sugar as it originally is because, you know, the gooey sauce in apple pies are supposed to be brown in colour.

Mum's dough was, of course, way much better than my first attempt. It was, however, dry and flaky. It was almost impossible to roll a good piece out of it. Just then, I remember reading somewhere that the main causes of flaky doughs are most probably due to either: insufficient thawing, or lack of water. The former was not a very likely cause (since Mum's dough does not require refrigerating unlike some other recipes which call for it). Mum's recipe had not listed water as one of the ingredients. As a precautionary measure, I tore off a small chunk of dough and added a little water to it, and voila!

Anyway, as I was saying, the dough has been my area of biggest concern. That had been Friday night. After baking, I kept the pie in the refrigerator overnight and took it out the next morning before heading out for tuition; adjourning down to Simei thereafter. Had originally planned to warm it up before serving (food tastes best when served hot!), but didn't get to do so. I was worried, too, as to whether would it upset stomachs; since I took it out from the refrigerator at 10am in the morning.

I didn't realize how concerned I was over this whole thing until this little chat with WL while walking out of Expo together later the same day.

"The apple pie just now, you're the one who brought it, right? Buy one ah? Or make one?"

"Made it. How ah? How was it? Is it ok?"

"Nice." My heart danced, and she continued, "I LIKE the crust!"

I flipped. I couldn't almost believe my ears. The dough? The LEAST confidence I had is the dough! And I know that many people - myself inclusive - prefer fillings to crusts. The unexpected stone in my heart suddenly felt lifted. Strangely, this alone certainly beats having 10 people saying that they like the fillings.






Anyway, I just suddenly came to realize that - unknowingly, inadvertently, and subconsciously - the CG has become the (un)official food tasters. To put it plainly, apart from the family, it feels like there is also another bunch of supportive, long-suffering, and awesome food tasters (read: guinea pigs) who readily and gamely help to wipe out the "products" of my "experiments". Hohoho!

Anyway, before I start working full-time, I would like to use this period to experiment and try out different stuffs. I have a feeling that starting from Jan 2010, time would not be such a luxury as it is now.

My next conquer? Cookies!



Edit (12.09am): Next on the list: CHILLI CRAB!

HOME-COOKED WITH LOVE

"So, I was waiting for the lift the other day." shared Dad, "The lift doors opened, and I stepped inside. The upstairs-neighbour was inside. We greeted each other. Then, you know what? She told me that just the other day, when I was cooking dinner, her little kid was telling her, 'Wah! 妈, the downstairs-neighbour's cooking very 香, hor?'" He preened brightly. "厉害 anot?! I cook, the neighbours upstairs also can smell!"



That's why I like home-cooked meals. Dad has always been a fantastic cook. The food is always great; but more than that, it is heart-warming. Nothing beats coming home to a meal that is personally cooked by a loved one. It is just different.

Nothing beats home-cooked meals.

SELECTIVE

With the exception of ba zhang and sushi, I don't really like rice. I know I know, rice is THE staple food of Asia; but I'm just sooo sick of eating rice and grains for almost every other meal for the past 20-odds years; so much so that nowadays, I would usually eat the 料 and discard away half a pack of 菜饭.

Sans laziness to chew and a general tendency not to eat outside, I have quite a healthy appetite for other things, though. Tapoica chips, for one. Chocolates, coffee buns, ba zhang, sushi, milk tea, Old Chang Kee's gu cai, Swensen's fries, Subway's cold cut trio, kangkong, prawn, crab, topshell, sotong sotong and more sotong, ham, noodles, instant noodles.

This reminds me, I had instant noodles for breakfast this morning. This is the second meal of instant noodles for the week. NOT healthy, definitely!




Anyway, I really like instant noodles.

Usually, I would firstly cook and soften the noodles in boiling water. After which, I would drain the noodles and cool them down by washing in normal, drinking water. This step is something personal, something akin to a strange habit; although it is kind of redundant. I'm aware that all the ruckus about the supposedly wax in noodles is just a bunch of hoax. Somehow, despite this knowledge, I STILL prefer to wash the noodles in clear, drinking water. Strangely, it just feels healthier (remove oil, hopefully?). In addition, it also prevents the noodles from being all too soggy. I don't know about you, but I hate limpy noodles. Noodles are supposed to be Q and bouncy. Toooiii!

I like the curry seasoning. Apart from the seasoning, I would also usually add in a dash of sesame oil, a generous dose of black pepper (don't add this if you're not an arrant chilli/spicy lover), and a little of tomato sauce and chilli sauce. Yes, preservatives overload; but hey! I don't eat instant noodles every single day!

Occasionally - if I remember - I would throw in shiitake mushrooms, or enokitake mushrooms (金针菇!!! 一级棒!!!), or an egg. The end result? It is always fabulous (at least, to me, it is)! Not only is the colour pretty (a nice orangey-red), but the noodles is springy and Q as well; bringing along with it a fiery dash of hot spiciness, masked with a tangible - but yet mild - tinge of delightful sweetness (thanks to the tomato sauce!). I always take special care when it comes to the chilli sauce and tomato sauce though, because I would not like the noodles to get too creamy or gelatinous.

Eat me! I am Q!

Ok, this morning's shall be the last packet of instant noodles for this week.

BACK TO NATURE III

On Tuesday, my first lecture starts at 8.30am. A friend who is working near the vicinity of my campus kindly drove me to school.

We passed by BKE.

Caught unaware, I found myself picturing the animals sleeping soundly in their own tranquil, serene world. I could practically see the fog, smell the air, and hear the peaceful silence.



I think it's high time to stop living in the past. My heart, mind, and soul is still with the zoo. Hello, Houston? Come back to the present, girl!

ONE SHOULD ALWAYS...

... Feed the otters.









They're cute.