Confession: I have not been cooking for at least a year.
Rather, I have not felt like cooking in a long while.
Probably, my lack of motivation was owed to emotional struggles, assignment struggles and the stresses of teaching in the evenings... among other things. It has been a long year past. Of course, pregnancy came along - and by virtue of all-day-sickness (morning sickness is an understatement), loss of appetite, hyperosmia, weird food aversions, hormonally-induced mood swings, physical exhaustion and my endeavours to juggle pregnancy with everything else, I lost interest in many of the things/hobbies/activities that I used to like. Cooking included. I just wanted to sleep, cry and wallow in self-pity, haha. (I am so glad that my first trimester is over!)
Ben, being a very understanding husband, indulged me - and happily made our kitchen his territory.
He would return home from work as early as he could manage in the evenings (despite traffic congestion) and cook. His wife, although touched and appreciative, was never easy to please (to be fair, it was not totally her fault) - and so he discovered by some trial and error what worked and what didn't. Dinnertime was always pleasant, warm and homey - there was love in the food and love in the air. The loving cook would eventually wash the dishes at the end of the meal while his wife leaned back contentedly and let the food settle.
Well then, since Ben is going to be very busy over the next few months (with work) and now that my all-day-sickness has decreased significantly, I am invading his territory and going back to cooking.
Of course, I wonder if I can still cook!
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooking. Show all posts
Tuesday, 26 November 2013
Friday, 6 September 2013
Monday, 10 October 2011
New toy and Monday
Received a pretty un-birthday present from my hubby yesterday. We were shopping for a new hand-phone for him - because his handphone has been really misbehaving in the past year and it was becoming quite the nuisance. Ben ended up buying two android smart-phones. One for himself and one for me! I was surprised and elated. This is my very first android/smart phone ever - a Samsung Galaxy Ace. (Catching up with the technology, aren't I?) We did look at the Galaxy S2, but I decided that the price wasn't quite worth it. Ben ended up getting the Galaxy Mini for himself. To quote the hubby when asked why he got me a new phone when mine was actually still doing pretty OK (except for part of the keypad having detached itself from the phone and the corners scratched - nothing irreconcilable), "I just want to pamper you lah!" :) Everybody say: Awwwww.......
Needless to say, I have been happily playing with my "new toy" since yesterday evening. Xie xie lao gong! :P Haha!
Today's cooking: fish in lentil and vegetable stew... served with fresh coral lettuce and wholemeal bread. Absolutely yummy. There was a tangible sweetness in the stew thanks to the corn and carrots; the well-seasoned fish completed the stew's flavor and made it so wholesomely appetizing that we were quite sorry when the last bit of stew had been mopped up with bread.
Also an update on my final set of assignments for the year and for MCs: I have been trying to get into my assignments today... and so far it has been awfully difficult. I will be definitely working late tonight. May God grant me strength and wisdom.
Needless to say, I have been happily playing with my "new toy" since yesterday evening. Xie xie lao gong! :P Haha!
Today's cooking: fish in lentil and vegetable stew... served with fresh coral lettuce and wholemeal bread. Absolutely yummy. There was a tangible sweetness in the stew thanks to the corn and carrots; the well-seasoned fish completed the stew's flavor and made it so wholesomely appetizing that we were quite sorry when the last bit of stew had been mopped up with bread.
Also an update on my final set of assignments for the year and for MCs: I have been trying to get into my assignments today... and so far it has been awfully difficult. I will be definitely working late tonight. May God grant me strength and wisdom.
Tuesday, 4 October 2011
Tuesday
Made fragrant saffron fried fish fillets... and a zucchini dish (with carrots and onions) for dinner. T'was a good meal indeed. Praise God.
Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Monday
Had a rainy but blessed Monday here in Penang.
I had the pleasure of Vanessa's company in my home during luncheon today. Also, it was my first time cooking lunch (to make no mention of cooking lunch for anybody) in a very very long while - and I truly enjoyed myself. Usually I prepare no-cook meals in the afternoon. Just throw in a bunch of carbs, proteins, fats and vits - whatever I can find in my kitchen - and eat just that for lunch, coz I don't really like washing-up after I cook...and I can't stand not cleaning the kitchen after I cook. Otherwise, I eat out. Anyway, I digressed. Vanessa and I enjoyed our meal together, chatted... and then worshiped and prayed. It was a beautiful session - we were both filled with so much supernatural peace in God's presence. While God was using me as an instrument of His blessing and ministry to Vanessa, I could really feel that He was also ministering to me through Vanessa. Her words were simple but they resonated profoundly within my heart and warmed it up. The rain was pouring outside the window, the skies were gloomy and the cold winds chilled the air. However, my heart was warm, happy and filled with gratitude toward the Lord. Being in that state reminded me of some good times in Dublin during the autumn/winter months. It could be so cold that my toes and fingers felt like they would drop off - but when I sat with God and wrote in my journal, my heart would be so warmed that I forgot about the chill that was nipping at my skin.
The rest of my afternoon was spent doing QT, laundry, language studies as well as cooking dinner.
I have been feeling rather nauseous since I took a dose of my Royal Jelly supplement this morning (I don't know why. Maybe it's gone bad!) so I lay down to rest a while after doing some housework and cooking dinner. Was woken up by the hubby when he arrived home from work. We had dinner and had a long treasured chat. Hubby, if you ever read this, know for sure that I absolutely appreciate you and how you always help me to have a different perspective of my difficulties. Ah, also thanks for buying me a new wooden spatula since our old one broke into half today. I promise that it was an accident. Hehe! :P Love you...
Did some language studies... and I am almost ready to go to bed now. Have a fruitful day tomorrow, peeps.
I had the pleasure of Vanessa's company in my home during luncheon today. Also, it was my first time cooking lunch (to make no mention of cooking lunch for anybody) in a very very long while - and I truly enjoyed myself. Usually I prepare no-cook meals in the afternoon. Just throw in a bunch of carbs, proteins, fats and vits - whatever I can find in my kitchen - and eat just that for lunch, coz I don't really like washing-up after I cook...and I can't stand not cleaning the kitchen after I cook. Otherwise, I eat out. Anyway, I digressed. Vanessa and I enjoyed our meal together, chatted... and then worshiped and prayed. It was a beautiful session - we were both filled with so much supernatural peace in God's presence. While God was using me as an instrument of His blessing and ministry to Vanessa, I could really feel that He was also ministering to me through Vanessa. Her words were simple but they resonated profoundly within my heart and warmed it up. The rain was pouring outside the window, the skies were gloomy and the cold winds chilled the air. However, my heart was warm, happy and filled with gratitude toward the Lord. Being in that state reminded me of some good times in Dublin during the autumn/winter months. It could be so cold that my toes and fingers felt like they would drop off - but when I sat with God and wrote in my journal, my heart would be so warmed that I forgot about the chill that was nipping at my skin.
The rest of my afternoon was spent doing QT, laundry, language studies as well as cooking dinner.
I have been feeling rather nauseous since I took a dose of my Royal Jelly supplement this morning (I don't know why. Maybe it's gone bad!) so I lay down to rest a while after doing some housework and cooking dinner. Was woken up by the hubby when he arrived home from work. We had dinner and had a long treasured chat. Hubby, if you ever read this, know for sure that I absolutely appreciate you and how you always help me to have a different perspective of my difficulties. Ah, also thanks for buying me a new wooden spatula since our old one broke into half today. I promise that it was an accident. Hehe! :P Love you...
Did some language studies... and I am almost ready to go to bed now. Have a fruitful day tomorrow, peeps.
Thursday, 21 July 2011
Thursday
After waiting for what seemed like centuries (you know I'm exaggerating a little, hehe - anyway she's been busy) - an email finally came from a beloved mentor/spiritual mother. Her email made me both laugh and sober down. Coz she's funny in many ways - but more importantly... discerning, wise, thoughtful and inspiring at the same time. I aspire to be like her in many ways - her godly devotion to her family, her down-to-earth personality, her keen passion for God's ministry and her kindness to even strangers (actually her willingness to be vulnerable). So as you can imagine, the email really made my day. I'm really glad that I will be meeting up with her in less than a month's time. Praise God.
My in-laws and Xu Wen (bro-in-law's girlfriend) came to our apartment for a visit last night. It's the second time this week for my parents-in-law, who also came on Tuesday to bring me medicine and fruits. *Thankful* Although we didn't do too much but sit around and talk, time spent with them was valuable. Couldn't have done much in our cramped apartment anyway! Also, for the very first time, we sat down in a circle and prayed, haha - for my illness as well as exam results for both James and Xu Wen. So while I am still not well (as of today), I feel that it has been worth it if we could all sit down to pray together in our house. Strangely, we've never done this before - probably because we were all too paiseh (embarrassed) - and I speak especially for myself. Haha.
Cooked a pot of hearty beef soup yesterday... for dinner. Although I overcooked the meat (causing it to be a little too chewy for my liking), the soup (and whatever else that was in it) was still very good with brown rice. Mmm. Well, perhaps this will be my last pot of beef soup till I recover from cystitis. :P I think it is a little too "heaty" for my system.
Worship practice tonight.
Still praying that I will be 100% recovered soon. This is the longest bout of illness I've had so far.
My in-laws and Xu Wen (bro-in-law's girlfriend) came to our apartment for a visit last night. It's the second time this week for my parents-in-law, who also came on Tuesday to bring me medicine and fruits. *Thankful* Although we didn't do too much but sit around and talk, time spent with them was valuable. Couldn't have done much in our cramped apartment anyway! Also, for the very first time, we sat down in a circle and prayed, haha - for my illness as well as exam results for both James and Xu Wen. So while I am still not well (as of today), I feel that it has been worth it if we could all sit down to pray together in our house. Strangely, we've never done this before - probably because we were all too paiseh (embarrassed) - and I speak especially for myself. Haha.
Cooked a pot of hearty beef soup yesterday... for dinner. Although I overcooked the meat (causing it to be a little too chewy for my liking), the soup (and whatever else that was in it) was still very good with brown rice. Mmm. Well, perhaps this will be my last pot of beef soup till I recover from cystitis. :P I think it is a little too "heaty" for my system.
Worship practice tonight.
Still praying that I will be 100% recovered soon. This is the longest bout of illness I've had so far.
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
Simple homecooked dinner...
Hubby came back from work... and whipped up a tasty dish of vegies and chicken bits... Simple but awesome.
Finished product. Worked up my faked out appetite by a few notches, it did. (Silly cystitis). I still don't know how he gets his vegies cooked so nicely. I'm still bad at stir-fry vegies...
I contributed a dish too... onion egg. Haven't had that for ages. Onions were sweet and fragrant. We had our dishes with our usual brown rice.
Wednesday, 29 June 2011
Homemade Pesto
Made my own pesto sauce from scratch - for the first time ever.
I've always loved pesto - especially in pasta (grew addicted to the strong fragrance of basil since my Dublin days). The jars of pesto I've bought from supermarkets so far have been expensive - so I thought why not make my own? Plus I can control the amount of olive oil in it too. Tweaked the usual recipes a little, since I couldn't find pine nuts (used cashew nuts instead). It was not too much work, thankfully. I felt as if I was in art class. Pure, simple fun!
I've always loved pesto - especially in pasta (grew addicted to the strong fragrance of basil since my Dublin days). The jars of pesto I've bought from supermarkets so far have been expensive - so I thought why not make my own? Plus I can control the amount of olive oil in it too. Tweaked the usual recipes a little, since I couldn't find pine nuts (used cashew nuts instead). It was not too much work, thankfully. I felt as if I was in art class. Pure, simple fun!
Jadi! I feel so...terrifically housewife. :D Used it with my boiled broccoli today. Kept the rest in an empty jar to be refrigerated and used in my pasta on Friday.
Mmmm....fragrant goodness of garlic, cashews, basil leaves, parmesan cheese, olive oil, salt and pepper
Made garlic-honey-chilli fish today. Hubby loved it.
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Random show-and-tell
What we had for dinner yesterday...
Chilli belacan french beans with fresh button mushrooms (more than half was polished off the serving plate before I could take a picture, haha)
Tempura dory... very yummy! Ben walloped 3. I had 2.
...our usual mix of purple and brown rice
Tuesday, 21 June 2011
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Blue Norwegian Mackerel fillets to beat the blues....
Today had a glum start but a nice finish.
7.30am: Rose but did not shine. Swollen eyes. (Yes, being the drama queen I am - I was crying myself to sleep last night, while trying to come to terms with the fact that I would be still in Penang for a longer while.) Rolled out of bed cranky. Burnt the toast while making Ben his breakfast. He was so gracious that I felt bad being so silly and cranky. After that bread affair I was even crankier (plus our house stank of burnt bread), till I chatted with Wee Lyn online. The chat seemed to bring me to my senses. Perhaps God ministered to me through WL. So I showered, began my "Teaching Adults" assignments and waited for Ai Hua to come over.
12:15pm: Ai Hua shouted at my door-step till I opened the door. Haha. She explored every nook and cranny of our little home. We drove out to Tesco's for Mc-donald's. Had a good, longand loud chat. God seemed to speak to me again - this time through Ai Hua, "Good thing you are staying here in Penang; maybe the Lord kept you here because He knew that I would need you to help me get ready to be a married woman." I felt a little happier. We went grocery shopping (yet again). I bought spices for my fish fillets defrosting at home.
3.30pm: Arrived back home. Continued with my assignments.
5.30pm: Watched a little TV before marinating a pair of thawed blue Norwegian mackerel fillets with black pepper, salt, and pesto. Chopped the garlic. Peeled the potatoes and put them to boil.
6.45pm: Had the marinated mackerel fillets sizzling on the frying pan (skin side down), giving out this awesome-pawsome scent. Took the potatoes out of the pot and cut them into wedges. Turned the fillets over and cooked a further minute on the other side. After the fillets were done and removed from the pan, I combined parsley, paprika and chopped garlic with the remaining pesto and oil in the pan. Tossed for around 45 seconds, before drizzling the sauce over the fish.
7.15pm: Hubby came home early today! I tossed a salad and served the fillets and boiled potato wedges on plates. Hubby said grace and we had dinner. The fish was AWESOME!!! Hubby loved it too. Praise the Lord. We watched "Alpha and Omega". A very cute and hilarious cartoon. Kate and Humphrey, the two wolves, somehow reminded me of myself and Ben. If you are feeling sad, please watch "Alpha and Omega". It kept me in fits of laughter. We lounged around in our living room for a good while, before cleaning up our kitchen together.
10.15pm: Showered. Feeling comfy and all relaxed now. To continue my assignments tomorrow when mood is better.
7.30am: Rose but did not shine. Swollen eyes. (Yes, being the drama queen I am - I was crying myself to sleep last night, while trying to come to terms with the fact that I would be still in Penang for a longer while.) Rolled out of bed cranky. Burnt the toast while making Ben his breakfast. He was so gracious that I felt bad being so silly and cranky. After that bread affair I was even crankier (plus our house stank of burnt bread), till I chatted with Wee Lyn online. The chat seemed to bring me to my senses. Perhaps God ministered to me through WL. So I showered, began my "Teaching Adults" assignments and waited for Ai Hua to come over.
12:15pm: Ai Hua shouted at my door-step till I opened the door. Haha. She explored every nook and cranny of our little home. We drove out to Tesco's for Mc-donald's. Had a good, long
3.30pm: Arrived back home. Continued with my assignments.
5.30pm: Watched a little TV before marinating a pair of thawed blue Norwegian mackerel fillets with black pepper, salt, and pesto. Chopped the garlic. Peeled the potatoes and put them to boil.
6.45pm: Had the marinated mackerel fillets sizzling on the frying pan (skin side down), giving out this awesome-pawsome scent. Took the potatoes out of the pot and cut them into wedges. Turned the fillets over and cooked a further minute on the other side. After the fillets were done and removed from the pan, I combined parsley, paprika and chopped garlic with the remaining pesto and oil in the pan. Tossed for around 45 seconds, before drizzling the sauce over the fish.
7.15pm: Hubby came home early today! I tossed a salad and served the fillets and boiled potato wedges on plates. Hubby said grace and we had dinner. The fish was AWESOME!!! Hubby loved it too. Praise the Lord. We watched "Alpha and Omega". A very cute and hilarious cartoon. Kate and Humphrey, the two wolves, somehow reminded me of myself and Ben. If you are feeling sad, please watch "Alpha and Omega". It kept me in fits of laughter. We lounged around in our living room for a good while, before cleaning up our kitchen together.
10.15pm: Showered. Feeling comfy and all relaxed now. To continue my assignments tomorrow when mood is better.
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