May the Fourth be with You

Because coincidentally today is a replacement holiday, and because I have 2 toys awaiting in my drawer dying to celebrate May the 4th, of course I planned for something too when everyone in the Star Wars universe is excited.

First, I started with an easy one as warm up. Though totally not challenging, it is REAL fun to start my day with this.

Master Yoda had an easy win

After having some fun photo session with Master Yoda, I started the second project. First of all, this 3D puzzle is not easy, secondly, I CANNOT read Japanese! Luckily all schematic diagram is the same so I could pick up the pace after first few pieces.

















Sometimes it involved finding the correct pieces, sometimes I have to roll the pieces on pen so that I could get the roundness I want, sometimes it tried to kill me with all the tiny bends holes.

Patiently(of course, “Patience you must have”), pieces by pieces, parts by parts, I built my Millennium Falcon while waiting for Han Solo and Chewie to come home :)

即将失传的糯米饭

小时候，外婆仍然年轻力壮时，我们下午茶糕点总是千变万化。外婆有五个女儿，所以我这最大的孙女从来都不须进厨房，但有几道特定的食物，我总会很乐意地在厨房里帮忙（其实是想要第一个品尝新鲜出炉的食物），其中一个，就是这糯米饭。樁臼部分总是由我负责。樁虾米、樁花生对我而言是一件充满期待、非常幸福兴奋的事儿。

外婆年级渐长，好多食物渐渐被遗忘。这糯米饭，少说也有十多二十年没吃过了。妈妈不知怎的心血来潮，今早就端出这热腾腾糯米饭。差点飚泪！

未免失传，今天老食谱大公开（不好意思，老人家的食谱都是agak-agak的，千万别问我比例、重量等详情）：

食材：糯米、椰浆、花生（炒香，然后樁碎）、虾米（樁碎，然后炒香）、葱

步骤：

1. 把糯米泡在水里隔夜。

2. 隔天把糯米蒸熟。

3. 蒸熟后的糯米加入椰浆拌之，均匀后再蒸一蒸。

4. 蒸好后把糯米铺平。

5. 撒上炒过的虾米碎

6. 撒上花生碎

7. 撒上葱花

8. Ta~da~ 简单的传统美味点心就可以上桌啦~

看到里头粒粒分明的糯米吗？

暂时，至今为止我的2015年最佳早餐非这莫属（不好意思，童年的味道注定战胜一切！）

My Weekend Flower Bed Project

Where the idea comes from:

A few weeks ago, Moy See posted photos of her mum's beautiful garden, and subsequently, almost the whole world is uploading spring flowers photos on Facebook. I decided that I need a flower bed too! 

I got seeds from Moy See's mum, and I started to draw a flower bed schematic diagram (haha, typical engineer). I also decided to up-cycle the wine bottles as divider. (I read that the energy that could be saved from recycling one glass bottle could provide 20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollution. One glass wine bottle takes 4,000 years or more to decompose.)

So, after moving into this house for a decade, finally, I am converting this little corner into a flower bed!

The Weekend Project: 

Last Sunday, the project officially started!

I knew I need a proper hoe for this purpose, but I couldn't wait!! The weather was nice, and I was in the mood. I was not going to waste my time asking around to borrow a hoe, so I decided to use this tiny little hoe instead. For a person that seldom performing labor work, this almost killed me. Those muscles that I haven't used for years started to shout and cry. I ignored them and working hard under the hot morning sun. After almost 2 hours, the area was ready. I was exhausted, and decided to rest for a while before I begin the second phase. 

After my afternoon nap and lunch, I started phase 2. I dug holes and planted the wine bottles upside down. In less than an hour, before I could complete second phase, it started to rain, and rain, and rain! Non-stop! I gave up, and decided that I could continue during Labor Day.

The day before Labor Day, I saw this when I reached home after work:

My dad cannot stand the sight of wine bottles scattered in the garden so he decided to help me to complete Phase 2.

So, the first thing I did after my Labor Day breakfast was to add gardening soil for the raised flower bed.  

What I planted: 
I replanted my 3-weeks-old Asteraceae (sorry, still haven't figured out the species name) from their original pot to the flower bed.

I use Snake Plant as divider, hiding the bricks.

I also planted 2 rain lilies (葱兰及韭兰) that I bought from taobao mid of March. They don't seems to grow well, but I saw healthy roots so i guess they are doing well, just waiting for their season to bloom.

Rain lilies - Day 0 when I received

Rain lilies 1.5 months later

I planted lantana in the first row, and Asteraceae at the back. Hopefully adding enough texture and colours to this flower bed.

The corner divided by bricks is the special corner for my succulent plants. Since I have another batch of purchase this weekend, I'll complete this 25% next week.

Helping them to survive tropical sun and rain while they are still weak

A New Hope - String of Pearls

Just 2 weeks ago, I decided to move my "String of Pearls" to my bedroom to speed up the growth rate. I NEED strings and strings of pearls.

During day time, all my windows are open and I think the temperature is below 30 degree C. The strings of pearls will get some sunlight in the evening. At night, my room temperature is always below 20 degree C.

I water them once every few days, when the soil is totally dry. 2 weeks after moving it into my bedroom, a new shoot standing proudly, saying hi to Totoro.

I'm sure I'll see strings and strings of pearls coming out the next few months. Can't wait!!

Day 0

Day 6 - see the cute little shoot?

Day 12

Labor Day (Day 13)

Weather Forecast

Ever since my first experience of "unprepared for terrible weather", I always check the weather forecast diligently, and I always make sure I bring one extra jacket, just in case the weather forecast is not accurate. 

Even though I prefer cool weather over hot weather, still, I learn all the tips of keeping warm, and I equipped myself well. Last year, I got myself an Ultra Light Down jackets from Uniqlo, which is so light and compact that I can squeeze it into one of the lens compartment in my camera backpack. That is my "to bring" item whenever I travel in spring, autumn and winter :)

For our upcoming family trip, the weather forecast looks great! "Abundant of sunshine" makes me happy and "Brilliant sunshine and warm" sounds awesome!

Can't wait!

妈妈不在家之食谱（十五）：柴鱼珊瑚菇蒸蛋和生菜包肉拼盘

今天午餐，是货真价实“清理冰箱”的煮法了。（妈妈今晚回家啦~）冰箱里还剩一粒鸡蛋、一些珊瑚菇、几片生菜。我立志想办法把它们给解决了。


（一）柴鱼珊瑚菇蒸蛋

今天煲玉蜀黍排骨汤，正好用一点儿作为蒸蛋的上汤。

把鸡蛋打入杯子里，以鸡蛋对上汤一对一的比例加入上汤。加入少许盐和胡椒，把之打散。

倒入碗内，我直接把它放在饭上蒸个十分钟。

十分钟后取出，嫩滑如豆腐了。

想要美观的可以包上保鲜纸

我把珊瑚菇加一点kikkoman soy sauce腌一腌，蛋蒸好后下锅炒一炒，然后淋在蛋上。

最后，我洒上我爱吃的柴鱼便可上桌。

这柴鱼下手有一点重。嘻嘻。

（二）生菜包肉拼盘
因为是周末，我比较懒，不像平时在回家路上已经想好要怎么做。今天真的胡来。
我取一点儿肉碎解冻，想要炒珊瑚菇蒸蛋的，但后来觉得想要吃柴鱼。
而不知怎的随手抓来解冻的猪肉片竟然就只有四片，干脆把生菜包猪肉片换成几种口味。

a) 鱼香猪肉碎以半茶匙鱼露、少许盐、胡椒腌半小时。大火快炒。
b) 猪肉片以鲍鱼汁腌半小时。中火煎之。

失败的肉片生菜玫瑰

洒上香脆蒜米。爱死了！

洒上蒜米的鱼香肉碎。我爱吃呢！

最后还剩一片生菜，就包我的牛肉丝吧

生菜包肉拼盘

就这样子，“执头执尾”也可以是一餐。

妈妈不在家之食谱（十四）：香辣虾米豆腐

这真的是超级容易的。

把豆腐从包装取出，放在铁盘子里。倒上一些生抽给它入味。

把切碎的小辣椒和虾米一起丢到平底锅里爆香，然后倒在豆腐上。

细火蒸之（我蒸了八分钟）。

左边的是昨天吃剩的肉碎香茄

取出，撒上香脆蒜米就搞定啦~