Under The Weather

What's on today's menu? I'd be lucky to even strike up an idea since I've just came back from bed hunting with my lovely aunties whom I'm proud to call my family in UK. Would have had a nice Japanese buffet for dinner at Newcastle but I had to politely say no. Why you may ask?

Well..Let's just say my "ulcer" got the better of me and I'm officially under the weather. It ain't an ulcer anymore, it's now called a Canker Sore. Curse these little viruses! :( I can't talk or eat properly with comfort and it kills me because those are the two things I love to do! Dx

 So, not having much time to delegate my menu ideas like I used to since my stomach is indeed growling for fuel. *Shhh!!!* As seen, I went for the obvious comfort food. Porridge with veggies (carrots/onions/cabbages) Just those simple ingredients can bring my life back. Well, part of it at least.

 Here I am, wallowing up in misery with my canker sore in front of my laptop. Never thought I'd see the day when I actually feel more comfortable NOT talking. Unless someone finds a way to talk without moving my tongue *which is where the sore is located* Please ring me and share that secret.

 On the brighter note, the porridge sang and it cheered me up a little since the photos turn out pretty alright. Phew! Thought I was losing my touch there for a while. But I guess it turns out it was due to the lacking of decorative ingredients in my fridge. It is after all my 1st week. Get a grip! :)

 Thought just having a bowl of porridge wouldn't suffice my appetite, what with the cold and wind terribly terrorizing where I am currently living! *I miss the sun and the humidity back home* I had the porridge with some red kidney beans I've mixed with some vinegar and sweet chilli sauce to resemble a side-dish. Hey give me credit for trying, despite me over-looking the food presentation for one of the first rare few times. I am not proud of it, but I promise to deliver better in my next post!

Stewed..

I've always wanted to attempt to make chilli since I've watched those Mexican recipe programs. :) Thought I could give it a go this time around with the can of kidney beans I have in my cabinet.

 But, judging from my photos..I'd say that looks too far away from the typical old-fashioned chilli. Ah well, better luck next time I'd say.

 Instead of chilli, I think it turned out to be a veggie bean stew instead. And a great veggie stew it turned out to be :) Jam packed with all the nutrients I needed to rejuvenate myself from a tiring day. Beans for protein and carbs, Cabbage/Carrots/Onions and Peppers for vitamins and fibre.

 Peeping through the kidney beans. Yummy little gems they are :)

 Though an unconventional way to start off a chilli recipe, it definitely took a good turn into a wholesome stew :)

Foodie's Block

For the first time, I'm putting my newest gadget Canon SX40 to work and I must say it's pretty under horrible lighting. The room was pretty dark by the time I was done with cooking and yet I could still see the clarity of my food. 

Though these were with enhanced adjustments because I find them looking rather dull without proper lighting. 

 Back to my food! Well, this is after all the first week back in this "not so foreign" place so don't expect a huge grand entrance of buffets and eye-catching dinners. Just not in the mood for it and I still have to build up my food stock in order to do that.

 Just felt like having a nice hot and spicy dish, so I just whipped up some glass noodles with my Korean red pepper powder. So desperate for some Korean gochujang instead *puts that in list to stock up* 

 Next to it, I just thought I needed some fast nutritious soup. Hence the doenjjang paste with veggies and the my own twist, Smoke Back Bacon :) A not-so-vegetarian Korean meal.

The downside to the camera though, compared to my Samsung NX I find that the lacking of megapixels is quite obvious. Quality and photo texture-wise I still prefer my Samsung, but for functionality and camera ability I'd pick Canon. :D

Pause and Play Again

Phasing back into a different timezone is no easy task. But it's something I can get used to. It's not impossible, just take things slower at this end of the world. My first bowl of breakfast oatmeal to start off my new term and an apple, thank heavens Wing had some fruits to share. Did not have the mood for groceries at all. Too tired and jetlagged to budge.

 

 Having my first bite of a fresh fig after a day out with Wing to the vegetable sundries. It was indeed a "fruitful" day. :) 4 figs for 1 quid. Not too bad, but I managed to find 5 figs for that same price at the end of the day.

 Tried to have a go at making black bean noodles using red beans instead, I have to say..DON'T DO THIS BACK HOME. The recipe needs some more tweaking before I can officially render it a success. Knew I should have gone with the porridge with red beans instead. Ah well, it was all in my stomach anyway. At least the tank has been filled :)

 One of the brighter sides to staying overseas are the abundant fresh fruits that I'm spoiled for choice :) Gorgeous strawberries for a quid. Oh, how I've missed these little gems. I feel the powerful antioxidants flowing in me already :D

 

My second attempt for dinner *despite my sulking mood and the night before's failed attempt* A typical korean seaweed and doenjjang jiggae with scallops and various veggies. My own added twist, smoked back bacon :) Plus with the glass noodles, made the one pot dinner worth a hundred quid.

 

To Do What's Right

 Darn it..This day just had to come eventually :( The two day worth journey back to the place I have to call my 3rd home (1st being KK and 2nd being KL) Tears and heartache filled the entire journey. If I could stop time and just stay put at home, I would. So, being down and crestfallen with the harsh reality of being half way around the world away from home and not being able to visit til another 9 months definitely made me depressed. But, it's my responsibility to what's right for myself and my parents' sake.

The day got so grey and depressing to the point, that I unintentionally LEFT MY CAMERA! *facepalm* Seriously, how could I have left my Samsung NX camera when I blatantly left it in front of me on my bed! Funny thing was I remembered to bring my camera charger and flash extension. Right..Joke's on me Dx As if the day couldn't have turn out worse.

Well, things did not really seem all too bad after I got my hands on this wonderful new baby gadget I shall now disclose as FAMILY. :) Corny but hey, it helped me feel a slight bit better. Whenever my mind drifts back home and tears start trickling down my cheeks unintentionally, I just distract myself with this. Works most of the time.

Behold! My new compact camera, the pioneer of all compact cameras! The Canon SX40 :) Make mama proud! Thanks again for the early Xmas gift from my mama.

 

What better way to kill 9 bloody hours at the Dubai Airport while waiting my next flight to Newcastle than to sit on the bench with nothing to do except admiring the magnificence of my new baby gadget. :)

  

Also, expecting nothing but the best from Emirates was their prompt attention to my requested meals. The above was my "dinner" at about 8.30pm I think. Seafood Meal! :) Wonderful huge chunk of cod fish I think. For the first time, I actually finished my airplane meal. That's something to brag!

 

Just when I thought I had it good for dinner, check out the Oriental Meal I had for breakfast! :D This was breakfast, lunch was just as good too :) Believe it or not, I finished them too. Damn, airplane food is getting better as we speak! :) Luckily the food's good, otherwise paired up with my sulking mood and a possible dissatisfaction for Emirates, the journey could have been hell!

The Last "Supper"

Recapping the last few days home, knowing that they were numbered and my list of things to do at home was still a long way to go makes it harder for me to return to UK. Whatever it is, I'll just have to learn to adapt to my surroundings..AGAIN~

So, what do we see in this lousy quality picture? Hmm..I think it ain't too bad *reassuring my own insecurity,RIGHT* I used my new Samsung S3 :) And I'd praise the quality of it. x)
So, I tried making sausage puffs by making my own puff pastry/shortbread pastry. I think I just made butter bread pastry instead :( SIGH! Not to worry, they still taste good..*Much of the justice from the sausages..Shhh*

 

Taking a closer look at my failed "sausage puffs" attempt. Sorry I didn't have a better view of them, I'll get to the reason as to why is that in my next post. I'll bet you'll throw your palm in your face by the time I revealed it.

Well, I've been busy in the kitchen haven't I? These are my cheese tart attempts. Again, kind of a fail really :( I just can't get these pastry things right! Dx There goes my chance to having a patisserie back home then. *scratches off list*

And what to do with leftover cream cheese? Hmmm..I know! *light bulb* I'm gonna bake a Cheese infused Orange batch of cupcakes. Now these were a hit :) Finally hit the note right with my cookies as well. No photos here, didn't have them in my phone. :(

And that was how I utilized the last day of me being home. Baking and feeding my family :) These are the quint essential ways of showing affection I should say. Mum..Dad..Popo..KungKung..Raymond..and of course Laurence <3 I miss you all so very much, I wish I could stay and not go back. But, duty calls~!