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tapestries; you're color. 
Ashley.This daughter of a devoted catholic and an excellent chef grew up in the heart of city - rain and shine. Paved her way to university to becoming an entrepreneur/marketer, her journey of twenty-three continues as she unravels the mysteries of life through her love for photography, food, traveling, the streets and beautiful things. |
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
한국 잔치 ~ On today's menu, 1. Chicken Bibimbap 2. Miyeokguk (Seaweed Soup) 3. Pajeon (Seafood & Spring Onion Pancake) 4. Dukbokki (Spicy Korean Rice Cake) ~ Introducing 3 new dishes... Firstly, we have Chicken Bibimbap. ~ What You'll Need: 550g Chicken Drum 200g Natto Sprouts 2 Japanese Cucumber 2 Carrots 14 - 16 Dried Mushrooms 3.5 Cups of Rice 2 - 4 Eggs 1 Rice Bowl Gochujang mix with water & 2tsp sugar (depends on how sweet you want the sauce to be)  ~ Chicken Marinade (as shown in the picture above) 2.5 - 3 tbsp Light Soy Sauce 2 tbsp Gochujang 2 tbsp Minced Garlic 2 tbsp Sesame Oil 3 tbsp Sugar 2 tsp Toasted Ground Sesame Seeds 2 tsp Mirin 2 tsp Rice Wine (Marinate chicken for 20 to 30 mins but I marinated it for 1hr ++) ~  ~ 1. Blanch natto sprouts in a pot of boiling water for 1 to 2 mins. Remove from pot and rinse in cool water. Drain well. Mix sprouts with 1tsp light soy sauce and 1/2 tbsp sesame oil. Set aside. 2. In the same pot of water, blanch spinach till wilted or for 1 to 2 mins. Remove from pot and rinse in cool water. Squeeze excess water. Mix spinach with 1 tbsp light soy sauce, 1/2 tbsp sesame oil and toasted ground sesame seeds. Set aside. 3. Mix cucumber with 1/2 tsp salt and leave to sweat for 10 mins. Squeeze out water. Heat 1 tsbp oil in a pan over medium-high fire. Fry cucumber for 1 to 2 mins or till fairly dry. Remove from pan and set aside. 4. Season mushrooms with 1 to 1.5 tbsp light soy sauce, 1/2 to 1 tbsp sesame oil and 1/2 tsp sugar. Stir-fry mushrooms over medium-high fire till fragrant and cooked. Remove from pan and set aside. 5. In the same pan, heat 1 tbsp oil and stir-fry carrot over medium-high fire till soft. Remove from pan and set aside. 6. Remove chicken from marinade. Stir-fry chicken for 3 to 4 mins over medium-high fire, or till cooked. Remove from pan and set aside. 7. Place hot cooked rice in a claypot and arrange prepared vegetables, stir-fried chicken and fried eggs on top. 8. To enjoy, mix rice with all the ingredients. Stir in the Gochujang mix. ~ Serves 8 - 10  ~  ~  ~ Secondly, Miyeokguk (Seaweed Soup) Did You Know? This soup is traditionally served during birthday celebrations and to women after childbirth. ~ What You'll Need: 40 - 50g Dried Seaweed 1/2 tbsp Sesame Oil 1 tbsp Crushed Garlic 500g Beef (cut into cubes) 9 Bowls of Water 1/2 to 1 tsp of light soy sauce, fish sauce and salt (to taste)  1. Drain seaweed and cut into smaller pieces 2. Heat sesame oil in a large pan/pot and add crushed garlic, seaweed and beef. Stir-fry over high heart for 5 mins. 3. Add water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 40 to 55 mins. 4. Add soy sauce, fish sauce and salt to taste. 5. Ladle into individual bowls and serve. ~ Serves 8 - 10 ~ Lastly, Pajeon (Seafood & Spring Onion Pancake). ~ What You'll Need: 150g Pancake Mix (you can get it at any Korean supermarket) 200ml Cold Water 14 Prawns (small), peeled and slice into half 1 Squid, cleaned and cut into rings 2 - 3 Red Chili, sliced 3 Steams of Spring Onion, cut into lengths (about 4cm) ~ 1. In a large bowl, add pancake mix and cold water till it becomes smooth. 2. Add in prawns, squid, red chili and spring onion into the batter. 3. Heat a little oil over medium heat in a large non-stick frying pan. Pour the batter into the pan and sprinkle any leftover ingredients on top. Cook the pancake for 3 to 4 mins until bottom is browned, then turn it over with a spatula and cook the other side for 2 mins. 4. Remove from heat and serve with a serving bowl of the dipping sauce on the side. ~ Serves 6 - 8  ~ I forgot about the dipping sauce but here is the recipe, 3 tbsp soy sauce 2 tsp vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 tsp Korean chili powder (gochugaru) ~I modified the recipe so suit the family's taste, so modify if necessary to suit your tastebuds(: Enjoy trying these 3 new dishes on your own! penned by ash.
11:28:00 AM
Monday, November 29, 2010
Dear God, All I Want For X'mas is a Miracle ~ I was suppose to blog about 2nd year anni. with YOU♥ and dinner with the girls but not so good news came in yesterday which left everyone in the family feeling heartbroken. ~ The family's dog, Pepper who has been with us for the past 5 and a half years coming 6 this x'mas has been vomiting for the past 2 weeks, he began eating lesser and lesser and eventually not eating at all, not even this favourite fruit. He also lost 1kg within a month which is not good because it's equivalent to humans losing 10kg within a month. We brought him to the vet for blood test, everything was fine, so we thought that Pepper was just picky with his food at first but his conditioned worsened when he did not eat for 3 days, and we thought it could be his teeth, so we brought him to another vet. The Dr. said that his gum is whitish in color which is not a good sign either because it shows that his blood pressure is on a low side, and the Dr's advise was to let Pepper go on drips. ~ We brought Pepper to a 24/7 vet/hospital at Whitley, he went for further blood test. Everything was alright so the Dr. suspect that it could be gastric problems and prescribed medicine that would help Pepper but it did not. Pepper continued vomiting and not eating even though you can see that he is hungry but because of the pain, he couldn't, so we brought him back to the vet yesterday. Pepper underwent an ultra-scan and the results showed that he is diagnosed with lymph cancer. A very big and difficult decision to make. A matter of life and death. ~ If he goes through the biopsy to check if the cancer is active or not, he may not be able to pull through because of his weight. If he goes through the op, he may not be able to pull through either, and the op is too costly. ~ I'm checking every minute or two to see if he is okay while typing this post. Even though, I may not be the owner of Pepper but he's like family. He's always celebrating specially occasions with us, you'll never miss out a family photo without him during birthdays and he'll join in in singing(barking) in his own little way. ~ This very much reminds me of the show '10 Promises To My Dog'. I broke down when I read the 10 promises. ~ 1. Listen patiently to what I have to say. ~ 2. Trust me. I am always on your side. ~ 3. Play with me a lot. ~ 4. Don't forget that I have feelings too. ~ 5. Let's never fight. Someday I'll win. ~ 6. If I don't obey you, I have a good reason. ~ 7. You have school and friends but as for me, I only have you. ~ 8. Stay my best friend, even when I'm old. ~ 9. I'll live for about 10 years, so let's make every moment count. ~ 10. Never forget our time together. Keep this in your mind. So when my time comes, please be by my side. ~ So Dear God, all I want this X'mas is a miracle. ~ p/s - Please pray for Pepper during this time and the family especially my sis needs a lot of support. penned by ash.
10:02:00 AM
Saturday, November 27, 2010
In Loving Memory Of... ~ A man I call Grand-dad. Though not biologically related, he raised me up like one of his own. I still remember when I was a little girl, he would bring me downstairs every morning/afternoon/evening to the mama shop to get tidbits and let me ride on those toy cars stationed outside the mama shop. He brought me out, went vacation together, celebrated birthdays and Christmas together every year without fail. He loved me so much, he even quited smoking for me but because he was a chain smoker before, problems started showing four years ago, when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He underwent a major operation. I was with him everyday after school praying that he would be healthy again. My prayer helped but not for long. I got really busy with school and extra curriculum activities, my visits became lesser and lesser, not realising that his cancer came back. Standing next to his deathbed, I regretted for so many things I wanted to do with him but did not get a chance to. The weekend I wanted to visit him, he left. I was late for a day. This year would be the second year since I last felt his last touch. 12 October 2008, he made sure that all his friends and loved ones attended his 'last' gathering. I felt it. I felt his heavy heart. I saw it. I saw his sadness in eye behind those smiles. I miss it. I miss those times. I miss him. I love him like he was my own. ~ ~ Typing this, 'Kiss the Rain' by Yiruma started playing on my player. Tears. penned by ash.
10:32:00 AM
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
MEETING THE DEADLINES (A Reminder) ~ Tests & Exams: *Subjected to changes. penned by ash.
11:11:00 AM
Monday, November 01, 2010
Brighter Days ~ Have been anticipating for this day (submission of our last group project for this Trimester as well as dinner with them after lecture) to come as I look back and forth, counting the number of days left till the 29th on my calendar, filled with lecture & tutorial time slots, assignment and project deadlines weeks ago. ~   ~ final check before submitting this 59-pages report to student service centre  ~ I really enjoyed doing projects (especially the Zara presentation where the fashion show turned out great!) with them this Trimester and even though we started this report a week ago due to other tight deadlines, I must say we accomplished it! Every group meet-ups were productive, brainstorming our ideas and disagreements with one another like how a good team should do. With this, we treated ourselves with food! ~ As Kristen and Lin had to head back to school for night classes, we settled our early dinner at Seoul Yummy, Square2.  ~   ~ hungry people = crazy people.   ~ Kimchi Chigae, Chicken Dolsot Bibimbap, Samgyetang, Stir Fired Korean Chicken, brown rice + 6 side dishes.  ~ Pa-jeon (korean pancake)  ~  45mins later...  ~   ~ Love the effects of kristen's camera. Lin and myself were playing around with the 'fisheye' effect, and guess what... ~ Meet Ms. Cutie Bloop  ~ Meet Ms. Pooh-Xu  ~ Meet Ms. Blush Blush  ~ Meet Ms. Fish-Eye (Best Picture of The Day!)  ~ CHEERS to our completion of IM Report and great company!  ~   ~  ~ As the girls had to rush back to school, dessert was cancelled in the end. So, instead Lin got herself YAMI yogurt while the 3 of us picked up a cup of bubbletea each at Gong Cha (贡茶). And, after hearing so much of this new outlet, I couldn't resist but to try it, especially ever since the ~ Gong Cha (贡茶), also originated in Taiwan, serves more than 60 drinks such as House Specials like Gong Cha Milk Alisan Tea, Gong Cha Milk Black Tea, Brewed Tea like Purple Plum Tea, Camellia Tea, Juice like Lemon Kumquat Juice, Creative Mix, Milk Tea as well as Health Tea.  ~ Jac went for the Lemon Roasted Melon Tea (0% sugar) with white pearl (thought that black pearls went better than the white pearl jelly - more chewy. the white one is more crunchy) ~ While I had Earl Grey Milk Tea (0% sugar). comparable to KOI, definitely worth trying it again(:  You may also try them at these outlets, 1. 180 Kitchener Road, #B2-K3/K4, City Square Mall 2. 10 Sinaran Drive, #01-172, Square2 3. 1 HarbourFront Walk, #01-111, VivoCity 4. 68 Orchard Road, #01-K1, Plaza Singapura 5. 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-71 Raffles City Shopping Centre 6. 181 Orchard Road, #B1-02, Orchard Central (Opening Soon!) 7. 799 New Upper Changi Road, #02-30, Bedok Point (Opening Soon!) 8. 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, B1-15/16, The Central (Opening Soon!) ~ The lovely bunch of Lins(: p/s - I also want to take this chance to thank my other project mates - PR (Shu Rong & Delvina), SM & CB (Howe, Josephine, Pat & Jo) who has fought through this first battle together with me. It has been a pleasure working with you girls! 1,2,3 HWAITING FOR NEXT TRIMESTER!!! penned by ash.
11:35:00 PM
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-Can't Get Enough of Them' 01.Ticket to europe/japan/hk/taiwan/korea -Spills'
August 2004
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