I don’t know how local these are, but they are most likely GM-ed. I’m not an advocate for GMO’s, but I am also not protesting against engineered deliciousness!! Life is too short, my friend.

If you can’t tell from the photo, the huge mango on top is bigger than my size-8 sneakers (weird reference, I know).  Yet the fruit tastes milder and creamier, with no hairs at all. It literally tastes like mango pudding from nature!

Here’s a close up:

The little kidney mango, on the other hand, was like a little bomb of tropical explosion. It’s amazing that basically the same fruit can taste so different!

I’m so cheesy. Food inspires me, can you tell?

The good thing is that my mom has been the most helpful in getting things ready for me in Taiwan.  During her visit a few weeks ago, she patiently helped me create a Google map with useful places in Kaohsiung city, and also cooked up a ton of Taiwanese food. Deliciousness! My appetite is ready!

As much of a glutton as I am, Taiwanese cooking is still kind of a mystery to me, so those learning sessions in the kitchen were just so precious. The very first thing we made together was brisket noodle soup (牛肉麵).  Thinking that the peppercorn would add enough heat, we didn’t include any hot peppers. But we all agreed that we should add them next time, as per recipe below. Other than that, it was awesome!

Brisket Noodle Soup 牛肉麵
(serves about 6)

For Stew:

• large pork bones
• 1kg brisket, chunks
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 tbsp peppercorn
• 2 sliced red peppers
• 1 garlic head, cloves smashed
• 1 medium ginger with skin, smashed
• 6 scallions, chopped 2 inch wide
• 1/2 cup soybean paste (about 1 pack 豆辦醬)
• 1/3 cup rice wine
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 large chinese radish
• 2 large carrots
• 1 tsp star anise (a couple stars plus seeds)
• 1 onion, cubed (optional)

1. Boil pork bones in water. Remove bones and blanch brisket with same water. Discard this first batch of broth. Reserve brisket.
2. In a large pot, cover pork bones in water again and let simmer in medium low heat for at least 1h to make broth. This can be made ahead of time.
3. In a large pan or wok, heat oil in medium heat and fry peppercorn until fragrant. Careful, they will pop! Filter out the peppercorns and keep oil.
4. With the peppercorn oil, fry hot peppers, garlic, ginger, and scallions.
5. Add soybean paste, rice wine, sugar, then brisket.
6. Remove bones from broth. Cook all fried ingredients in the broth. If needed, add more water to cover everything.
7. Add star anise to stew and bring to boil. Add root vegetables: radish, carrots and onions if desired. Stew covered for at least 1h.

Topping:

• 1 pack shantou pickles (酸菜)
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1/4 cup thinly minced ginger
• 1/2 – 1 hot pepper, sliced
• 5 tbsp sugar

1. Soak and rinse shantou pickles several times (we did it 5 times, it was really salty). Mince.
2. Fry ginger in oil until fragrant. Add shantou pickles and hot pepper.
3. Add sugar near the end so not to over caramelize. Adjust to taste. Reserve for serving.

To Serve:

• noodles (ie. fresh Shanghai noodles)
• bok choy

1. Boil noodles (1 pack serves 3). Put into serving bowls.
2. Blanch bok choy with same water. Meanwhile add stew to bowls.
3. Add bok choy when ready. Top with shantou pickles to serve.

Enjoy!

And it came with its own coffee cup ;)

I was originally going for a simple cruiser, but this comfort hybrid turned out to be a better choice. By the way, I know next to nothing about bikes, including how to ride them. But it has been so much fun to finally learn, and now I can practice on my own bike instead of having to borrow friends’ who don’t really fit me. This one is really comfy and near perfect – the seat is just a tad high for my abnormally short legs.

I spent much of the weekend riding around Aaron’s house, and even dreamt about not having a bike lock. So the next day we went back to Canadian Tire to get one and wow, it was bike-buying frenzy in there! Luckily I snagged this baby early and got to enjoy the weekend outside!

And retailers may be offering other incentives to go with this new credit. For example, Rona (PDF) will give cash back of up to $750 for eligible purchases and services. So save your receipts!

Diana and I have been wanting to redo our kitchen and bathroom(s), especially since our condo suite failed to sell last spring. A lot of our original cabinets are falling apart. We have both really been into interior design and decor lately, so it sounds like the perfect time for home projects. Sweet!

More details on eligibility of expenses:

Eligible

• Renovating a kitchen, bathroom, or basement
• New carpet or hardwood floors
• Building an addition, deck, fence or retaining wall
• A new furnace or water heater
• Painting the interior or exterior of a house
• Resurfacing a driveway
• Laying new sod

Ineligible

• Furniture and appliances (refrigerator, stove, couch)
• Purchase of tools
• Carpet cleaning
• Maintenance contracts (furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, pool cleaning, etc.)

I was away in Asia for the past month, and missed several snowstorms in Toronto. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind staying in the warmer continent a little longer! Plus, I got to see such beautiful and fun places… such as San Francisco (California, not Asia), Bali in Indonesia and Hualien in Taiwan. Hong Kong was sooo much fun because of all the friends I met up with. Everyone is there now!

Still not feeling completely back to “real life” yet, but I’m definitely excited to begin the new year fresh.

The macarons above were made before I went on my trip. I used chocolate caramel cocoa powder from Godiva, which D got as a gift. Although it looked fine, it was still a little too crispy and not soft. I got lazy with the filling, so the quick and delicious alternative was hazelnut spread (fake nutella, hmmm). This year my hobby-related goals include perfecting the macaron. I also want to have more fun with photography, and learn a couple of new songs on the piano.

All in all, sounds like I have pretty fun resolutions for 2009!!