Nutty project drives me nuts

I've handed in my 2 assignments due last Friday, with utmost relief. ;) Now all that's left is the assignment due this Friday, and the exam on the 12th. Phew.

Went for a movie How to Lose Friends and Alienate People today with Fiona and Ludwig. Movie was so-so. But the fun part was we had lunch at West End before that and cos we had time, we went St Vinnys! (For those in the dark, it's kinda Salvation Army kinda shop) My first time there. hoho I got a pink patterned bag for $4. ;)

Anyway, cos Therese had said she wanted my help in baking to do some shots for her photomedia, I decided to make Filbert (Hazelnut) Gateau with Praline Buttercream over the weekend. Literally over the weekend. Since the process of making the cake was a damn long list, I spread the job over a couple days. It made things way easier for sure. Then her hsemates, aka the two above, told me on Saturday Therese is not coming anymore. o.o Oh well, since I had already started the job, so might as well finish it right.

Some negative side effects that I had while making the cake were, I overwhipped the egg whites (trust me, you wouldn't want to know how it looks like), so I had to throw away the first batch and do up a second one (which I hand whipped instead of using the electric mixer) and the mountain of washing I had to do. -.- But the effort was worth it (kinda) since the praline buttercream was damn yummy haha.

It's great I halved the recipe so I ended up with lesser portions. One thing about baking so much is that you tend to not want to waste food, so I always cut back on the recipe to whatever proportions possible. I ended up with 6 mini cakes but I only used 5 of those since one of them kinda collapsed tsk tsk. I gave one to Woo as belated birthday, one to my ex-boss (oh did I mention I'm done with my intern thing? (: ), one to Pam who's coming back tomorrow from Bangkok! and one for myself! So there's still one more in the fridge...

hazelnut brittle process

praline paste process

praline buttercream process
assembling the cakes process

the caramalising hazelnuts process with the long long tips.

pouring ganache over cakes process

October bentos.

要到学期尾了.
好期待 13 Nov 能快点来喔。就可以达 SQ236 飞机回家。(:

These are the October bentos. It's been a delish month. (:

29/9/08: Rice, sweet chili calamari atop salad leaves, roasted sweet potatoes and a strawberry!

7/10/08: Rice, pickles, tomatoes, green beans and curry chicken.

8/10/08(My ROUND themed bento haha): Sushi, Ikea meatballs, edamame, tomatoes and mango cubes.

Ikea meatballs with the two complementary sauces.

Mangoes are starting their season in Australia now...

14/10/08: Honey sesame soy chicken, barley rice, tamagoyaki and broccoli..

15/10/08: Beef and asparagus mini burgers with vegetables.

16/10/08: Dakkboki, tamagoyaki, broccoli and a mini double chocolate muffin.

Quick mini fruit tarts whipped up in the morning for study session at UQ on Saturday.

19/10/08 Speedy bento for studying in school on a Sunday: Mini quiche, Ikea meatballs, vegetables and fish fingers.

20/10/08 Bento for studying at UQ: Mashed sweet potatoes, marinated ribs ,eggs and vegetables.

22/10/08: Spanish paella with prawns and assorted vegetables.

A single glance.

Just that fleeting glance.
Our eyes met.
The stranger's gaze on mine.
Mine on his.
He got me hooked.

;)

Feet-ish.

Feet has their rightful place. In shoes. On the ground. Definitely not next to you in lecture. Naked toes that are hairy and wriggly. Atop the bench side which you so happened to be sitting on. Imagine those toes waving at you from your right whenever you look at your hip area.

Feet in shoes should be on the ground. Definitely not next to you in lecture. Dressed up in brown havaianas. Atop the other bench on your other side. Imagine them saying hi to you whenever you turn to your left.

Silvia said I should have slammed down the retractable table onto those friendly toes on my right. Which belonged to a guy I swear has not heard of the word "hygiene" ever. I wonder why didn't I listened to her. I'm too meek for my own good. gah.

It was the weirdest lecture attended. Ever. Feet fetish? Count me out.

Fainting spell. Yet again.

The sharp pain gripped me for a moment. Thinking that it was gastric (since it was late at night, it could be just hunger pangs ya know...), I ignored it for some time, thinking that it will be gone in a while. After the second intense wave of pain hit me, silly me popped by the fridge for a chocolate chip cookie, thinking that it might help ease the "hunger pangs". Not yet half through with the cookie, it suddenly hit me instead of being gastric as I had initially thought it was, it was simply a stomachache that was manifesting its true face.

A few minutes later found me with my head hung over the knees and feeling agony tighten its hold on me. A delicate sight perched atop the lavatory seat - not. Dizzyness swept through me, resulting in the inability to open my eyes properly. I could feel it coming. If I am not on a bed in five seconds, I was a goner. I used up whatever strength I could summon up and pulled myself up from the seat. Opening the toilet door, it struck.

A sea of white blanketed my eyes. It was as though air flowed through my veins. Or I had inhaled drugs (which in reality, I have no idea what it feels like no worries). Weightlessness pranced and twirled around me. The next thing I knew, the usual downward dive happened.

It could be my lucky day that Pam happened to want to use the bathroom at that time, and came out of her room when she heard the flush. That could explain why almost instantaneously, I heard her exclaiming when I was flat out on the ground . Don't ask me why, but whenever I faint, I still hear things around me vaguely - though the loss of strength robbed me of any ability to do more than open my lips and murmur "I'm fine".

A flurry of activitiy ensued. I heard it. Pam disappeared and reappeared with a pillow to prop me up, together with some medicine and water. I think she assumed it was the time of the month, so she got me the wrong meds. hurhur. After hearing what I have to say, she promptly turned and got alternative meds for food poisoning (her deduction). Seriously. What can I say, she has a wide supply of meds, for that I am thankful for.

She wanted to pull me to my room, but I just couldn't think of getting up at that time. A bed was what I need. And in that instant, the floor was just as fine. One's gotta make do with what one has got in dire situations. After a while, when I felt better, I got up to wash my hands. Staring into the mirror above the sink, I started. Dry colourless lips. A sickly pallor. Eew. A lie on the bed was what I need. And it was just the thing, for some time later, a second look into the mirror brought back colour in my lips and pinker cheeks.

There are two suspects for this case. Suspect one - Mr Pasta Sauce. He had been residing in the fridge for a month or more. He seemed fine when I gave him a sniff before introducing him to suspect two. Suspect two - Ms Mini Ravoli. I brought her home from the supermart, thinking that I would matchmake her with Mr PS for dinner. The two must have thumbed their noses at each other and rejected the other party. Well. I got my revenge. The next morning, both found themselves walking down Garbage Bin Lane.

Lack of motivation

It's a beautiful day outside. Just like always.
The sun is setting, the sky is purple and blue. Just like always.
The strong winds howl, causing the window panes to tremble. Just like always.
Another day half-gone. Just like always.

I wish I could summon up the motivation to start on my assignments. Assignments that are due soon. Soon enough that if I blink, the due date would be that very day. I reckon.

It always happens. That certain sense of restlessness. Caused by what, that I cannot answer. The last year of the education tier. Primary 6. Secondary 4. Junior College Year 2. With the current University Year 3 rounding things up. It's the feeling of not wanting to do anything more. Almost as if the previous years of slogging (one can always believe that one HAD worked hard at every initial point of time) has taken its toil. That all my energy has been sapped. I just cannot seem to concentrate. Concentration - a word that suddenly feels oh so foreign in my dictionary.

I wish I can turn back time. Back to every first year of entering a new phrase of education. When the excitement of starting a new stage arouses one's sense of motivation. I can remember the days of working hard for school, and anticipating the final grades I will get. The joy of getting a high score, the depression of a low score. I remember them all.

Simultaneously with the end of the first year, the flame of excitement diminishes. Gradually, the said restlessness sets in. Making me aware of the work I am supposed to do, but dread doing. I wonder why.

Random musings.

Fruit tarts and Tiramisu

Here's the fruit tarts that I made last week when I had an abundance of berries and other fruits in the fridge.

Fresh fruits.

Mixed fruit tart for Woo Aa.

Jos came over for dinner and fruit tarts.

Strawberry-only tart.

Tarts for Silvia and Louisa. (:

It's Pam's 23rd birthday today and I decided to make some Tiramisu. The recipe was pretty simple to follow and these were done up in a jiffy.

Besides the dessert, we had a big feast at home cos Pam treated us to Korean barbeque - pork belly, marinated bulgogi beef, lemon garlic prawns, various vegetables, miso vegetable soup. And Woo contributed a jam filled sponge cake. And I did Tiramisu. And then Pam decided she wanted alcohol, so we walked over to the liquor shop in Toowong to get some (while digesting our heavy dinner).

We had the alcohol and Tiramisu, while chatting away...all the way till say 1230am? Where I got a bit tired (alcohol makes me sleepy pfft) and we ended our session and I showered, thinking of heading to bed after. I was kinda awake after the shower, thus here I am, blogging in the wee hours of 3am. (: