Saturday, July 26, 2014

Tribute



Dishing out my tribute to ...

 My dearest grannywhom I still deeply love and miss.....

Roses were your favourite,
You were never inaccurate, 
In music and colours, 
You taught me to be considerate, 
Even while chasing our passions, 
Never be too passionate!

I played The Sweet Bye and Bye, 
which you enjoyed humming by, 
Though you never knew the words, 
Your accompaniment was what I looked forward;
As now I look backwards, 
I wish I have now my songbird.


As you started to go frail, 
I know you tried not to wail, 
It pains me to hear something your body failed, 
Nonetheless, you quietly assured me...
"My strength shall prevail", 
Till today you remain my strong nightingale. 

Julie and I used to quarrel, 
over who would push your wheelchair around, 
No, we never thought it was a trouble, 
We just wanted you to be there, 
wherever we travel; 
But there's only a pair of hands for a pair of handles, 
Oh, how we squabbled over something so miserable. 
I now miss us, acting like squirrels. 

You are now up above the sky, 
enjoying the endless fragrance of roses, 
blooming in such beauty, one could never deny;
I promise I shall not cry, 
I know you are watching above high, 
But do try to come down like a butterfly, 
And we could hum along The Sweet Bye and Bye, 
Before we bid each other goodbye. 


Enjoyed with thoughts of you in company...

StrawberryChia Oatmeal with strawberry sauce and dollops of Greek yogurt

Roses are red;  my thoughts of you shall never fade

Frothy Hot Milk was our favourite, But I enjoy it with cinnamon incorporate.

What underlies this steamed cabbage?
A steaming bowl of beef brisket, which I know you'd love!
Doenjang Cabbage Soup-we would enjoy the slurp!
For you, the Fish Queen: Steamed Cod Fish and Carrots (also your favourite veg), too bad no fish head!

Sweet potato kueh (Malay sweet cake)
I'll make sure Mommy's not watching ;-)

We both love the crust/base best...


Not forgetting... the victims of MH17, the recent Algerian and Taiwanese airplanes, the innocent victims in Gaza, and the ill-fated MH370


Red Lentils in Marmite, with Kale, Mushroom and a final dash of Chilli Pepper
Red Lentils in Vegetable Stew with a touch of Garam Masala and Basil
Both dishes feature a fusion of ingredients from various cultures.
I tend to not classify the origins of my ingredients used, each time I am in the kitchen. I follow my instincts, armed with a strong stomach. 
Just as how I play around with ingredients (by not judging any of them), I hope that people would all work towards more unity and peace- by not judging/stereotyping/labelling those around us. 

As a volunteer, I treasure and am grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many people- individuals of different race, creed, colour, religion and circumstances, 
It is sad to see how nations are divided by political conflicts, when people, in general, I just...people.

You and I, 
We may look, speak, think or act different,
But we are all one human race, 
I hope, and still believe,
what we have for each other, 
is grace. 

Juliet

Friday, July 18, 2014

C....

What does "C" mean to you?

Cancer, if you're concerned?
Your grades, if you're a student?
The time signature, if you're a musician?
Or..."death!", if you're Hokkien (choy, touch wood!!!)

Well, this post serves up the 3 Cs I Choose to focus for the day, and perhaps, for life: Control, non-Conformity, Cherish.

Control 

Some of us may identify ourselves as control freaks. Have you experienced, sometimes things go much smoother if you allow things to happen, instead of making them happen? How ironic, isn't it? The attempt of controlling things, actually feels less in control.

Often, we spend a good amount of energy planning, predicting and preventing things that we can't possibly plan, predict and prevent. We worry about the future, while clinging on to the past. Such desire for more autonomy in our lives, stems from #1. fear- we try to gain control, due to what we think would happen if we don't, and #2. attachment to a specific outcome-  an outcome we're sure is best for us, as if we always know what's best .  

So does all these means total surrender? 
No, we still regain some autonomy. Like driving, it is all about choosing when to accelerate and release. We can control our thoughts, what and who we choose to believe.
We can control how we respond and react, even  if things don't go our way.
We can control how we would like things to happen, but not how it will happen.

As we muscle through the currents in life, try considering if letting go would allow you more freedom. Try allowing the feeling of freedom guide our way.
Personally, when I choose to go in surrender mode, I find peace and clarity.Yet, I feel not a forceful, but focused energy accompanying the intention I want.
I am still a work in progress, but I shall allow it to become a habit, instead of making it one.

Breakfast: Creamy Choco Chianana Oatmeal

"If there is nothing you can do, do nothing."

"If there is something you can do, give it all you've got."


non-Conformity

"Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal.  Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against." 
-Captain Beatty, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

If you have confidence in your own worth, you'll be better able to follow opinions that are your own and not society's. Be who you are. While staying true to our beliefs, work on growing ourselves into what we would like to be, not what we are expected to be. 
Real beauty does not lie in perfection, but in accepting and embracing imperfection
Water the flowers in your garden, but not the weeds. 
It is fine to be the Ugly Duckling, for the day shall come when we join the other swans. 

Lunch: Cheeky Cour-cado Pasta *

*(no pic)


"Ugly duckling": Spot the odd one?


Cherish


"I sometimes think drivers don't know what grass is, or flowers, because they never see them slowly...White blurs are houses. Brown blurs are cows." 
"Have you ever heard of rubbing dandelions under your chin? If it rubs off that means you're in love." 
"Old leaves smell like cinnamon."
-Clarisse McClellan, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

"Cherish" crossed my mind later in the day. The weather was lovely today. I decided to walk half of my bus journey home.  I explored a neighbouring community and took home with me a half a jar of self-grinded peanut butter! How I love the smell of lavenders basking under the Sun's radiant energy. 



I am a tea lover. For dinner, my inner voice called, "Chai Chicken?" I gave it a go. I allowed my taste buds freedom, and trusted its choice. There was a "flood" of chai and turmeric, but with careful manoeuvre, wa-lah...we got what we wanted. A sprinkle of smoked paprika to soak into a Friday evening mood. 

As I sink my teeth into each piece of meat, my thoughts savour into the moments I had over the day. Even, the surprising moments of trust I gave my instincts while going through motions of the day, and trying this new idea for dinner. (I wouldn't call it recipe.)

I'm not sure if the meal looks appetising, but I was satisfied.
 Anyway, I can't control what your thoughts and perception, right?

Chai Chicken with touches of Smoked Paprika

Brown Bulgur with Sweet Carrots and my Chai


Aftermath of "flood"


"Before someone's tomorrow has been taken away, cherish those you love, appreciate them today."Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you would live forever. Merit is not something you store up for a future life, it is what you put in your heart now. 


Juliet
**Notice how meal names all start with C today? It was unintentional ;)





Thursday, July 17, 2014

1st Post: ABC Kitchen Day

Thought of this Kitchen Challenge yesterday night before dozing off to Slumberland: ABC Kitchen Challenge -to serve up each meal coming up with names that follow "ABC"

2 simple Rules
#1. Not to get new ingredients, ie, use whatever available in the fridge.
#2. Puts a smile on your face as you tuck in.

Woke up next morning...Challenge accepted, and by evening, Challenge WON!

Menu

Breakfast: AppleBananaChia Oatmeal messed in Greek YogurtLunch: AvoBellChick(pea) Pasta with Cauliflower sideDinner: Asian Balsamic Cod served with Garlic-Ginger Rice & Veg Side 

*can add a "D" at the end of "cod" for "dressing"!

Reflecting on ABC Kitchen Day Challenge

Thinking about meal names, while sticking to Rule #1, was the main challenge. For breakfast, I was deciding between using Avocado and Apple for "A", and for "C", Chia/Cheese/Cocoa. I decided on Apple, as I was a bit tired of the former choice for breakfast over the past few days already. The choice for "C" was really my stomach's calling. :)
Deciding for Lunch was a bit funny, though. Guess what my first thought was?...AvoBawangChickpea Pasta. Bawang  as in "onion" in the Malay Language. I bet "Bell" sounded better. Do you find it funny when "Bell" is paired with "Chick(pea)"? "Bell" as in "belle" or "girl", and "chick"...we all know, don't we?

Now for dinner, it was supposed to be AvoBalsamic Courgette. My stomach disagreed, "Avo again???!!!". It tends to go for Asian-inspired flavours, mostly because it reminds me of home at the end of each day. So I decided to give Balsamic an Asian twist. I swapped Courgette for Cod when I remembered I have frozen cod in the freezer, and the freezer needs defrosting soon. So there, I don't have to think about what protein for dinner!

Back to the idea of setting up a blog....

I created an album for this Challenge on my Facebook page (link below), as I always would do the same whenever I mess around in the kitchen. 
So, why did I thought of blogging now? Why not just create albums? After all, it saves all the trouble of typing (penning) down my thoughts...
Now here's why...
1. Healthy, good, food doesn't have to come with a heavy price
As a student, what more, an international student (in UK), I try to stick within a budget. Having said so, I am not willing to compromise on the quality of food I would feed myself. 
Now, I'm not saying that I go all organic, or shop around higher end grocery stores. I shop around the stores I can get the best bargain, and I go for fresh produce most of the time. 

2. My interest in music, language, social and culture
I have always been a food enthusiasts, but I'm not a food junkie. One can even call me a "food police". I'm in for building a healthy relationship with food. I believe in eating for both  nourishment and it's pleasure. Food doesn't just fuels us, it feeds our mind and soul. 
Each of the meal I serve up myself has a story to tell, just like each piece of music I listen to or play.

So there, my 2 reasons. I'd say, perhaps this could be a new interest I took up recently? We shall see how this blog grows...

Right, enough of ramblings. I am unsure if I would be consistent with this blog, due to my schedule (and my willingness to share). I am also unsure if I would share anything beyond the kitchen.

 Nevertheless, here's to a start!

Juliet

Breakfast 


                                                              AppleBananaChia Oatmeal w my daily cup of hot milk

Breakfast upclose....


All messed up in Greek!

Lunch

AvoBellChick(pea) Pasta w Cauliflower side
Lunch upclose; White Wine Vinegar cold dressing

Dinner


Asian Balsamic Cod w Veg & GarlicGinger Rice


Balsamic Cod w its Dressing

Cod sans Dressing



The rice reminded me of Chicken Rice back home...


I like to add some extra splash of sesame oil as I dig in


 Link to my album:
https://www.facebook.com/juliet27tye/media_set?set=a.10152119497086266.1073741832.722736265&type=1