“Friend” and Buttercream Frosting

Hello blog, I am back and inspired.

The six months internship has ended. And it seemed like yesterday was the last Friday of my internship engagement, and on that day, I told myself, I am going to do my reports tonight (but ended up being dragged out and sat very unhappily throughout the night because I could not go home). And here I am today, almost two weeks since last finished work, with my report still incomplete.

It was sad, because I was obligated to fill my head with my report, and nothing else but my report. I shut out my friends, my love for playing in the kitchen and daydreaming crazy random thoughts. But self-control can only go that far. After all, there is still the internet, the fake life it provides and the endless ways of procrastination that come with it.

Anyway, today, a crazy random thought came to me – uses of this noun, “FRIEND”. What exactly does it mean, how far does it go? It is pretty much undefined. I googled for a definition and it more or less sounds like this to me: A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts, and acquaintance or a person whom one is allied in a struggle or cause.

Uhm…. That’s like… anybody?

So well, I suppose this is why this word has many, many, many uses. And below, are a among the few that are not very right.

Scenario 1: Random girl, big fan of Keeping up with the Kardashians walks up to Kim Kardashian and says “OWH HIEEEE, I love you and your show! And I’ve read everything there is to read about you so I feel like I really know you and that we have such a great connection. Besides, I’ve been to every single one of your public appearances and I think you’re awesome. Plus, I have a friend, whose friend, whose friend’s friend is your friend too. That makes us friends too right? Owh by the way I haven’t gotten that invite to your wedding” *big hopeful smile*

Well, sure, Kim would probably call security, but I think this might just be feasible in the real world. It would help if the girl was really hot too. FRIEND is used to make connections.

Scenario 2: Batman and Joker came from the same school. One day there was a test. Batman, being the brainy nerd did not have a problem at all. Joker however, forgot and was out picking up girls the night before having the time of his life. Hence he said to Batman “Pass me your answer sheet”. Batman refused and Joker said with a tinge of disappointment in his tone, “But I thought we were friends…”

I suppose Joker failed because Batman refused anyway so now they’re enemies. But my point here, is that FRIEND is constantly used to manipulate through creating feelings of guilt.

Scenario 3: Girlfriend plays with boyfriend’s laptop and suddenly sees that boyfriend has been joining social networks, adding random hot girls and suggesting they make a beach trips and build sandcastles together. Girlfriend flips, and loses her temper at boyfriend. Boyfriend replies “I was just socializing and making friends. Nothing will happen, we’re friends”.

Well even a monkey would know what boyfriend was thinking in his head. But somehow, categorising something/someone as FRIEND makes boyfriend think whatever he did is justified. Plus, FRIEND may potentially save boyfriend’s ass. FRIEND ONLY MAH.

Scenario 4: Girl and boy started out as friends. But eventually girl starts having funny feelings for boy. Girl constantly thinks of boy, girl constantly wants to talk to boy, girl is stalking boy. Girl feels like she should not be in this situation. Maybe she should be focussing on her studies, career, etc., maybe she was not emotionally ready, or maybe boy was of a different race and religion. So girl shrugs the thought off, and continues being friends with boy, but still thinking about boy and stalking boy. But girl tells herself, “No sweat, just good friends”.

So here, people use FRIEND to live in denial, to continue being involved with someone they are romantically interested in, but in a FRIEND kind of way to be able to tell themselves (and everyone around them) that nothing is going on.

But to be fair, I think that being friends and being a little more than friends really is a thin line. And yes, I do notice that #3 and #4 is kind of the same, yet a little bit different. Owh well. *shrugs*

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Anyway this is what friends do do together. Look up a random recipe and make cupcakes! Kai Liang and I finally made these after months of intending to.

These were supposed to be chocolate vanilla. The chocolate cake was good, but the vanilla buttercream simply would not hold. So we added lime and cream of tartar. It was slightly better, but still runny. In the end I dunked in peanut butter. Well I wouldn’t say it was awesome but at least it was spreadable.

Lessons learnt: 1. Never add in half a cup of milk to butter to make buttercream. It.WILL.be.watery. 2. Invest in cute paper cups. 3. Cupcakes are meant to be small and delicate, not gigantic muffin sized cakes with runny buttercream. Buy smaller cups. 4. ALWAYS cut down the sugar in angmoh recipes. ALWAYS.

 

**Note to self at abrupt ending of post: FINISH THAT REPORT THEN GO GET A LIFE ALREADY. YOU HAVE TO HAND IT IN ANYWAY SO IT MAY AS WELL BE SOONER THAN LATER.

Lunch box idea #2

This is another something I came up with. Something not too heavy so I do not doze off, not too full of sauce so I can dump it all into one container and not too oily so I don’t feel bad later =P

I boiled the potato the night before. It was the next morning that I decided to throw them into the pan with the Japanese tofu for a light sear using olive oil – didn’t feel like eating them too bland. Sprinkled parsley, salt and lots of pepper on em. Did the same to the Japanese tofu. Put them into the pan before my shower and by the time I was done so were they.

The french beans were lightly cooked. I don’t like mushy beans. Gave everything a nice crunch.

The tomatoes were like the desserts. Ate them raw. Raw is healthier, I guess? And also less work. Tee hee. But make sure they’re clean. I soaked them overnight.

Owh and by the way, THIS is ROU JIANG…

which to bananas like me, translates to..

“pork mince with bean paste”…

or should it be '”minced pork with bean paste” ? Anyway, it tastes awesome and is even awesomer to spice up food for lazy bones like me =D

A vision of lunch

It’s Monday *sad*

Work starts in 8.5 hours *sadder*

Lately I’ve had a vision. To pack my own lunch to work, at least 3 out of my 5 working days. This is why:

Because my mom said I am fat. More than once.

Because I feel fat.

Because every time I see a particular top/dress/pants, I’d say “Can’t wear that, no waist”

Because I feel bad eating lunch full of carbs and sitting down on my ass facing Microsoft Excel all day, then coming home to eat dinner and feel too tired to do anything else aside from sleep.

Because it gives me an excuse to cook.

Because I get to play in the kitchen, despite wondering how motivated I may be to do so at 7am in the morning, while rushing to go to work.

Because it’ll be healthier (I think?)

We shall see how long this lasts. *fingers crossed* I will try to be creative and not fry an egg and slap it between cheese and two pieces of bread. lol.

Tomorrow’s lunch will be vermicelli with cucumbers, tomatoes, a lil ginger, and a hard boiled egg. Topped with ‘rou jiang’.

And now its time to rush to bed so I can wake up on time tomorrow =D

The playlist speaks

I have FINALLY finished my part of the super dreaded law assignment, and I thought I would give a little tribute to some of the more uhm, significant songs that have been keeping me company and messing with my head yet speaking for me for the past one month.

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Picture perfect memories, scattered all across the floor. Reaching for the phone coz I can’t fight it anymore. And I wonder if I ever cross your mind. For me it happens all the time.

A few hours left till the sun’s gonna rise. Tomorrow will come it’s time to realise, our love, is finished forever. How I wish to come with you, how I wish we make it through. Just one last dance, before we say goodbye.

Never even thought to cry, when I heard you say goodbye, never said where you were going. There’s no laughter in the air, only silence everywhere, and so much left unspoken.

But if you wanna cry, cry on my shoulder. If you need someone, who cares for you.

At times I understand you, and I know how hard you’ve tried. I’ve watched while love commands you, and I’ve watched love pass you by. At times I think we’re drifters, still searching for a friend. A brother or a sister, but then the passion flares again.

You deserve the chance at the kind of love, I’m not sure I’m worthy of. Losing you is painful to me. I don’t wanna let you down, I don’t wanna lead you on. I don’t wana hold you back from where you might belong. You would never ask me why, my heart is so disguised. I just can’t live a lie anymore. I would rather hurt myself than to ever make you cry. There’s nothing left to say, but goodbye.

Thank you for loving me. For being my eyes when I couldn’t see. For parting my lips when I couldn’t breathe. Thank you, for loving me.

Bila yang tertulis untukku, adalah yang terbaik untukmu, kan ku jadikan kau kenagan yang terindah dalam hidupku.

Coz everything reminds me of you, and it’s just gonna take a little gettin used to.

It’s hard to find forgiveness, when we just turn out the light. It’s hard to say you’re sorry, when you can’t tell wrong from right…. If you just talk to me baby, till we ain’t strangers anymore.

Mungkinkah esok, kita kan bertemu kembali? Masihkah ada ruang di dalam hatimu?

Just like all the seasons never stay the same, all around me I can feel the change. I will break these chains that bind me. Happiness will find me. Leave the past behind me. Today my life begins. A whole new world is waiting. It’s mine for the taking, I know I can make it, today my life begins.

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Life’s too short to have regrets. Bruno Mars said so.

THEREFORE…….

Go to Ikea with good friends. Eat meatballs. And annoy the hell out of the kind uncle who agreed to share the table with you with your noise.

 

Then go to Marche, eat again. Drink ginger beer, because Hoegarden was too expensive to try. But owh well, because curiosity was a little too pricey that night =P

Then get super full that you have to walk around to digest the food. Camwhore with Christmas tree ornaments despite New Year having passed. Because the trees are still there, and simply because you can.

Then go to Baskin Robins and order something sour (because you’re still full). Don’t resist, because ice cream makes you happy.

Then be a guinea pig (and a good sport) and let your friends braid your hair into two pigtails outside Baskin Robbins, in the middle of the walkway. Take a picture. Because you won’t get to do that anymore when you’re like… 35. Or your kids would be embarrassed =)

Dinner!

I couldn’t help but take a picture because I felt that the colours were very pretty.

After having cookies and coffee, cookies and Milo and cookies and milk for breakfast, lunch and dinner, guilt kicked in so I used up whatever was left in the fridge and came up with this – something uh, more healthy? =P

I've made a breakthrough !

Me likey toasted. Toasted marshmallows. Toasted bread. Toasted bread and cheese. Toasted bread and cheese and kaya. Toasted bread and cheese and kaya and coffee. Owh, I guess coffee doesn’t count.

Anyway, in the midst of studying I thought of muffins.

And thanks to this very sweet woman who has been contributing to my survival for the past two weeks, who gave lovely muffins to my very sweet housemate who happened to pass one down to me out of her generous heart, I discovered yet another heavenly combination.

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TOASTED MUFFINS WITH PEANUT BUTTER! =D =D =D

Cut them muffins into half, toast and sandwich with a dollop of peanut butter. Toast until desired burnt-ness. The muffins were owh so aromatic with a tinge of crispiness plus the richness of peanut butter.

Yeah, I know. Who knew? And now I satisfied half my peanut butter –chocolate cookie/cake/bars/anything craving that has been lurking in the dark sides of my brain for over a week and screaming for me to fatten up.

WHEEEEEEE!  Owh btw, I am aware of the fat consumption that just happened. No judging aights? I shall make it up to the bright sides of my brain that scream for me to work out some other time. Dark side won tonight. =D