then it must be it - 肉干
好吃，真好吃
Delicate production - 4 slices per day. Yes, 4. Just 4. Not more than 4. Have to ration until CNY comes....
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Monday, January 21, 2008
The Strip District
Ah... it's not what you think it is!
It's a place that we visit every month to get our much needed groceries because it's where the main Asian grocery store is located. The district is known for its wholesalers, restaurants and other shops but we have stopped only at the Asian store in our previous trips there. Over the last weekend, we spent a little more time there to walk along the streets so that we can browse in the other shops too! And we had interesting finds :)
A melting pot of shops representing the various ethnic groups in Pittsburgh... we see street vendors selling food like Asian snacks and Italian breads (akin to our "pasar malam" vendors), a fresh fruits and vegetable market, Mexican home-made sweaters, a large Italian grocery... with lots of pasta varieties, herbs, preserved olives and cheeses... giving the place a cheesy smell of fermentation we're not quite accustomed to, I guess. We also ventured into Wholely's, one of the region's largest seafood wholesalers and butcher-shop... and guess what?!? We found a variety of "exotic" stuff... whole fish (good for chinese-style steam fish and fish head... yum), fresh chicken (but I didn't see any chicken feet though... hee), 
beef parts, pork parts (even pork liver!), and... frozen whole rabbits. The experience was like walking into an enclosed wet market cum supermarket. I think we'll head back for the fresh meats and fish for our Chinese New Year "reunion" dinner.
It would be fun to stay a little more to see the other stores but it was a cold, cold day... and we felt our toes and fingers freeze even in their woolen coverings so we had to go seek warmth in the car after 1 1/2 hours. Perhaps, we could head back on a warmer day to explore the other stores along the Strip.
We were told that the Strip is one of the favorite weekend destinations for Pittsburghers and it was crowded, by the Pittsburgh standard, even on that cold day. The temperature actually dipped to -15'C on the next day! Thankfully, we didn't choose that day to explore the Strip ;p
It's a place that we visit every month to get our much needed groceries because it's where the main Asian grocery store is located. The district is known for its wholesalers, restaurants and other shops but we have stopped only at the Asian store in our previous trips there. Over the last weekend, we spent a little more time there to walk along the streets so that we can browse in the other shops too! And we had interesting finds :)
A melting pot of shops representing the various ethnic groups in Pittsburgh... we see street vendors selling food like Asian snacks and Italian breads (akin to our "pasar malam" vendors), a fresh fruits and vegetable market, Mexican home-made sweaters, a large Italian grocery... with lots of pasta varieties, herbs, preserved olives and cheeses... giving the place a cheesy smell of fermentation we're not quite accustomed to, I guess. We also ventured into Wholely's, one of the region's largest seafood wholesalers and butcher-shop... and guess what?!? We found a variety of "exotic" stuff... whole fish (good for chinese-style steam fish and fish head... yum), fresh chicken (but I didn't see any chicken feet though... hee), 
beef parts, pork parts (even pork liver!), and... frozen whole rabbits. The experience was like walking into an enclosed wet market cum supermarket. I think we'll head back for the fresh meats and fish for our Chinese New Year "reunion" dinner.It would be fun to stay a little more to see the other stores but it was a cold, cold day... and we felt our toes and fingers freeze even in their woolen coverings so we had to go seek warmth in the car after 1 1/2 hours. Perhaps, we could head back on a warmer day to explore the other stores along the Strip.
We were told that the Strip is one of the favorite weekend destinations for Pittsburghers and it was crowded, by the Pittsburgh standard, even on that cold day. The temperature actually dipped to -15'C on the next day! Thankfully, we didn't choose that day to explore the Strip ;p
Thursday, January 17, 2008
A long week... ...
This is only the fourth day into TK's semester, but it feels like more than a week has passed... not because it moved fast. On the contrary, time crawled by so slowly that it feels as though many days went by (I am sure you know what I mean). TK has classes and seminars packed almost throughout the week this semester, from morning till the late afternoon. On some days, he needs to leave the house early, even before Charis and I wake, and comes home close to 6 pm. And yes, he is swarmed with work already!
Yesterday, as usual, Charis woke after TK left for school. She asked me, "Why does Daddy have to go to school everyday?" When he got home, she asked him, "Daddy, will you stay home with me tomorrow?" Sigh... perhaps, we are experiencing the withdrawal symptoms of the winter break ;p This morning, I had Bible Study in church so Charis was happy to be able to go out of the house and spend some time with other children in the church nursery room... and play with snow too, since it was a snowy day. I must say that it is quite an experience to drive or do grocery in the snow, which we did after church.
I guess, on a better note, Charis and I have more time to do things around the house. Play, jump, paint, draw, sing, read, snack... ... she has such an endless supply of energy to burn that it sometimes leaves me quite tired out! Maybe it's time for some food experiments again... this is the only time when she would leave me alone to prepare the food... so it can be quite therapeutic if the food turns out ok :D
Anyway, after enjoying our first Singapore laksa using the Prima pre-mix last month, I made laksa again. This time with another brand (I shall not reveal the brand of pre-mix publicly). We had high hopes, but... ... the taste did not quite match our expectations. In the end, I added vegetables to the remaining laksa soup the next day and voila... it transformed into sayur lodeh. Thanks to mum who gave me this idea. I must say that it tasted much better this way :)
Yesterday, as usual, Charis woke after TK left for school. She asked me, "Why does Daddy have to go to school everyday?" When he got home, she asked him, "Daddy, will you stay home with me tomorrow?" Sigh... perhaps, we are experiencing the withdrawal symptoms of the winter break ;p This morning, I had Bible Study in church so Charis was happy to be able to go out of the house and spend some time with other children in the church nursery room... and play with snow too, since it was a snowy day. I must say that it is quite an experience to drive or do grocery in the snow, which we did after church.
I guess, on a better note, Charis and I have more time to do things around the house. Play, jump, paint, draw, sing, read, snack... ... she has such an endless supply of energy to burn that it sometimes leaves me quite tired out! Maybe it's time for some food experiments again... this is the only time when she would leave me alone to prepare the food... so it can be quite therapeutic if the food turns out ok :D
Anyway, after enjoying our first Singapore laksa using the Prima pre-mix last month, I made laksa again. This time with another brand (I shall not reveal the brand of pre-mix publicly). We had high hopes, but... ... the taste did not quite match our expectations. In the end, I added vegetables to the remaining laksa soup the next day and voila... it transformed into sayur lodeh. Thanks to mum who gave me this idea. I must say that it tasted much better this way :)
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Back to school
TK is going back to school tomorrow after 4 weeks of winter break... we had great family time and Charis definitely enjoyed Daddy's company!
When she runs out to the living room tomorrow morning, she'll not find Daddy sitting at his study desk... she's going to miss this playmate and the daily tea time snack fun with Daddy... ...
Do pray for him as he starts the new semester :)
When she runs out to the living room tomorrow morning, she'll not find Daddy sitting at his study desk... she's going to miss this playmate and the daily tea time snack fun with Daddy... ...
Do pray for him as he starts the new semester :)
Breakfast ala Kopitiam
Kaya toast, half-boiled eggs with dark soy sauce and coffee... ... how I miss the ambience of eating it in a kopitiam with the noise and all. Oh well, we'll have to make do with this to satisfy our cravings...
Saturday, January 5, 2008
around the house
A boring Saturday and we had no plans for going out. So I picked up the dusty camera...
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Crossing over to 2008
There is no Watchnight Service in the church that we are attending. Nevertheless, it is a time for us to reflect upon the happenings in 2007. The main event this year, of course, is our coming over to the US. And we are very thankful for how God has led us in this journey. In fact, the first step for us started 3 years ago as we prayed about and reflected upon where God's calling us. Over those 3 years, we experienced a lot in our thoughts and plans... but at each step, we could see how He opened and shut the doors. Indeed, He is our faithful shepherd who always leads and journeys with us. By His grace, we received the strength and wisdom to overcome the few difficult "spots" leading up to our move. By His same grace, we enjoyed many wonderful blessings.
Not only had our Lord been gracious and faithful to us, so too has He been in the lives of our loved ones - our families, our friends, and our church. May He continue to be very close to all of us in 2008, which has just arrived for us.
Not only had our Lord been gracious and faithful to us, so too has He been in the lives of our loved ones - our families, our friends, and our church. May He continue to be very close to all of us in 2008, which has just arrived for us.
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