Hello to everyone that has stumbled onto my blog!
I have recently moved my blog to http://madebypensuke.wordpress.com
I decided to move because I was finding it frustrating to change the layout of my blog and I wasn't sure if all these wonderful page views I was getting were bots or people actually checking out some of my projects.
If you are interested in seeing more craft, food and general hobby posts, please come visit me at my new home.
My axololt , Sebastian, giving you a big smile enticing you to visit us =)
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Events. Show all posts
Truly Random
Tuesday, 17 July 2012
Yesterday something happened that truly reflects the title of my blog. I was home in the afternoon and decided to take out the trash, the bins are only about 5-10 meters from my front gate. I threw out the trash and as I turned back there was an older Chinese lady walking towards me with some pieces of styrofoam to throw out. I smiled as you do and she started talking to me in mandarin ( my mandarin is not great, I usually resort to deciphering what they're asking through context and the few words I do understand).
It was a nice little chit chat but as I started heading into my place she asked to see the interior because the place she lives in with her daughter has the same layout except with only 2 levels instead of 3. I was shocked but I said yes because she seemed like a nice enough lady.
Here's where it begins to get more random. A few steps down the path she exclaims that she should go get her daughter to come over too and she started pulling on my arm insisting that I should come over and have a look at their place first. So with maybe a fleeting thought that I could possibly be in a Charlie the unicorn type situation I quickly locked up and head over to my neighbors.
The lady's daughter (Linny) was just as surprised about the situation and a little embarrassed I think because their place was very messy, my place is messy too I told her. So after making awkward introductions I chatted to Linny for a bit before her mother insisted on showing me their upstairs. The place was practically the same layout but without a hallway to upstairs and she had replaced the carpet with floorboards, it looked nice.
After a couple minutes Linny's mother proceeded to tell me about how she used to have a mole on her cheek in the same spot as mine and that she removed it herself by stabbing it multiple times with a needle and that it hurt for a month but after the scab fell off it never came back. @.@ it sounded pretty painful.
Anyway, we headed over to my place and my friend had been waiting for me outside. I quickly gave her a rundown of the situation which she found hilarious and let us all into the house. I showed them the garden and my plants, which I am quite proud of even though it is a little neglected. She was very interested in my vietnamese celery and shocked me again by asking for one of the babies that had started coming up around the base. So I dug up a baby plant and put it in a pot for her. Meanwhile jancypants is inside trying not to laugh.
So we head back in and I showed them the rest of the place to many comments on use of space, how big our tv is and asking if we had a son when they saw Kens nerf collection ( which has grown since the initial post) haha.
Then as her daughter Linny was trying to shooe her out because she knew that I needed to go grocery shopping for dinner, she proceeded to check out my parsley plant for babies as well.
Haha truly a random event of the evening/ month. I'm glad a got to meet one of my neighbors and that they are friendly if not a little strange haha. Tis my life's randomness :)
It was a nice little chit chat but as I started heading into my place she asked to see the interior because the place she lives in with her daughter has the same layout except with only 2 levels instead of 3. I was shocked but I said yes because she seemed like a nice enough lady.
Here's where it begins to get more random. A few steps down the path she exclaims that she should go get her daughter to come over too and she started pulling on my arm insisting that I should come over and have a look at their place first. So with maybe a fleeting thought that I could possibly be in a Charlie the unicorn type situation I quickly locked up and head over to my neighbors.
The lady's daughter (Linny) was just as surprised about the situation and a little embarrassed I think because their place was very messy, my place is messy too I told her. So after making awkward introductions I chatted to Linny for a bit before her mother insisted on showing me their upstairs. The place was practically the same layout but without a hallway to upstairs and she had replaced the carpet with floorboards, it looked nice.
After a couple minutes Linny's mother proceeded to tell me about how she used to have a mole on her cheek in the same spot as mine and that she removed it herself by stabbing it multiple times with a needle and that it hurt for a month but after the scab fell off it never came back. @.@ it sounded pretty painful.
Anyway, we headed over to my place and my friend had been waiting for me outside. I quickly gave her a rundown of the situation which she found hilarious and let us all into the house. I showed them the garden and my plants, which I am quite proud of even though it is a little neglected. She was very interested in my vietnamese celery and shocked me again by asking for one of the babies that had started coming up around the base. So I dug up a baby plant and put it in a pot for her. Meanwhile jancypants is inside trying not to laugh.
So we head back in and I showed them the rest of the place to many comments on use of space, how big our tv is and asking if we had a son when they saw Kens nerf collection ( which has grown since the initial post) haha.
Then as her daughter Linny was trying to shooe her out because she knew that I needed to go grocery shopping for dinner, she proceeded to check out my parsley plant for babies as well.
Haha truly a random event of the evening/ month. I'm glad a got to meet one of my neighbors and that they are friendly if not a little strange haha. Tis my life's randomness :)
Posted with BlogsyEpic Friday night hotpot!!
Monday, 30 April 2012
The weather has been getting colder and so we thought it'd be perfect to have some friends over for hotpot.
Little did I know that everyone else would agree it was a great idea and we ended up with almost 20 people rsvping yes. Luckily we recently acquired some folding tables and I borrowed an extra chair and the special hot pot nets from my parents.
I did a huge grocery run on Friday afternoon. The list of ingredients were:
I like to quickly blanch the bones with hot water first then bring to boil. Then turn down to a simmer and skim off the froth as it is simmering. The longer the bones are boiling the more flavoursome the broth will be. Season with salt and sugar if needed.
Once the broth is ready everything else is cooked as you eat! Keep an eye on the meat you put in in case someone "accidentally" picks up your hot pot net ;)
Add hot water as the soup starts to evaporate or if too many people are drinking it :). Dumplings float when its ready to eat. Try not to leave them in too long or the skin starts to break up and turn to mush.
Our epic turnout!
Hot pot is a great way to gather friends and it's less stressful because everyones essentially cooking their own food. We'll be having a lot more hot pot now that its getting so much colder.
Enjoy!
Event: 27th April 2012
Little did I know that everyone else would agree it was a great idea and we ended up with almost 20 people rsvping yes. Luckily we recently acquired some folding tables and I borrowed an extra chair and the special hot pot nets from my parents.
I did a huge grocery run on Friday afternoon. The list of ingredients were:
- Chinese spinach (波菜)
- Choy sum (菜心)
- Kai lan (芥兰)
- Noodles
- Dumplings
- Thinly sliced beef, pork and chicken ( one pack of lamb as well but it has a very strong smell when cooked in hot pot that I don't like)
- Tofu
- An assortment of mushrooms including shiitake and enoki mushrooms.
- Fish balls!!
- Beef balls
- Fish tofu. There are a few hot pot assorted packs available.
- Hoisin sauce
- Soy sauce
- Chili sauce
- Pork bones for the broth
I like to quickly blanch the bones with hot water first then bring to boil. Then turn down to a simmer and skim off the froth as it is simmering. The longer the bones are boiling the more flavoursome the broth will be. Season with salt and sugar if needed.
Once the broth is ready everything else is cooked as you eat! Keep an eye on the meat you put in in case someone "accidentally" picks up your hot pot net ;)
Hot pot is a great way to gather friends and it's less stressful because everyones essentially cooking their own food. We'll be having a lot more hot pot now that its getting so much colder.
Enjoy!
Event: 27th April 2012
First Year Anniversary (2) Aria Restaurant
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Surprise number 2 was dinner at Aria Restaurant. After a misleading walk around the toaster and looping back around we entered the restaurant at 6.30pm.
We were seated on the Macquarie st side, close to the bar. The restaurant had a great view of the harbour.
Menu! We decided on the 3 course meal ($89 pp, pre theatre menu).
First course K got the Peking duck consommé with duck dumplings, mushrooms and shaved abalone.
I got the Kurobuta pork belly with pork croquette and caramelised apple.
After the first mouthful of my pork croquette I knew the meal was going to be fantastic! The pork was succulent with perfectly crisped crackling and was beautifully complimented by the caramelized apple and sauce.The croquette was crispy but not at all oily.
Looking over at K told me he was having a similar experience with his duck consommé. One sip of the soup and I could taste the sweetness of the shaved abalone and flavour of the duck all swimming together in it's tasty tasty broth! I couldn't wait for our mains!
First out, roast lamb rump with garlic soubise, baby fennel and mint gel.
Next grass fed scotch fillet with lyonnaise potatoes, green asparagus with bone marrow and cornichon sauce.
And a side of potato mash with truffle oil! Oh the buttery goodness
All the flavours where so rich and not too overpowering. The mint gel that came with the lamb was so minty and sweet it was surprising how much flavour they could get into those small dabs of gel. As expected it was a great addition to the lamb.
Both the lamb and scotch were tender and perfectly cooked medium rare. It was definitely maintaining a "best place we've been to so far" status.
Dessert! Mango souffle with coconut ripple ice cream.
Milk chocolate and passionfruit dumplings with yuzu (my favorite Japanese fruit!) curd and passionfruit sorbet.
I love it when they write messages on my dessert plate. It so special!
The dessert dumplings were warm and crisp on the outside with a fantastic burst of flavour when I bit into the center! The rest was also fantastic but the dumplings were my favorite.
The meal was finished with a serving of petit fours. My favorite was the coconut which is strange because I usually don't like shaved coconut.
All in all an excellent dinner!
We were seated on the Macquarie st side, close to the bar. The restaurant had a great view of the harbour.
Menu! We decided on the 3 course meal ($89 pp, pre theatre menu).
First course K got the Peking duck consommé with duck dumplings, mushrooms and shaved abalone.
I got the Kurobuta pork belly with pork croquette and caramelised apple.
After the first mouthful of my pork croquette I knew the meal was going to be fantastic! The pork was succulent with perfectly crisped crackling and was beautifully complimented by the caramelized apple and sauce.The croquette was crispy but not at all oily.
Looking over at K told me he was having a similar experience with his duck consommé. One sip of the soup and I could taste the sweetness of the shaved abalone and flavour of the duck all swimming together in it's tasty tasty broth! I couldn't wait for our mains!
First out, roast lamb rump with garlic soubise, baby fennel and mint gel.
Next grass fed scotch fillet with lyonnaise potatoes, green asparagus with bone marrow and cornichon sauce.
And a side of potato mash with truffle oil! Oh the buttery goodness
All the flavours where so rich and not too overpowering. The mint gel that came with the lamb was so minty and sweet it was surprising how much flavour they could get into those small dabs of gel. As expected it was a great addition to the lamb.
Both the lamb and scotch were tender and perfectly cooked medium rare. It was definitely maintaining a "best place we've been to so far" status.
Dessert! Mango souffle with coconut ripple ice cream.
Milk chocolate and passionfruit dumplings with yuzu (my favorite Japanese fruit!) curd and passionfruit sorbet.
I love it when they write messages on my dessert plate. It so special!
The dessert dumplings were warm and crisp on the outside with a fantastic burst of flavour when I bit into the center! The rest was also fantastic but the dumplings were my favorite.
The meal was finished with a serving of petit fours. My favorite was the coconut which is strange because I usually don't like shaved coconut.
All in all an excellent dinner!
First Year Anniversary (1) The new iPad!
Celebrating anniversaries are always fun, so celebrating our first year wedding anniversary was even more exciting!
As usual K made the arrangements because he loves surprising me. First present of the event given to me the night before...
The new iPad!! After months of unconvincingly insisting that I didn't want or need an iPad, I couldn't contain my excitement when I opened the box!!
I spent the rest of the night playing with it. The first app being eBay to get a smart case, backing and screen protector :)
Anniversary part 2 - Aria restaurant
As usual K made the arrangements because he loves surprising me. First present of the event given to me the night before...
The new iPad!! After months of unconvincingly insisting that I didn't want or need an iPad, I couldn't contain my excitement when I opened the box!!
I spent the rest of the night playing with it. The first app being eBay to get a smart case, backing and screen protector :)
Anniversary part 2 - Aria restaurant
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