Munchies & A Lil' Bit Of Everything » East Meet West

Food Can Bring Back Lots Of Memories

Chilli Padi — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:09:27 +0000

Chinese New Year is just a few days away and I was thinking of eating some sticky rice cake – aka Nian Gao in Chinese. You have to make a flour and egg batter for it and then fry it up and serve and eat it hot. I haven’t eaten these for ages – more than 20 years I think and it does bring back lots of memories. You see, my mom used to fry them for us when we were kids during Chinese New Year – I never liked it – till i was older and can appreciate it.

The taste is sweet and if eaten hot – it’s crispy as well. We didn’t have very much to eat when we were kids and not a lot of luxury for anything. While my kids are brought up with love and a lot of hugs, we were brought up to feel like we owed our parents everything. Never would we dare raise our voices at my parents – else, we would be smacked on the face so hard or get caned till we can sit down properly for a day or two. Fear was the word with my parents – there were no warm feeling there for them when we were kids.

But on the other hand, I too wonder, are we being too lax with our kids? For they too like to raise their voices if they weren’t happy about something. I try never to raise my voice at my kids – so where are they learning this from? I don’t cane my kids – maybe I should when they were younger eh but if I did that I would be the one crying because of all the times when we were hit when we were kids and the humiliation from it. I vowed never to teach my kids this way but didn’t they say something about spare the rod and spoil the child – and they will end up to be bad? well something like that – so where is the balance here? You can’t keep threatening them that you would run away if they were being rude to you – they do grow up and realized that you ain’t going to run anywhere.

Yes, food sure brings back lots of memories – memories that I don’t really want to revisit and think that what my parents did for us when we were growing up were right – because it cannot be right to hit your kids and call them in bad names to shame them? can it?

Gummy In A Cake

Chilli Padi — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:01:20 +0000

I loved Gumdrop cakes ! they are awesome to eat and a treat to the eyes and they are very easy to make. The very first cake I learned to bake was a gumdrop cake, a friend from college taught me how to do it. This Christmas, I’m making some for friends and family – so I’m starting early and as soon as Christmas is over – the family and I are heading to Mauritius Island for a few days.

Friendship Is Like A Cupcake

Chilli Padi — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 23:54:21 +0000

Someone said to me the other day that friendship is like a cupcake. You want it to be pretty, you want it to be sweet- but not too sweet. You would loved it everyday but if you eat it everyday – you will get tired of it and once you eat it – you are satisfied for the moment and sometimes you remember this friendship but most times you just shit it out.

Not many people survived the trial of friendship and if you have friends who are pretty much deep down inside you know cannot really depend on till the very end – do you still try your best to be good friends to him and her? I loved my online friendship but you and I know that it’s not worth getting so closed right? Most people want to make you of your popularity online – and for folks like me who pretty much keeps to herself – I don’t get many online friends but real friends and my real friends are known as friends because they have known me for years now and wouldn’t pull any stunt with me. Online friendship are hard to keep unless – the other party don’t go crazy on you first. I loved myself too much – and even though I like my cupcakes – I don’t fancy them as much.

Tao Foo Fa aka Soy Custard

Chilli Padi — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 00:07:02 +0000

It’s funny how a simple dessert that I’m used to having since I was a kid is so missed by me – now that I’m staying abroad. Never did I ever think that I won’t be having this dessert at anytime I want. My kids don’t like soy anything at all even though I tell them it taste great and silky but they refused to try it at all. They say the texture is just too squishy to enjoy – I guess they are like any American kid who loved their burgers and meat.

I remember when I was young and my parents would send us out in the evening with a bowl in our hands and 50 cents to buy a big bowl of Tao Foo Fa for my grandparents to enjoy. We would not have any till my grandparents and aunts had enough – what a difference with this generation. Our kids are always taken care of first and the adults later and even though things were quite different for us when we were kids – it sure beats eating just burger and fries. The Asian culture is way too rich to ignore.

Being A Good Mom

Chilli Padi — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:10:55 +0000

Easier said than done – but like all parents – we want to do our best and not let anything bad happen to our babies. But what if your baby is a bit older and wiser and decided that they want to learn to play guitar but they are so young – I hear you grumbling – what do they know right? Same thoughts too on my part – but if you don’t let them do what they are interested in most at the moment – then you are depriving them of learning a new instruments and/or developing what true talent they may have or do not have. Being a good mom doesn’t mean you have to get everything for them because they want it – but if you can find a cheap way for them to learn it online – why not? So if anyone tells me that their kids want to take up guitar lessons – I strongly suggest this online site for guitar lessons – real cheap too!

I Want This Bag For Christmas!

Chilli Padi — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 20:15:50 +0000

We went to a fashion show last week – and I cannot get over this blue handbag and I want this bag ! A check with everyone who went to the fashion show – they don’t even know if it belongs to the model herself or was it an FK’s. So I’m on the hunt for this bag – and if anyone know what brand it is – let me know and no this is not a Hermes – I would know because I have one too but it’s not. I just hope this bag isn’t too expensive because it will be the Christmas present I want from the spouse. No diamond rings for me this holiday – i just want another bag – this blue one in particular.

A Little Bit Of Paradise

Chilli Padi — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:37:25 +0000

I’m used to traveling a lot for work and pleasure before having kids and knowing my spouse – and I do missed those carefree days – where I only shop for myself and eat for myself and think only about myself. Life is quite different when you have kids and a spouse and mortgages etc., but this is life isn’t it. But if the spouse doesn’t bring you on vacation on a regular basis, you would want to go on your own with your friends right? most people loved to travel while others don’t – so what do you do if the spouse and the kids don’t like to travel? the best thing to do is to find some other friends that you can travel with. And as my kids grew older – I go on more trips with my friends instead of the spouse – but that also means that you get to meet other people when you travel with your friends – so how many of you are going to restraint yourself from having some fun?

I love a little bit of paradise too sometimes and to be looked at differently – as a real woman not just a spouse and the mother of your kids or the one who does the housework and the laundry. So men out there take care of what you do with your spouse and for her – else she might try to find a little paradise elsewhere – I’ve seen my friends do it – and I can’t really blame them for it – for they don’t get any fun at home. Is it wrong? of course it is – but we are only human – and all humans loved to feel special every now and then.

Prince Concert In Halifax

Chilli Padi — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 17:23:19 +0000

I was invited to Prince concert – a few days ago – it was a last minute thing by a friend – a good one at that, so I went without the kids or the spouse. It was a fun night – although I cannot say I enjoyed it thoroughly, it was supposed to be a 3 hrs show – but the show started late and ended earlier. There was a lot of singing and dancing and Prince invited a fan to sing with him – and of course – the stage was set to be a lot of purple – his signature color. I have to say that there were a lot of people who attended the concert – and he had many fans and he did have a stunning presence with his fan – a lot of people were entertained but I prefer Paul McCartney type of concert if you get my drift. After the concert, we went down to Argle Street and had a late supper before heading back to the hotel – I had loads of fun that night.

Vintage Fashion Or Vintage Thinking

Chilli Padi — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:03:53 +0000

I came across this book earlier this year – and didn’t think much about it – till I met an old friend from my childhood days. And when I saw this book again – I was reminded about him and his thinking and those of his dad. Song and his father – even his mother are from the 50s and stuck in the 50s I think. They believed that their wives or a woman’s place is in the kitchen or home. But that doesn’t mean that their wives or woman can be sloppy in their dressing for they own a small business – and supposedly doing quite well.

In this gorgeous style guide from the 50s, American fashion designer Anne Fogarty reveals the secrets of ‘wife-dressing’ – the art of looking chic on all occasions, be it at a cocktail party, on the tennis pitch or in the boudoir. Illustrated with Fogarty’s stylish drawings and 50s fashion photography from John French, this handbag-sized guide contains all the advice and inspiration you need to make you the happiest and hippest couple in town.

I met Song after 25 years and although his wife look skinny – and he has 3 kids – the wife is dressed well – still in the 70s I think but definitely respectable looking. Song seems to be doing well – his kids are teenagers – and I’m happy for him. But he still is the gentleman that I’ve known when I was a teenager – but I’m sure he must now look at me – and think – hey ! i looked and dress better than his wife and more well -traveled than he.

Life is sure funny isn’t it ! I don’t think I would have been happy if I did end up with Song – he and his family are just so old-fashioned. I doubt his wife ever traveled on her own nor his children.

Retail Therapy Makes Me A Happy Woman

Chilli Padi — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 02:32:35 +0000

Retail therapy makes all woman happy but not the man – so if you are smart – never go shopping with the man or it will only dampen your spirits. Shop with a happy girlfriend and you will be one happy woman. I love shopping for jeans and dresses, perfumes, cute stuff and even at my age – I still adore cute stuff. After signing those credit card bills – I’m definitely satisfied with myself.