Labor Day Lunch

天天吃老妈做的饭，好吃是好吃。但还是有点腻。今天就由我主厨吧，也给老妈换下口味。海南风味的清炒苦瓜和排骨烧栗子和豆腐.

讲个老妈的雷人语录吧 -

前天早上我在家匆匆忙忙地要去上班。一不小心，就从4阶楼梯上摔了下来。一屁股坐在地上。幸好家里面是地毯，但还是半天没爬起来。

坐在地上大叫:“王老太婆，快点来一下！”
半天我家老妈才从她屋里晃悠出来。
我很是奇怪:“妈，我摔这么一老跤，你也不担心？也不快点来扶我起来？”
我妈说:“我是觉得你这么勇敢。天天健身，怕什么？”

Steamed Rice Cake with Black Sesame

终于过上了好吃懒做，衣来伸手，饭来张口的生活了！ 就一个字 - “爽”啊！

老妈还同我争论。到底是谁的功劳？ 她做的体力活。我做的高级包装，艺术指导和摄影。你说呢？

What should I bring to share with my friends tonight? Since mom is here, we can all enjoy some tasty Chinese desert. So, with my "tireless coaching, packaging and styling to her cooking techniques, mom made this steamed rice cake with black sesame. Tasty, soft but not too sweet!

黑芝麻花生馅松糕
做法：
1)将糯米粉100克，大米粉150克，砂糖75克加水拌匀成松散粉粒的糕粉。过筛.
2)取模具，垫上干净湿布，铺上一层黑芝麻花生馅
3)最后铺上余下的三分之一白糕粉，刮平表面，然后将干果蜜饯装饰好表面，入蒸笼蒸20-30分钟熟即可。

Veggie Buns Made with Corn Mill and Wheat Flour

既然老妈没有事做，那我们就找点事情给她做。做点玉米面杂粮的素馅包子吧。

我奶奶是地地道道的南京回民。做的回民风味的家常便饭好吃得不得了。素馅饺子很简单，就是点鸡蛋丝，香菇丁，干丝，粉丝，韭菜。剁成陷。关键是沾料。一点生抽，一点麻油。就完完全全地把素馅的香味带出来了。

Mom does not have much to do everyday here in Sunnyvale! It sucks because if she does not have much to do then she is "on" me, all the time. So, I really have to keep my mom-entertaining-program running 24X7.

在家弹钢琴。自以为是！问老妈，觉得我怎样，是不是很有力度？老妈头不抬，心不挑地说“你天天练肌肉练得好呗.“ 我到了。。。。

Mom makes funny comments.

Playing piano at home one day. Feeling very good about my play. So, I turned around and asked my mom "Mom, how do you like my playing these days? Don't you think I am much more powerful when playing those strong notes?"

Still focusing on her needling and without even lifting her eyes, my mom said:"I think you have done well with all your muscle trainings..."

Sunday Brunch at LeeLa Palace (Bangalore) (1)

我认识一些没事找事到人。这些人闲下来就搜肠刮肚的找事来折腾。给漂亮的甜点拍照片算是其中之一吧。

到LEELA酒店去吃一个早餐。反正有空，那就尽情地欣赏精心点缀的甜点吧。

Sunday, after going to Church with Thomas, I went for the brunch at LeeLa palace. A perfect place for food photographing.

Soak in the love of beautiful desert.

Thai Green Curry Baby Rib

周末了，心情不错。忙活了一周，做点好吃的犒铹自己一下. 一个人的晚餐也要两菜一汤。是不是有点过分？没办法呀。勤劳的人的生活是会要享受和小资一点的了。大家要多多谅解。哈哈。。。

杂豆蛋炒饭和蒜苗炒豆腐乾。

买的泰国绿咖哩，做了一个改良版的绿咖哩小排骨。香味有了，因为怕肥，有点偷工减料，味道还是差餐馆里的一些。将就吧！人长不高了，总不能再长宽吧。

2009 New Year Eve Dinner

新年前夜的晚餐当然要隆重一点。又要好吃，又要有节日气氛，从餐前酒到色拉，到正餐和配菜，最后到甜点，还要相互呼应搭配。想来想去，还是做苹果红梅烤鸭吧.

The 1-week spent with Mary, Chris's auntie and a gourmet cook, during the Christmas, not only increased the readings of my weight but also totally enhanced my desire to serve gourmet food.

Chris often rips us going too far with the food presentation and cooking. Oh well...As long as I am fine with him going nuts with his bikes, he should have nothing to complain about me being slightly more sophisticated than what he preferred on food.

With all the trainings provided by Mary and Cathy (Chris' mom), here below was what I came up with for the New Year Eve dinner.

Some snack before the dinner. Apple and sharp cheddar cheese always go very well together.

Blue cheese, rosemary whole wheat cracker, blue potato chips are our favorite.

Sun-dried tomato pesto for dipping the bread.

Man! So much work to have a dinner table like this! Chris complained the whole way though for taking so many "damn pictures" (in his own words).

Drink - Pomegranate Champaigntini. Salad - Endive Black Berry Salad with Goat Cheese and Diced Apples

Main Course - Roast Duck with Apple and Cranberries

Desert - Apple-topped Ginger Bread