Some happy holiday music

It's almost Xmas! Cant believe it's already December and I will spend Xmas in Canada this year. It's a long time since I spent Xmas not in China. Really looking forward to this holiday because one of my best friends from China will come and spend Xmas and New Year with me. We have known each other since kindergarten. I don't remember much but from the kindergarten photo we took together, we are probably in the same class then, since age 4. Man, this is a really long time. The most valuable thing is, no matter how long i have not seen her, she does not change. She is the same person, same personalty, funny, stubborn, smart. She is sometimes mean when she talks, but cares for you from her pure heart. Haha, I just love how she is very true to herself. I can never be the same as her. 

Just want to share this lovely music I heard from CBC radio the other day. It is perfect for Xmas....
Larsson - The Winter's Tale, Op. 18

Invisible Apple Cake

it's a rainy Sunday morning, felt like doing some baking and always wanted to try out EMOJOIE CUISINE's recipe of invisible apple cake. It is very straightforward and easy to make. He didnt't have a written one so here is a word version of it:

Ingredients
Cake pan 18cm*8cm*8cm
A
2 egg 50g granulated sugar 20g melted butter 100ml milk Pinch of salt 1tbsp vanilla extract or vanilla syrup
B
70g plain Flour
C
3 apples skinned and thinly sliced
D Salted Butter Caramel Sauce 50g granulated sugar 30ml water 100ml heavy cream 40g unsalted butter Pinch of salt

Steps
Mix A well, add B, then pour the mixture of A+B to C. Bake at 170 deg C for 45 min

Turn out
Easy, right?! not quite so, i forgot about the milk in mix A, :(((( i was wondering why the batch A was so thick and little and thought the apple will just melt after baking, haha, the cake is still being baked right now. It smells good and let's wait and see how it will turn out... Time for a new recipe!! lol

Updated on Nov 25
Here are the photos of the apple cake. Apple becomes very sweet after baking. I like how it's tender inside and crispy on the top.

See you again, Met

Dear Met,
I've been thinking a lot of you lately. When we first met at work, you were trying to be cool and professional and would not want to talk to me. Then our friendship started, you were the one would always reach out to me, phone me for drinks, clubbing (never happened), food, movies and selfies. OMG, you loved selfies so much and you would borrow mine to take hundreds more. You bugged me for so many things and sometimes I just got annoyed and ignore you. I am just glad that you didn't give up on our friendship and kept reaching to me and created so much great memories with me.

You were just sleeping quietly with your grumpy face. Were you not happy that they didn't do a good job with your hair? Were you not happy with the suits I chose for you? Your chest was so hard and your face was so cold. I wish I could slap your face and wake you up!

Did you know how many people showed up and want to say Hi, Thank you and Goodbye to you? Did you know your friends exceed the donations in less than 24 hours? Did you know you had a huge impact on everyone's life in such a good way? I'm so lucky to have you, my brother.

I'm just not ready to let you go yet. I don't want to and I don't know how. You must be happy to go home with your VIP seat. You must be happy to see you parents, sisters and nephews. Would God make you a mountain goat in your afterlife as you wished? Would you stop and say hi to me when you see me again?

See you again, my brother

Love,


JJ Bin

Two days in Seattle

I just went to Seattle for two days with my friend in Calgary. It's our first time traveling together and it went pretty well. 

City Pass

We bought a city pass from Costco online and it provides you access to five places.

1. Space Needle
Friday 10AM–9:30PM
Saturday 10AM–9:30PM
400 Broad St, Seattle, WA 

2. Woodland Park Zoo
Friday 9:30AM–4PM
Saturday 9:30AM–4PM
5500 Phinney Ave N, Seattle, WA

OR Experience Music Project Museum
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–5PM
325 5th Ave N, Seattle, WA 

3. Chihuly Garden and Glass
Friday 11AM–7PM
Saturday 11AM–7PM
305 Harrison St, Seattle, WA 

OR Pacific Science Center
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–6PM
200 2nd Ave N, Seattle, WA

4. Seattle Aquarium
Friday 9:30AM–5PM
Saturday 9:30AM–5PM
1483 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 

5. Argosy Cruises - Seattle Waterfront
Friday 10AM–4:05PM
Saturday 10AM–4:05PM
1101 Alaskan Way, Pier 55, Seattle, WA

Food

Din Tai Fung (famous Taiwanese chain restaurant, I have had it in Taiwai 101 and it's amazing how it tastes the same)
Friday 11AM–10PM
Saturday 10AM–10PM
University Village, 2621 NE 46th St, Seattle, WA 98105, USA

 

Toulouse Petit Kitchen & Lounge
Friday 8AM–2AM
Saturday 8AM–2AM
601 Queen Anne Ave N, Seattle, WA


5 Spot (breakfast, recommended by our AirBnB host)
1502 Queen Anne Avenue North, Seattle, WA

Shopping

Nordstrom Rack Downtown Seattle
Store #16, 400 Pine Street, Seattle, WA 98101
Mon-Fri: 9:30am-9pm
Sat: 10am-9pm

Alexandra's Consignment Seattle

412 Olive Way, Seattle, WA

Recommended by our AirBnB host. She bought a beaver leather jacket for $300 or something, it was really nice.

Seattle Premium Outlet

Before you go there, register free online. Get a discount booklet at the customer service

Parking Downtown

Parking can be expensive during weekdays, usually by hour and limited by 2 to 4 hours. Cheaper on the weekend, $6 for weekends.

Watermark Garage (convenient location if you are taking cruise, $3 per hour)
1108 Western Ave

Public Market Garage (connects directly with the public market, $3 per hour)
1531 Western Ave 

Parking info
http://downtownseattle.com/parking/index.html
http://www.seattle.gov/transportation/epark/mobile/Watermark.htm

Other Places to visit

Fremont Troll
Troll Ave N, Seattle, WA

Kerry Park

A great place to see the Seattle skyline during night time

Air BnB

We stayed at the Air BnB near the Queen Ann Street. Very welcoming host, Cheryl, has six dogs and two parrots. She used to travel a lot and understands what you need.  

Sherlock final season?

just watched Sherlock season 4 ep 3 and it looks like it's the final season.

a lonely girl wanted a company and that's all she asked for. Yet no one understood her world. Sherlock and Eurus are the same in the same way. They are very smart, emotional and simple.

Sorry about your sister, K. Dont blame yourself. The end is predetermined and you can not change it.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Duck

Went to a potluck party on the weekend and it's my first time trying this recipe out. Quite a few people asked me about the recipe but the original recipe is in Chinese only. Here is the translation. I added some curved green onion and cherry tomatoes to make it festive.

Chinese Salt and Pepper Duck (Cold Dish)

Ducks can be very fatty sometimes and this recipe offers en excellent way of bringing out the refreshing and tender flavor of duck. 

Ingredients

1. Duck (~2 to 2.5 kg), trim the fat

2. 3 tablespoons of sea salt, 1 table spoon ground Sichuan pepper .

3. One piece of green onion, 5 slices of ginger, 1 star anise, 2 clove flower bud, 1 tablespoon salt

Preparation

1. Mix ingredients 2 and cover them allover the duck. Massage duck and let it marinate for min 24 hr (~ 24 to 48hr) in fridge.

2. Rinse the duck

3. Add ingredients 3 in water and bring it to boil in a big pot. Make sure there's enough water to cover the entire duck. 

4. Put the duck in the pot. Turn down the heat right before water is gonna boil again. Simmer at low for 30 mins. 

5. Turn off the heat and let it cool down to room temp.

6. Put the duck in the fridge for a min 4 hrs.

7. Carve and serve. Enjoy!

Chinese version and photos are originally from Maomaoma.

荼蘼 Life plan A and B

最近刚看了一个台湾的电视剧《荼蘼 Life plan A and B》，一共6集，与以往的台湾爱情很不一样。荼蘼是一种花，是春季最后盛开的话，用来比喻某事到结尾了。女主人公需要在爱情和事业中做选择，于是有了计划A和B，就像是PARALLEL UNIVERSE. 两条不可复制亦不可相交的人生路线，在不断的后悔，懊恼和痛苦中进行着，最后女主人终于想通，不再纠结。人生本来就不完美，咀嚼人生百味，方可享受任一方案。