Getting Depressed

I don't know what it is but The Netherlands gets me down. I've lived here for about 5 years now and I still don't like it. Sometimes I think it's OK and I definitely see the good sides but it's just so empty. It is so boring. I don't have a life, just an existence. I've never really felt like this about any other country before and the whole time, whether I'm in the bus or when out with people, I just want to shout "THIS IS A SHITHOLE, THIS IS A SHITHOLE AND I AM LIVING HERE ONLY BECAUSE MY BOYFRIEND IS DUTCH, NOT BECAUSE IT'S A BETTER LIFE!".

I just don't know what's else there is for us. And for me. It's like OK, general unhappiness and crabbiness but I have 'things' to do- finish school, get married, have babies, grow old. But what else? Dutchman is doing exceedingly well in his career now and he's such a kampung (village) boy who doesn't really want to move abroad. If we move elsewhere, same thing- only this time, I'm happy and he isn't.

What a dilemma;-) Hope I stop harping on this soon.

If

you're wondering why it's been quiet here, it's because exam period is over and I don't have to study and therefore need to procrastinate by baking/cooking.

Fried Chicken

I love KFC. I know it's bad for me but always go back for the hot & spicy chicken wings and sometimes the crispy strips. They are ALWAYS eaten with Malaysian/Indonesian garlic chilli sauce. The last year or so, I've only had them with "sambal asli" which is a kind of garlic chilli sauce, not as sweet as the usual ones and a definitely spicier.

Why I don't like KFC: it is somewhat expensive, the ques are long and service is ridiculously slow (if there are 3 people in front of you, expect to wait 30 minutes). Also, for some reason, this place always gets something wrong. They forgot my fries and/or coleslaw about half the time. Sometimes, I only get 5 chicken wings out of 6 or they'll forget to include cheese in Dutchman's burger. We'll discover these things after arriving home and I suppose it makes more sense to check our order upon receiving. Oh well.

-first recipe: my own-

To cut the long story short: I fried chicken twice (2 different recipes) last weekend and I can't believe how yummy and easy it was! I have bad memories from the nyonya fried chicken a few years ago when oil splattered every fucking where (ceiling, floor, walls, me) and I still have a burn on my arm sustained from that day. This time, it didn't splatter AT ALL. :-)

The first was one I made up myself based on what I had in the house at that time. The second is by Jamie Oliver. Honestly, I prefer mine because Jamie Oliver's was slightly "sour", probably because of the amount of lemon juice and buttermilk. It was however, more crunchy. All in all, I would make either again. I don't think I'll ever go back to KFC :-D

Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

225g butter
4 eggs
2 cups A/P flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 tbsp vanilla essence

1) Whisk flour, salt and baking powder.
2) In a separate bowl, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Then, add eggs one at a time and cream for 1 minute after each egg. Add vanilla.
3) Fold in flour mixture into the wet mix.
4) Finally, fold the chocolate chips into the mix gently.
5) Bake for 35-40 minutes at 180 degrees

Recent Dinners

Wedding Talk

The wedding is only in 2012. In the 2nd quarter of 2012.

We are the ones getting married but other people seem to be so much more excited than we are. I don't get it and it's actually iritating me quite a bit.

I hate that some people invited themselves. I hate that some people are assuming they are invited. I hate the fact that both sets of our parents invited some random people we never met before (take into account, there will be a separate reception for my parents' acquaintances) or people whom we have met maybe once or twice. People don't seem to realize we have our own preferences and our own budget to balance.Every additional guest costs 100 euro. If it's a family of 5, it will be 500 euros. And it will be guests we don't know and it will spoil the atmosphere.

We want a small, intimate wedding with people we are close to and we want to indulge them. That would make us happy.

I have stated it very bluntly to my parents. Specific instructions etc. but my parents just disrespect me by saying "we'll pay for those extra people" . ARGH like WTF! It's not only about the money, it's a SMALL, INTIMATE wedding. How many times must I repeat myself. *sigh*

-flowers of the week-

Earl Gray Torte

I am totally blown away by this cake. It is so light, yet so rich. It's like eating expensive chocolate with a hint of Earl Gray. The texture is amazing- it's like eating a cloud. This is not a cake a child would love but an adult would relish this with a nice strong cup of coffee or tea.

Adapted from BBC Good Food

200g unsalted butter, diced
140g ground almonds
250g 78% dark chocolate
6 eggs, separated
2 tea bags of Earl Gray Tea
200g caster sugar
100ml milk
1/4tsp salt

1) Microwave milk until almost boiling. Add tea leaves (cut the tea bags) and stir.
2) Melt the butter, chocolate and salt in a large bowl over a pan of simmering water.
3) When it has all melted, add the ground almonds and then the egg yolks and milk mixture.
4) In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff and then add the sugar. Whisk for an additional minute or so. Then, turn on your oven and heat to 180 degrees celscious.
5) Finally, fold the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and pour mixture into baking tin.
6) Bake for about 30-35 minutes.
7) When completely cool, dust icing sugar and cocoa powder on top.