Has it been 1 year already?

Past few months flew by so fast, I’m in CA 1 year already!!! I’m not sure what I’ve done to be blessed with many good things including a job in THIS economy, good friends and supportive companion, great guardians to watch over me and help me whenever I needed, a very reliable car and a great opportunity to learn about the financial services business. Can’t imagine what else I could ask for ^_^

About the economy, I personally know a bunch of people got laid off from their jobs -mostly engineers that’s been in the field a long time including a high level technical director. I met a new friend who’s a phlebotomist (medical person who draws blood at a private blood donation center) got laid off last month, she has 2 young kids and I suspect no husband around.

I’ve been talking a lot about setting goals in the beginning of the year. But without action, goals cannot become a reality. So I commited to myself that I will bring my parents to the US next year for my graduation ceremony in May, spring season. I’d finance their flight ticket and other expenses. This is like a short-term goal to help reinforce my discipline and habits in order to reach my long-term goal to be financially independent. Lately, I find myself taking more actions than ever before in order to achieve that. And today, I reached an important milestone, I’m really proud of myself. The amount of time I talk to my brain, worked on my mental toughness, make myself to take actions, face my fears and finally, I’m seeing some small results… Lesson learnt: Set the goals, but more importantly, TAKE ACTION!!!

Happy Anniversary to me!

A recent pic taken from a potluck, this is the Malaysian group I associate with.

Malaysian Professional Business Association (MPBA) committee

Lali and I met during the CNY party organized by the MPBA group. She wasn't trying to kill me. She's a great cook!

I made karipap!

Karipap

Thanks to TINA for the recipe!

Here is the recipe of the curry puff.

I am not sure what time the potluck will start, but you can prepare the filling in advanced. And bake them before you’re going to the potluck. If you would like to reheat them at the potluck, just slightly bake them, so that when you arrive at the potluck host’s home, you can use their oven to rebake them into golden , crunchy Kari Puff!!

I give you vegetarian recipe, you can add egg/chicken next time.

1. curry powder
2. 4 pototes (for 2 boxes of the pastry), diced
3. 1 big yellow onion (diced)
4. curry leaves (get it from Ranch 99, but sometimes it is not available)
5. 1 big can of coconut milk
6. seasoning (salt, chili paste to make it hotter)
7. pepperidge farm pastry 2 boxes (http://www.pepperidgefarm.com/ProductDetail.aspx?catID=767&prdID=120690), two sheets inside, you can cut each sheet into 9 even pieces. Make them nice simple finger snack!
8. Egg yolk (optional, just spread them on the top of the kari puff, so they will turn into golden, shining color after bake)

a) heat the oil and stir fried 3, follow by 2, 1, 4 and lastly 5,6 . The filling should be kind of mushy with some chunky potatoes. If it still couldn’t turn soft, add some water…but i think coconut milk should be good enough.
b) put the filling into the pastry sheet, wrap them and use the fork to press the edge of wrap to “secure” it, so the filling won’t come out. Use the fork to make some holes on the top of the kari puff, so the filling won’t come out so easily.
c) use 8 to spread them on the top of the kari puff before put them into oven. I forgot how many minutes i baked….you can read the pastry sheet instruction box, reduce 5 minutes in case they turn black charcoal color…keep an eye on them…..

Note:
a) do not defrost the pastry, slightly defrost is okay, coz once they turn soft, they are very sticky and hardly to fold them..the hot filling will soften them, don’t worry.
b) don’t wrap the curry leaves, take them out.
c)coz it is vege, not much flavor, you might need to add some msg/chicken flavor/ajinomoto hondashi…

It’s my 6th month here!

Went to Nicolino Garden Cafe, an authentic Italian restaurant to celebrate my 6th month being in the USA.

Pasta @ Nicolino Garden Cafe

cosy corner

Roasted Rabbit @ Stinking Rose

I’m bad, I had roasted rabbit last night for dinner at the Stinking Rose “Garlic” restaurant in San Francisco. The restaurant is famous with their garlic in olive oil condiment, boy, they don’t call it Stinking Rose for nothing :-/ Had garlicy breath the whole night!

Well, you know what they always say about tasting new meat – “taste just like chicken!”. Actually, it DOES taste like chicken

I

Roasted Rabbit with pasta

It’s Fall

The weekend has been the loveliest since I came here. It rained finally! And it rained and rained and rained… it’s a bit like making up for the non-presence of rain during summer. Though the leaves are not that red in most places, the chilly and windy days makes this Fall an especially memorable one since it’s my first

Daylight Saving Time

Nov 2 – Just lost daylight saving, so falling back 1 hour already. Time difference with Msia is now 16 hours!
Eg. my Sunday 1PM,  KL time is Monday 5AM :O

Here are some pics of Aunt Vivian’s house and my room, as requested by Anne.

tv area

Living hall

kitchen

my bed, very comfy double bed. mirrors facing from the front and the side.

my desk, next to bed. some days can see the moon outside the window. the fan is hardly used. getting colder.