Thursday, April 26, 2012

Bake-a-thon

It's the season of baking again! I'll be making three cakes (finally! after such a long promise) for a gathering with my dear friends :) 

What's on the menu? We have..

1) Chocolate Genoise Cake with Grand Marnier Creme de Patisserie and Vanilla Buttercream
2) Green Tea Sponge Cake with Green Tea Mousse
3) Coffee Genoise Cake with White Chocolate Mousse

Will upload the pictures soon! :) Can't wait.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

For those who are visiting Hong Kong...

This website provides a wealth of information on where to find good food in Hong Kong (http://www.discoverhongkong.com/tramguide/eng/)

Enjoy! :)

FOOD GALORE!

You guys should visit foodgawker.com to witness a neverending gastronomical (optically) feast! It provides awesome links to other food blogs around the world. There are over 3000+ pages of links, take your time and enjoy the immense delight of food (for your eyes) :D

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Nasty!

Let me attest to the corny, but very factual statement 'Money is the root of all evil'. Apparently my uncle had been conned by the local fishmongers in Hong Kong who unscrupulously labelled 'oilfish' as its pricey counterparty 'codfish'. Oilfish is a fish that highly resembles codfish in terms of appearance and taste but it contains some nasty indigestible wax esters (the stuff that contributes to the oilyness of the creature) that will bring laxative side effects. Enough said, you guys should know what happened after I've consumed that darn thing. It grossed me out, like how I'm so disgusted by the dirty dealings carried out by those selfish fishmongers.

Remember to differentiate between codfish and oilfish before making your purchase. More information is available on Google.com :)

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

My Happiest Day of my LIFE

To XXX,

Thanks for coming over and accompany me for the whole day! It was fun crapping with you, staring at you, touching you, feeling you. Love!

Monday, March 12, 2012

Tangled heartstrings

I guess I'm holding you too tight. But I can't let myself to lose grip even for a few seconds. I feel like a tinpot dictator, a brutal ruler who is hated by people. I know all those words I've said have made you sad in a certain way, I'm deeply apologetic. I can't help but to feel this way, I'm sorry for being so darn foolish. Sometimes the emotional burden is so heavy that I wish for you to leave me and let me suffer all these pain alone, but I need you by my side forever. I can't imagine life without your presence, your silliness, your aloofness, your ignorance, your stubborness. At least I know when I crash to the rock bottom, you will be there for me. I'm really thankful for all that you've done. Your love to me, is like my drug. When you're gone, I crash and crave for you. With you around I get so high (sometimes angry, because you just won't talk much). So yeah, forgive me for being so selfish, I blame myself, for loving you too much.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Foods that enhance metabolism

As extracted from http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/foods-that-speed-metabolism/,

1. Hot peppers
Hot Peppers
Jalapeno, habanero, cayenne and other forms of spicy peppers directly boost metabolism and circulation. In fact, eating hot peppers not only speeds up your metabolism, it also reduces cravings. This is related to its capsaicin content, a constituent that stimulates the body’s pain receptors, temporarily increasing blood circulation and metabolic rate. If you have ever experienced a bout of intense sweating after eating a particularly hot tamale, this shouldn’t come as a surprise. In fact, studies have shown that eating hot peppers can boost the metabolism by up to 25%, with the spike lasting for up to 3 hours.

2. Whole Grains: Oatmeal & Brown Rice
Whole Grains
Whole grains are chock-full of nutrients and complex carbohydrates that speed up metabolism by stabilizing our insulin levels. Slow-release carbs, such as oatmeal, brown rice and quinoa offer long-lasting energy, without the spikes associated with other sugar-rich foods. We want to keep our insulin levels low, as spikes in this chemical tell the body that it needs to begin storing extra fat.
Broccoli Boosts Metabolism
3. Broccoli

High in calcium (a known weight-reducer), broccoli is also extraordinarily high in vitamins C, K and A. One serving of broccoli will also provide you with plenty of folate and dietary fiber, plus a variety of antioxidants. Broccoli is also one of the best detox foods you can add to your diet.

4. Soups
Soup Boosts Metabolism
Studies show that people who eat soups eat less solid food with their main meals. One study on soup done at Penn State University found that the liquid goodness offered a appetite reducing combination of liquids and solids that reduced intake of excess foods, speeding up the metabolism for fat burning. In the study, women chose one of three 270-calorie snacks before lunch.

5. Green Tea
Green Tea
It is now becoming a well-known fact, through multiple scientific studies, that green tea extract significantly increases metabolism, as well as provide a variety of other health benefits. Not only is it delicious, but it’s also rich in the antioxidants needed for optimal health.
6. Apples and Pears
Apple Metabolism Foods
Studies show that these two fruits help boost metabolism and speed up weight loss. A study done at the State University of Rio de Janeiro found that women eating three small apples or pears daily, lost more weight than women who did not. Apples and pears are also two fruits that you want to eat organic.

7. Spices
Metabolism Foods
From cayenne to garlic to cinnamon, spices are one of the best ways you can keep your metabolic rates high. Especially speedy are the more pungent spices such as black pepper, mustard seeds, powdered onion and ginger. One Canadian study found the use of spices enabled people to burn up to 1,000 more calories daily than those not incorporating spices into their diet.
Grapefruit Speeds Metabolism
8. Citrus fruits

Fruits such as grapefruit have been shown to help us burn fat and keep metabolism high. This could be related to the fruits’ high amount of vitamin C, a component that again, reduces insulin spikes.

9. Foods High in Calcium
Calcium Boosts Metabolism
A study done at the University of Tennessee found that people who consumed 1,200-1,300 milligrams of calcium a day lost almost double the amount of weight as those who were not getting enough calcium in their diet. To help boost your metabolism, eat plenty of foods high in calcium. If you are unable to eat more of these foods, then you should consider taking a calcium supplement.


10. Foods High in Omega-3′s

Foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids are a great way to speed your metabolism. These acids reduce the production of a hormone called leptin, a natural chemical thatlowers metabolism. Animal studies done at the University of Wisconsin found that lab mice with low leptin levels produced faster metabolic rates than mice with higher levels of the hormone.
Another study done by the Mayo Clinic found that African tribes with a heavy fish-based diet had leptin levels up to five times lower than tribes that did not consume fish. Please keep in mind that there are many other nutritional sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, besides fish. These foods include many nuts and seeds. Hemp oil and flax seed oil are both great additions to your diet, as they are naturally high in essential fatty acids.

11. Purified Water

Okay, it’s not exactly a food, but it is a metabolism booster. A recent German study found that drinking water speeds up fat burning. It is also a natural appetite suppressant and detoxifier.