Legend of Condor Heroes (Legend of Arching Hero)

Legend of Condor Heroes

The Legend of Condor Heroes is the first part of a trilogy by Yin Jong also known as Louis Cha.  This first part is set in the Song Dynasty and is the story of two men that have such a strong bond that they pledge their unborn children to be married, if they are of the opposite sex and be sworn siblings if they are of the same.  

Gou Jing and Haung Rong 2003 version

Gou Jing and Haung Rong 2008 version

I just finished watching the 2003 version.  I also watched the 2008 version with Ariel Lin but that was before and I can't remember everything.

I feel like I prefer the 2003 version because it just seemed better acted and mature.  although the character like Haung Rong is a young girl of 16 and Ariel Lin is very good at playing those cute and mischievous roles.  In some ways I preferred to see the more mature Huang Rong.

I think Yang Kang was played well enough. You could see just the kind of person he was especially after he finds out about his real heritage.  Yang Kang starts off as someone who loves being in control.  When things happen he would know about and was often the one to set it up and he seemed to enjoy seeing others at a lost.  Even with his mother we saw how he set up the act about the injured rabbit.  But once he is told who is and told who his real father is. We can observe his devastation.  I also found it to be quiet realistic as to how Yang Kang could not just let go of the past.  Usually in some Ancient stories once someone is revealed to there biological parents, the person suddenly seemed to forget about the people that raised him in favor of this stranger, usually a father. Also Yang Kang is a spoiled rich kid, so he couldn't suddenly just give up and be poor. 

Yang Kang 2008 version

Yang Kang 2003 version

I liked that Nianci was clear about her moral, though she fell in love with Yang Kang almost at first sight. Also she believed a lot in the fact that Yang Kang could changed if he wanted to, but once she really saw that he had no intention to.  She left him.  In the 2008, Nianci was just beyond gullible even when Yang Kang offers her to the Ouyand Ke.  She still doesn't seem to believe that he won't leave his father's side and the wealth and power it comes along with. 

Nianci 2008 version

Nianci 2003 version

Gou Ying came off a little more simple and natural to me than I remember Hu ge being. Although, I think they both made good version of Gou Ying. Though, Hu Ge's just more gullible to still want to forgive and over look Yang Kang after he stabs him.  One reason I think this must have been was because Yang Kang was given a lot more time in the 2008 version to be with the other characters. So it was just maddening to see how day in and out they would over look the things he was doing especially Nianci.


I preferred the 2003 version in more ways than the 2008 version.  Though, I think they are both good. If you can't find the earlier version than watch the 2008 version.  

White Chocolate Crepes

White Chocolate Crepes

I love crepes. I always get them the first chance I get.  I found this easy recipe and decided to make some.  I have to say me and my family finished them in one day. They were so tasty.  The recipe below makes about 8 crepe if you use a crepe pan.  

Ingredients:

2 eggs room temperature3.5oz. cake flour2 tbsp. granulated sugar2 tbsp. melted butter250ml milk room temperaturea few drops vanilla extract


Directions
1. Sift the flour in a bowl. Add sugar and egg, and mix well with a wire whisk.
2. Add half the milk and melted butter, and mix well. Strain the batter to remove lumps. Then add the rest of the milk and a few drops vanilla extract, and mix until smooth.
3. Cover with a plastic wrap and leave the batter to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
4. Use a nonstick pan, or wipe the surface of the frying pan with a thin layer of cooking oil using a paper towel. Heat the pan on medium, pour a ladle full of the crepe batter into the pan, slowly move the pan in a circular motion to spread the batter evenly.
5. Cook the crepe until the edges begin to dry, then flip the crepe over and cook the other side for about 10 seconds.
6. Serve and enjoy. 

White Chocolate Crepes

Madeleines

Madeleines

I love Madeleines.  I might go as far as say I'm addicted.  I especially want to try making the ones in the picture: Poppy and lemon madelines.  I made some but I didn't have the poppy seeds. So, it was just lemon madelines.  

Ingredients:

3 eggs 

80g sugar 

80g self raising flour 

75g butter 

1tbs poppy seeds 

zest of a lemon 

• Melt Butter in a pan

• In a large bowl, crack the eggs and whisk together with the sugar, until all sugar is incorporated and the mixture become thick and light in color.

• Sift in the flour into the egg mixture, and fold in the poppy seeds. Add lemon zest and mix everything together.

• When the melted butter is slightly cooled, pour into the mixture and gently combine to make a batter.

• Lightly line a muffin tray with butter and flour

• Scoop enough to reach the top of your madeline pan.

• Bake in a preheated oven at 355f for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

• Remove from pan and serve. Enjoy!

Directions

My lemon Madeleines

Raven Boys Review

The Raven Boys 

             The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater is a about a girl named Blue Sargent, who's mother is clairvoyant.  Blue is told that the first boy she falls in love with will die if she kisses him. Every year Blue stands next to her mother at a ruined church yard where her mother observes the march the soon to be dead.  This year Blue observes one and is told that there are only two reasons a non-seer would see a soon to dead on that day, St. Mark's Day. Either the person you're true love or you killed them.

I liked the Raven Boys, but I don't think I ended up liking it as much as I wanted.  The characters were good but were frustrating a lot of the time.  I really liked the mystery happening but it took so long more than half the book was finished and we had yet to really deal with the mysteries so the pace was slow.  As for the writing, I'm still not sure whether I like Maggie Stiefvater's style.

This book felt at times as if everyone where physic even those that weren't suppose to be.  Sometimes someone would just be standing or respond to a question and the narrator would give you a page of explanation on exactly what that character was thinking.

I liked that the characters were flawed but I felt like at times it was too heavy handed.  I found these especially true with the character of Adam.

This felt like part of a book instead of a whole book on it's own.  This especially true of the ending.  To me, it seemed to appear at of no where and was not really explained.  For example the magic that appeared at the end killing someone.  Also what happened to Neeve?

Despite that I think I would recommend you read the beginning and the last part. Or maybe since this seems to be part one of a series but reading part 2.  

            

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie

I first heard of a Shepherd's pie when I was visiting London and I liked it.  Later, when I was watching Gordon Ramsay on T.V.  he was making one.  So I decided to try making it myself since I have no British Pub near my home and no money to travel to London whenever I want to eat one.  

The Filling:

• Olive Oil (2 Tbsp)
• Ground Lamb or Beef (about 1.5 lbs)
• 1 Large Carrot (grated)
• 1 Large Onion (grated)
• Fresh Rosemary
• Fresh Thyme
• Minced Garlic (4 cloves)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Worcestershire Sauce (several splashes)
• Tomato Puree or Paste (no more than a small can)

The Mash:

• Golden Potatoes (about 1.5 lbs)
• Heavy Cream ( 1/4 cup)
• Butter (3 1/2 Tbsp)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Egg Yolks (2)
• Parmesan Cheese (1/4 cup, minimum)

To cook the potatoes, peel them, dice then add to boiling pot of water with salt to taste. Cook for about 20 minutes, drain and then mashed them well.

Cooking the Filling:

Pour Olive Oil into a hot, rather large pan, then add meat. Stir meat as if your life depends on it for a few minutes so it’s nice and brown, and broken into very small pieces. Add your Rosemary, Thyme, and Garlic, then stir some more. Quickly add your Carrot, and Onion, stir a little longer. The idea at this point is to get everything to a minced consistency.

Add Worcestershire Sauce, stir, add Tomato Puree, stir, and sweat down for a minute or two.

Scoop your meat mixture into a deep casserole or other oven safe dish and then spoon the mash over the top. Spread the mash over the top of the mix with the bottom of the spoon and then sprinkle a generous portion of Parmesan cheese over the top. Poke the top with a fork several times to give it a peaked look and stick it in the oven at 400 degrees for 18-20 minutes to brown the potatoes and set the pie. Serve.

Finished Product.

Using Gordon Ramsay's recipe above I made my own Shepherd's pie, which tastes almost as good as the original. Often I add in zucchini, summer squash or mushrooms to the meet filling for it to be healthier and tastier.

 

Singapore Mei Fun

Singapore Mai/Mei Fun

I really love Singapore Mei/Mai Fun (depending) because it's light with small noodles, vegetables, a little spiciness, color and seafood.  This recipe I learned to make while I was in Hong Kong with my mom but I think you can find something similar all over the Internet.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pk or 6 oz dry rice noodle (mei fun)
• 1.5 tbsp curry powder
• 2 egg
• 1/2 large onion
• 2 celery rib
• ½ large green pepper
• ½ large yellow pepper
• ½ large orange pepper
• 6 oz napa or cabbage
• 1 cup scallions, thinly sliced
• 2 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 Scallion, cut to 2 inch pieces
• ½lb of shrimp
• Soak the rice noodle in cold water until softened . About 30 minutes
• In the meantime, sliced the onion, celery, pepper, and napa
• Add 2 tbsp of oil in a wok or frying pan, Add egg and scramble until set. Remove and set aside
• Drizzle another 2 tbsp of oil in a wok, add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add sliced onion, pepper, celery, and napa. Stir fry over high heat for 2 minutes
• Add blanched noodles and stir to mix
• Add curry powder. Continue to stir until the curry powder is well incorporated , about 30 sec
• Add egg and scallion and stir fry for another minute. Transfer to a plate and serve hot.
  
  
  
  

  

  My finished product

  
  This recipe is quite easy, quick and I love it. I always tell myself that it is also healthy due to the vegetables and only being stir fried.
  
  
  

Paris Brest

Paris Brest

I first got introduced with a Paris Brest through the Japanese bakery chain, Beard Papa.  It was really delicious that I sort of became addicted to having a least one everyday. But because I didn't have a lot of money, I could not continue buying Paris Brest everyday.  so I wanted to try making them at least once. So I pinned a recipe from cake duchess , which had a lot of nice pictures to follow along with. 

Her recipe also had raspberry filling which I like.  

Recipe:

1/2 cup whole milk

1/2 cup water

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces

1 tablespoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup all-purpose flour

4 large eggs, room temperature

Raspberry Whipped Cream

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 1/4 cup whipped cream

1 cup fresh raspberries

Raspberry Whipped Cream Directions:

Puree the raspberries in a mixer. Strain the raspberries through a fine sieve and set aside (you need to remove the seeds from raspberries).

If you like your cream sweeter, add a little more powdered sugar. In the bowl of a mixer, beat the cream with the powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Slowly add in the raspberry coulis and beat on low speed until combined. Set in refrigerator to chill while you prepare the dough.

To make the Pâte a Choux-Cream Puff Dough:

In a heavy sauce pan, combine the milk, water, butter, sugar and salt to a boil. Add the flour and stir until smooth with a heavy wooden spoon.

Turn the heat up to high and cook the flour mixture stirring vigorously with a wooden spoon. The flour will be cooked when a thin film forms on on the bottom. You are essentially drying out the dough and the process should take about 4-5 minutes.

Transfer the dough to the bowl of a mixer (I used a stand mixer) and let the dough rest a minute or two. Add the eggs to the dough one at at time on medium speed until the dough is thick and smooth.

The dough needs to be used as soon as it’s made. It can’t be put in the refrigerator to use later, so make sure you are ready to go when it’s done.)

*You could draw with a  pencil 8 circles on your parchment paper lining your baking pans to help you follow the design and make them evenly shaped. Place the dough in a pastry bag using a star tip (or plain round) 1/2 –inch tip and pipe onto parchment lined baking sheets forming 8 circles.

Bake at 375 F for about 22-26 minutes (omit the almonds if you need to. still will be wonderful!). If you open the door, the puffs may deflate. The dough should be golden colored. Allow the puffs to rest on the baking sheet.

Assembling the Paris Brest:

After the dough has cooled, carefully slice in half the pastry rings. Pipe the chilled whipped cream on the bottom layer of the rings. Top with the other halves and dust with powdered sugar.

My Paris Brest turned out well, though somewhat misshapen and thin due to the pastry tip I used. Also I still need to practice my technique with the pastry bag.

Because of the size I needed up eating 3 Paris Brest each time.