Fresh from oven

Never have I been so motivated to get up early in the morning on a weekend to bake for breakfast. However, I'm not sure what have gotten into me, maybe a whole month of getting up really early for meeting cause it.

Last Saturday, I got up early and saw the last banana on the table and suddenly I felt like baking. I know I'm a little weird. Baking and cooking sometime help me relax my mind and body. I do that sometime to help me destress. Try it sometime, it really helps, however of course you need to be in the mood, else it will be even more stressful.

After couple minutes of looking around the pantry, I found some almond as well, so might as well make banana nut cake for breakfast. After 15 minutes, here is what I whip up and it is ready to go into the oven.


25 to 30 minutes later, I have fresh banana cake on the table for breakfast.
The recipe is courtesy of Joy of Baking.

Recipe:
1 cup (115 grams) walnuts or pecans, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
1 3/4 cups (245 grams) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 ripe large bananas (approximately 1 pound or 454 grams), mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Garnish: (Optional)
1 large banana, sliced or dried banana chips



Add another cup of joe and my breakfast is set. Time to sit down for breakfast by the window to enjoy the garden and the morning sun. Hmmm... only if we can do this everyday. Ah... what a day it would be.

Happy 'Niu' Year

So bump out that this year I wasn't going to celebrate Chinese New Year back home. I miss everything about it. The people, the atmosphere, the food, the gambling, everything and anything about it. People always said the celebration is less significant anymore when you grow older however, maybe because of being so far away from home, I felt that is not true. If not I won't mind missing it. To me it is a very important time to reconnect with your family members, take time and catch up on time you miss throughout the year.

Instead of staying home and sulk, I decided to take a trip to San Francisco Chinatown to visit the Flower Market they had to celebrate the coming year. This is my first time visiting the flower market. I was surprised that it was so crowded and the atmosphere is cheering me up too. At last I felt like the existence of the celebration a little.



There are stalls setup along Grant street and also the cross street. I'm glad that I took the trip. From decorations, food and clothing.



I can't resist these shots of traditional baby kids clothing especially in a variety of red colors. All baby kids would look so cute in them.






Everyone is buying flower, so I bought myself a bunch as well. Some red color for the house to light up the mood.


Here is what I cooked up for the reunion dinner at my home, first ever reunion dinner at my new home. Nothing too fancy like what I would have been serve if I was back home with my parents.

Happy 'Niu' Year everyone, hopefully it will be a better year for you. Crossing my finger :)

Glad to be still WORKING?

I have been MIA for a while now. Where have I been? Truth is, no where, I was at work. Finally, couple hours ago, I finished a production rollout for a customer. One down and couples more to go. This year started off with a bang. I was superbusy at work, never have I been so in need of more time since the first day I started working close to 9 years ago.

You must be thinking that I should be thankful to still have a job, why am I still ranting? Every other day, left and right there are news of layoff happening. I must have to be out of my mind if I'm not. Well, of course I am thankful that I'm still holding onto a job. However, to draw a line of not bringing work home is getting tougher. Will it affect my life outside my job? This is what worry me most.

Looking at news everyday, it doesn't seems like the economy is going to get any better anytime soon. One month down and 11 more to go. Argh....