Done!

Learning a new Spanish word

NaBloWriMo#15

Whew. I had my first Spanish test for this term, today. While studying for it, I wanted to look up a word in the sentence, 'Había salido con mi amigo que estaba con su novia y yo estaba viajando en la parte de atrás del auto.' The word I wanted to search was 'salido', and this is what I found in an online Spanish-English dictionary — see words circled in blue:

Interesting. Before you ask what kind of Spanish I am studying, the full translation of the sentence is, "I had left with my friend who was with his girlfriend and I was traveling in the back of the car." 'Salido' is the past participle of 'salir' which means to 'to leave'. Who knew it is also the Spanish word for "horny bugger'.

Fried Macaroni

When I was prepping to cook this fried macaroni, I could almost hear my mum's exclamation in the background. Not so much because this was an exciting dish (it isn't), but because it is a dish my mum would whip-up whenever we were having guests on short notice. She would exclaim in dismay that there was no time to cook a proper family-style meal. Then she would survey her pantry — if she was short of any ingredient, she would send my father, or me (when I was older) to the grocery store. Her hands moved fast, reaching out for the pot to fill it with water for the macaroni. She pulls out her knife to cut the carrot and greens, and mince the garlic and shallots. All the while muttering under her breath what dishes she have preferred to cook, that her guests would have enjoyed more.

Her guests did in fact enjoy her fried macaroni. As did we, so we urged her to prepare it for our regular meals instead of just having it as an "emergency meal". She was happy to oblige because it is such a simple, yet hearty dish. Kind of right for the beginning of fall.

Fried Macaroni (Macaroni Goreng)

2 cups whole wheat macaroni
2 tablespoons oil
3 shallots or ½ small onion, minced
2 garlic, minced
1-inch ginger, minced
2 tablespoons water
1 cup diced carrot
2 cups chinese mustard green (also known as gai choy or sayur sawi)
½ cup cooked minced beef
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
1 tablespoon sambal oelek
½ cup fried shallots
a few sprigs of cilantro

1. Cook macaroni as directed by package.

2. Heat-up oil to medium heat in a wok or pot. Saute the onions for about 3 minutes until carameralized. Add garlic and ginger and fry for another 2 minutes. Add the carrots, chinese mustard green and water. Stir and cover to steam the vegetables for about 2-3 minutes.

3. Remove the cover. Put in the minced meat and macaroni. Pour in the oyster sauce, tomato ketchup and sambal oelek. Stir all the ingredients together and cook for about 2 minutes.

4. To serve, garnish with fried shallots and cilantro.

Rain, rain, please stay ...

Nablowrimo#13

When I heard the weather forecast for today, I was really excited. I heard that there was going to be rain, heavy rain. I miss that. I miss the tropical storm that blows through Singapore. Where you wake up in the middle of the night because the rain is beating so hard against the window pane, it bursts your dreams. Add thunder and lighting, and I'd never feel more cozy or more at home.

But in the part of the Bay Area where I am, it didn't quite get there. Sure there was continuous rain and even many falling branches. But I did not even need an umbrella. I just put on an anorak with a hoodie, and I could pretty much walk wherever I needed too. It was a let-down.

There is still one more day of rain according to the forecast. Please let it be good.

Dinner Tonight