Happy Valentine's dinner

This year, we celebrated Valentine day's with movie and dinner at home. We bought fresh oysters from Diana seafood market, and rack of lamb from Costco. Then we prepared dinner together and had a yummy and relaxing night!

I marinated the lamb with mix of french dijon mustard, lemon juice, olive oil, honey, herbs, salt and pepper. It is the simpliest way to marinate the lamb, 15 mins, then bake at 375 F for 20 minutes, that's all!

Chinese Turnip Cake 蘿蔔糕

This is my second time to make the Chinese Turnip Cake, but because first time I made it was at least 7 years ago, so I don't have the recipe anymore. Glad that I found a good one on internet, and this is is much better and easier than last time! My hubby enjoyed it alot, so I've attached the recipe and link below. Don't forget to check out the pictures of my yummy 蘿蔔糕!!

蘿蔔糕 (阿蘇家姐提供)材料：大蘿蔔七斤、粘米粉一包(減一碗) 、澄麵一碗、香菇、臘腸八至十條、乾貝十至十二顆、蔥粒調味料︰蠔油三分之一瓶、鹽四茶匙、古月粉大量做法1. 把蘿蔔磨成絲 (Actually I hand cut it into thin stripe)，蘿蔔滲出的水留著備用2. 乾貝泡水後在表面加水蒸約二十分鐘，撕成絲，留下乾貝水備用3. 把蘿蔔絲下鍋煮，熄火後下鹽、蠔油及三湯匙乾貝水4. 炒香臘腸粒及香菇粒，再連同蔥粒一起加進蘿蔔絲裡拌勻，下古月粉調味5. 拌勻粘米粉和澄麵，隔著篩子慢慢加進蘿蔔絲裡拌勻6. 把所有材料倒進已掃油的糕盤裡，蒸約四十分鐘，最後加上芝麻、紅棗、蔥花點綴

http://soszewong.blogspot.com/2009/01/good02.html

芋頭糕 & 年糕

White chocolate mousse ~~

I just got this picture back from my colleague, it's the birthday cake that I made for my colleague. My first White Chocolate Mousse Cake with oreo base and fresh strawberry decoration.

Pumpkin Day again...

The judging is today... however our first pumpkin has been shrinked at least 30%... and we don't want our team to look bad... we've carved another pumpkin today!! As this is the second time we do it, so we only spent half of the time compared to the last one... We like our pumpkin, but we cannnot admit that the other groups have so many good ideas and skills! So, we lose... but we learned how to carve a pumpkin!! haha...

Pumpkin day!

Today is my first time to carve a pumpkin!! It's actually our annual fall employee activity within our division. Our team was assigned a theme 'PROMOTER", therefore we've decided to put a cheerful big SMILE and with all the TD's accessories around it. So, let's see what the judge think on the coming Friday!

Happy Birthday to me!

Winnie-the-pooh ice-cream cake from Dairy Queen

Thank you for all your wishes, gifts, cards, hugs, kisses and more... !!!
Since this is my food blog, I just want to share some pictures of the food I ate on my birthday celebration.

A day before my birthday, we had lunch at Lemon grass in downtown: http://www.springrolls.ca
Dinner at The Bluestone Bistro: http://www.thebluestonebistro.com/

Favourite Pork Chop bun and Red Bean drink for lunch at Phoenix Restaurant; Dinner at Gal sushi; Dessert is Gelato bought from PIAZZA.

Modern Moon Cake... want a piece???

Give thanks to my dear friend June to forward this advertisement to me!

Irresistible Tiramisu

I've been working in a new department for 5 months already, and I'm very happy that I've made many new friends (co-workers). As all of us are in similar age, so we get along very well that we like to do lots of activities outside of work hours... like golfing, tennis, dinner, shopping etc..

Moreover, I can practice my baking skills by making birthday cake for my co-workers, and I really treasure this opportunity which it'll help to improve my skills! Last month, I've made a Banana Oreo Cheesecake for the birthday guy, and this month, I've made a Tiramisu for my trainer! I'm very happy that they enjoyed it alot! and I've promised my co-worker to post the recipe here, hope you'll enjoy making it and your friends will like it!

Ingredients:
3 egg yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup (250ml) mascarpone cheese, 1 cup whipping cream, 1 cup of expresso or strong coffee mix with 1/4 cup of kahlua or coffee liquor, 36-40 lady fingers (approx. 3 pkg), good quality cocoa powder.

Tool: Big bowl, Whisk or electronic hand/stand mixer, Measuring cup, Deep dish or cake ring.

Steps:

1- In a big bowl, beat egg yolks with sugar until sugar has dissolved. Then add the mascarpone cheese and mix well. Set aside.
2 - Use another bowl, beat the whipping cream into stiff peaks. When done, gently fold into the cheese mixture from step 1.
3- Spread the layer of cheese mixtrue over the bottom of the dish.
4- Dip the ladyfingers into the coffee and coffee liquor (Don't over dip it, you only need to coat both side, don't oversoak it)
5- Arrange a layer of dipped ladyfingers close together in the dish (You may need to break them to fit the shape of your dish)
6- Cover with another layer of cheese mixture, then another layer of ladyfingers. Repeat the layers, finishingwith cheese mixture on top, smooth the top and chilled for at least 4 hours.
7 - Before serving, dust with cocoa powder generously.

Happy Birthday JOY!

Tonight I have invited my close friends to our house, I've cooked dinner for them to celebrate their birthdays! We had a great time eating, chatting and watching movie together. Wish you two a happy birthday and all the best in this year!

Shrimp Ring; Chilled Cucumber Soup; Arugula salad with pear, avocado and cherry tomato; Sirloin Steak with Mushroom Risotto and Asparagus; Roasted Peach with ice-cream.

Wine & Herb Tour

I just realized that I haven't update my food blog for a month already! Oops...

In the past Victoria Long weekend, we went to a Wine and Herb tour in Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's the annual celebration event of the 18 wineries, the participant can visit all 18 wineries where each stop will feature a different herb-themed food pariring matched to premium VQA wine selected to highlight the flavour and aroma of the herb.

We have visited 7 wineries in the Saturday afternoon as following:
Jackson Triggs Niagara Estate, 2005 Proprietors' Reserve Meritage (Red), Sage.
Peller Estates, Ice Cuvee (Red), Chervil.
Reif Estate Winery, 2006 Gamay Rosé Lavender.
Inniskillin, 2004 Inniskillin Reserve Pinot Noir, Dill.
Hillebrand, 2007 Riesling (White), Tarrogon.
Pillitteri Estates Winery, 2006 Pinot Grigio (White), Fennel.
Joseph's Estate Wines, 2005 Riesling (White), Lemon Grass.

Link to more pictures: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20982&l=168d9&id=549037776

As an occasional wine drinker, there're so much for me to learn about the wine. I'd like to share some of the knowledge that I found on internet with you. Hope you'll find it's beneficial too!

VQA (Vintners Quality Alliance) is your assurance that the wine you choose is made from 100% grapes grown in Ontario and its unique viticultural areas. Also VQA wines follow standards throughout the winemaking process that govern content, processes and additives and are independently audited on a regular basis.

Estate Bottled is a wine label term indicating a wine is made from 100% from grapes grown in one particular winery or in vineyards one particular winery leases long term.

Decanting / “breathing” refers to opening the wine some time prior to serving it and allowing it to come into contact with air. Any wine that has been opened begins to react immediately with oxygen. Some red wines that are young and very tannic do benefit from “breathing,”. Tannin is a bitter substance found in the skins and seeds of the grapes, and the time spent “breathing” will help to soften the tannins so you won’t get a bitter wine face.

Dry or Sweet? The sweetness of a wine is defined by the level of residual sugar (or RS) in the final liquid after the fermentation has ceased. However, how sweet the wine will actually taste is also controlled by factors such as the acidity and alcohol levels, the amount of tannin present, and whether the wine is sparkling. For example, a sweet wine can actually taste dry due to the high level of acidity, or a dry wine can taste sweet if the alcohol level is elevated.

Vintage Wine is one made from grapes that were all, or primarily, grown and harvested in a single specified year.

Riesling is a white grape variety which originates in the Rhine region of Germany. It is an aromatic grape variety displaying flowery, almost perfumed, aromas as well as high acidity. It is used to make dry, semi-sweet, sweet and sparkling white wines.

Ice Wine is a type of dessert wine. A true Icewine can only be made from grapes that have naturally frozen on the vine and picked when the thermometer dips to -8° C.) The sugars and other dissolved solids do not freeze, but the water does, allowing a more concentrated grape must to be pressed from the frozen grapes, resulting in a small amount of concentrated, often very sweet wine.

Rosé is a red-skinned grapes are crushed and the skins are allowed to remain in contact with the juice for a short period. The grapes are then pressed, and the skins are discarded rather than left in contact throughout fermentation (as with red wine making).

Pinot noir ('pi no nwar) is a red wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera
It is widely considered to produce some of the finest wines in the world, but is a difficult variety to cultivate and transform into wine.

Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex, full-bodied red muscled with tannins that will raise red meats and hard cheeses to new heights. This varietal is at its best after a few years in the bottle so look to older vintages for immediate consumption or cellar one.

Cabernet Franc takes a softer approach but still has the weight to marry with grilled steak, game and lamb.

Blending reds is a long-standing tradition that allows the winemaker’s art to shine through. Yes, great varietals are made in the vineyard but a great blended wine depends on the finesse of an inspired winemaker. Examples of red wines used to blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Baco Noir.

梁朝偉/張曼玉--新天紅酒廣告 (2000年)

I LOVE THIS COMMERCIAL!!!! So romantic... ~_~
They're always my favourites stars!!

Pairing Wine and Cheese

Very useful tips for how to pair wine and cheese! Check it out!

Easter

I found some information on the web about Easter that I want to share with you...

Easter Bunny-It is believed that Easter Bunny or hare symbolizes moon. It is because of the fact that hare never closes its eyes for a single moment—hare never blinks its eyes, it is said. Moreover, Easter Bunny has its roots in the Anglo-Saxon Goddess called Eostre—who always carried her bunny along with her. In fact, this Easter Bunny was said to be first to lay colored eggs.

Easter Eggs became the symbol of resurrection of Jesus Christ—rebirth of mankind. Christians embraced the Easter Egg and compared it to the tomb from which Christ resurrected.

Easter Lamb symbolized Christ with a flag of victory. This symbol is seen in every Central and Eastern European family. Lamb also forms the center of attraction of easter table. .

Trumpet-shaped flower, Easter Lily is a fragrant flower, all in pure white. This flower is significant because it is said to have sprung from the place where the sweat of Jesus Christ fell. This flower is said to usher in the greater significance of new life—new blooms and new meaning for Easter.

Easter Hot Cross Buns are typical Easter Specials/Symbols. The pastry on the top of the bun reminds us of the cross on which Lord Christ was crucified.

Reference: http://www.dgreetings.com/easter/easter-symbols.html