Welcome Real Life

2011 is just around the corner. By that, I mean 3hours and 59minutes away. (As of now).

New year, new changes. 

I have now graduated from college. Yaaay for me. 

Welcome Real Life. 

I moved to Vancouver B.C. a week and a half ago. I'm currently in search of a job. I've already been on one interview, it was a success, but the job wasn't what I was looking for. Great interview experience though. 

Until I find my own place, there will be no cooking posts. Well, I do have one in my archive, so that will be posted at some point. I'd like to change my focus to some sort of hobby. Something inexpensive, but still productive. On the side, I have also started some self-improvement. In the past three days, I've been on two runs. Today, I ran 7km. Slightly impressed with myself considering that I thought I couldn't even run a mile. The Biggest Loser scared me a little. 

Speaking of, THRILLED for its next season. January 4th. 

I'm sad to leave Boston and my life behind, but time to look forward. Yesterday, I went to check out Christmas lights. There's a 'Trinity Street Christmas Light Competition.' Quite amazing. Below are some photos. They were more gorgeous in the moment. I took these on my camera phone. 

There were so many cars on the street, driving by, so I was in a rush. Didn't think to take the photo horizontally. Instead, I took two photos. I wanted to include the globe all the way on the right, but still wanted to include all the reindeers and threes on the left side of the law. The reindeers even moved!!! 

Oooh nooo. The santa fell. Disqualified? Haha, joking! 

So cute! Two snowmen hugging! 

Loved this set up with the Santa and the globe

Confession: I don't really have a New Year's resolution yet. Sort of focused on the short term. Starting my life. On my own two feet!! Well, once I get my own place, I think it'd be fun to start posting videos of myself cooking. 

I wish you a happy, Happy New Year! 

Merry Christmas

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

A little Christmas love from my home to yours...

Confession: I actually made this a week or two ago and made a new gingerbread house last night, but 1. did not take photos yet 2. I really like my sleigh. :)

Sprinkle Sprinkle Easy Love

As we draw closer to Christmas...you'll start to have family parties and corporate potlucks.
Well, I have your stress-free solution. I've made this twice, and it's a killer. At the same time...SOOO easy. It was inspired by Paula Deen, but I'm surprised the recipe wasn't Sandra Lee's.

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies
- 1 8oz Cream Cheese, room temperature
- 1 stick butter or half cup, room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 18oz box moist chocolate cake mix
- Chocolatechips (optional) // I used sprinkles instead, you might even want to use m&m's for that festive touch
- Confectioners' sugar, sifted

Preheat your oven to 350F
Cream together cream cheese and butter. Beat in egg and vanilla extract. Beat in chocolate cake mix. (Mix in chocolate chips if desired)
Cover and refridgerate for 2 hours to firm up the dough.
Put some of the sifted confectioners' sugar in a bowl, then rub some on your hands (so that the dough doesn't stick to you)
Roll the dough into tablespoon balls and roll into the confectioners' sugar. (I also rolled mine into green, red, and white sprinkles for the holiday touch.) Put it on an ungreased cookie sheet 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12 minutes
When the cookies are completely cooled, sift more confectioners' sugar on top.

You now have winner cookies.

Confession: I feel a tad guilty about using the cake mix. 

Ouchie

This entry is for your future reference. The next time this happens to you, you will calm down and not exert so much anger towards these mean injuries.

Paper Cuts.

I cringe at the thought of paper cuts. 

Those tiny painful, painful injuries. 

Why, why, WHY must you hurt so much? Allow me to tell you. I did my research. 

According to Indiana Public Media, don't blame the cut itself, blame the paper. It is the chemicals within paper that causes the pain. The pressed wood mulch, and other chemicals that gets left behind in the cut is to be blamed! Because paper cut wounds are usually very shallow, the skin on both sides close very quickly, thus trapping all the chemicals, particles, and bacteria in. It is those that stimulate pain receptors in the skin.

Another one of my theories (which was sort of confirmed in one of the Health and Wellness books I've read) is that the mind is connected to body. When you keep thinking about that cut you got, it hurts more. This goes especially with burns. if you accidentally burn yourself on the stovetop, just say "ouch" then stop thinking about it. Funny how you won't get a blister, so the next time you get a paper cut, don't think about it. It'll just hurt more and heal slowly. 

Confession: I thought about this because I broke a nail a little too deep, then I had to trim my nails. Since then, my finger has really been hurting. I keep thinking it's because I cut my nail too short, but really, I noticed today that it's because I have a cut right on my skin, on the edge of the nail. I just keep thinking about it and the pain. I NEED TO STOP!! 

I'm going to have to be called Chef Jacquie soon!!!!

I'm currently eating while posting.

I will update on this one and add a photo later on, but it's so easy and delicious that I felt the need to come on and share my recipe.

Did I ever tell you about my boldness and chicken stock? This one time...they had chicken breast at Stop&Shop for buy one get one free. I had to debone it myself though. I decided to take on the challenge. I ended up with a large pile of bones. At that point, I decided to take on another challenge. Chicken stock right on the spot. I basically just threw in the chicken bones in a pot of water and let it cook for a full day. Added salt and pepper..and turned out not bad!!! Slightly bland, but not bad for cooking.

Today, I pulled my chicken stock out of the freezer. Defrosted it. Cooked my rice in it. Fried two eggs, shredded it. Took it out of the wok. Browned ground beef. Added the only vegetable I could find in my fridge (which ended up being my freezer) then added some light soy sauce. Stir-fried it for a bit. Added my chicken-in-flavoured rice. Fried it. Added my shredded eggs. Salt and pepper.

Bow. Thank you.

Confession: This is soooo bad. I'm eating and it's currently 10:54pm.