Somehow my mind seems to be dwelling on food today. I had mentioned earlier that I have leftovers most times cooking for 2.5 people. That's what happened over the weekend and today I was lucky enough to have been able to turn those leftovers into 'new' dishes.
The frozen angel hair pasta was thawed, stir fried with a leftover vege dish of mushrooms and celery (what Caitlin will eat!) and minced meat, thick as well as light soy sauce, then topped with omelette threads to make a slightly wet oriental fried noodle lunch for Caitlin and me. Caitlin enjoyed it and asked for more. Yippee!
And for dinner, my fish dish is from some fried fish pieces which were untouched and refrigerated two days ago. Instead of merely reheating it in the microwave making it harder and drier, I stewed them slightly in some garlic bean paste gravy. It tastes reasonably fine to me and I hope it will for the other 1.5 people in my household tonight!
Monday, May 14, 2007
Cooking for 2 1/2
Having a small family has its plus and minus points. It means less laundry and ironing, and fewer mouths to feed. On the other hand, having fewer mouths to feed also means having to cut down the recipes by half, quarter or even one-tenth, if the recipe is for 10 people. If I don't, I'd end up having tons of leftovers. If I do, shopping for relatively minute amounts of special ingredients and spices especially, is just not convenient.
I enjoy cooking but on a daily basis, cooking for just Eugene, Caitlin and myself can sometimes be frustrating as I tend to run out of ideas. It is limiting when it comes to the variety and quantity. That's when the internet and my old cookbooks and food magazines come in useful. I get transported into another world when I start browsing through them (but that's another story). I usually go for simple one-pot type dishes, steamed food, soups, and stir fries.
Having to cater to Caitlin's and Eugene's food preferences is quite a task at times. In their past life, they were probably Italian, prefering pasta and noodles to rice and porridge. Both also have no liking towards vegetables especially the 'mushy' types like okra and brinjals. Sneaking in the fibres and greens into the food for Caitlin is not always a success. The only vegetables I can happily prepare for her which will not be turned down are celery and carrots.
We were told by a doctor once that we should try being vegetarian as animal protein contribute to many ailments. I can just picture a bigger headache if we do that!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Business vs. employment
Joy is a Filipina from a very poor family. She was determined to receive higher education and managed to get a scholarship. She qualified as an accountant and worked for one of the Big 5 firms in Jakarta, working hard from 7am to 10pm daily. Because of that, her two young sons were under the care of babysitters at home. When she returned home, her sons ran to the door. She thought it was their excitement to greet her but actually to her painful realisation, it was to hug and say goodbye to the babysitters. Mums, isn't it heart wrenching to know your children are closer to 'strangers' than their own mum?
When she went home to the Phillipines for a holiday, a friend who lived in another city 1 1/2 hours flight away, persistently tried to ask her for some time, simply to share a business opportunity but she refused to meet that friend many times. On New Year's eve, the friend just turned up at her doorstep. Realising her friend's sacrifice (in the Phillipines, it's tradition to spend new year's with family) in leaving her family to see her, she reluctantly granted the friend only 5 minutes to say what she wanted. What can one achieve in 5 minutes? The 5 minutes became 3 hours and Joy joined her friend in the business.
When she went back to Jakarta, she tried to ask her boss to participate in her business. He was agreeable to support it on condition that the Vice President of the company joined. She approached the VP who appeared supportive but the very next day he told her that if she went ahead she would be sacked. (Joy's business was in fact not in conflict with her company's.)
Joy persisted with her business and is now reaping the benefits of her hard work.
This is a true story. It made me think and I discovered the following:
1. A job takes up all your time even though it pays you money. Your time is not yours. No time for yourself or your family.
2. There is no job security nowadays. The friendliest colleague or boss who appears to care for you actually cares only for himself and the company's welfare as that is their job.
3. There is no harm in listening to what others have to share with you, especially from concerned friends. You never know what you can find and learn until you keep an open mind and heart.
4.Persistence and determination to get what you want will bring you success, no matter how long it takes.
"Study hard, get a degree and a good job in a good company and climb the corporate ladder. Then, you are set for life." That's what we've been taught. Is that the only way or is going into business better?
I'm digging my brains for names of people who climbed the corporate ladder and became billionaires. There are but they were more difficult to remember compared to those of business people/entrepreneurs - Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Ananda Krishnan, Robert Kuok, Quek Leng Chan....care to help me add to the list?
When she went home to the Phillipines for a holiday, a friend who lived in another city 1 1/2 hours flight away, persistently tried to ask her for some time, simply to share a business opportunity but she refused to meet that friend many times. On New Year's eve, the friend just turned up at her doorstep. Realising her friend's sacrifice (in the Phillipines, it's tradition to spend new year's with family) in leaving her family to see her, she reluctantly granted the friend only 5 minutes to say what she wanted. What can one achieve in 5 minutes? The 5 minutes became 3 hours and Joy joined her friend in the business.
When she went back to Jakarta, she tried to ask her boss to participate in her business. He was agreeable to support it on condition that the Vice President of the company joined. She approached the VP who appeared supportive but the very next day he told her that if she went ahead she would be sacked. (Joy's business was in fact not in conflict with her company's.)
Joy persisted with her business and is now reaping the benefits of her hard work.
This is a true story. It made me think and I discovered the following:
1. A job takes up all your time even though it pays you money. Your time is not yours. No time for yourself or your family.
2. There is no job security nowadays. The friendliest colleague or boss who appears to care for you actually cares only for himself and the company's welfare as that is their job.
3. There is no harm in listening to what others have to share with you, especially from concerned friends. You never know what you can find and learn until you keep an open mind and heart.
4.Persistence and determination to get what you want will bring you success, no matter how long it takes.
"Study hard, get a degree and a good job in a good company and climb the corporate ladder. Then, you are set for life." That's what we've been taught. Is that the only way or is going into business better?
I'm digging my brains for names of people who climbed the corporate ladder and became billionaires. There are but they were more difficult to remember compared to those of business people/entrepreneurs - Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Ananda Krishnan, Robert Kuok, Quek Leng Chan....care to help me add to the list?
A poem
As I become older and experience more in life, there are times when I have doubts. I came across this poem by an unknown author which I found useful, and I hope those of you reading it will too, for yourself or for others.
Believe In Yourself
There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be,
....that's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better.
There are times when people disappoint you and let you down,
but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself and all that you are capable of.
There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life,
and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are, So when the days come that are filled with frustration
and unexpected responsibilities,
Remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be, because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.
Keep believing in yourself.
Author Unknown
Believe In Yourself
There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren't the way you had hoped they would be,
....that's when you have to tell yourself that things will get better.
There are times when people disappoint you and let you down,
but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself and all that you are capable of.
There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life,
and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are, So when the days come that are filled with frustration
and unexpected responsibilities,
Remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be, because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.
Keep believing in yourself.
Author Unknown
Friday, May 4, 2007
Miss Parrot
Me: Caitlin, please pick up your toys.
Caitlin: Caitlin, please pick up your toys
Me: Please don't repeat what I say.
Caitlin: Please don't repeat what I say. (followed by cheeky snigger)
Me: Stop it before I smack you.
Caitlin: Stop it before I smack you.
Smack! goes my hand on her bottoom. (Yup, I'm one who does not spare the rod although I understand the "no hitting" school of thought)
Caitlin: Daddy, mummy is naughty!
Daddy now comes into the picture and takes on the good guy role, pacifies and reasons with the actual one who was naughty...
I'm sure many of you experience the same thing. Mummy always plays the baddie while Daddy plays the good guy. Is it because Mummy,despite having a full time job just like Daddy, somehow ends up being the one spending more time taking care of the child; thus taking on the disciplinarian role? Daddy always seems to be the one who puts a plaster on the knee and wipes away the crocodile tears.
I'm not complaining about having to be the baddie but simply stating a realisation of how the good guy-bad guy roles fall upon the respective parents.
Caitlin gets into what I call 'Miss Parrot' phases every now and then and it can be pretty irritating. Anyone with suggestions on how I can stop this particular behaviour? I don't know where she picked this up from (at school?) or did she just come up with it on her own?
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