Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 36

Sleep is Good for You

“Your life will be happy and peaceful.”

This is exactly what I wanted to hear! When I was young, I thought sleep was overrated. Give me the all-nighters! The fun of staying up always allured me. Now, I’m a fan of getting my rest.

And there’s even scientific proof to back up my sleep cravings. A recent study showed that longer naps (not just little cat naps) can improve mental ability as we get older. Hurrah!

(So please excuse me while I nap.)

Foodie Friday: Crab Balls

Here’s a neat dim sum cart fixture:

Crab balls: fried balls of crab meat with sugar cane handles

These are not to be confused with shrimp balls, which are also round and filled with tender seafood. The shrimp balls also use more fried, shredded-style wrappers. Crab balls, on the other hand, are uniformly spherical.

I love the artistry of the sugar cane handles. They’re sticks of sugar cane attached to the middle of the ball so you can hold onto the appetizers and eat them.

My one dissatisfaction? They are crammed full of crab meat, overwhelmingly so. But it’s definitely a fun and tasty dish to be had when you go yum cha.

 

Foodie Friday First: Maple Bacon Donut

I know it’s not healthy, but I had to check it out. My first:

Maple Bacon Donut: donut with maple glaze and bits of bacon

I liked the idea of combining savory and sweet. There was a nice contrast with the meat and the sugary pastry. But I think the level of sweetness overwhelms everything. The flavors remind me of breakfast…made into a ring. Just make sure not to eat too many! Want to try your hand at making your own? Here’s a recipe.

2017 Update

“Your present plans are going to succeed.”

Happy New Year! I didn’t make resolutions this year, but I do have lots of hopes for the upcoming future. For writing aims, here’s my list:

Conferences (I admit it. I blew my conference budget going to the SCBWI conference over the summer. I’m submitting for a scholarship to a local event, though, so fingers crossed!)
Edits (As always, I try to keep myself busy, creating and editing at the same time. I’m currently revising the next in my Winston Wong series and workshopping a contemporary mystery in my writers’ group.)
Novels (My latest YA novel has been floating around, and I’m waiting for final responses on folks reading the full manuscript. Here’s looking forward to getting it published this year!)
Reading (Okay, so this doesn’t have to do with my writing, but it counts as research, right? I have a few books high on my TBR list, including The Wangs versus the World.)
Short stories (In between novel drafts, I created a short story. It’s on submission to a few literary magazines, so we’ll see.)

Your goals for the new year?

Foodie Friday: Green Tea Latte

Green tea latte: green tea mixed with warm milk

I’m a huge fan of green tea. I like its lighter taste, as compared to its more bitter and darker counterpart. Also, I enjoy knowing that I’m feasting on antioxidants.

My new cold weather favorite? Green tea latte. I can’t find this in all the cafes I frequent, but when I do, I like to splurge. There’s something comforting about a warm mug and sipping the frothy drink. I especially relish the creaminess of the milk (although, truth be told, I’m a little lactose intolerant).

Anyway, this treat is great to warm both my heart and my taste buds!

Foodie Friday: Lobster Noodles

Lobster noodles: Lobster meat with long noodles

This is a gratuitous foodie picture. Yes, long noodles signify longevity. You can find this dish (with or without the lobster) at birthday parties and New Year feasts.

The taste is what you would expect–tender lobster over gravied mein. However, I liked the visual aspect of the dish the most. There’s something striking about the vibrant red of the seafood against the more subtle tones of the noodles.

What symbolic foods do you eat?

Origami Trash Liner

“You will be successful through innovation and determination.”

Every store I’ve been going to has shifted to charging for plastic bags. These were the same ones I used to line my trash cans with. (I’ve always preferred having my trash contained.) So how to fix my new dilemma? By combating need with culture. Behold: origami trash can liners! I used those advertisements I get in the mail all the time to make mine. Here’s a pic of my project:

What do you think?

P.S. I followed this Youtube tutorial (if a six-year-old can do it, so can I!).

Foodie Friday First: Pancake Machine

I tried out a…

Pancake machine: a device that pops out pancakes

That’s right. It’s a pancake machine! When I recently stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, I discovered this gem of a device. The batter is stored inside it. With a press of a button, it creates two steaming hot pancakes! The pancakes have just the right amount of chewiness, too. A breakfast winner to me!

 

Foodie Friday: Pancake Machine

I tried out a…

Pancake machine: a device that pops out pancakes

That’s right. It’s a pancake machine! When I recently stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, I discovered this gem of a device. The batter is stored inside it. With a press of a button, it creates two steaming hot pancakes! The pancakes have just the right amount of chewiness, too. A breakfast winner to me!

 

Playgrounds–Not Just for Kids!

“Keep an eye open for an opportunity in the field of sports.”

I’m the kind of girl who thought making it across the monkey bars, one rung at a time, was a great feat. I was the child who couldn’t do a single pull-up on the chinning bar. Even today, as I watch little kids tumble and cartwheel and do the splits, I’m in awe.

Playgrounds were no friend to me growing up. Except for the swings, which I loved. I’m still a fraidy cat when going down those super twisty slides and hazarding bumps to my knees and elbows. But what about an adult playground?

These are playgrounds meant for cross-generational interaction and can feature things like:

Concrete pingpong tables
Meditation spots
Walking pathways
Outdoor gym equipment

Maybe, just maybe.

Would you go to an adult playground?