Jennifer J. Chow's Blog, page 46

Gifts for Seniors

“Be generous, and the favor will be returned.”

Having recently moved, I realized something: I’ve got a lot of junk. (Of course, I still boxed everything up, and it’s all sitting prettily in my garage.) Sometimes when I get a gift nowadays, I think, Do I really need this extra thing?

If I fast forwarded a couple of decades, what would really count? It makes me wonder about the best gifts for seniors. Here are some ideas. The article talks about presents of value, and some other options to add would be gifts of:

Memories (Going through old albums or discussing interesting life events before it’s too late)
Time (Spending moments together, even with something simple like a walk)
Touch (A hug or even a pat on the shoulder is often more touch than older people get on a regular basis)

What gifts do you value?

Foodie Friday First: Breakfast Pizza

Ate my first…

Breakfast pizza: pizza with eggs!

I know people who eat pizza for breakfast (I never really got into it). But I never actually ate a breakfast pizza until now. It’s surprisingly delicious. A whole new way of eating eggs. I think that it’s more of a splurge for once in a while, though–I still like my eggs plain and unadorned.

What breakfast foods do you enjoy?

Tea and Colds

“Your home is a pleasant place from which you draw happiness.”

But not when we’re sick…

But at least we have our Zojirushi machine.

 

These hot water dispensers are amazing. If you’re a tea drinker like me, they keep the water piping hot and always on tap. For me, the amount of tea I consume triples when I’m sick. Sure, I also go for a good bowl of chicken noodle soup, but tea is my first line of defense.

Wish me luck as I battle this little virus going through our household.

 

Foodie Friday: Soy Sauce Chicken

Soy sauce chicken: whole chicken braised with sweet-salty soy sauce marinade

If I can’t have Hainanese chicken, this is my go-to comfort dish. You can use a complex recipe here with fresh ingredients or just grab a bottle of Lee Kum Kee sauce (that’s what I do). It’s pretty much a teriyaki glaze over chicken. I love how you use the whole bird, though, and the skin stays flavorful and the meat moist. Basically, you throw the whole chicken (or chicken pieces if you’re lazy) in a pot and let it simmer there.

What’s an easy dish you like to make?

Goodreads

“Give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.”

I remember when I first joined Goodreads. It was through the invitation of a friend. I love connecting with others over books–the more people, the merrier. I miss being part of a local book club, but I can still see what my online friends are reading through Goodreads. (It’s also nice having librarian status and being able to add books to the virtual shelves.)

Also, if you didn’t see my announcement last week, I’ll be doing a book giveaway until January 11th. Join in on the fun!

Goodreads Book Giveaway


Dragonfly Dreams
by Jennifer J. Chow

Giveaway ends January 11, 2016.

See the giveaway details

at Goodreads.

Enter Giveaway

Foodie Friday: Salt and Pepper Shrimp

Salt and pepper shrimp: seafood with savory flavoring 

I don’t know what it is about English, but we like to prettify foods. For example: pig–>pork, cow–>beef. In Chinese, it’s all point-blank names: pig–>pig-meat, cow–>cow-meat. That’s probably why we also eat things whole, like chickens with the heads on.

This is also true of the classic salt and pepper shrimp dish. Sure, you can cut off the ends, but it’s not quite the same. I love how the distinctive salty taste of the shrimp leaves you craving for more!

Fun fact: Deep frying the shrimp with shells on keeps the meat tender.

p.s. Today, I’m starting my Goodreads giveaway for Dragonfly Dreams. Please spread the word! 

New Office, New Look

“Don’t let statistics do a number on you.”

For those of you who don’t know, I’ve been writing for years at my kitchen table. Finally, I’ve upgraded to my own office (slash guest room)! Knowing that I have an Asian-themed decor, my dad gave me this artwork. Gorgeous, huh?

The main character in it is: patience. Patience is key to a writer’s life. It always takes longer than you anticipate to produce and write something, or to edit and publish a piece.

Fun photo: After two books, I finally made it onto the #1 and #3 slots in Hot New Releases!

Foodie Friday First: Tofu Wrapped Shrimp Roll

Tofu wrapped shrimp roll: kind of like a shrimp egg roll, but made with tofu skin wrapper

I’m usually all about the tried-and true dishes when I go out for dim sum. The other day, though, I stumbled across tofu wrapped shrimp rolls. I really like bean curd wrappers, but these were especially intriguing because they were crunchy. They actually reminded me of the phyllo dough used in baklava. The shrimp stuffing was pretty tasty, too, but I think I like the undiluted taste of whole shrimp, like those found in ha cheong better.

What unusual dim sum dish have you tried?

Bucket List

“Don’t pass up a once-in-a-lifetime offer.”

Manzanares El Real Castle in Spain

I saw this press release about older people learning languages and traveling. Think: study abroad for seniors.

I never went overseas for schooling, but I did meet lovely folks who visited here. Students I talked to came from Germany, India, Singapore, Spain, and more. All were super-friendly and gave me a new perspective on America.

Learning languages is on my wish list for the future, but some other items I would like to tackle are:

Hang gliding
Making pottery
Playing a musical instrument

What about you?

Stories Set in Foreign Lands – Evelyne Holingue

I’m reblogging a lovely post from Evelyne Holingue, highlighting stories set in foreign lands or with multicultural flair. Enjoy!

Source: Stories Set in Foreign Lands – Evelyne Holingue