Chilli Pizza

I've been dying... D.Y.I.N.G. to have Zizi's pizzas for a LONG LONG TIME.

I'm sure most of you would've heard me whine about them by now!

One day, I couldn't take it anymore and so I whipped out my frozen bread from the freezer (yes, that's how I keep my food since it takes me 3 months to finish a loaf), defrosted it slightly in the toaster while I chopped up my fresh chillis (which were not-so-fresh since they were a week+ over due date) with pure excitement.

If I can't get that Zizi pizza. I'm gonna get A pizza.

Watch me.

Defrosted bread slice? Check.

Chillis? Check.

Sundried tomato paste? Check.

Note: Stay away from what stores call "pizza tomato base sauce" or whatchamacallits.

They're rubbish.

Just stick and invest in a pot of sundried tomato paste - the flavour is fuller and it's just divine. I always keep a pot in my fridge.... Even if it takes me 3 months to finish it!!!

Spread tomato paste onto bread; lay chillis out neatly; place a slice of mild mozzarella cheese (or any cheese you like) and pop it into the oven until it looks like this:

Fabulous!!! Who needs Zizi's now!?!?!??! Huh huh???

Now dig in.

*crunch*

So good.

The Beggar's Answer to Croque Monsiuer

Everytime I visit Pat Val, I'm always so tempted to have their Croque Monsieur.... But it's TOO large a sandwich for me to finish and so payin 5quid for half a sandwich just never seemed worth it.

Which explains this beggar's answer to the Croque Monsieur.

I don't think I need to say much 'coz the pictures themselves will speak a thousand words....

Mmmmm.

Look at the cheese! Mmmm.

For my version, I used mild mozzarella slices instead of emmenthal or gruyère cheese (a much cheaper and healthier alternative I assure you) and replaced the ham slices between the bread with spinach (just coz I love spinach so! And am not a fan of... Well, meat).

Not usually one to praise my own cooking (since I hardly eat what I cook), but DAMN, this was GOOD.

So good, I suggest you try it too! xoxo.

My 1st ever English Tea Party (pretty dresses included)

The elections for UBLC (University of Bristol Law Club) are underway and campaigns are in FULL force. Just check out our Law boards and you will understand what I mean.

This year, is special because 2 of my favourite people in law school are running for the elections!

Hena for President and Leen for Vice President.

Honestly, if you've met these 2, you'll understand why I'm a big fan of theirs. Cheery, bubbly, spritely, caring, sincere and so down to earth. So when Jas decided to throw a tea party in honour of their campaigns, I was thrilled!

So thrilled, I baked 2 cakes.

Haha. My twist on the victoria sponges.

Just out from the oven and dusted with icing sugar!

For Hena, the first thought that came to mind was peanut M&M's. I don't know why - maybe it's the yellow packaging; the peanuts and the friendly vibe I get in general from peanut M&M's (ONLY peanut M&M's).... Well, whatever it may be, it inspired a chocolate victoria sponge.

Whipped cream, chocolate sauce and dark chocolate chips.

Leen, on the other hand, is pink-lady defined. I remember she told me that her favourite colour is pink once and so I added a good dash of pink colouring into her cake! Unfortunately, as the cake browned when baked, the colour didn't show! Hahahhaha!

I should've considered that when I decided to add the colouring! Lolz!

Nevertheless, jam is red and is a couple of shades darker than pink, and like pink and Leen, is sweet and fruity and delicious! So for Leen, I was inspired to do a classic victoria - with strawberry jam. Mmmm.

Jam!

I had to walk over to Jas's place for the party and so saved the final touches to the end..... I.e. the Smarties.

Finally dressed and ready to be eaten!

Nyom!

It was a lovely tea party. It reminded me of Alice in Wonderland... Just minus the madness.






AND... My favourite...

Such an awesomely cute teapot!!!! XDDDD <3!

Of course, there was no shortage of beautiful/gorgeous people...







AND... *drum roll*


Henry.

Heee heee heee

Peace Dude.

Gah! I had such an amazing time! More tea parties PLEASE!

(Though note to self: No PJs next time! XDDD)

人人生日

It was Day 7 of the Lunar New Year yesterday and I was hosting a dinner at my place for the 1st time ever. It also marked my 1st experience cooking a savoury meal for people in UK (I normally have salad).

The party comprised of Xicheng, Makiko and Jen. And boy, was it was GREAT dinner party. We had so much fun! And I had an amazing time cooking for them.

NB: Been DYING to cook for others and am incredibly happy to have been able to do so! :DDDD

So anyway, here's the menu for last night:-


Leeks w/ Crispy Luncheon Meat

Think I should've cooked more leeks. :S

Sweet Chilli Prawns w/Bell Peppers

Raw tiger prawns were on offer at Sainsbury's! Was incredibly lucky!

Traditional Fried Egg

Mmmm. This was a HUGE egg! And I managed to keep it whole too! Woot!

And I made a LARGE pot of chicken rice rice (yes, the traditional hainan chicken rice rice) =) No picture though! Sorry!

Oooooooooooooo. And the highlight for the evening.... Makiko-san's incredibly delicious berry jellies!

Piece of art.

Look at that! It's just soooo pretty! The best part: not only did they look AMAZING but it tasted AMAZING. Mmmm.

Hontou ni arigatou gozaimashita ne, Makiko-san!

I had such a great time. =D Let'do it again!

Jam Jewels

Was bored.

And tired.

And still on cloud 9.

Decided to bake while writing the ACT formative essay on misrep....

Wanted to bake berry white chocolate chip cookies but figured that I'm so experienced in those that I ought to try something new. So I did.

Made the jam (woot)!

Comprises of dried fruit and raspberry jam.

Mmmm. Smells wonderful. Hope it tastes as good too!



I love it when my room smells of sugared vanilla butter.

Peace out!

xoxo.

The Pink Box

It's 10.37am.

I have an Advanced Contract and Tort lecture at 12pm and am crying rather ungracefully over a Fed Ex parcel I had just signed for.

It was from Noel.

There was a sweet baby pink jewellery box inside the parcel with 2 cards accompanying it - the certificate of authencity and a handwritten love note.

I love the packaging. Especially the little silver bell on the black band.

Better than Tiffany's.

(And yes, that is Dixon for Land Law in the background. Now you know what I was doing before I started weeping)

Speaking of Tiffany's... I'm not a big fan of it just 'coz I think it's too commercial now and some of the designs just aren't that pretty....

Trust Noel to know me so well.

I can't remember what I was thinking then but I do know that my hands were trembling as I gingerly peeled the black elastic off the lid and open the box....

It's just too pretty.

The packaging is just too cute. I love the teddy bear.

Still experiencing a rather surreal out-of-body moment, I unwrapped the pink paper to reveal a really really gorgeous choker.

You can't tell from the picture, but it has diamonds on it too...

At this stage, I think I had officially burst into tears. The choker is perfect. It suits me, complements my character and is EXACTLY what I would've picked out for me. My boyfriend knows me too well.... And that is a great thing indeed.

Noel knows that spring ball is round the corner and that I was planning to attend. So in his card, I discovered that not only did he buy me a gown for the ball (which is in the Fed Ex box as we speak), but he purchased the choker to match the gown.

This is where I dissolved into hiccupping sobs. Haha. I don't cry pretty.

The certificate is dated 7 February 2010... a week before our anniversary and a week before my cookies arrived in HK. I remember speaking to him on the 11th and he apologised for not having gotten me anything.

Well, now we know he did.

And this is a wonderful surprise.

Touched beyond words.

Moved to tears.

And feeling very very very lucky, cherished and loved.

Today is a perfect day.

The Chocolate Victoria Sponge

I love sponge cakes and I love baking them more!

It was Cat Ballie's birthday last night and I wanted to bake her a cake. She's a fan of the classic victoria sponge and chocolate.

So I got around to combining the best of both worlds and came up with this!

I am really quite pleased with the turn out as it has been YEARS since I last baked a cake (cookies are much easier because they're just dough... Cake requires a little more precision) and it was my first attempt at the victoria sponge.

I halved the sponge and gave the lower layer a delicious and generous spread of whipped cream topped with chunks of dark chocolate bits and finished it off with some chocolate fudge sauce... Popped on the top half and dusted it with icing sugar before lining the cake with small cream flowers and M&M's.

Sadly, when I entered Weatherspoons, the cream flowers melted due to the heat! =( But it still looked somewhat decent though I was mildy embarrassed.

Cat looked A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. She was in a cream/black laced backless dress which complemented her hair and skin perfectly. Plus the smoky eye make up - how did you do that girl? It was lovely.

Anyway, I do hope you liked the cake! I know I enjoyed baking it for you! Happy Birthday once again and much love! xoxo.