Stress

You'd think that I would be completely stress-free with exams over and degree in hand, but apparently it's quite the opposite. It's times like these when I wish I had a vibrator

Aw! I googled 'cute vibrator' and this came up

Way To His Heart

I realise my level of attractiveness takes a sizable plummet as I finally graduate: as doctors, we neglect our personal hygiene because public hospitals are so busy one may not even have time to shower during an overnight call, life beyond our inhumanly long calls will be spent catching up on sleep instead of with friends over drinks, and any men with potential in our laughably small social circles will likely pick someone with shaved legs and a less intimidating occupation, i.e. a nurse.

In order to keep my game up, I've started cooking because we all know that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach. The truth is it's probably via an organ further down south, but let's keep this blog remotely PG-rated and learn to make minced lamb pasta instead.

Please note that this is a cooking a guide for noobs that will hence be written in exquisite (unnecessary) detail. The following recipe was adapted from one of Nigella Lawson's. 'Adapted' is a professional way of admitting that I may or may not have forgotten one or two ingredients, while tweaking the amount of others. Here is what you will need:

If you are keen on saving some 婆乸數, certain things can be bought at a wet market...

- 3 tomatoes

- One and a half onions

- 4 cloves of garlic

- 2 tablespoons sugar

- Salt to taste

Others at a small local supermarket...

- 2 cans plum tomatoes

- 3/4 packs of linguine (or spaghetti if you prefer)

- 1 tablespoon tomato puree

- 250ml red wine (I've tried this with Merlot and Cabernet - both worked fine)

- Olive oil

Everything else you will have better luck finding at Citysuper...

- 500g minced lamb

- Oregano (4 tablespoons fresh or 2 dried)

- 200g feta cheese (you want the crumbly type, which is also the cheaper of the two options at the fresh cheese counter)

The Way To His Heart series: Minced Lamb Pasta

4-5 large servings

Requires 1ish hours but most of the time you are free to do other things (see step 8)

1. I know, you're thinking who needs to cook if you marry rich? Well, the point here is it's sexy for a girl to be able to cook, so throw on a racy apron.

2. Chop your garlic as finely as you can without compromising the number of fingers in your possession. Roughly dice your onions and tomatoes. 

3. Drizzle olive oil into your medium-sized pot and swirl the pot around so that its base is mostly covered. Set on medium heat and throw in your garlic, onions and half the oregano. Keep stirring for 5-7 minutes so as not to burn anything.

4. Add lamb, bring to high heat and stir until it becomes brown.

5. Add wine and let it cook until mixture bubbles.

6. Have someone take a picture of you cooking as proof.

7. Add everything else (except pasta and cheese!). Turn the heat just low enough to prevent everything from bubbling over. Let it cook uncovered for at least another 30 minutes, then put the lid over the pot and continue to let stew until it reaches desired consistency.

8. While that's cooking, freshen up your manicure/shave your legs/tweeze your nostrils.

9. Cook your pasta. While it is boiling, prepare your feta by smooshing it in a bowl with a fork.

10. Serve pasta with sauce. Sprinkle the crumbled feta over it.

Took a picture without the cheese because it didn't look good, but it really does elevate the flavours that much more. Tastes even better overnight - wink, wink. Enjoy!

A votre santé

By no means did twenty twelve go by in a flash - the last countdown seems like an eon and some away - but I can't exactly tell you where all that time went either.

For the first time in a long time, I spent New Year's Eve at home with family. Not that it was much of a celebration:  my sister and mummy were fighting for couch space and both began snoozing beneath my duvet by quarter to midnight, and this old lady was struggling not to fall asleep so she could catch the fireworks.

As you can tell, it was a very joyous occasion at our household indeed.

A true fobby Asian at heart, I religiously take pictures of myself and all my meals, so of course I also had to screen capture the pyrotechnic finale on television with my iPhone.

This year, I have much to be thankful for. I am thankful for the new people and things that have found their way into my life, and more so for those who have stayed a constant despite my turbulent personality.

Stepping into another new year (and Cafe Grey)

So here's to our loved ones, their health, smooth sailing, good food and more frequent updates with less narcissism. And nail polish that doesn't chip world peace.

How to be a lady...

...bird.

Decided to throw out a short post while detoxing, one of my favourite ways to do which is to let sit a bulgarian rose mask on my face while listening to Rachmaninov's Concerto No. 2. My favourite rendition will have to be Lang Lang's - it's like winter on steroids.

My mind has the tendency to go off on a tangent. Anyway, I dressed up as a ladybird for Halloween this year. Or ladybug, if you spell colour without the u and get your re's mixed up with er's. Here's how I improvised my costume. Quick, easy and very economical - everything I saved by forgoing the skanky French maid costume will contribute to more overpriced shoes.

1) You will need a piece of black felt, scissors, double-sided tape.

2) Cut out different sized circles using round objects for reference. They do not need to be perfect. You are not Archimedes.

 

3) Keep cutting out felt circles as if working in a sweat factory. I ended up with about thirty, but it depends on how spotty you want to be/how much surface area needs to be covered.

4) Find a red dress or fake a jumpsuit like I did with a red top and shorts. Attach circles with double-tape. Be roughly symmetrical. Remember to do the back as well.

5) You should be able to achieve the makeup with products you already have. Eyes: use a pink lipstick on the outer corner as a base, and top with blusher. Pop some white shadow in the inner corner. Put a few dots along your crease with black liner. Practice the look before the actual day, because more likely than not you will mess up the first time.

Insert narcissistic self-shot

6) The whole process should take less than two hours, unless you have two left hands. Hope you had a fantastic Halloween!

P.S. For those who clicked into the post looking for advice on how to be an actual lady, my tips are to 1) never poop; and 2) drink tea with your pinky sticking out.