Friends...
...you can always be yourself around them.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Sunday Comics
Apologies for the lag in posts. Been busy this week with midterms and non-academic related activities ;), and so has Katherine. Expect a few posts soon!
Friends...
...you can always be yourself around them.
Friends...
...you can always be yourself around them.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
What the hell is wrong with Mad Hatter’s frosting??
(And why the hell haven’t they changed it?)
Besides allowing the title of this post to speak for itself, I’d also like to add what exactly I found wrong with it. I would be professional and all, and buy a slice of one again to carefully taste test and then write the gory details of my consensus here, but if you think I take my blog that seriously you are sadly (or happily, for my sanity) mistaken.
From what I recall, the frosting tasted like Mad Hatter’s wanted to go all local, and therefore decided to purchase milk and butter from the nearest location, which happened to have nothing but wax cows that produced milk that tasted waxy. Sorry for the redundancy, but I just wanted to convey how I felt after, upon tasting that otherwise beautiful frosting, tasted a taste of waxy taste. Waxyyy…
I mean,
Why why why? Perhaps it is because they hold a monopoly
As one of the only bake-shops nearby, so they have no problem with their unpleasant ratio of butter in their frosting.
X! Woe is my flabs!
You should stay away from their cakes, no matter how beautiful they are.
*I had the common sense to only try their cakes twice, from The Perk. But from what my roommate tells me, she agrees about the waxy part as well. Therefore the facts supporting my review are sound.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Alpine Atrium (BC) - Sugar Cookie (w/ M&Ms)
This sugar cookie is incredible, and I'm incredibly picky about cookies (I have never tasted a satisfactory chocolate chip cookie). Especially if you are a short-bread lover who is on a diet and therefore reverts to its cousin, the regular cookie, rather than working out and then consuming the real thing later. It looks so freakin' unassuming, like the typical over-sized cookie that's always too big to finish (and may be of questionable age), and yet the stores do not seem to recognize that perhaps it would attract more consumers if their cookies were actually smaller and cheaper, because who eats a face-sized cookie for a meal (which inevitably happens with cookie-lovers or those with poor impulse control) without feeling guilty afterwards and therefore masochistically decides to continue buying it the future?
On whim, I bought this cookie around midnight last night (or this morning? or this night? or a few hours before the break of dawn? w/e). Me and my roommate tried it and the buds of our tasters experienced a buttery, delightful surprise of the most supreme degree. The M&Ms were irrelevant, merely sprinkles of unnecessary calories and fake chocolate-y taste. The texture could have been better (the cookie is a little hard, so I recommend not using your front teeth to bite into it).
The cookie's at the BC Alpine every time I've been there. If you have poor impulse control, bring a friend to carry some of the calories too. But everything else equal (meaning your metabolism is equivalent to my roommate's and you will love this cookie as much as we did), eating the whole damn thing at midnight not only will not make you fat, but it will temporarily make you a very happy person as well.
On whim, I bought this cookie around midnight last night (or this morning? or this night? or a few hours before the break of dawn? w/e). Me and my roommate tried it and the buds of our tasters experienced a buttery, delightful surprise of the most supreme degree. The M&Ms were irrelevant, merely sprinkles of unnecessary calories and fake chocolate-y taste. The texture could have been better (the cookie is a little hard, so I recommend not using your front teeth to bite into it).
The cookie's at the BC Alpine every time I've been there. If you have poor impulse control, bring a friend to carry some of the calories too. But everything else equal (meaning your metabolism is equivalent to my roommate's and you will love this cookie as much as we did), eating the whole damn thing at midnight not only will not make you fat, but it will temporarily make you a very happy person as well.
Edinburgh
Recently, I went to the beautiful city of Edinburgh over the school inter-semester break with my friend Peach. We decided our goal for the day was to climb up this hill called Arthur's Seat... but alas it started raining!
Without rain, though, there would be no double rainbows! Can you see it (on left)?
I admit, I feel that although I go to Edinburgh quite often, I usually stay in the main area of Prince's Street. This time, we ventured out to the Royal Mile, a stretch of road that leads from Edinburgh Castle to Holyroodhouse Palace. Narrower roads and older buildings give this area a more antiquated (and tourist-y) feel.
We made our way along the streets taking shelter in various museums and shops along the way. Three museums we visited were the Museum of Childhood, Museum of Edinburgh, and the People's Story Museum. I liked how they were all small and specialized, each bringing different stories to understanding the city as a whole :) All were free admission. We even got free postcards... and free shelter from the rain!
Another place we came across was an antique map store.
The owner was quite friendly and resourceful. When he learned we were from St. Andrews, he showed us a drawing of the place from 300 years ago... it looks exactly the same...
We also chanced upon a small confectionery shop. We actually thought it was a thrift store at first... maybe it was the sewing machine that threw us off.
Yeah... still not sure what the sewing machine was doing there... I wish we had asked.
And last was the Fudge House! Sugar rush much?
There are also a lot of festivals that happen in the city. A nice one is the Music Festival that takes place around August where you can see performances from all around the world. I think its something Diana would really enjoy... maybe she should come by someday and take a look, please...*hint hint* :)
Recipe - Desi-style tea (Dorm Edition)
Thanks to my roommate for this recipe. I used to drink coffee for my caffeine, but now I drink nothing but this (except Joe Van Gogh's Greek Frappe, which is so good btw that I don't have sufficient words or time to write about it. fyi, I also converted three of my friends to it already. Give it a try.). Don't get me wrong, it's not like some 5-star tea. But it's easy, satisfying, and decent for when you need caffeine for late nights.
What is desi-style tea? In a nutshell, people in India and Pakistan make tea that is significantly better than the white-people kind, because they boil it slowly and gradually, to get all the flavors out of it or something. This kind of preparation is the desi-style.
What is desi-style tea? In a nutshell, people in India and Pakistan make tea that is significantly better than the white-people kind, because they boil it slowly and gradually, to get all the flavors out of it or something. This kind of preparation is the desi-style.
Microwave Desi-style Black Tea
- a mug
- (2) black tea Lipton bags
- water (of the Pellegrino kind, if you feel this somehow enhances the quality of your microwave tea)
- milk
- Put everything in the mug....
- ...until it's filled about 3/4 way through
- ....and microwave for 3 minutes, uncovered.
Milk can be any kind. I use skim because I try to be healthy, but of course I'd rather use whole like my roommate does. But I have recently compromised with my carton of half & half.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Hi my name is Katherine :)
Hi everyone! So glad to be joining this blog! I still remember the days back in high school when Diana and I would sit in the library looking at food and travel magazines instead of working (yeah... sadly, not a lot has changed). Maybe this blog will help us make such a use of time into something more productive... maybe...
Let me just warn you all, Diana exaggerated on that previous post... I have not dated various hot European men... and I'm sure we don't all eat escargot... because for one thing there are vegetarians here, too... like me :)
... because eating vegetables looks so much cuter :3
Anyways, right now I live in this small picturesque town in Scotland called St. Andrews.
I'm studying Geography and Geoscience here. I love music, cooking, and traveling around. I think in regards to traveling and being a tourist in general, being in the UK is fantastic! Lots of history (castles!), convenient public transportation, cheap flights to the rest of Europe, etc. I can live without a car!
I know Diana's stuck in North Carolina practically all time, so when I do travel to different places, I will try to share as many stories and pictures as I can :)
INTRODUCING!....Katherine!
Hey guys, so my friend Katherine, who I go a whiles back with, will also be joining as a contributer to this blog. She's studying in Europe right now, which means that she's cool and most likely has dated really hot European dudes. Therefore, she will have much interesting stuff to talk about. She also owns a Nikon D60, which means that she will also be taking high-quality pictures of Europe, food, and men (as well as women).
Major: Biology (pharmacology concentration), Public Policy
Interests: finding out what I want to do with my life, film, music, the usual.
Activities: Campus Concert Series, Duke Microfinance Leadership, college radio DJ, pharmacology lab, co-developing a business plan for Acción Emprendedora (the branch starting in Durham, hopefully soon)
How this blog began (today): I like to muse randomly to my poor roommate about the random things at the random-est of times. She suggested several times in the past that I should just start a blog, so finally this evening I decided to do just that to generate productivity out of what was looking to be a very unfruitful evening. Hope you guys enjoy the blog, and feel free to comment or leave suggestions!
EDIT: So Katherine kindly reminded me a second ago that I failed to introduce myself...
Hi, my name is Diana. Here is a dry introduction about myself:
College: Duke UniversityMajor: Biology (pharmacology concentration), Public Policy
Interests: finding out what I want to do with my life, film, music, the usual.
Activities: Campus Concert Series, Duke Microfinance Leadership, college radio DJ, pharmacology lab, co-developing a business plan for Acción Emprendedora (the branch starting in Durham, hopefully soon)
How this blog began (today): I like to muse randomly to my poor roommate about the random things at the random-est of times. She suggested several times in the past that I should just start a blog, so finally this evening I decided to do just that to generate productivity out of what was looking to be a very unfruitful evening. Hope you guys enjoy the blog, and feel free to comment or leave suggestions!
Dale's Indian Food - Review #1
I've been procrastinating too long now, so I'll make this review short and sweet:
- Navrattan Korma, makes the belly warma'.
- Aloo Paratha, I want more, mamma.
- Gulab Jamun, yum yum yum.
In case this review was not particularly informative, too abstract, totally irrelevant, and/or off the mark, here is how I would sum up tonight's Merchants on Points experience with these particular foods from Dale's Indian Cuisine (which holds a monopoly as the only Indian place on the Merchants on Points menu, but fortunately does not always abuse this power to the lowest possible quality):
It was verrryy good. Order these items. They were creamy, savory, and honey/buttery, respectively.
(Disclaimer: I did not make up this logo using basic Microsoft Word 2000 tools in a jiffy, just because I needed a logo. Dale's made it.)
Joe Van Goghs - Dark Chocolate Expresso Beans
If you are a dark chocolate lover and like coffee as well, you are a fool for not having purchased these magical beans from Joe Van Goghs while supplies lasted. Seriously, you are stupid - you are so stupid. (If you didn't get this joke, please refer to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtZfW2z9dw).
Not only were they $2.99 for a bag nearly bursting at its plastic seams in bean-y goodness, but also in terms of caffeine utility these were a much bigger bang (pun intended), both mentally and physically (as in the physical reaction to caffeine overload, not the other kind you dirty people) for the buck (no pun intended here, sorry).
They were also "magically delicious ©" and not overtly sweet like most mass-produced (if these are mass-produced) coffee beans, such as Starbuck's. In my opinion, dark chocolate lovers love dark chocolate because it's not as sweet and fakey-milky/grainy as regular milk chocolate. So if you're going to make a dark chocolate bean, people, at least not make it too sweet! Unless you happen to be making a dark chocolate bean targeting milk chocolate people who would like to think that eating dark chocolate will make them feel more sophistiated/foodie-like, but can't stand the bitterness of dark chocolate and thus revert to sweet dark chocolate that might as well be called a really dark milk chocolate bar without e milk.
Well Joe Van Goghs does it the right way. This, plus the creaminess of just plain good dark chocolate, made every single point of my 2.99 food points worthwhile. Try it if you get the chance.
Not only were they $2.99 for a bag nearly bursting at its plastic seams in bean-y goodness, but also in terms of caffeine utility these were a much bigger bang (pun intended), both mentally and physically (as in the physical reaction to caffeine overload, not the other kind you dirty people) for the buck (no pun intended here, sorry).
They were also "magically delicious ©" and not overtly sweet like most mass-produced (if these are mass-produced) coffee beans, such as Starbuck's. In my opinion, dark chocolate lovers love dark chocolate because it's not as sweet and fakey-milky/grainy as regular milk chocolate. So if you're going to make a dark chocolate bean, people, at least not make it too sweet! Unless you happen to be making a dark chocolate bean targeting milk chocolate people who would like to think that eating dark chocolate will make them feel more sophistiated/foodie-like, but can't stand the bitterness of dark chocolate and thus revert to sweet dark chocolate that might as well be called a really dark milk chocolate bar without e milk.
Well Joe Van Goghs does it the right way. This, plus the creaminess of just plain good dark chocolate, made every single point of my 2.99 food points worthwhile. Try it if you get the chance.
Green & Black = Hazelnut & Currant Dark Chocolate bar
The Green & Black Organic Hazelnut Currant bar is basically a Ferrero Rocher for people who don’t want to admit that they like a candy -- ubiquitous in the most unlikely places such as drugstores and the corner Asian market -- that is now associated with “candy gifts from cheapos” (especially Asians, from my experience). Why? Because this tastes exactly like a Ferrero Rocher, except a little less oversweet, plus the yuppie plus of antioxidant boost of currant bits that merely recognized to my tongue as “some random sweet berry bits”.
The dark chocolate quality is average – I don’t claim to taste the subtleties like “woodsy flavors from the __(insert South American country here)__ with a hint of cherry, and perhaps a little nuttiness of the cashew nut as well”. But I've tasted better. In fact, the abundance of hazelnut and fruits actually disguises the dark chocolate flavor, which I feel is the best part of a dark chocolate bar.
But my roommate liked it, and according to my data 50% of those surveyed like it. So if you have food points to spare, grab em' while you can from The Perk in Von der Heydn.
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