Two easy dishes for thesis strugglers in the UK

It took me almost 2 months to realize that the rumour of British food reputation is true. I stayed and dined with a lovely British family in the first two months in Leeds, enjoying the yummy home-made food and cakes for quite a while. Until later I moved out, started to do regular shopping in the supermarkets (i.e. Morrisons, Hang Won Hong), and randomly ate out in restaurants (both western and eastern styles), I came to notice the very significance of being able to cook at home.

Fried chicken wings

Home cooking evokes a certain pleasure of creativity, artistry and most importantly, price quality (for an international student). Back in China, my knowledge within the kitchen area was limited to the use of pressure rice cooker and the chopping board. Most of the time I functioned as a pedestrian. The kitchen simply belongs to mum. And now living on my own has given me a chance to explore the possibilities of kitchenwares, raw materials and recipes from the Internet. So much joy and taste as I've gained from creative cooking in the past ten months, the recent two months of thesis crisis still has turned my cooking habit into only 'two' dishes: fried chicken wings and pancakes. The making of pancakes was quite tricky for me. I ruined 4 'pancakes' to get one with a shape in the first time of cooking.

My first immature pancake that has a shape

I have to admit it was is absolutely tragic to alternate between only two dishes 90% of the time. But concerning the relatively cheaper materials and easier preparations, I feel the need to record the steps of making for reference in the far future, since I'm going to stop cooking these stuffs for a break. Also, looking at these words and photos can also help recall the most intensive and sleepless time in my life (so far). >__<

Fried Chicken Wings (approx. 20 min.):

1. Slash both sides of the wings and place them in the boiling water for approximately 3 minutes, then set aside;

2. Heat the oil in a frying pan and fry some chopped ginger, then stir in the chicken wings;

3. Sprinkle some vinegar with little salt, stir and sprinkle some cooking wine;

4. Fry them over medium heat for 2 minutes, sprinkling with some dark soy sauce and stir until they look evenly coated;

5. Turn in some water, cover the pan and cook gently for 10 minutes;

6. Mix in a tablespoon of sugar, continue cooking until the sauce thickens; the end.

VERY Basic Pancake (approx. 15 min.):

1. Mix a cup of flour, 4 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 teaspoon of salt with a cup of milk, 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 eggs;

2. Gently heat a thin layer of oil on a small flat pan, slowly pour in the mixture (not too much) and tilt the pan to form a thin round layer;

3. Wait until the layer thickens and golden brown, turn the layer over by a flat frying spoon;

4. Wait until the side is also golden brown; the end.

TRIBUTE TO肥仔

Note: Attention Jeremy, this is where we're heading(for the test). Stuff your pack with tissues and get ready for Feizai (Fatty) Luosi Rice Noodle! ;)

帮着妈妈打扫了两天节前卫生，右手食指的冻疮奇迹般的好了大半。现在留下点闲情写写这几天的重点口福。其实也没有吃什么大餐，我向来胸无大痣，螺蛳粉啊，卷粉啊，汤包啊就OK。没错，这次又是可爱的它：螺蛳粉！那晚跋山涉水跑到西环的“肥仔”，涨到4元一碗（去年是三点五），排队的时候老妈才爆出消息说肥仔已得癌症死掉了，现在全凭他老婆按着原来的配方经营。知道了有些失落，鼻子有点酸，肥仔的形象顿时高大起来，走了还留下“肥仔”螺蛳粉造福人类，如来显灵观音慈悲定会封他一个粉仙来做。店面已经重新装修，仍然太挤，寒风瑟瑟中，只好缩在店外的一张小木桌旁吃，点了个鸭脚，一点五元。灯光不亮味道很棒，螺蛳粉的图就不上了，因这次发粉区旁的卤菜、凉拌菜等等更吸引眼球。价钱偏高，小小一盘，5元起价。我打包了盘红油黄瓜，还混了几根鱼腥草。09年又充满了希望！饭后到南城百货购年货，结果逛了半天只装了一车液体，又沉，还在果蔬区被“掉”足了胃口。本想弄个木瓜回去补补，可每一个长得似硫酸泼在月球表面，连手指甲都不愿碰一碰。我警觉地瞄了瞄周围，举起相机拍下朴实的木瓜婆婆。哈蜜瓜爷爷好象在沙漠里打了几十个滚，榴莲姐姐开着口也飘不出香味了。半年未归，超市竟不如菜市场。

Lisa & Sally's Jealousy, Jeremy & Toni's Unwanted Test And Chelsea's Happiness

昨晚粉瘾发作，就近到东环的爱民分店，香飘飘，心里默默对“肥仔”说了句对不起，就窜进去了。场面有点小火暴，粉民虽然千姿百态，都统一挤在四人小白桌里共享美食。仍旧4元一碗，排了一会队就看到了那些迷人的红油酸笋、腐竹、木耳、生菜etc. 吃了第一口，就觉得头上有一个光环升起，浑身打颤。小白，我跟你讲，上海那家在柳州也混不了。




现在打着字都感觉仿佛齿甲留香，心潮澎湃。

There ain't no cure
There ain't no cure
There ain't no cure
For luosi rice noodle...

红旗餐馆

暑假在家时，爸妈常带我去吃“乡下菜”。每次在大排挡和路边摊吃东西心情都很好，不用理会什么餐桌文明。这些地方的菜虽然卖相不够高雅，卫生不够考究，但吃起来特别香。大大前天去的东环那一家“螺蛳鸡”为最爱。于是离家最后一天来到市郊这家“红旗餐馆”，开始满期待的，可不久就被冷漠的服务态度泼凉了。受气可饱，三个人随便点了盘杂烩（配菜和毛血旺差不多），一盘山水豆腐，一盘炒油菜都吃不完。味道不赖，大多比较刺激胃口，价格也满适中，只觉太家常，不够特色。算几份不错的主妇菜吧。

2008年柳州两Bie聚头事件

题记

自07后，三Bie总不能到齐，甚遗憾。08暑聚头依然只余两Bie, 于3年未访之东瀛寿司店解决内存问题，细同学半途带了泳裤前来掺和，腹满后于东瀛之电子游戏厅之死亡之屋消耗数币，赛车若干币，踩蜘蛛若干币，格斗2币，篮球2币，小腹微下。遂出，等一榴莲，留影若干。终散，一Bie乘榴莲叔叔双轮摩托去，细同学旋走下一场，余一Bie步至家中。

08小白又缺席好遗憾，范瘪9月就要飞走去看斗牛士，想想接下来大学剩下的一年里大概只能约细出来玩玩。最后这一次范范到家里接我，然后在三品王解决了brunch问题，不过几小时逛街就消耗掉了。于是路盲在半路盲的引导下来到从银座搬出2年多的大禾。拣了墙边坐下，墙上电视正放着男篮，中国（防守奇弱）－ 立陶宛。大禾味道既没进步也没变坏，鳗鱼类还是大爱，wasabi依然让人泪奔。吃到一半，范瘪眼尖瞟到远处坐着一位美男子，剩下的时间我俩就比较明显的伸长脖子眺望（好彩带了眼镜），omit旁边坐着一女的。我们刚有点微饱，他俩胃小就走了，甚遗憾（后在地王楼下碰见，缘分喏）。饭间我肚上的几层油很受咸猪手欢迎。

细来的时候刚游完泳，造型有点ha。此人超忙，一天赶几个场。我们从天白吃到天暗，接下来节目还没着落，也不能总去看水仙姐姐，最后在我的威逼利诱下投奔地王大厦。伴着范瘪的尖叫，“死亡之屋”又吞了我们一口袋币。范瘪转投赛车，撞车撞得很开心的样子，接着踩了两次蜘蛛。今次玩机最开心的是格斗把细打到“脸niu”，后来连电脑都被K.O.，看来我宝刀未老，依然青春年少，挖呵呵。细后奋起而追之，用了两条牌飞走我，但看得出和电脑对战有些疲态，啊哟～ ;P

为配合奥运“swifter, higher, stronger”, 偶们投了下篮，而为了“重在参与”的精神，偶们命中率极低。兴尽就要说拜拜了。下到一楼发现灯光比较强烈，照了不少颠照，陪范瘪等榴莲。榴莲叔叔来了后，便与范瘪和细匆匆道别，期待09圣诞和jiji同学再见。

好想瘪们，长大真是个坏东西。

万聚山庄

100%比例图

天气一热，我就飘忽。老爸说万聚山庄的“古典鸡”很棒，想带我去尝好久了。虽说美食当前，但我对鸡类食品一直不太感兴趣，最后还是被连拉带扯坐了40分钟的轮子到了“山庄”。此山庄傍山而立，有一潭人造水塘供养钓鱼用，还建了些绿色蔬菜棚。大概是因为天干气燥，不够有人杰地灵的感觉，还有几股热浪汹涌而来。比较有特色的就是那条用红垂髫(夏天变绿)作遮阳顶的通道。

瞧了半天也没什么好拍的，倒是在路边看到一只被晒死的bug，顿感凄凉，后来吃饭也没什么胃口，古典在哪也说不上来，只记得鸡的肉蛮松软的，大人们不停谈论的关于我毕业后的前途。

昨晚惊闻小白喜讯，突然觉得结婚也不算是一件遥远的事。结婚地点若是去不成不丹，可以考虑下梵帝冈。要开始存礼金了，有点恍惚......

The Legendary Luosi Rice Noodle

螺蛳粉，自己私译为Luosi Rice Noodle，要说螺蛳是gasteropod或者whorl都不够有亲切感。一位朋友说叫snail's cousin还满贴切的。“蛳”字虽然右部为“师”，发的却是"si"的平舌读音。初到北方我和同学说起，他们还以为是南方人平卷舌不分的缘故。

螺蛳粉的“螺蛳”是指体积小、肉甜的石螺。而田螺体积虽大，却没有石螺爽脆。单是嗦的话，个人比较好田螺。据说田螺有清热明目的功效(前提是不和酸笋搭配)。除底汤外，酸笋、花生、腐竹也是螺蛳粉不可或缺的部分，如果店主或者摊主大方点，用骨头汤做底的话就更加好吃了。出了柳州，螺蛳粉都统统变味, 好象只有柳州的水土才能养好螺蛳粉。

右图是07暑假回家时的吃“爱民”螺蛳粉，同去的还有小白和细瘪。那时候下料较足，又有卖相，味道也好。每次还要加一碗冰绿豆沙，或者一杯“地下铁”。08过年时和妈妈再去，“爱民”就变得很一般了。排队打粉的人还是排到门外，但是总不得辣椒，还经常没有青菜，服务态度也变差！

还好，还有西环“肥仔”超级路边摊救急，终于了解为什么肥仔这么多年都不开分店了。最徒有虚名的就是青云“高记”，还号称全柳唯一上过央视的螺蛳粉, 吃完一次我反胃一次。DouBan的“柳州螺蛳粉”小组里有螺蛳粉地图，细看了一下，口碑好的还差“奶姥”和胜利路的“秋菊”没去过。以前“昌华轩”还叫“香螺轩”的时候还不错，就是没有消毒碗，现在换了大店面也还是老样子，味道也差了。

在北方读了3年书，始终没有归属感，菜里的豆油也让我没有什么食欲，到处不是饼就是面，好不容易有个米线味道又太北方。真想家，想念林记猪脚，林记卷粉，还有谷埠街的一元一只的卤鸭脚，不知道涨价没。

Vol. 2 Chocolates in Fridge

Even people from Mars know that I worship chocolates! This cute box of calories and Macadamia Nuts has nothing inside now as I swept them into my stomach in the first few days of February after I came back home (from school, a whole semester without chocolates), searched through the fridge and found nothing cooked. Besides, the wrapping reads "BEST BEFORE 12 FEB 08". What I waiting for? XD

The lovely part of the box is the 18 lovely macadamia nuts wrapped in chocolate solid cream. The awful part would be the descriptions on the cover:

Keywords:

Front: 200g NET 18 pieces
Back: 2260kj per 100g