taffy

I'm always very happy to see series featuring Sichuan food:

The first 3 episodes take place in Sichuan, with the remaining in Guizhou and Yunnan. Makes me miss my summer there.

hex

More soups!

Smoky potato and chickpea stew

I think at this point, most soups taste pretty similar, and none too exceptional (though caldo verde is really good). Maybe it's time to move onto other types of food, but so hard to beat the convenience of making a big pot of soup and stuffing all the veggie and legumes in.

...

I did come up with a quicker way to cook carrots: steam in microwave and then sear in pan:

The first batch turned out good enough, I'd like a harder sear but I was stupid and put powdered spices in the oil at the beginning, thus I couldn't turn up the heat too much for the fear of burning the spices.

here and now

I've been listening to a podcast called Secular Buddhism, which is a worldview that's...compelling and relevant to me, I think those are the right words. The podcasts are clearly explained and offers quite practical lessons. If this was compiled into a book I would definitely buy it.

Previously if you ask me what worldview I believe in, I would've answered existentialism. That's probably because it's the only one I've studied with half an ounce of rigour (in grade 12 ha) at the right timing. There's some concepts that are common between existentialism and secular buddhism, such as no inherent purpose in life, suffering as result of choice, and it's ultimately up to you to have your perspective to alleviate said suffering.

A few notes from some notable episodes I've listened to:

• The Nature of Human Suffering: outlines three types of suffering of physical pain, emotional loss, and stories that we use to make sense of what's happened that causes us grief. The first two we cannot help but feel, the last we should recognize and eliminate.
• True Selflessness: the sense of self / ego is not a permanent thing (as there is only impermanence). The self is only a collection of relations to others, hence to be selfish is to care about other people. This reminds me of a discussion I had with Tien where he told me about how no one person deserves more than another because anything we've ever had / have is given by someone else. 
• Parable of the Raft: teaches us to let go. Not sure if it's actually this episode that discusses that the present moment is all we ever have, aka the past and future are mere constructs. 
• The Faith to Doubt: reinforces the idea of there's reality, which we should / can have faith in, and then there's the stories we make up, which we should doubt. My favourite analogy from this series also makes an appearance in this episode, it goes that life is like tetris, we know there will be a new block that falls, but we don't know which block. If we wish / expect a certain block, we will suffer once our expectations are not met. But if we accept whatever block that comes up and manipulate it accordingly, we'll do well in the game. 
• Truth in the Context of Time: reinforces the idea that everything is impermanent, but that we shouldn't discredit conceptual truths (as opposed to empirical truths which are true independent of humans, conceptual truths are human beliefs) of the past because they are no longer true in the present. May I gloat a bit and say that I've learned this lesson well. 

tower

Haven't had a nice sunset in a while:

griddle

the pancake adventures continue with a classic buttermilk:

I'm still bad at mixing in flour without deflating the batter...because I'm too adverse to washing another utensil, so I kept mixing with a fork. Smh. These turned out quite heavy and dense (so full from eating these two) due to my laziness, but I do prefer these to the previous sour cream version.

错过的时间怎么买

Been re-listening to all my Jay Chou songs these couple of days. Was reminded by manga (so happy that I retain enough chinese to understand the raws) and a conversation with friends about the celebrities that we found good looking. I've also finally listened to his new album, which isn't much to my taste except this song (it sounds like a soundtrack song because it is):

男：假装我们还在一块 我真的演不出来
        还是不习惯你不在 这身份转变太快

女：画面里不需要旁白 却谁都看的出来
        是我情绪涌了上来 想哭却一遍空白

男：雪地里相爱 他们说零下已结晶的誓言不会坏
合：但爱的状态 却不会永远都冰封 而透明的存在

        轻轻飘落下来 许下的梦融化的太快 或许我们都不该醒来

女：你还是住在我的回忆里不出来
男：让我们微笑离开让故事留下来
合：放手后爱依然在 雪融了就应该花开

        缘若尽了就不该再重来
女：你依旧住在我的回忆里不出来
男：我离开将你的手交给下个最爱
合：纠缠与固执等待 反而是另一种伤害

        彼此紧握的手松开 去拥抱更多未来

男：错过的时间怎么买 谁都付 不出来
女：或许我们学会释怀 让过去安静下来

合：雪地里相爱 他们说零下已结晶的誓言不会坏
        但爱的状态 却不会永远都冰封 而透明的存在
        轻轻飘落下来 许下的梦融化的太快 或许我们都不该醒来

女：你还是 住在我的回忆里不出来
男：让我们微笑离开让故事留下来
合：放手后爱依然在 雪融了就应该花开
        缘若尽了就不该再重来
女：你依旧住在我的回忆里不出来
男：我离开将你的手交给下个最爱
合：纠缠与固执等待 反而是 另一种伤害
       彼此紧握的手松开 去拥抱更多未来

It's so hard picking a favourite line for the post title, the runner up is "让过去安静下来" but also all the lines where they both sing. 

Now excuse me while I go watch Now You See Me, which I just found out stars Jay Chou. And that there's a sequel, featuring his song! 

pecan

Milk braised sweet potato with chickpea version of texas caviar 

Browned (maillard reaction) dairy is yummy, I'd very much like to try toasted cream. Will also try the same recipe with potatoes and thyme instead, and also with single cream instead of milk for more yummy milk solids.