Miami, Cheesecake and Avatars

Why doesn’t Toronto look like this in winter?? That would be so totally awesome!

Cheesecake Factory cheesecake people! I am not sure that anything tastes better! I will say that although they do have quite a selection, original is simply the best. This time I also had chocolate mousse cheesecake and that was delicious too.

I saw Avatar over the weekend, it is a fantastic movie that everyone should watch. After it was done, I had to sit there for a few minutes because I think I was emotionally overwhelmed! The parallels to the state of the world today is phenomenal – it’s a very powerful movie, with a very powerful message. I think it could be the best movie I’ve ever seen in my life! Go watch it!

To the brighter side

Sometimes I truly feel like I just want my life to fast-forward, to, I am not sure what, the end maybe? It feels as if it’s test after test and I really really want a rest. Sometimes.

But then, things happen like my almost 4 year old coming up to me with him wallet in his hand and says “mommy, you need money for your trip? well, here, you can have some of mine. how much do you need?” I think I almost broke down and started crying right there, except I was smiling and trying hard not to laugh and the unbelievable cuteness. I said, “baby, it’s 5 hundred dollars!” and he said “5 hundred dollars?! I cannot believe it!” And I tried harder not to laugh, then I opened his wallet and took out the US $1 bill and told him I was taking it because I would need that kind of money for my trip and then thanked him. He walked away very contented.

Can’t fast-forward. Just life each moment like it’s your last.

Have a happy holiday, whatever it is that you’re celebrating, and always share your laughter, love and happiness with those whom you treasure.

I may not know how to spell mussels, but at least I can cook them!

So, I went to Costco, and they were selling 5lb bags of mussels for $8. I just had no choice but to buy it, wouldn’t you?

Anyway, I never made mussels before so, as the dude told me I had to make it the very same day, I consulted with Chef Google and came up with a few videos on cleaning and cooking mussels. I realized that white wine was sort of a key ingredient, and since I am not alcohol-inclined, I opted for ginger ale… apparently good substitutes are ginger ale, apple cider, non-alcoholic wine, and stock. Ginger ale was the easiest to find. I think next time I will probably try cider.

I was in the middle of cooking it when my brother appeared and sort of took over the entire production, but the as the taste was totally awesome, I will focus more on the fact that I did MOST of the work!!

Guidelines:

1) Clean the mussels and remove the dead (open) ones

2) In a large saucepan saute a crushed garlic, onions and ginger in a little olive oil

3) Add in the mussels, pour in your liquid of choice, then cover the pan (make sure you use a large enough pan to fit all the mussels when they are opened)

4) It takes about 4-5 minutes for them to open, remove them from the pot

5) With the remaining liquid in the pot, add in pepper, salt, finely chopped coriander, and other flavors of choice. I added in some more garlic. Let that simmer and reduce for a few minutes, remove from the heat and then add back in the mussels.

Fini!

When I grow up, I want to be a ninja!

Seriously, I kinda do.

Almost 4 year old: I want to be an engineer, like daddy, except with machines. I want to build machines.

7 year old: I want to be an author.

5 year old: And I want to be an illustrator.

7 year old: Yeah, we talked about this, I can write the stories and he can illustrate them.

What do you guys want to be?

All I want for Christmas is Holmes!

So, they’ve plastered the entire subway with Sherlock Holmes movie posters, and I find it particularly difficult to look away from Holmes.

I mean, behold…

Seriously. I really can’t say that I have too many thoughts about the movie, and I am not really a Sherlock Holmes fan per se, but I am a fan of Robert Downy Jr. and his stubble. Clearly!

Ahem, anyway, as you were…