xinesations

Re-blog.

2011-08-11T00:28:00.002-04:00

It's been a while since I've last A. written on this blog and B. blogged actual thoughts. Now that I spend alot of my time alone / driving, I have alot more thoughts to myself, and not being able to keep anything to myself, I need to verbally diarrhea to someone or somewhere. Given that there isn't really one person in my life who won't be completely annoyed or even really have the time to listen to my shit, I've resorted to starting up blogging again, re-blogging if you will. I always go through phases of blogging. I'll start blogging for a little bit, and then get busy and forget to tend ot my blog. So let's see how long this will last.

xinerz.tumblr.com

2009-11-10T21:22:00.001-05:00

go go go go

Very Blueberry Muffins

2008-07-26T13:08:00.004-04:00

Its been a while since I updated, mostly because I haven't really been baking or eating out much, but here's the recipe for very blueberry muffins. (taken from some recipe books/sites but with my own twist on some things.)

Very Blueberry Muffins

Blueberry muffins are probably one of the best muffins that I personally enjoy eating. This tender, moist version is really extraordinary! The recipe calls for a sprinkle of sugar at the end for a crunchy, sweet top which is something I neglected to do, but even without the sprinkle, it tastes great as breakfast or a snack throughout the day.

INGREDIENTS
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
0.5 - 1 teaspoons kosher salt
3/4 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 teaspoons for topping muffins
1 stick of butter, melted
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 large eggs (I have small eggs, so I ended up using 3 small eggs)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries (i just dropped in as many blueberries as I thought wasn't overload)

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat oven to 400°F. Place cupcake liners in you muffin pan. Butter the wells if you don't have cupcake liners (I find cupcake liners work the best) Set the pan aside.
Whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl to break up lumps and aerate mixture; set aside.
Whisk together 3/4 cup of the sugar, butter, cream, eggs, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until smooth. Add sugar mixture and blueberries to flour mixture and stir until just evenly mixed (a few lumps will remain), about 30 strokes. (Do not overmix; the batter should be thick, but the ingredients should be evenly incorporated.)
Fill the muffin wells completely and evenly sprinkle remaining 2 teaspoons sugar over top. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Set the pan on a wire rack and let muffins cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove muffins from pan and serve.

p.s. Christina! I'm looking for that recipe but I think my mom threw away my paper copy :( Will get it to you as soon as I can.

Strawberry Whipped Cream Cake

2008-07-12T22:22:00.005-04:00

Thursday 7/10/08. My first cake baked from scratch. It was pretty good, although it does do well with a glass of milk to accompany it down the esophagus. Ask me if you're interested in the recipe.

Saturday 7/12/08. Very blueberry muffins. Pictures to come soon.

Sweet Summer

2008-06-20T17:31:00.003-04:00

Summer is here. I'm back in Tennessee. When most people ask what I'm doing, I say nothing, but I think I have an answer now: practicing domestication. The past couple of weeks, I've made 3 gallons/jugs of sweet teas. The first time I attempted to make sweet tea was of the Peach Herb Chamiolle Tea flavour, and that was because I was just bored at home. The second time, was because I actually enjoyed drinking my first batch. The third batch I made, just today, was Raspberry Zing something sweet fruit tea, and let me tell ya, you're missin out if you've never tried sweet sweet southern sweet tea.

Between those batches, I've also successfully baked a moist chocolate blueberry/strawberry cake. Yummm.

So yes, if you see me back at harvard or anytime this summer baloogened like a big blueberry, it's because I've been domesticating myself in the kitchen, watching food channel, and eating every (sweet) creation that I have managed to conjure up.

Sweet (literally) eating!

Finals.

2008-01-16T23:10:00.000-05:00

Nothing takes the energy out of you than do Finals at Harvard. Down with 2, 2 more to go. Organic Chemistry Final. Morning of, I call my dad. A ritual, I must say. I call him before every final. Probably to hear his soothing voice. However, he did not pick up. I panicked. Where was my dad? So I tried my mother's cell phone. No answer. Then my home phone. No Answer. Tried again. Finally, my mother told me to try calling my dad at his office phone, which I ended up doing and ended up finally finding him (supposedly his cell phone has problems with reception in our tiny town in Tennessee). I asked if Rover was near-by, and as usual, he was. My dad called him over, put me on speaker phone and I said hi. Rover barked back several times. 3 times to be exact. In my mind he yelled, "Good Luck Christine!" But in reality he probably yelled, "Give me food!"

After the test, I ran home as quickly as I could through the slowly but ever surely melting crisp white snow that only northern places can have on their grounds for weeks and weeks. 3 hour finals do not suit me, but in order not to waste time, I never take the bathroom breaks that they write on the menacing chalk boards in big limestone letters. But once that first person gets up to use the restroom, it seems like a throng of toiler users follow--seemingly like the first person reminded them of their ability and free will to take precious time out of their final exam at Harvard University to use the bathroom.

The day passed, I slept, dreamt. At night, originally our blocking group (bgroup) was going to purchase an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins to celebrate, belatedly, Peter's birthday (on the 14th). However, being thrifty college students we are, Steve and I looked online for Basking Robbins coupons (Which I highly encourage everybody to do. just google 'baskin robbings coupons' and you will find many). The one we found that we could legitimately use before it expired was the Buy one sundae get another free. Peter's birthday was therefore two ice cream sundaes. We resorted to playing taboo the rest of the night with visitors coming in and out at random times at night. Later on at the all chocolate brain break, we devoured chocolate like we hadn't eaten in days. Then we played chubby bunny in rounds. Steve was the winner of the girl round, and Peter and Jack were the "manliest men" of their "man" round. :P Needless to say, it was an interesting day. Now if only every day could consist of random misadventurez and guapo chicos vying for my love.... sigh.

And another day of my life has passed. Treasure your memories. <33