Home Cooking #1

I'm finally back home in Hong Kong for the summer break! To start off my long-awaited summer parade of food feasting (weight gaining), my family ordered some fresh ingredients and cooked for Saturday's dinner. 

Whelk

Not a big fan of these, but the shapes of their shells are just fascinating to look at! This makes me think of how I used to collect shells by the seashore every time I went to the beach. 

Oyster with Lemon Juice

As I have a really sensitive stomach, I haven't got a chance to try one yet; hopefully I will soon. My family prefers it raw than cooked. 

Duck Breast with Organic Herb Salad

My mom has a special recipe she always uses: pineapple vinegar, olive oil, sesame sauce, black sugar sauce, salt & pepper, and honey mixed. The sweetness and sourness of the sauce balance perfectly, and the salad was refreshing! 

Mussel Cooked in White Wine

 Something I've been craving the whole spring- absolutely loved it! I think I finished half of the bowl.

Roast Rack of Lamb With Dijon Mustard & Rosemary

 I don't eat these, though my family loves it with mint jelly.

Pan-fried U.S. Rib Eye Steak Marinade

My all time favorite! Again, my mom has a special marinade for it: honey, oyster sauce, maggie sauce, garlic ketchup, salt & pepper, and worcestershire sauce mixed.

Spaghetti Vongole with Clam in White Wine Sauce

Let's just say, my dad adores cooking with white wine. He sometimes uses red wine to brew beef as well.

Zoe's Raspberry Chocolate Cake

My favorite course for any meal- dessert! I like it when some kind of acidic fruit like passion fruit and orange is there to balance out the chocolate, which by itself might be too saccharine. Of course, my top choice for the combination is chocolate with raspberry.

I had a superb dinner- looking forward to more!

The Art of Swimming

I've always questioned myself during trainings when I feel like I'm about to drown: why do I swim? This year, I got a golden chance of competing as one of the future swimming captains. I swore to myself that if I did not get the position, I would just slack off in trainings, ignore the coaches, and naturally do my worst at competitions. I lost, by one vote. 

A lot of times I desperately want to quit swimming. Why would I want to be involved in the most tedious and boring sport, experience aching cramps, and develop a masculine body shape? Yet however much I hate swimming sometimes, I could never imagine my life without it. 

Swimming is not just a sport; it's a part of my life- it is art! Although I swim countless laps every training, every movement, every swirl and twirl, is unique. Believe me or not, the prettier my stroke is, the faster I am. As I touch the water and glide through it, I feel the freedom that can't be experienced in other ways. I am a good swimmer, but without the typical body, I know that I can never be a great swimmer. Yes, I like the attention I get when I lead my heat, and I like it even more when I occasionally; but what I like most is the way I can express myself through swimming. 

And now, I think it's safe to say: I actually, really, truly, love swimming. 

Cheese Night @ The Cheesecake Factory

Eating my school's food every day can be tedious sometimes. Since it was weekend, my friend Jackie and I decided to venture out for a more appetizing dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. We got our ticket and waited for 30 minutes, but when the food came, it was all worth it. (Because the lighting was rather yellow that night, I tried my best to edit the photos below.)

Italian Mixed American Setting

Shrimp Scampi- US$19

I ordered from the seafood section shrimp sautéed with whole cloves of garlic, white wine, fresh basil and tomato, which came with angel hair pasta. The shrimp was well cooked with a bouncy bite, though I would have preferred it cooked with less garlic to avoid the "after breath". 


Four Cheese Pasta- US$11

Jackie ordered a penne pasta with mozzarella, ricotta, romano, parmesan cheeses plus marinara sauce and fresh basil. The dish could also be served with chicken, but she opted it out. The pasty was indeed cheesy!



Half Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake- Whole US$7

Undoubtedly, our favorite part was dessert. We shared a cheesecake as we were stuffed after our main courses. The red velvet cake was moist, together with the thick creamy cheesecake and the cream cheese frosting, we were dreamily indulged.

The only down side to our dinner was that the portions were too big, and at the end, Jackie gave up her pasta and I gave up my cheesecake. If you are going to The Cheesecake Factory with a friend, I suggest ordering an appetizer, a main course, and a cheesecake to share!

Colonie Center Mall,

Albany, NY 12205

(518)453-2500