Gossip

I spend a lot of time conversing with my kids whose age range from 11 to 21. Lately I hear a lot of 'stories' which really are 'gossip' from some form of speculation formed from eavesdropping or by sight and thus drawing random conclusions.

When I hear these type of topics surface from our conversations, I am adamant about 'terminating' such frivolous talk. No, I'm not a self righteous goody-goody primp. I just think that it is my responsibility as an adult and parent to discourage young people in entangling themselves in such talk.

It is so easy to gossip about other people to create speculations from impressions when one is on this side of the fence. What if one was the subject and center of gossip and speculation? How would one feel? Such irresponsible and 'free' speculation lead to hurt, tears and sometimes end up even with suicides.

It takes discipline and even will power to avoid and to END the gossip when it reaches us. It needs a brave heart and a compassionate heart to trust that the gossip needs to end not only by my not repeating it but also to share with the one who 'informed' me why it should not continue.

Sure, it feels good to be in possession of some juicy gossip and it feels powerful to be the one who spreads it. But...can we really be responsible for it's consequences? Sometimes a lost friendship, a devastated loss of trust, even a potential suicide on our conscience?

Laugh at my face and say I'm calling bluff and I only have this to say, when you are young and the world is at your feet you have the privilege to make choices, thus make the right ones. END gossip now.

Bento 289

There's a great similarity in #2's palate and mine. We like strong cheeses, Natto and a whole lot of food that #1 and hubs dislike.

Right now, blue cheese rides high on our fave food list. #2 and I were at Sid's Pub in TTDI, two weeks ago for a drink which later led to an order of blue cheese and mushrooms and a brownie. The blue cheese and mushrooms were absolutely awesomely delicious. The brownie was 'biasa lah' (normal tasting, nothing spectacular).

I'm one who likes to be adventurous and so I indulged a little and bought a block to try experimenting. It's been two days in a row where blue cheese and mushroom spaghetti appears. #2 wiped clean the balance sauce which was in the fridge.

The bento below doesn't need description but if you want the recipe, it's after the picture.



Ingredients:
2 cloves of garlic - sliced
5 button mushrooms - sliced or cut into chunks
1 cup of cream
1 tbsp of blue cheese

Method:
1. Add one tbsp of EVOO into a pan.
2. Toss the sliced garlic over low heat to soften and NOT brown.
3. Add the button mushrooms and saute.
4. Pour the cream and add the blue cheese.
5. Mash the blue cheese into the cream (it will easily soften and mix into the cream).
6. Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
7. Once bubbles appear, switch off the fire and serve with spaghetti or toast.

Don't say I didn't warn you, this dish is not for the faint hearted!

Bento 288

I'm still packing bentos, actually more than I can handle now. This year, #3 has extra classes daily and school ends after 3.00p.m. I pack one box for #2 and two boxes for #3.

Recently, I registered #3 to a day care to help her cope with her homework and tutor her with her weak subjects and being her, she didn't want the day care lunch package. So mummy has to send the third food box over.

I'm excited and look forward to packing more bentos, only problem is #3 is picky and fussy about her food and it's a routine limited to a dozen or less variety. This is a challenge and I'll have to see how to deal with it.

Today's bento for #2 is a mix of broccoli and cauliflower for veggies and two nests of spaghetti coated and topped with a delicious blue cheese and mushroom sauce.


This box has a mix of peas and tuna mayo and half an orange.

Bento 287

Today's bento was easy as usual. The bottom box had some sliced sesame seed bread from The Loaf. I concocted a new pasta and veggie mix which was light and tasty.



Grapes surrounding some sliced button mushrooms and tofu fishcake.

Bento 286

This was a quick bento for Saturday. Another 3 hours at a SASA event.

A quick and simple take away box of fruits, some sliced bread and pudding from The Loaf at Pavilion. Greedy as we were, we finished all the cheese cakes before the pictures could be taken. I still like the Durian ones. *yums*



Interesting read:

How to green your lunch: Top 5 tips

New Daiso outlet

I was at 1U yesterday trying to buy some essentials when I saw a new outlet of Daiso. I don't know how long it's been open but that was the first time I've seen it since my last trip to Cold Storage at the new wing.

I told #1, let's have a quick tour first before we move on to shop for our other stuff okay? She looked at me and said "Huh! Quick? You...mum?". Yeah! That's the reaction I get from my kids when there's a Daiso or 100 Yen store around which I want to have a 'quick' browse. *sigh*

But...I did have a quick browse (just to prove #1 wrong) hehehe...

Anyway, for those of you who don't know yet, the new Daiso outlet is next to Cold Storage in the new wing of 1U. It's packed with the same stuff as in the Curve. For me it's more convenient because I prefer to shop at 1U and for those of you who live around there, have fun!!

Bento 285

This was yesterday's bento. Today is Good Friday so it's good ole "Hot Cross Buns".

There are some fried 'ikan bilis' and a mixed salad in some salad cream in the top box.

Left over spaghetti Aglio Olio and some seedless grapes.

Bento 284

Just practical food for bento again. A can of mackerel from Daiso and some papaya for desert. The top box has some Adventist 7 grain sprouted bread to go with the mackerel and some fried chives.


Simply packed...

Bento 283

I'm still packing bento.

#3 wasn't well the last couple of days and I've neglected taking pictures of the packed bento. Anyways, here's one of those which I did take a photo of.

This is banana topped with cinnamon sugar. This item has been 'missing' for a while because #2 commented that it would get wet and liquids from this spill out. I packed this again and so far another similar comment hasn't arise yet. *grins* There are two slices of banana cake I bought at a fund raiser in Church.


Her favorite 'ladies fingers' (Okra) and some spaghetti mixed with a blend of sun dried tomatoes, basil, cream, chopped onions, roasted peppers, salt and pepper. Yummilicious!

Bento 282

I was at BSC yesterday and #1 and I picked up some small cakes. The banana tart was the most delicious tasting custard filled dessert!




I packed one third of the banana tart and some freshly made Oden in the bottom box.


In the top box there was a freshly steamed salmon, de-boned for easy eating.

Bento 281

This morning I managed to quick fix this bento because I didn't plan for it last night. It was a long and late night of checking and booking of flight tickets for the kids.

I simply boiled the fish cake to rid the oil and used some 'well hidden and long forgotten' bento accessories to brighten the scene.

A bear faced hard boiled egg surrounded by boiled okra (ladies fingers), a bottle of shoyu and half an orange cut in wedges.

Quickie bento!

Bento 280

So I've been really busy with some personal stuff and fixed runs which only moi can accomplish.

This was one of the bentos which I packed but didn't have time to post. It's the vegetable of this season for the two elder girls. I usually buy two heads of each, broccoli and cauliflower and they never tire of it. In this box, the florets has been slathered with some salad cream and colored with some carrots.

The basic tuna sandwich and some grapes for another long day.

Bento 279

Lots of leftovers from last night so this was put together in less than 15 minutes. The Fettuccine is nothing new and it's a long day today so there has to be sufficient food before the next meal. There are slices of cuttlefish fried in onions, chillies and a whole mix of spices.

The top box has some Oyster sauce fried cauliflowers with mushrooms and carrots and half a kiwi.



Bon Appetit!

Bento 278

The Fettuccine and tomato base sauce was left over from last nights dinner. Classes end late noon so there's a hard boiled egg to help counter hunger pangs.


The top box is a mix of vegetables from the fridge. Button mushrooms alternate with raw carrots and a bed of broccoli florets.

Bento 277

Some left over salmon sandwiched between salad and Adventist 7 grain sprouted bread. #2's favorite! She can eat this bread plain without anything.

The style of cooking the vegetable florets has been reduced to blanching with some salt in rolling hot water. #2 says she enjoys the natural sweetness of the vegetables.