Heavenly Paradise@AdelineAng.com

More baking! Miles and I did more baking last weekend. There was something new that we wanted to try preparing–gum paste.

Similar to fondant, gum paste is a pliable dough that can be easily shaped for cake decorations. As the name implied, the latter has more of a gum texture and it holds its shape better than fondant.

Cake baking, cake cooling, cake leveling, cake icing, cake chilling… all happened on the first night. Fondant and gum paste were prepared on the same day.

The next morning, we moved on to rolling out the fondant and laying the thin sheet (1/8 inch thick) onto the cake. Miles did a fabulous job transferring fondant onto the cake on his first attempt!

While the cake is being chilled in the fridge, we cut out various patterns on gum paste. Then, they cut-out patterns were placed in mini tin foil cupcake liners to hold their shapes. Painting was the next step. We used mainly gel paste food colouring for painting. Meanwhile, home-made chocolate icing was artistically piped along the top and bottom edges of the cake.

Finally, we assembled the gum paste ornaments onto the cake, placed a maraschino cherry on each flower, and garnished cake with milk chocolate curls.

Final results:

It was a heart-breaking moment to have to cut the cake. Oh well, that’s what the cake is for–consumption! More importantly, Miles and I had great fun preparing the cake and everyone enjoyed eating it ;)

It’s hard to believe that the calendar is slowing easing its way into the last month of the year. It’s only less than a month away from Christmas! Christmas carols, Christmas decorations, Christmas sales…

Snow has finally arrived, on the last day of November. Despite a few freezing cold days in September and October, we’ve been blessed with a mild November weather (yes, after Miles and I stopped biking to work).

Days are shorter and nights are longer, as we gradually approach the end of December (Dec. 21st has the shortest daylight hours). Going to work in the dark and returning home from work in the dark. The bright sunshine can only be admired from afar when I’m at work.

While everyone is hustling to Christmas shopping and trying to have it squeezed into their busy schedule, Miles and I have already accomplished most of the shopping needed to be done. Believe it or not, we started Christmas shopping early September!

No major plans. No major trips. This is one of the very few years that I’m not visiting any new places during Christmas/New Year’s Day.

Here is a glimpse of what I’ve done in previous years:

2003 – Stayed in Fredericton and celebration Christmas in the residence.
2004 – Spent “Boxing Day” shopping in Moncton.
2005 – Participated in International Christmas in Nova Scotia.
2006 - At Urbana Student Mission Conference in St. Louise, Missouri.
2007 – Travelled to Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City for Christmas; New York and Boston for New Year’s.
2008 – Visited Calgary and Edmonton for Christmas and New Year’s.

This year, I’ll be in Fredericton/Grand Bay/Saint John for most, if not all of my Christmas/New Year’s vacation. Hopefully, there will be skiing opportunities should the weather be favourable, and also chances to go skating during the holidays.

It’s going to be a quiet, joyful Christmas this year, for the seventh year in a row celebrating the festive season without family around. Next year, hopefully, Christmas will be different, a good different.

Ever get bored of doing the same thing over and over again? That’s one the dilemmas I often face; when I lose interest in a particular event or simply because it doesn’t seem meaningful to me anymore.

During my first year of the university, I was eager to explore new adventures, which includes becoming a radio DJ! The online radio streaming broad casted the radio show live and allowed my family and friends in Malaysia to listen to my voice. Unbelievable!

It wasn’t until several years later after I graduated, I was back to the campus radio station (College Hill Radio Station) again. With the recent renovations at the studio, I’m enjoying my brand new experience hosting radio shows on the weekends.

Together with other radio DJs from the Chinese Student Association of the university, we’ve a blast presenting the only Chinese radio program to the local community!

Are these cupcakes? Or muffins?

The definition of these terms based on the online dictionary as follows:

Cupcake – a little cake for one person, baked in a small, cup-shapred mold and often iced

Muffin – a quick bread made with eggs, baked in a small cup-shaped mold and usually eaten hot

These are banana muffin (recipe can be found here) topped with fondant (or known as gum paste). In my opinion, they shall be called banana muffin cakes!

I was in a “decorative mood” when preparing these. I wanted something unique; not the plain old muffin nor the typical cupcake with icing. How about some colours and patterns on the muffins to make muffin cupcakes?

I wanted to prepare some tom yam fried rice for supper one night and decided to come out with a dish with seasonal theme. The colours of the season: green (broccoli), orange (carrots), yellow (eggs), and red (tomatoes).

Bon appetit!

Fishing is my new found hobby this past summer. Fishing in the province of New Brunswick requires a seasonal fishing licence. There are specific areas that mapped for fishing. Depending on the area and type of fish, the fishing season varies. It’s important to keep in mind that a special licence is needed for catching salmons. On top of that, the size and amount of fish that can be caught per day is regulated. Trout, Pickerel, Muskellunge, Burbot, White perch, and yellow perch have to be at least 10cm in length to be kept.

More information about fishing licence can be obtained here. A regular seasonal fishing licence, or sometimes known as trout licence can be purchased from Department of Natural Resources offices, Service New Brunswick Centres, and licence vendors (e.g. Canadian Tire and Home Hardware) throughout the province. It’s offered for $20, with $5 fish stocking fee and $5 conservation fee included.

Over the fishing season, Miles and I have learned that artificial bait doesn’t work very well. We have also came to a conclusion that it’s easier to catch a fish earlier in the season, since fishes live and learn; they will nibble on the bait, but smart enough not to be caught.

During the summer months, we went fishing in several places; mainly Killarney Lake in Fredericton and Lily Lake in Saint John.

Placing an earthworm on the hook was challenging the very first time.

Patience is the key for fishing.

Sunfish:” Poor me…I’ll be put on the supper table tonight.”

Yellow perch:” Oopsy…I shouldn’t be greedy to take another bite of the yummy worm! Too late now…”

Another Sunfish:” Posing for my last shot…”

Catfish:” Alamak! He caught me! I failed to escape this time lah…:(“

Most of the fishing we did, was catch and release. It was too sad to kill the fish. Furthermore, some fishes were small. Catch and release worked well for us, as we got to enjoy the fun of fishing while fishes munched on their snacks.

What is your favourite apple? McIntosh, Lady Pink, Cortland, Honey Crisp, or Gala? To  me, those freshly picked apples are the best! Nothing can beat that.

My first apple picking experience three years ago was great. I missed it so much that I wanted to go again! The apples were fresh & crisp, and tasted better than those store-bought ones. Besides eating on its own, apple is great for baking too.

$6 for 10lb bag of apples (McIntosh, Lobo, Gravenstein etc.)! It’s a price that you can never find at the grocery stores. Furthermore, the fun of picking apples off the trees is priceless!

The vibrant colour, cool breeze and clear sky. These are some of the many things I like about the fall season. Nonetheless, frosty morning and freezy evening can be rather brutal.

I enjoy taking pictures of fall scenery, which can be so different from year to year. I didn’t think I’ll ever get tired of it. I was especially amazed by the wonderful nature during my very first autumn experience in Canada. The amusement from observing the colour change in the environment was beyond comprehension. I’d pause and enjoy the surroundings, on my way to classes each day.

The colour changes slowly, and leaves fall gradually; the transition of the season displays its unique pattern everyday.

An annual event celebrated on the 5thof the fifth month (according to Chinese Lunar Calender), Dragon Boat Festival is deeply rooted in the Chinese culture. Participating in a Dragon Boat Race and eating Zongzi (glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves) are some of the ways to celebrate this festival.

The origin of Dragon Boat Festival is to commemorate the great patriot poet Qu Yuan.

“Like other Chinese festivals, there is also a legend behind the festival. Qu Yuan served in the court of Emperor Huai during the Warring States (475 – 221 BC). He was a wise and erudite man. His ability and fight against corruption antagonized other court officials. They exerted their evil influence on the Emperor, so the Emperor gradually dismissed Qu Yuan and eventually exiled him. During his exile, Qu Yuan did not give up. He traveled extensively, taught and wrote about his ideas. His works, the Lament (Li Sao), the Nine Chapters (Jiu Zhang), and Wen tian, are masterpieces and invaluable for studying ancient Chinese culture. He saw the gradual decline of his mother country, the Chu State. And when he heard that the Chu State was defeated by the strong Qin State, he was so despaired that he ended his life by flinging himself into the Miluo River.

Legend says after people heard he drowned, they were greatly dismayed. Fishermen raced to the spot in their boats to search for his body. Unable to find his body, people threw zongzi, eggs and other food into the river to feed fish, so hoped to salvage his body. Since then, people started to commemorate Qu Yuan through dragon boat races, eating zongziand other activities, on the anniversary of his death, the 5thof the fifth month.”

* From About.com

I missed the Zongzi (a.k.a. rice dumpling) from home. The rice dumpling is so popular that it’s easily available all year round. The preparation is time consuming and very skill demanding. Since I couldn’t get any fresh ones here in Fredericton, I made some a few years ago to soothe my cravings. It was a tedious process. I’ll have to improve on my wrapping skills for the rice dumplings appear to be more presentable.

The 5th Annual Dragon Boat Race was held in the city of Fredericton in September. Why in September? I’m not exactly sure. In my humble opinion, spring weather might still be cold. The summer months allow participants to sharpen their rowing skills, so that they’ll be ready for the race when it comes fall. Furthermore, most people are away during summer for vacation and spending time with family & friends. Needless to say, winter is not on the option list due to the extreme cold temperature and frozen river.

Majority of the participants are amateur rowers. The race is considered more like a friendly match rather than a competitive one.

It turned out to be a nice day for the Dragon Boat Race on a Sunday morning.

Participants were getting ready.

The competition began!

Boat No. 2 was the winner in this elimination round.

Biking is one of the summer activities I enjoy a lot. Once the “white stuff (a.k.a. snow)” is no where to be seen on the biking trail, weather is warming up, and flowers are blooming. It’s a clear indication that the spring is here and biking season begins!

Biking in the cool spring, hot summer, scenic fall; misty morning, hot afternoon, or warm evening. I’m loving it! It keeps adrenaline going, heart pumping, and body muscles working.

I still remember bits and pieces of how I learned riding a bike when I was little. A big thank you to Dad who patiently taught me how to bike. Have I had bike accidents before?You bet! Surprisingly, some of the bad falls I’ve had, happened after I’m proficient in biking skills.

Biking to work 14 km a day has become part of my routine; leaving for work in crisp and breezy morning, and going home in sunny afternoon. Weather can vary from warm, hot, sunny, to overcast, rainy, chilly, windy etc. As long as there’s no pouring rain, I’d go biking almost anytime during the day.

Watching the blooming flowers in the spring, appreciate the warm sunshine in the summer, and admire the stunning vibrant colours in the fall. Together with my loved one, we’re in love with this city. Miles who once told himself that he’d never wanted to bike again after his unpleasant learning process, convinced himself to relearn how to ride a bike in the spring.

On the Old Train Bridge at dawn.

Odell Park is my favourite park for biking.

One of the many trails in the park.

Since the test on raspberries and sour cream showed a negative result for allergy reaction, I’ve decided to take up the ultimate challenge by testing myself on the Raspberry Sour Pie. Eating the pie? Again??

I had a chance to speak with the Restaurant Manager on the phone and informed him what had happened after my meal. He suggested to perform a skin test. What’s a skin test? By rubbing the potential allergen on the forearm, we can tell if it really is the allergen when allergy reaction kicks in, within 30 minutes or less. On the other hand, if nothing happens, then it could be something else that had contributed to the allergy reaction.

The Raspberry Sour Pie… can be deceiving!!

With some liquid Benodryl beside me, I spread some pie filling on my forearm. 5 minutes… 10 minutes… 15 minutes later, nothing happened. I was puzzled. Next, I took a small bite of the pie. Yet, nothing happened.

Could it be the crust? I tried the crust. 10 minutes or so later, nothing… Then, I started eating the pie. My body was fine the rest of the night.

In conclusion, do I know what I’m allergic to? No. If it’s not the food, it could be something else. There are various factors that could potentially contribute to hives; food, stress, pollen, mold, dust etc. Could it have been body stress? Maybe… At least it was acute hives and didn’t last very long. Best of all, I can still enjoy raspberries and sour cream!

“Curiosity killed the cat.” When I first suggested to Miles that I wanted to find out the allergen that caused hives on me, his first respond was, “do you want to get yourself sick?”

When the allergic reaction happened, I was curious about the allergen. Food allergy is something new to me. I’d like to find out the root of the problem, so that I can better prevent it from happening in the future. Having to doubt before taking each bite of food isn’t fun at all. I rather know what I shouldn’t have eaten; just like the saying “satisfaction brought him back.”

Here is the test. Since the potential allergen could have been from the raspberry pie, I’d take some raspberries and sour cream as a measure of allergy test. What would I do if allergy reaction occurs? Of course, I had a bottle of liquid Benadryl handy to take of that.

First of all, I had some raspberries. Nothing happened… I waited for about 30 minutes and came to a conclusion that I’m safe to consume raspberries!

Now… sour cream… I’ve had sour cream in the past, usually with nacho chips. Although I don’t have it very often, it’s something I’ve just had a few weeks ago. Nonetheless, I’d give it a try… One heaping teaspoon of sour cream. 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes… have passed. I was still completely fine.

Hence, the experiment shows that the allergen is not raspberries, not sour cream, and not the combination of both. I’m puzzled… what else could it be?!

What is wrong with me?? Allergies (food allergies, particularly) have never brought to my attention for the longest period of time, when I was younger. In North America, food allergy is a norm; peanuts, flour, eggs, seafood etc.

Miles came to learn about his rum allergy in a painful way. His first experience of tasting rum ball (half a piece) resulted in sneezing and runny nose, for a few hours. In the order to be sure that it was rum that triggered the symptoms, he took a bite of rum ball the next day. This time around, it got worse. On top of sneezing and runny nose, he was suffering from watery eyes, stuffy nose; most, if not all of the cold symptoms. It was within a minute or two that his body reacted to the rum that he consumed. The allergy lasted for a week.

Besides rum, some people have allergy to other alcoholic beverage such as  beer, possibly due to the malted barley.

I’ve always been grateful that I’m free of allergies, until two days ago… Together with Miles and his parents, we went to Frank’s Finer Diner for supper. I ordered the Grilled Chicken Parmesan, and Raspberry Sour Pie for dessert. They’ve the best homemade pies ever!

I remembered my neck was itching just as we finished the meal. I couldn’t help but scratching my neck with both hands. Next thing I realized, my arms were itching. I thought it was something in the air that caused the skin irritation. There were spots on my right arm that resembled scars from mosquito bites. I couldn’t figure out when that happened…

About 30 minutes later, I was still scratching… My ears felt warm. When I looked into the mirror, they looked red! So does my neck! I pulled up the sleeves of my sweater and realized that there were rashes on both my arms! Not knowing exactly what happened to me, I approached Miles and told him that “I think there is something wrong with me…” He told me that it was hives, the moment he saw the rashes.

Hives… Could it be a food allergy?? I couldn’t think of anything I had for supper was new to my body system. Later that evening, rashes were all over my neck, arms, thighs…

I enjoy watching fireworks; the burst of excitement as the sparkles released into the sky is beyond description. The glittering fire artistically spreads on the wide charcoal canvas. It’s thrilling and fascinating. A loud, roaring crackle followed by bouquets of brilliant colours, forming unique images or patterns. It’s especially exciting to watch the glimmering light falling from the sky, almost hitting my face…..

However, fireworks are usually observed only during special occasions for entertainment purposes. For example, Canada Day and New Brunswick Day celebration in Fredericton. Miles and I have decided to get our own fireworks and set them off on a beach in Saint John. It was very enjoyable, despite the chilly weather in the evening. I enjoy the moments of anticipation as fireworks were set off; never know what to expect until the burst of light makes its appearance for a surprise.

It has been a while since I last enjoyed domestic fireworks. They were banned in Malaysia in the 90′s. In Canada, fireworks are only sold to individuals of age 19 or older. I had the “privilege” to be asked for an ID when I made the purchase ;)

The crackling “ground bloom flowers” were spinning gleefully at their full speed.

Sparklers! I haven’t played them for ages! Miles was moving his sparkler in the air swiftly while I captured this unique image.

There is a variety of blueberries, such as highbush and cultivated blueberries.

Highbush blueberries found in the wild.

Store-bought wild blueberries.

Cultivated blueberries. They are noticeably larger than wild berries.

The “gigantic” cultivated blueberries.

Fresh blueberries are delicious on their own. Having said that, I enjoy them in various baked good. Besides having store baked blueberry mufiin and doughnut, I had fun making blueberry treats myself. Blueberry zucchini cake, blueberry cake, and blueberry muffins. Yumm…

What other ways can you enjoy the goodness of blueberries? How does blueberry jam, syrup, and wine sound?

Blueberry goodies on sale at the farmers’ market.

Try the new blueberry mochi!

Blueberry mochi, filled with blueberry jam.