Monday, November 30, 2009

Did someone say all-you-can-eat SUSHI?!?!

This past weekend I got to visit my long-time (9 1/2 years and counting) friend, Morgan in London, Ontario. Although it was a short visit it was filled with great friends, great promenades (walks), great movies, and great food!

One place that I would like to highlight is Wondersushi, my first encounter with all-you-can-eat sushi and all I can say is WOW! I was blown away. I am not a sushi expert by any stretch of the imagination but here is how I would compare it to Halifax:

Quality (based on my still inexperienced palate)
- Wondersushi: 4/5
- Sushi Nami: 4/5

Variety
- Wondersushi: 5/5 (they had all-you-can-eat ice cream which is why I'm giving it full marks)
- Sushi Nami: 4/5

Quantity for Cost
- Wondersushi: 5/5 ($25 for all-you-can-eat)
- Sushi Nami: 2/5 ($25 will get you...half full? Maybe 3/4 full)


This was round #2. We actually had to stack dishes on top of one another for everything to fit on the table.

Wondersushi is the clear winner. Only downside is you have to pay regular price for all the leftovers so there is great pressure to finish everything you order. They are really sneaky too. They came by regularly to fill up our tea pot and took some time to bring out the food (maybe because they were busy preparing it...but I would like to think they were waiting for the food to settle). ALSO, when we ordered Round #2 there were still items from Round #1 that hadn't come yet...it was a bit...overwhelming. For this reason, I need to add another rating category:

Feeling upon leaving restaurant
- Wondersushi: 2/5 ... I was so stuffed I had to take my belt OFF. Yes, off. I actually considered self-induced regurgitation so that I would feel comfortable. It hurt to laugh...it hurt to breathe.
- Sushi Nami: 4/5 ... You aren't full but you appreciate everything you've eaten. Still slim at end.

Does this mean I would eat at Sushi Nami over Wondersushi? No, but let's just say I've learned my lesson. Eyes are bigger than stomach o.O

In the meantime, I look forward to my next trip to Wondersushi and my wallet will keep me from indulging in the average-quality sushi in Halifax.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Neanderthal Man vs. The Cookie Jar

This morning I was talking with some coworkers and found out we have one thing in common at this time of the year: intense cravings for CARBS.

It probably doesn't help that my work is situated within a 10 minute walk of several coffee shops where oatcakes are sold in plenty...nor does it help that a representative for United Way asked me to bake some goodies for an upcoming IWK Foundation meeting.

This whole situation makes me think back to a conversation I had with a guy at work about a year ago. He said that the reason we crave carbs at this time of year is because our 'Neanderthal ancestors' packed on the pounds before the hard winter season. Well answer me this, Neanderthal Man: Why didn't our brains evolve with our stomachs? After a long day of sitting at work, why do I come home, sit some more by the woodstove with hot chocolate and cookies in hand? Why do we get caught up in the vicious cycle of eating junk, feeling like junk, and then eating more to make ourselves feel better? ...What's that? No answers? I thought so.

Anyways, I digress. After coming home from work tonight I made some brownies (http://www.recipezaar.com/-Whatever-Floats-Your-Boat-Brownies-32204) and deluxe sugar cookies from my mom's trusty Betty Crocker Cookbook. These two recipes are staples in my world of baking.

So moist and chewy. I decided to dust with icing sugar!


Not exactly sure why but this pic doesn't orientate the right way. These are the deluxe sugar cookies with coloured sugar crystals on top.

Both are very easy to make and yield fantastic results! And might I say that the cookie dough for the sugar cookies is my favourite in the world. So smooth...it just melts in your mouth. I admit that sometimes me and my sisters will just make the cookie dough and sit in front of the TV eating it by the bowlfull. Thank goodness for fast metabolism...I'll enjoy it while it lasts :D.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Interview - Round 3

Circumstances in my life seem to come in 3's. I am one of three sisters, this is my third blog, I have applied to med school three times, and yesterday I had my third interview.

Just to clarify, Dal is opening a new campus in St. John, NB for 2010. The St. John site will have only NB students. All other applicants will go to the Halifax campus. It will be considered one class, but at 2 sites (kind of like how my church has a Hubbards campus but is still considered part of Stoneridge). So although my interview was in NB, I will be attending class in Halifax if I am accepted.

On the way to St. John we (my dad and I) faced torrential downpours and unclear directions from Google Maps to our hotel (oh google...how could you fail me). We made it to the hotel safe and sound but soon realized that our lodging was a little less than ideal. Don't get me wrong, I'm very grateful that I had somewhere to rest my head that night, but when you're expecting a 2.5 star hotel and realize the hotel would be lucky to get 0.5 stars there is a sense of disappointment.

The next morning I moved a little slower than planned. Ended up leaving the hotel at 1100 instead of 1030. Then I realized I printed out the directions backwards from the university to the hotel. Interview started at 1200 but they advised us to come at 1115. I made it at 1130 and thankfully nothing had started yet.

And the interview itself? Sorry, I can't disclose that information ;). All I will say is that I was not a fan of this year's collaboration station which I have enjoyed the past 2 years. But otherwise I felt pretty calm and I know that's because so many friends/family were praying for me! Before I knew it the interview was over!

So now it's the waiting game again. I admit that I'm scared. I still haven't fully recovered from when I opened up my rejection letter this past year from Dal. My heart dropped to my stomach and I couldn't breathe...it hurt more than the first time because it felt more personal...like they were directly saying "you're not good enough".

I'm not sure if I'll get in this year. That's up to the admissions commitee and up to God. This is something that I continually have to surrendur to Him. Because if it were up to me, I would have gotten in 2 years ago. At the same time God has used these experiences to teach me about trusting Him and His perfect timing. I'll continue trusting, knowing that God sees the big picture of my life...it's still hard though...

Friday, November 13, 2009

Youtube

Once again I am distracted from what I really should be doing...work...interview prep...more work. This time the culprit is Youtube. I went to the site to get the link to a music video for a friend when one of the "videos being viewed right now" caught my eye.

The song? Wedding Dress. Artist? TaeYang. When I first played it I was multitasking between multiple internet windows. But when I saw the last 15 seconds and was utterly confused I had to watch it again. Watch from the link below...it's okay if you don't understand. I don't either. It is Korean.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2GqcTLiWnE&feature=popular

Seriously, TaeYang's plans are foiled time and time again by "Mr. Right". How tragic...

Monday, November 9, 2009

Review: Cute As A Cupcake

On Saturday, my friend Caroline gave me a lovely birthday gift - cupcakes! I've decided to rate them so we'll have a record to come back to. Please note the following:
  • I do love to bake and eat, however my tastebuds are not professionally refined...this is just a personal opinion.
  • 3/4 cupcakes were eaten on Day 2...so I have decided not to rate on texture
  • Yes, you read that right...3 cupcakes eaten in one day...all within the same hour. So by the time I got to the last one I was suffering from sugar overdose. I'm trying not to let this bias my review.

Where: Cute As A Cupcake (Saturday morning Farmer's Market in Halifax)

The cupcake package =). I love how they tie ribbons around each little cupcake. Very cute!


"Gimme S'more": Chocolate cupcake with a graham cracker base and crumbs sprinkled on top. A dollop of whipped marshmallow resting on a thin bed of what tasted like semi-solid chocolate.

Very tasty! The base was a pleasant surprise but the marshmallow wasn't my favourite . It just didn't really taste like marshmallow to me. The taste rating is taking into account the fact that the marshmallow may have lost its texture while sitting out for a few hours.

Taste: 4/5

Presentation: 5/5
"La La Lemon": Usually I am not a lemon fan but this was delicious! The cupcake itself was vanilla with vanilla (?) icing and a candied lemon garnishing the top. But once I bit into the cupcake there was a nice lemony surprise awaiting. The cupcake had lemon jelly squeezed into it (but not filled) so that the body of the cupcake was highlighted with the fresh taste of lemon!
Taste: 5/5
Presentation: 5/5
"P-nut Butter Truffle": I have to admit...at first bite I was disappointed. Even at second bite. I'm not sure if it's because I ate it on Day 2 but the chocolate seemed a little bland. By the third bite it got good. There was more punch to the chocolate flavour. Once again, there was a nice surprise awaiting inside...smooth creamy peanut butter (see below). Actually, it was hard but when I bit into it, it melted in my mouth. Even the chocolate frosting on top had a PB flavour (not sure if this was psychological though).
Taste: 3/5
Presentation: 5/5


"Triple Chocolate Threat": this cupcake lives up to its name! Unfortunately I cannot give it a true/pure rating since by I ate this little guy I was well beyond my sugar quota for the day! There was a little surprise inside - solid, but creamy chocolate. Chocolate frosting and caramel glaze topped the cupcake and made it look truly decadent!

Taste: ...based on how I was feeling...3/5...but if it was my only treat for the day it would probably be 4.5/5

Presentation: 5/5

I would like to conclude by thanking my fast metabolism for putting up with my abuse. Someday all of this will catch up with me. But in the meantime I will keep indulging my sweet tooth ;).

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Slow like a turtle...

Do you ever have one of those days where no matter how hard you try you move at a snail's pace? Or ones where you get an email and by the time you reply to it you've received 5 more? Or days where you read a sentance in a journal article (or anything for that matter) multiple times and it still doesn't make any sense? And then you realize that the study's objectives don't match up with its outcomes!! *sigh*...welcome to the world of literature reviews!

Hopefully tomorrow will feel more productive...

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Banana Cake

Those who have met me know that I LOVE to bake. It may be borderline obsession. This past Thursday I decided to try the highest-rated cake (590 review, people!!) from Recipe Zaar, my all-time favourite recipe source. This was a Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting (http://www.recipezaar.com/Best-Ever-Banana-Cake-With-Cream-Cheese-Frosting-67256) and it turned out beautifully!

Rating
- Taste: 5/5
- Texture: 5/5
- Facility: 5/5
The ingredients
Cakes are all baked!

Middle layer of icing done.

The finished product with pecans sprinkled on top.

Yummy!