Do you deliver? j/k

I'm totally cookin' - that is cookin' in this unbearably hot CA weather. When is Indian summer over? Or at least I hope this is Indian summer.

Thanks for sharing the bittersweet song....nice. I love the strings...

I've been learning to cook Korean and Japanese dishes recently and I've found some great how-to videos on youtube.
I made Maangchi's dukbokki -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUmBqvMv89E
If I ever wanted to taste it I was going to have to make it myself. Maanchi's adorable - I love watching her cook.

And I made Aeriskitchen's Ddeokggochi with the leftover rice cakes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2bh76WKc04

And I made cookkingwithdog's onigiri. (They don't actually cook dog but there's a cute little poodle that sits next to the cook, lol.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACOmKiJDkA4

Everything turned out pretty good. I want to try to make a Vietamese sandwich called banh mi next or maybe kimbap.

I wish everyone a nice weekend!

bwah i was just cooking korean food today
only even if it was a failure I didnt eat it
thats what brothers are for

"which doesn’t always work. Like with pasta. Or salad."

I'm sure kimchee vanilla ice cream works just fine after enough bottles of soju.

I am a specialist...in tasting. Good food that is!
As for cooking myself, I don't actually hate anyone enough to let them try my "deadly lovely" food. Hoping life is treating you all well and have a good one.

"You know what the worst part about experimenting with cooking is? You have to EAT your failures… each bite… mocking you…"

So true!! I've been trying out Japanese cooking. I also experimented with Korean. Tried to make a Korean soup which...well it was so bad it was actually funny (how is Korean easy? or am I just that bad?). I never touched any Korean recipe again though- I'm scarred for life I think.

My miso soup has failed twice now, first it was barely edible and second time despite expensive ingredients I had to throw it away it was that bad. Third time it wasn't tasty- but it was possible to eat. I'm still gonna try again... It's starting to be a matter of pride I cannot make such a basic meal -_-

I don't think I was made to cook. When I'm older, I'll stick to ready meals or those nano tube meals they are working on :D

@jenjen "...thats what brothers are for" Ah how true!!

I remember when I was little, my brothers used to have "cooking contests" where my sister and I would compete to see who could make the best oatmeal cookies or the best hamburger, etc. Of course, we didn't realize how we were totally being manipulated into cooking whatever my brothers wanted to eat at the time!

I'm glad someone else feels the same way about Mary Louise Parker. A number of my friends are relatively obsessed with Weeds, and she's become God to them. Ugh. I just don't get it. Every time I see her open her mouth for an interview I just want to smack her.

But this song is beautiful. It's going to be in my rotation for quite some time, I can tell. Thanks for sharing!

Oh, I love this song!

speaking of deadly food + ice cream, I still rem the horror when I tasted my roomie's pièce de résistance

she started with harmless stuff ( I thought), cream, egg (?)...then added bags of instant ginseng tea (staples and all) and some powerful Chinese cough syrup (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nin_Jiom_Pei_Pa_Koa) as sweetener coz we ran out of sugar.......

To this day I cant have ice cream in her presence.

Am not a fan of cooking...I think the part that I don't like is the grocery shopping part though. If the ingredients would magically appear on the chopping board or refrigerator...LOL!

My kitchen has a sign that reads " My next kitchen will just have vending machines." hehe...

Oh boy....I am quite sad that I won't get to see Eric Mun Jung Hyuk in any dramas for 2 years plus....2 years is a long time for a celebrity's lifespan.

It's hard to imagine a serious actress like MLP who has done some good work as amazingly vapid. She might think we are amazingly vapid here at dramabeans.

I've been trying to make Kimchi stew, but I'm missing some secret ingredient. I swear I'm following the recipe and it tastes decent, but it's not the same as the restaurant.

Same w/jajangmuyn. Something is missing, but I can't put my tongue around it. Any suggestions?

two more days until....the International Agent concert...and se7en might be there!...walk ingaround with the common folks......"might" tho....might. haha.

http://www.wongfuproductions.com/isa

all you need to make kimchee chigae is Swanson's chicken broth, pork belly or spam...and kim chee that isn't made with oysters.......oh yeah...and soju. You can't forget about the soju......

I tried cooking pasta (simple pasta!) and overseasoned a pre-seasoned sauce once. Terrible stuff. AND my /brother/ made me eat it all myself. Although, it wasn't that unedible. Just muchmuch saltier than you regular... food. I don't think I'll venture towards asian cuisine for a while (my grandma does all that). Much too intimidating for the rookie that is I.

I LOVE Weeds and I LOVE that song. :) She has a very droll way of talking in interviews. It almost puts me to sleep (love of Weeds aside).

@ginnie "Am not a fan of cooking…I think the part that I don’t like is the grocery shopping part though. If the ingredients would magically appear on the chopping board or refrigerator…LOL! "

See, I'm the opposite. I LOVE grocery shopping more than cooking! I find it rather therapeutic pushing a trolley through the supermarket, comparing labels, finding something I'd never thought of buying, discovering a delightful new flavour of ice-cream etc. etc. Shopping for food is a fun activity, when I'm not in a hurry that is. lol

There's only one thing on my mind this weekend: Go Serena!! Go go Roger!!! :)

Thanks, javabeans, i love the song.

i never realized so many people download your songs. do you post them anywhere else?

noodles are the best thing to cook. it always comes out right.

US Open in New York! :)

rocketfuel: is se7en really [POSSIBLY] going to be at ISA? that'd be hella tight, as i was planning on going. [[[:

nice song despite title :)

wow, never heard her in an interview so it does come off as a surprise...i was going to give her the benefit of the doubt since some of my fav actresses aren't the best at interviews, though still v. intelligent...but that was before i read your hilarious response on her acknowledgement to writers

love the song...

"I LOVE Weeds"

Me too!!! Oh wait, you meant the show . . .

"You see, the thing about acting is, I have to say my lines as though my character is saying those lines. I don’t actually write the words my character says. But I have to sound like I actually wrote the words.” "

That's actually a common sentiment expressed by actors when discussing the technique of line delivery, especially if they have a TV background. For example, Russell Crowe has said that he learns his lines backwards. So, even though he knows all the lines, he can create an illusion of "thinking together" when he puts them together into a complete monologue or in a scene dialogue. And in fact, if you watch him closely when he's doing a speech, you can actually see him doing this. :D

@Felicity,

"There’s only one thing on my mind this weekend: Go Serena!! Go go Roger!!! "

Jelena Jankovic (what a great mover, and a Djokovic-esque backhand) is going to really struggle against Serena on this surface.

I think Djokovic is still a tougher opponent for Federer than Nadal. I like the fire Federer is showing, but I think Djokovic will beat him and win the US Open. Nadal hasn't really played anybody yet.

receeeeent update
according to my brother and family, my saewoo honghap tang was good despite the fact i didn't have all the necessary ingredients

i just made some interesting substitions LOL

I could never master the art of cooking...
I got as far as frying without burning and cooking rice juuust right. I finally worked up the courage to buy kimchee from the Korean Kitchen's owner. Now I'm gonna need some side dishes....

@belleza

"Jelena Jankovic (what a great mover, and a Djokovic-esque backhand) is going to really struggle against Serena on this surface. "

Yep, I don't see anyone on the WTA who can wrangle the trophy away from Serena at this point. She's just too powerful and has great momentum going for her. There was my fave Justine Henin Hardin, who neutralised the brute force of the Williams sisters with an intelligent mix of shots and swift placing but she had to go retire.... :(

"I think Djokovic is still a tougher opponent for Federer than Nadal. I like the fire Federer is showing, but I think Djokovic will beat him and win the US Open. Nadal hasn’t really played anybody yet."

Ye of little faith.....tsk tsk tsk!

I believe Federer is regaining his old form gradually and he's capable of beating Djoker IF he serves well and cuts down on those unforced errors. The maestro has just recovered from mono so reaching the semis in all 4 slams this year is still an achievement, just that people expect Fedfed to win EVERYTHING. Such ridiculous expectations, and damn commentators won't give him a break . >_> If Federer doesn't stop Djoker this time, then Nadal will. Nadal is untested but he always raises his game in the finals. I want Djoker to lose coz his ego has exceeded his talent. Did you see his chest thumping and on-court interviews? No class at all. Booo.

fun topics in this thread...korean cooking, soju and vapid actresses are always good fodder for discussion...

being the culinary genius that i am...this weekend i accidentally hit the 'warm' button on the japanese rice cooker instead of 'start'...so ended up with hard, crunchy white grains...having already prepared a table full of ban chan...i was ready to cry with disappointment...luckily my mom was there to save the day...just poured a bit of water over the undercooked rice & hit the start button...like i should have done in the first place...

to my shame i'm much better with western foods like pasta...i can make a mean curry & savory hamburg steak though...westernized japanese food is my forte probably because it's my favorite cuisine...chigaes are sometimes hard to get right...but you can't have kimchi chigae without spam...& miso soup is definitely not as easy as it sounds...i've also made versions that tasted like weak, beany water...having left out the good quantities of dashi & green onion needed for flavor...

thankfully, my limitations in culinary skill & expertise in no way deter my passion for food...or soju for that matter...i recommend chum churum with peanuts for anju...along with a little bit of booty shaking a la lee hyori's big butt dance...try it & you'll see what i mean...

& i'd have to agree on mary-louise parker...as much as she simply exudes beauty...the woman must have let all of her brains drain out of her while exerting so much energy toward saying her lines...astonishingly...as if her character were saying them...

@Felicity,

"Justine Henin Hardin, who neutralised the brute force of the Williams sisters with an intelligent mix of shots and swift placing but she had to go retire…."

I think Henin will be back. I think most people agree that after divorce and possibly physical ailments and so on . . . she just needs a break.

"Yep, I don’t see anyone on the WTA who can wrangle the trophy away from Serena at this point. "

Yeah, that's what disappoints me about Ana Ivanovic. Because I think she has the game to challenge the Wiliamses on any surface; she's just so mentally fragile. Even Henin knew that she could only beat Serena if Serena wasn't on her game.

"Did you see his chest thumping and on-court interviews? No class at all. Booo."

Yes, but have you seen his cover of Proud Mary? :D (Yup, it's on Youtube.) I think Roddick was kind of a jerk for his snarky comments, though. Djokovic was right to snark back, even though half of the ATP tour wants to kick his butt. :D

"The maestro has just recovered from mono so reaching the semis in all 4 slams this year is still an achievement, just that people expect Fedfed to win EVERYTHING."

Yeah, Federer has said the same himself. And he definitely enjoys this role; protecting #1 wore on him, and now he's showing more emotions out there.

"Nadal is untested but he always raises his game in the finals"

I like Nadal, but I think he's still kind of a Hewitt on hard court. (i.e. Run, run, run, BICEPS POSE) I actually think Murray has a decent shot to upset him in his semis.

"Yeah, that’s what disappoints me about Ana Ivanovic. Because I think she has the game to challenge the Wiliamses on any surface; she’s just so mentally fragile. Even Henin knew that she could only beat Serena if Serena wasn’t on her game"

Yeah, Serena herself said that her biggest opponent wasn't anyone else but herself. Mental toughness is half the game won, imo. Ivanovic and the other russian gals have the game, but not enough mental strengh to stay at the top of the WTO rankings for more than 2 months. lol. What I loved about Henin was how she made use of what she had to the fullest. She wasn't the strongest, biggest or hardest hitter out there by a long shot, but what she had going for her was pure grit, a cool mind and mental toughness....I think of Henin as a grittier version of Martina Hingis. She played even better after her marriage came undone. lol. I want to see her back playing too but obviously, she has other priorities right now. Being a top level tennis player is very exhausting.

"Yes, but have you seen his cover of Proud Mary? (Yup, it’s on Youtube.) I think Roddick was kind of a jerk for his snarky comments, though. Djokovic was right to snark back, even though half of the ATP tour wants to kick his butt. "

No, now I've got to check it out. haha. I did see his impersonation of Nadal and Sharapova though. lol. IroFor a guy who pokes fun at others, he has very thin skin when the joke is directed at himself. ARod is quite a brat himself, but Djoker did ask for it with his exaggerated tactics of faking injuries and wasting time with the trainer to break his opponent's momentum. And then, he sulks because the crowd is not on his side. What does he expect? It's New York. Deal with it! Sheesh, he better not pull that injury nonsense in the semi finals..

"I like Nadal, but I think he’s still kind of a Hewitt on hard court. (i.e. Run, run, run, BICEPS POSE) I actually think Murray has a decent shot to upset him in his semis."

You know what? I wouldn't mind if Murray wins it all. Better him than Nadal. I'd prefer Del Porto to be the one meeting Nadal in the semis but Murray is also a fearless young player to shake things up with the Big 3. :)

I havent cooked Korean food for a long time now.
Im just too lazy when theres a very good Korean restaurant in my neighborhood.

Today, I just got back from seeing Boys Like Girls perform 'Let Go' live… AWESOME.
They should put that cover on record.

Plus my mind is on 'Twilight' lately… got bitten by the vampires of Forks and Stephenie Meyer.
Have you read the book?

^Oh God, another one! :D I have understood the appeal of Twilight but it just doesn’t work for me… lol, who’s your favourite character?

LOL...LOL....
Well, Im a hopeless romantic and im really fascinated with vampire-human relationship since Kindred the Embraced series days... so its gotta be Edward Cullen of course <3

YES!!!!! Federer did it!! Into the finals for the 5th consecutive time! I knew the champ could do it. :D :D C'mon, now I want a Federer vs Murray final!! Kick out Djokovic and Nadal.....muahahahaha! :D :D

Felicity:
"See, I’m the opposite. I LOVE grocery shopping more than cooking! I find it rather therapeutic pushing a trolley through the supermarket, comparing labels, finding something I’d never thought of buying, discovering a delightful new flavour of ice-cream etc. etc. Shopping for food is a fun activity, when I’m not in a hurry that is. lol"

----
I need to have apartment mates like you...so I don't need to go grocery shopping. LOL. I regard grocery shopping as an errand. Very mundane one. I wish I can cultivate this love for pushing a trolley through the supermarket and the discoveries etc. =)

Enjoying my Saturday thus far!!!

@ginnie " need to have apartment mates like you…so I don’t need to go grocery shopping. LOL. I regard grocery shopping as an errand. Very mundane one. I wish I can cultivate this love for pushing a trolley through the supermarket and the discoveries etc. =) "

Lol, I need to have apartment mates like you too, coz I'm a terriblely limited cook. If my housemates can to do all the cooking, I'll gladly volunteer to do the shopping and cleaning. haha. Truthfully, I can only cook simple dishes, therefore I go for high quality ingredients to make up for it. Like I'll shop for prime cut of lamb or beef and grill it with expensive steak sauce. etc. Stuff like that. Simple dishes can taste great if the ingredients are good quality. ;-)

Have a great weekend everyone! :)

"C’mon, now I want a Federer vs Murray final!! Kick out Djokovic and Nadal…..muahahahaha! "

Hahaha. If Murray makes it past Nadal tomorrow, he will be practically DEAD TIRED for Monday's final.

The Djokovic-Federer semi was a lot of fun. And at times, he played the beautiful tennis that only he is capable of playing. One more Fed, just one more!!

Its not Indian summer. Indian summer is what feels like summer in fall and its not officially fall yet.

I can say one of the things I do well is cook. I'm not a great Korean cook but I'm a much better non-korean cook mainly fusion or italian foods. I have been working on kimchi risotto with coddled egg.

Not sure if he is vapid or not. She doesn't seem like she is a tori spelling for instance but I can vouch that MLP is a great stage actress. I saw her in Proof and she was fantastic.

"Hahaha. If Murray makes it past Nadal tomorrow, he will be practically DEAD TIRED for Monday’s final.

The Djokovic-Federer semi was a lot of fun. And at times, he played the beautiful tennis that only he is capable of playing. One more Fed, just one more!!"

Murray played a phenomenal match against Nadal, and he still seems so energetic at the end. On the other hand, Nadal looked a bit worn out there.... lol. I'm glad Andy won coz I've had enough of those commentators going on and on about Rafa's achievement in 2008 "winning Roland Garros, Wimby, Olympic Gold and going for his 3rd straight GS blah blah.." *_* This ends Nadal's winning streak, good!

For the Finals between Federer vs Murray, I'll be satisfied with whoever wins if they both play the match of their lives (but of course I'll be much, MUCH happier to see Federer lift the USO trophy once again, hahaha! It'll restore the order to the universe). Murray will be a GS winner sooner or later, if he keeps up this level of play. But this USO should belong to Federer, ALL THE WAY, BABY!!! It'll be an exciting match. Win or lose this USO final, Federer's still GOAT. :D Go, Federer GO!! :) :)

Ahhh, universe has been restored. Federer is once again Godlike, and Murray's returned into UK's genius wanker.

Actually Felicity, did you watch the match? It ran during our job time in this part of the woods. Was Murray just out of gas, or did Federer just destroy his soul?

belleza, you bet I watched the whole match! Roger Federer has rewritten history once again - the only guy to win 2 GS 5 times in a row!! He is truly the most sublime tennis player ever, no matter what the rankings say. What's greater is that he's also a humble, classy and gracious champion! :)

LOL! UK's genius wanker.....you know, many people thought it was going to be a 5 set tooth and nail brawl. But it was quite the opposite, total domination from Federer! Yep, Federer just about destroyed Murray's soul by the end of the 2nd set and he romped through the 3rd set easily (in fact Murray almost got bageled but I think Federer just took some crazy shots then to let him off. heh!). Federer just made Murray look so tame in the entire match coz he wasn't able to adapt to Federer's faster pace of play, compared to Nadal's. Federer shot out like a canon in the first set and Murray just couldn't catch up. Murray also seemed to have a problem with his knees in the 2nd set....not sure, he kept touching his legs...but even if Murray is totally fit, Federer would've stepped up his level of play and crushed him anyhow bcoz Federer clearly played the superior game. It's a sight to behold when The Fed is in his element. :)

This win will shut up those idiotic media who've written Federer off, at least for awhile. All is well in the universe once again, the King of Tennis is ALIVE and WELL. *celebrates with swiss chocolate and a glass of champagne* :)