26 June, 2009

Another Tough Day


June, 25 is a memorable day for me as well Micheal Jackson's fans.

I woke up in the morning feeling very dizzy, and spinning, I was unable to control my balance, turning my head makes me dizzy. It's so serious that I could not even walk properly.

SB sent me to the clinic for treatment.I was impressed by their thorough level of checking for details. My urine and blood was taken for diagnostic, a lot a questions was asked, details from taken medicines to past surgeries.

I was given intravenous dripping of sodium chloride, but the nurse was having trouble finding my blood veins, he had to reattempt about 6 times, leaving needle marks on both my arms. It was a very painful experience.

I was later diagnosed with labyrinths. It happens when the labyrinth, a part of the inner ear that helps control your balance, gets swollen and inflamed.

We were there for around 3 hours, I was the only patient at the clinic at that time and was given full attention. The nurse was in and out of our room. At once point he came in and said, "Michael Jackson is dead, can you believe that, Michael Jackson dead", he mumble that a few times.

With the professional service given, we were slapped with a hefty bill. US health care is not cheap. We need to pay USD540 after 10% discount!!!
I was so "Sakit Hati" again because even I had my medical insurance but yet we still need to pay additional USD1K+ for my last dental fees.Can you imagine how much we paid for the medical bill? Unbelievable! I must not fall sick again!
So, if you stay in United State, you better have good insurance coverage or else please don't fall sick!!!

23 June, 2009

Slow Cooked Pulled Pork


During my recent visit to SB's colleague house, I got to know about Pulled Pork. It's served with mash potato and hot dog.

I found the recipe online but realized that everyone have their own way of doing this Pulled Pork. For sure, I have mine too :) Hope you will like it.

Ingredients:-
  • Pork ( Preferred pig shoulder )
  • 1/2 canned Chicken Broth
  • 2/3 bottle of beer
  • Garlic - 1 glove
  • 1 tsp of black pepper
  • 1 tsp of salt
  • 1 onion- sliced into small pieces
  • 1/2 bottle of BBQ Sauce

Steps:-

1. Pour 1/2 canned of chicken broth into slow cooker.
2. Add in 1/2 bottle of beer.
3. Add in garlic.
4. Remove the bone from the pork and set aside to use.
( Optional: You can skip removing the bones )

1. Marinated the pork with salt & black pepper.
2. Put into slow cooker and slow cook for 8-12 hours or overnight.
3. Pour out the water from slow cooker and drain the pork well.


Using Fork, pull the pork as shown. That's how it got it's name.


1. Put it back into a slow cooker.
2. Add in chopped onion.
3. Add in your favorites BBQ sauce and cook for another 1-2 hours.

Ta Da! Pulled Pork!

I served with hot dog bread for my dinner :)

22 June, 2009

Meeting New Friends In Boulder, Colorado

Last Saturday SB and I finally met up new friends in Boulder. We got to know them when we had our DimSum in Denver. Just a simple " HI" will bring you new friends, such a good deal,right? It was a really nice experience for me. Thanks Kirk for stopping us when we are going to leave the restaurant.Without your friendliness, we will never know each other until now.
I think this does not happen in Asia. Maybe we are too cautious for own good. But,sometimes opening up ourselves, opens up unknown opportunity.This is how I felt.

Our 1st trip to Boulder ( University Town ) was great! I love this small town! We drove for 1 1/2 hours to reach here. This small town is very well organized and located at a beautiful place surrounded by mountain.

We came at a right time because there is a flea market @ farmers market at the place we had our brunch appointment.

Farmers Market




Interior of the Teahouse


Our new friends from Denver, Pooi Ling and Kirk
Our Brunch
Pearl Street is a famous street in Boulder 
Musician are every where in this street




Street Show in Pearl Street

Me!

Our cute souvenir from Boulder,Colorado

Oh yes! Thanks Pooi Ling and Kirk for a nice brunch and glad to meet you two. Hope to see you in C-Springs soon!

19 June, 2009

Claypot Chicken Rice

Ingredients:-
  • 2 tsp oyster sauce
  • 1 tsp shoaxing wine
  • 2 tsp light soy sauce
  • 1 tsp black sauce
  • 1/2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tsp tapioca powder
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • onion
  • 1 cup rice 1 1/4 cups water
  • Chicken
  • Chinese Sausage ( optional )
  • Salted Fish ( Optional )

Methods:-

Soak white rice in water for minimum 1 hour


Cut the onion into small pieces, finely chopped the garlic and ginger


Soak the dried mushroom into the water until the mushroom became soft


Slice the Chinese Sausage into small pieces


Cut the chicken meat into small pieces or sizes that preferred


Marinate the chicken and mushroom with all seasonings


Put 2 tbsp cooking oil into the wok or rice cooker. Fry the chopped garlic, onion and ginger until golden colour

Add in the marinated chicken, mushroom and Chinese Sausage and stir fry it

Finally pour the rice into the wok or rice cooker and stir fry it for a while until all mixture incorporated

Pour the rice mixture into the rice cooker & add water into it. Cook as normal.
( If you used rice cooker to fry the ingredients, just add water into the cooker and cook as normal )
Before serve, you can sprinkling the spring onions on top of your ready rice.
Hope you enjoy this Clay pot Rice :)

18 June, 2009

Posture Corrective Brace

I saw this product in the Skymall magazine for many times, but somehow didn't get it. Finally SB bought one for me :). I have back pain problem especially when I am walking too long or carry heavy handbag.

I hope using this product will help me in correcting my posture and reduce my back pain.

According to the description, Posture Corrective Brace corrects our posture and restores healthier stature to our body while reducing lower back pain, slouching and hunching.

This product is also designed to adapts to our body shape and serves as an excellent aid for those with osteoporosis and postural disturbances.

Soft non-elastic, over-the-shoulder straps help correct faulty posture.

The Velcro closure easily adjusts to increase and decrease the amount of support and pressure. Another good point is the Posture Corrective Brace does not dig into the underarm area as do many other posture braces, Terry cloth protector keeps back dry.

I plan to wear it today onwards. Hope it helps.

16 June, 2009

Great Meals in Chicago


Good trip must come with good foods :)

If you know me well, you will know that I love to eat! I think I was influenced by my dad since I'm a little gal. My dad always tell me that ability to eat is the treasure of life. He always bring our family for good food.
My dad was a good cook, better than mom ( Sorry mom)! When he cooked, we all must eat if not he will not be happy. I think that's the main reason I can't loose weight.
I would like to thank Eric, who recommended us good restaurants in Chinatown and I think their standard is much better then Denver or C-Springs Chinese restaurant.
Our 1st Chinese meal at China Kitchen at Cumberland for our late dinner


Joo Yee Restaurant near UIC Halsted, the place we stayed

Again Joo Yee Restaurant for another dinner. The food is good so we return again.


Tea break at one of the Hong Kong style bakery shop in China Town

Our favorites Chinese Restaurant in China Town : Ken Kee

Returned to Ken Kee for another dinner. They served great foods with reasonable price.

Another well known Restaurant in China Town : Lao Sze Chuan

They served good food but the portion is too big and we were unable to order more dishes. I think because of this, we felt the staff was not happy to serve us.
Frankly, maybe because they received so many award, this maybe why the price for all their dishes are more expensive. They even charged us for the rice and the Chinese tea which are usually free from other restaurants. The simple meal as shown above cost us USD30+ .
Therefore, we never return for next meal :)

Gino's East Pizzeria 
Long Q even during weekday! We waited for half an hour to get seated.

Another 45 minutes to get this pizza ready!

The waiting was worth it because the pizza was really good! It's the best pizza I ever had. I've started to miss it. Whoever going to Chicago, please take away some for me.
Besides, eating at all the restaurant for dinners, where we had our lunch then?
Because of the timing, most of our lunch were in the museum :)
Nice and good experienced for me because when we travelled to New York, we don't even have time to do that in museum.

Lunch at The Field Museum

Lunch at Shedd Aquarium


Lunch at Lincoln Park Zoo

We also had our lunch in The Museum of Science and Industry as well at Millennium Park for hot dog but because I was too hungry, I forget to take pictures :)

13 June, 2009

Chicago Trip 30/5 - 6/6/09

After a week back from Chicago, there are many stuffs that needs to be done. I need to upload photos to my FB and Picasaweb before my teeth operation. The worst part was, our dinosaur laptop needs to be formatted and loaded with proper software :(
Anyway, finally I have time to write about my Chicago trip :)
SB and myself spend around 7 days in Chicago. The trip was relaxing and memorable for both of us.
We visited most of the tourist attractions in this city as well some famous restaurant in the city.
Getting the Chicago City Pass and 7 days pass for CTA(Chicago Transit Authority) really made our travel within the city easy.

Based on my experience, I recommend these places to visit, if you are in Chicago .
1. Shedd Aquarium
2. The Field Museum
3. Adler Planetarium
4. The Hancock Observation
5. Lincoln Park Zoo
6. Millennium Park
7. China Town
8. Buckingham Fountain

Optional:-
1. The Museum of Science and Industry
2. Sears Tower
3. Navy Pier


The Hancock Tower


Basically there are 2 tall buildings in Chicago. The Sears tower and Hancock Tower. Sears tower was once the highest building in the world and is higher than Hancock Tower. We chose to go up Hancock Tower as it's known to have the better view. From the Hancock Observatory we could get a good view of Lake Michigan and the city as well. The view across Lake Michigan was beautiful.
Something caught our attention at the compound of Hancock Tower. It was around afternoon, the sun was shining brightly and there are 2 gals doing Yoga facing the Hancock Tower just beside the heavy Chicago traffic. Amazing!


View from The Hancock Observatory


This photo is taken facing north. Somewhere up the horizon is Milwaukee(Not!) One can view man made beach along the coast. There are people sun bathing and playing volley ball on the beach, but they look like ants from here.
There is an area where 3 museums are located adjacent to each. It's called the Museum Campus. There's the Alder's Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum.

Alder's Planetarium


It showcase the Gemini missions that led to the Apollo missions. Gemini mission were the initial missions that gather information needed by NASA to land a man on the moon. We view 2 cool space shows in there.



Shedd Aquarium


Nice Nemo :)


Shedd Aquarium was fun! We viewed the dolphin and beluga whale training sessions. It shows us the behind scenes of the training, how positive feedback was used to train them. There are huge variety of fishes from all around the world in here.
Buckingham Fountain

Millennium Park: Cloud Gate
This big reflective sculpture is also known as 'The Bean' by locals. Going to Millennium Park you can't miss it.

Millennium Park: Sculptures from China.
There were few interesting sculptures in the park that are loaned from China.

The Field Museum


The Field Museum : Dinosaur Hall


China Town
The Museum of Science and Industry