Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger
  • ~ Home ~
  • ~ What I Think ~
  • ~ What I See ~
    • Events
    • Food
    • People
    • Places
  • ~ What I Make ~
  • Blog Series
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

Out & About #628 | Week #3 Quarantine Update Feat. Dalgona + Banana Bread

4/4/2020

0 Comments

 
The world is operating in a period of uncertainty, which can be unsettling. The future knows no stability, no steadiness in what is to come, or what is to pass.
Picture
​As the work-from-home-ers continue to maneuver their daily lives, with technology playing a vital role in remote communication, many of us are starting to notice minor changes every time we set foot into society for our essential activities. From the hordes of hoarders coming at other innocent shoppers last week with full force to distinctly divided lanes and floor markings this week, it's evident that action is being taken to flatten the curve. There is intent to comply with government regulations, with the hope that peace and order can be restored to our community once more.

​And while these preventative measures were imposed out of concern for public welfare, one cannot deny that in its accompaniment is a string of new issues - a hair-pulling situation of inefficiency.
Picture
Picture
Things I learned during Corona (Rev 1):
  • Beyond the significantly reduced store hours (seven-day operations have now ceased to five days or less), restrictions on entry are also being imposed. Whether it be reducing access and egress routes from four to one or maintaining the mandatory 2-metre/6-feet "safe distance" between patrons, one cannot deny that efficiency has now plummeted. So, while many of us have a bit more time on hand, the sheer acts of grocery shopping and regular errand running have also been lengthened, trifold I'd say.
  • Grocery trips are a gamble nowadays. To enforce physical distancing, majority of retailers have limited entry to one member per family, posing difficulty to those that struggle with lifting large quantities across an asphalt lot. At the brighter end of the spectrum, parking lots are not as scarce as they once were in certain plazas.
Picture
  • Supplies are at an all-time low. Obtaining all necessary grocery items from one spot was previously the norm; on the other hand, it's been two weeks since I've seen a single bag of bread flour grace the shelves of Loblaws or Walmart. Needless to say, bread flour is even rarer to come by. This obstacle has been a persisting block on my road to recipe analysis.
  • On a related note, grocery items are now being replenished more frequently than before. The higher the inhabitant count of a household, the faster the depletion of sustenance, which transform into the consequential need for more frequent cooking. I'm not one to complain about being provided opportunities to exert creativity, though it does gradually pose some degree of frustration knowing that every step outside entails PPE and post-trip deep sanitization.
  • Some versatile pantry staples to consider would include: cornstarch, coconut milk, canned beans, canned sardines/sausages/corned beef (not the most nutritious but better than going vegan), dried herb seasoning, and honey. Meanwhile, eggs, milk, flour have the capability of forming the foundation for virtually any dish; while perishable, it never hurts to have a healthy dose on hand to supplement recipes or help them along their way.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Quite frankly, there haven't been noticeable departures from my regular routine, besides working remotely and minimal interaction with friends and coworkers. Home exercise routines, kitchen task undertakings, Lysol-ing of frequently used surfaces, and cashless transactions were elements that had aligned with my preferences even before the outbreak.
Picture
Picture
Picture
And as I half-rant, half-report on such occurrences, I am simultaneously reminded that "This is the, so-called, 'New Normal'", and as humans - mere occupants of this planet - we are to adapt for the sake of survival.
With challenge comes change, and what doesn't kill us will only make us stronger.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Time ought to be conserved for the dealings that matter, for constructive endeavours whose results can be enjoyed. Besides the dire need to clean my quarters (I'll get to that - one day), one can also turn to baking as a form of appeasement.
​
​​Throughout the course of the week, the following items have emerged:
  • More Dalgona coffee - some with matcha, some served hot, and some succumbing to an eruptive fate of post-whipping oxidization
  • Variations of the classic Matcha Latte, including Matcha Soy and PB Ovaltine Matcha​
  • An incredibly moist attempt at Cooking Tree's Cotton Cheesecake
  • Just about The Best Banana Bread Ever (though, Smitten Kitchen happened to post her supposedly "Ultimate" rendition a day after...)
  • Making use of leftover ingredients for a dinner of cardboard-like Cauliflower Fusilli topped with a Teriyaki Sauce-Coconut Milk blend. (Please, spare yourself and don't commit to this silly Costco mistake.)
  • Steamed Baos with White Sesame Filling - formula adapted from an unfamiliar source and very much a WIP.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Some of these sweet treats were paired with lagers or ciders, since seldom am I required to operate a vehicle these days.
Picture
Picture
While the banana bread supply began to diminish, another baking itch arose. It was time to attempt the Ultimate.
Just as promised, the top was crunchy,  irresistibly so, while the internal compartment was supple.

I had folded in the flour fearfully, for there is a delicate boundary between removal of flour pockets and gummy, overmixed batter. Observing the texture while transferring though, I heaved a sigh of relief, assured that the loaf would make it through after all. It yielded a cross-section of a moist crumb encased withing an unthinkably crunchy perimeter. Enrollment in SKU (Smitten Kitchen University) had been a swell call.
Picture
Picture
Picture
​With discount Greek yogurt that was nearing its expiration date, a second concoction was compiled simultaneously. Little did I know that orangecane was experimenting with the same formula - hers featuring poppyseed, and mine dried cranberries and blueberries.
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Both renditions were lemony, but hers plush and mine a tad rigid due to the amateur error of overbaking.
Picture
Picture
Picture
For the first time since my return, I made the trip over to the east end of the city. The ghost town that was Yorkdale was a chilling sight to behold; equally unfamiliar was the stark emptiness of the 401, which is normally congested beyond capacity during the afternoon peak.
Picture
​My deliveries entailed a CoCo stop in a plaza I was none too fond of. Fellow patrons were rude and service staff were slow. Despite the lethargic atmosphere, finding parking was quite easy - an unprecedented occurrence in the past. ​I suppose I ought to be glad that they hadn't skimped on toppings either, a common contravention of the Markham outposts.

Coco Fresh Juice And Tea Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Who Am I?

    Formerly an avid owner of several interest-based portals, Random Thoughts of a Quirky Blogger presents precisely the elements expected. From experiments in the kitchen to miscellaneous musings, from IGOT7 reflections to developments in transportation infrastructure, it's all consolidated here. Welcome to the raw, unfiltered side of Quirky Aesthetics.



    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013


    Categories

    All
    Ahgabond Adventures
    Ahgase
    Arctic Aquarium
    Atlantic Canada 2018
    Barrie
    Beauty
    Birthday Buddy
    Calgary 2023
    Chinese New Year
    Conquering COVID 19
    Daily Randoms
    Eyes On You World Tour 2018
    Food
    Friends
    Hallyucon
    Hamilton
    Hong Kong
    Iron Ring
    J Movie
    K Drama
    K-Drama
    Korean Beauty
    K Pop
    Los Angeles 2017
    Macau
    New York 2018
    Ottawa 2019
    Pilates
    Random Rant
    Restaurant Review
    Seoul
    Shopping
    SSMC
    Taiwan
    Vacation
    Vancouver 2013
    Vancouver 2014
    Vancouver 2015
    Vancouver 2016
    Vancouver 2020
    Vancouver 2022


    trazy.com

    RSS Feed


WHAT DOES "QUIRKY AESTHETICS" MEAN?

Quirky =  a term that commonly refers to something/someone distinctly different and unique
Aesthetics = the visual aspect of things



Together, Quirky Aesthetics refers to the things, events, and happenings seen and perceived by this blog's creator - quirky perspectives in a visual form.

Contact ME

​Subscribe

Join our mailing list today!
Join Now
© Quirky Aesthetics. All rights reserved. Last modified: August 10, 2015.