Several urgent tasks have led to a drop in interactions with the outside world.
Creaking open the fridge door to emptiness prompted my first foray into the world of UberEats, a foundationless service for those with reliable vehicle access. Yet, unforeseen circumstances arise from time to time: famine demands fulfillment. Alas, time is limited in the working world.
Creaking open the fridge door to emptiness prompted my first foray into the world of UberEats, a foundationless service for those with reliable vehicle access. Yet, unforeseen circumstances arise from time to time: famine demands fulfillment. Alas, time is limited in the working world.
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I surrendered my $2.49 delivery fee in exchange for Chipotle delivered straight to my workstation, accompanying me as I remainded embedded in meetings.
Beyond a compact dash for yogurt and milk, scarcely a moment had been spent submerged beneath the sun's rays.
Smile Tiger's Thunder Peel fueled my mornings in the caffeine department, while their Espresso Chocolate Chip Scone and Flourless Almond Chocolate Fudge Cookie were stories I wished would never end.
Smile Tiger's Thunder Peel fueled my mornings in the caffeine department, while their Espresso Chocolate Chip Scone and Flourless Almond Chocolate Fudge Cookie were stories I wished would never end.
I shall not deny a greater dependence on the colourful cans gracing my top shelf. Highlights of the week were Seagram's Craft Cider and Lake of Bays' Red Ale - the former delectable without being overly sweet, and the latter zesty with a mild introductory note of hops.
Creations of the week include:
1) Spam & Chive Macaroni Soup
Stemming from absolute absence of groceries was a last-minute yet preposterously compilation of pantry staples and freezer items. Taking a step away from the customary inclusion of doenjang, the broth employed a base of dark soy sauce and mirin this time around.
1) Spam & Chive Macaroni Soup
Stemming from absolute absence of groceries was a last-minute yet preposterously compilation of pantry staples and freezer items. Taking a step away from the customary inclusion of doenjang, the broth employed a base of dark soy sauce and mirin this time around.
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2) Pumpernickel Tuna Salad Sandwich Feat. a perfectly jammy soft-boiled egg
3) Orange Jam - a less bitter rendition versus the 2018 version (and would have easily been orangecane's jam)
3) Orange Jam - a less bitter rendition versus the 2018 version (and would have easily been orangecane's jam)
4) Lemon Pound Cake
5) Chocolate Marble Pound Cake
Sunday Baking had coincidentally presented recipes catering to existing ingredients in my kitchen. As such, I proceeded to attempt her Lemon Pound Cake, exempt of our very-seasonal-yet-very-mushy-near-moldy blueberries. In spite of its stiff appearance, the cake was uniformly tender. The creation disappeared rapidly - a connotation of success.
Cakey cravings persistent, I carried forth with a larger batch of batter. Whisking in warm, melted chocolate following the seamless flour-batter method, I ought to have expected the slight disintegration. Holes were more prominent on the second attempt, though the crisp shell and moist interior remained. It was, nonetheless, delicious, especially paired alongside a fizzy, citrus beverage.
Cakey cravings persistent, I carried forth with a larger batch of batter. Whisking in warm, melted chocolate following the seamless flour-batter method, I ought to have expected the slight disintegration. Holes were more prominent on the second attempt, though the crisp shell and moist interior remained. It was, nonetheless, delicious, especially paired alongside a fizzy, citrus beverage.
6) Braised Beef
An unprecedented kitchen endeavour inspired by the trusty Jikoni's Berebere Braised Short Ribs, my version saw the omission of spice (my moderate tolerance widespread on this space by now), omission of ginger (due to forgetfulness), and the substitution of tomato paste with fresh tomatoes and Heinz tomato concentration. Resulting from the 2.75h process were tender chunks of beef chuck flap in a saucy compote, equal parts tart and sweet. There was, admittedly, a dose of Italian flair, enabling the dish to pair wonderfully with the gifted Birroteca Grano Italian Wheat Beer, which had unashamedly been forgotten due to its muted bottle design.
An unprecedented kitchen endeavour inspired by the trusty Jikoni's Berebere Braised Short Ribs, my version saw the omission of spice (my moderate tolerance widespread on this space by now), omission of ginger (due to forgetfulness), and the substitution of tomato paste with fresh tomatoes and Heinz tomato concentration. Resulting from the 2.75h process were tender chunks of beef chuck flap in a saucy compote, equal parts tart and sweet. There was, admittedly, a dose of Italian flair, enabling the dish to pair wonderfully with the gifted Birroteca Grano Italian Wheat Beer, which had unashamedly been forgotten due to its muted bottle design.
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7) Grape Jelly Greek Yogurt Pops
8) Matcha Red Bean Parfaits constructed of ̶f̶a̶i̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶deconstructed matcha madeleines
8) Matcha Red Bean Parfaits constructed of ̶f̶a̶i̶l̶e̶d̶ ̶deconstructed matcha madeleines
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9) Roast Chicken
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SK makes kitchen undertakings less intimidating, even five pounds of frozen, raw meat. The surface was crisp, while the internal compartments well seasoned as if bathing in marinade for several hours. The wispy edges of charred cabbage was another eye-opener, for oven-roasting is seldom the default cooking method in our household.
I shall forewarn that, even while equipped with a cooking thermometer, attaining uniform doneness was no simple matter. To ensure fried chicken-esque flavours and satisfying textures, I'd highly advise at least 48 hours of defrosting time (should your freezer be utilized for meat storage like me).
10) Condensed Milk Shokupan
Closely adhering to the instructions of the bread master herself brought about an incredibly successful second batch of fluffy Japanese sandwich bread. So successful, in fact, that I had difficulty believing it had materialized in my own kitchen - not from Tatsu's Bread, not COBS, nor any other local bakery.
Closely adhering to the instructions of the bread master herself brought about an incredibly successful second batch of fluffy Japanese sandwich bread. So successful, in fact, that I had difficulty believing it had materialized in my own kitchen - not from Tatsu's Bread, not COBS, nor any other local bakery.
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11) Brown Butter Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies
Far too sugary for my liking with only tenuous notes of brown butter, I shall be revisiting a different cookie variation upon the arrival of the next crippling cookie craving.
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