Homemade Letter Paper!

A Little Faith...

I didn't really get the chance to meet him personally, but my first impression of him was pretty good. He seemed like a nice guy that my friend met during a party some time ago. His name was Kenneth Pak, or Ken as he introduced himself. We had dinner that night on August 19th 2010... At Red Robin in Chino and it was really fun. We sat in Jaq's car for so long just us talking and laughing about the most random things. He was an easy person to talk to and it made me feel really nice inside to know that there are still people out there that are so nice without an ulterior motive.

What shocked me the most was that the day after... I heard that he had gotten hit by a car later that night after we left the restaurant. He was longboarding on the sidewalk when he was hit, the coward just left him unconscious on the ground without even attempting to call the police. It was a few moments later that another person saw him on the ground that they called for the ambulance. He was in critical condition with severe head trauma along with head swelling, he was quickly transported to the hospital for surgery. Afterwards he was in a comatose state for several weeks until a few days ago that he finally opened his eyes and had begun using his arms and legs. For a person that had just met him, I am so relieved and happy for him and his family.

I write his because it amazed me what the power of faith can do to people, it brings everyone together for a cause and it makes people so much stronger. I was never one for religion, but after this incident happening to someone that didn't deserve it... I prayed so hard for him. Never in my life had I ever prayed so hard (well exception to the point in my life when my mother was fighting breast cancer) and I ask that if you see this post, please... Say a small prayer for Ken that he'll make a full recovery. Even if you're a complete stranger, it'll mean so much.

http://www.facebook.com/prayforkenneth

I just wanted to let you know...

How grateful I am that you are in my life.... ♥

A Letter Home

I had a discussion on the topic of 'friends' while on my way back from the beach yesterday with a good friend of mine, and while she was sleeping I did a little thinking. Why is it that I do not really like the idea of seeing my high school friends again? A lot of people even off to college learn to make time for high school friends when they come back home. For me, it's like the opposite, I wouldn't even try. I don't know what it is... It's not like I don't like them or anything, but I feel like it's time to see new things. Perhaps it was the tension that always seems to be there when we gather together or the fear that is instilled in me when I see a particular person. I really don't understand... I just don't get excited when people suggests reunion gatherings (though some people are exceptions).

For example. I had a really good group of friends during my senior year of high school... Had a lot of fun together. Even when we weren't doing anything it felt like just being with them was a productive thing. We were always there for each other and we made so many brilliant memories. But things happened when people started to mingle with each other within the group and things fell apart... They weren't able to fix everything so every time they see each other its like something's off. Something is not right. A knot forms in my stomach and I end up not being able to enjoy myself again. Then when college finally started, none of us really kept in touch with each other, we kind of drifted and formed new smaller groupings. Particular people would still be friends while others never came back. Maybe it's that or perhaps it's another cause for my dislike of reunion gatherings. The thing is, I just want people from high school to know that it's not that I don't want to see you or that I don't like you... Just I don't get too thrilled about these things. :/

Fruity Little Drinks

Dear Blog,

There's so many recipes that I want to tell you but there's so little time! I was working the bar the other day because the bartender wasn't around during the day shift so I had to jump in when people started showing up from the large party that were holding for them. I knew some basics, but my extent of knowledge on alcohol was VERY limited. So I took the liberty to ask a few customers what they liked and asked them how THEY drank and I'd just make it for them. :) I'd like to show you some that I learned that day. You don't have to drink it yourself, but it's nice to know a few on hands when you're having a party for older adults. :D

Frozen Mango Margaritas:

10 oz/Half a bowl of cut mangos

1/4 cup of lime juice (freshly squeezed)

1/2 cup of tequila (I had used a random one at hand, but preferably silver)

2 tablespoons of Cointreau

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 scoop of ice

Mix the tequila, lime juice, and Cointreau into a shaker and shake it lightly. Then pour it into the blender where your scoop of ice will be and at the end dump in the mangos and the tablespoon of sugar after it. Blend it on a medium power and voila! Garnish with a slice of mango and you're done! :)

Jack Coke:

1 tall chilled glass

1 scoop of ice

1 can of Coke

1 oz of Jack Daniels

Fill the tall glass with ice until full then add one ounce of Jack Daniel's (you can go stronger if you want) then fill the rest with one bottle of Coke until it touches the rim of the glass. :)

Shirley Temple:

1 1/2 tablespoon (give or take one squeeze of the bottle) of Rose's Grenadine (this is what I use)

1 scoop of ice

1 cherry

1 slice of orange

1 can of Sprite

A splash of orange juice

A splash of vodka (not too much, but optional)

First fill the cup with half ice then pour in the can of Sprite or fill until 3/4 way to the rim then give the Grenadine a squeeze and that will give it the color and the flavor of the Shirley Temple. You can add in the splash of OJ if you want and the vodka. That was how the lady drank it, I usually just finish with Sprite and the Grenadine for the kids. Then drop in a cherry and garnish with a slice orange or mint and it's set! :) Another drink~

There's still a lot of other recipes that I will post out later, but I'm thinking this is it for now. ;D I'll teach you how to make Black Bean Mexican Rice maybe in the next few days (it's very delicious and I'm quite happy that I was able to learn it)! Well, remember guys and gals to drink responsibly! :D

That's it for now,

`Tsuki

Sweet Crystals

Dear Blog,

So, I've been thinking about making some Rock Candy since I saw some back at Knott's the last time I went and they've jacked up the price since I went there as a kid. Seriously... one rock candy for 7 bucks? No thanks when I can make some at home that would only cost me a few tablespoons of sugar. :)

The materials you would need:

2 cups of water (later on boiled)

Several cups of sugar

Food coloring (optional if you want yours to be colored)

Glass jar

String (preferably yarn or a thick string type)/Stick (what I like to use)

Make sure everything's clean first, for instance wash the jar out with hot water so that it'll be easier to hold the boiling water that your'e going to put in it. Then you start off by boiling the actual two cups of water you've set aside then you add the sugar in teaspoon by teaspoon. Make sure that it doesn't accumulate at the bottom of the jar, stir until the sugar is dissolved and keeps adding until the water is completely saturated (when the sugar doesn't dissolve anymore). Pour the water into the jar. After, you tie the string to a long item (be it a pencil or a butter knife) and let it hang inside the water. Be careful that the string doesn't touch the bottom of the jar or any sides of it, or else the candy won't come out right. :) Then cover the top with a paper towel and let it sit for a few hours. Within 24 hours, you'll start to see that crystals has begun to form on the string! The longer you leave it, the bigger the candy will turn out. It's quite a fun experiment to play with if you're ever up to learn some neat chemistry stuff while making some delicious rock candies! :D

Food coloring/Food flavoring

If you ever want to change the color of the rock candy that you're making you can always buy food coloring and mix it in one drop at a time after you've poured your boiling water into the jar. Keep stirring until you've got your desired color. As for food flavoring, market places always sells them in little plastic bottles, just pour half teaspoon of the flavor each time until it tastes about right.

I hope you enjoy making your rock candies at home! ^_^

(This is also called a Rock Candy Cosmo :D)

That's it for now,

`Tsuki

Tartness of Your Cake

Dear Blog,

Like I had promised, I'm going to post up the recipe for that lemon cake:

1 cup of sifted all purpose flour

1/2 cup of oil or softened unsalted cultured butter

1/2 cup of milk/water (for lactose intolerant people)

1 cup of powered sugar (I put between 1/2 to 3/4 since I don't like things so sweet)

3 room temperature eggs

2 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

3 3/4 teaspoon of lemon juice (freshly squeezed)

3 oz lemon gelatin

1 small bowl of lemon rinds

Mix the sugar, oil, milk/water and eggs together first until it turns into this thick and foamy liquid. You can choose to separate the egg yolk and just use the egg white if you want, it's up to you. Eggs are usually used for leavening in baking, also for color, texture, flavor, and richness. I usually don't use the yolk when I'm making cakes that are red (like red velvet) or any hues of that color since it gives it this orangey shade after baking, but for that reason only. Except those cakes never rise as high as the ones that I use egg whites. Yes, egg whites create air bubbles in the cake when whipped, but yolks don't. They in fact do the opposite by making the cake flat. Also, yolks = denser cakes and egg whites = fluffier cakes. So, pick your options. (:

Then slowly blend your previous mixture with the flour and begin mixing it on a setting that's between medium or light until it's thick and ribbon-like. Set your oven at 350 degrees, let it sit until it's fully heated then put the batter in and set the clock at 20 minutes. Once it's done make sure to double check if it's thoroughly baked by sticking in a toothpick and checking if it's wet or not. If not then it's one step closer to being done! :D After taking it out, I would suggest letting it sit for a few hours until it's completely cooled before heading towards the decorating part.

Really, after the cake is done... The decoration ideas usually comes from the person making it. I will put out there that dark chocolate is a very good combination with the tanginess of the lemon flavor since dark chocolate has its natural bitterness that's not too overwhelming if used in the right proportions. So, have fun with it... Let your creativity out! :D

That's it for now~

`Tsuki