A day in my life (not a school day)

Normally, this is my normal Sunday routine with a couple extra events.

I woke up at 9:00 in this typical morning.  Hey, my parents were still asleep.  I laid around at home, finishing some homework until they woke up at around 10:30.  We did our morning routines and headed out the door at around 11:15.

It was a cold day and our stomachs were empty so we decided to go to a restaurant called Authentic Chicken Noodle Soup in Oakland, Chinatown.  We arrived at the place at around 11:45.  It was my first time trying it and for my parents, it was about their third time.

As being a first timer there, I've gotta give the original chicken noodle soup a try.  The broth was just the perfect amount of flavor, the noodles were average, and their shredded chicken was very good with the other two ingredients.  My sister ordered a lemongrass pork chop plate.  It came with a scoop of rice, many pieces of pork, and a sour sauce.  Her pork was so flavorful, the juice was squeezing out of it for every bite I took.  I would recommend the original chicken noodle soup for the ones that like a more plain flavor to their meal.  And for those who loves a strong flavor in their mouths, you've gotta try the pork chops.  This place definitely deserves a second try.

As for the drinks, we ordered a Hong Kong style milk tea and a vietnamese coffee.  Both drinks were very strong in flavor.

Even though it was a cold cold day, my sister wanted to go ice skating.  It's actually been a while since we both have ice skated.  I started to skate when I was five years old, and until when I was about eight, I quitted.  But that was a big mistake.  Not until a year ago, I wanted to continue ice skating, but I didn't get a chance to do that.

It was freezing, but it was still worth it.

I guess we didn't have enough moving to do, so we decided to go play badminton in a place called East Bay Badminton Association in Emeryville and catch up on my badminton skills.  It is now 3:00. In the spring season, I'm planning to try out for the badminton team.  I wouldn't consider myself good though. We played till 4:40.

Last but not least, we went to the Korean Market (because we were close by and we needed to stock up on groceries).  I love coming here.  Maybe it's because I usually go to the Chinese groceries stores and it isn't very clean in there.

One of the things that I get every time here, is this type of chewy sweet rice cake.  It's placed near the aisles of the cashier.  I'm a person that absolutely hates the overly sweet foods, so these Korean rice cakes are just right for my taste buds.  It's just a tad sweet.  Oh and make sure you keep them sealed tight if you are not planning to finish them all in a day, because they harden very quickly.

That was our day, and my favorite moments of my life is to be with my family.  Some people might think that doing these things are a waste of time, or just plain boring, but I think that's wrong.  Doing anything with your family in my opinion, is the best way to spend time because they are the people that understand you the most-more than anyone else.



                                                                                                                                                                                                           

I've decided that I should start off my blog with something a little about me. So I've picked out several questions to answer and I hope this post will let you guys get to know me better.

Q&A'S

1. What's your full name ?
My full name is Jasmine Michaela Cheng.

2. How old are you ?
I am currently 14 years old.

3.Where were you born ?
I was born in Oakland, CA.

4. If you could move to somewhere and stay there forever, where would it be?
Hong Kong. For sure. My parents were from there and I've visited it a couple times.  Something about it makes me want to go there again and again.

Yes, I'm holding the same cup :)

5. Do you have any siblings?
Yes, I have one younger sister.

6. What is your favorite show ?
Shark Tank.  I know a lot of people don't watch this show but I actually enjoy it a lot.

7. What do you do in your free time ?
Usually, I only have "free time" on the weekends and during that time, I will mostly likely be watching some Chinese drama (on TVB).

8. What is one food item that you are disgusted from ?
I'm a person that loves fruits and vegetables but if it's celery, I cannot stand the taste, unless it's cooked until it's super soft.  And overall, I prefer to have my vegetables somewhat cooked.

WOULD YOU RATHER: 

I found these questions here .

9. Go climbing or zip lining ?

Zip lining. I'm scared of roller coasters but I'd like to take the challenge. 

10. Travel by plane, train, or automobile ?

Plane.  I love to explore more places.

11. Win the lottery or find your perfect job ?

Personally, I would like to find my perfect job.  I'm the kind of person that wants to do something to make myself proud for what I have done.  I don't want to just feel like I had gotten lucky and can just be lazy and do nothing.  But having both would be nice !

12. Watch TV or read a book ?

Watch TV. I don't have a lot of patience so reading a book is not as amusing as being able to watch TV.

13.  Vacation in Hawaii or Alaska ?

I've never been to any of them but I'd choose Hawaii.  Because I'm afraid of cold weather but I can stand the hotter weather.  Hawaii is warm throughout the whole year and personally, I think the view there is more attractive than Alaska.

3 MORE FACTS ABOUT ME: 

1. I love the fruit Durian more than anything else.  The texture is very mushy and slimy and the smell is a bit unattractive, but it tastes so good ! Some people don't like it but for me, I could basically eat it for the rest of my life.

2. I'm 5'5 tall, but I always wished I could grow taller.  Throughout my life, I was always taller than everyone else but I was never ashamed of my height.  I've heard many other people say they don't like how they're a head taller than everyone else or too tall to "fit in".  But I don't see why they should be saying that to themselves.  Instead, they should choose to be proud of it and sooner or later, I know they will actually like their height and regret what they said in the past.  

3.  The only pets I have at home are three turtles.  I've gotten them since I was very little, and they were only about the size of a quarter.  Now, they're bigger than the size of your palm.  Most of the cleaning of the tank and taking care of it is done by my dad but I really think I should take over that role.  

Ok, so that's it to my 'get to know me' post.  I hope you guys learned some new things about me and I will try to post more consistently, but you know school is like taking over my life so hope you guys don't mind !

RECIPE: How to Make Healthy Granola

Hello! To be clear, my blog is about food and lifestyle, so it's not just going to be about reviews on other food places, it's going to be a mixture of many other things that all in the end, relate to of course, food.

That said, I have a recipe to share today, and I would consider this to be healthy because it's made with all ingredients that are natural and wholesome.  Many granolas are seemingly healthy, but there's a lot of sugar hidden in there. So I decided to share this recipe, that is just as tasty, but a lot less sugar. Just saying, I'm not a nutritionist, or anything like that, I'm just a teenage girl that likes to eat more on the healthy side.  Ok, let's get started with my own version of a healthy homemade granola.


INGREDIENTS THAT YOU'LL NEED:

1 medium sized banana (preferably ripe)

1/3 cup of old fashioned oats

1/2 cup of chopped nuts

1/2 cup of dried fruit

2 tablespoons of flaxseed (optional)

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 tablespoon of honey

any other toppings you would like, but do not add too much because your granola would not stick together

granola ingredients

1.Preheat oven to 280°F.  If you would like to speed up the baking process, you can increase the temperature, but be more careful because your granola will more likely burn.

 2.Peel your banana and smash it up in a bowl.

3.Add in all the other ingredients in the same bowl and mix it all together.  I know, it doesn't look that appealing but it's going to taste so good in the end.

4. On a baking pan, place a sheet of non-stick parchment paper.  It is very crucial to do this because these granola pieces will stick if the parchment paper isn't there.

5. With your bowl of ingredients all mashed up together, begin to shape them in granola size pieces.  It is your preference on how big or small these should be.  I like to shape them about the size of a quarter.  (I actually used grapes instead of cranberries, but it didn't stick very well so using dried fruit would be better.)

6. Place the granola pieces inside the oven and let it sit there for about 20 minutes, depending on what kind of texture you would like to have.  For about 20 minutes, these granola pieces should be somewhat hard, but a little soft in the middle.  If you would like them to be harder and a bit crunchier, leave them in the oven for a little longer but make sure they don't burn.  And also, if you want the heat to be even on both sides of the granola, flip it over halfway between the baking.

7. When the baking process is finished, pull the pan out of the oven.  (Be careful, it's hot!)  Let it cool for a couple minutes.

8. Now, you're ready to serve! Yum... ever tasted granola so good to be healthy?

Alright, that was my version of a healthy granola recipe.  You can also shape them into bigger circles to make them cookies.  Remember, you can always switch out the ingredients along with your preference but just keep the banana there because it is the main ingredient to making all these other ingredients stick to each other.  Other than that, hope you enjoyed this simple and healthy granola recipe.

Leave a comment down below if you tried this and how it turned out for you.  Thanks for reading, and again, Happy New Years!

REVIEW: Starting off new years with something a little sweet

Happy New Years! For this exciting holiday, my family and I decided to go get some dinner and dessert (mostly dessert) at a Hong Kong style restaurant called Creations.  I know, it's not all that fancy but eating what you love is already the best celebration.

THE ATMOSPHERE: You can't expect the same feeling as if you were in a higher class bubble milk tea shop.  It's pretty ordinary inside, and nothing really special.  There are long lights hanging down from the ceiling.  But overall, it's pretty dim inside.  There is also a TV playing Chinese music videos.  On the walls, there are many posters.  For the most part, it's pretty relaxing in there.  

THE FOOD: For the savory part of the meal, some things we got were udon with fish dumplings,    

curry fish balls, a bowl of instant noodle with egg, sausages, and spam, and an another bowl of            instant noodle with curry fish balls and sausages(not placed in the pictures).  Actually, I did not think these dishes were all that great.  The udon was not chewy enough, and it was just average.  The curry fish balls were a bit better.  The sauce was a bit spicy which was perfect.  I really liked the little           sword picks it came with.  Lastly the two instant noodle soups were very ordinary.  But I liked the     

way they cut up the sausages.   But we weren't mainly here for this, we were here for my favorite        style dessert !                                                                                                                                            

udon with fish dumplings ($5.80)

curry fish balls ($2.95)

instant ramen with sausages, spam and egg (5.80)

the dessert menu (sorry about that bright spot down at the bottom)

THE DESSERT: I think the thing that makes all these desserts so similar is because they used a mango based puree in almost of them.  What I love about HK desserts is the freshness I can taste because of the use of fruits, and how ingredients make it refreshing. This is what we got:

Crystal snow on sago with pomelo and mixed fruits: On the left side of the dessert, I think the part of it that made the whole thing complete is the scoop of ice on top that looks like ice cream.  It's actually hard to explain, the ice isn't just regular ice, it's sweet and is really packed together.  The yellow stuff on the right side of the bowl is the mango puree with crystal snow.  First of all, the mango puree tastes really fresh and sweet.  The crystal snow doesn't have a huge taste but with the mango puree, it's a great combination.  On the left side of the bowl is the pomelo(kind of like grapefruit).  It's pretty sour so since the mango puree is sweet, it balances out the two flavors.  On the very bottom of the bowl is sago, which are tiny transparent balls that are really soft.  Make sure to mix the sago to the top before eating it or else you are going to be left with only the sago(like I did) and it won't have as much flavor.  And on the right side, there is a bowl of mixed fruits that include a strawberry cut up into tiny slices, mangoes, kiwis, cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew. The fruits aren't too sweet, but they also weren't too sour.

crystal snow on sago with pomelo and mixed fruits ($7.35)

crystal snow on sago with pomelo and mixed fruits ($7.35)

Glutinous rice balls with mixed fruits in mango juice: This dessert is pretty similar to the one         before.  On the left side of the dessert, it's a bit different.  There are glutinous rice balls (the title         explains it all) that are really chewy.  They are not huge but the texture is just perfect.  And with         mango juice/mango puree, the sweetness of it just blends very well together.                                       

glutinous rice balls with mixed fruits in mango juice ($5.55)

Glutinous rice balls in mango juice with extra mango: This dessert is basically the one before this, but with extra mango chunks and without the mixed fruits.     

glutinous rice balls in mango juice with extra mango ($5.55)

Aloe jelly in mango and coconut juice: Again, mango.  Mango, mango, mango. The last dessert is a drink that is made of mango juice, coconut juice and aloe jelly.  All the green stuff at the bottom is the aloe, so make sure you stir that all up before drinking it.  The aloe is very unique, it's not just like chunks you would normally eat elsewhere.  

aloe jelly in mango and coconut juice ($2.95)

I would definitely come here again, and again but only for the dessert.  And that's what they're known for mostly.  The music and desserts always reminds me of the feeling back in Hong Kong.  And I love that feeling.

This is probably the only place I know of that serves such authentic Hong Kong style desserts.  I really hope that this place will not close, because I will not be able to experience that feeling again.  If you're a asian dessert lover, particularly HK style desserts, this place is a must to try.

REVIEW: The Best Place to Get Some Ramen

My family and I had came across this place unexpectedly, because we were just trying to find a place good to eat.  We had checked yelp, and read the reviews; they'd seem pretty good so we decided to give this place a try.

 

This is probably the best bowl of ramen I've had.  The broth is full of flavor and you can taste all the rich ingredients inside a simple bowl of ramen.

I personally have a really hard time choosing what's on the menu but here at Ramen Dojo, it's quick and easy.  All you have to do is to choose between three broths: soy bean flavor, soy sauce flavor or garlic pork flavor.  You then choose the level of spiciness. And the each bowl of ramen comes with 2 pieces of roasted pork, a fried whole garlic, kikurage mushroom, fresh green chives, a quail egg, chicken gravy(cooked ground chicken, chopped ground chicken, chopped shiitake mushroom, chopped ginger), and shredded red pepper. Lastly, there is a whole list of extra toppings you can choose from but I usually just stick with what they give me, just to keep it even more simple.

soy sauce flavored ramen

We've arrived at Ramen Dojo at exactly 5:30 and there was already a long line waiting at the door.  I was so amazed.  The restaurant didn't even open their doors yet and there was already a huge line.  So we waited for about a good thirty minutes until we could finally be seated.  We were exhausted. 

They had already taken our order before we walked in but there was still a lengthy wait from when we were seated to when the food came.  

soy bean flavored ramen

All three broths were unique in their own way.  The flavors really stood out and I cannot pick which was my favorite.  However, one thing I really liked that most other ramen places don't have is the fried whole garlic.  It went really well with the broth and the noodles.  

garlic pork flavored ramen

I wouldn't consider this place to be too expensive because many ramen places out there are setting their prices higher than ever.  All three bowls were the same price, $9.75.  Although there isn't much in this typical bowl of ramen, I think that the flavor is already worth the price. 

I would really recommend this to whoever is like me, that likes to be simple yet likes to taste quality in their bowl of ramen.   

REVIEW: 85 Degree Bakery Cafe

When 85 Degree Bakery opened in Newark, I was so excited.  This bakery was originated from Taiwan and its business slowly spread to California.  They have a variety of breads, cakes, and drinks.  Their prices are more on the cheaper side, compared to many of the upper class bakeries.

The atmosphere is overall, very neat.  One thing I enjoy a lot about this bakery is the way they place everything; it is very consistent, meaning that the breads, cakes and drinks are placed in a way that when people step inside, they can differentiate this bakery from all the other bakeries. I would not consider it to be a small place, in fact, I would say it is huge.  Many of the bakeries, sell the same type foods but is a portion of the size.  Once you enter, you'll see what I mean.  It is very spacious, and comfortable to enjoy just simply, a cup of 85 degree coffee and bread or something more fancy, like their iced sea salt drinks and gourmet cakes.

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Ok, now let's get to the food and drinks:

BREADS

These are my favorites.  Of course, there are many more.

Marble Taro
This bread has a unique texture.  On the outside, there is a thin layer which I'm not sure what it's called.  In the inside, there is a sweet taro filling.  The bread texture is somewhat chewy which gives it more texture.  Overall, the bread is purple and is one of my favorites. You've gotta give this a try.

Multigrain
If you're a nut and seed lover, you'll love this bread.  Based on what I observe, I see that there are flaxseeds, white sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, and raisins.  Personally, this is also one of my favorites.  It is not only healthy but tasty.

Coffee Bread
By just looking at the bread on the outside, it doesn't look as appealing but when you take a bite out of it, you'll become addicted.  Inside, there is red beans and mochi.  The combination is very unique but at the same time, very delicious.  The coffee taste really brings out the taste.

Maple Brick Toast
I personally really enjoy chewy breads, so this maple brick toast is perfect for me.  With the maple syrup on top, it's not just bread which is just plain boring.  It is the perfect combination, just like the coffee bread I mentioned above.  It is simple but super tasty.

CAKES

These are personally what I would choose.

Fruit Jelly Cup
If you want something light but tasty, this is probably the only one you are left with.  On the very bottom of this cup, there is a layer of yogurt and above that is some kind of jelly.  And inside the jelly is a variety of fruits, which makes it healthier.  And above that is some more jellies cut up into cubes.

French Fruit Tart
As a fruit lover, I'd love to have my desserts with them.  And if you're also a fruit lover, you'd love this.  It is stacked up with many thick cut fruits such as cantaloupe, apples, kiwis, and berries.  I think the ingredient that makes this dessert a winning is the taste of the cream.  It is not too sweet and it is given the right amount.  Other fruit tarts are filled with unnecessary amounts of cream and usually, their creams are either really bad quality or they're too sweet.  And not to mention, the tart/crust has a perfect texture and taste.  It is not too crumbly or soft.  Here at 85 degree, I think I have tried the best fruit tart ever.

Mango Panna Cotta
The texture of this dessert is like a pudding, but even creamier.  Again, the sweetness of this one is just like what I said about the other ones-it's just right.  With the fresh cut up mango on top, makes this dessert complete.

Egg Tart
This type of egg tart reminds me of a portuguese egg tart I've eaten many times.  They are indeed very good, especially when it's straight out of the oven.  It is smaller in size, compared to the other breads and cakes.

DRINKS

I haven't tried many of the drinks but these are the ones I would really recommend.

Iced Sea Salt Mountain Green Tea
This drink is by far my favorite drink I've ever had.  The flavor is very strong.  Even without the boba, this drink is great by itself.  They also have the iced sea salt jasmine green tea and the iced sea salt coffee, but after trying all three of them, I'd have to say the iced sea salt mountain green tea is my favorite.

Lemon Green Tea
This drink is very common among the other boba shops but here at 85, I can taste the tea and flavor come together and it's among the best.  Other places don't have such a strong tea flavor which is really disappointing because that's what most people are looking for in a classic tea drink.

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The quality of every item at 85 Degree Bakery Cafe is very fresh and full of flavor.  Every time they have more breads to put out, they yell "Fresh Bread".  It might annoy some customers but to me, it gives me a good feeling that all these breads they put out are actually fresh and is not saved for another day.

However, one thing that I don't like is that they don't have signs for every piece of bread.  Sometimes, they even have the wrong signs up.  Because of that, I get confused at which breads are which and I really hope they can fix that.  Also, their breads repeat several of times.  I like that idea because if there are many people in line for the bread section, and you miss one item that you really want, you can have another chance to put it on your tray again.  But the bad side about this is that it makes customers feel like there isn't a wide variety of breads, and that it only repeats so that it could fill up the spaces.

Despite the fact that their variety isn't too huge, the quality is only what matters.  This place is worth coming back.