Grilled Shrimps Salad Served with Vinaigrette Dip

from Alice's Kitchen on 9th June, 2013

 

Ingredients:
Shrimps (shelled except for the tails)
Pumpkin slices or eggplant slices
Capsicum
Purple/Green Lettuce leaves
Tomato slices
French Bread / Baguette (sliced or cubed)
20-30 fresh Basil leaves (minced)
15-20 fresh Tarragon leaves (minced)
1 tablespoon honey

Vinaigrette:
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
Lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1. Use 2/3 of the vinaigrette and mix in the minced fresh Basil & Tarragon and honey; to be used to marinate the shrimps for 15mins before grilling the shrimps, pumpkin/eggplant and capsicum.
 

2. Lace plate with lettuce leaves, grilled items, tomato slices and French Bread/ Baguette.

3. Serve with balance vinaigrette.

8 Sept, 2012

with my Canon EOS 550D......

Pumpkin Flower

Focal Length: 35mm
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
Aperture: f/5.6  
ISO/Film: 400

Female Pumpkin Flower
 ~ http://www.informeddemocracy.com/pumpkin/growing.html
 

Focal Length: 55mm
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO/Film: 200

Double Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

~  http://toptropicals.com/html/toptropicals/articles/shrubs/hibiscus.htm

 

Focal Length: 55mm
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO/Film: 125

 

Hibiscus

Focal Length: 55mm
Shutter Speed: 1/200 sec
Aperture: f/7.1  
ISO/Film: 400

Hibiscus

Focal Length: 50mm
Shutter Speed: 1/80 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO/Film: 100

Golden Dewdrops (Duranta Erecta/ Duranta Repens)

~ also known as Honey Drops/ Pigeonberry/ Geisha Girls/ Sapphire Showers

http://www.tropical-plants-flowers-and-decor.com/duranta-repens.html

 

Focal Length: 55mm
Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec
Aperture: f/5.6
ISO/Film: 320

What is Lap Chun 立春 (Lìchūn)?

In Chinese culture, a new year (lunar year) actually starts on Lap Chun (立春), the official first day of Spring in the Chinese lunar calendar, which usually falls on February 3, 4 or 5.  Lap Chun (in cantonese) is equivalent to the Spring/Vernal Equinox.  In mandarin, it is pronounce as Lìchūn. 

Meaning to say, for those born in the new Gregorian year but before Lap Chun, they are considered to be born in the previous year Chinese zodiac.  Example; if Ah Meng was born on 2nd Feb, 2001, he would be considered to be a golden (metal) dragon and not a golden (metal) snake, although general public would say 2001 is a year of the snake (Chinese New Year that year fell on 24th Jan, 2001).  Reason being, in the year 2001, Lap Chun fell on 3rd Feb. and the golden snake year had not started yet on the day Ah Meng was born.  So... as you may be able to see, Lap Chun is actually a very important day for all Chinese. 

There is a Chinese folk belief that it is much easier to balance an egg on a smooth surface during Lap
Chun day than at any other time of the year.  Balancing fresh chicken eggs on their broad end was a traditional Lap Chun ritual in China.  You don't believe it is easier to balance an egg on Lap Chun?  Then, give it a try on 4th Feb, 2012....

**********************************
Update on 4th Feb, 2012:

I did the testing at about 11.00pm and managed to balance/stand 8 fresh eggs.  

Will try again tomorrow night.

龍馬精神 (May your spirits be like the dragon and horse)

As the Auspicious Water Dragon Year approaching close, with a Chinese New Year poem  (with attribution to the writer of the poem, a good VIOS friend, Mr Dennis Loh Kok Kin), I wish all my relatives and friends:

(Long2 Ma3 Jing1 Shen2)

May your spirits be like the dragon and horse

(written by Dennis Loh Kok Kin)

My heart leaps up when I behold
The new year dragon in the sky.
Never will I be despairing cold,
Though homeward-bound my thoughts they fly
To lantern arrays bedecking the streets,
And familiar faces everywhere meet,
Gongs and crackers erupt in merry furore,
"Xin Nian Hao" and other tunes chime galore.
May your spirit be renewed by this new year coming fast
Here's wishing that your dragon year be an absolute blast!

Quote by Jackson Kiddard

• Anything that annoys you is “for” teaching you patience.
• Anyone who abandons you is “for” teaching you how to stand up on your own two feet.
• Anything that angers you is “for” teaching you forgiveness and compassion.
• Anything that has power over you is “for” teaching you how to take your power back.
• Anything you hate is “for” teaching you unconditional love.
• Anything you fear is “for” teaching you courage to overcome your fear.
• Anything you can’t control is “for” teaching you how to let go and trust the Universe.”

LIVE YOUR LIFE TO ITS FULLEST

╔══════((¯`•»((¯`•.(`•.*.•´).•´¯))«•´¯))══════╗
♥» ▬▬ «•*•» ▬▬▬ «•*•» ▬▬▬ «•*•» ▬▬ « ♥
║ (¯`v´¯)       LIVE YOUR LIFE TO ITS FULLEST
║  `•.¸.•´        This life is yours, take the power
║(¸¸.•¨¯`•»     to choose what you want to
║«•*•»•¨¯`•»  do and do it well.
║ (¯`v´¯)       Take the power to
║  `•.¸.•´         love what you want in life
║(¸¸.•¨¯`•»     and love it honestly.
║«•*•»•¨¯`•»  Take the power to walk in the
║ (¯`v´¯)       forest and be a part of nature.
║  `•.¸.•´        Take the power to control your own life.
║(¸¸.•¨¯`•»     No one else can do it for you.
║«•*•»•¨¯`•»  Nothing is too good for you.
║ (¯`v´¯)       You deserve the best.
║  `•.¸.•´        Take the power to make your life
║(¸¸.•¨¯`•»     healthy, exciting, worthwhile.
║«•*•»•¨¯`•»  and very happy.
║ (¯`v´¯)       Take the power
║  `•.¸.•´         reach your dreams.
║(¸¸.•¨¯`•»
♥» ▬▬ «•*•» ▬▬▬ «•*•» ▬▬▬ «•*•» ▬▬ « ♥
╚═════════════════════════════╝

Looking for Shirra Alissa George

This is certainly a piece of shocking news that I received through several emails sent from friends.  I certainly hope and pray that with all the postings and highlightings through all means of media, including that of the internets, the girl will return safely to her family and loved ones :

Dear All,

Shirra Alissa George, 19 is a student at KLIMU, was reported missing on between 8.50pm to.9.05pm on Monday, 14th November 2011 along Jalan Bukit Indah 3/14, Bukit Indah, Ampang after disembarking from Rapid KL bus from KL city on her way home to Tiara Intan Condominium where she stays with her parents, Sarawakian.

Based a CCTV recording from nearby house, the incident occurred at about 9.00pm. She was abducted by at least three guys, believed to be in the twenties driving a black Proton Persona which was seen driven along the street from 8.50pm. Some of her personal belongings that was found at the scene was her handphone, a torned backpack with books scattered all over the ground and an empty purse.

What was so disheartening was that she made 2 attempts to call her parents but only after her third attempt her mother answered her her call and she was heard screaming asking for help and telling her mother..."ada orang kejar saya, ada orang kejar saya", the phone was quite. her dad and few residents rushed to the scene which was about 100 meters from the condo entrance but failed to locate her whereabouts.

I sincerely hope that you may kindly assist us, residents of Tiara Intan Condominium, to spread this news to friends, colleagues and relatives. Let's pray that the abductors would release her unharmed real soon.

Should anyone has any leads please contact Criminal Investigation Dept., Ampang Jaya District Police Headquarters at 03-42897222 or nearby police station.

Thank you very much for your kind attention.

Regards,

Mohamad Yusri
Chairman
Joint Management Body,
Tiara Intan Condominium
Bukit Indah, Ampang, Selangor

Mobile: 019-3774322

---------

Googling "Shirra Alissa George"  resulted a long list of sites that highlighted her missing news.  This is at Malay Mail Online (http://mmail.com.my/content/86381-girls-abduction-goes-viral)

THE case of 19-year-old Shirra Alissa Choo George is being investigated under Section 363 of the Penal Code for abduction.

Ampang Jaya police chief ACP Amirruddin Jamaluddin said it investigations are underway and will look into all possibilities.

"We need to determine if this is a genuine abduction or if it was staged," he said.

It was learnt police were unable to trace the vehicle registration number of the black Proton Persona from CCTV footage retrieved from a neighbour's house.

Amirruddin urged those with information on the case to contact the Ampang Jaya criminal investigation department at 03-42897222 or the nearest police station.