Winter Wonderland!
Winter Wonderland in Sheepshead Bay Brooklyn
Now usually I don’t blog about my daily life experiences, but, today I thought I would share the beauty that was dumped in my neighborhood. This Thursday morning, like any other weekend, I woke up, got ready to work and opened my door to leave my house when all of a sudden I saw nothing but snow everrrrywhere! I knew it was snowing, but I didn’t think we would get this kind of snow. I couldn’t even see the stairs from my house leading me down to the sidewalk. I stopped and muttered, “Holy $heit” and carefully walked down the stairs. When I successfully got down the stairs, my knees were completely covered in snow and the wind howled loud as it blew cold freezing snow in my face. Of all the times that it has snowed, nobody shoveled and I can definitely see why.
Boots in Snow
Never in the twenty something odd years of my life where I had to walk in snow as deep as this. Perhaps this picture doesn’t do justice to the amount of snow that we got, but I have to say that it was quite difficult going into work. But as my friend Tahsin says, “Sometimes you have to do it for the team!”
My Snow Tracks
Look! I created snow tracks so the next person who walks this path can have an easier time!
Beautiful White Snow
Train Station Covered in Snow
I finally got to my train station and luckily did see people there. Unfortunately we waited for about 30 minute on the platform going out to Coney Island, battling against cold icy snow in our faces. How dangerous it must be to drive a train with so many passengers in this weather. If you know anyone who went to work on that day or attempted to go to work, give them a round of applause because it is not easy for sure.
Anyways, until next time!
<3, FCG
Chinese New Year Cake – Neen Go
Pan Fried Chinese New Year Cake
Growing up, the Neen Go (Chinese New Year Cake) is pretty much one of the many star items on the dining room table. I was never attracted to the look and the taste of the cake. For such a simple and dull looking cake, as a child, I simply could not fathom why it was such an important item to have before the starting of the lunar new year. There are so many other delicious cakes, like the prosperity cupcakes, but none of them are as important as this neen go.
Neen go, which literally translated in Cantonese, “Year High” or in another words, highly prosperous year, is one of the many items offered the day before New Year’s to the Kitchen God. Yes the Kitchen God and this is the widespread belief. The new year cannot kick off to a fresh new and prosperous start without this cake. And so, a week before the new year, I decided that I would like to make this cake. I did come across with a few snafus, recipe problems not the user’s fault, and then I found the light at the end of the tunnel with the help of my dear co-worker Mei-Ling who offered me a foolproof recipe. The attempt to take on the responsibility of making this VIP cake has befuddled my sweet mother. She could not take me seriously and decided that it is better to use her inexperience hands over mine to make the cake.
Now here is the now infamous recipe from Mei Ling:
Happy Lunar New Year!
The festivities on this day is truly uplifting and enjoyable. Candies, red envelops, decorations, flowers, dragon and lion dances, dishes and pastries that I usually see once a year and the list goes on and on. I find it cute sometimes, but all the preparation and little rules to follow can be a big nuisance. Anyways, let me show you some pictures of symbolic things for the new year’s.
Graphic Chinese New Year Poster
Year of the Tiger graphic poster
Happy Birthday Mom!
Chinese sponge cake w/kiwis and strawberries on top of whipped cream
Chinese sponge cake w/kiwis and strawberries on top of whipped cream
First cake that I made for my mom! If I had the time and energy, I would make two layers and fill it with fruits. But because I have never tried this recipe before, I wanted to play it save and stick with the one layer. This recipe was a combination between my coworkers recipe and a similar recipe that I found online both with metric and English system measurements. The cake is still in the refrigerator because I made it very late, so I hope it is edible!
My coworker’s came from this:
Mei Ling's Chinese Sponge Cake
I think somehow I messed up the recipe. But I will let you guys know. If it is successful, I will provide the recipe for the cake and the whipped cream.
Until next time,
<3 FCG
The Sweet Spot at the Sweet Spot Dessert Bar NYC
Spot Dessert Bar
13 St. Marks Place
East Village, NY
212-677-5670
Spot Dessert Bar
I must have passed by this sign way too many times and had no idea that it is a dessert bar. Located on the bristling street of St. Mark’s Place where many new and upcoming restaurants fight for survival, Spot seems to be hidden away. Apparently, Spot is plenty known within the local community through word of mouth and I will explain later. I personally don’t like it that they’re located in the basement, right beneath Pho restaurant, but on the positive note, the restaurant doesn’t get overcrowded like at a chain restaurant like Applebees or TGI Fridays.
Spot Dessert Bar NYC
