my passing thought..

Cooking is an act of love, a gift to the person who eats it.

Food always turns out better when the heart and soul is in it. Anyone can cook a dish. A true chef cooks from the heart, personalizes it and that is what matters.

Earlier today, I cooked a dish in a hurry, without peppering it with love, and it didn't turn out right.

Love is never but a simple thing. It is so easy to forget how clearly it can be defined...
Love -is patient
Love -is kind
Love -it does not envy
Love -it does not boast
Love -it is not proud
Love -it is not rude
Love -it is not self seeking
Love -it is not easily angered
Love -keeps no record of wrongs
Love -does not delight in evil
Love -rejoices with the truth
Love -always protects
Love -always trusts
Love -always hopes
Love -always persevered
Love -never fails.
- Corinthians 13

Lord, help me to live out your definition of love.

This week thus far

has been a busy one! On Monday, I was at the Annual Post Graduate Conference (APC), Loma Linda, followed by an interview on the "Heart to Heart" with Marie Char at Loma Linda Broadcasting Network( LLBN). We talked about God's leading in my life. God is good and I am so blessed to be enjoying what I do. When I get the chance I will draft that on paper to share :)

APC was great.:) The topics covered were on Nutrition, Lifestyle and chronic disease. Each Presentation topics were an hour long:

Update on Adventist Health Study 2,

Risk Assessment Drives Treatment Option in Obesity,

Nutritional Management after Bariatric surgery,

Plant Based Diet and Childhood obesity prevention,

Vitamin D and Chronic Disease,

Diet and Colorectal cancer.

Waiting for the premier of the movie " Forks Over Knives" at the Loma Linda University Church.

FORKS OVER KNIVES examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the so-called “diseases of affluence” that afflict us can be controlled, or even reversed, by rejecting our present menu of animal-based and processed foods. The major storyline in the film traces the personal journeys of a pair of pioneering yet under-appreciated researchers, Dr. T. Colin Campbell and Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn. It will be shown in theaters on May 9. Apparently Oprah and her crew went vegan for a week after watching this movie.

This movie was held in conjunction with the HEALTHY  PEOPLE conference.  

 It was said that the recordings from this conference will be posted on the Healthy People website in the next few weeks. They had booths from the local vegan/vegetarian restaurants display their food..this is one vegan dessert booth. :)

This picture shows speaker Jeffrey Smith talking about Genetically Modified Foods ( GMF), with the screen showing the stomach lining of rats who ate GMF and Non-GMF.

Of all the topics presented, I personally enjoyed Caldwell Esselstyn, MD, FACS who talked about "Ending the Coronary Artery Disease Epidemic-making yourself heart attack proof". He showed ways to reverse coronary heart disease with lower LDL the natural way without pills. Going on a plant-based diet, persist and never give up are some key traits to success. :)

I bought several books and DVDs, and will be spending my upcoming weekend doing some reading on all these awesome books! :) Cheers to good health! :)

LLBN Chinese Cooking Show Episode 6 to 12

Today marks the end of our 12 episodes of cooking show with Esther Choo! :)

Here's a picture with the director, Cheri :)

More pictures of Esther and I with the food. We took a picture after each recording.

The picture above shows the last episode where we made Lettuce wrap, and Mushroom Pancake :)

In this show, we made Kimchi, and Kimchi Tofu soup! It is really interesting that she puts apple in the kimchi. It taste really good, and ahh...natural. :)

7 layer Haystacks :)

Thai Vermicelli Salad, and Cantaloupe Salad.

Refreshing salads that can be made easily for a large crowd.

Cold Sesame Noodle and Vege Duck...Cool to see how it's made. The technique of rolling cannot be taught in books. You will have to watch it on www.llbn.tv, Chinese channel.

Lotus Leaf Rice and Cold Sesame Noodle. Love it..especially the Glutinous rice in lotus leaf!

Lotus leaf that is washed, and cut. Need to soak in cold, hot, followed by cold water...

Second last episode, we made Vegetarian Fish and Thai Green Curry. Vege fish looks gourmet but it is actually easy to make. :)

Picture with the crew who work hard behind the scenes! :)
I am really excited to make these recipes that Esther Choo shared, especially the Rice wrapped in Lotus leaf. It is a blessing to be able to be a part of this program and hope to do more in the future. I can't thank God enough for the way He has led me, and the simple fact that I am doing what I love. I am still learning on how I can improve and this is the first step. :) Praise God from whom all blessings flow..and to God be the glory! :)

Wedding Candy Buffet

Did this candy buffet for Reed and Ken's wedding on 10.10.2010. Instead of favors on the table, guests are allowed to pick out whatever they want from the candy buffet table, fill them in mini bags and tie with purple ribbons.

The set-up

 Took a picture before getting changed for the ceremony...

 It took a few hours to dye the sugar with purple coloring. Need to rub the sugar and coloring with hands, wearing plastic gloves. It will not work with spatula or spoon as the dye will not be absorbed into the sugar. I wanted the flower bouquet effect and hence, stuck some flowers into the sugar pillar display.

 Layered the sugar with different shades of purple, and white...Stuck the chocolate lollipops in.....these were popular and went quickly!

 Light and Dark purple MM

 Gummy bears- purple, green, yellow

Electric tealight ( looks like a candle) in the midst of the chocolate mousse, and assorted mini cupcakes

Purple crystals on top of butter cookies and....

 purple chocolate on top of assorted chocolate chip, peanut butter cookies

On top of the white porcelain plates, I placed a purple shear cloth, and top it with a white paper dolly. This would give it a different look.

 
 Got changed and headed out to the ceremony area on the Terrace of The Hilton Hotel.

 Nice program booklet.

 Bride's maid flowers

 Headed out for reception after the ceremony...the wedding cake

 Look of the Candy buffet with the lights dimmed. My camera is not able to capture the effect of the mini lights placed on the table. Instead of candles, I bought the electric candles and placed them around the purple garland, on the cupcake stand, and around the table to give it a slight glow.

 

Cold Stone Ice Cream flavored jelly beans

Heart-shaped jelly beans. I like the heart-shaped end of the scoops.

The clear bags with silver tie, and ribbons for guest to tie around the bags.

 The banquet hall

 Congratulations Reed and Kendrick!

May God continue to bless both of you as you start a new chapter together! :)

D&D 's wedding

Congratulations to the beautiful couple!

I like this "guestbook" idea- each guests "signs" with a red thumbprint, followed by their signature...

Fresh strawberry and mango cake

Table center piece...fishes swimming in the bowl

When one finds love, sunshine will fill their souls. :)

The groom's dad shared:  Groom would record the song "you are my sunshine" on the piano several times before he sent it to her as a gift. Now, he really found his sunshine.