PLANS!

For this winter break, I will go back my home country. I have a flight on the afternoon of 23^rd December. I can’t wait to be home. I miss my families very much. I will transfer to the University of South Alabama, so I will have last 10 days in Minnesota. I will miss here, because I have many friends here. Unfortunately, my orientation day is on 5^th January, so I only have 10 days winter break. I will arrive at Jinan, which is my hometown, on 25^th December. I have to go to Beijing on 28^th to get my visa. It ought to cost my 2 days of my holidays. I will visit my grandmother. My grandmother, who is 83 years old, lived with my aunt in Yantai where is 500 km far from my home. Yesterday, I called her; she told me that she missed me a lot. I think I need call on her. I also want to give her some gifts, which I bought in Mall of America. I arrived at Minneapolis on 25^th August; I lived here for almost 4 months. My nephew, my older sister’s son, is my best missed. He was 4 months old when I left home; he is 8 months old now. My sister told me he had 4 teeth. I can’t wait to calculate these by my self. I bought him a large amount of cute clothes which full filled half of my trunk. I am not sure that he remembered me. I have an amazing plan list. I want to use my ten-day holidays well. First, I will go to some restaurants and full fill my stomach. Seriously, I missed various Chinese foods. For example, Hot Pot, Peking Roast Duck and dumplings that are my mother cooks. I can cook dumplings well, I believe that it taste like my mother cooks. But I also miss my mother’s dumplings. I think it is a kind of missing which I missed my mother a lot. Second, I will go shopping. Thanks god, I can speak Chinese to salespeople who can understand me. I will buy some staffs for preparing of my Alabama trip. I need some books about GMAT, which is a test of master application. It is so sad that I shouldn’t have time to meet my friends. These above are plans of my winter break.

I have referred that I will transfer to the University of South Alabama. I expect the new life I will have there. I will study an accounting bachelor major there. Accounting is my wants, so I think I will work hard on it. I have a specialist family. My parents and my sister are all accountants. So I got a lot effects from them. I dreamed I would be a good accountant when I was a child. I will spare no effort to work on it. I think I will choose some accounting classes next year. I believe that I will have a good term next year.

Soda

Soda is a kind of soft drink with out any alcohol. Soft drinks are often carbonated and commonly consumed while cold. The normal soda is cola. (I noticed that the taste of American coca cola is different from Chinese.)

In the United States, soft drinks are sold in 3, 2, 1.5, 1 litre, 500 ml, 8, 12, 20 and 24 U.S. fluid ounce plastic bottles, 12 U.S. fluid ounce cans, and short eight-ounce cans. Some Coca-Cola products can be purchased in 8 and 12 U.S. fluid ounce glass bottles. Jones Soda and Orange Crush are sold in 16 U.S. fluid ounce (1 U.S. pint) glass bottles. Cans are packaged in a variety of quantities such as six packs, 12 packs and cases of 24, 36 and 360. With the advent of energy drinks sold in eight-ounce cans in the US, some soft drinks are now sold in similarly sized cans. It is also common for carbonated soft drinks to be served as fountain drinks in which carbonation is added to a concentrate immediately prior to serving.

Soft drinks trace their history back to the mineral waters found in natural springs. Ancient societies believed that bathing in natural springs and/or drinking mineral waters could cure many diseases. Early scientists who studied mineral waters included Geber, Alkindus, Rhazes, Paracelsus, Robert Boyle, Friedrich Hoffmann, Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, Hermann Boerhaave, William Brownrigg, Gabriel F. Venel, Joseph Black, and David Macbride.

The earliest soft drinks were sherbets developed by Arabic chemists and originally served in the medieval Near East. These were juiced soft drinks made of crushed fruit, herbs, or flowers.^[2] From around 1265, a popular drink known as Dandelion & Burdock appeared in England, made from fermented dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and burdock (Arctium lappa) roots, and is naturally carbonated. The drink (similar to Sarspirilla) is still available today but made with flavorings and carbonated water since the Safrole in the original recipe was found to be carcinogenic.^[3]

The first marketed soft drinks (non-carbonated) in the Western world appeared in the 17th century. They were made from water and lemon juice sweetened with honey. In 1676, the Compagnie des Limonadiers of Paris was granted a monopoly for the sale of lemonade soft drinks. Vendors carried tanks of lemonade on their backs and dispensed cups of the soft drink to thirsty Parisians.

References

1. ^ Matthew T. Campbell (2003-04-01). "Generic Names for Soft Drinks by Country". popvssoda.com. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
2. ^ Juliette Rossant (2005), The World's First Soft Drink, Saudi Aramco World, September/October 2005, pp. 36-9
3. ^ Chris Milliken (2007). British Soft Drinks Since 1960. University of Cambridge

Mashed Potatos

Serves:

2½ pounds (6 large) potatoes

½ cup fat-free milk

½ cup fat-free sour cream

¼ teaspoon white pepper

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, cook potatoes in boiling salted water until tender. Drain and set aside. When potatoes are done, drain well. Add milk and beat with electric mixer until smooth. Add sour cream and white pepper. Beat until smooth. Add additional milk if necessary to make potatoes light and fluffy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.

Kogi

What is Kogi?

Kogi barbecue truck is very popular in L.A. The Kogi Barbecue truck sells a food named Kogi Barbecue which has Korean barbeque in a taco. The Kogi Barbecue is popular in Los Angeles recently. A Korean American kid translated this kind of food from Korean. Many people like to eat it. There is always a long waiting line before the Kogi Barbecue Track.

Kogi Menu:

Here is a link to the Kogi.

http://kogibbq.com/our-menu/

I like Tofu Kogi Barbecue, because it doesn' have meat in it. I think it is more healthy.The Tofu Kogi Barbecue has some tofu which is pan seared and topped with some fixings. All out tacos are toped with sesame-chill salsa roja, julienne romaine lettuce and cabbage tossed in Korean chili-soy vinaigrette, cilantro-green onion-lime relish, some crushed sesame seeds, sea salt, and garnished with lime wedge, orange wedge and red radish wedge. It will be a good choice for lunch.

Dumplings

Today, I want to show the way to make dumplings.

Cook Material:

1. 500g Pork (mash)

2. 1/2 Chinese Cabbage(mincing)

3. 3 cups flours

4. 5 shallot (mincing)

5. 1/5 ginger(mincing)

6. little pepper

7. salt

8.vegetable oil

9. soy

Fix the flours with water. Crush up into a paste likes the picture showing. This is the wrap page of the dumplings.

Fix the pork, Chinese cabbage, shallot, ginger, pepper, salt, vegetable oil and soy together in a middle bowl . This is the stuffing of the dumplings.

Prepare everything well, Then start to make dumplings.

Cut the paste into little nubs. Then roll them into thin wrap pages.

Put a little stuffing on the center of the wrap page. Cover the stuffing.

Then you can put them into the hot water.

It is cooked when it float on the top of water.

junk food and children

Junk food and children

http://baby.163.com/09/1014/10/5LJ2Q8AO00262HR6.html
This is a Chinese article about the junk food bring negative effects on children's healthy. It listed some measurements about the scary influence of children. And showing the reactions of parents about the junk food.
http://www.indiaparenting.com/food-and-nutrition/56_1186/children-and-junk-food.html

This is the English article.

There are linked two articles in different languages, Chinese and English, have the same topic- junk food and children. According to the two articles, the children's health is destroyed by junk food all over the world. Likewise, these two articles clarify that junk food brought lots negative effects on children’s healthy in the modern society. The Chinese article explains the influence to children’s health by predicting that there would be more than 55% girls and 70% boys over fat in 2050. It is similar to the English article’s supports which the food colors are harmful to children’s bodies, which both destroy children’s health. In addition, the Chinese article shows the reasons that caused children infatuating the junk food. The English article describes it, too. The Chinese one points out the television commercial is propagating wrong understanding about junk food to children, the same as the English article. At last of two articles, they both emphasize the importance of channeling off children’s eating habits in a right way. One way in which Chinese article is similar to the English one is eating more regular food instead of junk food. However, they explain these ideas in different ways and have their own emphases. Although, they expound the junk food harms children’s body; the Chinese article listed some numbers of the healthy status of Chinese children, and the English article gives an example of the food colors, which can affect digestive systems. Nevertheless, two articles all clarify these reasons caused the phenomenon of junk food. But the Chinese article emphasis these influences from the social environment, such as the inapprehensive television commercial. It is different from the English article, which is focus on the family’s affects; the parents are neglectful for their children’s eating habits. In conclusion, these two article both emphasis a topic that junk food is not good for children’s healthy growth. We should do something to protect the children from these junk food.

The Banana Cake

I watched this video on YouTube, I think it is the simple.

I want to try.

Currently, I like to bake something. I want to share you a great food.

You can bake the sweet potatoes. Clean them can cut them into to 2 parts. And palter with butter and sugar. Bake more than 40 minutes. It is sweet and soft.

Smoking Dog

It is the most lonely dog all over the world.

Halloween

In my hometown, I didn’t see anyone celebrate the Halloween. So this is my first real Halloween, and I enjoyed it. I heard the stories about the Halloween and watched many movies about it before. In modern times, I think it also became an important part of social cultural all over the world. Even though there are less traditional events than before, people change into another way to express their honor to dead. They dressed on some funny or frightening clothes, and attended some costume parties. Maybe it turns on focusing some ghoulish things that is developing into a deflection. No matter the way it is, we just need to continue the traditional festival because the rest are less.

In addition, I think it is a great way to release the pressure for adults. They can dress in anything what they want, such as the superman, animal, and policeman. It is just for fun, so don’t care others opinion. It makes everyone to feel free in Halloween. Everyone enjoys it and loves it. So the modern people need the Halloween.

I saw my friends dressing on frightening clothes to go to some a party. I have had to say they are so cool.

I went to Mall of American on Saturday. There are so many thing on sales there. I am just crazy about this. I bought a lot of things back. I saw many people dressing on costumes, when I went back home at night. I saw a little baby who was wearing in a dinosaur clothes with finger food. It is so cute. I saw a famliy dressing on the roles in some fairy tales.

Kungbao Chicken

COOKING MATERIAL

chicken 300g, Pignuts 50g,Red Hot Chili Peppers 20g,Farina 25g,Bree 20g Vegetable oil 80g

COOKING PROCESS
1. Dice the chicken, put them into a medium bowl and add some sauce, salt, rice wine, and farina. Then stir it.
2. Add sauce, sugar, vinegar, monosodium glutamate, bree, and farina into a minimum bowl, and then stir it. This is the KungBao Sauce.
3. Chip the red hot chili peppers.
4. Fry pignuts by using vegetable oil.
Fry the red hot chili peppers into reddish brown colored.
5. Add the chicken into pan, fix with the peppers. Then add some shallots and garlic. Next, pour the KungBao Sauce in pan. Last, add the deep-fry pignuts.

Tragedy!!!!

This is a chinese student who was climbing the wall of school restroom after
playing truant. When he climbed the roof, an unfortunate thing happened.
He didn't know the roof is made of as bestos shingle, when he was walking on it. The roof could't support him to walk on it, and then he fell down.
But he didn't give up. He repeated UP and Down for many times. It is so funny. He was the most poor guy of the world!

NOBODY

The wonder girls are a five-girls group, come from South Korea. They are famous with full music video for "Nobody". The MTV of Nobody spread widely on the Internet. Not only South Korea fans love it, also other coutries people imitate thier dance. They released a archaistic dance in the fashion world.



Many boys love to imitate this MTV. I think it is very funny.


This is a Japanese boy group show. I think they are so wonderful.



This is a primary boys showing Nobody.

cat's song

I just want to share this with everyone, I believe you will love it like me.
Meow！Meow！

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3nIScO592Y

Sushi

I can cook Sushi in a quick way. I often spend 20 minutes to cook some perfect sushi by myself.
My Sushi belongs to Makizushi. Makizushi is cylindrical piece, formed with the help of a bamboo mat, called a Makisu. I think it is the easest one for cooking, but it is also delicious.

I listed the cooking utensils:
Makisu-Bamboo rolling mat.
shamoji-Wooden rice paddle.
nori
cold rice-white, short-grained
rice vinegar
salmon or tunny cans
thousand salad
mustard

OK! If you have all of these things, it means you can cook the Makisu anytime if you want.

Step1: Make the rice mixed with rice vinger. If you like stweet you can mix some sugers in.
Step2: Open a salmon can mixed with thousand salad. Don't add to much salad, because too
watery is not easy to roll.
Step3:Put a piece of nori onto the makisu , and using the shamoji to expend some rice on it, like
the picture following:

(This picture is from Yangcheng evening paper)

Step4: Add the fillings on the middle of the rice. If you like can add some mustard.
Step5: Roll the makisu carefully.


Step6: Cut the roll into 6 to 8 pieces.


The following picture is my Sushi. Haha, does it look good?



I hope you can try to cook yourself sushi by this way. I like to cook some, and take them as my lunch. If you want you can change the fillings, such as adding some vegetables or filling with Broiled Eel.

I like the imformation of sushi in wikipedia, I make a link. I hope it will help you improve more knowledge of sushi. Oh! I'm a Chinese lady who loves cooking, not Japanese.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sushi#Types_of_sushi

Enjoy yourself Sushi!

Vegan Borscht!

I love cooking, I think maybe I can make cooking is my main topic. I also will share some interesting things and pictures of my life here.
The first post of cooking is about a video on YouTube, it is a Vegan Borscht.
I just attracted by the beautiful red color of the soup. I came to America for 4 weeks, during these period time, I can't not move my attention from the foods. Yes, there are so many various foods that I had never seen before. I will catch the opportunity to learn more dishes of American foods, or others'(expect Chinese foods).
I can cook Chinese food in LU Style. I also learned my kinds way cook soups from my mother. But this soup is so different between mine. I wanna try to cook the Vegan Borscht. I promise I will share the experience of eating this soup.

hair

This is a good hair.
I think this is more popular in China. Currently, the fashion trend of Chinese ladies is the South Koera style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUVK7I1vsJA

Miss Edumunds

She is beautiful.
I　had never imagine what`s her face like.
She is so beautiful.

the national day of China

1st October is the national day of China. 2009 is the 60th anniversary of the founding of our country. It is my country mom' birthday, this video is for her. I love you mom!
http://player.youku.com/player.php/sid/XMTIyMzExNjU2/v.swf

About Ychen

I am an exchange student from China. I am 22 years old. My major is accounting. I chose this course because the effects of my specialized family. I am not sure what is my hobby actually because I love everything. I can draw picture, not only sketch but also Chinese Pictures. Currently, I think I cook well because I paid more attention on studying new dishes and did a lot practices.
I think I just want to say hello to "BLOG". I hope the fun things what would share with everyone.