The day started somewhat cloudy.  As I opened my bedroom windows, I doubted the sun would come out; but it did a little later.  While I was busy working, the kitchen windows were opened slightly, letting the fresh air in.  I suddenly thought of how close spring will be, it seemed like it’s already in [...]

Chinese New Year is today, Monday, January 23, 2012; and it will be the beginning of the year of the Dragon.  I’m pretty excited this year because my parents are here and we get to celebrate it together for the first time after a long time being apart.  This type of celebration is truly felt [...]

Eating sweetened tangyuan or onde-onde (in Bahasa Indonesia) during Chinese Winter Solstice Festival may become a yearly occurrence now. Before my parents moved close to me, I didn’t always remember to make onde-onde in the month of December; or sometimes I was too lazy to make some. But now, my mom is my motivation to [...]

I finally had a time to bake sweets for Christmas…ah, the joy of having two-week break from work.  It gave me a motivation to bake, it prepared me to be ready for Christmas.  Thus the sweet is aptly named Christmas almond truffle bars.  I’ve made this actually years before, don’t remember anymore if I’ve ever [...]