For The Supiaholic

July Overnight Oatmeal Challenge Day #5 Guava Extremist Overnight Oatmeal

2014-07-05T22:57:00.000+08:00

Guava, guava, guava, it is so fun to say. Guava is one of the cheapest fruits you can get in Taiwan, although deseeding it is probably not a fun thing to do; most people will toss away the seeds but I had a roommate whom love eating the seeds part of the guava because it is sweeter and the flesh near the seed is softer; it is either she is a weirdo or it is okay to eat the seeds however I am not suggesting you to try.

It is weird that when I Google guava the image appeared are from the pink guava and despite how cute it look like I have yet to try that variation; I just stick to the normal green guava but it is not boring; I like the crispiness and the tartness that add a kick to the flavor.

The dried guava is something I don't know existed until few weeks ago; I am not a big fan of dried fruits but these store brought dried guava really got me going. I have been thinking about it after I tried it for the first time. I enjoy how the tartness remain and the texture become some what chewy, it can be really addictive.

Day#5

Guava Extremist Overnight Oatmeal

Sliced Guava with Guava Juice Overnight Oatmeal topped with Dried Guava

Ingredients:-
1/2 cups of oatmeal
3/4 cups of sliced guava
3/4 cups of guava juice
Top with few slices of dried guava

The method is the same, it is easy, just mix it all in except the topping and refrigerate overnight. This one is less watery compared to the one yesterday but still some what less creamy as oppose to adding milk. Anyway I think adding juice has more flavor and I am really liking it, also topping really add lots of fun and the different texture some how makes me forget that I am eating oatmeal.

You can see that the dried guava has a distinctive bright yellow color and it just made the whole oatmeal look less boring, I am guessing that the dried guava is from yellow guava, I think it exist. The oatmeal is very sweet from absorbing the guava juice; it is really nice. If you have the chance to visit Taiwan guava juice box is something you should try, it is like my childhood drinks whenever my family dine out.

July Overnight Oatmeal Challenge Day #4 Grapes and Dragon Fruits with Cranberry Juice Overnight Oatmeal

2014-07-04T22:11:00.003+08:00

Its day #4 and I thought why should I limit myself to soy milk only, perhaps I can try with fruit juice instead; it takes some courage but I did. Although it come out a bit more watery as compared to adding milk, maybe I should cut down on the juice next time. I think adding juice is fun, it is more refreshing and tangy; and its time to give the creamy oatmeal some makeover.

Day #4

Grapes and Dragon Fruits with Cranberry Juice Overnight Oatmeal

Ingredients:

1/2 cups of oatmeal

1/3 cups of dragon fruits (cut into triangle)

3/4 cups of grapes (halved)

1 cup of cranberry juice

Well, the steps are very easy, just put all the ingredients into a big cup, bowl, container or whatever you have. Give it a good stir, make sure its all mixed thoroughly, give it a shake if you have to but I normally don't shake it because I don't like when I have to clean the residue stuck inside the screw cover mug. Then, put it in the refrigerator overnight and enjoy the chilled goodness for breakfast.

If you don't like your oatmeal too watery use less juice, maybe 3/4 cups will do.

It is not easy working with grapes, I have to half every single of it and remove the seeds, if seedless grapes is an option you should get the seedless one. Nevertheless, it is a good option for a healthy breakfast and the color is so vibrant it is perfect to the day.

July Overnight Oatmeal Challenge Day #3 Avocado and Matcha Green Tea with Black Soy Milk Overnight Oatmeal

2014-07-03T21:33:00.000+08:00

Its the third day of July and I am a green monster today. Avocado is one of my favorite fruits but not everyone like it as much as I do. In Taiwan most people don't eat avocado but they enjoy drinking avocado and pudding milk, tried it but I think the pudding is way overpowering the taste of avocado. I like subtle, buttery flavor and how it just melt in the mouth with the mild yet distinctive taste.

The bad things about avocado it that it is not a cheap fruit, I remember buying imported avocado back in Malaysia for RM10 per box with 3 avocados, medium size; and that it takes forever to ripe. That just sucks especially when I am not a very patient person. So, few days ago, I brought a big local grown avocado at the fruits stall near my house and this darken avocado was on sales, and I had to bring it home. It is much bigger than those imported one and has a very bright yellow flesh, some what close to the color of a mango.

I have to include this nutritious fruit in my daily oatmeal dosage.

Day #3

Avocado and matcha green tea with black soy milk

I had no idea how I come out with this brilliant combination of avocado and matcha green tea. Thanks to the 2 packets matcha green tea latte drinks that has been lying in my drawer (I think I got that from a classmate).

This one is really simple, just cut half of the avocado cutely and with approximately half cup of oatmeal and 2 packets of matcha green tea latte drinks top with 1 cup of black soy milk, stir thoroughly and refrigerate overnight.

I like my breakfast looking green, although it might not look good in a green mug but that is the only mug I got so just let it be. And surprisingly the matcha and avocado really taste good together and the black soy leave a very smooth aftertaste, perhaps I am just a genius in food combinations and pairing. Avocado lovers out there you should really try this.

July Overnight Oatmeal Challenge Day#1 and Day#2

2014-07-03T00:15:00.000+08:00

I did not plan to do this ahead, it just somehow happen to be that I am very overwhelmed when I first see the idea. I am not a fan of oatmeal at all but I am just dazed at the idea of overnight oatmeal (thanks to beautifully presented photos on pinterest), the whole mason jar, greek yogurt, almond milk, chia seeds and colorful berries just give me the assumption of healthy, delicious breakfast and it makes me feel like I should really try it someday.

Well, I didn't take long to try it but living in Taiwan and I don't read much Chinese I can't get most of the ingredients needed, there is no mason jar, no greek yogurt, no almond milk, extremely rare and overpriced chia seeds but curiosity kills me ~~like a cat~~. Hence, I tried it with some simple, cheaper and accessible ingredients.

To my surprise, I really like it, I remember hating oatmeal when I was young, I had the memory of oatmeal tasted like glue, no offense, yes tasted like glue, slimy and bland. I know its healthy but I really don't like it that much. I guess, I have changed over time.

Its all come down to creativity to make oatmeal delicious, after eating my first overnight oatmeal I am surprised that the oatmeal absorbed all the flavor from the fruits and how the fruits remain its texture and it is really delicious especially eaten cold in the hot summer.

Hence, I started my July overnight oatmeal challenge, I am not sure how well I am going to do or how committed I am or how many ideas I have for this but hopefully this gets me going.
Sorry for the lack of quality or not appealing photos, I didn't make this for eyes its for my tummy, these are all taken from my lousy phone and already heavily filtered to enhance the appearance.

Day #1

Apple, peach and cinnamon oatmeal with soy milk topped with 7 maple syrup coated cashew nuts.

The truth is I don't even remember the recipe, I just put in whatever I think is right, add in soy milk and give it a good stir and shake before putting it in the refrigerator overnight and it came out perfectly alright.

Day #2

Chocolate banana oatmeal.

This one is rather simpler yet very enjoyable, it is always a very good combination.

Optimistically believing that I could really do this challenge and hopefully with no repeat!

Oh, stop reminding me its a new year!

2014-01-01T22:08:00.000+08:00

This is not whiny, this is not negative.

Its just that its kinda disturbing to see all these new year resolution filling in every part of my Facebook feeds. Do we really need a new year to set a new goal, or to remind ourselves on things we said we are going to achieve the previous year or even worse the year before that. Why do people even enjoy making all these goals they thought they will be able to accomplish but deep down they know they might not.

Humans are genetically engineered to be optimistic and to have hope, oh well, that will be better if we can top that up with some permanent positive charges. Why is that a trend to set a resolution once a year, making it harder to keep up with and too long to remember about it. Try ask someone in May what is their new year resolution; see how many truly live to it.

Are resolutions unrealistic? Or its because our passion for it got sucked away as time flies.
If only we can celebrate everyday with the hope, joy, happiness, passion, motivation and hope the way we celebrate a new year, that is when changes happen in life for good!
The question is how to make this motivation last a year long. <3

Counting Blessing

2013-12-25T23:14:00.002+08:00

Life has never been so down for such a long time. Traumatized by things that went out of control, worried, frail and helpless. Couldn't just snivel about this surreptitious problem or it was the consequences of the opportunity squandered in the past. Haunted by the helplessness yet I couldn't just morosely weep and this shouldn't be an impasse in my life, no matter how flummoxed I feel, I know there is always hope, and hope comes in different ways every time.

Its Christmas today and I feel so blessed to be here surrounded by these wonderful friends that helped me greatly during low time. I never expect to receive Christmas present other than getting it from gift exchanging party, I believe there is still so much hope in life as long as the faith remains.

I used to think I am a kind person but I couldn't deny at sometimes it is tiring, it felt worthless and I hope occasionally these people I been kind to pamper me too. It was recently that I really meet people with big heart, it was from her I see how selfless someone can be, it was then I know how small I really am. It difficult to try to count blessing but today I learned counting blessing is the root of happiness.

I probably should stop thinking how people should be kinder to me, there is nothing wrong for others to be selfish but it is wrong to put expectation on others.

Thanks for all the Christmas presents I received this year, that was truly a blessing and I am thankful to have you in my life.

有你真好~

Of life and coffee

2013-06-12T11:52:00.001+08:00

I remember sipping my first cup of instant coffee given by my roommate during matriculation time, it tasted so bitterly horrible and that I had to gulp it down, naively believe that it can help me stay up that bit longer to study for exam, soon realized it to be the worst coffee experience ever - vomiting right after.
And from that bitterness, I had this hatred towards coffee, I never understand why someone can be so addicted to something bitterness level ranked right next to Chinese herbal medicine, I have this impression that I am allergy to coffee, if I drink coffee, I'll vomit. I have been constantly having this narrow mindset for a long time until someone buy me my first Frappucino.

So my Starbucks story begin, my regular visit to this said to be overrated expensive coffee shop. Soon I realized it more than the coffee that attract me, its the people. I somehow have this intuition that Starbucks people are so highly enthusiastic and very passionate to coffee and their job. Not long after that I got myself a part time job at Starbucks at my hometown, then joined them at the opening of a 2nd store there.

Needless to say, its one of the best experience in my life, getting my first coffee tasting, being tricked to eat coffee waste, black coffee is still bitter. Days at Starbucks are celebrated by having Frappucino everyday for the first month, until I gained more weight ~~and suffer bad menstrual cramp~~. Soon, caramel macchiato is a favorite to replace the freezing Frappucino.

Having coffee tasting every now and then in Starbucks, as coffee tasting means you drink black coffee, French pressed, then share the taste and thought. I soon begin to taste more than bitterness in coffee. Coffee starts to have weight, sourness and different aroma. And from that caramel macchiato to now that I can't accept tasting sweetness in my cup of coffee. It is almost a year since I first started to work at Starbucks and quit few months after, my impression towards coffee changed so much and how this black liquid manage to add colors to my life.

Life is like coffee, you think it is bitter, hence you add many substance to enhance its flavor, its vary from milk and sugar, caramel, cinnamon, chocolate or vanilla - the choices are unlimited, until you then notice it is better without it and realized that its not only about the bitterness, every cup has it unique flavor, it is more to explore beyond the bitterness.

Human and its complexity.

2013-06-11T14:35:00.001+08:00

The more people I meet, the more I love my dog. -Mark Twain.

Humans are actually pretty scary creatures because of its complexity, and for everything that is complex, it is hard to explain and hard to understand. I dream of a simple world with less schematic people but then I realized that my world is so complex because I think in such complexity and that caused such extensive suffering and evaporating happiness. And the greatest enemy is in within, perhaps is the way I think that caused me so much misery and I trap myself in such agony.

Maybe I should ask, "Do I need to be happy in my life?" or I am actually so insecure that making people around me happy is the only way to make myself feel remotely happy? and I am actually so fearful that escaping is my only solution, giving infinite excuses to support my getaway yet soon realizing that escaping is never a solution, I end up escaping from reality to another momentary fantasy, stuck and trapped.

I soon realized that the mean and sarcastic part of me is a just way to conceal the insecurity within and the complexity of it is boundless, needless to say that feeling is such subjective thing that plays such important role in life yet why do I put such essential thing on the hands and behaviors of other people in my life and react so pitifully? But how do I control such subjective thing to enhance the happiness?

Life is a learning process, you never make mistake, you only learn from bad example and experience.
So don't make promise when you are happy, or if promises are made never held too much emotion on it.