The whole idea of making bread came from a reading, the crusty, stringy-yet-soft interior, chewy bread looked so easy to make in the youtube link, which was demonstrated by a famous baker in NYC. Never mind the temperature of fermentation, all you need to do is pour the ingredients into a bowl, wait for 12 hours, throw the mixture into a cast-iron pot for 30 minutes, viola, you have the crusty bread just like those in the shop.
I did my best to find the yeast in Albert Heijn, though not knowing a word of Dutch, I figured these little package sitting underneath the bakery ingredient section must be yeast. Hastily going home, I cannot wait to start my experiment. The commercial yeast did activate very quickly, I put the bowl filled with the mixture of yeast, flour and water next to my laptop, the heat coming out of the vent should encourage the little bateria to work harder. A couple hours later, you can see the dough start to grow, and the smell of fermenting goods come about (oh well, it smells like the over-ripen fruits). I went to bed with the worry thinking it is going to over grow but, hey, we should trust the recipe.
The resulting bread didn't look like those in the film, it actually tastes like the Chinese-style bun, 饅頭, more than a real bread. Because the crust is not really brown but the interior is pretty soft and tasty. I should really have the cast-iron pot and the commercial baking oven to make it work?
After the bread experiment, I am having a lot of fun of the remaining flour (why flour is done in the way you always have some left is beyound me). I tried the pancake, pasta, Chinese-style noodles and cookies. Except cookies, I had to consume all my results (cookies are for the victims in the office). I guess this is the problem if you have too much free time over weekend.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Party Saturday
Hanging out with colleagues in the city, I biked 45 minutes into Amsterdam, meeting them in the restaurant right next to Dam square. The weather was freezing cold, rain has turned into wet snow, hitting my face. Everything is worthwhile, I told myself, if I can have the nice DimSum foods for brunch. The restaurant was crowded since we only arrived slightly before 1pm. DimSum brunch should be consumed leisurely on weekends, it was filled with hungry people. We finally sat down and had our foods, I cannot be bothered explain what the food is made of, if you don't eat them, I will.
Freezing rain continued, after the lunch, we started our bar claw. We first went to a small liquor shop right next to Dam square, it was the landmark of Amsterdam history. The city used to be the port of favored liquor of Europe continent. We then moved to another cute little pub, Goullene, downed another pint of Belguim beer. We then went to the microbrewry pub, featured a lot of locally brewed Dutch beer. The amazing thing is the bartender still remembers me and he even remembers what I had last time.
Continuing our alcohol drinking journey, we went to one colleauge's flat to get the dinner done and more wine. Around 10ish, we set out to attack the pub around the corner of Jordaan, meeting some other friends. It was snowing very hard by now, but I insisted to go back to Amstelveen by bike. I thought it would be awfully cool to bike alone in the snowy quiet night. I realised I was making a terrible mistake after the first fall on snow.
The snow on the bicycle path were somewhat fresh, but there were some other bicycle tracks making the snow lumpy. The wheels sometimes got trapped into those tracks, slightly losing control, and my instinct told me to slow down, pressing the break resulted in the unavoidable skid (since the tires were locked). I fell with the bicycle, left shoulder landed. Amazingly, it wasn't too painful, quickly picking up the bike, I can only think that I am lucky that no one was behind me to run me over. The snow continued falling, it was freezing cold and my toursers were wet.
The same epidsos repeated itself a couple of time, I finally got home after 1 hour or so. Half drunk and bruised knees, I slept very well.
Freezing rain continued, after the lunch, we started our bar claw. We first went to a small liquor shop right next to Dam square, it was the landmark of Amsterdam history. The city used to be the port of favored liquor of Europe continent. We then moved to another cute little pub, Goullene, downed another pint of Belguim beer. We then went to the microbrewry pub, featured a lot of locally brewed Dutch beer. The amazing thing is the bartender still remembers me and he even remembers what I had last time.
Continuing our alcohol drinking journey, we went to one colleauge's flat to get the dinner done and more wine. Around 10ish, we set out to attack the pub around the corner of Jordaan, meeting some other friends. It was snowing very hard by now, but I insisted to go back to Amstelveen by bike. I thought it would be awfully cool to bike alone in the snowy quiet night. I realised I was making a terrible mistake after the first fall on snow.
The snow on the bicycle path were somewhat fresh, but there were some other bicycle tracks making the snow lumpy. The wheels sometimes got trapped into those tracks, slightly losing control, and my instinct told me to slow down, pressing the break resulted in the unavoidable skid (since the tires were locked). I fell with the bicycle, left shoulder landed. Amazingly, it wasn't too painful, quickly picking up the bike, I can only think that I am lucky that no one was behind me to run me over. The snow continued falling, it was freezing cold and my toursers were wet.
The same epidsos repeated itself a couple of time, I finally got home after 1 hour or so. Half drunk and bruised knees, I slept very well.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Panties Exchanged For...
Flying back to Amsterdam, I was looking around for the good sake and soju that could impress my colleagues (they have bought me a couple of very high end single malt scotch), just to show my gratitue. Packing the 2 glass bottles in my suitcase, my mind was occupied by the combination of outfits I can go with the limited amount of clothes.
Not until I was on the bus to the airport, I realised that I had no underwears except those that's on me. I arrived on Wednesday night, there is no way I can get to the shops to get anything until the weekends.
I washed and iron dried them every morning until the Saturday. It worked out pretty ok. Perhaps we don't really need any extra undies at all?
Not until I was on the bus to the airport, I realised that I had no underwears except those that's on me. I arrived on Wednesday night, there is no way I can get to the shops to get anything until the weekends.
I washed and iron dried them every morning until the Saturday. It worked out pretty ok. Perhaps we don't really need any extra undies at all?
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Folding Bike
Hello kitty is eaten by a panda! Help!
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During my vacation in Taipei, the best thing is to find a folding bicycle. It is light enough (7 or 8 kg) to carry on your shoulders to get into public transportation. Also fast enough, max speed is around 25 km/h if paddling in casual pace with highest gear.
I rode the folding bike to my dentist, bank, post office, market, museum, juice jar, bookstores, etc. Every morning when I leave home, going down hill is pretty fun (max speed can be 55 km/h), but going home is pretty demanding. Regardless, it is very nice to exercise and sweat. I think winter in Taipei is the best season to get some workout outdoor wise.
The only problem with the folding bike is that it is impossible to lock, I have to carry it with me all the time even if going to a bathroom.
One day I went to the bookstore with the folding bike on my shoulder (folded, packed in the carrying bag). I walked straight to the customer service desk, and asked if I can leave my bike here. The young lady replied "But we are not allowed to watch your bicycle as our company policy alleged..." I felt that anger has changed my facial expression and I said "what if this is a baggage?" pointing to the bag on my shoulder. "In that case, it is ok" said the young lady.
Becoming Dutch
Returning back to Amsterdam after my long vacation in Taipei, sadly my facebook and blogspot login pages are turned into Dutch, more sadly, I can pretty much understand it (the very basic things such as login, logoff, yes, no, and email address, etc). I am still trying to figure out how to make these pages speak English. I guess I only need to learn how to speak over the mobile phone while riding a bicycle to become a more complete one.
Speaking of which, Dutch people are very open-minded, they do not mind dealing with different cultures, such as working with foreigners, enjoying food/drinks coming from other countries. However, they are indeed very private (perhaps that's just being very European). I think Dutch is pretty confident of they way of living, thus, they do not mind seeing or dealing with other cultures. Be very careful, they are not really trying to imitating others , they are only dealing with different values.
Having a very straightforward attitute toward life and everything (for example, you can pretty much do whatever you want to do as long as 1. you can make money 2. you are not bothering others), Dutch people can pretty much handle any culture shock. Think about it, not many cultural differences would conflitct with the Dutch principles.
Dutch though have different understanding of language, they tend to read the face value of sentence. If an English man said to you "I almost agree", what he meant to say is that he does not agree at all. But to a Dutch man, that means "Ah, he has agreed". More translation in the following link, pretty amusing.
http://www.joppeluiten.nl/anglo-dutch%20translation%20guide.htm
I have similar experience when dealing with Dutch people in the bank, I normally end my emails with "please advice" to be polite. However, one of my colleague wrote back "What do you want me to advice, you know everything".
Speaking of which, Dutch people are very open-minded, they do not mind dealing with different cultures, such as working with foreigners, enjoying food/drinks coming from other countries. However, they are indeed very private (perhaps that's just being very European). I think Dutch is pretty confident of they way of living, thus, they do not mind seeing or dealing with other cultures. Be very careful, they are not really trying to imitating others , they are only dealing with different values.
Having a very straightforward attitute toward life and everything (for example, you can pretty much do whatever you want to do as long as 1. you can make money 2. you are not bothering others), Dutch people can pretty much handle any culture shock. Think about it, not many cultural differences would conflitct with the Dutch principles.
Dutch though have different understanding of language, they tend to read the face value of sentence. If an English man said to you "I almost agree", what he meant to say is that he does not agree at all. But to a Dutch man, that means "Ah, he has agreed". More translation in the following link, pretty amusing.
http://www.joppeluiten.nl/anglo-dutch%20translation%20guide.htm
I have similar experience when dealing with Dutch people in the bank, I normally end my emails with "please advice" to be polite. However, one of my colleague wrote back "What do you want me to advice, you know everything".
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