New blog

After moving from blogger to wordpress, now I’m migrating to blogger again! I actually like both platforms, yet blogger offers more free features. It has lots of new widgets ready to go, and most importantly I can control the HTML templates.

Check out my new blog at: http://www.ginapedia.blogspot.com/

See you on blogger!

Our Deepest Fear

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear
is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness,
that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually who are we not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people
won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine as children do.
We were born to make manifest
the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And when we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

by Marianne Williamson
from A Return To Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles

Footprints in the Sand

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonging to him and the other to the Lord.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times of his life. This really bothered him and questioned the Lord about it.

“Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. However, I noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life there was only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The Lord replied, “my precious, precious child, I love you and I would never leave you during your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints it was then that I carried you.” 

Lorenzo Quinn's Hand of God

Stir-fried soy spinach

super easy, super yummy, super healthy…

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 2 garlic clove
• 1 red pepper
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 200-500g bag spinach
• xtra veggie e.g. mung bean sprout, mushroom

Method:

Heat the oil in a pan and cook the garlic n red pepper for a few secs. Tip in the spinach and cook for 2 mins, stirring often until just beginning to wilt. Drizzle over the soy sauce, sesame oil, toss through and scatter with sesame seeds. Great served with chicken or grills.

SOURCE: BBC GoodFood

Roast Duck Breast with Soy Sauce

OMG… made it for the first time and it came out super DELICIOUS!!
guaranteed!

Ingredients:

• 2 duck breast
• 1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder
• olive oil for frying
• 2 star anise
• 3 spring onions, cut into lengths
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• chicken stock fresh, cube or concentrate, made up to 100ml
• 2 tsp runny honey

Directions:

1. Preheat oven (gas mark 2, 180C)
2. Cut slashes through the skin and fat of each duck breast, making sure you don’t cut into the flesh. Rub the duck breasts with the five spice and season well. Heat a little oil in a heavy frying pan and when it is really hot add the duck breasts skin-side down. Turn the heat down a little and fry for 4-8 minutes or until the skin is very crisp and brown and the fat has started to melt out from under the skin. Tip out any excess fat.
3. Turn the breasts over and add the star anise to the pan. Cook for another 5 minutes or until the duck breasts feel firm to the touch but not too solid, put it in the oven for about 10minutes. Take the duck out and leave to rest for 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, add spring onions and cook briefly. Add the rest of the ingredients and bubble together briefly. Plate the duck, spoon the sauce over.

SOURCE: BBC GoodFood

Chef Ramsay Video: How to render and cook duck breasts