2 eggs
1 1/3 cup heavy cream (a bout 266.6 ml)
5 tbsp sugar (can be less than this)
2 - 8 oz cream cheese
use mixer to mix
bake at 350 F for 30 minutes
taste creamy, somewhere between a sugary tofu and a steamed egg.
2861 Calories total
The Supermarket Diet
by Janis Jibrin
I flipped through this book within less than an hour, because there's really nothing new in it.
At this point of my life, I believe I have accumulated enough knowledge about nutrition and food labels to comprehend any diet plan. The problem is to carry it out. Maybe I'll give it a try - the 1200 -1500 - 1800 calories plan.
I flipped through this book within less than an hour, because there's really nothing new in it.
At this point of my life, I believe I have accumulated enough knowledge about nutrition and food labels to comprehend any diet plan. The problem is to carry it out. Maybe I'll give it a try - the 1200 -1500 - 1800 calories plan.
Carrot Cake
1 cup of all purpose flour
1 cup of whole grain flour
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of plain sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 or 2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup of walnuts
1/3 cup of oil
2/3 cup of buttermilk
1/3 cup of heavy cream
3 eggs
2 cups of carrots
Mix dry ingredients (first group)
Mix and beat wet ingredients (second group)
Gradually add dry to wet (1/2 cup a time), then add carrots, mix till smooth.
Preheat oven to 350F, spray and flour a pan, pour mixture in, bake 45 minutes.
Calories: 4000 C
1 cup of whole grain flour
1 cup of brown sugar
1/2 cup of plain sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 or 2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 cup of walnuts
1/3 cup of oil
2/3 cup of buttermilk
1/3 cup of heavy cream
3 eggs
2 cups of carrots
Mix dry ingredients (first group)
Mix and beat wet ingredients (second group)
Gradually add dry to wet (1/2 cup a time), then add carrots, mix till smooth.
Preheat oven to 350F, spray and flour a pan, pour mixture in, bake 45 minutes.
Calories: 4000 C
The Last Juror
by John Grisham
I was expecting a typical lawyer, court, prosecution story full of conspiracy, thriller and suspense, but it turns out something quite different. Through a rookie journalist's eyes and along with his maturing, we come the see life - almost all aspects of it, from politics and religion to attire and food, in a small southern town in the 70's, and how the social background of the decade - vietnam, desegregation, drug, and monopolization, changed the often idyllic south. This is a story of culture, a story of humanity.
A very enlightening reading experience, but still puzzled by the title.
I was expecting a typical lawyer, court, prosecution story full of conspiracy, thriller and suspense, but it turns out something quite different. Through a rookie journalist's eyes and along with his maturing, we come the see life - almost all aspects of it, from politics and religion to attire and food, in a small southern town in the 70's, and how the social background of the decade - vietnam, desegregation, drug, and monopolization, changed the often idyllic south. This is a story of culture, a story of humanity.
A very enlightening reading experience, but still puzzled by the title.
The Testament
by John Grisham
This is by far the most boring one from this author - jungles and preaches interwaing with litigation. Perhaps because it reflects so much of the author's own life - Brazil, the missionary, the court, the last case, and maybe many more - that he couldn't focus on facribating an intriguing story.
This is by far the most boring one from this author - jungles and preaches interwaing with litigation. Perhaps because it reflects so much of the author's own life - Brazil, the missionary, the court, the last case, and maybe many more - that he couldn't focus on facribating an intriguing story.
The Summons
by John Grisham
My second book on CD and maybe the last one for this author. The more you read one author, the more repeating rhetorics, themes and twists you see, and eventually, you'll get tired of him/her, no matter how good an impression you held in the beginning. I am on that edge for John Grisham now.
My second book on CD and maybe the last one for this author. The more you read one author, the more repeating rhetorics, themes and twists you see, and eventually, you'll get tired of him/her, no matter how good an impression you held in the beginning. I am on that edge for John Grisham now.
The Brethren
by John Grisham
Some dude from bbs highly recommends this one, but I happen to have a low opinion of it. It's simply too ridiculous.
Some dude from bbs highly recommends this one, but I happen to have a low opinion of it. It's simply too ridiculous.
The Partner
by John Grisham
Read by Michael Beck
This is my first audio book experience, and it turns out ok. I don't really like the southern accent of the performer, but I guess the content demands it. Of course I missed some details but at least there's no need to go back to the print work for major parts. And it so much faster than reading!
Like the ending too.
Read by Michael Beck
This is my first audio book experience, and it turns out ok. I don't really like the southern accent of the performer, but I guess the content demands it. Of course I missed some details but at least there's no need to go back to the print work for major parts. And it so much faster than reading!
Like the ending too.
The Firm
by John Grisham
I was told this is Grisham's first and best novel, and obviously I was misinformed. His first one turns out to be A Time to Kill, and his best one, well, I don't know yet. Maybe it is still Skipping Christmas.
The Firm sets tones for several of his later works, if not all. In other words, he never grows out of it. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as he can keep up the suspense and the charm.
I was told this is Grisham's first and best novel, and obviously I was misinformed. His first one turns out to be A Time to Kill, and his best one, well, I don't know yet. Maybe it is still Skipping Christmas.
The Firm sets tones for several of his later works, if not all. In other words, he never grows out of it. But this is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as he can keep up the suspense and the charm.
Hua juan er
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour*
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt (or just dashes)
1/2 cup warm water (body temperature)*
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1) mix all dry ingredients
2) melt yeast in water, then pour into the mix
3) kneat until no powder can be seen
4) add oil, kneat again till dough is smooth
5) cover the bowl with plastic wrap, wait about 40 minutes (the dough grows to 3 times its original size)
6) make dough into big flat wrap, add oil and salt (onion, sugar etc.)
7) roll the wrap up and cut into pieces (not too narrow)
8) every two make one hua juan
9) leave in a warm place for 30 minutes
10 ) steam 8 minutes after the water boiled, then turn off the heat, wait 3 minutes before open the lid.
*used 2 cup flour with 1 cup water for the first time, the dough is shapeless, but the buns tastes ok.
1 teaspoon active dry yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt (or just dashes)
1/2 cup warm water (body temperature)*
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1) mix all dry ingredients
2) melt yeast in water, then pour into the mix
3) kneat until no powder can be seen
4) add oil, kneat again till dough is smooth
5) cover the bowl with plastic wrap, wait about 40 minutes (the dough grows to 3 times its original size)
6) make dough into big flat wrap, add oil and salt (onion, sugar etc.)
7) roll the wrap up and cut into pieces (not too narrow)
8) every two make one hua juan
9) leave in a warm place for 30 minutes
10 ) steam 8 minutes after the water boiled, then turn off the heat, wait 3 minutes before open the lid.
*used 2 cup flour with 1 cup water for the first time, the dough is shapeless, but the buns tastes ok.
Scone
1. Taste more like biscuit:
2 cups all-purpose baking flour
1 tablespoon baking powder,
1/2 teaspoon baking soda,
1 or 2 tablespoons sugar,
1/3 teaspoon salt.
1 stick of butter
Stir in 3/4 cup of buttermilk.
1/4 cup of heaving cream.
Add dried fruit or chocolate chips to taste.
2. Denser
2 cups all-purpose baking flour
1 tablespoon baking powder,
2 tablespoons sugar,
1/4 teaspoon salt.
1 /2 stick of butter (4 tablespoon)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of heaving cream.
Add dried fruit or chocolate chips to taste.
Bake 15 minutes at 400F.
2 cups all-purpose baking flour
1 tablespoon baking powder,
1/2 teaspoon baking soda,
1 or 2 tablespoons sugar,
1/3 teaspoon salt.
1 stick of butter
Stir in 3/4 cup of buttermilk.
1/4 cup of heaving cream.
Add dried fruit or chocolate chips to taste.
2. Denser
2 cups all-purpose baking flour
1 tablespoon baking powder,
2 tablespoons sugar,
1/4 teaspoon salt.
1 /2 stick of butter (4 tablespoon)
2 eggs
1/2 cup of heaving cream.
Add dried fruit or chocolate chips to taste.
Bake 15 minutes at 400F.
Nutrition for Health, Fitness and Sport
by Melvin H Williams
A fairly comprehensive introduction to the basics of nutrition. For someone who is not interested in sports at all, the book has wasted too many pages on athlets. Also, as the author quotes a huge amount of references, and no one can possibly goes through them during a course time, we have to take his words for it. The author tries to set his view points neutral, though I suspect a thing for vegetarians.
Above all, I got what I want from the book. Time well spent.
A fairly comprehensive introduction to the basics of nutrition. For someone who is not interested in sports at all, the book has wasted too many pages on athlets. Also, as the author quotes a huge amount of references, and no one can possibly goes through them during a course time, we have to take his words for it. The author tries to set his view points neutral, though I suspect a thing for vegetarians.
Above all, I got what I want from the book. Time well spent.
Deception Point
by Dan Brown
Fortunately, I didn't have high expectation of this new one. Da Vinci Code attracts me only with its religious content, the researches and discoveries about Jesus that I was not aware of. The writing is just so so.
In deception point, the background is military, high tech and politics. The author obviously has substantial knowledge in the first two areas, yet, those are the parts that I flip through. As for politics, the details are okay while the main story line is tooooo far fetch, rendering no credibility at all.
Having said that, if make into a movie, this one should be better than Da Vinci Code. Special effects, suspense and action are all over.
Fortunately, I didn't have high expectation of this new one. Da Vinci Code attracts me only with its religious content, the researches and discoveries about Jesus that I was not aware of. The writing is just so so.
In deception point, the background is military, high tech and politics. The author obviously has substantial knowledge in the first two areas, yet, those are the parts that I flip through. As for politics, the details are okay while the main story line is tooooo far fetch, rendering no credibility at all.
Having said that, if make into a movie, this one should be better than Da Vinci Code. Special effects, suspense and action are all over.
Omnivore's Dilemma
by Michael Pollan
Another book that I committed to read thoroughly but end up skipping a lot of chapters. The first part of the book is a more detailed and informative expansion of Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation. The second part on industrial organic also provides some interesting but not so astonishing facts. When it comes to the utopian Virginia farm, hunting, and gathering, oh, man, I just have to skip to the end. The author is looking for a perfect meal for upper middle class Americans, at the expense of the at least two third of the world population, and a higher percentage of American people.
One good point observed by the author is that, unlike many other cultures in the world, Americans don't have their own food tradition, and therefore, easier to fall victim of the industrialization and commercialiaztion of eating. In addition to that, and missed by the author, is the democracy and the freedom Americans boast. In a not so politically correct culture like Chinese or French, being overweight is associated with humiliation and less or worse opportunities in society, but here in US, fat people simply don't feel the shame. Guess obesity is the price to pay to live in a free world.
Another book that I committed to read thoroughly but end up skipping a lot of chapters. The first part of the book is a more detailed and informative expansion of Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation. The second part on industrial organic also provides some interesting but not so astonishing facts. When it comes to the utopian Virginia farm, hunting, and gathering, oh, man, I just have to skip to the end. The author is looking for a perfect meal for upper middle class Americans, at the expense of the at least two third of the world population, and a higher percentage of American people.
One good point observed by the author is that, unlike many other cultures in the world, Americans don't have their own food tradition, and therefore, easier to fall victim of the industrialization and commercialiaztion of eating. In addition to that, and missed by the author, is the democracy and the freedom Americans boast. In a not so politically correct culture like Chinese or French, being overweight is associated with humiliation and less or worse opportunities in society, but here in US, fat people simply don't feel the shame. Guess obesity is the price to pay to live in a free world.
A Short History of Nearly Everthing
By Bill Bryson
The first part of the book is like a tour of the universe and the earth, with your guide points out the milestones, explains them in a layman's language and above all, highlights the anecdotes associated with their discoverer. It is a fun tour and definitely reminds readers of the author's reputation in travel literature. However, the second part of the book takes a dull turn. It is piled up with scientific terms and and facts, and the scientists are mentioned through quotes instead of stories. It makes people wonder how much of the stuff the author himself really gets.
The first part of the book is like a tour of the universe and the earth, with your guide points out the milestones, explains them in a layman's language and above all, highlights the anecdotes associated with their discoverer. It is a fun tour and definitely reminds readers of the author's reputation in travel literature. However, the second part of the book takes a dull turn. It is piled up with scientific terms and and facts, and the scientists are mentioned through quotes instead of stories. It makes people wonder how much of the stuff the author himself really gets.
Mary, Mary
By James Patterson
A first Patterson for me, but its not bad. Perhaps the cheesiest cover I read, the short chapters and big letters have cheapishness written all over it, and it reminds me of Gu Long. However, you have to admit that shorter sentences, paragraphs and chapters do excelerate tbe pace of the story. The three paralell progressing perspective make the story round and add suspension. The only unnessesary part is the ending when Storyteller jumps out to strike the detective - a pointless move. Not entirely out of expectation though - so far, none of them seems to be able to conclude a story gracefully.
Of course there are the usual package that comes with the law enforcement forces - divorce, customdy battle, romance with colleagues, etc. Yet fortunately, the author doesn't let them slow down the story too much.
Generally speaking, a good surprise after several stories in the same color. I am not sure I'll come back to this author though, at least for a while. It's interesting but not pleasant reading.
A first Patterson for me, but its not bad. Perhaps the cheesiest cover I read, the short chapters and big letters have cheapishness written all over it, and it reminds me of Gu Long. However, you have to admit that shorter sentences, paragraphs and chapters do excelerate tbe pace of the story. The three paralell progressing perspective make the story round and add suspension. The only unnessesary part is the ending when Storyteller jumps out to strike the detective - a pointless move. Not entirely out of expectation though - so far, none of them seems to be able to conclude a story gracefully.
Of course there are the usual package that comes with the law enforcement forces - divorce, customdy battle, romance with colleagues, etc. Yet fortunately, the author doesn't let them slow down the story too much.
Generally speaking, a good surprise after several stories in the same color. I am not sure I'll come back to this author though, at least for a while. It's interesting but not pleasant reading.
The Lighthouse
- An Adam Dalgliesh Mystery
By P. D. James
One disadvantage of reading one book from a series is that you have to tolerate a lot details, romantic ones typically, of the main characters that absolutely unrelated to the development of the story. And this is the case with the Lighthouse, in which many pages and even some short chapters you can safely skip.
The story develops in the same fashion as Murder on the Oriental Express or Gosford Park. It contains fairly interesting suspensions and surprises, but the ending is rather disapointing. It comes with a sudden enlightenment upon the detective (by SARS?) that only connects to a few unexciting details revealed earlier. Like most of the suspense, it ends rapidly with a very unnessesary scene at the lighthouse. Another tiger head and snake tail.
As for the writing, apart from the dragging details about major characters romantic relationship, the book is full of pretnetious quotes which make the reading less serious.
By P. D. James
One disadvantage of reading one book from a series is that you have to tolerate a lot details, romantic ones typically, of the main characters that absolutely unrelated to the development of the story. And this is the case with the Lighthouse, in which many pages and even some short chapters you can safely skip.
The story develops in the same fashion as Murder on the Oriental Express or Gosford Park. It contains fairly interesting suspensions and surprises, but the ending is rather disapointing. It comes with a sudden enlightenment upon the detective (by SARS?) that only connects to a few unexciting details revealed earlier. Like most of the suspense, it ends rapidly with a very unnessesary scene at the lighthouse. Another tiger head and snake tail.
As for the writing, apart from the dragging details about major characters romantic relationship, the book is full of pretnetious quotes which make the reading less serious.
Misquoting Jesus
- The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why
By Bart D. Ehrman
Interesting Points:
1. The original version of the Bible was written in Greek, and was lost.
2. Jesus was a Rabi who believed in and taught Torah. His interpretation of God's wordswas different than Mose's sometimes. E.g. adultery (M: should not commit; J: should not even look at a married woman with lust) ; divorce (M: should be documented; J: it's an act of adultery).
3. Ancient world had a low literacy rate (less then 10-15%); Christian circle was even lower, because it composed of poor people.
4. Someone who could only sign his name may be regarded as literate.
5. Ancient Greek was written in the same way as Chinese, scriptuo continua. There's no punctuation mark, no upper/lowercase letters, no space between words. (Godisnowhere = God is now here or God is nowhere.)
6. Most of the copying was done by professional in Roman world, but in early Christian world, by people who wanted the books (indicating more mistakes).
7. Examples of later add-ons: a) John 7:53-8:12, The Woman Taken in Adultery. (Only appears in John, not appeared in the earliest available versions, unique style and vocabulary.) b) The last twelve verses of Mark, about what happened after Sabbath. (In addition to the common evidence, Mary Magdalene was introduced as she never appeared before.) The verses were added to avoid an abrupt ending of the Gospel whick was actually common in Mark's (according to Mark, the disciples rarely understand Jesus.)
8. Alexandria, Egypt had the most scupulous scribes, and therefore, preserved a pure form of early Christian writings.
9. At the beginning of the 4th century, church began to use professional scribes.
10. The Bible used by the Western Church - Jerome's Latin translation.
11. The explanantion of Trinity only appeared in the published Latiin version of the Bible, not in the original published Greek version (16th century), but was added to the Erasmus' Greek version by translating the passage from Latin. Erasmus' version later became the base for King James' English version.
12. John Mill's Apparatus, some 30 thousands of variations to the Textus Receptus, the "original" Greek Bible.
I read the first half of the book with great enthusiasm, though it is only a background knowledge on bible textual criticism. This is the part that relates to what I did for several years with early historical texts in Chinese and this is the part the author can speak with confidence and authority. The core of the book, which is the last three chapters, are understandably dragging to me. The reasons are given by many reviews to the book available online.
One of the major criticism of the book is that it elaborates the only examples one could find while indicating that there are more. This may sound very unscientific to a lay person, but a textual critics would sympathize that that one single spark is exciting enough to lure one to spend the rest of his career on the topic - you believe that you have a sound theory developes from it, and eventually, that's still the only thing you got. This totally reminds me of the good old days with Shiji, the feeling that I had come close to something, and in the end, the very reason I leave it all behind.
One other thing I have to agree with those reviews is that, the title is somehow misleading. It's an obvious attempt to sell the book. On the other hand, the author has mastered the penmanship well to deserve a best-selling. Still a fun reading against all the odds.
By Bart D. Ehrman
Interesting Points:
1. The original version of the Bible was written in Greek, and was lost.
2. Jesus was a Rabi who believed in and taught Torah. His interpretation of God's wordswas different than Mose's sometimes. E.g. adultery (M: should not commit; J: should not even look at a married woman with lust) ; divorce (M: should be documented; J: it's an act of adultery).
3. Ancient world had a low literacy rate (less then 10-15%); Christian circle was even lower, because it composed of poor people.
4. Someone who could only sign his name may be regarded as literate.
5. Ancient Greek was written in the same way as Chinese, scriptuo continua. There's no punctuation mark, no upper/lowercase letters, no space between words. (Godisnowhere = God is now here or God is nowhere.)
6. Most of the copying was done by professional in Roman world, but in early Christian world, by people who wanted the books (indicating more mistakes).
7. Examples of later add-ons: a) John 7:53-8:12, The Woman Taken in Adultery. (Only appears in John, not appeared in the earliest available versions, unique style and vocabulary.) b) The last twelve verses of Mark, about what happened after Sabbath. (In addition to the common evidence, Mary Magdalene was introduced as she never appeared before.) The verses were added to avoid an abrupt ending of the Gospel whick was actually common in Mark's (according to Mark, the disciples rarely understand Jesus.)
8. Alexandria, Egypt had the most scupulous scribes, and therefore, preserved a pure form of early Christian writings.
9. At the beginning of the 4th century, church began to use professional scribes.
10. The Bible used by the Western Church - Jerome's Latin translation.
11. The explanantion of Trinity only appeared in the published Latiin version of the Bible, not in the original published Greek version (16th century), but was added to the Erasmus' Greek version by translating the passage from Latin. Erasmus' version later became the base for King James' English version.
12. John Mill's Apparatus, some 30 thousands of variations to the Textus Receptus, the "original" Greek Bible.
I read the first half of the book with great enthusiasm, though it is only a background knowledge on bible textual criticism. This is the part that relates to what I did for several years with early historical texts in Chinese and this is the part the author can speak with confidence and authority. The core of the book, which is the last three chapters, are understandably dragging to me. The reasons are given by many reviews to the book available online.
One of the major criticism of the book is that it elaborates the only examples one could find while indicating that there are more. This may sound very unscientific to a lay person, but a textual critics would sympathize that that one single spark is exciting enough to lure one to spend the rest of his career on the topic - you believe that you have a sound theory developes from it, and eventually, that's still the only thing you got. This totally reminds me of the good old days with Shiji, the feeling that I had come close to something, and in the end, the very reason I leave it all behind.
One other thing I have to agree with those reviews is that, the title is somehow misleading. It's an obvious attempt to sell the book. On the other hand, the author has mastered the penmanship well to deserve a best-selling. Still a fun reading against all the odds.
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