Paintings

Many friends have inquired about my painting, well, in the past 2 years, I have done only 1 as a wedding gift. Otherwise, the brushes are collecting dusts, thanks to busy mom duties and my other interests in cooking and gardening. It is a seascape follow on to my other Santa Cruz beach landmark one. Let me know what you think of the series.

Molten Chocalate cake

Made these little lava cakes for Jerry and Deb's anniversary dinner. Got raving reviews. They are very easy to make and can impress anyone, especially dates, in 15 minutes. You will look like a culinary star...If you are a guy, and you make these for your girlfriend, boy, aren't you sweet?! And who wouldn't love decadent chocalate cake?

4 oz bitter sweet chocalate (don't be cheap, get those good ones)
1 stick butter (or 1/2 cup Smart balance)
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vannilla extract
6 tbsp flour

Preheat oven to 425F, grease 4 soufle cups, put them on a cookie sheet. In a big bowl, put chocalate and butter together, pop into microwave for 1 min, or till melted. Stir the chocalate and butter until blend well together. Put in Cinnamon, Vannilla, and flour, stir to mix well. Pour mixture into cups evenly. Pop into oven for 15 min until the sides are hard, but the inside are still melting. Let rest for 1 min (don't think you can wait longer than that), serve hot immediately.

Now the trick is presentation. Here I put a scoop of rasberry ice-cream, and a couple of rasberries. One can put some mint leaves for decoration, or pour some rasberry liquor over the cake if you like.

This is so rich and luxurious, you will most likely lick the plate clean, which Rick did just that. :o) Enjoy! Do let me know what you think once you try them though.

First food picture

I went shopping a couple weeks ago, and a bunch of nice little journals were on sale. That gave me an idea of writing a recipe journal for Jeremy as a gift to him when he goes off to college. so that he can 1. impress girls; 2. bribe other folks for favors; 3. get a home taste when he really misses me. 4. leave a Pammie's legacy to him and maybe his children for "grandma's recipes". hehehe...when I told my friend, Martha about this, she wants a piece of these recipes too. So, I am sharing some of them here. As a true peasant at heart, I love cooking and gardening, what a good combination! Perfect for Californians!

Here's the recipe for Honey Mustard Salmon. An aclaimed dish for visitors, fast, easy and delicious.

4 Salmon filets
2 tbsp honey
4 tbsp dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp hot pepper (if you like it spicy)

Wash and dry salmon filets, rub the filets with all of the ingredients, best way is to put everything in plastic bag and sqush them around to get everything coated. let sit for 10 min, or marinate over night, or if you don't plan to eat them for dinner, put them in the freezer in the bag. When you are ready just defrost them in microwave and pop into oven. Alrightee, preheat oven to 450F, put salmon on foil in cookie sheet, broil for 5-7 min until brown on the top, flip them over, and broil the other side for 3-5 min until brown. poke a fork in and if the filet flakes, then it is done.

Serve on a bed of veges, like here a bed of sweet peas, or with any favorite side dishes like dirty rice, or quick olive oil and garlic pasta, makes a wonderful healthy and quick meal!

Enjoy and let me know if you like it and if the recipe works or not. :o)

Blooming finally

My colleage, Rog, was very kind to give me a bunch of orchids when he divided his plant last year. And boy, was I lucky, first time in my life, that orchid didn't die in my hands, and it actually bloom. Although it has this flower shoot for a long time, more like experiencing 9 months pregnancy, but finally, good things are worth waiting for, it has bloosomed. I am so happy, I think I may have told everyone I know for ten thousand times. Now, here's the proof.


And my roses are doing very well, great for centerpiece. the sweet fragrancy makes me wonder if summer's already here.