oh the hypocrisy

An ex colleague passed away recently and a long email chain followed with everyone tagging on their memories and thoughts of him.

The last I remembered, some of these people did not even like the guy. They were openly hostile to the guy and often talking behind his back. Now, it is all about the good memories, the greatness of the man.

I have no arguments about their comments and their eulogies — it is all true and so much more. But it makes me wonder if their expressions are a construct of political correctness and politeness. Given that the email chain included important people, I also posit  hypocrisy and “wayang-ness”.

No Knead Bread

I have finally jumped on the bandwagon of no knead bread. The craze started 3 years ago and it took me that long to feel compelled to make my own bread and boy was I happy!

The recipe is so ridiculously simple – 3 cups of bread flour, 1.5 cup of tepid water, 1.25 teaspoon of yeast, 0.45 teaspoon of yeast .. and all that from memory too! Mix dry ingredients, stir water in to make shaggy dough (apparently that is the technical term). Leave for 8 hours under plastic wrap, take it out and flip it over a few times and leave it for another hour. Shape into ball and put in Dutch Oven. Then into the oven at 230 C.

Shaggy Dough

First 30 min with lid on, then another 15 mins without the lid.

Bread in the oven

Presto … really yummy crusty bread with little effort! And were people impressed too.

Yummy Bread

I already made another bread today – an oregano variant.

Prelude to my home-made bread

Dutch Oven

After reading recipes and blog entries about the no-knead bread, I decided to take the plunge and make my own home-made bread. Perfect way to chase away to gloomy (and presently rainy, gusty, Hitchcock-ish) winter days. First off, I had to get a dutch oven – something that I have been eyeing for a while. Because I am on a student budget, the dutch oven was not a le Creuset but a le Kmart. hee!

Next step, to make the bread. The dough is rising as we speak…

Dachshund U.N., Melbourne

This has got to be cutest U.N. assembly on human rights EVER! An art installation by Bennett Miller, which saw 40 something Dachshund sitting for an hour on a wooden frame to look like the UN assembly on human rights. The dogs did nothing but the people just love watching the dogs. Goes to show how easily amused humans are.

UN Dashchund in front of Exhibition building

Speaker is in the house

Representatives

Amused Humans

Oatmeal Cookies

I was inspired to look for a cookie recipe that did not require me to cream the hell out of the butter and sugar. Apparently creaming is not all that necessary because I found a recipe that just requires me to add oil to sugar, no creaming! And it doesn’t taste all that bad too. Here are my oatmeal and sultana cookies. The recipe is definitely a keeper .. methink.

Oatmeal and Sultana Cookies, no creaming involved!

Graduate school and Academia

Graduate school is basically an extended period of socialization into the conviction that academia is more exalted than just about anything else.

and

many people who have been so socialized have a preference for working in academia so strong that they are willing to forgo lots in salary, benefits, and security in order to secure employment, however tenuous, in academia. The high demand for these jobs, and the large supply of those qualified to do them, creates a competitive buyer’s market for academic labor, bidding down salaries, perks, etc.

Will Wilkinson

Mini Banana Oats Muffins

These are a better modification of the banana oats muffins that I have been regularly making.

The recipe is soooo easy and there is no need for any exotic ingredients. Just banana, flour, milk and oats. And Presto … yummy banana oats muffins for Sat Brunch. Or even more worrying – mini snacks throughout the day. I have to find some way to give them away today otherwise I won’t stop eating them!

Mini Banana Oat Muffins

“Stressed” is “Desserts” backwards

It was Mr C that pointed this out while passing him the banana oats muffins just. I think I found my motto.

Procrastinate by baking

I have a major submission this Wednesday and I have been finding many creative ways to procrastinate. I think the best is still baking. It makes you feel in control of things – put in A, B, and C and out comes Banana Oat Muffins. A good 15 mins wasted and I have a yummy breaky tmr too. Highly recommended form of procrastination.

Hidden Pizza Shop

There is a buzz going around about this hidden pizza shop. Not that I would know since it was only pointed out to me by my friend a few days ago. It’s a great concept — the address of the pizza place is not provided. You have to find it (i.e. google, yellow pages, etc) and then call ahead to order and rock up to collect it. Here is the link if you are interested.

I found out where it is .. it is really near where I live. I have not checked it out but I doubt I will since my BIG presentation is in two weeks time. So here are some photos I borrowed from berrytravels.com:

Queue

inside hidden pizza