Sumi: Lots and lots and lots of stuff

So lately, as many of you know, I've been cleaning my room for the past 2 weeks, and I'm still not done partly because I just realized that I have so much STUFF. I never knew that I have so many clothes that I never wear, magazines that I've never read, random jewelery boxes with ugly necklaces I wore in elementary school, and just a bunch of things that I've horded through the years. I have a hard time parting with things and adjusting to changes, which probably explains my tendency to keep things forever (I found a poster of some project I did when I was in 5th grade...which means it survived the move from my old house). I just don't want to let go, but I've decided that I need to move on. Consequently, my room is getting messier as I clean because I'm making piles of all the things I'm giving away to Goodwill. You should come over if you want free stuff (nothing's really worth keeping though).

As for cooking, I have made some things! I haven't really cooked as much as Hope. One day, I was really trying to avoid cleaning and I was really craving pancakes although we didn't have pancake mix at home, so I thought, CHALLENGE TIME. Not really though because I actually googled the recipe for pancakes, and I made egg-less pancakes so it would be easier to 1/3 the recipe. I also made a quick strawberry syrup by mixing jam and syrup. It tasted okay, but I think eggs are a vital ingredient to yummy pancakes from scratch. I also think maple syrup was a bit strong for the jam, but we didn't have any other syrup at home.

Most of the stuff I've cooked hasn't been really healthy, like bite-size brownies from the box (Ghiradelli Dark Chocolate mix is the BEST).

(sorry my photography skills aren't up to par at the moment)

Also I've made really unhealthy goat cheese garlic bread. At first I made it with a regular french baguette from Publix, but I think the bread was a bit hard since I let it get a little stale before I made the garlic bread. The second time, my mom bought me this half-cooked baguette from Kroger, and the bread was much softer.

Here's the recipie if anyone is interested (courtesy Cooks Illustrated)

INGREDIENTS

9 - 10	medium cloves garlic (about the size of a plump cashew nut), skins left on
2	ounces goat cheese , softened (I also used flavored goat cheese both times I made it, and I just added salt and pepper to taste)
6	tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
2	tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (I made it without Parmesan cheese both times and it tasted fine)
1/4	teaspoon table salt
1	loaf Italian bread (high-quality); about 1 pound, football-shaped, halved lengthwise
	Ground black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

1. 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 500 degrees. Meanwhile, toast garlic cloves in small skillet over medium heat, shaking pan occasionally, until fragrant and color of cloves deepens slightly, about 8 minutes. When cool enough to handle, skin and mince cloves (you should have about 3 tablespoons). Using dinner fork, mash garlic, goat cheese, butter, cheese, and salt in small bowl until thoroughly combined.

2. 2. Spread cut sides of loaf evenly with garlic butter mixture; season to taste with pepper. Transfer loaf halves, buttered side up, onto baking sheet; bake, reversing position of baking sheet in oven from front to back halfway through baking time, until surface of bread is golden brown and toasted, 10 to 12 minutes (check on the bread earlier also because I over baked the bread following the time when I first tried the recipie, but this could also be because of the stale bread). Cut each half into 2-inch slices; serve immediately.
   

   End product:

   

   I made a really simple green beans for Hope's party and theoretically learned how to cook a lot of other stuff, like tofu and sprouts and tuna melts. I'll have to test out what I've learned by watching my mom in the kitchen soon. It's really hard to learn cooking from her because she's like this speedy, gourmet fusion chef who makes up her own recipes so nothing has exact measurements. But I'm trying, and kind of successfully learning, and I guess that's what matters.
   
   
   Another non-cooking matter, I went to Seema's graduation, and saw Arnold Schwarzenegger! He gave a surprisingly good speech. I also got to see Seema walk even though she technically graduated last August (congrats again!)
   
   
   Paparazzi photos: