Powerless; the surprise package

I am pretty behind on my series these days; and I am very sure I will be further behind in the months to come. At times I do question myself am I really watching a wee bit too much TV series?
No, I am dead certain I am not even close to borderline TV addict, but no doubt, I kinda follow a mean (and ever expanding) list of series. Technically week-in week-out, but it doesn't necessary means I am spending an obscene amount of time watching it (and certainly not like any real addicts who sits in front of the idiotbox day-in/out) as I tend to watch only when time permits. In which whenever I do, it was in time : short period to a maximum of say 4, standard episodes (standard I suppose are those above 40 mins under 50 mins episodics)
Even binge-worthy flicks from Netflix; took me about 3-4 days I suppose in the case of the pilot season of Stranger Things & Luke Cage last year. (Ok I admit, both Season 2's of Narcos & Daredevil took 2 nights I think, but those were start of the year; when I was still transitioning from the old life)

Anyhow, towards the end of last year, I've started to relegate a few of those weeklies to my Watch When You Are Free / Season Is Complete as my-then pull list was bulging (I suppose) and yeah, I managed to catch up to all of it by the years' last quarter when most shows were on break (sort of)
With the start of the new season and the subsequent new series this year, I've somehow segregated a few more from Top Priority Watch Today Tonight  list to the previous folder; on a weekly basis.
Of course, with the recent culling of my duplicates* , I've been pretty careful with my management of these files and somehow slows down my "Movie/Series Time".
This week itself I've started to put all 4 of the CW-verse shows in the Not So Top Priority list, and my mental note is getting confused of sorts on where my "Previously, on...." is, too.
This list has expanded, in part being prudent with my daily data usage (ok, I am trying) and thanks to my self-imposed discipline (whoa? surprise!) of not watching anything during the day nada yada; and somehow it covered shows like The Flash especially; since it is no longer sits on top of my weekly pull.

As it stands : Series for Jan & Feb 2017
Watch When You Are Really Free
Gotham : continuing the trend from previous season of catching half seasons whenever accumulated.
Lucifer : ditto
Quantico : same
*MacGyver : its ugh, predictable, but I suppose an alright watch when absolutely nothing better to do
Ash vs Evil Dead : hah! completely forgotten about this, oh well, next up, I guess

Not So Top Priority 
The 100 : always with the cliffhangers, so I tend to collect at least 2 episodes before a single go
Blindspot
Marvel's Agents of SHIELD : dropped down here ever since the winter break sans Ghostrider
Supergirl : Massive improvement and could've gone up to the top tiered list, if not for my status quo
The Flash : hits a new low this time around, I still enjoy it I mean, but...
DC's Legends of Tomorrow : much better too
Arrow : I kinda prefer this for the first time ever since their shows multiplied
*Legion : okay to be fair I meant to save it for the right mood per se
*Riverdale : this technically is on the other list, but it tends to be available much later in the day, so it inevitably falls under this category, and yeah it actually shouldn't be that highly ranked anyway with its same-y formula of teen over-the-top drama and archaic stereotypes (moody teen, queen bees, bitchy over-achievers, everyone has a secret)... but it is based off the much-loved Archies world, so...yeah.

Top Priority Watch Today Tonight
*Powerless : yes, the surprise of the lot. I mean I am surprised that I found myself looking forward to it. Given that it is only on its 4th episode, and with a much annoying mold of comedy stereotypical supporting casts, this show shines to me as it is funny, at least as a parody of sorts and a much needed change (for me) since I've stopped catching up on 2 Broke Girls and err Fresh Off The Boat (is this still on?)
Nevertheless, Alan Tudyk is really the backbone of this show (like how important his K2SO was in Rogue One, as the comedic relief imho)
The Walking Dead : usual suspect

*denotes new series

Granted, the ones that are on those spots (heeey, I still occasionally watch something during the day when I am not out / and the internet is down somehow, or whenever I could go without a nap) are replaced by both new series.

Man, I am watching a wee too many things somehow eh?
oh there's another list or two:

Good thing these are on season breaks / and comingsoons, phew!
Limitless
iZombie
Vikings just finished alrighty!
Shannara Chronicles
Fear The Walking Dead
Preacher
Into The Badlands
Sense8
Stranger Things
Westworld
Iron Fist & The Defenders yay!
American Gods
and of course, Game of Thrones

Animated Series, Kevin
Archer
Adventure Time
One Punch Man & Voltron (gah, I missed the 2nd season!)
Ultimate Spider-Man
The Venture Bros

Overkill, when you add up the movie flicks, and weekly comics.
As I am looking at this nonsensical list, perhaps it was all a manner of keeping up with my torrents. Yeah, a hoarder is always a hoarder.

p/s Yay, EFL Cup Champions! Glory Glory!

5 Minutes (or lesser) Chili Clams | Kepah Goreng Cili Haramjadss

And so, we were blessed with a good kilo of fresh clams in the afternoon by Mr Woo (not from the song, but a church brother that always bless us with fresh seafood from Kuala Sepetang) and with his advanced tips of eating these right after they pop their shells and not overcooking it; we left those in the mixing bowl.
As Ma was busy writing tomorrow's recipe (2nd round writing on her new device, with much less anger with the predictive input) ; I volunteered to do tonight's dish.

5-minutes Chili Clams | Kepah Goreng Cili Haramjadah 
Prep: 10 mins (5 mins or lesser if you are well prepared I think)
ingredients
1 kg - Clams or any other shellfish (Lala, Kepah, Kupang, Siput maybe)
4-5 nos - Chili; Dried : pre-soak and cut as preferred
1 nos - Ginger: Young : I used about 3 inches, well diced
7 nos - Garlic: Chopped
1 nos - Onion: Red; thin wedges
1 bunch - Cilantro/ Coriander : only greenish herb was this, so I used up these near-decaying bunch
Pepper:White
* Wine; Shaoxin : optional a good splash ~ 30ml with or without flambe

method
1. Soak & clean clams. Heat oil in wok/pan
2. Sweat dried chili, ginger & garlic in oil over high heat, stirring constantly
3. As the flavor hits you, toss in the well-drained clams, onion and coriander stems (I reserve the leafy bits for the last round)
4. Add pepper and wine for flambe. Cover for 30 seconds
5. Toss to mix well, cover for another 30 seconds
6. Once half of the shells are opened, turn off heat and stir in the bunch of coriander. Coat and mix and start to remove the opened shells. *Discard any that didn't open their shells when you are plating the dish*

A Tale of Two Tooths | Mom's got a new toy on the 16th

The Suspected Wisdom

Toothache is pretty much the Achilles Heel of any strong/rugged/macho men as the saying goes, and of course, one can tolerate the ache but somehow the pain eventually overcomes eh? Furthermore, if you ever had a single painful traumatic visit to the dentists when you were younger; that experience certainly follows you about and haunts the lesser, as it is known.

I have to admit, I've never really have much great oral hygiene most of the time (barring the temporary period when I was 22 going 23, when I quit smoking then, I think) and I suppose I've been lucky enough to not be in a dire situation of any major tooth complications, thank God.

I've been an ass (and most probably will be) to the platoon of (slightly) yellowed enamels all these while as my routine brushing is pretty non-existent; only when I remembered or occasions that needs a cleanup beforehand, ie: meeting people, shame, or having dates when I used to, you know you get the drift. 

Mouthwash and flossing, those 2 are included whenever possible. More on the former, as I don't think I've gotten near a dental floss in yeaaaaars. Tongue scrapper ranks higher, but that single item has been the same 5 year-old, My, coming from someone who could roughly extend his primary toothbrush for an extra year and half past it's supposed due date?

And for the record, my dietary and life habits are as follows: literal heavy smoker borderlining reformist, dangerous food consumption, I mean, when I can still have ice-cream, chocolates, sugary donuts & those yummy stuffs, I shall!

As I think about it at the moment, man, I wondered how'd those exes tolerated me sans mouthwash? 

And especially those that I'd most probably forgo mouthwash after say 3 months of living-in?

Ha!

It boggles my mind how I wouldn't have that many visits to the dentist. My last visit was 3 years ago, and the previous before that must be the one time where I met a very attractive 15 years ago, I suppose I've got the better end of the stick. The only time which was directly caused by my utter carelessness was visit 3 years back. Cue episodic series flashbacks:

Previously, on Kevin's Dental Records.. That nagging toothache turned out to be a rotten tooth, premolar to be precise, after consulted with Heidi & then colleagues, I decided to visit and extract the rotten premolar out after being convinced that it shouldn't show whenever I smile (vain) 

But then again, (as the constant mild pain is continuously bugging me) why am I writing about the previous and my deserved sorry state of dental habits? Yesterday's visit has nothing to do with rotten teeth, well. Kinda. 

The real perpetrator is about the other guy.

I seriously suspect the molar is the long-awaited wisdom tooth.

not mine, of course. my guy is practically horizontal and headbutting onto his mate, to my displeasure

I've been on relative high alert all these while as I questioned: Am I really without wisdom, damn? 

In my world of hearing people or their friends having wisdom tooth extraction on those many conversations; I was (at times) thinking at the back of my mind, on when the flying eff would it ever happen to me as I saw through my 20's and half-way through my over-the-hill 30's.

Have I got no wisdom?

I've been nursing some toothache that amplified my on/off insomniac phase for past couple weeks. It was a nightly thing that I've grown quite accustomed to; however the frequency that it occurs during the day had increased and I decided to check it up.

Surprising enough, the dentist said the rest of them are okay, no rottens (yay) and probably the cause of all this is the last molar is growing towards the other (not her exact words, of course) and lo at nearing 37 years old I've had my maiden X-ray, hurrah!

They could confirm that the impacted tooth needs extraction, yet the submerged molar needs to be monitored if it needs further, er, work (okay I am grasping at straws here on the last part) 

Made appointment for the morrow, and I was thinking, phew! lucky break, nothing that could impact my smiles, yet (sic!)

With much gungho and gusto and guidance from the Lord, headed for the 9am yesterday, with Ma in tow. Ha! Not really, Ma had her scheduled routine blood test downstairs (of course she grumbled about being at the clinic that early : she is an early riser of course, but she prefers the later time to visit government hospitals/clinics similar to mois as we are sure the queues would gradually withered by then) and oh my, there was a whole morning crowd, luckily for her (and being golden citizen) she got her bloodworks pretty fast; about 35 mins; when I waltzed down with half my face (lips, don't mind the exaggeration) locked in another timezone. Oh I am so using this!

Back to the dentist chair (I wonder what's it called?) , I counted a good 9 anesthetics over 2 rounds before I lost count on the last round before the extraction. Oh my, I am not that squeamish I reckon, I think I was pretty okay with that other extraction last time; aside from putting up a brave front under a fine looking dentist (different, not the classy stunner from years ago) but most probably because that premolar on my right (only 'shines' out on uncontrolled big smiles/laughs) was utterly rotten to the core and practically fell off.

It was pretty uncomfortable as I could feel the nagging feel that the other guy (wisdom molar) was moving when the doc was extracting (is that the correct terminology?) the dying tooth. It wasn't painful (really!!) but its just nagging, I kinda indicated the discomfort as I thought the dentist should know; but yeah, thanks to Nurse no.1 and Nurse intern; they thought I was a pansy. "Rileks, Kebin" made me wishing that I could tell them I could bear the pain. 

After the extraction, and a quick rinse, she found that the sleeping molar is actually in good condition, and off I go but before all of them alternately telling me the post instructions that always includes the usual no-smoking for 3 days; well, the usual; though this visit doesn't include an invitation to some Quit Smoking drive/talk/campaign. (nope, I didn't participate 3 years ago, kept the brochure and recommendation letter from those 2 lovely dentists, didn't go.. reason? See next few paragraphs)

Took Ma for her second breakfast; the coffee shop with infamous roast pork by the main market. By then, I've already justified a smoke; as I recalled I did just that too 3 years ago, idiotic. 

I did one thing better (or worse) this time around by discarding the gauze and had a few slivers (chucks, Taiping styled) of roast pork, temptations, temptations. 

All of this was within an hour; good job. The things we do, eh? No wonder I bled and been on a bloody saliva for the whole day. I did, however cut down on my smokes, not significantly, but yeah, and slept early last night and I suppose the bleeding slowed massively after the night's rest. 

Operation Low-Gigas (Freeing Disk Space from Duplicates) #3

Lo, somehow I realized that my disk space is indeed dropping low; being RED is practically a norm, but it was as low as 1GB. egad! Apart from organizing them, I decided to start this Operation Low-Gigas to clear up my Video folder, since it easier to manage as I know 99.9% these have their main copy on the external and elsewhere. I am leaving the much larger Downloads folder for the (hopefully) impending purchase of another 1.5TB by next month? That should be easier to swap to either current and future externals.

Anyhow, as I entered the third non-consecutive day of me bingeing movie files on this computer, well I've managed to shave off a significant amount of duplicates at the moment. Duplicates as in I've backed them up on the external, but I kinda have a habit of leaving a copy of those that I'd probably watch on a later date, after :
a) the series and fresh episodics that I follow regularly,
b) any movies that I've been waiting and in perfect condition to watch first,
c*) any personal favorite comics/ including tie-ins to events *denotes sometimes as first priority
d) any other series or episodics that I can wait and accumulate for a later date to binge if I have the time
e) and other movie that might have actors that I like or premise that I'd watch, someday.
f) any other movie that I have no idea why I hoard in the first place and unsure why.


Technically the next few movies that I am listing here (and subsequent next few days when I am free to backtrack) are those somehow that found themselves fallen into categories in bold, and mainly the last rung.

As usual I never did got around to actually blog about it, and so I am starting this series in random order (even my viewing of these weren't entirely consecutive, the max that I could manage these nights were 2 movies in a seating) hence I am starting with the freshest in mind, of last night and tonight's.

Fusion Fried Pumpkin Noodles with Clams

argh, red peppers not that visible, dang!

Pumpkin Noodles Vongole (Mi Labu Goreng La-la stail fusion)

ingredients

500 gms Clams; Fresh - adjust for more to your fancy

1 pkt - Pumpkin Noodles - or any type of noodles of your choice, cook and drained.

2 nos Capsicum; Red - I diced it up since having them in strips might not be the look I'm looking for

1 nos Chinese White Cabbage 

1 bulb Garlic; Minced - the more the merrier

1 nos Onion; Red - wedges or anyway you see fit

1/2 inch Ginger; Young - minced

4-5 sprigs Curry Leaves - minced

4-5 sprigs Coriander (atau nama matsaleh Cilantro) - chopped

A good dollop of Shaoxin Wine

A very generous drizzle of Fish Sauce (I counted 35 dashes in total when I was adjusting the taste)

Pepper to taste

method

1. Wash clams and cook in a covered empty pan. Let cool and discard shells, try and get the muscles stuck on the shells. Drain and scoop the top layer of the brine, discard the bottom level that might contain mud. 

2. Heat oil with the minced garlic, ginger & curry leaves. Add the separate muscles when fragrant.

3. Add bell peppers and onions.  Flambe with wine and add the cabbage (or any vegs yo!)

4. Gradually add the reserved clam juice, and add in the cooked noodles & chopped cilantro

5. Season with pepper and fish sauce, stirring well to coat evenly. Plate & serve

notes

* I use more fish sauce in this, as I omitted any salt (even the noodles since it ain't pasta)

* variations : chilies, other leafy vegs, salted egg yolk (?), of course cooking white wine as substitute or omit it all together for halal 

* omissions : all the vegs, leaving only the garlic and clams for a closer to spaghetti vongole? of course, the clams would have to go to the pan when cooking. 

* serves 4 I suppose, like very full 4 pax. Prep + cook time I suppose lesser than 30 mins, eating time 7 and a half minutes minus instragramming the damn pics?

Ma woke me up to ask if I'd take over the kitchen as she:

1) thought of the times Heidi took her to Spaghetti Vongole dinners, and

2) wanted to use the time for gardening (new ideas in landscaping for recycled home garden spots)

As I sipped my morning coffee the recipe ran through my mind; hey it is such a dead easy recipe ain't it. I didn't think much about it as I decided to let Ma come back with whichever food items to go and basically just swing it when I am cooking.

True enough she came back with Chinese White Cabbages, and even her favorite capsicum of them all! Well, actually it isn't just that red is her favorite per se, I remembered she likes em Yellow, Orange, White, and Purple too, she just detested the Greens. You Lacist! 

So yeah.

Mothers. As much as she gave me the directions and ingredients; cooking competition-style , she conveniently prepped the clams before she changed and headed to the garden. All this while while I was finishing my coffee from my morning smokes (it is unfortunately a separate activity ever since)

I found the bunch of clams well cooked in a pot and we had a bit misconception. since I am pretty sure my sister wouldn't bring her to lesser establishments which serves pre-cooked clam spaghettis anyway (since I remembered Heidi well that amongst pastas, she has her preference when it comes to her much-favored vongoles) I suppose Ma must've mixed up with her own cooking principles of cooking clams soonest possible if those clams must've been sitting alive in room temperature for extended period.

In addition, as I combed through the ingredients laid out like an eager contestant this morn; I found to my (half) dismay that the 2 tiny packets of 'dried pasta' were in fact; a locally produced dried pumpkin noodles; which was interesting enough for us to buy it in the first place, as the packaging is different to others in its class, it resembles a spaghetti packet. No wonder.

From the initial plan to do pasta vongole, and looking at the cooked clams, a bunch of vegetables certainly not found on 'proper' spaghetti vongoles and asian pumpkin noodles, in a manner of 0.03 seconds it chimed in my head...."It's bastardizing time!"

So there you have it, a fusion of sorts, ingredients mostly Chinese, cooking-wise a mixture of both; but the results were still fabulous I might say. Til the next batch of clams, maybe tomorrow?

Happy Valentine's, folks!

a side note

This is a post to mix up my (own) shared authorship of this weblog. And to test out a certain IFTTT recipe that has yet to perform as expected.

Procrastinating is mayhap my middle name if I should to choose; a) another and b) a new middle name. From the get-go of the week I could list down a few entries that is on my ever expanding assembly of blog posts (and these are inclusive of the older entries that I never did go around to finally start a proper list for these 'missables'...no, not yet) and when I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by my falling behind Ma's recipe entries at the moment. Although at that moment I recalled setting another mental note (when will you learn?) to at least try to match hers by coming up with a piece every time I edit & publish hers, but I suppose that certainly feels like a lifetime ago. See?
Furthermore I tend to justify by mixing up my entries (or at least try to) as unlike Ma's, I am keeping a so-called day-to-day of what's happening to me and I don't get that urge to digitize my recipes; since I have so many back-logged dishes and materials (both pics and much older videos too).
The same goes to blogging about the (many) TV series again and again; it just isn't a movie rant space anyway,
There, justifying, yet again.

Anyhow, as I've somehow started another blog on wordpress, I've been meaning to separate what little I have; streamlining this to that and vice versa; but as you guessed it, I am still letting the dangerous thing called time  to be both guide and con artist; as usual, what do you expect? Ha!

Greater Galangal & Refried Tofu in Dried Shrimp Stir-Fry (and featuring Angèl) | 南薑炒香豆干 | Lengkuas Masak Taukwa Udang Kering

closed the editor tab; so I'll just use the same pix as Ma's

Galangal & Tofu Stir-fry
ingredients
4 pcs Tofu - rinsed and patted dry
1 pcs Galangal; sliced, rough as this goes to the mortar. Total length under 2 inches should be sufficient, if the flavor is overpowering do adjust accordingly on the next round :)
1/2 cup Dried Shrimp; Rinsed
Garlic; Cloves - half a bulb or more as your preference
Pepper; White, Ground
Sugar; (I am not judging so you choose your type of su-gah)- a good pinch
Cooking Wine; Shaoxin
Fish Sauce
Oil for Frying (technically you just need enough to coat the pan when frying the tofu, with what's left is decent to start the stir-fry)

yes it is only 4 pieces of taukwa

method

1. Brown the tofu in a hot shallow pan. Set aside, drained, cut into your preferred size when cooled
2. Pound (or Grind with fancy food processor?) garlic, dried shrimps with galangal
   Heat this mixture with the remaining oil in the pan.
3. Add cut Fried Tofu, season with white pepper.
4. Splash Shaoxin & flame.
   Season with that bit of sugar and fish sauce (say, 15 dashes) adjust to taste.
5. Plate & garnish accordingly. Certainly needs some green or maybe red : spring onions, chives, coriander works great, red chillies. Of course, from the pix I used ulam raja (shieze can't remember the name now..er Cosmos... Cosmo the Space Dog?)

Galangal | click to learn more about Chewing John

Anyhow, my Ma's version is slightly different in taste, but still awesome as a meal by itself and without any hint of alcohol too
Here's the recipe in chinese.