Yesterday I worked against my new working mode… I worked from 8AM-4PM with 1 hour break spread out. I didn’t even take a break for lunch. Very bad idea :(. Maybe it was because I felt super charged by the 9 hours sleep, or maybe it was because I couldn’t accept the fact that my model wasn’t giving me the result I needed! Whatever was the reason, I just couldn’t stop. By 4PM I called quit and went for a walk. It was freezing outside but sunny. I thought why not take a walk, listen to some quiet music and give my mind a break. It was the best hour of my day!!! Although the first 10 min I kept thinking about research, but then I began to look around and realized how beautiful it is the place covered by snow. The last 10 minute I started to think about work again and my mind was clearer and gained new perspectives…. I found new things to try! 😀 Bottom line: if you ever get a mental block, go for a walk! 😀
No time for lunch
so I had a black corn & chocolates!
both the chewy corn and chocolates helped to calm my anxiety! 😀
Okay. Now onto the tutorials. Many of you asked me how I prepare my bok choy. It’s really simple but some tips are important.
Ingredients: bok choy, mushrooms
black fungus, bamboo, ginger, garlic, green onions were for the steamed egg (below)
Oil (canola or corn, don’t use olive oil), salt, sugar and white pepper
Method:
1. Heat the oil, wait 2-3 min
2. add bok choy
3. Mix 2-3 min and add other ingredients (optional)
4. Mix 2-3 more, add salt, sugar (1 tbsp?) and 1/2 cup water.
5. Mix 2 min more and cover it.
6. Let it cook for 5 min. Open the lid, do a testing. Add salt & sugar if it’s necessary. And finally add white pepper (just a touch).
7. Serve
what’s the key in making a tasty and tender bok choy stir fry?
- Add sugar
- Add water
- Cover the lid for 5 min
Next: Steamed egg
Ingredients: 2 eggs + salt + fish sauce (optional) and green onions.
Method:
1. Beat the eggs and add
2. Once beaten, add 1/2 cup of water
3. Add fish sauce
4. Steam it covered for 20 min (on medium heat) until it’s semi-done
5. Add green onions and steam for 2-3 min more.
6. Serve
It has a jelly texture.
My dinner companion
If you have any question about the tutorials and/or you want to see other chinese dishes tutorials, let me know, even it’s a dish that you don’t see me eating often, I’d love to try new things 🙂
Q: What do you do when you have a mental block?
Balance, Joy and Delicias 
mmm, this dish looks amazing! You know, I don’t make pork very often, but I should. I really love it, but I’m afraid to make it because it is always really dry. Thanks for the tips!
When I have a mental block I usually walk, or read an entertaining vook, or get a bite to eat from the kitchen 🙂 Yeah, that’s the beauty of working from home. Although I’m not sure it’s really a good thing!
Have a great day Coco. And enjoy those chocolates!
I had bok choy last night for dinner! I sauteed it with some broccoli, ginger and soyaki sauce! It was delish! This tutorial would have been useful yesterday 🙂 Mine still turned out tasty though!
I thought New in Town was kind of a cute movie. Hope you liked it!
Taking a break to clear my head is the best way to clear a mental block. Even if it’s just 10 mins in front of the TV.
Thanks for the bok choy tutorial! I bought some last weekend and will try this method out. The egg dish looks really tasty, too.
Fresh air is definitely the best remedy when I need to clear my head! I loved these tutorials! I’ve never added sugar to bok choy stir fry, I’ll have to try that!
Thanks for these tutorials!!!
Thanks for the tutorials! My roommate just made steamed egg last night and seaweed soup! Loved them both. I want to try the bok choy!
My mom makes both of those dishes, but that was a very helpful tutorial! And we have the same fish sauce! It seems like for most dishes, we add either fish sauce, oyster sauce, or soy sauce. They’re kind of our staple seasonings I guess?
I agree that taking a nice long walk outside can do wonders for the mind and you come back refreshed and with a clear head. 🙂
Hi Coco,
I’ve never commented on your blog before but read it pretty regularly and really enjoy your posts (especially your tutorials and food/product reviews). Another thing I like about your blog is that you offer a lot of insight about how you find balance in your life. It’s very inspirational! I’m also aspiring to get a PhD in econ (will hopefully be in a program by next fall) and was always curious about how grad students balance work and life in general. Thanks for that!
That bok choy looks fabulous! And I totally agree that going for a walk can be the best way to cure any ailment! 🙂
xxoo
Heather
Ooh! Do you have Rachael Ray cookware?
When I have a mental block I love to go for a run or a workout, it always clears my mind right up! 🙂
mental blocks? hmm probably also a walk or loads of deep breath!
thank you for the comment on my blog. it feels really great to have someone that can relate to my sistuation
Mmm, I love the food tutorials, Coco. Please keep posting them 😉
I like to stretch/do yoga, walk outside, or exercise as well. But most of the time I just end up sitting in front of my computer in frustration >.< I'll have to remind myself to take some breaks! Thanks for sharing, girlie!
thank you so much for posting the bok choy recipe, I can’t wait to try it!
your bok choy recipe is much complicated than mine….I just saute it, with a grain of salt. and that’s it!! well obviously your version is more delicate!! haha
where did u got those black corn? looks very cool 😀
I usually call a friend or family to talk it out when i have mental blocks! Walks definitely are helpful though…unless it’s Chicago and too cold to walk outside. 😦
CoCo, do you love your computer?? I’m going to buy a Macbook pro soon but i can’t figure out if i want the 13 inch or 15inch. Do you think 15 is too heavy to carry around?