Wherever Wonderland

我今天的午饭实在是难吃极了，所以来这里发个牢骚。

昨天晚上回家比较晚，肚子又饿，把鸡胸切成丁，锅热了下点洋葱，和鸡肉一起炒炒，后来放了2大勺懒人用冰冻什锦蔬菜（胡萝卜丁，青豆，玉米，西兰花）。佐料只放了盐和胡椒，尝了尝，真难吃！冰箱里还有半瓶不知道什么时候剩下来的白葡萄酒，哎，不是法式大餐用葡萄酒做肉汁的吗，那我就试试。倒进去才发现葡萄酒严重不对味道。是不是放点酱油会好点啊，于是又洒了点酱油。

结果~ ~

那叫一个难吃啊：胡萝卜、玉米是甜的，豆子是咸的，鸡肉是腥的：（ 就是洋葱末味道还对，干脆我今天回家做炒洋葱头算了。

看来我这个不错的厨子在吃了几个月地道的北京食堂大锅饭以后，厨艺大不如初！谁帮我改进一下我这个方子，或者有简单美味的鸡肉菜谱和我分享一下啊！

Tosca要来北京我赶不上了：（
《黄金时代》据说第一次被搬上舞台，我也觉得挺新鲜的。一来是我校友，二来那半只色驴特别崇拜他。
前几天小毕姐姐也想去看话剧呢，要是我在，肯定不用找别人！
北京的艺术生活真丰富呀，那么多演出可以去。虽然很多博物馆做的还是挺操蛋的，但真有货。
在街上走着的小姑娘们比我年轻的时候懂得达扮了，但还是土，像农村妞进城黑糗糗的却爱染红指甲。勇气可嘉吧。
虽然漫天的尘土和杨树毛，到哪都是大拨搓的人，春天一夜间来到北京，还是很让我动心。

今天来详细讨论一下老北京宫廷小吃“奶酪”的做法。奶酪魏，梅园，文宇奶酪店都有做，入嘴即化，冰凉可口，甜而不腻。奶酪的极品应该表面光滑，倒杯不洒，即“合碗酪”。凝固的好，看起来像果冻，吃起来（质地）像酸奶，美国的酸奶比国内的浓很多。

网上有很多方子，都是按照国内的原料和制作方法写的，众口不一。我的帖子有2个贡献：第一，我用的是鬼子的牛奶、炉子、进制，没用任何凝固剂，北美的听众（e.g. Kitty&Daniel）可以借鉴；第二，国内的小朋友也可以受益，因为我试验了好多次，终于统一了做法，总结出百战百胜的配方。

原料只有两样：全脂牛奶（whole milk）3杯（cup），江米酒汁（又称，醪糟汁）1杯。喜欢甜的同学可以加少许糖，我推荐不超过2大匙（tbs）。

做法：

1. 烤箱预热225F（107C）。
2. 煮牛奶。大火煮，要不停搅拌，奶刚要扑的时候马上关火。要加糖这时候加，搅拌均匀。让它彻底凉到室温。撇去奶皮、奶沫。
   
3. 过滤米酒，常温room temperature。
4. 米酒汁和牛奶一样温度的时候，把米酒汁倒入牛奶之中，一定要搅拌均匀。盛到小碗里，静置半小时。这时候已经开始凝固了。
5. 进225F烤箱30分钟，250F（120C）再烤20-30分钟。
6. 拿出来晾凉，进冰箱（fridge）至少3小时，过夜更好。
   

要选上好的全脂牛奶，越浓越好，但不要用奶油（cream），否则吃起来不爽口。我用的是Stoney Field Farm。Organic Valley可以，Horizon不够浓。Trader Joe's，Whole Foods，Fresh Market的store brand都不好。国内用蒙牛、伊利、三元都有成功案例，我目前为止还没试验过，但是特伦苏应该没错吧！过滤米酒的时候，米去除的越干净，做出的奶酪越细腻。国内有卖纯米酒汁的，丰谷园牌子。米酒和牛奶比例最好是1：3，多点牛奶也没关系，1：2酒味太浓盖过奶香。两者温度一样的时候搅拌，牛奶太热会结块。搅拌要均匀，否则凝固不好，或者奶酪上面有液体。烤的温度很重要，温度低奶酪凝固不上，温度高，表面会煳，尤其是奶酪和碗接触的边缘。国内的帖子有用蒸的方法，我发现蒸可以凝固，味道也不错，但是残存液体比烤的多。 文学城上露西姐姐（Lucy）做过，既没烤也没蒸，但用了奶片，肯定不用担心凝固不上，但有可能糊嘴。但传统做法是没有添加剂的，所以我也没用。

照片发在Diane's专辑里面了。

这阵子国际舆论在美帝国主义的带领下开始攻击中国，论据如下：

首先，以中国为首的一些新兴国家崛起，全世界在几百年间创造了n价值，2000年后突然一下子变成2n了。这些国家有钱没地方花，加上格林斯潘不给面子，所以都跑到华尔街上豪赌，华尔街大佬剥削地方中央银行，银行剥削地产经纪人，导致了次贷危机。所以说，美国人民领头的全球金融经济危机是中国人（老印、亚非拉兄弟）开的头，因为他们太有钱了。

第二，中国长期向美国倾销廉价商品。改革开放以来中国一直走的是靠外贸拉动国民经济的路线。共产党鼓励外贸，给企业减税，补给，人民币坚决不升值。廉价的劳动力加上宽松的外贸政策，让美国佬眼冒金星，头脑发昏。本来只想买一瓶酱油，一进超市发现西瓜2毛5一个，毛衣1块钱一件，结果大包小包买了一堆回家。美元流进中国人口袋以后，以投资人的身份当了美国头号债主，美国市场一片歌舞升平，出现三低：低利息，低通货膨胀，低物价。常言道：饱暖思银欲。口袋里大把大把的钱花不完怪痒痒的，去买房子吧，于是形成了次贷链的另一端。

我方认为这样的论点幼稚片面。你喝醉了，反咬酒吧招待一口？驳论如下。美帝国主义在小布的领导下，近几年放松金融管制，纵容华尔街养肥蛀虫，今朝有酒今朝醉，把投资人的钱迅速大笔挥霍。美联储没有起到全球带头作用，没有与时俱进，应付全球经济局势的变化。中国并不希望和美国有这样的关系，长期靠外贸拉动GDP和靠房贷拉动GDP没有区别，本质上都是经济结构不合理。现在美国作为第一进口国放慢脚步，中国很多企业没事做，在庭院里晒太阳，打嗝挠肚子，甚至关门大吉。最好的投资不在境外，而在自家院子里。如果中国未来要走消费路线，趁早大力着手基础建设，拉动内需。如果奥巴马看美国到处都有值得改善的地方，中国就更加如此了。

来预测一下今年的奥斯卡，夹杂着我的希望吧：

影片：The Reader
导演：

男主：Mickey Rourke "The Wrestler"
女主：
男配：Heath Ledger "Dark Knight"
女配：Kate Winslet "The Reader"

音乐：Benjamin Button
剪辑：Frost/Nixon
摄影：Slumdog Millionaire
化妆：Benjamin Button
动画：Wall-E

原创剧本：In Bruges
改编剧本：Doubt

Revolutionary Road真不好看耶，跟American Beauty唯一的不同就是时代不一样，Sam Medes太让我失望了，血呼呼的吓人。
Kate今年的表现是值得赞扬的，尤其是The Reader里面那段被审判的场景，表现出一个德国女纳粹偏执又孤独，让观众不由地重新思考“责任”和“抉择”。
Mickey Rourke的表演很自然嘛，在超市那场戏完全是即兴发挥的，可我总纳闷他拍戏的时候是不是smoke什么了？嗨，曾经那么帅的一个人现在成这副模样，咋整的。。。真是。。。那也不如Benjamin Button让我哭得厉害，即使我这个不可救药的anti romance comedy的人都不得不承认，电影形式稍微换个小样儿，我就中圈套了：故事实在太无奈，Brad Pitt真TNND好看啊！
看阿三的电影像喝冰镇可口可乐，痛快+刺激，接着是短暂的sugar high+brain freeze+，可哼着印度小曲出了电影院，什么都忘了。发奖的怎么那么不开眼，这样的片子怎么最佳电影了？拜托，Dark Knight比Slumdog Millionaire强多了。
最后发个牢骚：好莱坞去年可把我们都忽悠了，屁个好片木有。8过，像我这样百无聊赖的人还是傻不拉几的给人家送了不少白花花的银子。

昨天晚上梦见自己病的不轻，躺在带轱辘的床上动弹不得，被大夫护士推着进手术室。只听大夫说：得来个肝、肾双移植。妈呀，压根奏没听说这么大手术的！我梗着脖子拼命抬脑袋，使劲眨眼睛想引起注意，虽然我眼睛小，那么使劲也该能眨巴出声音来。没人理我，护士和我赛跑，哧溜一管子麻醉药，我就昏死过去了。醒来后的我坐在沙发椅上和两个主管大夫对话：

me：大夫，我的手术成功么？
drs：非常成功。
me：你们换了几个肾？
drs：... ...
me：你们不会把我的肾摘了，忘了安一个进去吧？！
两个大夫同时从容的抬起右腿，搭到左腿上：well, that might very well have happened...
me：合着你们合伙抢劫了我的肾。那我的肝呢？
两个大夫使劲摇头摆手：肝我们可没摘... ...就是切了一块为医学研究。
me：多大一块？。。。谢天谢地我还有肝！一个肾还是能够维持生命的。

后来我就醒了，浑身僵硬。赶快伸手进裤子里摸摸有没有伤疤，没有！大半夜的我一人躺床上翻来覆去的想不明白这个梦是什么意思：怎么我被人家骗了，还替人家数钱啊？

I'd like to recommend some fairly inexpensive and yet great skin care products from Paula Begoun and Yuan Fan. Please share your opinions and feedback as well.

Cleanser
Neutrogena One Step Gentle Cleanser
Paula: Leaves skin feeling clean and smooth, all in one gentle step.. It contains milder cleansing agents than many other cleansers, but still includes standbys such as ammonium laureth sulfate. It is highly recommended for all but very dry skin types. It does contain fragrance.
Cetaphil
Yuan: mild, mild, mild, and it works! Perfect for daily use, and all types of skin concerns. It won't take any moist from your skin and won't clog your pores.

Anti-aging Moisturizer
Olay Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-Aging Moisturizer, Mature Skin Therapy
Paula: Much of the enhancement of the skin’s appearance has to do with visual trickery—the mineral pigments add a subtle soft-focus, brightening effect to dull skin, while niacinamide encourages ceramide production for a smoother surface, which reflects light better. This isn’t one-stop shopping for menopausal skin because most of the claims are at best far-fetched, but it definitely has many strong points.
Yuan is still looking for a "cheap & good" night cream. If you are rich, try Elizabeth Arden Prevege. No bias & No Bull: it works like magic.

Sunscreen
M.A.C. Studio Moisture Fix SPF 15
Paula: This proves that Estee Lauder intends to share its moisturizer know-how with other brands it owns. It is loaded with antioxidants, skin-identical substances, and anti-irritants. It is a brilliant option for normal to oily skin, although the amount of zinc oxide (and its slight whitening effect) may prove tricky to work with on darker skin tones. This product does contain fragrance.
Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF-30
Yuan: hands-down an outstanding sunscreen. Fairely inexpensive. SPF30 lasts for 5 hours so in fall/winter, you don't need to apply. Will not cause break-out or acne, non-comedogenic, non-greasy, and yet incredibly moisturizing to normal to dry skin. Lightly fragrant, and won't give you a headache even if you use it everyday.

Toner
M.A.C. Lightful Softening Lotion
Paula: It won’t do much to lighten skin discolorations, but certainly gives normal to dry skin what it needs to look better and feel refreshed. Definitely not your average toner!
Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner
Yuan: forget "Little S," Yuan's been bragging about this product for years. Mild, nonirritant, and yet moisturizing toner. It lasts long too. Leaves skin so smooth that you don't want to keep your hands off your own face. Use cotton pads with it.

Hand Cream
Vaseline Intensive Care Intensive Rescue Healing Hand Cream
Paula: This moisturizes well and has a light, non-greasy texture. It contains fragrance in the form of ethylene brassylate.
Kiehl's Ultimate Strengh Hand Salve or Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
Yuan: very moisturizing. You can see results immediately. If you have sufficient funds, go for La Mer, but I don't see how these two products work less effectively than La Mer.

Facial Mask
Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Mask
Paula: A powerhouse formula for dry to very dry skin and is best left on as a moisturizer rather than used occasionally as a mask to be rinsed off. Although Lauder has become expertly adept at using state-of-the-art ingredients that affect skin positively, their claims are still on the fantasy side as opposed to the reality of science. This mask is supposed to revitalize skin with advanced lifting and firming technology, but it can’t do that. It doesn’t even contain ingredients to create a temporary tightening effect, which are often used in products to convince you that your skin really is being firmed and lifted. But as a moisturizing mask? Wow!
Yuan is probably gonna agree with Paula. If you are rich, go for Darphin. Again, magical products.

Make-up Remover
The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye Make-Up Remover
Paula: Fluid lotion works swiftly to remove even stubborn waterproof mascara, and is fragrance-free; best if used before cleansing your face. This doesn’t contain much chamomile, but is in fact an excellent, lotion-type eye-makeup remover.
Kiehl's Supremely Gentle Eye Make-up Remover
Yuan: I don't understand why people use other products. It's that mild, that effective and that moisturizing for your skin. I use it for my face also.

Merry Christmas to all of my friends and family. And a very happy New Year. All Jewish friends: Hanukkah passed. Sorry.