Cheers to 2009!

2009 is only a few hours away. I always try to take this time to reflect on 2008 and all the events that occurred. There are definitely good moments and bad ones, on a personal level and on a macro level...

Again, as tacky as it sounds, I really wish 2009 will be a safe one - world peace and less violence! I also hope that the economy will rebound faster than anticipated. That feeling of uncertainty is causing a lot of anxiety for many people, including us. With SQ's job being so unstable, we have been cautious, trying not to overspend and giving ourselves a bigger 'rainy day' fund. Hopefully, our country will be able to weather through these tough economic times... Cheers to 2009!

May this year bring all of us Hope and Joy... and may all the new year resolutions get completed & all the new year dreams come true!

Butternut Squash Soup

I tasted my first Butternut Squash soup at Wolfgang Puck Express Cafe in the basement of downtown Macy's. I had just got my braces adjusted and my teeth was too sore to eat anything and I was hungry. So I ordered this soup from the menu... and my oh my, it was sooooo good! I have never had butternut squash soup before, so this was definitely a nice surprise. Ever since then, I am in love with this soup. And everytime I see it on any restaurant's menu, I would almost guarantee to order it! But today, I've decided to try making it...so I searched online for the best recipe. I got this recipe from allrecipes.com. It's a very good recipe - very easy and exact. The soup has a good consistency and seasong. This is my deliiissssh homemade butternut squash soup!!

In case you don't know what a butternut squash looks like - it's like this!



Recipe (serves 6)
Ingredients

• 6 cups of butternut squash (2 lbs)
• 6 tablespoon of chopped onions
• 4 tablespoon of butter or margarine
• 3 cups of water
• 4 cubes of chicken bouillion
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground marjoram
• 1/4 teaspoon of ground pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
• 4 ounces of Cream Cheese

Instructions

• Cut the butternut squash into 1/2. Remove seeds and pulp. Face down, put the squash into a baking pan & into the oven for 40 minutes at 350 degrees
• After it becomes soft, scrape squash out from skin
• In a small pot, melt butter and sautee onions until tender
• Add water, chicken bouillon, marjoram, ground pepper, cayenne pepper
• Transfer the mixture into a blender, add squash and cream cheese
• Puree for 30 seconds
• Transfer the mixture into the small pot and heat to a simmer (do not boil)
• Serve and enjoy!

Michael Buble's "Everything"

I am absolutely in love with this song!! Lyrics on the bottom:



You're a falling star, You're the get away car.
You're the line in the sand when I go too far.
You're the swimming pool, on an August day.
And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.
Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.
Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.
Cause you can see it when I look at you.

[Chorus:]And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,
And you light me up, when you ring my bell.
You're a mystery, you're from outer space,
You're every minute of my everyday.

And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,
And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.
Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,
And you know that's what our love can do.

[Chorus:]And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, LaSo, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

[Chorus:]And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times
It's you, it's you, You make me sing.
You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.Y
ou're every song, and I sing along.
'Cause you're my everything. Yeah, yeah
So, La, La, La, La, La, La, LaSo, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

Merry Christmas!!