Aishteru, Riiko!

JDrama #1: Zettai Kareshi

Cherry says:

I've been waiting for the second Nodame Cantabile movie for the longest time and so i've been stalking Sars-fansub site for it. Since it was not out yet and i thought i'd try watching something new, i scanned their project list and found this interesting title -- Zettai Kareshi, aka. Absolute Boyfriend.

I did a search for the plot and found out this site with this picture. Immediately, i was sold.

Photo credit: http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Zettai_Kareshi

Thank goodness i judge a show by it's poster. This show was really funny and had lots of romantic "kilig" moments. And the last 2 episodes (10 and 11) plus the SP really had me crying. I meant, bawling. Kat actually heard these strange sounds coming from my room while i was watching it. She thought i was laughing wildly. But i was actually laughing, sniffing and crying my heart out. Yes, this show made me crazy.

So obviously, i highly recommend it. If you like romantic comedies, with a touch of drama, then this show is for you as well! Plus Soshi and Night-o are very easy on the eyes, you won't regret it. This will always be one of my fave jdramas. I give it a perfect 5 points!

Kat says:

Alright! So, I am about 2 or 3 weeks late in this entry. Sorry, Cherry :(

I remember hearing a lot of laughing which I later found out to be crying noises coming from Cherry's room when she was watching this. When she finally convinced me to watch it, I got addicted (what else is new, right?) that I finished it in one weekend. Did i laugh? Yes! Did I cry? Not answering this one. I may perhaps only admit to becoming teary-eyed. 

Anyhow, I really like it when a show can still surprise you, when it is able to introduce characters that's so unlikely but still becomes believable and endearing. When you read the plot, don't be put off by how silly it sounds. It's a good show.

I remember one scene - this is my favorite. 

Riiko went to see Soshi and for a while no one says anything. You understand that Riiko is afraid, ashamed perhaps and sad. With that stern look, you're expecting Soshi to be angry. But then he smiles and says one word to Riiko, "Okaeri" to which Riiko replies, "Tadaima." (Cue the soundtrack aptly titled "Okaeri")

I love it when the music is perfectly timed to come in where the scene just left off. 

I give this one 5 out of 5 amazing coca-colas :)

Tastes like pasta!

Experiment #3: Baked Macaroni with Quick Melt Cheese

Cherry says:
I'm not a fan of pasta dishes. But since i'm getting older, i know i have to be a bit careful with my rice intake. I'm not the type to avoid carbs though, so i just substitute rice with pasta or bread. Gee, i really need to learn how to cook pasta, it seems.

There's not much to say -- this experiment was a failure! I used a ready-made Parmesan Cheese Spaghetti sauce, which does not have a hint of parmesan cheese at all by the way. And it never occurred to me to taste it before mixing it with the pasta and putting it in the oven. It needed more salt and pepper -- and tomato sauce for that matter. The quick melt cheese saved it a bit though. But since cheese is supposed to be just an add-on, well it can only do so much.

Definitely a failure. I need to follow some better pasta recipe next time. I give this 1 out of 5 points.

 

Kat says:

I remember when we made this! (And by we, I mean Cherry) I was playing Wii while Cherry was cooking the sauce and pasta. Hey! I eventually did help out, with the dishes that is. Anyway, I've gotten really good at Wii Sports Tennis. I finally won a Best of 5 game! Good game, fictional Wii players or in other words, better luck next time, losers!

OK, about the baked mac. Hmm. Well, we learned that it's best to taste the sauce first before actually mixing it with the pasta and declaring all the cooking to be done. A really valuable lesson which we hope to remember for the next time we (and by we, I mean.. :D) cook pasta.

I give this one 2 out of 5 amazing coca-colas.

A Loaf of Brownie

Experiment #2: Pillsbury Chunky Choco Fudge Brownies

Cherry says:

This baking experience was a bit of a disaster. First, we forgot to set the timer after putting the mix in the oven. Then we didn't have the right-sized pan and so we're not sure how long it should bake. Then whenever we try to check if it's done, a big chunk of the mix gets stuck with the fork leaving huge "dents" on the brownie's surface.

In the end, we overcooked it a bit. So the lower part of the brownie was a bit cake-y, with the bottom toasted and almost burnt. The upper part though was soft and chewy, and quite wet. But as it turns out, this combination was good. Since the upper part was really sweet and chewy, the cake-y part balances it out and allows you to eat more without getting sick.

If you like chewy brownies (without the cake-y bottom) though, i think the trick is to use a bigger pan and spread the mix thin. Leave it in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes and just let it cool afterwards. Don't bother with the fork test. It will always seem undercooked and very wet -- and you'll just end up ruining the brownie's form. Just have faith that it will be more solid once it's cool.

The Verdict: Since there were so many unknowns, I think i had to check up on the baking at least 10 times, and even had to re-lit the oven thrice. It was tiring. But i guess if you already know how to avoid the disasters we encountered, then you're better off. Preparing it was pretty easy. The taste was okay, though it was actually a bit too sweet for me. The worst part is that you can't eat it right away! Otherwise it'll feel like eating a very, very moist chocolate cake. I give it 2 out 5 points.

Kat says:

My favorite brownies is still the one I buy from the French Baker. I love the Walnut brownies from Becky's but it's not very accessible to me so it's not my favorite. Yes, that's right. It's not just about the taste. It's also about how easy it would be for me to get my hands on it. Did you get that, Becky?!

So about experiment #2, it was a good try, Cherry. We did everything that the Pillsbury dough boy said. Well, except to time it properly that is. If I remember it right, I think it was about after 10min (or was it 20min??) when we finally realized that we didn't know how long it's been in the oven. Oh well. There's always the next time. It's still a pretty good first batch and the confectioner sugar was an excellent touch! But maybe we should go back to Betty Crocker. I'm sure she'll take us back. In the meantime, I give this one 3 out of 5 amazing coca-colas.

Lesson learned: Never trust the Pillsbury dough boy. What the hell does he know about brownies anyway? He's a dough for crap's sake.

Betty's Cookies

Experiment #1: Betty Crocker's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cherry says:

While sweet high school girls would normally be taught how to sew clothes and bake, the closest to 'home economic' lessons i got during high school was to saw wood and culture yeast.

So Experiment #1 brought a lot of 'firsts' for me -- first time to make and taste cookie dough, first time to operate the oven, first time to bake! It was also the first time that i got a taste of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

The Verdict: Well, i think i prefer having oatmeal cookies and chocolate chip cookies separately, rather than combined. The texture was a bit weird for me. But nonetheless, Betty's cookies turned out to be really good and very easy to make. The whole thing probably cost us around 250 pesos, and it'll give you about eighteen 3-inch cookies. I'd prefer to have bittersweet chocolate chips though since the one that comes with the package are too sweet for my taste.

Overall, considering the taste, effort required and the cost, i give 3 out of 5 points.


Kat says:
I didn't know that Betty Crocker wasn't a real person until our friend J provided a wiki site which explains that the people behind the product wanted to make the brand more personal and homey. Suddenly, all the images of a suburban old lady baking away in an old country cottage disappeared :( The next thing I know someone will be telling me that Mrs. Fields is a 60-year old transvestite.. which would actually be kinda cool! So, is she?!

In any case, I still love the cookies but the chocolate chips is a bit too sweet for me. I give it 4 out of 5 amazing coca-colas.