Polishing the Sweet 16

[Click to enlarge images]

--Back in August, I made some Parmesan shortbread rolls with some Ricotta linguine for my Dad's birthday. His personality shot the gift down, claiming it was too "American" and blah blah blah, but I definitely enjoyed it, the bread rolls especially. It was VERY flavorful, probably too much Parmesan, but completely edible for my tastes. Can't wait to make them again.

Lately, a combination of school and work, and school, and work (and school), has been wrenching the sanity out of me. I haven't felt like myself lately. Losing sleep, my room's a complete mess, my grades are pushing daisies weeds...

--Cake, in the form of french-fries! Custom-made for my buddy Phuong for her birthday, a complicated kumquat who doesn't like pies or cake and only chips and fries--but what's a birthday without cake, right? (August)

--Chips-and-dip cake! The "ketchup" (pink) is actually strawberry frosting, the "sour cream and onion" dip (white/green) is just white frosting and granulated sugar coated with green food coloring, and the "barbecue sauce" (brown) is cinnamon flavored frosting

--A simple strawberry cake I made for Phuong's birthday celebration--not for Phuong (haha). I ended up eating most of it anyway. My cakes aren't worthy of praise just yet, although I enjoyed it quite nicely. Maybe my taste buds are overly generous when it comes to judging my food.

I don't particularly mind the work, I appreciate the learning. It's just... (so far) my classes are just plain annoying. They annoy me, period. (Or at least three of them). Those select few bring out the bitterness in me, then it phases out to simple sadness from being deprived of time to enjoy myself... I miss summer.

So much.

--I have my own baking cabinet, haha. My favorite storage area of the kitchen, besides where the bread and spreads, and cereal. I attempted an upside-down pineapple cake. It's an easy way to decorate a cake if you don't have any frosting!

--I also made a "bowl of cocoa-puffs" cake for a friend's birthday, cause all I knew about him was that he liked cocoa puffs, and I wanted to fulfill my creative-cravings and see what I could do.


Then again, that's a good thing isn't it? I, being the weirdo I am, see it as that I had a GREAT summer despite my few accomplishments and memorable moments (not that I didn't have any, but it wasn't like I partied every day or went on a road trip or anything). Every time I get a whiff of summer (being a rebel and playing tennis, or decorating cakes at 2AM when Physics homework is waiting for me), I get all nostalgic and blah blah blah. I can't wait until next summer<3

Lately though, i've been riddled with unnecessary bombs, and unexpected ones, and ones that gnaw at your ankles, but all you can do is walk. I haven't felt like myself at all. Not one bit. It's already the 4th week of school, but only the 4th week of school. It lifts me up and shoots me down, and I gotta say, the shooting's more common. People have guns too, I forgot.

--I made a two-layer yellow cake with vanilla frosting and had a lot of Hershey's chocolate, which I used for some flavor and some decoration. It was my parting gift to my co-workers at my secret old job, but again, I ended up taking a large share home. I'm the only one who likes my cakes :-( I admit, this one was quite dense and the frosting was WAY sweet, but hey, I made it from scratch. I will work on getting it fluffier and moist.

But don't mind me. I'm just going through a dry, rainy spell. (what the heck, dry and rainy? I'm not making any sense, but then again, when do I ever?) I just want to say, I appreciate everyone who has enjoyed my company and allowed me to enjoy theirs, helping, chilling, teaching... there's still a bunch of awesome people in this world. I might not have a best friend, but it seems like I can manage without one, I guess. ALL-IN-ALL: I am just complaining. I like baking. I'm squeezing in all my words and thoughts and pictures in my last few days of being a rebellious 16-year-old. Let's hope I won't die soon, and um, my last words on blogger (for a while since it's completely wasting my time right now) as a sixteen year-old?

I could use a vacation.
And I like apple butter... Mmm.

"[Morrie] would walk that final bridge between life and death, and narrate the trip."

-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Let's hope I make it out alive. (Can I still bake in heaven?)