Proust was onto something...

...when he wrote about these little tea cakes. Madeleines are an absolutely simple, yet extremely satisfying biscuit that is reminiscent of little shell cookies, but they do in fact have the texture of cakes. It's hard not to love their buttery melt-in-your mouth texture. It had been quite a while since I had baked something (that was NOT a cupcake), so I figured a nice easy batch of madeleines would be quite nice to munch on while watching the Euro 2008 final. I even made them extra special, adding some lemon juice and zest for a light citrusy tang. Making sure that I generously greased the pans, the tea cakes came out quite easily, although I did have to bake it for longer than instructed. I know they are not crepes or even Italian (It's actually from northeast France), but they will suffice for now. Baby steps, no?


“She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called petites madeleines, which look as though they had been moulded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrim's shell. And soon, mechanically, weary after a dull day with the prospect of a depressing morrow, I raised to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had soaked a morsel of the cake. No sooner had the warm liquid, and the crumbs with it, touched my palate than a shudder ran through my whole body, and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary changes that were taking place…at once the vicissitudes of life had become indifferent to me, its disasters innocuous, its brevity illusory…”
-- Rememberance of Things Past, Volume 1: Swann's Way.

They don't look that great, but they will certainly aid me get through my football withdrawal (which I'll have to endure for another month and a half).

¡VIVA ESPAÑA!

[[photo from Tiscali]]

After 44 persevering years, Spain finally did it. Curse after curse was broken in this year's Euro Cup, and España brilliantly shined against the other European nations competing for the prestigious prize.

Despite having many skeptics doubting their success this year, they have put all the haters to shame in winning Euro 2008!

At first I was extremely worried. Sure, they did very well in the group stages, winning all the matches. But I didn't want a repeat of tournament's past, with only progressing til the quarterfinals. And so, after a horribly frustrating match against Italy, my little Spanish fires won on PKs (And those amazing saves by Iker Casillas as well!!!). Then in the semis, I did have the same optimism as I did in the group stages, for Russia had just KO Holland, another strong team, in the quarterfinals. But alas, in Russia and Spain's second meet-up there was another 3-point margin to the Spaniards.

And here we are, Spain the new European champions, beating three-time champions Germany! After years and years of not being good enough, their actual talent and sportsmanship reigned supreme. Never have I seen a national team with such good hearts and wonderful teamwork. No one ever fought for the glory of scoring a European goal, all they fought for was the possession of the ball against the opponents. With an amazing midfield consisting of Fabregas and Senna, opportunities for goals were immense. Not to mention, David Villa won the Golden Boot of the tournament, scoring the most goals of Euro 2008, with four fantastic goals including a hattrick and a late match winner in the group stages.

So where does La Furia Roja go from here? Well, I suppose they'll continue their victory celebration sans clothing (Iker in undies, yes please!!) But this only gets me even more excited to see their talent and determination in the next World Cup in 2010. South Africa, here they come! La Selección is ready to take the rest of the world on!

A time of self-exploration...

Every summer, I give myself goals to achieve that pertain to dreams that I've always wanted to fulfill. I would vow that everyday I would do something worthwhile and productive, contribute to society. And every summer, it's the same old failure. Because of sheer laziness, I would always end up on the couch killing my time, as well as my brain cells, watching the telly. The summer would pass by, with me not feeling very fulfilled whatsoever.

So as I did the previous summers, I set myself some goals. Along with having different goals, I have a different approach to achieving these goals. Rather than just waiting for the time to give me the opportunities, I am going to tackle these goals head on. One of the lessons that I've learned this year is that I can't ever wait for things to happen; I need to make things happen myself and take things into my own hands. After all, it's my life, I should be able to control what I want in it. And so, with these goals in mind, I will grab my opportunities by the horns and tell them who's boss.

Now that I am back from my time in California, summer has officially started for me. The empty feeling of time and heart lingering within, and having very little, if not nothing, to do. And so I wondered, what are some self-fulfilling achievements I can actually reach, while simultaneously learn about life and myself? Sure, all this sounds mighty philosophical, almost beyond weird for a sixteen year-old to ponder. But I figure my life is short, and if I am going to make the most of it, I might as well start right now. After some time of contemplation during my vacation in California and some quirky incidences in my life, I have thought of several goals to set for myself. And with much luck and determination, I hope to achieve them by the end of the summer (...as well as my AP English homework).

Goal of Self-exploration #1: Learn French

[[photo from ANU]]

After almost three years, I still get nags from my relatives saying "how come you didn't take French? After all, most of my family speaks French, and here I am, the oddball who took Spanish instead. And though I really do love the romanticisms of the rolling Rs of Spanish, I have always had a passion for learning about new cultures, and it's no different for languages. Surely French wouldn't be too difficult with my previous knowledge of Spanish, and it would be quite useful when I spend time in Paris during the Holidays. With the drive to learn, all I need to do now is whip out those How-To books my mom has stashed in the garage...

Goal of Self-Exploration #2: Read a book a week

[[photo from Amazon]]

Sounds quite ambitious, huh? I love to read books, and with the work overload this year, I sadly did not have the time to read as much as I wished to. But with all my horrid classes done and over with, I finally have time to indulge in some fantastic novels. With a long grocery-list of books I want, I'm sure I won't have any trouble finding some new stories to delve into. I am currently reading Elizabeth Gilbert's Eat Pray Love. And I must say, it's quite apropos with my time of self-exploration at the moment. I highly recommend it, and I personally think everyone can take a lesson or two on life from this memoir.

Goal of Self-exploration #3: Crepes galore!

[[photo from flickr]]

Ah, the delectable French dessert. I absolutely love these paper-thin pancakes, and I am determined to perfect the Parisian crepe this summer. Personal preference leads me to make batches and batches filled with ripe strawberries and whipping cream, as well as slathered with lots of Nutella.

Goal of Self-Exploration #4: Italian Cuisine

[[photo from Pesto's Italian]]

Surprised that it's another food-related goal? You shouldn't be, if you truly know me. I'm the biggest foodie a sixteen year-old could ever be. And this summer, I will (attempt to) hone my Italian cuisine skills. I'll be the aficionado of antipasto, the connoisseur of cannolis, the spaghetti specialist, the pizza perfectionist. There is nothing more pleasurable than the taste and goodness of great Italian food, and I am willing to double my weight over the next couple months as long as I can finally make a substantial Puttanesca sauce.

Goal of Self-exploration #5: Euro History

[[photo from Britannica]]

Despite loathing AP US history, I am very intrigued by early European history. Perhaps it's the opulence and enlightenment of the time period, but I can't help but yearn for more knowledge of King Henry VIII and his six wives. Although I already know briefly about each marriage (and in chronological order!), I feel like I could use more learning in that sphere. Also, I am interested in the extravagant fluff that was Marie Antoinette. Sure, the Sofia Coppola movie was anti-climatic, but who can resist the history behind those pastries? Hopefully by the end of the summer I will know the entire significance of the Magna Carta.

Goal of Self-exploration #6: Formula 1

[[photo from Wikipedia]]

At first, I was skeptical about the idea of Formula 1. Isn't it the same as NASCAR? But alas, both are quite different, and after conversing over this with a good friend (who is a huge fan), I am curious and willing to give this a try. Contrasting NASCAR, Formula 1 seems more on the classier side and with much more speed. With the British Grand Prix next week, I will surely give this sport a whirl and will hopefully enjoy this spectacle! (Props to Grace!)

Goal of Self-exploration #7: BLOG!

How else would I learn about myself if I don't know anything about myself first?! Despite the three-month hiatus, I'm back and ready to blog once again. And hopefully through reading my thoughts and ponderings, I will know more about myself and how I should handle my life conundrums.

You might think, What the fuck does all this have to do with self-exploration?! Well, simpletons, I figure that with all these curiosities and intrigues pushing me to experience further knowledge, I might just learn of new passions and what I truly want in life. Sure, gelato might not make my heart love more (...or could it?), but perhaps I will learn of my true potential and what I'm capable of. And hopefully, with new skills and knowledge, I can venture out more into the depths of the world and love it even more.

It's been a long time coming...

[[Photo from Emilie Wood]]

Ah, summer had finally blessed my little heart. And although I can finally let out a sigh of relief, I really do miss everyone from school, even if they did annoy me at times. And being across the country makes me long to see everyone even more. But I'm not complaining, California has been wonderful, and it's about time I get some time to relax!

I know it has been quite some time since I last updated, and I am truly sorry. Ever since the fourth marking period began, my mind has been at a standstill. With football season, TV season, fashion weeks, and school (nearly) over, the passion that ran through my veins during the year ran dry, and I had little to indulge. Despite this, I have always believed in a silver lining, and though my usual loves were done for the time being, I had other things to keep my emotions raging. So don't be afraid, even though I was lacking things to blog about, my heart is still beating as usual, if not a little harder.

Here's to a great summer, and I am determined to keep this blog alive!!