#75 Chitchat
love and hate
hello and welcome back,
this newsletter is nothing but a ramble, i hope you enjoy (someone give me new music to listen to).
start writing, substack says.
i have started listening to BTS again and sometimes i revisit the playlists i have created and i wonder why do i have so many? because i’m not Laurie from Little Women and the teenager who loved BTS has changed but she still lives in me everyday. she is cheering me on with handmade pom pom’s and she can’t believe the woman i have sprouted into. she has to pinch herself. their songs are still so addicting and i will never forget how my sister cried because she couldn’t get Jimin’s voice out of her head. she told my mum, blaming me and we just laughed.
BTS are returning and i don’t feel the same as i used to but i’m excited. i miss having good, new music. i feel like i’ve been listening to the same songs over and over again, why is there no good, new music? Harry’s new single is okay, not a fan. i am waiting patiently for BTS’ new album, i remember how fun comebacks would be and i know i’ll be texting my sisters about it anyway. they won’t care for them but at least they’ll read my messages.
not being a fangirl is boring.
Namjoon is right, he hates and loves Seoul all at the same time. is it possible to love and hate something or someone at the same time? i love my hometown and there are times, when i hate my hometown but hate is a strong word. dislike is a better word. i know where to purchase the right amount of Halal meat from the butchers to be able to make my favourite meal, egg fried rice and gazebo chicken. my mum taught me this and now, whenever we make it, i make the sauce for the rice and she makes the chicken. it’s a team effort, i still have yet to master the terrible, confusing, chaotic skill of cooking rice. do i just buy a rice cooker? do i still like BTS or do i just enjoy their music?
my hometown holds several monuments. if you decide to visit, dont forget to visit the street behind my childhood home where my friend lives. the friend i was never close to until a family friend’s wedding and the art of poetry and being creative brought us together. don’t forget to visit the speed bumps on the main road leading to my high school and the home where my first cat came from. the reservoir that leads to the birth place of my second cat. the field where we all completed cross country, ran out of breath and avoided the walking dogs. the bus stop where me and my brother stood and i took him to our local museum for a day out. i like my hometown but i like my people better.
childhood is sacred and it’s something we will never get back. so make your favourire meal and remember your mother because she taught you life. this is how to make egg fried rice and gazebo chicken for your dinner next week or the week after.
marinate your chicken.
for two people, 500g will last you four meals in total (i think… i’m giving very rough measurements. feel free to adjust accordingly). marinate your chicken in 1 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of black pepper, 1 tsp of salt, 2 tbsp of soy sauce and 1 tbsp of vinegar. leave to marinate overnight.
prepare your rice.
for the sauce, cut 2 bell peppers, grate a few carrots and cut your spring onions. cook all together in 1 tbsp of oil.
when softened, add your spices- 1 tsp of chilli powder, 1 tsp of green chillies, 1 tbsp of ginger/garlic, 1 tbsp of black pepper, 1 tsp of salt.
i realise now i am typing this up by heart so this won’t be accurate. i usually use a fried rice mix (it comes with more spices that gives you a more distinctive flavour), if you can find something similar to a Schezwan spice, that would be ideal.
when your paste has thickened and your vegetables are cooked thoroughly, add in 3 eggs and 2 tbsp of soy sauce.
once you have boiled your rice, mix together with your sauce.
deep fry your chicken.
take out your marinated chicken and coat in whisked egg.
coat your chicken in cornflour before deep frying until golden brown.
sauce for your chicken.
mix together ketchup, chilli sauce, chilli flakes (no measurements but you need a lot for a thick enough sauce to coat your chicken).
cook your chicken in this sauce for ten minutes until it sticks.
serve your chicken and rice side by side, enjoy together.
until next time,
ahsia x
egg fried rice and gazebo chicken is ELITE
imagine living behind someone your whole life and not knowing how spectacular they are until your paths finally align 😗