All posts tagged: cold

Tofu Tuesday: Pet pack

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A lot of rabbits live outside in a hutch, even in winter. They survive. However, I have no doubt that if they had the choice, they would prefer to live inside and snuggle up with a warm pet pack (or other bunnies). This is the first winter we have tried a warming pad for Tofu. It’s just a bag of orange gel that I microwave for a few minutes until it is warm, then it goes into a fleecy pouch with a couple of sheets of reflective stuff to keep the warmth in. As Tofu is gets older (almost 8 years) he seems to feel the cold more. Some mornings this winter, he would rather stay indoors than to roam free in the backyard. I sometimes find Tofu with his fluffy bum pressed against his warm pet pack. He grooms the pet pack like it might be his friend. Tofu has also been coming into our room at night. He hops around my side of the bed until I wake up and scoop him up and he …

Tofu Tuesday: King size bed

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Tofu has been sleeping on our bed lately. He comes into our room sometime between midnight and dawn, long after we’ve gone to bed. I guess that is when the temperature drops. He sleeps on top of our blankets, snuggled between our feet. In the morning, he can be found perfectly positioned on that patch of blanket directly on top of a hot water bottle, enjoying the residual heat through 2 layers of blanket. He dozes there for hours while I get up, work out, shower, dress, pack my lunch, check what’s new with the internet etc. He usually hops off the bed (in search for food) by the time I leave for work. Life is pretty sweet. In winter, if a rabbit has the choice, he would choose to snuggle with a hot water bottle and/or between his humans. It makes me wonder how pet rabbits who live their entire lives in outdoor hutches can survive even our mild Auckland winters? It doesn’t snow in Auckland, but it can get close to 0°C at night yet house …

Winter to do list

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It is impossible to imagine that winter is starting back home in Auckland. We are finally acclimatising to the the heat of Thailand but due to fly home to the start of winter very soon. Even though it is warm here, I’m glad that I’ve been pondering my winter to do list for quite some time. These are 10 things that I’ve always wanted to eat, cook or experience. 1. Make Spaghetti alla Puttanesca A dish to get promiscuous with. This quick, fiery dish is reputed to be named after the ladies of the night (ie. Whore Pasta). I tasted it for the first time for breakfast in Thailand (of all places) after a night on the turps. It is made using ingredients from the pantry and is a tasty pasta to serve to any sluts in your life. Perhaps wait until after you have all eaten to tell your friends they have just eaten Whore Pasta. They’ll either think it’s funny or hold a grudge. 2. Cook curry goat I saw Hugh Fearnley-Whittinstall’s curry …

Magical Elixir

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I was recently watching Nici Wicke’s World Kitchen, specifically the Hong Kong episode. I was born in Hong Kong and it will always have a special place in my heart. In this episode, while sipping on snake soup, Nici and her Hong Kong guide Denny, talk about soup. In Western society, soup is often eaten when we are sick. Chicken soup is consciously or subconciously considered to a magical elixir that will cure what ails you. Soup is nourishing and easy to digest. In Chinese society, a nourishing soup is served with dinner to prevent sickness. Take a magical elixir every day for good health. How cool is that? I grew up with soup as a course before dinner. Chinese soup is a savoury broth and light enough to have before every meal. Meats like pork or chicken are boiled with various dried roots, vegetables, dried fruits and even nuts. It’s an important aspect of every Chinese dinner. We were often encouraged to have a second bowl of soup after our meal too. I serve soup …