Life is Great

The Delicious Appreciations of Pick Yin

Not exactly predictable.
Has enough brains for codes
(but can be completely clueless on other more important matters).
Likes her Joe (and her man?) black, her chocolate dark and her food spicy.
“Quam bene vivas refert, non quam diu.” — Seneca

Total Posts   191      Last Updated   23 November 2015 12:00 PM (GMT +8)

Wednesday, August 01, 2012


Entertaining for One



Do you cook for you, yourself and you alone?

Entertaining for One


Self-pampering is crucial in my books. So much energy and love is always spent to prepare something good for my other half, family and friends, when they're not in the room, why not for myself? It's not only therapeutic, it's good for the soul. Me-time is set aside for making and eating. Since it's for my palate only, I do whatever I want, at my own pace, to my heart's desire.

Entertaining for One

Entertaining for One


In the mornings, there would be no rush. As he snores away into brunch hour, I contemplate what eggs to place on my ekmek while carefully folding a piece Chemex filter paper into a cone. I drip my coffee over 45 minutes, letting each round of pour go through completely, reheating the water when necessary. I arrange my plate with care, because I want a beautiful plate to dig into, even on my own table. Like any good song, the first line is important. If the rest of the day would deteriorate, at least I had my perfect runny eggs to hang on to.

Entertaining for One


There will be no compromise. I take it as practice. Things can be simple and quick, but nothing can be under seasoned or overcooked. Even that bowl of ginger scallion noodles with a poached egg. Because I will spend a good hour with it, in solitude, savoring every bite with much more attention than when someone else is at the table.

Entertaining for One


After those persimmons and plump berries disappear, I would've covered a few pages of my favorite magazines, caught up with some news or discovered something new I must bake As soon as humanly possible. In goes a square of dark chocolate to end the show, just in time for the man to wake from his slumber. Or time to get going to the gym, meet a friend, run errands, attempt something life-changing. No matter. The next task would be set for success, because I've been entertained.

If it's not obvious already, I'm breaking away from my strictly recipe and travel oriented posts. Meeting a new friend over the weekend made me realize how much I miss writing, to a certain extent. I want to keep my recipe posts objective to the subject, so all the other bits like this will be spilling out from time to time. Thank you for putting up with me.

posted by PickYin @ 8/01/2012 11:57:00 AM

13 Comments on Entertaining for One

It is no putting up when your readers enjoy what you write, recipe-less or not! You write so well!!!!

Posted by Anonymous Mrs Ergül, at Aug 1, 2012, 12:31:00 PM  

i enjoyed what you wrote, pick yin ^^ from the 3rd paragraph on, it felt like i was reading a poem.. very nice ^^ and since i'm here, just wanted to say thanks for your sharing of recipes, beautiful pictures.. and thoughtful posts ^^

Posted by Anonymous hui, at Aug 1, 2012, 9:14:00 PM  

Cooking for oneself is one of the most satisfying things, isn't it? It's so nice to have the ability to tailor food to your own appetite in exactly the right way.

Posted by Blogger Eileen, at Aug 2, 2012, 1:59:00 AM  

Beautiful pictures! I love the tear shaped bowl too!

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous, at Aug 2, 2012, 3:45:00 AM  

I love cooking just for myself. From a selfish perspective, I get to make everything just how I like it!

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous, at Aug 2, 2012, 6:03:00 AM  

Yesterday, my fiance had to fly back to California unexpectedly, leaving me with 7 consecutive days of food freedom! I'm trying to savor each meal I prepare for myself. For dinner, a burrata salad, which is both self-indulgent and soul-gratifying. :)

Posted by Anonymous Linda, at Aug 2, 2012, 6:03:00 AM  

You've always got a good voice and I have always enjoyed reading your lyrical writing. I used to write alot too during the early days but 'the voice' has deserted me after I started writing mostly business reports... :)

Posted by Blogger Shirley @ Kokken69, at Aug 2, 2012, 8:30:00 AM  

The truth is this. Sometimes I want to go away to an island and just cook something for myself instead of feeding 6 people in my big household! And simple pristine dish like this will fit the bill!

Posted by Blogger Anh, at Aug 3, 2012, 6:31:00 AM  

I love the delights. :)

Posted by Anonymous Lucy Hill, at Aug 3, 2012, 11:45:00 AM  

Putting up with you? Ha!

I liked this post. I wish I cooked more for myself, but it's so difficult to find motivation. It makes me sad all too often.

When I do cook for myself though, I do try to make it special. It isn't worth it otherwise :)

Posted by Blogger Kaitlin, at Aug 4, 2012, 11:36:00 AM  

Having time to myself is such a luxury these days with a four months old baby to attend to. I remember lazy weekend morning where I have long leisurely breakfast with a good book to read. Love looking at your pictures! Where did you get that sunny yellow kettle?

Posted by Blogger RainbowPixie, at Aug 6, 2012, 10:52:00 AM  

Lovely post indeed. Feed yourself right and everything else will go oh so well (:

Posted by Anonymous Anonymous, at Aug 8, 2012, 7:48:00 AM  

+1 for using Chemex for brewing coffee :-)

Posted by Blogger I roast, at Aug 21, 2012, 10:22:00 PM  


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