Whole-wheat Zucchini Bread

This post is to celebrate my 1st baking project! My roommie and I tried many ways to reduce fat/carb portion in the bread and still kept it yummy. Baking for me was always a mind hurdle since I am so afraid of looking at the different equipment and have no where to go. However, it turned out not so hard and fun!

Squash Soup at Panera

These days the weather become pretty unstable - warm, chilly, cold and sometimes hot when the sun comes out. Whatever the harvest season is coming and the restaurants are all using seasonal ingredients to attract customers, and many bakeries/cafes are launching pumpkin flavor cookie, coffee and tea. In a chilly rainy afternoon, I went into Panera Bread and this squash soup immediately caught my attention. Creamy (I tended to ignore the cheese part), smooth and warm, it is a perfect comfort food for a quick and easy lunch. Plus, I tried to incorporate this creamy soup as a salad dressing and it was amazing! 

Saturday Morning

It was rainy and gloomy on Friday so I didn't expect that my house was filled with sunshine on Saturday morning. Sitting at the balcony and listening to the coffee machine brewing was just fun and lovely. Going to apple picking soon!

Applebee's Salads

I am not a fan of national fast food chains, since I am not comfortable eating burger or sandwich as my lunch (either because I don't get used to eat bread for lunch or I am too picky). And, I am very tired of choosing among Caesar salad, Home salad, or Garden salad (Hi chefs, may you be one step further innovative?). BUT, I found my favorite salad at Applebee's - California Shrimp Salad. This salad consists of many of my beloved elements including shrimp, avocado, and black olives. The crumbled bacon also adds a lovely crispy & crunchy flavor in your mouth, making every bite so so adorable. PLUS, their pecan-crusted chicken salad is also worth trying. 

Peaceful Afternoon

A peaceful afternoon at my balcony. Smelling the drizzling air mixing with the harvesting aroma in my garden, and thinking nothing. What a beautiful release. We all need a time to be just empty, clean and fresh. 

Snapshots - Life on the Go!

Hiking at Niagara Gorge

Last one month probably was my most relaxed time during the past two years (actually I was pretty busy with my work transition and moving into a new house, but I felt great starting a more settled-down life) and I took so many pictures during my travel to Chicago and dining experience several restaurants in Rochester before I leave this lovely city. OK, but there was something wrong with my camera SD card so I have to fix it before I can show you in this blog, hopefully my pics will be safe there since they are my very valuable asset. Life has been great - I moved into a new house and I am already starting discovery of great restaurants in Buffalo/Niagara - I just constantly find new projects for myself to do. The pictures here were all taken by my phone, so they are not very appealing but still records for my life. 

Campus Walk at UR

Two years. This August I finally finished my MBA classes will start my life's 1st full-time job. Looking back, I am very self-fulfilled and proud of what I have done and what I have conquered. Busy classes, tons of assignments, several internships, two case competitions, one club leadership. I also feel very blessed to study at University of Rochester, a place where I met many new friends and professor who gave me tremendous help, support and encouragement to go on and on. The pictures here were taken in the spring, while I feel it worthwhile of putting them here to memorize the beautiful moments on the campus. 

{Rochester} Brazilia Calling - Espada Brazilian Steak

When you venture across the Village Gate near Art Neighborhood (274 Goodman N Street), make sure you come hungry. You will meet many culinary thrills here - Espada Brazilian Steak, The Gate House Cafe, California Rolling, Salina's, etc...

{Milwaukee} Creamy Blue

Several weeks ago I spent a terrific weekend meeting my old friends from different school time in Milwaukee and Chicago. I always feel life is so magical that people from corners of the world can know each other, leave each other, and meet each other again. As you can imagine, my trip was filled with lots and lots of talks to catch up with the tiny details of everybody's life. 

{Rochester} Restaurant 2Vine | Lunch with Boss

Having been working with Xerox since February, I always feel so blessed to have the excellent opportunity to work with wonderful products, learn the advanced marketing best practices, and mostly, a group of great people. I am also very grateful for having a wonderful boss - Sue. Yes, she has all the terrific qualities I can see in a boss. She is hardworking and intelligent; She is fun and always laugh; She mentors me patiently and introduces me to understand different groups at this giant corporation; She allows me to take initiatives and walk out of my comfort zone; She acknowledges me as a critical thinker to challenge her philosophy; Apart from all that, she is also a good friend who can talk to and rely on. Believe it or not, Sue is a good musician!

{Rochester} Lemoncello

The discovery of Lemoncello was out of expecation - My friend and I were going to try Bistro 135. We arrived at 4:50PM, while it didn't open until 5:00PM. I saw Lemoncello which was located right beside Bistro 135, then we tried some desserts there, then we ended up up eating a dinner there, then I visited there several more times with other friends... (The business insight here is sometimes you need to open the store beside your competitor but have longer opening hours:).

{Rochester} La-Tea-Da

Nestled at Alexandra street, Rochester, NY, La-Tea-Da is a tea room to spend some afternoon time. It provides a variety of delicious options, from a traditional English tea to satisfying lunches, light snacks, and mouthwatering desserts. It has such a girlish and cute name that attracted me to at least have a look at it.

{China Highlight} Back to Yangshuo

If you ask me for suggestions to travel in China, I will give you many names other than Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. You may have seen many fancy cities full of skyscrapers and concrete building, while there are so many small cities or counties that give you totally new experience in China. Yangshuo is one of them. 

{China Highlight} Not only Sesame Chicken

Hi Friends,

Have you ever had the experience that you walked into an American-based Chinese restaurant, sit down, took the menu and felt dizzy of that many choices? 

Let's see what a typical menu looks like:

{Rochester} Cherry, Cheers!

Cherry is one of my beloved fruits (part of the reason is because it sounds like "Cheers") on the planet and I got to see so many of them yesterday. Back to my high school time, not many supermarkets in China were selling this kind of fruit except for Walmart, and it was so expensive ($7 per pound!!!) that I couldn't ask my Mom for them very often. I could only got a special treat of eating cherry before the National College Entrance Examination. 

{Annapolis} Navy Blue

Having been living in coastal cities in China until I came to US, I have always had a heartfelt love for the blue ocean. The first fairy tale that my father used to read to me was Daughter of the Sea by Anderson (and later I found out I and Anderson were born on the same date). 

Window

When you look out of the window,

Who are you thinking of?

What is the beautiful life moment occurring to you that make you smile?

{Chicago} Michael Jordan's Steak House

Interestingly, I knew this restaurant not from my American friends, but from a Chinese blogger who traveled at Chicago. Moreover, I didn't plan for a dining experience there at all. Back to February, I traveled to Chicago for an interview, then I figured out that this well-known (mostly because of MJ) steak house is just located beside the hotel I lived in. I didn't have any time for the famous thick Pizza, Northwestern University, U of Chicago or the Big Bean, then why not having fun here? 

That's how the pictures come from. 

Lilac Blossoming Recap

In the breathtaking beautiful Highland Park at May, I had the pleasure of experiencing the notable event at Rochester, a flower city - Lilac Festival. Feeling like a butterfly enjoying the scent of these cute flowers. I was truly grateful to the glorious gift by nature and Rochester. 

Love,
Lingling

Escape to the Farm - Public Market

Sometimes I really doubt if I am a modern-time girl - this old-fashioned farmer's market is just far more attractive to me than those overwhelmingly huge shopping centers in NYC or Los Angeles. I enjoy so much indulging myself with all kinds of fragrances from fruits, vegetables, honey and various wines. Sweet and floral, these are most gorgeous smells in the world.