Editor: A Very Interesting Profession

 I loved literature and music since I was a child. I used to dream of becoming a singer, but my family and society did not support my artistic aspirations. I also enjoyed reading various genres of books, from romance to martial arts to psychology. I admired the authors who could create such captivating stories and share their insights with the world.

One of the professions that I find very interesting is editing. An editor is someone who helps authors polish their manuscripts and prepare them for publication. An editor also evaluates the quality and marketability of the books and suggests ways to improve them. An editor works closely with authors and publishers to ensure that the books meet the expectations of the readers and the industry standards.

I've found that being a news editor or rather someone who edits versions of a book before the book comes out is a very interesting profession. As a profession that requires a love of literature and the arts, you must always have a passion for stories, creative works and fresh ideas. Because there was a life changer in 1975 and my family had a difficult life after that, the dream of becoming an artist or editor also "shut down".

I feel a little bit of regret because what's over should be let go. I believe that editing is very interesting for people with a passion for literature. You will have to read famous works, read many unreleased works, and you will be a helper to the authors in improving and promoting the values ​​of books. You will meet many talented authors and contribute to their writing process. For this, you must be a person with a lot of knowledge from culture, society, politics, art and culture. understanding the history of many different countries. However, being an editor is not an easy job either. You face many challenges and difficulties when working with different authors. Some authors are very open-minded and willing to listen to your suggestions, but there are also authors who are stubborn and do not want to change anything in their books. They claim that their books are perfect and need no correction.. Sometimes, editors have to argue with them for a long time and intensely to convince them to accept the necessary changes. It is a very tiring job and requires patience and verbal dexterity with the persuasive ability to analyze, evaluate and suggest improvements to the book to suit the market and audience. does not make the author feel "taught". So an editor must have the patience and courtesy to explain to the audience the reason and purpose of the changes you want to suggest. It is quite a stressful job and requires your professionalism and communication skills. In an era when computers have reached their peak, editing a work will no longer take as much time as before, but it still requires careful attention to detail and accuracy. Editing is not just about correcting grammar or spelling errors, but also about enhancing the style, tone, structure and coherence of the book. An editor must also have a good sense of aesthetics and creativity to make the book more attractive and appealing to readers. Editing is a rewarding profession for those who love literature and want to help authors express their ideas better. It is also a challenging profession that requires constant learning and improvement. 

If you are interested in becoming an editor, you should start by reading a lot of books from different genres and fields, and practice your writing and editing skills on your own or with others. You can also look for opportunities to work as an intern or assistant editor at publishing houses or magazines, where you can learn from experienced editors and gain more exposure to the industry. Editing is a profession that can bring you joy and satisfaction, as well as frustration and stress. But if you have a passion for literature and a desire to make a difference in the world of books, editing might be the perfect career for you.

Chinese Taro Cake for Two

Dim sum is a popular Chinese cuisine that consists of small dishes served in steaming baskets or plates. One of the most delicious and satisfying dim sum dishes is the taro cake, which is made from grated taro, rice flour, dried shrimp, Chinese sausage, and seasonings. The taro cake is pan-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, and soft and chewy on the inside. It is usually served with a savory soy sauce or a spicy vinegar sauce. If you love taro cake and want to make it at home, you might think that you need a lot of ingredients and equipment. But in fact, you can make a simple and tasty taro cake for two with just a few ingredients. Let's make this recipe together.

 

Ingredients:

1 medium taro, peeled and grated (about 2 cups)

1/2 cup rice flour

1/4 cup dried mushrooms, soaked and chopped

1/4 cup dried shrimp, soaked and chopped

1/4 cup Chinese sausage. diced

2 cups water, soaked from mushroom and shrimp

Seasonings:

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp sugar

1/4 tsp 5 spice powder

Others:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1/2 cup red onions, diced

1 scallion, chopped

Directions:

Prepare a cake pan (about 8 by 8 inches) with parchment paper for easy clean up.

In a large bowl, whisk together the rice flour and 1 cup soaked mushrooms and shrimp water. Mix well to have a smooth batter.

In a small wok, add 1 tbs oil. Add garlic and red onions and stir to cook until fragrant. Add grated taro and the soaked water from mushrooms and shrimp. Add the seasonings and adjust to your liking. 

Combine the rice batter with taro mixture and cook for 5 minutes. Pour the now taro and rice flour batter into the prepared cake pan.

Bring a steamer to boil and place the taro mixture into the steamer and steam for 30 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

To make a dim sum taro cake:

 Let the taro cake cool slightly in the dish. Cut into squares or rectangles.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat some oil. Fry the taro cake pieces for about 3 minutes per side or until golden and crispy. Add scallions on top of the cake and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain.

Enjoy your homemade dim sum taro cake for two, hot or warm, with your favorite sauce.

The soy dipping sauce:

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp black vinegar or lime juice

2 tsp water

If you like hot, add some Thai chili pepper.

How To Reprogram Your Brain

 Hi everyone! Welcome to my blog where I share my tips and tricks on how to reprogram your brain for success. Yes, you heard me right. You can reprogram your brain to achieve anything you want in life. Sounds amazing, right? Let me tell you how.

The first step is to identify your limiting beliefs. These are the thoughts that hold you back from pursuing your goals and dreams. They might sound like "I'm not good enough", "I can't do this", "I don't deserve this", etc. These beliefs are not true, but they are ingrained in your subconscious mind and they affect your behavior and emotions.

The second step is to create empowering beliefs. These are the thoughts that support your growth and potential. You can create them by asking yourself questions like "What do I want?", "Why do I want it?", "What are the benefits of having it?", "What are the evidence that I can have it?", etc. These questions will help you clarify your vision and values, and they will generate positive emotions and expectations.

The third step is to reinforce these empowering beliefs with positive affirmations. These are the statements that you repeat to yourself every day, preferably in the morning and at night. They might sound like "I am a powerful creator", "I attract abundance and opportunities", "I am grateful for all that I have", etc. These affirmations will program your brain to focus on the positive aspects of your life and attract more of them.

The fourth step is to take action towards your goals and dreams. This is where you put your new beliefs and affirmations into practice. You might set SMART goals, break them down into manageable tasks, create a plan, schedule time, track your progress, celebrate your achievements, etc. These actions will prove to yourself that you can do anything you want, and they will bring you closer to your desired outcomes.

That's it! That's how you reprogram your brain for success. It's not easy, but it's worth it. You have the power to change your life by changing your mind. I hope this blog post inspired you to try it out. Let me know in the comments how it goes for you. Until next time, stay positive and keep growing!

Stir-fried Potatoes and Beef

Stir-fried potatoes and beef is the dish that most of the Vietnamese people have for dinner. Potatoes, if not fried or boiled before stir-frying, are easily crushed. However, if you know how to stir-fry, you won't need to worry about this problem anymore. In addition, other ingredients that can be combined when making beef stir-fry are the following: tomatoes, celery, onions, and mushrooms. . For this recipe I share an easy dish that you can make daily .

Ingredients:

4 oz. beef sirloin, sliced

2 potatoes

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 small piece ginger, minced

1/2 small white onion, cut in wedges

Sauce ingredients:

1 tsp oyster sauce

1 tsp soy sauce

1 tsp fish sauce

1 tsp mushroom seasoning or chicken powder

1/2 tsp salt and Black pepper

Others:

Green onions, cilantro

Directions:

Place beef in a bowl. Divide the sauce and garlic, ginger and lemongrass to marinade the beef for 1 hour

Peel the potatoes, wash them, and cut them into ½ inch thick slices. Soak potatoes after cutting in diluted salt water for about 10 minutes. This method will help potatoes not to darken. After that, drain and sprinkle with some salt and some seasoning to marinate the potatoes.

Cut green onions into 1 inch long pieces; chop cilantro.

Put 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in the wok, heat the oil, fry all the ginger and half of the minced garlic, then add the beef and stir-fry. To make stir-fried beef tender, not dry, you should stir-fry on high heat. Stir quickly until the meat is no longer red but turns light pink, then turn off the heat and put the beef in a separate bowl.

In the same wok add 1 tbs oil. When the oil is hot, fry the minced garlic, and ginger until fragrant. Next, add the potatoes to cook. Because the potatoes do not release water, when frying, you should adjust the temperature to medium low heat, to avoid burning the potatoes. Gently stir the potatoes to absorb the oil. Cover the pot and sauté the cooked potatoes for about 8-10 minutes. Add white onion. 

Stir-fry the potatoes until soft, then add the beef back to rejoin the potatoes. Add sauce and adjust the taste to your liking.

After seasoning, now increase the heat of the stove. Stir-fry for 10-12 seconds, then drop the scallions and sprinkle a little more ground pepper. Stir quickly for 5-6 seconds, then turn off the heat.

Sprinkle chopped cilantro and serve.

Cabbage and Eggs Pancake

 Ingredients:

3 cups shredded cabbage

1/4 cup Arrow root flour or cornstarch

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

2 eggs

1 garlic clove, minced

2 green onions, sliced

3 tbs oil

Directions:

Combine all the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix well.

Heat oil in nonstick pan over medium-low heat.

Add cabbage mixture to the pan in a thin layer.

Cover with lid and pan-fry the cabbage until crispy on both sides.

It should take 10 minutes on each side.

Serve with rice on the side.

 

Tips: The variation for this recipe is that you can add cheese or tuna on top as you flip the cabbage over the other side. 

I use the shredded cabbage combination that is sold at grocery stores like Sam’s Club, Walmart or Aldis.

You can adjust the salt to your liking. I like to serve this dish with soy dipping sauce, such as sushi dipping sauce.

Chicken Lo Mein

Chicken Lo Mein is easy stir-fried noodles with vegetables. I like to make this recipe when I have leftover veggies. Basically, use any kind of vegetables that are available. 

Ingredients:

4 oz. linguine or your choice of egg noodles

4 oz. chicken breast sliced into strips about 1/2 inch thick.

Spicy ingredients:

2 tbs peanut oil or vegetable oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 small piece ginger, minced

Vegetables:

4 oz. white mushrooms sliced

1 cup combinations of red, green, and yellow bell peppers, sliced

1/2 cup napa cabbage cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup white onions, sliced

2 green onions, thinly sliced

Sauce ingredients:

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup water

1 tsp vinegar

1 tsp sugar or honey

1 tsp hoisin sauce or oyster sauce

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 tsp sesame oil

Directions:

Bring a medium pot of lightly salted water to a boil; cook the linguine at a boil until tender yet firm to the bite (8 to 9 minutes). Drain.

Meanwhile, whisk sauce ingredients in a bowl and set aside. 

Heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, ginger, and onion; cook and stir until onion is translucent (about 2 minutes). Add chicken and cook until no longer pink (about 5 minutes). Add The rest of the vegetables. Stir and cook for 3 minutes with high heat.

Add sauce and cook until slightly thickened.

Stir linguine into the skillet until coated; sprinkle green onions over top.

Sushi Rice

 Ingredients:

3/4 cup short grain rice

1/4 sticky rice

Sushi vinegar ingredients:

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

1/8 tsp salt

1 tbs sugar

Directions:

Wash rice 3 to 4 times until the water is clear. Soak rice in water for 30 minutes and drain.

Put rice in a rice cooker and cook until done. Follow the instructions.

While the rice is cooking, mix the rice vinegar in a bowl.

Place hot cooked rice in a medium bowl and pour the rice vinegar into the rice and lightly mix until the vinegar is absorbed. Cover with cloth for 1 hour and it will ready to use.