Is it just me or has the end of 2012 caught anyone else by surprise?
I guess this feeling must be due to the year being really jam-packed all the way up until the very end. So much so, that I feel like I need a few days to just ease into 2013 because I haven’t fully recovered from the flurry of activity that I jumped into straight after exams haha.
Having said that, it’s always good to sit back and reflect on just how much was achieved in these last 12 months. The ones that come to mind (and I’m sure you’d be familiar with them if you’ve been reading this blog recently so please bear with me):
- converted… to Android!
- made SOY chai latte my go-to drink
- became an Instagrammer
- got a new blog domain!
- got a traineeship for 2013 (I start in TWO weeks! Craziness!)
- became a Compassion sponsor mum :)
- finished and graduated from my law degree (still in awe)
- travelled by myself for the first time to SG and HK (the best!)
- started to grow out my hair again :P
- made gingerbread not once but THREE times in two weeks!
…and that’s only off the top of my head :P
It has been a massive year and I’ve been supremely blessed to share it with some amazing people. At least on the foodie blog circuit, it’s been great to graduate from “comment-buddies” to “real-life-friends” with a few folks like Winston, Vien, Daisy and Sophie ;).
As to resolutions, I know one will be to cook more often and bring lunch to work at least 3 out of 5 days (hopefully). I think I’ve definitely been in the kitchen a lot more this year and here are my top three favourites that have made it onto the blog:
So on that note, I’d like to share one final recipe before the year is out. It’s one I think I’ll be cooking a few more times in 2013 because it’s so simple, delicious and a crowd-pleaser!
Chicken with haloumi and honey
adapted from Donna Hay’s Fast Fresh and Simple
Serves 2 (I made this for 3 so just I just added an extra half of these measurements)
Ingredients:
- 2 x 200g chicken breast fillets, trimmed
- 150 g haloumi, cut into thick eatable slices
- 1 tablespoon shredded lemon zest
- 6 sprigs of lemon thyme
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- rocket, cherry tomatoes and walnut salad, to serve
Method:
- Preheat oven to 180 C. Place the chicken haloumi, zest and lemon thyme in a ceramic baking dish.
- Combine the oil and honey and pour over.
- Bake for 18-20 mins or until chicken is cooked through.
- Serve with rocket, cherry tomatoes and walnut salad.
Enjoy!
Kitchen notes:
- Next time, I’d probably make sure that the chicken breast fillets were all the same size so that cooked more evenly – had to put a few slices in the microwave to just make sure it was cooked completely!
- DH suggested a fig and rocket salad but I could not find fresh figs and any at all the stores I went to so substituted cherry tomatoes instead – still very good!
That’s a wrap, folks! I’m still toying with the idea of taking a break from blogging in January – there’s just a lot of things to do to get real-life in order at the moment. While not posting for a while, I’ll try to build up some new content ready to go when I do come around these parts again. For now, take care and HAPPY NEW YEARS EVE!!
Random Question: What are your new year’s resolutions for 2013?
♥ Ames
a Melbourne girl at heart 
Good stuff, Ames!! 2012 sure was a fruitful and eventful year for you indeed. And yeah, totally with you on that soy chai thang. For me, it just makes it less sweet and it’s not like you can taste the soy anyway, awesome stuff. Lots to look forward to in 2013, I’m sure. Hope you go out with a bang tonight!
Thanks, Winston! Hope you had a great NYE celebration back at home :). Catch you when you’re back in Melb!
A very busy and fulfilling year! I too feel so blessed.
Your recipe looks super yummy but one question: what is haloumi?
Haloumi, my dear American Ames, is my all-time favourite type of cheese :D It is apparently a mix of goat’s and sheep’s milk and because of it’s high melting point, it can be grilled or fried. Delicious. You should definitely try it sometime! They should have it in the grocery stores or deli perhaps?
What an amazing year you’ve had and just looking at where you’re headed next year must have you in a spin. I’m so happy that your life is unfolding in such a wonderful way. Best of luck in 2013 and I hope to get to know you better.
Thank you Maureen! I’m looking forward to all the new challenges that a new year may bring and I hope we’ll get to know each other better too ^^ Best wishes for 2013!
Happy New Year Ames :) You have achieved so much this year in 2012!!! I am so happy for you and can’t wait to see where 2013 leads you!
All the very best :)
Thanks so much, Daisy! It really has been my pleasure to get to know you via the blogs, and looking forward what’s in store for the new year :) Best wishes to you too!
I totally get it. It wasn’t any different from me. I was so caught up winding up my last leg of the India trip that I totally dropped off the social network zone. Now I am slowly jacking up my engine. Wish you a rocking 2013!!!
@thelady8home I’m glad I’m not the only one! I think I am in fact going to take some time away from blogging to get myself in check first before launching into it again – so will see you soon! Best wishes for 2013 too!
I can’t believe you’ve finished already! I mean, I always knew you would, but I remember reading about the beginning of your journey. :)
2012 was pretty busy for you and I’m hoping 2013 will be equally blessed.
*hugs*
It has flown by much faster than I could have ever imagined as well – thanks for sticking around for so long ;) Thanks for the well wishes, Lor! I wish you a blessed 2013 as well!
Well done you! You’re right! 2012 seems to have flown past really quickly. I hope that 2013 slows down for our sanity!
Thanks, Ms I-Hua :) I can’t believe we’re already in Week 2 of 2013 – it’ll be Easter before we know it lol
Congratulations Amy, on your achievements! The chicken and haloumi dish looks absolutely wonderful. Definitely one to go on my list for 2013 :)
Thanks Libby :) Yeah just taking some time now to settle into the new job and work on a few other things IRL before I get back into blogging – hope you are doing well in 2013 ^^
What a year! Woop, you converted t Android, welcome to the club! I’ve been resisting Apple for ages LOL It’s funny, more and more friends are also converting.
Congrats again on the graduation
Making the chicken and haloumi recipe tonight.
Made the blueberry cake during the week and it was delicious.