Come to the Pride Parade
So Far Away
By Katelin Mei
The night sky has always fascinated me. I have always wondered what is out there. The possibilities are endless. However, it will take a long time to explore outer space because even if we were traveling at the speed of light, it would take many years to travel to the stars closest to us. We do know about these stars because we are able to see and track them. Here are the brightest stars we can see in our night sky.
- Sirius – Also known as the “Dog Star,” this is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It is visible from late August until mid-to-late March and lies 8.6 light years away from us.
- Canopus – This was either named for an ancient city in Northern Egypt, or the helmsman for Menelaous, a mythical king of Sparta. It is visible from the Southern Hemisphere but is visible to southern regions of the Northern Hemisphere at certain times of the year. It lies 74 light years away from us.
- Rigil Kentaurus – Its name literally means “foot of the centaur,” and it is one of the most famous stars in our sky. It is part of the constellation Centaurus and is classified as the same type of star as our sun. It is actually part of a 3-star system, with each star looping around the others in dance. Rigil Kentaurus is 4.3 light-years away from us.
- Arcturus – This is the brightest star in the constellation Boötes. Its name means “Guardian of the Bear.” Stargazers learn of it as they star-hop from the Big Dipper. One easy way to remember it is to use the curve of the Big Dipper to “arc to Arcturus.” It lies around 34 light years away from us.
- Vega – Its name means “swooping eagle,” and it is the 5th brightest star in our sky. It is part of the constellation Lyra. It is also part of a star pattern known as the summer triangle and can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere from early summer to late autumn. There is a disk of material around it, which could possibly hold planets. Scientists classify this star to be a Type A star, meaning it is younger and hotter than our sun. It is 25 light years away from us.
- Capella – This name means “little she-goat” in Latin and is the brightest star in the constellation Auriga, and is one of the 5 stars in a star pattern known as “Winter Hexagon. Capella is a yellow giant, like our own Sun, but much larger. It lies around 41 light years away from the sun.
- Rigel – Its name comes from the Arabic word for “foot,” and is literally one of the feet of the constellation Orion. Rigel is also part of the “Winter Hexagon” and can be seen from October through March. It has a slightly dimmer companion that can easily be seen with a telescope. Astronomers have discovered that it is part of a 4-star system. It lies around 860 light years away from us but is so bright that it is the 7th brightest star in our sky.
- Procyon – The name “Procyon” is based on the Greek work “prokyon” meaning “before the dog.” And indeed, this star rises before Sirius. It is part of the Canis Major Constellation, and is also part of the Winter Hexagon. It is visible from the Northern Hemisphere and lies 11.4 light years away from us.
- Achernar – Its name meaning, “End of River,” this star is part of the constellation Eridanus, the river. It is part of the Southern Hemisphere but can be seen from certain parts of the Northern Hemisphere, such as South Asia, or the Southern parts of the United States. It lies 139 light years away from us.
- Betelgeuse – The name means “arm of the mighty one.” It is a red supergiant and makes up the upper-left shoulder of Orion. It is much bigger and brighter than our sun. If Betelgeuse were placed at the center of our solar system, its atmosphere would expand past the orbit of Jupiter. It has grown as it has aged. Eventually it will explode into a supernova; when that happens it will temporarily be the brightest object in our night sky. It lies 1,500 light years away from us, but because it is 13,000 times brighter than our sun, it is the 10th brightest star in the night sky.
Oh, and here is the source:
Far away editor: Doreen Yuan
James Takes on Architecture
By James Zheng
Back to our topic of ART, James asks, . . .
“What is art? I think that everything could be considered art as long as someone gives a reason and demonstrates how it is a type of art. Sometimes my classmates ask me, “You call this art?” while I’m gazing at various architectural styles. Well, I say, if you admire or enjoy seeing something, I would say that you could totally consider it Art.
Here is a list of architectural ART:
- Farnsworth House.
The house depicted below was designed by Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe. The original is located in Plano, Illinois, USA. Farnsworth’s house is similar to overhead transparent glasses in a box shape with four sides. The model of the building is simple, clear, but it gives viewers an elegant view. Steel structures exposed to the outside are painted white and blend with the surrounding trees and lawns. Due to the full transparency of the glass wall, the view from the internal space is wide.
- The Fallingwater Villa
The house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, initially was located in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. Fallingwater Villa has achieved one of the most extraordinary successes in the historical development of architecture. On the aspect of space composition between the internal structure and external environment, I consider this as the most “natural” design I have reviewed due to its cohesive integrity with nature.
- Guggenheim Museum
It is one of the most famous personal art museums designed by Solomon R. Guggenheim located in New York City. Unlike any other buildings, it can be described as a tea cup or a huge white spring, probably because of the spiral structure that makes some people say it looks like a conch as well. Solomon R. Guggenheim has a collection of modern art, many of which are hung by metal poles and appear to float in the air. Traditionally, museums display works of art on walls along the hall. But Guggenheim broke the tradition.
- The Smith House
The Smith House is designed by Richard Meier and sits in Connecticut. The conceptual ideas for this house are similar to the Farnsworth House, on the way of exposing the internal space to outside. The frame that is displayed in rectangular shape creates a discordant sense, and its purpose may lead people to have the illusion of internal and external inseparability. But, when you actually see the building, it is easy to distinguish the outside and inside. You also would observe a difference between the protruding part and the surface of the building and realize the variability of space.
The magical presence of structural architecture may only seem physical–that it does not compare with the “art” of drawings and poems. But, despite architecture being recognized as a substantial practical existence, what architecture authentically expresses is the progress of the eras and the culmination of human aesthetics.
Art Editor: Chelsea
Ten Surprising Facts about the Cold War
Hello guys!! I am going to do something different this week! Editor Quintus assigned Blog Staffers to write on the 1960s. So, instead of doing my usual art tutorials, I will do a post about another interest of mine: History. The history of the 1960s that most interests me is the Cold War. Without further adieu, let the journey begin.–Chelsea Xu
- Russian officials thought the building in the center of the Pentagon was a secret meeting room. In reality, it was a hot dog stand!
- At one point, the US considered dropping over-sized condoms on the USSR that were labeled “medium.” The apparent intention was to demoralize the enemy. (Ohhhhhh.)
- The CIA developed a complex code involving different ways for their spies and informants to send messages based on how their shoes were tied.
- In keeping with their positioning as the antidote to atheist communism, the US dropped tens of thousands of Bibles into Romania in the 1970s. It was later alleged in Congress that the Bibles had been collected and repurposed into toilet paper.
- Deer in the Czech Republic refuse to cross the imaginary line where an electric fence had once separated the Soviet Union from the rest of Europe. The fence was taken down in 1991, long before any current deers were born, but they remain cautious of the border.
- The security regarding nuclear weapons sounds positively lax. The launch code for US nuclear weapons was 00000000.
- The Soviet Union finally collapsed in 1991, as a coup chased Soviet chairman Mikhail Gorbachev from office, and the former Soviet republics broke off to form independent nations. The Soviet flag was lowered from the Kremlin, and the Russian tricolor rose in its place on December 25, 1991. The Cold War was officially over.
- During the Cold War, the CIA was very interested in LSD as both a social disruptor and a potential truth serum. As part of some largely clandestine and non-consensual experiments, the CIA drugged a bakery in a small French village. As a result, many people had to be institutionalized after having vivid hallucinations.
- The US and Russia met to discuss the threat of alien invasion. They eventually agreed that, should aliens invade Earth, they would cease hostilities and cooperate for the good of mankind. It makes you wonder what they knew…
- During 1963, at the height of the Cold War, the US military launched a ring of 480 million needles into orbit around the earth. It was hoped they would more reliably bounce radio signals back to earth in case the Soviets cut through undersea cables. Multiple clumps of these needles are still up there.
Source Link: https://list25.com/25-facts-about-the-cold-war-you-probably-didnt-know/
1960s Editor: Quintus Ni
“We have Technology” – Guy From the 1960s
By Luke Langlois
The tumultuous decade of the 1960s came with turning points in our history, including the Civil Rights movement, Second-wave feminism, the Anti-war movement, and more. No outdated cultural norm was safe in this era. Do you know what else wasn’t safe? Antiquated technology. Here are some of the technological and scientific developments of the 1960s that have stood the test of time.
- 1960: Theodore Maiman invented the first rendition of the LASER. The use of the “LASER” has varied over the years. It is currently used to read blue-ray disks, among other things. It has also manifested itself as its own, unique word for science fiction’s brightly colored (usually lethal) beams. LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Neat!
- 1960: The first minicomputer was put on the market. The Programmable Data Processor, also known as the PDP, contained hardware for one of the first-ever digital games: “Spacewar!” It was known as a minicomputer because the usual “computers” of this time were bulky and aesthetically unappealing. The new appeal that came with the minicomputers made it an excellent product for the market.
- 1961: Mission Vostok 1 commenced and sent the first man into space, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. I know us Americans of the 60s are not supposed to like the Russians, but we have to appreciate the first man in space. SPACE!!!!
- 1961: The IBM Typewriter said, “Hello!” to the planet. In comparison to the older typewriters on the market, IBM’s (International Business Machine’s) new typewriter made typing a LOT quicker. This machine was the benevolent forefather of the device I am using to create this post right now!
- 1962: Whether you prefer Coke, Pepsi, or even RC Cola, you know the *pshKSSS CLICK* sound of a soda can’s pop tab. Beverage companies around the world thank Ermal Fraze for inventing the satisfying sound that has become instrumental to marketing efforts.
- 1962: Public radio is absolutely abysmal sometimes, that’s why we have satellite radio (even though that may be falling out style, too. We can thank the first Telstar satellite for letting us communicate through space relays. This Telstar satellite, however, was limited to relaying television pictures, telegraph images, and telephone calls.
- 1963: You may be sick right now, but I bet it isn’t measles! On this day in 1963, the measles vaccine was approved by the World Health Organization (the WHO) and released to the public.
- 1964: Imagine you’re someone from the 60s who enjoys horses, muscle cars, and the Ford Motor Company, but cannot find a way to mix these lovely interests. You’re in luck! In 1964, the public was graced with the first model of the Ford Mustang.
- 1964/1965: Although the precise date is unknown, these two years marked the emergence of AstroTurf! If you have ever dealt with trying to maintain grass in the desert, I would be willing to bet that you have considered artificial turf. Thank the 60s!
- 1965: How am I supposed to stop a bullet with just my measly human body? In 1965, Stephanie Kwolek synthesized a lightweight steel-like fiber that has been used in bulletproof vests and body armor all over the world: kevlar.
- 1967: Your heart works incredibly hard every single day, and it NEVER stops. Incredible! On this date, South African surgeon Christiaan Barnard figured out what to do when the heart no longer works as it should. Naturally, he performed the world’s first heart transplant.
- 1967: Calculus is tough, and it would be even tougher without my trusty Texas Instrument. Although calculators existed before 1967, Texas Instruments released the first calculator that was truly compact and handheld. The “Cal Tech” printed your calculations (limited to the four basic operations) onto a small piece of paper tape.
- 1968: Emergencies are almost always time-sensitive events, and quick responses are crucial to the resolution of said emergencies. In 1967, the FCC met with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to work on a unified emergency line. In 1968, AT&T made way for the iconic 911 emergency code.
- 1969: Our parents are right; what would we do without the internet? In 1969, the first steps were taken towards the internet we have today: ARPANET. ARPANET became a tangible reality when UCLA, UCSB, University of Utah, and Stanford University gave birth to a grand network. Look out for James’s post that elaborates on the origins of the world’s greatest communication tool.
You have just witnessed an all-encompassing list of developments from the 1960s. Congratulations! I think some guy landed on the moon, too. Hopefully, you’ll have some new facts to bring up at the dinner table, especially when Uncle Bob opens up his soda. When I come back to thebirdonfire.org in sixty years, I’ll do an anniversary post. What developments of this decade will integrate themselves as a permanent part of our livelihoods?
1960s Editor: Quintus Ni
Breakfast at Tiffany’s–A Look at Love in the 1960s
Quintus takes his turn as Editor in Chief. He assigns us the theme: “Once Upon A Time in the 1960s.” For Quintus, Breakfast at Tiffany’s represents the spirit of the 1960s–the decade of his father’s birth. It was released almost 58 years ago to the day. The movie also is a favorite of Quintus’s because, he says, it aspires to the kind of love his parents live.
~I am lost in a Tiffany Breakfast, forever with Hepburn, lost in dreams and Love~Quintus Ni
Pure beauty can withstand the tempering of the years. The eyes always have brilliance; the posture still has a charm. This kind of beauty, like a bird with brilliant feathers, will not quickly dim.
What is love? Breakfast at Tiffany’s shows us.
The secret of a happy marriage is to give each other the most healthy relationship. There will not be too much restraint. I feel that if Paul and Holly (the chief characters of Breakfast at Tiffany’s) break up one day, it will be no big deal. To be genuinely mature, Holly has to face life alone and live on her own. She has been fostering herself around different men, and she has become a pathological parasite.
Sometimes, we only can find ourselves with the courage and strength of the rebirth in a completely unpredictable situation. It seems that people regain themselves in the state of no love, where they no longer change their mood for the mood of others, are no longer cautious, no longer suffer from the loss. So, I suggest everyone begin to learn to be self-sufficient.
The balance of the mind is to let it go. When Love comes, I love it. If you lose it, you will be brave enough to accept the results and regain your self.
Everyone does not need the Love of others to prove themselves because Love is not the whole of your life. Living alone also can be perfect!
Tiffany, Love, and Dreams
A black dress, elegant and dignified hair, an eye-catching pearl necklace, all while eating breakfast and hanging outside the window of TIFFANY’s on Fifth Avenue, sunglasses that cannot block that pair of amazing eyes–Hepburn’s classic style has been imitated and never been surpassed.
This black and white film, Breakfast at Tiffany’s, born in 1961, is undoubtedly the most successful advertisement for TIFFANY’s, the world-famous jewelry store established in 1837 in the United States. The producer has put on the charming cloak of love for TIFFANY’s. The TIFFANY’s counter clerk in the movie knows the beautiful couple does not have enough money to buy what they like yet is still polite. He lets them shop, and this gentleman clerk promises their engraving will be done as they wish. Holly is delighted. She says, “This is a perfect place.” I believe most people will want to see this magical place.
Love Needs To Be Fed
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is half a century old. In this half-century, how many great love stories have been staged again and again, compared to the ordinary and poor love of Holly and Paul.
Love is an enormous wealth. Once you have it, you have power, the goal of struggle; life has changed.
Perhaps this is just the first look of love, like a potion that can heal everything, then what’s the next step…?
Breakfast at Tiffany’s is not like a fairy tale where the princess and the prince live together with happiness and kindness. It can be said that this is a myth in our real life, offering a warm coat to people, even those struggling financially. Like the young couple in the “Magi’s Gift,” they love each other and give Christmas gifts they can’t afford or need. Still, the love is clear, only it doesn’t pay the bills.
Holly, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, is kind and brave, pursuing independence and yearning for freedom, but always she hopes to fulfill herself by marrying a man with status and wealth. A rich woman supported Paul. Both are social flowers surrounded by countless rich people. These two people know each other’s situation totally; they can accept companionship and love, but it is challenging to allow the other to become their ultimate affiliation. Because they see the reality and cruelty of life better than anyone else, money and status tempt them.
A person can be expanded and nourished in love. No matter how beautiful love is, even charming love can not escape the cruelty of reality. From ancient times to the present, vivid love stories are mostly in the form of tragedy; they are more exceptional for their sorrow. But the Love we want is not tragic. It should be a long process from joy to understanding and warmth. At first, it may occur in the darkness and loneliness of our lives; that’s the thing that can ignite a light of hope enough to illuminate the whole person. Then, often, love becomes dispensable; if this happens, it can bring disgust, sneering, and dislike. So, very often, we let it go, for each other, or we despise each other. In the rare case, like with my parents, love holds and stays, and we cuddle each other, spending the rest of our lives together in embrace.
Moon River
One day, Paul was writing at home, and suddenly he heard a sound from downstairs. It turned out that Holly was sitting on the window and singing “Moon River” affectionately and sincerely. At that moment, anyone would be touched by her; she is not a socialized flower with high-heeled shoes surrounded by countless rich guys. She is melancholy, like blue wind chimes, and she can’t help herself, she can’t control her life. Holly always deliberately hides and alienates others. I still feel that Holly has a kind of beauty when she chooses to isolate from the world. Paul, too, is fascinated. He has never seen this aspect of Holly. This isn’t the same Holly he had known before. This singing Holly is affectionate and beautiful. She smiles at him; this smile goes to Paul’s heart. This was a scene he could never forget. They initially thought they could create a world of their own, but hard life destroyed their confidence. They went to the end of the mountain, but they fell. The original dreams have gone so far away; they can’t see the road of ideas and how to go to the next chapter in their lives.
Between dreams and reality, between love and truth, growth and stagnation, there is always luck and misfortune. They are twins. With risk in your life, you may find a person you love; perhaps this love can stand the test of time, if you are fortunate.
So, what is love~? Have you loved someone before? Have you already fallen love with someone? What is that feeling?
How do you feel about Breakfast at Tiffany’s?
Does it capture the spirit of the 1960s?
Thank you
Wish all best
1960s Editor: Quintus Ni
Curtains
Guest Poet, Jay, shares with us a spooky poem.
I hide behind the curtains
Of my dusty little room
Waiting for the day to come
When happiness will resume.
As I wander around
Lost
Never found
I find myself
Going round and round
In circles of pain
Again and again
Alone.
And the only light
In this little box
Is from a tiny lamp
Next to the tiny clock
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Black.
But every time there’s another storm
And the lightning cracks
And the thunder roars
Boom
Clap
Boom
Clap
Scared.
And every time that fear comes back
It’s not alone
The wood floors crack
Foot
Step
Foot
Step
Scream.
Now it’s done
The fear has gone
The lights are shining
The power is on
But no one will ever know but one
What takes place
When the curtains are drawn.
-Jay
Team Romo
The Romo’s–a longtime Palm Valley family–have been busy. Christina has been writing poems and song lyrics. We have two to share with you here. Daniel is an intern writing sports articles for the LA Peach Basket. His first article came out last month. We have it linked below.
A connection?
By Christina Romo
Tell me you can’t live without me.
Whisper everything you’re dying to say.
Your words, how they flow, so gently;
I get lost in your eyes by a gaze.
Kiss me, I want to feel your lips.
Hold me, just like this.
Our hands intertwined, you feel like you’re mine
It’s just in my eyes.
The light is on you tonight,
Moonlight, the shadow just covering one eye.
Your smile is so bright, brighter than the moonlight.
The light shines in my eyes and it’s as if I’m feeling it inside.
Do you realize?
It’s just in my eyes.
The room is silent. The only noise is our breathe.
Your head is on my chest, your mind is at rest.
Lying down, I watch you forget.
A clear head with a clear heart, and you chose me.
Maybe it is just in my eyes,
or maybe you might just feel the same thing.
Mind Clutter
By Christina Romo
Wonderful differences
Silence in distractions
One sigh you know what I’m asking.
Life gives us fortunes,
most that come true.
Fortunes of what we should be, what’s to come, and what to do.
You were a fortune that came into my point of view.
I held onto it to see what it could turn to.
I always knew it was you.
An observed perception
no one knows what lies in between
all that’s there is lies and assumptions of what it could be.
Silence falls before us, it’s only you and me.
Heavy breathing, slow dancing, lost in the heavy color of your eyes.
Blank stares, a thousand thoughts rushing
All wanting to speak up at once
too many rushed, nothing said.
* * * * * * *
This from Ms. Romo in the Business Office: “I think I told most of you about Daniel’s internship writing a sports article for LA Peach Basket. Well, here is his first one and he would love for you to see it!
Proud mom”
https://www.lapeachbasket.com/2019/10/1st-nba-power-rankings-2019-20-are.html?m=1
Dreams are not so Far Away
As we dream of “far-away” places, Quintus walks us through a guided meditation of sorts. He encourages us to forge ahead, be happy, love, and live.
By Quintus Ni
The scenery far away that we are longing for drives us to keep forging ahead. Flowers coming out along the roads and birds singing in the trees are companions on the journey, as is the beautiful scenery, the bridges across rivers, and range upon range of green mountains. For the longed goal, we shall go despite wind and rain.
In the peaceful and delightful life, a wisp of fragrance is enough to decorate the time we have. Living in the ethereal environment is like dancing with life happily in a beautiful waltz. The original vivid memories of the past go with us until they fade like withered flowers to get ready to welcome the new journey.
Make an outing on a sunny day and a quiet place to soak up the warm sunshine. Feel the wild breeze blowing over your face, and listen to its sound rustling over the leaves, which awakens the growth of all creatures and makes wishes on a silent bluestone board. May youth last forever; may life be peaceful and delightful.
Another May comes, with a gentle breeze and warm sunshine. We fly kites in a beautiful season, whisper our secrets to the blue sky and white clouds, and let all troubles of life go, leaving only the pure soul.
As time goes by, we feel trouble in life. Why not let your troubles go for a while, and look at the colorful flowers, the ripples of rivers, green fields, and wild rhododendron, or read a book, or appreciate a painting that can touch the soul. Life should be hopeful. And that’s how the life of humankind becomes meaningful.
Look–those weak grasses get flattened whenever the wind blows, but re-erect again and keep growing after the wind. It tells us the truth: the difficulty is always temporary, and goodness is always the main theme of life.
In the world of mortals, affection gives us a warm embrace, love gives us a touching mode, friendship gives us a solid dependence…. All these relationships are related to the quality of our lives. Smart people are good at handling and enjoying these relationships, thereby making their lives beautiful. When people grow no longer satisfied with material needs, it indicates the qualitative leap of life and that the real meaning of humanity is approaching.
People move forward slowly as time goes by. When the first sunshine of the morning shines on the window sill, the life of another day begins. We all live according to our own rhythm. We need to create life, set a new goal, and liberate ourselves from laziness and boredom. We should stop complaining about life, stop wasting time, instead, we must fulfill our lives and create a poetic future.
Life is too short, so why don’t we enrich our lives with more joyful laughter and more poetic romance. As long as we feel life wholeheartedly, we will see a brand new life in front of us, just as bold and generous as said by Li Bai in his poem: “leaving home chortle, with head tilted backward; how could people like me [be] ordinary?”
With a pen, I write my stories and enjoy the ups and downs of life. In the corner of the soul, I light up a candle to illuminate my way ahead. And this bright candle in life is the enlightenment of reading.
Quietly, I put a fragrant flower on the window sill, letting it be moisturized by the sun and dew. The fragrance of the flower finally dispels the haze in my heart; the rain washes away my sorrow, and the sun warms my soul. If we pay a little more attention to life, we will see and feel numerous warm moments around us, indicating the beauty of life.
I always believe that one who has splendid experience must live a marvelous life. In a lifetime, owning a relaxed attitude is vital to a happy life. Health and attitude could possibly be hard to reach no matter how much money we have. And as a matter of fact, life does not require too much. To live, a healthy spirit and happy mood are enough, as long as we live with an enriched inner world.
In the whole life of a man, he doesn’t have to be rich and glorious. Simple life could be deemed as a kind of success. Life is so precious, don’t waste time on unnecessary pursuits; instead, we could read books quietly, watch movies happily, have dinner with family, chat with lovers on a campus with beautiful cherry blossoms. These are all simple but sweet things in life. As long as we face life faithfully, we can enjoy happiness.
Life is a journey on which we could experience different scenery: the green mountains, the clean water, the bridges across the rivers, the blossoms, and ever-changing clouds. The world in front of us is of abundant scenery, waiting for us to discover, to appreciate, and to experience. Let’s get started; take the road to a happy journey, heading straight to the place faraway.
Far-Away Editor: Doreen Yuan
Tarta de Galletas y Chocolate
By Renée
When Editor Doreen said, WRITE ABOUT SOMETHING FAR AWAY, Renée responded with a favorite recipe that reminds her, fondly, of familiar but far-away places.
This is a Mexican recipe that blends two parts of my culture that I have grown up with: Spanish and Mexican. A good way to describe it is mestizo. It includes flavors that were popular in Mexico (e.g. chocolate) along with the notoriously Mexican absence of baking.
Ingredients:
- 2 packets of biscuits (400 g), regular vanilla or butter biscuits are fine as long as they are rectangular
- For the Crema de Chocolate:
- 200 milliliters of heavy whipping cream
- 250 grams of chocolate
- 1 tbsp of butter
- For the Natilla:
- 5 eggs
- 4 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla (paste)
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- 1 liter of milk
- 2 tbsp of cornstarch
Procedure for the Natilla:
- Heat the milk with the cinnamon stick until it boils (you can add lemon peel for flavor). Remove from heat and allow to cool until room temperature, and remove the cinnamon stick.
- Separate the yolks from the whites, and beat the yolks with the sugar. Add the cornstarch to the egg mixture, and mix well.
- Add the egg mixture to the milk. Add in the vanilla, and reheat on medium intensity. Mix continuously until it reaches a boil, then immediately remove from burner. Allow to cool to room temperature.
Procedure for the Crema de Chocolate:
- Melt broken up chocolate bar with a tablespoon of butter in a bain-marie. Mix with the warm nata.
You can melt the chocolate in the microwave, but the traditional method is in the bain-marie. A bain-marie is a warm water bath, where you put the pot in which you are cooking inside a larger pot filled with water.
Building the Tarta:
- Lay the first layer of cookies in a medium-sized ceramic pan, similar to the type used for a bain-marie.
- Spread a layer of chocolate on the cookies, then a slightly thicker layer of the natilla, and repeat until done with ingredients. Finish on a layer of chocolate.
- Keep in the fridge for at least two hours.
- Cut and serve as rectangular bars.
Far-Away Editor: Doreen Yuan
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