Xine Xu hails from Edmonton, Alberta. But before settling in, she lived in Shanghai for the first 7 years of her life. That’s where she grew up and got her taste of the vibrant food culture. Since moving to Edmonton, she has fallen in love with international cuisine. If there’s a new restaurant in town, she would be the first to line up outside the door. At home, you can find her experimenting with recipes around the world. She hopes to share these experiences with all who care to listen.
In her spare time, Xin cares for 6 rescue budgies. Many of which she found stranded in parks or her backyard. On weekends, she drives out to Banff or Jasper where she can be found hiking new trails. She’s thankful Athabasca University has allowed her to work full-time as a researcher while taking courses that interest her such as abnormal psychology.
Since starting to adopt stray budgies into my home three years ago, I have had the blessing of witnessing the growth of these feathery creatures over time, including, recently, the death of a beloved budgie as well as the birth of eight newborns chicks. Their existence has provided me with much joy and taught me… Read more »
Being a student is hard, especially when many students today are drowning in student loans. How do we make the most of our lives and make every penny count? Here are five tips that might change your financial strategy and boost your savings. Stock up on everyday items while they are on sale. For items… Read more »
At some point you may have heard of the enormous waste associated with producing agriculture. While plant products drain resources such as water, land and fertilizer, livestock require an exhaustive list of resources from nutrients to a heated barn in the winter. The energy consumption doesn’t stop there. The production of livestock is only part… Read more »
One of the common responses when I reveal to others that I’m on a Mediterranean diet is, “but you’re so skinny.” I roll my eyes slightly because the notion of “dieting” is so heavily associated with weight loss and body dysmorphism: an obsession with maintaining a particular physical image of ourselves. But what about dieting… Read more »
Regardless of where you hail from, there’s bound to be a stuffed-pocket type of food item on the menu. In the simplest terms dumplings are dough wrapped around a delicious filling. While the first images of dumplings that come to mind might be Asian, dumpling dishes exist around the world in all shapes, flavors and… Read more »
I had another moment recently that called for kitchen inspiration. Specifically, in the spring and summer, grilling on an outdoor barbeque can be a headache (literally, for those with pollen allergies). While browsing the shelves at HomeSense, I picked up a cast iron grill that has opened up endless possibilities for summer meal preparations. Whether… Read more »
At Canadian 7-11s, we fill up our gas, grab a cup of coffee and in the midst of summer heat, maybe gulp down a cup of Slurpee. Unlike the familiar 7-11 convenience store and gas station combo, 7-11s across the globe in Taiwan have a familiar but culturally unique vibe that is worth a visit. … Read more »
Many students are finishing up their studies as convocation looms, so now’s the time to lock yourself in the comfort of your bedroom to binge watch your family TV shows. While you’re curled up in a cozy blanket, you might be tempted for some quick, easy snacks. It’s unfortunate that most snackable foods are at… Read more »
As an AU student, you might be tasked with having to feed, not just yourself, but family and perhaps roommates as well. Preparing meals day in and day out, you might become fatigued at brainstorming new inspirations for recipes and, of course, having to bring those ideas to life. We call this the chef’s block… Read more »
My father used to say, “eating is about fooling the mouth and pleasing the tummy”. In other words, good food should be palatable but healthy at the same time. Typically, healthier dieting options aren’t always a taste bud pleaser. Luckily, since I’ve discovered the secret to maximizing one’s diet with Vietnamese rice paper, I have… Read more »