Fear.

Anxiety is a feeling and emotion of excessive and prolonged worry, a sense of dread and generalized tension. Fear and anxiety are similar emotions but have important differences. While fear is based on a specific threat and is relatively short, anxiety has no definite basis and often prolonged. We all experience anxiety at some level. Students feel anxious when taking an exam. You may feel apprehensive about going out on a blind date. Many people are scared of delivering a speech. Many situations in everyday life evoke anxiety. This means that anxiety is a normal occurrence and is part of a human being's strategy to cope with life. Ever since I was a young girl I exhibited signs of anxiety, but I let them go unrecognized for years. I, not knowing any different, thought they were normal. I hated going to school and meeting people. The fact that I need to talk, making conversation and socialize with everyone are scaring me. I know it might sounds silly, but I just scared being around people because I tend to overthinking  the worst possibility that might happens to me. Such as, “Did my voice annoys her?” “What should I say next?” “Why is he staring at me?” “Did I say something wrong?” and the most common question that lingering on my mind is, “I shouldn't said that.” Which is why I am a very introvert at a young age. One day, my family and I went  shopping for hari raya and the mall was jam pack like a tin of sardine. I started to feel sick, and my heart begin to pumping fast. My sister knew that I am not comfortable in a crowded places so she hold my hand tightly and help me find my clothes as fast as we can. After that, we head back to the car because I can’t wait to go home. Just about a few minutes in a car, the feeling kicking back in as I remembering what happened earlier. I feel like my head is spinning like a marry-go-round and I started to throw up. My mom notice that my face is turning blue and the next thing I know is I am at a hospital. Nothing’s major really, I just happen to forget how to breath when I am panic. So she teach me a few breathing exercise gave me a aroma therapeutic oil. Then, she told me that I shouldn't think that way. She said “Having a thoughts is important but also it can be dangerous so don’t let it controls you.”  Then, I begin to follow her advise and started to have friends.  I, now have someone that I can talk, laugh and joke with. I realize, how stupid I was before. Sometimes, we care too much of the things that does not matter.

3 different ways to cook fried chicken.

Fried chicken is one of my favorite food  in this world! And I would choose it over any dish at any time. You can eat it with your family on your parent’s anniversary or with your friends on their birthday, it basically fits any occation. I mean, come on. Who doesn’t like fried chicken right? So here’s some recipe of diffrents way you can cook your fried chicken. Enjoy folks!

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN THIGH

Servings: 8-12

INGREDIENTS

8-12 boneless skinless chicken thighs

Oil for frying

Buttermilk Marinade

2 cups buttermilk

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

Seasoned Flour

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon salt

1½ teaspoons black pepper

1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 tablespoon garlic powder

Dill Dip

1½ cups plain Greek yogurt

3 tablespoons chopped dill

1 tablespoon garlic powder

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Honey Lemon Dip

1 lemon, juiced

2 tablespoons honey

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

PREPARATION

In a medium bowl, combine all the buttermilk marinade ingredients. Toss in chicken thighs and marinate for at least one hour in the refrigerator.

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for dill dip. Cover and let sit for at least an hour in the refrigerator.

In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients for honey lemon dip.

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients for seasoned flour. Dip chicken in flour until chicken is completely covered. Repeat for all chicken thighs.

Heat the oil to 350˚F/180˚C in a deep pot. Do not fill more that ½ full with oil. Carefully fry chicken for roughly 7 minutes, or until cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165˚F/75˚C), and it’s golden brown and crispy. Drain on a paper towel.

Serve with dips.

SZECHUAN PEPPER FRIED CHICKEN LEGS

Servings: 6-8

INGREDIENTS

8 drumsticks

Oil for frying

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

Batter

1 cup cornstarch

½ cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon black pepper

1 cup water

Spice Mix

1½ tablespoon Szechuan pepper powder

1 tablespoon red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon cumin

3 tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

Aromatics

6 cloves garlic chopped

2 tablespoons ginger chopped

1 cup dried chillies

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

PREPARATION

Pat dry drumsticks and season with salt and pepper. Air-dry in refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.

Prepare all aromatics for stir frying, and combine spice mix ingredients in a small bowl. Stir together until evenly mixed.

Heat ¾ inch of vegetable oil to 300°F/150˚C in cast-iron skillet or large pot.

Whisk together ingredients for batter until smooth. Dip individual drumsticks in the batter to coat, allowing excess batter to drip before placing in frying oil.

Fry drumsticks 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove and rest chicken on paper towels to drain for at least 10 minutes.

Turn oil temperature up to 375°F/190˚C. Re-fry drumsticks for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown, turning frequently. Remove to paper towels to drain.

In a wok or large sauté pan, heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over high heat. Once it smokes, carefully add aromatics and stir fry for 90 seconds. Add chicken and sprinkle half of the spice mix evenly over the top. Toss chicken and aromatics to coat evenly, then add the other half of the spice mix and repeat. Remove from heat.

Arrange chicken on plate and top with stir fried aromatics.

TEBASAKI FRIED CHICKEN WINGS

Servings: 2

INGREDIENTS

8 chicken wings

Salt, to taste

Pepper, to taste

Potato starch, to dredge

Frying oil, as needed

Sweet Soy Glaze

½ cup (100 milliliters) soy sauce

¼ cup (50 milliliters) mirin

¼ cup (50 grams) sugar

¼ cup (50 milliliters) sake

1 clove garlic, grated

Garnish

Toasted white sesame

PREPARATION

Preheat oil to about 160˚C/320˚F.

Season both sides of the chicken wings with salt and pepper. Coat with potato starch.

Fry the wings at 160˚C/320˚F for approximately 7 minutes. Remove cooked wings from oil.

Raise oil temperature to about 180˚C/350˚F. Return the wings to the oil and fry until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Drain them on paper towels. Set aside.

Make the graze. Combine all the glaze ingredients in a shallow pan and bring it to a simmer. Reduce until thick. Toss in the wings.

Sprinkle toasted white sesame.