Back to brown butter

energy and tension in relation to mood, PST is Pretty but Sorta Tepid

Food of the week:

Finally made it to PST (thoughts below), then crashed a 6-course Italian-Korean supper club at Bottega di Carna – didn’t try the OG menu but the vibe is sleek, moody, and perfect for a fancy date night and people-watching. On the flip side, Overbrod’s bubbling fish stew hits way harder than their limp toasts – sure the toppings are hearty but after enough time in Denmark and Germany, this doesn’t come close to the rye-based oomph you need for one of these. Hop over to Anagram coffee next door (skip the cookies though, trust).

alarmingly cosy for a weekday

Next, my mum’s attempts to perfect the classic chocolate chip cookie brought me back to Oxford days, where I would sell these brown butter chocolate chip ones (recipe below). I made these so much back in the day, alongside these cream cheese-filled ones, and were a bestseller back when I used to sell them or give them out around campus. Brown butter makes everything so magical, whether in a bake, savoury pasta, or stew.

Science of the week:

HsCRP and APOE. Translated: Key biomarkers more people should really be aware of when it comes to managing their health and wellness, as I was reminded when listening to Dr Chatterjee’s latest podcast. The former is a marker of inflammation (bad), and >3.0mg/L is pretty bad. The other is involved in lipid transport and brain function, influencing your risk for Alzheimer’s and ability to metabolise fats correctly. If you are a carrier of the APOE4 allele, you have an increased need to watch out for your cardiovascular health, fat consumption, and gut health!

Insight of the week:

Blitzed through a summary of Thayer’s The Origin of Everyday Moods, who first posited that our mood is dictated by two things: energy and tension. High energy and low tension, for example, is ideal for creative work and productivity. Low energy and high tension means fatigue and distress, linked to depression and anxiety. This book was written quite a while ago but his idea on how mood is physical before it is emotional (i.e. linked to our physiological states) feels especially relevant today. Your diet, sleep and environment directly affect your physiological state and thus your mood.

Recipe of the week:

I was reminded that a lot of recipes designed in the US and the UK do need to be tweaked if you’re making them in hot and humid Singapore. I gave her my brown butter chocolate chip cookie to play with, and they do well in any climate. They are ooey-gooey and crispy on every bit of its veneer.

Brown butter chocolate chip cookies (makes 6-7 medium cookies)

Ingredients

150g butter

1/2 tsp fine salt

200g light brown sugar