The life and times of a Fun, Happening Mom

Backpacking Dharamsala, North India, Nov 2009, Day 8 & 9

2009-11-10T13:16:00.009+08:00

Trekking the Dhauladar Range of Himalayas
4th Trekking Day : On the trek from the stone huts at the foot of the mount to Indrahar Pass, 4360m. The journey commenced as early as 0500 and I reached at 1100. It was a poor night's rest prior to the climb as my guide, Mr. Tapa was disorientated to time and called to enquire at 0100, 0200 1nd 0330! He was obviously very concern that we should be on time to reach the Pass as the weather in the Himalayan heights are not favourable. Strong wind, snow or hail could start almost without a hint.

The last 200m up the summit to Indrahar Pass. Out of sheer exhaustion, I did have thoughts of turning back.

Backpacking Dharamsala, North India, Nov 2009, Day 10

2009-11-10T11:20:00.006+08:00

The Best Fun Day Ever - Ulu Bendul Waterfalls

2009-08-15T20:26:00.011+08:00

An unexpected phonecall today from MS's mom set the children into a frenzy of delight. We were invited to join her and her children to Ulu Bendul Forest Reserve for a picnic. Just the right time for a cool dip at mother nature's gift.

For more info on Ulu Bendul :

http://waterfallsofmalaysia.com/16ulubendol.php

Cheryl's Mashed Potatoes

2009-06-30T02:16:00.007+08:00

This ubiquitous all time favourite is extremely easy to whip up. Good for a side dish or an entree by itself for kids who are bored of their everyday rice staple. Specially posted for newlywed Danny who requested for the recipe, do note that I've altered the commmon recipe and added my own ingredients for that extra flavourful delight.

INGREDIENTS

1. 10 medium sized yellow potatoes
2. 100 mls whipped cream
3. A dash of pepper
4. 1 tbsp of McCormick Mixed Herbs
5. 1 tbsp of McCormick Garlic Steak seasoning
6. 1 tbsp of salted butter
7. 1/2 tsp salt

METHOD

1. Wash and boil the potatoes with the skin intact in boiling water for 20-25 min or until tender.

2. Drain and remove the skin when it is cooled.

3. Mash potatoes with a potato masher. For a more rich and smooth effect use an electric mixer on low speed after you've mashed it.

4. Add in pepper, mixed herbs, garlic steak seasoning, butter and salt.

5. Gradually beat enough of the cream into the potatoes to make them light and fluffy.

Serves 6 .

TIPS

. Reduce salt to 1/4 tsp if you are serving it with a gravy.
. If you do not have an electric mixer, just mash the potatoes till they're even out and smooth.
. Whipped cream can be substituted with milk. Add more cream/milk if you prefer a creamier texture.
. McCormick's herbs, seasonings are sold in most major supermarkets.
. Whipped cream is placed at the cold storage , usually next to the cheeses and milk.

For gravy check out http://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/mashed-potatoes-and-gravy/

Breakfast Is Essential !

2009-06-18T12:40:00.004+08:00

I can't help but loving this picture to bits. My kids are way past babyish pranks as those cuteness have been replaced by 1 pre-school and 2 primary school kids at each other's throats whenever possible. A quiet house yields suspicion for quiet moments equals
1. there're either asleep,
2. outdoors
3. or up to some pranks (such as the Science experiment on the effects of poster colour solution fed to the plants of my pride and joy. And I wondered for a week what could have possibly gone wrong with my withering darlings till Sam owned up cheekily.)

Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And dreams are forever.

Feather-Light Chocolate Gateau

2009-05-22T01:34:00.000+08:00

Feather-light chocolate gateau or sponge cake is an all time chocolate delight that can elevate your moods even on the worst of days. The pastry chef Joas Kam who shared the secret with us made it all seem so simple. Don't believe me? Try the recipe yourself!

It will be more convenient if you have a cake mixer but if you don't, it's just as easy to whip the ingredients up manually. Nothing like a good workout for your arms.

Ingredients

. 6 eggs
. 250g sugar
. 250g flour
. 30g cocoa powder
. 8g baking powder
. 3g baking soda
. 50g ground almond
. 150ml corn oil
. 50ml water
. 500g dark chocolate pieces
. 100g butter
. 200mls whipping cream
. half a tub of mascarpone cheese

Method

1. Whip the sugar and eggs until it is foamy.

2. While the eggs and sugar are mixing, mix the dry ingredients - flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and ground almonds.

3. Then add the dry ingredients into the mixer along with the foamy mix. Then, pour in the corn oil and water.

4. Pour out the mix into a baking tin and bake at 180o for 18 to 20 minutes.

5. While that is baking, boil some water in a pot. Place a bowl atop the pot and warm the butter and dark chocolate pieces together.

6. Once the butter and chocolate are melted, add in the whipping cream.

7. After the sponge cake is baked, let it cool for a bit before splitting it into half, horizontally.

8. Spread the virtually tasteless but creamy mascarpone on one half and sandwich them back together.

9. Then spread on evenly the chocolate sauce made out of butter and melted chocolate.

10. When the cake has completely cooled down, chill the cake for half an hour until the chocolate sauce hardens. However, it is just as delicious to eat with the chocolate sauce warm and dripping around the sponge cake.

You can use this cake mix to make 1 and a half dozen (18) cupcakes as well.

TIPS

To be updated soon.....

No Lake Is So Still

2009-05-13T16:46:00.005+08:00

No lake is so still but that it has its wave;
No circle so perfect but that it has its blur.
I would change things for you if I could;
As I can't , you must take them as they are.

Old Chinese Rhyming Proverb
Translated by Arthur Waley

Happy Thought

2009-05-13T16:42:00.003+08:00

The world is so full of a number of things,
I'm sure we should all be as happy as kings.

Robert Louis Stevenson

What Are Heavy?

2009-05-13T16:30:00.003+08:00

Lotus,Cameron Highlands,Malaysia

What are heavy? Sea-sand and tomorrow;
What are brief? Today and tomorrow;
What are frail? Spring Blossoms and youth;
What are deep? The ocean and truth.

Christina Rosseti

The Parent

2009-05-13T16:25:00.002+08:00

Children aren't happy with nothing to ignore,
And that's what parents were created for.

Ogden Nash

Written In An Album

2009-05-13T16:11:00.003+08:00

Mount Mulu,Sarawak,Malaysia

Small service is true service while it lasts;
Of friends, however humble, scorn not one;
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun.

William Wordsworth

Eternity

2009-05-13T12:24:00.003+08:00

Camp site by the Melinau River, Mulu, Sarawak

He who binds to himself a joy
Does the winged life destroy;
But he who kisses the joy as it flies
Lives in eternity's sun rise.

William Blake

Splinters
A Book of Very Short Poems
Collected by Michael Harrison.

Chinese Steam Chicken

2009-04-22T16:26:00.003+08:00

A traditional Guang Zhou Chinese cuisine. Extremely easy to prepare. I make this every Chinese New Year Eve for the Reunion Dinner.

Hot Cross Buns

2009-04-22T16:13:00.004+08:00

Hot cross buns are tradionally eaten in England on Good Friday to remember the cruxifition of the Lord Jesus thus the cross on the buns. Street vendors cry out,
"Hot cross buns, hot cross buns,
One a penny, two a penny,
Hot cross buns."
This is now , of course a popular nursery rhyme and song. This first baking attempt(20-4-09) of the buns were not of any resemblance to the picture in the original recipe (Salvation Army War Cry Magazine April 2009 issue) however this will not deter me to try harder (and wiser by comparing with other recipes...must be the flour...)

Recipes to be written soon.

Mustard Egg Sandwich

2009-04-22T16:05:00.005+08:00

An easy, healthy, delicious grub for kids' recess.

Recipe to be written soon.

Roast Pork Fried Rice

2009-04-22T15:31:00.005+08:00

roast pork

Recipe to be written soon.

Chai Cupcakes

2009-04-03T14:44:00.006+08:00

My chai cake with icing sugar frosting

Chai is a spiced Indian tea made with frothy warm milk - almost like an Indian cappucino (no qualms about voting Chai as my favourite tea anyday, anytime. And yes, I make my own chai tea when the longing arises )! This cupcake capture its light, spicy flavour. Thinking of trying a cuppa before attempting the cake? Savour the Chai Latte from our all time favourite Starbucks, Coffee Bean and even Dome. Make a choice ? Definately Dome - rich, creamy milk which reminds me of the chai at a stall on the Nepalese mountain way from Kathmandu to Pokhara. That cuppa's milk was expressed from the cow next to the stall's owner and boiled to perfection.

For the cupcakes
. 2 cups self-rising flour
. 1/4 tsp. baking powder
. Pinch of salt
. 1 tbsp. chai tea powder
. 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) sweet butter, softened
. 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
. 2 egg whites
. 2/3 cup buttermilk

For the frosting

. 1 cup cream cheese
. 1 1/2 cups confectioner's (icing) sugar, sifted
. 1 tbsp. lemon juice
. 1 tsp. vanilla extract

Method
Cupcakes

1. Preheat the oven to 175oC. Place 12 baking cups in a muffin pan.

2. In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt and chai powder.
In a separate bowl beat the butter and sugar until smooth. Add the egg whites slowly, beating well. Slowly add the flour mixture, and finally the buttermilk.

3. Mix until combined. Spoon the batter into cups.

4. Bake for 20 mins. Remove pan from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Then remove the cupcakes and cool on a rack.

Frosting

1. Mix the cream cheese and confectioner's sugar together in a medium bowl and beat until soft and light.

2. Add the lemon and vanilla, and beat until smooth.

3. Spoon the frosting over the cupcakes.

TIPS

. Store cake unfrosted in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

. Chai tea powder or tea bags can be bought at tea specialty shops or tea plantations. I bought both the Chai flavoured tea bags and Chai Masala powder (homemade) at the Cameron Valley Tea Plantation in Cameron Highlands. Feel like grinding your own? - the ingredients are cloves, cardamon and cinnamon.

. Where in the world to find sweet butter? I've yet to discover . When I find a pack, I'll blog about the venue. So far, I've been using whatever butter that is available at the nearest supermarket.

. Caution- chai tea is an acquired taste so unless you and those whom you'll like to eat the cake enjoy the flavour, it would be wise to forgo the chai powder ...

My children didn't take long to finish even the crumbs. I'm blessed.

Recipe from 500 Cupcakes by Fergal Connolly (MPH).

Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?

2009-04-01T12:10:00.004+08:00

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimm'd;
And every fair from fair sometime declines,
By chance or nature's changing course untrimm'd;
But thy eternal summer shall not fade
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st;
Nor shall Death brag thou wander'st in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st:
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

Sonnet 18
Shakespeare

Custard Tart

2009-03-31T17:05:00.007+08:00

An easy dessert to prepare. An exceptional idea for birthday and tea parties. However I also discovered that not all children like custard, probably due to its creamy texture.

Short Pastry
Ingredients

1 small egg
125 g butter
50 g icing sugar
250 g plain flour

Method

. Mix the icing sugar and butter until white.

. Add the egg and flour until it forms a dough. Fold the flour in 2 parts to enable an even mixture. An electric mixer will work wonders if you have one.

. Do not overwork or else the the dough will be rubbery.

. Brush the tin moulds with a light coat of oil or butter to prevent the pastry from sticking to the moulds. Press the dough onto the mould.

Alternative method
. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface, cut out circles and press into greased individual tartlet moulds.

Preheat the oven at 180oC for 20 min, then bake the moulds for 20 min.

Custard Cream (12 portions)
Ingredients

1 lit milk
150g sugar
2 egg yolks
60g custard powder
a pinch of salt
3 drops of vanilla essence

Method

1. Bring 3/4 of the milk and half of sugar to boil.

2. Ian a separate bowl, mix together remaining sugar, milk, egg yolk, custard powder, salt and vanilla essence.

3. Pour the boiling milk slowly into this preparation stirring vigourously.

4. Return the mixture to the heat and bring to boil, sirring constantly constantly.

5. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

6. Prior to use, pass the custard through a fine seive.

7. Fill baked tartlets with the custard cream and garnish with mixed fruit on top.

TIPS

. Don't wait too long before filling the custard cream into the tartlets because hardened custard will not a make a nice smooth texture and the fruits will not sink easily into the cream.

. If the idea of baking the base puts you off, buy ready made ones from baking stores or surprise, surprise - Marks & Spencer ( food section )

Recipe from The Salvation Army War Cry Magazine, June 2005 issue by Chef Roland Poon, Head Chef of Peacehaven Nursing Home, Singapore.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

2009-03-13T12:31:00.004+08:00

This recipe is specially for Rose, my long, lost classmate whom we haven't spoken for what felt like centuries. As we discussed kitchen secrets and old wives tales, she lamented her old oven has gone to Heaven and being devoted to exclusive breastfeeding and housework without a maid, there is no time for dabbling in the kitchen. Been there, done that. Totally understand the time of your life now. However it's one of those best years where the kid is very much attached to us and finds it indispensable not to snuggle up close all the time. There will come a time when he will morph out of that sticky glue state and deliberately scoot off when we demand a hug. They'll grow , they'll wriggle off , we'll miss those moments. For now, enjoy them! Enjoy mothering a toddler ! And make use of that microwave oven, Rose because believe me, baking is therapeutic and keeps our (us mothers) sanity intact...

This cake is for baking in a microwave oven. It is nutritious and easy to make.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tsp cinammon
5 rings of canned pinealpple (cut finely)
3 eggs
1 cup vegetable or canola oil
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 cups grated carrot

Method

1. In a large bowl mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, walnuts and cinammon.

2. Break eggs into cup and beat with fork then add to flour mixture, along with oil, white and brown sugar. Stir well with wooden spoon then add pineapple and grated carrot. Stir well again.

3. Line the bottom of a large (22cm diameter) microwave ring mould/dish with greaseproof paper. If you don't have a ring mould then use a large flat-bottomed pyrex dish with sides of at least 10cm.
Lightly grease the outside of a tall glass (must be taller than the dish) and sit this in the centre of the bowl. This allows the very thick mixture to cook more quickly and evenly, as the microwaves flow through the centre hole.

4. Pour mixture into mould/bowl and even out with a spatula.

5. Sit the cake on top of microwave elevation rack (or use a dessert or rice bowl) in the centre of the turntable. Microwave on high power for around 13 minutes. If using a bowl and glass, watch the glass stays upright in the middle as the cake cooks. You may open the door at any time during cooking to fix- it will not affect the cake- then continue to the end of the time.

6. A cake cooked in a microwave goes on cooking when removed from the oven so it should always be taken out while still looking moist and a bit sticky on the top. A cooked cake comes away from the sides of mould/dish.

7. Stand cake on awooden surface and cover with a double paper towel. Leave for at least 10 min before turning out onto a wire cake cooler. Cover with tea towel until thoroughly cool.

8. This cake can be eaten un-iced or iced by softening half packet (125 gm) cream cheese . Mix thoroughly with 1/2- 3/4 cup of icing sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Spread on cake sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Recipe by Colonel Grace Bringans of The Salvation Army,
taken from THE WAR CRY magazine August 2006 issue.

Author's comment : Microwave cooking is not injurious to health. Cooking is caused by microwaves travelling at 2450 million times a second bouncing off the walls and door of the oven. Heat is generated by the energy and movement of the molecules in the ingredients. Microwaves cannot be stored in food. Non-ionizing radiation includes radio waves, infralight, light waves and microwaves.

The dangerous ionizing radiation includes X-rays, cosmic rays, gamma rays and produces no temperature.

More Carrot Cake Recipes :

An Australian web
http://www.foodbuzz.com/recipes/683301-carrot-cake-with-cream-cheese-icing

A detailed blog, wonderful pictures, chinese translation included. Excellent!
http://qzone.qq.com/blog/2299675-1198817362

6 step recipe. How tough can making a carrot be? Can qualify for An Idiot's Guide to Baking a Cake !http://www.ehow.com/how_4511337_carrot-cake-cream-cheese-frosting.html

LEMON ROAST CHICKEN

2009-02-27T11:38:00.007+08:00

One thing for sure is that I absolutely adored The Women's Weekly (Malaysian version) for its sweet and downright easy-to-cook recipes. Roast chicken is a whizz to create, be it for a fast dish to accompany rice or a western cuisine with sauteed potatoes of herbs and butter graced with steamed vegetables of your choice. Choose the perfect wine and Voila! - the perfect meal for a special occasion.

Ingredients

(serves 4 - 6)

1. 1.5kg whole chicken

2. 2 tbsps salt

3. 2 tbsps fresh grated black pepper

4. 1 lemon, cut into half, plus some extra slices for serving.

5. 3 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice

6. 1 tbsp olive oil

Method

1. Preheat oven at 190 oC.

2. Rub the chicken cavity with salt and pepper, 1 tbsp each. Then place cut lemon into the cavity.

3. Secure the kitchen legs with kitchen string. Brush chicken with lemon juice, olive oil and sprinkle the remainig salt and pepper over it.

4. Place chicken in a roasting pan, cover loosely with foil and cook for 45 mins. Remove the foil and continue to cook for 20 to 30 mins until chicken is cooked through and golden.

I sprinkled mixed herbs over it to give it extra kick.

5. Remove chicken from oven and allow to rest for at least 20 mins before serving.

TIP : The 20 min standing time for the cooked chicken is to ensure the juices settle and the meat does not break up when you carve the roast later.

The Malaysian Mother's Guide To Opening A Durian

2009-02-11T14:41:00.006+08:00

DURIAN LUNCH

It is one of those humid evenings that hub sent home a large gunnysack full of thorns and drove Henry into a excited, frenzy fit (no, he's not the dog but our 5 year old charming). So insistent is he to devour the custard-like contents that he dragged that heavy sack from the front of the living room all the way into the kitchen !
Confronted by his dare devil action of throwing one small fruit out which rolled to one corner of the kitchen, garnered by incessant whines and and begging, I knew this is one task I would have to carry out without his dad now. Although this is not my first time ripping open the King of fruits, I've never fully assured myself of absolute confidence at the trial. Almost mission impossible.

However it is not as trying as it seems to be. All it takes is sharp assesment and strong hands. ( Don't forget that rag unless, of course you're Ben 10 Four Arms)

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

1) A sharp knife. I prefer a cleaver although one my friend claimed she can do it effortlessly with a screwdriver. I wonder.....

2) A piece of rag

3) Newspapers to line the surface ( sharp thorns can scratch your precious wooden or marble floorings. Also to prevent the sticky flesh from messing the floor/table)

TECHNIQUE

1) Turn the fruit to the bottom area to spot faint, brownish lines of a 5-pointed star. These are the sutures of the fruit or the lines that separate the different segments of the durian. Follow these lines for a stress-free durian spliting session !

2) As the picture above, carefully place the knife in the middle of the 'star'. In the event where you have an irregular fruit or the lines are not visible , try and area where it is most likely the center of the fruit ( all the best in figuring it out).

3) Hold the durian with one hand using the rag/cloth as a buffer to protect your hand from the thorns. Position the knife above the center and sink it in. When the knife has penetrated about 2 inches, twist it left and right until the segments open up.

4) When you see the gap, pry the segments apart. If you can't stand the pricks, continue to use the cloth to prevent any nasty scratches.

One piece of good advice : It was a sentence written 'as a matter of factly' by a blogger on 'Opening Durian' that I found rather amusing but after having seived through the truth , this can be a life saver, just in case you're not from this part of the world and has never eaten one before.

JUST EAT THE FLESH OF THE DURIAN AND DISCARD THE SEEDS.

Henry ate up his share like a puppy with sausages. See the big gunny sack (right)filled with durians that he lugged into the kitchen.

Hub always make us drink cold water from the cavity of the segments. It is an old wives tale that the drink can cool the 'heatiness' from the consuming the fruit. What diagnosis is 'heatiness' ? The Chinese would say it's anything ranging from sore throat to indigestion. Ironic. Perhaps it could be the enzymes from the inner frame of the hull that can supposedly work some magic.

The Aftermath

After the satisfying episode, everybody retired to bed for a very lazy, afternoon nap. Everybody that is, except mua, who worked as a 'hull collecter' till the floor is declared safe from any last piece of thorn that could potentially send any child screaming like there's no tomorrow...

Ref :

http://southeastasianfood.about.com/od/malaysianfruits/ss/ChooseOpDurian.htm
This is a must read. I've gone through a few blogs and websites before deciding that this Asian one is realiable and its step by step pictorial guides are well written with associated topics ranging from Choosing a Durian to Common Imperfections of the Durian.

http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/ingredients-fruit/how-to-open-a-durian-fruit-044038
This was top on the googled list so I curiously clicked on it. Written by a Mat Salleh (white), it quoted what one of them wrote the durian to be : ' its odour being best described as pig-shit, turpentine, onions and garnished with a gym sock.'

Probably the odour that matured, European cheese is to Asians.
One man's delight is another man's poison. Again the step by step pictorial is a most wonderful guide.

However 'chopping' the durian like he did is not what most wise,skilled opener of durians would do...

A Wife's Conquest

2009-02-02T14:55:00.006+08:00

Ye fair married dames, who so often deplore,
That a lover once blessed is a lover no more;
Attend to my counsel, nor blush to be taught,
That prudence must cherish what beauty has caught.

The bloom of your cheek, and the glance of your eye,
Your roses and lilies may make the men sigh;
But roses and lilies and sighs pass away,
And passion will die as your beauty decay.

Use the man that you wed, like your favourite guitar,
Though music's in both, they are both apt to jar;
How tuneful and soft from a delicate touch,
Not handled too roughly, nor played on too much.

The sparrow and linnet will feed from your hand,
Grow tame by your kindness and come at command;
Exert with your husband the same happy skill;
For hearts, like your birds, may be tamed to your will.

Be gay and good-humoured, complying and kind;
Turn the chief of your care, from your face to your mind;
'Tis there that a wife may her conquest improve,
And Hymen shall rivet the feters of love.

David Garrick (1717-1779)
Quoted from A Treasury of Love Poems (Chartwell Books)

The English poet , David Garret was commended as " an excellent husband, a kind master, and a matchless companion ".
Is Garret giving sound advice for wives to 'improve her conquest' of her husband's heart or merely penning his observations of his pleasureful, pleasing wife?

How witty it is to have likened the husband to 'a favourite guitar' , and how well said it was to remind dear wives to be ' gay and good-humoured, complying and kind. And not to allow the anxious cares to cloud our expressions but to merely drown them in the corner of our minds. At least momentarily...perhaps it's to tell us wives to stop that nagging attitude. Wives were expected to be temperate , demure and obedient in Garrick's times of old. While we , modern revolutionised ones can be drowning in our modern trappings most of the time. Where has the romance gone to? Has the respect (mutual) and submission to our lovers of ' till death doth us part' been lost to deceived demand of equality and pride?
A thought for all wives.

Wit & Wisdom

2009-02-02T14:47:00.005+08:00

You are who you are today in large part due to the impact your parents had ( and still have ) on your life.

So many of your behaviours, as a parent and otherwise, can be traced back to your growing-up years, when you lived with your parents. Actively deal with it and don't parent with blinders on.

So how about you? Are you parenting on autopilot?

Dr. Phil Family First

The Clod and the Pebble

2009-02-01T02:06:00.003+08:00

'Love seeketh not itself to please,
Nor itself bath any care,
But for another gives its ewe,
And builds a heaven in hell's despair.'

So sung a little clod of clay,
Trodden with the cattle's feet,
But the pebble of the brook,
Warbled out this metres meet :

'Love seeketh only self to please,
To bind another to to its delight,
Joys in another loss of ease,
And builds a hell in heaven's despite.'

William Blake
(1757-1827)

My favourite of William Blake's. Would you rather be the Clod or the Pebble ?

When A Girl

2009-02-01T01:28:00.009+08:00

When a girl is quiet, millions of thing are running in her mind.
When a girl is not arguing.. she is thinking deeply.
When a girl looks at you with eyes full of question.. she is wondering how long you will be around.
When a girl answer ' I'm fine ' after a few seconds... she is not at all fine.
When a girl stares at you, she is wondering why you are lying.
When a girl lay at your chest.. she is wishing you to be her forever.
When a girl wants to see you everyday... she wants to be pampered.
When a girl say 'I love you..' she means it.
When a girl says 'I miss you..' no one in this world can miss you more than that.
Life only come around once make sure you spend it with the right person...
Find a man...who calls you beautiful instead of hot.
Who calls you back when you hang up on him.
Who will stay awake just to watch you sleep.
Wait for the guy who kisses your forehead.
Who wants to show you off to the world when you when you are in your sweats.
Who holds your hand in front of his friends.
Who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares about you and how lucky is he to have you.
Who turns to his friends and says ' That's her ! '

I have reasons to believe the wordings came from a song ( and Lee Choo's bag of secrets ) but why I put it up is because of certain simple truth every girl and woman can trust from the write up. I wish every man would read this and reaffirmed his love by those actions that would reassured her fear of a man's fake pretences and insincerities. And it is every mother's hope and dream that the man her daughter chose would love her like there is no tomorrow. And I would not forget to secretly , in a private moment to remind him to label my daughter 'beautiful' (not hot for she is not asam laksa) ; calls her back when she hangs up on him and be bold to show her off to the world. Anything less than that would not make him worth my daughter's time. God bless her.

AS A MOTHER

2009-01-15T13:43:00.001+08:00

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its place,
but I have not loved ...
I am a housekeeper not a homemaker.
If I have time for waxing, polishing and decorative achievements,
but have not loved...
my children learn cleanliness, not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the fingerprints of a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes away the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves and is responsive.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with child, then stands aside to let the youth walks into adulthood.
Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.
Before I become a mother, I took glory in my house of perfection.
Now I glory in God's perfection of my child.
As a mother, there is much I must teach my child,
but the greatest of all is love.

Author unknown.

Being a mother, one can't help to reflect on the trespasses that kept her love for her child at bay rather than reaffirming it by the actions her decisions assigned. Recalling the times when I've angrily scolded the children at the mess from their art creations rather than appreciating those rather wonderful talents and thus overlooking the shortcomings of children. One thing is to change for sure- life is short, so stop 'sweating the small stuff '. Love them with absolut patience. They are after all just little angels.

CHICKEN KAPITAN

2009-01-13T02:30:00.002+08:00

I tried out this recipe that was on the label of F&N Evaporated Creamer and voila, it was easy to cook ( not the preparation though as you will have cut and chop the ingredients that need to be blended) ; appetizing for those who like curry or spicy sauces with their rice and a sure 'praise gainer' for its distinct aromatic fragrant. The secret : kaffir lime leaves. Start hunting for some in the garden, folks.

Ingredients

10 dried chillies

2 large fresh red chillies

8 shallots

3 cloves of garlic

2 cm ginger

2 cm galangal (lengkuas)

2 stalks of lemon grass (serai)

2 candlenuts (buah keras)

1 cm shrimp paste (belacan)

____Blend all the above ingredients____

600 g chicken (skinned and cut into small pieces)

1 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

1/2 cup water

100 mls Evaporated Creamer

3 kaffir lime leaves, torn (I prefer to cut it to strips to maximise the fragrance)

1 tbsp lime juice

Method

1. Heat oil in a wok and fry blended ingredients until fragrant.

2. Stir in chicken and cook in the paste for 10 minutes. Add salt, sugar, water and evaporated creamer . Bring to boil and simmer for 15 - 20 minutes on medium heat until chicken pieces are cooked.

3. Add lime leaves and lime juice. Simmer another 2 minutes and serve.

Happy Trying!

Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day?

2009-01-13T01:41:00.000+08:00

Sunset , Gunung Ledang

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate:

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summer's lease hath all too short a date:

Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,

And often is his gold complexion dimm'd:

And every fair from fair sometime declines,

By chance , or nature's changing course untrimm'd;

But thy eternal summer shall not fade,

Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,

Nor shall death brag thou wander'st in his shade,

When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st;

So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see,

So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

William Shakespeare,

Sonnet 18

This is my most adored of Shakespearean. How absolutely wonderful it is for a man to tell the one he loved that she shall not be compared even to a summer's day for she is lovelier and so much more in beauty and character. And how much more perfect if a husband would perceive his wife in unfading 'eternal summer' for through thick and thin, sickness and health, youth and aged; the husband would still prefers to choose to love his wife for who she is.

Lunch Boxes Kids Will Eat!

2008-12-04T15:32:00.001+08:00

Mama Mia, here I go again! How can I resist you???
How can I resist not posting these very cute lunch creation , adults and kids alike will be thrilled to discover in their bento boxes!

Slices of bread roll decorated with stripes of sea weed. Add on fruits for your wholesome meal of fibre and antioxidents.

Mmmm, I just love those slices of ham, eggs, carrots and cucumber. Marinade the cucumber and carrots for a while in apple cider or sweet vinegar for an appetizing salad.

Mr. Egg says " Eat Me..eat me..."

You will need shape moulds to cut out pretty little Sanrio rice cakes like those in the picture.

I will be on a look out for koala sandwich and egg cutters . What a sweet and picture perfect combination!

I doubt my kids will eat this...something about the green hues... (incredible hulk)

Wow, my boys will lap this all up, for the sake of Captain Jack Sparrow !

Now, now, can anyone enlighten me on the ingredient that makes the parrot and skull ?

FRUIT MUFFINS

2008-11-06T03:46:00.000+08:00

Baked 9th Sept 2008

This a lovely and absolutely simple recipe contributed by Auntie Shu Lan at one of Jalan Imbi Chapel's Ladies Fellowship. No regrets for having to drive 2 hours down to Jalan Imbi for I
have obtained one of the best secrets for aromatic muffins (and discovered how palatable cranberries are) , try guessing...

Ingredients

2 cups flour

4 tsp baking powder ( or 3 tsp baking powder+1 tsp bicarbonate for 'drier' muffins)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup castor sugar

100gm butter

1 cup milk

1 egg

1 1/2 cup blackberries/ blueberries/ cranberries or chopped bananas; apples etc. or 3/4 cup sultanas.

About 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional).

1 tbsp brown sugar.

1/2 tsp cinammon.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 220 oC.

2. Sieve the flour, baking powder and salt (dry ingredients) into a fairly large bowl.
Add the 1/2 cup of castor sugar.

3. In another container, melt butter (microwave or low fire on the stove).
Remove, cool a little.

4. Add milk and egg. Beat to combine butter, milk and egg together.

5. Drain off 'top liquid' from the canned fruit (if using)
Choose one type of fruit, nut, sultanas and put into the bowl with dry ingredients.

6. Fold in everything, taking care not to over mix.

7. Flour should be dampened and mixture should not be smooth.

8. Line muffin tin/tray with muffin paper and fill each tin/tray to 3/4 full.
Make about 12.

9. Combine brown sugar and cinammon and sprinkle over the muffins before baking.

10. Bake at 220oC for 15 mins until mufins spring back and are light brown.

11. Leave to cool in oven for 20 min then remove to cool on rack.

Tips
Do not attempt too many types of fruits or nuts together as muffin tends to be soft and mushy.

Chopped the apples into small pieces for even baking. I find my muffin ( cupcake size ) mushy if apples are in big pieces ( 2cmx 2cm).

If using bananas, place them on top of the mixture.

Use a skewer to test the muffin. It should come out clean and not with bits of mixture when thoroughly baked.

P/S : The secret lies in the ubiquitous cinnamon powder, available at supermarkets or grind your own using cinnamon sticks (kayu manis) much easily available from the grocer or local provision shops. When baking is in progress, that tempting fragrant fills the air, guaranteed to seduce your neighbours palate. Try it if you haven't.

10 LITTLE CHRISTIANS

2008-11-05T12:08:00.000+08:00

Annarpurna, Nepal

10 little Christians standing in line.

1 disliked the preacher, then there were 9.

9 little Christians stayed up very late.

1 overslept Sunday, then there were 8.

8 little Christians on their way to Heaven.

1 took the low road and then there were 7.

7 little Christians chirping like chicks.

1 disliked music, then there were 6.

6 little Christians seemed very much alive,but one lost his interest then there was 5.

5 little Christians pulling for Heaven's Shore, but one stopped to rest, then there were 4.

4 little Christians each busy as a bee.

1 got his feelings hurt, then there were 3.

3 little Christians knew not what to do.1 joined the sporty crowd, then there were 2.

2 little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,differed with each other, then there was 1.

1 little Christian can't do much 'tis true,brought his friend to bible study, then there were 2.

2 earnest Christians, each won one more.That doubled the number, then there were 4.

4 sincere Christians worked early and late.

Each won another then there were 8.

8 splendid Christians if they doubled as before.

In just so many Sundays, we'd have 1,024.

In this little jingle, there is a lesson true, you belong either to the building or to the wrecking crew!

I found this cute little rhyme in an old friend's fb note and just couldn't resist not to share it. If I have the time, I would scan one of my old Sunday School pic, those days of our youth and when the discovery of Jesus influenced our every decision. And I would still wonder if it is the same now for everyone.

Apple Pie

2008-10-10T03:23:00.000+08:00

My first attempt at baking an apple pie magically conjured up this lovely , aromatic of what became our breakfast that morning. I baked this late one night last month, and putting it in the oven at midnight, I went to dreamland with dreams of the children tracking the whiff of cinnamon treading on white fluffy clouds.

The next morning,sceptic and realizing that I should have a baked pie in the oven , I gently pry open the oven door to discover to my delight, my first successful apple pie !

Baking pie is a rather straightforward technique but if you don't get the dough right the first time (like mine), don't fret. Trial and error helps you to learn and as they always say, practice makes perfect.

Apple Pie Recipe

Ingredients

Filling:

. 6 green cooking apples

. 6 tbsp sugar

. 50g butter

. 1/2 tsp cinnamon

. Rind of 1 lemon

. Juice of 1/2 lemon

. 4 tbsp water

. 1 tbsp cornflour mixed with 1 tbsp water

Pastry:

. 450g plain flour

. 225g butter

. 1/2 tsp salt

. 3 tbsp icing sugar

. 2 egg yolks

. 4 tbsp cold water

Method

Filling:

(Preheat oven now at 180 oC for 1/2 hour)

1. Peel, core and cut apples to bite-sized pieces.

2. Heat saucepan with butter, add apples and toss for 1 minute.

3. Add the rest of the filling ingredients, and cook for another 2 - 3 minutes.

4. Thicken with cornflour mixture. Leave to cool.

Pastry:

1. Sieve flour,salt and icing sugar. Rub cold butter ( cut into small pieces ) into the flour mixture with fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.

2. Mix water with egg yolks, then mix liquid mixture into flour. Bring the dough together with hand, but do not over-knead, as pastry will toughen.

3. Place in refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

4. Divide the pastry in two. Roll both portions into 3mm thick layers to the size of greased pie dish. Lay one into pie tin/pan. Fill with the apple mixture.

5. Lay the remaining over the apple mix, with the edges of the two pastry layers meeting.

6. Dampen between edges then crimp with a fork and brush with about 1/2 beaten egg white (leftover from the yolks used for pastry).

7. Bake in 180 oC oven for 45 minutes.

Tips :

I found that the 4 tbsp of water for kneading the dough is incapable of working the flour to a decent consistency for laying the pastry. Lack of water produces crumbles when I believe the dough should be like that of my kids' Playdough plasticine . Add a little water gradually until the dough is stretchy and 'strong' to be draped on the pie pan.

For more tips and troubleshooting : http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sundays-Apple-Pie/Detail.aspx

Reference:

This simple recipe is on page 10, the September 2008 issue of The Salvation Army War Cry magazine.

Website : http://www.salvationarmy.org.sg/

For a copy of the magazine, email: editorial@SMM.salvationarmy.org

The Cross

2008-10-10T01:31:00.001+08:00

" .. and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me . Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. "

NIV Bible Matthew 10 v 38,39

" Then he said to them all : " If anyone would come after me , he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? "

NIV Bible Luke 9 v 23 - 25

Comfort Zone

I chanced upon this series of cartoons from Lee Choo's blog and found the creative sketches absolutely amusing yet infused with the impact of Jesus's drastic invitation to discipleship. The gospel runs at cross purposes with the values and vision of the world , thus making it no easier for 'Christian' to carry his cross - the sufferings and hardships and all the inconveniences that being a Christian will infect one with !

In this modern times of technology saviness and media starved age where a good dose of money is perceived as an antidote capable of bailing out almost anything including jilted lovers , broken families and politics (yes, smile again), why even bother the trouble to drag oneself into 'religion' , especially one that requires you to 'carry your cross' ???

Yet it is only by enduring these 'inconveniences' that the meaning of life will become clearer to us ,when we realize that we will find purpose in life when our search leads us from why to whom. We have only to look at our Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross and there we will find the meaning of our existence and the answer to our searching and longing.

It is only by clinging on to this One and Only loving Saviour, Jesus, the one who so generously forgives absolutely all our sins if we asks him to and wipe our records clean to enter the gates of heaven , that all the trials in our lives would make any sense .

It is only by the cross that would prompt Christian to fix his eyes on Jesus, lest he will find time chipping off blocks from it and gayly going around in circles collecting trophies of his life's achievements at Vanity's Fair. Why not, as 007 laments, 'the world is not enough'. What's with a little drunken party, a few other women (or men) in bed or a little ambition to my first million in the bank (never mind those brood of neglected children at home, a potential to becoming druggies and repeating a perpetual cycle of a similar history)?

"What's wrong?" That familiar question we pose to self-defend and propel us to the comfort zone.

Ask again. "What's not wrong?"

Have you believed and entrusted your life to Jesus for a purpose-driven life?

If you have, have you committed yourself to a Christian life worthy of the calling of Jesus?

Have you lost your Christian life? God still loves you just the same as the day when you first gave your life to Jesus. Pray and rededicate your life to Christ. Return to church immediately for fellowship with other Christians. Don't be the single 'coal' that leapt out from the heap of coals. Attend Bible Study to be guided by the Word of God. Resist temptations and seek professional help to stop any addictions.

Blueberry Sponge Pudding

2008-09-21T01:22:00.000+08:00

Sponge pudding seems to be one of those well known English cuisine that the English like very much. Like all the other English great nosh served as restaurants and pub staples in the British Isles, it's generally heavy on the carb, but then as the British Isles are so cold, it makes perfect sense. Complementing English mains of Fish & Chips, Shepherds' Pie, steaks, English desserts like Spotted Dick, Manchester Tart, Treacle Tart, Steamed Pudding, and the amazing Christmas Pudding make the perfect English dinner. Someone even wrote that the star of English meals would be Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, the complete indulgence with all the flavours and textures of good British soil. Now, that is a good reason for me to visit Ye Olde Smokehouse (Opposite KLCC, on the street behind Gucci) again soon.

This recipe that I tried and tested is absolutely easy to prepare. It can't get any easier to whip a gourmet dessert like this!

The dessert is mildly sweet and buttery. To make it, you'll need :

Ingredients

. 6 eggs

. 200g sugar

. 40g melted butter

. 320ml milk.

. 350g flour

. 200g frozen blueberries.

. a 1/4 tsps salt and a squeeze of lemon to taste

. 4 tsps baking powder

Method

1. Beat the eggs with sugar before adding the melted butter, salt and lemon juice. Then add in the milk.

2. Next, add in the flour and the baking powder. Mix them well. (an electric mixer will be an advantage)

3. Grease some small bowls, muffin tins or coffee cups.

4. Put in a spoonful of frozen blueberries. They must be frozen as this will keep intact the form of the berries, preventing them from breaking up into the sponge mix while being steamed.

5. Then pour in three-quarters of the sponge mix into the cup, tin or bowl of frozen berries. Now you ready to steam them in your steamer for 20 to 25 minutes. The mix will make 10 to 12 cups.

Tip : This mildly sweet and buttery cake's moistness is attributed to the steaming. Baking this pudding will make it dry.

* I did not include blueberries as it is not available at all in this small little town where I reside.

This pudding is best accompanied by a Vanilla Sauce. You'll need:

Ingredient

. 180ml cream

. 180ml milk

. 75g sugar

. 4 egg yolks

. a few drops of vanilla essence

Method
1. Heat the milk to just before a boil. On low fire, add in cream and keep stirring. Add in sugar, egg yolks, vanilla essence and continue stirring until you have a smooth texture.

More Tips :
The steamed sponge will keep in the fridge for a few days. All you need to do is microwave it on medium heat for 10 seconds before serving. You can replace the blueberries with other frozen berries. Or mix them up.

Instead of little cups, you can also use a big bowl, depending on whether your steaming apparatus can contain it.

Hope you will have as much fun trying it out as I did . Wish you success!

* The recipe is copied from The New Straits Time, 26th July 2008 shared by Chef Affendy Ahmad of Putrajaya Shangri-La Hotel.

COMFORT FOOD - MARBLE CHEESE CAKE

2008-08-01T12:43:00.000+08:00

Past weeks' experiences and compliments received had exceded my confidence to exalted heights that a repertoire of more 'comfort foods' will be an on-going affair. My children can't help but show off during reccess their tiffins of cakes and tarts of which they proudly tagged " My mom made this. See. "

Friend : " Wah...., your Mom made this ?? Very niiiice aaaahh ( awed , widened eyed face) "

Sam : " Open your mouth ! Umm. Taste good leeeh ..."

29/07/08 After dropping Sam at the Ballet School, I quickly drove over to Giant to gather the necessary must haves for my next experiment, which will also be my first attempt at conjuring a Marble Cheese Cake. The recipe from the mag seemed easy enough to follow suit . By complying to the step by step instructions, how hard can it be ?

Cheeses are another of our favourites. While our regular sandwich accompaniment is Cheddar; pastas dressed generously with Parmesan or Mozarrela, we would never deny an occasional nibble of Camembert or Brie. I love to be adventerous in sampling this palatable delight, so much similar as savouring premium chocolate melting on your tongue and reminding you of warmth and mellow days of past. By Wallace's recommendations, I can't wait to endeavour Gorgonzola and Wensleydale.....

Besides my faithful chocs, cheeses are excellent energy boosters on my treking trips.

Recipe

Ingredients

Prep 20 mins / Cook 1 Hr / Serves 8

Crust

1. 160g of Marie biscuits

2. 100g melted butter

3. 50g cooking chocolate, melted

Mixture

1. 550g cream cheese

2. 160g caster sugar

3. 3 eggs

4. 100 mls whipping cream

5. 30g plain yogurt

6. 1 tsp. vanilla essence

7. 1 orange zest and 1 lemon zest

8. 30g cooking chocolate, melted

Method

1. Line and grease a 23 cm round baking tin. Crush biscuits; add butter and cooking chocolate.

2. Line baking tin evenly with the mixture. Put in the fridge to set.

3.Pre- heat oven to 180oC. Beat cream cheese , sugar ; add eggs one at a time.

4. Add whipping cream , yogurt , vanilla essence , zests ; beat mixture till smooth

5. Split mixture into two. Pour one portion over crust ; mix other portion with melted chocolate. Pour second portion on top of first

6. Using a skewer , swirl mixture for marble effect. Bake for 1 hour.

Tips You Can't Do Without

1. After the baking is complete, always test the center of the cake with a skewer to ensure that it is completely baked. The skewer should come off clean. If wet bits stick to it, try to bake it for a while longer ie 20 - 30 min.

2. Cream cheese, whipping cream and baking chocolate are available at most leading supermarts. Whipping cream comes in a 200 mls and 1 L carton.

3. When it comes to buttering my cake, I've always used Buttercup as it only costs RM 3.70 at my local grocer. However for this episode, I suddenly reminisce my mother faithfully choosing SCS Butter all the time for her Sponge and Fruit Cakes ! My mom swears by it as if no other brands will suffice. The label reads " Creamy Australian Butter " ,and after comparing it with a brick of Buttercup at hand's reach I realize Buttercup isn't even butter enough. It's a mixture of vegetable oil and milk fats or something like that. No wonder my cakes doesn't even smell half as aromatic as my mom's. ( Mom, you are right ! I have to salute you. )

4. How to melt the cooking chocolate?

If you throw the choc in a saucepan and attempt to melt it....kaboom! You can then later proceed to despatch it to the dustbin.

Place the choc in a metal bowl and then place it over hot water (not boiling, or too high a temperature changes the colour and flavour) in the saucepan / pot. It will melt in a while.

5. What are orange and lemon zest ???

The outermost part of the rind of an orange, lemon, or other citrus fruit, used as flavoring. The yellow / orange part of the peel on the outside of the fruit has an intense lemon/citrus flavor with very little bitterness. The bitterness is primarily found in the white part of the fruit. When removing the skin from lemons or other citrus fruits, be sure to take only the thin outer zest or colored portion. The white pith will give your dish a bitter undertaste.

Use a fine grater to produce that lovely citrusy flavour for your cheese cake. I must admit I used the wrong grater. The zest should have come out finer more like pencil sharpenings instead of in strips. Will remember to use the correct grater next time. I skipped the lemon zest as there was not one in sight from the market or even the Giant I trotted to , so instictively I grated 2 oranges instead.

Mixture of the Marble Cheese Cake that morph into Marble Cheese Crumble ! After an hour of baking, presumed it was fully baked, I turned it on a plate without prior testing with a skewer . It collapsed into pieces that sent my excitement to mourning...boo hoo hoo. Nevertheless, backup plan 101 prompted mua to rebake it for another 1/2 an hour yet after that , this poor baby was still unable to set. A post mortem hinted traces of ? too much whip cream or ? too much yogurt ? That still didn't deter Henry and I from lapping up 2 pieces of the crumbles.

Verdict : the Marie biscuit butter melted chocolate base was yummy! Mixed with balls of cream cheese swirled with Van Houten Baking Choc, it was filling .

Conclusion : Ingredients are pricey ie. cream cheese, not easily available in a small town. Even the Giant in Tampin ran out of baking chocolate..Cis! Will try again ,prudently measure the whip cream next time. ( I 'agak-agak' poured in. Padan muka la)

COMFORT FOOD - A Pink Birthday Cake

2008-07-29T16:42:00.000+08:00

What better gift for a birthday girl and the perfect dessert for a Sunday Church Luncheon tomorrow if not a yummy cake? If I had not secretly whipped this pink darling up in the kitchen , Henry would have attempted to devour all the little coloured pearls. Sam was of course thrilled to bits and squelled to know why I have not included her in this baking project. Richard, as quirky as ever, demanded his usual request, " I want to eat cake, Mooooom ! "

Recipe

Use the one for Vanilla Cup Cake (double portion of the ingredients ) with Butter Cream Frosting (single portion is enough ) in my earlier post. Bake mixture in round or square pan of your choice at 180oC for 45 mins. Test the middle of the cake with a wooden pick by sticking it in. When it is cooked, it should come out clean. Decorate with just anything under the sun that you fancy ! For this cake, I used M&M Crunchy Chocolates and coloured choc rice. Keep it chilled after the icing.

Happy baking !

COMFORT FOOD - BANANA YOGURT CUPCAKES

2008-07-29T12:27:00.000+08:00

This is another of our favourites as we've always loved anything bananas - Banana Split, Post banana cereals, keropok pisang, banana fritters, HL banana milk, banana yogurt etc. etc. etc.

Recipe

Ingredient (18 cupcakes )

125 g butter

225 g caster sugar

300 g self-raising flour

1 tsp vanilla essence

80 mls natural yogurt

2 large eggs

3 large bananas , peeled and mashed

120 g fresh blueberries or 1 can blueberries, drained ( available at supermarket)

Tip : If blueberries are not available, try cranberries, cherries, or even a local fruit like pineapple.

Method

1. Preheat oven at 180oC. Meanwhile, place butter, sugar and vanilla essence in a mixing bowl. Beat until light and creamy.

Add eggs one at a time; beat well.

2. Fold in yogurt and mashed bananas.

3. Fold in self-raising flour, then blueberries.

4. Place 18 paper cases into muffin tins. Spoon batter to fill half of each case.

5. Bake in oven for 20 mins or until golden brown.

This recipe is from The Malaysian Women's Weekly, October 2005 issue.

More Banana Cupcakes recipes http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Banana-Cupcakes/Detail.aspx

COMFORT FOOD - VANILLA CUP CAKE

2008-07-28T16:27:00.000+08:00

21/07/08 9pm. Tomorrow will be a busy morning as I promised Soon Siang to conduct a preschooler baking lesson at Championkids Kindergarten and I can't wait to see the children's thrilled little faces. An excellent teaching opportunity to expound on the origins of their flour, sugar, eggs and butter ! ( No, Henry, flour is not talcum.... )

Tonight's experiment would hopefully guarantee an impressive attempt tomorrow.

Recipe for Vanilla Cup Cake

Ingredients ( 12 cakes )

150 g Butter

150 g Castor sugar

175 g Self-raising flour

3 Eggs

1 tsps. Vanilla extract

Method

1. Pre-heat oven to 180oC.

2. Line a 12 cup cake pan with cup cake papers.

3. Crack the eggs into a cup and beat lightly with a fork.

4. Place all the ingredients in a large bowl.

5. Beat with an electric mixer for 2 min, until light and creamy.

6. Divide the mixture evenly between the cake cases.

7. Bake for 18 - 20 min until risen and firm to touch.

8. Allow to cool for a few min and then transfer to a wire rack.

9. Allow to cool fully before icing.

Recipe For Butter Cream Frosting

Ingredients ( 12 cup cakes)

150 g Butter - softened

250 g Icing sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla extract

2 tsp. Hot water

Method

1. Beat together the butter and sugar with an electric beater.

2. Once well combined, add the vanilla and hot water. Beat until smooth and creamy.

3. Decorate the top of the cup cakes as desired.

Sweet success !

For more cup cakes recipes http://www.cupcake-creations.com/

EGG TART

2008-07-28T11:38:00.001+08:00

Idle hands and boredom took a toll us just before midnight and as imaginary supper menu was brewing in the children's mind, I searched high and low for the 'secret recipe' , last tried and tested to prepare some for a Boardgaming Ladies Night. By the time it was found, the children couldn't contain their excitement at the potential of creating a storm in the kitchen. Their Storm!

This much craved pastry is very easy to bake, basically a concoction of sugar, butter, eggs and flour ! You will find this an easy feat of delicous desert to impress your boss 'ehem', mother-in-laws, lovers (boys, don't be shy to display that hidden talent) .You may even make mini ones for children's parties or a high tea at home .

Recipe
Ingredients (Pastry)

1 small egg
125 g butter
50 g icing sugar
250 g plain flour

Method

. Mix the icing sugar and butter until white.

. Add the egg and flour until it forms a dough. Fold the flour in 2 parts to enable an even mixture. An electric mixer will work wonders if you have one.

. Brush the tin moulds with a light coat of oil or butter to prevent the pastry from sticking to the moulds. Press the dough onto the mould.

.Preheat the oven at 180oC for 20 min, then bake the moulds for 20 min.

Ingredients ( Filling )

100 g sugar

5 eggs ( remove two egg whites )

200 mls water

Method

. Melt the sugar in 200 mls of boiling water. Allow the sugar syrup to cool .

. Beat the eggs and add to the sugar syrup.

. Stir and pour into the baked moulds.

. Then bake egg tarts at the same temperature for 20 mins.

I chose the easy way out of baking both the moulds and eggs at the same time in an aluminium wok (suitable for baking ) for 15 mins only. Caution : keep an eye not to overdo the eggs or burn the bottom.

Voila! Success

Needless to say, my tarts were like magic. The brood of rugrats ( dad & kids) performed the disappearing act before I can recite A to Z !

For more egg tart recipes http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hong-kong-style-egg-tarts/detail.aspx

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

2008-07-03T15:04:00.000+08:00

A hand went up in the back of the room. 'How can he do that?

'Who do what?' asked Miss Gates patiently.

'I mean how can Hitler just put a lot of folks in a pen like that, looks like the govamint'd stop him,' said the owner of the hand.

' Hitler is the government, 'said Miss Gates, and seizing an opportunity to make education dynamic, she went to the blackboard. She printed D E M O C R A C Y in large letters.' Democracy, 'she said. 'Does anybody has a definition?'

' Us, ' somebody said.

I raised my hand, remembering an old campaign slogan Atticus had once told me about.

' " Equal rights for all, special privileges for none! ", I quoted.

'Very good, Jean Louise, very good, Miss Gates smiled. In front of DEMOCRACY, she printed WE ARE A. ' Now class, say it together : " We are a democracy ".'

We said it. Then Miss gates said, ' That's the difference between America and Germany. We are a democracy and Germany is a dictatorship. Dictatorship. Dictatorship,' she said. ' Over here we don't believe in persecuting anybody. Persecution comes from people who are prejudiced. Pre-ju-dice, ' she enunciated carefully. 'The are no better people in the world than the Jews, and why Hitler doesn't think so is a mystery to me.'

An inquiring soul in the middle of the room said , ' Why don't they like the Jews, you reckon, Miss Gates ?'

'I don't know, Henry. They contribute to every society they live in, and most of all, they are a deeply religious people . Hitler's trying to do away with religion, so maybe he doesnt like them for that reason.'

Cecil spoke up. 'Well I dont know for certain,' he said, ' they're supposed to change money or something', but that ain't no cause to persecute 'em.They're white, ain't they?'

Miss Gates said, ' When you get to high school, Cecil, you'll learn that the Jews have been persecuted since the beginning of history, even driven out of their own country.It's one of the most terrible stories in history.

........I said, ' I wanna ask you somethin' .'

' Shoot.' He put down his book and stretched his legs.

'Miss Gates is a nice lady, ain't she?

'Why sure,' said Jem. 'I liked her when I was in her room.'

'She hates Hitler a lot....'

'What's wrong with that?'

'Well, she went on today about how bad it was him treatin' the Jews like that. Jem, it's not right to persecute anybody, is it? I mean have mean thoughts about anybody, even, is it?

'Gracious no, Scout. What's eating you?'

'Well, coming out of the court-house that night Miss Gates was - she was going down the steps in front of us, you musta not seen her - she was talking with Miss Stephanie Crawford. I heard it's time somebody taught 'em a lesson, they were gettin' way above themselves, an' the next thing they think they can do is marry us. Jem, how can you hate Hitler so bad an' then turn around and be ugly about folks right at home - ?'

Harper Lee left us a legacy. A legacy to jolt and impose awakening from the prejudices we perceived to be innocuous , that we may postulate behind our religious mask not very different from a Pharisee.

What do we want to do about that? That lost of conscience deemed right by our peers, our colleagues, our society at large? 'So what, everybody thinks like that?' attitude.

Not me.I will refuse to be a MISTAKE.

TO BE CONTINUED...

INVICTUS

2008-05-28T22:20:00.001+08:00

Fishtail Mountain, Annarpurna Region Trekking Trail, Nepal, backpacking lonely planet, Dec 2006.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the blundgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishment the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

I'm fascinated by the unbroken spirit of the poet, William Ernest Henley. It could have resonated an ignorance of God, or even complete disatisfaction with the Almighty, for as a child he suffered the amputation of a foot. 'Invictus' is latin for 'unconquerable'.Being ill for much of his life, he wrote this during a two-year spell in an infirmary. Henley was a great friend of Robert Louis Stevenson and the character of Long John Silver may even be based on him. This is a gem of my reading from The Dangerous Book For Boys, Australian Edition by Conn and Hal Iggulden.

ANOTHER STREAM TO FROLIC IN

2008-05-26T06:03:00.000+08:00

ULU KANCHING

Located near the Templers Park, it is situated in between Selayang and Rawang. It took quite a bit of effort before we succeeded in locating the correct route so make sure you're armed with the right dose of info on the roads and a map before commencing your journey with the little ones.

The years has certainly taken its toll on this once picnic area famed for the lovely cascades. Our visit in March 2008 resonated a haven that has lost its charm.Pity the tiled floorings (tilings round the waterfall? Shouldn't nature be preserved as it is ?) Anyway, poor maintanance has resulted dangerously loose pieces of tiles that pose a hazard to our feet .

Lots of sand found at the waterfall surroundings with hoses of various sizes emerging here and there. Kids were actually building sand castles at the Waterfall ! Is this an indicator of the Waterfall being violated by any nearby development that wouldnt care less where their sand is washed off to ???

Read up on the spoils of Ulu Kanching :

http://tenthkl.wordpress.com/scouts-yesteryears/ulu-kanching-then-and-now/

For info & a map to Ulu Kanching:

http://www.waterfallsofmalaysia.com/state.php?state_id=12

STREAMS TO FROLIC IN

2008-05-09T17:05:00.000+08:00

What a wonder to allow children discover nature at the cool, running waters of cascading waterfalls and stimulating your toddlers senses when they prod about curiously in slow quiet streams surrounded by the lush, greens of our equatorial jungle.

SUNGAI GABAI WATERFALLS

For more information and a map to Sungai Gabai, Hulu Langat check out :

http://www.waterfallsofmalaysia.com/state.php?state_id=12

http://tanhockseng.multiply.com/photos/album/41/Selangor_Hulu_Langat_Mar.2007

INVOICE FROM A CHILD

2008-05-09T12:23:00.000+08:00

This story was shared by Kalimullah Hassan, one of those on my list of favourite authors . Having believed it encapsulated the gist of a mother's extraordinary love for her child, it was published in The New Sunday Times of April 27th., 2008 ( A Homecoming Delayed, pg. 21 )

Sunset, Straits of Melaka. April 2007.

A Mother's Love
A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on.

After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said :
For cutting the grass : RM 5.00
For cleaning up my room this week : RM 1.00
For going to the store for you : RM 0.50
Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping : RM 0.50
Taking out the garbage : RM 1.00
For getting a good report card : RM 5.00
For cleaning up the yard : RM 2.00
Total owed : RM 15.00

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy knew that memories were flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and wrote :

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me : No charge
For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you : No charge
For all the trying times, and all the tears you've caused through the years : No charge
For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead : No charge
For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose : No charge
Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is : No charge

When the boy finished reading what his mother has written, there were tears in his eyes, and he said, " Mum, I sure do love you. "
And then he took the pen and wrote in great big letters : " Paid in full ".

The lesson , I suppose, is that you will never know how much your mother means to you till you become one. You will never know how much your parents love you until you become a parent youself.

To my mother and mother in law, thank you for all your acts of kind gestures, for being listening ears and shoulders to lean on. For the pillar of strength you possess, for being an examplary figure, for babysitting my children, for preparing my favourite food, for doting your grandchildren, for caring for me during my post-natal confinement periods, for the fine organic vegetables you planted and etc. etc. etc. This endless list commands my utmost gratitude.
Happy Mothers' Day!

MEMOIRS OF A CHAOTIC PARTY

2008-05-08T15:56:00.001+08:00

Thinking back, I'm not even sure now where to begin my tale of the chaos. A month before the party, hub and I agreed upon this jamboree to celebrate our sons . Sam has had hers almost every year and surely it would be most unfair if the boys do not have their share of the fun and carousal of excitement.

Mummy only managed time a few days before the auspicious day, very hopeful that she'll be able to print a Transformer Birthday Invitation somewhere from the magical treasure trove of free online printable freebies. Little in her knowledge would she realize Bumblebee and Optimus Prime cards had a price tag on them. My good friend, Mr. Peter Parker, would be the next best hero available. Spiderman in all his glory, posed in a web swinging, hand slinging stance graced the invites and of course, wooed and awed all of Ric's and Henry's classmates .

To be continued...

Welcome to my Party !

How in the world did the balloons get up there?Bumblebee was summoned from Transformerland for my birthday by Mom and Papa.

Sam with best pal, Sin Dee and the glamourous boys of the evening.

A game of Transformer Chess before the crowd arrived.

Baker's Cottage Chocolate Vanilla sponge,fresh cream
creation.

Auntieeee! I can't find my shoes !!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

2008-05-03T23:30:00.000+08:00

To my sweet ,wonderful cherubs. This Mother's Day, I want to thank you for all the joy and unconditional love untold, you have given me. God bless you!

I hope the days come easy

And the moments pass slow
And each road leads you

Where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice
And you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walking till you find the window
If its cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile .
But more than anything

More than anything

My wish for you

Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you are out there getting

Where you're getting to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah,this is my wish.

I hope you never look back but
You never forget

All the ones who love you
And the place you left
I hope you always forgive
And you never regret

And you help somebody every chance you get
You find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything

More than anything

This is my wish for you
I hope you know somebody loves you
may all your dreams stay big.

MY WISH was most impressively written by Steve Robson and Jeffrey Steele and sung by the talented RASCAL FLATTS. Daniel Smith at the Cello mesmerizes me. Song taken from the album ME AND MY GANG.

BLESSING TO MY SONS

2008-04-30T11:50:00.001+08:00

Dedicated to Richard and Henry on the occasion of their Birthday celebration today .

My Wish For You

Time goes by so fast,

and days they seem to dance

Into the distance till they're gone

If I had a map, to lead you down life's path

I'd give it to you,

But I don't

So go on

Cry hard,Laugh Loud

Be humble, Stand Proud

And don't be afraid of your fears

Let love break your heart

Just be who you are
All of this

All that there is

I wish for you

You can never know which way your world will turn

How the stars are gonna fall

Salty tears they burn

There are lessons you will learn

But you'll be stronger for it all

Oh, yes you will

Cry hard, Laugh Loud

Be humble, Stand Proud

And don't be afraid of your fears

Let love break your heart

Just be who you are

All of this

All that there is

I wish for you

Cry hard, Laugh Loud

Be humble, Stand Proud

Hold onto your faith with all your heart

Be careful, Be brave Be still,

but don't stay in any one place for too long

Remember God's grace

Give more than you take

All of this

All that there is

I wish for you

Lyrics of this beautiful song by Jessica Andrews from http://www.songlyrics.com/.

STICKS AND STONES MAY BREAK MY BONES

2008-04-24T16:29:00.000+08:00

AN UNYEILDING SPIRIT

At the sight of my haemorrhaging wounds, hub ushered me to a thorough clean up, dressing cum a significantly long lecture on biking skills. When he has dressed the unsightly spots, I emerged an embarassing Spartan of war casualty, almost.

What did this series of unfortunate events had in store for me?

" WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU MOM ?? "

Needless to say, the children were aghast at the sight of mama wrapped up at the knee and elbow. Sam as a matter-of-factly gave me advice " Next time , hold your brake and don't ride fast " ( Why do I have a feeling it is familiar like her papa's 'lecture'). Henry in particular, find it rather amusing to poke at the bandages and hear me 'hiss 'and 'ouch'. Rich, the most compassionate boy I've ever met , would felt so helpless yet tried his utmost best to comfort me. Displaying his trademark frown at the pain of others, he offered me water as if magical in that mug, it would withdraw my thorn in the flesh. Time stopped, my heart melted.

These are opportunities to beguile their 101 questions and introducing them to a good friend, Empathy. I believe children would have the faintest idea of the word until coming face to face with the adverseries and unpleasant discomforts of OTHERS and then being shepherd towards the right response and behaviour to react just and kindly to the sufferings of living beings, be it human or animals.

For now, I hug them all and tell them all the ways and means to make Mama feel better like doing their own dishes and being careful not to play rough with Mama which I know they will be glad to oblige ( at least for the time being). And they know Mama will compensate their every effort with more hugs and kisses.

THE UNWOKEN DREAM

2008-04-23T15:12:00.000+08:00

Advice to a friend
The Unwoken Dream
Under the stars,the sky allure you with her charm.
The wine would taste so sweet
The darkness so inviting
To take pleasure in the sounds of chirping
And the caress of the wind
And dreaming of a lifetime of lovingIn the embrace of the one
You would long to wake up to
Cheek in her hair
The inviting ,lingering fragrance of rose and jasmine
Abounds with soft whispers
Empty promises
Wicked lies
Nothing more than a cruel thorn in the flesh
The devil's lair and bait.
The unwoken dream
Why remain in it
Why choose to suffer preprosterousity
It remains on and on
Evaporates to sorrow and guilt
Forbidden, lost
Not fulfilled, neither blessed
Unwoken, unfound.

c mun21/02/08

CYCLING SOLACE

2008-04-21T00:49:00.000+08:00

Buying A Bicycle

The auspicious day has arrived for hub to fulfill his promise of an anniversary bequest. This year, Selberans would be last on my wish list. Being besotted by the cyclic spright, a new mountain bike is my pine.

So, lovely morning, hale and hearty, hub packed my old Rockbike, which has served me well into the backseat of our sedan and off we set out to Jalan Ong Kim Wee. I, as vivacious as the dancing clouds in the horizon, as hoity- toity as an American Idol contestant would be, is seeing visions of that perfect two wheeler.

After a brief interview of my cycling habits and needs, Keong the veteran shopowner of Sin Bee Hin recommended two Medinas of which the first , a white aluminium framed, 27 speed Shimano geared was a handsome picture of zest. When he has finished briefing us on 27 speed, he moved forward and presented us with another Medina, which set my heart racing and swirl my eyes to sparkle like a glass of Moet & Chandon.

Its gay silver top notch aluminium frame, 24 speed Shimano powered gear, handsome bar handles and superior hydraulic brake discs whispered me her dynamic potential and brawn. As she beckoned to my frivolous intuition, I conjured my most captivating smile at hub, my sight returning to Invictus, her new name and thereafter to hub again.

Owning Invictus qualify me for bourgeois extravagance, and hub made no qualm in hiding his expression of disapproval, adamant at the price. Keong approved of my choice, declaring that engaging the 24 speeder would be ample for my training on the road. Chances of experimenting off road mountain biking is a 0 % in my paradigm. Hub, convinced by his wise commentary relented to the offer. A sly grin emerged from hub as we locked eyes to probably indicate
" This will be your Mother's Day, Birthday and Christmas present as well."

How To Survive A Bicycle Crash

Waiting for the day after for an opening ceremony seemed almost eternal. In the early morning, children in tow areall at school, peace on earth, goodwill to me. Cumulostratus, accompanied by the crisp blue sky as if cheering my attempt to put my convictions to the test. That my daily 12km ride redeemed me a perpetual, bona fide cyclist. My training was a journey of tranquility on the familiar route, serened by rows and rows of palm oil trees on both side of the road.

Serenades of my Mp3 heightened the pleasures of serendipity. Almost near home, absolutely tempted to flaunt Invictus, I brisked through the coarse terrain; my right foot missing the pedal, losing restrain of the steer. At this strident, defeated moment, I sprawled semi prone in disbelieve.

Dust arising in my face, anguish pain ripping through my senses, I prefered the moment's delusional state to the truth. Reality sank in when crimson trickles ran down my knee and elbow, a concoction of blood and dirt! Trotting to my rescue were two astounded 'Asoh's, of whom one of them bawled " Why did you go so fast? ".

How to recover from a bicycle crash in style?

1) Examine self for signs of fractures, punctured wounds, profuse bleeding.

2) Apply immediate first aid if need to e.g. support a fractured upper limb with the other hand. Compress bleeding wounds with a handkerchief or your own hand.Call for help if in suspicion of fractured lower limbs.

3) Gather enough courage to pick yourself up despite the excruciating pain sustained.

4) To mimic bravery, pretend you are still 'on top of the world' .Smile and say thank you for help offered.

5) Proclaim " I'm fine. Small matter ".Smile!

6) As much as you can, ride or push your bicycle to the destination for medical attention.

An frivolous survival guide, you may say but for all your wisdom, it may be the simplest beacon of knowlege to an Idiot's Manual to Surviving a Bicycle Crash.

Ironic.

2008-04-15T17:03:00.000+08:00

A LOVE SONG BY YEATS

Some things will not fail to be in style and that include love poems by William Butler Yeats.Yeats spent much of his life pining (unrequited) for a woman named Maud Gonne. He wrote a lot of poems about her, proposed to her four times, and got to be very, very good at pining:

A Drinking Song

Wine comes in at the mouth
And love comes in at the eye;
That's all we shall know for truth
Before we grow old and die.
I lift the glass to my mouth,
I look at you, and I sigh.

William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1865. He is remembered as an important cultural leader, a major playwright (he was one of the founders of the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin), and as one of the very greatest poets—in any language—of the century. W. B. Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 and died in 1939 at the age of 73.

HELICOPTER PARENTING

2008-04-11T11:21:00.000+08:00

I'm absolutely thrilled at my new found gem to thrive on my words treasure : Mollycoddle. India Knight whose brilliant write up on pg. 6 of Sunday People, NST seems to indicate the mollycoddled brood are overprivileged wimps with no social skills who are desperately in need of exposure to the real world if they are to become fully rounded adults.

Here's the checklist :
1. Kids who are chauffeurered everywhere for all occasions .
2. Maids waiting hand on foot to feed, bathe, tie the shoe laces of your 5 year old !
3. Outdoor camps,jungle trekkings,mountain climbings is a sin due to the lack of air-conditioning and the risks of Enchephalitis.

No,I dont have a 'kakak' and I'm all for the great outdoors to prevent kids morphing into Shitakes in the air conditioned comfort of their security alarmed, CCTV protected abode. How can we not be cautious in this Stranger Danger age when even allowing your kids to play in the local park under supervision would spark illusion of lurking paedophiles armies, jumping out and snatching them?

Gone with the wind were the luxury days when childhood wasn't considered to be a kind of risk-laden illness and we could have faith in the intrinsic-goodness of other people.Well, to quote the author, Mollycoddling may be farcical, but at least it's safe.

Where do we draw the line then? How do you raise responsible, independant children without having to brood & attend to their every hardships and trials of lives?

For now, my stand is this, although allowing them to take the bus occasionally(just for fun) with my 63 year old mom would precipitate acute cardiac arrythmias in me but it would broaden their horizons of their views on people, not only with their own kind in the church or school or family and not to be dysfuntional as a person once out of their narrow, native perimeters. I dont want them to hang in the ghetto but : I want them to know how to behave with all sorts of different people,not just ones like themselves- how to practise gratitude anywhere, anytime irregardless of social status, age or colour, how to be kind in gestures and words , to maintain their intergrity at all times and care for the dignity by respecting without showing prejudice.

This ,to me, matters as much as academic achievement.