" .. 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.

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

Method

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

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.

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)