Sunday, July 29, 2012

Sunday Afternoon Project

Did this earlier today.
Toasted them all in 3 separate batches.
They are all ready to go with salads, garnishes, dishes or just as snack.
Healthy choice, especially the sunflower seeds.


Cooling them down before storage

All bottled up
Sunflower seeds, peanuts and sesame seed


Now that the weekend is coming to an end in just about a few hours' time, the long week ahead is already waving hello to me.
Wishing all a lovely, productive and most of all, a peaceful week ahead!



Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Singapore - July 2012 (Part 2)


We stayed with my cousin who resides at the Somerset Serviced Residences
and
we were lucky to be in Singapore during this time to catch
several rounds of the National Day Parade rehearsal (pictures below).
The unit faces the Singapore River, beautiful view.











Goodbye Singapore !!

Singapore - July 2012 (Part 1)




 
Spent the last weekend in Singapore.
*Attended niece, Deborah & Joshua's beautiful wedding*
*DH could not join due to work - SULK*
*Did some sightseeing*
*Had a catch up dinner with an old friend*
*Bumped into a long lost friend since 1993 on the streets of Singapore!! Talk about small world*
*Enjoyed the reunion with family and relatives*
  -----   No time for shopping   ----
Tiring but it was all fun and memorable.



First time flying via Jetstar.
Better than AA because we don't depart from the
gudang-like airport.

Assorted yakitori @ Waraku, Central
Dinner with Sarah

Night view of Singapore River
Clarke Quay

My little princess, so cheerful on Saturday morning
at Chijmes for the wedding


With the beautiful bride and dashing groom


Guess what is inside?


Raffles Hotel's little elegant wedding favour



Isabelle checking out the wedding favour

 Isabelle and Ah ma (Belle looking astonishly at the trishaws)
Outside Carlton Hotel, Bras Basah Road

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

I Will Protect You

Scenario

I accidentally scratched my wrist against the sharp edge of the wardrobe while  I was springcleaning.



Conversation

Isabelle :  Mummy, what happened to you?

Me : Oh, mummy accidentally scratched my hand.

Isabelle : Hah? Bleeding? Pain pain?

Me : Ya,a little bit. (show her the tiny cut)

Isabelle : Ok. You wait for me.

Me:  Where are you going?

Isabelle:  Get tissue.  We need to wipe the bleeding and I will doctor (check) you.

Me:  (pretending to be very sick).  Doc Belle McStuffin, am I okay?

Isabelle :  You are okay now.  A bit of fever.

Me:  I feel really not well.  How ar Doc Belle McStuffin?

Isabelle:  Okay, you need to stay in hospital.

Me:  I stay hospital, then how about you?  You stay at home with Daddy, wa?it for Mummy to come back okay?

Isabelle:  No. I stay hospital with Mummy.  You don't be scared.  I will protect you.  And I take care of Mummy.

Me:  *** melted ***


Friday, July 13, 2012

Cooking ~ Salted Fish Pork Belly


This recipe is known as Ham Yu Fa Lam Pou (in English means Salted Fish Pork Belly in Claypot).  But as usual, the lazy me took the shortcut of cooking this, minus the claypot.  Instead, I cook this in my green ecopan. :)

Ingredients:
1.  Pork belly (thinly sliced)
2.  Sliced ginger
3.  Minced garlic
4.  Onion (cut into wedges)
5.  3-4 stalks of dried chillies (soaked in water)
6.  1 stalk of spring onion
7.  *THE STAR OF THE DISH*  Salted fish (baked in oven or panfried without oil till you smell the stinkiness.  Set aside.

Seasonings:
1.  1/4 tsp sugar
2.  A dash of pepper
3.  1/2 tsp soy sauce
4.  Some water

Method:
1.  Heat oil.  Saute ginger and garlic till fragrant. 
2.  Add in onion wedges and then the salted fish.
3.  Add in pork belly slices.  Stir and add in a dash of sugar.  Let it caramalise (but not burnt).
4.  Add in dried chilli and stir.
5.  Add in seasonings and add a sprinkle water.  Stir well. 
6.  Add in spring onion right before dishing out.

RESULT:
Me -  More salted fish next time.  But ok la... can do.
DH - Yum.
DS -  Good ler!!!





Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Diaper-free Night ~ 1st Trial

Image sourced from google search

Isabelle suddenly decided to ditch her diapers last night when we try to put it on for her just like everynight before she go to bed. I was doubtful and do not really like the thought of getting up from my slumberland and change the wee wee stinky sheets at 3am, just in case she wet the bed. Hence, I line double layer of towels under her sheets.

Reminded her over and over again that she will need to wake me up should she feel the urge to go to the toilet in the middle of the night. She gave us her promise but I was not convinced. I woke up several times to check on her. Okay, she was dry and so was the sheets.
Morning came, no wet sheets!! Looks like my baby is a big girl now. Not bad at all for her first trial. We shall try again today! 

I am one happy Mommy for 2 reasons.  My girl can go diaper free completely, soon and no longer have to purchase diapers anymore!  Oh, and we can really travel light from now on. DH was happy with our little precious' achivement yet feel a little bitter because he feels that our daughter is growing up too fast and will need us lesser very soon.

=D






Monday, July 9, 2012

Cooking ~ Sambal Heh Bee (Dried Prawns)

After many weeks of irregular cooking due to being away, having visitors around, being 'tour guide', I am back!!  I got a little bit more ambitious today.  I made my Mom's recipe, sambal heh bee!  And I am glad to say that it turn out not bad at all albeit first try.  If only Mom read blogs, she will be happy to know I master one of her recipe.
 
Ingredients:
One bowl of dried prawns (soaked in water & blended/pounded)
 
Blended Ingredients:
1.  5-6 shallots or 3-4 big onions (blended)
2.  5-6 bulbs garlic (blended)
3.  3-4 red chili (blended)
4.  3-4 dried red chili (soaked in water & blended)
 
Seasoning:
1.  Tamarind juice
2.  Toasted belacan/shrimp paste
3.  2-3 tsp palm sugar
 
Method:
1.  Heat oil and fry blended ingredients till fragrant.  Should take about 6-8 minutes
2.  Add in toasted belacan, stir well till fragrant.
3.  Add in blended dried prawns and fry till fragrant.
4.  Add in palm sugar, stir well.
5.  Add in tamarind juice.  Adjust to preferred taste.  (Tamarind juice in this recipe should not make this dish taste tangy but to balance the taste).
6.  Stir till the liquid dries up.
7.  Done.  The frying process takes about 10-12 minutes.
 
RESULT
Me -  I wish I learn to make this sooner!!! I can have Mom's cooking at home more often now!
DH - "Good. Good. Cut more cucumber to eat with this."
DS -  "Good!!!"
 
 
NOTE:
Lesson learnt.  Wear gloves when dealing with chilis.  I had to endure the stinging on my fingers.  But I found a remedy online after all my attempts failed.  Rub with salt, lubricate with some water.  Wash off the salt with milk.  I repeated this process for 3 times and it works!!!
 

Cameron Highlands - July 2012

Aunt and her grandson came all the way from Hong Kong to visit us.  Apart from showing them around all the shopping gems in KL, we took them to Cameron Highlands last weekend.  Stayed a night at the Desa Anthurium apartments.  Really thankful we got a clean and tastefully decorated unit.  Had a wonderful time catching up with my parents and 3 other cousins who went together.  Isabelle had a great deal of fun too.

First stop at Lata Iskandar Falls











Lunch at Excellent Cafe, Tanah Rata

Isabelle and her icecream pancake.

 Nasi lemak sold out. So I had Chicken Chop Rice.
DELICIOUS!  Chicken chop was tender inside crispy outside and the gravy is rich and tasty!


After our visit to the Sungai Palas Boh Tea Plantation, we were caught in a massive jam.  Yes!  Traffic jam in the serene and quiet Cameron Highlands!!!  And because of that, Dad's Estima got into trouble.  We saw smoke flowing out of the engine!  Thank God we were right outside the Butterfly Farm and due to that, we had a decent spot to stop and get down to check the car.  The cool weather was a bonus too.  Can't imagine getting stuck in the midst of a jam, in a smokey vehicle and hot weather.  And at the same time, thank God that Isabelle fell fast asleep and slept through out the whole ordeal.  Otherwise, she would be fussing around and wanted to kaypoh with the situation. 


Sungai Palas Boh Tea Centre


Parked our 2 cars at the entrance of the farm and walked to the nearby restaurant (near to Equatorial) for an early steamboat dinner.  After dinner, the car cooled down and we decided we have to leave soon before it got too late.  Was doubtful because at 9.00pm, the jam didn't get any better.  Bumper to bumper.  According to the locals, this traffic jam is a norm on every Saturdays due to the Brinchang night market.  Lesson learnt. 

JAM JAM JAM!!!
After hitting the road to head back to Tanah Rata, Dad's car got smoky again!  It was worrying as it was getting late and not knowing what was the problem. And again, thank God, it happened right outside some shops along the winding road.  Stopped. DH send half of the troop (the ladies) back to the apartments as most of us are tired and it was gettting quite cold.

JAM on Sunday morning, Brinchang

Thank the Lord, after reaching apartment fighting through the ridiculous traffic, Dad and the guys reach the apartments soon after that.  Truly thank God that He make things work and everyone was alright.  Dad went to one of the workshop to get spare part for the car and everyone reach home safely the next day.

 
We were all thankful that God pulled us through.  AMEN!





 

Simply Photos - July 2012

Me and aunt's duckies collection

Duckies parade at Aunt's home

My little cheeky one

Simply Photos - Isabelle Enjoying Taiping (June 2012)

Stylo-mylo in Ah Kong's Rayban

Taiping Lake Gardens

Koala in Taiping?

Isabelle & Megan

Isabelle & Megan

Ah Ma with Princess Belle & Megan

Posing

Our little biker

She can be cute and adorable, and she can be really 'hot n spicy' too

A big crab from Kuala Sepetang, before she became our dinner