Random Pictures

Lil' Missy dressed up her favourite toy, Ms Kiki in pink...





these pics were taken before we go out for dinner



they are both sharing a queen size bed we put in our room

Visit

My brother visited me 3 weeks ago with his biker friends from Brunei. They rode all the way down for a bikers' roadshow held in Miri.











They're ready to go

Choices

I read a blogger post today regarding her choice of letting go of her full time helper and she has to juggle 3 kids , 3 blogs and one online business.

First, I think it would be good if she does not employ any full time live in indon maids. All maids she employed through out the years have been giving her problems. I had experience with only one Indon maid ever since I am back to Malaysia. And it is enough. I don't think I am going to hire any live in maid anymore. But, I do hire part timer to help with the heavy duty house chores.

So, in this case, this mommy has to lower her expectation on the cleanliness and tidiness of the house. At least she can't expect her house will be "sparkling clean" like before.

I personally feel that she might be happier without any problematic live in maid. Besides, she may need around 1-2 months to get used of the "life without maid" ! I myself take about a month to get used of it.

Most important is she has to decide which is more important to her, either her online business or kids. According to her post, she has been neglecting her kids lately due to the thriving business. I personally feel that she can actually slow down a bit on her business and get a part timer to help with the chores. Things will become better when the kids grow older and more independent. This mean she has more time to pick up the business again.

Grilled Chicken Drumstick

I cooked this for lunch yesterday and it was simply delicious and yet easy to prepare.


Ingredients:-

1) Few Chicken drumstick, trimmed off the fats and let the skin intact; Marinate with Teriyaki Sauce, Black Pepper and dash of brown sugar; Leave in the fridge for 3 hours;

2) wash and cut potato, broccoli, green capsicum, big onion and carrot into chunks;

3) Few button mushroom;


Methods:-

1) Extremely easy! Arrange everything on the tray, pour olive oil all over the meat and veggie.

2) Turn the temperature to 220'c for 40-50 minutes.

Note:- It is best to put in the veggie 20 minutes before the chicken is well cooked.

This grilled chicken drumstick serves together with boiled sweet corn create a very yummy and wholesome meal!

Grilled Chicken Drumstick

I tried my hands on grill chicken yesterday. It was a very delicious meal, even hubby likes the juicy chicken very much. The most satisfying part was at the end of our meal, my lil Missy asked me this " mum, did you buy this or cook this? " hahaha, it must be very yummy that she thought I bought it from the restaurant.

Indeed, this meal is very special because I didn't cook any pasta or rice. I boiled some sweet corn to go with the grilled chicken and broiled veggie. We were just too hungry until forgot to snap the picture of our wholesome meal.

Instilled a Good Habbit

I was quite successful on two things for the past two weeks, (i) get them ready for bed by 10pm on weekdays, (ii) get them to eat their breakfast before go to school.

Previously, they normally drink their 7oz milk when got up in the morning before heading to school. But, until recently, I want to train them to eat a simple breakfast instead of just drinking milk.

On the first 2-3 days, I can see that they really have no appetite to eat their breakfast. But, by the 4th day onwards, the first thing they came downstairs, they will automatically climb on to their highchair and ready to eat their breakfast.

So, on most mornings, I am the busiest person, prepare breakfast, get them to finish their breakfast before 7.40am, then wash them up and get them in car before 8.20am.

I drop the kids at school now because hubby got to get to the office before 8.30am and so, he couldn’t send the kids.

Even with me rushing like a mad lady but still worth it as they are getting a nutritious start for the day!

Just Another Afternoon At Playground

The kids woke up early from their cat nap on one afternoon last week; I decided to bring them out to the club. Afternoon outing means late dinner!

Every time when I brought them out for any outdoor activities on weekdays, I need to think of something simple for dinner as I normally quite rush in preparing dinner once got home. So, I don’t like something spontaneous and like to preplanned ahead.

至阿姨的一封信

Aunty, 我想我好像从没正色向您说句谢谢你对我这么多年来的照顾。

感谢您:~

~~~~ 给我升学的机会

感谢您:~

~~~~ 在我和Ah Leong 在KL最辛苦的时候，对我说的一句话：如果你不够 钱用，可以跟 Aunty 講

感谢您：~

~~~ 在我每次回Kuantan 时，煲糖水和煮白斬鸡给我吃

想说声对不起，因为我有时候做错 或 说 错，一些让您不高兴的事。

从我还在求学时， 直到我现在以为人母亲，你 连我的孩子和丈夫也一様sayang.

Aunty, 真的很感谢您对我这么照顾，谢谢。

祝您母亲节快乐！

A Quick and Easy to Prepare Lunch!

I was short of time the other day when the kids came back from school and they "shouted" for lunch. I think they must be really hungry that day because they normally take their lunch after their bath and rest.

In the nick of time, I came out with this dish. Udon with sausage and mushroom minced pork meat sauce and topped with ikan bilis (their favourite!)

Luckily, I made some mushroom minced meat sauce a few days before and keep some in the freezer for next meal to stir fry with Japanese tofu. Besides, there is always a bottle of dried anchovies ever ready in my kitchen.

So, I thawed the frozen sauce in microwave while cooking the sausage and the udon in the boiling water in a saucepan.

Once the sauce is thawed and warm, just mix it with the udon. Final touch was topping the dish with their favourite ikan bilis!

Simple Lunch - Udon

I was short of time the other day when the kids came back from school and they "shouted" for lunch. I think they must be really hungry that day because they normally take their lunch after their bath and rest.

In the nick of time, I came out with this dish. Udon with sausage and mushroom minced pork meat sauce and topped with ikan bilis (their favourite!)

Luckily, I made some mushroom minced meat sauce a few days before and keep some in the freezer for next meal to stir fry with Japanese tofu. Besides, there is always a bottle of dried anchovies ever ready in my kitchen.

So, I thawed the frozen sauce in microwave while cooking the sausage and the udon in the boiling water in a saucepan.

Once the sauce is thawed and warm, just mix it with the udon. Final touch was topping the dish with their favourite ikan bilis!

Tuna Puffs

I browsed through a mommy blogger' website the other day and came across this recipe. Since I had an oven now and I can try my hands on baking puffs for kids and hubby. My cheeky boy likes it very much because he has been fancy on all those crispy food all the time.

Verdict: The tuna puffs do not look "nice" but it is really tasty, especially when it is just out from the oven. see one missing, can't wait to let hubby tried my "produce"


Here's the ingredient you need:-

6 pieces ready cut puff pastry 10X10cm, thawed
2 hardboiled egg, cut into quarter

Tuna Filling Ingredients :
1 can tuna in olive oil, drained & mashed coarsely
½ cup grated cheddar cheese

Method:
1. Lightly grease muffin pan and line puff pastry.
2. Fill each pastry with quartered egg and tuna mixture.
3. Sprinkle the top with some cheddar cheese.
4. Bake it for 20 to 25 minutes until pastry is golden and crispy.
5. Serve crispy tuna pies while it is still hot.

After A Long Break - Homemade Lor Mai Kai

After a long break, I finally come back to update my cooking blog. Not that I didn't cook for the past 4 months (in fact, yes. I didn't cook for the 2 months holiday in Kuantan as I had my Dad to take care of this! )


Okay, let's start on the ingredients we need to make lor mai kai:-




1) Chicken fillets ( I use drumstick and deboned), cut into strips . Marinate chicken with seasoning sauce. set aside for an hour.
2) 500 g glutinous rice, soak for an hour and drained
3) oil
4) cloves of garlic (estimate), chopped finely
5) small shiitake mushrooms, soaked and removed stalks
6) 1 large onion, chopped finely
7) chinese sausage (lap cheong) (optional)
8) Roast pork (char siew)/ sliced (optional)


Seasoning for chicken

oyster sauce
rice wine (optional)
ginger juice
light soy sauce
dark soy sauce
sesame oil
sugar
a little of cornflour
water


Sauce ( to mix with glutinous rice)

oyster sauce
light soy sauce
sesame oil
fine sugar
thick black soy sauce
1 cup water



soak glutinous rice in warm water for an hour and drained. Steam for 45 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.


Method:

1) Heat oil in wok over medium fire. Stir fry garlic until fragrant. Add mushroom and continue to stir fry. Remove and set aside.

2) Heat oil in the same wok and stir fry onion until fragrant, add steamed glutinous rice and sauce. Stir to mix well. Turn off fire.


3) Lightly grease 10 rice bowl (same as below) with oil. Put in the mushroom, chicken, and others meat into each bowl.




4) Fill glutinous rice until 3/4 full. Press rice firmly into bowl.


5) Steam over boiling water for about 40 minutes. It's best when serve with chili sauce.