Kung Fu Boy

Sis emailed me some pictures of Ee-Thern taken by her last Sunday in Ah Mah's house. It seems that my little Ee-Thern tried to demonstrate his kung fu skills to his 'Tai Yi'. Hahahaha... makes me want to LOL whenever I see him.

'Tai Yi' .... Hands Up! Look at his naughty look.

'Tai Yi'... oohh, ahhh, huik, yahhh....

'Tai Yi' ... hihihihi...

Angku Kuih

Angku Kuih is one of the must for the Hokkien during prayers, Chinese New Year, Birthday,Baby Fullmoon, etc... My favourite Angku kuih is with the coconut filling and you can also have either the green beans or red beans ( tau sar ) for filling.

I make some Angku kuih during Ee-Thern's birthday and uses the red beans filling. Here is the recipe to share.

Ingredients :

250 gm glutinous rice flour

1 tbsp tapioca flour

100gm steamed sweet potato, mashed

3 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp corn oil

Combine:

200ml hot boiling water

1 drop of red colouring

Banana leaves / Jackfruit leaves, cut into small round, lightly greased

Corm oil for glazing

Filling :

200gm split, skinned green beans / red beans

150gm sugar

2 tbsp corn oil

2 pandan leaves, knotted

Method for filling :

1. Wash and soak green beans overnight. Drain well. Steam green beans for 30 minutes or until soft. Mashed or blended till fine.

2. Heat a non-stick pan with some corn oil, add in sugar and cook till sugar dissolves. Add in green bean paste and pandan leaves.

3. Cook until the paste turn sticky and remove the pandan leaves and leave a side to cool completely.

4. Divide the filling into small round balls.

Method for Angku skin:

1. Put glutinous rice flour and topiaca flour into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the centre and add in sugar, mashed sweet potatoes, corn oil and the coloured hot water. Mix and knead well until the colouring us even and the dough turns glossy.

2. Divide dough into equal portions and roll each portion into round ball. Flatten the dough and add a small ball of filling.

3. Seal the edges and make into a round ball again.

4. Lightly dust the angku mould with some glutinous rice flour. Press the dough into the mould.

5. Knock mould lightly and angku will slide out. Place angku on a greased banana leaves.

6. Steamed angku in a steamer and steam covered over hot boiling water for about 5 minutes.

7. Remove the cover and continue to steam again for about 10 minutes.

8. Remove angku from the steamer and brush lightly with corn oil to prevent it from sticking with one another.

Note :

1. Steaming the angku uncovered for the last 10 minutes is to prevent the pattern on the angku form dissapearing.

2. I've actually doubled the recipe above and please take note not to add too much of sweet potatoes into the dough because it will makes the skin too soft.

My this little KPC Le-Ann, early morning woke up and wanted to help me out and she is still in her pyjamas. I wonder whether when she grow up will she inherit my skills in baking and cooking or not.

Girl will always be girl, interested in this unlike my son, saw his 'cheh cheh' helping me out in the kitchen and he run up into the room started to watch cartoon again.

Recipe adapted from ' AT HOME WITH AMY BEH' Recipe Book.

Happy Mid Autumn Festival

Mid Autumn Festival falls on today, 25th September'07 and in the Chinese Calendar it is August 15th. Also today is my little Ee-Thern's birthday but we didn't do any celebration for him cos we are having prayers at home. Little Ee-Thern only get 2 red, hard boiled eggs from me this morning.

This morning woke up very, very early to steam one Kampung Chicken for prayers at the altar. I am not good in praying and all this is done by my Dearie Suki. Tonight dinner, we have 'Ping Pong Chicken Rice' since we have one whole steamed Kampung Chicken. As for the rice, I sautee some garlic with butter till fragrant. Then add in rice approximately 1 cup of long grain rice, and stir fry for 2 minutes. Add in about 1 1/2 cup of chicken stock, some salt and pandan leaves. Transfer the rice into rice cooker. Once the rice is cooked, use a ladle to scoop the rice and shape into a ball. I fried some ginger to go with the chicken rice and drizzle some oyster sauce on top of the chicken.

I was wondering who invented this 'Ping Pong Chicken Rice. Why Ping Pong ? I only had 1 Ping Pong Rice and Dearie Suki had 3 Ping Pong Rice.

After dinner the kids and Dearie Suki were playing lantern at the car porch while I am busy in the kitchen washing the plates and mopping the floor. Ee-Thern and Le-Ann is making so much noises outside even me in the kitchen can hear their voice. I bet they must be enjoying their time playing lantern with Daddy.

Last 2 days, tried making some Mini Peng Pei Mooncake with White Lotus Paste. Dear Sukie help me out and we only did 12 minis peng pei mooncake. I am not a great fan for mooncake cos I find that it is far too sweet for me. Supposed to give some to his friends but end up not enough and still have 1/2 container of lotus paste in the fridge. Going to make again these few days hopefully I can find time to do it. To my Dearie Suki friend, PK, I still owe you a box of mooncake.

Following are pictures taken at Ah Mah's house last Saturday night when all of us went back to play lantern.

Another Mid Autumn festival is gone and the next coming one is Winter Solstice festival in December'07 . Why time passes so fast and very soon we are going eat 'Tong Yuen'.

Ee-Thern's Birthday Celebration

Today we celebrated Ee-Thern's 2nd Birthday at Ah Mah's house. Ee-Thern's birthday fall on next Tuesday 25th September and we celebrated earlier together with mom's birthday at Ah Mah's place. For a change this round we had Asam Laksa instead of Steamboat. Since, the maid is no longer here, dad help me out to cook Asam Laksa. Luckily today the kids behave very well and they play themselves at Ah Mah's house without disturbing me. Mom help me to look after them and me and dad busy in the kitchen cooking Asam Laksa.

As usual I planned to bake 2 cakes for the birthday PoPo and birthday boy. Bake the cake on Friday night and yesterday night burned the midnight oil to decorate the birthday cakes. For Ee-Thern, I bake one Lemon Butter Cake decorated with fishes, coral, lobster and seahorse. For Mom, I bake one Moist Choco Cake and cut it into small pieces and layered around the cake and scoop one tub of Nestle Neopolitana Ice-Cream into it.

Here is Ee-Thern's Ocean Deep Sea Cake. Get this ideas from the M&M's website and uses all M&M's candies with buttercream icing to decorate the cake. Total taken 2 hours to decorate the whole cake.

I still think I am not good in decorating cake but this one certainly makes my Ee-Thern happy with it and the rest of my family members impressed with my decorating. Everyone in the house is happy and like the decorating ideas of the cakes. Not too bad isn't it ?

But after that, look at the amount of bowls waiting in the sink to be washed! If the maid is here, eveything will be chuck here for her to wash the next morning. But now cannot d leh.

I quite like the idea of making mom the ice cream cake. As easy as 1,2,3 and we have an ice-cream cake for her. At first I was thinking to get a some whipping cream and some strawberries to decorate mom's cake but end up I used the left over buttercream icing to decorate the cake.

This early morning, I also make some Angku Kueh with red bean filling back to Ah Mah's house. Will post the recipe later on how to make Angku Kueh.

This is for mom using the traditional Angku mould. The bottom one is the Hello Kitty Angku for Ee-Thern. I thought this would be the hit among the kids because it is a cute Hello Kitty Prince but end up no kids touch the Angku Kueh except for Le-Ann eaten 2 pieces of it. Kid nowadays really good life don't even eat Angku Kueh.

Pick some fresh mint leaves from my herb garden to use for Asam Laksa. Today I am too busy in the kitchen with dad, hence forgot to snap more pictures of the Asam Laksa that we cook today. This is dad's recipe ( his agak-agak recipe ) but it turned out real good. Wah so pedas and asam and most of all very sedap. Will post the recipe later.

Here comes the birthday boy, waiting for us to sing him the Birthday song and he can't wait to cut his cake.

My Le-Ann is aiming for the icing on top of the cake.

The ice-cream cake is a hit and it finished within 15 minutes. Then the Lemon Butter Cake next. Both the cake is only 8 inch in diameter and is just nice for us. Nothing left, all zapped out and even the Asam Laksa finised.

My Ee-Thern boy after cutting his birthday cake, cabut lari and don't know where he play with his cousins. Mommy and Daddy didn't even have the chance to snap a family photo with him on his 2nd Birthday celebration.

Little girl Le-Ann after finish eating her cake and taking bath, started to ride the bicycle with Ei-Faye Ah Yi again, outside Ah Mah's house.

All in all, all of us are happy with today celebration and both my kids are looking forward to go back to Tai Mah's house every weekend.

To my Ee-Thern boy ... "Darling, you are one year older, Mommy & Daddy loves you so much. Be a good boy"

Mommy, I Want DiDi

Dearie Suki came back late last nite. Left 3 of us, me, Le-Ann and Ee-Thern and we went at Aunty Ah Choo's house after I pick up the kids from babysitter house. On our way to Aunty Ah Choo's house, my little Le-Ann start telling me...

Little Girl : Mommy, I wan to go ' Kor Poh' house.
Mommy : Don't wan la lets go back home.
Little Girl : Mommy, I wan to go 'Kor Poh' house.....( repeat and repeat again )
Mommy : Why ?
Little Girl : I wan to carry Edmund.
Mommy : Ok la, Ok la.

At Aunty Ah Choo's house the 2 kids were playing around with Baby Edmund just like a playing with a doll. I am so worried both the kids poke his eyes and my little Ee-Thern kept kissing Baby Edmund. Then Aunty Ah Choo start asking little girl ...

Aunty Ah Choo : Girl, u wan didi ah?
Little Girl : Wan
Aunty Ah Choo : Ask mommy to give birth to one didi la ?
Aunty Ah Choo : You wan didi or meimei?
Little Girl : Kor Poh, I wan didi.
Aunty Ah Choo : Why dont wan meimei?
Little Girl : Mommy, I wan didi. ( she kept saying didi cos meimei didn't exist in my family, that is why she only know didi. LOL )

Again, my aunt kept asking me when I want to have the 3rd one. It is not easy to raise a kid nowadays. A lot of money and time need to be spend on them. Sometimes I am quite envy with her DIL cos got such a nice MIL to take care her Baby Edmund. No need to worry whether her kid is safe or not, no need to rush home to pick up her kid unlike me, got to rush back to pick both of them from babysitter house, sometimes got worried whether both kids are safe when my babysitter bring them out. My Aunty is such a NICE person.

About having the 3rd one, hihihi... wait la till my Ee-Thern boy 5 yrs old first.

Fish & Chips

Another one of my Dearie Suki favourite, Fish & Chips. Its been so long we never had fish and chips at home. For a change, I deep fried some Dory Fish Fillets coated with flour batter. Also fried some fries to go along with it. Both Le-Ann and Ee-Thern love it so much but it could also one of the not so healty food for them cos all are deep fried. Anyway, nevermind la we won't be having this so often. Once in a while, I think should be alright!

Here is the recipe for the batter.

Batter :
125gm flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 egg. beaten
Salt to taste
A dash of pepper
1ooml water

Method :

1. Mix flour, baking powder salt and pepper in a bowl.

2. Make a well in the center and add in the beaten egg. Add water and mix into a smooth thick batter. Add more water if it is too thick and the batter should have a consistency that can coat the back of the ladle.

3. Coat the fish fillet and deep fry in hot oil till golden brown. Drain and serve immediately.

Look at this, a lovely plate of fish and chips plus a bowl of tomato soup to compliment with it. Also some tartare sauce for dipping. All of us enjoy it so much.

Black Dot - Safe Trip Home

This morning send my maid 'Black Dot' to the airport at about 5.30 am today to catch the first flight back to Jakarta. The first day she was here when I gave birth to Ee-Thern. Time flies in just a wink of eyes and it is already 2 years she has been working for me. Yesterday, before Ee-Thern and Le-Ann goes to bed, I get them to say GOODBYE to their kakak. My worried is my little boy, scared he will look for kakak cos everyday he will look for kakak to make milk, kakak to carry, kakak to bring him for a walk, kakak to bring him to wee wee, kakak to make him Ribena. But thank god, he didn't mention about his kakak when I pick him up from baby sitter house. Sis is right, 'out of sight, out of mind'.

The decision to get a maid 2 years back came into our mind cos Dearie Suki worried we can't cope with 2 babies, with Le-Ann just 15 mths when Ee-Thern was born. Hence, we get a maid in order to help me to do the house chores and to take care Ee-Thern.

The first day 'Black Dot' came to our house, I feel a stranger just entered our house. I am not used to it as though someone I am not comfortable with came over and stay with us and not knowing what is her background like. With me having a post natal depression, I was telling Dearie Suki I want to get rid the maid the very next day.

From what I see, she is one who is from a poor family background. Poor, bullied by hubby and got 3 kids to take care back home. The first 6 months when she was here, most of the time in tears after receiving letters from her mom and brother mentioning her hubby married another woman.

Before she left today, my single cent of advise to her is that, learn to be a SMARTER WOMAN when get back to Jakarta. As long as you work and have money and the kids is with you, why so worried about her hubby getting married to another woman. Biarkan saja la.

After seeing her get through the custom officer, I left and gave her some money for her to have her breakfast inside the airport. Also reminded her to call me back when she reach home. Waited till evening and still no phone call from her and I was telling Dearie Suki, she is not a so smart person, don't know whether she board the correct plane or not.

Finally she called at 10 pm just now and she is back at home - SAFE.

Oh gosh, the next few days will try to cope to do the house chores and will cook less unless Dearie Suki came back early and help to take care the kids. Next plan is to call up an agency to get a part-time cleaner to come over my house every weekend.

Wow, Got An Award Again

Jeremy's mom, Anggie gave me an award again. This round is the Creative Blogger Award. My Dearie Suki was teasing me again... " Huh! You very creative meh ". Yes lor hor, am I. Really perasan and 'pai seh'. Thank you again.

Now, I would like to pass this baton to...

Phatboy Joe - Cute Phatboy, you're so good in photoshop, must get you to become my 'sifu'

Wokkingmum - a SAHM who is so creative in creating interesting meals for her kids

Peony, My Culinary Journal - being a PoPo who always have lovely Bentos for her precious grandson, Ryan

Bento Pet - a SAHM who has a flair for Japanese cooking

Happy Home Baking - a SAHM who has the passion for baking

Judy -Grandmother Stories - we always got new stories to hear from you

Anggie - hahaha ... going back to you, the mommy who jotted down every single development of her Jeremy boy

That's about it. Happy Blogging To All Of You.

Chicken Satay & Nasi Himpit

I grew up in a town which is famous for satay... Kajang Satay. I tried to re-call back the last time I had satay is somewhere about 4 years back. Although I go back to my Ah Mah's house every Sunday, but satay is just out of my mind cos I am not a big fan for satay but... my Dearie Suki, YES!

Last 2 Saturday after we brought Ee-Thern's for his vaccination in Sunway Hospital, Dearie Suki suddenly think of satay. He wanted to have satay cos he loves the peanut sauce so much. We stopped by at the rest area along KESAS Highway to 'ta pau' the Satay cos the famous Kajang Satay Haji Samuri has a branch there.

To be frank I totally got no idea how much is a stick of satay. It used to be RM0.30 per stick and now it has doubled up to RM0.60 per stick for chicken and beef satay. Wow, and now they even have fish satay. If you wanted something different for example rabbit meat or perut lembu satay it cost RM1.30 per stick. Expensive ya.

Lunch we had Satay and I bought 20 sticks of chicken satay and 10 sticks of fish satay plus 2 packet of nasi himpit. Total bill - RM24.00 and my Dearie Suki enjoyed it so much. Like father like son, even my little girl same as her daddy loves the satay so much.

Guess how many sticks she ate? Total 5 sticks plus 3 pieces of nasi himpit.

Bento #9: Lip Pun "Fry" Rice And Tau Eww Bak

I was at 100 yen shop again and looking around hoping I can find something new there. But not much thing and I bought a packet of Japanese Fried Rice Seasoning at RM4.90 per pack. Look at the packet and I can't even read what they write and there is no 'Eengelish' translation. Makes me blur, blur flipping through front and back.

My Aunty Ah Choo gave me some Braised Soya Pork and Egg for dinner. Dearie Suki don't like her cooking so much and end up I got so much of it. What a waste to throw away and further more I love 'Tau Eww Bak' so much and some more with the fats, I more like it. Yummy!

Packed into a bento box to bring to office for lunch and fried some fried rice using the Spicy Japanese Fried Rice Seasoning (actually for me it is not spicy at all, kena con again). To make my lunch bento much more interesting, punched some butterflies nori sheet using the butterfly design puncher and spread it around the fried rice and braised pork and egg.

Interesting isn't it? I think I am a bit childish nowadays. Sometimes I got to hide my bento at my cubicle work station so that no one sees my bento. If not my 'Ah Neh' colleagues sitting in front of me thinking why me, this 'Aunty' too much job in the office izzit and getting a bit kuku. LOL