Choco Muffin & Buttered Fish Fillet

While my kids taking their afternoon nap, I went to my kitchen and my itchy hand feel like baking some 'Choco Muffin'. Well, after so many donkey years I didn't bake, finally I did it today. The muffin turns out well and must try another round not to fill the batter until so full in the muffin cup. While baking the muffin 'fatt' until like 'fatt kou'. Wah, my Suki say I still got some skills on baking. For one recipe I get about 15 muffins and I am going to do some buttercream frosting on the surface tonight. Actually is a surprise for my Suki, cos his birthday is on the 16th April'07. Will post more pictures of the decorated muffin when it is done. Hopefully, I can pass with the buttercream frosting.

My first bake of the year, Choco Muffin

********************

After the baking off course is dinner time. I've planned to cook Buttered Fish Fillet since I have a piece of frozen dory fish in the freezer. The recipe seems easy to me but it is a bit of oily cos it require butter and evaporated milk. The dory fish is cut into small pieces and I have marinated it for 1/2 an hour with McCormick Season & Fry ( Original Flavour ) before I fry it.

Try this, I bet you will cook it for a second time.

Ingredients :

500gm Dory fish fillet, sliced

2 tbsp butter

1/2 can evaporated milk

2 sprigs curry leaves

1 tsp chopped chilli padi

1 tsp sugar

1 paket McCormick Season & Fry ( Original Flavour )

Method :

1. Combine fish fillet with McCormick Season & Fry and marinade for 1/2 an hour.

2. Heat up oil and deep fry the fish fillet until golden brown. Dish and drain aside.

3. Melt butter in a wok and pour in evaporated milk and stir fry at low heat until dry and granules is formed.

4. Then add in sugar, curry leaves and chilli padi and stir fry till fragrant.

5. Add in fish fillet. Mix well and dish up.

The ingredients

Fried the fish fillet till golden brown

Butter & Evaporated milk, stir fry at low heat

Add in sugar, curry leaves and chilli padi. Stir fry till fragrant

Yummy, Buttered Fish Fillet

At Home Today

What a sunny morning. I was on leave today and taking care of the kids at home cos my baby sitter ' balik kampung '. As usual the 2 kids wake up at 7 am. For god sake, why can't they let me sleep longer when I am not working! :(

Both brushing teeth

So, no choice got to wake up. Both brush their teeth and asking me to bring them out for a walk. Drove the car out with them and buy 'STAR' newspaper at the 'Ah Neh' stall. Hopefully, today paper got job for me.

Reach home and the kids ride their bicycles at the car porch and as usual me ' 8 ' around with my friendly neighbour about kids, gossipping around, and bla, bla, bla ....... I was wondering why these aunties so good life and no need to work. I wish I am one of them. Then I did some gardening and find one unexpected guest in my garden at the 'bunga kantan' plant. A 'Monitor Lizard' and I quickly run into the house to take my camera to snap a picture of it.

Mr Monitor Lizard

After 1/2 an hour both of them is like ' Lor Muah' and so smelly and their body is full with sweat and I 'beh tahan' bring them up for a shower.

After shower is makan time. I cooked fish porridge for them and both eat one big bowl of porridge. While they lazying around and have their 'Bibinah' actually is RIBENA, I quickly go to my kitchen and have a cup of ' Kopi O', without that I can't work la.

Having their porridge

Both lazying around

Ee-Thern having his ' Bibinah'

Le-Ann lazying around

Florida's Natural Nuggets

Both kids finish one pack of Florida's Natural Fruit Juicy Nuggets. Quite nice, not to bad. One pack cost me RM4.99 and it's only 43gm and found this at Cold Storage, Ikano. On the pack they claims :

• Made from 66% real fruit puree and juices
• All natural flavours
• 100% Vitamin C
• 8 Vitamins and Minerals
• No artificial colors and preservatives
• Fat free and no trans fat
• Nut free
• No gelatine

So anyone going to US, can help me buy this back ?

While the two kids still playing by themselves, I sneak into my store room to check what I have. Saw the Betty Crocker's goody bag I get from my PD trip. There is this Old El Paso, Fajita Dinner Kit in the goody bag and I was thinking to make this for my lunch. Inspecting around the box and yer ......... its 'NEAR EXPIRY STOCK'. Why so ' cheh kai' one , all the items in the goody bag is near expiry items, so must finish it within next month.

Used By : 27 May 2007

Hubby Suki, is leaving for work in the afternoon and little girl, Le-Ann was crying cos want to follow Daddy. I am damn angry cos she cry non-stop and the whole block can hear her, so bring both of them up in the room, on the air-con, on their favourite movie 'Shaggy Dog', and have a few round of scolding from me and finally they are asleep.

Finally, Zzzzzzzzz

Pheww...... it is not easy to become a 'Stay At Home Mom' - SAHM which I always dream off. My second thought is, better go back and work in the corporate world.

Salted Fish Head Curry

A quick one before I leave for my field work with my sales rep in Damansara and I am going to drop by at 'Bake with Yen' to buy some baking stuff. Well, that's the beauty of my job sometimes can ' snake a bit' ... hihihi

My baby sitter Ah Yoke Cheh, gave me " Mui Heong Salted Fish" when she went to Kuantan last year. Last Sunday, I was cleaning the fridge with my maid and found this in the fridge. So yesterday decided to cook 'Salted Fish Head Curry' with vegetables.

I remember when I was a kid, my Ah Ma used to cook a big pot of ' Vegetables Curry' and lots of 'si hum @ cockles ' in it for a big group of us at home. ( I mean me, sis, fellow cousins, uncle and aunty ). Wow, it is so delicious and I miss her cooking cos she is too old now to remember her secret recipes.

Yesterday night dinner was a funny one. Suki ask me over dinner is it I follow the recipe from the ' Hawkers Fair Recipe Book' and I keep quiet and say yes to him, but in actual fact I am using the Maggi Fish Head Curry Paste which is just launched in the market. ' LOL' . Then I ask him why and he say delicious and I am so happy ( cos perasan la ) and I think is because I am using salted fish and makes the curry is very aromatic.

Here is the recipe :

Ingredients :
500 gm fish head / meat ( I use salted fish )
300 gm vegetables ( I use long beans, brinjal and cabbage )
Some chopped onions
Some ginger, cut into strips
2 sprigs curry leaves
2 cups of water
1/2 can of evaporated milk ( approximately 200gm )

Method :
1. Heat some oil in a pan. Then fry onion, ginger, curry leaves and the Maggi fish curry paste till fragrant.
2. Then add in the water and the evaporated milk and let it boil.
3. Once boiled, add in vegetables and the salted fish head.
4. Simmer for 1/2 hour or till all the vegetables is cooked.

Note :
* The recipe actually call for 'santan' but I substitude with evaporate milk cos it is more healthy.
* I also added in some ' Fu Chok ' skin because Suki don't take green vegs. You can also add in ' Tau Pok' if you like.
* I didn't add any salt to it because the salted fish is already salty.

The ingredients

Maggi Fish Head Curry Paste

Mui Heong Salted Fish

Fry ingredients till fragrant

Waiting for the curry to boil

Add in all the vegs and fish head

Yummy, ready to serve

After the dinner its time with the kids. Little Ee-Thern got a new hair cut yesterday. Wow, he is so ... handsome boy. ' LOL'

Mommy & Ee-Thern & Le-Ann

Ee-Thern with his new 'Army Hair Cut'

Braised Chicken with Hsiao Tsing Wine

Yesterday night dinner was a quick one cos need to bring Le-Ann for her music lesson. So left office at 5.15pm sharp, sharp and reach baby sitter's house at 5.50pm. By the time I reach home, Suki is already at home and he helps me to cook rice.

So here I come in the kitchen cooked one green veg and braised chicken with Hsiao Tsing wine. Suki think the braised chicken is a bit too dark. Oops ! I put in too much dark soya sauce.

Here is the recipe :

Ingredients :
2 chicken thighs , cut into small pieces
1 knob ginger , cut into strips
Some chopped garlic
Sesame oil
Kikkoman Soya Sauce
Oyster Sauce
Dark Soya Sauce
1 tbsp of Hsiao Tsing Wine
Salt and Sugar to taste
Some cornstarch for thickening
Some water

Method :
1. Marinade the chicken pieces with some oyster sauce, Kikkoman soya sauce and dark soya sauce for about 1 hour.
2. Heat pan with some oil and sesame oil. Sautee ginger strips and garlic till fragrant.
3. Then add in the marinated chicken and some water. Cover the pan and let it simmer till chicken is cook.
4. Add salt and sugar to your own taste preferrence.
5. Lastly, add in Hsiao Tsing Wine and cornstarch for thickening.

Braised Chicken with Hsiao Tsing Wine

Stir Fry 'Poh Choy' with Garlic

My baby sitter gave me 3 dumplings yesterday and I didn't manage to eat one. All eaten by Suki. Taste good and can't wait for the 'Zhong Zi' festival to come and got to eat many many dumplings make by my aunt and mom.

My next recommendation is nuggets. I fried some chicken nuggets last Friday night. Suki's stomach was making noises and ask me to cook supper for him. I was watching my K-Drama halfway and got to 'PAUSE' it.

Search around the fridge and decided to fried him some nuggets. This is the best nuggets I ever taste and I've been searching around for this brand " First Pride " manufactured by MacFood. Try in vain to buy from Jusco, Cold Storage and Giant but can't find any. One day while I was on my trade visit with my sales rep in Carrefour, Subang and finally I found it and I quickly grab a pack.

Sizzling nuggets in hot oil

Ready to serve to Mr. Suki with his favourite Maggi Hot Chilli Sauce

Remember to get this brand - *****

Busy Weekend !

Today is an extremely busy weekend for me. Saturday supposed to be a relax day but today is full of things to do. Both kids wake up at 6.30 am and by 9 am both of them are ready to go to Sunway Hospital. While waiting for Suki, Le-Ann & Ee-Thern play with their toys and messed up the whole living room. Arrgh.... how angry am I and got to clean up their mess !

Messy Living Room

Brougth Ee-Thern to Sunway Hospital in the morning for his vaccination. Reach Sunway Hospital about 10 am and waited till 12 pm then only its Ee-Thern's turn. While waiting, the 2 kids enjoy themself in the play room. The room is full with kids and I am so worried that they will fight with the other kids in the room. So got to stay with them and make sure they behave themself.

Sunway Kids Play Room

After Sunway Hospital, brought Le-Ann for music class in Yamaha Music School. Wanted to bring her long time ago but Suki did not agree with me because according to him she is too young and think it might waste of money. But after a few persuasion from me, finally he agreed and we bring her for a FREE trial class. At first she is a bit shy and scared and don't dare to step to the front of the class to dance. After a few singing and dancing session, there she goes singing and dancing along with the teacher and other students in the class. Phew.... I am really stressed out and worried if she can't follow the session. (Really a KIASU Mommy)

Le-Ann's first music book

So, finally enrol her for the Music Kids for children age 3 - 5 years old. The music fees cost me a bomb. Per term is RM251 plus the music books is RM111.70 and total is RM362.70. Even my University's fees is not as expensive as this. Imagine how lucky is today's child, they got the best and use the best from us.

Total RM362.70

Suki came over to pick us up from South City Plaza after Le-Ann's class. Once reach home, the little girl and boy slept cos too tired. Now, its my time to do my things. I did some gardening while the two kids asleep. Re-plant the flowers into a bigger pot and trying to appreciate my herbs, my flowers and leaves plant and also my guppy fishes in the water pot.

Little Garden at Home

*******************

While daddy take bath for the kids, I am busy in the kitchen to cook 3 simple dishes for dinner. We had fried rice from yesterday leftover rice, stir fry french beans and Kong Pow fish slices. Bought the shark fish fillet from the wet market last week and supposed to use for the kids poriddge but it is not so tasty so I used it for Kong Pow. The next round will never buy this fish for the kids porridge, better stick too 'Mah Yau' fish or 'Shek Pan' fish although it is a bit $$$.

Fried Rice with Anchovies

Kung Pow Fish Slices

Dinner for Two ?

Suki brought back 2 durians from the durian stall outside our house and I think he is crazy to pay RM22.00 for it. After dinner is 'Durian Dessert' time. Little Le-Ann is enjoying her durian with daddy in the kitchen and even give me a thumb's up post while I was taking photograph for her. Aiyo,.... so naughty.

Golden Durian Cost RM22.00 for this !

Yummy, So good

Thumbs Up

Good Night, I am going to Zzzzzz

That's the end of my Saturday and I am going to put the kids to bed. Well it is not easy to become a 'Mommy' with so many things to do. How I wish I can enjoy my Saturday with my friends at the shopping mall ( Yam Char and Window Shop ) !!!