Its been over a year since this blog was rendered inactive. Through the shifting process, I just lost interest in cooking or baking AND taking pictures...
Taking pictures.. that would be nearly impossible now, as my beloved Canon is broken. My heart broke with it!
But having said that, I need to start this blog up again, even without pictures...
Monday, August 9, 2010
Sunday, July 19, 2009
We're Off the Net
Yes, I guess we are. That cute lil townhouse we moved in and settling in quite nicely is without fixed-line facility. I still can't imagine it!
BUT it is and so we must embrace it! At least I will have to. The kids and I have agreed to make weekly trips to a cybercafe to get connected to the rest of the world.
Anyway, its been a crazy month - brother's wedding reception, my sister's visit, us moving house...its crazy. I can't wait to feel 'settled' again - to start sewing, scrapbooking..baking again!.....
My pantry items and baking equipment are still in boxes on the kitchen floor- my shoe cabinet 'pantry' is coming..the end of the month!
I just remembered my curtains....must make them soon! Currently, my bedsheets and tablecloths are displayed across my windows!!
BUT it is and so we must embrace it! At least I will have to. The kids and I have agreed to make weekly trips to a cybercafe to get connected to the rest of the world.
Anyway, its been a crazy month - brother's wedding reception, my sister's visit, us moving house...its crazy. I can't wait to feel 'settled' again - to start sewing, scrapbooking..baking again!.....
My pantry items and baking equipment are still in boxes on the kitchen floor- my shoe cabinet 'pantry' is coming..the end of the month!
I just remembered my curtains....must make them soon! Currently, my bedsheets and tablecloths are displayed across my windows!!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Finally
After 5 months, we found a cute little townhouse! Its 5 minutes from Mom's and 2 minutes from the airport; ironically central for us! Rent is good too; intermediate rent for a corner block! Great landlord too. I dare say it's providence!
Only problem is, we aren't able to move in till next week - we were meant to move in this week. OH well. I think its called Divine Plan; gives us more time to sort through the massive pile of boxes (picking out what comes with us and what stays)PLUS gives us time to shop for my kitchen furniture. Been looking for a Kitchen/Work bench around Karamunsing and found this 'half-solid' 1.43m bench going for RM550. The salesgirl 'graciously' gave us a $20 discount! I told her I'll think about it; secretly I knew it was the 'best' yet from my search. I am also in need of a pantry but I notice they don't sell freestanding pantries here like they do in Australia. Which resulted in me browsing through the shoe cabinets;
salesgirl: miss, what are you looking for?
me: pantry (of course she doesn't know what THIS is).. a place I can keep my sardine and maggie mee packets!
salesgirl: but miss, these are shoe racks....*befuddled look*
me: yes, I know...(proceeding to ignore here)..and they make the best kind!
I am missing IKEA!
Anyway, it was quite by chance that C mentioned to a friend that we've been busy hitting the furniture shops hunting for 3 seater sofas and kitchen furniture.
"eh, I got friend whose a furniture broker. Go see him" says E
Which was exactly what we did this afternoon. That same kitchen bench going for RM550, I got for RM 360. In short, I bought 4 pieces from them for the a total of RM980!! RM980, I still can't believe it!
When we've settled, going to have a dinner party for E and his family!
On a complete irrelevant matter, brag-brag-brag again! Bugs me to high heaven! So annoying!
Only problem is, we aren't able to move in till next week - we were meant to move in this week. OH well. I think its called Divine Plan; gives us more time to sort through the massive pile of boxes (picking out what comes with us and what stays)PLUS gives us time to shop for my kitchen furniture. Been looking for a Kitchen/Work bench around Karamunsing and found this 'half-solid' 1.43m bench going for RM550. The salesgirl 'graciously' gave us a $20 discount! I told her I'll think about it; secretly I knew it was the 'best' yet from my search. I am also in need of a pantry but I notice they don't sell freestanding pantries here like they do in Australia. Which resulted in me browsing through the shoe cabinets;
salesgirl: miss, what are you looking for?
me: pantry (of course she doesn't know what THIS is).. a place I can keep my sardine and maggie mee packets!
salesgirl: but miss, these are shoe racks....*befuddled look*
me: yes, I know...(proceeding to ignore here)..and they make the best kind!
I am missing IKEA!
Anyway, it was quite by chance that C mentioned to a friend that we've been busy hitting the furniture shops hunting for 3 seater sofas and kitchen furniture.
"eh, I got friend whose a furniture broker. Go see him" says E
Which was exactly what we did this afternoon. That same kitchen bench going for RM550, I got for RM 360. In short, I bought 4 pieces from them for the a total of RM980!! RM980, I still can't believe it!
When we've settled, going to have a dinner party for E and his family!
On a complete irrelevant matter, brag-brag-brag again! Bugs me to high heaven! So annoying!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Privatised
I have privatised this blog. Been meaning to do it for a while now. The time has come!
Of late, SO many girls I know, near and far, are now into the cake business. OMG! They are coming out of the woodworks in gargantuan proportion! Well, not exactly but you catch my meaning!
Granted some are truly worth admiring in awesome wonder. Very exquisite work and one can't help but really be inspired by them. These cool chicks don't ever blow their own trumpet and their creation & commendation of others speaks for her! No trumpet calls here!
Yet there are those who are just plain mediocre that I even wonder what possessed them to get into the business in the first instance. Oh wait, its their deluded ego that did it! What a joke! These daggy gals go on and on about how great their cakes are! I guess they'd have to if their cakes are just BLAH! Yup, trumpet calls galore! Cruel, huh? Sadly yes and it must be said in the privacy of my now private blog. :)
Anyway that was NOT the reason for this post! What was it?
Oh yes, that's it.
I am happiest and most fulfilled when I have created something; be it a finished quilt, scrapbook a page or an album, needlework, playing a song, baking a cake..whatever. I figured that with all this 'time' at home full-time with the kids, I am going to have to perfect my craft (and finish them!!) And pick up others along the way. For example, weaving is one skill I have always wanted to learn. Being Iban, its a shame if I couldn't! (Its already a shame I do not know how to ngajat) With the master weaver, my grandma, sick I am depending on my aunts. Weaving shall be conquered......soon....
So I have privatised this blog to display my wares in confidence that my ideas will not be copied or be scoffed at.
And also to 'air' my thoughts......
Yet I still like to read comments :-)
That's it...
Of late, SO many girls I know, near and far, are now into the cake business. OMG! They are coming out of the woodworks in gargantuan proportion! Well, not exactly but you catch my meaning!
Granted some are truly worth admiring in awesome wonder. Very exquisite work and one can't help but really be inspired by them. These cool chicks don't ever blow their own trumpet and their creation & commendation of others speaks for her! No trumpet calls here!
Yet there are those who are just plain mediocre that I even wonder what possessed them to get into the business in the first instance. Oh wait, its their deluded ego that did it! What a joke! These daggy gals go on and on about how great their cakes are! I guess they'd have to if their cakes are just BLAH! Yup, trumpet calls galore! Cruel, huh? Sadly yes and it must be said in the privacy of my now private blog. :)
Anyway that was NOT the reason for this post! What was it?
Oh yes, that's it.
I am happiest and most fulfilled when I have created something; be it a finished quilt, scrapbook a page or an album, needlework, playing a song, baking a cake..whatever. I figured that with all this 'time' at home full-time with the kids, I am going to have to perfect my craft (and finish them!!) And pick up others along the way. For example, weaving is one skill I have always wanted to learn. Being Iban, its a shame if I couldn't! (Its already a shame I do not know how to ngajat) With the master weaver, my grandma, sick I am depending on my aunts. Weaving shall be conquered......soon....
So I have privatised this blog to display my wares in confidence that my ideas will not be copied or be scoffed at.
And also to 'air' my thoughts......
Yet I still like to read comments :-)
That's it...
Monday, June 15, 2009
So what's been up?
Lots but like at Pemberley, can't seem to find the words nor the mood to write about anything.
For starters, I need to take my photography more seriously. Goodness, my pictures are appalling compared to some of the masterpieces around!
Anyway, my baking tools have been packed away, at least until we move house! After which I have strings of cakes to attempt.
And Kylie Kwong's to try.
Need practice!
For starters, I need to take my photography more seriously. Goodness, my pictures are appalling compared to some of the masterpieces around!
Anyway, my baking tools have been packed away, at least until we move house! After which I have strings of cakes to attempt.
And Kylie Kwong's to try.
Need practice!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Gawai
it means festival. And for the ibans (and other locals) of Sarawak, end of May/beginning of June is a time for some serious merry making, thanking the gods for a year of bountiful harvest. And for the men, downing as much Stella Artois or cheap brandy as possible on the day and days to come!! Not that much different from Kaamatan for Sabah locals, I must say. For the longest time, I remember not 'liking' this time of the year. The 1 part of the iban and dusun culture I am ashamed and angry about! Too much drunks and fights breaking out after. Alcohol and Gawai don't mix!
So we spent a quiet and idylic Gawai with Mom's folks. Mom's longhouse is technically NOT a longhouse anymore but individual standing houses. So a much safer environment then it was way back when. Back in real longhouse days, if a drinking session is held in one bilek, the fights ensuing would 'spill' to the other 'bilek's. Next thing, the whole longhouse is in 1 gigantic battle! Not good!
Still ate way too much local delicacies! My cousin made some plain 'pulut pansuh' out of the glutinous rice she planted and harvested. Young bamboo segments are filled with glutinous rice and smoked over charcoal (don't know if I am describing it well!). When cooked just right, the pulut is fragrant and moist. As my cousin didn't add santan to the pulut, it kept for days! My meals would consist of half a 'stick' of pulut. To eat the rice, one would have to crack and 'tear' the bamboo open - Dad would always comment how very 'tedious' the eating process is.
An aunt also gave us some pam, a steamed coconut cake wrapped in Banana leaves. Too bad she didn't give enough! And no the kids, didn't care for any of it!
If only I had some pictures to show!
So we spent a quiet and idylic Gawai with Mom's folks. Mom's longhouse is technically NOT a longhouse anymore but individual standing houses. So a much safer environment then it was way back when. Back in real longhouse days, if a drinking session is held in one bilek, the fights ensuing would 'spill' to the other 'bilek's. Next thing, the whole longhouse is in 1 gigantic battle! Not good!
Still ate way too much local delicacies! My cousin made some plain 'pulut pansuh' out of the glutinous rice she planted and harvested. Young bamboo segments are filled with glutinous rice and smoked over charcoal (don't know if I am describing it well!). When cooked just right, the pulut is fragrant and moist. As my cousin didn't add santan to the pulut, it kept for days! My meals would consist of half a 'stick' of pulut. To eat the rice, one would have to crack and 'tear' the bamboo open - Dad would always comment how very 'tedious' the eating process is.
An aunt also gave us some pam, a steamed coconut cake wrapped in Banana leaves. Too bad she didn't give enough! And no the kids, didn't care for any of it!
If only I had some pictures to show!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Apple-Pineapple-Walnut Cake
Yup my hiatus didn't last that long, did it?Saw some apples in the fridge and 2 tins of cubed pineapple in the pantry; been there since don't know when! Thought to put it to good use! So here it is: Chunks of apples and pineapple meets chopped up walnuts with light cream-cheese filing and topping.
With V's short visit back home from Perth, I promised her a liquer ridden cake - this time, I
will 'drench' it with Kahlua (thanks to my Melbourne trip, I stocked up on liquer!!)
M's attempt at 'shooting' me cut the cake...
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