Pancake

Whenever Matt is back, we often go to our favourite dim sum restaurant on Sunday morning then head to the city to 'look see look see'. Well, we decided to sleep in last Sunday, hence no dim sum.

I was thinking of preparing a big breakfast, but I did not have bacon nor sausage. So I decided to make some pancake, couldnt make his favourite banana pancake because no bananas are still pretty green so I took out some frozen mixed berries from the freezer, defrost them, and mashed them to make some berries pancake. I added some sugar because the mixed berries are very sour!

The mix turned out pretty scary! Hahahahaha....

The pancake also turned out pretty scary, but tasted pretty good, Matt ate the whole plate, about 8 mini pancakes, Cheska had half :P

Busy Bee

I have been so busy lately that I often wonder "What have I done today?", I am so busy yet I feel I am so unproductive. Do you feel that sometimes?

When I am at work, I get distracted every 10 mins or so because someone needs me to help them with something. I have 3 bosses wanting me to help them in different areas; annual budget, stock take, drafting correspondence... OMG.... my big boss actually rang me on the phone and wanted me to project the annual budget right there and then, I really hope that I gave the right figure to him ><

I am also travelling a fair bit at the moment for work, so spending less time in the office, hence the extra work load I get upon my return is quite scary.... and dont forget the mad rush to finish everything before I go away...

So when I get home, I am usually very tired to do anything. When Matt was home, lucky I could still cook and managed to whip up some simple dishes and thank GOD Matt is not a fussy eater. I try as muc as I could not to get take away because they are just so expensive. We are trying to save money for our annual holiday.

Well, at least time goes quick when I am busy....

First Roast Chicken

Bought a whole free range chicken from Woolies the other day, I really wanted to try roasting a whole chicken but was always told that home made roast chicken can be dry, not as moist as the one you get from the supermarket.

I aways get the Woolies roast chicken, especially when they are marked down (I am a cheapskate). Woolies must sell their roast chicken within 4 hours after they are put on the shelf, so once they hit 3.5 hours, they will be marked down for quick sale. So they are still very fresh!

When I get the roast chicken from Woolies, I made that into several meals and of course Cheska would get some, how can I forget about my baby! So first I have the drumstick with some salad or steam vege, then I will take off the wings (tiny wings), have them with instant noodle for next meal. Then I will shred al the breast meat out to make chicken salad roll or simple sandwich. Last, I chop off all the soft bones for Cheska! Not bad for a $5.20 roast chicken!

Ok, back to the raw chicken that I bought, cost me over $7 (Woolies chicken seems like a better deal! Not only it save gas but also cheaper!) but I would like to think free range chicken is healthier!

So I made the roast chicken on a Sunday, the chicken turned out to be sooooo GOOD! So yummy and moist! I had a drumstick and tiny wing, while Matt ate the rest of the chicken! The whole chicken was gone, oh well... except the carcass of course. I was so proud that my first attempt turned out sooo good!

I also made some roast baby potatoes and pumpkin. Roasted everything in one go! Delicious! The whole dinner for two maybe just over $10.

Mushroom!

Aren't they cute??!! I can't wait for more to grow, I think some will be ready for harvest when my parents are here, my mom loves mushrooms.

Dinner

A seafood factory openned a few weeks ago, and it is located not far from my office. So I went there one Friday and got some nice seafood. The fishes were good, but the prawns were disappointing, $15 per kg, but they were not fresh at all...... brrr

Matt loves fish, so I am trying to cook more fish dishes when he is back. I bought a Mackarel steak, it is huge! I pan-fried the fish, then fried some sliced onion, minced garlic and sliced ginger with oyster sauce and fish sauce to pour over the fish steak. Yum yum!!

Of course, a stir fry vege is compulsory at every Chinese dinner. Zucchini is in season now, so cheap! $0.60 each, I bougth a few.... :p (I am so Aunty now). Stir fry Zucchini with dry shrimps and garlic...

My favourite moment in the morning

Do you have a favourite moment in the morning? I do...

Every morning, I wake up about 7am, Cheska and Matt will still be in bed. I usually let Cheska come up to our bed about 6am. Matt and the dog will sleep in while I get ready to work.

When I prepare my cereal, Cheska will def hear that... Hhahaha...

Then I will hear her yawn.."Aweee.......", she yawn rather loud. Then I hear her jumping down from the bed, and run out of the room. She will stand at the hallway with her bed head and flipped ears, and looking at me standing next to the kitchen bench. She is like saying "Morning mom! I am awake!"

I will then bend down and call her. She will run straight to me, give me kisses and bury her head in my tummy, rubbing her face on my PJ. ><

THAT is my favourite moment!!!!

She will then proceed to the backyard to do her business, and have her breakfast. After her breakfast, she will say hello to Matt by stomping on him and licking him. Then back to her sleep..... hahahahaha

Ondeh Ondeh

One night, I was craving for Ondeh Ondeh, especially the one my mom made, so big and full of Gula Melaka. So I went online and found a recipe, it was actually very easy to make. Just a bit time consuming to hand roll each and every sigle one then boil them.

Matt refused to try them, he doesnt like soft, chewy texture food, he doesn't eat soft food like tofu. I was so disappointed that he didnt want to try, but, at least I got to eat all of them!!!!

They turned out pretty good, however, I could only get frozen pandan leaves, and they were not very fragrant usually, so the ondeh ondeh didn't have the strong pandan flavour like the ones you could get in Malaysia.

Later, I found out an Asian store sell the pandan essence, ahh.... perfect. Will make ondeh ondeh again when I have time.

Aussie Way of Living

A few months ago, I came across a website that's all about savings; how to save in our daily life. A group of people came together, sharing saving stories and tips.

I visit the forum rather regularly and I learned so much about savings, I managed to get my grocery down from $640 a month to $380 a month.

One day, a lady posted in the forum, saying how miserable she was feeling because many incidents happened. Her car broke down and needed something to be replaced, she had to borrow $760 from relatives to get the car part, and had to rely on the centrelink money that comes in 2 days for her grocery, and hoping that her tax return will come soon so they can pay their bills, and so on. For a moment, I did feel sorry for her...

Then at the end of her post, she said 'life is so difficult now especially her baby will due soon'....

I was shocked! I mean if you can't afford $760 emergency fund then why the hell do you think you can afford a baby? I thought this woman was stupid... this family is dysfunctional...

I talked to a friend about it, then she said "maybe she is getting old and she needs to have a baby soon?". Ah ok... I can accept that, then I thought, maybe they are so dysfunctional that they couldnt work out contraception, hence the baby. Ooops..... my evil horns are out again. *speak to myself* Dont be mean, dont be mean!

Good luck to the family...

I did it.... Finally!

So I have made the biggest purchase in my life, a HOUSE. Oh well, not a house yet, I bought a piece of land and there will be a house on that block of land. This lot is only 10-15 mins to the city, depending on the traffic condition; walking distance to the train station.

being a first home buyer with limited funds, I had to be realistic with the design of the house and things I can put in there. However, it is on a green title block so I am free to renovate it as long as the renovation doesn't violate the council requirements.

Everything is still in an early stage, I have signed the land agreement, now waiting to sign the building agreement. The developer kept screwing up the design of my house. /Sigh. Then I just have to pray the home loan will come through, thouh I already have a pre-approved loan, but who knows what will the bank say now... I mean the economy is bad, they may change their mind. /Finger crossed

It is very stressful to realise that a big chunk of my salary will go to mortgage, but then I know it will be very rewarding in 10 years time.

Weekend Breakfast

I try to cook breakfast for Matt whenever I can, especially weekend. We will either have nasi lemak, dim sum or home cooked breakfast.

A typical big breakfast that I prepared the last weekend that he was here. He demanded hash brown but I rejected, because hash brown is unhealthy. I think the big breakfast is pretty unhealthy already, so I should leave the hash brown out.

Have a good weekend!!!!!!

Cup Cakes

I always find baking very therapeutic, I am feeling a bit moody today and decided to bake something. My pantry is always full of baking ingredients ... hehehe

So I made some orange cupcakes, they turned out wonderful and I ate 3! Actually 2.5 because Cheska had half a cupcake herself.

You know what's my favourite moment when baking?

This:
Seeing the cake rising...... ah....

Food

I know I had a food blog set up but I just can't be bothered to maintain 2 blogs at the moment, I am busy with life and everything else. So I am going to combine the two blogs together. I will try to report my dinner as often as I can. :p (That's if anyoen is interested.."

Dinner 10/07

Pan fried tooth fish fillet, stir fry broccoli and runner beanwith garlic. Served with rice. I LOVE tooth fish! They are expensive but I DON'T CARE! Matt had to go out that night, so hahahahaha I got to eat 2 fillets all by myself!

Breakfast - French Toast!

This is one of my soul food. Love it.... but can't have it too often as I think it is a bit greasy to have it for breakfast on a regular basis

Loser

When I was in college, there are several losers in my class, I called them losers because they thought they were cool, they thought they were smart, they thought they had the x-factors and tried to go for girls who obviously beyond their reach.

I thought they were losers because not only they were fat, not good looking, dumb (reflected on their results)...

Anyway... after years of not meeting up with them, they suddenly added me on Facebook and they are still losers to me after checking their FB. I now hide their news on my 'homepage' so I dont see their status. Amen!

One in particular, claimed that he was going to Madagascar, but he was actually 'backpacking' in Singapore.... Hello? A Malaysian backpacking in SG?! WTF...

New Hair Cut - Do I look younger?

Bad Habit

OK, I have a confession to make....... I have SELECTIVE HEARING...

Yes, I do. I tend to listen what I want to listen and after I got the information I need, my mind will shut down and doesn't take in what else the person has to say.

I have a colleague who simply can't stop talking when I ring him re. work stuff. He will go on and on about the subject, I realised I could only listen to him for a max of 10 mins then my ear and mind will shut down and i just go "yea..ok, no worries...yea .. ok ...ok....ahemm..."

Matt is very annoyed with this bad habit I have, because he feel sthat I don't pay attention to what he has to say. I do! Just that I will only listen to what I want to hear.

Such as; if I ask him "How's work today?". He will say something like "Yes, I was busy because there were visitors, I have to show them around. Then we had a meeting, they were into this and that..." So you see, my mind will shut down after I hear these words "Yes, busy, visitors, show around..."

I want to change but just can't help myself...

I do find it funny sometimes but also feel sorry for the people who has to talk to me everyday...hahahaha

Life Changes

Once in a while, I will wonder how my life is changing from one phase to another.

This morning, Cheska (again) woke me up at 7 by sitting on me (literally). So I had no other option but to wake up, I was damn awake already by the time she snuggled right next to me. So I woke up, gave her breakfast and sat on the couch ....day dream...

My life's changed so much since I moved in with Matt, I became very domestic, especially ever since we got Cheska.

I have such a set routine that I feel that I have become boring!

I wake up at 6:30am everyday when I have to work, Cheska will follow me out to the kitchen, then to do her business at the back yard. Came back in, have her breakfast, go back to the room to attack Matt for 10 seconds then come out again to check what I am up to, she will repeat this till i leave for work at 8am.

I, on the other hand, have a shower, have my cereal, check the weather (to make sure i wear enough clothes!), pack my lunch pack, make up, set my hair & get dressed.

Work work work...

Come home, take Cheska to the park for a free run session; go home, feed Cheska, get dinner ready, have dinner, wash up, watch TV, have shower, prepare ingredients for tomorrow lunch pack and dinner; do some ironing if have to then go online for a bit and.... ZZZzzzZZZZzzz

Lately, I sleep so well at night, I never had a night where I couldnt sleep since I moved in with Matt. That shows how busy my life is...

Also....... I am BORING!

Of course, weekend will be more interesting. I will make brunch on Saturday then do a load of washing. We will then head out to walk around, do some shopping or watch a movie. Have a longer free run session with Cheska at the park. Saturday also my cleaning day, so go figure out..

No more clubbing, no more smoking, no more alcohol, no more late night MSN chat, no more late night phone call, no more pick-up by random guys, no more sleeping in (thanks to Cheska, she will only wake me up when she is awake, she will not wake Matt....), no more gaming till 5am

I need some changes... so... I cut my hair... REALLY short :p

OK.... I need to sleep because thie domestic goddess is tired and needs to wake up earlier tomorrow to be at work by 7:30am...

Cheska's New Outfit

Food Connoisseur

I love cooking and baking, which is very strange. When I was growing up, I wasn’t interested at all, my dad was a good cook, so is my sister and my mom is very good at cooking the dishes I love so there weren’t many opportunities for me to explore the fun of cooking.

However, I was always busy baking cookies before Chinese New Year, mom would distribute the cookies as gifts to relatives and friends. My love for baking faded slowly because it became boring as there weren’t many resources around me and I was still young.

Matt is not a ‘food’ person, he is happy with the simplest meal but he must have his meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner. He is not good at cooking, or you can say he can’t cook, but he doesn’t enjoy cooking after all so how can I expect him knowing how to cook?

Thanks to his ‘non-existence’ cooking skills, I can cook all the time!!!!

Since we moved in together, I really had fun cooking all the things I have been wanting to try and Matt is always a good guinea pig. Having said that, you can’t force him to eat anything that looks suspect….grr…

I also enjoy walking around supermarket, checking out ingredients and spices that are new to me.

After 6 months living together, Matt has slowly transformed to a food connoisseur! Last night, I made braised chicken drumstick, garlic broccoli, serve with rice. He always like the braised chicken, especially the gravy. Last night, he complained the chicken was tough and seem like the gravy did not penetrate into the meat! Yes, it was my fault. I did not take the chicken out from the freezer the night before and due to the cold weather, the chicken was not entirely thawed when I was preparing dinner. So I had to defrost it in the microwave and not wishing to starve the both of us, I did not cook the chicken as long as I wanted. Hence the gravy did not PENETRATE into the chicken…!

2 years ago, he would eat the uncooked pumpkin that I served! I told him not to eat, they were undercooked, he said “oh really?”…

What a transformation in 6 months….

Recession

So the economy is bad; the interest rate is at its lowest; houses are becoming more affrodable; many people are getting into dissolvency; businesses are closing down; goverment is giving away more money to boost the economy....

What have you done to prepare yourself for this economy?

If you are like me, the Y generation, this is probably the first recession that we experience. Every now and then, I heard so and so's husband and wife lost his/her job, a supplier has closed down and etc. It is quite scary indeed, especially the businesses are closely related...

My company is affected as well, but not greatly...

My mom been through the last 2 recessions, she told me the most important thing now is CASH! She asked em to save as much as I can.... So I am doing that right now.

I am ashame to admit that I am no good saver, I started earning money when I was 17 and yet I never be able to save money. I am bloody good at spending my hard earn money; designer clothes, bas and shoes; self grooming; good food; travel.... tsk tsk tsk....

HY gave me a good lecture after I told her my pathetic amount of savings. Ok ok.. I am working on it right now and it is looking pretty good so far...

BUT...! I am getting distracted everyday .... What do businesses do when economy is bad? SALES! Bloody sales everywhere. Myer one day special sales today; designer warehouse sales round the corner near my house; the very pretty bag on eBay! Water everywhere but not a drop to drink!

I was complainging to HY last night on MSN about all these sales and how hard I have to stop myself from going to all these sales!

I WAS GOOD! I refused to go to any of them but I did some grocery shopping and managed to scored some last min mark down meat. Got 2 pieces of porterhouse steaks for $7! Lamb mid loin, lamb leg steak...roast chicken... Geez.. I sound like a housewife now.

I am so proud of myself... f**k you all the sales!

Random things

Random#1

Somehow, I am always studying. Course after course. After this certificate course in finance, I may study postgraduate. Gosh... I want to get my postgraduate but I can't imagine studying for another 3-4 years.

Random#2

Sometimes I feel like I am a slave to Cheska, feed her, clean her, scoop her poo, clip her nails...

Random#3

My BMI is perfect according to Wii Fit..../clap

Random#4

My lettuce is ready for harvest!!!!!!!!!!