Happy Birthday to .......

meeeeeeeeeeee!!

Yes it is my birthday today! I turn 30!! Whoa how time flies!!!

And on this birthday of mine, I received a couple of prezzies too ..

My beloved lil sis, Rose, gave me a cookbook .. knowing that I lurveeeeeeeee to cook .. so thotful of you .. hehehe

And my sis in law, Adriana, gave me a purse and keychain from Esprit!

Thanks to all who sms-ed or called to wish me on this birthday-o-mine!

It's Here! .. THE PACKAGE that is!

I came back from work yesterday and a package greeted me at home. This aint any ordinary package (hmm I've never received any, anyway .. hehe). This is THE BBM PACKAGE from my swap partner, Aarika Denton, from USA.

With my handbag still slung on my shoulder, I took out my camera and snapped a picture, then went straight into the kitchen, grabbed a knife and knife the package open.

It was a real sweet surprise! Right on top of all the goodies was a letter in an envelope written by Aarika herself. So I read that first before slowly going thru the box of nice stuff.

First there was Chamomile Tea. I know of its soothing effect but have never tried any .. so there's every reason for me to try now!

There's also a box of Crunchy Almond Biscuits .. hmm .. wat a coincident coz jus before I got home, I went to the supermart and almost bought a box of amaretti but then decided not to .. this makes a great substitute.

Included as well was a cup of Choc Flavored Easy Melt Candy Coating. My mind has already started to think of the diff stuff to dunk - bananas, strawberry, marshmellow, nuts .. the list goes on ...

Aarika really did her homework well. She read my blog and found out that I have 2 angels and she included in the package Candy Necklaces. Really sweet of you Aarika. My angels have yet to see these .. i am sure they will go crazy over these candies.

Andes Chocs were also in there .. toffee, orange, cocoa .. they didnt last long .. i esp. love the toffee ones.

Assorted Minees Sandwich Cookies .. choc, vanilla, banana and strawberry. I cant wait to try the banana ones when I break my fast later (muslims are fasting now as it is the month of Ramadhan in the Islamic calander)

That's not all folks, Aarika also included these ..

Her very own, Caramel/Choc Chip Bars + Recipe Card. These are oooohh so chocalatey rich .. really yummy. I wish I could find caramel chips here in Singapore.

If you think thats the end. Well you are wrong. She included a pretty Journal and beautiful Stickers too.

There you go, all the goodness in a package (pic below), which came all the way from USA. It felt like I have just received an advance birthday prezzie (which happened to be this Sat) .. hehe

Terima kasih (dats thank you in malay language) Aarika of Aarikavination for all the goodies and your generosity.

My thanks too to Steph of Dispensing Happiness. Congrats on a job well done!

I wonder when is the next BBM?? .. I cant wait to participate again!

My Package Has Reached ...

JAPAN .. yay! My swap partner, Amy Piesse of Impossible Juxtapositions, has received these (pic below .. not all of the stuff can be seen tho) last Friday!

I included in the package - a postcard, a mini cookbook, a box of merlion choc, 3 premixes - assam fish, black pepper and fried rice, low fat instant noodles - singapore laksa and pho and also kaya spread.

I also explained to her about the different ethnic celebrations in Sg and i included muruku, tapioca chips and satay broad beans as well.

Also I added stuff that my family is currently enjoying or used to enjoy - cafe 21 coffee sachets, choco minis and blackcurrant hacks.

And last but not least I baked for Amy, a box of choc chip cookies.

This is an excerpt of the email that Amy sent me:

"I got your package on Friday afternoon, thank you so much! And thank you as well for the letter which explained everything so well, too, it made a big difference, especially when you explained the different types of snack foods typical to each culture. I really really enjoyed the biscuits you made. I don't have an oven in my apartment, and being someone who bakes, I really miss being able to make homemade stuff like that.The packet mixes will be really good too, as it's quite hard to find stuff like that over here, especially things like the tamarind sauce, so again, thank you! I will admit that I was a little surprised at being sent noodles, but again, after the explanation in the letter and having a closer look at them, they will make perfect lazy lunches for when I can't be bothered making something to take to school. So thank you again, I hope your swap partner was equally thoughtful and generous. Amy. "

No worries Amy, I had so much great fun putting together that package.

I just cant wait to participate in another BBM .. ;-)

BBM - An Update Yet Again ..

I tracked my parcel earlier and dis was the status:-

22 Sep 06, 11.04 am, status - "Failed Delivery"

WHAT?!?!?! FAILED DELIVERY?!?!?!
My heart palpitates (drama abit lah) .. did i write down the wrong address or wat?!?!?

I called Singapore Post to ask what the status meant and the helpful customer service officer said that the recipient is not home to receive them ..

Phew .. what a relief ..

Then I checked again for the latest status and dis time round it states:-
22 Sep 06, 5.53 pm, status - "Final Delivery"

Hmm .. now i wonder, really, if my swap partner has received the parcel?!?!

I shall wait and see ..

Banana Cake for Dimple..

I met my best fwen, Dimple, last Tuesday at a work event. The day before, we decided that we bring something (food that is) to swap.

I baked her Mini Banana Cakes and in return she gave me Snow Skin Moon Cake that she made. I didnt have the chance to take pictures of the moon cakes coz I just went straight to indulge in those ohhh sooo yummy moon cakes .. slurp ..

This time round, I decided that I bake them bite size, i.e. bake them in mini muffin tins.

This is it, mini banana cakes, in the oven, baking away ..

This is it, all packed in a mini tupperware ..

Oh ya .. after baking a couple of batches of the mini ones, I decided to throw in some choc chips and baked them in a small loaf tin since there was only some batter left ..

Ingredients

150 g butter
2/3 cup caster sugar
3 medium eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cup self raising flour
Pinch of bicarbonate of soda
150g very ripe bananas, peeled

Method

Grease a loaf tin with softened butter.
Cream butter and sugar together till light and fluffy.
Pour eggs in a little at a time, beating well in between additions.
Using a metal spoon, fold in half the flour and bicarbonate of soda.
Quickly mash the bananas, then fold it in the mixture.
Finally, fold in the rest of the flour.
Turn the mixture into the greased tin and bake for 40 mins or until cooked lah.
Allow cake to cool in the tin for abt 10 mins before turning it out to cool on a wire tray.

And comments from Dimple was that the one that was baked in the loaf tin was way much better that the mini ones ..

Frankly speaking, I also preferred the one baked in a loaf tin .. hahaha .. and did I say choc and banana complements each other real well ..

Lesson learnt .. bake em in a loaf tin, NOT mini muffin tins .. hahaha

BBM - Update Again ..

Apologies for my excitement but I just cant help but to update on the whereabouts of my parcel .. hehehe

21 Sep 06, 11.46 am, status - "Despatched to Delivery Office by Destination Exchange Office"

Phew .. does dat mean it has left the customs hands?!?!? .. i hope so .. ehehehe .. and does dat mean that it is going to reach my swap partner soooooooonnnnnnnnnnn .. i hope so too .. :-))

BBM - Parcel Is There ..

I have been tracking my parcel since Monday.
Current status are as below:-

20 Sep 06, 03.24 am, status - "Acknowledged Item at Destination's Exchange Office " and
20 Sep 06, 03.25 am, status - "Held by customs at destination"

My heart kinda skipped a beat when I read that. I dun mind if customs gonna do a lil snoopin' but I just hope that it reaches the hands of my swap partner soon and safely.

On another note, I would like to take this opportunity to wish my lil sis, Rose, A HAPPY HAPPY 22nd BIRTHDAY and hope you had a blast!!!

Oteh-Oteh (Fritters)

For breakfast dis morning, I made Oteh-Oteh. This originates from Indonesia. It is really a nice snack for bfast or for tea. Dip these in chilli sauce accompanied with a cup of hot tea .. mmmm ...

I have to thank my bro's maid for sharing this recipe with me.

Oteh2 being deep fried in a non stick pan.

Oteh2 waiting to be walloped by me and family .. hehehe

Ingredients

500 gm flour
500 gm prawn, cleaned and diced
2 carrots, shredded
100 gm beansprouts, tail picked
1 big onion, pounded
6 cloves garlic, pounded
some cilantro, chopped
a pinch of salt
1 tsp of chicken stock
1/2 tsp white pepper
enough water
oil for frying

Method

Mix all the ingredients above with just enough water.
Batter should be thick.
Heat oil in a non stick pan.
Put tablespoons of batter and deep fry till golden brown.

Eat these hot and dipped in chilli sauce.

BBM - Parcel's Out

Well, the deadline to send out our package is today, 15 Sep 06. I managed to send it out on time.

A list of about 15 items were included in the package and I really hope my swap partner is elated to receive them .. well, who wouldnt be happy to receive a parcel, right?? So hang in there partner, whoever you are, the parcel's gonna reach you in 7 to 9 days' time.

To Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness .. my hats off to you for making this BBM possible!

This is the parcel that I sent out ..

Oh ya, one of the stuff that my swap partner is going to receive is something that I baked, i.e. Chocolate Chip Cookies. I really hope the cookies are still fresh when my swap partner receives them.

Ingredients

125 gm butter
1 cup caster sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
11/2 cups self raising flour
1 cup chocolate chips (i used a mix of semi sweet and milk choc chips)

Method

Preheat oven to 180C.
Beat butter and sugar till creamy.
Gradually add eggs, beating thoroughly after each addition.
Fold in sifted self raising flour.
Then fold in chopped milk chocolate.
Place teaspoonsfuls of mixture on a non stick pan. Ensure room for spreading.
Bake for 15 mins until cook.
Leave in pan for a couple of minutes then turn out into a wire rack to cool.

Our First Family Trip to Sunway Lagoon

YES! .. it was a success .. we went on our first trip to Malaysia and it sure wont be the last.

We left Singapore for Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia at abt 8am on 2 Sep 06 and checked in our hotel about 4pm. We unpacked, rested then freshened up and then went to Sunway Pyramid, a mall, to eat dinner and did a lil shopping. We ate at The Chicken Rice Shop .. it aint any ordinary chicken rice .. the set came with fried beansprout, mango salad (kerabu mangga), silken tofu and kueh pie tee .. slurp ..

For supper, we bought crispy popiah from the Sisters Crispy Popiah .. superb .. slurp again .. (sowee no pic of it)

The next day, we woke up early to eat breakfast at the hotel. Breakfast was quite sumptuos and we enjoyed it.

Next stop was to the Sunway Lagoon where the kids enjoyed both the wet and dry parks. Here is a pic of Auni .. hmm .. dats a kewl pose .. dont u think.

Here's another pic of her covering her booty ..

We left the lagoon at 4pm, went back to the hotel and rested. That evening we had dinner at Sunway Pyramid again. This time we settled for the Laksa Shack .. u may find the variety of laksa found in different states of Malaysia here at this shop .. I had Nyonya Malacca Laksa .. and boy it was really gooooooooooood ..

My daughter had Prata Plaster with Chicken Curry.

I bought my hubby, kebab for supper (sowee no pic of it)

The last day there, we woke up a lil later to eat breakfast at the hotel again. Then did a last minute shopping. Actually i kinda shop for food - cripsy popiah, donuts from dunkin donuts and also buns from a bakery - so that the kids could snack on while on board the bus on our way home.

We checked out of our hotel at 2pm then waited for our coach at the lobby. By 10pm on Monday, we reached home, tired but happy.

BBM - Blogging By Mail

I happened to chance upon a food blog and read about Blogging by Mail. Wats dat you may ask? Well, you just have to sign up with details and then the organiser would then match you up with a swap partner.

Well, just last Monday, I got to know who mine was and she is from ?@#$% (i cant say coz it is supposed to be a surprise for the recipient). I have to send out my parcel out by 15 Sep 06. The organiser said I can send anything (foodstuff, recipes, etc) that I like or would like the recipient to have and try.

Well, the parcel that I want to send out has a theme to it .. :-) I have got a couple of stuff ready and the rest will have to wait till I come back from my trip to Sunway Lagoon, which is, just across the border. And when I come back, I'll prepare the parcel to be mailed out.

I wonder from which part of the world am I going to receive a parcel from. For now, I will just enjoy my trip to Sunway Lagoon and wait patiently for a parcel to arrive at my doorstep.