Sunday, February 28, 2010

Pancakes for Breakfast

W* made pancakes for breakfast for us on Sunday morning.
Fluffy pancakes with Maple Syrup and sugar icing..nyumm!!

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Magnum Sandwich Ice Cream

I've been dying to try the new Magnum Sandwich Ice cream, and I finally did...
I ate the whole thing all by myself. It was really really filling, because the normal Magnum ice cream did not have both sides, but this had. but overall it was HEAVEN!

Will definitely eat it again.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Baked Pork Ribs

I made some baked pork ribs the other night for dinner.



Recipe

1kg of pork ribs not american ribs
Lee Kum Kee Char Siew Sauce
Salt
Sugar
1 Red-eyed chilli
Cooking oil

1) Marinate in 2 tablespoons of Lee Kum Kee's Char Siew Sauce
with some salt, sugar and chopped chillies (just 1 would do, unless the chilli that you're using isn't spicy)
as well as some oil to keep the meat juicy.

*Marinate overnight is the best, otherwise just marinate it for at least an hour in the fridge.

2) Bake in pre-heated oven at 200C not forced fan feature, otherwise it would dry out the meat.

3) Before baking, put in a baking tray and wrap it in foil. The ribs should be covered and not exposed while baking.

4) Bake for 45 mins - almost an hour, check meat at 40 mins, The blood should be dark and dried out, otherwise throw it back into the oven and check in 5-10 mins depending of how uncooked the blood looked.

5) Served with hot rice.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Heart Shaped Jelly

I made jelly the other day.

I poured it into heart shaped moulds.

Orange Mango Jelly

To make 500ml of Jelly.

1 satchet of Aeroplane mix
Add 250ml / 1 cup of hot boiling water
Stir until totally dissolved
Add 250ml / 1 cup of cold water
Stir until properly mixed
Pour into any moulds and let it set in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Tip: this jelly is really jello like not like the agar-agar type that you would get in your local Asian grocer, so put in a mould that would be easy for you to unmould later.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Snacking & Flowers

Here I am after work, sitting down in front of my laptop eating crackers with green chilli jam.
Funny thing is, I am not that kind of person who would eat this, but a few months ago W* and I took a road trip to Hunter Valley and bought this jam. It was for snacking purposes, but we've not been eating it, instead, it has been sitting on the pantry shelf ever since.

See what my dear just brought for me .......

aren't they pretty??

my favourite flowers :)


Monday, February 22, 2010

My Top 5

I've got plenty of things that I want, but here are my top 5. It isn't easy to pick only the important and higher priority ones because I want alot of things, and I mean ALOT!

#5: I've been having my eyes on the MacBook Pro but when the new MacBook came out, I am caught in the middle, I cannot decide. What if I get the MacBook, but end up regretting not getting the Pro?? I mean I've always wanted the Pro. :)

#4: I know I just came back from a long break in Dec, yes I went home for a month, and another short one in the beginning of February; where my bf flew us over to Melbourne, since I've been wanting to go there :). but yes, I still want another holiday. Maybe this time, a beach resort :) like Bora Bora, hehe, ok okay, let's start small, hmmm, Fiji?

#3: Currently renting, it's not all that good you know, the rental prices solely depends on the owner, whether he wants to increase the price or not. I have been looking for a nice place that I can someday call home. Of course this would be a different home from HOME where my parents are :) and I want a nice KITCHEN, to do my cooking and baking, space to put my KitchenAid Mixer :) and other equipments. On another note, I am also looking for a food processor. I am keen on the KitchenAid one *faints, so pricey* , but was told that the Cuisinart is better, anyone knows? So, back to #3, to find a place I can someday call home and a nice big kitchen :) where? I have no idea. Sydney properties are so pricey. And I am looking at NEW please.

#2: I want a puppy!!! I grew up with dogs, and I miss them dearly. I used to have rotties :) They aren't ferocious or violent, they are such loving, loyal, funny and smart dogs, and they can protect you. I love them to bits, they were surely my bestfriends and will always be. They were always around when I needed to brighten my day, they never seem to fail to put a smile on my face :). So yes I want a puppy, what breed? No idea, currently thinking of a small dog, easier to manage and feed :) and CLEAN.

#1: You :) Yep yep, that won't change. I <3 you dear.

So here are my top 5 list of things. hehe

Have a good day.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Weekend is almost over..

Weekend is almost over..

I'm already missing it...blah...

My weekend was great and I had a fun time as usual :)

Did some cleaning up of the house too...BLAH

Had a fun night out last night..it has been a while.

Got to run now.

Friday, February 19, 2010

Weeee....it's Friday!

weeeee...it's Friday today :) but I'm feeling sleepy especially my eyes....

You've got no idea how much I am looking forward to the weekend.

I am sure I am not the only one :) hehee

So lately, I've been called a Grandma or a 40 year old lady even though, clearly I am not close to that at all. Did I mention that this year is MY year :) the year of the TIGER :) anyway, back to the topic, yes I've been called a grandma lately. Because all I do is just stay at home instead of out partying, or hanging out until the wee mornings. I just go out during the day time and probably dinner and then head home. I've been pretty glued to home lately.

I guess it is because my head is on the loose at the moment, so home makes me feel....that I can just let go of myself.

So tonight, hopefully the weather is good and isn't going to rain, even though forecast shows that it might rain today. bummer..then perhaps I'll head out tonight :)

On another note, to my dear, thanks.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Mindless Train Riders

To all train riders,

Is it so difficult for you to mind your own bags???

It isn't that hard to be mindful and aware of where your belongings are you know. Just don't hit people or keep jabbing people with your items.

It is pretty irritating and selfish.

This morning, in the train to work, this guy, didn't seem to know what's personal space, he stood so closely, it is invading, his stop hasn't even reached yet. Please, there's a certain distance for you to keep when you're standing next to someone, I can understand if the TRAIN is CROWDED. but it wasn't. MOVE ASIDE! What more to those who are just too oblivious when they have knocked someone and not apologise.

I do not understand why train riders are so impatient?? The door ain't going to close on you when people are still moving in and out of the train, dumbass! (please mind my language). Just wait for your turn.

And it isn't that hard to MOVE ASIDE while people are trying to GET OUT OF THE TRAIN, especially to those that just stand in the MIDDLE of the train door, how do you think people are going to get out!!

Where's your manners?? It is common sense!

It'll make things smoother if you just STAND ASIDE, and let people in the train to come out first, before PUSHING your way into the train.

Dear train riders, be patient! and be mindful of your own belongings.

You ain't the only person in the train okay!

I am sure many have had the same experience.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

I made some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!!


It's chewy and full of yummyness when you take a bite on it.

I decided to try one of Joy the Baker's recipe. I've never tried her recipes before, usually, I would only read her blog, but I decided that I couldn't resist this. And I am glad I tried it out! YUM

This is my version :)


The recipe actually makes around 5-6 batches of cookies. It is quite a fair bit of dough. I refrigerated the extra cookie dough for next time :)

In the recipe, it called for nutmeg, I omitted this. And it still tasted fine :)

Here's the recipe. I have make some changes, as I did not really follow her recipe steps word for word, as I felt it was a little too much work. I just wanted yummy simple and fast cookies. Enjoy.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (omitted)
225g (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup peanut butter- crunchy or smooth, but not natural
1 cup packed light brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup, as I did not want it to be too sweet, and it is enough)
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cup chocolate chips, whatever kind you have on hand
1/2 cup granulated sugar for rolling cookies (omitted)

1. Preheat to 175C. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt.

3. Using a stand mixer, beat the butter on medium speed for a minute or two, until smooth and creamy. Add the peanut butter and beat for another minute. Add the sugars and beat for 3 minutes more. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and, on low speed, add the dry ingredients, mixing only until they just disappear. Mix in the chocolate chips. You'll have a soft a pliable dough.

4. Using an ice cream scoop size of a tablespoon, scoop and place cookie dough on the  sheet, leaving 2 inches between them. Using a fork, make an impression on the cookie dough. 

5. Bake the dough for 12 minutes, the cookies will be lightly colored and still be a little soft. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a minute before transferring them to a cooling rack. Cool to room temperature.

6. Repeat with the remaining dough, making sure to cool the baking sheets between batches.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Chinese New Year at Rhodes Phoenix

Gong Hei Fatt Choy to all celebrating!!

This is a celebration with lotsa red colours. Most people will be dressed in red, and discouraged in wearing BLACK.

Those who are married would have to give out angpows to those who are not.

Because I am not back home, I missed out on that.

But thanks to my lovely cousin who got married recently for the angpow :) and of course to my parents too :)

It is the usual tradition where people will "lou yee sang".

It is actually fruits, vegetables, salmon or jelly fish with crackers mixed up in some sweet sauce.


Everyone will use a chopstick to wish for good things while tossing the yee sang.

  

Because I am not home, a bunch of us gathered on this special day for a Yum Char session at Rhodes Phoenix.

We had Dimsum :)

Though there were much more food than that, but we were all too engrossed in our food that I forgotten to snap photos before it was all gone.

Overall, it was quite pricey, but it was alright.



Sunday, February 14, 2010

Valentines at La Grillade

Hello All,

How was your Valentine's weekend?

For those who are chinese, coincidentally, it is also the first day of Chinese New Year.

Anyway, W* took me to a nice French restaurant in Crows Nest for our valentines. It is called La Grillade.

It is just a little place in the corner, but it was really nice ambience, ahhhh romantic.


You must go and check this place out. It was just OMG! yum!

Here's what we had, you can also check out the menu we had for the night.


We were served with some bread with chives and garlic butter.


We had a glass of ponte aurora rose prosecco.
 

As starters, we had Tasmanian scallops, moqueca & coconut (it was a little spicy, nothing cheesy)

As entrees, we had 3 choices, I choose the Prawn & chorizo stuffed squid with chive beurre on a bed of spinach.
  

and W had some Snails in the shell garlic butter (it was fresh, YUM!).
Before we started with our main, we were given a Lime sorbet with mint puree to cleanse our palate.
 
 
We both chose the Fresh half tail Australian Lobsters as main. It was really fresh not rubbery at all.

Dinner isn't done without desserts. Some seasonal fruits with chocolate fondue, pecan cream caramel, caramelised pecans, Chocolate terrine, passionfruit lollipops and Rasberry mousse.
My favourite was the Pecan cream caramel! OMG, the aroma of the pecan cream was awesome. 
We also had another glass of wine each :)
Finally, we had some tea and hot chocolate to finish it off.

Overall, it was such a great night with great food and of course with my valentine:)

I will definitely go back there again.

La Grillade Restaurant
118 Alexander St
Crows Nest NSW 2065, Australia
(02) 9439 3707

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Custard Rolls & Red Velvet

Hey I made some custard rolls 2 nights ago!

LOOK!


And my dear brother bought me Red Velvet :) my favourite cupcake :)

YUM!!
Such a sweet brother of mine :) hehehe, he always surprises me with my favourite cupcake.

Has anyone heard of Hostec before?

Has anyone heard of Hostec.com.au before for their Patisserie course? I know compared to Le Cordon Bleu, of course most would take LCB, but I am trying to open up my options.

Can anyone comment on this?

Or maybe you might know someone who is in Hostec.

Help.

Mind Boggling

I've got so much to blog, but just dont feel like blogging lately.

There are a couple of things on my mind that I need to sort out.

So usually I am pretty exhausted with all the mind-boggling lately.

I guess whenever I've got the chance to just lie down and do nothing, I would take every opportunity to just rest my poor head.

On the other hand, I made some Custard Rolls last night, will post them up soon okay. Just bear with me.

Hope you all are doing well.

Mum put up this picture of us during my brother's surprised birthday. hehe, the funny thing is most of us came in this colour, without any arrangements, I guess it was a red/orangey day for everyone :)

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

At a Crossroad

Honestly, I am at a crossroad.

I was given an opportunity of a lifetime, and I took it, but...

Have a good day everyone.

On another note, I just came back from a really short trip to Melbourne :) Will update on it on another post.

Thanks dear.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Baking Inspiration

You know usually baking recipes makes at least a dozen muffins/cupcakes/cookies...Usually it is too much for the 3 of us to finish off because I bake pretty much 3 times a week or so. So if I do the math correctly, that would generate at least 3-4 dozens of baking goodies per week. And guess what will that transform to if we gobble everything down..yes yes you've got the right answer - love handles :) hehehe.

There are times where I bring those treats to the office to share with my colleagues :) I think it is a good way to increase my confidence in my baking. So far so good, some feedback here and there, which is a great way for me to improve myself.

Anyway, so lately, Í've been inspired to make goodies just for 3 of us, and to also play around with what little creativity and knowledge I've got about baking. But surely, that isn't going to stop me from exploring and experimenting.

Be prepare and come check back once a while to see what I've got in store for you :)

Happy day people!

Love,
PassionateMae.

Monday, February 1, 2010

You've got to Love me.

Decided that I was pretty bored with the usual goodies I've been baking. So I tried using my creativity to whip up something.

Just that evening, I bought some glassware, just for my baking, and to decorate it so that it looks great and all :)

Come check out my  
Cheesecake Mess with Caramelised Strawberries 
(bananas, strawberries, cream cheese, oreos) 

 

End Results, the boys loved it. 

Slurrrp :)