Cooking up a storm

I used to bake before getting married. Cupcakes and Raya cookies. Very unlikely of me to be cooking dishes because nothing beats mom’s cooking. Since we got our own place, I had to cook most weekdays and Alhamdulillah had changed the husband’s taste of food. He’s not so much of a fussy eater to begin with except that he doesn’t eat fish with bones. Lucky for me that I do not have to deal with deboning fishes for meals. But I’m guilty of not cooking his favourite dish as often because it’s not my favourite. Hah. He accepted my cooking with ease and open arms mouth. So by now, I am safe to say that I am an expert on dishes such as different types of curry, lemak cili padi, vegetable dishes, tom yum, sambal goreng, sambal udang, etc. Could cook different types of mee too such as Mee Soto, Laksa, Bee Hoon Tauco, Kway Teow Goreng, Mee Goreng and Mee Bandung.

So yesterday for the first time, I whipped Sweet and Sour fish.

It’s so easy to learn how to cook a new dish as you can always google the recipes or even go to Instagram and Youtube to see how the dishes are being done. 

And also for the first time I did this Rojak Buah.

Okla play cheat a bit since I didn’t make the sauce from scratch. But it came all the way from Penang. Spicy and yummy.

I’m gonna tell myself to always always cook for my guests instead of buying food for them. 👩‍🍳 

10 years blog anniversary 🎉

Hey! My blog turns 10 today! Big 10! Although I believed that I began writing back in Sep 2008 but some entries and photos were removed because I chose not to remember them. So 26 Feb 2009 marked the ‘first’ entry made! Really glad that I started back with this blog in 2017. 

A lot has happened indefinitely and things changed for the better. Alhamdulillah. I’m not sure if my writing style has changed though but I know that I tried not to include photos of me but rather on stuff that reminds me of that particular post. In the past, you can see that besides happy and positive entries, there was quite a number of slightly negative, emotional entries especially those dating times eh. As much as I would like not to share the pessimistic side of life, can’t help but to have this avenue to spit out those feelings. 

I believe that I am the only reader (comment la if there’s anyone else) of my page though the statistics showed otherwise. The posts made were never intended to others but mainly for my own references, throwbacks and keeps. 

So here’s the list of entries that made it to my Favourites. Ready for major throwback? Go on click them!

2009 - ODD DAY, TRULY

2010 - 181ST POST ON A SUNDAY

2011 - PLUS ONE

2012 - CRUISING TO REDANG

2013 - THE BIG 3

2014 - THE BIRTH STORY

2015 - BEING A SAHM

2016 - NA (No entry was made)

2017 - HOME DECOR - MY FAVE PIECES

2018 - KRABI ITINERARY - 4D3N

It’s over 😭

Weekend’s over! Felt like such a marathon. Went to Mom’s yesterday and took her out impromtu to town. Just to Taka and back to her place. Guess she didn’t had enough ‘shopping’. Bumped into my childhood friend in the bus home. Glad that she’s doing good now. And asking about how my siblings doing now. 

Sis slept over so me and the husband went out early morning to get our weekly fruits. Alhamdulillah when we got back the boy’s all showered and ready for breakfast. Not sure where to go today but for sure the boy and the husband didn’t want to go out. Sis suggested to go Ikea so that I could buy the mirror which was on offer and she could get her gift for her colleague. And alamak I saw HS in the bus, so quickly messaged him. My heart was beating so fast probably cos I got so much to tell him. Glad to see him after 5 years?! 

Quite bad with the directions at Tampines but I love the Toys ‘r’ us there because of the stocks available. So we covered Tampines Mall, Tampines One and Century Square. Preferred Century Square the most because it’s a lot quieter. So while I was at Toys ‘r’ us called the husband and got to know that the kid’s ‘best friend’ (dinosaur) was ran over by a car. Quickly googled for the shop which I bought the dino from and found 1 on the 2nd floor of Century Square. Lucky for him there were still 4 pieces there! So got 1 for him and he’s so happy when I surprised him. Met the boys for dinner before going home. What a last weekend for February. Happy that I got to spend quality time with mom and sis and met those long lost friends. 😍

Got my mirror and bath mats (for Raya I hope) and saw the cute mini Ikea key pouch! Couldn’t resist and got 4 of them!

Kuih Keria

I’ve been wanting to eat Kuih Keria for the longest time. Although I always sees them at a stall at interchange, tak tergerak hati nak beli because those kuih like didn’t move (asyik banyak je). So I googled and was so determined to try to make them from scratch. Last time I wanted to eat kuih bakar lauk so bad that I cannot easily find them (kuih stalls or even at weddings) but knowing how tedious just to make it, I learnt to be patient and found them at Tampines interchange. And of course to my disappointment, it tasted hard and not the one I imagined or craved about. These PMS cravings are worse than my pregnancy ones.

After googling the recipes online, I found that making these kuih keria is rather simple and straightforward. So I tried making them last weekend. Everything was nice and going perfect until the last part of sugaring them. Ended up with a glazed kuih keria instead. Glazed with sugar syrup. Guess the instructions was not clear enough to cook the sugar syrup till almost dry so that you get those flaky sugar bits stuck to them.

Yesterday since the kid had his excursion, I was free the whole noon before the husband gets home. Tried making them again. These time I used Japanese sweet potato (was really sweet) and it was more tasty. Nervous when it comes to the sugaring part so I added more sugar than water. Ended up as sugar syrup again. 😏

Stared at the pan and decided to reheat the syrup on stronger flame and I got excited when the syrup thickened alot. Quickly throw the keria into the syrup and it became harder to stir.

Finally! 

The dough seemed alot better and easier to mould not sure if it’s because of the different sweet potatoes used. 🍠 

When the disappointment kicked in that I ended up with glazed kuih keria instead.

And finally! Alhamdulillah. Successfully made them keria!

Remembered that the 1st try was a failure yet we finished them up.

Haha such a content for keria making. 

A whole new world 🎶

The weekend’s coming to an end real soon! Tired although initially no plans yesterday. But since it’s the last weekend of February, I dragged the boys out to eat at Mad Jack! Hmmm now I know why we’re tired cos our weekend started on Friday! 

I had their chicken baked rice and it was sooooo cheesy!

Main reason was for this chocolate banana cake.

Hmm but I still prefer Secret Recipe’s.

Went to grab ingredients for Macaroni Soup and entah kenapa decided to make Kuih Keria.

Pancit after all the cooking on a weekend.

Saw Jasmine mini figure at Isetan but the husband wanted to get this Aladdin’s set instead.

Jasmine has got to be our favourite Disney Princess and we even had our names stamp with both their picture. For our wedding invite.

Loves this colourful Rangkinang from Penang! 💕

Went to a wedding today and they served fresh Goreng Pisang!

And the boy always always gets better wedding favours than us! 😍

A new crib 🏡

Yay! One thing’s done! Collected and delivered the housewarming gift to cousin! And got to see his new place. So happy for him! Here comes freedom! 😂

He even offered us ice cream and got us stuff to bring back! 

It’s just cousin being cousin. Always so giving.

Sayang this cousin a bit more because he did our wedding gubahan trays so beautifully! 

Still so fresh in my memories. 💕 

Can’t wait for his fully furnished home soon!

The sweetest ❤️

Yesterday the husband came home with a box of half dozen of Hokkaido cheese tarts.

And nagging about how long the queue was for Putu Piring still. So he settled for the tarts instead. But hey! Today he came home early with 2 boxes of Putu Piring! ❤️❤️

That’s my husband. The sweetest ever. Since back in our dating days (with reference to my blogposts), he’s been giving little2 stuff but meaningful and thoughtful. Like that cat money bank all the way from Bedok, tiny carebear in a box, Kate Spade phone cover which was ordered online, earpiece covers in hot pink for my Ipod, that random tiny bouquet of flowers. Countless of gifts! Couldn’t be thankful enough. Still remembered how he not only bought for me lunch at work but also for my girlfriends too.

May Allah bless him with abundance of rezeki and hopefully he knows that I am super grateful for everything he’s done for me and more.  🥰

Sunday Funday 😂

Was pleased that mom wanted to follow us back last night. Although the neighbours were quite loud at times, grateful that mom had a deep sleep - cos she was exhausted from her chores and walks at Gardens by the Bay. I wish I could muster her strength in me.

Couldn’t sleep in as Mom’s a morning person. So fried jemput2 ikan bilis and prepared Spaghetti for the boys. Dreaming of a relaxing Sunday after that when suddenly the husband’s best friend wanted to come over. I knew I had to cook for him as he came here for a few times and I had never ever cooked.

Bought groceries quickly and whipped Nasi Ayam with fried chicken and chap chye.

Alhamdulillah when we were all freshened up and had time to rest for a bit before he arrived. He stayed for about 3 hours before meeting up with his friend.

Grateful for this friendship that lasted for a lifetime (husband’s) and that he still made the effort to keep in touch and come over. 

He bought so many mini donuts for us. May Allah bless him with more rezeki. Amin

Besides those yummy donuts, he bought so many souvenirs from Swiss! 🇨🇭 

Love

So yesterday the husband came home with a surprise! In the fridge. Thought it would be normal ice-cream but was thinking of Polar Vday cake earlier in the day.

Opened the fridge and saw the red hot Swensens box.

Hmmm haven’t seen any Vday promo yet so had no idea what kind of cake inside.

Just when I thought that my celebration’s over, had another cake to cut!

Pretty pink cake with that yummy bear holding a heart flower. 💓 

Brought my present from the best friend out today! 👝

We brought Mom to Satay by the Bay since dad’s away.

What a walk and it was quite a rush too since it’s getting dark.

The nenek bought him a Glow in the dark T-shirt and I got him the book to complete his collection. Yay! 

The light show at the Supertree was on.

Beautiful night sky indeed. Alhamdulillah.

We were so lucky as we bumped into one of the otters. ☺️

Birthday is complete

Yay! Birthday celebration this year has completed. Met the best friends already and today had a quick birthday lunch with the Poly best friend. Yeap since 2001.

She got me a pink Cath kidston crossbody which is good for travels!

Happy and blessed with all my presents this year! 💕

1st day of Year of 🐷

It was such a long day today. Did not really planned where we wanted to go and everything was rather impromptu. Alright the initial plan was to staycay at Mom’s since sis will be at Batam. And probably go to Beauty World funfair for the boy.

Then suddenly bro called saying that he has a van and would like to do some visitings with the parents. Instead of totally rejecting his plans, we got him to send us to Mom’s but we won’t be following for the visitings. 

The boy wanted to have longer van ride so he decided to follow them instead.

That left us with not much of a plan.

Since the husband managed to confirm that A&F is opened today, we went over to restock his perfume. Lucky for him, he got a free bag with his purchase.

Then wanted to walk over to Ion when suddenly I remembered to redeem my birthday gift at MBS. So we headed there instead. What a crowd!

After collecting the gift, we bought cake and had it by the bay.

Yay! The husband bought me my fave daily lipstick from Chanel! 💕

After the kid’s back we actually brought him to the funfair still!

He took 4 rides in total! 

Dinosaur, ferris wheel, caged wheel and his first bumper car ride!

Snoring away now. What an eventful start to the Year of the Pig! 🐽 

Turning thirty-six

I am so blessed. Alhamdulillah. Just realised that usually for my siblings’ birthdays, we would go for JB staycations or celebrate at my place with proper decoration and goodie bags or desserts table. But for mine, we would gather at mom’s and request her to whip up a feast. No wonder it felt different this year.

We had lunch buffet at Seoul Garden (treat from bro) and then cake-cutting over at my place. Sis got me this CBTL fruity cake. Huge!

SIL got my duck instant shawl, cake spade and ice-cream scoop from Candylicious and snacks from Golden Duck! 

Sis and the parents got me LV! Yay! 💕

Turning 36 is not so bad but I received so many bouquets (probably the most) on a birthday.

Happy, blessed, thankful and definitely grateful. 🥰 

Grateful & thankful 💐

Such a long day today because I fried rice for the boys’ lunch right after Subuh. Went for the Solat symposium for 3 hours before meeting the girls for my birthday lunch celebration.

Over at Noosh. Since I’ve gotten my present from them in advance, didn’t expect to receive flowers today! Alhamdulillah. So pretty in pink.

What matters most is that I got to spend precious time with them on my birthday eve.

Loving my present and flowers from the best friends.

Yeap best friends since I was 7. 🥰

Loves the pink bouquet! 💕

Had pink bandung cake which tasted quite unique.

The boy told me over the phone that there’s a delivery for me and that the flower dropped.

Husband received this when I was away at the symposium.

Simply took my breath away. Rainbow baby breaths! 💕💕💕

From sis. Super thankful and grateful that I am so loved and for all the 99 roses, pink bouquet and rainbow baby breaths.

Alhamdulillah. 🤲

Di bulan Februari

Alhamdulillah! February’s finally here. Gotta be a long day tomorrow but of course looking forward to the super short week ahead. 

And yes not over my 99 roses still.

Too bad that I can’t share the video of the LED lights but here’s a pic of how the bouquet arrived. They could have provided with a better looking box.

Loves how slim I looked carrying the huge bouquet.

That’s not me definitely but the kid.

I’m so so lucky because while others would have received 99 roses for their proposals, I had mine for my birthday. 💕