Contact Me

Contact Me
Contact Me

Working Mom Blogger

Working Mom Blogger
Working Mom Blogger

Health & Wellness

Health & Wellness
Health & Wellness

 

 

Showing posts with label Friday Files. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Friday Files. Show all posts

Pandan Chiffon Cupcakes

I want to say "Thank you!" to Zoe from Bake for Happy Kids for her fail-proof chiffon cake recipe! Quoting Zoe, "If baking chiffon cake has been a daunting experience for you, I would highly recommend this recipe to overcome your fear of chiffon cake baking." It's true!

Also Karen from some flour, sugar n butter, thanks for your encouragement!

So, here are my very first Pandan Chiffon Cupcakes! My hubby, who eats no other cakes except chiffon cakes, gives me thumbs up! He says the moistness and airiness of these chiffon cupcakes are pretty good, not dry and coarse like those cheap chiffon cakes produced in bulks. Woohoo!


Pandan Chiffon Cupcakes

Recipe from Bake for Happy Kids.

Ingredients:
(Makes 12-14 cupcakes but I use bigger muffin paper cups, so I get 7-8 cupcakes)

(A) 6 pandan leaves, 3 tablespoons water, 1 teaspoon instant coconut powder

(B) 4 egg yolks, 3 tablespoons virgin coconut oil,
20g castor sugar

(C) 90g self-rising flour, 1/8 teaspoon baking powder

(D) 4 egg whites, 1/4 tablespoon cream of tartar, 50g castor sugar


How to:

Note: For detailed instructions, please refer Zoe's. I followed her instructions closely. 

1. Preheat oven to 170°C with a metal tray at the second lower position. Line 7-8 muffin paper cups with baking paper.

2. Get about 30ml of pandan juice by processing pandan leaves with 3 tablespoons water in a food processor. Add water and 1 teaspoon instant coconut powder to get 60ml of pandan mixture.

3. In a large mixing bowl, whisk egg yolks and virgin coconut oil. Add in pandan mixture and sugar. Whisk until sugar has melted and all are well combined. Sift flour and baking powder into the mixture and whisk well into a smooth batter. Set aside.

4. Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites and cream of tartar in low-medium speed until egg whites start to foam. Increase mixing speed and add sugar gradually in 3 additions. Whisk until the meringue is smooth and glossy, with stiff peaks.

5. Fold in the egg white mixture into the flour batter gently and in three batches. Make sure that the cake batter is well combined. Be careful not to over-mix the batter as over-mixing will deflate the air in the meringue.

6. Pour batter into the prepared muffin paper cups. Bake at 170°C for 10 minutes. Lower the temperature to 160°C and bake for another 20 to 25 minutes.

7. When the cupcakes are cooked, switch off the oven and leave the oven door ajar and let the cupcakes cool in the oven slowly.

8. Remove the cupcakes from the oven when the oven is cooled to room temperature.


Muffin paper cups lined with baking paper.


Pandan + Egg yolk + Flour batter


This is the first time I'm beating egg whites and castor sugar to get meringue at stiff peak. I hope I do it right. It takes more practices to perfect this skill.


Ready to be baked.


After 10 minutes.


After the cupcakes are cooled completely.


The crust is a bit too brown but not burnt. Phewww.


The insides.



The hubby takes a look, gives it a light press, and says, "Yep, that's chiffon cake's texture."

I'm so thrilled!!!


Photobucket

I'm linking this post to the event, Bake-Along #64: Theme - Chiffon Cake organized by Joyce from Kitchen Flavours, Lena from Frozen Wings, and Zoe from Bake for Happy Kids.

8

Kampua brunch fix @ Strawberry Restaurant, Bandar Puteri Puchong

Food brings people together. How true! After a little exchange of conversation on Facebook over Sarawak's humble yet famous noodles dish known as kampua, I made new friends today over our kampua brunch fix!

Note: Kampua means dry noodles, a bit similar to Klang Valley's wantan mee.

Let me say "Hi!" again to Annie and Esther! Thanks to Uncle Arthur Wee, you started all this. Hahaha!

Venue: Strawberry Restaurant, Jalan Puteri 2/2, Bandar Puteri Puchong (behind Station One Kopitiam)

"White" Kampua

Literally translated from Chinese, it means dry noodles tossed without soy sauce. I love the pork slices, they are very authentic. If I'm in the mood for some doses of spiciness, I will mix chili sauce with the noodles. :D

"Black" Kampua

 Literally translated from Chinese, it means dry noodles tossed with soy sauce. :)

Fried Kampua

I have never tried fried kampua before. My hubby commented that this dish tasted like maggi goreng. Not bad!

Piansip

I haven't eaten this for almost 14 years! I'd describe piansip as chee cheong fun stuffed with pork and drizzled with oil.


4

The Soup Spoon


After months of waiting, finally I have the chance to drop by The Soup Spoon in Singapore.


Simon and Garfunkel Chicken and Mushroom Ragout (bowl)

Main ingredients: Chicken, portobello mushroom, shitake mushroom, button mushroom, oyster mushroom, abalone mushroom, enoki mushroom, potato, carrots, herbs


Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme - as the album Scarborough Fair/Canticle released by Simon and Garfunkel goes. This Ragout pays tribute to one of the most influential groups of the bygone era. Yes, this rich, creamy stew is filled with marinated chunks of chicken cooked together with the infamous herbs and 6 types of mushrooms including the woodsy Portobello, smooth Oyster and Abalone Mushroom, the oriental Enoki and Shitake, and the ever popular Button Mushroom. These four herbs are known for their mood enhancing abilities with a wide range of cleansing and protective properties. Sage eases indigestion, Rosemary is anti-inflammatory, Thyme a good expectorant, and Pasley a power antioxidant. Need any more convincing?



Beef Goulash (bread bowl)

Main ingredients: Beef, shitake mushroom, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, onions


Prime beef cut stewed with the infamous paprika and loaded with starchy vegetables to make it a meal in itself.



0

Capricciosa's FREE Squid Ink Pasta


Do you know that Capriciossa Pasta & Pizza Malaysia is running a "magic show" whereby they make one Squid Ink Pasta magically appear for FREE with any spaghetti ordered?

Note: Limited time only.

Pepperonccini with Steamed Chicken

This is a classic dish - spaghetti sauteed in olive oil with garlic, red pepper and topped with chicken and chopped parsley.

Squid Ink Spaghetti with Calamari and Onions

Black and gooey! It doesn't look very appetizing at a glance but taste wise, it's really not too bad.

Caesar Salad

A refreshing plate of greens and crunchy croutons with bacon bits and cheesy goodness.

Sicilian Rice Croquette with Savory Meat Sauce

This fancily named dish sounds and looks interesting.

When you "crack" the ball, you can see rice and peas...

... and melted cheese! 

****************************** 



0

Movie: A Good Day to Die Hard (2013)

Like father. Like son. Like hell!

A Good Day to Die Hard (2013) is the fifth movie in the Die Hard movie series.

Synopsis: John McClane (Bruce Willis) flies to Moscow to help his seemingly wayward son Jack (Jai Courtney) in a Russian prison, but discovers that Jack is a CIA operative out to stop a nuclear weapons heist. Now father and son are forced to put aside their differences and battle the Russian underground forces to stop a war.

I couldn't recall how Bruce Willis was like in his previous Die Hard movies as John McClane. I guess he must be quite a memorable character. However, in this fifth movie, I don't really see an impressive McClane in terms of character development.

But, if you're looking for really bad-ass action sequences and stunts, you'll get what you're looking for. In fact, the factors that save this movie from getting too monotonous are the super high-octane actions after actions, be it high-speed car chases, gun fights, and bombings; and a lot of double-crossings and unexpected triple-crossings. 

Then, get ready to listen to cheesy lines between father and son and lots of asinine family bits as they struggle to work together as a team. I guess in the next Die Hard (if there is), we'll see junior McClane replacing senior McClane? I don't know. 

In the end, A Good Day to Die Hard is just another adrenaline-pumping action flick with two heroes who could survive all sorts of accidents, [minor spoiler] including one that involves a burning helicopter.

Having said that, if you're a Bruce Willis fan, you won't want to miss seeing him in action at this age. :)

3

Movie: Here Comes the Boom (2012)

One teacher still believes in fighting for his students.

Here Comes the Boom (2012) is a sports-action-comedy movie directed by Frank Coraci.

Synopsis: Scott Voss (Kevin James) is a lazy and uninspired 42-year old biology teacher at Wilkinson High School who's trying his best to date the school nurse Bella Flores (Salma Hayek). One day, his colleague, music teacher Marty (Henry Winkler) almost loses his job when the school decides to cut off the music program due to budget cutbacks.

Voss attempts to raise the $48,000 necessary to keep the music program alive. While working as a night instructor for a citizenship class, he meets Niko (Bas Rutten) and finds out about mixed martial arts (MMA) fights. He learns that the loser gets to win a lot of money. As a former collegiate wrestler, Voss is convinced that he could join the fights to raise money and save Marty's job. In the end, Scott gains something he never expected as he becomes a sensation that rallies the entire school.

I usually avoid this movie genre - an underdog who rises against all odds and inspires people despite how silly or impossible the situation is. I find it unbelievable because it's not gonna happen in real life. So why bother?

But, after watching this movie, I find that having massive feel-good influx is good for the soul. Yes, in real life Voss would have been killed while contending with those trained-for-life MMA fighters.

However, if we are willing to put aside common sense and just enjoy the moments of how a selfless act could produce so much positive impact to the life of people around you, you will feel so inspired.

Note: The movie has notable air of authenticity due to real Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) branding, e.g. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg as themselves (commentators) and cameos from real-life UFC fighters.

In summary, I'd say this is a heartwarming sports-action-comedy movie that will keep you engaged - laughing at the funny moments and biting your lips during Voss' fights - from beginning till the end. In the end, you will have lots of feel-good mojo.

2

Fill in the Blank Friday - Some recent factoids


This week's post for my Fill in the Blank Friday series.

1. My best quality is that I'm fiercely loyal, but I limit my loyalty to people and things that matter in my life. 

2. One of my less flattering qualities is that I'm too full of empathy. Empathy is the power of identifying, understanding, and imaginatively entering into another person's situation, feelings, and motives. I guess I'm too full of imagination so some people get turned off. 

3. I'd rather be singing than be sighing. I remember this line from a church hymn. 

4. Something I have been challenged with lately is to take it easy and don't stress myself about how-difficult-it-is-to-get-pregnant. I gotta believe all is in God's good hands and timing. 

5. I am looking forward to celebrating Christmas! This would be my first Christmas as a wife! The hubby and I are going to hunt for our first Christmas tree soon. :) 

6. A super random factoid about me is I have my first taste of beer and vodka when I was 28 years old. 

7. I want to make a blueberry cheesecake and roast a chicken with vegetables and herbs!

2

Fill in the Blank Friday - Likes & loves


Belated post for my Fill in the Blank Friday series.

1. I like to stay around and with people who appreciate me and make me extremely contented, at ease, and happy, i.e. my husband, parents-in-law, best buddies. They make me laugh from the bottom of my heart.

2. A life goal of mine is to be a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM) but still be able to contribute financially to our household income.

3. The last thing you would ever expect me to like (even though I secretly do) is camwhoring. Do you believe it? LOL!

4. Some wise words that I love are quotes from famous authors. This is my current favorite, "Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness." - Frank Tyger

5. Most mornings you will find me sipping coffee while browsing through Facebook statuses and reading blogs I'm following.

6. Right now I am super into reading pregnancy blogs. Baby lust, you know. I really need some baby dust. ;)

7. Right now I am super over about trying to be and do everything because it doesn't make sense to cause myself stressed out while doing so.

2

Movie: Paranormal Activity 4 (2012)

All the activity has led to this...

Paranormal Activity 4 (2012) is the fourth movie in the Paranormal Activity film series. It's also the sequel to Paranormal Activity 2 (2010).

P.S.: Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) serves as a prequel, set in 1988, and it explains the origin of the malevolent supernatural entity in the first two movies.

So, the tagline "All the activity has led to this..." is pretty apt.

Synopsis: After killing her boyfriend Micah, sister Kristi, and Kristi's husband Daniel, Katie (Katie Featherston) disappeared with her nephew Hunter. Their whereabouts remain unknown. Five years later, Katie and a mysterious boy named Robbie (Brady Allen) are seen in a suburban neighborhood. A teenage girl Alex (Kathryn Newton) and her younger brother Wyatt (Aiden Lovekamp) befriend Robbie. One day, Katie is suddenly admitted to the hospital. Alex's mom takes Robbie into their home and since then, strange activities begin to happen in the house.

This movie would definitely be enjoyed by "die-hard" fans of the previous movies in the franchise. The directors commented that they featured a new scare technique, of footage being shown from a laptop in a video chat, which would rival the 'fan cam' from previous movies. [via]

The video chat scare technique is not that bad. But overall, this movie seems to be the "safest" compared to the first three movies, i.e. it's not as scary. The ending is a bit abrupt and you get this, "Huh, that's it?" feeling when the camera pans out.

I heard there's a fifth movie coming out in October 2013. Let's see what story will they give us.

2

Fill in the Blank Friday - Do, Did, Done


Belated post for my Fill in the Blank Friday series.

1. Something I swore I'd never do, but have ended up doing anyway is lusting after "affordable luxuries", i.e. branded handbags; my current favorite being Coach.

2. Something I've always wanted to do is to be my own boss!

3. Something I have absolutely no desire to ever do is any form of adrenaline-pumping activities, e.g. white water rafting, jungle trekking, and whatever activities that demand extreme physical efforts. NO WAY.


4. The best thing I ever did was planning our own wedding. We managed to do it within budget and didn't start our life as husband and wife in debt. Note: Wedding in Malaysia is an expensive affair, of which we refuse to succumb to temptations whatsoever. Wedding is but for ONE DAY, marriage is for a LIFETIME.

5. When it comes to trying new things, I am and can be quite reluctant; well, it all depends on what those new things are. I'm a sucker for familiar and comfortable routines. Hahaha!

6. One thing I've never done is going topless during beach holidays, but hmmm... it's an idea worth considering, especially if we have a little private beach stretch for ourselves. :P

7. My favorite thing to do is spending every remaining hours of the day with my hubby. We work and drive separately (Malaysian traffic is insane) for almost 14 hours a day (Monday to Friday); so we try to have dinner together as much as we can.


0

Movie: Silent Hill: Revelation 3D (2012)

Silent Hill: Revelation 3D is the sequel to the horror movie Silent Hill (2006).

Synopsis: Heather Mason / Sharon Da Silva (Adelaide Clemens) and her father Harry/Christopher (Sean Bean) are on the run from a cult group that wants her back to Silent Hill, but Heather does not fully understand the entire situation. When her father is kidnapped by the cult group, she is determined to come to Silent Hill to save him and learn the truth about herself and the nightmares that haunted her for so long...

I'm not a gamer, so I'm not aware of the existence of the Silent Hill video game series until recently. Anyway, one doesn't have to be a fan of the video game series to enjoy the thrill ride through "hell" conveyed by this movie.

The visuals are dark and creepy; and the atmosphere of gloominess and uneasiness as expected from a video game adaptation is always heavy in the air. 

In fact, this movie somehow reminds me of A Nightmare of Elm Street - horrific nightmares, imagination versus reality, monsters, and everything scary.

In a nutshell, do add this horror flick to your movies-for-Halloween list. It may not be the best horror movie this year but it has its fair share of scares and horror to scare non-horror movie goers. :)

0

Fill in the Blank Friday - Relax & No Stress


Belated post for my Fill in the Blank Friday series.

1. One thing I plan on doing to relax this weekend is to snuggle in bed with the husband, with him sleeping away like a baby; and I, reading the book that I'm currently reading - Mockingjay, the final book of The Hunger Games.

2. A big pet peeve of mine is when people park their car BEHIND my car (we call it double-parking in Malaysia) without leaving any contact details on their dashboard. I have no way to alert the car owner except pressing my car honk repeatedly until the idiot appears. It's fine if they leave some form of contact, at least I can give them a courteous call and tell them I need to move my car.

3. I am really loving the idea of having my own baby next year. I'm not pregnant yet but the idea of venturing into motherhood is getting more and more real each day. :)

4. The rain is calming if I'm safe and sound at home, and it's kind of a nuisance if I'm driving on the road.

5. My favorite girly indulgence is my weekly home body spa using the Galvanic Spa kit, ageLOC Body Spa gel, and Dermatic Effects Lotion.
 

6. A song I always get stuck in my head is none. I'm not a song person, I forget them pretty quickly.

7.  The best cure for stress is reading. I will just grab a book, sit or lie down, and read.


2

Fill in the Blank Friday - Randomness


Today's post for my Fill in the Blank Friday series.

  1. My favorite flower is and shall forever be, the sunflower. I've always love gazing at these tall, cheerful yellow flowers with a seedy face, especially on bright, sunny days in the garden. Sorrow will turn into joy miraculously and spontaneously! Sunflowers always direct their face towards the sunlight. This inspires me to look to the bright side of whichever gloomy situation. Ain't this a sweet way Mother Nature uses to remind us to be happy? From my previous blog post back in 2010.

  2. You should never talk about too much personal stuff to people whom you think are friends. Sometimes they might use back what you say against you; sometimes they are in fact, snitches; and most of the time, they fantasize their own assumptions that lead to ugly misunderstanding. I have had my fair share of such misfortune this quarter of the year. I'm still recuperating.

  3. My favorite discovery as of late is that we are sharing things online for two main reasons: connection and expression. Results are from the 2012 Global State of Mobile Etiquette and Digital Sharing survey by Intel.

    Top online sharing pet peeves: Profanity; shorthand language; mundane details; inappropriate info share with co-workers; poor spelling and grammar; explicit photos; constant complaining; controversial topics; bragging; private info; sharing only about one subject.


    Top reasons why people are sharing online: It's a habit; to share what cannot be shared openly in other settings; to make new friends; so that other people can learn more about me; to find other people with common interests or hobbies; to keep others informed about what is going on in my life; to express my opinions or make a statement; to feel connected with others; to stay informed with what others are doing.

    The most popular places around the world people are sharing: Vacation; eating a meal with others; sporting event; hospital; bathroom; child's activity; concert venue; movie theater; airplane; wedding; gym; on a date; religious venue; business meeting; funeral.


  4. This fall you will probably find me wearing ummm... there's no fall in Malaysia, so I will still be wearing my normal day-to-day attire, mainly a simple top, my favorite jeans, and flats.

  5. I wish I were sitting at a hair saloon, getting my hair trimmed, and pampering myself with hair and scalp treatment. This is a much-needed and long overdue treat for myself.

  6. My favorite TV show currently is surprisingly, none. I don't watch TV shows. I watch movies at the cinema.

  7. This weekend I want to get the Oktoberfest 2012 limited edition 1L Tiger mug! My hubby and I have the 2010 and 2011 mugs. :)

4

20 How to Eat Your Bacon Ideas

6