Germany Butter Cookies 德国酥饼

31.1.13 (Thurs)

Yesterday, I saw a church friend posted a recipe on facebook and it looked interesting..So, I asked for the recipe and baked it today..It's pretty easy and this round, I used a better quality butter, Anchor butter.

Ingredients

250g butter

80g icing sugar
250g potatoes starch
100g self raising flour

Methods
1. Mix butter and icing sugar into the electric mixer, blend well.

2. Add potatoes starch and flour, mix into dough.
3. Roll the dough into small balls, flatten with fork. (I used the cookie press set)
4. Preheat the oven to 170C  and bake for 15-20 mins.
**I also put sugar stars on it to make the cookie looked beautiful.

As usual, I only baked 50% of the ingredients and made 50 cookies.

Cameron Organic Produce S/B 金马伦有机火锅

Before we went for our Cameron Highlands trip, I have been asking around and also googling for the famous steamboat restaurant in Brinchang..Some of our friends couldn't remember which restaurant they went to..all they could remember were the organic ingredients and also the charcoal steamboat..Finally, we decided to go to this restaurant, Cameron Organic Produce S/B 金马伦有机火锅 , recommended by Axian, 阿贤..

 

This restaurant is famous of its organic vegetables and charcoal steamboat..The place is usually crowded during dinner hours, hence, it's better to make booking..It's quite easy to locate the shop as it was just right opposite the Rosa Passadena Hotel.

 

We ordered the chicken soup steamboat, for 3 pax (RM20/pax)..yep..you must be shocked for the portion, but our 2 kids, they eat like an adult..so we could finish all the ingredients without any problem..hehe!

 

The vegetables were very fresh and sweet..Other ingredients were fishballs, prawns, chicken meat, squids, tofu, organic mihun, eggs and etc..You could also order other side dishes with reasonable prices..As compared to the steamboat I had in Klang, this steamboat tasted a bit light 清淡, and you won't get thirsty after that..We enjoyed our dinner, especially Ian, whose tummy looked like a mini basketball!

 

 

 

Verdict out of Five (5*):
 

1. Quality of food: 5

2. Ambiances: 3 (old shop)

3. Audiences: 4 (Mostly were tourists)

4. Price: 3 (a bit pricy)

5. Services: 3

6. Hygiene: 3

 

Cameron Organic Produce Sdn Bhd

MDCH 10, Bandar Baru,

39100 Brinchang,

Cameron Highlands,

Pahang.

Tel: 05-4914807 / 5011 



GPS Cordinates
Latitude: 4.49818 Longitude: 101.389641

2D1N Family trip to Cameron Highlands 19/1 - 20/1/13

19.1.13 (Sat)

This was our first family trip for the year..and it was a hotel stay cum spa package purchased by my hubby in Dec'2011..also our 3rd hotel stay experience with YTL. (2009 - Tembok Bali, 2010 - Ritz Carlton, 2013 - Cameron Highlands Resort)

We departed from Kulim to Cameron Highlands around 10.30am and reached the hotel, Cameron Highlands Resort (CHR) around 2pm++ (using the Simpang Pulai route)..Journey was quite smooth and the 2 kids were behaving well..After checked in, the hotel assistant shown us around the hotel..indeed, it was a small luxury hotel..and we loved our room! Our spa massage has been postponed to the next day..so we changed our plans and decided to visit some farms before going for steamboat in Brinchang town..

While driving to Brinchang, we saw the sighboard pointing to Rose Centre..so we decided to check it out..Entrance fee was RM5/adult & RM3/Kid (4-12yrs old)..But we felt liked kena tipu coz the flowers were not blossom and it was really tiring, carrying both kids on arms up the staircase..

 

Next, we went to the EQ Strawberry Farm, next to the Equatorial Hotel and hoping we could pluck our own strawberry..Unfortunately, we were too late coz the person in-charged informed us that they had reached their quota today, and asked us to try tomorrow..we bought 2 sticks of strawberry chocolate for RM2/each, Abby liked it so much! Then, we went to the next destination, S'Corner Central Market..you could find strawberry, mushroom, pearl honey corn and souvenirs here..

We went for early dinner (initial booking at 8pm) at this famous steamboat restaurant, Cameron Organic Steamboat 金马伦有机火锅 in Brinchang, recommended by Axian, 阿贤..The price was RM20/pax and the ingredients including 10 types of organic vegetables, prawns, meats, fishballs, tofu, eggs, organic mihun and squids..We ordered the chicken soup base..As compared to the steamboat restaurants in Klang, I wld say this one tasted a bit light清淡, and it was delicious..especially having so many types of vege! When we were about to leave, the crowd began to come..so it's better to make booking first..plz click here for a separate blog on this.

After dinner, we went to the local night market, opens every Sat & Sun to look see look see..There were so many stalls, and mostly selling the same things, ie strawberry, corns, honey, fried mushrooms etc..we bought 3 boxes of strawberries for RM30, and 8 pearl corns for RM10 before returning to the hotel and called it the night.

20.1.13 (Sun)
Next morning, we woke up pretty early for the breakfast, and spa massage session..We had a sumptuous breakfast! Though it was not buffet style, but we could ordered as many as we can eat from the ala-carte menu..and they served fresh orange juice, squeezed straight from the fruit with no added sugar! Unfortunately, my spa massage session was at 9am and hubby's at 10am, hence, I couldn't really sit back and relax, enjoying my breakfast..

I sneaked out (so that Ian won't see me and wanting to follow) of the dining place and went to the spa village, leaving behind hubby and the 2 kids, continue having their breakfast..I was greeted by the nice lady, and she served welcome tea with a warm scented towel..It was a 50minutes spa massage and I chose the Aroma therapy..very soothing and relaxing!

When it was hubby's turn, I brought the 2 kids along and they were very excited, seeing hubby enjoying the tea bath ritual, it was a complimentary treatment by Spa Village YTL (I had to miss this due to unexpected reason, and I missed the ritual bath in Bali too, coz I was pregnant, not advisable to go for it, sob sob)..We also got a welcome bag worth RM100 from them.

We checked out around 1230pm and went to the EQ strawberry farm again to try our luck..It was a lil drizzling..We managed to pluck the strawberries for RM25/half kg and Abby was very excited..It was an enjoyable experience for her..We also stopped by Kea farm to get more pearl corns before heading back to Kulim.

On our way back, we stopped by this place called Blue Valley Flowers Farm..You could find fresh vegetables here, and we bought 2 lettuce romaine for RM2/each..(I fried it for dinner and it was really sweet!) But, the road here was a lil dangerous coz of the steep hill..so beware.

We also stopped by another farm (can't remember the name, but it was near the Blue Valley Flowers Farm, and famous for grape plantation)..Here, you could find big vineyard, full of grapes..hubby was attracted by the big grape and we bought 2 boxes of them (RM15/half kg)..but, it was not as sweet as we expected it to be..

Journey home was smooth as well, but tiring, especially for the driver, my hubby..hehe..Nonetheless, we had a good trip and all of us, especially the kids, enjoyed very much! Can't wait for the next trip in February!

Ong Cheng Huat Seafood 王清發海鲜

27.1.13 (Sun)
Chinese New Year is two weeks away from now! Today, together with some church friends, we went to a seafood restaurant - Ong Cheng Huat Seafood王清发海鲜, in Bagan Lallang for a CNY pre-celebration lunch..This restaurant was not located at the main road or shop lots..It's actually inside a housing area, or I should say a kampung area and luckily, there were some signboards to lead you. Here's the location and recommended by 阿贤。

We reached there about 12.30pm and the car park was fulled of cars..Lunch hour was actually the peak hour, and it would better to make a booking in order to have a table to dine in..There were 11 of us and we ordered 7 dishes..and thanks to CT for the yee sang!

Fried Mihun, one of the popular dish

香炸童子鸡，another must have dish!

白灼八爪鱼

清蒸蛤蜊

鲜虾薄饼， 非常脆

炒虾羔

清蒸红鱼，非常新鲜，肉很甜

鱼生

The service here was really fast..you get the food served in short time..perhaps people come here for their signature dishes, so they have pre-prepared them in bulk..Another specialty would be the 椰花酒..hubby said if you drink it chill, it tasted like 100Plus..All the food tasted yummy and delicious, most importantly, we had a good fellowship amongst each other..The price was quite reasonable, the bill came to RM180++.

Verdict out of Five (5*):

1. Quality of food: 5

2. Ambiances:3

3. Audiences:5 (Full house)

4. Price: 5

5. Services: 5

6. Hygiene: 3

 

 

Ong Cheng Huat Seafood王清发海鲜

2004, Bagan Lallang,

13400 Butterworth, Penang.

 

04－3314782 / 012－4535188

Business hours: 11AM-5PM

CLOSED ON MONDAY

 

Strawberry Cupcakes

22.1.13 (Tues)

We bought lots of strawberries from our Cameron Highlands trip and Abby has been eating them almost everyday..Once again, I flipped through my baking book and found a recipe on strawberry..and it was almost 7pm that time..Since hubby was not back from work yet, so I decided to bake right away!

Ingredients

100g self-raising flour

50g butter

70g castor sugar

6 strawberries

1 beaten egg

Grated rind from 1 lemon (optional)

Filling

6 tbsp low fat strawberry yogurt OR butter icing (50g butter + 50g icing sugar, use an electric hand mix to beat until smooth)

**I used whipped cream instead (100ml whipped cream + 1 tsp castor sugar + 1 tsp instant custard powder, use an electric hand mix and beat until smooth)

Method

1. Cut a big strawberry into segments. Cut the rest into small dices.

2. Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy and colours turn white. Gradually add in beaten egg. Sift self raising flour into the mixture and fold in by 2 times. Then add in lemon rind and diced strawberries. Mix well.

3. Spoon mixture into a muffin tin lined with paper cases. Bake in a preheated oven at 190 degree celcius for 15 minutes until well risen and golden brown in colour. Test readiness and transfer to cool on rack.

4. Cut a think slice from the surface of each cake using a serrated knife. Cut the slice into two halves. Fill top of the cake with a little yogurt or butter icing. Secure the two half pieces of sliced cake pieces on top of the yogurt or butter icing like buttefly wings. Place a strawberry segment in between wings as decorations.

**Using low fat yogurt provide an option which is as delicious as butter icing, yet healthier. Be mindful taht yogurt should not be placed at room temperature so should be served right away.

Banana Walnut Cake

23.1.13 (Wed)

Last Sunday, my sister in-law brought back a bunch of bananas from Klang for us..it was given by my mum in-law, for the kids to eat..according to her, the bananas were very sweet! oh well..hubby and I were not banana lovers..and though these 2 kids loves banana, but they can't finish them..In order not to waste the bananas (too ripe after 4 days)..I quickly flipped through my baking book and ta-da..I found a recipe on banana cake..

Ingredients

125g self raising flour

1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda

50g margarine

2 squashy bananas

75g castor sugar (can reduce the sugar portion as teh banan has its sweetness too)

1 beaten egg

1/4 tsp vanilla essence

1/8 tsp ground cinnamon (I didn't use this, instead, I added the walnut)

Method

1. Line loaf tin with baking paper. Sift self raising flour ground cinnamon and bicarbonate.

2. Place margarine and castor sugar in a mixing bowl. Beat until sugar dissolves and mixture becomes fluffy and turns pale white. Add in beaten egg gradually, a little at a time and beat very well. Then add in vanilla essence for a thorough mix.

3. Peel banana, cut into slices and mash into a pulp. Add mashed banana into the flour mixture and mix well. Fold in sifted dry powdery ingredients by 2 additions.

4. Scrape the mixture into the lined loaf tin and bake in a preheated oven at 180 degree celcius for 30-40minutes until well risen and golden brown. Test readiness and cool on a rack.

**If a muffin tin is used, baking time is 15-20minutes.
 

My kitchen smells like banana when the cake was in baking process..and happy to see that the final product was successful..While baking, Abby kept asking me," Mummy, whose birthday? Abby's birthday ah?" And once the cake was done, both kids were so eager to sing the birthday song and blow the candle..funny..



Mummy, can we eat now?

Mouth filled!

Karaoke session but turned out to be a Birthday celebration

13.1.13 (Sun)

Sunday School today was pretty tiring..coz I gotta helped out in Praise & Worship, other than the teaching part..and today's attendance was not good, only 7 kids turned up..and we had to combine the class..Hubby praised me for my interesting and interactive story telling today..(I was telling story about the "Good Samaritan")

 

After SS, we went to Track7 Karaoke at Sunway Carnival with CT, Eunice & Grace..It was organised by me few wks back but unfortunately, some of our church friends couldn't make it..anyhow, the Karaoke session still went on..and it was the kids' first karaoke experience!

 

It has been 3 years + (if not mistaken) since I last went to Karaoke..we had a big room with 4 microphones..the price was RM19++ (with membership) for 3 hrs, 2 free drinks and it was compulsory to purchase 3 bowls of tid-bits..the first song we sang was 在我的歌声里 by Wanting Qu..haha!

While the adults were singing, both Abby & Ian were happily munching on the tid-bits! Once a while, they will stood up and danced along with the songs..and the funniest part was when we played the song "Gangnam style"..Ian was so excited and he made some funny dance moves that really made us laughed till drop! Check this out!

30min before we called it a day..the karaoke assistant brought in a cake and I knew it was for me! However, I didn't expect it..later I knew, it was an idea given to my hubby by CT..so I had an early birthday celebration with them and it was heart warming! On top of it..I had 2 very useful and thoughtful presents, another out of expectation gifts..(coz I thought I wld only receive gift from my hubby..hehe)  

Ian was so tired that he fell asleep on the sofa..

Thank you CT, Eunice, Grace, Racheal, Wooi Leng & most importantly, my hubby!

Chicken Mushroom Soup

I learnt to make this soup from one of our church (Gospel Hall) member, Aunt Alice, her signature soup..We get to drink the soup almost every Chinese New Year..and my hubby liked it very much..so he requested me to learn it from Aunt Alice..It was a pretty easy recipe.

Ingredients:

2 cans of Campbell Chicken & Mushroom soup

1 can of button mushroom, cut into small pcs

3 onions, cut into small pieces

6-7 garlics, cut into small pieces

1 roasted chicken, preferrably black pepper flavour, shredded (you can get it from Tesco/Giant)

3/4 can of Fresh cream milk (using the empty Campbell soup can, and i used only 3/4 can)

1 can of water (using the empty Campbell soup can)

Pinch of black pepper

Proportion: 2 cans of Campbell soup: 1 can water: 1 can fresh cream milk

Methods:

1. Stir fry the garlic, onions & button mushroom.

2. Heat up the Campbell soup (with water). Add in (1) and combined well.

3. Add in the roasted chicken and stir well.

4. Sprinkle the black pepper, stir well.

5. Pour in the fresh cream milk and stir well till it is well cooked. Ready to serve.

Serving: 4 pax. (big bowl)

A tribute to Zhai Zhai 仔仔, my faithful dog

8.1.2013 (Tuesday)

Today while I was on my way to pick up Abby from Kindy, my mum called and told me a sad news..my dog, Zhai Zhai, was put to sleep, ie euthanasia (安乐死) this morning, around 11am at the vet..I couldn't hold my tears, and I cried while driving..We had treated Zhai Zhai as part of our family and now, he has left us! 

Initially, my sister wanted to bring Zhai Zhai to the vet for checking (lately, his private part was bleeding non-stop and had slimmed down alot)..but the vet told her that Zhai Zhai had venereal disease and his liver was swollen..chances of living was low eventhough with medication..We knew that all these while, he was in pain due to this problem, but we didn't expect it to be so serious! After listening and considering the vet's professional advices, my mum made the hardest decision, to let him go! Non of us wanted this to happen, especially he has been with us for more than 10yrs+..We had deep feelings for each other..It had been a moody and sad day for my family and I, especially to my sister, who was with him during his very last second!  

If I was not mistaken, Zhai Zhai joined our family in year 2002, my father brought him back from somewhere..he was just a few months old puppy..and I was responsible for taking care of him..I still remembered feeding him milk using the milk bottle & bathing him every week without fail, taking him to the vet for vaccination or when he was sick..and we allowed him to roam around inside the house..not forgetting the need to clean his urine/shit inside the house! 

Zhai Zhai was an obedient dog..he was pretty good at barking when he came across any strangers or noticed any strange incidents..However, we could only taught him 2 tricks - Sit & Shake hands..lol..and donno why, most of the dogs were afraid of thunders and fire crackers..Whenever Zhai Zhai heard of the sound of both things, he would squeeze himself through the door and hide under the table inside the house..and whenever we went for long holidays, he would guard the house faithfully.. 

Eversince I moved up to Kulim in year 2009, my sister took over my job for taking care of Zhai Zhai..and she did a good job! I was not sure if he had missed me for the past 3 years..but whenever I went back to the house, he was there to welcome me with his wagging tail..Both Abby & Ian were not afraid of him also! 

It is not easy to have a dog that is as obedient as Zhai Zhai..I guessed, we will not have dog for the moment until we are ready mentally. 

 

R.I.P Zhai Zhai!



We always commented that Zhai Zhai had some Labrador gene in him..such a handsome boy!




He liked to climb up the chair and relax



Zhai Zhai - our best friend!



This happened only when he wanted us to bring him for a walk (to pee/shit),  scared of thunders and fire crackers..



Taken with Zhai Zhai in year 2007



Two of our dearest members had left us - Dad in year 2007 & Zhai Zhai  in year 2013!