Another Trial and Error Story

Good morning peeps. Finally, Blogger has returned to its normal self. I was trying very hard to update my entry yesterday but to no avail.

I want to share a recipe which was done some time last week. You see, I was invited to an engagement ceremony of a distant cousin. The story was, this relative of mine held a wedding reception for his son the week before. Due to my father's health condition, he couldn't make it to the ceremony. As a result, I was assigned to go to this uncle's house and of course, brought something to compensate for the absence. In other words, representing my father and in fact, the whole clan back in Melaka. The meeting was short but it ended up with another invitation. This time, the daughter was getting engaged.   

I'm familiar with the host but what I found uneasy was, I haven't met his other relatives for a very, very long time. I was pretty sure that they won't really recognise me. You know, a kind of uneasy feeling being around people you don't really know. Due to this fact, I felt that I shouldn't be arriving empty handed. Anyway, to cut a long story short, the recipe below was attempted. I could simply say that it was just like killing two birds with one stone. Pleasing the relatives and finishing the Nutella stock. I beg your pardon? The taste? Soft and moist with a rich, nutty taste. Give it a try, will you?

Nutella Cupcakes

Ingredients :

125g unsalted butter, at room temperature

125 caster sugar

125 self-raising flour

2 eggs

1/2 tsp soda bicarbonate

2 tsp of vanilla essence

2 tbsp of milk

enough Nutella to use as filling

enough paper casings to line your muffin tin

Method :

1. Preheat the oven at 150C.
2. Sift the flour and soda bicarbonate and keep aside.
3. Cream the butter and sugar.
4. Gradually, add in the eggs and the the other ingredients and mix well.
5. Spoon the mixture into your paper casings. Top with some Nutella and spoon the remaining mixture on top.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or till golden brown and a skewer inserted into the cupcakes comes out clean.
7. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
8. Serve.

Sisterhood

Good morrow to all readers. This entry would be totally different from the previous ones. As I was flipping through my photo folder, I couldn't help noticing the photos of my younger sister's engagement day, which took place in December 2009. Talking about the photos, I have been wanting to share them with you folks but somehow, I just didn't know what happened to my initial plan.

Sincerely, I do have mixed feelings about her tying the knot. We have been together through thick and thin all these years. The thought that we might not be able to do things together, to have fun or even to share the pain, do make me feel a bit sad. As sisters, we laughed, we teased, we reprimanded, we shared, we scolded and eventually, we came back to our sanity and we forgave and forgot. True enough, blood is definitely thicker than water. In between the heartache, (jealousy at times) and painful experience, the sisterly bond surfaces and all is well once again.

Being the eldest, I have been given the responsibility to cater for her engagement and wedding ceremonies, in terms of preparing the 'hantaran'. In fact, I'm in the middle of completing the hantaran for her wedding, which will take place, Godwilling, next Friday, the 4th of June. Well, since I have never planned to be a wet blanket, dear sister, congratulations and many happy returns in years to come. My dua' is forever for you. Amin.

Here are some photos of her engagement day. Enjoy!

The star of the day!

Going back to roots - 'Sirih' is a must

Another 'hantaran '

and last but not least...........

'Makan Time'!!!!

Surprisingly, during the engagement ceremony, I was not asked to do any cooking at all. Perhaps, my Mak didn't have the heart to ask me to do so but who am I to be compared to all the experienced chefs who were around on that day! Anyway, the ceremony ended well and I was a very happy (and tired).

No dear, it does not fly. It zooms!

Last night, as I was 'struggling' to decorate the cupcakes, the thought that my boy is already four years old suddenly triggered me! What? Does time really fly? No dear, it does not fly. It zooms!

My Daus has always been the funny one. Despite being clingy, (as boys usually are to their mothers) his actions do melt my heart most of the time. Aha, not to forget his 'ways' of stopping me from scolding him by saying "It's okay Mama. I'm sorry" and a few pecks on my cheek to compensate for the damages done. Kids and their wonderful ways- never fail to convince you that all the hardship that you go through to provide for them, is worthwhile after all.

Well, as I am not planning to be mushy very early in the morning, feast your eyes upon my amateurish creation for Daus to celebrate his 4th birthday with his friends in school. Really hope that that they would enjoy the cupcakes!

Daus' 4th Birthday Cuppies

This time, I decided to you a very simple butter cream recipe. All you need is:

• 120g butter (soften)
• 280g icing sugar
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence

This recipe is simple and let you exercise your muscle at the same time! All you need to do is to beat the butter till pale and add in the sugar a spoonful at a time and keep on beating using a wooden spoon. keep on beating till you reach a soft consistency ans spread on your cupcakes. One more thing, for the letters, I just used ready made fondant and guess what? I finally had the chance to use my alphabet cutters which have been sitting in the kitchen drawer for years!

Simple yet Satisfying

Good morrow peeps. What is your plan today? As for me, the usual activities - cooking, cleaning my messy room (the kids' stuff scattered continuously) and trying to finish marking my students' exercise books. After a tiring day at school yesterday, I couldn't stop thinking of what to cook for dinner as I was driving home. Thanks to Mr KHz who only requested for my home version of 'Prosperity Burger'. As usual, burgers are very simple but never fails to satisfy his hunger pang. Notice the burgers in the photo below? Yes, he gobbled up three!

PROSPERITY BURGER

I tried the recipe for the sauce after reading MamaFami's blog. I had my first try making the sauce when I went back to Melaka last month. The verdict? The recipe is definitely a keeper! Since the buns and meat patties were bought, I shall include the recipe for the sauce. Please have a try!

Ingredients:

2 cups of chicken stock ( I used 1 chicken cube and mixed with boiling water)

1/4 cup of fresh milk

2 tbsp black peppercorns (coarsely ground)

1/2 onion (diced)

1 tbsp cooking oil

2 tbsp sweet soy sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tbsp butter (MamaFaMi used margarine)

3 tbsp of cornflour (mixed with 3 tbsp of water)

salt and sugar (if necessary)

Method:

1. Heat the oil and stir fry the onion till fragrant.
2. Then, pour in the chicken stock and let to boil.
3. Next, put all the ingredients except the cornflour mixture and let to boil again.
4. After that, lower the heat and pour the cornflour mixture until you have achieved the desired consistency.
5. Dip the meat patties into the sauce and enjoy your burger!

A Cook's FAQ

Good morrow to all and Salam Maal Hijrah to all the Muslim readers. A new year, new hopes, new beginnings, and hopefully, with the Almighty's blessing, happy endings.

Since today is a non-working day, so............................ what's cooking in the kitchen? Nothing in mind? Planning to dine outside, I suppose? Well, when it comes to preparing food, usually mothers are the one deciding on what to prepare ( as well as experiencing headaches and mental block), just to state a fact. Hence, the most frequently asked question would be, "What should I cook today?"

Having picky eaters in the house, I do find preparing food for them to be quite tricky at times. Last Monday was one of the days where I had to prepare two dishes to suit Mr KHz's tastebuds as well as trying to succeed in making Atush and Daus eat! Want to know what they had on Monday? Here goes.....

For the two picky eaters, I had prepared "Fish and Chips" (minus the salad for it was meant for me). For your information, Atush was the one who decided to have this.

As for Mr KHz, I prepared this dish, using the recipe taken from one of my food magazines. Of course, me being me, some alteration had taken place. Below is the photo of "Udang Masak Wangi". The verdict? He liked it although I was skeptical at first for one of the ingredients used was finely sliced torch ginger. What a surprise, huh? Anyway, I'll include the recipe later for I have to look for the magazine first, tee hee hee........

'UDANG MASAK WANGI'

As for me, my idea of a satisfying meal is having something very simple. My kids only eat fish if it's "fish" and chips" while Mr KHz opted for less bony ones. I, on the other hand, like fish of any sorts possible. Want to know what I had for lunch on Monday? Well, look at the photo below.


A plate of piping hot, fried 'ikan selayang' eaten with a mixture of sliced onion, bird's eye chillies and sweet soy sauce, and not to forget, a decent portion of fragrant rice. Aaahhhh....what a bliss!

When Cikyah Turns Thirty-four

Hiya peeps! As I've mentioned in one of my earlier entries, birthdays carry different meanings to different people. This year, I am officially thirty-four years old. As the saying goes( hopefully), one year older and one year wiser.Usually, my birthdays were celebrated with beautiful sms from siblings and relatives and much awaited calls from Mak. Since I'm married to one who claims that he is unromantic, I never expects anything from him. It was kind of sad during the early years but I've grown accustomed to it. After all, Mr K did have a point when he said, "Why must we wait for certain days to celebrate love? Shouldn't it be ongoing?" Well, coming from an unromantic, I have to say yes to that statement.

Although Mr K has never been enthusiastic with birthdays, this time, he managed to remember mine. He mentioned that my birthday gift would be chocolates (as he is a choc addict) and I just kept quiet. When I came on from school last Saturday, Mr K, being unromantic as always, simply pointed at the plastic bag near my sewing machine. "Hmm..that's your birthday gift", and he continued reading. Since he rarely gives present, I grabbed the plastic bag and there it was! My dream item! Want to to what Mr K got me? Here it is.........

Can you see the writings on the box?

Tadaaaa! My New York model GreenPan!

Note: Although this means that Mr K expects me to cook more for him, I would rather take this gift as his token of appreciation for what I've done in the kitchen all these years. Hehe...syok sendiri kan?