New York Cheese Cake Recipe

This is the first time I tried making cheese cake. It is nice because it's not so sweet but somehow I have to improve on the texture so that it will be more creamier. Anyway, happy trying!

Ingredients

15 crackers, crushed - I use Marie Crackers

30 g butter, melted

896 g cream cheese

300 g white sugar

180 ml milk

4 eggs

230 g sour cream - I use Yogurt for more healthy result

15 ml vanilla extract

30 g all-purpose flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch springform pan.

In a medium bowl, mix cracker crumbs with melted butter. Press onto bottom of springform pan.

In a large bowl, mix cream cheese with sugar until smooth. Blend in milk, and then mix in the eggs one at a time, mixing just enough to incorporate. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and flour until smooth. Pour filling into prepared crust.

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. Turn the oven off, and let cake cool in oven with the door closed for 5 to 6 hours; this prevents cracking. Chill in refrigerator until serving.

This Girl is 7 Yesterday!

It feels like only yesterday I gave birth to her. Sharing laughter and tears with her. A heart so pure, understanding and kind. I am proud to call her my girl, my friend and my precious!

 Damia Now

This is when she is 2 years old. When it just the two of us.

When she is 6 months.

Note:

Happy birthday Damia. Mommy love you always.

Knock! Knock! "Who's There?" (The Creepy Knock Knock Ghost)

My daughter asked me yesterday whether she can have a Halloween Party. It is so IN nowadays in Malaysia, all these costume party and all. I don't mind it at all, it is fun and we get to dress up as GAGA! Anyway talking about Halloween, I got tonnes of scary story that happened to me on this particular day.

I was in UiTM, Arau Perlis Branch that year for my diploma. Anyone that ever step foot in that university can tell that it is a bit creepy. It is very old, surrounded with rubber plantation and paddy field  for Farm Science Student. Very quiet and secluded, a perfect area for students. As there were lots of students registering, they don't have enough hostel for all of us. Some were placed in a horse stable that being remodeled to a hostel. I am one of them. After 4 months there, came October and Halloween. For those 4 months, almost every month we heard ghost stories from the other students. Some said that they met "the Ghost" on their way to morning prayer. Some said at night. Always a story every weekend. Fortunately for me, I never came across one, until that night.

I remember that day, second batch for diploma registered and were placed in the horse stable hostel. They stayed in a room next to me. I was never too concerned or interested to meet up new people and introduce myself. Sooner or later we going to know one another. So, when people were busy meeting the new students, I was just sitting in the room and mind my own business.

That night, after 12.00, everyone seems to be so pasted and slept early. I was the only one awake. I remember I was reading Gila-Gila comic. It was funny and I kept on reading until 4.00am. That was when I heard a knock on the door. Knock! Knock! One time. I looked around and was sure I was the only one that is still awake. Our room got two doors, one in the front and the other at the back. I though I was dreaming, so I just ignore the interruption. Then the second time at the other door, the front door. Knock! Knock! It felt like someone just ripped my soul from the body. I was stark white on the face. There's no way I can ignore it the second time. As I was reading the comic on the bed, I just slowly put down the comic, pulled the blanket and pretended that I was sleeping. With very slow motion so whatever it was outside, cant tell that I was still awake. (Come to think about it, it was stupid, because the knocking must have resulted because "it" may sense my existence!). After about 2 minutes, Knock! Knock! again. This time on the back door. Then it continued alternating between the back and the front door for almost 10 minutes. I felt like dying. And if this thing really wanted to get me, there's no way I'm going to face it alone. So, slowly I got down from my bed and went to my friend's bed. I woke her up very slowly. When she open her eyes, she was about to scream as my face was so closed to hers and I immediately closed her mouth. Then I told her, "Shhh , dont make a sound, just keep quiet and listen!" Then I let go her mouth. Then again, Knock! Knock! on the front door. Both of us was trembling like crazy! We were sure that this thing wanted to get us. My friend picked up her courage and woke up more student until finally all of us were awake and keep close to one another. the knocking keep on continuing for almost one hour now. Eventually, one of my friend, just had enough of it and got down from her bed and crawled to the door and peeked underneath it. She said she can see movement! Ghost can step on the floor! They slide along! So, all of us, with our trembling hands, waited for another knock, reached the door knobs and sprang it open!

There she was, a new student, very small and fast, standing in front of us. One of my friend screamed at her, "What the hell are you doing?" She answered very timidly, " I was just trying to wake you guys up for the morning prayer" After like 5 minutes of terrorizing her with all the nasty words, we got tired of it and get ready for the class. Until today, whenever I remember this situation I will laugh so hard but the fear that I felt that night, it still send my hairs standing!

Lemon Meringue Angel Food Cake with Lemon Curd

I have balance of white eggs from this, so to not to waste it, meringue is the best idea (Thanks John for the perfect Meringue!)

Ingredients

• 12 egg whites
• 1-1/2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 cup cake flour
• 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 jar (10 ounces) lemon curd
• 
  MERINGUE TOPPING:
• 4 egg whites
• 3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions

• Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Sift 1/2 cup sugar and flour together twice; set aside.
• Add cream of tartar, vanilla and salt to egg whites; beat on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Gradually fold in flour mixture, about 1/2 cup at a time.
• Gently spoon batter into an ungreased 10-in. tube pan. Cut through batter with a knife to remove air pockets. Bake on lowest oven rack at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown and entire top appears dry. Immediately invert pan; cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Run a knife around side and center tube of pan. Remove cake; split into two horizontal layers. Place cake bottom on an ovenproof plate. Spread with lemon curd; replace cake top.
• For meringue, in a small bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar on medium until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread over top and sides of cake. Bake at 350° for 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Refrigerate leftovers.

Lemon Curd:

Ingredients

• 3 lemons
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
• 4 extra-large eggs
• 1/2 cup lemon juice (3 to 4 lemons)
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Using a carrot peeler, remove the zest of 3 lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the sugar and pulse until the zest is very finely minced into the sugar.

Cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.

Pour the mixture into a 2 quart saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. The lemon curd will thicken at about 170 degrees F, or just below simmer. Remove from the heat and cool or refrigerate.

Caramel Pudding

It is a fact: I love caramel, and on pudding? It's a bless!

Ingredients

Caramel:

40g sugar

10ml hot water

Custard:

200ml fresh milk

10g sugar

½ tsp vanilla essence

1 whole egg

2 egg yolks

30g sugar

Methods: 

Caramel: 

1. Melt sugar in a sauce pan, stir until golden brown. 

2. Once it starts bubbling, stir in hot water then remove from heat.

3. Lightly grease the moulds, then fill each mould with about 1 teaspoon of caramel. 

4. Swirl the mould to coat bottom of mould when the caramel is still hot. 

5. Set aside for later use.

Custard: 

1. Bring together milk and sugar, bring to boil on low heat then stir in vanilla essence. 

2. Turn the heat off and set aside for later use.

3. In a mixing bowl, lightly whisk eggs with sugar. Then pour in milk in stream, whisk rapidly until well blended.

4. Strain the mixture then fill each mould with mixture, and steam on low heat for 15-20 minutes. If using oven, place moulds in a tray then fill tray with water. 

5. Cover tray with aluminium foil. Bake at preheated oven, 140ºC for 25-30 minutes.

6. Turn the heat off, let puddings stay in the steamer or oven for further 10 minutes.

7. Chill before serving.

Tips:

To produce smooth texture custard, the mixture must be strained to remove bubbles then pour into mould gently.

Our Pumpkin...

John said "Likes to be on top of other things, our pumpkin"

p/s: I like it if he said "our", smiling wide...

DIY Steam Boat

We change our habit of barbecuing on Saturday this week to steam boat. Once in a while it's nice to change. I love doing steam boat, especially on rainy days. It is simple and doesn't require much. here is the recipe if you want to try it!

Ingredients:
- slice of beef / chicken (as you prefer)
- mussels
- octopus
- tiger prawns
- fish balls
- quail egg
- napa cabbage / chinese cabbage
- enoki mushroom
- kai-lan (chinese brocolli)
- egg tofu
- baby corn

Soup
- water
- 4 tbsp chicken stock
- 1 sup bunjut (soup ingredients)
- napa cabbage / chinese cabbage

Sauce
Chili and garlic sauce with chopped coriander leaves

Pineapple Upside Down Cake (ala Betty Crocker)

I've been craving for Pineapple Upside Down Cake for so long since I watched one of Desperate Housewives episode where Bree baked Pineapple Upside Down Cake for Gabby. So yesterday, I bake it! I get Betty Crocker's recipe and try it. Simple and easy. I change the recipe here and there, and next time should lessen the sugar as it is super sweet. But anyway, it is nice! (even I have to say it myself) For the first trial I feel impressed... (chuckles)

Pineapple Upside Down Cake (ala Pixie)

Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine

- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar

- 9 slices pineapple in juice (from 14-oz can), drained

- 9 maraschino cherries without stems, if desired

- 1 1/3 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour

- 1 cup granulated sugar

- 1/3 cup shortening (I use cream cheese)

- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 3/4 cup milk

- 1 egg

Step 1 - Heat oven to 350°F. In 9-inch square pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over melted butter. Arrange pineapple slices over brown sugar. Place cherry in center of each pineapple slice.

Step 2 - In medium bowl, beat remaining ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour batter over pineapple and cherries.

Step 3 - Bake 50 to 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Immediately place heatproof serving plate upside down over pan; turn plate and pan over. Leave pan over cake a few minutes so brown sugar mixture can drizzle over cake; remove pan. Serve warm. Store cake loosely covered.

Happy Trying!

Steroid Overdose

During the recent Hari Raya, one of our neighbor which is a police inspector was admitted to the hospital because of steroid overdose. We know that he is in body building but did not know that he takes steroid. Anyway, he's been taking steroid to build the muscle and with no proper supervision from professional trainer and the last thing happened was all the muscle broke and his kidney failed because of high toxic level in his body. I really hope that  he gets better.

Note: Please get advice from your doctor before taking any supplement or enhancer.

Lemang Making!

As tradition, every Hari Raya we will be busy making Lemang and Rendang. This year all of our Lemang and Rendang finished on the first day itself! Yummy.

 My brothers busy make sure that the bamboo is clean so that the Lemang will cook evenly

My aunt and uncle poured coconut milk in the ingredients

Look at this little piece of tablecloth art

Note: what is your "compulsory dish" for Raya?

This IS What You Get when Your Stepfather..

is in Opposition Party (PAS), even dates have party logo on it!

Note: My mom is biggest supporter of the government, they survive..(so far)

Hari Raya Ang Pow!

Every year during Hari Raya Time, both me and John are busy searching for Ang Pow packets, we never had enough! So this year he keep on reminding me on getting enough packets like almost everytime Hari Raya topic being brought up! It's traumatizing! So to avoid that we don't have enough, I get some Ang Pow packets and he get some too, and we end up with like 500 Ang Pow packets???? Well, this year we sure HAVE ENOUGH!

Ang Pow packet oh Ang Pow packet!

Plant Your Own Veggies and Herbs!

Now I have the whole reason to cook gourmet food!

yippee!!!!

This parsley is very delicate, it needs lots of water and sun

chives, rosemary and Vietnamese coriander 

Basil (for my own pesto sauce), mints, sage and chives

Lettuce

Carrots

Pumpkin

green beans

chilies and egg plant

 

lemon grass and pandan

tumeric

roselle

Guava

rock Melon

Indonesian Chicken with Green Beans

Ingredients
6 skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cubed
Juice of 1 lime or lemon
4 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon soy sauce
10 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon ginger root, minced 2 teaspoons turmeric
1 small onion, chopped 1 teaspoon salt
1 pound green beans, chopped 1/2 cup water

directions
Prep: 45 min
1 - In a skillet over medium-high heat, saute the chicken in 2 tablespoons of the olive oil until cooked through
2 - Set aside
3 - Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and saute the garlic, ginger and onion until soft
4 - Add the green beans
5 - Stir until the beans turn bright green
6 - Add the lime (or lemon) juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, turmeric, salt and 1/4 cup of the water
7 - Slowly add the remaining water if necessary, although the sauce should not be watery
8 - Add the chicken pieces and stir until the chicken is completely covered with sauce
9 - Serve over rice.

Malva Pudding with Traditional Custard Sauce

Last Saturday, we had our South African's friends coming for barbecue. So I decided to impressed them for some South African dessert and came across Malva Pudding, a traditional South African bake pudding. Worth a try!

Malva Pudding
Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
Prep Time: 25 mins
Cook Time: 45 mins

Ingredients: 

The pudding
· 6 1/2 ounces sugar (3/4 cup, 200 ml, or 180 g)
· 2 large eggs
· 1 tablespoon apricot jam
· 5 ounces all-purpose flour (150 g)
· 1 teaspoon baking soda
· 1/2 teaspoon salt
· 1 tablespoon butter (a generous tablespoon)
· 1 teaspoon vinegar
· 1/3 cup milk

Directions:
1 - Preheat oven to 350 deg F/180 deg Celsius. (NOTE: I find my convection/fan oven very hot. I baked the pudding at 170 deg C and had to turn it down to 160 deg C/325 deg F for fear the pudding might burn. You know your oven - Adjust accordingly).
2 - Grease an oven dish. I used a 7 x 7 x 1 1/2 inch Pyrex dish. (18 x 18 x 4 1/2 cm)
3 - Beat or whip the sugar and eggs. It's quickest in a food processor, or use electric beaters. Beat until thick and lemon coloured, then add the jelly (jam) and mix through.
4 - Melt the butter (don't boil) and add the butter and vinegar to the wet mixture.
5 - Sieve, or simply mix together: the flour, soda and salt.
6 - Add this mixture with the milk to the egg mixture in the processor or mixing bowl. Beat well.
7 - Pour into an oven-proof dish and bake until pudding is brown and well-risen -- depending on your oven and oven dish this will be between 30 - 45 minutes. (Mine was done in 30 minutes this time).

Vanilla Custard Sauce
· 2 cups whole milk
· 1/2 cup sugar
· 5 large egg yolks
· 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: 
1. Bring milk and sugar to a simmer in a saucepan without stirring. Whisk yolks in a bowl until blended, then gradually whisk in hot milk mixture. Return to saucepan and cook over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until sauce thickens enough to coat back of a wooden spoon and registers 170°F. on an instant-read thermometer.
2. Immediately pour sauce through a fine sieve into a metal bowl and place bowl in a large bowl of ice and cold water. Stir in vanilla and whisk custard occasionally until cool, then cover surface with a piece of wax paper to prevent a skin from forming.

Chill until cold.

Note: Happy Trying!

Rain Rain Go Away

Rain, rain, go away

Come again some other day

We want to go outside and play

Come again some other day

Mother In Law Exterminator???

Yesterday I was surfing on the net on where to get Asian spices in Capetown and come across this picture in one of Bo Kaap Mini Market selling South East Spices.

Mother In Law Exterminator - what do you think it taste like? I just hope that THE Mother In Law won't say "I'LL BE BACK"

Energy Bar Wohoo

This bar is addictive!

Tuna and Cheese Croissant

I eat you this morning. D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S

Welcoming New Clan Member!

Yesterday my sister gave birth to a healthy and sweet baby girl, Arianna Aqilah. Welcome to the clan Arianna, be ready to face LOUD and CRAZY people!

xx,

MakYong

R.I.P MONDAY, WE SURE MISS YOU!

This morning, tragedy happened and our baby cat Monday passed away.
We trully miss him.

Rest in peace now.

Love,
Your Family.

Oooo This Is How they Make Rail Track..

Last week I went to see one of my company project in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan. We do Electrified Double track for KTM (Keretapi Tanah Melayu). So after this if you guys wants to travel to Perak or even Kedah from Johor, no worries, because no more single track train, it will be faster with this commuter.

I got bitten by Centipede (Lipan)

This is the suspected convict only that the one that bite me a bit smaller (far more smaller actually).

This is what that thing left me. A red dot of mark that is itchy once in a while

Moral of the Story:

1. Always wear safety gloves when you do gardening especially in damp area like drain or decompose area. Its the mansion of these kind of insects.

Friendly Reminder:

I might become centipede woman!

How to Loose Weight? (Confession of a Blob)

My transition to healthy breakfast

Someone said I gain weight recently and to be honest I did few kilos (5 kilos to be precised). I am so depressed. I cant see myself in the mirror without feeling a tinge of strange feeling. I never felt like I disowned my body. But this has to stop. So I did like everyone else do, exercise.
Few rounds of exercise I cursed myself few times on how ruthless I am behaving in taking tones of junk food. But working in the office is common with this culture. So I listed down few options that I can do other than exercise. My lists consist of liposuction (too expensive couldn't afford it and the thought of sucking out the fat make me cringe in horror), turn to vegetarian (I love meat too much) and so on. Turns out that still exercise is the most effective way. So here I go, exercising in hope that somehow I will become "hot" again.

My motivation

Why are you crying, a young boy asked his Mom?

photo courtesy of google

Why are you crying, a young boy asked his Mom? 

"Because I'm a woman," she told him. 

"I don't understand," he said. 

His Mom just hugged him and said, 

"And you never will, but that's O.K."....... 

Later the little boy asked his father, 

"Why does Mom seem to cry for no reason?". 

"All women cry for no reason," was all his Dad could say...... 

The little boy grew up and became a man, 

still wondering why women cry. 

Finally he put in a call to God and when God got back to him, he asked "God, why do women cry so easily?" 

GOD answered...... 

"When I made woman, 

I decided she had to be special. 

I made her shoulders 

strong enough to carry 

the weight of the world, yet, 

made her arms gentle enough to give comfort... 

I gave her the inner strength 

to endure childbirth 

and the rejection 

that many times will come 

even from her own children. 

I gave her a hardness 

that allows her 

to keep going and take care 

of her family and friends, 

even when everyone else gives up, through sickness and fatigue without 

complaining.... 

I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all 

circumstances. Even when her child has hurt her badly.... 

She has the very special power to make a child's boo-boo feel better and 

to quell a teenager's anxieties and fears.... 

I gave her strength to care for her husband, despite faults 

and I fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.... 

I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but 

sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him 

unfalteringly.... 

For all of this hard work, 

I also gave her a tear to shed. 

It is hers to use 

whenever needed and ! 

it is her only weakness.... 

When you see her cry, 

tell her how much you love her, and all she does for everyone, and even though 

she may still cry, you will have made her heart feel good. 

She is special! 

Please send this to women you know, and those with mothers, 

sisters, and special women in their lives. 

But, also send this to men so they will understand about what a 

wonderful thing a woman is. 

Each day is a mountain that must be climbed; with courage each step 

gets easier.

Love your Mother Always

and keep her Smiling

I have Typical Malay Tastebud

John once said that even I am a very modern kind of girl, more like westerners but my taste bud is still like typical Malaysian (kampung). I actually agree with him. As much as I love to eat steak but nothing beat my love for sambal belacan and all those Ulam. Even now talking about it make me drool. There is a wise saying, You can tell about people from their food. 

Here are the kind of food that I treasure if one day I live in other country. (who knows :P)

1. Ikan Rebus Goreng with Sambal Bacang  

These two are the perfect combination! Just eat it with hot and steamy rice is enough for me. Talking about this combination, I remembered my aunt cook this once for lunch while waiting for her husband. She was cooking and I kept her company by talking to her and by the time that the husband came back, I finished the whole dish! Totally bad..

2. Udang Sambal Petai

I have few friends that always said they dont eat petai, they just eat the prawns. I think maybe because they are embarrass to admit that they do eat petai. (Petai is one smelly bean). But what the hell, I love petai. I actually like petai more than the prawns in this dish. If my grandmother cook this for us when we balik kampung, I collect all the petais' and eat (because my sisters like to act like they dont eat petai). Enough said, Petai is really awesome!

3. Kerabu Perut

This one is totally awesome. It's been so long I didn't eat this as it is hard for me to find people that really know how to do this.

All these dishes is on the list whenever I go back to my grandparents house. Without it, my balik kampung is not complete. Ok guys, I have to stop now because my tummy is rumbling and I am really drooling like nobody business.

Note: The reason of this post is because I ate Swedish meatballs in Ikea for lunch. And while eating it, I was thinking to myself what so special about it? For RM5.90 I can eat all of the above!