Chinese New Year Gifts for Friends 17 Feb 2015

As usual like previous years, we will prepare hamper or gift basket for Aunty Joyce during Chinese New Year season. This has been a few years since our children started their day care with her. May be this little thing counts in keeping and showing the respect and maintaining our relationships. We have becomes like family friends.

Last year, I did prepare a box of mandarin oranges to Aunty Joyce. This year, thinking of buying something whereby she could use in her cooking, may be some Chinese cuisine ingredients. Then so happened I found it at Soon Thye Hang, do not know whether it will suit her, at least a simple gift for this Chinese New Year.

At the same time, I bought a small hamper basket for Mahkota Tuition Centre too, for Kim Tai. This is both our children first year day care at the new place.

Alvin is thinking that, this would be the best for both children as the teachers there are able to help them on their studies and homework coaching better, especially in their Mandarin subjects.

Both were so surprised that received our little thoughts on these. I told them, we were and are glad too that our children were and are in their good hands, in nurturing them… ^^

Hasselback Potatoes #OTH

Today just wanted to try out a new recipe from the internet, and I know both children love potatoes, whether it is potatoes wedges, smashed potatoes, fries, even the chicken curry potatoes they would love it so much. I saw the hasselback potatoes from the internet looks delicious.

Preparation Time : 20 mins

Cooking Time : 70 mins

Serves: 4 potatoes

Ingredients:

• 4 large potatoes, Yukon Gold, Russet, or Red Bliss
• 4 tablespoons melted butter, olive oil, duck fat, bacon fat, coconut oil, or a mix
• Salt
• Pepper
• Optional extras: minced fresh herbs, spices, grated cheese, bread crumbs, panko crumbs

Preparation:

1. Heat the oven to 425°F with a rack in the lower-middle position.
2. Wash and dry the potatoes. Scrub the potatoes clean and pat them dry. Alternatively, you can peel the skins off.
3. Cut slits in the potatoes, leaving the bottom intact. Cut slits into the potato, stopping just before you cut through so that the slices stay connected at the bottom of the potato. Space the slices 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch apart. You can rest the potato in a large serving and use that as a guide for when to stop slicing — slice straight down and when your knife hits the edge of the spoon, stop slicing.
4. Brush the potatoes with half the fat. Arrange the potatoes in a baking dish. Brush the potatoes all over with butter or other fat, including the bottoms.
5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the potatoes generously with salt and pepper.
6. Bake 30 minutes, then brush with butter. Bake the potatoes for 30 minutes. At this point, the layers will start separating. Remove the pan from the oven and brush the potatoes again with fat — you can nudge the layers apart if they're still sticking together. Make sure some of the fat drips down into the space between the slices.
7. Bake another 30 to 40 minutes. Bake for another 30 to 40 minutes, until the potatoes are crispy on the edges and easily pieced in the middles with a paring knife. If you're adding any extras, stuff those into the slits and sprinkle over the top 5 to 10 minutes before the end of cooking. (Total baking time is 60 to 70 minutes for average potatoes; if your potatoes are on the small side or are larger, adjust cooking time accordingly.)
8. Serve immediately. These potatoes are best straight from the oven while the edges are at their crispiest.

After I took out from the oven, and opened up the aluminium foil, it looks nice. Issac tried it, and told me very delicious, he loves it ^^.

Issac 1st Medal in Primary 12 Feb 2015

I just remembered that Issac told me yesterday that, he need to wear his sports T-shirt because today the school have running event, cross country. I did not put in much attention and thoughts about it.

This evening, when I fetched him at Mahkota Tuition Centre, he was happy and quickly showed me a medal to me. After both of us were settled in the car, and I started drove to the the school and fetched Annabelle.

Issac said, “Mummy, I got 1 good news and 1 bad news.”

I looked worried, “Huh? What is it?”

Issac said, “The good news is today I got the medal when I am running in school.” Then, he continue, “But the bad news is, I hurt my leg because the students behind me keep on pushing me.” He showed me his knee’s scar due to the accidently fall.

“Mummy, you know that there were so many students in the running today. There were other students which behind, before the race started, they were pushing the students which were in front and, made me fall down. I feel so pain my leg and bleeding too. I quickly stand up and faster faster I prayed to Heavenly Father that, I can finished the race.”

He continued, “After that, the race started and I ran as fast as I can. I just remember I wanted to pass as many kids in front of me as possible. When I finished the race for Primary 4 in one of the class room, the teacher in side just gave me a number – 20. The kid whom behind me don’t have the number any more. After that, all the children whom got the number then we all went to the assembly hall there and received our prize medal.”

“Koko, you are so great! You really do a good job! And, you prayed to the Heavenly Father, he must be listen to your prayers. Keep this in your heart and mind ya… This is your testimony that, you know that our Father in Heaven listen your prayer and He had answered your prayer.” I told him.

I feel joyful and glad that my little son already have his own testimony of the Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, and I am the one who have the privilege to listen from him.

I had told this to Daddy too, he is so happy and glad to hear this. He hugged him when he came back from work. Really a blessing from Heavenly Father ^^

At Subang Jaya KTM Komuter Station…

It is a public holiday, our family have a day trip went to Pulau Ketam. We went there by the komuter train to Port Klang, then we took the speed boat towards Pulau Ketam.

Well, here are some photos of the kids during we were at Subang Jaya KTM Komuter Station waiting for the komuter.

Both Issac and Annabelle looking to Alvin’s camera.

Issac bringing his small turtle friend for outing today.

Another picture from Issac.

Annabelle was spoiling with her small panther pet!

Ice Cream Time^^

Today is Friday, we had our dinner at Main Place Mall at USJ21. The kids had some ice creams at Gelato Fruity.

Annabelle was having double chocolate flavour and Issac was having durian flavour!

3of Us!

Delicious Curry Chicken #OTH

This is what we had learned from Kuching, my mother-in-law’s recipes. We learned it last year during we went back to Kuching for holidays. She bought a few packets for us to bring back home, so that we can look for the same brand here in home. We managed to find it at Jaya Grocers.

Preparation Time : 10 mins

Cooking Time : 30 mins

Serves: 6 nests

Ingredients :

• 1 pack A1 Brand Meat Instant Curry Sauce
• 1 kg Chicken (chop into pieces)
• 200gm Potatoes (cut into pieces)
• 100gm long beans (cut into pieces)
• 5 pips of Garlic, 5 shallots & galangal (Minced Together)
• 500ml of Water

Preparation :

1. Heat up oil fried the chicken piece till half cooked.
2. Boiled potatoes and long beans pieces, ready for use.
3. Leave some oil sauté the garlic & shallot (minced).
4. Add in A1 Brand Meat Instant Curry Sauce and the (Half-cooked) chicken piece stir frying
5. Lastly add in 500ml of water.
6. Cook till boiled with high heat, and then turn to low heat till the chicken cooked and soft.
7. Optionally add coconut milk for more thickness gravy curry.

The taste is great! The children love the potatoes.

View Full Album