SY2 Chinese New Year Gathering

It has become an annual event for SY2 that we will gather at Alison’s house at the eve of 9th day of Chinese New Year - 拜天公。This year we never miss it too!

Here we are together with our kids!

Annabelle’s Secret Recipe ^o^

This is Annabelle’s secret recipe that she handed over to me! I was curious when she told me. I was thinking like what is the secret recipe about!

And, this is it!   

Issac is Me!

DIY Ang Pow Packet ^^

Here are the DIY Ang Pow packet made and coloured by Issac and Annabelle. They did it at Teacher Jane’s art class. The red packets are big, so that Alvin can put in more monies! Hahaha…^^

Tonight we had our dinner at TGIF IOI Mall.

Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner #OTH 18 Feb 2015

This year due to Daddy just changed the job, we did not go back Kuching celebrate Chinese New Year. We went back end of last year during the school holidays.

This year Chinese New Year we prepared ourselves – the work shared between Mummy and Daddy. We have prepared our big feast are:

Roasted Chicken with Brocolli & Hasselback Potatoes

 

Steamed Fish

 

Yong Tao Foo

 

Mushroom Fish Maw Soup

 

Chinese Fried Rice

Four of us having our first time ever Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner at our new home here. Really take the Lord for the many blessings our family have. ^^

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 ^^.