Date Night

H and I were determined to fit in one date night before Jellybean arrives- in the advice of former non-parents. We thought we'd celebrate our anniversary early as we presume Jellybean will totally occupy our time [and possibly our sanity and hence forget events] on our actual wedding anniversary.

We chose Tsunami. A quaint Japanese restaurant tucked in Mosman Park- fully occupied on a weeknight! Mental note: Good food sign but bad preggers squeeze situation.

I would of chosen more sushi options if it wasn't for the food limitations during pregnancy. But ahwell, it gives me an excuse to go back next time.

Between us, we ordered Ebi as the entree. The prawns were succulent and crunchy, wrapped in filo pastry and paired with tomato salsa.
 

Ikura sushi. H orders this in basically any Japanese restaurant from sushi chains to up market dining. This was definitely not the frozen and defrosted sushi chain low-grade caviar.

Mains: We both decided to have Ishiyaki Teppanyaki Wagyu and Scallops. Copy cat! The Ishiyaki is a 400C rock which meals are placed on and subsequently cooked before your eyes. From this...

...to this.

And who could resist a little indulgence at the end? Don't ask me why- but after telling H I wanted the Kuro Goma [Black Sesame] Ice cream, he decided to change my order into a Ice cream sampler, a scoop each of green tea, black sesame and ginger ice creams. While he stayed with the traditional green tea ice cream. Huh?! I figured it was because he wanted to try the flavours but wasn't game enough to try it himself. Luckily I was delighted with the sampler- but a bit unsure if my palette really enjoys ginger ice cream.

To finish the night off? A stroll at Kings Park. Ahhh..... Ps. H wanted a note crediting he took this photo after several minutes fidgeting with the camera.

Ok Jellybean, you can come now.

In-Your-Face-Clue

Jellybean is due anytime now- and if you haven't figured out from my other posts [such as this one], you'll definitely figure out the gender from this post! It's a dead give-away.

Yeaps. We're having a pink Jellybean!

I couldn't resist making her a romper complete with matching flowers and snap buttons at the bottom.

I don't know if Jellybean will ever end up wearing it- because I got the sizing from one of her existing onesies and never got a proper pattern- I really should of got a actual pattern considering I wasted quite a bit of fabric from my first attempt.

Oh! And I have a thing for frilly bottoms. They make any butt look cute- girls butts anyway. Maybe tomorrow shall be a matching hat? Maybe.

Jus Burgers

 
I'm craving burgers just from writing this post. Darn!

H and I stumbled across this burger joint in Leederville just a few days ago- I've heard about Jus Burgers before and was eager to try. I lurve it when I stumble across a food joint and end up loving their food!

Both our burgers were juicy with just the right amount of sauce and toppings. What I also lurved was that they used quality local suppliers and products. They're also pretty renowned in the local scene too with several awards and achievements. You don't get a 'Best Hamburger in Australia' award for nothing!

So here's my Cheeseburger [left], and H's Half-n-Half lamb burger. His Half meal was so cute- it was a mini burger and mini fries but just enough for one- I should of ordered what he ordered!

I'm definitely going back! The bonus?- The Leederville store is near my Ob's place and the Subi store is near my soon to be hospital! Woo hoo!!

Cot Set

A few months weeks ago I got started on a cot set for little jellybean. After several delays I've finally completed it-with matching critters!

 I did the owls and other chirpy birds along with plain circle trees. Used the same fabrics to make a cot bumper, pillow case and cot sheet. I told H the owls are suppose to represent me and him looking at jellybean. He thinks its funny. Hmph.

The birdies are similar in shape to the ones on the wall, just a different design.

I've run out of patience to do anymore and I'm just waiting for bub's arrival any time now. I've got just one problem- when I'm not nesting I'm totally bored. So maybe I should whip up something afterall.

Rat Rice Noodles

Before you come down on me with some Greenpeace treaty - let me explain!

Where I come from, there's a round type of rice noodle that is literally called 'Rat Poop Noodle'. No, it doesn't involve harming animals of any kind- it's just named so because the original versions were ... well, shaped like rat poop. The 'rat poop' noodle is simply known lau su fen/lou shi fun in Chinese dialects.

H has a enormous attachment to these noodles. Its what he grew up with for breakfast nearly every week. When I asked him what he missed from our home town, he only told me he missed lau su fen. In a desperate attempt to make him feel more at home [and I believe my nesting instincts came hard too], I made the rice noodles from scratch.

Here's my take.

Lau Su Fen/ Lou Shi Fun

2 Cups Rice Flour
2 Tablespoon Tapioca Flour
Pinch of Salt
550ml boiling water

1. Steam rice flour for 1 hour.
2. Add tapioca flour, salt and boiling water and stir until smooth.
3. Allow to cool and knead until smooth ball forms.
4. Spread additional tapioca flour on hands/surface.
5. Take pea sized amount of dough and roll between fingers until its elongated in shape. Repeat with all of dough.
6. Lightly oil steamer tray and steam noodles for approximately 8 minutes or until noodles are cooked. [I steamed mine in batches]
7. Cook noodles immediately with condiments to liking or wait for noodles to cool and store in fridge.

I was inspired by a particular hawker style of cooking rice noodles from my home town- it's what H hearts. So hence, mine was just boiled and tossed with some basic ingredients. Other methods of cooking include stir frying or having it with dark sauce.

Heeding Advice

The funny thing about pregnancies is that total strangers come up to you, strike a conversation and even touch your tummy. It also spurs those who've known you for yonks to touch your tummy like they've never touched human flesh before. And then there's those who like to put in their two cents worth and give you some piece of advice.

I've done my consensus and realized the two most common tips are:

1. Sleep as much as you can now. Key word being now.

2. Go on dates! Do stuff as a couple! It's all going to be different after bub comes!

Pointer 1: I try. But a growing belly unfortunately leads to growing insomnia, geared with a painful spine and pelvis.

Pointer 2: What I'm working on.

Taking on Pointer 2- I took H to a scenic spot, we strolled along the riverbank and sipped coffees.

Now this is when you notice the difference between a initial courtship and a few years of marriage- with a jellybean on the way!

Let me give you the scenario: A couple is walking along the river bank, absorbing all the glorious weather and feeling the sand between their toes. All of a sudden, bursts of wind blow through blasting sand across their faces.

A couple in the midst of initial courtship and dating days will most probably have a silent moment, shyly smile and walk on amoungst the blowing winds. It is romantic after all! Maybe the guy will even conveniently hand over his jacket and cover the girl? Or so one thinks.

A couple who's married and been together for a while will do the following:

Husband steers wife back onto vegetated areas then says 'You took me here to eat sand?'
And as the wife opens her mouth to comment on what her husband just said, husband says 'Shut up- or else sand will get into your mouth!'

No prizes for guessing which scenario happened to me. Uh huh!

Cioccolato Espresso

I think I've found a great coffee and hot chocolate place! I haven't had such nice hot chocolate for a long time. It's actually called Cioccolatte- which was like a big mug of hot chocolate served with chocolate flakes and marshmallows. I'm talking about the real deal too- not just milk with some measely cocoa- this is good stuff!

I had their BLT bagel which was done with the right blend of oven tomatoes and avocado. Yums!

H had New Norcia toast with a serve of fresh mushrooms.

I'm definitely going back! What a lovely start to the day.

Cioccolato Espresso
31 Ardross Street
Applecross Perth Australia

Fat Quarter Burping Set

I fell hopelessly in love with some cute fabric but didn't know what I'd do it with it!

My justification: it was on sale; it was only a fat quarter and it was cheaper than a Big Mac.

Being impulsively hormonal- as everybody is during pregnancy, ahem, I made a burping-feeding set in about one hour.

It consisted of a drawstring bag which held everything together: one that could even hold future cutlery.

A burping cloth so the little jellybean won't spill over momma...

And a tiny-weeny bib for a newborn so she doesn't puke over herself.

All for the cost of a Happy Meal.

Nesting

My friends term my new state of life preoccupation as nesting.

I busy myself with making things, baking and cleaning. When I go shopping I automatically go into the children's section or worse yet, my insomnia gives me a great reason to shop online- there's great Christmas sales at the moment!

Bursts of thoughts fill my mind and then I go around savaging things to make it.

For example, I wanted to make lemon cheesecake- just because I wanted to put fruits on top. ...Mind you I did exactly that.

Then my mind proceeded to constantly think about this 'green kueh with rice on the bottom'. So I made that. Mind you, I didn't even know the name. Only later did I find out it's Seri muka.

And today I wanted something savoury. Full of flavour. So I made a radish cake.

I made all of these within 4 days of impromptu thoughts.

I don't even attempt to finish the food.

I force them upon my friends. I make them have it even though I most probably haven't refined the recipe. Yes. I'm erratic and admittedly hormonal.

Cookie Pops

Sorry..I just really liked this image so had to incorporate it! It's as if there's a invisible cookie monster!! Maybe someday it'll become my header!

Anyhows..

I had a compulsion to put things on pops. The idea was seemingly cute! I just needed to get it out of my system. And while I was making them, it was therapeutic- after I made them, I felt relieved. Weird.


They were basic chocolate cookies with fondant- on a stick. Great as baby shower gifts! 

So here they are all bundled up and ready to be given. Goodbye onesies!

Tuna Melt Copy & Paste

Whenever I dine at Miss Maud's, I have a uncanny tendancy to only choose two things from their menu. One of which, is their tuna melt. I can't really explain. It's one of those things I just do.


Then today, I felt the compulsion to replicate it.

I even bought their cajun mayonnaise! 


I was pretty stoked that it came out the same- durh! But I should of added pickles and onions.


Easy lunch!

Where's My Toes?

Would you like to know more about pregnancies? Ok, I won't elaborate, but can I just show you this?

You'd think seeing your toes was a natural thing. But in actual fact, this photo was taken with me bending over.

The real truth is, this is all I see from tummy down. I guess it's a good thing too 'coz my water retention toes and non-pedicure toenails are most probably not a pleasing sight right now.

I now know what Homer Simpson goes through everyday. I feel for pot-bellies.

Happy Birthday!

This one is for you Di... be spoilt! 


To another year, another kid and being a dedicated wife and mother.


Ps. I can babysit for you on your Harry Potter night. Just leave me with instructions!

Asian KFC

KFC should run a competition for being creative with their fried chicken- and I should win. It's true!


Being struck by the lazy bug- I decided to make Nasi Lemak- with KFC's chicken. I did my part- made the coconut rice, the sambal and anchovies- I just didnt fry the chicken. Instead I made my family drive out to get drive through chicken. Aren't I smart? 


H thought it was hilarious. But I told him it's food creativity to the maximum. 


If anyone is wondering, KFC's hot and spicy tastes better for this dish! Bon Apetite!

Wedding Invitation

One of my wacky ideals is to be a card-invitation maker. I always thought it would be a cool job! 


I've been fortunate enough to be entrusted by several family and friends to do invites and stationery for several occasions. Luckily, all projects have turned out great and no one has had regrets- so far!


You might remember a while ago when I first proposed a wedding invitation for a family member. After several weeks of contemplation, we then changed our minds to this and from there, it grew to a whole new [and more exciting] thing all together.
  

A whole new set of stationery was derived- one that all of us were really happy with.

The really exciting part was to see the vision merge with reality. After doing such proposals, there's a few back and fourths with the professional printer to make sure fonts were fine, colours turn out right and I got the exact material with relations to cost.

Ta-daa!! This was the fun part [or not so fun if it didn't turn out the way it was suppose to be].I was utterly content. The colour was the exact Pantone I had in mind! Phew! 

And best of all, the bride and groom loved it! Bonus points!! 


Too bad I can't make it to their wedding- I'm just so glad I did something for them!

Chinese Cruellers a la Malaysian

I know, I'm still on about hawker food aren't I? It's always a case of having what you can't get. I'm still onto my teh-tarik and to top it off, I had it with you tiao/yau char kwai and kaya.


I had the easy way out though, I wasn't prepared to slave over these cruellers from scratch- 'coz if my mum can't make a decent one from scratch then what are the chances I can? Buying and reheating was a much better alternative though maybe not the best taste wise. Lazy buggers can't complain I suppose... 

I would of had them with sweet mung bean soup too... but maybe thats for next time.

House: November 2010

H has superceeded my expectations of him. 


I've abandoned my house for nearly 2 months now and I miss it to bits! So on random occasions I ask H to take photos of what it looks like now and how everything is going. To my amazement- he's kept my our courtyard pretty spiffy! Once again, you have to excuse the poor phone quality pic- though I think you get the gist. 


My tower trees have grown so tall they are no longer in the frame, my crawlers are doing their thing and my reflexology path is still in order. No, its not a reflexology path- though it could be. 


So, nearly a year into moving, its finally looking a little more lived-in and less deserted. H sometimes wonders if I miss our house more than I miss him.


I'm proud of my man!- he's definitely doing quite well without me. Wait... is that a good or bad thing?

Sharing Is Caring

This isn't a good photo nor is it particularly enticing. But it cracks me up- it's my nephew's doing. 


Mr Three thought it was funny to bite off the gingerbread-man's head before I got the chance to have my coffee. He didn't like the taste of the gingerbread, he just thought it was funny to dement him before I had my share. He refused to finish the rest of it but was extremely pleased the the gingerbread was no longer intact.- What do kids learn these days?!


The sad part was that my whole family was happily consuming warm sticky date pudding complete with creamy vanilla ice cream while I was stuck with a sugar free decaf latte and a headless man.

Teh-Tarik

I've been missing a bit of home- my other home. The one filled with hawkers delights and other carbohydrate drenched foods. So I've been trying to replicate it by making my own hawker style drinks.


Teh-Tarik- otherwise known as pulled-tea is well known throughout South-East Asia. It's basically white tea made with condensed milk that has been aired to create a smooth tea texture and bubble foam. A good teh-tarik will need good tea powder and the tea maker's 'pulling' skill.  'Pulling' simply means, the tea is interchanged from one cup in far distances to create air bubbles as shown in this video (posted by Rasa Malaysia)


I don't come close to the to the masters of tea pulling- I just pour as far as I can over a sink- so that the mess  is captured, then I wipe and wash quickly to pretend I can pull tea. Ahem.


Teh-Tarik


*3 Tablespoons Ceylon Tea Powder
1 1/2 cups Boiling Water
*1/2 Tablespoon Condensed Milk
**Dash of Evaporated Milk


*Ingredients vary according to taste. This one was made according to my liking to strong tea and as little sweetness as possible. For a normal hawker style teh-tarik, I'd say they'd use more condensed milk and slightly less tea powder.


** I used fresh milk in attempt to be healthier. However, evaporated milk is more fragrant.


1. Place tea powder into a tea stocking, over a large mug/stainless steel cup.
2. Pour boiled water into the stocking and seep for approximately five minutes.
3. Remove tea stocking and combine tea with condensed and evaporated milk.
4. Pour the mixture into another mug/stainless steel cup by gradually lengthening the distance. Do this for a couple of times until foam appears on top of tea. And if you're anything like me, do it over the kitchen sink!


Wont this be nice served with a buttery slab of kaya toast and soft boiled eggs?! Nom Nom!