Ooh..ahh..Just a Little Bit

..ooh ...ahh..just a little bit more!


I had enough of this and this- I was in for a treat- big time! I got fed up of dreaming about the same things over and over..and over again I decided to indulge. Yes, I'm really determined and persistent aren't I? 


One fine day I decided I'd 'balance' my food routine with..lets say... dietary needs on the other side of the food triangle. 


I've been obsessed with this green tea cake for a while. I even thought about it when I moved overseas. It's cotton soft and quite delicate.. I never did quite find another...

I also became equally obsessed with this mango strudel: topped with fresh mango slices, light sponge, custard cream and a pastry base.

So on that fine day, I decided to buy both slices. Then..I had a hard time figuring out which one to have. By night time, I finished both of them. Bless me!


Don't you like my posts? They always have a happy ending.


Cakes Delight
893 Canning Hwy
Mt. Pleasant
W. Australia

Professional Homemaker

I take my new profession of being a homemaker very seriously. Being on home duties means I have to be very alert of any sales and promotions and apply it within my daily life.

For example, a good homemaker will see a 1200 thread count cotton bed sheet discounted in a reputable store by about 38% and decide to buy it. At the same time, she will decide to join as a shop member which entitles her to more discounts and spend more. She then gets sucked in and also buys natural detergents which keep her whites whiter and colours brighter. After all of the above, she manages to tell and convince her husband it was a good buy.


*The above statements may be misleading- please do not try this at home. If you do however try this, please do not make me responsible.


** Based on a true life story.

What My Husband Does To Me

Oh don't you worry, it's nothing raunchy!


He chooses to torment me with the accessible hawker food he has around town while I'm stuck with tasteless bleh. And mind you it's cheap, accessible hawker food! He sends me menus on WhatsApp! That's double cheap if you ask me!


I am however thankful of today's technology- it enables H and I to share our lives without expensive phone calls or postage. -There goes my love letters! We basically communicate through all forms of tech savvy social networks. 


Steve Jobs you're currently rocking my world! (I know we didn't start on the right note, but let's put that all behind now shall we?)

Bleh!

Food isn't fun anymore. Maybe thats a understatement! Its pretty much boring right now.


I had this huuuuge mega craving for a nice warm chocolate cake, even maybe with a dollop of ice cream on top. As in:


I sat in front of my desk procrastinating about it, then I looked up a cake-in-a-mug recipe that looked decent, then I procrastinated again- thought about what my dietician advised, made some changes and made a 5 minute 'healthy' cake-in-a-mug. I used sugar substitutes, didn't put any chocolate and replaced it with cocoa powder, halved the oil..etc etc.


Then during the one minute of it's cooking life I dreamt of oozing chocolate goodness complete with soft sponginess..


Then after the one minute, I took the heavenly mug out, poked my fingers at it and still had ideals- had a spoonful and spat it out. Grose.


I think my dietician put a spell on me. It's sad.


'Cos you know what I ended up with? 

This.


Its a far cry from chocolate. Not even near what it states to be - Well, who really buys sticky date flavoured yoghurt except for me?! 


Sigh. Back to low GIs and not so funky food. This sucks.

Rewind A Few Years

When I was in uni awhile ago, I use to meet my friends regularly at this Asian-Hong Kong-Cafe-Restaurant for lunches. Thinking back, I'm not sure whether it was because it was a convenient location or it was the food, but somehow we dined over baked pork chop rice quite often.


If you're familiar with Hong Kong-Macau cafe style foods, you'll find they have some Western-Portuguese influenced Asian foods due to their history. 


I don't know why I've started reminiscing, but I've recently started going back again- the record has pretty much been once a week for the past 3 weeks- I think. Though the owner of James Street Kitchen has changed quite a few times, their lunch menu has pretty much remained the same. 

For the record, I still eat their Baked Pork Chop Rice. It comes as a set-with a drink and borsch/corn soup. If you squint your eyes you'd also notice we ordered spring onion pancake and you tiao (fried dough). We just had nasty eyes and wanted everything on the menu.

They now also serve a assortment of entree style dishes. Although I do presume the takoyaki here was not made in their own kitchen.

They also have Xiao Long Bao. 

Cream Corn Fish & Rice

Roast Duck & Preserved Vegetable Rice Noodle Soup.


I'd say the food tastes pretty much the same as university times- either that or it's been too long! It just takes me back to yester-years and the cafes in Hong Kong. Slurp!




James Street Kitchen
Shop 7a/109 James Street
Northbridge
Perth. Australia

I do try!

Given my current bump condition + a few preggers issues, I've been advised to go on a different diet. This meant my food types for every meal were pretty much set on a piece of paper, it had to be monitored frequently and my dietician makes me do homework- bleh.

Me being me, I try to get around it. I thought of all these ways of being creative with my food- but lets just say sometimes, just sometimes it doesn't really work out the way I want it to.

This is a sugar-free carrot cake- and if you can't tell by looking at it, I don't blame you. It looks more like a dense fruit loaf or something that I may possibly feed to some pets. To be frank, it didn't taste bad, just that when you have presets of what a carrot cake tastes like, it doesn't fit the bill. It tasted more like a orange-carrot moist pudding that was over-baked.

I had one piece and decided I'd rather donate it to the garden birds and critters than share it with any human being.

But don't despair- well I didn't. The same night, I came up with another concoction. It was a high fibre, low fat tuna pasta bake and I must say it turned out pretty well. Atleast good enough for other human beings to eat anyway.

Now... back to entering that food diary. Urgh.

Birthday Afternoon Tea

I'm still in love with the beautiful weather and outdoor activities though I'm sure when summer hits I'll be hiding in my own cave and wanting to hibernate. But for now, I'm content and totally hearting the breezes.

A few days ago my girlfriends brought me to Walter's River Cafe for afternoon tea. I'm telling you, good company, good weather, good food..what else could you expect?

This is their spring menu.  You can also have a browse on their website. I opted for the JD's club.

The serving was huge to say the least!-I cold of shared this with another person.


And look at this little cutie...

She's one of my bestie's girl and has the cheekiest expressions and heartwarming smile. Her vocabulary is constantly increasing and her phrase for the moment is 'odeah!'- a toddler's take on 'Oh dear!' We could of given her a bowl of fries and a bottle of water and she'd be content.


This particular afternoon tea made us girls realize we should send our hubbies off to man-the-kids while we have a day of girly chats and spas. Sounds like a plan to me!




Walter's River Cafe
off Burke Drive or Honour Avenue
Point Walter
Bicton, Western Australia

What have I been up to?

Besides being a total glutton, I have done some efficient things. I promise. Really.

This is what I'm currently working on- a cot set for the bun. It is taking me quite a while and I have no valid explanation really- but it will be done I promise! Well, it better be done soon anyway.

It's going to be a owl- I'm going for the whole forrest critters theme...and maybe do some matching decals too. But in the meantime, let's just dream small and make sure I finish my first nursery project!

Wishes for you

Happy birthday dearest! 


As most of you would know, this is H. He's a few decades old today but unfortunately, he's also a tad sick- tonsil infection. It's times like these that make me all gooey inside-shucks. Someone get him a ticket and fly over here already! Or you're more than welcome to sponsor his flight fund. Anyone?


I hate being love sick.

Gyoza- Pot Stickers

I think there was a grocery mishap because my mum somehow stocked up on cabbages- far too many cabbages and I wanted to use them. So came along gyozas otherwise known as wo tiep and also known as pot stickers!


Cabbage & Chive Gyozas
makes approx. 76 gyozas


500grams Pork mince
500grams Cabbage 
100grams Chinese Chives
2 heaped teaspoons Ginger- finely chopped
4-5 tablespoons Sesame Oil
Salt
Pepper


Approximately 2 packets of store bought Gyoza Wrappers
Bowl of water to seal dumplings


1. Chop cabbage finely. Add 1 teaspoon of salt and strain away excess liquid for approximately 10 minutes.

2. In a bowl mix together mince, chopped chives, ginger, sesame oil, salt (I used 1 teaspoon) and pepper (approx 1/2 teaspoon). Add drained cabbage and mix thoroughly.

3. Place approximately 1/2 tablespoon of mixture onto wrapper.

4. Dip finger into bowl of water and go around the edges of the wrapper. Bring both sides together and pleat-pinch until sealed. 

5. 


To cook: Heat oil in pan and place dumplings onto the pan. Leave on high heat for approximately 1 minute. Then turn on to medium heat and pour water to 1/3 the height of dumplings- simmer with lid covered for 7 minutes (longer time needed for frozen gyozas) or until cooked. Take the lid off, if there's excess liquid pour it away and turn back on high heat and drizzle a little sesame oil on top- then serve.

-The reason for its name!


To store: Wrap and place in freezer. 

To be quiet honest, the dumpling skin was a bit thin for my liking but I'm sure you just have to experiment with the texture by testing different brands- I'm not the type to make my own dumpling skin- it's too time consuming.

Tony Roma's-Perth

The last time I ate Tony Roma's must of been 1-2 odd years ago- that was in KL. Come this time around, it's in Perth as part of my birthday celebration with my sisters.


I don't think I can ever pass their ribs- it is what they're famous for. But part of me also wants to take them home so that I can take feast on it with my hands and bite on the bones- ribs just taste better that way. What you see above is the regular slab of Original Baby Back Ribs served with mashed potatoes and ranch style beans. Yums! 


Between us, we also had a complimentary serve of bread, half a Onion Loaf and Potato Skins- yes, we're pretty greedy.

I caved in when the Onion Loaf came and hence forgot to take a picture- but from memory, it's a way larger serve than what was given in KL.

I couldn't bring myself to try these that night- they somehow looked a tad cheesy and too greasy to go with my ribs- but my sister and nephew loved it.


You can go here to check out their website or go here for their menu. I'd suggest you make a booking if you have 15 or more people or go in pretty early. I went around 6pm and it was fully packed- a very good indication!


Tony Roma's 
919 Hay Street Perth
Western Australia

Getting Sentimental

If your husband isn't around, you receive a bunch of these, they're sitting on your desk with fresh floral aromas infusing your room- then you look and then you see ...

...this gawky fellow staring at you- you'd get teary eyed and miss your husband even more. Well, I admit I did anyway. 


They were sent on my birthday- though I did ask whether the toy was meant for me or the bun. In H's defense he said the toy was meant to be a bear- but err, this definitely aint a bear!


And that's the problem with girls! We all know flowers are a waste of money yet they never fail to surprise and cheer us up. 

I simply can't resist them- but then I also don't know what to do with them later. It's a love hate relationship really.


And you know my other problem? H's birthday is exactly one week apart from mine, so what do I get to do? Help. 


Sorry this post is a bit out of sorts..I'm still being sentimental-hormonal- whatever.

The Colour Blue

This is what I love about Perth. Vast blues. When H was around, we spent alot of time sitting along foreshores, going to beaches and strolling outdoors. 


Weather is beautiful this time of the year- though I wish hayfever didn't have to come with it.

... And here's bump's debut- in the great outdoors.

I look (and feel) more like Humpty Dumpty but my dad insists I walk like a penguin. Go figure. 

Personalisation to it's Finest

You know how I'm a tad free and not up to my usual routine? Well, I've been twiddling my thumbs and came up with this ingenius idea! Really!! Since I haven't got any of my scrapbooking stuff here, I thought I'd embrace another craft altogether- sewing. Well, it started off with that idea anyway- which then lead me into a craft shop - which meant me spending a lo-o-ong time in there - and then lead to this idea. (Amoungst others!)


I got sick of plain baby bodysuits. They're kind of generic unless you pay a hefty amount- and not like they're not good, just that they're plain, boring and same old looking. 

So err..I transferred a plain yellow bodysuit into this. I don't know why, but seeing H's surname on this tiny thing just cracked me up. I think it's his surname- but lets not go there. I nearly appliqued it onto the butt area, but if you've got any Chinese inheritance in you, you'd know that sound isn't quite acoustically pleasing especially when it comes to the rear end. 

Ok, not a super-genius idea- but atleast when my kid gets lost others can help me look for him/her?!?! Or I can start my baby league. Now I'm just wondering whether I should applique something on the butt. What do you think?

Blend @ Marmion Street

This blog has featured eats predominantly from Malaysia, Singapore and Australia. In Malaysia, I generally love the casual hawker style and authentic kopitiam foods that most probably haven't changed since the yesteryears. In Singapore, I look for a modern twist to Asian/Western foods and in Australia, I most probably love it's food diversity and alfresco culture.

I have a soft spot for eclectic cafes. They spell character and rid the typical franchises seen all over the world. So when my sister took me to Blend on a lazy Sunday morning, I quickly warmed to its atmosphere and array of people - I wasn't disappointed by its coffee and food either, that was equally pleasing.

Mocha, just right.

My breakfast- forgot it's name, but love the bacon + caramelized onion + spinach combo.

H's Scrambo Special.


I've been told they're famed for their all day dining and wood fired pizzas. I'll definitely do the pizza some day.

Blend

356 Marmion Street

Melville 6156

Perth Australia

Semi-Retired

I figured that's the word I'll use for now! 


Seriously, telling people I'm currently unemployed just doesn't strike my chord. It's like saying I'm a useless blob right now. Not fun. I also figured another term which sounds slighty better- Home Engineer, but then the bank asked for my company name and I went blank. Genius.


So after all the moving and technicalities, I've now got a.l.o.t. of spare time on my hands. I mean ..A.L.O.T. What do semi-retired people do? Ok, what do unemployed people do? I feel so lost and .. weird. It's like my life has gone haywire. 


Guess what I've filled my days with?

I started a puzzle. Went from nothing to this..

..then this in two days. It was my job. I felt so satisfied.

Oh... then I decided I missed my house and made my husband take random pictures of what it looks like now, checking if H was up to his manly duties. I think the lawn looks randomly green enough don't you? Oh H, you're the best!! On a separate note, H and I are currently planets apart. Boo. Unfortunately it will be like this for a while. 

And after all that, I do what really smart unemployed people go and do- spend more money and buy funny stuff. In my defense, it's for the bun. It's a necessity. 


Ahh... what next?