ARGHHH! The office is still in a mess when we step in this morning, boxes still lying around and to make things worst... the aircon is not working! As you can see, the fan are everywhere!
I am feeling unsure about the new office, sigh...tomorrow It's a new start at a new location... sigh again... the office is not too bad just that I am not looking forward to work, that's for sure. It's away from the comfort zone.
Just when I was feeling down.. my handphone rang! It's an oversea call! That can only be my "dar"! Okay okay.. I was really happy :) he's in Paris now and will be back next friday! He has been away for almost 1 week now, nowadays he will always call me to see if I am alright. Last year in April, while he was away, I became very ill suddenly and has to be hospitalized (usually he will only sms me, because I told him that phone call is too expensive) BUT! the day that I was hospitalized, he said that he felt that he has to call me! It may sound unbelievable but it's true! he said that he can feel that I was calling out to him!??? Which I did! I was in so much pain that I thought I was going to die.. really! But when I know that he called me, I was so happy, all the pain went away and the rest is just history.... I am here now... happy to be alive! :)
Okay.. I feel much better.. Leng Kee, I will see you tomorrow!
Just when I was feeling down.. my handphone rang! It's an oversea call! That can only be my "dar"! Okay okay.. I was really happy :) he's in Paris now and will be back next friday! He has been away for almost 1 week now, nowadays he will always call me to see if I am alright. Last year in April, while he was away, I became very ill suddenly and has to be hospitalized (usually he will only sms me, because I told him that phone call is too expensive) BUT! the day that I was hospitalized, he said that he felt that he has to call me! It may sound unbelievable but it's true! he said that he can feel that I was calling out to him!??? Which I did! I was in so much pain that I thought I was going to die.. really! But when I know that he called me, I was so happy, all the pain went away and the rest is just history.... I am here now... happy to be alive! :)
Okay.. I feel much better.. Leng Kee, I will see you tomorrow!
I always like my mum's version of Suan Pan Zi. The traditional kind looks like small flattened balls but I like to do things differently.. ha ha.. so I made mine into long strips.. kind of like slice fish cake but thicker:) The texture is still chewy and has a strong flavor of yam...yummy! See below:
The ingredients in making my "Suan Pan Zi":
1: Mixed coriander and spring onions (you can add chives if you like)
2: Diced Dried Shrimps and Chilli paste (I like mine spicy ;p)
3: Bean Sprouts
And my final product:
Okay let talks about the "look" of the suan pan zi. I apologise for the poor quality of these photos, normally my handphone camera takes very nice and sharp photos but unfortunately I dropped it on the floor and it seems that the camera function is out!!!! (ya, I screamed so loud! heart pain AHHHH!!) So now, I am using my OLD handphone camera and as you can see, it's not very clear... please bear with me until I get a better camera... hopefully soon. BUT! nevertheless, these "suan pan zi" taste really good, a bit spicy but good! My brothers (btw I have 4 brothers, YAP! I am the rose amongst the thorns..ha ha ) loved it so much that they requested that I made it again the next weekend!!!......:@ "faint".... only if they knew how difficult the process in making these delicious "suan pan zi"
The ingredients in making my "Suan Pan Zi":
1: Mixed coriander and spring onions (you can add chives if you like)
2: Diced Dried Shrimps and Chilli paste (I like mine spicy ;p)
3: Bean Sprouts
And my final product:
Okay let talks about the "look" of the suan pan zi. I apologise for the poor quality of these photos, normally my handphone camera takes very nice and sharp photos but unfortunately I dropped it on the floor and it seems that the camera function is out!!!! (ya, I screamed so loud! heart pain AHHHH!!) So now, I am using my OLD handphone camera and as you can see, it's not very clear... please bear with me until I get a better camera... hopefully soon. BUT! nevertheless, these "suan pan zi" taste really good, a bit spicy but good! My brothers (btw I have 4 brothers, YAP! I am the rose amongst the thorns..ha ha ) loved it so much that they requested that I made it again the next weekend!!!......:@ "faint".... only if they knew how difficult the process in making these delicious "suan pan zi"
Labels: Let's Eat
JiaoZi - Chinese Dumplings Recipe
0 Comments Published by pink dimple on Saturday, April 28, 2007 at 10:39 PM.
During the weekends, I will spend hours trying to perfect the recipe and I would make my family members try them and give me comments, so far this is the best recipe.
Skins:
8 cups white flour
about 2 1/2 cups (very) cold water
1 teaspoon salt
Dissolve salt in water. Add 2 cups water to flour and blend THOROUGHLY. Do not add more water until it is absolutely necessary. Add remaining water as slowly as possible in order to get as hard a dough as you can. If the dough is too soft, add more flour. Knead thoroughly. Harder dough is much easier to fill. Chill while you make the filling.
Separate dough into 2 portions. Form into long sausages, about 1 inch diameter. Cut sections every 1cm. Form sections into balls and use rolling pin to form into round, flat skins about 3 inches diameter. If they are too thick, the jiaozi will be very doughy. Modify sizes of balls as appropriate.
Meat:
1 kilo ground meat
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Add soy sauce and salt to meat. Stir slowly, always in the same direction (if you change directions, the meat fibers don't stick together as well, and the jiaozi are more likely to fall apart when cooked). Add remaining ingredients.
Let sit while you prepare the vegetables and other additional ingredients. All need to be finely minced. Use a food processor if you have one. If you don't, I hope you have a LOT of patience. If the bits are too large, the jiaozi will fall apart.
1 inch ginger (finely minced. You can use a grater)
3-4 stalks spring onion
1 small clump fresh coriander (cilantro)
1 very small clump chives
Either: 8-10 stalks celery (at least half the entire stook). Once minced, squeeze out any excess water.
Or: 1 small head Chinese cabbage
Optional: 3 large carrots
Optional: 3-4 chinese black mushrooms (shiitake)
Optional: one fried egg
Stir them slowly into the meat mixture. For now, add only the lower numbers (eg. 8 celery, not 10). Don't let the mix get too moist.
Test scent. It should be very aromatic. If not, add a little more shaoxing wine, or sesame oil, or onion. Test consistency. Fry a teaspoon or so of the mix. It should stick together very easily. If it falls apart, it could be because (a) the mix is too dry in which case add more veggies and/or oil, or (b) because its too moist in which case add a little more meat. (Since its easier to add more veggies, that's why I suggested adding the veggies slowly!) Test flavour. (Eat the fried bit). Your entire tongue should get a little bit of life. If necessary, add a few spices to supplement -- savoury gets central tongue, white pepper the back, black pepper the front, paprika the sides.
Fiddle until you're happy.
To roll:
Take about 1 tablespoon filling and place into centre of skin. Bring one half up to meet the other half. Seal thoroughly. This usually means creating "pleats" in one half and gluing them to the other (use a tiny bit of water if you need to), If they're not well sealed, they fall apart when cooking.
To cook:
Bring large pot of water to boil. Add enough jiaozi to cover the base of the pot about 1.5 times (about 25 in a 12" diameter pot, about 50 in a good size wok). Cover.
When it comes to a boil, add 1 cup cold water. Cover. Repeat. When it comes to a boil for the third time, they are ready to serve.
Note: if you stop it before the third boil, the meat will not be cooked through. Also, if you don't add cold water each time, the jiaozi will fill up with air and explode.
Alternate cooking method:
After you've boiled them, you can fry them. This is a wonderful way to serve the leftovers, and a very common Chinese breakfast!
To serve:
Typically eaten with a sauce constructed of soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. (ratio about 1/4 cup SS: 1/4 cup Vinegar: 1 teaspoon sugar). Also good with plain malt vinegar. To ensure that the sugar has dissolved completely, heat briefly. For more flavour, add a little sesame oil, hot oil, maggi (available in most chinese stores), and/or chilli pepper as you wish.
To store:
JiaoZi keep very well in the freezer. To freeze, place on trays so they are not touching (if they touch, they will stick together). Freeze overnight. The next day, place into plastic bags & seal. Will keep indefinitely.
Skins:
8 cups white flour
about 2 1/2 cups (very) cold water
1 teaspoon salt
Dissolve salt in water. Add 2 cups water to flour and blend THOROUGHLY. Do not add more water until it is absolutely necessary. Add remaining water as slowly as possible in order to get as hard a dough as you can. If the dough is too soft, add more flour. Knead thoroughly. Harder dough is much easier to fill. Chill while you make the filling.
Separate dough into 2 portions. Form into long sausages, about 1 inch diameter. Cut sections every 1cm. Form sections into balls and use rolling pin to form into round, flat skins about 3 inches diameter. If they are too thick, the jiaozi will be very doughy. Modify sizes of balls as appropriate.
Meat:
1 kilo ground meat
2 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
1 teaspoon sesame oil
Add soy sauce and salt to meat. Stir slowly, always in the same direction (if you change directions, the meat fibers don't stick together as well, and the jiaozi are more likely to fall apart when cooked). Add remaining ingredients.
Let sit while you prepare the vegetables and other additional ingredients. All need to be finely minced. Use a food processor if you have one. If you don't, I hope you have a LOT of patience. If the bits are too large, the jiaozi will fall apart.
1 inch ginger (finely minced. You can use a grater)
3-4 stalks spring onion
1 small clump fresh coriander (cilantro)
1 very small clump chives
Either: 8-10 stalks celery (at least half the entire stook). Once minced, squeeze out any excess water.
Or: 1 small head Chinese cabbage
Optional: 3 large carrots
Optional: 3-4 chinese black mushrooms (shiitake)
Optional: one fried egg
Stir them slowly into the meat mixture. For now, add only the lower numbers (eg. 8 celery, not 10). Don't let the mix get too moist.
Test scent. It should be very aromatic. If not, add a little more shaoxing wine, or sesame oil, or onion. Test consistency. Fry a teaspoon or so of the mix. It should stick together very easily. If it falls apart, it could be because (a) the mix is too dry in which case add more veggies and/or oil, or (b) because its too moist in which case add a little more meat. (Since its easier to add more veggies, that's why I suggested adding the veggies slowly!) Test flavour. (Eat the fried bit). Your entire tongue should get a little bit of life. If necessary, add a few spices to supplement -- savoury gets central tongue, white pepper the back, black pepper the front, paprika the sides.
Fiddle until you're happy.
To roll:
Take about 1 tablespoon filling and place into centre of skin. Bring one half up to meet the other half. Seal thoroughly. This usually means creating "pleats" in one half and gluing them to the other (use a tiny bit of water if you need to), If they're not well sealed, they fall apart when cooking.
To cook:
Bring large pot of water to boil. Add enough jiaozi to cover the base of the pot about 1.5 times (about 25 in a 12" diameter pot, about 50 in a good size wok). Cover.
When it comes to a boil, add 1 cup cold water. Cover. Repeat. When it comes to a boil for the third time, they are ready to serve.
Note: if you stop it before the third boil, the meat will not be cooked through. Also, if you don't add cold water each time, the jiaozi will fill up with air and explode.
Alternate cooking method:
After you've boiled them, you can fry them. This is a wonderful way to serve the leftovers, and a very common Chinese breakfast!
To serve:
Typically eaten with a sauce constructed of soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar. (ratio about 1/4 cup SS: 1/4 cup Vinegar: 1 teaspoon sugar). Also good with plain malt vinegar. To ensure that the sugar has dissolved completely, heat briefly. For more flavour, add a little sesame oil, hot oil, maggi (available in most chinese stores), and/or chilli pepper as you wish.
To store:
JiaoZi keep very well in the freezer. To freeze, place on trays so they are not touching (if they touch, they will stick together). Freeze overnight. The next day, place into plastic bags & seal. Will keep indefinitely.
Labels: Let's Eat
I DON'T WANT TO MOVE TO LENG KEE!!!
0 Comments Published by pink dimple on Thursday, April 26, 2007 at 4:53 PM.
I still can't believe we are really moving.. sob sob :( WHY? WHY? Why can't we just move to the building next to where we are now, it's vacant! or even in Chinatown (my "dar" is there) haha! it's so convenient here (Raffles Place)! I guess I need time to adapt to the new place... maybe if I can think about the nice things in Leng Kee, then maybe.. maybe ... I don't feel so restless. Ok, let's see.. Leng Kee... I heard there's a new market with cheap and good food? The Char Kway Teow, Chicken Rice and errr... Curry Rice? oh oh.. I can pop by Mercedes Showroom and test drive the latest model???? ok what esle...hmmm... It's NOT WORKING! I DON'T WANT TO MOVE TO LENG KEE!!!
Finally Heroes makes its return tonight with Chapter 19, “.07%”. It's been almost a month since the last episode was aired and episode 18 left me wondering what will happen to Peter and Sylar? I was screaming away when sylar attempts to telekinetically slice Peter’s skull open to steal his powers! So intense! Ahhhh!!! Ok for those who wants to see the show first, you better stop reading now because the spoiler is coming!!!!!
In episode 19, find out the evil designs of Mr. Linderman, who reveals he has a power of his own. He zeroes in on Niki/Jessica’s son Micah. He continues to tempt Nathan with the trappings of power so he will go along with his scheme to destroy half of New York - or, as Linderman notes, .07 percent of the world’s population (and hence the episode title, “.07 %”).
Ok, the intense and most exciting part of the show... previously, Sylar was slicing Peter's skull, but don't forget Peter has the power to heal!!!! Yeh! phew! Ok he didn't die... but...but another Hero did die in this episode..:( so sad. (I won't reveal)
Elsewhere, Hiro (I love his character, so cute) regain his power back after getting hold of the sword. He transpotted himself to the future (5 years later) and found that New York is destroyed. At the same time he meets with the "future Hiro". ... to be continued
Labels: Heroes
Kenith is so cute! still as adorable...
I've packed and ready! Office moving to new location!
0 Comments Published by pink dimple on at 2:26 PM.
I am totally not excited about the moving, the new office is located near an industrial area!!! How can anyone be happy and excited? I am going to miss Raffles Place (my current location). NO MORE Starbucks, Coffee bean, Sakae Sushi, Burger King...!!! just 'kopi thiam" and "Industrial park canteen"!!! NO MORE air-con environment!...sob sob :( and no more lunching with KS! KS is a close friend who is also working near Raffles Place, we like to lunch together and talk about "men" ha ha! 4 more days till moving day...
My Dinner Tonight - Chicken Curry
1 Comments Published by pink dimple on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at 7:53 PM.
My "dar" favourite dish... chicken curry! He can finish the whole pot all by himself! But he's away in europe now and will only be back in mid may.. he he ;) He will definitely request for this dish when he comes back. I miss him... ;(
Labels: Let's Eat
Ingredients:
500g chicken Wings
2tbsp garlic powder
2tbsp ginger powder
2tbsp white pepper
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp sesame oil
4-5 tbsp tempura flour
METHOD:
1. Marinate the chicken wings with garlic powder, ginger powder, white pepper, salt and sesame oil for about 3 hours.
2. After 3 hours, mix the tempura flour with the marinated chicken wings.
3. Heat up oil and deep-fry the chicken wings until crispy and golden brown. Serve immediately.
Labels: Let's Eat
Ingredients:
8 red chillies
3 cloves garlic
1 stalk lemon grass
2 inches turmeric
1/2 inch galangal
500g chicken wings
1tbsp lime juice
1tbsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
Oil for deep frying
METHOD:
1. Pound the chillies, garlic, lemon grass, turmeric and galangal together. Marinate the chicken wings with all the ingredients for about 3 hours.
2. Heat up oil and deep-fry the chicken wings until golden brown
8 red chillies
3 cloves garlic
1 stalk lemon grass
2 inches turmeric
1/2 inch galangal
500g chicken wings
1tbsp lime juice
1tbsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
Oil for deep frying
METHOD:
1. Pound the chillies, garlic, lemon grass, turmeric and galangal together. Marinate the chicken wings with all the ingredients for about 3 hours.
2. Heat up oil and deep-fry the chicken wings until golden brown
Labels: Let's Eat
I just steam this, it's simple and nice.
RECIPE:
Ingredients:
Rice flour 300g
Pumpkin 600g
dried shrimp 30g (soaked and chopped into small pieces)
water 900ml
Seasoning:
Salt 1tbsp
White pepper 1tbsp
Garnish:
Spring onions or coriander leaves, fried shallots, fried shrimps (optional)
METHOD
Step 1. Wash and peel off the pumpkin skin and remove the seeds inside. Shred the pumpkin and leave it aside.
Step 2. Put the rice flour into a big bowl, add 400ml of water and mixed it thoroughly.
Step 3. Heat up the wok with 3 tbsp oil, add in dried shrimp, and stir-fry till fragrant. Add in the shredded pumpkin, turn heat down to medium and fry for 2min. Add in the remaining 500ml water and seasoning and stir-fry for about 3min.
Step 4. Finally, add in the rice flour mixture (Step 2), slowly and mix it thorougly with pumpkin into a thick paste and turn off heat immediately. Do not overcooked. (IMPORTANT)
Step 5. Pour the mixture into a steaming tray (lined the tray with Cling Wrap), and steam it for about 40 min, high heat. Once done, let it cool for about 15 mins and garnish with fried shallots and chopped coriander leaves on top and serve with thai chilli sauce..hmmm.. yummy!!!
Labels: Let's Eat
I just saw this movie and I like it so much that I am going to watch it AGAIN! It's lighthearted, witty, and bitingly funny, surprise box office hit 200 Pounds Beauty has become one of the top ten grossing films of all time and the highest grossing romantic comedy ever. Based on a Japanese comic by Suzuki Yumiko, the film revolves on a topic all too familiar in Korea: plastic surgery. The film made an overnight star out of lead Kim Ah Jung (When Romance Meets Destiny), whose sassy, yet vulnerable performance opposite Ju Jin Mo (Musa) endeared her to both male and female moviegoers alike. Even the film's soundtrack has become a big hit, particularly Kim Ah Jung's rendition of Maria. As the ghost singer for pop idol Ami and a popular phone sex partner, the bright and lovable Hannah Kang (Kim Ah Jung) attracts everyone with her beautiful voice. But in real life, she is overlooked and made fun of because of her obesity. She secretly likes manager Sang Jun (Ju Jin Mo), but does not have the courage to tell him. When a malicious joke leaves her humiliated and heartbroken, Hannah makes a drastic decision: full-body plastic surgery. Months later, a slim and drop-dead gorgeous Hannah saunters into auditions, and easily wins over Sang Jun with her beautiful looks and voice. With her newfound beauty, Hannah gets everything she's ever wanted, including fame and love. But what will everyone think when they discover her true identity, and the secret behind her transformation?
I highly recommend this film to everyone. It's funny, romantic, heart warming and touching all-in-one. 5/5
Ok boys and girls... I have investigated the "Mystery MSN user" and I have found out from some of my friends that they have also encountered these kind of scenario too.. "aiya.. what haunted computer! it's a technical fault lah!" they said. Sigh... and all that excitement for nothing? Chek!
I made this today with my good friend Jo Jo (I found this recipe from a book and we decided to give it a try), I roll the dough and baked the bun and OMG it smell good.. we marinated the pork chop for about 3 hours and pan fried it and ta da!!!!!! it's our version of Macau's Pork Burger...
Labels: Let's Eat
HAUNTED COMPUTER!!!!?????
0 Comments Published by pink dimple on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at 11:34 PM.
This is really creepy man... I don't know what is going on?! OMG! It happened last night and it's happening again tonight! I am sure most of you chat online using msn rite? Ok, this is what happened... my colleagues and I, we use the msn to "gossip" in the office (ha ha!), we talked about this new colleague who just join us and how she tries to smile seductively and posed infront of the mirror (she thinks no one is watching, but we saw! ha ha) we have in the office! so anywaysss... from what I know, my colleague (let's call her Mandy) don't use the msn at home, she only uses it in the office and so this is when the strangest thing happened... yesterday morning (it's a good friday, public holiday), I was at home chatting online with my frens and I did not see Mandy online (ok normal) but when I went online again in the evenings around 9pm... I saw her online? which is strange to me because: 1ST: it's 9pm! she should be at home with her husband and 2 kids sleeping! she told me she sleep early 2ND: it's a public holiday, why is she at the office late at nite? I didn''t msn her cause my "girl instinct" told me not to????? I'm not sure man... so i sms her on the phone, which she didn't reply me too? so I was puzzled?? She finally went offline after MIDNIGHT!!! WHICH I FIND SO STRANGE????? IT SO UNLIKE HER! ok ok.. NEXT MORNING... I call her on the mobile phone to check with her if she had use her home PC to access her msn and she said that she wasn't using the PC at home or anytime yesterday?!!!!!!!!! I WAS SHOCKED!!!! BUT Someone or..... thing did use her msn account! DENG DENG DENG DENNNNNG!!! SPOOKY! Mandy thought she might have forgotten to switch off her PC on Thursday night before she left but if she did forgotten to switch off I would have seen her online in the morning when I was chatting with my frens rite? But I only saw her online in the evening? And I saw her online just now? how do you explain that! I intend to get to the bottom of this mystery user. THERE MUST BE AN EXPLANATION TO ALL THIS! ..... to be continued
hi hi.. it's been quite awhile since my last blog, had to take care of some stuff at office but nevertheless, I'M BACK! I decided to change the design of my blog and I found this great website (http://www.finalsense.com) with free template for blogger and all you have to do is copy the html code and paste it in your existing html code in your template. And there you have it.. my new improved blog! but still need some minor adjustments... I'm quite happy with it. ke ke:)
