Bento #53

This is the first Bento for 2008!
Three boxes for three girls going to morning school! This was made on the first day of school which started last week.

The Oval black ones are for #2 and so is the white one which contains Tuna Onigiri. The older girls are still on a fruit and vegetable 'diet'. The pink box is for my 'baby' - #3 is nine years old, she too wanted fruits like her two elder sisters. The blue bento is for #1.

Other than fruits, the other box contains broccoli, carrots, cauliflower and two types of fish balls. I get these fish balls from the Japanese section of Jaya Jusco @ 1U and they are really very tasty. I topped them with Kewpie mayo and cheese! Mmmmm.....

Random...

Over the Christmas period, it was cupcake season in our household!! #1's creativity juices were running on the max and we were churning cupcakes like a bakery!!!

Just look at the various designs she did....


Most of the cupcakes were slathered with butter cream and the snowmen were rolled out of fondant and so were the little 'presents', candles and acorns!

"Happy New Year 2008!"

We welcomed the New Year with 'Lui Cha'. It's a Hakka dish I learnt to cook from one of our resident Priest several years ago. It's our Parish Priests' favourite dish. It's been a while since I cooked this. Our assistant Parish priest was leaving for further studies and hubs and I decided we'd host a farewell for him with a "Lui Cha" party!

It was crazy!! We had about 30 adults and 15 kids and a mountain of vegetables! But we had loads and loads of fun!! Look at the amount of fried vegetables. On another table, we had a huge pot of Spaghetti for the kids. Some kids couldn't resist trying the 'lui cha' and surprisingly enjoyed it too!!Great food!! Fantastic company! Amazing friends!! What a welcome to a happening year - 2008!! Thank you Lord!!

I'm Back!!

To all my blogger friends and visitors, thousand apologies for the six week hiatus.
Long story of not enough time and too many things to do. I'm starting to 'crank up' on my bento-ing since the kids started school. Now I've got three girls going to morning school. Not only do I pack 3 boxes (for 3 kids with varying tastes), I also prepare breakfasts for them before sending them off to school!! Whew!! How does one keep sane?? Okay, okay, it's the New Year and I'll just keep to a positive note. By the way, Seasons felicitations to all of you and especially to you who dropped some personal messages. Thank you for your concern and care and God bless this year and the forthcoming ones!!

To "X" out "CHRIST" from "Christ-Mas"

Ten years ago, when I was in charge of publishing our BEC (neighbourhood Catholic community) newsletter, we had an article contribution from a youth. It was an article about "Taking the "CHRIST" out of Christmas - literally to cross out Christ. The article was an eye opener. Until today, I cringe whenever I read or hear wishes of Merry X'mas!


A quick reference to Wikipedia provided this information: Some believe that the term is part of an effort to "take Christ out of Christmas" or to literally "cross out Christ";^[2] it is also seen as evidence of the secularization of Christmas, as a symptom of the commercialization of the holiday (as the abbreviation has long been used by retailers).

(Sorry, still busy. Just managed to do a quick post.)

#2 sent me a message from Genting

#2 left for Genting on Sunday morning. It's a trip organized by her school. Hubs sent her to the 'meeting point' at 8a.m. on Sunday. I was told that a Genting bus picked them up and they were to take the cable car up to Genting.

#2 sms-ed me at every point of her journey to update me even though I didn't ask her to do so. I think it's a habit that she's acquired since young. Hubs and I have allowed her to go on excursions, competitions, music festivals and MPO concerts, on her own with school/music school organizers since she was 9 years old.

I wasn't keen on her going to Genting because of the pollution and advised her to think properly before deciding. I think she wanted to spend some time with her friends before she transfers out of her current school.

I thought that the trip was very cheap - Sunday to Tuesday @RM175/=. Ha! The catch was that, only accommodation and breakfast was provided!

I was amused with one of the sms that she sent me yesterday.

"I jz paid rm15 for a plate of wan tan mee.!!=s so expensive that i have to eat all d vege n 'choong' too.!! Too expensive to throw aside. XD."

Hahaha! I was tickled! Whenever we eat noodles and soup, #2 would pick out all the 'choong' and vegetables and put aside, not wanting to eat them. She would also make a fuss if her order came with the 'stuff' (she calls them stuff) after she had specifically told them to omit.

Well, this is a learning experience. I showed the sms to hubs and he laughed and said that if that were true, he'd be very happy because then she's learnt something from this trip.

Perfect Waffles

I made waffles for breakfast this morning. I think I have the perfect recipe. *blush*

I own two waffle irons, one non stick "Rowenta" (German) which produces 5 slice (heart shape) thin waffle and a "General Electric" (US) three slice rectangle Belgium style waffle (square) and find that both produce different textures with the same recipe.

The 'thin' Rowenta waffle iron produce crispy waffles with the same recipe and the 'thick' GE waffle iron produce the crisp waffle on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

I want to share this recipe with you.

Recipe:
2 eggs
1 tbsp caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
160 g melted butter
400 ml milk
2 cups regular flour
4 tsp baking powder

Method:
1. Whisk egg, sugar and salt with Kenwood balloon whisk till fluffy and non drip.
2. Meanwhile, melt butter over low fire.
3. Add milk and butter alternately until finish.
4. Add dry ingredients and whisk until no more lumps.

Viola!! Delicious waffles. Serve hot with maple syrup or ice cream as a dessert.

I like to serve my waffles savory style. Usually serve them for brunch with Sardines cooked with big yellow onions, #2 loves this combination. I've also done it with fresh or canned button mushrooms - sliced and sauteed with lots of sliced garlic and peppered with mixed spices and salt - heavenly!! You can serve with Heinz beans, scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast - the choices are unlimited. Waffles are the best!!

note: Sorry no pictures because #2 brought all my rechargeables to Genting for her school excursion.

SICK?

Yesterday, #2 made a statement! "I think I'm going to be sick! Why? I asked. Because I've not had Japanese food for sooo...... loooonnggggggg!! (about ten days) I think I'm going to be sick, she says again!"

#1 rebutted. Yeah!! That's because Grandma has been around and cooking Chinese as usual. *Guilty* I tilt my head a little lower and give them a grin because I know I've not been cooking. I've been at camp and in training with the Youth group.

This morning, #2 moaned again. "I'm getting more sick today. If we don't eat Japanese today I'll just start to melt away. Okay, we'll have Japanese for lunch before the training begins at 2pm, I reply."

#1 said: Hey! Aunty Jen said that there's a shop selling great "Pan Mien" in Sunway Damansara (#2 and I love Pan Mien). Okay, then let's go and eat "Pan Mien" I say. Oh! NO! We don't! says #1! If you two decide to eat "Pan Mien", I will get sick and melt too!

Hey! So what about me? I asked! Doesn't my vote count? Both said that I could eat either and that both of them would be sick if I decided on "Pan Mien" so we ended eating Japanese.

After lunch we went for the youth training and both were very contented! No wonder #2 in her blog states that 'Some people eat to live, I live to eat'.

Tags

Gosh! These Tags are taking a toll on me. I don't think I'm made for them. I think I'm going to 'pengsan' soon. Some tags, I don't even know what to write, that's why I shy away from tagging others. I'm going to take leave from Tags for a while. I hope my blogger friends understand.

I've been really busy preparing for an upcoming Youth Rally in December. We've got a team of youth who have been training for the last 8 months to facilitate this program. It's been a challenging journey and we're on our last lap.

I ask you, my friends to pray for us, in your own way and your own religious inclinations. All prayers are welcome!

Again, I will be out from Tuesday to Sunday to supervise the team practicing. Take care!!

TAG: Hogwart Invitation

Got an invite to Hogwarts sorting from Sting ... let's see which house I belong to

You need to take a test first before you to know which house you are in.

Seems, I belong to Hufflepuff - Loyal, Dependable, Harworking *blush*

Which Hogwarts house will you be sorted into?

Your in-depth results are:
Hufflepuff - 17
Ravenclaw - 12
Gryffindor - 11
Slytherin - 6

*** start copy paste this invitation***

I know what you’re all thinking, “Not -another- sorting quiz!”, but before you get bored and leave, let me say a few things about it. This is not the ordinary sorting quiz that you’re used to. Unlike all those other quizzes infesting the Internet, this quiz actually sorts you for who you are as a person, not because your favorite animal is a lion.

I made this quiz as a reaction to all the bad sorting quizzes. The problem with most of the existing quizzes, is that the questions rarely have anything to do with which house you would actually be sorted into. Your favorite color doesn’t effect which house you belong to. Not every Gryffindor likes defense against the dark arts, not every Slytherin likes potions. Just look at Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Each is in Gryffindor, but each has a completely different disposition. Harry’s father was often a bully and a thief, yet he was still in Gryffindor.

This quiz will actually ask you psychological questions with a variety of answers that can’t easily be determined as to which house they fit into. This was meant to be more like what the Sorting Hat does. Just remember though that you must answer these questions truthfully in order to get an accurate answer.

Also these questions are written to take place in our world, not the world of Harry Potter. I didn’t give a Harry Potter theme to the quiz because the answers are more accurate this way. As Muggles, we don’t have any idea what it’s like to be faced with a troll or a bogart and we’ve never played quiddich. Our answers may be skewed as to how our favorite characters would act instead of ourselves. However, we all know what it’s like to live in the Muggle world because we do it every day.

Please take the test and copy paste this *master list* after you are sorted and don’t forget to tag your friends! Let’s see which tower has the most members!

Gryffindor: Karen Adrian Eric Speedcat
Slytherin:
Ravenclaw: Mr. Fong Jojo kasper794, Wen, Dora, Sting,
Hufflepuff: Trinity Amel Jo-N sasha, Bento Pet,

***end copy paste***

And this sorting hat goes to the following Muggles:

Tag You, You and You!!!!

Here's 5

Got Tagged by Jo-N

Thank you!

5 THINGS FOUND IN MY BAG

{Bag? Oh! You mean my "CARRY ALL"!}
Tube of Dettol cream, "Kwan Loong minyak kapak", pens, handphone, thumb drive and maybe fifteen other items!

5 THINGS FOUND IN MY WALLET

{Loyalty and Credit cards, Cash, Receipts, Coins and Holy Picture}

5 THINGS FOUND IN MY ROOM

{King Size bed, Study table and Chair, Two Bedside tables, Night lamp and Chest of drawers.}

5 THINGS I’VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO

{Watch more theatre plays and musicals, Bring my daughters to watch the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, retire in a place where I can enjoy clean water and clean air, have more kids and spend more time enjoying my hobbies}

5 THINGS I’M CURRENTLY INTO

{Packing Bento, Baking cuppy cakes, cookies and more cakes, blogging, experimental cooking and 'lepak-ing' with my kids (holidays)}

5 BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE TO TAG

{To all the beautiful bloggers who come a visiting, please be welcome to do this tag!!}

Away until next week!

Friends, I will be away with our Church Youths @ camp for the next few days. Will only be back on Sunday and hopefully back to blogging on Monday!! Take care and have a great weekend! Cheers!!

Music filled week!

We attended a German Jazz quartet on Tuesday (30 Oct 2007 @ 8.30p.m.), last week. Root 70 was led by the German made famous Jazz Trombonist - Nils Wogram. My kids were trilled with the 2 hour performance. I've not reached that level of appreciating Jazz music so I was nodding off several times during the concert. Hubs was out cold, short of making his own music. When they performed their final piece, I was ready to get up and go but the crowd encored and I sat back down. Sigh! Had to go through another mind boggling piece of instrumental.

The quartet, which consists of trombonist Nils Wogram and drummer Jochen Rückert (both from Germany), and saxophonist Hayden Chisholm and bass player (double bass) Matt Penman (both from New Zealand).

I was shocked at the size of the Roses in the middle of the bouquet!!
Call me ignorant, but I've never seen any Rose in such a size!!

Lovely flowers tied to each pew in Church.

Part of the flowers at the base of the Altar.

More lovely flowers from the Wedding on Saturday @ Church.

The above group named "The Mosaic Jazz Group" played at a wedding which we attended on Saturday night. They played and sang and were quite entertaining. They added new pizazz to Sway by Pussycat dolls, Nat King Cole's Unforgettable and the list goes on. That evening's Jazz performance was much more soothing to the ears.

Friday night, found ourselves in Genting Highlands Resorts Hotel. Before watching the much anticipated Rose, Rose, I love you, the kids insisted that I go with them to First World Hotel to watch the fiasco there. It was a journey of corridors and escalators before we reached First World Hotel.

It was noisy, polluted and there were bright and bling-bling lights everywhere.
Look at the pictures!

Wheee! They brought the Oscars to Genting!!!

Flying Swans gliding around looking for people to ride them.

Slot Machines are no longer only for Adults. These are "Dress Barbie" slot machines
where you slot in your payment for a game to dress Barbie. *Shakes head*
I'm glad I didn't bring #3 with me because I'd have to deal with a very unhappy kid.
For the boys, they had slot machines for the 'dinosaur game'.

More bling-bling lights!!

Food, herbs and more herbs!!!
Unfortunately, some of these containers had lots and lots of weasels in between the food stuff.
It was quite gross.

My favorite!! Pity couldn't smell anything other than second hand smoke, McD's and KFC!

Quick breakie with the kids this morning.

For those of you who were asking for pictures from the musical Rose, Rose, I love you. We weren't allowed to take pictures in the concert hall. My two daughters managed to take some pictures with Tin Tan and Soon Yoon but it's in their phone. Sorry!!

Hari Raya cuppy cakes!

Daughter #1 made these for my neighbours Hari Raya open house yesterday. Notice the 'ketupat' and Mosque designs. I wasn't home when she did the icing and I was quite impressed that she was able to handle all these by herself.

She even had a 'beach' scene - the one topped with an umbrella. Cool!

Rose, Rose, I love you - the musical!

I was awed with the musical "Rose, Rose, I love you". This is what my eldest daughter wrote in her blog.

**************************************


"Now, about Rose Rose I love you.
Definitely worth the watch!
No regrets! =)
If you have the time, PLEASE GO AND WATCH IT OKAY!

You have to understand abit of Cantonese though. =)
But definitely worth watching! =)

This musical was inspired by the former Cabaret Queen of Malaysia, Rose Chan.
The crew and cast hopes that this homage does Rose Chan justice.
I think it definitely did her all the justice, because then you understand why she actually went into this whole "strip dancing business".

The ultimate, and cutest part of this entire musical were the "stilletos", consisting of this three girls (Angie, Colleen and Anrie) who also performed with Lit in Girls Just wanna Have Fun in 2006 @ Bangsar Actors Studio.
Carmen Soo who played "Ah Xuan" referred to the Stilletos as the three aunties who shared ONE brain. hehehe. It was really funny. Plus, they were named Ah yat, Ah yee, Ah sam!

Okay. Here's the highlight. They all can sing.
What am i saying?!? It's a musical. Stupid me.

The way they distracted you and changed the set? cool-ness. hehe.
the set really brings you back to the era of big bling lights. =) *chik chak*

Thanks to Aunty Winnie's daughter (Yim Mei Choo) who was the scriptwriter of this musical, we got to take a few pics with Tin Tan (Rose Chan) and Soon Yoon ("Lau Pan" - read in Hokkien) after the musical. =)

There was this singer, Zalina Lee who had an amazing voice.
Amazing and literally to die for. Loved it! POWER!

Like a Virgin, Material Girl, Black eyed Peas, Pussycat Dolls, Beautiful Girls (Sean Kingston) and I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor) Rose, Rose I Love You (Yao Lee) done in both Mandarin and English.

Dates: 2nd-4th & 9th-11th Nov 2007
Time: 8.30pm
Venue: Genting International Showroom
Tickets: RM68, RM88 & RM118
* 10% off for Astro subscribers
* 15% off for Genting WorldCard members

For tickets, call 03-2718 1118

Who is Rose?

little boys sneaked in to watch her
grown men fought to have a feel of her
today old men reminisce at the mere mention of her name
and young men wonder about her claim to fame

women young and old are still amazed gawking at her beauty, appeal and grace
wishing ever so secretly for her style and sensuousness a charm so irresistable, a love so venomous
she is the flower of Malaya
she is the rose that grows and lingers in the minds of
those who remember the forbidden dance perfected by her

Penny (Music Director) was telling us after the show that they had to use
approximately 6o mics! 40 wireless ones and 20 more for the live ensemble. wow..

And the props? Amazing.
Costumes for the two main casts were specially done up by Melinda Looi. =)

If this interests you, there's one stripping scene. Pole dancing included.
Go see for yourself.

Three cheers to IE for this wonderful and memorable production.
Shit. I wanna go watch again next week. =s

There was actually alot to learn from this musical.

"Food can simply eat. Words cannot simply say."

"I don't believe in luck. If you want something, you have to work for it."

The musical ended at 11 plus.
We went down to Gohtong Jaya to have dinner/supper.
Nice yummy food!"

Reached home about 2am!
Next day supposed to go sing for wedding in the morning. =_='

**********************************************
Just to add to my daughter's post, the musical was a blast with lots of jokes and laughs! The musical was well choreographed.

The only set back was the entire "Genting" environment. It was full of sound pollution, light pollution and air pollution. It was so horrible that I had to down two Panadols to curb a persisting headache! I'm certain that I'm not going back there anytime soon!!