Lamb Stew

It was a success!!!!

I googled the recipe of course and looked through it several times. It took me quite a while to get the ingredients together because I wasn't really in a rush. So since the Guardian Angel was not around yesterday and today, and I had to take T to a dentist yesterday and there was a Jaya Grocer there; I completed the grocery list needed for this lamb stew recipe.

I looked through the recipe this morning and realised that it would take 2.5 hours of simmering! I was quite worried I might not have enough time since I would only get home about 4ish considering the fact that nothing was prepared. But I trusted the entire process and started to chop the necessary veges and other ingredients.

Dinner was ready at about 640pm and boy was it super duper yummy! It was so delicious that I even complimented it with bread after I finished my rice! Because the portion I cooked was for 6, and I only have 2.5 pax to enjoy what I cooked tonight for dinner (T being the 0.5), I succumb to the thought of sending the leftovers to dad tomorrow morning to let him try it since it was so yummy (by my standards)! Lols.

Dad has always wanted to experience the cooking side of me. He has been preaching to me about cooking since before I left for Australia in 1997 for my further education. Although I did manage to dish up some decent food for him once in a blue moon over the years (and it is countable by my five fingers), it was nothing really spectacular and obviously not worth remembering. Lols.

As the stew was getting itself ready on the stove, I did wonder why hadn't I taken the time to really enjoy any of such when I was still a housewife, or a wife. I would have the whole day or loads of free time to make it "perfect" (though now is as perfect as it is - lols). In addition, I think the ex-hubby would have really enjoyed it since he had a thing for cooking too. It could have been something that we both enjoyed together as a couple. But then again, there is no accident in anything that happens. I guess I was just not ready since it was not within my priority list then. Am I ready now? Well, I actually don't know. But I am clear that I am doing it now because I want to and not because I have to please or keep anybody.

Anyway, I called dad and told him about the delicious homemade lamb stew and that I am going to send it to him tomorrow morning. His words to me was, "make sure it is nice ah" lols. He is so cute sometimes.

New Look!

After the last entry, I clicked on further... and decided to change the outlook and here's what I came up with.

It is definitely something fresh for me as I have always condoned to some elegant, simple design that signifies how 'flowing with the wind' I am. *laughs*

Ah well, looks like I have grown out of that and decided to add some 'spice' though merely a rerun of many designs of this blogger platform. Who cares, right? As long as I am cool with it.

Am I thrilled with the design? Honestly, no. But it's ok, considering the fact that I do not have the expertise to create my own! Perhaps I should! But then again, too much trouble. Ah well, maybe one of these days when I really-really-really have nothing else better to do.

At the mean time, enjoy it! And I do mean it for myself only... But if you happen to drop by, and enjoy it to some extent - thank you! :)

Blogs I used to Patronise

I took some time to scroll through some blogs that I used to read. Checking on the dates of entries, it made me realise how many blog entries of theirs I have missed, and also how long they have not written, for some. Some bloggers were going on strong, and even started a new blogsite to share their new frenzies. It's really wonderful.

Of course, it was not a competition or even a kind of purposeful awareness. It was just something that was noticed upon clicking on and clicking on.

CNY was not entirely interesting for me since I was down with viral fever and flu for more than a week. I even missed some family events because of it. Though dad said I could come with a mask, but it was not about the mask. It was the ability to sincerely be there physically and mentally. You know, how sometimes you are there but mentally you just wanna go snooze off the flu. Well, the flu finally scoot off just about a few days ago after a final doze of Chinese medicine prescribed by this new doctor that I am patronising in Klang. She was recommended. I went to see her for something else, but as she diagnosed me, she informed me that I hadn't entirely recovered. In her words, "you are not really sick, but not really well either." haha.

Somehow, after recovering this time, there is more Life; and though my boring but very enjoyable life won't allow me to fill my time with many activities as I used to before, yet I notice some sort of initiative happening within to go forth what I had been unintentionally delaying. One example was actually seeing a Chinese doctor to remedy some disorder in the body. And of course, that includes this little trip to other bloggers' site.

Well, it is an awareness experience more than anything else. And damn, I really need to find a way to elevate my monitor to my eye level.

Outz.

Changing the Address

Finally took the effort to head to JPN to change the address on the identity card. Supposed to bring T but changed my mind as I wasn't sure what the crowd would be like. 

Made the trip without breakfast and arrived at 9ish. As expected, already lots of people (though I secretly wished for lesser people). Took the form and number and it said: -

Been waiting eversince with intermissions of heading to the plaza to buy some buns and tea (aka breakfast), toilet break attempts (when there's a queue I just walk back to the waiting area), to the furniture shop at the plaza and now, finally finding a seat to rest my poorly functioning feet. 

Ever since, I have been hearing 'ding dong's non-stop and it is still at about 4165 at this moment as I type this out on my smart phone. Not too bad though a long way to go for me. 

The very interesting part of this is that I noticed my arm automatically clinging tightly to my handbag but with a little intent of not letting it be too obvious. Just in case people feel offended if they thought I thought they were going to snatch my bag (which was secretly my thought). But as I observed others (while holding on to my handbag) I realised that people were there for their own reasons (and who would be so free to check out what's in my bag except me). I (well, my mind) was literally projecting that everyone there was out to get me and that made me behave in the most defensive way. Who stressed and suffered? Me. Even in the slightest way. 

True that they are all strangers. But they are equal as I am - a noble citizen coming forth to do what is necessary (for whatever reason) as I was, with the government offices for our country and ourselves. We are all Malaysians, are we not? And so strange that my mind projects a sense of necessary protection and defense against them - as if I could be harmed or encounter any unpleasant experience by my very own country men. 

Of course, there are some confused 'bad' hats. But is it wise or clear at all to project the entire forest as being notorious just because there exists some poisonous bushes? Nope, not wise at all. 

The 'ding' has 'dong'ed number 4188 now. Great! 

Lucky

I attended an event last night. My initial plan was to leave at 9pm. My colleague who went with me said, 'since we are here, stay for lucky draw'. He said that he wanted to see if he was lucky. 

Well, I got lucky! :D

Brought it to office today and will distribute the items in the hamper with my colleagues. It's great to be able to share our lucky-ness. :) 

Preparing CNY

i do not own this image - i picked it up from the internet

It seems like only yesterday that we just celebrated CNY and the next wave is coming on in 2 weeks. It is supposed to be a busy period for the Chinese Clan. Strangely, I don't really feel busy at all - not for CNY anyway. Perhaps it is because I haven't given much thought about what and how I'd like to decorate the new crib. Buying CNY clothes is easy now - I go to the mall twice every week (because of T's classes) though I haven't quite prioritize that in the to-do list.

But.... I have prioritized one thing on the to-do list which is to materialize the osmanthus jelly cake (known as 'Kwai Fa Gou' soon before the CNY festival.

i do not owe this image - i picked it up from http://wendyinkk.blogspot.com

I find her recipe pretty authentic as it uses water chestnut powder rather than the gelatin or konyaku jelly powder. Although I am in no position to tell what is the difference right now (amateur mah), but I am pretty excited to try it out. If it works well, there will be an additional can-do item on my plate! :D Will update how this osmanthus cake turn out. :)

So for those busy preparing for CNY - don't forget about your loved ones too! They are the ones who makes CNY a little more meaningful, if any at all!

A Little Try Out

Ok.. gotta admit that I actually forgot that this blog existed until, well, now.

Amazing! Not one post in 2013! And I thought I lost it all until another thought appeared! And viola! I am backkkkkkk...

I don't really know if anyone else would still be interested in reading this blog. But I guess I owe it to myself.. for my lack of expressions and creativity these days. Darn, not that I have ever been thatttttt creative.. but ah well, it has to start somewhere and since it is only for self-entertainment, why not, right?

Well, for starters - I finally moved from a big huge house to a all-I-ever-wanted home on the memorable 19 October 2013. Though the entire process had been physically and mentally tiring from selling the Semi Dee to moving to Dad's and monitoring the renovators of the new home, to again, moving from Dad's to the new home. Not to mention the dealings with lawyers and banks and agents and the owner and the buyer of both respective properties. Huge process I tell you. But all well worth it.

And no, that is the supposed to be the content of this entry. But it has some relevance.

The new home - ahhhh.... such a beautiful place. I could just sit at the balcony, stare at the swimming pool (yups, mine faces the swimming pool) and smile stupidly into the air; totally immersed in the enjoyment of experiencing just that. Balcony sight, water sounds and cool air. I knew that my life would not be like before. Not that I am in anyway consciously making a change, but it was a natural change because I finally feel a lot more lighter and peaceful eversince I set foot into this home. Not to say the home before this was bad - it was good too, just that it wasn't really my place. It was meant for something else. And here, it's home.

So, dad has always been  harping on me to learn cooking. And seriously, it is not that I don't want to, but for some strange reason, I was just not ready for it. I do enjoy the process of cooking but I guess I prioritized other stuffs before this choice of experience.

And for some reason, I decided to cook up a dish! Got ingredients ready and also LL over to assist in the process. This was yesterday, by the way.

We cooked Creamy Sweet Potato Soup, Roasted Vegetables & Baked Fish.

And it turned out looking like this: -

The purple grainy thing is actually 10 grains rice. The guardian angel cooked it.

Now, I have to admit that it looked awesome. Except for the soup bowl (I didn't have those Western Soup Bowls and will make a note to get them soon), I think the colour combination went pretty well.

And the taste....

Y-U-M-M-Y!!!

though.... I did think the fish was a little bland. LL thought it was delicious. I think she tasted the love behind the cooking rather than the actual fish! haha..

Well, constructive advise was given - use better fishes, marinate longer, use stronger spices - ALL NOTED!! and will definitely attempt this again till it is perfected!!!!

Why fish? Amateur cooker - so trying out the easy dishes to build confidence. :D

Happy New Year, Y'all!!!