Baking Mode: On

Had a urge to bake yesterday, so tada... Here's my produce, the banana+peach+chocolate muffins!

Banana-Peach-Chocolate Muffins

The original recipe called for 4 bananas but I only had 2 left in my pantry, so I substituted the bananas with peaches instead. Also added in some chocolate chuncks which I found in the fridge!

Baking in progress

Basically I were just trying to make out something from everything I had on hand. The verdict was better than expected.

Brought some to the office today. After having them tried, few of my colleagues were after me for the recipe. Kept some for my dearest and beloved too and I got thumbs up from them!

Happy baking =)

Super Band Concert at Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil

Accompany my dearest and beloved to the Super Band concert at the Putra Indoor Stadium, Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The tickets

The stage setting was not as good as A-mei's. And our seat were so front that I could hardly have a good overview of the stage.

The good thing is I did know most of the songs sing at the concert, some of the songs were way before I was born, 1972, 1982 etc. Luckily they are all well-known enough for me to have heard before.

My dearest enjoyed the concert to the max.

Night at Pan Pacific Hotel

Went for a dinner come talk re: pediatrics sponsored by Mead Johnson at Pan Pacific Hotel, Singapore, yesterday night after work.

The talk and the dinner were both excellent. There were a live jazz band right after the talk and the female singer looked so young and her voice was really great. A worthwhile trip indeed. Now, let's the pictures do the talking.

The presentation

Deluxe Appetizer Platter


Braised Lobster Broth with Sea Treasures

Wok-fried Fresh Scallop with Broccoli

Steamed Sea Perch Fillet and Preserved Vegetables with Superior Soya Sauce

Marinated Farm Chicken in Honey and Soya Sauce, smoked with Jasmine Tea Leaves

Ho Tien Lo's Specialty Fried Rice

Assorted Cakes and Pastries

Mango Sago

A satisfying meal with satisfying talk and organization. Thanks for the invitation =)

Steamboat at New Sanctuary

Me had been missing the days where I would have steamboat with my dearest brother over these few months of winter at Melbourne. Coincidentally, my new housemate had been craving for one too. So, we decided to have a easy and simple steamboat feast over the weekend.

Lots of veggies for steamboat

Followed by some high antioxidant fruits as a perfect ending.

Another source of dietary fibre

Oral Supplements Tasting, NUH

Some of the oral supplements available at NUH

Here are some of the oral supplements I have been using to feed my malnourished, lost of appetite, underweight and/or enteral feeding patients.

Some of them taste quite good orally, some of them are not palatable at all as an oral supplement and are only used in enteral feeding.

This supplement tasting was a good experience indeed for me to know exactly what am I giving my patients.

Nonetheless, I am too well-nourished to try any of these for the 2nd time, lol.

Happy Father's Day

Unfortunately, I am not financially independent yet though I have started working now. My pay day is end of the month.

Then we had this wedding dinner to attend a night before Father's day and Sunday was a bit too rush cos I were to go back to Singapore in the evening. As a result, I were not able to prepare any decent home-cooked meal for my dearest on his day though this was the 1st time after 5yrs him having me around to celebrate the day with him.

All I could do was to bake my dearest his favourite cake - butter cake, flavoured by his favourite drink - coffee, i.e. a coffee marbled butter cake.


This cake was freshly made on Father's day morning with freshly bought eggs. My dearest loves it!

Happy Father's Day, dearest!

First Job

Me started my new job officially the following day after my 25th birthday celebration. A good start at a new age I would say.

First week was more like a department orientation where I was given a chance to work with different dietitians and familiarize myself with the wards. Whereas second week was like a corporate orientation week where I was introduced to the NUH way. The orientation was quite fun and interactive and we were given a sunny-side-up brooch at the end of it, which I pinned at the right top corner of my staff card.

So far so good I would say. Love working at this environment with this group of people. My work buddy (every new dietitian will be assigned a buddy) has been a great help over the 1st few weeks. I am really greatful. Thanks =)

Quarter of the century

Happy 25th!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes.

Thanks for making my day special and memorable.

Thanks for the effort in getting me something.

Thanks for the special delivery.

Blessed.

xoxo

NUH vs. H1N1

Once again, it’s packing time.

My luggage

Leaving my home sweet home for a prolonged period of time to study/ work seems to be an annual thingy since I finished my high school. It is closer this time, to Singapore.

Date of arrival and my body temperature

Due to fear of having H1N1 attacks, every visitor who arrives at NUH is required to have their body temperatures checked. Those with normal body temperatures are given a green button label with date and body temperature specified.

Good luck =)

Happy Mother's Day

It was 5 years ago when me last celebrated mother's day with beloved. Five years later, me is still not entirely financial independent to get beloved anything precious. Hence, this year me decided to cook beloved a special meal on this special day.

Pumpkin Soup

We started off with pumpkin soup served with garlic bread.

Garlic bread

Followed by pan-fried salmon with lemon butter sauce and cod fish with apple sauce.

Pan-fried salmon with lemon butter sauce

Pan-fried cod fish with apple sauce

Lastly, we finished off with heart-shaped chocolate pudding, which marked a perfect ending for this special meal.

Chocolate pudding

Happy Mother's Day, my beloved mum! Love you always *hugs and kisses*

Sweet Potato Onde-onde

Sweet potato onde-onde

Me made onde-onde again, this time filled with the usual gula Malacca that is favoured by aunts and dearest.

Cubed gula Malacca

As opposed to the usual green pandan flavoured and coloured onde-onde commonly seen in those Malay stalls, sweet potatoes were used instead to give similar effect.

Mashed sweet potatoes

Me tried using pandan once when I made it in Melbourne, but the outcome was not as good as those made with sweet potatoes. The skin was not as soft and chewy unless it is consumed immediately. Making the skin using sweet potatoes somehow maintain the softness and Q-ness of onde-onde no matter how long you place it (even if it is left till the next day).

Cut-up view

Pumpkin is another good substitution =).

Wealth and Us

Wealth ≠ Money

When we talk about wealth, it does not solely represent the money we have on hands and/or in our accounts.

Wealth = Happiness + Health + Money

In a lot of people's mind, “money = happiness” because money allows them to own big car(s), big house(s), branded stuff, fine dining and the list goes on. And, hence “no money = no happiness”. It is true that no money brings some sort of sorrow. However, money is not everything. Money does not bring the real and eternal happiness.

Money brings only short-term happiness

We got to know that:
 Money can buy house, but not home.
 Money can buy bed, but not sleep.
 Money can buy clock, but not time.
 Money can buy book, but not knowledge.
 Money can buy food, but not appetite.
 Money can buy position, but not respect.
 Money can buy blood, but not life.
 Money can buy medicine, but not health.
 Money can buy people, but not friends.
 Money can buy insurance, but not safety.

A man with many desires will never be contented. A person who's never contented can never be happy with life.

Learn to slow down the busy pace occasionally. Learn to look back at times. Learn to appreciate. Learn to share. Learn to enjoy the nature of happiness. Learn to be the true self.

Learning is a big part of life.

Happy Labour Day =).

Or Hwu Restaurant, Yong Peng

Me went to look for a friend at Yong Peng before me begin a new chapter of life in the society. Upon arrival, we headed straight to a Fu Zhou restaurant, Or Hwu, which was once introduced by Ah Sien in his Astro AEC show.

The Fu Zhou Noodles

Whenever me visit Yong Peng, Fu Zhou Noodles is a must have. Dearest would sometimes drive me there just to have a good plate of this. That night, my friend and me both agreed that this plate of noodles was extraordinarily delicious as compared to usual, and we wonder why.

Stir-fried chicken with Chinese Red Wine

My friend ordered something new for me to try, Chinese Red Wine Chicken. Not really a new dish to me as it is my aunt'savourite cooking but me don't usually order it when me eat out.

After filling up our stomachs, it's time to gossip again. Catching up with friends never disappoint me in getting some breaking news.

Now, my friend no longer allows me to visit her at night when me is on my own. She called me endless time after me left Yong Peng for about half an hour or so. And, me almost scared her to tears because me left my mobile in the car.

Thanks and sorry, at the same time. Cheers =).

Black Sesame Paste

Beloved is a big fan of black sesame. And that includes black sesame paste of course.

Black sesame

Years ago, when me was still studying at college, me used to bring beloved to one of the famous dessert houses in Kuala Lumpur to have this sweet soup. We would still drop by sometimes, but once a year utmost. Hence, to satisfy my beloved's taste-buds, me tried to make this Chinese dessert on my own.

Black sesame paste

It was a success. Beloved loves this smooth sweet soup which was filled with the fragrance of black sesame very much.

Satisfied.

Pre-birthday

Honestly, it is way too early to call it a celebration. However...

Cake eaten;
Greetings received;
Lucky stars accepted;
Effort seen;
Sincerity felt.

Thank you.

Red Bean Onde-onde 'n' Grated Coconut Onde-onde

Red bean onde-onde (orange) and Grated coconut onde-onde (green)

There were some spare red bean paste and grated coconut cooked in gula Malacca after me made the Red Bean Pancake and Kuih Dadar some time ago. To avoid them from sitting in the fridge for an excessively long time, me turned them into red bean onde-onde and grated coconut onde-onde.

Inner view of the red bean onde-onde

The verdict was not bad, yet dearest prefers the usual onde-onde which has gula Malacca as its filling.

Deep-fried red bean paste doughnuts

The leftover red bean was in real abundance. Hence, me made some variation and turned them into deep-fried red bean paste doughnut.

Tom yum flavoured deep fried mee hoon kueh

In the end, me had the batter in excessive amount. Again, to prevent wastage, me turned them into “deep fried tom-yum mee hoon kueh”.

Inner view of the deep fried tom yum mee hoon kueh

Inspiration.

Medical Checkup at NUH, Singapore

After about 2months of waiting, getting the pre-employment medical checkup done is finally the last step in getting the employment pass. Undoubtedly, the medical checkup was done at the hospital that I will be serving in the near future.

1) The original contract 2) The medical checkup form 3) Staff voucher (10-30% off)

Before heading to the staff clinic for the entire checkup, seeing the HR lady was essential to get all the document done. It was already past twelve when me left the HR department. As the clinic is closed from 12.30-1.30pm for lunch, me was only able to get the checkup done after their lunch break.

Bubur Terigo

This extra hour gave me the chance to explore a bit at my going-to-be workplace. It also allowed me to have a quick refuel at their food-court.

One corner view of the food-court

This hospital food-court is the best hospital food-court I have ever seen. It looks just like a usual shopping mall food-court if I don't tell you this is actually located at a hospital, doesn't it? You name it, they have it – e.g. roasted delight, fishball noodles, yong tau fu, Indian food, Malay food, sandwich bar, dessert shop, cakeshop and et cetera.

Variety counts.

Kuih Dadar

Aunts and beloved are so crazy over grated coconut bun recently. At least a packet of coconut bun can be found at my place almost every week. Me, someone who doesn't fancy coconut bun have to agree that the coconut bun they bought is seriously quite tasty.

The grated coconut bun bought from a traditional bread shop @ Batu Pahat

Inspired by them, I decided to try my hands on Kuih Dadar.

Kuih Dadar is a Malay kuih which can be easily bought at any Malay stalls in Malaysia. It has grated coconut cooked in gula Melaka, wrapped in pandan-flavoured and coloured crepe. Preparing it yourself is fun and satisfying when your final product turns out to be good and your tasting panel loves it.

Home-made Kuih Dadar

Beloved loved the fragrance of the grated coconut very much. Satisfied.