Departure Lounge

Last night, I had a sudden crave for western breakfast. I went on to the net and found this cafe call ‘Departure Lounge’ in Solaris Mont Kiara. By looking at the pictures, it makes me drool already. (Oh yeah! I failed to follow the diet plan, I have to start soon)

Departure Lounge in Solaris, Mont Kiara



It’s our first visit there. Departure Lounge is a nice place to grab a bite. We flipped the menu for a good 5 minutes & found there’s something more interesting than this. There's this thing call Do-It-My-Way Breakfast Set specially tailored to your preferences. You basically pick up a card and tick the item you wish to have in your plate, 3, 5 or 7.

Both Richard & I went for 5. I picked turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, chicken sausages, hash brown, baked beans. Richard’s one was slightly different as he had pancake & fish fingers.

The cosy ambience of Departure Lounge and the affordable pricing makes a good chill-out.The bill came up RM28.80

Departure Lounge
No. 10, Jalan Solaris 4,
Solaris Mont’ Kiara,
50480, Kuala Lumpur.
Tel:03-6203 0362
Business Hours:
8am – 7pm (Monday-Saturday)
10am-5pm (Sunday and public holidays).

I did not get the opportunity to snap a single shot there as my camera's charger is missing.
Photo courtesy of http://blog.shirleeeen.net

Don't judge a book by it's cover

This photo was taken during my visit to Bali in 2008. We reached this so called sea-side restaurant in the evening for a scrumptious dinner. At that moment, I felt I really missed my fiancé simply because the place was so romantic. Everything was so good but the food was a real turn down. So, do not judge by its look ok…

A Surprise for you!

Remember me telling about the surprise birthday cake ordered by my aunt’s friend from UK for her bro-in-law. Yeah…It’s done and now I shall blog about it.

I received a call from Amutha (UK) on last Wednesday requesting me to bake a cake for her bro in-law’s 50th Birthday on Sunday. Despite the tight deadline and also many designing task at work, I agreed to bake. We then had a tele-conversation and msn chat. I asked if she has any idea on the theme, colour, etc , etc, and all she told me was, “I NEED SOMETHING GRAND”. I leave the rest to you.

I took 2 consecutive days to purchase the ingredients. I source out for the best quality ingredients only. It was a long & tiring day for me because the whole of Saturday was busy for me as I had to purchase the ingredients and attended my cousin’s wedding reception. I started the cake project on Saturday after the wedding reception, at 10.30 pm. While I was getting the ingredients ready in the kitchen, I found something which made me go nuts. The milk I was suppose to use for the butter cake was spoilt. Where the hell I should get that can of milk at this hour where all the shops had closed. 7- Eleven strike my mind. Oh yeahh I should give it a try. Off I went to 7-Eleven at 11pm with my cousin. I told her, if we don’t get the milk here, we shall drive down to TESCO. GOD was good enough to leave one last can of milk on the 7-Eleven’s shelve. Then I came back with the big smile on my face.

Since everything was ready, what’s next? Bake the cake larrrrrr!!! I bake 2 butter cakes. One big and one small. While the first cake was nicely sitting in the oven, I made the sugar icing and then prepared the ingredients for the second cake. After the long hours of standing by in the kitchen, I then finally finished baking at 3am. The overall process took 4 ½ hours. What’s next? I took a quick shower & went into my dream land (sleep) at around 3.30am. Of course I make sure I put alarm on at 8.45am.

So, did I wake at 8.45? The answer was NO. I overslept for 15 minutes. I woke at 9am and quickly got my self shower, pray, and kick start my decorating work. I did not even dare to spare a few minutes for my breakfast as I’m worried I can't finish decorating on time. There I worked with an empty stomach.

And the end result... >>>>>
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tadaaaaaaa!!!!
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> Here you go....Presenting one of my masterpiece.





I finished the entire design at 5.45pm and by the time I finished the cameras were all around snapping the good nice shot. After getting some shots, I then changed into another t-shirt and off we went for delivery.

Phewwwww!!!!!...Im finally done with it after 12 1/2 hours of hardwork. Now it's time delivery...

My aunt volunteered to drive the car >>>>>

Me at the back seat with that lovely baby sitting on my lap >>>>>

Posing before climbing up the stairs >>>>>

At the entrace of his house...shuuuuuuu!!!!!!

We enterered the house and my aunt shouted, "surprise for you from UK". The birthday boy (sorry men) was missing in action. He was not around in the house when we arrived. We then left the cake to his beloved angel.

His angel >>>>>

Peeping at the cake >>>>>

She was overall very surprised & happy for the cake. She made everyone a cup of nescafe & we chit chat a while.

When we arrive her house, she was busy doing some pearl necklaces. OH God, she's a superb talented lady. She does the most beautiful necklaces. Take a look at some of her works.


It's lovely isn't it? I think i'm going to get one for myself soon...(Richard if you read this please note)

What's next? We headed back home and reached home at 8pm. Clean & tidy up the kitchen, take shower, eat dinner, uploaded some photos for Amutha (she just can't wait to see the end result)

That's all for my update on the cake. I really hope Mr.Nathan & his family enjoyed the cake. I also would like to thank Ms.Amutha for the lovely opportunity.

Busy weekend..

It’s going to a busy weekend again for me. My cousin got married this morning and I got to attend her wedding reception tomorrow evening at PJ Civic Centre. I wish her lucks in her marriage & here’s to the new husband, and here's to the new wife, may they remain lovers, for all of life.

I expect an extremely busy Sunday as I’m commissioned for a cake project again. This time, it is going to be a surprised birthday cake by my aunt’s friend from UK to her beloved brother in law who will be celebrating his 50th birthday on this Sunday. I will post up the pictures soon. Till then stay tune.

What’s your weekend plan?

Stir, stir and stir

The title tells it all. Yes! Two weeks ago I made caramel kaya. It is my first attempt though. I had this sudden crave for homemade kaya after seeing shireen’s mom & dad doing it over and over again for their lovely daughter. I tell you, making the kaya is one hassle & tough job. It tested my patience level to maximum. Anyways, the double boil method worked well and after an hour of constant stirring, homemade caramel kaya done! Once the kaya has cooled, I stored them in two separate containers. One for me and another bottle for Richard. Everyone in the family loves the taste. I even had my cousin sister telling me that it taste way better than those on shelves.

Here’s the recipe I obtain from the internet:
Fresh coconut milk from 2 coconuts
400g of sugar
10 fresh eggs
3 pandan leaves, knotted

Methods:
1. Use an electric beater to beat the eggs at medium speed.
2. At once add in sugar slowly and beat mixture at full speed.
3. Add in coconut milk slowly and continue beating.
4. Pour the mixture into a steel pot and cook it over at a very low flame. Make sure the mixture is being constantly stirred to prevent any burns on the kaya as burns will spoil the taste of the kaya. The kaya mixture will change its colour from creamy white to brown, as caramels are formed from the heating of sugar. It is essential for one to stir the mixture continuously as the mixture will soon thicken. Once all the kaya has turned into a brownish colour mixture, cut the flame and leave aside to cool.

There is another method which will prevent the mixture from burning is to double-boil. Pour water into a bigger pot and set it to boil. Meanwhile the kaya will be inside a smaller pot immersed in the boiling water. This prevents the kaya from direct contact with the flame, which eliminates kaya burns. Put some oil in the water to prevent boiling water from splashing into the kaya. Note that constant stirring is still necessary.

For caramel kaya, scoop up about 2 tablespoons of sugar from the 1/2 bowl of sugar and cook it till the sugar becomes brown (caramel). Then pour the caramel into the pot of kaya when it’s almost ready. (last paragrapgh courtesy of health freak mommy)

Give it a try. It’s real good! (totally forgot to take a picture)

Kids these days...

I had a good laugh reading this one in a mommy blogger’s blog. I thought it will be great sharing with you guys. Kids these days…hmmm :)

How do you decide who to marry (written by kids)

"No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you are stuck with." - - Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?
"Twenty-three is the best age, because you know the person forever by then." - - Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
"You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids." - - Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?
"Both don't want any more kids." -- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?
"Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough." - - Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure?)

WHEN IT IS OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?
"When they are rich." - - Pam, age 7

"The rules go like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do." - -Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?
"It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them." - - Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?
"There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?"--Kelvin, age 8

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?
"Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck!" - - Name not readable.

Birthday Cake

I was commissioned to bake a cake for my little cousin. The extremely hyperactive and spoiled brat turned two last Saturday. I started gathering the concept and sketched few designs. Having the theme in mind, I drop by ‘Bake with Yen’ located in Bandar Puteri Puchong on Friday afternoon to purchase the ingredients. It was dead crowd in Bake with Yen due to the coming Chinese New Year. My Favorite butter ran out of stock, therefore I had to purchase it in Tesco. Well, I stored the ingredient in fridge & container respectively and waited patiently for the sun to rise on Saturday.

Saturday morning, I woke up, took bath, prayed, had breakfast and kick started the baking project at approximately 9am. Baking the butter cake takes around 1 hour 40minutes (Including preparation & baking). It was the decoration that took me hours and hours to complete. Nearly five and half hours. I was just truly happy as the moment I completed at around 5.30pm. Everyone in the family was like hoo haa on the design. I was little proud of my achievement.

Here is the cake folks:

I hope you drool over the pictures.

Little Red Devil

My man had a delicious breakfast this morning. He ate Chinese mixed rice which consists of honey chicken in the black sauce, fried potato and some veggies.

I had to sit like a zombie and watch him eating despite him teasing me many times to share his meal. He said things which really make my eyes to drool; e.g. the chicken skin is damnnn crispy larr, it taste damn good today larr & such… Well, this are all temptations, I have to be strict in my plan.

After his breakfast session, I headed to KK Mart and grab a packet of McVitie’s Digestives biscuit. I had 3 pieces digestives and a cup of plain water. Looking forward in getting chapati for lunch. Don’t know what this devil of mine will eat right in front of me. Guess I better ditch him in the office before I go out for lunch.

New Year’s Resolution

Though I have many New Year’s resolution this year, I have taken serious consideration on my diet plan. I know I’ve been fooling around and not sticking to my plan many times earlier. This time around, I have a concrete reason for doing it. Yes! Our wedding talk is ON. Who doesn’t want to look great on their big day, eh? …I better shed at least 15kg’s by October this year.

I got this diet plan from http://fitnessmalaysiablog.blogspot.com and found it really helpful as it’s very much a Malaysianish.

Breakfast
1) Sandwich using whole meal bread. Load up on the veggie’s that go on sandwiches such as tomatoes, onions and salad. Cut back on condiments especially margarine & mayonnaise and avoid fried fillings and of course, stay away from cheese if you can. Examples of good sandwich fillings – ham, tuna, egg, de-boned tandoori chicken (left over from dinner the previous day)
2) Cereal – The more grains it has, the better. One of the worst cereal to eat is corn flakes and those other kid cereals like Koko Crunch, Fruit Loops and Honey Star.
3) Half boiled eggs – just add a dash of kicap and pepper for taste.

Lunch
1) Mixed rice – whether it is Malay, Chinese or Indian mixed rice, your rice portion should only be as big as your clenched fist. Load up on vege as much as you can. Avoid deep fried dishes
2) Chapati with curry of your choice
3) Subway Sandwich
4) Roasted meats – Eg, Ayamas Roaster, Kenny Rogers
5) Thosai (some places have thosai telur and thosai sardin. These are fine too)
6) Grilled Fish / Chicken or Steaks
7) Chicken Rice – The trick here is to eat less of the rice and more of the chicken. Remember, the rice portion should be the size of your clenched fist.
8) Simple rule – Avoid all goreng-goreng foods. From poori to fried chicken to fried rice to french fires. If it’s fried, you should avoid it.

Dinner
1) Salad – you can either make your own, or if you go out, order a salad for dinner. If you are eating out, always always get them to serve the dressing separately.
2) Fruits – Cut up some of you favourite fruits and fill up on these healthy food. Avoid Durian and watermelons. You can even make a fruit rojak if you like. Just buy the sauce, but use it sparingly.
3) Thosai
4) Tandoori Chicken
5) Sandwiches – same as the breakfast menu
6) Home Made Pasta – I will feature a recipe for you to try soon
7) Home Made burgers
8) Home made Roast meat
9) Taufu Bakar

Wish me Good Luck people!