PASTRY for Cornish Pie

POINT TO PONDER

I am not sure what to call this person but this person is the utmost disgusting human being ever and this person has the thickest skin ever. Mistakes made, even though under her supervision, are never hers. Instead her subordinates will always be blamed left and right. However, if a project turns out to be a great success, it is always due to her clever judgement. 

This lady is really selfish but I really do not understand how she could turn out to be like this as she has many children. How does she fend her children? If she always wants to be in the limelight at work, is she like that at home? No wonder the child that I have met appeared to be bitter. 

Ya Allah, I beg you God, show me the way to bring up my child properly so that they will grow up not only become successful in the field that they have chosen but they are also respected and admired by many.


INGREDIENTS

(for 7 people)

2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
1/2 cup and half of 1/4 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 cup and half of 1/4 cup of water
2 1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp sugar
2 1/2 tsp baking powder

2 eggs yolk (for glazing)

1.Sieve the flour. 
2. Make a hole at the centre and add in the vegetable oil. 
3. Using your fingers, mix the two ingredients. 
4. Add in the rest and mix them nicely. 
5.Cover the bowl of your dough with a wet towel. 

MY THOUGHTS


I got the recipe from MyWiseWife.com. It is the best pastry recipe ever. You follow to the detail as the pastry will turn out great. Thank you the owner of MyWiseWife.Com

LEGOLAND - The First Time

MY THbuOUGHTS

We went to Legoland today - March 2013 - but it was not the whole family. It was just three boys, my hubby and myself.  It was the school holiday.I felt guilty for working so decided to take them to Legoland on Saturday.

We arrived really early : it opened at 10am and we were already there. The first ride we went for was the one in the Kingdom of Adventure. Then, we moved  towards Lego Technic. We had our lunch at Lego City. For five persons, it cost us RM130 - expensive.

Next time, I must remember to bring the following:
- fruits
- mineral water
- cereal snack
- ponco (buy from outside. It is cheaper.)
- put all the above in a knapsack which I will not put in the locker.

The next time, I need to register my youngest for the workshop. It will be good for him.

The ticket, I bought them online. You will get discount if you buy them 7 days in advance.

SCONES: Raisin

POINT TO PONDER

The system that I am in is rather funny.

At one time, you may be appointed as a head and given a lot of responsibilities including managing a group of people, ensuring the proper treatment of assets which could be worth millions and planning for the development of a department. Then, after shouldering such responsibilities for a couple of years, you decide to apply for promotion - especially as you  realise that you have successfully helped the organization to meet its set KPI.

They promote you but with TWO consequences: first, you might be given a bigger role but need to be located and second, you join the group of people you managed earlier.

Some people would want to play a bigger role but, being located somewhere else, is no one's cup of tea. This would be mean that they either have to move the whole family with them or they live far away from the family or their families will be split into two. Is this good? There is the money aspect and there is also other relationship aspect.

The second consequence would be ideal for some as they will be located at the same place and thus, not much expenses will be effected. However, should they be given special rooms which complete with special facilities?

Recognition and rewarding system is much to be desired. Then again, the interpretation of having served the organisation beautifully differs. At the end of the day, a number of once motivated, ambitious staff become frustrated and demotivated. They tend to lay low and just do the basic.

INGREDIENTS

Before you start baking, heat up the oven to 180 for 20 minutes at least.
Then prepare the baking tray - it is the one with a few cup holes.

2 cups of self-raising flour (must sieve first before putting it into the bowl)
1/3 cup of castor sugar
1 tablespoon of baking powder
1/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup of butter (if you use Anchor butter, it is half)
     Mixed them well. You need to use both your hand. It is good if it is just the tip of your fingers.
1 beaten egg
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
   Add the above into the mixture
Fresh Milk - do not put too much. Bit at time, until you form the dough. If say you accidentally put in too much, add a little bit of flour. You need to experiment on this one.

1 cup of raisins

 Form a small ball which should fit each cup hole of your baking tray. Do not fill up the cup hole. It should be about half.

Place the trays in the oven, should not be too close to the top of the oven. Leave it for 20minutes.

If you have two trays, make sure half of the time, swap the trays. In other words, the tray on level two goes to level three while level three goes to level two.

MY THOUGHTS

The scones are not hard - rather soft and slightly sweet. (I believe due to the raisins.) It is very easy to make. It does not take too much of your time. It takes a short time to cook and cool down.

Pavlova

POINT TO PONDER

I learn something new in February 2013.
The incident was...I was pretty unhappy with the way people select those lucky ones to acquire knowledge at a place in southern Johor. I voiced out but I failed to elaborate. MUST ELABORATE. MUST MAKE IT CLEAR TO EVERYONE.....the main reason is people do not care so much to find out what you are trying to say. What people usually do is make judgement and then is usually followed by condemning you left and right. If they get the chance to humiliate you, they do it and, at the same time, gloat about their so-called success but does not really sound a success. To me, it is more of bull-shitting.

During the same occasion, someone has the cheek to ask for people who have received APC twice to put up their hands. This person fails to realise that only gloaters would put up their hands. A number of people like to stay low.....low-profile is a humble way to live.

I used to be a gloater but I have learnt my lesson. Believing in low-profile way of living, I am more at peace.

INGREDIENTS

4 eggs - take the white egg only. Using the mixer, beat the egg until it is stiff. Put the mixer to its full power.
1 cup of castor sugar. Add in the sugar into the mixture bit by bit as you beat the mixture.
1 tablespoon of corn flour. Sieve the flour and add it into the mixture. Scoop it in or make the number 8 as you mix the flour into the mixture.
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence. The same style as the flour, mix it in.
Scoop the mixture into cupcake containers. Only half full. It would be great if you use the big size rather than the small one.
Pre-heat the oven at 180. You need the top and bottom heat. When you put in your mixture, turn down the temperature to 130 and leave it for about one hour or until they turn light brown.
Leave them cool.

Green apple - peel off the skin. Cut it into small cubes.
Kiwi - peel off the skin. Slice it thinly and small.
1 big box of whipping cream. For the first serving, I only prepared  for 7 Pavlova. So, for the whipping cream, I used only slightly more than a quarter. Beat the whipping cream using the mixer until it is stiff. Then, spread it generously onto each Pavlova. Arrange the cut fruit nicely on top.

THEY ARE READY TO EAT but do remember to peel of the paper.

MY THOUGHTS

My husband's sugar level is something that I often worry. He fainted, one day, in the bathroom. It was in the middle of the night when he got up wanting to blep blep blep. He felt a bit dizzy and ignored it. While he was sitting on the toilet bowl, he just went out and fell. There was a big lump on the head.

My husband has taught me a lot of things. One of it is to be a thoughtful person. I was not. He shows me things that I have never understood. He often makes my worries go away. What will I do without him?

He often says that he is my punching bag. It is true...to some extend. at times, I let my frustration and anger out on him. I know. It is not good. I suppose I am lucky. Whatever I do to him, he is still there...supporting me.

Ya Allah, please allow my husband to out-live me as I cannot survive without him.

Fish: Steam

POINT TO PONDER 


Last year, my husband told me about his sugar level and he was asked to take the medicine. I did not take it seriously until he fainted in the toilet and I was in deep sleep. When I got up, he was in daze - as if he lost his memory. In a sleep-like mode, he described his experience in the toilet. At first, I thought he was pulling my leg but after a while the truth hit me and I became scared. 

         Took him to the bank's panel clinic and the doctor warned me of his condition. Only then I realised my role - I needed to take care of him. 

         It is not easy. I have to look after not only his diet but also I need to check his sugar level every now and then. 

THE RECIPE

Need a special oblong dish for this so that you do not have to cut the fish into two. Bought one in IKEA. 

One medium-sized Siakap (Clean the fish well. It is not necessary to have it cut in the butterfly manner.)  

One mountful tablespoon of corn flour to marinate the fish
Five tablespoon of Nam Pla or fish sauce to marinate the fish
Leave the fish for about 10 minutes. 
Prepare the steam set. Make sure you put enough water into the bottom pot. 
Place the marinated fish into the special bowl. 
Cut the following thinly and then sprinkle them over the fish
Two sticks of lemon grass
One medium-sized ginger bud (also known as bunga kantan.) 
Five stalks of coriander leaves
One/two spring onions
Ten lime leaves
Five chilli padi
Sprinkle as well 
 One cube of Anchovy granules 
Squeeze out the juice of a lime  
A few more dashes of nam pla
Place the fish dish onto the steamer. Leave it for at least 30 minutes. 
Eat it while it is hot.  

MY THOUGHT 

If you steam the dish, after 30 minutes you will find gravy (not very thick) in the dish. However, if you wish to put the dish in an oven, the temperature should be 180 and leave it for at least 20 minutes. You should also add some water onto the dish as the heat in the oven will suck up the juice. 
 

JUSCO MARINATED CHICKEN

POINT TO PONDER

Found something useful when I was reading DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE. Dr Mahathir said:

...man proposes, God disposes. You make your plans and try your best. If you encounter problem you have to be flexible, analytical, and ready to try something else.

I suppose, we should not be so traditionalist or perhaps orthodox towards things that we are used to. We need to change. Change is inevitable and we cannot avoid it.

INGREDIENTS

My husband requested meals that have nothing to do with rice. It is the weekend after all. So, I scooted off to Jusco and bought a few things.

At Jusco, they have chicken marinated in Texas sauce, I think. I bought a few. At home, I arranged them nicely on the tray and placed them in the oven.

Temperature 200
Duration       45 minutes (for every 20 minutes, turn the chicken to the other side.)

MY OPINION

My husband loves it. You could have this with Roast Potatoes, Salad and soup.

ROAST POTATOES

POINT TO PONDER

Read  A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE the other day and found a very useful information. Dr Mahathir said,

...there is never a moment in a person's life when he is liked by everyone. If there is, you are probably a nonentity, a person of little consequence or character. At the height of your popularity, there will always be some who wishes you dead.

Thus, if people are nasty to you, you can be assured that they feel threaten by your presence. The power that you possess (you might not realise this) is envied. You should not succumb nor should you feel sad over the things that they do to you. Instead, you should stand strong. Definitely, you will feel sad and at times really really down as people can be very nasty when they want to. However, God is great. God will always help you. Trust God and you will be okay.

INGREDIENTS

I wanted to have baby potatoes but they were not on sale. So, I used USA potatoes.

5 large potatoes (peel off the skin and cut slightly bigger than mouth sized)
Rosemary herb (fresh one is better. Cut to small pieces but remember to throw away the stalk. One teaspoon is enough. Sprinkle onto the potatoes)
Oregano (sprinkle over the potatoes. One teaspoon is enough.)
Salt (sprinkle half a teaspoon)
One bulb of garlic (Just peel off the skin and add into the mixture)
Olive Oil (2 tablespoons would do it)

Mix everything well. Then place it in the oven.
Temperature 200 for 45minutes.

Eat them when they are hot.

MY OPINION

I love the dish. The best thing about it, you prepare and then leave it in the oven. You do not have to keep on tossing or turning.

Together with this dish, you could have roast chicken and salad. You could also have some kind of soup.