鲜奶燉蛋

Those days, gong gong and popo always brought us to a stall in Ipoh ( on the road side, during night time ) to have a bowl of 燉蛋. I can never forget the taste, it is so smooth and soft, just like tau fu fah.

We had been making this once awhile for breakfast as the girls love eggs very much. I followed christinesrecipes and it turned out almost the same as what I'd tasted before.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs
• 30gm white sugar (or to your taste)
• 250ml milk

Methods:

1. Beat the eggs. Warm milk in the microwave oven. Don’t boil it.
2. Add warm milk into the beaten eggs first, then add sugar. Mix well. You don’t need an electrical mixer. A fork can do. Use a spoon to get rid of the foam on the surface of egg mixture.
3. Cover the mixture with foil. Steam it for 12 minutes in a wok and cover it with lid. Every 4 minutes, lift the lid up a bit and let some steam release. Done! Serve hot.

Christmas 2011

Christmas is a time for sharing good feelings.

During Christmas eve, we celebrate the birth of Jesus by attended Children's evening mass at St Matthew Catholic Church. The children put on a play but we did not managed to capture any photos.

This year, we bought a real Christmas tree - Noble fir to put in our living room. According to Daddy, it is rated #1 most realistic tree. Noble Fir is considered an excellent Christmas tree because of its beauty, stiff branches and long keepability. We did not put much ornaments as the two little girls keep on taking down all the ornaments to play.

We string colorful lights on the tree. The glow reflects the cheerful brightness of Christmas. And we also put on the crowning touch - put on the star!

ES presented us her hand made present - a Christmas card and a booklet with her drawings. We are so touched and love it very much.

We also bought a christmas wreath, sold by the comittee of the church and put it on our front door. We decorated it with pine cones, bells and ribbons. ES posing in front of our house with the crown that she made. She made all of us one each, and ask us to pretend to be the king and queen, haha!

The night before Christmas, we wrapped up all the gifts and put it under the christmas tree. ES's gift is too big, we have to cover it with a piece of cloth. Her gift, a doll house is even taller than her!

Early in the morning, She opened her present and she told me, " I can't believe it! ". She can't believed it that she will received a doll house as what she wish to during Christmas.

Preparing for Christmas party in the evening...We are so far from our family members this year. We have Christmas potluck with some friends.

Roasted turkey with stuffing by us, again...

Suan's mum made some cupcakes.

This is a fruit basket by Suan's mum. Nice carving...

ES requested for a gingerbread house for Chirstmas. Did not have time to bake a gingerbread house by myself, or even buy one from the store. Thought of using our homemade bread to make a ginerbread house and the base of a snowman. Just a simple decoration as need to juggle with the three kids.

More food by YJ's mum but did not able to capture...

MSLS were having their dinner on thier high chair. They always behaved well when there are guests at home.

The kids enjoyed the gathering as they have "gift exchanged session".

Wow, what is that?

Happy Birthday song for Jesus...

The kids can't wait to eat the cake.

ES received a drawing penguin during gift exchanged session. The penguin can move around and draw out different patterns. It catched everybody's attention.

Overall, the girls enjoyed it very much as they were having great fun with their friends. More gatherings, they requested....

Christmas gift from ES

We received a Christmas gift from ES this year. She brought back a christmas card and a book made by her, with the assistance of Ms Jessica few days before Christmas. She asked us not to open it till the day of Christmas.

 Merry Christmas mom and bab ( it is supposed to be dad. Lately, she seems to be confused with "b" and "d", haha )

She presented us a book entitled " All About You My Loving Parents". She shared with her teacher what she wanted to write and draw. And this is what she did...

 My favorite thing to do with my parents is reading books with them.

My parents are nice looking. ( really, haha! )

Everyday my parents give me a bath.

Before I go to bed, my parents read me a book.

My parents make the best cake.

I was so touched after I read this. What we did for them, It really make an impact or difference... And another thing that i realised, my girl is growing up... She is writing sentences and starts to express her feeling through writing.



MSLS at 26 months

 They are playing pretend play - MS pretend to be a fireman, while LS pretend to be a baby.

LS

MS

• MS is 13.2kg, while LS is 12.7kg.
• MSLS still wearing diapers during daytime nap and night time. For LS, it is more for " just in case" basis. It had been three weeks she did not pee in her diapers. It was all started during three weeks back, there was a few morning, I noticed she did not pee in her diapers, and keep on acknowledged her that she is doing a good job. From then onwards, she stopped peepee in her diapers. Once awhile she will wake up during midnight, but most of the time she will only need her potty or go staright to the toilet immediately after she wakes up. However, before her sleep, she will requested to go to the toilet for a few times! For MS, she is still trying not pee in her diapers.
• During daytime, they will pee or poo in their potty without asking our assitance. Quite independent on this. They will say " shh shh..." for pee, and "chouchou" ( smelly in mandarin ) for poo.                                                                                       
• Have their milk 3 - 4 times per day ( after afternoon nap, before sleep, during midnight, sometimes early in the morning.
• Daily diet consists of bread/ oat with sliced bananas or raisin, fruit juice or fruit for breakfast, porridge or rice before afternoon nap, fruits/ bread/ yogurt/ bean during tea time, and porridge/rice or noodles for dinner. LS is more picky while MS will eat most of the food that we offered. They were given a candy stick last week during their gymnastic class, they tasted a bit and keep on saying " yummy", as this is their first time eating sweets!
• When ES reads her story book before sleep, they wanted to follow what she is reading. They always say out the last word of the sentence when ES is reading.
• They know how to wear their shoes, pants, but still find it difficult to wear their shirt, and put on the buttons.
• They loves to brush their teeth, morning and night.
• Will demand for what to wear, for examples wanted to wear skirt instead of pants.
• Sometimes they will be fighting, when this happened, mummy will asked them to " share share". Most of the time, it works. They will immediately change into " sharing" mode.
• They are friendly to people most of the times, by saying " hello".
• They can spoon-feed themselves.

Winter Holiday

MSLS attended toddler time last week, before Christmas approaching. The theme for the week was Winter Holiday. As kindergarten and schools will be having holiday for Christmas and  new year. After story telling, they were given a piece of red paper in triangle shape, tissues, glue to make a Christmas hat.

MS is busy gluing tissues on the red paper, to make a Christmas hat.

Whereas LS wanted to glue it randomly....

Walnut Raisin Bread

The bottle of natural yeast is filling up to the top... It's time to bake another bread. Bread for tomorrow's breakfast - walnut raisin bread ( Ingredients : natural yeast, unbleached bread flour, olive oil, organic sugar, sea salt, water, organic raisin & walnut ).

Winter Wonderland

Last Friday, we went to the 19th annual Jubitz Winter Wonderland, which recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest as the "Largest Holiday Light Show West of the Mississippi". Since 1993, a journey through Winter Wonderland has become a Holiday tradition for many families, friends, and social organizations to celebrate the spirit of the holiday season in Portland. 

We enjoyed the most spectacular drive-through light show in the region, viewing over 250 colorful light set pieces and many fully animated scenes in our car.

We drove passed  the "12 Days of Christmas" and 12 themed display areas including Toyland, Candy Cane Lane, Christmas Tree Lane, Reindeer Road, Sports Corner, and many more!

 At the entrance

 Glimmers and glows around every corner. We only managed to take some of the photos as busy entertaining the three girls...

Chirstmas card from HL

Mom, I received my first christmas card by post from Ah Lerk biao ge ( cousin ).

I'm going to paste it together with my christmas decoration.

Look! It fits in nicely together with ES's christmas decoration at the fire place.

Hainanese Chicken Rice for Winter Solistice Festival

Today is Winter Solistice Festival, which means CNY is coming soon! Steamed chicken with chilli sauce ( with ginger & lime ) or soy sauce ( with fried garlic ) is one of the must have dishes during festive season way back in Ipoh. We only made this type of chilli sauce during festive season and I can't forget it as it taste really good together with steamed chicken.
Therefore, we cooked Hainanese chicken rice today with chilli sauce ( for the two adults, haha! ). As I am cooking the whole chicken, ES got the chance to have her drumstick ( we seldom buy drumstick to cook at home ).

Using steamykitchen's recipe as a guide for tonight's winter solistice festival's dinner. MSLS loves it as they keep on asking for more chicken meat until I have to stop them.

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken

kosher salt\
4'' section of fresh ginger, in 1/4'' slices
2 stalks green onions, cut into 1" sections (both the green and white parts)
1 teaspoon sesame oil oil - FOR THE RICE ( I omitted this )
2 tbsp vegetable oil
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1'' section of ginger, finely minced
2 cups long-grain uncooked rice, washed and soaked in cool water for 10 min or longer
2 cups reserved chicken poaching broth1/2 teaspoon sesame oil ( I omitted this )
1 teaspoon kosher salt - FOR THE CHILI SAUCE
1 tablespoon lime juice ( iused lemon juice - for making chilli sauce )
2 tablespoon reserved chicken poaching broth
2 teaspoon sugar
4 tablespoon chili sauce
4 cloves garlic
1'' ginger
a generous pinch of salt, to taste

Directions:

1. To clean the chicken, with a small handful of kosher salt, rub the chicken all over, getting rid of any loose skin and dirt. Rinse chicken well, inside and outside. Season generously with salt inside and outside. Stuff the chicken with the ginger slices and the green onion. Place the chicken in a large stockpot and fill with cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, then immediately turn the heat to low to keep a simmer. Cook for about 30 minutes more (less if you're using a smaller chicken). Check for doneness by sticking a chopstick into the flesh under the leg and see if the juices run clear or insert a thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh not touching bone. It should read 170F.
2. When the chicken is cooked through, turn off the heat and remove the pot from the burner. Immediately lift and transfer the chicken into a bath of ice water to cool and discard the ginger and green onion. Don't forget to reserve the poaching broth for your rice, your sauce, and the accompanying soup. The quick cooling will stop the cooking process, keeping the meat soft and tender, and giving the skin a lovely firm texture.
3. To cook the rice: Drain the rice. In a wok or sauce pan (use a medium sauce pan if you plan on cooking the rice on the stove top), heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add the ginger and the garlic and fry until your kitchen smells like heaven. Be careful not to burn the aromatics! Add in your drained rice and stir to coat, cook for 2 minutes. Add the sesame oil, mix well.
To make the rice on the stove: In the same sauce pan, add 2 cups of your reserved poaching broth, add salt and bring to a boil. Immediately turn the heat down to low, cover the pot and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit (with lid still on) for 5-10 minutes more.
To cook rice in a rice cooker: Pour aromatics and rice (after frying) into your rice cooker, add 2 1/2 cups of your reserved poaching broth and salt. Follow the instructions for your model (usually this will just mean "turn it on!")
4. While your rice is cooking, remove the chicken from the ice bath and rub the outside of the chicken with the sesame oil. Carve the chicken for serving.
5. To make the soup: You should have six or seven cups of the reserved poaching broth left over to serve as soup. Just before serving, heat up the soup, taste and season with salt as necessary.
Serve the chicken rice with chili sauce, dark soy sauce, cucumber slices, and a bowl of hot broth garnished with cilantro or scallions

I didn't follow this recipe for making chilli sauce, as still prefer our traditional chilli sauce recipe.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Happy Winter Solstice! This is the second time ES made tang yuan for us. Last year, she helped Ah ma making tang yuan. And this year, she is awaiting for the chance to make tang yuan again. Mummy prepared the dough for her, and she make it into small tang yuan.

There are three different colours - white, orange ( natural colour from  carrot ), and purple ( natural colour from berries ). It is more yummy when we dipped it with almond + sugar...

Thiniking of the black sesame tang yuan. But we do not have black sesame at home. So we just used whatever we have at home. We wrapped some tang yuan with almond + brown sugar.

Great fun with friends...

Baked some chan pau using natural yeast last Friday night, preparing for Saturday's outing. The girls were very excited as they can meet up with their friends, YJ & YY again. And this time, there are more snow at Mt Hood compared to the last trip.

It was a cloudy morning, but luckily the weathere is about 40 over degree F when we reached our destination.

On the way to Mt Hood...

Ready for their playtime...

 " Cailou did that also" said ES.

 The kids busy buidling their snowman.

 The girls really enjoyed themselves...Hope to be back again...