Lotsa 'Dog' Babies this year

First, it was my sis-in-law. Then, it's Chumi. Next, it's Suzzette. Now, it's one of my very good friend who's staying in Singapore ! And even Shazmin from the Mix Breakfast show ! What's happening to them ? They are all pregnant, expecting a bundle of joy on this year, the year of the Dog. :)

Sis-in-law is almost 4 months pregnant now, though she still don't know what gender the baby is going to be. At first during the 2nd month, doctor told sis-in-law that she might be expecting twins. Me and big bro thought, twins ?! Since when our family genetics has twins huh ? Could it be from sis-in-law's side ? She said her family don't have twins too. But anyway, after further checkups, confirm that it's not a twin. Big bro heave a big sign of relieve, cause he was worrying about the double expenses has it been twins. hehe. Our family are just very happy to have a new member by the middle of this year :)

Then it's Chumi, expecting her first child. I now believe it when people say that pregnant women has a certain glow, because I saw Chumi and she has that glow ! ......I know the gender already. Ngek Ngek Ngek....but I'll let her have the fun in annoucing it.

Next it's Suzzette, a friend of mine who's expecting her 2nd child.

And the latest is my childhood friend from hometown, well, she's staying in Singapore now. She just got pregnant. Guess who broke the news to me? My mom ! ......how did she know? Because my mom met her mom in the market and her mom told my mom about it. Hey, don't laugh/be suprised....things like this happens in my small town hometown ok. In fact, this is the way I keep in touch with the latest updates of most of my hometown mates. hahaha.

And what about Shazmin from the radio show. Yeap, she's expecting her no.2 too. She actually 'outted' her news herself when she was interviewing Lilian Too on the Breakfast show. She asked Lilian Too what's the characteristic of a baby born on the year of the Dog like. Then Richard Ng, her co-host blurted out that she's expecting her No.2. And what was Lilian Too's answer to Shazmin ?...aiya surf her website and read for yourself la.

Congrats to all mothers to be, stay healthy and have a healthy and bouncy 'Dog' baby :)

My first Muffins

Tried my hands in baking my first muffins. Got the recipe from my aunt, she said it's a recipe that's tried and tested and everyone bakes great muffins from this recipe.....

A
butter 75gm
cooking oil 75gm
salt 1 pinch
CASTOR sugar 280gm

plain flour 400gm
baking powder 2 tbl spoon
4 eggs
whipping cream 145gm
milk 85gm
Fillings for the muffin (anything you like, Strawberry Jam, Blueberry etc)

Blend A in mixer
Add in eggs
sift in flour
Add whipping cream and milk.

I was excited to try out the recipe. Now I have to mention that my mom is a great cook and baker. She bakes a lot and I was her helper. And apparently, all these years of helping out my mom baking those fabulous cakes, I've learned nothing !

Because I used fine granulated sugar which is not right ! I mixed everthing in A. The mixer turned and turned and turned and the sugar just didn't melt. The batter looks very very different from what my mom's batter used to look like. The sugar is just not fine enough.

So fiance suggested that maybe I can just heat up the batter a little to melt the sugar. I thought that's weird and my mom has never done that ! .....but it did make some sense. So, ok lor, I poured out the batter from the mixer bowl into a pot. Put the pot on the stove. And the butter started melting !! The batter turned to something that looks like oil + sugar. This has gone completely wrong !

So, I SOS my mom.

PauPau : Mom, my muffin is not coming out right ! I didn't use castor sugar wor.
Mom : Cannot ! To make cake, you have to use castor sugar one, others are too coarse. In fact nowadays there are some sugar that bakers use, it's even finer than castor sugar. Next time, when you happen to be in any store that sell bakery stuff, you might want to get them bla bla...
PauPau : huh...mom, how now ? Can I still use my oil+sugar batter ?
Mom : erm...can ke, but your muffin won't turn out so nice lor. It'll be too sweet and not fluffy.
PaPau : ha...like that ar....never mind, I'll make another batter. OK la, I have to go buy some castor sugar now.
Mom : Ok, bye.

What to do, I don't want to continue to toil around on the muffins and end up with muffins that fiance and me has to eat with chagrin. Had to make a quick trip to Tesco to buy the castor sugar.
Once back, I started the batter again, this time, the batter looks 'normal'. So, continue with the rest of the ingredients.

Suppose to add the flour and baking powder and eggs into the batter, but then halfway putting in the flour, the batter looks so dry ! I started to panic again, so I added in the milk and whipping to make the batter wetter. In the end, the batter turned out ok, will the muffin turn out ok ? ......


Ta-da....So many muffins ! How is 2 person suppose to finish all of it ??

When I called my aunt to 'report', turns out that the batter is suppose to be dry with the flour is added in. (Say earlier mah).....and I'm not suppose to add in the milk and whipping cream first. Maybe due to this, my muffins are not as fluffy. Though it tasted good (cheh wah...blow my own horn)....but it was not soft and fluffy. Aunt said it's considered good already, that the muffin actually turned out at all on my first time....yeah, aunt consoling me, I didn't tell her about the castor sugar incident ;p

Rock Climbing

Wah...got some support on my rock climbing adventure...so happy. Of course now must show off share the experience mah right ? :))

paupau starting the climb with the pink route

it's not easy arrr....


half way there......

almost there !

reached the top ! ...well actually one more step to the top..hehe