oktoberfest

apple pie

huff puff stuffed chicken

pataya rice

perfect paella

Lurve Lunchbox

why?

I remembered when I was in JC, I chanced upon a lunchbox that my friend's mother prepared for her. The first reaction I had was awe. I would have never imagined such a beautiful sight in my school canteen! But then my second reaction or transformation took over , I somehow just could not bring myself to join in the chorus of "wows" that the lunchbox drew. I became a green-eyed monster. I was really jealous! I wanted to be the person at the receiving end of so much love and affection. I eventually got over it of course, but today as I was packing in the Sushi and Inari I made into the lunchboxes for LR and my mom, when I remembered the JC friend incident, it wasn't that I was hoping that people seeing the lunchboxes would be envious of LR or my mom, but rather what hit me was that as the person preparing the lunchbox, I could experience much joy and thanksgiving. I am just so grateful that I have people that I love so much, that I can give to :) Now I know why our God gives us so much to His people, because He loves us deeply and it brings Him joy to give.

failure?

I wish I could prepare more so that I could give to ALL the people that I love!

success?

I learnt that in giving, I receive as well.

"Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"

NIV Bible

"Give your life away; you'll find life given bck, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity"

Eugene H Peterson from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Lanaguage

Luke 6:38

onde onde

Orange everything chicken

Lamingtons

why?

I lived and love Australia. For four years while pursuing my degree, I called Brisbane home. The selection of bread and quality must claim responsibility for the extra weight I piled on. There's this particular chain of bakery that I would go to for my daily stash and would be easily tempted to grab some Lamingtons and Apple turnovers for "snacks". I had some left over coconut from making onde onde and flipping through one of my cookbooks, I was elated to find a recipe for Lamingtons and decided the deed must be done!

success?

Too good! the recipe was for Mocha Lamingtons, but I am not a fan of coffee, so I made some adjustments.

Adapted from Bake it by Murdoch Books

Ingredients

125g unsalted butter, chopped and softened

230g caster sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

250g self-raising flour

250ml milk

2 tsp cocoa powdered, dissolved in 2 tsp boiling water

icing:

350g of good quality dark chocolated, melted with some chocolate milk

150g of freshly grated coconut and steamed with pandan leaves and a tsp of salt

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees cel. Lightly grease the base of a 23cm square tin and lin the base with baking paper.

Cream the butter, sugar and vanilla until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir the flour into the butter mixture alternately with the milk until combined and smooth. Mix in the cocoa mixture.

Bake for 30-35 minutes or until skwer inserted into the centre f the cake comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to cool. Cut into 25 squares.

Using 2 spoons to hold the cake, dip the cake squares into the melted chocolate to cover. Roll the cake in the coconut to cover and place on a wire rack.

failure?

Made too few :)

strawberry choc mousse cake