KITCHEN厨房日记: Cookies Family

When I am small (and young) and still living with parents, I help my mum to make tong yuen (glutinous rice ball) during solstice festival every year. My mum tends to make those rice balls in different sizes, and I wonder why (hah, must because of inconsistency?). She answered, “Those small and big tong yuen represent members in a family, we have grandparents, and we have grandchildren too, isn’t that meaningful?” I remember those words until these days. Hence, I tend to make cookies in different sizes too.

I think they look cute these ways! Big and small round cookies together. They are Butterscotch Cookies, though I think they taste just like normal butter cookies. Melt butter and dark brown sugar in a pot, till they turn into golden brown paste with nice fragrance. [TIPS: I couldn’t find dark brown sugar in most stores, hence I just use light brown sugar, which slash down the ‘butterscotch’ to ‘butter’ I guess. Any idea on where I can get dark brown sugar?] Then, mix in flour, baking powder, salt and egg. Shape the dough and arrange the cookies on greased/non-stick baking tray. Bake for 10 minutes and make sure you keep an eye when baking, as they turn dark quite fast.

They taste very sweet, perfect to be dipped in milk, while they sweetened the milk too! And these are my breakfast for 5 working days. No choice, living cost is high nowadays, gotta save more (*hmm* for clothing & make up).

FEELINGS心情日记: 不为人知的一面

我一直都觉得自己有着双重性格，外表理性率直，内心感性细腻。甚至有时候觉得，好像有一个文艺的灵魂困锁在骨子里（我这样子讲是不是太夸张？）。选修理科的我，其实有欣赏并陶醉文艺美术的一面。没法子，谁叫本地的教育制度让成绩标青的学生都倾向理科班。还好现在总算逃出来，从事自己喜欢的工作（文/商科）。

会开这个部落格，源于当时我还困在前任工作里，生活没有一丝成就感。当时心想，朝九晚五沉在讨厌的环境里，下班后总该有些自己的爱好兴趣。于是开始写起了文章，因为从小就爱写，自认个人风格属于精简短炼，从来都写不出一片千字散文。然后学习烘焙，满足嘴馋和医饱肚子，将来下一代有个会弄早点下午茶的妈妈。再来将自己打扮得美美，以最低的预算最少的物资，让自己快乐自信地在众多帅哥美女前昂然大步走过。最后，将那些真实得可以拍成电影的梦境，从脑袋里淘出来用文字记录。这，就是ICE’S ARCHIVE 的由来。

好，今天的重点，是画画。啊，从小学到中学，我就是败在美术课，从来拿不到颗苹果（另外一个克星是体育课，因为我头脑发达，四肢简单）。不过，其实，我真的是喜欢画画的，只是没有天分且技术不如人。喜欢闭上眼睛构思画面的那一刻，更喜欢握着彩笔在纸上挥毫点缀的那一切。虽然，成品是相当的幼稚。

久休后复出（上一次画画应该是中学时候了）的第一份作品，是这一个。纪念凤飞飞-枫叶情，这是我最爱她的一首歌。副歌那一段由低至高的转音，充分带出那‘曾在枫林里流连’的怀念情愁。只是，走的好突然，还记得去年她来大马云顶开演唱会时，父母和妹妹都有去捧场。那时还好好的。。。我时常在想，如果世界上没有癌症这个疾病，我们的生活应该会平静许多，毕竟它像个无声炸弹，你不知道它会不会爆发，什么时候爆发。

当当当当~分享我的作品，不准笑！

嗯，提及唱歌，我最爱唱歌了！连他也说，怎么讨了个那么爱唱歌的查某。哈！我不只爱唱，还觉得自己唱得不错！尤其喜欢在台上唱歌的感觉。记得去年表哥的婚礼上，我贸贸然跑上台唱了徐佳莹的‘身骑白马’，一开始有些紧张，但是当台下听众鼓掌时真的很兴奋！尤其看到亲戚们有些难以置信的表情（他们不知道原来我会唱歌，噢，我想太多了！），还有老爸老妈全场带有欣慰骄傲的微笑，我想，我对音乐的喜好是遗传自他们，也弥补了他们没有的机会。

期待下一个在台上高歌一曲的机会！

FEELINGS心情日记：随写

太少在这里发文了，因为我的房里没有安装网际网络（省钱），去他家上网时他的电脑又没有中文字，所以每次都是在自己房里写好，储存起来再去他家发文。这样，好像没有什么诚意啊。。。刚好现在人在家乡，用着老爸的电脑，有中文字的，所以就随性发篇文，道出我的几个疑惑。

1。每当某某艺人/名人不幸过世时，众多粉丝（支持者）都泪流满面，嚎啕大哭。
- 请问，你们都认识他，跟他交情很好吗？
（我也喜欢他们，觉得可惜，只是不会哭出来啦！）

2。最近‘莱纳斯’稀土场在本地掀起了非常激烈的反对声浪，质疑它的安全性，为环境生态担忧。
- 请问，你们本身有没有从最基本的做起，比如不用塑料袋和不用宝丽龙？
（我也不喜欢稀土场，毕竟要带动经济和制造就业机会还有很多方法。）

3。 林书豪表现优越，一夜成名，搞得全城沸腾。
- 请问，有必要那么崇拜他吗？很多新晋运动家也一样很棒！
（我知道，他真的很棒！）

4。智能手机/触动屏幕手机拥有多项功能，堪称本世纪为人类带来方便的高科技发明。
- 请问，真的那么需要/善用种种功能吗？还是娱乐用途比较多吧！
（呵呵，我其实也很喜欢玩。。。）

我看，这四个问题已经冒犯很多人。不过，我只是希望可以让大家省思一番，探讨自己的每一个举动。

90度鞠躬~得罪晒！

KITCHEN厨房日记: Apple Cinnamon Cake

As promised (with myself), I baked this last 2 nights. Apple Cinnamon Cake, I love the mixture of sweet and sour taste, and, apple and cinnamon are perfect match!

Prepare the batter like usual, beating butter and sugar, add in egg and flour, and milk. Then, spread half of the batter in the baking tray, arrange thin slices of apple on it, and sprinkle mixture of cinnamon with sugar on top of the apples. Cover the apples with the rest of the batter, and finished of with the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.

Bake them in oven for half an hour, and it's done! Erm...it doesn't look nice, I know. I can't get the nice crispy layer of the cake as shown in the recipe. However, it tastes nice! Very soft and smooth, the apples are juicy too! And, the tempted ants managed to sneak into the plastic container and wander around the cakes.

I gave 2 pieces to him, and he finsihed them within seconds. Solid evidence to proof that the cake is tasty and yummy!

KITCHEN厨房日记: Thousand Layers Jelly

It's been quite some time that I didn't bake or cook, due to busy schedule and occupied weekends for last 2 months. Plus, I just repaired my oven's plug which is broken. And, a bit lazy..Hah!

So, I made this Thousand (6 only) Layers Jelly, as a cool refreshment for hot weather. BCYeng, remember this? I saw you making this for our School Prefect Gathering in your house, many years back then. (Awhh!) This is my first trial, turned out pretty well, but actually a bit clumsy.

Cook the jelly strips/powder in a pot, with less water as instructed on the packaging. This is because you need to add milk or coloured water into it later on. After the jelly strips/powder melt, add sugar and pandan leaves into it and stir slowly. Pour half of the liquid jelly into another pot and heat up to keep it hot. 

Then. add milk into one and coloured water (edible food colouring) into another one. [TIPS: If you don't like milk taste, you can use soya bean milk, coconut milk or 'susu sejat'(evaporated milk?).] Scoop the white jelly into a tray to form a thin layer about 0.5 cm. When the surface of 1st layer has hardened, scoop the coloured jelly onto the 1st layer to form another thin layer. Repeat these steps until you get 6-7 layers. Remember to keep an eye on the liquid jelly in the pot, continue heating and stirring it to avoid hardening!

As I only have one stove, I have to work really fast and carefully. Taking turn to heat and maintain the 2 pots of liquid jelly, and cooling the hardening jelly in the tray. However, the result is satisfying, as this layered jelly looks more attractive than the usual one. 

Gonna bake some cake tonight (if not lazy!). Will share it here in next post.

BEAUTY美丽日记: I LUV KL

Finally, after months of bugging (barking?), he brought me to KL! Started & ended with complaints about traffic, of course. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it!

The reason I love to be in KL is that mixture of luxury & heritage feel it gives. All the high rise modern buildings around you, yet there are still historical landmarks beneath. Yes, I know, traffic is the killing part. Perhaps it’s a working Friday during Chinese New Year, so the traffic was still under control and the crowd was not at its peak.

Hair Of The Day

Nails Of The Day

Dress Of The Day

Stepping in high heels boost up your confidence. The price you have to pay? Blister and soreness at the end of the day.

Went to Fahrenheit 88, Sephora and Pavillion on that day. Honestly, Fahrenheit 88 is not as fun as I expected and stocks in Sephora are not so well maintained, I would say. However, the CNY decorations in Pavilion is superb as usual, being the best in Klang Valley! Besides than luxury branded goods, there are also middle-class stores/brands in Pavillion, which means any of us can enjoy shopping there.

Just a small reminder, if it is raining, or starting to rain, or going to rain anyway, don’t use LRT! Especially when you are wearing dress and high heels. The train service is good, but not the walking-in-rain session between stations & your destinations. Whatever it is, drive! [Sorry for yelling at you, but I really can’t run in those heels.]

Can’t wait to jump off from car!

Love this view. From Fahrenheit 88.

You gotta control yourself in Sephora or you will end up with a poor month.

The mighty dragon in Pavillion. And the buddy bears outside!

Night life in KL? Even better & hotter!

Ahh, forget about the small drama, I enjoyed the trip though. Millions thanks!

NEXT TARGET: High-Tea at Carcosa Seri Negara in future. (Winks~)

P/S: Passed by Concorde Hotel and Jalan Imbi Night Stalls, remind me of you guys, miss those moments.

FEELINGS心情日记: 别扭

农历新年前夕有幸受到客户邀请出席该公司的新春晚宴/收工宴，心情还瞒愉快的，毕竟是入行以来第一次出外交际。当晚菜色相当丰富，除了一贯的捞鱼生，鲍翅汤，还有我第一次品尝的鹅掌。气氛不错，场地不错，主人家不错，同行不错，没想到‘人肉戏’更加不错。

宴会还没开始，眼尖的我就狩猎到三位美女（观察美女是我的嗜好，互相学习嘛）。一个低胸，一个挖背，还有一个挤暴了胸，三位看来感情要好，时刻结伴。应该是我妒忌心重吧，心想哪间公司的OL那么风尘妖娇。没想到这时我的同事就低下头悄悄跟我说，“和往年一样，主人家请来了小姐们陪坐。”

目瞪口呆是我当时的反应。在闽南剧/港剧里的情节，活生生地在我面前上演。天真的我从来不知原来除了风月场所外，连阖府统请的喜筵上也会有这号人物出现。从一开始的谈笑风生，到酒后的不安分，每一刻都让我不自在。同事笑说，也许这只是一种社交手腕，而她们只是公关执行者PR（Public Relations）。这样子说，会伤害到那些真正选修PR课程的‘正牌’公关吗？

我的视线不是落在她们身上，脑海里不断出现疑问。她们和他们不会觉得害臊吗？是有求必应或有应则求？她们的生活就是这样夜夜笙歌吗？她们的幸福有未来吗？散场后是不是还有序幕？

或许，见识过了一次，下次再有这样的场面，我不会再感到别扭。

KITCHEN厨房日记: Tom Yum Pasta

I started to reduce the intake of hot and spicy food since teenage due to few reasons. Firstly, I have bad skin problems and spicy food prompt acnes and pimples. Besides that, my stomach is too tender to process those red hot spicy chili, I will end up staying in the toilet if I consume too much spicy food. However, the truth is, I like to eat spicy food, and my favourite will be Tom Yum. (Curry is second, love curry laksa/noodles too!)

Thought of the can of Tom Yum paste in my fridge, owned by my housemate, I bought Tom Yum cubes in Jusco stores. I think they are versatile, they can be used in cooking soup, frying rice or noodles, and preparing sauce as well. I used them to cook Pasta in Tom Yum Soup, almost as easy as cooking instant noodles. Just cook veggies like tomato, capsicum/peppers, cabbage and etc. in water, add in Tom Yum cube and stir well. 

Add in boiled pasta in the soup, season with salt and paprika/chili powder and they are ready to be served. [TIPS: Cook the veggies in correct sequence to get the ideal texture according to your preference. I personally prefer the cabbage and tomato to be soft but capsicum/pepper to be crunchy.]

And, I seriously need a bigger kitchen. All I have now is a tiny (not even small!) corner. >.<

FEELINGS心情日记: 撒哈拉的沙

我不熟悉三毛，只知道她是70-80年代中国/台湾知名作家。我没有读过三毛的书，毕竟我称不上是文学爱好者。对于她的一生传奇，我也只略知她沧桑得感情事，以致中年时期悠然地结束生命。恰逢某中文日报刊登她逝世21周年专题，我才恍然，她的文笔，竟是如斯细腻美丽！

“我笑，便面如春花，定是能感动人的，任他是谁。”三毛给人的感觉，像是轻盈潇洒的希腊女神，悠悠的，飘飘的，浪漫温柔里却也带着率性刚强。我读着这一句，脑海里想着她站在浩瀚无际的沙漠上，和她心爱的荷西，任凭大风拨弄披肩长发，回眸一笑。

“不要去看那个伤口，它有一天会结疤的，疤痕不褪，可它不会再痛。”有多少人害怕受到伤害而原地不动，亦有多少人为了受过的伤害而耿耿于怀。走错了，就回头。痛过了，就放手。心碎了，就遗忘。不美好的回忆，就让它从心底浮现，再随风而去。

“知音，能有一两个已经很好了，实在不必太多。朋友之乐，贵在那份踏实的信赖。”三毛流浪多年，踏遍无数个国度，想必结交众多友人。但能够真正了解她想法的，赞同她做法的，又有几个？她那浪漫潇洒的境界，根本不是我们世俗人可以明了的，更甭说有勇气去体验了。

“好孩子，刻意去找的东西，往往是找不到的。天下万物的来和去，都有它的时间。”这情形，是我一直都面对的。心理渴求梦想的，永远都不会发生。而发生的，永远是在意想之外让你措手不及的。比如，你爱他时，他从不发现你，你不爱他了，他却又在你面前出现了；又或者，你随缘淡然时，竟然成功获得，你信心满满时，却会失败落选。

“如果有来生，我要做一颗树，站成永恒，没有悲欢的姿势。一半在土里安详，一半在风里飞扬，一半洒落荫凉，一半沐浴阳光，非常沉默非常骄傲，从不依靠从不寻找。”再也没有其他字句可以更贴切地形容三毛。是她对故乡的怀念，还是对荷西的眷恋，让她写下了这句？这样的一颗树，完全是她的写照。从四处漂泊到回归原地，从轰轰烈烈到平平淡淡，失而复得，得后失之。我愿，她现在已经成为那样的一颗树。

“每想你一次，天上飘落一粒沙，从此形成了撒哈拉！”太凄美了！丝丝入扣，看得我鼻头一酸，泪水在眼里打滚。有人这样爱一个人吗？少啊，难呀！

BEAUTY美丽日记: 2012 Wish List

1. Eat less.

2. Drink more (beer & liquor, eh hmm).

3. Exercise more.

4. Bake & cook more.

5. Save more ($).

6. Buy more - Shoes, clothes, cosmetics, accessories. (Ehh? Contradicts with No.5!)

7. Mistake & trouble no more! (In work, thank you guys for saving me.)

8. Read more.

9. Write more.

10. And love more! (Muackzzzz~ Everyone!)