Susan Boyle

Ok, I've got no clue as to HOW to post a YouTube clip here...but, I just wanna share with those of you who haven't discover Susan Boyle! Click on the link, and watch it...you will need some tissue paper. I am so glad to hear that Simon Cowell is already in line to sign her up (I guess, if she "doesn't" win the British Got Talent Show). Thank goodness for her gut, if not, the whole world would missed out on her amazing, and beauiful voice!

You go girl! :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Pretty, pretty, pretty!!

I was at Party Depot yesterday to pick up some clear plastic cups for a dessert I'll be making and saw these set of PRETTY plates and napkins! Don't you agree they are gorgeous?? All of my favorite colors together! Not one speck of purple in it! ;P Nah, that's not really the reason. Just that I LOVE the combination of the brown, with that tone of blue, pink and orange! Will have to invite the ladies over next week! :) By the way, the best thing is that the whole set is 50% off! :)

The Gene on "WHERE IS...????"

I truly think there's a gene for "where is ...???" Does that sound familiar?? My dad has it, MY HUSBAND probably have DOUBLE that gene, and so do my monkeys! ~ A little MORE in Lucas than in Yesmin. I'd say that out of 365 days, maybe there are only 20 days (or less) that I actually don't get that question. Nd (Lee) and I have married for 8 years + now. We have lived in this house for almost 7 years. Yes, I am a homemaker, so I take care of putting things away after grocery/whatever shopping trips, so of course I KNOW things are. BUT, through out our "almost" 7 years of stay here, I HAVE NOT moved stuff around in the pantry. The medicine are still where they are, the spices, the drinks (coffee/cocoa/tea/Milo..etc), the snacks, the condiments, plates, containers...whatever it is, ARE STILL in the EXACT pantry, on the EXACT designated shelves!!! The extra shampoo, tooth paste, laundry detergent, batteries...etc, ARE STILL EXACTLY where they are. So, I wonder WHAT is it that makes him (Nd/Lee) every so often ASK me "Where is...???"

As for the monkeys? At least, Yesmin would try to look for whatever she's looking for by herself, most of the times. However, Lucas WOULD NOT even TRY to look for it before asking "Where's my ...???" He would just STAND there, expecting the (usually) toy would somehow, make its way to him! Ha! See the similarities in the MALE SPECIES?? I can't totally in that cos' I know my sister (yes you, jia) does the same! :P And guess what, when I get mad at them for constantly ASKING, Nd (Lee) would answer back "Fine! We won't ASK you anything, anymore!" ~ as though he ASK me it's because he LOVES me! HA HA, very funny, darling!

Prayers...

I just received a sad news from my opposite neighbor... her husband was just diagnosed with lung cancer. He's 80 plus years old, have been in pain. This news came as a surprise to their family and even us. Living across from them for almost 7 years, he's always been able to do a lot of things by himself, repair dental equipment, drive himself here and there, mow the lawn..etc. Past 2-3 years, we did realized that he has aged, but never thought about this! One thing I am glad is that all 4 of their kids and their family are back here. He'll be back from the hospital tomorrow. I am keeping HIM and his family, especially his 70 plus year-old wife in my prayers. They have been in MANY ways, like grandparents to our kids. If you are reading this, please do me a favor, take a minute and pray for him ~ John Kimbrough.

Thanks Mommy!!!

Whenever we go back to Malaysia, or when our parents come over for visit, we usually have a list of "neccesity" usually that includes her home made curry paste, sambal belacan, and fried shallots, and usually requested by Yesmin, Lucas and I, as ND(Lee) is "shy" to request for anything, as he's "suppose" to play the "role" of the "easy-going-will-eat-anything" husband.

Ok, so I admit...this picture doesn't look as appetizing as it should...especially if you're not from Southeast Asia. This is my mom's Sambal Belacan.

And I tell you --- it is THE BEST (not that I am bias or what, how can that be right?! :P) It is also Lucas' favorite "spicy sauce" (he calls it "poh poh's (grandma's) spicy sauce") It is made with grinding fresh cayanne pepper, with belacan (Shrimp paste. She only buys it from certain store in Penang) and some lime juice. I've tried making it, but of course it never turn out the same.
So, each time they visit us, or we go back for vacation, she'd make LOTS of them and pack them in small packets, freeze them, so that I can bring them back to U.S. However, our last trip home in Sept '07, she was so busy preparing variety of curry paste, fried shallots (the following picture), and other stuff (she tries to prepare them towards the end of our trip, so that they all stay fresh), she forgot the MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL ~ SAMBAL BELACAN!!! Even I didn't relized it until we go back here and unpacked! :P

Anyway, it's been a little more than a year since we got to enjoy it. End of last year, a family friend in Seattle went back to Malaysia, and stayed at my parents'. He offered to bring back stuff for us - thank you Uncle Liew! (and Mark for bring to the ski trip ;)) This time, my mom made sure she made A LOT! :P Today, I made stir fry Udon and I made sure I remembered to bring this GOLD out to savor with the udon!! ~ Y-U-M-M-Y!!! =)

Next on our list of food that we request from my mom, is her fried shallots!

After coming over to US, I usually buy the store bought ones from the Asian grocery stores. Then knowing how much I like 'em, my mom started making them for me to bring back here, and when I run out of it, I'd go back to the store bought... However, few years back, after we ran out of her fried shallots (it's Yesmin's favorite from the list (Nd/Lee's least favorite)...she could careless about any spicy food) and started with store bought ones...yuks, no way I'm gonna used those stuff again!!! Gosh I AM SO DARN SPOILED!!! *tsk, tsk, tsk* From then on, I'd rather NOT eat if I don't have my mom's fried shallot! ;P We put it on our udon, fried rice and whatever else that goes with it! ;P So....
Thank you mommy!!! :)

For My Friends Who LOVE The Color Purple...

Remember how I don't like the color Purple???!!! ...Well...this is one of my potted flowers I got from the nursery few weeks ago. This is for ALL of you who LOVE the color PURPLE!! ;) Enjoy, and Happy April Fool's day =)

My First Daring Bakers Challenge – Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna

I discover The Daring Bakers some months ago through blog hopping! I was very tempted to join then…but did not have the courage, and was afraid of commitment. Last month, I finally gave in and signed up to be a member.

I was surprised by the choice when the March challenge was revealed. I was expecting a dessert, rather than a savory dish. However, I am still happy with the idea. I have only eaten lasagna a couple of times, and have only made it ONCE, many, many years ago. I had used the store bought dried pasta.

The March 2009 challenge is hosted by Mary of Beans and Caviar, Melinda of Melbourne Larder and Enza of Io Da Grande. They have chosen Lasagne of Emilia-Romagna from The Splendid Table by Lynne Rossetto Kasper as the challenge.

I read and read through the recipe, and was excited as it calls for home made Spinach Egg Pasta (Pasta Verde). At the same time, I felt intimidated by the fact that I’ll be making fresh pasta from scratch! So, as a procrastinator, I drag and drag, until today! :P What a embarrassing way for me to start the challenge with the group! My family, on the other hand, was all excited, especially my “cheesy-pasta-lover” daughter.

All recipes are from The Splendid Table: Recipes from Emilia-Romagna, the Heartland of Northern Italian Food by Lynne Rossetto Kasper (published by William Morrow and Company Inc., 1992). You can find the recipe HERE.

The main challenge was to make hand-made pasta using rolling pin! Hrmp…I am very thankful that Nd (Lee) had given me a pasta attachment to my Kitchen Aid few Christmas back. I used my KA to begin mixing the ingredients for the pasta, but not all of the flour, since I would still like my KA to be working for other baking/mixing projects (my KA was “jumping” (with excitement maybe?) on the counter by the time half of the flour was incorporated). I hand knead the dough and slowly incorporate the rest of the flour, a little at the time. It was HARD WORK, but I know it’d be worth it at the end.

Since I started the process at 10:30pm, I did not wait for it to rest and roll out the dough. Instead, I wrapped the dough with double layer of cling wrap and store it in the fridge. The next morning, I took it out from the fridge and let it rest at room temperature for 30-45 minutes. I started rolling the dough with the pasta attachment with the setting on #1 for about 5-6 times, then the rest of the settings 2-3 times each. I did skip setting #5 though. I also realized that it helps to prevent the dough from tearing by slightly rolling down the dough with a rolling pin before you feed it through the attachment. I AM amazed how beautiful the color of the pasta turns out --- it is exactly the color Yesmin picked when painted her study table. ;)

On the right is the dough after going through the pasta machine 3 times on setting #1. The dough on the left is the dough that is ready. Look at the difference and the beautiful green!

Lucas was excited and thought it was funny when I hung the pasta on the back of our dining chairs to dry. (Note to husband: I need a pasta drying rack!!! ;P)

The process of making the pasta was definitely a little more work than what I’d usually do. However, the feeling of accomplishing “home-made pasta from scratch” is something else! :) And of course without a doubt, the TASTE is worth the effort. I do have to say that, if you plan on making this whole recipe, it is best to NOT do what I did – attempting to make EVERYTHING in just one day. I definitely have poor time management and planning. However, like stated in the recipe, the Ragu sauce and the Béchamel sauce can be made ahead of time, and the pasta can be made a day ahead.

I did make some changes on the recipe with what I have, and what I could not find in the store. These are some changes to the original recipe I made:

• I used 3 large eggs, instead of 2 jumbo eggs
• I did use the whole 10oz package of frozen chopped spinach - after squeezing out the water, there is only about 6 oz left! :P
• I couldn't find veal in 3 different grocery store here, so, I substitute the 4 oz veal for 2 oz of ground beef and 2 oz of ground lamb! ;P
• I used one can (14.5oz) of whole peeled tomatoes
  

Does it taste good? The pictures below says it all! :)

Yesmin who drags eating spinach, was amazed that the pasta was made WITH spinach! :)

Would I make it again? Yes, but with better planning...and maybe use ground turkey for most part of the Ragu sauce (for a less meaty, fatty taste). I would probably try to make the Spinach Egg pasta more often THAN the lasagna, since it taste wonderful, and I get to squeeze in spinach to our meal! :)