My prayer

Picture taken in Hilton Singapore.

I want to say a prayer:'Father in heaven, thank You for giving me strength to overcome every obstacle in life. I choose to rejoice no matter what may come against me because I know You are working all things together for my good. Thank You for developing Your character in me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen."

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation"(Romans 5:3-4 ).

Yogurt, banana and chocolate muffins

This is my daughter favorite muffin. I would call this my sweet heart's recipe.

She loves it very much and always asked me to make this muffin for her.

Lately, I have been busy with every single 'productive' and 'unproductive' things. I have been neglected Chelsea. When I gave her a big cuddle this evening and looking at her face, then I realised she has grown taller and bigger. She is my little woman Chelsea Tze Rou.

sometime I have been worried too much and focus on the penny things. Bothered with what co-workers said or thought. I should not bother about small matters.

Now I decided to develop the habit of being a pleasant, positive person. refuse to criticize, condemn or complain. Do not engage in gossip! I willl make it a habit to look for the good in every person and situation!

another important focus is my daughter.

Muffin the most easy and simple muffin to make yet delicious!

1 cup wholemeal self-raising flour

1/2 cup almond meal

1/2 cup caster sugar

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 eggs, beaten lightly

1 cup low-fat yogurt

1 or 2 bananas

1/2 cup dark button chocolate

1. preheat oven to 180/160c fan-forced. grease 12-hole

2.combine flour and sugar in large bowl. add remaining ingredients, mix batter until just combined. Divide batter among pan holes. Bake about 30 minutes. Stand muffins 5 minutes before serving.

Yummy in my tummy.

Citrus, Semolina & Grape Seed Oil Cake

come on, let's enjoy this special and healthy cake recipe. You may like it.
My daughter loves it so much!

make1
preparation 10 minutes
cooking 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1 cup semolina
1 cup almond meal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup raw caster sugar ( I used 1/2 cup)
3/4 cup grape seed oil ( you may use olive oil)
1/3 orange juice
3 eggs
finely grated zest 2 oranges
finely grated zest 1 lemon
2 tablespoons lemon juice
orange slices, quartered and icing sugar (optional), to serve

1. Preheat oven to moderately slow 160c. Lightly grease a 23cm square cake pan and lien with baking paper.
2.In a medium bowl, combine semolina, almond and baking powder.
3.Combine sugar, oil, juice, eggs and zest in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat until pale. Fold semolina through mixture until combined.
4.Spoon into a pan. Bake 35-40 minutes, until cooked when tested with a skewer.
5.Top with orange slices. Dust with icing sugar.Cut into squares.

source:woman's day magazine April6, 2009

Confidence
For God has not given us a spirit of timidity but of power and of love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)......Go for It!

My daughter Chelsea Tze Rou.

Flourless Mandarin Cake with Scented Mandarins

I would say this is an unique cake recipe. Flourless cake? This recipe was taken from: www.cuisine.com.au. However, the original source: Author Lynne Mullins Source: The Age Tuesday July 24, 2007 British, Quick, Contemporary, Wheat free, Dessert.

"Bring a little sunshine into the kitchen. Mandarins' clean, tangy taste will brighten a bracing winter day."

My curiosity has rewarded me this scented mandarins cake. Look, it's a wonderful flourless cake.

Let's give it a try it might give you the sense of satisfaction.

Ingredients:
9 large unpeeled mandarins
250g ground almonds (plus some extra for garnish)
250g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
6 eggs
2-3 tsp orange flower water

Method
Pre-heat oven to 170C.

Cover 4 large unpeeled mandarins with water and bring to the boil in a saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 30-40 minutes or until very soft. Remove and, when cool enough to handle, halve and remove seeds. Process unpeeled mandarins in a food processor until smooth. Mix 250g ground almonds, 250g caster sugar and 1 tsp baking powder in a large bowl. Beat 6 eggs with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add 2 cups processed mandarins and almond mixture to eggs and fold gently until smooth. Grease a 22cm springform cake tin and sprinkle base and sides with 2 tbsp ground almonds. Shake to remove excess.
Pour cake batter into tin and bake for 60-70 minutes or until cake is just firm when pressed gently. Cool in cake tin.
Peel 5 large mandarins, cut each into 4 horizontal slices and place in a shallow bowl.
Sprinkle with 2-3 tsp orange flower water and turn to coat.

To serve
Dust top of cake generously with icing sugar and serve wedges with slices of scented mandarin.

Serves 8.

Strawberry Vanilla Cheesecake

Strawberry Vanilla Cheesecake

My strawberry Vanilla Cheesecake is up now!

This is a fanstatic cheesecake, a light and luscious cheesecake. It indulge our tasebuds but not our hips, as it made of all no fats, fat free, reduced fat ingredients.

It really tastes so deliciouse and it become my favorite sweet treats. I like it so much.

Just to let you know this is my first attempt of making a cheesecake. When I went shopping for the ingredienst I did not even know what is ricotta and cream cheese? However, I've got them right at Coles supermarket.

TIPS: Cheesecake is best made the day before. For best results, use cheese and eggs at room temperature.

Serve 6

Preparation: 20 minutes + 3 hours to cool

cooking: 1 hour 15 minutes

cooking oil spray

Ingredients

100g reduced-fat choc chip cookies

350g fresh low-fat ricotta

1/2 x 250g packet light reduced-fat cream cheese

1/4 cups caster sugar

3 eggs

3 eggs whites

1 1/4 cups vanilla-flavoured diet yogurt ( I used Yoplait no fat vanilla yogurt)

1/3 cup plain flour

250g or more punnet strawberries, hulled

1/3 cup diet strawberry jam, warmed

Step1

Preheat oven to 170C/150C fan forced. Grease and line a 20cm springform pan with baking paper. Place biscuits in a single layer in base of pan, breaking them to fit snugly.

Step 2

Using an processor or electric mixer, beat cheeses with sugar in a mixing bowl until smooth. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each to combine. Beat in egg whites. Stir in yogurt, the flour. Pour filling over biscuits.

Step 3

Bake for 1 hour, 15 minutes or until set. Turn oven off. Let cake cool completely in oven with door open slightly.

Step 4

Arrange strawberries, hulled-end down, on top of cake; drizzle with jam. Chill for 15 minutes to set glaze.

Chicken Party Sticks

I am a great believer who I honour my commitment and I'll deliver it.

This wonderful savoury baking has been put up on my commitment list. I asked myself a favour to make finger food for our fellow church friends. Therefore, I decided to make Chicken Party Sticks. I would like to let you know this is a great job I've done as well the satay souce.

Satay souce? yes, I made the satay souce...

Now, I should be thankful and I am thankful for everything I've got, the wonderful experience I've had in the past, the lessons I've learned, the books I've read, the movie I've seen, the songs I've heard, the food I've eaten. And the place that I've visited and the experiences that I've had in my travels and work.
Not forgetting the wonderful baking experience I've gained.

I am so amazed at how many things I have in my life for which I can be truly grateful. Truly thankful to God

Therefore, the great habit for me to develop in becoming a truly excellent person is the habit of practicing an 'attitude of gratitude' in every part of my life.

I want to make it a habit of feeling and expressing gratitude, of saying ' Thank you' to people, to my hubby and my daughter.

Just simply believe that an attitude of gratitude makes me a warmer, friendlier and more genial person. It gives me the great sense of happiness and inner satisfaction!

Okay, let's get things done!

spicy satay souce
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon chilli powder, or to taste
1 tablespoon soy souce
1 tablespoon onion, grated ( optional)
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted

Ingredients
1 kg chicken tenderloins
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 1/3 kg puff pastry
1 tablesppon poppy seeds or sesame seeds

Step 1
Mix all the satay souce ingredients together in a saucepan, heat to a simmer. Keep on the heat for 5 minutes and allow to cool.

Step 2
Preheat the oven to 180C. Sprinkle the salt and pepper over the tenderloins. Cut a sheet of thawed pastry into 4 squares. Place a tenderloin on each square and add a dash of souce. Roll up on the diagonal, leaving the ends open.

Step 3
Place seam-side down on a greased oven tray and glaze with egg wash.
Sprinkle with poppy seeds or sesame seeds.

Step 4
Bake for 25-30 minutes. serve hot with the same sauce used as a dipping sauce.

makes 32

source: baking at home perfection. Thanks.

Yogurt Streusel Cake

Yogurt Streusel Cake.

Happy Valentine's Day.

I've made a plan to make this cake on Valentine's Day. Now I am delighted to present my Yogurt Streusel Cake and am so glad that this cake turn out pretty well.

Cake with the Streusel topping is my first attempt. I think the Streusel Topping is the best of the whole cake. Streusel is 'A crumblike topping for coffee cakes and rich breads, consisting of flour, sugar, butter, cinnamon, and sometimes chopped nutmeats.'

This Streusel topping consisting of chopped walnuts, plain flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and olive oil. It is a very convincing topping. We all could not resist the Streusel topping, particularly my daughter who has been trying to scratch the topping.

Streusel with walnuts to melt any resistance. It is so good for you as walnuts are a great plant source of omega-3 fats, which reduce the risk of heart disease.

Try it out and tell me know how much you love the topping.


'German, streusel, from Middle High German ströusel, something strewn, from ströuwen, to sprinkle, from Old High German strowwen.'Yogurt Streusel Cake
serve 10

60g unsalted butter at room temperature
3/4 cup (165g) caster sugar
2 eggs
2 cups (300g) plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 cups (420g) natural yogurt, plus extra to serve
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Streusel Topping
1 cup (110g) chopped walnuts
1/2 cups (75g) plain flour
1/2 cup (110g) brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons olive oil

1.Preheat oven to 180c or 160c fan. Grease and line base of a 24cm round springform pan. In a medium bowl, combine Streusel Topping ingredients and set aside.

2. Using an electric mixer, cream butter with caster sugar until light and fluffy.Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3.Stir flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and a large pinch of salt into a bowl. Fold into butter mixture alternately with combined yogurt and vanilla extract, begining and ending with flour mixture.

4.Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle with Streusel Topping and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes, until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan. Serve warm with yogurt.


a little note for everyone on Valentines' Day 14/2/2009.

'A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.'


LOVE LOVE LOVE...

Serimuka

Serimuka

I learnt how to make Serimuka about 5 months ago. Whenever there is a cell group I make serimuka and share with my friends. All of them were happy to receive this kueh.

I am of course delighted to share with you how I make it.

Serimuka

Ingredients:

Rice Layer

300g glutinous rice, wash and soak in water for 4 hours(over night), drain.

180 ml coconut milk

1tsp salt

1tbsp sugar

Egg Custard Layer

3 large eggs

4 tbsp flour

4 tbsp rice flour

350 coconut milk

150 g castor sugar

1/2 tsp pandan paste

1/4 tsp salt

green colouring

Method

1. Drain rice and steam on 22 cm tray for 20 minutes.

2.Remove from heat, fluff up the rice and pour in the coconut milk, sugar and salt. Mix well.

Steam for another 20-25 minutes or till cooked.

3.Using a spoon, press cooked glutinous rice firmly and use another tray to level pressed rice.

4.Sieve the flours mixture and add them to lightly beaten eggs. Strain mixture. Add coconut milk, pandan paste, green color, salt and sugar.

5.Pour 1/2 of this egg custard over the steamed glutinous rice and steam for 10-15 minutes until cooked. Use a fork and scatch surface, then pour in the balance of the custard, steam further another 10-15 minutes until cooked. ( steaming time varies depending on the ehat of steamer)

I used low medium heat to steam so that the surface looked smooth.

6. Cut serimuka into serving slices when cooled.

By the way, I wish to thank Jinhooi for sharing this recipe with me. (http://jinhooi.blogspot.com)

my birthday cake - Le Petit gateau

Experience the irresistible flavours that are like no other!

my hubby bought me this lovely birthday cake.

19 Jan, my birthday. my little girl said to me:' after my birthday (her birthday on 15 August) is mum's birhtday, after mum's birthday is daddy's birthday.'

I had a wonderful birthday week, we spent two day one night on Philip Island.

This a very unique cake, it is Strawberry and Berry Tart. It made of frangipane base tart, with berry jams, fresh strawberry, raspberry and blackberry.

Le Petit Gateau's irresistible cakes and tarts are very indulgent and especially designed to impress the most discerning cake lover. Created by French pastry chef Pierrick Boyer and his team, each of the cakes and tarts are original recipes and are purposely minimalist and contemporary, featuring fresh, distinctive flavours that have been chosen specifically all tastes to suit every occasion.

Le Petit Gateau is conveniently located in the heart of the Melbourne CBD at 458 Little Collins Street at the rear of the stylish RACV Club,ideal for catering for inner-city businesses.

Chocolate Cake (gluten free)

Baking a chocolate cake is always my dream. and now it has come true.

I love dark chocolate. It is a wonderland!

I bake this chocalate is the act of communicating my love to my daughter and hubby. she loves it so much!

Nothing is better than baking a chocolate for my love ones.

Chocolate cake

serve 10

prep time 15 minutes

cooking time 1 hour

3 eggs

1 cup (220g) brown sugar

1/2 cup (125 ml) milk or soy milk

1/3 cup (80ml) grapeseed oil or vegetable oil

250g dark chocolate, melted

1 cup (170g) gluten-free seld raising flour, sifted or wholemeal self rasing flour.

cocoa, to dust

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 180C or 160C fan. Grease and line a 22cm round cake pan with baking paper.

Step 2:

Using processor, beat eggs until thick and pale. Add sugar, milk and oil and beat until combined. Fold through melted chocolate and flour.

Step 3:

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour, until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool. Dust with cocoa, cut and serve.

Chelsea, Tze Rou (3)

Goal Incentive for my daughter.

Chelsea got a bike. She finally got this bike on 10 Jan.

She is awarded a bike for her patience in learning to swim. She loves riding bike

one day, she refused to go swimming and jump into the water. To facilitate Chelsea's learning to swim, we offered her a goal incentive by saying," if you learn to swim and jump into the water.we'll buy you a bike.' Her motivation was heightened by the incentive. she jumped into the water and worked diligently and now she received the beautiful bike.

She is now a good swimming learner. She loves jumping into the water and able to tread water.

she told me:' I can swim like a Dolpin.'

At3 years of age, Chelsea learned to swim and we used this goal incentives to help train Chelsea to develop her swimming skill and build her confidence in the water.

And now she is not only good at swimming and also good at riding a bike.

Excellent! my daughter.

Almond & Lemon Cake

I was so impressed with the cake recipe without using flour and oil or butter! but with almond meal and mashed potato. I can't wait to try it out. reading through and study the recipe several times, I kept asking myself, would this turn out good and how would this cake taste like.


It's indeed a new and exciting attempt for me, and I finish my' vision' with victory. Yeppie!!


on 03 Jan, I tried my very best to complete this cake. it turned out fabulouse. taste wise... to me it taste strongly of lemond but no smell of potatoes. my hubby loved it, my little girl seems do not like the first day but the day after it's cook she tends to have more slices at one go.


This recipe is very easy to follow and it does not bring any difficulties to me! 'troubles free' recipe and it is sensational!


This cake tastes even better the day after it's cooked. (per recipe)


(source:Australian Table June 2007)


Almond and Lemon Cake
serve:10
preparation:25 minutes
cooking time:55 minutes

6 eggs, separated
1 cup (220g) sugar
1 1/2 cups (180g) almond meal
1 cup mashed potato
2 teaspoons lemon rind
1/4 cup (60ml) lemon juice
icing sugar to dust
To serve with natural yogurt (optional)


Step 1:
Preheat oven to 180C or 160C fan

Grease a 23 cm round cake pan and line base and sides with baking paper.

Step 2:
Using a processor, beat egg yolks until pale. Add half sugar and beat for 5 minutes, until mixture is thick and sugar dissolves. Stir in almond meal, mashed potato, lemon rind and juice until combined.

Step 3:
In a separate bowl, beat eggwhites until firm peaks form. Add remaining sugar 1 tablespoon at a time, beating constantly, until thick and glossy. Fold gently into york mixture. Spoon into prepared pan and bake for 55 minutes. or until a skewer inserted comes out clean. Set aside to cool in pan.

Step 4:
Dust with icing sugar, slice and serve with yogurt, if you like.

Malaysian Fried Noodles (Mee Goreng)

mee goreng.

mee goreng reminds me of the taste of malaysia, the 'mamak' stall in KL. If I remember clearly it tastes spicy and oily. This is one of the popular menu of the 'mamak'. They do offer 'Roti Canai', 'Teh Tarik' and etc.

I have not had this mee goreng for ages. I'm not really crave for mee goreng but I just can't believe I can do mee goreng. (obviously it is easy to cook)

28 dec was my first attempt for cooking mee goreng. well, again a success story!

(the reason why I say it is another success story because I am not a good cook but I am determined to make things happen and better.)

and now, I think I love mee goreng (the mamak style). It also because I have made a wonderful dinner for my little girl and my sweet heart.

I feel so great!.

mee goreng

(source: australian table june 2007)

serve 4

450g packect fresh thin hokkien noodles

2 tablespoons oil

300g or 1 packet fresh tofu (I used fresh tofu, cut into small cubes)

4 tenderloin chicken(optional)

1 brown onion ( finely chopped)

1 medium tomato, diced

4 spring onions (shallots), sliced

1 large potato ( or 4 baby potatoes) peeled, cut into small cubes, boiled

150g beans sprout (optional)

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/4 cup (60ml) tomato sauce

2 tablespoons chilli sauce or (spicy chilli powder from master food)

1 tablespoons light soy sauce

1 green chilli, sliced

1 lime

1 cucumber (optional)

Step 1:

Prepare noodles according to packet directions. Drain and set aside.

Heat oil in a wok on high and fry tofu in batches for 2 minutes, until golden. ( do the same for chicken. Remove and set aside.

Step 2:

Reduce heat to medium and stir-fry brown onion for 2 minutes, until soft. Add tofu, chicken, tomato, green onion (spring onions), beans sprout and potato and stir -fry for 2 minutes.

Step 3:

Push vegetables to one side and add egg. When just set, stir through vegetables. Add sauce and noodles and stir -fry for 3-4 minutes, until well coated and heated through.

Serve topped with sliced green chilli. lime and cucumber ( if you want).

Chelsea said:' Yummy in my tummy!'

'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stir up anger.'(proverbs 15:1)

tomato egg soup (chinese soup)

Tomato and egg soup.

It has come to summer season. I wonder to cook something where to suit the summer season.

I was astonished to learn that tomato and egg soup is so easy to cook. It took me less than 20 minutes to enjoy the benefit of the soup. It is indeed a beautiful soup and also good for you.

My little girl loves this soup very much! I can't deny it tastes so yummm...

'Good for you' : this soup promotes the seretion of body fluids, quenches thirst, relieves summer heat. It is good for thirst, fever and loss of appetite due to accumualted summer heat'

Tomato and egg soup

2 eggs
5 tomatoes (456 g)

2 tsps oil

salt

diced spring onion

Step 1:

wash and thickly sliced tomatoes

Step 2:

whisk the eggs and add a little salt

Step 3:

Put tomatoes in wok with hot oil. stir fry briefly.

Pour in 1 1/2 bowls fo water. bring to boil over high heat. Pour in beaten eggs slowly while stirring constantly with a laddle.

When the soup begins to boil, add salt and sprinkle spring onion.

To serve.

koko black

This is a lovely traditional Belgium hot chocolate. I love hot chocolate and my baby loves chocolate too.

koko black is a famous chocolate house in Melbourne. It is a franchise shop. we went to the house on 28 dec (sun) in Camberwell.

Look, this is a fantastic Santa chocolate.

we have been out for dinner and shopping often lately. Every now and then Chelsea would ask both of us or anyone of us ' where are we going?' and 'where are we going next? ' where are we going after dinner.' or ' are we going to shopping ? are we going to restaurant?

and I replied her' ask daddy where are we going' but
she said to me :' you say, I ask you not daddy, you say where are we going.?'

oops...!!! ' is this an order to me? oh..my little girl.

Chelsea, Tze Rou (2)

27 dec. we had a lovely picnic at Silvan Reservior Park, Wantin.

My little girl got to know this girl at the park.

Look they were chasing after a Parrot. she said: Look, there is a parrot up there.!' Both of them then had brush painting.

we then drove in to Lavender farm.

Lately, she told me ' mum be patience'.

whenever I run out of patience she would say so.

'Mum, it was an accident sorry '

when she accidently did something hurt me.

I am a good mum but I do not think I am a perfect mum, I felt bad when I run out of patience with her and started yelling at her. Because of that I taught her 'girl, if mum do that again, can you please remind me be patience. And tell me it was an accident if you did not mean to hurt me'

she does learn.

'Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.'

Psalm 37:4