Time to turn "stressed" to "desserts" again

Finally got down to more baking after many busy days, nights, fights and frights. Will try to put all the unpleasant ones events behind, afterall, they are only work.

My colleagues in my ex-co will know their fate next Tuesday, whether they are 'safe' or will be 'eliminated'. Yes, it's another round of reduction and another painful wait just to find out the final decisions. Whatever the outcome, I' hope eveything will be alright!

First the bread machine, and now, my blender also broke down. The durian pulp meant for durian smoothie desserts turned into durian muffins instead. I think I've improved, and my latest batch of 18 turned out yummier, and the bottoms un-burned.

Yummy Durian Muffins

What a big turnoff.... indeed

To mark Earth Hour today, it has been reported that a lot of people and estabishments intend to participate and do their part and will swtich off their lights for one hour tomorrow, at 8:30pm (local time). What a noble thing to do! It would certainly make a huge difference to enable a brighter furture. But what I don't get it is some indicate they will switch off "unnecessary lightings" and the such. Hmmm, if they are unnecessary in the first place, why not swtiched it off permanently??!!

Another turnoff - the bread machine, is half-dead. It tripped my mains once it started the bake cycle, just like the last time. Looks like it has decided to observe the Earth Hour too, and switched itself off with about slightly an hour more to go. Guess I could only use it to knead from now on.

Although the bread machine did it's part, I've to pop my loaf inside the oven. (Hey, it is necessary) My sweet loaf ended up pretty hard and holely on top as I've set the temperature too high initially. Luckily the burnt rasins on top could be removed easily; but I should have taken a picture or two of blacken rasins sticking out. It looked kind of unqiue, and definitely one-of-a-kind. Overall, quite edible, but I do not expect any takers, even my little one who doesn't mind rasin buns.

Guess I will not attempt another bread until I visit SisC.

Sweet Mixed Fruits "Loaf"

Girls gotta have fund

It was International Women's Day yesterday and the newspaper article reminded girls ought to take control and plan for themselves. Very timely reminder, I thought. Surely, we have to ensure we are self sufficient, and have enough to fend for ourselves when we are "not young" and alone as we will most likely out-lived our partners. There should be absolutely no guilt to safekeep our own money, and better still, if "what's his is mine, and what's mine is mine" applies. :D

There's a potluck party to celebrate OUR day, and my mum prepared her highly-acclaimed dish. Something that my sisters and colleagues wanted so much to learn...

Mum's Abacus
Hey, yet another reminder for us to be 'calculative' and have money for us to count?

11:11 phenomenon

When I glanced at the clock, it reads "11:11". Whenever I see this timing, I remembered what an ex-colleague once shared pretty long time ago - that it is more than chance or coincidence. It's a sign... a wake-up call... To some, the numbers showed up everywhere. It didn't have a powerful effect on me, but for those who sighted it often, I hoped it brought them good luck!!

Hot Dog Puffs
Made two, for sons, but their dad took one without permission.

Luckily SonZ is happy with the sardine puffs.

Strawberry and Mango Yogurt
The unsweetened yogurt goes well with fresh strawberries and mangoes

Damned if you do - or don't

Yup, I saw this header in yesterday's Sunday Times... it caught my attention alright, and I was so automatically drawn to it as it resonant so well with what I'm doing for a living now. Folks who knew what I'm doing could easily identify with what I'm talking about. I didn't finish the article though, found it kind of dry, but had a good laugh at 'bracing for a bumpy ride" where the writer tried but was unsuccessful in his appeal to waive a traffic offence. I recently knew of someone who did just that, and was successful. It sure needs some great story-telling skills, and with apprporiately amplification of a few 'facts' to one's advantage to win some sympathy from the officers in blue, it is something that is achievable.

Ice Jelly with Fruit Cocktail and Lime Juice

What could be better than a nice cool ice jelly to forget those damned tasks in such damp weather? Anyone care to have some too? Futhermore, with all the stressed, is a good way to reverse it with desserts!! :D

First deserving pat on my back

I was stressed out the whole of last week!! Supposed to implement a new, replacement service in a week's time at work but it simply is not ready to face the world. Finally good news towards the end of last week - with some plans changed, the service don't have to die-die go-live despite all the undesirable issues and possible flaws if it's launched. But that only means I've burdened myself with more work to come out with an interim process, but I think it's the right thing to do.

So, I managed to put some office work aside, instead of a totally burnt weekend - and oh I'm glad. I've always wanted to challenge myself to prepare my favourite black pepper crab - and I DID, well, with flying colours! (*pat). And not just only that, I also single-handedly prepared baked rice for SonZ who is not at all keen to try the crab (but wanted soft-shell crab instead), and sardine puffs.

Restaurant-standard Black Pepper Crabs (serious!)
SonS, despite the spiciness, and continuously drowning himself with water, kept asking for more.

Oh, who would imagine this day I could actually whipped a crab dish so nice!!

Sardine Puffs (nice too!)
Half of what I've prepared end up in SonZ's stomach before it is officially served!

Well, after the nice dinner came the not so nice part. With no helpers, both SO and me have to washed up. *sigh*

Credits:
Sardine Puffs - SitiZ
Photo Effects - FunBoxPhoto shared by HHB

When are you going to bake lasagna?

SonZ had been pestering and pressurizing me to bake lasagna for many weeks already. I finally had to stop preparing my presentation materials todayh to bake it for dinner, although the master chef had returned. I cheated by using prepared pasta sauce and dry lasagna sheets, added minced meat, button mushrooms, cheese slices, ham and Mozzarella cheese.

Overly-baked cheese and Overly-red Lasagna
BTW, it didn't taste as bad as it looks!

Pardon me, I don't even know that lasagna is the fat, orange cat's favourite food. When I was looking high and low for lasange sheets at the supermarket, the aunty at the supermarket asked if I'm looking for Garfiield's favourite food? Even SonS could let me know what Garfield's favourite food is. Hmmm, why I never knew?

The after-meal durian milk shake is yummy-delicious. So good, there's not time for picture taking.