When you see something like that in the local supermarket, you kinda know or is reminded what is coming up next.  Yes – tomorrow is Canada’s day .. and yes.. we are open for business .. as per usual.  The summer months are usually quite busy for us at the store.. and there is really no way.. the “ang moh” nor I can spare time off to be honest.  But if we can’t go for a break in the summer.. there is really no good weather .. to try and go either.  So money gotta earn.. but I gotta go take a break too.  But just not on Canada’s Day .. or Seafest.

Cakes like these are dirt cheap in Canada – for less than $7 .. you can get a huge cake.  No wonder .. one can put on weight really fast eh.  In my 10 yrs in Canada.. i doubt i have eaten a total of 1 full cake if added together.  I’m just not into very sweet stuff.   And now that my blood sugar is so high.. lagi lah.. cannot touch totally.. plus i only like cheese cakes.  So if i wanted to indulge.. i rather eat my cheese cake.  Afterall, my motto is .. i never waste my calories .. on bad food or any kinda food not worth eating.

Wats New Today ?

Joey from Japan sent another box of goodies for Chloe last week, I haven’t had the chance to take a picture of all the stuff.. because Chloe was sick last week .. and we had a really hectic week.  But we made 2 videos .. the day we got the box of goodies.. with pocky of strawberries and chocolates in them.. and hello kitty lunch boxes and fork and spoons and hair band and pouch from hello kitty too.  Chloe was thrilled .. and even when she was ill she was excited.

This video was short .. because she was having a temperature already that day.  But we cannot thank Aunty Joey enough for her generousity and her thoughtfulness.  Chloe is darn lucky to have a aunt all the way from Japan.  Thank you .. Joey..!

So i’ve been eating healthy.. not because of my weight .. but because of my blood sugar level sky-rocketing way high .. beyond even my imagine.   But truly .. i donch mind the healthy stuff..  but for those who have eaten yogurt .. i’m sure.. that you know .. by the end of the tub.. it feels funny.. and taste even wierder .. but what to do right..??  one has gotta eat .. what is required.. to get healthy.   Any yogurt lovers around..??

Mr Zhu’s wife – Yen is such a sweetheart.. and quickly ran out from her restaurant to give me this papaya dessert .. a few weeks ago.  As you all know I’m diabetic.. so i had to eat them sparingly.  But the papaya were soft..and the syrup wasn’t too sweet.. just nice.. and it really reminded me of home.  The papaya’s color were awesome donch you think.  Bless her kind heart..!!

If there was anything healthy that Chloe loves best, it had to be organic peas from her Grampie’s garden.  She can’t get enough of it.. and she turns silly when she sees them.  After her school concert yesterday, her grampie had picked his first bag of peas .. this season.. and you should have seen the joy on her face.  Yes.. !  she was so happy.. and sunk her teeth into it immediately.

By the time we got home, she managed to bargain her way .. to let us have it for snack and she quickly sat on the floor and finished it up.  But you can’t really blame her.. coz’ her grampie’s pea are really the best.. and the sweetest.  Chloe wouldn’t eat cooked peas.. only those from her Grampie’s garden.  This year.. we’ll probably get her to pick them up herself…. muahahahha!!!

Chloe doesn’t hug her grampie enough.. but for peas.. she would do just about anything.. muahahahhaha!!!  For those who are around Nova Scotia.. drop by.. and pick your own peas.. and eat them on the spot.

Kung Fu Chefs – The Movie

In different parts of Canada.. you can actually get different kinda food.. but not very much here in my small town.  I wanted to try this for a long time.. this is Mexican Calzone .. but I donch like a lot of pastries and the “ang moh” and lil’ brat donch like spicy stuff ..  so i am gonna end up eating all of it myself.. and you know i can’t eat everything .. because I’m DIABETIC..!!!!!  what a bummer eh.. and i hate to waste food.  So what would you do if you were i..??

Dear Mr Zhu was so accommodating when i asked for a plate of “yau choi” .. because of my health issue, bless his kind heart.   I love vegies.. as you all know.. and if i could.. i would eat it everyday .. and every meal.  But for some reason.. whenever i take a lot of vegies.. i feel so bloated.. and uncomfy.  So although the vegies were great.. and my blood sugar went down.. it certainly didn’t make me feel overall good.

Father’s Day was a few days ago.. and the “ang moh” chose to eat at Jungle Jims.  Did we tell you we love Jungle Jim’s..??  yes.. ! the food is decent.. the ppl are awesome.. and no pressure at all.  We usually eat .. when the rest of the world is done with their lunch.

And I thought it would be nice to take a picture of father and daughter to remember this day by.. but as you can see..  the big one is a joker.. and the little one is a copy cat.

I had something healthy.. since i was watching my blood sugar.. tortilla chicken wrap with ceasar salad.. and dressing on the side.  I didn’t finished the tortillas .. had only 3 of them.  Finished the salad with a few drops of dressing.

Chloe had monkey fingers and fries.. and of course she finished the fries.. and not the monkey fingers.. which is actually chicken.

The ang moh had the fish, chicken wings, onion rings and fries combo.  As you can see he didn’t finished everything.. and not even the wings.. only the fish and the onion rings.  And look at the amount of BBQ sauce they had given him.  It was a good meal.. the brat even had a sundae with M & Ms.  And we love the owner.. who even ran out to return our towel that chloe left behind.

Maria’s Kitchen – 14/06/09

The Ultimatum

For those who are not aware of this.. i’m fighting to keep my blood sugar down since last week Thursday.  Apparently, it had shot sky high .. and i need to be on full dosage of medication – which is pretty ironic because a year ago, my family doctor didn’t wanna give me medication .. for it.. and wanted me to control my diabetes with a strict diet.  So of course, i panic lah.. but fish is said to be good.. and because no one at home eats fish.. except me..  i have to consider the cost of just feeding me alone.

Truth be told.. i can eat fish everyday.. and i like baking them.  It’s pretty awesome..!!  but fish is darn ex here.. luckily the “ang mohs” father loves fishing.. i may have to resort to getting him to fish those fish for me.. muahhahahahaha!!! but not all fishes can be eaten.. and those caught needs to be cleaned and eaten immediately or frozen immediately.  But since we don’t go and visit so often now..  i can’t get good fishes from him.  I miss my “ang kor Li”  .. what about you ..??

Well, I’m finally done working on the webpage for Mr Zhu and his wife.  So you know why i had been so busy.  Do check out this new site.. and let me know what you think : www.newcenturyrestaurant.com.

On the same note – I have been receiving emails from folks that read this blog about working online.  Besides working on webpages like above.. i also help other bloggers with their blog hosting.   Some of you asked if it is a scam about some stuff you read online, so here is my take on it.

When I make money online, I am never asked to pay upfront for any fees.  What i paid for was the domain names for my blogs and my hosting.  The domain names are at $10/yr.. and hosting can vary depending on who you are using.  But the cost would be like only $5 bucks a month at most for most ppl.

So if you want to know if the ppl you want to work for is a scam.. you will know immediately if they asked you to pay a membership fee. .or whatever fees.  For example, if you wanna go flip burgers at Macdonalds, will Macdonalds ask you to pay a membership fees..?? or an entrance fees..??  it’s the same concept.  I hope this helps those who wants to work online.

Having said all the above, I want you all to know that if you hear that you can make millions online as an amateur blogger .. than you are mistaken.  Making money online takes time, effort and a lot of reading and trying out stuff.  Of course, if you are a pro blogger like John Chow – that’s another story.  Unfortunately, I am not in that league.  For those who wants to know how much one can make – I would say .. i make a comfortable amount .. but nothing that will make me rich.. nor can i not work at our stores for the rest of my life.  Working online certainly helped a lot in saving for rainy days and getting our bills paid but it does not pay for everything – it’s a supplement for me and a saving fund for my daughter’s future.  Am I a pro blogger..?? definitely not.. i’m just a little crazy woman.. who misses home. .and trying to look out for my daughter’s future.   Has it made me happier ..??  definitely !!!  i feel a lot more useful than just being an owner by association to my spouse’s businesses and most importantly, I have met good ppl who became friends online, they are a tremendous blessing to me.  Blogging is not only about money, working online is not only about money, it is about friendship – the invaluable and priceless warmth i feel from so many of you who visits my blog everyday.

I was in the mood for something simple.. so i called dear Mr Zhu up for some fried rice.. and foo yong eggs.  But i wanted something simple.. no prawns.. as offered by Mr Zhu in the eggs.. just plain mushrooms.  This is by far the best fried rice that Mr Zhu cooked.. and i definitely ate all of it.. but the eggs had some char siew in it too.  Awesome!!  Thanks.. Mr Zhu..!!  and he didn’t take my money again.. for the fried rice..  so embarrassing lah.

This is Jessica, Mr Zhu’s daughter.. playing at our store.. she is so smart.. and so cute right..??

A Bride For A Ride (New TVB Show – 13 July 2009

You can imagine how happy i was to see not too bad looking rambutan .. at the local supermarket.  Quickly i picked up 4 of it.. and went to pay for it at the cashier counter.  You guess how much it was .. for 4 miserable looking rambutans..???  ALMOST $4.00!!!!  OH MY GOD..!!!  daylight robbery right..??  i went back to the box and took another look at the price.. and found that it was for $9.99/lb .. !!!! more expensive than buying lobsters..!!!  lobsters are only at $5.39/lb.  Yes..!!! i put them back.. and didn’t buy it.  I haven’t had rambutan since i came to Canada.. besides the canned ones.. i get in the city..  but at $1.00 a piece.. it’s crazy..!!  if it was durian of course .. i wouldn’t mind.. but RAMBUTANS..??!!!??  i get them from our garden at home.. and we plucked them off the tree.. when we were kids.  Would you pay a buck a piece for a rambutan..??

Dear Lina, sent this like a month ago.. so that i can drool over it.  Did i tell you i used to work for the Mandarin Group of Hotels..??  Mandarin Hotel hor.. got quite a stylo malo accounting system one.. if you are management staff, you can sign for your food .. and they take it off your pay.  It’s like a credit card at the Mandarin .. and Management staff eats at 50% discount.  So why go elsewhere to eat right..??

Lina said :

We had this last night for dinner. Make u ‘lou hou shui’ or not? Chatterbox is one of my long time hangout restaurant since i was 7 yrs old. My dad used to bring me there for their Chix Rice. Now, after 36 yrs, i’m still there for it with my family. Time really flies, whenever we dine there, it’ll definitely reminds me of my dad. I missed him so much! He passed away 11 yrs ago.

Above is the famous Chicken Rice from the Mandarin Hotel.  The chicken is cold.. therefore, I still prefer the ones from Loy Kee or even those from the soup restaurant. But having said that.. the Nasi Lemak at the Mandarin is “mo tak ting”.

I craved for Nasi Lemak.. but fear of eating so much coconut in my rice.. so i never attempted to make them.. but Charmaine did sent some Sambal for Nasi Lemak to me .. all the way from Australia.. so i must try to make some eh.

The coconut ice cream must be yummy..!! i do love coconut.. but eat very little of it due to health reason.  Getting old.. those cellulites hor.. donch wanna go.. muahahha!!

One of the things i missed most from Margaret Drive Hawker Center on the corner of the 2nd floor is the Gyoza there.  Dipped them in vinegar and lots of ginger.. this store i never fail to go … whenever i get home from a trip.. and to meet up with some old friends.  The person who brought me there first was my sister – I think she was staying somewhere near Tanglin with her then boyfriend.   When i grew older, I visit with my girlfriends.. and boyfriends.  Most thinks I’m a bit crazy for wanting to eat in a hawker center instead of the Westin at Pregos .. but when you traveled as much as I did .. all you want is some good old hawker food.. cheap and good.  We have this here frozen.. but because I don’t wanna eat so much old.. so it turned out this way.  It wasn’t the best.. the vinegar here is different from the ones we have back home.. so i used the sauce they gave .. with some sambal oelek.  A pretty good snack .. if i may say so myself.

Hey.. Michele,

Thank You for sharing about yourself.  We have another American born chinese here..    woohoo..!!! It is good not to eat too much meat..    Traveling is also my favorite.. no books or any kind education is better than traveling.  I love sushi too.. but not chocolate though. I’m so happy to hear that you are fluent in Cantonese.. because most ABC don’t know a word of chinese.. or cantonese.. hhaha!!!

mb

1. I am an American-born Chinese.
2. I am a total foodie. I love food and am constantly thinking about or drooling over food.
3. I also am quite a picky eater at the same time. There are many things I don’t like to eat but will eat under certain circumstances.
4. I love traveling. I hope to go to all 7 or least 6 continents.
5. I like reading and watching chick flicks.
6. I’m a girly girl.
7. I can be very shy at times but talkative at other times. It depends on the circumstances.
8. I am very fluent in Cantonese.
9. I can read a little Chinese due to taking some classes.
10. I love watching HK dramas.
11. I get easily star struck. I remember a couple times where I ran into a couple movie stars and wanted to follow them but was scared at the same time.
12. I prefer summer over winter.
13. Sushi is one of my favorite foods.
14. Chocolate is another one of my best friends.
15. Ice skating is one of my favorite activities.
16. Bottled chocolate milk from HK is my all time favorite drinks. However, they no longer sell it.
17. I love shopping.
18. Shoes and purses are what I adore the most!
19. I love being busy with activities during the weekends.
20. I wish there was a transporter that would transport me anywhere I wanted without having to spend so many hours on a plane.
21. I love spending time with friends.
22. The most simple things can make me happy. For instance, if I see something I like at the store, it’ll get me really excited even if I don’t buy it. I usually work on buying it in the end though.
23. I wish I truly knew what field I truly exceled in and would enjoy doing. It’s such a maze and difficult process.
24. Sometimes I wish I can turn back time.
25. I used to be more of a meat eater but as I get older, I learn to eat more veggies and like them. Meat is not as much of a necessity as it was before.

As you all know.. i’ve been having a lot of soup of late.  Mr Zhu from the Chinese restaurant had been feeding me well.  Last week Staurday .. it was pear soup (Swit Leah) .. it was very sweet.. and i was instantly relief of my sore throat.  Swit Leah is said to be cooling.. with all the good effects on your body.  We Chinese believe so strongly on home-made soup.. double boiled better still.. and i so missed those days.. that I can buy all sorts of ingredients.. from our local chinese medicine shop.  Like i tell everyone back home.. had i continued living in Singapore.. i would definitely need diet pill because there are just too many good food back home.   I especially missed the Soup Restaurant.. and their Samsui Chicken – i know Lina would agree with me… on that.  I eat their every other day. .when i was home.

M, who lived in the other side of Canada.. had sent me some awesome home food.. quite a few months ago.. i think it was during Christmas.  So when we heard that her kid loves Harry Potter, the ang moh quickly went to get copies of Harry Porter .. that we have on the shelves.  You see .. we own our own video store.. you know right..???  Chloe was very pleased too.. so she made a short video for Aunty M and W.

The Year Of Jacky Cheung World Tour 07 : Hong Kong

I used to love the mamak store.. and once every other week or so.. asked the zhe char store to cook Assam Fish Head for me.  It’s is a good source of everything in it.. with vegies.. and fish.. and something sour and spicy – i love it.   But of course, for the last 9 yrs .. since arriving in Canada.. I haven’t had any till a week ago.

First off.. donch know how to cook without “ang kor li” lah. Down here.. no “ang kor li” ok..   got haddock, got cod fish, got salmon .. and got some other kind of fish – but most importantly .. don’t have the paste to cook assam fish.  Barbara sent some.. like 6 months ago.. and there is another sent by Charmaine in December.  So i finally braved up.. and bought salmon (darn expensive !!! )   and cooked it.  It was awesome lah..!!!!

Now that i’ve cooked it once.. i can’t wait to try it with more fish and ladies fingers.  Yummy .. yummy..!! thanks.. Barb.

This was meant for Chloe’s Kor Kor Gerald.. who had an operation .. on the wrist.  Sorry I took so long.. Kai Mah.. darn busy lah.  We hope this warms Kor Kor Gerald’s heart too and Kai Mah too lah.