Christmas come early?  hehe!  no silly – it’s just me doing my christmas gift preview because if you know me – you will know what a procrastinator i can be and get – ask Lina – if you don’t believe me – our maple syrup is still here in Canada and not sent.  So whenever I see some good offers – I will think ahead of what gifts to send for friends and relatives from away.

This year – I’ve decided to start early – looking out for gifts for different people who are important to our family.  You see – these people touched our life so much because of all their unconditional love and giving.  If you have been following this blog – you will know how much gifts we received from people from all over the world.  From Australia to Netherlands – USA as well and all over Asia – even the postman/post master would tell us how loved we are.  Yes we are very blessed, therefore – it is also time to give back – and snacks like the above – is always a welcome gift for the entire family during Christmas – healthy and enjoyable – what do you think?

Guess where I had lunch a few weeks ago – yes, yes..! i’m back logged .. and you know the reason why.  Busy business and lots of work online.  But anyhow – I took pictures to show you what a lovely meal i had.  This was take out – and it only took 15mins for us to pick up our food – super fast and super efficient – the staff were .  They were ready – even before PB came back from picking up some   best prenatal multivitamin for his buddy’s wife.  Why?  our store near the pharmacy mah!

Remember the last time – we went for a sit down on a Sunday – and they didn’t have Tabasco sauce – therefore i didn’t order Spaghetti ?  yes – i’m horrid in that sense – need the burning sensation.  But yes I ordered a Spaghetti Supreme.  What is a Spaghetti supreme..??  It’s oven-baked spaghetti with meat sauce, mushrooms, Italian meatballs and our signature cheese blend.  Yummy or not..??

I ordered a side salad – a Caesar to go with my meal of course and it’s sinful – but absolutely hit the spot.   The side salad was only $2.99 and they did come with a piece of garlic bread – but i prefer the ones from Jessy’s – rich !   The meal cost less than 15 bucks and chloe and I had the ghettis and there were leftovers for another meal – so definitely value for money – huge portion of food and really quick too.

Yums!!

Yes – I know i’m a bit back log on the food that I’ve eaten of late – and this was bought and eaten as a take-out last month 3 weeks ago – to be exact.  As usual – this is from a local place in town – and we were the last one to get the last plate – lucky us – we caught the today’s special just in time.  I didn’t know what a Chicken Shishtawook wrap and Tabouli was – but it sounded interesting and we wanted to try it – this time we didn’t call to ask what the special was – we just called if there was any left – I believed, after all – it was a Cyber Monday for us at our store – and it was extremely busy – we didn’t get lunch till late – late.

So how was the food?  pretty good – but i was expecting a wrap – since it said that it was a chicken shishtawook wrap – but it didn’t deter us – when we saw what it was like.  Chicken and potatoes – and a kinda green salad.  I told PB – it tasted like grass LOL – but it was still good though – i like the tomatoes in it and i did finished it all – afterall – all healthy stuff – does taste different right.   It was a filling lunch – $7.95 – both PB and I had it and didn’t need to even finish up our chicken pita that we had bought to share – plus like i said we were very busy that day.

Anyhow – there will be no more Lebanese food to review – from this cafe anymore – not that the food isn’t good nor is it not value for money – but because they lost me as their customer.  Why????  that’s another story for another day.

So Mr R was up in the city and so generously offered to go pick up some Chinese food from the Asian Grocery store for us at Queen Street.  We ordered a box of food and miscellaneous and we had fish cake with Wanton noodles.  I haven’t had wanton noodles for a few months now – so it was really good.  Chloe loves it but she had hers with chicken – because she refuses to eat fish cake therefore I have to go to www.supplementreviews.org to read all about the stuff i have to give to chloe for an alternative.

Chloe is so fussy with her food – it really makes it hard for me to cook anything for her – so i try to slip in the good stuff for her – even though it’s little..  i feel it is better than none.  She loves her wanton noodles and luncheon meat though – you can offer it to her everyday .. and she will have no problems with it.

Chloe loves her “chinese” noodles but in fact they are instant noodles what we normally called “gong jia mein”.  She would eat it everyday and for every meal if i allowed it.  She would beg and beg and beg for it – and as you all know – chloe had been sick for quite a bit.  She would be well for 1 day .. and then the cold would come back again.   I strongly suspect it was because she haven’t been eating well, since she wants her “Chinese” noodles so much.

As parents we want the best for our kids, like getting them  allergy bedding so she can sleep well if she have sensitive skin.  So we got “kai mah” to tell her that “chinese” noodles is not good for her .. and it might be the cause that she is sick so often.  In which – chloe replied that maybe, we could have a yard sale for the “chinese” noodles  .. muahahah!!  I guess she knows – mama is a yardsale junkie.   But she had been good.. and haven’t asked for “chinese” noodles for a few days now.  And yes, I encouraged her to help me in the kitchen all the time – even though they are small tasks  like getting ketchup and oyster sauce, I still wanna teach her.

We haven’t been to Quiznos for a long, long time.  When they first opened we had gone in to try it – but we found that Subway had better value for the money.  But since we wanted something different on a Sunday afternoon for a quick lunch – we decided to stop by Quiznos.  The wait staff were nice but they had absolutely no upselling skills nor do we feel welcome at all when ordering.  Don’t get me wrong – they did their job – but you just can’t feel the warmth at all.  As for the food – well, one would need  bodybuilding supplements if we had to eat here regularly.

For a meal of 2 – we paid like $13 – 2 sandwiches and a soup and 2 drinks.  Pretty ex in my humble opinion.  Apparently, they also changed the names of their sandwiches – and named them bullets and flats.  I had the flats with roast beef and the “ang moh” had turkey in it.  The sandwiches were open faced and were so awkward to eat.  As soon as we tried to fold it up.. everything just fell out.

Chloe had a huge cookie that she can’t finished – no wonder the Canadians are obese – blame it on fast food chain like this.   There is an only one size cookie and if someone paid for it – they wouldn’t wanna waste their money – so they stuffed their faces.

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This morning while preparing to go back to the store, I thought to myself, i would very much like to go back to work.  Yes, we own our own business.. but helping the “ang moh” is different from going out and earning someone else’s money.  As much as I would love to go out and interact with some “normal” people and having an objective in sales target and so forth..  i once again thought about who is gonna take care of Chloe.  And having not work in a regular and demanding job for the last 10 yrs.. i’m actually wondering if I’m equipped to go back to the workforce.  I also figured that I should do some upgrades now..  like  look into some online degree programs that way i still can be there for Chloe when she is back from school or  be home to put her to bed on time without having to go to school physically.

By opting to go for an online university , I don’t have to worry that I’m leaving Chloe on her own while she is still so young yet I can prepare myself to enter the workforce with an extra degree that my future employer will value.   Doing my degree online also allows me the flexibility to plan my time accordingly and fit them around Chloe’s many activities and those of the store’s.   I love the fact that tuition on these online courses are affordable  because you and I know that raising a kid is not cheap and cost effectiveness is one thing I learn from being a mom.  Moms  like me raring to going back to the workforce can make their dreams come true now, but discipline and having strong family support as well as a reputable school is important.  What is your take on upgrading oneself..?

As a diabetic, I’m always on a look out for food or desserts that will fit my diet.  I never thought that being a diabetic was hard because if one can eat moderately and take your proper medication .. i would think it can be controlled.  But I know i have to work on my exercising – i blame it on the darn cold weather here .. but truth be told.. that should not even be the excuse. afterall, exercising can clear acne too.  Anyhow, coming back to this awesome dessert that i found for all diabetics out there.  The local grocery store carries this.. and i found it by fluke.  It has no sugar added and is sweetened by a sugar alternative – splenda – therefore if you eat them reasonably..  not the whole pie.. of course..!  it should be quite alright.  It tasted really good too.. and you won’t know the difference.  So if you feel you need a dessert, you can try looking out for this diabetic apple pie.  And this is not an advertisement ok..!! hahhahaha!!!  just wanted to share my finding with all those who has diabetes.. and those who wants to stay healthy.

Saturday came and went.. and we’ve been without a babysitter for 2 weeks now.. time for a myrtle beach vacations I thought to myself.  Feeling like a vacation .. and a wee bit nostalgia about the long weekend.. whereby if we didn’t own our own business… and back home in Asia.. we would have fly out to our neighbouring countries .. for a short break.

Lucky for me.. I have to Zhu’s to take care of me..  I had planned to order my wanton soup and an egg roll .. but instead .. Mr Zhu offered me some Century Egg and Pork congee.  2 bowls were given to me.. and guess what..?? greedy me.. sapu all at once.  Well, it was afterall, lunch time.  The ang moh ordered 5 chicken balls.. and the Zhu’s only charged him $2 for it.  *slap forehead* .. see lah.. how not to repay them for their generousity.

It is only in the West that I find one can get pies this cheap.  $0.88 for a frozen chocolate pie is a deal that no Canadian can resist.  Even if they are not so good, it’s alright.. !! for $0.88 cents.. how can you NOT buy it – i guessed that was the mentality that “ang moh” had when he bought the pie.  No prizes for guessing how much i ate from this pie.  As for electronics..  like cellular phones well, I cannot say they come as cheap as they do in Asia.  The pie was pretty good.. cannot complain lah..  for $0.88 cents.

Plastic City (2009)

Divine Retribution – ATV

Asian Million Star – ATV

Ice Age 3 – Movie

Red Thread Ep 1 – 5

Like many of you .. I’m always busy but that does not stop me from pursuing an interest like my dear friend – who went for an online Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership .  I am inspired by her because she like myself is a busy mother who works full time and plays full time.  There is never a moment where it is left for idle, unlike most people that I know here – who make every excuse just not to do anything but stand outside a coffee shop and chat, smoke and more chatting.  Such a shame but I’m entirely different, I can’t wait to pursue my dreams.. and now that Chloe is older, I’m looking forward to sharpening my skills in web-designing.  The local college does have a course here .. but if i took an online course – that is from a reputable online university and its papers are recognised for future references, that would be the way to go for me.  Why..??   because we own our own business and we have a kid to watch full time, it makes it more feasible to do an online course instead of having to physically go to school at a restricted time with timetable.  For people who are discipline and focus like myself, and knows what they are getting into – online studies are really a good thing – but like everything i do and advise my friends – looking into every aspect of what you are getting into is very important.  So if you don’t see me updating as much, you will understand that I’ve found a course that I am happy in doing.  Wish me luck eh !

Shirley from Malaysia sent this like in May.  I did not forget .. Shirley.. and this is what she wrote.  Really yummy looking right..?? i love these..    I hear they are good .. even for diabetics.  Thank you for sharing Shirley.. and for those.. who wants the secret password.. you should send in your food pictures.. and share 25 random things of yourself..

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.

Sad to say, we don’t own a sugar bowl.  Why..??  because we rarely use sugar in our food or drinks.  A packet of sugar weighing 2kg can last us for 3 years or even more.  For my cooking, i use very little sugar and baking i am not very good at it, so we usually end up with a ready mix.  Even then… i rarely want something with lots of sugar.  As a matter of fact, I don’t like to see “ang moh” eating sugar either. But every home has have to have a sugar bowl, so i figured it is time to look for one.  I found the above at $69 .. and am in love with it.   I bet the sugar in there .. can last me about 10 yrs.. muahahhah!!!

This charming sugar bowl makes for a happy little addition to the home. Stores sugar or, should you wish, spices, herbs, etc. Set comes with a plastic spoon that fits neatly under the lid. The gorgeous cedar wood is fastened together with carefully chosen slices of sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) bark. You’ll absolutely love this artistic and practical piece.

Product details

• completely hand-crafted from Akita located in northern Japan
• diameter: 9.5cm (3.7″) ; height: 6.5cm (2.5″)
• lightweight, yet remarkably strong – made to last for years.
• hand-wash with warm water and soap and store in a dry cool place
• do not microwave

Magewappa is a marvelous 400-year old traditional craft that originated in Odate City in Japan’s northern Akita prefecture. It is painstakingly created by thinly shaving perfectly straight-grain cedar wood, specially planted on the eastern side of the Shirakami Mountains, a present-day World Heritage Natural Resource site. This complex procedure involves boiling the shavings, and repeatedly bending and fastening them together by hand with carefully chosen slices of sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) bark. Only cedar wood that is 100 years old or more can endure this demanding process.

A finished Magewappa creation is remarkably lightweight and bears a naturally faint aroma that magnificently compliments Japanese food and drink – especially sushi and sake. Sushi-bachi plates are further treated with a gorgeous red lacquer to aid preservation and presentation. A true feast for the eyes and a sure conversation-starter when entertaining friends and guests.

Hooked On You (Canto Movie)

Wats New Today ?!?

Anyone had crab porridge before..?? if you haven’t you have to try it.  It’s awesome..!! i donch know how Mr Choo from the chinese restaurant cooked it.. but it didn’t have any fishy smell to it at all.  But there were bits of ginger in it too.   I have been eating crab so much lately, guess who is gonna need some acne treatments soon.

But how does one refuse food from home.. when you don’t get food from home at all here.  So if someone offers to cook it for you .. and free at that.. you never refuse right..??  So even if it is too heaty or “poisonous” .. as the chinese say crabs are..  you just eat it.. and die later kinda attitude right..?? muahahahha!!

A hole crab leg .. for a bowl of porridge.  Although messy .. and i normally won’t eat them at home.. Asia.. i didn’t feel that messy eating it here.. because beggars cannot be choosers lah.

Plus he gave me the rest of the crab that didn’t go into the porridge/congee.  How can not like Mr Choo right..??  So what i did..?? bought some skin care .. by Botanics for his wife lah.  Cannot lah .. always take right..?? must give back too.

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A few days ago, I wrote about making some Red Bean soup..  but i didn’t have the right orange.  I asked everyone to guess what i used instead.. and some really had some great guesses.  Others took the opportunity to ask me for some links *slap forehead* but this is what i did.  Made orange zest outta the orange.. and the red bean soup tasted really good still.  Not as good.. as i would have expected.. but it wasn’t bad.

See the oranges floating on top.. yup.. those were the zest i put in.  I told you .. migration makes one really smart.. muahahhaha!!!

Home Sweet Home 1 with Jacky Cheung

Saw V – let the games begin.

While watching Rosy Business Ep 5, i figured i should try and make some Hum Choy Tofu soup.  As you all know.. I am still in the learning process of cooking… and even soup.. i have to learn from scratch.. because i never used to cook.  I figured this time.. i should use tomatoes in my hum choy tofu soup… even though i donch quite like tomatoes in my soup.  But let you in on a big secret..!!!!  it makes so much difference.. from the previous time.. and i also added in a few pieces of ginger.. coz’ i remembered .. my mom used to say .. that she didn’t like cooking this soup.. because it causes lots of wind… and not good for the women folks.  And nope.. i didn’t taste any ginger in it.. because the tomatoes.. and the hum choy overtook the taste.  Very simple to make .. and anyone wants the recipe to it.. let me know.  In the meantime, I’m gonna continue watching Rosy Business.  Have you watched it yet.

PS :  And yes.. i’ve watched Man In Charge Ep 20 (Final) a few days ago.. ok.  So donch ask me about the ending again.. i won’t write the synopsis .. until everyone already watched it.. otherwise, spoiler lah.

kitchen tip: my friend gave me the best tip, buy a small hand held vacuum cleaner to clean up little messes! so handy!! – contributed by Amy.  thank you amy!

Here’s a good cooking tip I got from a work colleague. But you may know this already. Use lemon juice when making fruit salads (especially with bananas and apples). It stops them decaying fast. – Contributed by Mei – thank you Mei! (Waiting for pictures .. Mei)

random tip I read somewhere: if you put a whole raw potato in a stew or soup that you had over-salt, it will absorb some of the salt. – Kaylee

Hey mama bok, if you don’t have lemon juice, you can also use some orange juice. The magic is in the acidity of the juice! The acidity will stop enzyme activity and halt the browning process… so even a little of vinegar will work too!! =) – Laura

Instead of using baking soda to get rid of smells in the fridge, charcoal serves the same purpose too? Just put small pieces in a container and leave it in the fridge, guaranteed to get rid of those “odors”. – Alice

Really critical tip to use the citrus juice to keep the apples & bananas white! best,  – s. stockwell

another good tip is to use passionfruit pulp on fruit salad to stop the apples from browning and cut lemons in half and place in fridge to absorb odours… and just incase u get oil on ur clothes from cooking, soak with white vinegar and then wash normally, the stains should fade if not disappear altogether. – KK

I learned this trick from my friend. If you spilled oil on the floor, use flour to adsorb it and wait for a while. Then you sweep it up and pour salt onto the floor. I think this trick is alrite. I didn’t like how the floor was so salty n then u gotta sweep again. – xbabiex

mixing salad with flavoured yogourt… a little white style but…. goood! – fiona to

I used to mix mash potatoes with sugar instead of salt.. learnt this dish from a Korean restaurant.. – SS

Whatever you are stir-frying or cooking, after seasoning and you found out that it’s really salty (which is over your own limit)  then add in about a tbsp of Shaoxing wine + a tsp of sugar… it will actually smooth the taste and smells good too… Soo Fen

You guys & gals ROCK..!!!

PS :  Keep the tips coming!

This week, I’m inviting everyone who visits my food blog here.. to share your food with me.  Feel free to email me the food you ate this week.. with pictures of course.. the more the merrier.. and email me.  I  know a lot of you are from all over the place.. so please.. join in the fun this week.. and share with everyone what you are eating.  Fun right..?? !!! ??  come on be a sport now.

PS:  If you have any kitchen tips.. you can share it with us too. I need outdoor lights in time for BBQing for the summer.. any one got any ideas..??

Taking a page from Martha Stewart this spring, if i find some ambition, i might just do this.  Give my cabinets some breathing space and de-clutter.  If I can do it, so can you..! check out the step by step method to etch your containers.  So classy yet inexpensive, in fact, i’m gonna make this a project for me and my brat this Spring.