To the Goat Year: Chinese New Year Eve

Update on **18 February 2015**

I'm really looking forward for the reunion dinner in the CNY eve. What made me happy was able gathered with my sisters. All of us were in home, not like others day we contacted each other through phone. We all away from home to continue our studies, we all together when in the younger age, now we saw each other almost 1 time or few times only within a year. How sad it was!!!

That feeling motivated me to work hard in making CNY delicacies. While I did magic in the kitchen (under Mama's supervision) directly increased our bonding and relationship. Mama sure felt lonely when 4 of her daughter not by her side. At least, I compensated her before and during CNY by chatted frequently and cooked meals for her. 

I prepared most of the cooking materials and made few dishes except roasted pork and duck, five spices meat rolls and grilled curry chicken fillet. 

The preparation and cooking process was super tiring and exhaustive for me but it turned out nice when everyone gathered in the round table together. 

 Roasted pork and ducks. Mummy said roasted pork was a common CNY delicacy. Mama bought lots of roasted pork to enjoy it after CNY. Sighhhh, I'm not the big fans of roasted pork.

 Five spices meat rolls (五香/Ngo Hiang）. It was one of the Hokkien (in Saratok or Roban and so on) CNY delicacy. Papa bought from the chinese food stalls in the market Saratok.

Grilled curry chicken fillet  

Sweet and sour pork ribs (酸甜排骨）. Rosamond's favorite dish in CNY.

Kacangma. Actually this was not the new year delicacy, but Mama insisted to cook for JoJo to satisfy her mouth and soul.  

Braised abalone with oyster sauce and chicken broth.I stole this recipe from Taiwan chef,啊基师 from Youtube video

Mixed vegetables with fish maw and sea cucumber. Rosamond and Mickey commented it lacked of vegetables (eg. cabbages, cauliflower, fresh corn) and mushrooms 

Steamed fish with garlic, mushrooms and chillies.  (年年有鱼）

Shark fin soup. This was a must in Tay's family CNY menu. Tay's family members loved it so much. 

It was the dinner for 8 people. Papa invited my uncle and aunt too 

Tay's family portrait

From left-Alex/Lex Lex (not leg leg) and Teddy first year celebrated CNY with Tay's family. They were current favorite dolls of Mickey.

Layered Salt Cheese Crackers Cake

Update on **16 February 2015**

That's was my second time to make the layered salt cheese crackers cake. All were requested by Mickey (little sister). She almost finished whole layered salt cheese crackers cake within 2 days (with Naruto too) because it was very delicious. 

Actually, I was quite worried my capability in making it. After checking the recipe from http://tw.gigacircle.com/2527759-1(suggested from Mickey), I decided to try it. 

In a nutshell, this recipe was easy. It was comprised from a layer of salt cheese crackers and a layer of mixture cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice and then chill for few hours. 

Ingredients: 

1) 2 packets of Khong Guan salt cheese crackers

2) 250g cream cheese

3) 8 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk

4) 2 tablespoons lime juices

5) 200 ml warm milk (for soaking purpose)

First of all, I beat the cream cheese, sweetened condensed milk and lime juice until fluffy. Mix well and set aside. (step 1)

Meanwhile, soaking cheese crackers in the warm milk for 20 seconds. (step 2)

Then, arrange the cheese crackers neatly (step 3)

Put on a layer of cream cheese+sweetened condensed milk+lime juice and then smooth it. (step 4)

Repeat the step 3 and 4 until the cream cheese mixture and crackers and used up. Finally, chilled in the refrigerator at least 4 hours. 

P/s: don't compare my standard level of making cheese cake with the experts. It's my learning process. 

"First-Timer" to KFC, Saratok

Update on **31 January 2015**

Yes, This was my first time stepped in and dined in KFC, Saratok which newly opened in previous year 2014.

There was only one fast food restaurant in here, Sugarbun. Just imagined any family and friends gatherings and celebrations, Sugarbun was the main option. We had no choice.

After 10 years, KFC penetrated into market Saratok. Fortunately, Papa was the main contributor of KFC arrival because he recommended the shoplot to the KFC manager (definitely Papa had to maintain and update his knowledge regarding types of available shoplots in Saratok from times to times).Until now, manager KFC looked for Papa when the KFC faced any problems such as air-conditioning not functioning, arranged the staff hostel and so on. All due to they were not familiar with the geographical surroundings and lack of network in Saratok.  
 

3 of them can't wait to enter KFC for ordering foods 

  He's my Jiu Jiu. Few years seldom met him and found that he still look younger although he's almost 60 years old

Food ordering and paying made them happy \*^_*^/

Papa, Mama, Jiu Jiu and Mickey currently were well trained and look at my camera with professional smiles  

Positive reviews:

1. Friendly, helpful and attentive staff-confirm the food ordering politely and displayed smiles on their faces.

2. Comfortable, clean, tidy environment

I ❤❤❤ My Family

In the mood to blog my family members, in the future day it is the best memories for me as well. I'm so grateful able to spend time with them either eat lunch or dinner together, new year shopping, play with Naruto and Mickey. 

Now I understand and realize nothing beats the time with family seriously. 

 love Mama's attire. Quite along time never shoot photo with her.

My sweet smile and playful Naruto

Naruto is happy and Papa is equally happy too  

Mickey really look like Papa. There's a saying "a chip off the old block"

W.E.L.F.I.E in Mr Innova \*^__^*/

                                                                 We're the happiest family on the earth 

 Mickey is the cameraman and arrange our shooting location for perfect picture

 Now's Papa turn 

Last picture of this post, Mickey & me

Once again, so thankful with them 

I am not going the forget the thousands of memorable moments with them and the future family events too. They give me lots of strength, love, advise, patience. Without their support and kindness, I'm nothing.

L.O.V.E you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hanabishi Bed Cleaner Review

Update on **16 January 2015**

Couples weeks ago, I felt intensive itching with some red spots in my thigh area once I woke up in the early morning.I eventually complained to my mother. 

She suspected it was bed bugs (small insects that were active in the midnight and bite people while they're sleeping) after hearing the bed bugs issues in my cousin's home currently.

She furthered told me Rosamond also faced the similar situation. My mother and Rosamond blamed they had skin allergic problems that caused the red spots. How funny it was!!!! Not only that, mother was spraying mosquitoes repellent every nights when she sometimes wondering the main factor of the red spot were mosquitoes. 

Hence, I did some research from the internet on how to get rid of bed bugs. As a result, we spring cleaned thoroughly the house by using Dettol.(Mama was a hardworking home cleaner and washed the bedsheets every weeks but still hardly killed the bed bugs)

 Itching in my thigh

 Papa responsible in spraying Dettol for the bed

Mickey was vacuuming the underneath bed 

However, those methods were not effective. During the night, mother being bited again. We decided to buy a steam cleaner (one of the method featuring in Youtube video) in Parkson Sibu to destroy the beg bugs.

We failed to find any steam cleaner. So I "kepo" in asking the sales adviser about the bed bugs cleaner in home. Luckily, the sales adviser recommended us the bed cleaner that widely used by other users. According to the sales adviser, it was the hot selling item and even sold out 10 units per month since Hanabishi was the only and one producer of bed cleaner. 

Mother said yes and we grabbed the bed cleaner in.

 It was not only killed bed bugs but dust mites, bacteria and virus

 It's functions were described in the front cover area

 There were 4 main components of the bed cleaner: vibrating pad, sterilizing lamp, allergy filteration, on-off button

 Red color bed cleaner

 Using UV bed cleaner to eradicate the bed bugs in the bedsheet

 Naruto glided slowly the bed cleaner over the pillow

 and the mattress too

 Wow, lots of dust and found the tiny bed bugs too

Mother never bited by the bed bugs anymore once bed cleaner plays the main role in cleaning the bed bugs.She can sleep nicely throughout the night. It's awesome product for my family.

P/s: I'm just sharing my personal experience and please remember what works for me but not works for you :):):)

Han Jiang BBQ House, Sibu

Update on **25 January 2015**

We were shopping in Sibu for the new clothes to usher Chinese New Year 2015. We would like to have the Korean cuisine as lunch (contradict against the KFC, MarryBrown and SCR Chicken Rice as usual meals for the Sibu shopping trip).

Naruto (4th sister) craved for Korean cuisine and suggested the Korean BBQ House (that include in her Korean cuisine to-go list but never achieve her planned destination, partially due to time constraint. We drove 4 hours to and fro between Saratok and Sibu). My fantasy then were Korean rice cakes, Korean soups, side dishes, Kimchi, Korean pancakes that made me mouth watering. My father and mother supported our decision to try their first Korean meal in their lifetime.  

Here we were- Han Jiang BBQ House located in the shoplots next to Paramount Hotel.

Han Jiang BBQ House

It serves no pork. It operated from Monday to Sunday (10.30am to 2.00pm, 5pm to 10pm)

Payment counter 

Interior design 

 

It also catered for per head packages (range from 1 person to 10 persons packages) besides add-on dish

Vegetables and tofu on the grilled pot. 

The waiter furthered grilled the boneless chicken meat and pour the chicken soup on top of the meats and vegetables 

 

Fish 

Kimchi spring roll 

Kimchi fried rice. For me, the kimchi fried rice not spicy enough. Mickey told me Mama can't had it if too spicy. 

Stir fried Mani Chai with eggs. Nothing extra special!!!

Fried chicken 

 Fried vermicelli 

Chilli condiments

From left: Mickey & Naruto❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

From left: Mama, Papa & Me❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Last but not least, our family portrait ( absence of Rosamond & JoJo)❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

Positive reviews:

1) Reasonable price (It costs RM 85 for 5 persons packages without service charge and government tax)

2) Quick and nice services (the staff did the BBQ for us promptly, we just enjoyed the food. Besides that, the owner also friendly in seeking the food satisfaction for 5 of us.) 

3) Good food (it matched with our taste except Mama. She's not really loves the hot pot foods. She was having the P.I.M.P.L.E.S after few days. We all laughed her still young and can't resist the pimples)

Negative review

1) It's not the Korean cuisine. It suppose to have Korean refill side dishes, Kimchi pancakes, Kimchi stew soups. In fact, it like the Malaysian style cuisine.