Eat Frequently, Small Meals

The last time I checked (a month or so ago), I weighed 59kg. That is 7 kg more than my usual weight. Suddenly, everything couldn not fit. All my pants are tight. All my tops are about to burst in the front. What have I done wrong? Ok, too much eating. Too much good food, especially free food!

That's been said, now I am on my diet regime again. You can me a Yo-Yo dieter. But, I am determine to lose these fats before the year end. Tee hee. That is another 5 more months. I am thinking long term.... the longer the term, the better it is.

So, today I had sandwich for lunch. Butter spread on 2 pieces of whole meal bread, with 1 boiled egg (sliced), lettuce and alfalfa. For some reason, I love the taste of alfalfa. I am going to have green salad for tea (tee hee... odd isn't it) at 4.30 pm later. I have not decided what is for dinner though. (Edited) - I had Fish Head Soup from the stall in Banquet Jurong Point. But without any rice nor with noodles. It was a hearty and healthy meal, just don't think about the MSG.

Later we had Pina Colada at Coffee Bean with an interesting topic to discuss.

I bought a book on dieting recently (I will take a photo of the book if I remember later). It says in the book that we are more likely to lose weight by eating a smaller portion six times a day, than our regular 3 times of full plate meals a day.

This has to do with the production of our insulin from the pancrea... oh heck, I can't remember all it says in the book, but when we eat 3 full plate meals, more insulin needed to help with the digestion of the food, and storing it as fats. I will get the exact fact when I get back.




Yesterday, I had a whole meal bread with peanut butter for breakfast at 8 am, an apple and a slice of pineapple at 10.30 am, macaroni and chicken pieces for lunch at 1 pm, a small cube of brownies for tea at 4.30 pm and for dinner I had piece of Baked Dory and 1 serving of soya bean sprouts at 8.00 pm. A cup of milk just before bed at 10.00 pm.

(Note to self : Don't bake Dory... it does not lose the 'fishy' smell).

I have wanted Erin to be on the same diet plan as I am, but knowing that she is on her own at home, it is hard to control what she eats when I am not there watching. Oh well, what ever it is... it will be.

But of course, our occassional rendevous for fine dining still stands! I am making plans to have Straits Kitchen Return.... end of the month! yippee.

Chocolate Chip Cookies for June Holidays

Last night, I baked chocolate chip cookies for Qhaireen's classmates to celebrate the forthcoming June Holidays. For all 38 of them. Packed in a brown bag and ribbon and special card from Qhaireen.

This morning, she laden herself with 2 shopping bags full of the small brown paper bags. She called me from school a while ago, saying that everyone enjoys the cookies.

My hardwork has been paid off, by the smiling faces of the children.

Brown paper bags, lining up to go.

My assistant baker, too tired to help packing the cookies, snoring away.

My Precious One - Goodbye Pass, Hello Future

My freestanding range LaGermania has been with me since 2002. But on the day after I've baked Thasim's cinammon rolls, the outer glass panel of the oven gave way. Probably because it has had enough of my baking spree. The oven is still in good working condition, so as the four stoves, but I can't bake without the glass panel, although the oven has the inside panel still intact. Called the agent and they adviced that I do not bake without the outer panel, and if I want to replace it, it will take few months, because they have to order the parts from Italy. What a bummer!

I can't live without an oven! I feel incomplete! Days went by without an oven, seems so distressful! I love this oven, as it is attached with a sentimental value. But I do have to forget the pass and live for the future. Finally, with such a disheartning feeling, I've made 'the' Executive Decision. Without the oven, the freestanding has no soul. And it has to go.

Now, I have a new freestanding LaGermania! With 7 functions oven, and safety lock for the stove!

Now I can start baking again! Nice.

Mom's Not Cooking

Haven't been cooking lately. Either was busy with projects, business travel, vacations or been going out to party for the past few weeks. I haven't had the chance to heat the stove. Either that, or the simplicity of the menu weren't worth the trouble to blog. Although the reason this blog was made, was to make simple guides for those who doesn't have the flair for cooking or even be in the kitchen, hence the guide to Ezie Recipe came about.

There were few pictures of recent baking that I've took, and being saved in the lappie, but without much illustrative photos though. Just the end result.

The problem is, I am always too busy at home with other things to sit in front of the computer. Am only free to blog when I am at work, and then I will realise that I don't have the photos with me... gaaah.

Probably, one of the thing that I should write in here is my comments about the places of eateries that I've tried during those time that I was too lazy to go to the kitchen. That would be an interesting project. Since I will not be paid to comment, I would most likely ~ no... extremely truthful about my words, because there is no monetary gain. Just like what Jazz would do when he gives his view on certain task that he is being ask to do.

But I am not a good food critique, because to me, everything is delicious - evidently, the reason that I need to start exercising. But sometimes, we do need a layman's point of view on certain things. I may not be Violet Oon or Margaret Chan, but I do know where to eat on what occassion, most of the time.

When I was growing up, cooking wasn't or have never been one of my tasks at home. My late Grandmother will do the cooking herself with the help of my Aunty Mariam. Occasionally she will asked me to help, but only the easy task, like cutting rebung (young bamboo shoots) which in turned cut my palm because my mind was somewhere with the boys playing hide and seek, and Grandma never ask me to help again. The scar is still visible til now, and I will look at it everytime I miss her. It soothe me somehow.

And when I was living with my parents, my mom never liked the children to be in the kitchen while she cooked. Or was it because we were lazy and ungrateful to even offer to help. That resulted to none of us know how to cook. Mom gave me a crash course a week before my wedding to cook assam pedas, probably because she knew that was the only dish I will miss and crave for after I leave the house and I stay on my own right after the wedding itself.

Just like any other decent bride, I CAN'T COOK! But over the years, with trial and error, it got better. Not perfect, but better. So I guess, everyone needs a little guide. Simple guide that will go a long way.

Ezie Chewy Chocolate Chips Cookies

Recipe Source Mrs Field $250.00 recipe

BAHAN-BAHAN NYA :

2 cawan mentega, room temperature
2 cawan gula castor
2 cawan gula merah
2 sudu teh essence vanilla
1 sudu teh garam
2 sudu teh baking powder
2 sudu teh s baking soda
4 biji telur
4 cawan tepung serba guna
5 cawan rolled oats
4 cawan semisweet chocolate chips
8 ounces chocolate bar (diparut halus)
3 cawan walnut cincang (saya guna almond sebab sudah kehabisan walnut)

CARA :

1. Panaskan oven dengan suhu 180 degrees C.


2. 5 cawan rolled oats di kisar sehingga menjadi tepung (5 cawan oats itu ialah sebelum dikisar)


3. Putar mentega, gula castor dan gula merah. Masukkan telur satu persatu, dan essence vanilla


4. Dalam mangkuk lain, campurkan tepung, oats yang telah di kisar, garam, baking powder, baking soda. Gaul sehingga semua sebati.


5. Kemudian tuangkan bancuhan mentega kedalam tepung. Kacau rata (tidak perlu menggunakan mesin)


6. Masukkan chocolate chips, chocolate yang telah diparut, dan juga walnut yang telah dicincang.


7. Buat sebesar bola golf, dan bakar di atas kertas cookie yang telah digriskan. Pastikan diletakkan 2 inci jauh antara satu sama lain. Bakar selama 10 minutes. Jangan overbake.

Doh yang telah dicampur dengan chocolate chips, parutan chocolate dan kekacang

Bulatkan sebesar golf balls dan jarakkan 2 inci antara satu dengan lain

Cookies yang telah masak, akan menjadi besar

Boleh dibuat cenderamata untok majlis-majlis tidak rasmi

Ezie Creamy Mushroom Soup

My Crown Prince's favourite

Bahan-bahan :

2 punnets cendawan butang (white button mushrooms)

6 sudu makan butter

5 sudu makan tepung gandum

1/2 litre stock ayam

1 litre susu segar

Garam dan serbuk lada hitam secukupnya

2 cawan heavy cream (Optional)

Cara-caranya :

Cendawan dibersihkan, buang batang dan di potong dadu kecil. Panaskan butter didalam periok diatas api yang sederhana. Masukkan cendawan dan masak sehingga layu. Masukkan tepung dan kacau sehingga sebati dan rata. Masukkan stock ayam, dan didihkan sebentar. Setelah mendidih, masukkan susu segar. Kacau selalu supaya susu tidak berbuih dan pecah. Perasa dengan garam dan serbuk lada hitam secukupnya

Jika mahu lebih berkrim, boleh ditambah dengan heavy cream.

Dah siap! sedap dimakan panas bersama Bread Stick atau Garlic Bread.

2 punnet of button mushrooms

Mushrooms di potong dadu

Panaskan butter, masukkan cendawan dan masak sehingga cendawan layu, kemudian masukkan tepung.

Masukkan stock ayam dan didihkan sebentar

Masukkan susu, dan perasa dengan garam dan serbuk lada hitam

Bread Sticks with Meat

Resipi ni dari Yani.

Senang dan mudah nak buat, and sedap untok mengunyah sambil tengok CSI Sunday marathon.

Bahan-bahan ( 6 sticks)

200g tepung gandum

20g gula halus

1/2 sudu kecil garam

2 sudu kecil baking powder

20g butter

140ml susu segar

Bahan-bahan untok Inti

¼ kilo daging kisar

1 biji bawang besar - dicincang

2 ulas bawang putih - dicincang

1 biji lada merah di hiris

3 sudu serbuk kari daging

Garam dan perasa secukupnya

sedikit minyak untuk menumis

Cara-cara (doh)

Masukkan tepung, gula, garam dan baking power ke dalam mangkuk. Kacau biar serata. Masukkan pula susu dan butter. Uli sehingga licin dan tak melekat di tangan. Tutup dengan kain lembab/ plastik wrap. Biarkan selama 30 minit. Sementara menunggu, buat intinya.

Cara-cara (Inti)

Panaskan minyak, dan tumis bawang besar, bawang putih dan lada merah sehingga naik baru. Masukkan serbuk kari yang telah dibancung dengan sedikit air. Tumis sehingga naik minyak. Masukkan daging kisar, kacau sekali sekala supaya tidak hangit. Setelah daging masak, tambah garam dan perasa secukupnya.

Cara Menggulung

Bahagikan doh yang telah di biarkan selama 30 minit tadi kepada 6 bahagian. Ambil satu doh, dan canai memanjang. Letakkan inti dibahagian tengah, dan kemudian tutup rapat rapat. Pastikan doh tidak bocor dan terbuka. Gunting dibahagian atas stick, dan ayakkan sedikit tepung di atasnya. Bakar didalam oven dengan suhu 200 C selama 15 - 20 minit. Jangan terlalu lama sehingga hangus, rasanya akan menjadi pahit.

Uli doh (boleh menggunakan mixer ataupun uli dengan tangan sahaja)

Inti daging

Bahagikan doh kepada 6 bahagian kecil

Canai memanjang

Isikan inti

Tutup rapat dan kemas

Gunting sedikit dibahagian atas

Letakkan diatas loyang pembakar dan ayak sedikit tepung diatasnya

Bakar dengan suhu 200 C selama 15 - 20 minit

Tak sempat nak ambil gambar diatas pinggan, keluar oven saja terus lesap.

Sedap dimakan panas panas