my hobby...that is baking!

Told a friend in our email conversation earlier this morning, I’d rather chose making cakes rather than lecturing. Though lecturing seems to be easy for some people (for instance, my hb hehe), I find it to be quite scary and tough. Especially if you couldn’t get the message thru and that your students couldn’t capture your points, worst he or she couldn’t understand you at all haha!

So here is me, ‘makan gaji’ in this beloved company still, of which I’ve served for nearly 9 years. But nevertheless, baking is still my passion, and I’ll always find the me-time to sneak into the kitchen and do some baking activities. It’s my passion, hence I give no excuse despite occasionally i so want to lie in bed and take a nap instead of mixing the sugar and eggs. Some people may find it good to just lay on her sofa and do some reading, but I find it more enjoyable to sift the flour, or melting the chocolate, or see my muffin ‘rise and shine’ and crack inside the oven haha!

Okla enough the crap! This is the Baked Brownie made for hb for our last anniversary (actually for me coz I love this brownie soooo much that I couldn’t stop munching them!)….

and the Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake made for a friend’s birthday. Isn’t it pity for you to order a birthday cake for yourself? Hehe for my case, lagi kesian since I baked my own birthday cake for my birthday! :p But the happiness and joys upon seeing your kids cutting the cakes, that was priceless isn’t it??

Hepi Besday beb!! Moga ko bahagia selalu…and success selalu!!

Notice the white turn-table? That is my latest addition to mr kitchen, after years of baking only now terbukak hati mau beli :p

an evening in Alamanda

It's been a while since our last outing to Alamanda. So hb took us there yesterday for lunch, right after the husband and wife done with all the house chores….kata org berat sama dipikul, ringan sama dijinjing :)

my boys in purple, our official outing theme :p

ammar with that blurry looks. first time naik benda alah ni kat alamanda...

abang idlan monitoring ammar hehe

firas really insisted us to go here which he called as 'hutan'. Nice view isnt it?

eating strawberry chocolate stick but one pc selamat jatuh dlm kolam tu!

happy faces after few dose of choc marshmellow sticks!

a pic tells thousand words...ni kes penat tak hingat sepanjang 4 hours of outing ngeh ngehh

p/s: Now bila outing agak tak menang tangan especially bila Ammar dah pandai jln and running here n there. Ini budak sgt galok bila terlepas dr stroller. Berlari tak igt org tak pandang kiri kanan dah..menonong je sesuke hati! Siap main cak cak dgn crew2 dekat al-Ikhsan semlm :p

Chocolate cheese muffin

I just wrote yesterday saying idlan was all ok with his new school and everything but heck i was wrong! Few minutes after i published the entry, a neighbour called telling me idlan refused to go to his class after the bell rang! He said he didnt want to go to class for he forgot to bring his textbooks as instructed by the teachers. He afraid that the teachers will scold him for that reason. My neighbour said initially he saw idlan was hiding in a toilet, later she spotted him at ground floor below the office. I asked her to try to coax idlan, in fact a teacher who happened to be there has tried persuading him into going to class but failed.

I was panicked ok. Called hb but couldnt get thru. Hence i decided to go straight to his school. Later i managed to inform hb about the matter and he immediately rushed to school as well. Idlan was blurry in tears when we met him at the school. After few rounds of 'interrogation' we finally knew the actual reason. He couldn't find Afham, his ex-tadika friend cum the person sitting next to him in class. Just because he didnt see Afham so he decided he didnt want to go to class bec he didnt have any other friends. Gosh it seems that my boy still hv issue adapting himself to the new school isk isk...We later brought him back to the class, which at that time close to 3pm already. When he spotted Afham inside the class, he voluntarily walked into the class without further ado! Ah this boy who earlier pulled drama now suddenly changed in just a blink!! Nevertheless hb decided to wait and monitor him until recess time, just in case he acts on upon something. Back at home, he acted like normal, as if he didnt do anything.

I prayed hard that things will become a lot easier for him from today onwards...

Oh anyway, how's your weekend going on so far peeps?

As for me, it was quite a tiring day yet full of accomplishment!
I am done with ironing all 9 pairs of uniform for the kids, washed idlan's school shoes, made paprik for lunch, and not forgetting baked these lovely chocolate cheese muffin for tea. Right after baking the whole family set off to playground - me got the chance to play badminton with hb, then i played with idlan while hb joined his volleyball mates, later i had the kids enjoyed themselves eating ice cream after few rounds of kicking the balls and whatnots. Sgt enjoy ok, some more i had the chance to swing my racket after sooooooooo many years haha!

Chocolate cheese muffin

My first attempt trying out this recipe, and honestly it turned out to be really good! (at least to my tastebuds haha). Very chocolaty with a light cheese taste, not so sweet and the texture is nice n fluffy. Recipe is very simple, perfect for super-busy mommies like you and for a beginner, this recipe is a must-try ok!

Source: Dapur Tanpa Sempadan by Mat Gebu, tq abg Mat for this great recipe!!!

Ingredients
140g cooking chocolate
100 cream cheese
80g butter
2 grade A eggs*
1 tsp vanilla essence (stir together with eggs)
60g sugar
100g All purpose flour
2tsp baking powder

Method
Preheat oven 180C for 15 mins
Using double boiler method.. add in cooking chocolate, butter and cream cheese - i didnt double boil my mixture, just heat them direct on the stove but on slow heat to avoid burning the chocolate :p
Once melt..add in sugar and egg mixture.
Add in sifted flour and continue to stir till theres no lump
Pour batter into muffin case making sure its 3/4 full.
Top with almond slice and bake it for 20mins - i used choc chips instead of almond slice

my first 2012 entry

Again I guess I’ve lose the energy to blog, though there’re actually loads that I wish I could tell and share over here.

It’s the 6th day of the new year 2012. I don’t put any resolution yet in writing, nor do I have anything in mind right now. Probably I have too many things to consume and think be it at home-front or office that my mind keeps on wandering and working wearily.

To start with, my eldest has been transferred to a new primary school nearby our house. It wasn’t an easy decision for us, and him of course, but we hope we’re making the best decision for him. I don’t want to elaborate further on the reason and whatnots, but we’re praying hard he’ll be ok going thru the transition process – new school, new set of friends, new teachers, new environment, everything.

First day, I was with him till recess time. Alhamdulillah he was attached to a class in which some of his old friends who previously went thru the same tadika at our taman were in that class too, hence I don’t think he has issue adapting and coping with new friends. Breaktime, he went to canteen with them, and later I asked him to go to surau to perform Zohor prayer with them too. Told and reminding him many times not to skip his solat no matter what happen. He took the right bus on the way back home on the 2nd day, that’s a huge relief to us. This year, me and hubby determined to prepare ‘bento’ set for him everyday. Apa itu bento? Haha sila gugel ok :p So overall, Idlan seems to be fine on his first and second day of schooling, both at Kafa and sek keb.

Our second darls Amir Firas went to kindy this year. It was the same tadika with his taska, hence this boy has no issue adapting to the teachers and friends. First day during line up in the morning, he was all bz chit-chatting and playing with his bff Qaisara, while his other friends reciting doa and sang Negaraku. When he later spotted that me and hb were staring at him, he gave us his normal shy-shy smile and look away, and soon afterwards bz chit chatting again with that girl. Ah our Firas is obviously a total opposite from his brother. We still remember idlan was quite responsible and matured when he was 4yr, while Firas is still behaving like a kid, very cheeky and naughty in his own way. I asked him what he did on his first day at kindy, he uttered ‘ntah’. I think he took no serious about this schooling thingy at all hihi.

Myself? Ahh 2011 has its own ups and downs but overall Alhamdulillah to me everything works well both at home or work. There’ll be some restructuring over here and I’ll be incharged of other commodities very soon, no more procuring cables, materials and network items anymore, will be reporting to a new bos which I kind of dislike him but let’s just keep going and take it as a challenge ok!

This year I foresee to be a lot more hectic and busy, but we’re set for Phuket and Perth as some of the highlights for our holiday (and i wish to include USS as well bley tak Yang hehehe). And yes I sooo wanna have a repeat visit to Desa Waterpark with the kids, if only I knew their waves pool is so cool am sure will bug hb to take us there on each school holiday :p

So how's your 2012 going on so far peeps? have a great weekend ahead ya!
Me will be super bz pressing the kids' clothes aduhai task yg sgt membosankan!! - 3 pairs for sek keb, 3 pairs for Kafa, and another 3 pairs for that cheeky Firas! Lucky Ammar is only 15mths if not i'll be collapse halfway for sure :p

8th Anniversary

It’s our 8th anniversary today.

Hubby stayed at home for half day, looking after our eldest who had just undergone his ‘khatan’ and unfortunately got complications barely 1 hour after the klamp procedure. Idlan is recuperating now, at my mom’s.

Me off to work as usual after a straight four-day leave. It’s moving towards the year-end and the works are just too taxing and everything is becoming super urgent right now. The system is not stable and keep on going intermittent, went down every now n then..bagus la tuh!!

We were supposed to be on leave today, our initial plan was to watch Ombak Rindu or any movie, have a proper lunch together and probably do some window shopping before picking up the kids at 630pm. I have planned to make a special cake for him over the weekend.

But Allah has a better plan for us.

Marriage is not only about love, but tolerating and understanding each other roles and responsibilities, prioritizing certain things and not to think about one self only. We’ve been together in this journey for 8 good years, went through the sweat and tears, joy and laugh, everything, together.

I miss my hb, miss my eldest who for the first time separating with us (until this coming weekend), miss my cheeky n naughty firas, and my lovely ammar. But still I need to be in the office.

Happy 8th Anniversary Yang…thank you for everything.
Love you now n forever.
May Allah bless our marriage, and that we’ll always be guided with iman and akal in whatever we’re doing.

berkhatan

Hubby texted me yesterday confirming that he has fixed for Idlan to undergo 'berkhatan' this coming Friday at 3pm. He requested me to take half day, to accompany our eldest and sort of giving moral support throughout the procedure.

Idlan was all ok with the news. For the past few weeks we kept on asking whether he is ready for khatan or not this year. Initially he said 'no', what more with Firas shouting and telling 'firas takmo sunat firas takootttt' everytime we brought up the khatan issue. But recently upon listening to his friends' stories that has went thru the khatan, he came to us and said 'ok'.

Just now i had lunch with my usual colleagues at our pantry and tell them about the khatan story. They (the men) said khatan is one of the biggest event in any men's life apart from akad nikah. Probably we can equate this with women and labour, isnt it?

Ok so now i got the point why hubby wanted me to take half day leave :)

Btw, it's 9th Dec on Friday, and 10th is his born day. Celebrate besday dgn bersunat la nih!

Sored nipples

I'm now on Bepanthen cream every now n then. Both my nip*les cracked n sored quite badly. I guess it's due to ammar's style of latching yg ganaz n suke memain. I'm now nursing my 3rd child and this was actually my first time experiencing sored nip*les...before this cuma dgr keluhan org lain huhu

Kind of fobia when it comes to nursing time these days. Few times i shouted to him n he cried. Sori sayang but mama just couldnt help it. Sakit sesangat!!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Double birthday celebration

A fruitful, and lovely weekend indeed.

We (i.e. me and SIL) threw out an ad-hoc plan to have a join birthday celebration for the kids. It was a pre-celebration for Idlan since his birthdate is actually on the 10 of Dec, while for my niece Hana, it was a post-birthday celebration (29 Nov). Had the celebration at my bro's place in Ampang. A close-knit gathering among the family members only, but we truly had a good time chit-chatting and sharing stories. Most importantly, i'd say the kids had a blast time throughout the evening. Gegak-gempita rumah abang...my mom said "ni lah rupanya kalo ade anak ramai..kecoh satu rumah :p

I planned to make a DFCC on Friday night, but a migraine attack since evening made me go to bed very early. Woke up at 4.30am with a heavy head still, and straight away went to kitchen to start baking. This cake was quite 'leceh' since it involves few steps and i knew i'm gonna take a long time to finish up the whole cake (what with ammar being around...arghh byk dugaan!).

here goes the large DFCC (1.7kg) with maltesers! Sanggup stop by at Shell just to buy those maltesers :p Made the cake at 4.30am, and only finish up at 11am (lama kan!).

This is a large buttercake made by my SIL, frosted with non-dairy whipped cream. I like the color combination, very beautiful! i can see hana really loved her cake, when we arrived at her house she kept on telling us "kite ade kek angry bird!!!". Then Firas uttered back "kite ade kek coklat bulat-bulat!!" Hahaha kids being kids, they must've been very excited when it comes to birthday thingy.

Those are calleabout dark choc button. mahal giler okes, no joke :p

the line-ups

my SIL made fried spiral pasta and mee rebus. Me brought over nothing except the cake isk isk blame it to the migrain! The mee rebus was so delish that hubby gave me a hint 'awak kena buat jugak nih'. So i asked my SIL for the recipe and guess what, she used the instant mee rebus paste rupanye...brand Adami. Sila cari ok..serius sedap, umi pun puji sedap :)

cake-cutting time!! My SIL's cake is very tall while mine is very short haha malu malu!

Front: My SIL, Hana, Idlan, Firas

Back: Huzaifah, my bro, me and Ammar

See the white cupboard behind us, that stores my bro's collection for robots, jets, etc. Hobi mahal btul mamat sorang ni :p

mamat boboiboy tu plak yg over macam la besday dia :p

super hyper after dosage of sugar :p

sorang wat aksi abuginnn, sorang wat aksi boboiboy, yg depan tu control macho hehe

ammar still blur blur

sian sofa my SIL, habis dilanyak oleh bebudak nih...sori ye sis!

my two-layer cakes..frosted with cream cheese & ganache

tadaaaaaaaaa!!! now tell me who is rajin enough to make this beautiful n striking 6-layer cakes none other than my SIL! serius tabik springgggg toingg toingggg ok. Each layer ade strawberry jam tauuu. So inilah rahsia ketinggian kek itu hehe.

For both cakes, you may refer to Rima of bisousatoi.com for the recipes...cuba jgn tak cuba :)