The Dragon, the Fire and the Moth

Our dinner these few days have been purposely simple, i.e. one meat dish and fruits. Why? Because we have lots of fruits to finish off. We have/had bananas, starfruits, mangoes, jambu air (red and light green varieties), grapes, apples, custard apples (nona) and a dragon fruit. Today we devoured a whole dragon (fruit) :o)


[Delicious Dead Dragon: This one has purple blood...]

Many trees are now flowering, probably due to the dry weather. This is also the season for the 'burning' of the Flame of the Forest. USM has quite a number of them all over campus.


[Light up the fire, let the flame burn, open the door, let Jesus return...]

We had yet another winged visitor tonight. I think we take moths for granted. It is quite amazing to note the variety of patterns and shapes these fellows come in. Our previous visitors: here and here.


[Moth of the Month: Marty or Martina Moth]

Pet-Sitting Weekend

"Come here, Xen Xen... come... Ji Ji give you mum mum... come-lah sayang, sweetheart oiii... makan-lah... afterwards Ji Ji take you walk-walk for you to owk owk okay?"

That was roughly something Angie would say to Xen Xen. Who's Xen Xen? Well, Xen Xen is the nickname for Vixen, the Tan family dog. Mummy and Papa were away in KL this weekend, and so we spent this weekend in Butterworth dog and chicken sitting. Chicken sit? Yes, 9 ayams serama.


[Tip of the Iceberg: Xen Xen says she gets char siew also]


[Avian Antics: Join me in my bucket?]


[The First National Chicken Conference: Roosters on the rostrum]


[Conference Chair-chicken Jailed: For organising the conference without a permit]

Fish-filled Fellowship

Last Monday (18 April 2005), we had a dinner gathering at Peter and Gladys Liew's place at Pearl Hill. First three things we noticed: (1) nice town house, (2) nice view, and (3) fish tank, fish tank and more fish tanks :o) The Liews have a passion for arowanas and things that swim. To arouse our appetite before dinner, Peter did something...


[The View from the Liews: View from Pearl Hill overlooking Lembah Permai]


[Privacy Violated: Oi! Apa tengok? Ada hutang ka?]


[Fish Grub: These wriggly crawlies cost a bomb...]


[Human Grub: Devilled curry with roti jala, German fried potatoes, fried noodles, spring roll, flat noodles with cabbage and mushroom stew, chocolate cake, and wine]

We Have A Pope

We welcome Pope Benedict XVI!

Bop-bop

Despite a busy work week, we were able to meet up with friends for dinner twice this week. The first was at the Golden BBQ Steamboat restaurant in Jalan Nagore. About 30 of us occupied the entire top floor, which was good so we won't be accused of disrupting other diner's enjoyment! There was a good variety of food, served buffet style. Bonus point: ice-cream! I should mention that there's a penalty for all those kiasu buffet patrons - RM5.00 for every 100gm of unfinished food.


[Golden BBQ Steambot: BBQ bedlam upstairs...]


[All Shapes and Sizes: But if you waste, you pay!]

Our second social activity was at home, where we invited two friends and their baby over. Menu of the day was Chicken in Mushroom sauce served with mashed potatoes and lotus root with carrot. Dessert was duo-politan ice-cream: chocolate chip (courtesy of our friends) and almond pecan praline. Baby was more fascinated with Huggy.


[Chicken in Mushroom Sauce]

On one of our shopping trips during the week, we decided to buy a carton of soya bean drink. In front of the shelf was a basket containing bop bags meant as free gift. Since the labelling on the bop bag had the same brand as the soya drink we bought, I decided to take one (have always wanted one of those!). We discovered on a second trip that the gift was meant for another product by the same manufacturer. Fortunately or unfortunately, the bop bag has come home with me and looks likely to stay :-)


[Bibbity-Bibbity-Bob: Not inflated yet...]

Severe Side-Effects

We had guests over for dinner last week. We decided to do western, again. This time, it was sweet and sour black pepper chicken with broccoli and carrots served with Angie's 'secret recipe' mashed potatoes and cream of mushroom soup. Who did we have over for dinner? Err... let's keep them anonymous because our meal apparently caused severe side-effects...


[Sweet and Sour Black Pepper Chicken: Laced with...]


[... Behaviour (gender) altering drugs!]

Last week also saw strong and interesting natural phenomena. We had a really bad storm which did some damage over at Seberang Perai and also on the island. The moon was also up to something funny...


[Fooh! Try to outrun this one...]


[There's definitely a scientific explanation for this but I'd rather stay ignorant and be amused :o)]

Goodbye Pope John Paul II

We shall miss a truly inspirational leader. May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

Corny Buns

Had a go at making buns again. This time it's crushed cornflakes with sesame seed buns. This time I added some 'additives' to, hopefully, make it stay soft a little longer.


[Corny Bun: Yet another way to eat cornflakes]

Earlier today at about 9.30am, I paid John a visit at his flat at Rifle Range to pass him some provisions. I got there a little too early for him as he was still asleep but music was coming from his radio. He must have left it turned on the whole night. So, my calling woke him up and mission still accomplished.


[Rifle Range Flats: Are things looking up?]


[Rifle Range Flats: Apparently not... *rotting rubbish pong*]

Mom and Dad... Happy Anniversary!

Yesterday (1 April 2005), was my Mom and Dad's 32nd Wedding Anniversary.

Mom and Dad... here's wishing you a Happy Anniversary and everlasting love, happiness, peace and good health.


[Mom and Dad: Having fun in the snow (in summer) somewhere in New Zealand]

Mutiara Muffin

Easter Sunday (27 March 2005) was also Mutiara Muffin Day. This time it was pisang raja banana muffins. The tried-and-tested recipe was from Angie's mummy's hand-written recipe book.


[Mutiara Muffin Madness: We had 12 muffins and a mini cake]

We had a winged visitor early last week. It was a moth with interesting red and black spots.


[Polka Dot Moth]

Today is the last day of March. Tomorrow is...

Kong-Kong's Resting Place

On Palm Sunday (20 March 2005), we collected Kong-Kong's ashes from the crematorium. Mummy, Yee Yee and Sam Yee had, a few days earlier, bought a beautiful ceramic urn. It was bluish-green in colour with chinese floral motif.

After the crematorium staff secured the urn with a bright red ribbon, we then took a short drive to the Western Road cemetary. Six new niches were prepared at Poh-Poh's grave. We had a brief ceremony at the grave and Kong-Kong was laid to rest.


[Kong-Kong's resting place: Kong-Kong's niche is the one with the freshly laid cement]

Kong-Kong... rest in peace. Amen.

Goodbye Kong-Kong

PETER FRANCIS LAM SIM CHOON

A loving and wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Born: 12 October 1923
Called Home to be with the Lord: 14 March 2005

May his soul rest in peace. Amen.

Mutiara Western Delight

This evening we had Ivan and Sim Yee (Ivan please correct us if we've got it wrong *pai seh*) over for dinner. As usual, we had a western fusion meal. This time, the main dish was baked tumeric and lemon-grass chicken in mixed-fruit sauce, stir-fried lotus root and Angie's Secret Recipe mashed potatoes. Dessert was La Cremeria Almond Pecan Praline ice-cream courtesy of our guests. Beverage was a choice of strong Nescafe coffee au lait and Siaw Yet Kam chinese tea.


[Main dish: Baked Tumeric and Lemon-grass Chicken in Mixed-Fruit Sauce]

We'll leave you with a photo of our Rex Milano buns.


[King of Milan: The pizza-smelling bread]

8 more buns

Last night Bart had another attempt at bread-making. This time he added some bread improver to the Rex Milano breadmix. The crust is a little firm, unlike those buns you buy from our bakeries, where the whole bun is soft. It has a strong English Herb/Oregano flavour and makes you think you're having pizza! We had it plain, of course, because you don't normally add butter and jam (or any other bread spread) to your pizza!

EVALUATION:
let's see...the texture is soft on the inside, with a firm crust on the outside like most buns you get in Europe...and the taste is very Italian... and since the name suggests that this would be the King of Milan,... I declare this bread project a SUCCESS for the baker!!! *applause, applause*

Where's the picture? Still in the making...stay tuned.

P/S Bart's at choir practice now, so this is a surprise entry for him to read.

The Wait Ends

It's been more than a week since our last blog. The previous weekend, we were helping out at the 55th Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend.

Nothing too exciting over the week, but...things began to 'look up' yesterday when a tiny little squirrel entered the office at my workplace. I don't know who was more terrified - the poor little thing or the staff! Me? I got a cameraman (hubby dearest, of course!) in to catch the little fellow in action...


[Bottle brush-tailed visitor]

We spent Saturday in Ipoh enjoying a homecooked lunch and doing nothing - very nice :-) *nod of approval* However, we did attend an AGM (one of the shortest we've ever attended) cum dinner of the Hash House Harriers Batu Gajah.


[Mum's speciality: Rice wine chicken soup]

We travelled back early this morning in time for 10am mass and choir practice. Then it was off to lunch with my relatives at Starview Restaurant in Burmah Road. A quick visit to the famed aquarium a few doors away from the restaurant followed, then another visiting activity - to my grandparents'. That brought our total hours being out to ten - enough to send us scurrying home where the excitement really begins...

The LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG wait ends (see previous entries: Part 1 and Part 2) ...Mutiara's Brew is now ready!!!!! :-) :-) :-)


[Mutiara's Brew: Three weeks later... pretty, eh? Fleming would have been proud of us...]


[All filtered and waiting to be bottled...]

Apple & Orange

Since our last entry, we've had two dinner dates. Last Sunday we had a noodles dinner at Ian and Wai Mun's place in N-Park. Simple and delicious! We were also entertained by Apple and Orange, their hamster couple, who are waiting to be parents.


[Fruit vs vegetable: Apple eating carrot]


[Night view from Ian and Wai Mun's balcony showing the Sungai Nibong flyover]

On Tuesday, Mrs Ang cooked dinner for us and Eric and Yu Kang at her place near Fettes Park. We had lotus root soup, stewed pork, curry chicken, assam prawns and stir-fried cauliflower *yum, yum* We bought a Black Forest cake for dessert, but it ended up as supper instead! I must say that I was not accustomed to the sourish taste of the fruit in the cake - like some fermentation going/went on. It must be part of the ingredients of the cake since there were no reports of any casualty.


[Dinner at Mrs Ang's]

Speaking of fermentation, our little brewing project is moving along well. More mouldy friends around and the skin of the apple has changed to a dark brown. Doesn't seem to have any change in the amount of liquid, though. Hope we'll have enough of the good stuff at the end!

Well, this coming weekend is the 55th Catholic Engaged Encounter weekend in Penang. Tonight we went to help to set up...some of our friends are also attending the weekend... ;-)

We'll close tonight with a photo of green pea cookies...


[Christmas colours in February]

The Wait Begins (Part 2)

Yesterday (Saturday) night saw us having dinner at the hawker stalls near the jetty (Pengkalan Weld). We parked our car along Gat Lebuh Armenian and walked back out to the main road. The stalls here, between the Shell petrol station and Kedai Kopi Lee Hoe, serve good Ou Mee (Oyster Noodles) and Indian Fried Noodles. Alas, the Ou Mee stall was closed (we later found out that the owner works five-day weeks) and the Indian Fried Noodle seller had just used up the last of his ingredients :o( *fuming and disappointed*

However, we found out that, at the Wan Tan Mee stall, you could order Hor Fun (broad rice noodles) in Wan Tan Mee style... and it was good :o). Imagine eating Hor Fun swimming in lard oil and soy sauce. *mmm...* We also had Char Koay Teow (quite good), and some satay (now this was rather disappointing although it was quite cheap: 30 sen per stick).


[Weld Quay Hor Fun Wan Tan Mee and Char Koay Teow]


[Weld Quay stalls among others]

As promised, here's a pictorial update of our brewing project... Photo shows our brewing 'apparatus' tucked away in a quiet little corner on our kitchen counter. We dared not move it elsewhere to take a better photo so as not to disturb our little yeasty friends doing their (to be) much appreciated job. What can be seen? Brownish apple slices, some liquid (this is the 'good stuff' we believe), and mould (white and black spots, and grey hairy stuff). How does it smell? Reeking of alcohol already.


[Mutiara's Brew: Work in progress... after 1 week]

Curded Luxury

The most delightful things in life can often be found in the simplest of things. Likewise, the most delicious foods are often the most humble and easiest to prepare.

Tonight for dinner, we had chilled soft bean curd (sui tau fu) eaten with fried garlic and soy sauce (kicap). How does it taste? Heavenly.


[Heaven in a spoon]

A brief non-pictorial update on our brewing project... the apples are more wrinkled now and are turning brown. Mould have also started to appear... *yay!* We plan to take a photo of it weekly. So, do stay tuned :o).

The Wait Begins (Part 1)

Today is back to work for the both of us. Bart made a day-trip to KL. So it's a long day for him.

Yesterday was Valentine's day. How did we celebrate? Well, we're not into commercial celebrations - we don't believe in paying exorbitant prices! We had a lovely dinner at Three N Ikan Bakar, near the Gelugor power station. The two of us whacked some sting ray, squids, cockles and stir-fried kailan. Then we headed home to get ready to watch our favourite programme Navy NCIS. But alas... it was not to be... our show had to make way for a repeat of the morning's Grammy Awards...*sob, sob* :-(


[Our rustic Valentine's Day dinner]

Let me now rewind the day a little bit. In the afternoon, we embarked on a little brewing project. We decided to make apple cider. So, we're now waiting for our apple cider to mature. The whole process should take about a month. But even last night, we could already see some 'progress' - the apples had shrunken. And today, there's already some liquid visible. Hmmm... *nod of approval* Will keep you posted on the progress...


[Mutiara's Brew: The beginning...]

Never Leave Home Without It

We were at church for the 10am mass presided by a visiting priest, Fr. Joe Stephen from the Redemptorist community in Ipoh. He was in Penang to promote his book: Parishes in Post-Modernism. After mass, Angie and I stayed back for the cathedral choir practice to prepare for Holy Thursday and Easter Sunday.

After choir practice, we gave John a lift home after the customary stop-over to buy provisions and nasi kandar. John lives at the Rifle Range flats in Ayer Itam. Today, he led me to his unit through the front door which faces inside the common corridor of his block. As we walked into the common corridor area, we had to pass by the rubbish collection area. The smell was terrible *rotting rubbish pong*. Eewwww! (Normally, we enter by the back entrance which was better because it faces outside his block).

We shall leave you with this photo of a few kids swimming in our apartment swimming pool. They are obviously playing it safe because they can make a quick call in case of an emergency. Also, if they are hungry, they can call for a pizza.


[The handphone: Never leave home without it!]