Happy New Year!

The year 2010- another year full of memories and life lessons. I thought a good way to sum up the year is to have a look at the all those beautiful moments and capture them in a post.

Highlights:

• Started the New Year in Paris (plus Pierre Hermes' macarons)!

• We survived one year of marriage!! Woohoo!
• Attended and be part of the bridal party for my closest friends. 
• Emcee for the first time at a dinner banquet for my best friend. 

• We bought sand land and will be building our home in 2011.

•  We had the BEST road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne.

•  Headed to Sydney and tried Guylian Chocolate Cafe and saw the Blue Mountains. (although my tummy felt really ill after the chocolate, the pain was worth it!)

•  And officially on 30th of Dec 2010, achieved a milestone in my career. A goal that I have been aiming for since year 2000 when I arrived in Australia. 

And my cooking and baking highlights? 

• Learned that simple is good. Totally enjoyed my Star Anise Stew Pork with Soya Egg.

• My family favourite- Dom Steamed Chicken 

• Learned that chocolate hazelnut cake can be enjoyed! 

• Totally happy with my pavolva!

•  My cheesecake that did not crack!!!!!!

Goals for 2011:

• To continue to make changes and improve the appearance and accessibility to content of this blog.
• Try making curry!! (from scratch!!!)
• Ice-cream making perhaps. 
• Continue my quest to find the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. 
• To create more beautiful memories with my family and friends.
• Accelerating to our dreams. 
• To live more, laugh louder and breathe deeper when challenges cross our paths. 
• Looking forward to the building process of our new home. 
• To be even more respectful and loving towards my hubby. 
• A closer journey with God. 

Wherever you are, here is wishing you a FANTASTIC NEW YEAR.  May each step you take in the New Year bring you closer to your dreams.

Country Women's Association Cookbook- Seafood Cornflake Bake

 My colleagues and I-we are obsessed about food. There is something about food that brings different cultures together. It is also a stress-relief. It is a talking point of what to bring for our weekly morning tea (to sweeten our long meetings and calm our hungry tummies), or to discuss where can we find good value and fresh sushi (I can have it for lunch and dinner every day I think). Strangely, most of us are not even born in Australia.

I noticed a Country Women's Association Cookbook lying around and asked my colleague what is this about? She replied that Country Women in Australia often needs to be creative in their cooking- given the time and lack of resources sometimes. Not to mention, good value for money. I like the sound of it already. I quickly flipped the pages and this recipe caught my attention-really, it's the cornflake crust. I don't have the "proper" recipe and chose to recreate it from memory. I think it is even called something else! But I can assure you that it features tuna in it and cornflakes. Doesn't that combination sounds yucky?I can assure you that it turned out delicious!

Having a better understanding of the Country Women's Association, I appreciate their recipes even more. For the past few weeks, I have been struggling with meals and time. You may have probably even read what I mentioned before- cooking a few meals in one setting to make sure we have something warm and fairly nutritious when I return home late at night. It's starting to show and I even went through a period of time where I actually thought I lost my mojo in cooking and baking! Horror of all horrors!

I started to re-create some earlier recipes that I have blogged prior and reminded myself to be kind... to myself. That was why I started the blog, to show that meals can be quick and most of the time, healthy and low in fat and calories. It is OK not to have home cooked meals every day. It is OK not to re create something new every few days.

It is ok to be kind to myself ;)

Seafood Cornflake Bake (Serves 4-6) 

2 cans of tuna in spring water
150 grams of prawns shelled (I happened to have some prawns in the fridge)

2 tablespoon of spread
1 tablespoon of flour
1 cup of soy milk (I might have put around 1.5 cups)
1/2 of low fat cheese
around half a cup of corn flakes crumbs (u can buy them in a box!)
2 cups of frozen veges (I used peas and corn)


Melt spread. Add flour and cook till golden. Add milk and whisk till it thickens. Add cheese. Season. Add tuna, prawns and frozen veges. Spoon into a casserole dish. Top with corn flake crumbs. You can spray it with some oil to make it more crispy. Bake in a pre heated 200 C oven for 25 mins.

Pear and Cranberry Loaf- Happy Birthday to Me!

Greetings from Sydney!

Last year this time- we prepared for a wonderful engagement photoshoot. This year, I'm in Sydney celebrating with great friends.

Birthdays are a funny thing. One can probably lament that getting older limits what one can do. I beg to differ. Each year brings us to different opportunities. It all lies in our attitude. The thoughts that we place in our head.

The year of 2009, and the year of being 25 years old has finally ended. This year though, has brought me unbelievable joy. I have graduated (finally!) and got married (with the amazing 3 weddings) and had a wonderful time with my friends in Malaysia. I learned that it is NOT easy to organize home improvement/renovations and is increasingly getting addicted to magazines (Food and Home improvement included).

So here we are, celebrating a new age- it is only fitting to celebrate with a cute little cake isn't it?

Pear and Cranberry Loaf 

2 pears diced
1 cup of cranberries
125 grams butter
2 eggs
1tsp vanilla extract
2/3 cup caster sugar
1 1/2 cup of self raising flour
1/2 cup of buttermilk (I used normal skim milk)

Preheat Oven at 180C. Line loaf tray with baking paper.

Process butter, eggs and vanilla in food processor for 2-3 minutes. Add sugar, flour and milk, process for 1 min or till combined. Spoon mixture into big bowl and add pear and cranberries. Spoon mixture into prepared tin and bake for around 30-35 mins. Serve. =)

3 best buddies

On my recent trip back to Singapore, my best buddies and I decided to take studio photos to celebrate our 18 years of friendship. They are my best of best girl friends and we laugh, cry, held each other through difficult and happy times.

I remembered being terribly homesick when I first arrived in Perth...and without fail, they would write me letters every couple of weeks. Now, we still keep in touch nearly everyday through emails.

One of our photos is up on the studio's website for selection of "Best buddy" competition.

DeCharacter Best Buddy Competition 2009



We are best buddies B3. Holding the piggies! heheheh

Please Vote for us!!!!

Thank you!

12 layers

What a Saturday! Attended a wedding in the morning that moved me to tears! Roger and Fiona- you are such an inspiration to me!!

Was tagged by Jackson earlier today =) So here goes my reply!


Layer One : On the outside
Name : Daphne
DOB : 30th of October 1983 (presents? ;p)
Current status: Seeing someone =)
Eye Colour: Black
Hair Colour: Black
Righty or Lefty: Righty



Layer Two : On the Inside
Your Heritage: Cantonese
Your Fears : public speaking! but I'm getting better at that!
Your Weaknesses: Lazy, impatience, anxious
Your Perfect Pizza: low fat n low calorie.... ;p


Layer Three: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Your Thoughts First Waking Up: It's Roger and Fiona's wedding "announcement" today. I don't have to work this morning. How to fit in groceries shopping? (yes.. i have alot of thoughts running through my mind in the morning!)
Your Bedtime: Varies. Around 12.
Your Most Missed Memory: Malacca Trip.

Layer Four: Your pick
Pepsi or Coke: Neither! Can't take soft drinks.
McDonald's or Burger King: Neither. Although Maccas do offer a good range of salads now.
Single or group dates : Depends. I like both! Can see the person in both ways mah!
Adidas or Nike: It used to be Adidas... but now nike.
Tea or Nestea: Tea! (especially Earl Gray and Green tea)
Chocolate or Vanilla: Pass me the chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee: Cappuccino


Layer Five: Do You
Smoke: Nope! I can't even STAND the smell of it.
Curse: No. =)
Have a crush: Not now.
Think you've been in love: Still in love.
Go to school: yes.,.. *sobsob*
Want to get married: Eventually. Yes,
Believe in yourself: Yup! I doubt myself too. haha,.
Think you're a health freak: Abit lah.... Not to the extreme though. Still adore my chocolates and chips.




Layer Six: In The Past Month Have you...
Drank alcohol: Yes! White wine on Tuesday night. It was Clinical Psychology Information night and I had to speak about my experience... Following that, we mingled around and I had a glass (hey! lecturer offered me..)
Gone to the mall: Yes.. Garden City a few weeks ago!
Eaten sushi: Actually...just 3 hours ago. hahha
Dyed your hair: Nope...




Layer Seven: Have You Ever...
Played A Stripping Game: ?!??! How can u ask a girl such a question? NO lah.
Changed Who You Were To Fit In: hmm..tough one. I don't think so.



Layer Eight: You're Hoping
To Be Married: not at this moment but in the future yeah.
For a: KITCHEN AID MIXER (and a gift of writing...)

Layer Nine: In a Boy (For guys, In a Gal)
Best Eye + Best Hair Color Combination: *shrugs*
Short Hair or Long Hair: Short hair please!




Layer Ten: What Were You Doing
1 Min Ago: Doing this,
1 Hour Ago: Trying on a dress.
4.5 Hours Ago: Tearing at Roger and Fiona's wedding.
1 month Ago: Probably working or in uni...
1 Year Ago: No need to guess, sure in uni! hahah




Layer Eleven: Finish The Sentence
I Love: bake and cook.
I Feel: Excited. Dinner later!
I Hate: hypocrites and bad service.
I Hide: when I feel overwhelmed and stress.
I Miss: grandma.

Layer Twelve: Tag Five People
1. Little Corner
2. East Meets West Kitchen
3. Babe in KL
4. d- "Dancing Blue Seal"
5. Ruth

I Need: a holiday. A REAL one.

My battle

I hesitated posting this but felt inspired to do so this morning. Perhaps it has been my nightmare for so long that resisted me from racking it up but I think it's about time.

I fought with obesity for many years. As a little girl of 7, i remembered feeling frumpy compared to my lean peers. My weight shot up and before I knew it, i was in the TAF club-"Trim and Fit" OR if you read it backwards "FAT CLUB" during my teenage years. I was the girl who couldn't do lifts or push ups. I could run my 2.4 KMs and sit ups but failed everything else. It was my fault, no one shoved food in my mouth. It happened and I wasn't proud of it. (although secretly i really couldn't resist granny's cooking... )

People teased and I used a braved front. It allowed me to explore other avenues. I acted, sang, spoke, accepted leadership positions. I appeared 'fierce' and refused to let teasing continue. Of course it has an impact on my self-esteem (afterall, I had so many crushes on guys and no one liked me.. *sobsob* so sad right? ;p) LOL.

That taught me a lesson however (i mean the weight thing not guys!). It reminded me that one should look deeper into a person. The person should be looked at on a whole. It shaped my choice of career.

It also made me want to be a stronger person. I refused to be the friend that should be pitied. I want people to like me for who I am.

Anyway, BACK to the picture above. I took this with ADRO Australia Biggest Loser. He appeared on a weight lost TV program that helped him to lose weight. His story was inspiring and I had a chance to take a picture with him at a recent health seminar that I attended.

Maybe that is why it inspired me to say this! haha

Anyway, I took up running and gym work during my uni and postgrad years (well..still in postgrad). Since quit gym but maintained the running. No soft drinks or KFC during those time. Still ate chocolate and carbs though! :P Took me 4 years but I lost over 30kgs.

I still love food though! Which is another reason why I'm maintaining this place. I believe we can eat what we want and still maintain a healthy life-provided everything in moderation! If I eat more, I try to run more. I have my weak days and strong days. Ultimately I Love God, Love Food, Love Life!

And i still love my grandma's cooking. LOL

So I achieved one of my dreams as a young child to be at a healthy normal weight. AND being able to shop! goodness me! The first time I walked into a Singapore Store and managed to find something that I can FIT in and it actually looked nice!... I was overjoyed! haha. Well- I'm a girl afterall! LOL

So enjoy food and life everyone! Celebrate! Have fun! =)

*PS-I'm not being sponsored by anyone to write this post.

Winter Wonderland

I think it was last friday when Mr AR brought me to his workplace's annual winterball. Venue: UWA's university CLUB

Getting dressed up:


Oysters on entry


Drinking Champagne


Table setting




placecards- ah... it made me feel important! ;p


on my way home!


I was slightly surprised by how generous the company was. We were served oysters when we arrived. Free flow of alcohol. Appetizer was smoked chicken on a bed of vermicelli with orange jus. Choice of mains- fillet of beef with baked potato stack or Dill crusted salmon (which was what I had). Desserts- yummy petit fours with coffee/tea. Ah, it was great moving on the dance floor too! =)

Photoshoot

I recently won a contest at Image Style Studio. Have to say that this changed my opinion about posing- they can be quite challenging! Anyway, here are a sample of some of the photos. I have to say they show different sides of me that I don't even know exists. Given that I know what I can bring to the table, I'm quite impressed with what the photographer- Kelvin Chong came up with.

Before and After Pictures of my hair.

Rebonded hair- I know. It looks flat but I was told it will be better in a few weeks time. I have to say I havent looked so neat for ages though. LOL

Happy Birthday to me!

Another year folks! I'm getting older minute by minute. I'm finally 23 years young and am proud of every minute of it.

What can I say? The day began just like any other day. It started at 5:40am. I woke up, had breakfast, did quiet time, prayed, changed and went to uni. Yup, the usual. Research work, contacting potential participants, preparing for tutorial tomorrow, formating diaries, entering references..etc etc. Just another busy day.

The emails came in wishing me happy birthday, then the smses, the phone calls..Cat came into the office singing.. yes, it's reality. I AM 23 years young.

Mr Ar booked me for a facial and massage on saturday (2 months in advance apparently). He said I will never be able to find time to do it so he might as well just book me in and 'escorted' me to the doorstep of the beauty salon. Saturday was extra special as it wasnt just an early celebration of my birthday but it was about us too. :)

Dinner was at the Holiday Inn

Macademia Crusted Pork- Mr Ar's choice.

Lamb rack with cousous- My choice! The picture is blurred but the meal was EXCELLENT.

Coming back to today...



Yup. Just coffee and sweets with the girls at Club Murdoch. Catherine insisted that I have to choose a tart/cake. I moved into the office about 2 months ago and finally a session where we get to sit down and chat.

The highlight of my day in the office was....The filling cabinet with a LOCK arrived in the office. ;p

Anyway, I returned home and made dinner. Mr Ar helped of course..

Grilled Salmon with Pesto on sweet potato mash. Aspargus was served with lemon butter sauce.




Yup! That's me!! Haz indeed bought me 2 tops and 3 packets of Ritter Sport chocolates. I swear, this lady is trying to fatten me up! The flowers.....were from dear BEN!!!!!! *HUGS* The ever so sweet guy 'pretended' not to wish me happy birthday via our mass emails but sent flowers instead. I arrived home and saw those lovely tulips sitting outside the door. Mum gave me the jewellery (express mail) + the body shop stuff. I dig the cosmestic bag. Thanks mum!! Love you lots. The day spa voucher by Mr Ar, photo frame and lindt chocolates by MW + Cailing. There is also a bracelet from grandma. The Crispy Creme donuts (Mei'en wanted me to try them) are only available in Sydney but Mei'en shared them with me. They are VERY SWEET! Too sweet for my liking.. I only took one small bite and put it back in the fridge. How sinful are they?

The cake of course.. Delicious sinful cake...filled with rum and dark chocolate. Just the way I like it. Thanks Mr Ar for the effort of bring the cake back from the city- not to mention the bus broke down and he had to wait for the next bus with the cake!

Thanks also to Ruth, Velda, Peggy, Ben, Min, Ting, Haz, MW + Cailing, Irene, Ryan, Catherine, Lone, Mei'en, Cath, Sian, Claire, Mum, Dad and Grandma and to all my friends who remembered. Not all of you guys read this blog but still.. Big thank yous! Thanks for remembering and loving me the way I am (with all my flaws too). Thanks for making this birthday beautiful.

I'm blessed. Thank you Lord for bringing me gorgeous friends and family-for people who stood by me through the times. For everyone who stood by me despite my decision to continue studying, allowing me to whinge and cry when the tough gets going. Thanks to my partner who love me despite my shortcomings.

Thanks for being you.

hair

streaks of copperish red..more like brownish red anyway.. on my hair. Not really used to it yet..it actually looks golden under some light..and reddish other times. *shrugs*-something different i suppose. I mean different to me.

Change is sometimes good. at 21 years of age, probably time for me to do some changes to my appearance. Now, i jus hv to lose that stubborn 7-10 kgs.. (more will be better of course).... :p

I dont really want to pissed people off. But hey, i am only human and so the circle of life remains. Cant please everyone.

Received letter of offer frm curtin. As expected, Uni of Mel offered me the Masters of Psychology (Clinical International) course...

Murdoch here i come (again).

ps. i hope i can change my student id card. the picture of myself on it is horrible.