Showa Day, April 29

It was a public holiday yesterday. April 29, Japanese annual holiday - Showa Day. It honors the birthday of Emperor Showa (Hirohito) the reigning Emperor before, during and after World War II. I like this part.... the official purpose of the holiday is "To reflect on Japan's Showa period when recovery was made after turbulent days and to think of the country's future.

Indeed it was another beautiful day, kids were all at school, Mai left for her new role as Tourist Guide and it was just the two of us. Went to drop off my samplings at Seisen and dropped by at Meena's. Upon reaching home at noon, my other half was already feeling hungry and we decided to go out for food. I guess after the few days turbulence it must have reflected on my Showa...hahahahahaha perhaps trying to butter me...we had nice lunch at Tokyo Midtown at one of his favourite spot... Tokyo Union Square. http://www.bento.com/rev/2686.html
his lunch, crab meat burger
fish for me

On the way home, passed by the Bento shop that the kids loved and got some for them....selamat tak payah masak for the kids.

When the kids got home from school, mummy gave them a treat and it was ice-cream for princess and the other two opted for Choc. Chip Waffle. Unbelievable...the que was so long for Baskin but being Princess...she doesnt care as long as she gets what she wants.

the que for ice-cream was so long...flooded till outside

comelkan van yang jual waffle ni..
i bought some of these too yesterday, got italian parsley, basil, thyme and rosemary...senang kan bila nak pakai petik je kat luar tak payah beli kat supermarket.

This was our dinner last nite, one pan meal...i just dumped everything and put in the oven.
Baked chicken with rosemary and vegetables

The Gone Days...........

It has been few days that I couldnt update my blog. Dont know what I have been doing, forever busy or perhaps pretending to be busy....hahahahahaha....these past few days have been really hectic with meetings at school, social obligations, visitors and of course the kitchen. But thank god the weather has been so beautiful and I have been having good days in between running around, in and out of the house.

Ever since taking up lessons at Wilton and looking at the creations done there....I have to go and look for this place that is related to all the sugar crafts things. Finally, Monday morning I just dropped everything and went to Daizawa to look for this shop called Witchraft and boy I almost lost my mind....name anything (of course anything to do with baking and sugar craft) you could find it here, the only thing I dont like is the price... sugui takai (very expensive).

On the way home, stop at Shibuya to buy groceries and bought a bento box for my lunch.

On Tuesday afternoon together with some other moms we went for lunch at this nice Japanese Restaurant in Akasaka. Thanks Mika for taking all of us there. This place doesnt allow camera but just cant resist to snap some photos here. To all at home, when you're here next, this is another place I would take you if you fancy japanese ryori. Friends here....if you're interested to go, its called Restaurant Yoshihashi, 1-5-25 Moto-Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo. Tel. No. 03-3401-3129. Best to make reservation before going.
doesnt look very impressive from outside..but its very zen inside

To Kak Yus and family, thank you so much for coming and could not thank you more for all the stuff you brought me. My apology as I couldnt spare much time and could only let Mai do the job of taking you all around. I hope you all had a wonderful time here.

After sending Kak Yus back to the hotel, I have to prepare some canapes for someone's sampling the next day. Curry Puffs, Sri Muka and Mini Choc. Cake. By the time I'm done......straight to dreamworld I went.

Sunday, April 26

I woke up to a bright sunny day. Alhamdulillah...such a beautiful day. Baby wanted mee hoon hailam for breakfast. Waited for anty ana but she didnt turn up...I guess she must have missed the bus to tokyo to join us for breakfast...hahahahahaha



After breakfast, we went to buy birthday present for baby's friend as later she has a party to attend. After dropping baby at her friend's place, mummy have to wait as its not worth the drive to go home and come pick her up later. Bump into another mom that shares the same fate as me and we decided to go to Jiyugaoka for a quick lunch and spend our time there. I really like Jiyugaoka...its a little dainty town with a lot of small shops and nice restaurants and we ended up at Bangkok Kitchen for lunch.

Since my sensei and other fellow students happen to have their ikebana exhibits in the same area, I dropped by to view their display of work, this year I didnt join as I submitted my name too late.


my poor sensei looking tired
with other fellow students

Somehow traffic was light yesterday, by the time I reach Otorijinja Crossing, the road was almost deserted..dont know what happen to all the cars??????

and for tea, we had chocolate eclairs as I still have some leftover custard from yesterday.
and finally dosa for dinner with fish curry, zuchini in tomato sauce and plain dhall
and again, after dinner, because of princess everyone's stuck with American Idol. Here we dont get to watch AI live...its always few days later. Hmmmm Monday tomorrow.

Saturday Nite

After spending all day at home coz it was raining, this is all the family got for dinner.

tortilla bread, chicken fajitas, tomato salsa, avocado guacamole and sour cream




well no complaint from the kids and they were happy to be served just that....sejuk perut mak mengandungkan budak-budak ni....apa mummy letak...seme dorang bedal. Alhamdulillah. After dinner, all were forced to watch American Idol because Daddy's Princess is a big follower of AI.

What a Day................

It has been raining since last nite and not showing any sign of stopping till now but not the kind of thunder storm rain like in Malaysia. Lucky for me today as sunny boy doesnt have his usual aikido lesson...that means I could sleep in a lil extra...hahahahahaha
While the kids enjoying tv with daddy, I enjoyed myself in the kitchen coz only weekend the whole family could enjoy lunch together.

The premier show of our lunch today..............

Beef in Chili paste, Fried Eggplant with Onion, Chicken Liver Masala, Rasam and Papadum

Chou Creme for Tea....nama cam glamer kan...better known as cream puff le.



Since we had rice for lunch, I am planning to serve chicken fajitas with tortilla bread for dinner. Siapa komplen banyak....tak payah makan....hahahahahahahaha

Kawan-kawan seme....malam kang jumpa kat Red Box eh.....pastu kita gi Uncle Don ngeteh...miss you all much, take care.

Chicken Curry

Ingredients:-

1. 1 kg chicken
2. 2 big onion (sliced thinly)
3. 2 tomatoes (chopped)
4. 5 garlic (grind together with ginger)
5. 15gm ginger
6. 3 tablespoon curry powder (I used Baba's meat curry powder)
7. 1 inch cinnamon stick
8. 5 cardamon
9. 1 star anise
10. 2 potatoes
11. 3 green chilli
12. salt to taste
13. 50 ml cooking oil
14. 100 ml coconut milk

Method:-

1. Heat oil and throw in the star anise, cardamom, cinnamon stick and the sliced onions. Fry till the onions become golden brown.
2. Put in the chopped tomatoes and cook till it becomes a nice paste.
3. Add in the garlic and ginger and fry till fragrant.
4. Put in the curry paste and continue frying till the oil oozes out. Add in a little water if it is too dry. Add in salt.
5. Add in chicken and cover for a little while.
6. Put in the potatoes and water and let it simmer.
7. Add in the coconut milk and simmer for a while.
8. Put in the green chilli and adjust the taste.

Note: If you like a creamy curry you may add coconut milk otherwise just give it a miss. If you like it more spicy, add 2 teaspoon chili powder in your curry paste.

Friday, April 24th

An achievement yesterday for I managed to bring sunny boy to school very much earlier than he should. Of course....a very big grin on his face. The girls came with me too as they say its more fun to ride the car with mummy rather than taking the school bus although they have to wake-up very very early. All 3 kids got up at 5.30 am yesterday.
While waiting in the car feeding the girls breakfast, a friend called and said that she wants to pass something to me...her place is very near school, so swinged by her place, had a cup of coffee, chat a little and its time to send the girls to school.
After dropping the girls, went to pick up a friend and off to send Jeanne's birthday cake.
On the way home, stopped by at the gas station for a fill-up and car wash. As usual...the rest of the afternoon is my usual house chores and suddenly realised that its almost 4 o'clock and its time to do my driving routine again. Daddy's princess join Soccer camp yesterday and baby had a play date.
While preparing for dinner, received news from my sister in law that her mother in law passed away that morning in India. Al-fatihah and May Her Soul Rest in Peace, Amin.

Our dinner was suppose to be dosa (tosei cakap melayu) but somehow my mixture hasnt fully risen yet, so this is what we have instead and I have no more energy to do mint chutney to go with the nan bread:-


nan bread, chicken curry, sambar (dhall curry) and fried cauliflower,

Cupcakes

I made this for a dear friend's birthday tomorrow. Happy Birthday Smoochie, Many Happy Returns and May God Bless You Always. Sorry cant party with you tomorrow but otherwise you girls have fun. Luv ya!

Chapati

Ingredients:-

200 grams atta flour or wholemeal flour
2 tablespoon ghee
1/4 teaspoon salt
120 ml warm water

Method:-

1. Mix flour and salt,
2. Rub in the ghee and add water and knead until it becomes a pliable dough yet not too sticky. For best result, chapati should be kneaded properly.
3. Cover the bowl with a damp cloth and leave it for 1 hour.
4. Knead the dough again and divide the dough into a size of golf ball, cover and leave it for another hour.
5. Flatten into a circle using your hand and use a rolling pin to flatten the dough.
6. Heat a heavy griddle or frying pan until very hot. Put on a chapati and cook until brown spots appear underneath. Turn over and cook the other side, pressing on the top of chapati with a clean cloth to help make air bubbles form and keep the chapati light.
7. Once chapati is cooked, wrap in a dry clean cloth to keep warm.

Grill Squid

Ingredients:-

200 grams squid
1/4 teaspoon cumin powder
1 tablespoon bbq sauce
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoon chili sauce
1/4 teaspoon chopped dill
a pinch of sugar and salt

Method:-

1. Remove skin, clean and cut the squid to your liking and pat dry.
2. In a bowl, combine everything and leave to marinate for 30 minutes.
3. Heat pan and grill until squid is cook.

Wednesday, April 22nd

Earlier on sunny boy asked mummy to donate a cake for his school and he wants me to make carrot cake. Thought of trying something new but he insisted on the carrot cake and of course anything for him. While in and out chatting online...this is how it turns out....hahahahaha anyway wasnt in the mood for deco yesterday. I hope who ever bought the cake enjoys it...

Chicken Salad ala Thai

Ingredients:-

300 grams boneless chicken
100 grams french beans
1 big red onion
1 tomato
1/4 cup mint
1/4 cup coriander
1 stalk lemon grass
3 kafir lime leaves
1 cm galangal
1 garlic
1 cm ginger
2-3 small red chili (put more if you like it spicy)
lemon juice, sugar and salt to taste
1 tablespoon oil

minced galangal, ginger, lemon grass and kafir lime leaves


Method:-

1. Clean and minced chicken and marinate with a little bit of salt.
2. Minced lemon grass, galangal, ginger and kafir lime leaves.
3. Chopped mint and coriander and put aside.
4. Cut the french beans and blanch in hot water, strain and put aside.
5. Chopped tomato and cut the onion into thin slices and set aside.
6. In a pan, heat oil and fry the chicken until chicken is cook and juice comes out, Remove from pan.
7. In a small pan and under medium heat, put the minced lemon grass, galangal, ginger and kafir lime leaves and roast until fragrant...not burn.
8. In a bowl, smashed the garlic and small chili, add the chicken, beans, the roasted herbs, sliced onion, chopped tomatoes and add the seasonings i.e. lemon juice, sugar and salt. Mix until everything combines.

Wajik Biko

I had this at a friend's house and she is from Philipines. A dessert called Biko which is quite similar to a very traditional Malaysian dessert called wajik. The girls and me like it so much. It is easy to make unlike the traditional Malaysian wajik.


Ingredients:-

3 cups glutinous rice (here i use japanese mochi gome)
2 cans coconut milk - 800 ml
1 1/2 cup brown sugar - adjust the sweetness to your liking
50 grams ground peanuts
50 grams condensed milk
2 cups water
a pinch of salt







Method:-

1) Cook rice in rice cooker with 2 cups of water, 1 cup coconut milk and a pinch of salt.
2) In a pan, pour the remaining coconut milk (leaving behind 20 ml for later) and add sugar. Under medium heat stir until sugar dissolved.
3) Add in the cooked rice and continue to stir until all coconut milk evaporates.
4) Pour the mixture into a pan and spread them evenly.
5) Pour 20ml coconut milk on top of the mixture and bake in a preheated oven 350F for 30 minutes or until the coconut milk evaporates.
6) Take out pan and sprinkle the ground peanut and continue to bake for 15 minutes.
7) Take out pan and spread the condensed milk and bake for further 15 minutes until top becomes brown.
8) Cool completely before cutting.

Pumpkin Crunch

Ingredients:-

1) 1 can pumpkin - 425 gram
2) Evaporated milk - 340 gram
3) 3 eggs
4) Sugar 1 1/2 cup - 120 gram
5) 4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spices
6) 1 box Springfield yellow cake mix - 517 gram (or you can use any vanilla cake mix)
7) 180 gram butter
8) 1 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans

To make 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice - simply mix the following:-
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg powder 1/8 teaspoon ginger powder, 1/8 teaspoon cloves powder) or else get the ready mix from the store



Method:-

1) Combine the first 5 ingredients in a mixing bowl and stir until everything combines.
2) Grease 13 x 9 inch pan and spread mixture.
3) Sprinkle evenly dry cake mix and top with pats of butter, then sprinkle the chopped nuts on the butter.
4) Bake at 350F for 60 minutes or until knife inserted near centre comes out clean.
5) Serve with ice-cream or whipped cream. Its tasty even on its own.


Note: This is great for party as you could prepare them before hand and it is so easy to make. Thanks to Sylvia for showing how to make this and sharing the recipe. I love you fren.

Wednesday, April 21st

Still looking for my cable wire for the camera....hahahahaha cant download pictures to the pc now....till later....enjoy the day.

Beef Keema

Ingredients:-

1. 350 gram minced beef
2. 150 gram onion(slice thinly)
3. 5 gram ginger (minced)
4. 3 or 10 gram garlic (minced)
5. 100 gram tomato (chopped)
6. 1/2 teaspoon tumeric
7. 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
8. 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
9. 1 teaspoon curry powder
10. 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
11. 1/2 cup green beans
12. 30 ml oil
13. salt to taste
14. 1/4 cup chopped fresh coriander

Method:-

1. Heat 10 ml oil in a wok. Fry 50 gram onion till translucent. Add minced beef and fry till beef turns brown, add in salt and garam masala and let cook for a while.
Remove from fire and put aside.
2. In a separate pot, heat 20 ml oil and fry the balance of sliced onions till golden brown.
3. Add in garlic and ginger and continue frying till fragrant.
4. Add in the tomatoes and fry till it become paste and add in the dry ingredients.
5. Add a little water if its too dry.
6. Add in the cumin powder, coriander powder, tumeric and curry powder. Continue to cook until oil oozes out.
7. Add beef and a cup of water. Let simmer under medium flame.
8. Once done add in the chopped corinder and green beans and continue to cook for another 5 minutes. Adjust the seasoning.

Dry Chicken Curry

Ingredients:-

1. 500 gram chicken (clean and cut into bite pieces)
2. 100 gram onions (slice thinly)
3. 100 gram tomato (cut into cubes)
4. 1 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
5. 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
6. 3 - 5 cardamon
7. 1 teaspoon aniseed
8. 1 dry chili (cut into small pieces)
9. a sprig of curry leaves
10. 30 ml oil
11. salt to taste


Method:-

1. Heat oil in a wok. Fry the onions together with the aniseed, cardamon, curry leaves and dry chili until fragrant and the onions turn golden brown.
2. Add chicken and salt, fry for a while.
3. Add chili powder and turmeric powder and mix well. Cover the wok and leave the chicken to cook stiring once in a while.
4. When the chicken is cook add in the chopped tomatoes, stir, cover and continue to cook until the sauce becomes thicken.
Serve with rice or chapati.

Thank God Its Friday

This week has been rather hectic .... doing what?? I don't know but its always home, school, kids and social obligations. Yesterday, my day starts at 5 am as I have to leave early to send sunny boy to school as he has a morning activity and he was upset with me as I got him to school late by 10 minutes. Sorry boy and I know its my fault.

Well..everything has to happen yesterday. First, sunny boy has to be in school at 7 am. Second, baby has this International Day Parade in Kindergarten and mummy has to provide a Malaysian snack for her class party, Daddy's Princess have got a field trip to Baji Koen and I have to chaperon and all falls on the same day. I wish I had more than 10 hands. God must have loved me as the field trip was cancelled at a last minute as it was expected to shower yesterday....what a relief for me and I could enjoy baby's performance and stayed thru-out her party and go home together with her.

My lunch (the leftover from last nite's dinner)
Tom Yam Noodles

Since all the kids had rice for lunch, decided to make capati for dinner.
Beef Keema, Fried Cauliflower and Dry Chicken Curry

Azalea Fair

Every year Hiroo Plaza will organise Azalea Fair in April. This year it is from 15th - 19th April and the stores here will have special sale.
After coming back from my normal Saturday morning routine, we went out to enjoy this Azalea Fair. We had a nice time enjoying the Country Music, listening to the same band that has been invited to play for the past 5 years. But I must say they are good and entertaining.

Our lunch for today, rice with Fish Head Curry, Prawn Sambal, Fried Bitter gourd, sardine and papadum.