Buona Pasqua 2009 !!!

This is the week we all are waiting so long for as we do not need to work on the following Monday after a long lunch on Sunday.

For this year, we are invited to my in laws house for the lunch...it kinda potluck but seems that my MIL has cooked toooo much...and we are so much like balloons after the lunch...

I made some Wurstel (or hotdogs) mini rolls for the aperitivo..and below pics will make you kinda hungry...

This used to be Mr L's room and look what my MIL has convert into? A Guestrooom..

Here's the table for the 14 of us...

Part one of the apertivi

Here's the whole table including marinated Swordfish, my Wurstel rolls at the far right,

mini burgers, marinated tuna..yum yum...

Pasta shells with ricotta cheese, eggs and mozarella...wanna ask my MIL

how she made these..it was superb..so lucky to have a MIL like her...

Elena, Matteo, & Andrea (one family) with Elisa they are opening their 'eggs' with toys inside..

Elena is gorgeous huh?

Introducing this dish invented by my MIL - Chicken curry with Pine nuts and raisin..

Italian style...was speechless...

Oh yes..we also receive an Easter Egg..from Elena, Andrea & Matteo..it's still intact

lying in the living room...we have not break it yet..

Our princess Elisa...looks so gorgeous isn't she?

Our second princess - Nicole...ooouuuu so squeezable cheeks...

Mr L always go for her butts..to squeeze I mean..

It was indeed a good weather that day...and after we finish our lunch marathon, it was already 5pm (the sky still look like 3pm...in Spring its like this long day short night)...so Paola and my aunt was thinking of bringing the kids to the park 10 mins by walking....they enjoyed so much and so do us. As time passes by, the bond between these girls and me are getting stronger. Always hearing them say..zia zia, come here, come here... :)

Mr L brought me to the nearby beach to have a stroll, we decided to stay out longer as the sky is still so bright...such a waste to go home so early. Moreover, we are not having any dinner that night as the lunch seems already included dinner :p

After we reach home, took shower, we lay down on the sofa and watched Saving Private Ryan...which was a great film..that's our Easter day!

So relaxing !

Punto Chiappa

It was March 22, a Sunday morning. At 10.20am, my inlaw gave us a morning call to invite us to join them, Daniela, Yolanda, Anna & Franco for a trekking at Punto Chiappa...

We were still very blur and no plan for the day so we dumb dumb say yes...well Mr L went before but not me so I was even more excited...the day was just perfect, clear skies, strong sun...

We have to meet up with my in laws at 11am at their house which is only 3 mins away from us...pretty rushy as we still have to pack our lunch box. Thinking and thinking...ahhhh still have some balance chicken pies which I bake the day before, so I bring them all along, some fruit juice, cheese, salami, snacks, fruits and we are DONE !!

The chickens pies made on Sat..beautiful right...taste just as good too :p

A close up pic

When we arrive there, it was so cooling, air was fresh and I cant wait to get started...

After 2 hrs of walking...it was already close to 2pm and all our stomach was growling and growling....and FINALLY we reach the peak...it was a terrific view and yes I do saw dolphins and they are too swifty to take a pic of....


Chatting after lunch and we went further up to have a overall view of the ocean...it was breath taking...


We also took a group pic to remember we came here together...next time will be another destination... (sorry for so few pics as Mr L forget to charge the camera as he promised)

From left to right: FIL, Yolanda, MIL, Anna, Daniele, Me & Franco (In front, Mr L)

When I reach home, I was dead tired and lucky me I do not need to cook as my MIL offer us to join them dinner later on...my poor FIL was dead tired and he told me his legs are frozen...


The next morning I woke up as well with cramp feet, it lasted for one week and I was walking and limping...of coz my damn 'good' hubby cant stop laughing for the whole week...


Tho was tired and the after effect of leg cramping, it did not stop me in going for the next.. ! :)


My MIL say there should be another coming up after our London trip...yiiippppeeee...

Tao Yiu Bak...Yum yum.. !

Hey Sheila,

This blog is hot and fresh.. ! Just finish lunch, Mr L is doing some reading while waiting for me..before we go out for our weekly food shopping...

Here is the recipe I promised :)

TAO YIU BAK with POTATO & EGG

Ingredients:

Pork Belly (200g for 2)

2 hard boiled eggs

2-3 potatoes (more if you wish)

Dark Soy Sauce (lesser if Mr J does nt like too black)

2-3 tbsp Light Soy Sauce

Salt & Pepper (Pepper I did nt put as L dun like)

1 tbsp Oyster Sauce

1 tbsp Sesame Oil

2-3 cloves Garlic (smashed a bit)

1 big onion

1) List of the ingredients, rub the pork with salt and leave to stand for 10 mins then wash off.

2) Heat the pot, add oil. Add the garlic and onion to stir fry till fragant, dun burnt. (About 7 mins)

3) Add the pork in and stir fry, till oil from the pork run dry. Add all the sauces. Stir for 5 mins.

4) Add in potato and stir for 2-3 mins.

5) Add one bowl of water, pepper, salt.

6) When boil, add in the hard boiled egg. Leave to simmer for another 30 mins.

7) Serve hot with rice. (My rice I add the sambal from Ah Ma)..7th heaven..

Try out one day and let me know..you can add Tao Kwa if you have..even more complete!!!

One of A Relaxed Weekend ..

It is indeed a terrible winter this year ! Has been sunny one week and raining cats and dogs the next.

Last weekend, it was raining so heavy till we are both stranded at home, nothing to do the whole noon as all house work are done.

Mr L has a football match and me, gets into the kitchen and decide to bake some mixed fruit tarts for dinner later at my in-law house and Gnocchi al pesto for the next day’s lunch.

I find all available ingredients in our fridge and make the tarts and gnocchi to satisfy our taste buds.

Gnocchi is an alternative to pasta which is made up potato and flour, my MIL has made once for lunch and she briefly teach me how to do it. Based on my expertise, haha, I decided to try it out on weekends since those are the only days I can take a breath.


Here are the recipes :

Gnocchi al pesto (Serve 2)

Ingredients:
3 medium size potato
60g of plain flour
40g of grated Parmesan cheese
Salt & Pepper to taste
Ready Made Pesto
½ tsp of dried oregano
Olive oil
Cream for cooking

Method:
1) Boil the potato till cook. Mash and set aside in a bowl
2) Add flour, salt, pepper, oregano to form a dough. Add more flour till it is not sticky.
3) Roll out into strips and form small balls.
4) Put a pot of water to boil, add some salt. Put in the gnocchi balls and cook.
5) When they start to float, mean they are cooked. Strain out and set aside.
6) To the gnocchi, add a bit of olive oil, pesto paste and cream, a bit of water in which the gnocchi were boiled and stir evenly.

7) Serve hot.

1) Boil the potatoes till soft.

2) Roll out them into small balls. Coat them with some flour

3) Boil the gnocchi into a pot of boiling salt (little) water till floats.

4) Mix with the pesto sauce and serve hot

Mixed Fruit tarts (Makes 12 tarts)

Ingredients:

250g of ready made short crust pastry

Assortment of Fruits as u wish

60g flour

150g of sugar

500ml milk

6 egg yolks

tsp of Vanilla powder / essence

25g butter (Cut into cubes)

100ml cream, whipped (un sweetened)

Method:

1) Preheat the oven to 180 degrees.

2) Roll out the pastry and cut into pieces to fit the mini tarts tins

3) Prick each pastry crust with a fork all over to prevent the pastry from rising.

4) Bake empty for 20 - 25 mins or golden brown.

5) In the meantime, in a bowl combine the egg yolks, sugar and flour then pour in

half the milk and mix thoroughly.

6) In a saucepan, pour in the balance milk and add in the vanilla powder. Heat it till almost boiling.

7) Pour some of the hot milk in the bowl of egg mixture and whisk lightly till combine.

8) Then pour all these back into the saucepan and stir continuously till it thickens. Stir thoroughly so the bottom dont stick. Once thick, remove from heat.

9) Add a few cubes of butter and whisk, then add the remaining butter and whisk till well combine.

10) Pour out the cream into a bowl and place a cling film over and push it down to cover the cream. This will prevent a skin from forming. Leave to chill for 2-3 hours.

11) When pastry is golden brown, remove and leave to cool on a rack.

12) Take the cream out, peel off the film, stir briefly and add in the whipped cream and stir you have a smooth mixture.

13) Spread the cream onto each crust, smooth it over with a spatula.

14) Arrange the fruits to your desire.

1) Tarts baking in the oven

2) Tarts leave to cool.

3) End product!!

BUON APPETITO !!!!

A Boring Week Followed by A Week of Surprises

The whole of last week was terrible to pass. Mr L has went on a business trip to Hongkong for a upcoming huge project which will be very profitable if we manage to grab it.

I went to work everyday by bus, one day the bus broke down, the other day it took a different route and in both cases, I was late for work and I had to walk miles .. and from the 3rd on, my colleague give me a door to door ride which was so kind of him...

As we have a wedding to attend on Feb 07 and most importantly he does not like staying so far away from me for so long (pretty home & wife sick), so the trip has been cut short to only 7 days.

On the way back, he pass by Singapore to brought home some of my favorite food. I have 'booked' with my mum and granny in advance what I need here to satisfy my tongue. Like Mr L has said, my mum will buy more than what I have 'ordered' like it was for an army.. :)

The luggage has exceeded the limit by 10 kgs !! but the lady at Air France counter allow Mr L to proceed (maybe she sees him as cute :=)) Well, he always have a way with girls ...

Here are the stuffs which was being brought back for me, my granny is sick for the entire week of Chinese New Year and she still cook for me the sambal which I always love, ah ma I lovvvveeee you !!!

Since my birthday & V-Day is a few days later..he got me some gifts during his travel, a pair of Hello kitty home slippers (the one I was wearing had torn terribly), a new Esprit vest (I left mine in SIN) and also a Hello Kitty magnet for our fridge...and some nice table runners for our home...u know he is the kind of very attentive man, know exactly what I want in my mind :)

Lastly, he actually booked a trip for us and my inlaws to London in end April..

How was your Valentine's Day?

My First Winter Experience - Jan 06, 2009

Well living in Singapore and have never seen a real snow is like the saying of a tortoise living in the mountain..hahaha...

Other than going to the Snow City in Singapore, never came across real snow before...

We have been listening to the weather forecast everyday to keep ourselves posted on the latest conditions.

Finally on Jan 06 morning, the news report that there will be heavy snow and strong wind from Jan 06 evening onwards...and it came true !!

Snowflakes started to fall at about 6pm and it was such a beautiful sight..and below are some pics taken from our house and also office...the a video are taken from the window of our office..

Beng Keong, jie jie trust that you have been waiting for a long time to see these pics, right?

So, you still wanna come here or change ur mind already ? :)

The carpet which we put outside our balcony was completed covered with snow...

The bikes are covered with thick snow .. just parked outside the gate of our apartment

This is our bike which is covered thickly with snow..which is impossible and very dangerous to drive...hence we go by bus..also our car are not fitted with snow chain..the snow alert came too quick..

Cars parked along the road just in front of our apartment..

This is Park Vittoria which I took it from across the street..

That tower lookalike is the lighthouse and also the landmark of Genoa..


The containers covered with snow, our office is just opposite so I have a very clear view of them..

Last, I have downloaded this video showing big pieces of snow flakes, so big we might all thought its raining...

Sheila, I am thinking how was your winter in Nashville ?...we have -5 degrees here..

To me its....brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhh!!!

My Xmas Presentsssss

The day came to open all my presents..was so exciting. We only did gift exchange among Mr L and my in laws and some misc presents we receive from frends...

Just a short post to display my what I had received this year..

A Fred Perry cooler by Mr L...how lovely and trust me it keeps me very warm

A cooler and a lady long sleeve shirt from my inlaws - thanks mamma & papa

Nike sling bag by Mr L..

Of coz not that door, but the carpet which is gift we made together for our home..

Wine rack made to us by our cousin - Robert...

2 pairs of H &M jeans by Mr L which is now under alteration, will reveal once complete..

Thats all folks and feel so good in receiving so many presents from Mr L...muuuackks !!!