Our Carpe Diem Journey

'Nasi Goreng Rumah'

2008-07-24T16:40:00.008+08:00

You must wonder what is ‘Nasi Goreng Rumah’? Got this type of fried rice mer? Of course, as I fried the rice at home (hahaha!!!). That’s why it calls 'Nasi Goreng Rumah' (home fried rice). Hehe… ^.^

Maybe you also wonder, why I always cook at home…because I “too free” as I’m ‘not working outside’, so I become a “temporary housewife”. Haha! Ya, just temporary, and still under probation…

Since I was still a small girl, I like to play ‘masak-masak’ and my past 20 years, I seldom cook (actually, I only know how to cook Maggie mee…) poor thing… L

But, it is never too late to start or learn something new. At least, I started learning to cook now. Haha!

First of all, I have to cook rice. How to fry rice without plain rice? Funny…

I’m using Thai people recipe to cook rice since I don’t need to cook much rice. (YJ’s mummy taught me…hehe!)

Rice is cooked, now how to fry the rice? I tried before, it tasted terrible…I think I must ask my shifu (my mom) the secret of frying rice…hahaha!

After calling my mom, I started to prepare all the ingredients (plain rice, choy sum, chicken meat, fishcake, chicken nugget, eggs, sambal, garlic…

Here we start! Cut all the meat into small pieces so that it’s easier to cook (according to my mom’s experience). Okay, all done!

Before I start to fry rice, of course I fried the chicken nuggets until it become crispy. Oh ya, I also fried the anchovy until it become crispy. Preparation of ingredients is important to make the dishes delicious, right? :p

Ready to fry rice now! Add the oil into the wok after it’s hot, fry the garlic, then add in the choy sum, chicken meat, fishcake… And, add in the eggs, then add in the plain rice.

After the rice is cooked, I added in the salt, soya sauce, sambal…

Here’s the 'Nasi Goreng Rumah'! Looks delicious, isn’t it? Yummy…

Dare not try? :p

'MyWay' Sandwich

2008-07-23T15:01:00.003+08:00

Early in the morning, we feel like eating something fresh but really lazy to go out. So, we looked around in our freeze, see what can have for breakfast... Hmmm, there's eggs, tomato, cucumber, and chicken hams, so we decided to make sandwich as breakfast... (",)

We only took few minutes to prepare the ingredients... Cut the tomato and cucumber into pieces, fried the chicken hams and eggs... That's all (easy, isn't it? hahah!!!)

Oh ya, of course you have to toast the bread also...

Spread the toasted bread with sandwich spread, add in fried eggs, chicken hams, tomato and cucumber, you can add tomato sauce or chili sauce if you like. (",)

It's ready, 'MyWay' sandwich...

Mmmm... It's yummy!!!

Is this 'MyWay' sandwich attracts your appetite? Hopefully...hihi!!! (",)

She Should Not Live Like That, Poor Old Lady.

2008-07-22T19:52:00.002+08:00

Since there's nothing to eat at home already, so we (YJ's mom, his sister and I) went sundries shopping this afternoon at Jaya Jusco.

It just a normal sundries shopping at first, we walked around and took whatever necessary stuffs and foods. After we took everything necessary, we put our trolley at the closed cashier counter as we would like to have our dinner inside the Jusco's food court before we leaving.

After having dinner, we went back to our trolley location as we are going to pay. But, our trolley is missing. We looked around in the Jusco and it's really disappear.

We asked a security guard there and hope that he saw our trolley. He didn't saw our trolley, but he told us that our trolley might be taken by an old lady who always appear there and normally she'll put the stuffs back to the original places if she sees those trolleys are there.

We just wondered whether the security guard is telling us the truth or not... Suddenly, it happened just in front of us. The old lady is taking a basket of stuffs from a cashier counter, and putting all the stuffs to the original places. Wow, we really shocked!

She puts the things back to the places one by one. And, she seems so familiar with those things location. Some people is looking for their missing trolleys, and we are part of them... (",)

The old lady is so "efficient" as she has already put all our stuffs and foods back in just few minutes. So, we have to re-shop to get back those things.

Is she so lonely? Is she so free until nothing to do, but "helping" Jusco to "clear" people's trolleys? We just feel that she is so pity and wonder why she does that? She doesn't has family member? No one taking care of her? Why an old lady in her age who should just relax and plays with grandchildren at home doing this kind of thing? Why...?

Poor old lady, will we become like her one day? We hope this won't happen to anyone...

Would You Give Up in Life?

2008-07-21T15:06:00.005+08:00

There is sometimes we'll feel stress, upset, disappointed, unhappy, suffer and think negatively in life. Our life won't just go smoothly and nothing happen until the end...

When some problems happen, some people don't know what to do but just worry, some of them would like to escape from the problem and only face the problem when they have to... BUT, some of them are so brave and keep thinking the solution to solve or settle the problem. What kind of person you are? What would you do if you face something that make you disappointed?

"There is various kinda roads in life, roads taken and roads not taken... And, there is never a dead road, the greatest enemy to you is YOU! You decide whether to fall or rise... Anyhow, you still got a friend in me. Just wipe off all the past, and a brand new YOU shall be born today and shall I support you all the way, my friend!!!"

This phrase makes me awake that there's never a dead road when I were super duper down few years ago, and I really appreciated that ONE told me this...

Ya, there's sure have solution or way to settle the problem. Maybe it takes some time, but the problem sure can be settled if you believe that you can settle it!:p

Always remember... There's a wish, there's a way!

Never give up in life ya...(",)

Why They Fight?

2008-07-18T19:52:00.010+08:00

As you saw our previous post, you'll know that we have two cutie hamsters, ah fei & ah ham.

They used to be so loving and took care of each other as they are brothers...BUT now... they fight, and we have to separate them...so sad...:(

We just wonder why this pair of brothers suddenly fought one night. And, ah fei who is the fatter one was injured and bleeding.

Now, they are staying in different 'houses' so that they won't hurt each other anymore. We've been trying to put them together (as we like them to keep each other company so that they won't feel lonely) , but ah ham just have the urge to fight with ah fei, and ah fei is so scared of it and keeps 'screaming' for help, kesian him...

Oh ya, the reason we thought that ah fei was a girl is 'he' is so weak and has no strength in fighting . And, ah ham is so aggressive and we're sure that 'he' is a boy.

Why? Why they fight? It just happen so suddenly that we can't even expect this happen also...

Can someone let us know why they can't stay together peacefully? We really hope that both our "children" won't fight anymore...

They Just Appeared in Our Life

2008-07-15T15:13:00.006+08:00

Few months ago, these two little babies appeared in our life, and they became part of our family members... and they brought us joy and of course responsibilities. (",)

Here they are, An An and Le Le... but they are better known as Ah Fei (the fatty) and Ah Ham (the black color one).

This is Ah Fei. This fatty is quiet and shy. We thought he was a female as he was acting like a female (omg). Everyone loves him so much because he is fat and too cute. He doesn't move much if you putting him on your hand, and he just sits in your hand and let you caress him, sometimes until he falls asleep... hahaha!!!

And, this is Ah Ham. He is so active and never sits quietly. He always runs here and there, even putting him on your hand (omg). You must pay 100% attention on him as he runs very fast and never rests for even a minute...

Both of them are brothers, although their color are different (one 'follows' father and another one 'follows' mother). We're sure you'll like them if you see them, as everyone did.

Want to know more about them? Stay tuned!

A Cup of Coffee

2008-07-11T16:19:00.004+08:00

Do you like to drink coffee? Do you feel that the whole day will be spoilt if do not drink coffee? Yes, I'm...

I just feel that something less in my day is i don't drink coffee, I just don't have mood to do anything, I just feel sleepy, and my mind's blank...

So, I must drink a cup of coffee everyday. It has become my habit. I need coffee everyday (hehe...). If not, my whole day will be spoilt...

That's my lifestyle, simple... (",)

Simple and Nice Breakfast

2008-07-10T14:31:00.006+08:00

Would you feel bored if you eating the bread with peanut butter every morning? Would you want to try something different?

This morning, we were thinking what to eat? As there's so much bread left and going to expired... But, we really felt boring to eat the same meal every morning...

Erm, bread with mushroom soup, do you think this is a good idea? (At least, a bit different..hahaha!).

It only took few minutes to prepare the breakfast. We just toasted the bread, and cooked the mushroom soup.

It's ready...

Oh ya, remember to add some pepper into the mushroom soup so that the taste of the soup is better.

Just dipped the toasted bread into the soup, this's our breakfast. It can be yours also... (",)

Life's so simple, it just like preparing the breakfast... What so difficult? Take it easy, guys! ^.^

Ready in Minutes Dinner, Relieve You Believe It Or Not!

2008-07-06T19:18:00.005+08:00

Maybe you don’t believe that the dinner can be ready in minutes, so am I…especially cooking western steak.

Since Chef Val (that’s me, haha!) is new in cooking, for sure I’m cooking some easy dishes…

Since I just wonder whether want to go out for dinner or eat at home, hunk YJ’s mummy suggested me to cook steak as she has bought from Jaya Jusco – Chicken Chop Meal and Fish and Chips Meal.

It’s easy, just follow the instruction to cook…

First of all, I took out the frozen chicken, fish and French fries from the freeze. Once defrosted, I started frying it into the deep fryer…until it became golden brown (means already cooked).

Then, I boiled the mixed vegetables. Also, I heated up the sauce and poured over the chicken chop.

“Deng, Deng…it’s ready!” ... Ei, where're steaks???

Hahaha, don't worry! It's really ready...

We consumed our dinner while it’s hot, and the Tartar Sauce for the Fish and Chips.

I’m not bluffing, these meals are delicious. Maybe it can not be compared with steak outside, but it’s not bad. :p

It Is a Whole Eat Day

2008-07-04T21:37:00.006+08:00

Since my hunk YJ was free last weekend, so we went holidaying… And, he told me that holiday means “whole eat day” (only he can thought about it, really ‘sai lik’), so we must utilize this holiday in eating… Where should we start? Okay lah, we just started at south since my hometown is here (Gemencheh, a small town but harmony.) ^.^

“ HoLidaY = whoLe EaT dAY ”

So long time I didn’t go to Pasar Pagi at my hometown since I work at KL. It is quite enjoyable to walk along the Pasar Pagi and find something nice to eat. Maybe you’ll say,: cheh! Everywhere also got Pasar Pagi, even KL also has… What so special?

I know, BUT…just the difference lor (to me at least)…Besides other, the price of those stuffs and food are different, right? Absolutely! No wonder I always heard those adults said that things are cheaper here when I were a child. Now only I know why… Hahaha!

Few years ago, I like to shop those clothes, shoes, accessories stalls instead of food stalls, but now is just not the same already since my appetite become bigger, my attention is paying on those food stalls…this is good or not? Depends on what you think… :p

Yap, this’s the ice stall that selling ‘ai yu bing’, the ice with something like jelly and honey lime…it always attracts my attention and I must buy one to drink when I go to this Pasar Pagi. Why I like it? Erm, no reason, I just love it… (“,)

Next is, ‘Apam Balik’. You should know what is this if you are Malaysian, shouldn’t you? :p

Wow, so nice smell and make me just want to buy one to eat… And, I like to eat when it is still hot as it is more crispy…

And, the popcorn is not bad, if you do not compare with popcorn at cinema.

Don’t forget that the sweet corn is delicious also…Yummy!

You can try the ‘chai tao kueh’ (fried carrot cake) also if you like this food.

Haha, I’m sure you do know what is this stall selling, don’t you? It’s tidbits stall. The most famous stall for children and some adults like me, who don't like eating? :p

No matter Pasar Pagi or Pasar Malam, we must buy fruits, (If you know us better, as I told you before, fruits are good for health).

Yeah, holidaying (whole day eating, hahaha!). So, what were we done at the whole day? Of course were eating…

Life’s just so simple and nice. Remember, “Rest is the purpose of walking longer distance”. Just rest for a while if you are tired so that you won’t feel bored with the life. :p

The Healthiest ‘Liong Fun’ Dessert in the World! Maybe You Should Try...

2008-06-26T22:21:00.006+08:00

First of all, do you know what is ‘Liong Fun’ dessert? Actually, it’s jelly, just Cantonese people calling this dessert as ‘liong fun’…

It seems easy to make, I just took out the 'agar-agar' from the packet, then put it into the water. The mixture is boiled. Add sugar and coloring…that’s it! Pour the mixture into desired forms of containers (we like the leaf-shaped molds) It is as easy as A,B and C, right?

Yup, it looks delicious…

Why I said that this is the healthiest dessert that I have ever made? This is because…when I really tasted it, (alamak)…sugarless, not sweet at all! So shameful and embarrassing…My hunk YJ was laughing when he ate my ‘liong fun’…because he had to finish it even though it’s not delicious… (He scared I’ll get angry if he did not finish it, I think...haha!)

Why was it like that? I had already added so much sugar. I tasted it and it was sweet when it was still in the cooking process. Why was it still tasteless?

I asked my mom, she told me that even though it tasted sweet at the cooking point but we still need to add more sugar. When the jelly is refrigerated, the taste of the sugar will diminish if inadequate sugar is not added. (I think maybe the fridge is also a health-freak fridge, sensitive to sweet stuff, as a result 'he' took away the sugar...haha) No wonder la… Why? I dunno…

Okay, noted…mom! I’ll add more sugar next time, until it’s ‘super’ sweet so that it’s sweet enough after it is chilled. I hope I can do it better next time, gambate!

And YOU, take note also and don’t make the sugarless ‘liong fun’ dessert for your loved ones. Of course, he/she will finish it all although it’s tasteless. (Don't make them suffer so much okay?) Remember to add more sugar lor…(Unless you want to have a healthier life.):p

The simple cheesy life

2008-06-25T22:54:00.006+08:00

I could still remember. I read this book almost 10 years ago. That time life was of so simple. I did not have much worries or commitment. My Mum bought this book for me, "Who moved my cheese?", thinking that I was in crisis ( I wasn't believe me, I was so carefree, hahaha...)

10 years later, I've lost this book., somewhere in the 'maze' in my house I suppose. Well, fate has brought us together again. I got hold of this book again but this time it is not mine, I borrowed from my friend. I did search the Internet for synopsis of the story. Yes, I admit. I want the 'short-cuts'. I know I am lazy.

Somehow, the simple little book yet powerful book by Dr.Spencer Johnson has done wonders again for me. During this period of critical times, our country is truly undergoing a lot of unwanted, unpredictable and disheartening changes. Hence, this little book has helped me through this ordeal.

I am not getting any richer each day. The petrol hike, food price increment and current inflation state has put me into the 'maze' in life. I felt suffocated and 'angry' at times because I am not Mr.Rich until I remember the virtues and lessons from the 'cheesy' book. Somehow, the simplicity of this book has reminded me of the 'blessings' I might get or count during this painstaking period, a time where I have put in more effort than ever.

Seriously, I am not a book-lover. This book is really worth having. The content should be read and appreciated by individuals. Share with me what you've learned after you've read the book, will you? I 'd love to have people sharing with me how the book has benefited them. Good luck in handling the instability faced in this country. We are on the same boat. Break a leg.

Food at BTS Big Apple - by Hunk Yj (more to Hulk la..)

2008-06-23T17:16:00.003+08:00

Hi, I am the hunk YJ that my gf has always been mentioning about. In fact, I am really lazy to write blog. Before that, I wish to clarify, I am no hunk at all, just as my gf keep “promoting” about me. I am more to “hulk” I suppose.

I like eating, eating and eating. My ‘size really does matter’ but I can’t stop eating. I am really the ‘eating’ version of rat-a-too-ee but I ‘suck’ in cooking. Life is ‘fair’ I think. At least I have a tongue that can differentiate between heavenly good delicacies and atrocious food.

Recently, I had my meal at this restaurant. I had eaten there before many times and I wasn’t satisfied with the food served. (no choice, as this is one of the cheapest buffet around, haha..) But now, things have changed. I feel that the food is getting much better.

I am starting to enjoy this buffet. (I am loving it, papapapa…’M’ or should I call it I am loving it, “dad, dad, dad, dad”) At least my gf enjoyed almost all of the delicacies. Sit back and enjoy the ‘drooling’ shots. This is the first time I am blogging about food (of course after being hit by missiles of reiterated bugging from my adorable GF). Hope that I did not write anything ‘offensive’, hehehe….

Having the Longest Hi-Tea

2008-06-23T15:49:00.009+08:00

So enjoyable and good life if we can go to enjoy the hi-tea once in a while.

Yesterday, Val and YJ went to have their brunch – the longest Hi-Tea at Big Apple Restaurant, Timesquare Hotel.

Lift to the “Food Heaven”...

We like to have buffet as there are many varieties of food in buffet. So, we can try all of the food there. Yummy, can try whatever and not just stick to one dishes (boring sometimes..ehh).

Here is the way going to the Big Apple Restaurant. Looked like a long way but the restaurant is just at the other site… haha!

Yeah, we reached!:p

First of all, sure Val and YJ stepped to the fruits corner (always do) as eat fruits 10 minutes before meal is good for health. The vitamin can be totally absorbed into our body. Haha, we should take care of our health besides having good meal, shouldn’t we?

Also, I had some assorted fruit as appetizer (my favourite).:p

Okay, after looked all over the food corners, here’s what we had...chai tao kueh, seafood tom yam, sate, pasta, popiah, roasted chicken, prawn mee, keropok lekor, bread, cakes, etc… Yummy!!! :p

Can you imagine, we had 3 hours brunch. It was a Sunday, so we can just enjoy eating.

Of course, the ice-cream was the ‘must’ as desert. Which flavour will you choose?

Also, I had ‘ice-kacang’ and longan as desert. I love desert!!!

After having so many varieties of food and desert, both of us were full…until can’t walk anymore…so satisfy with this brunch... Haha!!!

Ya, since we have to work whole the time in weekdays, so just enjoy and relax on your weekend is not a bad idea, don’t you think so?! You should indulge yourself sometimes…

Cooking La Pasta Mushroom & Herb

2008-06-21T16:24:00.007+08:00

Unbelievable, I started cooking! Love’s so magical, isn’t it? Haha…

First time I cooked western food, dunno whether can eat or not, a bit nervous... And, this is my cooking area...

Because this’s my starting point for cooking, of course I chose the easiest dishes to cook, instant dinner (La Pasta Mushroom & Herb), won’t failed and let the beloved disappointed.

I stirred the packet contents into water, low fat milk and butter. Then, I mixed well all the mixer and cooked on high for 8 minutes uncovered, stirring once or twice in the microwave.

After a few minutes, smell getting nicer (not bad, ha!), I can’t wait to taste it already, my first pasta meal. Really excited!

Wow, so easy and fast, no wonder why it called instant la. Here’s our dinner today. Delicious or not, dear? Not bad huh? hehe…

Cooking is not so difficult; I think I can cook again. Maybe I’m not a good cook but at least what I cook can eat gua…ngmm…yummy also mar!

Hunk YJ is so “hang fook” as Val cooks for him; only for him ler...isn’t he? I felt so, haha!

Two People from Different World Met...

2008-06-12T16:20:00.000+08:00

People always say: this world’s so small (we should believe, it’s real).

How the small town girl Val met her hunk, YJ in the big city? Maybe you’re not interested to know, but the story is starting from… (Not fresh at all but it’s truth, give some face to listen a bit pls…hehehe…tq!)

First met, she saw this cutie boy is cycling at her hostel area. What her first thought was: Wow! Why got university student cycling in this era? Funny…

One day, she found that he was her friend’s coursemate (I told you this world is small.), that’s how they got to know each other. Starting by became friend, greeting only at first, went out on friends’ birthday parties and gathering, then getting closer and closer as both have a lot of things to share and chit chat to (so, they knew each other’s past very well, dunno whether good or bad. Ai, know too much liao, what to do…).

Sometimes, we really can not don’t believe faith. There’s always amazing things happen in this world. Yes, this is why the firework burned between Val & YJ. They came from the different places, backgrounds, and lifestyles. But, both of them found that they have the same topic to talk to. And, most important is they have the same hobby – eat and enjoy life (just like “yi sai chou” hor? Haha!!), but not in sports as YJ loves sports but not Val, she only loves sleeping (can become pretty mar, she thought..omg).

We might meet the wrong one before we meet the Mr. / Miss Right. So, don’t ever give up easily as it’s just a test that you should overcome, and then only you’ll meet the ONE. And, this is how Val met YJ (ppl said ngm zai si). It’s hard to tell you as this’s a feeling; you’ll know when you meet your one.

P/S: Val really thank god that she met her one, hunk YJ. He always there when she was down and felt lonely and hopeless of life. This city boy really makes her feel happy in life (of course la, eat and enjoy life so often), try a lot of things that she never try before, know a lot of things and most important, what is call life!

Joining the 'herd'.

2008-06-11T18:17:00.000+08:00

First of all, thanks for viewing and reading our blog. We appreciate as you’re 'giving face' to new people here. Thank you very muchi…hehe!!

Yes, we’re new and finally we have our own blog. It isn't anything special but we surely keep it personal and memorable. This blog belongs to Val & YJ. (hehe…) finally we started!!

Creating a blog is quite new to us as we aren't any computer savvy people. We are just starters unlike others who have been blogging as much as they eat, hahaha...

We believe that it is never too late to start or learn something new. And we are the ones who always procrastinate but as long as we try and do something, wonders may happen, hehehe.. Yes, we are trying...

VAL : As my hunk SWEETHEART always tell me: “keep simple thing simple”. So, don’t care so much la, just write WHATEVER regardless the 'outcome'…Life should be simple, so don’t think too much or make things complicated.

For your information, both Val and YJ like to eat, drink, travel around and enjoy life together. I think most of the people do the same (not only us , hehe...). As we all know, life’s so short. Work, studies and enjoyment should come hand in hand. We should be living happily without any regrets eventually, shouldn’t we?

So, we will bring you to various interesting places. No matter where we are, certainly we will take you with us.

Stay tuned ya...