All Things Pretty & Weird

When was the last time milk arrived in glass bottles?

I usually don't purchase organic things because of the hefty price but this one I could not resist because it was too cute...and I'm a sucker for pretty packaging so I had to buy it. The milk tasted like milk, a bit watery but then all skim milk are not creamy (Except for Zymil). This bottle is now serving as a water container ^^ So nothing is put to waste.

We were over the moon 1.5 months ago to discover a nest with 2 eggs in our backyard. I would go visit the mama bird daily...watch her while she nests her eggs and coo away. Daddy bird was also present but he perches away on a tree nearby.... I managed to take a picture of the two birds (pigeons...i think) up on our chimney roof. You'd have to look closely for the second bird.

But.....tragedy occured.....Evil possums came at night and ATE the eggs.... I HATE POSSUMS

Pretty cherry blossom trees

Taken while we were on our way to Falls Creek for a ski getaway weekend.

It was the end of winter... but there was still some snow

Whilst we are on the theme of pretty flowers..

Chrysanthenum flowers in a teapot....floating away...like little fairies

(occasionally u'll find little black insects)....eeww

And now for the UGLY post...

Guess what this is?

..

..

..

..

Its an EGG VOLCANO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pre-Christmas Party @ Home

No Christmas is complete in this household if we do not take silly Muffin pics.

Muffin is such a poser...so it seriously was an easy task.

We had a Pre-christmas dinner at home with a couple of good friends...and guess what we whipped up?

Steamed Scallops in XO sauce....very chinese style

Followed by the palate cleanser of the night...chilled summer soup

(Movida-style)

Christmas Salad

Asparagus, cherry tomatoes, bocconcini cheese with the most interesting dressing but it was lovely (yellow beans, spanish onion, cabernet vinegar, ginger stem in syrup)

Beef wellington wrapped in Parma Ham, mushrooms and puff pastry

Crumbed baby carrots served with home made garlic aioli....

Finished with Greek Yoghurt filled with berries and glazed with homemade toffee...crunch crunch

Studying has turned Van into....

Someone with a BIG nose, short teeth, wide-eyed alien

Oh wait, there's more..... Now she has Blubber lips...

And turned into a cutesy, nerdy, 4-eyed asian.....

I'm camwhoring...(think the Codral is making me go cuckoo in the head)

Spring Time

Its my 3rd day into mid-term break...but its only my 1st day of a 'real' break.

Finally I get to sleep in but that is only til 8.50... the phone rang...

Oh well, I needed to wake up and do some household chores + STUDY... (how terrible)

Studying is boring...but tea-break time is LOVELY!

Checkout the chocolate cupcake (from Melb central) and my de-caf latte...mmMMmm ...

I haven't been blogging for some time...and its not because I was too sad due to Jacko's death. There just hasn't been anything too interesting. I haven't been cooking much....my mum was visiting from Malaysia so she did all the yummy cooking. I'm sorry I forgot to take photos of her cooking...but I miss being pampered by her. I'd come home and there was lunch/dinner and even breakfast at 7.15 am. Mums are lovely....

Gone Too Soon

~by Michael Jackson

(This song sums up MJ's life....)

Like A Comet
Blazing 'Cross The Evening Sky 
Gone Too Soon

Like A Rainbow
Fading In The Twinkling Of An Eye
Gone Too Soon

Shiny And Sparkly
And Splendidly Bright
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like The Loss Of Sunlight
On A Cloudy Afternoon
Gone Too Soon

Like A Castle
Built Upon A Sandy Beach
Gone Too Soon

Like A Perfect Flower
That Is Just Beyond Your Reach
Gone Too Soon

Born To Amuse, To Inspire, To Delight
Here One Day
Gone One Night

Like A Sunset
Dying With The Rising Of The Moon
Gone Too Soon

Gone Too Soon

A sad day....

Michael Joseph Jackson

The King of Pop

1958-2009

Will do a proper blogpost on my music idol soon

Rest in Peace Michael.

The Cold Nights

The past few weeks have been wayyyy too cold for me. 

Thank goodness for the clever inventions of:

i)  Electric blankets/fitted sheets

ii) Mini-heaters

iii) Knitted wool socks

I don't know how I'd live without these few objects through winter......

Don't you think my woolie socks look warm? mmMMmm. It keeps my toes warm at night after i've switched off the heated sheets..... and they never fall off in the middle of the night...

Breakfast - with New Gadget

Ever since I laid my eyes on this UFO looking egg poacher/cooker I knew I had to get it. It was just the cutest thing ever! 

It had legs, wings, a tail, and it tweets when the eggs are done.

It came with 2 free egg cups too! Bonus!

Eating soft boiled eggs brought back lots of childhood memories. Most of you would know that I hate eating egg yolks (especially runny ones). I never order poached eggs, always scrambled. Mum used to have to force me to finish my soft boiled eggs...and I'd do it by adding lashings of soya sauce to it...so that I could only taste the soya sauce..and not the eggy suphur smell.

Things haven't changed after 20 ++ years. I'm still adding soya sauce.... love it to bits. I'm so Asian... At least I am eating egg yolks.... I'm only eating it because of the goodness of eggs...

New Kitchen - New Gadget

Joe moved into his new accommodation roughly 2 months ago. It seriously needed kitchen appliances to make it a home...

We took advantage of Myer's Mid-season Sale on the weekend to get him a coffee machine. Nespresso was doing a 15% discount plus $50 cashback. Thats pretty good. Also, there was a new range of Delonghi machines called the Citiz range...and its supposed to be shaped like skycrapers...long and skinny.. unlike my machine 'Le Cube' which is cube-y in shape...

We also got a fridge/freezer unit from the country town's Retravision....which got delivered the next day! These country people are very efficient! Delivery and installation was free too! 

Now my hubbie's kitchen is complete. 

Actually, he needs a wok or sautepan too....That'll be my next shopping trip then.. I'm thinking some Le Creuset pots..hmmmm....haha...NAH!!

Happy Easter!

(Can't let the rabbit getaway during Easter even though I don't know why the rabbit plays a role on this day. We should be remembering the true reason behind Easter, the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection and a new life for all sinners)

Been indulging in wayyyyyy too much chocolates..

I'm loving these chocolates nowadays:

- E-Royce's Chocolate Amande (especially the dark choc coated)

- Valrhona 70% Grand Cru (thx u Yi for the luxurious chocs!)

 

Eggs are used on Easter as a symbol of new life...and I was given free eggs from my butcher! Yayness to the max! It was no ordinary egg...it was Kangaroo Island Free Range Eggs. They cost $6.20 doz. I usually either buy these or the South Gippsland Free Range Eggs. I know there's always the debate on whether to buy Free Range or not.... Cost is a big issue...and also the animal cruelty part... but these Kangaroo Island eggs are HUGE, their shells are a paler shade...and their yolk are really orangey! 

The butcher cut off half the carton cos he gave me 1/2 a doz eggs

Check out these eggs!!! Can you spot which is the odd egg (none Kangaroo Island)

 

To finish off, this came in the mail the other day from Yi....

My Easter package! Filled with gourmet chocolates (Valhrona and Simon & Johnson)

- the lego dog is so cute....

- pity the wrapping paper tore (bad postman)

Happy Easter everyone....

Melbourne International 

Flower & Garden Show

It was a rainy day and three girls ventured to the Carlton gardens..

We walked about looking at displays..

Laughing and giggling at silly things..

Got 3 pots of free flowers from the Mitre 10 man..

They are currently living in my kitchen sink..

Will get them a potted home soon..

 

Had to satisfy my corn craving..

I knew I had to get them after bypassing 2 stalls

Even though it was $4 each!!!

Where in Melbourne can one get such a view? 

    

It is none other than our Eureka tower!

I was up there (Skydeck) on the 14th March partaking in the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival event called "The Last of the Summer Wines and a basket full of Stone Fruits" at the Eureka 89 restaurant. It was a belated birthday /Joe finishing his GP exam dinner. 

  

We didn't do the touristy thing of going into the viewing block that zooms in and out....because we were actually on the upper level.... but the lift ride up to the 88th or 89th floor was SCARILY fast..... The lift actually required several attempts to close its door and bring us up due to the strong wind draft!!! 

Its been a while since i last made an entry of foodie things. 

So Feast up! (I'll try my best to remember what they were)

Roaming appetizers - Can't remember

There was a Quail Starter dish - but i think we forgot to take a picture (or i misplaced it)

Fish = Hapuka with apricots, tapioca pearls (smaller than those from Lucky Cup!) with some pansy which I ate also. It was so-so.....

Pork - Joe said "My wife can do a better pork than this"

It was some slow cooked pork with nectarine....but it was pretty dry. I think if some old guy with saliva deficiency ate it, he might have choked and died on Eureka tower! It'll make frontpage of The Age newspaper.

Dessert - probably the best dish of the night

Its peach with crumbled biscuity thing..served with cream??? 

Maybe because the chef had to prepare 80 - 90 serves of the same food that night, that they couldn't control the quality of the food....

It wasn't a truly nice dinner.... the view was good though!

I probably wouldn't go there again.... 

So my review for Eureka 89 = So So only....

Another Year Older, another year wiser? 

(cake from my dental buddies from Brunneti's)

Turned 28!! What more can I say? Time is cruel...but it hasn't been that bad towards me. Changes I've noticed since I'm no longer 21 (i.e getting OLD) include:

1) Lower metabolic rate 

    (i.e get chubby faster)

2) Need to sleep earlier 

    (battery runs out after midnight)

3) Liking the colour red

    (i use to complain to mum why she likes red so much...think when u get older, the cells in  your brain 

   tells you to pick RED stuff) Hence the recent purchase of the red chicken, the red laptop case, 

    red pencil case, hmm i should stop here)

4) Enjoying going for walks with the dog after dinner 

    (ease digestion)

5) Going to the butcher on weekends 

    (and becoming friends with the guy that sells me meat)

6) Nagging the husband about leaving his socks everywhere except in the laundry basket

7) Remembering the price of fruits at different supermarkets

8) Loving to have fresh flowers at home

9) Getting excited about Kitchen gadgets

10) I shall stop here...

So what did Van do on her birthday?

- went up to Colac on Friday (day before before) to visit the hubby (bringing some Koko Black chocolates for him, but i ate 50% of the chocs while waiting for him in the library). I can't believe I ate in the library. Such a rebel! All those years being the school librarian and eventually the Head Librarian in primary school has taught me nothing... I guess all i wanted was just to wear that Gold badge. Can't believe I thought it was COOL to be a librarian then.... Now that I think back, its so geeky, nerdy... and so me :)

- drove back to Melbourne on birthday and spent the night at cousin David's engagement dinner. We didn't do anything because the hubby is busy preparing for his GP exams.

- Sunday, the day after my birthday. The hubby said he'll take me to my favourite breakfast place (Porgies and Mr Jones). 

I said, "OK, but I bought Ricotta and was going to make us some ricotta hotcakes. Lets just eat home, don't need to waste money laaa"

Hubby replied, "Its your birthday!!! I'll take you there."

I answered, "I'll get changed then"

My phone rang 10 mins later, and it was from a friend in Sydney and below are our conversation. (Stef, Joe, Me)

"Hey Missy, happy belated birthday. R u there yet?"

"What do you mean am I there yet? I'm at home la. Where am I supposed to be?"

"Aren't you supposed to be at Porgies?"

"How did you know?" .... "OHHHHHHHHH"

"OH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO....... I thought you'd be there by now"

"JOEEEEEEEEEEE, i think you might want to speak to Stef"

"STEFFFFFFFFFFF!!!! Ok, now I can tell her to hurry up since its no longer a surprise"

"Fai Di La.... people are waiting!"

"Thank you lou gungggg... I Heart You"

Surprise Numbah 2 came yesterday, three days after my birthday.

- my uni buddies Hannah and Chrystella made a pact to go watch Slumdog Millionaire at the Moonlight Cinemas @ The Botanical

- Hannah mentioned during lunch

" Lets catch dinner before watching Slumdog, ok?"

" Ok, I feel like having Pho"

" Hmm Lets have pizza at this place on Faraday St called D.O.C, Chrystella said its pretty good"

" Ok, whatever"

When we got there,

"How did Lincoln know we're here for dinner? And even Noor is here!!"

"I booked a table for 8 people"

"Hannah, you booked a table???"

"Its your Birthday Dinner!!!!"

I heart you all!!!!

Thank you everyone for giving me such a fantastic birthday! 

And there are my lovely lovely lovely presents. Think I'm spoilt now..... 

 

Hanna's Homemade Rumballs (without any rum)

 

The beautifully wrapped present form Yi (weighed a few kilos!!) and contained a library of cookbooks

Sweet smelling Lychee flower body butter from Louise

 

Romantic vintage roses and an inspirational book from Stef. 

(Stef, if you're reading this, You being in Melbourne was the surprise)

(Stef, Enjoy Italy, send us a postcard ok?)

Fragrant Eucalypt serving board from the Khoos

(You didn't forget that we wanted one after we saw yours!)

So what did the hubby get me?

He got me my MacBook Air Yay!!!!! It was a combined Valentine's and Birthday pressie. I am such a spoilt wifey.... Who doesn't like being spoilt by your loved one? I don't mind at all..... :)

Hyacinths & Chicken

These are the two things that I absolutely adore

Hmm besides the other million things that seem to reduce my bank balance

Few things about me:

1) I love eating chicken

2) I don't like eating lamb stuff

3) I'm scared of porky smell (thats why always buy female pork)

4) Beef...must be cooked til its BURNT...no blood please.

5) Love flowers...except smelly ones (i.e very few...maybe only stargazers)

6) Love flowers (did i already mention it?)

I stumbled across this beautiful/dangerous shop in Auburn 2 weeks ago. I call it a BLACK shop because once you step into the shop, your nose is filled with the most enchanting smell of lavender, bergomet, camomile, etc etc..and I'm certain a spell was cast on me because money flew out of my purse not long after..... but I was a happy....even though i was a few bucks poorer.

The shop is called Handmade @ 134 Auburn Road, Auburn. Will remember to post pictures of any items I purchase from there. 

This Chicken thing I bought from there is actually a door stopper. Its made from some suede-flannel like material, and its filled with lavender, camomile and all things nice. I can't bear it sitting on the floor (just in case my dog decides he wants to pee on it) so I've placed it on our chinese round dining table with my Hyacinths. Note the teapot doubling as a vase! The chicken comes in a smaller size, and different colours...for the pantry...to ward off any moths or pesty insects. 

Oh and lunch/dinner this week was Grilled Cha-su with cold Soba noodles + miso soup. I made enough to last me two dinners and two lunches. I was pretty sick of it after that....... 

Sorry about taking so many pics starring the Chicken

Will upload my birthday post soon!!

 

Feeling Bamboo-ie

A few weeks ago....right after returning from our trip overseas, I was craving for home cooked food hence I decided to cook something homey....

I whipped out the Bamboo steamer that I bought last year but never really used (except for steaming Paos)....and went out to buy some ingredients to cook a scrumptious meal for the hubby and I.

Lo and behold I present to you........

Steamed Blue Eye with Black Beans...

(Before Steaming)

I know its very Chinese...but I AM of CHINESE background..

Fermented Black Beans were used.....not the pre-prepared black bean sauce things you buy from the supermarket....so I wasn't cheating..... and I had spring onions lying underneath the fish too......

Anyone interested in getting the recipe? HHaha