DIY - Banana Cake

I think I am hyper today! Had accomplished many to-do tasks for myself, probably it was well started with the 7am morning walk at the lakeside park, walked to-from my house for the 1st time ever! The entire journey was err... 1km probably?

And so, I baked the 2nd cake for the day!

Learning from my past Banana muffin lesson, which was less moist. This time round I added more smashed banana! Texture was great, and it served well when it was still fresh from the oven. Based on this recipe, it had an idea of adding a layer of sliced banana + walnut, great! Not sure whether it will stays the same texture tomorrow morning.. hope so!

Here are the 'evidence'sss...

The other great accomplishment was -- my blog! Finally I'd pushed myself to start writing once again. :-) Weirdly, I found something strange too~!

DIY - Ginger Lemon Bun

Following the new look, I felt more enthusiast to update my blog. Indeed a different feeling, browsing through the calm blue look. Somewhat, the sunset picture still does not fully matches the feeling here. Anyway, I need to do more search, or rather more photography to capture the real moment I would wish to present here.

Kick started my baking project today. The new baking book has been with me for several months. I had never do anything about it, except tagging the 'wish-to-do' pages! It wasn't a good start though, the so-called bun was still edible. Tasted like an old ginger bread cookie, can't recall the cookie brand we used to take when we were young.

Here are the snap shots from the cook book, and the end product. Couldn't describe the taste well, hmmm... crunchy? tasty? spicy? oh well, I knew I missed out something after finished baking - it was an egg!! great ya, somewhat it did not meant much without it.

By the way, Purpledee now has many many books to read. Not sure what had happened to her these days, started to pick up reading. It was probably due to my lil cozy study cum relaxing place.

Excluding the free Ikea 2011 catalog, these were all my collection from Popular book store @ The Curve last mid-week public holiday.

Purple has turned blue...

Officially as at Nov 20, 2010, the joyful purple has now turned blue. Turning towards a new hope, new world, new me... Well, I am probably not a kind of person who could stay on with routine life, similar style, same rhythm throughout my life.

Thus, I took this opportunity to re-design my blog. I know.. it is not yet perfect, not to the extend of my expectation. At least there is some change, which could eventually lead me to write further (hope so!).

A little intro to the header picture attached above, it was taken from my recent trip back to my hometown, Labuan island. Love sunset!

Let's say bye to my old blog page here...

DIY - Kiwi Mocktail

Happened to learned this from a local Chinese newspaper yesterday. Since I have some kiwi fruits at home... it was a good time to try out some DIY fruity mocktail, type of non-alcoholic beverage. It was a quick try, with some preparations work in advance, it turned out to be a simple refreshing beverage on a hot and sunny afternoon.

Pictures below proofed it.... 3 kiwis for glasses of 4!

Here's what I got from ChinaPress newspaper Cuisine column. Believe they have yet upload the latest eNewspaper, if interested, you could check it out here in the next couple of days (provided you know Chinese).

The recipe (extracted from Chinapress)

重返天堂 （Drive to Heaven)

微带气泡， 充满奇异果香。

材料：
奇异果半粒，柠檬汁30毫升，糖水30毫升， 柠檬汽水100毫升，冰块适量。

做法：
将奇异果搅碎，加入柠檬汁，糖水，加冰块用雪克杯摇均匀，将满汽水即可。

Ingredient:
Kiwi 1/2, lemon juice 30ml, liquidated sugar 30ml, Pop Lemon (sparking lemon) 100ml, ice cubes

How to:
Blend or smash Kiwi, add lemon juice, sugar. Mix them in mocktail shaker. Add Pop Lemon to fill the glass.

Isn't it easy? Happy trying, if you find it interesting.

Living Life to the Fullest

2 posts in a row... with the head full of philosophy night. Well, it was unknowingly in a day which I was searching for a quote, co-incidentally noticed this.... thinking it is worth sharing with others, remind us how to live our life to the fullest !

This wiki page, listed 28 items on how to live life to the fullest. In wish I do recognize and agree almost 90% of all listed down there.

Visit here - > http://www.wikihow.com/Live-Life-to-the-Fullest

A few steps which I agree most, are as below... wishing I can fully implement those in my life, making it a perfect one :)

(Click to enlarge)

今天的你，开心吗？

I don't normally read books... but was somewhat inspirational lately with lots of reflections on own believe and life. Being the same time, I was introduced to this book. Rather simple to read (only to those whom knows Chinese). Further on, I am now able to type Traditional Chinese character... as I have been copying some eye-capturing words from the book.

Rather a good book to remind human being on the right path and track we should be heading towards, in a way meaningful life.

Here're some sayings, in Chinese....

不要想 '要怎麼滿足?', 而是想 '為甚麼我會有那麼多不滿?' -- Do not always think, how to get ourselves satisfied, but in a way should ask ourselves ' why is that we have so much unsatisfactory.

人常常期望別人按照我們的想法和標準來做事, 或是修正別人來符合自己的 '版本'。。。我們只要接受每個人本來的樣子, 那麼人與人之間就不會有相處的問題了！ -- We always expect others to follow our expectations and our way to present, expect others be the same as us... as long as we respect the differences others have, aren't that human could get along better, respectful of others?

* hee... I may not be good in such translation, especially with a disoriented mind now:P

Foods @ Kota Kemuning - A&J's Western Cuisine [closed]

Many restaurants had started their business here in Kota Kemuning. Over the years, there are some come and go, some stays, some news. However, food business here is not as good as in places like Puchong and so. Families here still prefers to stay home and dine in. Only light portion of working small families may choose to dine out most of the time. For me, I would preferably stay home and cook, trying out all kinds of healthy yet tasty cuisines.

Story short, as it was once a in blue moon, we will dine out. Here comes a new Western cuisine restaurant, just started their business about a month ago. A&J's Western Cuisine is their name.

Ambiance of the restaurant was just nice, a bit cozy. Accompanied with soft music. MOst important after all, it must serve good food. Though it can be pricey, I would say it does worth the price for some of the specialties food.

Here's some photos for your references.

The internal setup..

A starter - chef's designed; seems its a Western presentation + Chinese cuisine style. RM26 for 2 pax.

Juice - my ever favourite Apple + assam boi juice.

Soup - one of my meal; its wild mushroom soup was creamy and fresh! nice...

Others that we had - Lamp Chop (no picture) and my Ceaser's Salad (no picture), which smells added on with lemongrass as dressing.

Here's the address. GPS Coordinate : N3 00.358 E101 32.149