Ox-picious start to 2009

Have been battling the dreaded sore throat,cough and flu bug(the works) for almost a week and the worst thing is thatI have yet to start on the new year goodies!All the pineapple tarts, sugee cookies, kueh lapis ...

Throughout the few days of feasting, all I could do was stare at the spread before me and take photos (how sad right).But strangly enough, I still DID NOT lose any weight.. sigh...

Hopefully I will recover by tomorrow else my weekends are so gonna be burnt!!

Pineapple Tart Frenzy

I was on the verge of giving up baking pineapple tarts (after trying 2 different recipes) when I chanced upon a winning formula from my colleague ..yippee!!

Only problem now is how to make them look prettier!!Hahaha..

My first try was pretty ok but lack the milky taste to it so that failed my own test. The second try was by following a recipe on the Sunday Times and it was really bland ... Dad even had to suggest spreading peanut butter on it (to make it more edible???!!) ...

So it was with much anticipation that I embarked on my third (and final) try and lo & behold, it turned out to be what I like ..the melt in your mouth texture...yummy...

Ok, I admit, I cheated.I had to "bug" my colleague to ask her mum for the recipe after tasting one of her yummy pineapple tarts...hehehe

Watching them is a joy ...
What else can you do while waiting right ? Pose lor...hehehe

My not-so-round pineapple tarts

I love these 贺词 ... fun!

一帆风顺、

二龙腾飞、

三羊开泰、

四季平安、

五福临门、

六六大顺、

七星高照、

八方来财、

九九同心、

十全十美、

百事亨通、

千事吉祥、

万事如意!!!

I am a trainer's nightmare

Have you ever attended a training and came out of the class totally dumbfounded ?Well it was exactly how I felt today after Day 1 of training. Granted, it was an enjoyable session, trainer was pretty eloquent and engaging,but I was struggling real hard to make the connection between what was taught and the course objectives. Tek boleh match sia ...sigh ....

I "endured" all the way till the end of the class before I could no longer hold my horses and charged ... err... strolled cooly more likely, to the trainer, flashed my innocent grin and then went for the kill ...muahahaha ..and said, "After an entire day of training, I am still UNABLE to see the connection of the content with the OBJECTIVEs ....blah blah blah ....as HR (though me participant only) need to ensure that money is well invested in effective course with real application ...blah blah blah .... "

This obviously was kind of a shocker to the trainer cos by that time, all of his other "students" have gleefully scooted out of the room (of cos what, ended at 5pm),except this joker.

So the next 10 min was spent trying to flip through the handbook (which was like not used 90% of the time while teaching)to show me where the course objective was and trying his level best to convince me of the indirect linkage of all that was taught.

At the end of our conversation, I was none wiser and even more pissed (which resulted in this entry) with the far fetch concept that was presented.

Maybe it is an occupational hazard (to constantly evaluate trainers), maybe it is just me with my high expectations , or maybe , probably maybe, the trainer just happen to be "suay" to meet me with my Monday Blues .

One takeaway though .. I am an ENTP type under MBTI profile ....will that give a clue why I am such a nightmare ?hahahaa

Black Forest Gateau for Mum's Birthday

My first attempt at baking a Black Forest Cake for Mum's Birthday.

Though it is not visible in the photo, there are layers of cherries and cream in between which is the most difficult part to do ...hehehe..


I do hope that it will turn out yummy .... = )

Lemon Meringue Pie Cupcake

After my success with the Chocolate Chip Muffins, I decided I HAD to buy the same series of cookbook but this time round, it was cupcakes and I finally bought it 2 days back!

So it was with great enthusiaism that I gathered all my ingredients and started work on what SEEMED to be one of the easiest recipe.. the Lemon Meringue Pie Cupcake. I mean, how difficult can it be right, just squeeze some lemon juice, throw in some lemon rind and hey presto, my cupcake is done!

I was soooooo wrong !!!What started out as a quick baking therapy soon became a test of preserverance as I squeeze and grated and mixed and cooked and whipped and beat into a 3.5hr marathon.Yes, exactly! I must be out of my mind and what's more incredulous was that I started at 10.30pm and ended at 2am (hahaha... told you I was mad)

So, here are the fruit of my labour (pardon the amateurish look yah ).. The Lemon Meringue Cupcake！！！

Sand's Birthday Celebration