CMCO Day 140 ~ Tuesday, 29 October 2020

Sherilyn's CMCO Main Masak-Masak in the kitchen the past few days yielded these:

1. Orange tarts - she claimed that it's not 100% successful as the pastry cream failed. Thus, she can't sell the tarts. We all loved the tart and walloped the tarts anyways. She's just overly persnickety when it comes to all her bakes. 

2. Orange curd tarts

3. Orange frangipane tarts

4. Keto egg rolls - she made this just to finish up the egg whites used in her bakes

5. Gimbap - she made this for dinner because we ordered Yomei's purple rice yoghurt for dinner and she cringed at the thought of eating chewy rice mixed with cold yoghurt 😆

Since the CMCO is extended, we're going to be guinea pigs to more of her new recipes and creations 😁.  Oh my poor hands, having to clean up after her!! 😖

Orange tart that Sherilyn claimed failed as the pastry cream didn't turn out well.

Orange tart cake before the aesthetic works. I actually prefer this plain sans any cream or elaborate decor. 

Orange Frangipane tart, which is a smaller version of the above.

Orange curd and orange curd tart.  This is a mouthwatering bold and extremely flavorful tart, made from fresh oranges.  Free-range chicken eggs were used to prep the orange curd. 

She may deny it, but this girl secretly loves playing with pastry dough and decorating all her bakes! 

Orange tart with fresh orange slices, crushed pistachios and fresh orange fluid gel.

After days of slogging in the kitchen, our teenage chef plopped herself on the couch and KO-ed at 8pm.😆.  Her grandma, dad and I couldn't wake her up for her shower but she eventually woke up hours later and had a late shower.

 

Lunch of Mee Siam and Ayam Gulai from hubby's shop.

The Ayam Gulai is really delicious and spiciness level is just perfect for everyone at home. Alycia who can't stomach spicy food enjoyed this chicken thoroughly.   

If you have a hankering for chicken curry, this is the quintessential dish.  It's cooked with a generous amount of freshly blended healthy and aromatic herbs with the creaminess of fresh coconut milk.  This dish is luxuriant and mind-blowingly delish. Pairs well with rice or meehoon or dunk in your sourdough bread, white bread, pau, mantou, whatever to mop all the sauce up. Guaranteed not a drop of sauce will be left!

Drooling already? Order some to sample from Catermate.😁

Super Soft Souffle Pancakes

MCO = 'main masak-masak' in the kitchen for our in-house teenage chef since she's house-bound and has no where to channel her overflowing energy and creativity.

Sherilyn has now perfected her skills in making sublime souffle pancakes that's uber soft, pillowy, airy and fluffy. They're the best I've tasted thus far. And dishing them out seems to be a no-brainer for her.  The pancakes are so good that I encouraged her to sell them so that people could taste how good her pancakes are but she said it's a tricky business as the pancakes will deflate if they're not eaten immediately.  True that.

Yesterday Sherilyn used up a lot of egg yolks to make orange Frangipane tart and orange custard. Today she utilized the whites to make souffle pancakes.  Several days ago she prepped fresh orange juice agar-agar so that she could make Fresh Orange Fluid Gel to go with the souffle pancakes.  I've never heard of what orange fluid gel is until educated by Sherilyn today  😆. Gosh, it's such a delicate and cumbersome process making it! 

The Frangipane tart is still resting in the fridge. Later she'll decorate it with fresh orange slices. Sherilyn wants to try selling the Frangipane tart in a Flash Sale.  I told her that Flash Sale is for selling something at a dirt cheap price and there's no way she could sell slices of Frangipane tarts at a dirt cheap price as she used up my expensive organic almond flour, organic unbleached flour,  kampung eggs and almost 10 oranges to produce the tart! 🤨  Throw in the electricity and water costs and the kitchen wet wipes I used to clean the greasy tops and floor!

Biting into the souffle pancake feels like biting into a pancake cloud as it's oh. so. soft.

CMCO Day 133 ~ Tuesday, 19 October 2020

What I learned from this shitty pandemic is that everyone must have a stash of substantial savings in their bank(s) for rainy days and unexpected misevents like Covid-19.  Most business owners (including hubs) whom I know who are impacted financially by this unexpected black swan event are now surviving on their savings. But how much can you have in your coffer to stay afloat for almost a year of severe interruption in your business?  And we're not even certain if the pandemic will get any better or worse next year.  We all know that money can be exhausted in a blink of an eye and recouping it may take ages.

The pandemic and partial lockdown started in March this year and we're now 8 months into this pandemic and economic fallout.  A couple of months ago, we saw some light and thought it was nearing the end of the tunnel but the light faded away leaving us groping in the dark again. We're back to square one again. Back to ground zero.  Many businesses built over the decades crumbled almost overnight under the weight of economic hardship brought on by the shitty pandemic. I've seen almost a dozen of businesses in our residential area fold  during the MCO, including my friend's eatery.  Today when I brought Sherilyn to a nearby gadget shop to get new earphones (for online classes), I saw a few more shops shuttered for good 😓

This pandemic is deja vu. I used to have recurring nightmares of running away in fear and trepidation in a war or some kind of unrest in my dreams. And now we're really in a war, which I call  World War III, fighting an invisible enemy.  

If you still have a full-time job with no pay cut, you are considered the lucky few and you really have to give thanks to God everyday for the blessings.  This shitty pandemic has really been horrible for a lot of businesses and employees.  It's been so bad that a lot of Malaysians out there are reportedly negatively affected.   A Jobstreet survey has shown that nine out of 10 Malaysians have been impacted by the pandemic, with 48 per cent of employees saying that they have experienced negative impact on remuneration and salary 😢

During this time of uncertainty, losing a job hits harder because the world doesn’t even know what the next step is going to be. You won't even know if you're going to be the next positive case.  The mental and emotional effects of losing a job or having your income slashed considerably can feel very similar to the grief process.  But like I've mentioned before, when one door is closed, try to seek another door and when you find it, open it and seek opportunities. Never give up and feel dejected. And I am reminding myself and hubs everyday, although we both feel crushed.   Look at each day as an opportunity and foster the mindset to continue moving toward your goal of finding a job or seeking new opportunities in tough times amidst the pandemic.

My baby brother came on Friday last week to pass me Cass' eye drops. Cass has finished her bottle of atropine eye drops for her myopia for almost two months.  With shopping malls around the Klang Valley hit badly by Covid-19, I've been avoiding shopping malls. As my brother had to meet doctors at ISEC @ Mid Valley, he helped me get the eye drops and refused to accept payment from me.   That's what siblings are for.  Thanks baby 💓.  This is what we call him as he's the baby of the family and at 43, we still call him baby 😁

My brother was worried of passing any Virus to me as he'd been to several hospitals including ISEC, so he left the bag of eye drop on the granite slab and told me to keep a distance from him 💓

Home Quarantine Cooking

Even before the CMCO was announced on Monday afternoon, I had already kept Sherilyn at home for a week as she was feeling a tad under the weather. She had been having very late nights lately to complete projects and her health has taken a hit from the lack of sleep.  Over the past few weeks, there were a few Covid positive cases in three condos  in our residential area. One of Sherilyn's teachers and classmates stay in one of the condos, though not from the same block as the Case.  A couple of days before the CMCO was announced, almost everyone from her class skipped school.  I also didn't allow Cass to go to school a few days before the CMCO was announced. She wasn't very happy as she doesn't like to stay home all day without having anything to do. 

Since she's got so much free time at home, Sherilyn made Tempura prawns, pumpkin, mushrooms and lady's fingers. Tempura is something that she's always wanted to try making and what better time than now?  Home quarantine is the best time to try out new recipes!

Mixed Tempura of prawns, pumpkin, mushrooms and lady's fingers, using a packet of sample Thai Tempura flour she found in the kitchen cabinet.  Hubs got the sample Tempura flour from a supplier and the flour has been sitting inside the cabinet for a long time already.

On Monday, Sherilyn's second tooth was extracted for braces.  A few days before the scheduled tooth extraction, she had already planned what to cook for her post-extraction meals.  She prepped Dashi and some other stock for her Soba, Japanese simmered pumpkin and savory oats. 

A day after the tooth extraction, Sherilyn ran a temperature.  But she was still well enough to whip up a very yummy buttery and garlicky oats porridge.  Thank God the temp subsided after just a day. 

The savory oats porridge was so good that I preferred her oats more than the Dah Makan food delivered to us 😆 

Ingredients:

Instant organic steel-cut oat groats (pre-steamed, thus the oats soften easily)

Butter

Milk

Dashi stock

Minced garlic

Toppings:

Poached egg

Avocado

Simmered pumpkin (Kabocha No Nimono)

Scallions from our garden

Before her dental appointment, she quickly prepped a batch of chewy pumpkin cubes for future use in her dessert bowls. When she came back from the dental clinic, she continued rolling the cubes until almost midnight while watching a movie from her phone 😐

Such is the life of a middle high school student during lockdown!

Our 15-year old sure has a lot of potential and caliber in the culinary and creativity department but ironically, cooking and baking are only her hobby (as she's a foodie like her dad!) and she has told me many times that she will never pursue a course in F&B in future.  Her dream is to get a scholarship and study in her dream university in Canada! And my reply to her is "chase your dream and make it come true" 🙏

Easy Way Out

On days that Maria our part-time helper doesn't come, I now get takeaway food from my favorite family-approved eateries in the neighborhood.  One of the eateries is a Japanese restaurant and they have economy mixed dishes cooked the Japanese way available during lunch.  However, the price is not as cheap as 'chap fan'.  It cost RM50 for these three dishes for 5 pax, sans rice. Everyone loves the food and there's never once any food that's leftover.  The chef is a health freak and she's very fastidious about what goes into the dishes that she cooks.  Even my persnickety foodie hubs approves of the food from this Japanese restaurant.

Chicken Teriyaki:

 

Tofu + minced chicken patties:

Japanese seaweed and radish appetizer:

 

It's such a chore taken off our shoulders when we don't have to cook, scrub pots, wok and pans and wipe greasy stoves and floor. I know the mil feels tired as well having to cook 6 times a week.  And the house is so much more peaceful when the girls don't have to squabble over cleaning up and keeping unfinished food after dinner!   I think I'll stick to this arrangement of buying takeout on days that our helper doesn't come in.  My right hand has now completely healed and I am not taking any chances of overworking it again!  

Fall Outfit Ideas For Ladies

Hi there fashionistas! Now that it's fall, it's time to think of fall fashion. I can't help but get excited for the new outfit ideas and layering opportunities the new season brings. From oversized blazers and modernized outerwear trends to cozy knits and sweater dresses, there is so much to play around with. 

Get inspired by the following autumnal ensembles—to wear while working from home, indulging in virtual Zoom happy hours, or getting out to enjoy weekend wanderings.  Let's have a look at some of the chicest Autumn outfit ideas for ladies to wear this year.

How about grabbing a long sleeve tee with the words "Please Stay 6 Feet Away! Social Distancing 2020" ?  This is a great top to wear while you're out as a reminder to everyone near you to keep a 6-feet distance away from you to keep everyone safe. This is one tee I'd like to get for myself too! Check out more cool tops at prices you'll love at Ninacloak.

What you wear on Halloween does not have to cost you a quarter of your monthly salary. If you’re still trying to figure out your costume, there are so many simple, funny, and just flat-out genius ideas out there that don’t require hundreds of dollars. You can DIY them, shop smart for some good deals, or just get creative with clothes you already have in your closet.  This pumpkin printed yellow long sleeve tee from Ninacloak costs under $20. As long as you put on some Halloween makeup, basic craft supplies, and some extra time, you're good to go for your Trick or Treating!

 

The one clothing piece that never gets out of trend is t-shirt. Whether it’s a printed tee with funny words, graphic tee, plain oversized t-shirt, or body-hugging t-shirt, they have always ruled the trend and are adored by people of all age groups.  This hilarious tee is great for layering and can be worn on its own on hotter days.

This yellow Halloween round neck long sleeve printed sweater is another inexpensive costume for your Halloween party this year. With some creative Halloween makeup and hairdo and DIY props, you're have a blast.

As the air gets crisper, it's time to start thinking about knitwear and trendy sweaters. Whether you're into fitted cardigans, long loose sweater coats like the piece below or oversized crews, finding the perfect fall sweater will be easy thanks to Ninacloak.

The hallmark of fall fashion, sweaters mark the onset of crisp autumn days, and provide a cozy middle ground until coats become mandatory.  From statement-making sweaters to Zoom-ready knits, pick your favorite fall wear at Ninacloak at affordable prices this season.

 

Complete Change of Taste Buds

Cass' UTI attack with hospital stay and a week-long administration of antibiotics intravenously and orally last month has caused her taste buds to evolve and now, she has an almost new set of gustatory cells. Food that she once loved are no longer her favorites now. She used to love meat, eggs, rice and noodles but has now lost interest in them.  She now has kooky food preferences. She's still hooked on oats with milk, which ain't a bad thing, as she eats organic steel cut oats with low fat milk.  She now prefers to eat oats, bread or crackers with cream cheese for lunch and dinner 😦. And she's crazy over apples 😁

Someone ain't too happy though, that Cass is not eating the food that she cooks as she doesn't fully understand why Cass' taste goblets have changed so dramatically.  

Cass's quirky dinner on Monday, with dishes on top, making this a Tartine 😁:

Wheat germ bread layered with tuna mayo + sweet corn + celery, Mozzarella cheese, fried soy bean sprouts and sweet and sour chicken fillet.

 

She doesn't even like steamed fish anymore.

Cass' dinner yesterday: organic instant steel cut oat groats with low fat milk, fresh blueberries and bananas. After scarfing down this wholesome bowl of fiber, she ate a whole organic Juliet apple 😊

Sharing Doesn't Work!

Today when we were at the pharmacy to pick up some toiletries and 'healthy' biscuits, Alycia wanted to get a bottle of facial toner.   After Alycia found her Thayers toner (finally Big Pharmacy at our area has it, yay!), Sherilyn wanted a bottle too. I told them to share but an argument broke.  One girl was claiming that her sister always steals her toner and Avène Thermal Spring Water and the accused rebutted. Soon, the argument escalated and got pretty intense.  And I said "OK, each one gets one bottle!"... and the brannigan stopped instantly.  There goes my RM96!  

When they were little toddlers and pre-schoolers, Alycia and Sherilyn would fight over toys and snacks.  Now that they're teens, they often fight over facial toner, pimple cream, perfume and other stuff, which I've always encouraged them to share. I told them that they better not fight over the same boy a few years down the road 😂

For peace at home, sharing just doesn't apply anymore with our teens. Each one gets to keep her own bottle of toner or perfume or whatever.  Just don't come and hound me with grievances when I am busy with work!

RMCO Day 114 ~ Thursday, 1 October 2020

Today is the first day of the last quarter of 2020. It feels like it was not too long ago that we were back in Ipoh to celebrate Chinese New Year. I had such a happy time bonding with all my loved ones in Ipoh.  It was during CNY this year that Covid-19 just landed in our shores.  And within a month, we were all grounded and sheltering at home.  The hubs' catering business went from making several millions a year to zero revenue for months. We were all stuck at home and feeling really miserable.  This year has been pretty much a wasted year where nothing much is achieved. It's a year that we tell ourselves that if we could survive this year - from escaping the Virus and from being severely impacted financially, next year will be a better year for us.

Although it's Mid Autumn Festival today, there's not much atmosphere and spirit to celebrate. It's raining for almost 24 hours and the moon is hiding away from us.  The pandemic situation in our country is very worrying, with cases totaling 260 today.  Our DG of Health has hinted that the RMCO may be reverted back to MCO if people do not follow SOPs and positive cases continue to increase.  As of today, though the cases are steadily increasing, our DG of Health mentioned that it is still under control but he advised everyone to stay at home and not go out unnecessarily.  The bulk of the cases come from people who returned from Sabah (a hot red zone), who then infected other people. All but two states in our country have new cases now. 

So it looks like my long impending trip to Mid Valley Megamall will not materialize anytime soon.  I need to go to ISEC to buy another bottle of eye drop for Cass' mild Lazy Eye. I'm going to call ISEC tomorrow to inquire if they could courier the eye drop to me. As there has been a worrying trend of infections at shopping malls the past few days, I think I'll just stay put for now. The only places that I will go to are the supermarkets, pharmacies, eateries and bank at my residential area.

We're thankful to God that hubs still has catering functions, though a couple of them were cancelled this week in view of the increasing Covid19 cases.  Today's catering event is a Mid Autumn Festival celebration, ordered by his client - a leading car manufacturer in our country. The function is attended by big wigs and Management staff.  On the menu is Chinese cuisine with sumptuous double yolk mooncakes.

Hubs' chef cooked extra for us and we had these for lunch and dinner:

I'd like to wish all my Chinese readers Happy Mid Autumn Festival 月圆人团圆!