Homecooked Stuffed Bell Peppers — A Labor of Love from My Clever Home Chef

One of the little joys I’ve come to appreciate is having my daughters home more often, especially when their university schedule gives them a short break from the usual madness.

For the past two months, Sherilyn has been on her short semester, which means she hasn’t been as swamped with classes and assignments as she usually is during her long semesters. With the extra time at home, she’s finally been sleeping properly on her bed (though her old habit of dozing off on the couch still happens whenever she's too tired after a long day out).

A few days ago, we found some red bell peppers sitting in the fridge, still fresh and vibrant, and in true Sherilyn style — she wasted no time whipping up something creative. My clever home chef decided to make Stuffed Bell Peppers for the family!

🍽️ How She Made Her Stuffed Bell Peppers

Sherilyn started by preparing a hearty stuffing mixture using:
✔️ Berkcious minced pork (I bought two packets)
✔️ Chopped carrots for sweetness and texture
✔️ Chopped big onions for flavor
✔️ A blend of herbs and spices to season the pork mixture perfectly

Once the stuffing was ready, the more tedious part began — prepping the bell peppers and sauce.

 

🔥 A Slight Disagreement Over Grilling!

Sherilyn wanted the bell peppers to have a slightly smoky, charred flavor, so she grilled them directly over the gas stove flame. While I must say the flavor turned out great, I wasn’t too happy with this method. Cooking anything directly on an open gas flame isn't exactly the healthiest practice, so I made a mental note to suggest skipping this step next time.

 

🍅 Homemade Bell Pepper Tomato Sauce

She didn't just stop at stuffing the bell peppers! Sherilyn went the extra mile and blended some bell peppers together, added a jar of tomato puree, and simmered it into a rich, luscious sauce.

The sauce paired beautifully with the stuffed bell peppers, making the dish extra hearty and satisfying.

 

⭐️ Final Verdict: 10/10!

I must say — the end result was absolutely delicious. The stuffed bell peppers were juicy and flavorful, and the sauce elevated the whole dish. I gave it a solid 10/10 and told her she could definitely make it again, though I hope she’ll skip the part about grilling directly over the gas next round.

Cooked in our old trusty Le Creuset pot. 

Making the Most of a Rainy Day – My Clever Balcony Cleaning Hack

Ever since Maria, our beloved part-time helper, became pregnant and went back to Indonesia to give birth, I’ve been flying solo in the house chores department. I haven’t hired another part-time helper since then, mostly to save some money—and maybe also because no one quite does it like Maria.

I’m really hoping she returns to Malaysia this August as planned, because truth be told, I miss her help—especially with the heavy-duty chores like washing the balcony. The balcony has no water faucet, which makes things a bit of a hassle. When Maria was around, she’d take this task off my hands, bless her heart. But now? It’s back to carrying heavy pails of water from the kitchen or bathroom to scrub the floor, wash the water fountain, and water the plants. Not ideal—especially with my tennis elbow acting up on my right hand.

Then, the other day, after a heavy downpour, I had a little light bulb moment 💡. I thought, why not let Mother Nature lend a hand? Instead of breaking my back hauling water, I grabbed my bathroom broom, stepped out into the rain-soaked balcony, and began scrubbing the floor using the free rainwater.

Yes, I got a little wet—but it was actually fun and oddly therapeutic! No buckets, no strain, just me, the rain, and a cleaner balcony by the time I was done.

This little experience reminded me that sometimes, we just have to think outside the box and look for simple, creative solutions—whether at home or in the office. It’s about working smarter, not harder. And if it saves a few ringgit and an aching back? Even better!

Until Maria returns (fingers crossed!), I’ll keep embracing these little hacks to make life a tad easier—and a lot more interesting 😁

The Joy of Nitrile Gloves: My Must-Have for House Chores

Ever since Maria, my part-time helper, became pregnant in July last year and stopped working for us, I’ve had to take on all the household chores myself. Without a helper, my hands have suffered tremendously—dryness, chapped skin, blisters, and even eczema started appearing between my fingers. That’s when I decided to invest in disposable nitrile gloves, and honestly, I don’t know how I ever managed without them!

I’ve never liked wearing gloves for washing dishes or doing housework because reusable rubber gloves felt too thick, and I couldn’t get a good grip on the dishes. But with disposable nitrile gloves, the grip is excellent, and they’re much thinner, allowing me to feel the texture of the dishes while still protecting my hands. Now, I use at least two pairs daily.

After trying out several brands, I found that the best disposable nitrile gloves are from Top Glove and Glovzone on Lazada. These gloves are more durable and offer a better fit. I also made the mistake of buying cheap nitrile gloves from another seller, and the quality was awful—some already had holes even before I used them! They looked like they had been recycled, which was a big disappointment. So if you have sensitive hands like mine, my advice is to invest in high-quality disposable nitrile gloves. They provide a firm grip and prevent water from leaking inside, which could further irritate the skin. 

To maximize their use, I reuse my gloves within the same day. To keep them from sticking together, I sprinkle a bit of talcum powder or organic arrowroot powder inside before hanging them on a hanger out to dry. Over time, I’ve built up quite a collection of disposable nitrile gloves in various pastel shades—green, pink, baby blue, purple, and bright orange. My absolute favorite? The orange disposable nitrile gloves! They are sandblast textured, super durable, and thick enough to be washed and reused several times, making them well worth the slightly higher price.

Honestly, I never thought I’d say this, but I absolutely love my nitrile gloves. They’ve made my most dreaded chore—washing dishes—a much easier and more comfortable task. If you’re struggling with sensitive hands and daily housework, do yourself a favor and get some quality disposable nitrile gloves. You won’t regret it!

My just-arrived stash of disposable nitrile gloves from Top Glove, purchased on the Lazada platform. I bought them during the Lazada pay-day sale.

These are only RM8 for 100 pieces. The quality is good and I can reuse them and wear them several times a day.  I have tried sizes M, L, and XL and conclude that size XL is the most comfortable - they can be worn and removed easily.
I usually apply a layer of hand lotion on my hands before I wear the gloves and sprinkle talcum powder or organic arrowroot powder into the gloves and leave them to dry outside after using.  They will be discarded at the end of the day.

I so love the pastel pink color of these disposable gloves!

The orange nitrile gloves (RM8.10 per box of 20s) are of excellent quality and can be reused several times. I ensure that my hands are clean, dry, and moisturized with hand lotion before I wear the gloves. I need to be extra clean as my hands are now very prone to painful and itchy blisters / eczema patches caused by dishwashing liquid.