Spiral Ear Biscuits (Yee Chai Pang)

Whenever I come across Yee Chai Pang (spiral ear biscuit) at shops selling snacks, I will be overcome with a feeling of nostalgia.  My brothers and I grew up eating Yee Chai Pang.  

I remember mum would frequently bring me to the biscuit shop after school and I could choose any biscuit I wanted. As a kid, I loved biscuits with cream filling, but not anymore now. Yee Chai Pang and Chum Thau Pang (pillow biscuit or Tam-Tam Pillows) were and still are my favorites.

These spiral ear biscuits are probably one of the crunchiest treats ever with subtle flavors of spices imbued with a tinge of smokiness. Not too sweet nor salty, delightfully aromatic and crunchy, these biscuits can be very addictive.

This morning I saw these biscuits for sale at a kerbside stall. The vendor would display his dried groceries, biscuits and fruits at a kerb in our neighborhood every Wednesday. I saw many biscuits that I used to eat during my childhood.  I picked a packet of spiral ear biscuits. My girls are not fans of this biscuit though, so I'm going to share it with Maria when she comes in later 😁

Next week I'm going to grab a packet of Tam-Tam Pillows from the kerbside vendor.  The girls are big fans of this snack.  It's crunchy, salty and it's crab-seasoned. It's another addictive munch that we have to be very careful not to over-indulge in, lest we get a sore throat and cough... and then think that we may have been infected with Covid 😆

Only RM4.50 for a big packet.  What a steal for a great snack.

Negative

I've been feeling languid with headaches for the past few days. My throat feels strange too and I have pain in my nape. I also have had an insatiable thirst with extreme sleepiness the past few days.  Ever since two members of our family were down with Covid a month ago, I have been feeling paranoid about being infected.  Usually, when one or two members of the household are down with Covid, everyone else eventually gets it.  That is the trend I see.  

But there is also another Covid trend that I have observed which is surprising.  When all the children and the husband in a family got infected with Covid, the mother was spared despite her taking care of the Covid-zens and not even wearing a mask. I have seen this in my eldest brother's family and two other friends where kiddos and husbands had severe Covid but my SIL and friends were spared. 

Today I finally had the courage to do another Covid self-test when my headache and lethargy didn't abate.  It's a negative.

With this, I suddenly remembered that I may be experiencing menstrual migraine. I'm also not new to period flu. I had similar symptoms when my AF visited last month and I thought I had Covid.  Darn the hormones! 

Nasal swab test result.
I find it easier to administer a nasal swab vs. a saliva test. It's torture to collect enough saliva to fill up the test tube. Who's with me on this?

Pan-fried miso salmon and stir-fried Korean-style baby octopus whipped up by our teenage chef. 

I ordered the salmon and baby octopus from Fully Fishery Malaysia at Lazada and they were delivered to me in an icebox.  I paid RM12 for shipping and RM3 for the icebox.

The salmon cost RM6.99 a slice, octopus at RM15 a pack, and tako leg (octopus) at RM8 a pack. These are imported from China, thus the low price, but tasted fresh.  The salmon slices, however still had scales on them and tiny bones in the flesh.  It's very tedious to have to remove the bones and scales. 

I don't think I will buy the salmon slices again though they tasted fine but will definitely buy the octopus again. My girls are fans of squid and octopus 😁

Random Updates ~ 15 April 2022

I haven't been posting regularly on what Sherilyn has been cooking and baking.  Ever since Cass and Sherilyn returned to school, I have had very little time left to update my blogs.  

My bedtime has been adjusted from midnight to 9.30 p.m. Bedtime throughout the lockdown and school holidays had been a little before midnight. Now I go into my room at 9.30 p.m. and wake up at 4.45 a.m.  I also have lesser time to spend online coz of school runs and my writing assignments.

I think I won't be renewing my contract with the online news agency that I'm currently working for as a part-time content writer as they have recently restructured their compensation scheme for all content writers, which is less rewarding. So yeah, I think I will have more free time after July 2022. Yay for more me time! 

I may also be on the lookout for other freelance jobs to do from home after my contract expires this July. 

Maria, our part-time helper no longer comes in 5 days a week like she used to before the pandemic. She only comes in 2-3 times a week.  I had to increase her wages twice within a month as she's now getting higher wages elsewhere. She is also hired on a part-time basis to clean up a datin's house. The datin's driver chauffeurs her to the mansion and then books a Grab car to bring Maria home after work.  Maria is on a roll lately with lots of jobs. I try not to be upset with her for telling me a bunch of lies each time she cancels me when she finds higher-paid work elsewhere, but I just hope that she will be more forthright with me.

Our talented baker whipped up sticky dates pudding last week as hubs brought home a pack of organic Medjool dates. The dates were super duper sweet and since no one liked them, our innovative baker baked a loaf of delicious sticky dates pudding -- which actually tasted like cake.  I loved it, albeit it was a bit too sweet for my palate.

Served with vanilla ice cream and homemade butterscotch sauce. Oh my, it's so very delish and calorie-laden!

My craving for cakes has now been fully satiated. I've had more than enough of fudgy brownies all to myself, cakes from Cass' birthday last week, this sticky dates pudding, and banana muffins that the mil baked yesterday. 😁

Wireless Bras That Are Skin-Loving And Super Comfy

I have always been a great fan of wireless bras.  Not only are wireless bras comfortable, but they are also easy to wear and allow you to feel easy in your own skin. Who doesn’t like to be in a super comfortable bra all day without a hard underwire pressing on your ribs and skin? You can even breathe easier when you don a wireless bra.

I used to buy wired bras and have the underwires removed myself back in the day. My mom used to do that too. We just didn't like metal rubbing on our skin and ribs. Now I only buy tops and dresses with built-in bras or seamless wireless bras as I have contact dermatitis and don't like any hard material in contact with my skin.  Comfort matters over design for me.

You may think that wireless bras don’t provide support but this isn’t true. Let me ‘bust’ the myth that no wires equal no support!

The type of fabric and level of coverage makes a difference in how supportive your bra is.  Cosmolle bras are all wireless and are made using eco-friendly materials to produce the bras.  Using Collagen Polyamide Yarn as their choice of textile, these are biomimetic fibers with a unique and permanent coating of collagen. Yes, the bras are coated with skin-loving collagen to pamper the sensitive skin around the areas of your assets so that there will be no allergic reaction or abrasion from wearing the bras.

Cosmolle bras can be worn pull-over, making them very convenient and fast to wear.  They are stretchy, never lose shape, and give your boops the support they need without constricting them.

Bras made from recycled fish scales!

Cosmolle bras and underwear sets are made from recycled fish scales that are bought from fisheries and after an intense round of purification and a lot of chemistry, the fish scales are transformed into  Collagen Polyamide Yarn.  The collagen-infused yarn is weaved into fabric and 3D printed for smoother lines and energy efficiency. The result is a luxurious fabric that is buttery-soft and cooling, yet provides the support that your boops need.

 

If you’re looking for supportive bras without underwires or want to try super comfy thong underwear, check out Cosmolle’s range of comfy non-wired sports bras and underwear.  Be sure to choose a size that fits you well so that the bra can hold your assets close to your chest to beat the bounce when you go about your daily activities. Cosmolle offers up to 4 interest-free payments so that every girl and lady can afford these super comfy lingeries. Win win!

PotboyMart Ice Cream Day

The eleventh day of every month is PotBoyMart Ice Cream Day! All ice cream products at all PotBoy Mart outlets are on sale with a 50% discount ALL DAY LONG!  This is delicious sweet news for ice cream fans, like our girls. 

Last month (11th March) I went to PotBoyMart in the hope of grabbing some Cornetto, Magnum, and other favorites. However, when I was there at around 6pm, what was left was only Kit Kat ice cream, which ain't our favorite and it's more expensive than other flavors.  I grabbed a few sticks anyway since they were on a 50% discount. Kiasu me!  

Cass has since been reminding me of the Ice Cream Day and a few days before 11th April, she reminded me every day 😁.  She's a huge fan of ice cream and her favorite dessert.  She even planned to make a super quick trip to the mart with me at 9.30 a.m. on Monday, 11th April after her first class as she had a 40-minute break before the second online class.

This time we were early. When we reached the mart, the Nestle delivery staff were there loading boxes of ice creams. Cass and I were super excited and couldn't wait to charge at the ice cream chillers!

We scooped 30 sticks of Nestle Cornetto (20 chocolate + 10 vanilla), 3 sticks of La Cremeria Absolutely Almond stick, 1 Kit Kat and 1 tub of La Cremeria almond pecan passion.  Total damage was RM53.50. 

Next month, I will grab 20 sticks of La Cremeria Absolutely Almond stick - it tastes very much like Magnum Almond and is cheaper than Magnum.

After paying for the ice-creams, I felt I had over-splurged on ice creams. In my excitement looking at the freshly replenished ice cream chillers, I got carried away and over-spent 🤭

Freshly restocked - all at half price. Too good an offer to turn down.

A big bag of happiness for the girls.  

My ice cream craze days are now behind me. I used to be hooked on ice creams but somehow as I age, I no longer crave sweet desserts that much anymore.  

Back To School Blues

There was a thunderstorm yesterday afternoon and Cass was caught in the rain after school dismissal at 3.30 p.m.  She went to the school car park to find her transporter but when she couldn't see the van, she walked outside the school to where the van would normally be.  When she still didn't see the van, she walked back to the car park and by that time, was almost soaked in rainwater from head to toe 😵

When she got back, she had to air dry her books and shoes under the fan. The living room was like a refugee camp with bags, books and shoes scattered on the floor. 

Despite being drenched, these pies for lunner from Stand Pie Me put Cass in a good mood.  Grandma also bought everyone pizza, mushroom soup, and cakes from Nutmeg @ Bangsar Village.  No occasion for the celebration. We sometimes need to splurge a little on our favorite things to make ourselves happy!

Missing each other dearly after almost an entire day away from each other.

Out of boredom today when her sisters were all in school, this fella sneaked into the bedroom, jumped up the bed, and snuggled comfortably under Cass' blanket. 
This mischievous pussy gave me another heart attack yesterday when she sneaked out to the kitchen balcony and looked as if she wanted to dive down! 🙀

Covid Quarantine Meals For Alycia

The past week has been a busy one for me.  Alycia has tested positive for Covid and thank God, she has been asymptomatic.  

I actually suspected something when Alycia skipped dodgeball training with her college mates last Thursday. She said she was tired. And for the next few days, she kept checking her temperature and checked ours too. Other than that, she had no other symptoms. Is she lucky or unlucky to have caught Covid? 

Alycia has been enjoying her room service for the past few days and not having to do any of her house duties - no need to wash dirty dishes, no need to bring garbage to the refuse chamber, no need to mop her room floor and no need to even wash her own cup coz there's a full-time 'maid' to do it for her!

I'm glad that she's enjoying her room service while isolating herself in her room. She's got all her friends and college mates to keep her company throughout the day. I could hear her talk and laugh loudly at night 😂

Here are some of her quarantine meals:

Homecooked Japanese curry, Hakka braised pork, stir-fried long beans with siew yoke, lotus root soup and 'leong cha' suitable for Covid patients.

Grilled herbs chicken poke bowl from The Fish Bowl, Gardens Mall. A treat to cheer her up.  'Leong Cha' again, which Alycia would sulk the moment the 'aroma' of the herbal drink wafts from the kitchen and into her room.

Takeaway 'chap fan' for lunch

Maki, pineapple, hard-boiled egg, and coconut water for lunch.

Pau, fish balls and matcha for brekkie.

Light brunch before an early lunner on my birthday - Japanese rice crackers, pineapple and herbal egg.

My birthday dinner on 29 March 2022 - Pho Viet from Mid Valley Megamall, Grab-ed to us.

Viet noodles salad and bitter 'leong cha'. I hope Alycia didn't secretly pour away the bitter 'leong cha' as she hates eating and drinking bitter stuff!

Homecooked dinner - braised pork ribs with shallots, tomatoes and sand ginger, blanched celery, broccoli and cauliflower, Malabar spinach egg drop anchovies soup. Dessert of brownies (my birthday cake)

Tea time - homecooked 'pak kor yi mai tong sui'

Takeaway brunch - Taiwanese 'lu ro fan', matcha and brownies.

Alycia worked very hard and late into the night on her assignments last week. In this photo here, she had just reached home from campus at almost 10pm and she immediately sat down at the dining table to continue working on her assignment while zooming with her course mates.  She's been having late meals and sleeping late the past few weeks, especially during her on-campus classes week. I think this lifestyle is pretty unhealthy.

Fudgy Brownies

 

For the longest time I've been meaning to buy an entire brownies to treat myself.  I love brownies, especially fudgy ones.  I kept putting off the purchase coz buying an entire brownies would mean that I'll most likely have to finish the entire  cake myself as no one in the house really likes brownies, except for Sherilyn and Cass who will eat it occasionally.  

Since March is my birthday month, I decided to treat  myself to my favorite cake in honour of myself. I decided to eat two wedges every day to satiate my prolonged craving.  Coincidentally I saw a one-week only RM10 off promotion on brownies on Facebook and quickly made an order for the home baker's fudgy brownies!  

The baker is someone like Sherilyn. She's about 18 or 19, loves baking, an athlete and is a college student who bakes to earn some pocket money.  I'm amazed with this girl as her brownies are really decadent - very fudgy, has a supreme chocolaty taste and not too sweet. I  chomped down almost the entire brownies myself and finished it in 4 days. Now I am satiated and feel heavier!  😜

RM42 for a box of sheer happiness 😍
RM30 for a box of 16-piece brownies.  Regular price is RM40/box.  Delivery rider fee is RM12.

Macbook / Laptop / iPad / iPhone / iMac / Logic Board Repair Shop

Most of you have gone through the moment of despair when your Macbook / laptop / iPad / iPhone / iMac / logic board conked out all of a sudden.  Admit it, we can’t live without these gadgets. In this day and age, we need these gadgets for our survival and livelihood – to work, to make calls, to snap photos of precious moments, to make payment for stuff, to pay parking and for using the MySejahtera app on your phone to check into premises. 

Most of you will panic when your most essential gadgets die on you.  You’ll desperately ask around for a reliable repair shop/hospital to resuscitate your gadget ASAP. You can’t even wait for a day for your gadget to be in working order again because it's really hard to function without your phone or laptop.  You want to find the most reliable and efficient repair shop that doesn’t overcharge you, give you a warranty on the parts replaced and have great customer support staff.

If you’re staying around the areas of Gombak, Bangi and Shah Alam in Selangor as well as in Sg. Petani,  Mecnote is an IT repair shop worth trying out for your Macbook / laptop / iPad / iPhone / iMac and logic board.  Established in 2015, Mecnote provides free diagnostic checks on your gadgets. What I like most is the shop provides a 6-month warranty on the repairs and replacement parts purchased. I know that many tech repair shops don’t provide any warranty on the repair works but Mecnote does and this may give you the confidence to try them out.  You can also Whatsapp or message their staff on Facebook Messenger on any queries that you have.

Mecnote is also on Shopee where they sell a wide range of laptop batteries, laptop chargers, laptop skin and covers, Apple gadgets parts and other tech gadgets and accessories.

You can find Mecnote on

Facebook

Instagram

You Tube

https://www.macnotestudio.com/

Whatsapp Mecnote Gombak

Mecnote | Gombak 03-6731 6101 | Bangi 03-82113964 | Sg. Petani 04-4466120 | Shah Alam 03-58922251

Sunday, 20 March 2022 ¬ Random Updates

Today is the last day of the 3-week end of academic year school holidays.  The new academic year will commence tomorrow.  Sherilyn will be in Form 5 while Cass has already started Junior 2 since January 2022. Classes will be conducted via online mode for a week for Cass and for two weeks for Sherilyn, after which they will be back to physical classes in school. Yes! 

School is where children should be. I am so glad that they are going back to school, albeit their risks of getting infected by Covid will be much higher.  But staying at home for more than two years is just as damaging for their mental health as well as education. I am still of the opinion that online learning is not effective for most children, including mine.  

A common sight at home. Alycia does an RTK Covid test almost daily.

Cass prefers to prep her own meals these days and doesn't like to see food go to waste.  She likes to 'repurpose' overnight food. What you see here is mashed potato and carrots from the previous night's ABC soup, seasoned with pepper and soy sauce. 
On the right is tomato-flavor Mission wrap with Romaine lettuce, tomato puree, and chicken breast from the ABC soup.  She shredded the breast meat, added some Lingam ketchup, soy sauce, Japanese mayo, and black pepper, and microwaved it briefly.  

Cass made cheat pizza yesterday with tomato-flavor Mission wraps, tomato puree, cheese, mushrooms and yellow bell pepper.

With the leftover bell pepper, she made a baked bell pepper egg cup.  She stuffed the bell pepper with an egg and cheese and baked it for about 30 minutes.

Unlike Sherilyn who places great importance on aesthetic appeal in food presentation, Cass is more practical and her own-prepped meals are often short on looks. She just cooks for herself, hardly ever snaps a photo of what she cooks, and gobbles down her food in a jiffy.  

Cass - why decorate the food when everything is going into your tummy within minutes? 😂

Grilled Shishamo Fish In Parchment Paper On Pan

Our neighborhood supermarket is having a promotion for shishamo at RM10.90 for a pack, so I've been stocking up quite a bit of them. I love shishamo. It's the only fish that I can wallop the entire fish, including the head, tail, and bones, and have zero waste.

One easy way to cook shishamo is by grilling them on parchment paper on a frying pan.  Sherilyn cooked shishamo using this method twice.  It's not 100% oil splatter-free but just not as bad.   She uses a splatter screen to block the oil from splattering out.

The shishamo can be lightly seasoned with a pinch of salt but Sherilyn made her own teriyaki sauce for the fish and squeezed in some lemon juice. 

So delish! Not exactly crispy but it's good enough. I can chomp down the entire plate all by myself but of course, I didn't do it. 
I used to stuff myself with grilled shishamo during our weekly Japanese lunch buffets yonks ago at PJ Hilton and Sheraton Subang.  How I miss those days but I have a much smaller appetite and tummy now than I was 20 years ago.  I wouldn't want to splurge RM200 on a buffet lunch that I can't get a bang out of my buck, would you? 😁

New Sneakers For Cass From Lucca Vudor

Since the darn pandemic started over two years ago, I have not bought any new shoes. So does Cass.  She really needs new running shoes and sneakers as she works out every single day and walks a lot. Now that our country has progressed to the endemic phase, we're also going out more than we did during the past two years.  So Cass has been asking for a new pair of sneakers. She's also badgering me to get her new shorts and tees.  I'm really glad that our country is finally opening up and hopefully we will soon see some semblance of normalcy 🙏. 

Cass' new sneakers arrived early this week. It's a pair of Lucca Vudor sneakers with platform soles.  She loves the sneakers as they fit her feet perfectly! I was so worried that they won't fit as I hardly buy shoes online.  

Lucca Vudor shoes have specially padded insoles made from lambskin leather for extra cushion and comfort.  This is to reduce pain from prolonged walking.  The raised soles are a plus point as they give Cass a boost in her height, something which is yearning to have 😂

Chic and comfy sneakers. They look a tad like Hermes' Voltage Sneaker but this costs a fraction of the price of Hermes.

Besides stylish sneakers, Lucca Vudor has a lovely range of shoes that are trending such as this pair of Sesa wedge sandals in striking blue, which I'm eyeing.  They're made from soft leather and Lucca Vudor Pressure Relieving Sole for extra comfort.

I would have bought this beautiful pair of heels in silver if I were still in the corporate world. Nothing matters more than a pair of super comfy heels with cushiony leather inner soles if you're going to be wearing them for more than 10 hours a day because no one looks forward to painful blisters on the toes!

Lucca Vudor is based in Singapore but they ship internationally.  It took a mere 3 days for Cass' sneakers to arrive and I'm really impressed by the speed at which they shipped out my order.