Monday, 24 June 2024

Today, I finally decided to see a podiatrist (a foot and ankle doctor), to address a stubborn and painful corn on my left foot. After three months of trying various home remedies with no improvement, I decided it was time to seek professional help and have the corn removed by a doctor as every step that I take now is painful.

I called Pantai Medical Centre in Bangsar and Sunway Medical Centre (both hospitals are on my insurer's panel) to inquire about their foot and ankle specialists. Fortunately, both hospitals have experienced podiatrists available. Given that this will be a busy week for me, with Cass competing in a figure skating competition, I plan to only schedule an appointment with the doctor next week.

My primary concern is the method of removal. I am hoping that the podiatrist can offer a less invasive and less painful solution, as the thought of surgery (whether under LA or GA) is quite daunting. Ideally, I would like a procedure that is the least painful and invasive.

Deciding to see a podiatrist wasn't easy. Like many, I initially hoped that home remedies would solve the problem. I tried everything from over-the-counter corn removal solutions to various natural treatments, but the stubborn corn persisted. I successfully removed a corn from one of my toes last year with a corn solution purchased from the pharmacy. I don’t understand why this time the corn solution doesn’t work.

Now that I have decided to see a specialist, my next step is to choose between Pantai Medical Centre and Sunway Medical Centre and secure an appointment. I’m leaning towards whichever center can offer the earliest appointment, as I want to resolve this issue promptly.

Brunch with hubby this morning at a newly opened kopitiam a few steps from his office. He ordered Hakka noodles, Teluk Anson Chee Cheong Fun and Roti Canai Sarang. Just as he was about to pay, the owner told him all meals were complimentary only for today. So blessed.

Saturday, 15 June 2024

It will be a long, late night for Cass and hubby today.  Cass has a figure skating rehearsal at the skating rink from 10pm to 12 midnight. Fortunately hubby is free tonight to do the chauffeuring, otherwise, I'll be waiting at the freezing skating rink until midnight. 

Cass has been eating clean and healthy lately. These is what her meals look like these days:

Salad with kimchi, Korean marinated pork, half an avocado, broccoli, cauliflower, and scrambled eggs with cheese. After her main meal, she ate a slice of air-fried sprouted wheat bread, low-fat yogurt with granola, an apple, an orange, and a few slices of papaya. 
 I also air-fried a slice of quiche, which was given to us by Alycia's bosses at the cafe that she works part-time at. When Alycia's bosses heard that she injured her hand, they passed some goodies from the cafe to her.

Steamed marinated spicy chicken chop, an ear of whole corn (I sliced out the kernels from the cob), sauteed assorted vegetables (from her dad's kitchen), steamed sweet potato, and sweet cherry tomatoes. I love the colors on her bowl, and so does Cass. I'm glad my years of training her to eat vegetables have paid off well.

After Alycia's terrible mishap in the kitchen last week, resulting in shards of broken glass cutting her finger badly, we now have a phobia of using glassware. I've since switched to using stainless steel bowls and containers.  Moreover, our microwave oven died on us yesterday, so we have no choice but to reheat our food using stainless steel dinnerware in the wok 😁

Hospital Tales: A Day of Heartbreak and Hope

Last Thursday was a day filled with anxiety, sadness, and reflection as we navigated the halls of three hospitals after Alycia's accident. The experience was a stark reminder of the unpredictability of life and the resilience of the human spirit. I have often read of parents running from one hospital to another late at night with their very sick or injured child only to be told that all their rooms were fully occupied. Now that happened to us. The helpless feeling that gripped us was real.

The First Hospital: A Heart-Wrenching Moment

I was in the Accident & Emergency department at the first hospital (in our neighborhood), waiting for the Medical Officer (MO) to clean and bandage Alycia's injured finger. As I stood outside the A&E, my mind consumed with worry, I heard a woman wailing in another room. The sound was chilling, but I didn't investigate further. My focus was entirely on Alycia, and I had no desire to intrude on someone else's sorrow.

Later, as we drove to the next hospital, Alycia shared that she overheard the nurses talking about a woman who had just lost her 3-month-old baby. Whether due to medical negligence or an illness, the tragedy was profound. My heart ached for the grieving mother, even though we knew nothing of her story beyond that moment.

The Second Hospital: Our Hopes Dashed 

At the second hospital, which is Pantai Medical Centre, Bangsar, we were told by one of the attending MOs that all the rooms in the hospital were fully occupied. She told us that she had to turn down several emergency cases. We left the hospital crestfallen. I was on the phone calling other private hospitals to check on their room availability.

The Third Hospital: A Haunting Familiarity

Our next stop was the Accident & Emergency department at SJMC. While waiting for the MO to insert an IV catheter into Alycia's hand, a familiar and distressing scene unfolded before me. A young woman, around 20 or 21, was being wheeled into the Procedure Room in a wheelchair, sobbing and clutching her stomach. The sight triggered painful memories of my own miscarriage 24 years ago in the same hospital's A&E.

I noticed her boyfriend's anxious demeanor as I chatted briefly with him, and I couldn't shake the feeling that the young woman might have attempted an abortion. This suspicion was confirmed when I overheard the MO explaining to the young man that she had indeed attempted an abortion, but the ultrasound showed the sac was still in the womb. She was to be seen by a gynecologist the following morning.

My heart went out to her. I hoped that she would make better choices for her future and find the support she needed to navigate this difficult time.

Alycia's Ward: Unexpected Companions

Once Alycia was settled in her ward, she shared a room with a woman in her late twenties who was hospitalized for muscle spasms and a slipped disc. Her boyfriend was by her side most of the time, providing comfort and companionship. Seeing their bond reminded me of the importance of support and love during trying times.

Reflections on Life's Unpredictability

These hospital tales underscore how life can throw unexpected and often devastating curveballs our way. Each story, whether it was the grieving mother, the young woman facing the consequences of her choices, or Alycia’s injury, highlighted the fragility and unpredictability of life.

We must live each day as if it were our last, cherishing our loved ones and making decisions that align with our values and hopes for the future. 

Alycia packing her stuff to go home, finally.

Colorful & Healthy Meals

The girls and I love colors in our food, natural colors of course. I like buying colorful fruits and veggies and the girls were trained from their baby days to eat healthy, with lots of fruits and veggies. I never had difficulty coercing the girls to eat fruits and veggies. 

Eating colorful meals is beneficial for good health due to the variety of nutrients provided by different colored fruits and vegetables. Each color typically represents various type of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that contribute to overall well-being. 

Lunner for Cass ~ air-fried salmon with air-fried shimeji mushrooms, blanched broccoli and cauliflower, Mediterranean chicken stew, raw greens and fruits of avocado, jumbo golden kiwi and purple grapes.  Cass and I eat half an avocado every day.

Delicious air-fried salmon and shimeji mushrooms, seasoned with herbs and spices.

Chilled lemon juice.

Cass is a fruit and veggie lover and can chomp down a lot every single day.

My healthy bowl - salad with Mexican chicken stew.

This is how I like to eat capsicum - with cream cheese.

Homemade Mexican tortilla made with whatever ingredients there were in the fridge - frozen capati, guacamole, air-fried chicken chop, and sauteed capsicum with shimeji mushrooms and big onions. The two serving plates on the right are from Le Creuset. They're cute, eh?

My chia seed pudding with coconut cream and Gula Melaka syrup. It tastes exactly like Sago Pudding but it's healthier as chia seeds are packed with minerals, omega-3 fat, and antioxidants, including tocopherols, phytosterols, carotenoids, and polyphenolic compounds. And it's so much easier to prep - just soak the chia seeds in water in a glass bottle overnight in the fridge, add coconut milk/cream (I used packet ones) and Gula Melaka (I use bottled ones).

Sherilyn cooked this very yummy pumpkin + minced pork porridge using the Philips pressure cooker. She first sauteed the minced pork with lots of garlic and onions before adding the rice and pumpkin to cook the porridge. I love this porridge. My comfort food, always.

Grilling and Air Frying: The Ultimate Kitchen Duo

One of the main reasons I love grilling and air frying is that the taste is on par with pan or wok-fried dishes, minus the hassle of dealing with excess oil and oil splatters. The convenience factor cannot be overstated - my trusty oven and air fryer have become my kitchen companions, saving me time and effort while still producing mouth-watering meals.

Lately, I've been contemplating upgrading to a bigger capacity air fryer or even a dual-drawer air fryer to make my cooking process quicker and more efficient. However, I also realize the importance of utilizing all my kitchen equipment, including my under-used Philips pressure cooker.  As Sherilyn dug out the pressure cooker to cook porridge last week and it’s now sitting conveniently on the kitchen counter, today I used it to cook Mediterranean chicken stew.

Speaking of under-utilized gems in my kitchen, the Thermomix has been patiently waiting for its time to shine. Despite its reputation as a versatile kitchen helper, I confess that I have yet to fully grasp its potential. Perhaps one day I will learn to master its functions and explore the culinary possibilities it offers.

As I dream of future additions to my kitchen arsenal, an induction cooker stands out as something nice to have. The allure of safer, healthier, faster, and more efficient cooking compared to traditional gas or electric stoves is undeniable. Here's hoping that my wish for an induction cooker will soon become a reality.

License to grill - my one-tray grill for the girls.  Each tray is composed of chicken chop, shimeji mushroom, bell pepper, and lots of chopped onion and garlic.

No meat grill for Cass and me.

Oven-grilled garlic and herbs butterflied prawns.

One-tray grill of chicken chop and veggies for everyone.

I finally used the pressure cooker again today after a long hiatus to cook Mediterranean chicken stew.
Ingredients used - boneless chicken thighs, pumpkin, sweet potato, tomatoes, shimeji mushroom, large onions, garlic, herbs and spices, black pepper, and tomato puree.

Saturday Dinner at Restoran Makanan Laut Sun Kam Kee

Last Saturday, we had dinner at Restoran Makanan Laut Sun Kam Kee. Known for its tai-chow style cooking, the restaurant consistently delivers delicious dishes at reasonable prices, making it a favorite for our family outings.

Hubby is particularly fond of their steamed village chicken with ginger sauce, a dish we've enjoyed many times during our lunch visits. This time, however, it was my first dinner at Sun Kam Kee with the girls, although, unfortunately, Sherilyn couldn't join us. She's been incredibly busy with her college assignments, dance classes, rehearsals, and active participation in her college clubs.

Hubby, familiar with the menu, ordered a variety of dishes that pleased everyone's palates:

• Steamed Village Chicken with Ginger Sauce: Tender and flavorful, this dish is a family favorite.

• Deep Fried Squids with Salted Egg Yolk: Crispy and rich, this is another favorite dish of ours, especially the girls.

• Stir-fried four-angle beans with onions, lotus root, dried shrimp, and garlic: A healthy and very flavorful vegetable dish that was a hit.

• Stir-Fried Baby French Beans: Simple yet delicious, showcasing the fresh ingredients.

• Stir-Fried Signature Meehoon: A must-try dish that never disappoints.

• Signature Steamed Fish: Fresh and perfectly cooked with preserved radish, chilies and tofu in a lovely sauce.

After our hearty dinner, we headed out for some grocery shopping. As a special treat, hubby bought the girls two tubs of Haagen Dazs ice cream and their favorite cheeses. It was a lovely way to end the evening, bringing home some sweet and sinful indulgence to enjoy later.

Dinner for the four of us.

Steamed village chicken with ginger sauce.

Deep-fried salted egg yolk squids, stir-fried four-angle beans with lotus root, stir-fried mee hoon and stir-fried baby French beans.

Steamed fish 

Wesak Day 2024: Reflecting on the Past and Embracing the Present

22 May 2024

Every May, memories of my three-week stay at Gleneagles Medical Centre in Penang fifteen years ago come flooding back. It was May 2009, and my baby Cass had just undergone major surgery. Despite the procedure, she remained unwell, continuously vomiting green bile. None of the battery of invasive scans could pinpoint the problem, and I was engulfed in worry and despair. The surgery was performed on 5 May 2009 and Wesak Day was on 9 May 2009. 

I vividly remember Wesak Day that year. Our room at GMC Penang faced the main road, and from our window, I could see the grand and colorful Wesak Day procession. There was a temple next to the hospital, and the celebration was magnificent, filled with lights, music, and vibrant decorations. However, I wasn't in the mood to appreciate it. My heart was heavy with concern for my daughter, who lay in bed, her condition still a mystery. Her tummy was so bloated that it looked like a balloon, on the verge of exploding. 

Fast Forward 15 Years: A Day of Gratitude

Fast forward to Wesak Day 2024, and my baby is now a healthy, vibrant 16-year-old. The contrast between then and now is stark, and I am filled with gratitude for the progress she has made. This Wesak Day, Cass chose to stay home to complete her school project. Alycia was at her part-time job, and Sherilyn was busy with a college assignment and two dance shoots at a shopping mall.

Hubby and I decided to have a quiet lunch together, taking advantage of the public holiday. After much deliberation, we ended up at Kenny Hills Bakers at Bukit Tunku. It was a delightful meal, just the two of us, savoring the rare opportunity to enjoy each other's company without the usual hustle and bustle of daily life.

Post-lunch, we indulged in coffee and a brownie at Wolf & Turtle Coffee. The atmosphere was cozy and perfect for a relaxing afternoon. We also picked up some takeaway cakes, peanut cookies, and a loaf of bread for the girls from Kenny Hills Bakers, ensuring they had a little treat to enjoy as well.

Having a public holiday mid-week is always refreshing. It gives a semblance of a short break, making the week feel shorter and more manageable. Despite the next day feeling like a Monday, the reality that only two more days remain until the weekend is always a pleasant surprise.

We ordered Nasi Kerabu and a Big Breakfast set at Kenny Hills Bakers.

Nasi Kerabu

Piccolo latte and brownie from Wolf & Turtle Coffee

Big Breakfast

The peanut cookies from Kenny Hills Bakers are really super yummy, with lots of crunchy peanut bits in every bite, and they're not overly sweet either.

Camera Crumbs - Round Up Of The Week

My Tennis Elbow right arm has little progress in healing, making it challenging to perform household chores, cook, and lift heavy items.  Consequently, my cooking routines have been simplified. I’ve primarily relied on the air fryer and toaster oven for meal preparations. Thankfully, we’ve had a steady supply of food from hubby’s central kitchen, which has been a lifesaver, reducing the need for extensive cooking.

I suspect that the pain could be a side effect of Atorvastatin. Last month, my cardiologist prescribed me this statin at 20mg per day to bring down my cholesterol levels. I have familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). My two younger daughters have FH too, which was discovered during blood tests when they were hospitalized for other conditions.

FH is an inherited disorder that makes it harder for your body to remove low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol from your blood.

No matter how hard I control my diet, exercise, and stay away from foods with high cholesterol, my blood cholesterol reading is still very high.

Familial hypercholesterolemia can affect anyone whose family carries the genetic mutation. The biggest problem with FH is that more than 90% of people who have it haven’t been diagnosed, which means you should pay careful attention to your family history.

About a month into taking Atorvastatin, I started to have pain in my right elbow bone. I later found out that I have a condition called Tennis Elbow.  Later, I started to have aches in my right hip and buttock. My doctor has advised me to take a 4-week layoff from Atorvastatin to see if the pains and aches in my right hand and hip will go away. 

My lunch usually consists of salad, with food from hubby's kitchen:

Chicken and beef satay with satay sauce, Mackerel fish cooked Indonesian style, Sayur Lodeh (Indonesian vegetable stew in coconut milk) in a bed of salad.
Dessert - yummy kuih.

Sambal Sotong, Sayur Lodeh with tempeh and cabbage, and Ayam Masak Merah in a bed of Mizuna salad.

Meehoon Siam, Sambal Sotong and Ayam Masak Merah.

One-tray-grill - green curry chicken thigh with green and yellow bell pepper, Shimeji mushrooms, sweet potato, chopped garlic, and onions, drizzled with olive oil, and seasoned with black pepper, cajun spice, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.
To reduce washing and hurting my tennis elbow arm, I bought disposable aluminum trays for my grills.

Haru, Our Feline Foodie

Much like her human counterparts, Haru possesses a discerning palate and a love for certain foods. While some may expect a cat to be content with traditional cat food, Haru surprises us with her eclectic tastes. She shares our love for roast chicken breast, grilled salmon, and saba fish, eagerly devouring these savory delights whenever they are offered. And mind you, the roast chicken that she loves must be from a specific stall (which is our favorite stall) and not any other stalls or she will turn her nose up at the chicken meat. This is because some chicken rice stall owners marinate their chickens with five-spice powder and other seasonings, which Haru doesn't like. She likes plain chicken roasted, with an aromatic charred chicken taste.

Sniffing her favorite sourdough bread.

However, Haru's culinary preferences extend beyond typical cat fare. Unlike many cats, she turns her nose up at steamed fish, opting instead for breads, paus, and anything made from dough and yeast. Her fondness for sourdough bread and sourdough products, with its tangy flavor profile, is particularly surprising. Last week, I was astonished to discover that she even enjoys my healthy flour-free sprouted wheat bread, a healthier alternative to traditional bread.

Haru is obsessed with my flour-free sprouted wheat bread. The moment she hears the 'ting' sound from the air fryer and the aroma of toasted sprouted wheat bread wafting in the air, she will excitedly run to the kitchen in anticipation of a small treat. Even deep in her sleep, the smell of toasted bread can wake her up in an instant.

One common thread in Haru's food preferences seems to be her affinity for foods containing yeast. Whether it's the texture of bread or the tangy taste of sourdough, Haru's fondness for yeast-laden foods is undeniable. However, I must be mindful of her sensitive digestive system, as excessive consumption of gluten-rich foods can lead to digestive issues such as diarrhea and even vomiting.

While I delight in indulging Haru's culinary curiosities, I must also prioritize her health and well-being. Finding a balance between her favorite treats and foods that agree with her digestive system is essential. It took me more than two years to discover what her guts agreed to and how her meals should be tailored to every day.  By offering her a variety of options and monitoring her intake, I ensure that Haru can continue to enjoy her favorite foods without compromising her health.

Haru also loves Beacon seaweed pure chicken essence. I share a little with her each time I drink it.  This is too expensive to give her the entire packet. It costs almost RM20 for an 80ml packet (less than half a  soup bowl).

Slice of Life ~ Throwback Food Photos

Photo dump of some food pics that I forgot to post:

This is what Cass and I usually have for our meals lately:

A protein (usually fish or chicken breast) on a bed of yummy refreshing salad and raw turnip with no rice or low carb.

Sherilyn's salad with air-fried salmon, mozzarella cheese, cherry toms, avocado, and homemade salad dressing. She still eats rice at times.

Air-fried salmon with sauteed cabbage.

Sherilyn cooked these during her semester break - Japanese curry with fresh udon and chicken Karaage. 

A big pot of Japanese curry, enough for everyone for several meals.

Curry noodles shared with hubby at a curry noodle stall at Kuchai Business Park, after he sent his car for repair.

Hubby ordered siew yoke and cha siu from another stall to add to this bowl of curry noodles. This is what a true foodie will do!  The chicken breast was for me.

Kali meen kar liu (curry noodles with added ingredients)

Harbour ED's Steamboat

Harbour ED's Steamboat in Sri Petaling is one of the best steamboat and pork noodle restaurants that we've been to. In fact, I prefer their handmade pork balls and fish balls over H*idil*o's.  Of course, at H*idil*o, the ambiance and service are impeccable and you'll feel really pampered by their staff. 

We tried Harbour's pork noodles and it was superb - one of the best that we've tried in the Klang Valley. The minced pork patties were very nicely marinated and had no porky odor.  The soup was very flavorful and the bowl of noodles had a generous amount of choy sum and pork lard. Though pricier than regular pork noodles from hawker stalls, we don't mind spending a little more to enjoy a bowl of really tasty pork noodles with fresh ingredients.

Pork noodles

Handmade squid balls, pork balls, wanton, sui kow, and stuffed puffed tofu with fish paste.  Every bite of the squid ball had real squid meat in it.

Blanched squids seasoned with aromatic fried garlic oil, soy sauce, and spring onions. The texture of the squids was perfect - it was cooked to a tee and not rubbery at all. Very delish.

Spam meat fried rice with lettuce. Very flavorful too.

This is one restaurant that we will definitely be going again on a Sunday, after Cass' figure skating class. 

Address: 19, Jalan 13/149l, Bandar Baru Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur

Phone: 016-620 2672