Thursday, December 28, 2006

Recipe- Black Pepper Salmon Steak

This is an easy and quick recipe.
Serves 4

Ingredients:
4 salmon steaks(3/4 inch)
1 tablespoon coarsely crushed black pepper (I love black pepper, so i used quite a lot)
salt to taste
1/2 cup butter, melted
juice of 1/2 lemon
parsley, finely chopped for garnish
4 slices lemon for garnish

Method:
Heat grill.
Press the black peppercorns into the flesh of the salmon. Sprinkles with salt.
Brush the steaks with half the melted butter and sprinkle lemon juice.
Grill steaks for 8-10minutes each side. Brush with melted butter from time to time.
When done (the steak flake easily with fork@ according to ur taste), serve on a serving dish.
Garnish with chopped parsley and lemon slices.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Gandhi said:

Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.

Keep your words positive, because your words become your behaviours.

Keep your behaviours positive, because your behaviours become your habits.

Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.

Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

The Characteristic Of A Great Relationship


What do you look into your partner? What do you expect from him/her? Every person has an image of their partner in their minds and think that their partner should be loving, considerate, joyful, have a great sense of humour and should love them crazily. Following are a few things that one always tries to search in their partner and which not only makes a great partner but also are the characteristics of a great relationship.

Someone who is caring and honest.

Someone who laughs with you and cries with you and is there for you at all the times.

Someone who truly listens to what you say and understands that though listening is a key, but using what is heard is even more important.

Someone who knows what you want before you say it.

Someone who respects you for what you are and does not flatter you unnecessarily.

Someone who is open and responsive and with whom you can confide in like a friend.

Someone who is never critical and ill tempered and knows how to compromised in the relationship.

Someone who loves you with all his heart.

Someone who likes everything that you do.

Someone with whom you have many common interests to share.

Someone who is trustworthy and who will risk his/her life for you.

Someone who takes time to listen and enjoy you for who you are and tries not to make you something else.

Someone that has a personality with qualities you don't have yourself, but admire greatly in them.

Someone who loves the stupid stuff you do without making fun of you.

Someone who appreciates your food even if it is not tasty but loves it because you have worked so hard to prepare it.

Someone who can make you happy when you are sad.

Someone who tells you the truth even if you don't want to hear it.

Someone who is a sweet, romantic person who cherishes you no matter what.

Someone who knows you're not perfect but treats you as though you are!

P/S Especially to my dearest beloved......u know who u r...
Thank You...

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Extremely Easy Moist Chocolate Cake

I needed some cheering up yesterday...
The best remedy is always chocolate cake...
Got this recipe from the internet cooking site...
Tried it yesterday... it turn out great for moist chocolate cake. Best eaten when it's thoroughly cool...

Ingredients:
2 cup white sugar
1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 cup boiling water

Methods:

Preheat oven 175 degrees celcius.
Prepare a 9" round cake tin or 12 muffin cups.

Sift together first 6 ingredients.
Pour in eggs, milk, oil, vanilla essence. Mix together.
Pour in boiling water. Mix well...
The batter will be very runny. Don't worry, it will turn out good.
Pour into prepared tin.

Bake 35-40 minutes, until toothpicks inserted, comes out clean.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Pancake Recipe

I've tried lots of pancake recipes. This is the best. Quick, easy and turn out great.
I'm sticking to this.

Ingredients:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tbsp sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil/ melted shortening
1/2 cup chocolate chip(optional)

Methods:
-heat your frying pan. no need butter if it's a non-stick pan
-mix all the ingredient(except choc chips) together in a mixer@ food processor (@ even simple blender). then mix in the choc chip if using.
-pour a scoopful over the pan. cook 1 minute each side.
-ready to eat.....

p/s kids love the choclatey pancake.
serve with honey/butter/pancake syrup

Try this and let me know the results....

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Breastfeeding Dilemma

Many new mothers breastfeed their babies for just a short while.

Some breastfeed only during their maternity leave,
while others may continue until they claim their breastmilk is decreasing in amount and finally stop.
There are also those who find that breastfeeding is not really a joyful experience and quit.
And those who suddenly quit for no apparent reason.
Only a minority of mothers breastfeed their child successfully and exclusively (4-6months without any additional nutrition).

Why is this happening? This does not only happen to those who are poorly educated but also those who are the top in their field.
After some researches(informal), readings (books, journals magazines) and talking to other experienced mothers, I have some thoughts to share ( and some tips too).

All mothers SHOULD breastfeed their babies exclusively(unless medically adviced not to). I don't want to just promoting people to breastfeed, but to breastfeed exclusively.
There are differences in term of amount of milk consume, the lenght of time, the effort needed and the most importantly-the outcome.

But why many still hesitate?
Why many did not persevere?
Why many have tried but not successful?
It all begins with the optimal preparation of the MIND, BODY and EMOTION......

Orange Muffin

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon grated zest of orange
1/2-1 cup orange juice
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
1/2 cup grated walnut (optional)

Methods:
Preheat oven 175 degrees celcius.
Combine dry mixture(except sugar) together. Set aside.
Mix orange juice, melted butter, eggs, sugar, zest, walnut, mix together.
Add in the dry ingredients. Mix well.
Pour into muffin tray/papercups.
Bake 20-25 minutes.
Makes about 12 muffins.

Life Is A Gift

This article was given to me by a good friend....


Life Is A Gift

Today before you think of saying an unkind word, think of someone who can't speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.

Today before you complain about life, think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your children, think of someone who desires children but they're barren.

Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didn't clean or sweep, think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you drive, think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job, think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another, remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down, put a smile on your face and thank God you're alive and still around.

Life is a gift

Live it

Enjoy it

Celebrate it

EMBRACE IT

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Breastfeeding......



BREASTFEEDING- everybody knows about this, but yet most of us misunderstood it.

Why is this happening?? Why are there still women out there hesitate to breastfeed their babies?

Isn't everything that GOD created comes with its purpose and benefit...?
Roughly (from my observation) less than 25% women breastfeed their babies EXCLUSIVELY. Breastfeed exclusively meaning that ur baby only consume breastmilk until 6 months old.

First and foremost...it's not a sin to nurse ur baby... it's ur baby for god sake....

Secondly, breastmilk contains lots of vitamins n minerals that however advance the technology is, formula milk will always comes second in term of nutrition. Babies who nursed don't need any other additional nutrition or even water(up to 4-6months).Another uniqueness of breastmilk is that the nutritional percentage in it, always change according to the babies age n needs.

You also don't need to carry all the stuff that u usually bring with bottle fed babies, ie bottle, steriliser, brush, flask, etc.

If u are a working mom...express ur milk... Lots of gadgets in the market it. Keep it in the freezer, n teach ur maid or the nursery on how to warm the milk n give to ur baby.

U save time, energy and MONEY...just think how much money u saved.

But, whatever it is, u have to be prepared mentally, physically n emotionally. There will be lots of people discouraging u..those that never open their eyes into breastfeeding, those who think breastfeeding is impossible.

I've tried, n successful.

It's the most precious gift u could give to ur little ones...