Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

I am sooo gonna missed Harry Porter.

Remember last time i wrote it here that it seems like impossible for me to get the final Harry Porter book...
Well, I've gotten it. With all the fuss and argument about the book price, I bought mine (actually my hubby bought it for his lovely wife-hehehe) from TESCO, which sells this book with a cheaper price compare to other major book store. (lucky me- I didn't book the book from those bookstores, as they sells with a much higher price (I was told)).

Once I got the book, I felt like reading it right away...but...hmmm.... i'm not the single girl in college anymore, where I can read novels or anything, anytime that I want. And during those time I can finished one novel in one sitting (it did took a few hours though to finished it). As the plot thicken, I just have to finish them up. Well, i'm not the patient type of people who can wait to read the rest of the book the next day.

But, now, I'm a mother, of two rather 'busy-body' kids, that can't just leave mummy alone. So, I only read at night after both of them are fast asleep.

The final book - 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows' is great. I think it's the best of all the seven novels.
It's full of suspens, tragedy, death, confusion, conspiracy but still have its humour...

Whoever haven't read the book, and planning to...you can stop reading this entry HERE.... (or just skip the part with the smallest font. :))

For those who have read, and those who are not planning to read it, can carry on...

Fred died....:(( ( at least George just lost an ear).
And poor Teddy, who is just a baby, lost both his parents, Lupin and Tonks...this is so sad.
Severus Snape is innocent- can u believe it!!! -poor Snape, he died too.
And the sparks between Ron and Hermione are really intense this time...they got married anyway at the end.
Harry married Ginny- well, we can see that coming too, right.

I almost cried reading this novel...heheheh...I know, i know, rather pathetic yea?? I rarely cried over movies or books, but this time??? hmmm...may be motherhood have soften me inside, and get me mushy for no reason(or small reason). But what the heck..as if u cared.??

So, Harry Potter's books are finally over...what's next??? Will there be any more such stories or only those with imitation story line?
I am really soooo gonna miss Harry Potter.......

Hope they'll continue with the movie.

huuhuhhuuh...still haven't watch 'Order of The Phoenix'.

Jam Tart

I made this lovely tarts last month, but i've been delaying to post the entry.
It's still not the raya season, but I bought couple of pineapple during my last trip back from Kelantan. (there are lots of pineapple seller by the road side in Jeli), and those pineapple are soo sweet and delicious.
On the way back to Ipoh, I stopped by my mum's house and gave some to her. She made them into jam and gave some to me.
With pineapple jam in hand, what else should i be thinking other than my all time favourite-pineapple jam tart.
I have lots of jam tarts recipe, all kind of variations, but this time , i tried a new recipe from MamaFaMi's
The original recipe is for rose tart (which looks very lovely-like a rose), but I don't have the right cutter.


Ingredients:
3/4 cup icing sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup corn flour
1 egg yolk
enough flour (about 2 cups flour)
Jam for filling
Paper cups

Method :

1. Beat icing sugar and margarine till light and creamy.
2. Add in egg yolk and continue beating.
3. Add corn flour and mix well.
4. Add in flour, a bit at a time till a soft dough is formed.
5. Roll about 3/4 cm thick and cut using a special tart cutter. Lay on cookie sheet.
6. Spread a bit of jam on top .
Bake in preheated oven 175 degrees celcius, for 12minutes.

It's a bit sweet. I'll cut down the sugar next time (as the jam is already sweet).
And the cookies taste better the next day. Yummylicious...nothing can beat pineapple tart.

Easy Brownies

This is very sinful. It's not sin in a sense of -sin-. But, this is full of chocolate. Very chocolatey. Hmmm....the chocoholic in me.

My kids just love this brownies. They lick the saucepan. (By the way, this is a very easy recipe, can complete preparing it in about 10minutes. And bake it for another 25minutes.). Everything is made inside a saucepan.

I found the recipe in allrecipes.com, but I've made some alterations here and there.( the initial recipe is tooo sweet).

It's not the kind of melt-in the-mouth brownies,nor a cakey brownies. Well, may be something in between. Anyway, if you are really into the melt-in-mouth brownies, then this is not it.(may be I post the recipe for that some time later).

• 1/2 cup butter
  
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

Frosting:

• 3 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2cup confectioners' sugar

#

1. Preheat oven to 175 degrees C. Grease and flour an 7 inch square pan.
2. In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 25.
   
4. To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar in another saucepan. Melt. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

p/s u can add come nuts.

and I always prefer cakes/brownies using cooking chocolate rather than cocoa powder...

Durian Cupcakes

I was back in Ipoh by Saturday afternoon.
What a relief to get back home. Home sweet home.
And by late afternoon, my parents arrived, bringing...more durians.

I bake some durian cupcakes late last night, and even managed to make some simple decoration early this morning.

Here's the recipe:

1/2 cup durian pulp
1/4 cup fresh milk
-blend this together

1 cup butter
1 1/4 cup sugar ( I cut down the sugar to 3/4 cup since the durian is already sweet)
5 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup custard powder
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp sodium bicarbonate
-sift dry ingredients together

#
-Cream butter and sugar til light and fluffy.
-Add eggs one by one, beat well in between.
-Add in durian paste.
-Lastly, mix in the dry ingredients.
-Mix well.
-Spoon into individual cupcake case.
-Bake in preheated oven 175 degrees Celcius for 20minutes.

A Very Sweet Cupcakes- long due

Remember I posted this same photo last month, and promised that i'll write about it someday???
Well, this cupcakes were long gone (it's one month ago...:)), but I kept postponing on writing about it.
There's not much to write about. But the gest of it- is that it was the first time someone ordered cupcakes from me.
Before this, i've been baking and giving them out. I've made cupcakes for a cousin's son weddings, cupcakes for friends, next door neighbours and my hubby's colleague.
It's just my hobby and passion for baking. And since I have only 2 small kids who are surely couldn't finished everything up, my baking products would usually end up being given away to anyone that i could think off. ( you guys should be my neighbours...hehhehe).
So, someone ordered cupcakes for a birthday party in their office. How could I say not. I was so grateful, at least i felt my work are being appreciated...hahhahah.

I did some thinking and trying to come out with something original.
At last I came out with this pattern. The cupcakes are in 3 flavours (if I am not mistaken), plain vanilla, strawberry chip and chocolate chips. The pattern- a bouquet of roses. It was my first time of making full and half roses. Hopefully the flowers look good enough ( as I haven't gone to any baking/decorating class)- all are based on trial and error.

To you that ordered -thank you very much. Hopefully the cupcakes are delicious and beautiful enough. I am so happy I could brighten up that birthday party (am I? :))



p/s Happy belated birthday to you Datin


and Ayu (eventhough I don't know both of u personally) :)

8 Random Things About Myself

i've been tagged. This time it's by dear sis isleasy. (ooo...balas dendam yek???..hheheh)
I have fun doing this, since it's based on my random thoughts about myself-which some of it never occurred to me before.

1. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke. Nobody smoke in my household as long as I can remember. Not my parents, brothers. nor my husband. So, whenever I accidently inhaled the smoke in public places, I would felt like I have smelled some kind of toxin (which is true), and felt dizzy, or something like that. Anyway, I don't hate those people who smoke. I couldn't hate them, they are nice people too. It's just their bad habit, that they can't (or I rather say that they didn't try hard enough) to kick.

2. I hate covering my feet. I hardly wear socks. During the night if it's cold, I cover only other parts of me except my feet.

3. I love spicy food. If my meal is not spicy enough, I would still have the urge to eat another spicy meal.

4. I always think out of the box. So, my opinion always differ from the majority.

5. I love cooking and baking more than gardening or sewing, eventhough i do all of them. When I cook, I could see the results of adding new ingredients or experimenting new recipe as soon, within 1 to 2 hours the most. But if I plant a plant, try out a new fertilizer (for example), I could only see the results days or sometimes weeks after. I am not that patient. Sewing is too time consuming. I sew my own curtains, and cloths sometimes, but, it took ages to complete.

6. I love to buy gifts for other people. Gifts always make people smile. But, i have money limitation. So, only during special occasions.

7. I don't like answering phone calls. hahahhahah... This is very true. I always leave my handphone in my bag, under the cushions, in the bedroom, etc, because... I don't bother. (sorry, very sorry- just my bad habit that my 'ever dearest keep complaining about). If you want to contact me, leave me a message or better still, send me an sms. I'll definitely reply SMSes ( and emails).

8. I love chocolates- be it milk/dark chocolate- in cakes, ice creams, cookies, anything. Hate white chocolate, and hate milk. Haven't been drinking white/fresh milk since 6 years old. I've been taking calcium supplement anyway (occasionally) :)

So, I guess the rule is to tag next 8 people. hmmm.... do I have that much friends??
Anyway, I know you people are going to hate me because I'm going to tag you, but I have fun doing so...hehheheh
so, my victims are...
-my 'ever dearest' (just would like to know what u'll write about)
-cik bawang
-mamabear
-flush
-DrEzura
-sisbee
-diaHarris
-A Kel called Wonder.....
-hmm.... I run out of blogging friend I guess...that's about all I think.
n'way, if any of u are busy, just ignore this tag. Complete it when u feel like it- just to have fun yea...

Last week, Chocolate and Harry Potter

Many things happened last week. I came to KL on Monday 9July, while I was still down with flu.
Attended a wedding reception in Dewan Perdana Felda, KL. It's the wedding of my sis-in-law's niece. And the bride's mum happened to me my ex-lecturer while I was in medical college- my lecturer in immunology. The wedding was a blast, however I didn't take any photo of the bride and groom. (may be i'll ask my niece to send me a copy later).
The next day, my 'ever dearest' had to make a business trip to Singapore. We tagged along ( how could he leave a 'sick' mummy and her 2 active kids). We stayed in Johor Bharu. Not much thing to do.
The best was the trip to The Zone- free duty zone. The good there are still expensive. But I just love the chocolate/candy store. I spent rm100 there. I could spent more, only to be stopped by my 'ever dearest' .

I am really a chocoholic!!.
This is what happened if a chocoholic met a chocolate store.

Felt like buying everything in the shop. Yes, yes, we could still find the same chocolate in other shops elsewhere, but the price here...it's like 30% cheaper. (Anyway, I was told, they are cheaper in Langkawi).

We did stop by the famous Danga Bay. The place is breathtaking. But, it was too hot for us to take a stroll. No photos there either.
By Friday evening, we were back in KL.

Anyway enough about that. Let's talk about Harry Potter.
Huhuuhuhuhu... I am a big fan. But, haven't got the opportunity to watch the movie yet. I assumed whoever that went to watch the movie have to be Harry Potter's fan, so I guess they would really mind if there's one mummy watching with two rather talkative kids. If it's me, I would rather annoyed with kids talking non-stop while I'm watching my favourite, most-awaited movie. So, I tsk..tsk..tsk..have to wait for the dvd to come out.

And about the final novel- Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows. Really, really want to have it. But... I guess I could not be the one who waited since 5am in front of Kinokuniya in KLCC for the book to begin it sales at 7.01am this Saturday. And my 'ever dearest' is not a fan- so, it's a sure no-no for him if I ever asked him to get me one.
Whatever, however, it is, i'll get a copy...sooner ar later... :(

p/s anyone of you are going to the bookstores on saturday?? do u mind get me a copy???
hehheehehheh

I guess this is just one boring entry from me. That's it. This is just an entry when I have nothing specific to blog about.
Have a nice day...

Tag for Charity

I was tagged, this time by The Queen. This time it's a charity tag.

I copy and paste this (as one of the rule).

Rumah anak yatim ini memerlukan bas untuk penghuni2, di samping sumbangan untuk pengendalian harian. I am inviting you to participate together with me. For every person who complete this meme by end of July, I will contribute rm127 on your behalf to the Darul Izzah Orphange, Bangi.
I have been tagged before. Depending on the type of tags....and on my mood at the time, it can be fun too. This time, I created a meme for charity... and you can start the ball rolling. My aim is to collect at least rm10,000 worth of meme/tags from bloggers - now, can you do it!??
I am cool. Are you cool?

Okey, this is the rule.
If you are tagged, you need to write an entry related to the meme. At the end of your entry you just need to tag as many person as you like. You will then leave a comment in their blog to let them know they have been tagged. And to include this message, "By doing this meme you are contributing rm127 to the Darul Izzah Orphanage".
Then please copy and paste this rule somewhere in your entry.

The meme is about completing at least seventeen out of the following twenty seven sentences........ *These can be copied and pasted to your entry*


1. A person is only as good as the things that he did (as these are the things that reflects him)
2. Friendship is always there to be cherished.
3. To love is to accept and sacrifice.
4. Money makes me feel good, but not necessary happy.
5. I miss hmmm....
6. My way of saying I care is by keeping in touch.
7. I try to spread love and happiness by smiling and buying gifts.
8. Pick the flowers when (i don't pick flowers- they are more beautiful naturally).
9. To love someone is to accept him, take great care of him.
10. Beauty is everywhere-look deep.
11. When I was thirteen, what I remember the most was quit from boarding school- life's sucks there.
12. When I was twenty one, I remember meeting this guy for the first time (he's my hubby 3 years later).
13. I am most happy when all those around me are happy.
14. Nothing makes me happier than seing my kids being 'jakun' over new things.
15. If I can change one thing, I will change the figures in my account book.
16. If smiles were like cupcakes, then I bake them always and give to all.
17. Wouldn't it be nice if we could eat and eat, without any worries.
18. If you want to get then you have to give
19. Money is not everything but everything needs money
20. The most touching moments I have experienced is child birth
21. I smile when my surround smiles.
22. When I am happy, I made delicious meals.
23. If only I don't have to , then
24. The best thing I did yesterday was shopping.
25. If I ever write a book, I will give it this title,"How to Follow Your Heart and never Look Back"
26. One thing I must do before I die is travel around the world.
27. Doing this meme, I feel like making others smiling.

And pls remember after completing this meme, please leave a comment in Mr Idham's blog, so that he could keep track and update the number of entry.
Well, I think that's about it.
I won't tag anyone this time. But all of you could 'tag' along. :)

Durian Story

I was down with flu. Yes...I'm not well. Too much durians... :) (not to mention-the hot weather nowadays).
It's all started with a trip to my mum's durian orchard.
We went back to my kampung last Saturday. As we arrived, we can smelled durians from outside the gate. Once inside, my 'ever dearest' finished up one whole durian within 5minutes. Then another, and another.
By late afternoon, he complaint of headache. However, we still have an appointment with the 'durian' tree after Asar. So, he swallowed 2 PCM, and off we went to the orchard. It was a small orchard, used to be so large, but after my grandparents died, my mum and her other siblings had to divide it equally. So, it's not that big, but enough durians for us, and enough to make lots and lots of 'tempoyak' storage that will last until the next durian season.
I still remember, when I was still a kid, we used to go there every single year, without fail. my granddad would spent the nights there to gather all the durians before the 'wild animals' managed to grabbed it first.- either the tiny miny squirrel, the playful monkeys, and even tigers. (well-that's what he used to tell us-that tigers eat durians too)
During those days, we made a trip there ( me, my aunties and uncles, and my cousins), brought along 'pulut' and coconut milk for a feast of 'pulut durian'.
Once there, me and my cousins started collecting the durians, and we would compete who could gathered the most. By noon, we would sell 'our' own durians. The buyer would pay us as much as rm2 to rm5. What a great memory.
However, after my grandparents passed away, all that is not routine anymore. The cousins would prefer buying durians rather than go to the orchard.

Anyway, just to let my kids have the experience, I brought both of them to the orchard.
Dress them up nicely (but being a forgetful me- I didn't bring their shoes nor their longsleeves t-shirts). Laiqa wore her beautiful shoes, Umar and daddy were wearing their sandals, but... mummy brought her shoes, and her long sleeved t-shirt...hehehheheh. Sorry guys...didn't mean to pack only for me.
We had to drive for 10minutes from my parents' house, parked the car by a tobacco plantation, and walked another 10-15minutes through a rubber plantation and bushes.
We had to walk pass these.

Umar had a great time- collecting durians and fooling around. Laiqa...well...she's always not comfortable outside, especially in places like the orchard. Anyway, she'll get used, I hope.

The kids with 'atuk' and 'nenek'.

By 7pm, we started heading home.
And guess what??? Who was the one that was fully clothed with socks, shoes, long sleeves, etc, and who got bitten by 'pacat'?? Me...yes, it's me. D***, that s***** 'pacat'.

Sunday...we headed back home. I baked some durian cupcakes (will post the recipe next week). A friend came to visit, so, we served them 'pulut durian' what else...:)
By late evening....the flu bugs attacked... :((



This picture has nothing to do with this entry.

Wise Crack

I was bloghopping as usual, and found this very interesting entry.
Really, really have to share with all of you.
Thanks Sis Bee.



Medical Practitioners
The neurologist knows everything but does nothing
The surgeon knows nothing but does everything
The psychiatrist knows nothing and does nothing
The pathologist knows everything and does everything, but too late
And the anesthesiologist sits on a stool all day long and passes gas.

Anon

Loeb's Laws of Medicine
1. First of all, do no harm.
2. If what you are doing works, keep doing it.
3. If what you are doing doesn't work, quit doing it.
(He considered this to be a corollary of his first law)
4. If you don't know what to do, don't do anything_ (So now you understand!)
5. Above all, never let your patient fall into the hands of a surgeon (Remember that Dr. Loeb was an internist) (It's supposed to be funny; be sure to laugh).

Oven - Plain Cupcakes

Yieehaa...bought myself a new oven. ( actually, it's my 'ever dearest' that bought it for me :))
This time I have a REAL oven. It's not that my last oven is not an oven, but, this time it's more real. What am I mumbling about..???
Well, may be because I am overly excited.
Let me tell you about my last oven. It's a very small convection oven, which my mother bought almost 25 years ago (my goodness...the oven is about my age ...hehhe, well may be I am a few years 'older' than it). After i got married, i kinda took the oven from her (since she always prefer to use the 'round' one). All this while, I've been doing all my baking with the oven. From cakes to cookies, breads, all kind of buns, and I even roast chicken in it. But, those who are familiar with ovens and cooking in general, would know that small oven always cause problems to its baking products, my cake always overbaked at the top, cookies were not evenly baked, etc. But I managed...
I've never asked my husband to buy things for me. Anyway, he must have thought that i need a new oven (after 6plus years of marriage :)) . He did all the 'choosing the right oven' thing. He went to lots of shops, read reviews, compared the function, etc.
To you dear..thank you very much...love you.

I haven't placed the oven inside its cabinet. Anyway, my hubby and the kids were really excited more than myself (it seems), and kept pressuring me to try baking with the new oven.
So, here's my first cupcakes. The texture really improves with the oven. So, who said baking is baking, doesn't matter what oven you are using???... It does matter.



Did you notice the texture? It's softer.
I've baked using this same recipe at least 10 times, but this times, it's the best. Well, may be it's pure luck, but I believe it's have something to do with the oven. :)

Plain Cupcake
* 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
* 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup butter
* 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar (I used 1 cup)
* 4 eggs
* 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 174 C. Line pan with baking cups.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

Cream sugar and butter together until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla to creamed mixture and beat until thoroughly mixed. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Continue beating one minute.

Pour into prepared cups. Bake 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely.

Dark Chocolate Cake

I found this recipe sometimes ago. Anyway, i have been keeping it eversince, since I always prefer to bake chocolate cakes that uses cooking chocolate rather than cocoa powder.
Anyway, I forgot to buy a cooking chocolate during my last trip to the store, and I have this chocolate rush in me that can't wait, I tried this recipe instead.


INGREDIENTS

* 2 cups boiling water
* 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup butter, softened
* 2 1/4 cups white sugar
* 4 eggs
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tin with baking cups.
2. In medium bowl, pour boiling water over cocoa, and whisk until smooth. Let mixture cool. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at time, then stir in vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the cocoa mixture.
4. Spoon 2/3 full in individual baking cups.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Allow to cool.

Not bad. Will make again.

Custard Cupcakes

I was told about this cake by a good friend -Ernie.
I was chatting with her at that time, and she told me she just bake a custard cake which is fluffy but yet buttery.
Anyway, she haven't given me the complete recipe. So, since I was eager to try out the recipe (and I still have my previous year stock of custard powder- not knowing what to do with it), i searched the recipe from the net.
I found one in a fotopages which I can't remember which. So, to the owner.....thanks for the recipe. If I ever found your site again, i'll thank you in person(cyberly) :)

Custard Cupcakes

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup custard powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp soda bicarbonate
1 tsp vanilla essence

#
-beat butter and sugar until fluffy
-beat in eggs one by one.
-add dry ingredients that have been sifted together
-mix in vanilla essence
-scoop into prepared muffin tin
-bake 20-25minutes in a preheated oven 175 degrees C.

makes 12 cupcakes