Hang On..Buddies..!

For the past few days or so I have been experiencing a sudden cloud of gloom hanging over me. I just would not want to blog or worst still open up my lappy and have no idea what I want to do just looking at the white screen. My mind blank as a white sheet of paper, my body and soul longing for something else off my normal routine. Just a short way of saying I have not been myself lately.

All these change of winds' direction might be due to some rough rides that I had at this period. I have not been feeling too well as my knees and ankle is painful and swollen again dashing my hopes of a winter holiday this Christmas, my anxieties and disappointments I have to go through this period with every matters related to moving to a new place, and so on. I am due for another long journey to KL tomorrow for my doctor's appointment. So to my buddies who have been swinging by over here, please hang on til I get my body and soul back here again in a few days. Hope it will be soon and thanks for dropping by.

How's Your Life On The Train....

Watch this wonderful video and ponder the journey we have gone through our rides through this earth, ....our stops, our destinations, things we saw and experienced, our aquantainces along the way, our happiness and our disappointment, and so on........

Homecook Chicken Lasagna....

A piece of chicken lasagna to enjoy.............

A couple of days ago son H made his first ever lasagna. Although cooking this italian dish seems quite time consuming you could make it easier if you prepare all the sauces beforehand. All you need are some bolognese and bechamel or white sauce, some ground meat, instant lasagna sheets and some grated cheese. With all these ingredients you are ready to bake your own lasagna.

The making of bolognese sauce and bechamel sauce.....

Browned 200g of ground chicken meat.........

Cooking bolognese sauce .....


Add in browned chicken meat.....

His butter roux which is equal portion of butter and flour cook in a saucepan....

Making a mess of his bechamel sauce......! just too impatient when pouring milk into the butter roux, son?..next time ask mummy and save time sieving the lumpy sauce......

What's this son? he taught me how to put some fun and art into cooking...his spices for his bechamel sauce...onions, bay leaves and cloves.

Lining a heat proof pan with instant lasagna sheets...

Alternating layers of lasagna sheets with bolognese and white sauces ....

Ending with white sauce layer and sprinkling of grated parmesan and mozzarella cheese........Bake in preheated oven of 180 degree Celcius for 35 to 40 mins.


Hot from the oven...............

A Tong Sui of Lotus Tea..........

"Tong Sui" is the cantonese word for Sweet Soup. Chinese celebration dinners or banquets would end with a sweet soup cooked with lotus seeds, gingko nuts, red beans or ground peanuts, and served with some sweet lotus or red bean buns. It can be served as snacks at home.

Chinese made their tong sui or sweet soup from herb based ingredients beneficial to the body which are simmered for 2 to 3 hours. Now we have the slow cooker to thank for.

Here is a recipe of Lotus tea which I often cook at home to share....

80 gm lotus seeds ( soaked for 15 mins)....believe to be cooling.


50 gm 'Pak Hup' or magnolia petals (washed) beneficial for cough and lungs ailments.

30 gm dried longan (washed)...good for heart, lungs, spleen, kidney and those with nervous system disorder.

A floret of dried white fungus (washed and soak for 15 mins)

Soaked white fungus looks like this.....stimulates the glands, checks irregular menstruation and gives relief to those suffering from ulcers and constipation and the remedy for a beautiful complexion.

180 gm rock sugar.......

Put all the above ingredients in a slow cooker and slow boiled together with 5 to 6 bowls of water till cooked. Serve it hot or cold.

Updates on Baby Ian.....

Took some shots here of my grandnephew baby Ian at 2 1/2 months. Will only stop crying when I sing lullaby to him while in my arms. Big round eyes just like his daddy and will give a big warm smile when tickled. Here is how he looks like last week......

In great granny arms..............

Will also be missing the hugs and kisses of baby Ian's little 3 yrs old cousin Shaun who has moved to KL to be with his mum and dad. Hope to see you again Shaun.

*Hug and kisses* from auntie M to you.........

Weekend Snapshot # 16 ...Shangri-La-Kuala Lumpur..

A pose by the grand fountain in the lobby...........

During our recent trip to the big city, we stayed the night at Shangri-La, KL located at the heart of the city centre. It is a beautiful hotel which I heard was newly makeover. Would love to share some pics over here....

Checking in at the counter..........

The lounge by the lobby with comfy chairs and music from the grand piano................

The exotic entrance to the lifts..................

Comfy beddings....................

Night view of the Kuala Lumpur Tower from our room.....

Daylight view of the twin tower from another room.......