So Very Near Christmas Now

Aaah the joy of Christmas is in the air! It is very nice to hear Christmas tunes wherever you go. Puts the mood into full swing. It is just few days away. This year is going to be a quiet Christmas for me because we are staying home for a family dinner. It will be a simple affair, not as grand as it used to be. We have decided not to have a party and many of my friends are having their family dinner too. It is the time where we should be thinking of the unfortunate and count our blessings. That is why I think we should stay home and just spend a nice dinner at home.

What about you. Are you going for any Christmas party. If you do, enjoy yourself too.

A Breezy Rainy Day

It's been rainy for the past few days. My laundry is not drying. Wished I had replaced the dryer the last time when it konked out. The laundry basket is full of dirty clothes and I daren't put the sheets out to wash.

This morning I took a stroll down to the market. It was raining but I've got my brolly. It was very windy and my brolly turned up and gave way... swsoooooshhh and for that short moment, I had to stand in the middle of the road divider hanging on to a dear life looking silly with an up-turned brolly! Yikes!

Then I went to have my nasi lemak. It was near lunch and I am feeling ravenous. Ordered my teh tarik and my nasi lemak. Yummyyyyy. How was your day?

Appam Recipe

Aaah don't mind me, while i paste a copy of the recipe of Appam here. In case I lose it, that is.

I wanted to make Appam for a while but didn't find a recipe until i saw it in a local recipe site. So better copy and put it here before I lose the page. You are free to try it too, Spymama don't mind shaing it with you all here. Any feedback, comments let me know. Of if you have adjusted or done something better please do let me know ya.

Appam (Hoppers / Indian pancakes)

Ingredients
225g rice
1 tsp salt
1.7 litres coconut milk (add just enough water to one grated coconut and squeeze out the milk)
1/8 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Oil for greasing

Method
Grind the rice in a blender till fine. Remove and put into a mixing bowl. Add salt, bicarbonate of soda and coconut milk; mix. Leave aside, covered with a damp tea towel, overnight. Before the batter is used, whip it to make it light. Heat a small pan. Dip the end of a clean towel into oil. Lightly grease the pan using the towel.Pour in a small ladle of batter and turn the pan around so that the batter runs up the sides of the pan, giving it a somewhat lacy effect. Cover with a lid.When the batter is cooked in the middle and becomes firm, remove from pan. Keep the appam warm on a tea-towel placed in clean plasticware.

Winter Solstice

Can you believe that it is now end of November? I think this year moves along too fast for me. I need to catch my breath. I remembered the last time I made glutinuous rice balls and it is very soon next month before it is time to have the same occasion again.

I want to get the ready made glutinuous rice balls that are available ready in many colours from the frozen section. I got a packet of that last year and used it to make bo bo cha cha for my family. It was pink in colour and the kids love it. Furthermore, it was very cute and mini in size and very easy to consume.

Commercial ones, Tang Yuan with fillings like Sesame, Peanut, Red Bean are available all year long but the ones that are plain are available end of the year, usually on the 22nd of December where it is marked as Birthday for all, according to Chinese traditions.

Eat Eat Eat..

I admit, it's a repetition post if I mention it again. But how can I forget my dear bloggers who may drop by in this blog here. I'll just say it one more time since it's in my other blog. I have been stuffing my face with all the keropoks at the Thai restaurant. So much, I can see a breakout might just happen anytime these days... Aaaarggghhhhhh!!!

Ah well, the most, I'll just put a cool cucumber mask on it and stay this way for half a day. After all, it is the school holidays and I can just hibernate at home eating more crackers. And when they are all exhausted, I'll eat Spypapa's chips...

Wanna go grab that cool can of Coke now.

Paper Roses for Rose

Again, i have neglect this blog. Then why did i bother to create this blog...well some of my friends have blogspot so i use this to register my name for them. so if you are here...

Rose? cos i just send you a comment using this blog id. or Farah? because I am her special visitor..hehehe

anyway... since my last comment was Rose, she might just drop by here. so i shall sing this song again..

Paper Roses

I realized the way your eyes deceived me
with tender looks that I mistook for love
So take away the flowers that you gave me
And send the kind that you remind me of

Paper Roses
Paper Roses
Oh how real those roses seem to be
But they're only imitation,
Like you imitation love for me

I thought that you would be a perfect lover
You seemed so full of sweetness at the start
But like a big red rose that's made of paper
There isn't any sweetness in your heart
Paper Roses
Paper Roses
Oh how real those roses seem to be
But they're only imitation like you imitation love for me


And for all my blogger friends here too.

Forgotten Blog

Wow! I haven't update this blog like so long already! I totally forgotten about it you know.. aiya. Never mind still can update.

I know why. The October month has been pretty stressful. I think most Singaporean parents will probably be as busy keeping their kids on their toes with the school schedule, exams, tuition and God knows what more. Spymama has been.

Then also the news about the Lee Boring (men) Kor Kor also create a little of economy turmoil a little bit. That created a domino effect on the world, bringing the stocks and share market come crashing down! Yes.

Many investors, including Singaporean who had placed their money into some minibonds that were linked into this suddenly find themselves poorer by thousands, tens of thousands and I am not sure about the richer ones.

After all, Spymama do not have so much money to put into any bonds so its different. I wonder if those who did invest knew the stakes? Just like casino gamblers, if you are not willing to part with your money, it's best not to even think about stepping into the casino. We all live in risk.

But then again, I dunno what is happening now. Perhaps some who bought them because they were persuaded to might get something back? Hope for the best.

Nostalgic Piano

I posted an entry about the old nostalgic pianos that I used to play, in my other blog. Then, I found a nice instrumental music that I liked so much and added the feature for the readers. If you are hear, you can enjoy this experience too. After all, music is free, and if you are happy and relaxed, that is just wonderful.

I grew up in an environment of classical music. My next door neighbour was a music teacher and the music flowed into my backyard, kitchen and home the whole day. You get to listen to nice classical and soothing ones in the morning when her students start lessons to her own rendition in the evening. It was just wonderful and sometimes it acts as a lullaby before we turn in.

An Egg Post Over At Mamakshop

Not here. No. Spymama posted an entry but not here. It's all about eggs. Half boiled eggs. Do you love them? It's my favourite and they say it's bad for me. High in Cholesterol. But I think, no. Maybe if I were to consume an overdose of it. But then I've decided, I'll still take them eggs. Read about it on my other blog. Not here. But, thanks for dropping by.

This one is without the seasoning. The other one has all the dark soya and the dash of pepper. Why don't I show you the full set of breakfast here then? Since you are here.



If you liked it. Have a Virtual Feast here, then go over to read my post, okie?

What is Teh Tarik, Spymama found a Video

Spymama tried to embed a YouTube video for you all to see about Teh Tarik on Mamakshop but I don't know why couldn't seem to do it.

Wanted to show you how the mamaks (indian muslims) does the traditional teh tarik. This alone is a skill and after the tarik, the frothy tea is just so nice. Be careful tarikking your own tea cos it is still hot and you might end up with half a cup less too.

Oh, I need to credit Rasa Malaysia for this video, by the way.

Enjoy, dears!

Spymama Eating Satay

wow... because Spymama is busy updating the other blog, she has totally forgotten about this one. But then she keeps this one cos some of her lovely bloggers don't allow non bloggers to comment. Anyway, if you happen to be here, don't forget to check out my other blog at http://mamakshop.com because the action is really over there. But of course I will post some little Spymama's misc items here becos why should i have a blog that remains dormant, right?

As Spymama was typing away, i'm actually having that yummy Satay that I grilled on my grilling frypan just now. I got those easy peanut sauce that just need to add some water then microwave and voila! Spymama has some satay for tea.. here, this is my last stick... treat you to a visual satay.

This is Spymama's Chicken Satay..

Lucky Cats - Maneki Neko

I love Lucky Cats! Do you? These cats are also called Maneki Neko or the Beckoning Cat. I used to have one in my shop that is battery operated. These are placed facing the shop entrance to bring luck into the shop.

The paws that is beckoning is said to be inviting gesture for fortune, luck, money, business and luck. The raised left paw is said to beckon for customers and the raised right paw is about money. So, there is no right or wrong in the paws whether it is raised left or right. Do you own one of this? Some has it in their keychains, handphone straps, in their car, and also as display on their computer.

This cat is very popular in Asia, originated from Japan, of course and many businessmen in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and even some Chinese businessmen in Europe and US adopt this cat method for luck in business too.

Craving for Durian Pengat

Well since I am still on the chatty mood, I might as well chatter about here. Today I bloghopped few blogs, namely Zara (ouch, she's got bad period pains) and Butter Dreams (she's pissed off with hubby, still). I was craving for my pulut rice (check my other blog) and then I saw one that had Durians. I quickly finished my comment and closed it. It just looked too delicious. They say, never go shopping when you are hungry. I'm hungry and I had been blog hopping. The grass is greener on the other side, so my own food pictures do not tempt me at all.

All I want now is some comfort food like Durian Pengat. Anyone tried Durian Pengat before? Wait let me post the picture here..

I do not have one picture of Durian Pengat but I saw one taken for the Ellenborough Market Hotel by Photographer Robert J Steiner. True enough, the Durian Pengat is one of the best selling Dessert in history of Singapore. I remember how I used to go to this EMC outlet to have their Peranakan Buffet and savour this Durian Pengat Dish. No other outlet can beat this one, well almost none other than your own Baba Granny perhaps.

My First Post in Blogger.com

Hello to Bloggers. I wondered why did I started this blog, as a matter of fact. Especially when I already have one at http://mamakshop.com/ of my own domain. Perhaps having a blog with blogger seemed more attractive and also, I find it more user friendly compared to what I had in my wordpress system.

I was bloghopping the other day when I realised that some bloggers who registered with blogspot had comment moderation on. That is fine, just that there were some who do not allow those without a blogger account to post a comment. When that is the case, I usually will post a comment on their shoutbox. But there were those who didn't have them for fear of spam. So I created this one specially so I can talk with those of you. :P

I was also attracted to the fact that I can actually buy my own domain through blogspot here and let them host it for me without additional charge. Did you know that? I pay (not through my nose) monthy for my hosting but in blogger.com you only pay up once for your domain. Hosting is free. That is an offer too good to be true. The only drawback to my buying from here is, I can't pay it using PayPal. I do so want to pay it using my PayPal account. I have to find out if I can purchase it through other domain sites and then bring it here to blogger.com? hmmm