Biathlon

Nylie is a finisher....*Proud mummy* showing-off her medal.

I was nervous before the start of the Biathlon yesterday, I can see that Nylie was, too. Thank goodness the weather was good, not as scorching as in before we left home. My heart was beating so fast when Nylie and all the "Orange" cap category participants were standing at the Swim Start line BUT I am confident Nylie will race a good race. Indeed she did as breezily as the weather.

When I saw Nylie at the "Finish" red carpet..........I was ecstatic. Uyop was very happy too. He was so happy that he finishes Nylie's isotonic drink without even offering me.......*lol*

I am so proud of her, I think any mother in the world would be,,,,especially the ones like me who have never participated in any biathlon or triathlon before. Perhaps next time, I would.

Preparing to start...Numbering Nylie

Nylie at Swim Start Point looking pretty nervous...

My little girl swimming in the open sea.....what a challenge

Nylie at the finishing line.....*still manage a smile for mummy*

Gingerbread....is NOT a bread

I've bake this several times and still wonder why on earth they call it Gingerbread. Anyway, I've always love to bake Gingerbread simply bcos it's easy and entertaining to my taste buds....*grin*

Here's the the recipe :

1. 60gm butter • 100gm sugar • pinch of salt
2. 1 Egg
3. 170gm Golden syrup (it can be replaced with honey)
4. 460gm all purpose flour • 2 teaspoon Ginger powder • 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon powder • 1 teaspoon baking soda

How to do it :

1. Mix #1 till well combined and then add in #2. Cream till smooth.
2. Add in #3 and #4 and mix till well blended.
3. Let it rest for 15 minutes. Then roll it to a 3-mm thickness and cut it into the required shape.
4. Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes.
5. When it becomes cool, decorate with royal icing.

Royal Icing - 180gm Icing sugar and 1 egg white

Mix icing sugar and egg white till smooth and spreading consistency.

If you need a softer icing, add extra egg white and if you need a stiffer icing, add extra icing sugar. Add color if you wish.

Happy baking....

Week-end Retreat....

I went for a stroll at the beach near where I live, this bright sunny morning. I've somehow decided to go with a companion; my camera.!!

It was a beautiful Saturday morning and all....BUT instead of snapping, I just watch the peace around me, the sun shining on,......birds chirpping, saying hello to me, I guess...*smile*

I couldnt capture every moment with my camera; wish I could......I love this moment alone; surprisingly I did....so moments like this which is hard to come by for me these days...will be cherished in my head - no camera in the world can top that...*wink*

Never regret I took a turn to the park near the beach, after sending my children to their classes. Some pics I took this morning...............a welcoming sight *lol*

Later in the afternoon, my family and I shop a little and headed for home with my intention to bake Gingerbread.
We only started after dinner and finished baking like almost to bedtime....still I find time to blog....but really, my eye-lids are almost glued to each other............*sweet dreams*

Rain rain go away, come again another day......

little children wants to play and this mummy wants to go snapping *click click click*............BUT since it's already so late by the time the rain stopped, I just snapped whatever there is, that is appealing at that point in time... *lol*

Dyna's colourful M&M...

Slices of oranges bottled up

Fishball soup

Eggs in my fridge......

My subjects last nite were food....I still couldnt figure out but this pics just didnt turn out well...must go flickr and learn more from others, gotta go *)

Great Photographers are.....

.....those who see beyond what others do not. In my opinion...good camera helps but the "X-factor" will still be the person behind the lense. These past few days I browsed, looked at and admire some great shots from fellow "flickr" members........

Im still dazed after looking at some of those gorgeous, beautiful nice photos...and it dawn on me that there's so many talented people out there....and I have a lot to learn.....my journey has just begun.... *smile*

But anyway I wouldnt let anything goes by me...or a day without snapping anything at all. I took a snap of this deliciously baked fish just now and I guess I'll have to share the recipe of what I had.........and here goes :


Thai Style - Baked Fish with Sweet and Sour Sauce
3 pieces fish meat, 200g each
3 pieces kaffir lime leaves, shredded
3 banana leaves, 20x30 cm each

Grind the following ingredients into a paste :
200g tomatoes
50g red chillies
2 stalks lemongrass
1 stalk torch ginger seeds
30g garlic

Mix the above paste with the following :
50g sugar
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp fish sauce

And pour the mixtures onto fish meat. Mix well. Put 1 piece of fish meat on a greased banana leaf. Fold and wrap up both sides. Seal with a toothpick. Arrange on a baking tray. Bake at 180°C for 15 minutes and serve.

It's a consolation to have the Thai baked fish after a tiring day.... well, it made me happy *wink*

Reflections....

of my mood and feelings. Some shots taken recently.....

Raindrops on my car's window pane


Engulfing Clouds - Submissive Moon

Reflection of the Sun - Thru my Lenses

A good friend called just to chat....; a woman of leisure that she is....envious to many, especially for people like me, who cannot afford that luxury - "TIME"!!

I knew at the back of my mind that somehow she misses working.,,*lol* (pacifying mode..hehe)

Reflections of my dear friends life, myself and families or people around me....have set me thinking and wishing that I could pursue my dream earlier. But hey...what the heck, Im blessed and pray that I will always be...and Im free to go SNAPping............HAPPY doing the things I do...and will continue doing.....*s•m•i•l•e*

By the way....Im sooooo happy now that Im this close to reaching my ideal weight - I am now 2kg down from where I started...*wink*

It's Nylie's first.....

.....and her first attempt at making Konnyaku Jelly was a success! *proud moments*

She did it all on her own.....with some help from me *wink* at handling the hot pot and of course S$ for the ingredients that she needs...*smile*.

Snapped some of Nylie's Jell-O in the process .....look how "cool" she is......

Here's the recipe for the :

Peach Flavoured with Fruit Cocktails Konyyaku Jelly

250gm Konyyaku Pre-mix Jelly

1250ml water

1/2 tsp Peach Flavour Essence

Fruit Cocktails

2tsp kiwi seed

1. Soak 2 tsp of Kiwi seed into a glass of water for about 20 minutes, drain the water using a strainer and rinse it with water.

2. Add the drained Kiwi seed into 1250ml water.

3. Then add the Konyyaku Pre-mix Jelly, and stir constantly till well blended.

4. Add 1/2 tsp of Peach Flavour Essence

5. Bring it to boil. Once boiling, bring it away from the fire, stir constantly until bubble dissipate.

6. Drain the fruit cocktails - you just want the fruits (but of course you can use the syrup for something else later)

7. Place it at the bottom of small to medium moulds - your preference.

8. Pour the mixture gently to the mould and put to cool.

It's best when eaten cold......BUT if you cant resist it.....yank it into your mouth once the jell-o is set, who cares....;)

Ili baked Stars......

....yes she did....!!

We couldnt go out to play as it was raining non-stop yesterday....so we decided to bake. Ili chose to bake shining stars - was suppose to look like shining stars but we couldnt get the shiny stuff so Ili has to settle with burnt stars *lol*....It doesnt taste that bad though, and everyone loves it. It's trying for the teeth....*grin*

Here's the recipe for the Cinnamon Stars :

3 Egg whites

400g Icing sugar

500g Ground almonds

2 tsps Cinnamon powder

For the Royal Icing : 180gm Icing sugar and 1 egg white. Choc coloring (own preferred color)

Mix icing sugar, a drop of choc coloring, and egg white till smooth and spreading consistency

Ili's way of doin' it :

Mix all the ingredients to form a smooth dough • Roll it between two plastic sheets to a 6mm thickness • Cut it with star cutter and place into pan lined with baking paper • Pipe the royal icing on top of the star and allow it to spread evenly • Let it sit for 30 minutes • Bake at 170 degrees celcius for 20 minutes.

Sutra's beauty..................

framed and yes with my signature on it!!..... I've been doing quite a lot of reading and is currently engrossed with Jerry Glenwright's book. Wow, my mind is boggled and loaded. Am not sure if I can take more than I can handle *grin*.

Ok...Here's shot of Sutra Beach Resort at sunrise that I have just put what I've read to practise....*s-m-i-l-e*............kinda like the result, not that fantastic but pic worth sharing.....*sunny dreams* ~ bye 4 now.