CNY 2015: 2nd bake of the year, Little Sheep

Whilst waiting for the almond crisps to bake, I prepared the ingredients for the following bake, Little Sheep German Cookies. Basically it uses German Cookies recipe but moulding the cookie into Little Sheep. It is just too adorable to not try to bake it. Last year I've baked German cookies so I kinda have an idea of what to expect. So here's the recipe:

Little Sheep German Cookies
(Yield approx. 80 pieces)

250g butter
80g icing sugar
250g potato flour
160g superfine flour
Chocolate chips and.black sesame for decoration

1) Beat butter and sugar till light n fluffy
2) Sieve potato flour and superfine flour. Mix them into butter and sugar mixture
3) Put the batter into the fridge for 20-30 minutes so that it is easier to shape
4) Shape the batter into round shape, add 2 chocolate chips as horns, sesame seed as eyes and 2 small ball between horns
5) Bake them for 15-20 minutes at 150 Celsius

Note:
1) Can replace superfine flour with normal flour
2) Use cheap local made chocolate as they are more heat resistant, you do not want the horns to melt when they are baked

Ready to bake

Baking of Little Sheep

Due to my body condition, I made half of the batter and kept half for tomorrow. It's indeed time consuming shaping the sheep. 

CNY 2015: 1st bake of the year, Almond Crisp

It's this time of the year again... I told yuan last year that I am not going to bake this year coz it's just too tiring for me. Furthermore, I'm expecting another baby, my body might not able to stand too long... But, blame it on my itchy hand. I can't help but to bake after seeing so many posts online. So many people baking and it's making me hungry!

This afternoon, I made Yuan bring me to the baking ingredient shop to buy ingredients to bake. I've decided to kick off my baking with Almond Crisps. This recipe is easy as there is this premix powder, and all you have to do is mix it with nuts of your choice. Initially, I wanted to bake with almond but looking at the price of it, it's wiser to mix with other nuts, eg. Pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, peanuts flakes, etc.

Here's the recipe:
100g florentine premix
200g nuts (almonds, pumpkin, sesame, etc.)

1) Mix florentine and nuts in a bowl
2) Place baking paper or parchment paper on baking tray
3) Spread the mixture on the baking paper. Make sure the layer is level
4) Place it into the oven and bake for 5-7 minutes at 160 Celsius
5) Take it out when it's light brown. Cut it immediately while it's hot cause it will harden when cool.

Note:
1) Spread a thin layer if u do not want your crisps to be too sweet
2) Make sure to take the crisps out when it's light brown, not brown. It gets burnt easily
3) Some people pour 1/2 of the mixture on tray, then nuts then another 1/2 of the mixture again. Whichever way you do it, make sure where there is powder, there must be nuts and vice versa

Baking in progress 

Cut it into pieces while it's still piping hot

This is how 1 piece looks like

Total yield for 300g powder (of course, some extras went into my stomach)

Happy Baking!
Ps: I'm a novice baker, if I can do it, so can u!

Catalyst VCO

Recently, I've been reading on gentle birthing so that I am prepared for my 2nd son. Saw a post on Facebook saying that she manage to give birth without episiotomy, one of the thing she did was to consume VCO during pregnancy. It is said that VCO is able to improve ur skin's elasticity besides helping on metabolism and others... One can always google about the benefit of Virgin Coconut Oil. Then, I googled bout it. Last year I actually bought 3 bottles of liquid VCO for consumption but after taking a spoon, I stop. I just couldn't stand the smell. And the idea of swallowing oil puts me off. So when I saw that there is VCO in soft gel capsule, I was thinking perhaps this might suit me. From the Facebook post, the same user mentioned she consumed Catalyst VCO. Then I began searching and found. At the same time, I too went to iHerbs to check out the price. Seems that it's cheaper on iHerbs but due to currency exchange (which at this point, MYR is at its lowest) I feel that this Catalyst brand is worth trying.

And so the search to find Catalyst VCO begins. It is actually a Malaysia made product and sold by MLM method (which I dislike). Since there's no other way of buying it, I have to buy from a member. It seems most of the members sell through their blogs and I came across one blog (http://catalystshop.blogspot.com/2011/03/virgin-coconut-oil-softgel-capsules.html) who's selling this VCO at RM35.00 (compared to rrp of RM39.90). I immediately placed my order. God knows why I'm so daring to place an order without checking the sender's reliability. After paying, I was afraid if the seller just disappear, after all, I don't have his/her details. I'm not even sure if I can lodge a report if it as a scam. However, I was thinking too much~ the seller SMS me the next day with tracking number and I receive the product the next day. :)

So here it is...

My 1st visit to Private Gynae

Few days back, due to the christmas recital, my stomach hasnt been feeling quite well. I was worried so we decided to make a visit to the gynae to have the baby checked. Just to make sure everything's ok. This will be our 1st visit to the gynae as before this, i have only been visiting the government clinic. Also, at 19 weeks, we should be able to check if this baby is a he or she.

At 2pm, after lunch, I asked if Yuan was busy coz I think I wanna go to the gynae. He said he's not busy now so he could take half day leave to accompany me there. This too will be his first time seeing the baby. We decided to go to Bagan Specialist at Butterworth coz he's lazy to drive into Penang and I had bad impression with KS Wan. Reached there about 2.50pm, registered and waited for Dr. Jason Ong Beng Huat. We were called to go in at bout 3.30pm. That was quite fast as we saw in forum that it takes few hours to get to see him. Perhaps coz it's Monday so fewer people were there to visit him. While taking my BP and Weight, the nurse told me 1st consultation will cost RM150-200. I was like OK (that's quite high) but no choice since we're already here.

Saw him and he was having running nose, i presume he's sick but nvm. He asked about my 1st child, where he was born and was it natural. Then he asked if we have any plan to deliver there. I can only reply no plan. Then he said the baby's gender can be found out today. So i lied down to have my stomach scanned. Here are the 4D's scan....

See his muscular arm!

It's a boy. Another BOY~! I'm glad coz J has a companion. Has a playmate now. They will be 2 years apart so I hope in future their relationship will be close and they will be best friends. There goes my Kathlyn, but nevermind, Jaedyn is also good. He's also God's gift to us. 

After the scan, I asked Dr how much will it cost to deliver there, and he said it'll be about RM3000. That's quite high huh.... I mentioned i do not want to be induced and also no episiotomy. He said he has written them down and will do according to my will. That's relieve to hear that the gynae respect your decision. Perhaps that's the good thing about delivering in Private Hospital, you get to decide what you want. 

Now, I'm really considering if i should give birth in private hospital so i can experience a birth which i choose to have. 

Christmas Recital 2014

Today is the 2nd day post Christmas Recital which we had on the 3rd of January 2015.

This recital was done at my residence. This is to provide a platform for the students to perform and showcase they've done for the past 6 months (coz we had a mid year recital earlier on). This time, this recital is a bit longer, about 1 hour. With 12 pieces and 10 students performing. On average, each of them has to perform 2 pieces. 6 pieces of Christmas songs and 6 pieces of other songs. There were 2 chambers, few duets and few solos.

Me too performed a duet piece with Han Zhang

Refreshments after recital. Thanks to Agnes, Celine's mum and Yu Keat's mum for the food.

Presents giveaway session after the recital

Overall, I would say this recital was a success. Everyone practised hard for this and they reap what they sow :) Although the room was small and not everyone can fit in but that's the best i can do. Hope i get a chance to find a bigger space to fit everyone in for the next recital. And of course, next recital will be in end of 2015 or early 2016. Can't afford to do it every 6 months coz it's really tiring to drill them and make sure they practises. With all the extra rehearsals before the recital, am really killing me. Arranging time, coordinating ain't easy. I hope it's all worth it, hope that they will love music more. 

Of course, not forgetting to thanks my very supportive husband. Who helps me clean up my piano room, clean up the house after recital, buy lunch, take care of Jaevyn throughout the recital, prepares drink, etc. I don't know what i will do without him. I love you Dear XOXO