3 ingredients 3 words

Have you ever heard of scones? Last week I was so in love with them.
The recipe is so simple and there is only 3 ingredients in them. Self-raising flour, butter and milk!
If you are not sure when to start baking or what to start with, I guess this would be the best choice ever.

TRUST ME.

I have made them last week with my housemate which turns out quite delicious. She made it first for 2 times, second time upon request :P and I've tried once myself and definitely again some day. (I still have no time to make my macaroon yet perhaps this week). Anyway, here's how they turn out.

Very own homemade whipped cream strawberry topped scones.

Yummy. Telling you the three words!

I LOVE SCONES! (and strawberries of course!) ;p :p *Winkwink*

Sometimes you want to be loved

Nobody knows love perfectly because love is imperfectly perfect.

We know girls always wants her prince to be there for her virtual or physically and even both if possible.

Virtually if he is there but physically not then that's when faith comes in place. Physically if he is here but virtually (mind) not then that's when wait comes in place.

We girls are so good in adapting into situations that sometimes we are unaware what is in front of us.

Sometimes we just want to be loved by our prince and not those overflowing family love that we have.

This video done by Wongfu productions is so true --> Strangers again. Just so true.

Girls, let me remind you, beating air with one hand makes no sound. Wind is not a sound.

Cute onot? :p


My 1st Song in the Playlist


Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by
If you Smile through your pain and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through
For you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near
That's the time (thats the time) you must keep on trying
Smile- What's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

That's the time (thats the time) you must keep on trying,
Smile- What's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

Smile though your heart is aching
Smile Even though it's breaking
When there are clouds in the sky- You'll get by

That's the time (thats the time) you must keep on trying
Smile- What's the use of crying
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just
You'll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile.

How can my holiday be complete without . . .

SHOPPING?!!
Of course, you must be wondering how can I not shop for the past 3 weeks.
To be honest, this winter holiday I didn't really go like "too" into shopping but more to resting and chilling at home.

=FYI=
This year is where South Australia (where Adelaide is the heart of the city) had their BIGGEST SALE EVER!
Missing half of it somehow due to the mid year exams but nevermind, had done some catching up after that with my girl friends! :)

First of all, bad news!! :( Half of my nail dropped off due to the stupid lecture chair. HAVE U EXPERIENCE THAT PAIN?!! Plus the burn from the previous oven baking post :(((( I have bought this BIO-oil thingy that I'm using right now to make those scars go off, hopefully I can show you the honest results very soon in a month or so.

Second bad news! Uni started today!! :( That is a bad news for everyone right? No more late nights and late mornings wth.. . . .
 *friend commented that my mouth cramp swt =3=*

On to the good news! I've never really actually exhibit much of my fashion sense in my blog so maybe this is the first time I post more about clothings and accesories! Yay!! *clap hands*

Shopping in Australia had been really not that rewarding unless you are born rich with overflowing cash or maybe you are spending over budget. I have been looking at beautiful clothings but have managed to resist temptation since I know I can get much lower price back in Malaysia. Like seriously, RM60 for a thin lousy tank top print? I don't think so, RIGHT? Unless you're like drinking cash in replacement of water. =P

Anyways, enough of talking so these are my really good deals that I bought during this holiday and the rest I spent on food basically. =) I have managed to start a small lil business which is quite easy and earn a little pocket money but anyway, shall only continue with that during holidays. With the little money I've got, I finally go shopping with my girl friends without much guilt and also I think I can reward myself for doing a great job in my mid term semester exam anddd not to mention I didn't go shopping for quite some time as you noticed. So 1st stop,

The Eiffel Tower Inspired Necklace!

Been wanting this so long and guess how much is it?

AUD2.99! Quite cheap right, I know *wink wink wink wink -eye sore*

Black is the new black to match with anything easily.

Have been wanting a black shorts since I've lost my black skirt or maybe placed it at my home in Malaysia.

Guess how much is this? Shall reveal at the end of my post so keep reading!

This is how I would match them. Simple is beautiful, my concept! :)

The top is what I've been eyeing on quite some time now and I saw this at JayJays at a good bargain!

It is a full hand knitted long sleeve blouse with some details at the middle front part. Loves! It's only AUD10 which is RM30. Not that bad for me. I saw many of these top can go up to AUD 70 really! Didn't lie! =O =O O.o

This bag is a gift from a Japanese magazine. But won't tell you how I got them. 

It is a Loewe Tote Bag with A pretty L twist!

Throws everything inside quite conveniently. Hehe. Lazy me. Ya-I-know.

A Black Blazer.

I wonder if you can see clearly but those detail on the top sleeve and also the quality is darn good.

Inside the sleeve has also some pretty petite line details which when you can fold them' up with style.

The price is AUD15. What do you expect. It's already 50% off.
I need them for future working envi and maybe when I need OL wear.

Obviously the picture is not flipped properly but I think it looks nicer this way to the side. Ignore my socks  on the floor but anyway, this is a typical simple electric blue skirt that can fit many pretty pure white blouses. Goes well with a elaborated waist belt and some accesories.

May not wear them in this cold weather but perhaps when it's warmer. AUD 3.9!

Really can't let go of this dress because leopard is so IN nowadays and I'm so in love with them. I don't think I have any leopard print stuff in particular so this might be my first dress in leopard style. 

Got this from dotti (first time) because normally even the sales are super expensive. So happened to pass by and saw this ad (50% further after the saled items) so went in to have a lOOk. 

After much thinking and stuff I got this dress. Ain't it classy? With the black blazer and it'll be perfect for me. Sighs, I wish the burn on my left hand would just disappear.

Now thank you for your patience to read this abnormally longer post (compared to the rest of my posts) because I don't like to waste too much of your time to read my windy long stories normally. HAHA. *not funny* so, the price of my black shorts would be AUD7.9 and the leopard dress is AUD24.

Shall not shop until I get back to Malaysia again. Plomiseeee you LOh ;) *wink* *winkkkk ouch* 

Eye-sore LOL

Btw, do you know eye-sore is my fav cartoon. How adorable eye-sores are!

= Just love em'! =

Basic Meringue

Food Fact #1: What is meringue?

Meringue is whipped egg whites often combined with sugar that can be either baked, as a topping on meringue pies, or as cookies or shells for specific desserts. Unbaked meringue is used to fluff up popular dessert favorites like chocolate mousse.

By Amy Beh

Ingredients

• 3 egg whites
• A pinch of cream of tartar
• 100g castor sugar
• 
  

Method

Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Reduce the speed (this is to prevent sugar from flying out).
Add sugar, a tablespoon at a time, beating constantly until well combined.
Beat until meringue is thick and glossy and sugar has completely dissolved. Do not overbeat or the meringue will collapse.
Tip: Make sure egg whites are at room temperature as cold egg whites incorporate less air .
BAKING MEASUREMENT CONVERTER CLICK HERE <<

Taste as good as it looks

Bad things normally comes before good things.
So be patient. If good things happens before bad things then we will be super sad after.
But if bad things comes before good things then we will be really glad its over right? *心理捉弄*
Pff..I did get some bad burns on my left wrist on my hand but oh well. Every experience has a price to pay.
After the hard work, I did manage to make a lovely carrot walnut cake yesterday, not to mention someone brought me to eat dessert in chocolatree last night *wheee~!- pictures coming up next post because they are not with me now*

Jiggly reminded me to blog a bit more detail on my posts because they are so short -apparently o.O which its true I really do notice so I shall agree to her that I will write longer detailed posts. =) Happy? :P

Okay, put aside random thoughts. About yesterday again, I managed to buy all my ingredients in Coles supermarket and those sum up to about like AUD14.54 (approx) but someone decided to sponsor for me which made me feel so grateful now :/ *blush* then went home and did start baking after some slacking. You-know-lah, we facebook and eat and sleep and facebook and nothing-else-better-to-do.

Then I got the ball rolling and I've got everything mixed into the batter enter the baking mould back to the convectional oven and waited for about 30 minutes. Suddenly, the oven light went off and I wonder what happen so I opened to have a look at the cake (which we as bakers are not suppose to do that if not the tempt will drop drastically, really not ideal for the baking process). Not too surprise that clumsy me accidentally touched the side of the hot oven and let go of a side of the baking tray which made the cake slant a little and some middle part dropped off which made me :(((( in FB. I quickly put the unfinished cake into the oven and ran off to put my hand  into cold water asap.

Now my hand still has this dark scar which is terrifying so WHAT SHOULD I DO????!!
Anyone has any idea? Any some sort of miracle cream that will reduce the dark chocolate colour? Wth! See also xim tia.
Nevermind, I already have an idea to cover it up, not by concealer of some sort, but by wearing a bigger watch LOL *stupid right? But no choice, I really hope it gets well soon* It is as big as twice the size of your pinky fingernail.

Anyway, bad things has to pass and here comes the best part. Pictures again! :D

 Fresh from OveN!!

 Looks yummy or what? I've make a lemon refreshing icing which is not too sweet on the top! <3

 My first slice of cake which I've already eaten half of it LOL

 The texture of the cake is quite good means the recipe is very reliable! Which also means that I will use her website more often for other recipes too ekeke..

 Half of it gone in no time! :3

Do you want a slice too?

*Damn tempting right?* I know..=P

Definitely bake it again some other time.

Cheers!

Making life sweeter~ (Carrot Cake and Macaron Recipe)

Going to bake Carrot and walnut cake today and macaroons few days later (to allow the egg whites to age in my fridge first for the french macaron) =)

I admit I'm not a person that can bake very well but I believe I'm a person that can give anything a go in cooking. Nothing will go wrong as long as it is edible (n.n)

First, after surveying many recipes and stuff. I love to do foolproof recipes to keep the beginners (defining as first time baking a NEW recipe) right on track and slowly practice each recipe until you become an expert in it.

For the carrot and walnut cake, I will be combining my cake cookbook and a goodold blog from Chocolatesuze as you can click from the top tab of my blog (Recipes and find the Chocolatesuze from there). It seems to be quite a simple recipe to do and fyI, MY FAV CAKE SO FAR --> Carrot and Walnut cake. *It seems that you read my mind* or did you not? :(


Anyway, she mentioned that she took away 1/2 cup of crushed walnuts because she don't like it but I love it so I will be sprinkling them on top of the icing once I'm done with the cake ^_^

Another website that is quite useful is The Cake Mistress (Carrot walnut Cake).

For Almond Shell Raspberry Filling Macarons Recipe, I will be making my first attempt perhaps on Friday and the foolproof recipe that I've gather is this with step-by-step video HERE (curvehappens).

Raspberry and sugar jam for filling (optional)

* I will put those in red as in stuff you will need to prepare*

Preparing the shell you need: 120g almond meal (ground almonds)
120g powdered caster sugar

___________________________________________________________________________

120g (6 eggs) egg whites aged 2-3 few days in fridge (then remove until rtp-room temperature)

Separate til (60g and 60g in 2 bowls)

20g raspberry powder made from freeze dried raspberry (crush them yourselves)

1. Mix the almond meal and powdered caster sugar together until uniform (in a food processor or even hand if you wish)

-- Add raspberry powder until light pink

-- Sift out large lumps 

2. Whisk (1st bowl) 60g egg white until peaks form then slowly add 35g of sugar (Called meringue "pronounce as me'rang")

-- As it mix, you will need to prepare sugar syrup (BOIL 150g sugar and 50g of water BOIL until 121C)

-- Once bubbling remove from heat quickly

-- Then slowly add into the mixing meringue

-- Gradually increase speed once add all the syrup

-- Beat on med-high speed for 10 min until cool down (cream/fluff like)

3. Add remaining 60g egg white to the dry mixture in 1. mix until become--> paste mixture

4. Add 2, meringue to the 3. paste mixture until fold til appear thick and drip slowly (sharp fluff end)

5. Add some red food coloring to boost pink (optional)

6. Put into piping bag

7. Secure parchment paper onto baking sheet with mixture at sides (may spread some butter onto paper making it nonstick)

8. Once piped leaving 1 inch between each of piped shell then dry for 30 min prior to baking

-- Then add into oven for 150 degree for 20 min then cool for few min

-- Match up similar sized macaroon once cool as slowly peel off

_____________________________________________________________________

9. While resting prepare raspberry buttercream, 90g butter and 90g caster sugar

10. 3 rtp egg yolks (from whites)

11. Add in raspberry preserves/jam (as desired amount)

12. Beat egg yolk until pale in color and thickened

13. Boil 1/3 cup of confectionery *icing* sugar into syrup with 10g water

14. Once syrup done slowly add into beated yolks until creamy

15. Add little by little softened butter

16. Then once buttercream form, add jam/preserves

17. Throw in extra raspberry powder (depends)

18. Pipe buttercream into each pair once shell is paired up

Some of the really useful links mentioned:

Food Nouveau

Trissalicious

You Can Do It… At Home

Food Geek – this is the recipe I used for the raspberry macs

Syrup and Tang

Not So Humble Pie – Pictures of batter formation (which is crucial!)

Remember my previous post that I mentioned I will be making Japanese CheeseCake. This was how my first attempt turn out to be. =)

 It may look a bit burned on the top but I guess its the lighting. Actually it's slighly dark brown in color. Hehe!

 Quite uneven but I still call it a success because it tasted good and similar to the ones we buy from bakery

 Can try it out yourselves.

The skin of the cake and the cheesy part at the bottom. ^_^

Stay tune to see my first attempt on Macarons and Carrot Walnut cake in next post! Love!

I'm back in one piece! :3

Have been away for three days and the enjoyment was indescribable! :]]]

Went to Murray River Cruise with my whole lifegroup and everything was laid perfectly ahead of us. Thank God!!! The best weather, best events, best boat, best activities, best sceneries, best people all in one! Had never felt so good this long. And I really mean it.

First we all gathered at our lifegroup leader's house on Friday night and started off our journey with four cars that evening. We reached our destination after 4 hours of ride (just imagine travelling from KL to Penang roughly that long) and our butts are literally freezing cold due to the super cold weather but *I like it*! I wore like my ai-xin long light peach coat that was bought by my beloved mother from wintertime and puffed up like jigglypuff (not as cute as her *winkwink*) but I feel super warm.

Reached Wilkaden at approx 12midnight after we unpacked everything onto the boat. We were greeted by this cute dog called Murray, hence named after the river. I heard the place was 4-stars and indeed it was in tiptop condition, clean boat and great facilities. Not to mention everything is on the boat from dishwasher to BBQ pit. Really 设备齐全！Luckily we also have heater to survive the night. The weatherman mentioned that this place reaches zero degrees at night. Brrrr.....r....r..

That night was dark and everything seems gloomy not until we woke up the next morning. WOAH! The sccceeeennnerrrryyy caught our attention like woahh.. (All pictures coming up and let them speak for me)

This is the first photo I took when I woke up in the morning.

Went to the top floor of the boat that we were in.

Did Titanic Signature Pose too :P

I brushed and made breakfast for the people which is mushroom soup and garlic bread. After that 15 of us took turns to drive the boat ourselves. It was great fun! =) 

The organizer and his girlfriend.

I am glad that I can drive the boat for around half an hour around the river. After that we had BBQ on the boat which was quite exciting. The wind was blowing strong and we were digging into our barbecued chicken and sausages. 

The four people that helped to BBQ. I only helped for awhile as I was busy driving the boat at that time so didn't take photo.

The clear water that we can even see the mud underneath it.

My housemates that ate happily outside the balcony of the boat. I was taking this picture while driving the boat. =P

The ones sitting inside the boat.Only my lifegroup leader looked at my camera. I was still driving the boat so I'm not inside. LOL

Came up the boat to visit a local BEER factory. It was only this big but has produced quite a lot-of-beer. Drank some to try and it was not bad but I'm not in the place to say because I never drink. Haha

Freshly made beer pumped out from here. The end product.

This place was used to shed sheep's skin once upon a time and now turned into a beer factory.

The place and the logo of the beer =)

I even took photos of the 4 cars that didn't let us down. <3

After BBQing we continue to enjoy the scenery as we drove around the place. I even get a chance to throw a canoe into the water and start to row about. Damn fun!!!! Did it with 3 other friends! And it was absolutely free! 

 We sat about and watch the sunset. It was super breathtaking. Never had a chance to see this. 
Wish I can do this all over again with my family members.

 A silly idea by the organizer. We sat by the heater and BBQ marshmellows and it did work.
TASTE AWESOME TOO! >.<

 We went to this nearby Rose Garden (which was not in season but has Sakura Trees instead which have Beautiful Sakura Flowers). MY look so pretty with one on her hair! And it was my idea *winkwink*

 This person also wanted to try and look gay-ish. HAHAHAHA! =P (his idea horr?)

My housemate's sister looking out the garden.

 There was this silly guy stuck on the ground near the boat so many of us took picture of him. Here, two retards. HAH!
*I just noticed one of the scary fellow's finger broke* Terrifying. I wonder if he can glow in the dark at night.

 Our organizer is also our photographer.
 Wonder when will he post all the wonderful pictures up since he is so busy with current work.

 We also went to visit some local fruit farms nearby. 
This place was packed with oranges. And it was quite big and smell SWEET like Sweeeetsss!! <3

 Millions of oranges around. REALLY A LOT.

 See!!! And super ripe and orange loh..=3=

 The last day we went to eat lunch in Renmark Club which was 102 years old and still look like new. Really new. I think they had refurbished the place not long ago. This is the free SALAD BAR and I'm really into salads lately *been hating them so far haha*

 The super big burger which is as tall and big as my hand. I cant even carry it up with one hand but both. Mouth cant fit. (Not my dish so didn't care! Blek =P

 MINE MINE MINE!!! (You really need to get use of my attitude) =3 Garfish and Chips Yummie!!
 Never had so fresh fish for so long.

 My friend's Tandoori Chicken Wrap. Can't wrap it also due to the big portion of stuff in it.

 The Delicious Banana Split. It was long time ago since I had my last banana. It was used to be 1.99 Aus dollars last year until not it raised to 11.99 Aus dollars per kg this year due to the Queensland Flood early in this year. I do love bananas but can't afford them. They are even more expensive than chicken, lamb and beef altogether! :(((

 The 102 year-old club. 

 Doesn't really look like 102 years of anniversary to me.

 Went over to Banrock Station and tried Riverland Wines.
Bought 2 bottles of Sweet Wine. How I love them. Just reallly taste like sparkling juice. 
Shall bring them back to Malaysia soon. Moscato and Frizzante!

The Banrock Station View as we walked onto the balcony. Had no time to explore the rest of the place as we were heading back to Adelaide.

Aww....I didn't get to post every single picture that I took and some that was not uploaded yet. I guess it was this experience that was felt within the heart, the peacefulness and calmness where even internet, phone and virtual entertainment were cut off and opened our eyes to see the awesome world God has created for us. I do love this holiday trip dearly. Shall go there once more if I had another chance. 

How was your winter holiday?