DAY OUT: ZOO DAY

The brightest and hottest sun.

Giant pandas.

Enormous fishes.

Floral I've never seen / noticed until today.

Oh, and a picnic basket.  Because who comes to the zoo without a picnic basket?

分享

上週日做了简单的 double chocolate muffin，备受好评。马来族同事 Z向我讨食谱，她看不懂中文，我把书中的食谱译成英文，让她也可以做出适合自己口味的点心。能与朋友分享好事物，往往胜过独自拥有。

 

小时候家中不富裕，生日时母亲不曾为我煮面线鸡蛋，更别想买蛋糕了。有一年母亲竟然带了个蛋糕回来，那是一个圆形的牛油蛋糕，直径6、7寸左右吧，上面有几颗 红色的glaced cherries 点缀。没插上蜡烛，也没有特别喜庆的感觉。

今天翻出大理石磅蛋糕的食谱，回忆当年那段朴实的庆生。40年后的今天，所用的材料比从前讲究多了。日本面粉、法国奶油、Valrhona 巧克力、来自Madagascar的香草精、有机鸡蛋一一随手可取。蛋糕不论在味道还是外观都比从前更具魅力。

吃大理石磅蛋糕能同时享受两种口味，你会与谁分享？

MARBLE POUND CAKE 大理石磅蛋糕

Adapted from 我的幸福烘焙廚房: 205道經典烘焙食譜, 完整收藏!

Makes one 14-cm bundt

Cake (divide into 2 portions)

100 grams butter

100 grams caster sugar

100 grams egg

Pure vanilla extract

Vanilla portion

50 grams cake flour

1/3 teaspoon baking powder

Chocolate portion

40 grams cake flour

10 grams Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/3 teaspoon baking powder

20 grams chocolate, melted

Method: Creaming

Oven temperature: 170 - 180ºC

Baking duration: 40 - 50 minutes

简单就是幸福

昨天应朋友MS 邀请到她家里小聚。因工作的关系MS的先生将在今年低携着一家四口到印尼生活一段时期。

天气持续闷热好多天，前晚拜托老天爷赐点雨水。昨天早上当真下起豪雨， 只好撑伞出门。走在湿答答的路上心里直埋冤：雨就不能聚餐后才下吗？忽然不知怎的 脚下一滑，回过神来已是四脚朝天地躺在行人道上！是老天爷在骂我：没雨水的时候你 complain；雨下了你又嫌下的早啦，到底是想怎样?!

今天是 bank holiday，所以明天（週一）不用去上班 ，真的好开心喔!  将上个週日晚秤好的材料从冰箱里取出，做简单的 double chocolate muffin。能和年迈的父母围着餐桌，看着他们品尝着我亲手做的小点心，也算是一种幸福吧？

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE MUFFINS 巧克力玛芬

Adapted from 我的幸福烘焙廚房: 205道經典烘焙食譜, 完整收藏!

Makes 12 standard-size muffins

140 grams butter

120 grams sugar

Salt

2 eggs

140 grams milk

220 grams cake flour

40 grams Dutch-process cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking powder

100 grams chocolate chips + more for decor

Method: Creaming

Oven temperature: 180ºC / 350ºF

Baking duration: 20 minutes

HARI RAYA HAJI

Today is Hari Raya Haji, otherwise known as the “Festival of Sacrifice”. 

Celebrated by Muslims worldwide, it honours the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ishmael (Ismail) as an act of submission to God's command.  God then intervened to provide Ibrahim with a lamb to sacrifice instead. 

The same story is told in the Old Testament, God had called Abraham to embark on a three day journey (Genesis 22) to Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son Issac. 

There are several similarities between the bible and the koran. Perhaps if we're willing to believe that there is only one God and that we each honour Him in different ways, we can live side by side in harmony.

OFFICE PARTY - OCT 2014

It's the perfect evening to have a rooftop party - and a great way to start off the long weekend.

I've been in this company for ten years now and this is the first time we're having a joint party with our sister company, who also happens to be our neighbour.  Our offices are divided by a glass wall.  Think I just heard Reagan's ghost:“If you seek peace, if you seek prosperity … tear down this wall!”  

I'm a little confused as to the theme of our party.  So, is the grass greener on the other side?  Or is the glass cleaner on the other side?

 It doesn't matter what the theme is really.  I'm here for the food.  Look at all these deep fried stuff!

Hullo, I think the people over here need more booze.  And one more glass of milk for me please! (hiccup)

  

People are actually enjoying themselves - the crazy bunch!

I haven't come up to our roof top in ages.  Didn't realise the sunset is so stunning.

Should do this often.  Come up to admire the view, I mean.