Greetings: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2010

Merry Christmas to all!

All the best wishes for the New Year 2010!

dream or real?

Kind of a dream, kind of real, kind of expected, kind of unexpected.

It is true that I have not had much opportunity to touch a trophy since I started working in 2002. THe last one I received before this was in 2004, when I took a quiz in Infection Control organised by Hospital Klang, and I won the first prize. Since then, no more opportunity, well, apart from lucky draws few years back during the Chinese New Year celebration in Geneva, I won a nice ancient Chinese style coffret.

Recently my poster won the First Prize of an Innovation contest. When I received the trophy, and was asked to say a few words, this sudden fame had made my mind completely blank for a second. Yes, it is a stress to be the center of attention, with VIPs and cameramen filming. I quickly realized that I must say something while suppressing my anxiety. The moment passed smoothly and I walked down the stage with applause. Phew!! How I wish there was a rehersal!

This is a new start for my research work, a sound recognition from the senior experts. AFter these few days of euphoria, I will be back on the routines and setting up the new project. I truly hope that our hypothesis to be true. That is another dream and another milestone.

Malaysian Banana Loaf

I love banana loaf, and I am quite proud of myself for finding the right recipe for making banana loaf for me, my loved one, and colleagues too!

Ingredients:

3 bananas (mid large, well ripen) 3 eggs (mid large) 220 gm wheat flour 30gm corn flour 180gm sugar 210 ml vegetable oil (or replace with butter) 1/3 teaspoons sodium bicarbonate a bit of salt 1 packet/ teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Steps:

1. Crush the bananas with folk or electric mixer

2. Add eggs with sugar till well mixed

3. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.

4. Add wheat and corn flour, with baking powder, soda bicarb, oil, vanilla essence, salt to the mixture of steps 1 & 2, mix well till a smooth batter is formed.

5. Optional: add crush walnuts/ chocolat chips to the batter, mix with a folk or teaspoon

6. Butter and sprinkle flour on the cake pan.

7. Pour the batter to the cake pan.

8. Bake the cake for 40-45 minutes at 170-180°C. (allow sufficient space above the cake as the cake might rise rapidly and the surface will be burnt)

9. At the end, insert a knife into the cake, it should come out clean.

10. Rest the cake for 10 minutes before tasting.

Hope you like it too! Happy Baking!

chocolate fondant with raspberries

I have always wanted to make my own cakes, just that I have never found the courage to do so as I am afraid that it might turn out to be inedible.

It doesn't mean that I was afraid to make one. Over the past few months, I have purchased little by little the equipments and ingredients needed for making a "gateau". Well, after searching for some easy and delicious recipies online, I decided to give a try to this famous delicacy: chocolate fondant with raspberries.

Recipe from this site.

I noticed that I didnt have sufficient quantity of butter, but I still continued for my experiment. It took about 15 mins to be cooked to the point that the inner part remained slightly liquid. The temperature was 180°C. And voilà!! A melting in the mounth dessert is done!

Apparently it was better if it was to be served cold, so I put in the fridge right after having a few bites, truly yummy!

Hope you will give it a try too!

Seduced by Marseille

After finishing my work visit to Marseille, I took the opportunity to stroll around this warmer and sunnier city at the south part of France.



"Boats" and "planes" put up by prayers, who prayed to be protected from tragedies or illnesses.



Notre-Dame de la Garde Church.



Breathtaking seaview from the church.

Just fall in love with the South of France.........:)

Religious candles

Candles' light in the religions, seems no border.

In the Catholic church Notre-Dame de Paris, the candles were lighted during a Mass, which is to indicate the solemnity of the occasion. Sometimes, the prayers light candles to pray for something particular.

As for buddhist temple, those candles were lighted during Chinese New Year and perhaps some buddhist festivals too. The idea remains very similar, to pray for good health or wishes.

Those lights, bring religious hearts on the same ground.

White Sausages @Clichy's Taverne, Paris

We were meeting a friend who came back from Ireland for dinner. THis time, for a change, I chose Munich white sausages with cabbage (sauerkraut). A Bavarian colleague had told me, the wrapping skin of these sausages needs to be removed before eating. So the "carcinogenic" part was literally not there when I ate them :)



Look like a chocolate cake, Charlotte choco is much more creamy and fine at the choco part.



This bar has many beers bearing strange names, like the 2 that the boys were drinking: Guillotine 8,5% alcohol (instrument of execution that consists of a weighted blade between two vertical poles; used for beheading people) and Lucifer. I think these beers are too hard for me. My "Newton" beer contains 3.5% alcohol and light green apple taste. Refreshing!

Integration Seminar in France

2 days ago, we went to see a humoristic show in a parisian restaurant, among whom a malaysian friend of mine here was present.

She mentioned that she went to a compulsary seminar named "Integration Seminar" for foreign workers or spouses. It is usually one-day course provided by the Préfecture in order to introduce French culture and civilisation.

As I had done a Master degree in France, I was luckily exempted for this seminar. Nevertheless, I think that it is extremely important for newcomers to get to know the local culture before embarking a new life here.

Disclaimer: THis is only true at the time of me applying the work permit and the author bears no responsibilities should any amendment in French Immigration laws and regulations takes place after that.

Spaghetti Cabonara

As I am a born noodles lover, I would almost always opt for them over the rice.
This festive season we have been eating spaghetti more often than usual. Well, calories are one thing, but it is holiday season!! come on, take a break! Eat what we love!:))

Today I made Cabonara sauce for the Italian noodles. Crème fraiche, lards, mushrooms, onions, egg, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and Voilà! We both had a huge plate of it and mmmmmm.... so yummie!!

While I will be going to KL soon, I will take only western foods before going back... wonder if I will be missing foods here when I will be home.... :)