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!