Marathon week!

Hi, hi! I am back for my next post...
I would like to share with you gals that this week I am going to make myself busy as eva!
Don't know why, probably "Jessy" blessing really do come true! She wished for me to have more Mojo each day to create! I guess I will take this opportunity to push myself to the limit and see whether I can complete this marathon by 28 of February 2011 at 11:59pm.

Here are my tasks that I set for myself...(please do not think I am crazy when you read it). I am very serious...(lol)

Creative Scrappers due date: 28 Feb'11

• Sketches #141
• Sketches #142
• Sketches #143
• Sketches #144 (All the sketches are indeed beautiful, none of it I would like to give up. So, ladies wish me luck!)

The Color Room due date: 24 Feb'11

• Palette #46. I am crossing my fingers, whether I want to do both or just the layout OR a card!

Scrap-It-Lah due date: 28 Feb'11

• Feb Challenge with NO red or pink or Any Shade of the 2 Colors.

I guess this will be the limit...anything beyond will be unrealistically. This should sum up to 6 layouts + 1 card. I don't know how am I going to complete it. On average I should be scrapping 1 layout per day. Looking at it, it doesn't sound that bad but I have to tell you, I am a slow scrapper *sigh*

Alright, let's get myself up and start Rolling!!
Oh! wait...wait... before that I would love to show you some of my 365 which I am quite far behind too....hehe. Let's enjoy the yummy food I have and I like...

day 123: Japanese food @ Hanare, Intermark at Jln Tun Razak

day 124: Sashimi!! 

day 125: A unique dish and first time trying it. It's from Cod's fish.

day126: Uni / Sea-Urchin is my all time fav in Jap cuisine.
I did not tell you that my fav food is always Jap and I love making
my own japanese dinner (when I have the mood to cook)

day 127: I am trying to conserve lil L baby look. I miss this picture of HIM.

day 128: Showing you another batch of my ATC. I think I am ready to SWAP.
ATC swapper please contact me. Love to meet up and do some catching up.
I don't mind mailing it out too! Please convey me k!

For those of you who miss my yesterday post on 19th Feb, please hop in and leave a message for a chance to win my lovely hand-made blooms. Thank you for popping by and I can never thank you gals enough for leaving me beautiful words in my blog.

Till I post again.

It's labour DAY...

Had a break this morning without Lucas, although I have my usual sinus. Nothing can spoil my mood. Loving my cup of cafe latte and a healthy chicken egg sandwich.


Today another cook day for me. I would like to share my California maki with everyone. Very simple making food and yet fun to make with your children or family member.

California Maki


4 pcs nori (roasted seaweed)
1 kyuri a.k.a. japanese cucumber, cut into approx. 10cm/ 4" long
10 pcs crab stick
50g tobiko a.k.a. flying fish roe
3 tbsp japanese mayo
2 cups of short grain rice
1 sushi mat

Seasoning for rice,

5 tbsp rice vinegar

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

Serve: 4 persons

Preparations,

Rice need to soak with water for at least 2 hr before cooking it (if you have the time - it's Optional)
Once rice cooked, stir in above ingredient till even (much easier if you use a wooden chopsticks) - let the rice cool down in room temperature before we can start wrapping...
I will insert pictures for my california maki, I hope the picture tutorial can be able to help you in better understanding...



Enjoy!!

kyuri & crab stick - cut into 10cm/ 4" long

all the ingredients shown above

first - *tips - soak hand into vinaigrette water to avoid rice stick on to fingers 

second, compress rice nicely

third, lay in mayo, tobiko, crab stick & kyuri (as shown above)

fourth, slowly & gently roll with the help of the sushi mat (roll & pull is the trick)

lastly, ta-dah....you get a nice round maki (you can try to do square with the help of using the mat)

don't worry if your end of the maki is not nice and not filled up with rice

To cut the maki evenly, here is the tips. Cut it into half and lay them side by side.

And cut into half again...you should have 4 portions, lastly cut into half again

Finally, you should be able to get 8 pieces of california maki with 1 sheet of nori.

I hope you will enjoy making it. Usually when I make this for my families, this is always the first dish that pass around and when it come back. It is all Gone! Once you have master the rolling of the maki, you can always try replacing the ingredient with another vegetable of your choice or put in additional stuff like avocado.

After all the cooking and catching up with families tonight...I need to take a good rest...

My Favorite Tamago Sushi

I would love to share one of my favorite making dishes. I am a jap food lover...I love to experience different type of Japanese style of cooking. Most of the time I love to make 'dashi-maki-tamago' because I always thought it is quite a challenging dish to make.

This recipe has been slightly alter to my style of liking. I have tried various tamago sushi recipe online or in books. I find those are a little too sweet for me.

I hope you may like it and enjoy making it. Enjoy!!

Dashi-Maki-Tamago

6 whole eggs (medium in size)
6-8 tbsp dashi stock
1 tsp light soy sauce
1 tsp mirin
2 tsp sugar (if you prefer slightly sweeter, can try 3 tsp)
pinch of salts

2 tbsp vegetable oil (for cooking)

Preparations:
1. Beat eggs in a bowl (make sure all eggs are beat well till smooth)
2. Add all mixtures and stir well
3. Heat a fry pan in medium heat *Preferably in a square or rectangular pan
4. Brush some oil into the heated pan
5. Pour a scoop of eggs mixture into the pan (make sure the mixture cover the whole surface in a thin layer)
6. Cook the egg until half done and slowly roll the egg to one side of the pan (I usually prefer to do it with a pair of wooden chopstick)
7. With the rolled egg still inside the pan, pour in a another scoop of mixture into the pan. Lift the rolled egg slightly, making sure the mixture flow in the underside of it.
8. Repeat step 6&7, the egg-roll should be thicker after 4th scoop of mixture. The tamago should be roll in the form of rectangular or in round.
9. Leave the last layer of tamago in the pan for a while and slightly brown it on the four side.
10. Before serving it, you can cut tamago into 1" thk or you can use it to make nigiri sushi!

Hope you will enjoy cooking it!

later that night . . .

I have a free valentine's dinner at Eat Workshop. I arrive at the restaurant by 7:50pm. Everything seem to be running smoothly and as usual some loving couples come in slightly later. To my surprise, people do love special gimmick. They are just overwhelmed with the little free gifts and the 'Polaroid' session!

Oh, I guess I have missed out telling you the theme for tonight was "The 70's". Everyone have to dress up to look alike like we are in the The 70's for the photo taking session. It was fun and people just loving it. I also discover something, valentines this day are just not for two people. I have seen a family come with three or four come celebrating valentines in my sis restaurant. I find it quite cool because it is nice to always share with your loves one and the kids too!

Okay...

here goes the menu: (I know you may not be able to read it), we have our 1st course with grilled scallops (sorry, I miss the picture) and tomatoes soup. We have a cocktail to start with.

Our main course, for HER, we have 3 different type of grilled seafood. (A portioned of butter fish, soft shelled crab & pasta prawn). For HIM, we have 3 portions of meats (which is grilled lamb rack, chicken breast & grilled rib eye beef).


My valentines dinner ends with a delicious chocolate fondant cake and vanila ice-cream. Yummy! & delicious!!

lovely hang out place 'Haikara Cafe'

Last week, my sis and I discovered this lovely 'hai-ka-ra' Japanese cafe just around the corner of Subang town where I live. It was open by a Japanese couple and the pastry was really delicious and yummy!! Ever since I discover the place I have visited the place from Mon till Sat. I really love the style of the food. I have to say the food is cooked in less oil and of course is less fattening. I always love Japanese cuisine, nevertheless I am also a Japanese food lover. The food is excellence, especially the "coffee". I love the 'sumiyaki' coffee but the 'Macha Ole' is awesome too!

Would love to introduce to people who live around Subang area. Very nice and cozy place to hang around if you have all the time by yourself. You just have to relax and enjoy the food and coffee!


I would like to introduce their "chicken korokke". By far it is the best I have tried at any other Jap restaurant. Very nicely done, creamy inside and crispy on the outer part. A good one! 2-thumbs up!!


Oops...was too hungry and too delicious. After eating half way only remember to snap this "Hawaii Hamburger Style" You should give it a try, something unique. Hamburger that come with rice instead with a bun.


I strongly recommend this dessert. The flavor is really good. If you are a 'macha' (green tea) person, you will definitely love this "Macha Roll". The best part is when you get to eat the center bit, where the mochi and red beans really melt away in your mouth...hahaha.

Wow...here comes my favorite coffee. Love the miniature milk jug that come with it and look at how it transforms into the hot brewed coffee. Beautiful work of art!



To know more about 'Haikara' here is the address. Enjoy your day!!

Address:
Haikara-Style Cafe & Bakery
E-Tiara GF Jalan SS16/1, Subang Jaya (next to Carrefour)
03-5630 0743