My 1st Attempt @ Fried Bee Hoon !

The bee hoon in the picture might not look tempting coz i took the picture in a hurry due to a hungry toddler tugging at my shirt...but i assure u, it definitely taste alot better than it looks...

for my very 1st try in my whole life! i tink i did pretty good...or at least someone appreciates it alot...i was quite worried Darius might not like it since he is very picky when he sees green stuff in his food...(jus like me when i was young...truly my son...) but he gobble them all up...

im really afraid of cooking hard veg like green beans, broccoli, carrots etc...coz they might take longer to cook to soften up...but at the same time i might overcook my other ingredients in the dish...n when veg are not cook properly they have a yucky raw taste...which is a real turn off!
so when i threw in the bee hoon...i realise the green beans r still quite hard...so i had to simmer for longer time than instructed from the recipe...yes of coz i followed a recipe...! im a recipe follower...if there is no measurements in there...i cant do it...!

i was so worried the bee hoon might turn out to be mushy...but in the end...it turn out well!

so im going to try and perfect this simple yet fulfilling dish b4 i can present it to my hubby...

the critic...

i have been trying a new recipe every few days or whenever i felt like it...coz i feel bad for Darius to eat congee everyday...so i try not to give him the same staple food for dinner everyday...

i have tried homemade pizza which is real easy and takes only 5 mins...all sorts of pasta dish...tortilla wraps...quesadilla...ya not much of asian dish coz i feel most asian dish very "ley chey" (troublesome) and too much prep work to do...which i rather spend quality time with Darius than in the kitchen...but i still do try when i feel inspired...

its like running a restaurant operation here....make breakfast and serve...clean up and start lunch preparation...when its near 1pm make lunch and serve...clean up and start dinner preparation (when the prince is sleeping)...usually Darius will have dinner at around 6 but would depends on wat time he wakes up from his nap as well as his snack time...sometimes he will nap from 2-6pm...but if he naps only 2hrs...he will wanna have a snack after waking up at ard 4 plus pm...but i try to only give him fruit and serve dinner at 5 pm...like dat he will start to wanna snack b4 going to bed at around 8pm...which is usually bathe time...

ya i know i shd instill a strict schedule and not be so flexible especially with meal and nap times...but at the same time i wanna let Darius decide when he wants to eat...and how much to eat...but as for nap time its almost about the same time plus/minus an hour everyday...

i used to feed him at strict hours but i realised he dun eat well due to he is not hungry enuf...as adviced by the nurse...so letting him decide really works...but dat would oso mean i need to have healthy and fresh food prepared for him in advance...

u might be wondering y i cant do the all the preparation together...i did thought of dat...depending on the day's menu...but firstly im slow...im a beginner...and i handle the knife slowly but still cut myself many times...i run to and fro to check back the recipe on my lappy...

also i cant spend too much time in the kitchen coz Darius will crave my attention after playing alone for too long...

i feel more like a complete mother now...dat i prepare all his meals myself...instead of feeding him prepared baby food from Gerber and Heinz...it feels really great when i see him enjoying the food i made...felt like i did my role well...its so amazing this little guy can make such a huge change in me...i used to be the "take away" person...but my kids deserve better and healthier foods...thou not as yummy as take away food...haha...!

practice makes perfect...! if jO@nNe can cook...so can ANYONE...!

dAriUs' 14th mtH oLd gALLery...

Shower Bunny

Weather: Flurries -14°C Feels like: -22°C

Got this really cute towel from IKEA which Darius really love...he will look in the mirror n try to reach for the "ears" on the hood...

tRip to IKEA with mUmMy...

There shd be more pictures...but silly mummy forget to bring spare battery...!

dArius' 13th Mth old gAllerY...

its been a while i updated pics...hope everyone shares the joy of my busy busy toddler...

Gong Hei Fatt Choy !!!

Weather: Clear H:-12° L:-22°

I wish i could forget wat day it is today (SIN TIME)...but its hard...coz after a skype session with my beloved Zui yesterday...the negative feeling came back...not dat i dun enjoy seeing her...in fact becoz i enjoy very much skyping with Zui...and seeing Mum n Dad after so so so long...i really do miss them so so so much...I hope my family wont blame me for not wanting to skype with them on CNY day (like last year)...as much as i miss them...seeing them on skype jus doesn't satisfy me...it only makes me miss them more...then i will jus go to bed in tears again...

No matter wat...i know i'm definitely not forgotten there...how we usually spend 1st few days of CNY keep playing in my head...even thou year after year the routine is quite similar...except more angbaos when we were younger...we still very much enjoy the atmosphere and each other's company...it is like a big family gathering...enjoying granny's delicious food...the CNY goodies...Kuku's 'nian gao'...family-style gambling at the table...n the sound of mahjong jus livens everything up...i wish this family tradition will jus go on and on and on...until Darius' generation and beyond...i wish Darius could enjoy his childhood during CNY like mine...with many cousins to play with...and so many angbaos to collect...

Like any other day for me...its almost time for bed now...wishing my family and friends...

恭喜发财,利是拿来...谢谢 :)

Wonderful Wonderful 2008...

2008 has been the most incredible year of my life...it is the year i have the most achievements so far...it is also the biggest turning point of my life...watching my baby taking steps into independence and developing his own individuality...makes me excited wat to expect next...

I could say i have quite a wonderful year...my toddler is active and healthy...i have a bunch of fun loving mummy-friends for support...i gain knowledge in terms of child care...and most importantly...i can cook! but dun expect too much from dat statement...coz i dun even know how to wash rice b4 i came here...so comparing to the standard i had b4...i'm quite proud of myself for preparing 3 meals for my baby...

though i have been in Calgary for over 18 months...i still have not come to the reality of being away from my family in Singapore...becoz i'm still feeling very homesick...especially when CNY is only a few weeks from now...how i wish to sleep past dat day...so i could lessen the pain of not having the joy of CNY...

i'm still having faith and trust in the LORD that i will definitely make it back for CNY in 2010...by then when i can be back...i wish i could have a grand arrival...becoz i left as me...bt i rtn as a mummy...

i wish everyone a Happy New Year and an exciting 2009 ahead !!! GOD Bless !!!