猪猪包 and the Boys

We found these cute little piglet pao in HongKong Noodles House in Garden next to Midvalley the other day. The two boys were really excited to have it, the ingredient is actually tao sah.

Hello little piggy, I know you are so cute... but also looks delicious...

Joshua with his little piggy...

My Little Boy

My handsome little Michael 长大了...

Baked Pau (烧包)

After trying the portugese egg tart, I gained more confidence and would like to try more... my next target was the baked pau. Well, I discoverd that making baked pau was actually much more easier that the egg tart, especially the skin... Chai Ting maybe you should also try....

Skin A (水皮):
240g high protein flour (高筋面粉)
½ tsp salt, 120g shortening
1 tbsp castor sugar, 4 tbsp water
1 tsp lime juice

Skin B (油皮):
90g plain flour, 70g shortening
1 beaten egg, glazing

Filling:
You can use whatever filling you like. Normally I cooked diced chicken/char siew pork with mushroom, onion and green peas as filling.
Method:

1. Skin A: Mix and knead all ingredients till smooth. Rest for 30 minutes. Divide into 10 parts.
2. Skin B: Mix flour and shortening and divide into 10 parts. Wrap B with A. Roll flatl and roll up like swiss roll. Repeat another time and form into balls. Rest for 15 minutes.
3. Roll skin into rounds, wrap up filling and form into pau shape. Glaze with egg and bake at 200°C till golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.

Note: Do not over mix skin B, otherwise it will be very sticky.

Recipe: Portugese Egg Tarts

Especially for Chai Ting....

Pastry A:
500g soft flour, sifted
¼ tsp salt, 1 tbsp castor sugar
100g butter ( I used FarmCow)
250ml cold water (depend)

Pastry B:
200g pastry margarine (酥油)

Egg tart filling:
500ml milk (I used Dutch Lady)
200g castor sugar
300g whipping cream
270g egg yolks (more or less)
1 egg, ½ tsp vanilla

Method:
1. Pastry: Rub butter into flour, add salt and sugar, pour in water and knead into a smooth dough. Cover and rest for 30 minutes. Roll into an oblong shape just about 1cm thick and wrap up pastry margarine, fold into 3 layers once and 4 layers twice (refers notes). Wrap up with plastic and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes. Roll into rectangular shape and then roll up. Wrap up and rest for 30 minutes. Divide into 42 parts (depends on the mould’s size) and press into moulds.

2. Filling: Mix all the ingredients till sugar dissolves. Strain. Pour into moulds till 90% full.

3. Bake at 250C till cooked and golden brown.

Notes for making the puff pastry:
a. Roll out dough into 1cm thick and oblong shape.
b. Then roll the pastry margarine to just under 2/3 the size of the oblong.
c. Place pastry margarine to cover 2/3 of the dough.
d. Fold the empty 1/3 portion over 1/3; then fold up the other end 1/3 to form 3 layers.
e. Roll out into an oblong again.
f. Repeat step (d) and (e) for 5-6 more times. Rest for 15 minutes after each folding and

rolling)
g. Puff pastry ready to be used. Puff pastry can kept in freezer for several months. Just defrost

before using.

Moon Cake Nite in Kepong

Best friend Chai Ting invited me to join the moon cake celebration at her church somewhere in Kepong. Well, it was the first time I joined church activity. People I met there were very friendly and we were having a wonderful time. What a good experience for me.

Something wrong...

Sometimes I wish that I never wake up in the morning .... try to run away from something...

One year in ARC...

Well, 2009 is almost comes to the end and I have been working here in ARC for one year... Actually I am quite happy with my job here except that sometimes there are too many unnecessary extra works and troubles created by people.. but anyway, I will consider that as a little challenge in life, dealing with different people with different styles of handling stuffs is always not an easy task, just a process of learning...

I am very lucky to have a kind and understanding sectional head. I can't imagine working here without her proper guidance, thank you so much!!! Dr Lily... I wish I will never disappoint you.

Working with friends like Lee San, Chia Yun, Siew Fung and others are always fun... At least we can share with each other our problems and feeling beside working. Well, I do miss Mr. Chai who retired in November, really hope to spend more time with him. Those junior stuffs are always so helpful and assist me whenever I need helps, we joke while working in the lab and have coffee together, I enjoy my work here.

Of course work and responsibilities have been increased, with few more new projects to handle and two existing one. I wish that we will have some assistants to join our Agrobiotech section next year, I think it is really a problem for me to cope with so many things alone. I have come out with two short papers for the RO meeting this year, wish that I can do more next year.

As for the coming year, our new Agrobiotech building will sure make us very busy if approved, the consolidation or merging of research still a worry for me, and etc. Well, there are always things that we are unable to control and predict, life has to go on.... Just wish that next year will be better.

幸福

幸福是.......
无伦你出走到那里, 他都默默地想念着你, 期待着你的归来
幸福是......
无伦你在外漂泊多久, 他都愿意成为你停泊的港口
幸福是......
当你任性地把自己糟蹋之后, 他始终对你的不离不弃

幸福是......
当你发觉你对他的爱是自私的时后, 而他对你的爱却是无私的

幸福是......他对你永远的牵挂

幸福是只有你自己能体会而他人无法体会到的感觉....

幸福的滋味... 吃在嘴里, 甜在心里

幸福是.... 请你也给他幸福吧...

TWOS-TWOWS Conference 2009

I have attended the Regional Young Women Scientist Symposium on 8th to 10th November 2009, in National Science Centre, Kuala Lumpur. The theme for the symposium is 'Bridging the Science Gender Gap in Developing Countries'. Both Siew Ming and I were actually nominated by our Research Head. Although the paper presentations were not as expected but we have gained experience meeting with women scientists from different countries.

Something About Life...

Someone may have stolen your dream when it was young and fresh and you were innocent. Anger is natural. Grief is appropriate. Healing is mandatory. Restoration is possible. (By Jane Rubietta)

Memory of Tunku Putra School

I have a great time in Tunku Putra School last year before joining ARC, though I don't like teaching very much. Anyway, a good memory for me.....

Julia and me during the year end dinner.

We have parent teacher dinner at Banquet Restaurant, the theme for the dinner was Olympic 2008.

Sport day of Tunku Putra at Stadium Merdeka, I participated in the 4 x 400 m game, never know that I actually can run very well.... Our group got second prize.