Party anyone?

I’m dying to throw a Christmas party but my place is still being constructed and the other units are still wall-less. Have to wait at least 2 more years? *Sniff*

I’ve attended some nice get-together over friend’s place and dinners for festive celebration or just for fun. Imagine holding a barbeque or just having simple pot-lucks with close friends or family in your own place (don’t think about the backscene of preparing and cleaning for now)

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a nice big well-equip kitchen like all those chefs (Jamie Oliver, Martha Steward , Nigella, etc) and cook lovely delicious meals for your parties? (assuming whatever you cook turns out yummy).


Then like the series: Party Planner, you create a theme to decorate your place with the right colour for napkin and baubles plus nice door gifts. Then you even have time to create handmade invites in lovely cardboard with nice stenciling… Don’t forget those cupcakes that it’s in the craze now. Perhaps you can even whipped up a few dozen of those delicate cupcakes. If only..

Now, I’ve resorted to eating in posh-expensive restaurants (which are over-rated sometimes) with my friends to test the food and have a nice time together. Besides burning a hole in my pocket and leaving such a huge crater, I sometimes wish for a simpler dining setting which is friendly to me and my pocket.

Mind you, eating out is great with the nice ambience – no frills of preparation, cooking and washing. But sometimes, I wish I can try it out myself. I admit, I’m not really a cook – the last I cooked was when I was in university just for myself and occasionally for some friends.

I have only cooked Chinese food which is normally food I like to eat. I have yet to try others – as students, it’s mainly to fill your stomach and cravings. I had a craving once for eggs – so I bought a dozen and cook all sort of egg dish for that week. I had fried egg, half-boiled eggs, French toast, scrambled egg, egg salad, etc. and not all in a day, mind you! ;)

I wonder, when my place is finally ready, would I really sit down and prepare all those just to throw a party? Hmmm… in the meantime, keep those invites coming and I’ll be honoured to be your happy guest to contribute to the fun and noise! ;) (Thick skinned enough to self-invite… haahaha) Merrry Christmas!

My cooking days

Never realised this could be an entry but since I did a photo diary of what I cooked during my final year in university. Guess I'll just upload it here and let you comment my humble attempts. Don't laugh, okay?

My 1st Lunch
My 1st dish : bak chang (I know this doesn't count as cooking!), fried french beans, fried japanese tofu with mixed vegie and carrot juice.

My all-in-one soup dishes. I put in the meat, fishball, vegies together and boil in the ikan bilis soup. Depending on my fancy, I accompany that soup dish with rice or fried meehoon..

When I was hardworking, I could cook 3 dishes as shown in these 2 examples. I find steaming easy... eheh steamed pork ribs, steamed fish and steamed chicken with ginger and "kei chi".

On a healthy day, I would opt for a ham sandwich with a cup of freshly squeezed juice. I haven't experimented all the different combination but normally end up having carrot juice and pear juice with celery. (Namely, cheaper and easier to make). :)

Oh yeah, noticed the similar ingredients? Remember I am a student so.. a packet of mixed vegies can last me sometime for my tofu dish and fried rice. :) The leafy green vegie was the cheapest sold in Jaya Jusco at *RM1.20 a pack (I forgot exactly the price but below RM2 and don't know the name of the vegie - reveals how much I know about vegetables.. ahha)

Japanese tofu would have cost me 90 cents per pack? But I would but like 3 tubes in a pack for RM2.10? Can't really remember the figures. But I have to admit I did splurge a little on the meat especially the fish or prawn. The fish above was half the fish slice I bought and would cost me about RM12 per slice. (so the cost of my one cooked meal is more than a meal eating outside but this one is healthier!! No MSG!!)

Those days, I would do marketing on Saturday mornings (did a few times with Doris those days). Bought vegies, meat... had to spend an hour or two later cleaning the meat-fish, chicken, prawn and packed it nicely in the freezer. Some night markets, I would go and stock up on my fruits for my juices... Wah.. those were the days.

Now? I'm back home and have lovely home-cooked meals (more canggih ones) from my lovely parents..... :)

Meanwhile... this entry is specially dedicated to Alina to encourage her to explore her cooking side... can't wait to see your mushroom dish!! :)