Attempt #1: Swiss Roll

Have been thinking of baking it and just found out interesting ways of decorating them.  Here it is still on the making.....

The Time for Popsicle

The mention of popsicle will get the boys to a halt and running to the kitchen for one. Here they are in a friendly popsicle 'fight'...

One to come...

Was fiddling with some apps on the phone and accidentally played videos of the boys when they were learning to stand.  It reminded me how precious that experience watching them learn to stand... and how very soon we will be experiencing it again.  Being busy taking care of the boys have created a lesser excitement for the coming one... as pretty much most of our time and do's revolve around the 2 boys.  But am thankful to be reminded now of the coming one... and the many more precious and new experiences and blessings the coming little one have for us.  I thank God for the gift of seeing thru week by week the little one. And I hope the little one and the boys grow to be boys and men who love the God we trust.

Baking away

Have been cooking and baking quite a bit lately while I can.  Here's a recent one and finally a reasonably decent looking pizza.

Wave of Change

A wave of change is what that day was.  It rocked my world.  Changed my thoughts and hopes of things.  Do's that does not remind me of consequences of that day is what I look forward too.  Looking forward to something I need, putting focus on something I will always be in need and am embarrassed to be seeking only when in circumstances of need.

Cooling Cookies

Just waiting for the cookies to cool before I can put them away. They are Crispy Coconut Cookies and they are light, airy and delicious! Simple ingredients and they are easy to make. Found the recipe at http://easilygoodeats.blogspot.com/2011/04/crispy-coconut-cookies-recipe.html and made an addition of ingredient.

Ingredients
2 cups flour, sifted
1 cup butter
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tablespoon golden or dark syrup (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, can also substitute with coconut extract)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
** Added 1/8 cup of sesame seeds

Direction
1. Preheat oven to 160 degrees
2. Cream butter and sugar until creamy and pale
3. Add egg, syrup and vanilla extract and mix thoroughly
4. Sift flour, baking soda and baking powder, add to the butter mixture and mix until incorporated
5. Add coconut and mix until incorporated
6. Place small balls on a greased cookie sheet and flatten slightly
7. Bake until cookies are golden brown and delicious, about 15 minutes

Personal Notes:
Turn the cookie tray half way baking for even baking
If cookies are browning before 15 mins cover loosely with foil - you need that 15 minutes to crisp the middle of the cookies
I like the cookies thin so I press them to be thinner

Just had too many for test tasting ;)

Hello 2012!

Was just browsing some emails of a tough time in my past and its hard to believe so many years have passed since even though it feels it happened not that long ago. I have many things to be thankful to Him for to how things have turned out and what more with another little one on the way.

The new year has started and it would have been nice for somethings to start afresh and new but there are still things of the last that needs to be attended to and have been on the back of my head since!

However the end of 2011 was filled with alot more time with the boys and with the long holiday, am going to miss seeing so much of them :( I realise the more time spent with them the greater the bond is established and am really blessed that I have more than just the weekend to spend time with them. Many ask how am I to cope with the 3rd one, and honestly I don't now until I get there and just have to remember to rely on Him first instead of my own strength and others.
The next few months will go by quickly and I am not sure how physically capable I will be. And I hope I will be able to take care of the boys as long as possible.

As for resolutions.... I can never remember what resolutions were made by the end of the year ;) but one I'd like to keep is to post at least a little more often if not often enough - at least to give a glimpse of what has been happening in this year to come.

Hello 2012 and hoping the start of work tomorrow is a good transition and fruitful one from the long holidays...

Goodbye, Farewell

11 Dec 2011 morning is the day our dear family cat passed on. She was at least 15 human years old. 15 years ago a cat secretly left her 5 kittens at our home without our knowledge and left them with us. We grew attached to all but could not keep them and gave away 3 and kept the ones that were less likely to be adopted with crooked tails and ordinary colored coat. One later never came back and [K] has been with us since. She was petite, rarely meowed, intelligent and was a special cat to us. I remember how she used to run crazily up and down the house playing and playing hide with her and how she much enjoyed herself. And I remember how I used to walk at the end of the street to head somewhere for while, she would follow me, stopped and called sadly to me when I made a quicker exit to prevent her from following any further - when I walked back, she would always be waiting and popping excitedly from her hiding place at the end of that street to greet me and followed me home. I went away for my studies and it was great to come back to her.

Living away from the family home the last few years made for fewer opportunities to see her. And with the boys born even lesser opportunities. Even so, I still loved her heaps and news of her unwell and occassionally missing but found worried and saddened me. But when news and signs of her age catching up came.... I know I should see her and at least say goodbye to her...
The news alone of her not eating, getting weaker and towards the end barely being able to walk really saddened me. The thought of her, news of her, and picture updates of her just made me very sad and teary eyed and I tried not to think about it when there were ppl around me. When the news came that her time was almost near, I knew the right thing to do was to see and say goodbye..... but I know that I cannot bear to see her so weak and would just be a wreck before and if I were to see her. And when the inevitable news came, again I could not bring myself to see her before she was buried.

I wished I could say goodbye to her personally but I would just be too unbearably sad as I already am. So goodbye and farewell [K].... will be missing you and your presence. The thought of you brings wonderful memories. Hope your life with us was the best. You were well loved by us all. Am sorry I couldn't see you for the last time. But know that goodbye to you is one of the hardest things we had to do.

Goodbye and farewell [K]