Memories Are To Be Treasured...

To tell the truth, Chinese New Year is more significant to me than the New Year that all of us have recently counted down to. This year will be my 5th Chinese New Year away from family and friends, away from the home of my heart. How I miss all the traditional festivities and the culturally unique ways of Malaysians and Singaporeans in celebrating the Chinese New Year. There are so many things, the big and small rituals alike, that I missed going through during this season. However, there is one thing that I've been craving for too long - Pineapple Tarts - that I could no longer resist NOT making this year. Pineapple from Panama Thus, I embarked on a frantic search for tried and tested AND voted recipes for the traditional Malaysian-style Pineapple Tarts, which are somewhat different from those of Taiwanese origins. Luckily for me, there are predecessors of overseas Malaysians who also craved for the same melt-in-the-mouth-type Pineapple Tarts who shared their recipes on the ...

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back 1. Time 2. Words 3. Opportunity Three things in life that can destroy a person 1. Anger 2. Pride 3. Unforgiveness Three things in life that you should never lose 1. Hope 2. Peace 3. Honesty Three things in life that are most valuable 1. Love 2. Family & Friends 3. Kindness Three things in life that are never certain 1. Fortune 2. Success 3. Dreams Three things that make a person 1. Commitment 2. Sincerity 3. Hard work Three things that are truly constant 1. Father 2. Son 3. Holy Spirit I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today, to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. God's love is always with you. God's promises are true. And when you give God all your cares, you know God will see you through.  Please pass this along to all the people you want God to bless this year including me. I just did. I am what I am by His grace. Congratulations! We are one people!

Two things. 1) I'm getting heavier and heavier, to the point that a muffin top is beginning to spill out of my pants. 2) Next week is a mad, mad, mad busy week with crazy schedule for me. One thing. How can one refuse those fresh blueberries sold oh so very cheaply when they are in-season now? Mom couldn't. So she bought a large box back from the grocer's and thus determined my baking project(s) of the week - Lemon Blueberry Bread and Blueberry Muffins . Fresh blueberries - I could just pop the entire bowl of berries into my mouth if these were not for baking. Originally, I had only wanted to concentrate on the bread because of the above Two Things mentioned. However, due to mom's insistence on using up all the fresh berries, I had to accommodate the muffins into my prime baking time, which magically demonstrated itself to be on Sundays between 4-6pm :p Lemon Blueberry Bread - I absolutely adore the lemon glaze adorning the top. Blueberry muffins...

The New Year of 2011 kicked off by counting down at Times Square with Zhiwei who was visiting New York for 8 days during the holiday season. New Year Snowmen sprung up in Central Park after the great NYC blizzard of 2010 The exquisitely delicious Eileen's cheesecake seemed to be the perfect stop, even for a short-term visitor. I have to credit a friend for bringing me to this famous bakery (though I have forgotten whether it was siewlee or xianan who brought me there). I'm just glad my dear concubine Zhiwei enjoyed the cheesecake :) Eileen's Cheesecake brought us all together The weekend after Zhiwei left, I started my first baking project of the year - Coconut Macaroons. It was inspired by the French macaroons that she bought at Soho area, and they tasted so good! Browsing around joyofbaking.com, I noticed that there is a recipe for the American macaroon, so I decided to try it out. They didn't turn out too bad, just a little overbaked :) I'll definit...