When you're gone..

How do you like your toast in the morning?
I like mine with a kiss
Dark or light?
I'm satisfied as long as I have my kiss


TWB is gone to Melbourne for 2 weeks for work. It was a little chaotic in the airport when we've been told by the girl in the counter that the flight TWB booked wasn't until 8 PM instead of AM. The thought of doing something too silly to be forgiven was tingling round and round our head, especially because it was for a business trip. I'm sure TWB felt the most awful while me worried and hoping he'll be fine. At one point, wishing he was more careful, I acted like a see-I've-told-you! girlfriend for one minute and picked a little few things at my point of view that he lacks, which he didn't appreciate in his panic state.

Later when I got home I kept thinking about him, worrying. Again I can't stop not thinking if only he'd listen to me. Well, it's not that I've always listened to him, but.. hehe.. Anyway, the thing that make me sad probably would be, I wish he didn't have to learn it the hard way. I wish he didn't have to 'suffer' first before understanding or accepting something. And I thought.. I must have loved him so much that I could have this much of empathy. Hahaha..

And that reminds me straight away of my parents. Or to most parents in the world, I guess... I remember how my parents always try to fix everything I do, am doing, have done. They must have a word to say if they saw a little minus. And I would sometimes get annoyed and think 'just leave me alone, I'm a big girl, please let me do what I do'. I had this sudden guilt and grateful at the same time. Because hey I'm like that too to TWB! Which means they're like that purely because they love me and how they, the experienced, wouldn't want me, the unexperienced, to fall in the hole they've seen coming.

However, on the brighter side we have to keep ourself remind that from any mistakes comes the true knowledge. I'm sure TWB learned from this and would be ultra careful for whatever he does.


"I have to have my love in a.m. ... or the rest of my day is positively mayhem.."

Happily Unproductive

Hello,

It's been exactly one long month I have not written anything here.
My days been busy and tiring that every spare time I had, I thought of whatever bugging my mind.

However today... It's 2.19pm and I haven't been much productive, I haven't been thinking about anything other than nothing and could not grateful enough for rare time like this.

I could not think what else to write. And so be it..

Till next time ;p

The Wedding Day

Hello,

I've just finished a best seller chick-flick book, Revenge Wears Prada. Where Andy, the main character, worked for herself in a wedding magazine. Being in the industry myself, it inspires me a little. Even though I'm not going to have my own wedding anytime soon but as a girl in her mid twenties, I already started imagining it.

At times, my imagination goes wild, I tell you. Mainly about the decoration and tiny bits like the stationaries. It's funny how this wedding stuffs can give me excitement.

However, grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia, I couldn't actually imagine my wedding day to be as eventful as a usual Indonesian/Jakarta wedding. What about it,you asked? Well, it's about inviting as many people as you could possibly imagine (more than 50% of them you don't even know), it's about having a variety of food stalls (plus the 9 varieties of foods on the bain maries), with an extravagant decorations; flowers; and lightings, it's also about standing on a stage; smiling; and hand shaking each and everyone of those many guests as you could possibly imagine (more than 50% of them you don't even know), holding a sword like cake knife to gesturally cut the sky-scrapper-cake , and lastly, to touch your partner's lips against yours while the master of ceremony's counting the longest 5 seconds in your life and the waitresses are popping confetti to you and all that also gotta be snapped by 2 or 3 photographers from every angle they could take but mostly they'd be just next to you circling around.  I wasn't just exaggerating cause I can assure you that pretty much what happens.. Ok, probably the sky-scrapper cake was a little exaggerate but the cake still is so big and tall. And the wealthier you are, the merrier it becomes (the number of the guests can reach up to a few thousands. No joke.).

I guess the start point was great, that you want to tell the whole world that you just marry someone you love and how your parents are so happy and proud that they also want to tell the whole world, want to gather every one they know to celebrate. But then, it became a show off thing and sadly, a culture. It did become a culture that I and TWB discussed this and pray that we don't have to follow Indonesian style wedding and our parents won't drive us crazy for not following the culture.

And also, because it's such a festivities thing, can you imagine the preparation itself? Having both of my brother and sister got married and other friends that already had and handling clients that are having one, it's pretty hectic and frantic. It's sort of they have a pressure of pleasing every one; themselves, partners, parents, friends, and families. For example, I often find when a bride trying a wedding dress they often listens to others that in the end prefers something others chose even though it's not as comfortable. Me and colleague always give our  opinion but also a reminder that in the end you're the bride, you're the one who'd be wearing it and not them.

Anyway, back to the book, there was a chapter where Andy has to cover a wedding of a movie star, Olive. Olive told her that her stylist picked every thing for her, even the wedding dress. Andy was very surprised and Olive said, "I found the guy! After more than twenty years of being single and jerked around and cheated on and alone, I found my soul mate. Pardon my French, but you think I give a shit about the flowers?"

That's very inspiring. I mean, as much as I love helping a client for their wedding, but yeah, what for? The main thing here is that a wedding day supposed to be about a girl and a boy who loves each other and want to be united as one. Full stop. And it's supposed to be up to them if they want to celebrate it or not, to have it big or small, with a cinderella dress or a mermaid dress, etc. Right? Plus a wedding day only a ceremony entering a marriage life, which the pin point, anyway.

I don't know about my wedding day later, how it's gonna be, but until then, here's to you and me and  I found my soul mate, I don't give a shit about the flowers! Ting!

WAQU, Crows Nest

Me and TWB share the same interest when it comes to Japan. The culture, language, places, and food. We just think Japan is cool. So, for my birthday night this year.. I would really love to have some Japanese food. But since it's my birthday I don't want it to be just a normal bento box, sushi train or ramen slurping night. So I tried to find something else. Well, on the top of my list would be Tetsuya of course, but reality check hit me so I'd come back to Tetsuya later. Haha.. Then I remember this restaurant near where I lived 3 years ago that I've put in the back of my mind that I'd have to visit. So then we made a booking in WAQU, a table for two at 7pm.

We spent almost 20 minutes to find a parking spot in Crows Nest. Friday night during this time is when everyone is going out to dine, something that I didn't think at all when I spent too long gluing the fake eyelashes on, urgh! Anyway luckily I saw a car was leaving and I just commanding, while pointing at the spot, TWB, "There!". 

When we entered the door of WAQU, the hustle bustle from outside has just transformed to this intimate and elegant atmosphere restaurant. We directly greeted and walked to our table and being given the menu and drink list. Yay Day! $6 cocktail and mocktail! Anyway, Waqu only offers courses menu, no a la carte in this restaurant. Tonight we chose the $68 6 course over $48 3 course. 

Umeshi Mojito Cocktail

Peach Calpis Mocktail

Who would have guessed it right, was the calpis belonged to me and mojito belonged to TWB or the other way around? Nope, it's the other way around. hihi.. That cute TWB is so weak with something peachy and mangoey. Both are very nice, by the way. Peach calpis got the peach puree, gave it nice texture when you sipped. The mojito is nice with the kick of umeshi sake. 

amouse bouche

We got this as a complimentary, yay day! I actually forgot what amouse bouche is this. We put it in our mouth and it was yum. The bottom part is a bed of pastry and at the top is some seafood blend mousse. A great dish to start the night. 

japanese pumpkin soup with kaffir lime

The first course came in a tall martini glass. We didn't use the small spoon given, we drank it straight away instead cause that's what would you do when you handle something in a martini glass, don't you? *haha nah, we actually was a bit confuse to spoon or to drink, we looked around and no one were still on their first course* TWB loved his soup, I didn't. It's actually a very nice texture, very smooth and creamy, you absolutely can taste the kaffir lime. I don't know, it's just didn't do it for me, so I gave my half to TWB, that he happily drank up. 

scallop, tofu ganmo, school prawn with scallop confit, cauliflower puree, braised daikon, karasumi, and truffle powder.

Such a lovely looking dish except for one thing, if you know which one I'm talking about. Scallop was melt in the mouth, school prawn was fried nicely. Give me a bowl of that school prawn, I'd be one happy gal. TWB isn't a shell-seafood eater. He ate half of his scallop and gave me the rest. Yay day for me! Haha..

chicken galantine stuffed with mochi rice okowa, miso essence, shimeji, soba seeds, rice and peanut tuilles

This was delicioso! bellisima! and all good word! I love chicken so much and this chicken is perfectly cooked. The mochi rice is divine, the waiter who put this on our table told us that the rice tastes the same as his grandmother would cook for the family on new year. 

TWB's pan fried barramundi with caramelized onion puree, pinot noir syrup, roasted leek, grated macadamia

This one was TWB's. The roasted leek was a bit on the downside, it was tough. But lucky the hero of the dish is lovely. 

pan fried snapper with cumin spiced carrot puree, prosciutto broth with parsley oil, piment d'espelette

This was mine and I loved it. The broth was a little salty on its own but when you combined all together, it was a bomb.

TWB's roasted cabernet marinated lamb backstrap with fig balsamic vinegar puree, fig fritter, spiced bread crumbles 

I was sure TWB was so happy finally the red meat came out, despite we did wait for a while for them to come. TWB loved it he especially loved the fig fritter but he did find the fig balsamic vinegar puree was too sweet and strong and the spiced bread crumbles was tasteless. I tried and agreed the fig fritter was two thumbs up, it made you wish there was some left over in the kitchen and given away to you. Crunchy, light and sweet. I'm drooling right now. 

tajima wagyu sirloin steak BMS 6+ grain fed with beef jus, grilled eggplant paste, seasonal vegetables ($8 surcharge)

As a birthday girl I wanted something more special of course, when I saw the fifth course was $8 surcharge, straight away I thought this must be gooodd. I have to have this one. Even though I usually choose duck over beef if I saw duck in the menu (the option were this, TWB's lamb and a roasted duck), especially the duck seemed a lot of fun (it was a roasted duck with dark cherry sauce, beetroot puree, coffee chocolate crumbles, creme fraiche), however the beef still won. So after a while, it finally came. yaaayyy!

Ok, I was so grateful, you know, I've been able to eat everyday.. moreover in this special moment I was able to eat in such a good place like this.. moreover eating that wagyu beef! Boy, do I had that gracing moment when I had the first bite! All I did was eating it in silent and trying to seal the taste of that wagyu.

chocolate terrine, hazelnut praline ice cream, banana crumble, sake-kasu sauce, mint olive oil

Mine came with a firework candle sticked on a piece of banana and a beautifully pipped happy birthday chocolate along with patrons' and waitresses' eyes and smiles. When I called to make a booking, me and the guy on the phone chatted a bit and I did mention that I'm celebrating my birthday that night. It wasn't TWB who requested it, means the restaurant noted it, which was very sweet of them. The terrine was perfect, so chocolatey and not too sweet as I sometimes found Terrine could be. And the hazelnut praline ice cream, is the best I've had so far. 

All in all, I enjoyed my night at WAQU so much. It was actually mine and TWB's first night of having more than 3 course meal (6!) that I asked TWB to sneaked the menu into his suit. So yeah, it was memorable.. 

WAQU modern japanese dining

308 pacific highway, Crows Nest, NSW 2065

02 9906 7736

info@waqu.com.au

Opening hours:

Lunch: Thu-Sun from 12 pm

Dinner: Tue-Sun from 6pm

Close: Monday

http://www.waqu.com.au/index.html

Keeping Up With The Techs (Or Apps Or Whateverfancy)

Yep you name it; twitter, facebook, instragram, linkedin, iTunes, Siri, blackberry messenger, pinterest, etc.. Those things... I don't know how to categorise them, can we say it some sort of technology or it simply is an application, but you get what I mean..

It seems like today our social communication tools are bounded between those 'apps', 'accounts', or whatever they named them. How are we keeping up with all those advanced technologies updates while there are so many of them?

It interests me since this couple of years I frequently  got an invitation from a few friends whose in linkedin and some other social websites. I'm not in there and despite I know the advantages I still haven't found the interest to be in yet. I don't have a twitter account and I don't play instagram. But then I notice that most of the people are in those little clubs, that reminds me a few years ago while most of my friends were using blackberry and using blackberry messenger to chat and I didn't, I was the one who would be the last to hear any news. Even worse, they even forgot to wish me merry christmas and happy new year because I wasn't on the list of their blackberry messenger! Comment I've got for not having a twitter account was, "no wonder you always be the last person to know about that, make a twitter account!". I hate that, make me feel I'm left behind. Well then, yes, I surrendered and got myself a blackberry and in an instant I was in the loop again.

It's ironically funny isn't it?

Anyway, I'll share you something worth the read: what this man did. Outrageous. I don't think I'd be able to do that.

Oh well I think, as much as I love to be connected to whom I love continents apart, with the technologies and applications and all those social medias are just so advance nowadays, I don't think I can ever keep up.  Not even 10km close. 

Hahaha hope not

"IF WE WAIT UNTIL WE'RE READY, WE'LL BE WAITING FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES"

Are you the one who always come prepared or a let's do it type of person? And why?

It's nice to keep asking about our personality once in a while, I think it makes us know us more and hopefully keeps what necessary and dumps whats not. 

Look is not everything

Yeah! Any of you not agree on this? Watch this video, ok..

She is Cameron Russell an American model who has worked for the top tiered fashion houses/designers and she has a point.

To any of you, including me, who doesn't feel pretty after looking at pics in the magazines, watching tv, etc, we need this sometimes, don't we? 

Rain

G'Day!

It is a good day, indeed. Today is raining and gloomy here in Sydney. I remain indoor, so, I love it. Feel bad for you who has to travel and please, take care..

There's also a little part in my mind that's gloomy. It's not bothering me that much but it's just there. So it's about how I finally know, like know-know... , and realise how bad the systems are in our society. In a few conversations, various times, between me and colleagues about my road accidents, I got to know that 'the leaders' were trying to cover up and not giving me things that I rightfully have. I won't give any details about why, what, how, but yeah.. it sucks. It makes me dislike my job there even more. And on one night, me and TWB watched a film named John Q. Have you watched?

*spoiler alert*
It's a mind opening based on a true story movie about a father name John Q that decided to take a hospital emergency department in Chicago hostage. He did that for pushing the hospital supervisor to put his son's name on a heart recipient's list because apparently his insurance won't cover the cost. But what he actually signed up with that insurance was all that should be covered, but the regulation changed , without any notice, to not cover. No money, of course the hospital won't do anything to them. Hospital being hostage, so the police, detective, FBI and whatever came, right. After a while, they decided to sneak a sniper in and shoot John Q because the chief of police didn't like the unsafe situation in his city. Luckily he only got minor wound. An at the end, his son got a heart transplant and all fee covered.

My point is, it got me thinking how safe is safe and how trust is trust. I feel like we're a marionette control by 'the leaders' up there. And sadly I'd say it's a power+money based system that runs in our society.

20something

Hello,

Above video is a great video, esp. for someone whose in 20something.

Clinical psychologist Meg Jay has a bold message for twentysomethings: Contrary to popular belief, your 20s are not a throwaway decade. In this provocative talk, Jay says that just because marriage, work and kids are happening later in life, doesn’t mean you can’t start planning now. She gives 3 pieces of advice for how twentysomethings can re-claim adulthood in the defining decade of their lives. 

What are they? Watch the video, folks.. ;)

20something is what I call a matureteen. It's a transition from someone's teen age to someone's adult age, 30s. When we were a teenager, we're this active-happy-rebelious at times-i'm the ruler of the world type of kids. Then 30s is where we will all have settled, probably married and have kids, got a stable job, a house, etc (well at least the way I see it, majority). So 20something is the bridge between the two era, 20something is already an adult but not quite, hence mature-teen.

Anyhow, the point is 20something is a critical period of someone's lifetime. Imagine there's a big room with lots of people and different size of shoes labelled with career, job, partner, etc. And we are as a 20something will be the majority one whose running around trying to find then to grab the shoe that would fit us in. Like these guys.

There might be a point where we would just stop finding the shoe and just trying to fit in to any shoe. Either we'd get a dying feet if it's too small or we'd fall if it's too big. I'd like to say that..hey it's OK! We're not perfect so that's OK. It's not OK anymore if we don't realise it or actually realise but do nothing about it and then it's too late and then we'd cry over it day and night and got depressed and so on.

True if you would think 'it's easier to say than to do, right?' but rather than too much thinking, why not *at least try to* start doing?


p.s.: and yes, this is for me too..

Product Review: Body Lotion and a great tip

Hello,

June is here means winter is also here, with heavy rains for two days in a row! Well, I didn't complain at all because to be honest, while many of you cursing at it, I'm actually loving it. However, it also a hello for dry and sometimes itchy skin *along with less motivation to exercise, big appetite, and the need to hibernate*. Like the other day when my arm felt so itchy so I scratched it and this disgusting fish scale looking skin appeared. It really is time to stop my laziness of moisturising my skin. I need to make it a routine instead of if only I remembered.

And today I would like to share my opinions about two of my favourites body lotion.

First one is...
ROSKEN DRY SKIN REPAIR



It's such a great product my friend referred to me. So when my previous lotion finished I just bought this one at the chemist. It says I'll see the result in 4 days. And 4 days it was! Actually I remember even after the first use I already felt the greatness of this product. No kidding. It's non perfumed but still has its natural smell which is quite nice, it doesn't leave your skin feeling greasy. It's even safe to apply on your face because its pH balanced. It leaves my skin feel so so smooth.I got mine for about $9 or $10 at the chemist for 375ml. Cheap as chips!

and the second one is...
NANTUCKET BRIAR Scented Body Lotion by Crabtree&Evelyn



I would never have thought that a blend of wild briar roses, bergamot, ambergris, spice and vanilla will smell so very bery nice. I would say a combination of elegant, mature, soft, sexy and luscious that is. I got this for my birthday two years ago and I just opened it a year ago. Price wise it's a little costly, $28 for 200ml. But it is a good lotion and it does make my skin softer and smoother, I can't resist not buying again.

So which one won over my heart between the two? Well it depends, Rosken I'd use for regular day to day lotion while Nantucket I'd use if I feel like smelling incredibly good. So, both are winners.

Another thing that I want to share is this great tips, that according to a girl that giving tips in youtube about how she does her skin routine, you have 5 minutes to apply your moisturising product on to your body because when your skin is still a bit warm means the pores opens more hence the level of absorbance your skin does, is higher. After that 5 minutes, it's sort of wasted. You'd waste your time and your product without getting the best result (she has other great tips, you can check her video here). I have been trying doing that and it works wonder. It's just this funny moment after I showered, I'd be vigorously scrubbing all over my skin with lotions. All in all a good tips to try!

Got hit by a stupid car

Hello,

Questions that have being asked so much to me lately were,

"are you Ok? how do you feel?"

"so what has happened?"

Oh my, how I have enough answering and keep repeating the story.
I didn't even want to write it here. At first.

Yeah so what happened to me three weeks ago was I got hit by a car.
I was an innocent obedient pedestrian, walked down the road when it was a pedestrian green light.
I was a bit rushed when I walked and..
When I reached the middle of the road, there was this 4WD car that set its position to turn left from the other side of the road, my first thinking was.. I thought nothing actually I just kept walking fast. But the next second I thought, oh shit it's not stopping! And then the third thinking was, what the hell I should stop, shouldn't I? Is this car really still moving?

All of that thoughts I think appeared for only about one or two seconds before the bang, how cool a human brain is right?
However, It was too late, It's sort of like this.. "Is this car really still mov-BANG!" I got hit by a car..

It wasn't very bad as any of you might think, I was very lucky and I felt so blessed. I wasn't daydreaming as I normally do so that at the same time as the BANG happened, I slammed her car with both of my hands quite hard and I tried to push my body away.

However, I flew in the air, saying hello to the birdies and then touched down the road on my back then hit down my elbows and ankles, kept my head up.

There were quite a few angels saved me that day, they were those lovely other pedestrians around that helped me to get up, called a police and an ambulance, gave me a chair to sit, gave me a hydrolite drink, calmed me down, cleaning my wounds. The driver didn't run away, she *yes she was a lady in her late 50s or 60s* gave me her mobile number instead, so if I wanted to sue her now I still could. haha. So again, how lucky and blessed I was!

All in all it wasn't that bad, no fracture or broken bones or anything major. I bed-rested for about 2.5 weeks, now I've returned to work and feel better. It's just now I got tired very easily, I think I need to visit a physio and people around me sort of pushing me to really get a lawyer and sue her, which I actually think I'd do both. I'll post what happened after I visit the physio and lawyer, ok?

Me out for now!

Museum of Contemporary Art Cafe, The Rocks

Hello,

Last week me and TWB celebrated our 3rd anniversary and had lunch in MCA Cafe, The Rocks. It's located on the top floor of its new building and has this spectacular view of Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. As far as my research goes this Cafe provides the most affordable foods with a million dollar views.


THAT Corner!

As we entered the elevator up to the 4th floor, I wished that we have that seat in the corner where we could really enjoy the views and lift up the *ehm* romance atmosphere. When we arrived, we were given the menus and the waitress told us to pick any seat we wanted and come back to the front to order the food. I hurried to that corner and saw it were occupied. Even other seats along the glass panels were taken! That's okay, I told to myself and to TWB, we sat on the seats closest to those seats and set a strategy that if the lady there seemed clearing up her stuffs then we'd march there and wait for her before it's taken by anybody else. I'm a little aggressive, I hope you don't mind.

After a few minutes we sat there and watching the lady on the best seats, we realised she wouldn't be moving any sooner. She was working on her sketches, she really was in the zone that she laid all her sketches on the table and sticking them on with sticky tape, I wasn't sure what she was doing but I was a bit cranky. Because I only saw a bottle of water on her table, no food, probably she finished it already. Means she would be there mainly to sketch, she picked the best seats with the best views without even looked at the views! She could have given it to someone else that wanted to enjoy it, don't you think?

Lucky the food came out not long.. The TWB's enormous Chicken Schnitzel Baguette came with a bowl of chips. It was a huge servings and looked crunchy, juicy and delicious.


Chicken Schnitzel Baguette with Dijon Mayo with Shoestring fries $18

It was yummy as it looked. Baguette crunchy outside soft inside, have a good amount of the crunchy schnitzel and dijon mayo seasoned the baguette well. It was so big it made TWB so full.


Pea and Fontina Arancini, Lemon and Pecorino $14

The arancinis served in an egg carton with garlic aioli and a lemon. The aioli is really good it seemed they used roasted garlic, it was so fragrance.


Pulled Pork, Candied Coconut, Pickled Cucumber, Lemon, Rice Noodle $16

I mixed everything together and tried it, it was quite good, the pork were so tender. And you got the softness and crunchiness of a salad. But I just found it needed more dressings and the pulled pork a little too sweet. I squeezed lemon from the arancini to this salad and it tasted better.

Too bad we got no room for dessert. All in all the food was good even though we didn't sit on the best seats, because until we left the place the lady were still sketching. If anyone reads this, tell me, have you get annoyed because of a seat? :)


*You can find the info about MCA Cafe here:
http://www.mca.com.au/visit/mca-cafe-sculpture-terrace/

Happy Birthday To Me!

Hello,

Today is my Birthday! yay!
I turn 24 today and thank God for years that has passed and hopefully another years and years that are coming.
I'll work only until midday today and after that me and TWB will go somewhere that I don't know where to yet. How exciting!

For me birthday was ordinary day because since I was little until my Uni days, end of May was always, I mean always, exam/tons of assignments due period. Celebration was just simply mom cooked some noodle, boiled egg, and eating some cake. Even worse when I got here, Sydney, I was the one that cook my own noodle and egg. But this year, I'd give myself a break. If no one cook me some noodle or boil me some egg means probably this would be the first no-noodle-and-boiled-egg-birthday for me.

Anyway, talking about noodle, how I love a bowl of noodle with a dumpling soup as a side.
The other day I made around 90ish of dumplings. A lot? I know right.. Winter is coming so the needs of a bowl of dumpling soup were so creeping in and how I loved to have those dumplings ready in the freezer anytime I crave for them.


Pan Fried Dumpling
(sorry about the quality of the photo)

So now, I'd love to share y'all the recipe. I made this with a store bought dumpling skin, you can make them your own which is pretty easy, click on the Poh's Kitchen to see how to make the skin. You can also watch the video how Poh made them which helps a lot if you're a first timer.

Pork and Cabbage Dumpling
(makes around 45)

Recipe adapted from Poh's Kitchen

You need:
A packet of dumpling skin
A steamer

Filling
2 ½ cups Chinese cabbage, finely shredded
½ tsp salt
250g pork mince
3 tsp ginger, chopped finely
1/3 cup spring onions or Chinese chives, chopped
1/8 tsp ground white pepper
¼ cup chicken stock or water
4 ½ tsp light soy sauce
3 tsp Shaoxing wine
1 tbs vegetable oil
4 ½ tsp sesame oil
½ cup shitake dried mushrooms, soaked and chopped

Dipping Sauce
¼ cup light soy sauce
6 tsp Chinkiang vinegar
1/8 cup sugar
2-3 tsp chilli oil
3 tsp ginger, finely shredded
2 tsp garlic, chopped finely

Method
1. Mix salt with cabbage and allow to sit for 15 minutes so salt can draw liquid out of the cabbage. Wash cabbage briefly before squeezing to remove as much liquid as possible. You should end up with a heaped half cup of cabbage. Mix together with remaining ingredients until everything is incorporated.
2. Spoon a teaspoonful of the filling onto the centre of the wrapper. When crimping, only pleat one side of the dumpling leaving the other edge straight. This will give the dumpling an attractive crescent shape and let it sit nicely.
3. There are two ways you can cook these. Firstly, you can just boil them in plenty of salt water. When they float, allow them to cook for a further ten seconds, then scoop out with a slotted spoon into a colander. If you want a crispy bottomed finish, position the dumplings neatly in a frypan filled with about one centimetre of water and a dash of peanut oil. Cover and allow the dumplings to steam for about eight to ten minutes. When all the water evaporates, the little bit of oil that remains will help crisp up the bottom. Serve immediately with spice dipping sauce.


Good lookin crescent shape

Introduction

Hello,

I've changed my blog into this cakethatpops! which previously was le'petitcoelho.
I just thought from time to time I'd like to write again and how good it is to start with a new 'book'.
I've deleted all le'petitcoelho's posts simply because I think they were all so 'teen'. ahhaha..
I've changed the template too, gave it a fresh new look.

So, cakethatpops! ? I love cakepops and what I really love that if one day I can have my own cakepops shop *whoopwhoop!*, therefore cakepops is a cake that pops.

What I will write in this blog I think will still be the same materials, my ramblings about what I feel like to spill and probably some
postings about my cooking or baking and recipes. Also some travelling or visiting a nice place. You know, just one's ordinary journeys..

So,to start with...

yesterday afternoon me and The Wonderful Boyfriend (I'll use the term TWB to refer him from this time forward) was really bored yesterday and felt like going out, so we decided to go to Centennial Park (I drove! haha) to hire a bike. TWB had actually planned to surprise me last week on our anniversary to ride a bike in Centennial Park but bugger! it was raining. So I thought, let today be the day!
You may curious why biking got me so excited, it's because I would looovvee to own a bike. And the reasons being are, first, I like biking and all memories that came into my mind every time I think about biking are the nice ones, second *and main reason*, just simply to reduce my carbon footprint :). Then why I don't own one yet? Because the price here in Sydney, Australia, is ridiculously expensive!! Plus, Sydney is not a bicycle-friendly-city yet (and hopefully one day will).

Anyhow, back to the story.. We hired 2 bikes, cost you $15/pp, that came with 2 helmets for an hour and we could only ride it in the bicycle road/way (is that how you call it?) along the park, and let me tell you, the first 10 minutes I was like, "Omg Babe, this is so much fun! I looovvvee itt!" while pedalling away and put a note in my mind I have to do this more often. But then the next minutes when the road was sligghhttllyy uphill, I was like, "sh!t".. how not fit I am! My legs and thighs were killing me, I hardly could catch my breath. Ohmy, what a joke.
Well, last time I rode a bike was.. a long long time ago I don't even remember when.
However, we managed to do 4 laps in total with a break in between, lots of laugh and giggle, and a happy me. Thanks TWB :*



Pretty Centennial Parkland


*you can find the info about hiring a bike in Centennial Park, Sydney, in the link down below:
http://www.centennialparklands.com.au/activities/cycle_hire

A BIG HELLO!

I hope that was big enough!

It's been forever since I write anything in this blog. I didn't miss it or thought about it. And just yesterday this sudden boredom stroke me and the thinking about writing just popped. Then it made me remember ahh, i have a blog that I've abandoned for God knows how long! I even forgot which email and password I've set for this blog. And when I finally got it, oh boy how disgusting what I've wrote that I've to deleted a few. Lol. I think that's it for now.

Can't say I'm Back Again! just yet. But for now, I'll be deleting some more, I guess. Even though I'm pretty sure no one reads this but.. you know.......... xoxo