What I'm Reading

I started reading all these books and have yet to finish one of them. I also have another 2 books that I've recently bought and have yet to read.

Looks like I'm gonna finish the Marian Keyes book first as it's very entertaining and funny. She's one of my favourite authors and I always buy the hardcovers because I'm always dying to read her latest books. If anybody is a fan of Marian Keyes let me know, I have all her books .

The Time Traveller's Wife is very long and not that entertaining but I must finish reading it before I watch the movie.

The Associate is the usual John Grisham. I will probably finish it last.

One of the books that I recently purchase is this one by Cecelia Ahern. She is also a favourite author of mine. I think I'll probably start on this book after I finish the Marian Keyes' one.

Recently I discovered Jodi Picoult, it started when I saw my niece reading My Sister's Keeper. I went out and bought it the next day and finsihed reading it in 2 days. I'm ashamed to say I cried through out the whole book. Later I watched the movie while on the long flight to Los Angeles and yes I cried again while watching the movie! The movie was great and adapted the book very closely except for the ending where it was totally different.

Mysore Chicken

I saw this recipe in the Star and tried it. It tasted pretty good and delicious served with Chapatti.

Ingredients:

5 tbsp cooking oil

500g chicken cut into pieces

1 tsp mustard seeds

2 1/2 cm cinnamon stick

3 cloves

4 cardamoms

1 star anise

2 sprigs curry leaves

1 1/2 tsp garlic pounded

2 big onions, sliced

2 tbsp curry powder mix with 3 tbsp water

125 ml water

1 red chili seeded and cut into squares

1 green chili seeded and cut into squares

Mix together :

6 tbsp tomato sauce

1/2 tsp salt

2 tsp light soya sauce

pinch chicken granules

pinch pepper

Method:

1. Heat oil and fry mustard seeds, cinnamon stick, cloves, star anise and curry leaves

2. Add garlic, fry till fragrant and add onions and curry paste

3. When fragrant add chicken. Fry for a few minutes. Add mixed sauces into pot together with water.

4. Cook till chicken is tender and the sauce is thick. Add chillies and leave for 2 minutes. Dish out and garnish with fresh coriander leaves.

Chicago the windy city

Been travelling again , this time to the great US of A. Chicago more specifically, land of Obama. Hated the travelling but once there it was great. Went shopping at the outlet mall the second day we were there and I spent money at the Ferragamo outlet. It was relatively cheap, well at least cheaper that Asia!

Since this is my second visit to Chicago so didn't do the tourist thing as did it last year. Most of the time I was on the Magnificient Mile a.k.a. the shopping mile ! Must have lost some weight as I walked at least two miles a day window and actual shopping. In total I bought 10 Coach bags but alas only two were mine. My best buy of the trip was my Ferragamo ballerina slippers, love it.

Best part of the trip was my visit to Harpo Studios home of The Oprah Winfrey Show and a visit to the Oprah Shop of course. Wish I could have been an audience of the show but no luck this time.

Well now I'm back to the normal routine and to face the credit card bill.

Next trip, Melbourne and Jaipur !

The Great Malaysian Sale

Lately I've been shopping more than usual due to the sales. It started off being just a pair of comfortable trousers from MNG recommended by Dura then it went to another pair of trousers from British India that were 50% off. Then came the tops at MNG, Gap, M&S and Zara ! I'm running out of space and now need to get rid of stuff that's just lying there.

Now I want an Ed Hardy T shirt ! Maybe I can get the hubs to get me one when he's in Seattle next month.

Fit Flops

I got myself a pair of Fitflops , yes the supposedly gym in a shoe flip flops.  Aren't they cute ???

I don't know if it will actually make my legs toned or my bum smaller but I just love the bling !

Comfort vs Style ?

Been busy lately , weekends away and all so didn't think to blog. Was in Port Dickson one weekend and Sabah the next so am now longing for a quiet weekend at home. Nothing particularly exciting happening and no forecast of travelling abroad to be excited for.

Learnt a new revelation from a good friend recently . My friend is one of the funniest person that I know (apart from dearest) and being around her is always a joy. She told me she's tired of wearing too tight clothes and too high heels. Comfort is the key word here, style is secondary (well girls must be girls right!) It's ok to be fat and eat whatever you want as long as you're healthy. Why should you be miserable in order to be seen as stylish ? It's all material and external isn't it ? 

To me life is too short to care about what people think about the external material you. What matters is what lies in your heart and how you treat others. The latest 2.55 Chanel doesn't make you a kind person and a pair of red soled Louboutins doesn't bring you love from those who matter. 

Our favourite saying ? Let it all hang out ...... ;)

Awesome Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is not a my favourite cake but this recipe is great. The cake is moist and delicious due to the pineapple bits inside. Try it out it's really easy and you won't even need a mixer.

3 cups grated carrot

2 cups plain flour

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 tsp bicarbonate soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

4 eggs (grade B/medium sized)

1 1/2 cup corn oil

1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

1 can (8oz) crushed pineapple

3/4 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 175 C . Grease and flour a 9 x 13 inch pan or 2 round pans.

2. In a large bowl combine grated carrots, flour, sugar, bicarbonate soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon

3. Stir in eggs, oil, vanilla, pineapple and walnuts.

4. Spooned into pans

5. Bake cake in preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 1/3 cup icing sugar

250g cream cheese

1/2 cup butter

1 1/4 vanilla extract

In a bowl combine all ingredients and beat until smooth. Spread on cooled cake.

My first ever blog

At first I turned up my nose at blogging. To me it felt too much like writing in that little diary you had when you were ten years old. Yes ladies you know the one, it had hearts on the cover and a tiny lock and keys. It was only when I had the task of developing a commercial blog for ChanktekGifts's spin off that I really discovered the world of blogging. 

Honestly the main reason why I decided to blog was because of the cute and adorable layouts and backgrounds available free on the web. I also decided that a blog was a convenient location to store my recipes and wish lists online which I could share with my friends. 

Anyways I've always been an aspiring writer of novels so I guess this is the first step. Enjoy !