Tea Time @ Tang Shifu, 1 Utama

(NON-HALAL)

Sometime back when Precious Pea was back here for a short holiday - she and I got hungry after singing our hearts out in Neway and decided to look for some tea time food.  Now, I've been curious to try out Tang Shifu's food; two items in particular and suggested to Precious Pea to try out it with me.  So, as soon as we sat down, I already knew what to order.  Yes, the two items from their menu that caught my eye the most ....

The Abalone Sauce Rice Dumplings (RM9.90) was very flavourful ...The dumpling seems to have a mixture of glutinous rice with some brown rice.  The wolfberries added a sweetness to the dumplings, adding more plus points to it.  The cool cucumber was refreshing with some walnut and sesame mix topping though I would say that it looked like some type of meat floss was also added to it.

My Memories Suite Review & Giveaway!

Giveaway? You read that right! Read on till the end to find out how you can take part in My Memories Suite   Giveaway ($40 value).  How did this come about?  Let me do a quick recap from the past :o).  I still remember what I wrote sometime back in Feb 2007 (5 things you didn't know about me).

I love paper crafts - I buy lots of magazines and books but I never sit still long enough (apart from being on the PC) to do a proper project! Ha ha ha...Here's part of the "library".



And then in January 2008 when I did a tag passed on to me by NKOTB, I had said that one of the things I’ve always wanted to do is to be serious about my paper craft work!

Recently, I was given a copy of My Memories Suite to review and blog on my opinion of it. I now have the opportunity to get some projects off the ground!  This digital scrapbooking software that's rated #1 by Amazon and Top Ten Reviews, creates scrapbooks easily (photobooks, cards, calendars and much more too!).  Since I had said that I'm usually on the PC most of the time when I'm at home (that is whatever little amount of time when I'm indeed at home!), this scrapbooking software definitely is such a booster for me to start on my projects! Best part about it is that one can even add audio/video to the projects! Before this, projects usually means clearing table space and having my craft tools & kits at hand which which is why I haven't been that serious about it as I want to be.  Anyway, I've been checking out My Memories Suite bit by bit and recently did a project.

Here's a screen shot of the software

Starting on my first project, I wanted to do a page with the dogs ... you can design your own album or choose from one of the many design templates.  Here, I use one of the pages from the "Out Of The Box-Spring" design.  Selecting photos to be used is a breeze, you can just drag the photos from the left panel and right onto the design boxes.

I did some slight redesigning to move (and add) the boxes around and I added the ready-to-use embellishments (Word Art) from the Dog Gone Cute kit and created this. That's it, quick and easy.  Okay, you are gonna ask how did I get the picture to be posted here from the album in the first place.  Here's how....

Click on the "Share Album" button and you can choose any of the options from the drop down list :-

Export to JPEG (which is the one I chose), Photo Album, Calendar, Interactive Album, Make Movie, iPod-ready Movie and Burn DVD-Video!

I had so much fun making this too, so much so that I need to stay at home more often to start on more projects.  My Memories Suite is easy, quick, fun and most of all mess free, hahaha...Actually, it's great for bloggers as we can make collages out of the many photos that we put on our blog, makes it more interesting.

The best part of the post is here...Good news for all! Here's a special for You Get What You Give readers, MyMemories.com is giving a $10 discount off the purchase price of My Memories Suite Scrapbook v2 software and also a $10 coupon for purchases made at MyMemories.com store buying your own digital kits ($20 value!) Just enter this code at checkout STMMMS37325 to get your $20 value!  Copy and paste the code to avoid typos when using it.

However, one of you blessed readers now have a chance at getting a FREE download of My Memories Suite v2 valued at $40.  Enter this giveaway by doing the following : -

1) Visit MyMemories.com

2) Choose your favourite digital pack or layout and then leave a comment on this very"My Memories Suite Giveaway" blog post of mine. telling me which ones you chose.

3) Click on the Like button located at the top left corner of this post so that you can also share the news about the giveaway.

4) Follow my F.A.T adventures - click the "Join" button located on the right side bar of my blog.

For extra entries, follow MyMemories on their blog or Facebook or Twitter (follow all 3 for an extra 3 entries!).

Closing Date : 6 October 2011.  The winner will be announced on 7 October 2011.

ALL THE BEST!

Charismatic Canada - 'Qool' Quebec Part 8

There is really so much to see (and do!) in Quebec, this was one of the most enjoyable stops we did on our road trip around Canada. Continuing from my previous post on 'Qool' Quebec, here are more sights (oh, there's my dessert pics at the end of the post and there's more to come in future post!) around Quebec town - simply too marvelous for words.  Lots of pics but take a look, I'm sure you'll enjoy them as much as my family and I did. When Quebec comes to mind and I start missing it, I just need to look back on the pics and relive the beauty of it.

Happy Friday! The weekend's here again :o) 

K3K Benta Kaya Kopitiam - My Latest Love

Happy Monday! Well, at least try to be :o)...I've been busy and haven't had the chance to blog though I had the intention of putting up a post earlier. Anyway, I want to put up a food post that definitely adds on to my Happy Meter.

I've been going to K3K Benta Kaya Kopitiam of late ... they have been around for awhile but I never got round to it earlier.  It was only when a friend told me that they had some rather special toast with different fillings that I felt the pull.  Anyway, they do have quite a number of unique items on their menu (one that includes a giant curry puff - it's big, it's as wide as the span of two open palms side by side) and of course, there's their kaya too...There will be more pics gathered along the way but for now, meet my latest love...

Topee Red Bean with Condensed Milk

Serious? Condensed milk? Cos I can't seem to find condensed milk in Malaysia, only sweetened creamer available.  Well, I didn't ask but it does have the thick consistency of condensed milk (look at the pic).  I really need to ask to confirm cos I want my condensed milk supply to resume! Where is my condensed milk? Susu pekat manis is gone and I have to resort to asking friends to buy a few cans for me each time they go over to Singapore and I even bought some from Thailand. Cis! Sweetened creamer just won't do! Why? We need the government to bring it back, make it more profitable for the manufacturers to sell it so that production can start again! Do register yourself as a voter (make sure it's in time for the next coming election!) so that you can vote.  Vote for a better Malaysia...and hopefully it would count as a vote for condensed milk too! Hahaha... Okay, now that I've finished ranting about my loss - loss of condensed milk, that is..hehe...let us get back to my original topic!

Where were we??? Oh yes...Topee Red Bean! I have no idea why  it's called Topee except that it's the name of the bread.  Pardon my ignorance...It's more like a pizza dough but with less density.  This Topee Red Bean comes with red bean filling between two slices of topee and then it's slathered with peanut butter and drizzled with condensed milk (the menu reads Topee Red Bean "shower" with Condensed Milk).  I love it! Do tell them to toast the bread longer for extra crisp, it tastes even better! Half set (half circle, divided to two pieces goes for RM3.80, a full set is RM6.80).  K3K Benta Kaya has found a new fan! I need to go back more often to try out the other interesting items on their menu.  Enough with Papparich, MammaPoor, Old Town, New Town, Georgetown, Hometown ...


K3K Benta Kaya Kopitiam
32 Square outlet
Jalan 19/1
46300 Petaling Jaya

Tel : 03-7954 2131


Other outlets' location : Damansara Perdana, Subang Jaya SS15, Kuchai Lama, Klang Carrefour & Bukit Tinggi

"Sometimes it pays to stay in bed on Monday, rather than spending the rest of the week debugging Monday's code"

- Dan Salomon

Nasi Lemak Panas Yati & Suri - The Tale of Two Colours, Selera Jaya 223 Petaling Jaya

From croissants in Quebec, I'm gonna get back to something dear to most Malaysians' hearts, Nasi Lemak!  I've been going to Selera Jaya 223 at Jalan 223, Petaling Jaya for quite awhile whenever I need a Nasi Lemak panas (hot as in temperature hot!) fix and I bring my friends there whenever they are desperately seeking susan Nasi Lemak panas too. I think the place is open 24 hours (stalls open at different hours though).

However, I have to psych myself up before I head over there everytime.  No, not because I want to down 5 packets of nasi lemak (my personal best was a max of 3 packets) but the barrage of "food recommendations" from the vendors/helpers and "advice" on where to seat! They would greet you enthusiastically, giving you names like, "Mee goreng...Nasi Lemak...Roti Canai...Murtabak....Tom Yam...Ayam Goreng...etc etc....  Excuse me, but my name isn't Murtabak, okay? LOL!  They would also call out to you, "Kawan, duduk sini (Friend, sit here)", "Mari duduk sini, ada kipas (Come sit here, there's a fan)", "Duduk sini, semua sedap! (Sit here, all delicious!").  That's because each vendor has a demarcated area where they can serve, so income is dependent on where customers choose to sit.

I normally just make my way straight through, without looking left or right with NO eye contact and just zoom in on my favourite area which is around the middle (it's further away from the crowd in front area which is usually more concentrated.

Nasi Lemak Panas Yati.  Packets of Nasi Lemak panas, wrapped in banana leaves and plain paper are placed before you on a plate and are usually snapped up fast (if not by you, by other patrons around you).  They are never cold but warm and sometimes still hot as it's freshly packed on the spot.  At times, demand exceeds supply and we have to wait for the helpers to pack them.

Nasi Lemak Panas Suri (I wonder if Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes know that somewhere in Malaysia, Suri is also famous for dishing out yummy Nasi Lemak?)

Boulangerie Premiere Moisson, Quebec, Canada

Boulangerie Premiere Moisson (First Harvest Bakery) was our first stop for brunch.  Actually this place is more than a bakery ... well, check out their website (there are French/English versions) and find out more about Premiere Moisson.  For your info, they even have a section on tips and recipes like Maple back bacon sandwich with home made coleslaw, Ratatouille Bites, Lemon Weekend Cake with Raspberry Coulis to name a few...so check out their interesting website with the many interesting sections/tabs.

Food, Flora & Farewell in Cameron Highlands - Farewell Ethan!

At this time of writing, Ethan, my nephew has already embarked on a new chapter in his life.  He has just recently left for Switzerland to further his studies, his first time being away from his family for such a long duration.

Prior to this, the whole family took a mini vacation and stayed in Bukit Ruil, Cameron Highlands.  I still recall that morning before we were about to start our journey, I had several smses and phone calls from friends asking whether I was still going to Cameron as news about the Cameron Highlands landslide that killed 7 people made the headlines.  Bro had called to check with the housekeeper and was informed that the route to Bukit Ruil was not affected and hence we decided to go ahead.

It was a smooth journey and we reached Cameron Highlands in time for tea.  Bro had gotten the housekeeper to prepare most of the meals for us for the duration of our stay there. While food is essential, so was the floral sights in Cameron Highlands.  The weather was really nice and I enjoyed the low temperature more than some of my family members as I was still walking around in t-shirt and shorts while they put on their sweaters and long pants! But it was a little bit of an ordeal sitting down on the toilet seat cover - one always have to psyche themselves up for the "cold" surface :o).  Ethan said that it was a good training ground to prepare him for the cold weather in Switzerland! Haha...(but actually, it's really warm over there right now!).

It was a time of family bonding and also a time of pure rest and relaxation.  We slept, ate, went out, ate, watch TV, ate and slept...that was the routine for each of the day, hahaha...Meal times were great (Chinese meal with dishes, western food - chicken chop & ginger cake with custard lemon sauce!, tea time - sandwiches and even steamboat) and so was hanging out with the family.

Here's some pics and collage from the trip - floral and food! No pics of us relaxing and sleeping, hehehe....