For the love of ....Cheesecake

Trawling through the endless recipes for cheesecake, I was intrigued by the 'Famous Junior's Cheesecake' from a cafe in New York. Its heavy duty cheesecake and i won't scare you with the amount of cream cheese in this delectable and (definitely- not crumbly at the poke of a fork!)and creamy cake. Notice the professional photo taken not by me.. thanks to the photographer.. haha..

Mamma Mia!!

I have to say that after watching Mamma Mia.. that the idea of Pierce Brosnan as 007.. completely gone! It was a fun and relaxing movie with plenty of ABBA songs to sing along to. But whenever Pierce Brosnan sang.. we laughed out loud. Its indeed very entertaining. So to relax yourself, go watch Mamma Mia!!

Masakan Brunei

Went to a tutor's place last Sunday for lunch and we had to do potluck and bring dishes from your own country.. ohh ohh.. Didn't know what I can cook haha... so went out to get something to solve my problem. Ready made Rendang sauce and Ayam Masak Merah sauce, they turned out to be quite a hit.. hehe so I was quite happy and also paiseh at the same time.. didn't made it out from scratch..

Froggy Chocolate!

Does anyone remember him? The other green frog, not Kermit the frog but freddo. I saw it at the University refrectory and it seems that LOONG time ago, we used to eat it.. Hehe anyone to confirm?

Physiology Meeting at Cambridge

Went to Cambridge last week for the first time ever to attend a Physiology Meeting. Was excited to see my name on a poster! haha, Cambridge is 'cute' with the building being sorta smaller compared to those in London. There were lots of cyclists around!!

Coffee first timer

Its a stressful week with deadlines and a presentation coming up. I had a couple of hours sleep as I feel nervous about this bloody presentation this thursday. So I feel REALLY sleepy waking up at 4.30 a.m. and coming into the lab before 8. I gave into (yes!, wen) the so-called 'evil' drink-COFFEE. I added hot water into the coffee i bought and just had two sips. My head is already spinning a bit. Oooohh-ohhh.. Now to get back to work.. So this post might be because of a caffeine hangover I am having at this moment (or I am imaginating all this)..

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Thinking about Chocolate Chip Cookies, I was wondering whose recipe to choose from with SOO many different of them online. In the end, I turn to Nigella Lawson (whose video clip can be seen on Youtube). They turned out looking really Huge and nice.

Homemade White Milk Loaf

After the disaster with the brioche that I had to throw away as I didn't knead it properly, I attempted another recipe called the Hokkaido Milky Loaf. This time I knead til my arms 'Bo Lat' already. It turn out not too bad although I have to admit, I need to go to the gym to increase my arm strength! I added raisin into one of the loaf- Raisin bread. Breakfast for the next day!!!

Brioche Baking in the middle of the night

I think I am going over the top with the heat of baking at the moment...Kneaded the dough for brioche yesterday (Sunday) and had to chill the dough overnight. Went to lab the whole day and was thinking that this brioche will probably turn out really bad. Had to wait for two hours for it to rise.. ZZzzzz and baked plus cooling for about one and half hours, Voila!! They look ...rustic.. cause i didn't bother to shape them properly. hehe
Don't know how it will taste like though. Might not be that good as I feel that I didn't knead the dough enough. Will see in the a.m. Need my bed now...Zzzzz

Matcha cookies

After the exams, I have been thinking about baking. During my degree years, I used to do some baking as well. So I went out getting the equipment and baking 'stuff' and decided to make something simple for a start: MATCHA (green tea powder) cookies. It was easy to make (although I didn't had caster sugar and used granulated instead :P). I was literally standing infront of the oven and staring at the cookies as they were baking.. haha.. They turn out nice (to me anyway) and tomorrow will bring over to some 'tasters' or 'guinea pigs' to get some comments.

National Doughnut Day!

Apparently today is the National Doughnut Day, as if we need more excuse to indulge in doughnuts, especially Krispy Kreme. For me, my favourite so far is the Chocolate Cake Glazed. I have heard about the Doughnuts back at home and I have to say I have not tried any of it. So enjoy a doughnut or two today and just try to think that the calories will mysteriously go away cos its 'NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY'.. :P

Ice Bar

Yes, I went to the Absolut Ice Bar in London, although in reality I never knew such bar exist up until my cousin from Singapore came over and told me about it. After a hearty meal (thanks to my cuz for paying :P hehe) at Mandarin Kitchen over at Queensway, we decided to go to the Ice Bar paying GBP 15 each to get in with a complimentary drink, w Absolut Vodka (of course) in an ice glass. Not the best, with the bartender busy slushing drinks into our teeny ice glass shots. The place was cold (duhh) and perhaps I was anticipating something really grand, it was bit smaller than I expected. But then its hard to constantly maintain a place at -5 degrees. The entrance was for 40 mins and in the beginning I was wondering "wa, 15 pounds for 40 minutes only?". But then I think we lasted for about 20 minutes in there even with their coats on as you can see from the picture. Without the hood on, I think we all look like we work in some frozen food product factory. So I left the hood on for pictures..hehe

Cocktail Bun

These few days, my breakfast will be from that Chinese bakery cause we just bought a big box full of buns!! Hehe, this one is cocktail bun and once again, it does not contain any cocktail fruits or whatsoever in it. The filling is like the Buttermilk Bun we get in Brunei.

This bun makes me think of the buttermilk bun at Jingchew, I miss going there for afternoon tea!!!!

Polo Bao

What I eat for breakfast this morning, a hot POLO BAO... it was delicious. I recommend to those coming over to London to visit this small bakery at Chinatown called Golden Gate Bakery. They have the best (well, me and lun think so) buns! Will recommend further their other buns in future post.
Polo bao or pineapple bun in its name is misleading, as they do not contain any pineapple but instead just look like one and thus its name. Polo-yau as normally eaten in HK diner, with a chunk of cold butter wedge in between a hot polo bao...waa..fatty but delicious.. who would resist...
Talking about polo bao reminds me of a cartoon character

McDull 菠蘿油王子.. yup a cute HK pig character with a polo bao on his head.. so cute.hehe

My belated birthday

Finally after exams that I can get to celebrate my belated birthday.. Thanks to Lun who bought me a 'Sap Sam Yiu' Mahjong birthday cake!! SO CUTE!!! It's from our favourite bakery in chinatown.. They make the best buns and we are their regular customers (they recognize us already...hehe). Went to a 4 hour karaoke session.

Re-posted and replaced the 'glowing' cake after editing, courtesy of Gab

Temptation of FREE ice cream

Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I saw the ad on the newspaper a day earlier and can't be happier that they are giving out free cones from 1-5pm on selected outlets all over UK. Of course the nearest one to me is in Leicester Square and although I was supposed to be at home STUDYING. I went out with me housemate and get us a free cone. I got the Cherry Garcia (my Fav) and lun got Chunky Monkey. the queue wasn't that long and it was no time before we got ours. Anyway, free ice cream definitely made my day although it was back to gloomy old UK weather again.

Race for Life

Heylo to anyone who reads my blog. Just a short post that I am running for cancer research UK, Race for Life on the 19th of July. Anyone interested in sponsoring me? Please click on the title to link to my website and sponsor away. Thanks in advance.

Exams soon

Before I probably not post for another couple more weeks, I watched a TV show called 'Pushing Daisies'. Its about this pie-maker called Ned who have the power to bring dead people back to life with a touch but only for a minute. Any longer than that, another person will have to die in their place. With the second touch, Ned 'permanently' killed the person the second time. So the story goes that he saw his long-lost childhood sweetheart(Chuck) who was murdered, lying in a coffin and brought her back to life. As the minute almost come to an end, he realise he couldn't do it. So Chuck is alive but they cannot touch EVER. except through cling film and stuff like that. Anyhoo, I think its quite a quirky show and i recommend to others..

Banyak Makan!!

I am doing VERY well in UK.. haha.. well that was all before now.. The last month before exams....

Snowing in April?!

That's right. I woke up this morning to see snow! I just wore short sleeves the other day cause it was about 17 degrees. What the....

Another new break!

There is another new flavour of Kit Kat, called Kit Kat senses. Tasted it, still love the original one.

Have a break!

Most people would agree with me that the Kit Kat in UK taste much better than what we get back at home i.e. from Malaysia. I knew that they do Chunky Kit Kat and other flavours like Mint, Lime, Dark Chocolate and some others special ones like Bloody Orange for Halloween.

Recently I saw on the shelves (which prob is not so new) but its the first time I saw they do Kit Kat Chunky Peanut. I have not tasted it yet but seems there is an additional layer of peanut butter on top of the wafer.

New Gadget for me!

I got myself a new gadget, its the Fujifilm Pivi MP300 Printer!!! Okay, although it is not state of the art, OMG, new breakthrough one but i like it!! Its so cute cause I always like polaroid pictures. So now I can use my mobile camera or digital camera to take pictures and I can pick the best ones to print. It connects through infrared and also USB port for the digital camera. It takes about 30 secs for me to transfer a pic from my mobile and including printing probably takes around less than 2 mins. The printer is light and slim, so easy to carry around. HAHA, so now u can take a pic, print immediately and write down the all important phone number to the cute girl or guy you have your eye on.
P.S: Anyone else going Japan again, inform me!!

Old Songs

Just Once
James Ingram

I did my best
But I guess my best wasn't good enough
'Cause here we are back where we were before
Seems nothing ever changes
We're back to being strangers
Wondering if we oughta stay
Or head on out the door

Just once can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong
Why we never last for very long
What are we doing wrong
Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
If we could just get to it
I know we could break through it

I gave my all
But I think my all may have been too much
'Cause Lord knows we're not getting anywhere
Seems we're always blowing whatever we got going
And seems at times with all we've got
We haven't got a prayer
Just once can't we figure out what we keep doing wrong
Why the goodtimes never last for very long
Seems we're always blowing
Whatever we got going

Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
If we could just get to it
I know we could break through it

Just once I want to understand
Why it always come back to good-bye
Why can't we get ourselves in hand
And admit to one another
That we're no good with out the other
Take the best and make it better
Find a way to stay together

Just once can't we find a way to finally make it right
Make the magic last for more than just one night
I know we can break through it
If we could just get to it

Just once
If we could get to it

Just Once...

2008 Brunei Night in London

Last Saturday, there was a Brunei Night that we heard from someone. Upon hearing that it was just 8 pounds and that there were promises of NASI LEMAK, we decided to go. It was held at Imperial College and organized by Bruneian Society of IC. It was actually a play and the title as seen from the picture is called "The Curse of the Pulut Panggang!"...

We didn't had dinner and went to the play which got delayed for about an hour. So in the end, our stomach couldn't stand it. We had to leave earlier to have our extremely late dinner, not being able to finish the whole show.

P.S. We didn't won anything for the lucky draw.. :P

Diner

To those who actually watch 'Scrubs', this is one of my favourite "flashbacks" of J.D. because I think the song at the background is super catchy. By the way it is 'Diner' by Martin Sexton. Love the show!

New Blogger

Hello anyone who visit my site, you guys might(or might not) notice that there is a new blogger that I linked at my 'kawan's blogs'. Gabriel started a blog and he is showing his pictures that he has taken so far. So do visit his blog. Thanks.

Early Spring In London

Those who are not around here in this part of the world, its getting warmer and closer to spring early this year. After a wet and cold summer last year, this year winter wasn't that cold as I remember winter to be. Its just early feb and the sun's shining, the flowers are popping out and there are people in their t-shirts already... well some of them.
Look at the sun shining!!! It was such a good weather so we went Haagen Daz icecream and was surprised by the new menu. There was a fondue set!! It was just for fancy. But nevertheless, its chinese new year so we have to enjoy ourselves... haha as if we need excuse to eat somemore... hehe. Forgot to wish people "Happy Chinese New Year!!"

Old Songs

Right Here Waiting For You - Richard Marx

Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I though would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' CrAzY

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me goin' cRaZy

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

Cirque Du Soleil

Went to watch "Varekai" at the Royal Albert Hall on Thursday night. Was my first time inside Royal Albert Hall, was really impressed by the place. Huge... The show was really good..the visual and sound effects made a big difference to the circus acts. The story started when a boy fell down from the sky into the magical world called "Varekai".

Exhausted!

Went to a beginner yoga class tonight from 8 til 9.30. Long time haven't do yoga already so became bit stiff. This is one near our place, bout 3 mins walk. Its called The Iyengar Yoga Studio.
It was alright but then maybe the instructor back in Brunei (the place where i went with my brother)was more helpful to the beginners. But at least this one is a workout for us during the winter months. Stress from study..so go relax.. haha Feel really sleepy now, so hopefully will have a good night sleep. Oh ya, we did the shoulder stand...

Great Voice

This is a great cover by Jam.. that is his English name but i think call him by his chinese name is better..

Japanese Curry

Had Japanese curry for dinner tonight..and with addition to to normal potatoes and carrots, we added butternutsquash and sweet potatoes. I love curries..my mom's curry is one of the best!! Japanese curry is easy to cook as being away from home, we won't have time to blend the chillies just like mom does at home. Other than that, one of the best curry chicken rice I had will be the St Georges' canteen one....man..most St George-ians would know!!!! And I knew that Bidarlah n his gang just had some last year..Jealous ku..hehe

Low Calories! Low Fat! No Sugar!

I am getting sick of all that signs popping out in almost all the food labels..ALAMAK.. cannot just eat something without thinking.. Ohh Ohhh Too much calories.. plus minus today what I eat and what I am allow to eat...Makan Angin, can la.. Hmm.. But now I am missing Jing Chew's Roti Kuning Kahwin and also Zhi Ma Kuey Teow....Thien Thien's Chicken Rice. DHL here, someone? :P And also how to forget Lee Loi Fatt's ABC!!

Wasted For the Year 2008!

Everytime that I got a hangover from drinking too much, I told myself never to do it anymore. Cause it is just too much for my stomach to handle and i feel dizzy for the whole day. BUT.. for new year's eve, we went clubbing and I was so wasted... I think I drank too much tequila... yup.. i blame the tequila!!! And I actually puked on the streets of London...
So for everyone else who were sober while celebrating the new year!! GOOD FOR YOU!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU!