The baking journey continues...

Yup! It's been almost 10 months since my last baking activity. When I first moved into my new place and got this ultra-savvy convection microwave oven, I was super excited and baked a few cookies back in Dec 2009 and Jan 2010. After that, I got busy with wedding preparation and my life... and also gotten lazy to bake.

I told myself I'll be back to this hobby of mine after the wedding, and here I am, after my honeymoon and settling all the outstanding stuff from my wedding, I am back to baking. No more procrastinating cos it shouldn't be like this. The reason of buying this oven is to bake and cook.

So here I am - Done with my baking job. The campaign this time is the Marble Butter Cake.

Marble Butter Cake

I baked this just last Friday. I could have gone for dinner and drinks as every Friday, but this time, I chose to come back home right after work to bake. Hubby had to go for his team dinner, which gives me the space and time to have the house alone to myself.

The trick to baking this is the swirling of the choc part (for me, at least). The Marble Cake has to have the design. I've already had a game plan on how to make the cake look like one, and so I did it. I'm not very satisfied with the top part of the cake though, but once I cut it and saw inside, I was happy!! It looked like Marble Cake, and even my colleagues all say so LOL!

Marble Butter Cake - The inner part design

Initially I thought I will have to bring it to office since hubby is no fan of sweet stuff, but who would have thought just one weekend, he finished more than 50% of the cake! He made Milo for himself every night and have that as his supper. I'm just glad that whatever I baked is being appreciated LOL!

I have a few more recipes up my sleeves that I'm just dying to try but hubby doesn't allow me to bake in the house if he is around. He complains that the house gets too warm and he doesn't like it. Sigh... see how I've been meaning to get myself a wet kitchen so I an just spend my time there cooking and baking while he gets to watch his TV? Both of us will get to enjoy ourselves with our own interest.

Now, I need to brush up my skills for Xmas and Chinese New Year. I wanna bake cupcakes for Xmas and more variance of cookies for CNY. Then, I will be able to give this to my friends and families for CNY!

Penang 2010 - Day 3

The 3rd day in Penang was our last day. After a quick brunch at McD, we headed home to KL. We left early because we need to avoid the jam. Luckily, traffic was smooth and a-okay!

We decided to stop by Bidor for lunch. As usual, the shop there is super crowded.

Even before our table is ready, Xian Bin already went to order this Fried Yam Dumpling and claimed it's just fantastic! And fantastic it was! I've never tasted anything as delicious as this! Of course, one plate was not enough, and the rest ordered a few more and finished it.

Fried Yam Dumpling

Then, Liang Chuan kept saying that this Salt Baked Chicken is really delicious as well. So hubby told him to get 2 of it. And I have to say, it is absolutely to-die-for! The chicken was so tender and the taste was just divine! Some of the gang even ta pau-ed this back to KL.

Salt Baked Chicken

Of course, when you are in Bidor, how can you not order the Duck Noodle? Both hubby and I ordered this, but before our orders were served, the gang got into a fight with the auntie there. She was this grouchy woman and was so annoyed with her miserable life that she has to let it out on everyone, including hubby! Hubby was the poor victim. She complained that he was blocking the way in the shop when he was just seating at where they themselves placed the stools.

First time she yelled, we let it go.

Second time she complained, yeah we let it slide.

Third time was not so lucky. His friends couldn't stand it anymore and yelled back at her. She just kept quiet and walked away.

Duck Noodle...

... With the Duck

Xian Bin ordered Curry Noodle.

Curry Noodle

My opinion - the Duck Noodle is not that great that we have to endured all the crap from them.

It was definitely a great trip. I could still remember how hubby and I rushed back from our honeymoon and still recovering from jet lag but still made our way to join this trip. We even drove there ourselves. Poor ol' hubby.

But he said, anything is worth it for his friends. Huh! Typical! LOL!

Penang 2010 - Day 2

On Day 2 in Penang...

We started the day with a really heavy lunch nearby our place. It is always crowded whenever we drive passed the place, so we thought we could give it a shot. Look at the dishes we ordered! So many and spoil for choices!

I can't remember the exact names of this dishes, so here they are - For viewing pleasure!








After a scrumptious lunch, it is time for some exercise. We decided to do the tourist activity and went to the local temples for some sight seeing. CN was the trip manager... I guess he pretty much knows his way around since he comes to Penang rather often!

First stop - The Sleeping Buddha Temple



The highlight at this temple has gotta be the coconut ice cream! This ice cream cone costs only RM1 and all of went crazy over this.

Coconut ice cream

Right opposite this temple is yet another temple. This is the Burmese Buddhist Temple


After all the visiting, you can't expect the gang to stay full from lunch LOL! It's time fore tea break and Tour Manager suggested we all go for this famous cendol.

Look at the queue - It is famous alright! It's in the back alley but it was so crowded.

Queue for cendol

This is what everyone is after - The cendol. My opinion?! Hmm it's not THAT fantastic... But since everyone is going for it, I guess it's worth a try. You know what they say - the more people fight over it, the better it is! Typical kiasu lar!

Cendol

After the cendol treat, we went back to our apartment and rested well. Hubby and I went to Gurney Plaza and walked around till it was dinner time.

Initial plan was to drive to Ferringi for their pasar malam and some shopping but it was drizzling, so we cancelled that and had dinner at Gurney Drive again. Since I didn't get the to take any pictures the night before, I managed to take some pictures this time.

Chee Cheong Fun

Fried Chicken Skin

Grilled Chicken Wing

Lo Mai Chi

Kebab

Fried Kuay Teow with duck egg

After dinner, the gang wanna find a place to chill cos Mu will be playing that night. We found this bar which has a huge screen but not overly crowded... which is just perfect for all of us and Torres.

@ Kava Dee

Huge projector screen for hubby to watch his match

Dart board

1st and 2nd place dart players

Day 2 was all for food and fun! Day 3 coming up!

Penang 2010 - Day 1

Right after our honeymoon trip in October 2010, the following weekend itself, hubby and I went to Penang with 15 of his friends. Here's sharing the pictures.

We started the trip at 11pm, mamak stall in KL. After supper for about 2 hours, we started our journey to Penang at about 1am and drove slowly to Penang.

Their favourite past time - Tok kok ("chui sui")

We arrived in Penang at about 6am and went for dim sum. The initial place we wanted to go was not open yet, so we search for alternative, and found one. All were so hungry and dug in the food, so no pictures LOL!

View of ocean from Gurney Drive

We were kinda "stranded" at Gurney Drive cos it was only 8am and we couldn't check in. We were just lepak-ing around waiting for time to pass. Thus, we busied ourselves with picture taking.

Hubby + I

Alex + Phoebe

Torres + Xian Bin

Even after massive talk kok, we still can't check in, so the drivers decided to take a short nap in the car. After about half an hour, we went into G Hotel to borrow their washroom. Well, we should have done that sooner since it was an excellent place to hang out instead of hiding in our car. I can tell you though, the wait was miserable!

G Hotel

After enough rest, we went to Kek Lok Si Temple. A must-do whenever we go to Penang.

Kek Lok Si Temple

The last time we went there, the Kuan Yin Statue was still in renovation stage. This time, it is ready and we have to take the inclined lift to make ourselves up.

Inclined lift to Kuan Yin Statue

The place above is not as huge as Kek Lok Si Temple, but interesting enough. There were 2 lines of the 12 animals in the Lunar calendar carved stone.

Mine! The boar.

Hubby's - The Rooster

The Kuan Yin Statue is H-U-G-E! I'm fascinated!

Kuan Yin Statue

Pui Kuan, Michelle, Shu Hua

All energy used up after the walking in the temple, we went down to the foot of the hill and had our lunch there.

Fruit dessert - Just average

Cendol - Average

This is totally recommended! I love it! The serving of sardine was generous, and you can actually taste the authenticity of this dish.

Asam Laksa - AMAZING!

Another mouth-watering dish - the Fried Kuay Teow! Hubby went and ordered this as extra and he saw the queue, which he joined in. Now I know why the queue!

Delicious Fried Kuay Teow

This is the uncle stall where hubby bought the Fried Kuay Teow from. If you do go to Penang, look for him LOL!

Fried Kuay Teow stall

After our heavy lunch, we finally got to check in to our apartment. The apartment is just a stone throw away from the Gurney Plaza... It's super convenient!

The gang took this opportunity to relax and recharge. Of course, dinner was at Gurney Drive as we don't even have to drive out to the place. As usual, everyone is always hungry and dove right into their food, thus I don't even have the chance to take any picture at all. But I can tell you though, the amount we ate was ridiculous LOL! I've never seen us eat so much before!

After dinner, of course, gambling and chatting session.

Hubby & Torres

Good night. Day 2 to continue...