DSA 2010 (Part 1) - brief diary...

Saturday (17 Apr)

14:30 hrs - Have to 'ponteng' my music class

15:00 hrs - To PWTC for meetings with MinDef Military Advisers & PAs

17:00 hrs - Excused myself from meetings (break kejap)... rushed to fetch my girl from tuition centre @ Tmn Sri Gombak

17:45 hrs - back to PWTC (with my daughter, no choice, she has to tag along..) ... update from MAs & PAs

20:30 hrs - Head home to Shah Alam (ta-pau je Dinner - no time to prepare ...!)

Sunday (18 Apr)

07:30 hrs- sent daughter to tuition class (Tonnes of Thank-Us to my baby brother www.eqbalzack.blogspot.com who 'signed a contract' to pick-her up after tuition every Sundays)

08:30 hrs- To Gombak - checked on my parents - my weekly routine

09:45 hrs - Drove straight home to Shah Alam

11:30 hrs - Prepared quick & simple lunch for the 'man-of-house'

13:30 hrs - Drove to Mandarin Hotel - check-in

14:00 hrs - Unpacked suits-send for pressing. No time to change or shower... straight to PWTC for meetings

19:00 hrs - Back to hotel - do the unpacking of baju and files etc...

20:00 hrs - Check e-mails 'coz I know Monday got no time - first day of exhibition is alway a 'crazy day'..!

22:00 hrs - Bed time - need to feel fresh tomorrow morning..

The Lift Lobby..... '29th Floor.....Ting'...

Ok...now turn right ...

... the hallway....lets see... to the right.... 2907, 2908, 2909...

Ok.. there it is ... 2910My room...for the week...

Nice.... The day I checked-in...

The view outside my room... what's the name of that Condo with private pool on every unit..?

The view below... from my room (29th floor) ... constructions everywhere...

The day I checked out..! Aahh.. nevermind...

Checked out on Friday @ 08:00 hrs ... straight to work..!

Sugar Cookies for Mother's Day..

Phew....What a relief... Defence Exhibition is over.!

(will download photos soon..)

Now...back to work.... and baking...

Over the weekend, I did some experimenting decorating sugar cookies with royal icing. They were baked on Saturday, iced the next day.

I think Mom will like this, don't you?

All that aside, its more the concept of the cookie that I'm after in this post - not the shape. Sugar cookies are actually a fantastic way to get the whole family involved in baking (maybe not your husband - mine iced one, then went back to his drawings in the house....somewhere... so I guess it kind counts as decorating...his way..!)

But if you have kids, they will get a kick out of getting creative with the icing.

My daughter, hmm...she didn't really help either, but she was a very important part of my kitchen test.... several cookies had to be consumed (both with and without icing for comparison purposes) in order to get the official thumbs up..!

The great part about sugar cookies is that the ingredients are most likely already in your house. I don't consider myself a real baker (doing this just for 'suka-suka' only...:D). I also like that the cookies can be cut into whatever shapes suits the occasion - or your mood really. Go ahead and get creative. If you can't find cookie cutters, you can always pring a shape onto paper, cut it out, then use it on the dough and trace the shape out with a knife... (requires a tad more patience then I have, but certainly do-able..).

As far as icing goes, this is a variation of clasic royal icing. By reducing the amount of icing sugar, the icing becomes thinner and more asily spreadable. Also, if the cookies are iced with two colours at the same time (rather than waiting for one colour to dry), the new colour will sort of seep into the base colour giving the cookie a smooth finish. The icing will still dry to a hard finish, but it wont be the consistency of cement, and it will make your cookies look quite elegant.

Don't forget to get creative!

Its a fun way to celebrate everyday accomplishments....slip a heart cookie into your kids lunch box..! Not to mention there is something to be said for easy, inexpensive ways to get your kids into the kitchen and interested in cooking and they'll be so proud of their efforts....

I urge you to hide a few right away so you can indulge with an afternoon tea..!

Happy Sweet 17 Adila..

HAPPY... BIRTHDAY... KAKAK...

Sorry, Mak Lang very-very busy this week...preparing for the Exhibition..

Will try to drop-by this week-end and give you a BIG CUDDLY HUG ..

Mmmmmuuaaah... Love You...

In Honours of Ibu's Birthday...

Someone... to be exact...my eldest niece, Nurul Syafinaz @ Kakak ordered cuppies for her beloved Ibu's birthday. Its a surprise for Ibu, she said.

For the first batch, she picked blue & white theme buttercream cuppies....

For the second box, she requested for a all sugar paste cuppies with some floral designs. I choose hue of pastle colours..

I know her mother is a very pragmatic woman and loves her children deeply. Thank you Syafinaz for the order. A nice way to make your Ibu feels precious...

P/s: Happy Birthday Kak Syidah...

I was itching to text you yesterday and in order not to spoil the surprise planned by your children... I have to refrain myself from doing so.

My daughter, also would like to wish her Aunty @ Mak Long @ Ibu, a very Happy Birthday.

She is not able to be present for the 'makan-makan', so she made this 'special cupcake' for her.

Make a joyful noise cupcakes..

My niece, Nur 'Adilla will be turning 17 this Friday..... aaah...the Piano Prodigy..!

She was very clear that she didn't want anything too girly and definitely no pink!

When her mom (my sister), gave me free range to come up with something on my own, the first thing I thought of was 'PIANO'..!

The pianos, were made out from fondant icing that I dried out completely, overnight.

It was kismet!

Happy 'advanced' Birthday Adilla....

... and good luck with your Public Speaking test...

... such an adorable girl she is..

Hope that tiny-winny-pinky flowers are acceptable .....:P

Thanks Mama for the order.

Choco-Addict Household of Mine...!

It has been a very crazy week!

Office work & exhibiton just round the corner, orders to fulfill, clothes to iron, meals to be prepared, house to clean, pets to be taken care off, etc....

On top of that.... I have been a very sick 'puppy' for the last couple of days.

So between getting up @ 6:00am and not getting much sleep at night, I just have'nt had much prep time for my cupcakes.

Then, there was the stress from this 'Choco-Addict' household of mine that have been harping for a week for me to bake them Chocolate Moist Cake ..!

..baked this last night...

..hope this will keep them busy and quiet for a week...!
....aahhh PEACE at last..!