Hello Old Friend.

It's been ages.

2008 has been eventful. A year of emotional highs and lows, fear, happiness, sadness, joy, and awesomeness.

A year of many endings; the end of university life, the end of a relationship, the end of life overseas.

But it was also a year of many new beginnings, beginnings which will lead me into 2009; a new passion, a new career, a new love, a new direction in life. I'm excited, terrified, extremely happy and looking forward to the challenges ahead.

My life is full of chocolate chip cookies right now.

I'll leave you to figure out that metaphor but chocolate chip cookies are usually a good thing =)


Happy 2009 everyone!

MIFC 2008

Ayam Bek!

[ai] [em] [bek]

I am back.

I'm back!

Okay pretty lame punning. But I'm home safely in my beloved Malaysia and have my wireless internet all set up so I'm ready to go =D

Updates soon, promise! Don't give up on me yet!

Thank You...

for all the sweet comments and good luck wishes folks! So sorry I can't reply everyone individually. But thank you =)

Don't worry I'm still around and will be back blogging soon.

One more week!

Kisses.

I Must Be Getting Stressed.

Finals in less than two weeks. *SIGHS*

I'm quite sure I've mentioned this before, but stress gives me an irresistable urge to bake. Well pretty much any surge of emotion; excessive boredom, extreme anger or hyperness or happiness drives me to baking too. Any excuse to bake really. But right now I'm very very sure it's stress. Heh.

This was my Friday evening:
I suddenly felt a need for a chocolate fix and thus,

Dark Chocolate Brownies.

After that was done and cooling, my baking itch wasn't satisfied. And so I went on to make

Apple Crumb Cake (recipe here)

Sheesh. At least when I channel my stress other people get food.

Arrghhhhhhh!!!!!!

Basic Vanilla Cupcakes

Ok, so I've once again been neglecting my poor blog. Assignment and exam season is upon me.

This recipe for cupcakes can’t get any easier. Feel free to play around with the flavours, substitute the vanilla pod and vanilla extract with coffee, chocolate, chocolate chunks, orange and lemon zest, different toppings, the list is endless! I know I’ve come up with some gems through throwing in different things.

Ingredients:
125g butter, softened
100g caster sugar
2 eggs
Seeds from 1 vanilla pod
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
125g self-raising flour

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 180C/160C fan-forced. Line cupcake tray with cupcake papers.
2. Beat butter, sugar, vanilla and vanilla extract till light and fluffy.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients, mix till smooth and creamy.
4. Fill cupcake papers till two-thirds full. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or till tops of cupcakes spring back when lightly touched.

Decorate cupcakes however you like they pretty much go with anything, though they’re also really delicious on their own.

Btw, I really like my pink cupcake papers.
So bright and cheerful =D

When I'm not baking.

We all need some random in our lives.

Like photo-taking at 1 in the morning in pjs.

Empty laundry room.

I spy...

A really big empty steel drum.

(or whatever the insides of washing machines are made of)

Practising the art of escapism.

On random photo shoots,

always bring along an equally insane partner-in-crime.

Someone has to take the photos =P

Emo moments.




Blurry.






Savouring my moment in the spotlight.



That's all folks.







Well maybe just one more.
The crazy woman trapped in a box photo.


And now I'm done making a fool of myself.

To my dear Papa.

Happy Birthday!

You're now half a century old.

(But still young at heart)

A big celebration requires a big celebatory cake.

And even though I can't spend your birthday with you,

the housemates and I had cake to mark the occasion.

(They wish you happy birthday btw.)

It was a very tasty cheesecake.

Missing you lots, but I'll be home soon.

Happy 50th Birthday!!!

With love,
Your Daughter