Cleffairy's Blog, page 219

Kitchen Sink

Remember my previous post a couple of months ago where I complained about my kitchen where it was flooded because of the pipe and sink leakage? Well, after countless of complaints, I finally got the landlord's approval to get it fixed and he was considering to change the old rotten copper sink to something better.

I'm no expert in this area, but I'm certainly glad that the landlord finally agree to change the old Copper Sink.

Now, I wonder what sort of Copper Sinks will be in his consideration? Whatever it is, I really do hope that he'll make his decision fast, cuz I'm sick of not being able to use the kitchen comfortably and eating out all the time.

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Roasted Spring Chicken

I had this roasted spring chicken not long ago at my regular food court with my family, and it cost me Rm8.00 for half bird. Quite expensive, in my opinion, considering that you can actually buy 1kg of chicken for Rm8.00.

But then again, this roasted spring chicken taste superb. The spring chicken was well marinated and roasted to perfection (Something I believe I could never accomplish, considering that I'm only good at burning my food. LOL).

The skin was thin and crispy while the meat was succulent. The roasted spring chicken was polished to the bones as soon as it was served.  I can't believe I'm actually saying this,  but it was actually worth the money.

I wonder how many of you would be willing to spend Rm 8.00 for 1/2 of roasted spring chicken… or you'd rather buy 1kg of chicken and cook it yourself?

Cleffairy: Sometimes, we need to give ourself a break. We deserve a little bit of pampering, don't we?

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The Harlot

Title: The Harlot

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: SPICE

Pub Date: 31st May 2011

ISBN: 9780373605569

Author: Saskia Walker

The Harloy by Saskia Walker is a story about a whore. But that does not make this book distasteful. No. It was not distasteful. In fact, it was highly entertaining, intriguing and of course, rather explicit and arousing.

The Harlot brings the readers into a sexy adventure where a world of passion and fantasy awaits. There's story of dark magic vs. white magic, betrayal, revenge, seduction, passion and true love inside this book. I enjoyed this book very much and I have to say that this is one book that's hard to put down, despite the fact that the book is very sexually explicit.

If I were to rate this book. I'd give it4 out of 5 stars. Highly recommended to romance lovers.

This book will be published on 31st may 2011. For more information on this title, please : click here to go to the author's website.

Book description:

It is a dark era, one when a lusty lass will do what she must to survive. Even if it means bartering flesh for a palmful of coins…

Forced to watch her mother burn at the stake, Jessie Taskill knows the danger of the gift she inherited—a powerful magic that must stay hidden. Until one night when she's accused of witchcraft and Jessie finds herself behind prison walls, awaiting certain death with a roguish priest unlike any man of the cloth she has known.

In reality, Gregor Ramsay is as far from holy as the devil himself, but his promise of freedom in return for her services may be her salvation. Locked into a dubious agreement, Jessie resents his plan to have her seduce and ruin his lifelong enemy. But toying with Gregor's own lust for her is enjoyable, and she agrees to be his pawn while secretly intending to use him just as he is using her…

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Wedding of the Century and Other Stories

Title: Wedding of the Century and Other Stories

Publisher: Harlequin

Imprint: HQN Books

Pub Date:31st May 2011

ISBN: 9780373775507

Author: Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James & Charlotte Featherstone

Wedding of the Century and Other Stories is an anthology of stories written by Mary Jo Putney, Kristin James & Charlotte Featherstone. There's 3 stories in this book, and I found all of the stories are irresistably heartwarming.

The first story, The Wedding of The Century by Mary Jo Putney stays true to the Harlequin tradition where sometimes, love comes after marriage. The story theme was based on marriage of convenience. The heroine married her husband because of social expectation of her, and had assumed that her marriage will be quite a bore. Little did she know that what's waiting for her is not boredom, but a marriage full of love and passion. This story follows the real tradition of Harlequin stories, but it was enjoyable nevertheless.

My favourite was the second story, Jesse's Wife by Kristin James. I find it sweet, innocent and endearing, and I would have read it over and over again and would not feel bored about it. I couldn't get enough of it, and truthfully, I thought that the author could have added an epilogue to this story.

The last story in this book was Seduced by Starlight written by Charlotte Featherstone. This story is all about seduction. It is a little bit far-fetch, though, considering the social setting and whatnot. Not quite realistic in my opinion, but the story is enjoyable nevertheless.

I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review, and if I were to rate this book, I'd give it a 3 out of 5 stars.

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Seribu Impian, Trouble, and Pygmalion

I think, by the time I'm writing this, Claire and STP is probably out of voice…you see, I heard they went on a karaoke rampage somewhere in Penang. I wonder if Eugene was there too? Hmm… I don't know. I'm gonna have to wait til they blogged about it. I'm sure they had a lot of fun. I wish I could join them, but then again… I can't make it all the way to Penang.

Anyway… when I see STP and Claire keep posting about going for karaoke sessions in Penang on their Facebook, I was hurled back down the memory lane.

I'm a shy person. I never want to be in the spotlight. Being in the spotlight doesn't agree with me… or rather, I don't quite agree with the glamour and fame and whatnot.

It made me feel uncomfortable and exposed, and I blush easily. It makes me feel vulnerable that people could easily read my emotion through my blushes. I don't like feeling glamour and exposed. I had enough when I was a child and when I was in my teens. While most would say that it's a wonderful experience, but I think I wasn't exactly ready for that, I suppose.

I am camera shy, I tend to avoid going on stage unless I had no choice, but I was not always like that. I had loads of pictures taken when I was a lil girl, and I went on stage for various reasons for more than I care to remember.

I am not sure what actually happened along the way, but as I grew up… I avoided being in the spotlight or perform in public.

I started avoiding to go on stage to perform when I hit 15 years old, but before that… I was a stage monster… and I did not exactly care what people think of my performance. But along the way…I developed certain degree of shyness… and it got worst after I had family of my own. I wonder why…really, I do. Something must have happened along the way to 'scar' me for life…but I cannot exactly remember what it is!

Tsk tsk tsk… I think it must have been the make ups that scarred me for life… I look so different with make ups on…so beautiful…almost divine, but it's not me. I couldn't recognize the person who was staring back at me from the mirror…it's so strange that it scares me.

The last thing I sang in public was 'Seribu Impian' by Casey during my school's 'Hari Anugerah' in 1995.

And the last thing I performed in public was a ridiculous dance to the tune of 'We're In Trouble' by Shampoo. (Well, it could have been 'To Sir With Love' for teacher's day when I was in my form 3, but I chickened out… tsk!)

Oh! Wait a minute…that bloody dance was not exactly the last thing I performed in public. The real last thing that I performed on stage is during my college years. I played Eliza Doolittle- a main character in a play known as Pygmalion written by George Bernard Shaw. In the play, I transformed from the flower girl from the gutter to a charming young lady and I was awarded the best college actress that year. I was that good.

There was also a movie based on this play, known as 'My Fair Lady'. It was quite a popular movie. Audrey Hepburn starred as Eliza Doolittle in 'My Fair Lady'. You can actually watch the whole movie in youtube. It's a classic.

Thinking back… it really made me wonder if I'm indeed wasting my stage talents by choosing to work behind the curtains as a writer instead? I wonder… really I do wonder…what would have I been if I became an actress instead of a writer. Would I be richer? I think most definitely would…but I wouldn't have had the satisfaction and the contentment of having people knowing me through my writing without having to meet me face to face.

Cleffairy: What is my true calling? I love to write…I think writing is my true calling. I can make people angry and even cry with my writing, but sometimes, I can't help but wonder if I can touch people's heart if I chose to be an actress or a performer instead.

ps: HALELUJAH. God, you are so merciful. I thank you millions of times for the lack of youtube, facebook and loads of social networking sites during my growing up time, or my parents would have plastered my performance on the net!!!

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Constant cravings…

Restaurant Yin Her somewhere in Sungai Buloh is one of my favourite hanging out place with my evil sisters. We stuff our face there every now and then. But as of late, everyone is busy… including me, and we did not manage to go there to stuff our face as frequent as before…

As a result, I'm getting a withdrawal symptom, and all I can do is dream of these wonderful dishes…

Up there is the dishes that we had during our last meet up. It was during Chinese New Year season.

Fresh kam heong lala. Very sweet and spicy and goes very well with plain steamed rice.

Crispy pumpkin chicken. This dish needs some improvement, though. When it came to the table, it was already cold and rather hard. Taste- wise, it was okay.

Veggies for the veggy lovers… but personally, I think this dish could use some cooking wine.

My all time favourite kangkung fried generously with belacan sambal and dried shrimps.

Claypot taufu for the young and young at hearts alike.

And last but not least… fried sotong for yours truly.

Food pictures are courtesy of Mamarazzi and her Smallkucing while the food was sponsored by a pretty young lady who naughtily sneaked out to pay the bills while we're eating. TSK TSK TSK. Thank you for the food, gorgeous. And thanks for the uh…mysterious roasted chicken too.

Cleffairy: Food, food, food, glorious food!

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French toasts with minced meat filling

I get bored in the kitchen preparing the same food over and over again every day, so sometimes, I tend to experiment a little bit. I wanted to have some minced meat pie, but since my oven went KABOOM-ed on me, I had no choice but to settle for something simpler, something that I can cook over the stove instead…. like French toast, but with simple minced meat with mushroom as the filling.

Here's how I do it:

For the filling

1/2 can of button mushrooms (or if you have, you can use fresh button mushrooms)- sliced

100 grams of minced meat

Salt and black pepper to taste

To prepare for the filling, all you need to do is sauté the sliced button mushrooms in a frying pan along with minced meat til it's fully cooked. Season with black pepper and salt, and put aside while preparing for the French toasts.

To prepare the French toasts:

Ingredients:

4 slices of stale bread

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 tablespoon of mayonnaise

Butter for frying

Crack the eggs into a bowl and beat them up lightly with 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise. Cut the stale bread and dip them in the eggs mixture. (Note: if you're on a diet or something, use salt and pepper to taste instead of mayonnaise)

Heat up the frying pan and fry the bread til golden brown. Take out, and sandwich the fillings accordingly in between the breads. Drizzle generously with mayonnaise or tomato ketchup and serve while piping hot.

Cleffairy: This is nothing gourmet, but it satisfied my cravings for minced meat pies. Our world would be a happier place to live in if people make do with what they have instead of grumbling about things they cannot fix, no?

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Chicken Chop vs. Nasi Lemak

Which one would you rather have for dinner?

Rm 7.00 crumbs coated black pepper chicken chop served with a side-dish of baked beans in tomato sauce, mashed potatoes with mushroom sauce and french fries….

Or

The Rm4.50 nyonya nasi lemak served with a side-dish of sambal, fried anchovies and peanuts, sliced cucumbers, kangkung belacan, fried egg, fried chicken as well as papadums?

Well… I couldn't decide on what I wanna have; chicken chop or nasi lemak when I went for dinner at my regular lurk not long ago. So I ended up buying both and shared them with my family.

Cleffairy: When in doubt…choose both. LOL!

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Nasi Goreng Belacan/ Belacan Fried Rice

I'm a huge fan of fried rice. They're nice, and convenient to cook. Simple fried rice like the one Mommyling makes can melt my heart anytime. *HINT HINT*

I could still remember my schooling time. My mum would cook the leftover rice from the day before and make fried rice out of them and serve them for breakfast. She'd also pack them up in a tupperware and let my sister and I bring them to school so that we could have them during recess in school. I was a very blessed child. I never actually needed to buy any food from the school canteen cuz my mum would prepare all sort of food for us to bring in our lunchbox and have them during lunch.

Those were the good old days. Fried rice is a dish for the poor and the frugal. But not anymore. I had the 'belacan fried rice' above while I was chilling out in a cafe while waiting for my boy to come back from his class, and it cost me a bloody Rm7.90. (I was very hungry, and that was one of the cheapest dish at the cafe)

I have no complaints whatsoever on the taste. The 'belacan fried rice' actually taste superb, and it was served with a side dish of 'ayam rempah', papaya, mango and pineapple salad as well as cool watermelon slices as dessert, but I have to say… serving it in a bento box is just a little too much. I couldn't really enjoy the food as I found it hard to 'dig' into the bento box.

I wish it was served on a regular plate instead of a bloody bento box. Why can't all these cafe keep things simple? Oh well, perhaps by presenting it nicely and cutely in a bento box, they could charge more. Beats me.

Cleffairy: Life is complicated enough… why can't food be simple?

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The Outlaw Bride

Title: The Outlaw Bride

Publisher: Carina Press

Pub Date: 18th April 2011

ISBN: 9781426891489

Author: Kelly Boyce

I was expecting a Regency romance when I requested this book for review from Netgalley, but I was pleasantly surprised that this is no Regency romance book, but a Western romance book. I enjoyed the plot and the subplot of this book, and while the story starts did not catch my attention in the beginning, I began to grow to like it as I slip the pages.

Not a bad book to read on a lazy Sunday. Highly recommended to those who loves 'incognito', forbidden romance as well as dual identity kind of story.

If I were to rate this book, i'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

Katherine Slade has two goals: to escape her outlaw husband and to find the family of the man who died saving her life. Taking the place of a mail-order bride isn't part of her plan-until she's forced to continue the charade and become Sheriff Connor Langston's housekeeper to stay out of jail. Pretending to be another woman is hard, but Katherine's real challenge is resisting her growing attraction to the handsome lawman…

Falling in love is the last thing Connor needs, even if the rest of Fatal Bluff wants him to. His hands are full with a band of outlaws threatening the safety of his town, and a child to raise. But Kate has a way of getting under his skin and into little Jenny's heart. Soon Connor can't get the fiery beauty out of his head-along with his suspicion that Kate isn't who she claims to be.

When Connor learns the truth about Kate, is there any way for this outlaw bride to become the sheriff's wife?

The publication date for this book is 18th April 2011. For more information on this title, please click here to go to the author's website.

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