Weekend Brekkie - Biscuits on a Sunday Morning

Nothing like something fresh out of the oven on a weekend morning. And so quick and easy it is to make too. So quick and easy in fact that I pulled out my cookie cutter and cut out star shapes, just for the fun of it.

I used Dorie Greenspan's basic biscuit recipe, which was super easy and I had everything in my fridge/pantry - fine flour, butter, full milk, baking powder and sugar. Hot, buttery, flaky, we ate these topped with a dark spiced syrup - with cups of freshly brewed South Indian coffee - weekend perfection.

Shortbread & Peanut Butter Crust Lime Tarts

Someone gave us a box of handmade, all-butter Scottish shortbread which unfortunately has gone uneaten. AK and I are not really fans of shortbread, which we find rather bland and slightly too rich for our humbles palates. I also happened to have a pack of roasted peanuts. So I decided to try something out. I whizzed the shortbread and shelled nuts in the processor, added a bit of melted butter and pressed it into tart cases. I baked the cases in the oven at 160 deg C for 15 minutes, and voila, peanut-buttery tart casings.

For the filling, I knew I wanted to make a tart, creamy lime version ala key lime pie. I pored through Dorie Greenspan's Baking: My Home to Yours and Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook, both of which called for condensed milk in their pie filling recipes. I have made desserts with condensed milk before, and really dislike the sickly-sweet, sticky aftertaste, which I find overwhelming. So instead I reduced a cup of milk and a couple of tablespoons of sugar and added this to some beaten egg yolks. I reduced the custard to a thick consistency, and then stirred in the lime juice. I then reduced that further to a thick, spatula-coating mixture before straining the mixture into the tart cases and then baking the whole lot again at a very low heat.

The result? Exactly as I wanted - creamy, tart lime filling juxtaposed against a rich, crunchy peanut-flecked, peanutty crust.

For the crust:

1 1/2 cups shortbread cookies
1/2 cup roasted peanuts
3 tbsps melted butter, cooled

For the filling:

1 cup whole milk
5 tbsps granulated sugar
1/2 cup lime juice
3 large egg yolks

To make the crust, whiz the cookies and peanuts in the food processor. I found that the peanuts started forming peanut butter very fast (another experiment for another time), so pause and stir in between whizzes. Add the melted butter, whiz to mix then press the mixture into 6 tart casings. Bake at 160 deg C for 15 minutes. Cool slightly then pop them in the fridge while you get started on the filling.

For the filling, place the milk in a thick-bottomed saucepan with the sugar and reduce over a low heat until the mixture is about half its volume. Whisk the egg yolks then slowly add the hot milk mixture, whisking all the time. Return the mixture to the pan and add the lime juice, stirring all the time. Reduce the mixture until it thickly coats the back of spoon. Strain the mixture into the tart casings. Bake at 150 deg C for half an hour, or until the custard mixture is firm.

Memento

New look for our living room wall.

Lives of Rajput warriors depicted on this hand-printed piece from Jaipur.

Hand-blown sea-green glass lotus-shaped dish and a solid glass soapdish from Bali (love love love). The soapdish reminds me of a block of ice. White fibreglass vase AK got me from Taiwan that we now use to hold a fat orange-scented candle. Background: carved wooden elephant, also from India. Tower of London collage made of old clock parts, that AK got from, well, London.

One of my favourite pieces (actually,I love them all :)) - this Taj Mahal inspired marble piece inlayed with enamel (I think). While the Taj walls are decorated in vivid garnets, topazes and lapis lazulis, this piece is inlayed with softest pinks and blues.

Dash of colour

I love cushion covers! Turquoise embroidered one from British India - one of my favourite patterns ever. I almost shelled out 500 bucks for the same pattern on a pouf at BI, but was halted by the challenge of having to lug it on a plane.

Hot pink beaded silk cover from the City Palace Atelier in Jaipur (I love saying that - Palace Atelier - makes me feel all haute and rich) - the most money I have spent on a piece of cloth, barring my clothes. The fabric is luxuriously smooth and the sumptuous embroidery - it was some superb craftsmanship that went into its pattern with all its gold, silver thread and glass beads. A piece of old Indian royalty in my home :)

In the back, another piece from India, the Jaipur crafts center also at the City Palace. This one is rustic and country-like - handpainted on natural organic cotton. The comfiest one naturally - we take naps on the sofa with this one.

Weekend Brekkie - The Fry-up

A healthier, home made breakfast fry-up.

Pork "sausage" patties, inspired by Gwyneth Paltrow's homemade turkey sausage patties in her book. Ground pork (I used about 200 grammes of loin with a little bit of fat thrown in), coriander seeds, fennel seeds (half a teaspoon each of seeds, ground with a pestle and mortar), sea salt, black pepper, cayenne. Added a tablespoon of egg white, instant oats for binding. Pan-fry.

Served with a fried egg, yolk still runny for AK and solid, overcooked for me :), roasted oyster mushrooms (olive oil, sea salt, Maggie seasoning). Sprinkle with chopped green tops of spring onions.

In anticipation of travel

Things I am looking forward to:

1) Shopping + eating + spa-ing - girlie vacay in BKK

2) Shopping + eating + sightings + socializing (civilisation here I come!!!!!!!!!!!!) in KL

- How deprived are we???

3) Ultimate holiday this year - haven't even left yet and I'm already sweating bullets over the money we shelled out for our stays in Seville and Venice - October. I have been dreaming of this since...I dont know when. Feverishly frequenting TripAdvisor (lifesaver btw when it comes to planning vacations - don't know what I'd do without it) Reading Venezia, this blog, and Andalusia: Art and Architechture - all books that I already have anyway. Like I said - I have been dreaming of going since a looooong time.

Sun, Sand and Work

Shots of Nexus Karambunai, a massive "integrated" resort in Kota Kinabalu.

Truth be told, I didn't really enjoy the trip (I was there for work, meeting with other O & G company reps) and was longing to come back home. The food was mediocre, the place was too far away from basic amenities and shuttle services cost a bomb, the service was insipid and my room, other than being musty-smelling and in need of a stained-carpet changeout, had its electricity got cut off a couple of times at night.

I could not, however, fault its flawless stretch of white-sanded beach, or its spectacular sunsets.

Weekend Brekkie

Home made French Toast (recipe from Molly Wizenberg's A Homemade Life) spread lavishly with kaya for an extra dose of morning sweetness.

REAL Coconut Ice Cream

Ice-cream custard made with coconut cream instead of cream, egg yolks, caster sugar and a more than a generous dash of homemade vanilla extract (rum infused with vanilla beans).

I think, for a coconut ice cream, it's just silly to use cream and infuse it with coconut extract. Just use the real thing. This tastes like velvet in the mouth and is perfect for the lactose intolerant (or folks like me who cannot bear to shell out so much money for real cream in this part of the world). I used cream of coconut, and not coconut milk which would have been a bit too runny, for this one, and am now dreaming of infusing the cream with lemongrass or maybe palm sugar in my next batch.

Everyday Essentials and More

Just some stuff I use every day:

1) Aquamoist whitening cream. I'm a huge believer in NOT spending an arm and a leg on beauty products, and am not the kind of girl that fusses about with creams and masks and such. I do the basic essentials - cleanse (Cetaphil), moisturise, protect (see below). No toner, no masks, no serums. This cool hyarulonic acid-based gel fits nicely into this routine. I really love this product to bits - goes on like a dream, locks in the moisture, and the price - what's not to like? I've become really kiasu with this - since I have yet to find it in Miri, I lugged back three jars of this back from KL last month. And since it's considerably cheaper, I sometimes use it on my arms, elbows, legs - whenever I feel a bit dry. I have, much to the delight of my wallet and my skin, given up on my Origins night cream (messed up my skin, I ended up using it as a body cream - the day one is fine though) and L'occitane shea butter. Nothing wrong with the L'occitane product really - it was a lifesaver during those European vacations and really is so good for travel - i.e. dry cabin air, hotel airconditioning). But since I cut back on the travel, it was getting too rich for normal everyday use in this tropical clime.

2) Lancome mascara - my cousin gifted me a tube for Christmas in 2008, and I've been buying my own ever since. I use it to darken my brows as well since I can't master the art of using an eyebrow pencil - this just thickens and darkens my brows. Along with foundation from The Body Shop and a super eyeliner from Estee Lauder that my parents gifted me for Christmas (yes my family is obviously trying to hint at something), it has become a part of my daily routine.

3) SunPlay SPF47 "Powdery White" sunblock. I'm a total Japanese cosmetic convert. They are cheaper and suit me much better than the Origins and Neutrogenas. Case in point - Sunplay sunblock which have accompanied me from my offshore days (SPF 130 - beat that!) and all my travels. For the face, this slim tube goes on like a dream and mattifies my skin in one go - all for less than 50 bucks a pop.

4) Assortment of earrings from my travels that I love and try to wear as often as I can - silver "feather" ones from Bali, black drop earrings enamelled in green and gold.

5) Gifted Estee Lauder eyeliner - from my parents, to encourage me to wear more face gunk. I put this one on days when I have had a real good night's rest (cos that means I won't be rubbing my eyes much, or when I feel like

6) Compact powder from the Body Shop.

7) One of the prettiest things I own and actually use - gold lace-like headband from Diva Australia.

Reading:

1) The Success Principles by Jack Canfield, author . My daily bedtime read since this weekend past. Call me guillibe, but Mr. Canfield's simple words have already helped a little in lifting me out of the funk I felt I was in. I now feel more in charge of my own fate, more positive mentally, after just a couple hours' worth of reading

2) EndGame - The End of the Debt Supercycle and How It Changes Everything by John Mauldin. Am currently on a diet of books on economics and finance – for one, because I feel like I missed this element of investing in the last 2-3 years, of having a macro view on things, our world is so interconnected, bla bla bla. The other reason is, well, I kind love the subject. I’ve already finished How an Economy Grows and Why It Crashes by the Schiff brothers (a nice, cutely illustrated introduction to the subject - they managed to mix in some pretty nice jabs at Ben Bernanke and the US administration too), The Ultimate Money Guide for Bubbles, Busts, Recession and Depression by Martin D. Weiss (on hyper-inflation, the inefficiencies of the current government in tackling them and best of all, how to safeguard oneself) and Game Over - How You Can Prosper in A Shattered Economy by Stephen Leeb. So far I like Leeb's book the best - it was published well over two years ago in 2009 and his prediction, on gold especially, has been spot on. Wish I had read it earlier.

3) My Father's Daughter , Gwyneth Paltrow's cookbook debut – well technically I haven’t started on this yet. The truth is, I want to hate her – she’s everything I want to be and does everything I want to do – except the actress part, although who hasn’t dreamt of singing at the Grammy’s eh? – according to her supercool blog This is GOOP (love the title), she cooks with her kids, she bakes pizza in her own wood-fired oven, explores hidden nooks and crannies in familiar and new cities, AND damnit, I really do love her personal style. Yes, when I grow up I want to be Gwyneth Paltrow.

Note: Yes it's confirmed - I do love it! Love the rustic but elegant table settings. the photos of her and her parents, her and her kids, the clothes she has on, the wonderful looking produce. And the fact that breakfast is a whole chapter!

Blogs I am currently frequenting:

1) littlepaperplanes, a travel+lifestyle+personal blog. Oh to throw such extravagant parties! The fantastical table settings! The house that looks like a page off Vogue Home or Elle Decoration! The garden surrounded by the house(and no I did not get the order wrong)! Maldives, Goa, Napa, New York via The Escapist! I live vicariously through this one. Oh, and I think I'm slowly heading towards being a pack rat too, albeit one with less expensive taste.

2) Cupcakes and Cashmere – love the way Emily mixes and match Zara with higher-end stuff, re-styles vintage/flea market furnishings - especially love how she spray-painted her flea-market find candlesticks black here (so chic), and all that cooking!

Listening to:
1) The Band Perry's If I Die Young, over and over again. The lyrics are happy and haunting at the same time
2) The Cary Brothers' Belong. Gray's Anatomy has the BEST music, and what often happens is I find myself scrambling for a pen and my little notebook to copy down the lyrics of the mysterious songs and Googling the song later. So many of great finds – the Avett Brothers, the Carey Brothers, I have GA to thank for that
3) Mumford and Sons – love their folksy music. The Cave, especially performed live at tge Grammys, absolutely rocks.

Ubud Streets and Scenes

Artisans at work or artisans' works, smiling, hardworking people, and lushness everywhere.

More Bali - Our Ubud Digs

Shots of our very reasonably priced hotel, the Cendana Resort and Spa in Ubud.

Lovely Balinese architechture, a sexy bamboo canopy bed (with a red bedspread to boot), views of the rice fields, going to sleep to the sounds of crickets, frogs and what-nots, and waking up to ducks making a din in the morning. Once we were on the grounds of the Cendana it felt like we were in a little village. But the fact was (and I made sure first before I booked it) - it was smack on Monkey Forest Road and a short walk to the main road of Ubud - just a short walk to Ubud's art galleries, boutiques, and the market itself.

Breakfast at the cafe overlooking the saltwater pool, overlooking the rice fields.

The Lengs

Missin' em pretty bad.

Lovin'

Well, times seem just a liiiiiiiitle bit rough right now. We're not starving, we still have our jobs, and our families are as hale and hearty as ever. How do I put this in words? (and I know it does sound ungrateful) - the thing is, we aren't moving. Not progressing. We expected a bit more happenning in our lives right now. But somehow they have yet to pan out.

So here are a few things I am looking at, to remind myself that there is still plenty to laugh about, to hope and indeed, live for.

1) Antique (or at least, antique-looking) Chinese furniture

I've always had a thing for Chinese-inspired furniture, and seeing this post in this always awe-inspiring blog just did it for me. While I do lean towards the modern tropical theme in my future house, I see no reason why something like this can't blend into the theme. The piece above is from (where else) chinese-antiquefurniture.com.

2) Ch'ng Kiah Kiean's artwork

It's no secret that I love the little island where I was born, and would like to surround myself with beautiful things that remind me of it. I have some cheap, but beautiful watercolour art of old shophouses and the Khoo Kongsi, and I have fallen in love with these gorgeous sketches of Penang by this architecht-turned-artist. Some are actually watercolours, most are Chinese ink on paper. I hope to be a proud owner of one his pieces someday (soon). Turns out his office (or gallery?) is near my parents' place. Why did I not know this before? I already own a copy of his book, Sketches of Pulo Pinang, and will be placing orders for his Streets of Georgetown and Buildings of Georgetown postcards, and his other book, Line-Line journey. Check out his blog for more of his gorgeous works, and buy his stuff here.

3) More stuff from Anthropologie!

How many times have I wished that we have Anthro stores here in Malaysia??? More stuff to love, and I am seriously contemplating getting out the plastic and just pay that crazy HopShopGo shipping fees for its stuff. Society Taper crystal candleholder for only eighteen USD! And they look gorgeous. I can't find any that cost less than two hundred ringgit for ONE crystal candlestand. And this Pure & Good hand duo which come in artisanal scalloped glass vessels in a wire basket. I'm a sucker for pretty packaging and like I said, holding back on keying in my credit card number into the store site has been an enormous exercise on my part.

Inspiring stuff to brighten up a rather dull life, for now.