Portuguese Egg Tarts

These tarts are a result of the following:-

1) A silly bet with AK on Aragorn's age. Bet you didn't know that dashing Aragorn is 80 years old! Well, he is apparently a descendant of the Dunedain, and they live 3 times the lifespan of normal man, you know?

2) So I lost and AK demanded Portuguese egg tarts
3) I always wanted to try making my own puff pastry, so I decided to attempt it here

4) It took me a span of 2 weeks to make the bloody pastry, with work, work travel, and the usual weekend activities.

5) I used the recipe in Thomas Keller's Bouchon Bakery cookbook, which calls for European-style, high-fat content butter

6) My forearms burnt each time I rolled out that damned batch of pastry. I felt like I was attempting peacock pose for a couple of hours, no joke!

7) Portuguese egg tarts need to be baked at really high temperature, to caramelize that layer of casein that rises to the top of the custard filling when baking.

I followed this formidable recipe for the custard filling, and it worked like a dream.

Once you have the pastry sorted the custard making part's a real cinch, really. They turned out well, I must say - since AK ate 8 tarts in a span of 2 days and then promptly asked for them again this coming weekend. Think I am going to buy my puff pastry this time.

Rediscovering my Penang

Now that I am a couple of years into thirty, with a stressful job and a true-blue "KL" lifestyle (i.e. working beyond the timing in which it doesn't take an hour or more to get home, then hitting the mall for dinner and hanging out there until traffic reaches more acceptable hours, insane drivers, lining up for brunch), I tend to want my holidays to revolve around rest and rejuvenation. My typical trip would look something like this - book a luxurious hotel (I am especially partial to ones with Heavenly Beds), sleep in, do a little exploration (with shopping of course), return to the hotel, rest - you get the gist. Oh, and order room service and watch a movie - a most cherished tradition of ours.

So, it was with some trepidation that I agreed to join the hubs' friends for a trip back to Penang over the Labour Day weekend. The boys had a whole itinerary planned out - Day 1: ESCAPE (more details below), Day 2: Hike the Penang National Park. And - boys being boys - nights out for dinner and alcohol into the wee hours. I thought I would have preferred to stay at home, catch up with work, go for yoga classes, do a bit of baking and housekeeping. 

br />

But with all our plans for life,  it struck me that if I didn't do this now, with this fun bunch, I might not get the chance to do it anymore. So off I went.

I almost died, I tell you. There were times during the damned treetop challenges (especially towards the end when I completed the last and most challenging circuit of the series) when I just felt like leaving it all to hang and just allow myself to drift on my safety tagline towards the next platform. 

I don't know how I, I who always accepted that I had no upper body strength, I who still cannot manage a proper push-up - had it in me to finish. Maybe yoga helped, maybe it was that lingering thought of never having the opportunity to do this again, maybe it was a little of everything - but I finished it all. A curving-tree wall-climb that I saw many guys could not complete, four rounds of the gecko wall climb, one Level 2, one advanced Level 3 and the most difficult round, the ultimate Level 3 - I did it all! And I finished, damnit. I took my time, I breathed through my pain, I strategized my moves, and I never felt like I needed to prove anything or compete. I just wanted the experience to count. And it really does. I know it's probably nothing in the big picture of things, but I do want to indulge in a little self-satisfaction :)

Oh, and we went to China House for dinner that night, where we all had a little (or a lot of) wine, chatted and laughed and marveled about our ESCAPE experiences, laughed even more when one guy, in his attempt at trying to appear more sophisticated, attribute the dryness of the Australian red to the dry season in Europe, and enjoyed some great live music.

Unfortunately I have very few photos of my ESCAPE experience, it was raining heavily, and a camera/iPhone isn't exactly safe when you're dangling four stories up. I took photos of the sustainable practices I saw, and our friends who completed the course ahead of us managed to snap a few from below.

I expected to return from this holiday dragging myself to work, exhausted and worn out. Well, it turned out quite the opposite - I felt refreshed, super positive and strong, almost superwoman-like. I learnt something important here - I must learn to stretch myself every now and then - if only to feel stronger later.

Rainwater collection - a tap at the base for washing feet, and plants on the top.

Charming whitewashed old Teluk Bahang Dam staff quarters turned into washrooms, locker rooms and shops on ESCAPE grounds

Shooting off the Atan jumo

Here I am finishing the last leg of the most challenging of the treetop challenge series

Pantai Kerachut - I didn't see dolphins this time, but the beach was spanking clean.

Obligatory couple shot

Whitewashed walls and a little garden in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. Bangkok Lane.

What monsters have we become?

One of the most harrowing things I have ever watched, and it's all true, for goodness' sake. Globalization, industrialization, corporatized agriculture, this is the earth we built.

I guess this further reinforces my ever-evolving belief - I need to take a kinder approach.

A Kinder Approach

Where did all the time go?

Here's a list of stuff I'm digging, four plus months into 2014. Am I slowly turning into a hippie or what??!!

1) Yoga! I've started going to the classes sponsored by my company again. Funny thing is, when I tried out the class a year and a half ago, I was so impatient to move from one pose to another, and I was bored out of my wits. Now, I enjoy the gentle stretches and the not-so-gentle poses that force just a little bit more out of me. I love the focus on the body itself - the core, the thigh muscles, the arms and shoulders. I love the little transformational changes I see - like being able to touch my toes in forward fold after a couple of weeks. And, truly a life lesson in itself, the ever constant, gentle reminders to always, always, breathe. Whatever you're feeling at the moment, it too will pass, just breathe through it. Pain is fleeting. Breathe through the pain, breathe when you think you can't hold that pose for any longer. You're stronger than you think.

I admit, I am horribly inflexible, and am constantly playing catch-up at both my paid and sponsored classes, but I actually look forward to them. The weeks when I have to miss classes(most likely due to work travels), I sorely miss it.

2) I made my own Epsom-salt scrub! Hardly a recipe - just 1 cup of epsom salts (read all about its goodness (with further links) here), 1/3 cup coconut oil, and a few drops of your favourite essential oil for fragrance - I used lemongrass for a fresh tropical feel. I use it after soap in the shower. I am trying my best to reduce the use of unnecessary chemicals in our lives, and this saves money as well (total cost - less than 10 bucks).

3) My music of the moment:-

i) Sam Behymer's performances in The Voice. I am obsessed with Sam's performance singing Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran (she's the taller girl in pink) - graceful, ethereal and just a little bit kooky. Ed Sheeran sang the original with heated passion, Sam does it here with a beautiful tenderness and soaring desperation. I really wish Adam Levine kept her on the show :( (She was eliminated in the next battle round).

ii) Josh Kaufman's cover of Stay With Me by Sam Smith. I usually despise over the top stage effects, but I thought the pouring and splashing raindrops here was just so beautiful. I loved the effect it had, coupled with Josh's intense, beautiful vocals - now, that's a moment.



I am slowly but surely adopting a kinder, more natural lifestyle - I've planted my own spinach, I've partially eliminated chemicals from my cleaning routines. I consciously seek local organic (fresh) ingredients when I shop for my cooking - easy to do in Klang Valley. I am also attempting to cook less with meat (more water is required for production of meat, and check out this link comparing the carbon footprint of foodstuffs), and I now eat more tofu, soy and mushrooms. 

Finding peace

Look what happened when I tried to find some quiet time to meditate.

The minute I settled in, crossed my legs and closed my eyes, this fella scrambled on.

Check-in

I write this from my hotel room in JB. Tomorrow I have a full day workshop in the fabrication yard. Last week I was stuck in a ridiculous training session for the whole week. Classes started at 7.30 am and ended around 6 - 7 pm.

To cap off the relaxing week, we had an exam the last day. The week was capped with an exam, AND I came down with food poisoning.

Valentine's Day was spent eating banana leaf rice (really excellent, by the way). We spent a lovely Saturday eating, shopping and resting. Then I spent my entire Sunday catching up on the week's work and ended up working until 1 am. The week before I spent 2 days in another mind-numbing workshop AND we had friends over for housewarming/CNY twice.

I am EXHAUSTED.

Yesterday was the first time I worked out in about 2 months. It felt wonderful moving again, but I am sore.

What I am into these days:

1) IntotheGloss - More like obsessed. I stumbled upon this super cool site via one of my favourite blogs, then got really really hooked on reading about people's beauty routines. I love how they talk about their backgrounds, their philosophy when it comes to maintaining their skin (diet or product or both). Some of my favourite Top Shelf posts are this haute hippie cold-pressed juice bar owner's, this simple routine by a model-turned social entrepreneur.

I'm also lovin' this BEST OF list. And this fabulous post is really making me rue not opting for a bathtub in our home.

2) Oils - I'm really into them, - Cleansing oil, oil in my hair, on my skin.

I first purchased Neutrogena's cleansing oil, which was a mistake. My skin got red and splotchy, and I absolutely despise the synthethic scent. I switched to Shu Uemura's instead, looking up online on how exactly to use it (Massage it into dry skin, use water to lather and then rinse) and - and what a difference! Red patches GONE. My skin feels soft and lost its tight feeling. Neutrogena relegated to cleansing my feet and elbows now.

I also use coconut oil in my hair. I massage a good amount in my scalp and hair, potter about for a few hours, then rinse out with shampoo. My hair is all thick and glossy, for the first time in like, ten years maybe?

 I still use my all-time favourite H20+ sea salt-almond oil scrub. The price (for a body scrub) is a little off-putting (a large jar costs RM150 but it does last at least a couple of months), but I do want to experiment with making my own salt-or-sugar scrub when it's finished.

Oh, and another product ITG got me hooked on - Fresh Sugar Face Polish. Use this after cleansing, and the brown sugar, strawberry seeds, plum and grape seed oils really do wonders. Glow I believe is the word we're looking for.

What I started:
1) Yoga. Started, with ONE class. But to be continued - with all the crazy work stuff ongoing I want to learn to unwind and breathe.

2) I also started listening to this before bedtime (ITG again, I know). Anything to get more out my short(er) hours of sleep!

3) I made it a priority to do less social networking and more reading in bed. One of my greatest pleasures is reading in bed. I have finished 2 books so far this January - so excellent progress made there.

4) Oh, and on that same note, I have also been devouring magazines (January'14 issues of Fortune 2014, FastCompany, Vanity Fair, and Vogue India). I treated myself to a 1-year subscription of Monocle Magazine.

Holiday Gift Guide 2013

This year I've gone slightly more atas than the last, I admit. But hey, as one ages, one would expect one's tastes to mature as well.

I personally own and regularly use everything listed here, and they just elevate everyday routines - be it a handsome coffee press that you can bring everywhere, luxurious tea, lovely but reasonably priced bath products, or that special piece that completes an outfit.

I have also tried to include stuff that are made or developed locally - it's nice to support local businesses and the quality of these products are really good. What's not to like?

1) TWG Teas and accessories
Good tea is life-changing, and for once, easily available. The Earl Grey is wonderfully fragrant without being cloying, and the Tokyo Singapore is my favourite way to end a long day. You know - me in pyjamas, the airconditioning on, the duvet on my legs, a good book and a steaming cup of tea. Bliss. Get your fix at Pavillion KL or KLIA.

2) Bodum Travel Coffee Press and/or Milk Frother
Simple, elegant yet durable, we spotted the travel press at Ben's Independent Grocer and purchased on the spot. The press comes with a regular cap, so it doubles up as a nice tumbler which I can fill it with my smoothie mixture for days when I don't have the time to brew coffee. The battery-operated milk frother is a nice tool for those barista wannabes.

2) British India home scented candle
Made from palm oil. I only have the citronella, a scent which never grows old for me and of which I am a little obsessed with. It reminds me of our spa vacation in Phuket - totally what I want for chilling out to.

4) Argan oil.
Purchase from here. I use it on my neck and to repair my horrible cuticles, which have never looked better. Attach an instruction sheet (copy it from the website).

5) 100% cashmere scarf
I am, I am proud to say, a most skilled eBay huntress. Some of my proudest purchases include my magnificient Tods Bauletto bag at 30% off its normal price, a Mulberry Bayswater, a beautifully waterproof Longchamp and a BCBG jumpsuit. I was busy scouring eBay for a soft blanket/throw for cosy nights in on the sofa, and came across this site. Delivery was fast and efficient, and the product is so so soft and light. But don't be fooled though - it does a much better job shielding me from the cold of the office than its cheaper but fancier-looking counterparts.

6) 34Thirtyfour leather cuff
A slightly edgy, but still elegant cuff made from buttery leather that ages beautifully, from this Malaysian-born brand that folks in the know are raving about. Their bags are slightly more expensive than I'd like, but there is no doubt on the quality of their work. Maybe next time....

7) Electrolux Powermix Silent Blender

I was actually forced to purchase this behemoth when my little Japanese blender devoured the last of its own rubber washers. That, my friends, is the problem with buying stuff from those noisy stalls in the mall that always seem to draw a curious audience - the stuff you buy from some obscure brand will probably be discontinued after a year and you end up scrapping a (granted, ugly and cheap) perfectly good blender just because you can't buy the washer that goes with it.
Since we were just getting into our smoothie groove, I had to get another blender. I knew what I wanted - a glass jug that stays clear even if I blend ice and other hard stuff, and a food mill attachment. I finally settled on this silent monster, and am really happy with its performance so far. Oh, and the blue light that comes on during the blending is kinda cool.

9) Tanamera toiletries and spice massage ball
I love this local brand. The brown soap is a mainstay in my shower. It has these wonderful rice beads that gently exfoliate as it cleans. Tanamera products are made with local spices ans herbs - citronella, rice, ginger, hibiscus, pandanus. Who needs lavender and rose and we have jasmine and citronella?
The massage ball is great for calming stressed-out muscles and relieving pain. So easy to use too - just heat in the microwave. As it soothes the aches and pains it releases some wonderfully spicy scent that comforts and warms (It goes very well with with the situation described in Item #1, as you can probably tell). Oh, and bonus - you can purchase online!

Oh, and what's Christmas without a little Wish List of my own? Here's what I would love to receive this year, for being such a good girl:

1) Kindle Paperwhite
2) The entire "Homeland" series
3) For Shonda Rhimes to produce Gray's Anatomy Season 10
4) Some time off to just chill at home
5) KitchenAid
6) Small copper pan
7) Zara shopping vouchers