Bugging me

The flu bug has been bugging me lately. I would call it a bad sinus which has been bugging me for the passed 20 years or so. Combined with tiredness and late nights, I supposed my body has reach its time for a shut down for maintenance. You know the saying about no time to be ill? It's true, there are so many deadlines for deliveries lately that I must "choose" when to be sick.

I wasn't feeling that great yesterday at work, have been sneezing and had a running nose. Got myself to last through the whole day, but decided that I needed to pay my doctor a visit. Doctor gave me a day off and I've opted for the drowsy type of flu medicine.

The medicine was so potent, slept through the whole night and I only woke up this morning because I needed to take care of my little pig. Had some watermelon juice and a banana just because I needed some food to go with my medicine. After that was more sleep, from 10am till 5pm, no lunch. I'm still feeling very dizzy so I skipped the flu medicine this evening.

Now to get more sleep and hopefully I'm all set for more deadlines and late nights...

Ohh... MFG sent me a text this morning after not seeing me on line. :)

Support

I was so touched when I got the "guinea pig" support from LGM and Swee. In fact LGM has given her comments on the chicken pies and the best thing about her comments is she told me what she dislike and like. So in this way, I would know what to improve and what not to change.

Swee has also taken 2 of the chicken pies even though she has her "numbers" to watch and achieve. Since I know that the fillings is not great, told her to just try the pastry because I think the pastry is also very important when it comes to pie besides the fillings.

MFG on the other hand, even though my official taster, told me that maybe I should not give the pies to him if I don't think it is nice because he doesn't want to get a bad first impression. Humph... and huh? bad first impression? I would have thought bad first impression will actually do "good" because version 2 of this pie onwards will taste better. So I guess like LGM has put it, MFG is the VIP taster, and perhaps he should be arranged to try the ultimate version only. But still, I could do with some "support", couldn't I?

I have asked my cousin sis to try for me, but don't think anyone at home can give me much help. I still see same number of pies at home this morning. I will be throwing them away when mum is not looking. Soon...

Next round I should make lesser quantity so I don't have to throw so much away. Okay, actually I shouldn't think that way, I shall aim to achieve a perfect version the next round!

Thanks again to guinea pigs!!! ;)

Here are the comments for my notes:

LGM said overall edible
- Pastry not as hard as stone to throw (LOL), not fluffy and brown enough. Good thing about dough not super oily and actually melts in your mouth (I think this is because I used unsalted butter and not those pastry margarine)
- Chicken filling, don't use mince meat, use diced
- No sweet corn and peas

Swee said she took more than one bite
- Pastry okay, buttery and salty enough (not sure whether will be too soft after heated)
- Chicken filling a bit plain and dry, don't put onions that she can taste the texture and don't chop mushroom too fine.

Okay, anything else to add? Lets take a break and I shall deliver version 2.

Chicken Pie - Experiment 1

Here's version 1 of the chicken pie. I think the pastries are okay but the filling is actually quite terrible.

I got this Little pies and cake recipe book from sis as a birthday present previously. Saw these mini party pies which I thought are so cute and I like things in smaller sizes... So adapted the filling recipe from here... Hmm... it's actually quite bad. The pastry dough in this book are all ready to roll, so I took the pastry recipe from another recipe book.

I needed 2 types of pastries for the chicken pie - a shortcrust pastry for the base, and a puff pastry for the top. The puff pastry took me about 2 hours - you need to chill the dough for 30 minutes after every roll and fold. Next time I shall make the dough in advance and freeze them.

Here are pictures taken on the one MC made. She made a giant chicken pie with a very thin pastry but delicious filling. It was like eating fillings :). But I think there should be some pastry... and perhaps not use can soup since according to MC, cousin bro could tell that it was Cambell straight away.

I'm now in between throwing away the pies, or torturing my tasters. Haha...

Okay, till then...

I will try my best...

I was quite inspired the other day when Swee discussed about this Chinese proverb - "百世修得同船渡，千世修来共忱眠". We were discussing the word "修" and were trying to determine what was the best translation for this word to English. Normally this word alone means something like "cultivate" but in this sentence, it doesn't mean cultivate. Well, it does still have the essence of cultivating I feel, but we thought then that it was supposed to mean more like "put in effort" or "hard work".

This proverb was from the Buddha - 佛曰: 百年修得同船渡，千年修得共枕眠! 而千年之后又能相守几时? 并非我曰! He also said - 五百次的回眸，才换来人群中的一次擦身而过.

It is difficult to translate the proverb word by word, but if we must, this is what it means roughly - "one will get to be in a same boat (crossing the river etc) with another person after one has made an effort (to build a relationship) with this person in question for the passed one hundred years; one will get to share the same pillow (actually means gotten married with each other) with another person after one has made an effort (to build a relationship) with this person for the passed one thousand years."

Buddha also said - "only after one has turned five hundred times to glance at another person that one will get to closely pass by this other person in question in the crowd for one time."

The discussion topic was actually about "缘" - destiny.

Like Swee said, from her point of view, and it actually meant to say, that it took great effort and "time" for two persons to be able to be together; therefore, we must cherish everyone around us, especially your other half. It is not easy, IF ONLY we remember our passed lives (yes Swee, coming to that point too shortly) that you will really feel and say the "it's not easy" with conviction. And if you can "see" what you've gone through to get to where you are with him/her today, I'm sure you will definitely handle the relationship with utmost care. :)

Now I will leave Swee to talk about this in her blog - are you still going to blog about this? Else can always leave your views in my comments and start another discussion session here with some anonymous - if they do drop in. Haha...

So I told Swee that I feel really sad every time I see this proverb because I actually see this from another point of view as well - which you might think is negative.

If I have met someone I really like and have done all the right things I could but still couldn't get things to work out between the two of us, it is because there has not been enough effort during the passed lives to enable "enough" destiny for our relationship to work in this life. Therefore, there is nothing I can do about it - at least not for now.

So, knowing the "theory" behind this matter of destiny, I will not give up on all the possible efforts - I will still try my best to stay in touch with him, make sure I send him a "good morning" message everyday, be at outings and occasions where he will be at, pamper him with as many gifts as I can (or as he will accept), and not give up being just his best friend because I've probably put in a lot of effort in the passed nine hundred years to get to be his best friend - and with all these aforementioned efforts, I will probably get to be with him in my next, or next next next next life.

(note to self - lets just 往生净土 and never "come back" actually)

Nevertheless, I'm somewhat positive, no?

And my dearest said, the problem is I will not remember (him). I know I won't remember him, but with so much effort, I know I will like him all over again.

And hopefully he will feel so too then.

Lifestyle modification

TA is feeling better... (Thanks LP for your concern). Visited TA this morning, together with MFG. I didn't bake TA anything because I wasn't sure what is it that he can or cannot eat, and whether he has the appetite to eat... So I made a TTB and gave just the TTB to him without any cake. It's a TTB in bandage reading a get well soon card. TA looked good, he said he could be discharged later the evening, not too bad for angioplasty.

While I was waiting for MFG at the lobby of Gleneagles, I came across the directory stating "Diet Counselling Centre", that reminded me of the "lifestyle modification" package at PCMC (MC told me). I suppose that is also something to do with weight management. TA told me since the passed 10 years, he'd changed his eating habits a lot and ask any of us from my ex-company and we can tell you how much weight he'd lost.

Sometimes we just have to give up certain thing for our health. As for me, I'd given up (almost) evening gym regime for my baking and TeaRoom biz. I've been going to the gym in the morning - reach gym at about 7.25am (haha... so precise) and finished off at about 8.10am to shower and get ready to go to work. With this schedule, I can still have the same hours of sleep (no need to wake up extra early). I tried going to the morning 7am RPM class the other day, but I was late even though I woke up earlier. I was extremely sleepy later that day and don't feel that energetic. So decided to drop the morning class arrangement.

It's some what different going to the gym in the morning. It's more serene and kind of slower pace. There are many people in the gym already early in the morning but not as many and as crowded as the evening time. It also made me feel good after a good sweat out in the morning. Besides, it made me feel good by knowing that I don't have to give up my workout routine altogether.

There is a delivery tomorrow, so will be going over to Damansara area, I will try to workout at TC so that I don't just drive all the way there to deliver one cake, very not profitable doing that. After that journey, I would have to prepare for another delivery, my aunty's order so she will come pick up from my house. Then I will be baking the cake which is for Tuesday delivery. (Swee, I'm not coming to Monday pump again, need to decorate the cake for the Tuesday delivery.)

LGM, doesn't look like I've got time to look into the chicken pie yet.

Okay, I better get some sleep.

Sigh...

Sometimes I feel like I've got so much to say, but when I start composing, I don't know what to say.

My ex-boss, the one from previous company whom I normally refer to as TA, is in ICU after his angioplasty. Sigh... I drove from Taman Tun to Jalan Ampang just now because I didn't know he was still in ICU, and thinking of visiting him since I just got the news at almost 6pm. It was so congested. Got a call from his wife just before I reach Jalan Ampang that the visiting hour was over and they migh not let me in. So decided that I will go visit tomorrow instead. I hope he gets well soon. Sigh...

It has been extremely tiring going to office lately. The big boss is like very "angin", a bit short tempered lately. Many people got annoyed with him. Sadly also there is this B&M manager who is not agreeable with her creative team and many other people don't seem to like her attitude much. This is our third B&M manager, reminds me of the Defence Against Dark Art teacher in Harry potter, I think we might just get another manager in the next semester. Naturally, many people are planning to leave. Oh I so want to leave too, sigh...

On the happier note. I've been getting inquiries and orders every week. I just delivered a cake today and there will be another one for Sunday. MFG has introduced a lot of customers to TeaRoom actually. :)

And LGM inquired about chicken pies. I shall look into that k...

Meanwhile, MC is battling with her glucose level... oh yeah, "confirmed" it's a girl. :)

Honey Mustard Chicken

I've kicked start TeaRoom savoury "Test Kitchen"... and here's the first thing I tried. A honey mustard chicken. This is a slow cook chicken recipe, sweeten by the honey which I love, but the mustard seeds were a bit much for me. However, BIL, both cousins said it was nice.

Great, but lets move on to something else.

Mistakes increases with Experience

I wonder if I can call myself an experience baker and no longer a beginner. I started baking when I was in primary school, completed a hotel and catering course WITH training in the commercial kitchens, delivered over a 100 orders this year... I think at least I can say I've enough experience.

Now, if you are a beginner reading this, and have been or is going through some really annoying moments on failures - sunken cakes, burnt cookies, make a mess handling icing, don't know what is a fondant... I hope you feel better after knowing that I had actually had 2 failures in a row just last night, and the worst? I was baking an item I was so, SO good in baking.

How come? Sometimes I think the risk of mistakes is higher for experience people. When you are so experience in something, you tend to be less detail. For example, I wouldn't double check the list of ingredients again (and therefore leaving something out if I haven't been baking that item for a long time), I don't take notes anymore (because I might think that I will remember), I don't check my stuff in baking for 10 times (will just leave it to bake, and before I know it, the stuff might be burnt). There are many more things you tend to leave out when you get more experience.

It is of course frustrating when you fail not an experiment, but an actual delivery. Especially when time is pressing, and it's like 3am in the morning... It doesn't take me any more faster either with my order preparations, I often work till 1 or 2 o'clock in the morning. But at the end of the day, when I get good feedback from customers, that's when I said to myself, all the effort and time, and sweat (literally) and tears (also literally) are all very worth it. And of course a little "jia you" message from MFG would be good lah at bad times. Hee... But of course with Carebear (Shall I still ust this blog name of yours?) saying she'll get me a Forever Friends for Christmas is also very motivating :). And LGM if she knows that I've got heavy baking schedule, she'll send me message to check if I was still "alive". Thanks dear, that helped! ;)

Back to the post topic, I think we should try to be careful and detail no matter how good we are in something. Also, sames goes to dealing with people, no matter how close we are with someone, I think we shouldn't be careless and must still try to give the attention to detail at all times. Don't you think?

;)

keeping me going...

Something I got from my instructor of my recent cake decorating diploma course after I've written to update her on my progress. :)

Hi,

Great to hear from you and my apologies for the delay in responding. I just got back into Toronto today from the ICES Convention in Chicago where Tan See Fong and I both did demos. Very successful demos we both had.

As for your projects, they look “TERRIFIC”. Well done! It is quite an honor to have a student do such astounding work of art. Keep up the good work and remember, without a good student, there is no Sifu. Thanks for the kind words anyway. Greatly appreciated. Drop by and say hi sometimes when I am in KL and tell me all about your great projects!!!!

Take care.

Rosalind Chan,
CEO & Founder,
International Centre of Cake Artistry Sdn. Bhd.,
1-1 to 1-3A, Jalan PJU 5/15, Dataran Sunway,
Kota Damansara, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.
Tel: 603-6140-8835
Fax: 603-6142-1501
Email: rosalindchan@rogers.com
Website: www.rosalindscakeartistry.com & www.2decoratecakes.com

Things that keep me going on...

I've got some very encouraging message recently...

This one after little bro's birthday cupcakes -

Hi I got your details from (little bro). I was leading the ngxm conference when (little bro)'s cupcakes were delivered. They were delicious but most of all I was impressed by the detailing on each cake.

I am writing to tell your how clearly your passion, pride and love of what you do show in your work. Hopefully I will have occasion to order from you soon (if ever in kl long enough!)

In the meantime if you see readers from strange places in Asia, it's just me ( in vietnam now) otherwise please introduce yourself if I am ever in a club where you are.

Regards
(my recently added FB friend)
Regional Group ...
FF Asia

(won't put full details here lah)


This one from the birthday gal of the Chanel handbag -

1st message

That was the most mazing birthday cake ever! Thank you thank you
One coll loves it so much she wanted her pic in front of it (the message was general enough anyway)

You really should make a name for yourself in the sweet pattiserie world...sure sell like hotcakes, pun intended :)

You could start a sweet shop and bloom into sweet chains....(TTB) BUNS hahaa

oh, it was very delicious too!
Thanks again dearie

mwah.

2nd message after my reply

oh goody i will call on you when i want personalised cakes!
mine was the best ever i have ever had in all my 33 years of existence :)

From one of the instructors at the cake decorating centre -

Whoa! didn’t know your orders have gone so far….can do branded stuff… nice Chanel bag…. Good work, Babe!

And I've got some great messages in the TeaRoom blog too :)

MFG sent me this - 甯屾湜浣犵殑澶㈡兂鑳芥棭鏃ュ鐝?) - Haha... which was later translated to this (no, I don't even know how to read those words) - “ hope your dream will come true very soon.”.

So now, must really look into my savory items!

Tired

Very tired lately and haven't been blogging much in here... There is only one order for the coming week, and I have a small project - present for MFG on the opening of his company. So, I guess I'll be going to gym as usual and perhaps get enough sleep. Have a bit of back ache problem since last week...

And I'm currently extremely upset for loosing my gold necklace with the purple crystal pendant. Well, I don't know how I loose it, the last time I saw it was when I took it off to put it into my handbag before I changed into my gym attire. That was last Saturday after a wedding party in the afternoon. There are 2 possibilities, I dropped it when I went down to my car to take my gym shoes (yeah... I left the shoes in the car and went down after I've changed into the gym outfit, with the chain inside the handbag), so maybe when I took out my car keys, the car keys had some how hooked onto the necklace and it dropped, without me realizing of course, otherwise I wouldn't have loose it. Second scenario would be someone stole it... Is it possible? I mean inside the gym? And this has again 2 scenarios, one is someone open the locker, which I don't think so right? No one else would have the keys right? Second would be someone took it from my handbag when the locker was opened briefly - left it opened for a while to blow dry my hair since there were one another 2 members there (non peak hour) and the locker was just beside me...

Arghhh... I don't know how I loose it, analysing would not help either. So... I guess I'll just sulk for a while and hopefully snap out of being upset soon. I wish the necklace will miraculously appear again!

Ohh... on the happier note. Celebrated MC and BIL's birthday today. Belated for MC and earlier for BIL. I hope they like the cake. I would have done something more elaborated but the celebration was quite brief. I will perhaps make the elaborated cake when we have a big party the next time k. Had TTBs on the cake and it was a coffee cake. Will blog this in the TeaRoom blog during the next few nights, since I've got internet access back. Oh yeah, modem malfunction - we've got a new modem now.

Now, today is Sunday. And Sunday nights are normally sleepless, insomnia nights due to pre-Mondayblues.

Wish me luck in falling asleep...