Incidental trip to Legoland Johor (hot) & Johor Premium Outlet

As usual, this is a long overdue post for a trip happens a few months back. Peace.

A trip to Legoland Johor

Shopping at JPO, Johor Premium Outlet

This is supposed to be Paparil’s trip for a paintball tournament in Johor. While Rara and me ‘menyibuk’ hoping for a side trip to Legoland & JPO. However, the tournament was cancelled! Yeehaaa! Since I have made the arrangement and booking for both hotel & flight, we decided to go on with the trip. Yeehaaa2x! (sorry Paparil..*peace*)

We stayed at M Suites Hotel which is near to Danga Bay area. The room was spacious and they have big swimming pool with slides suitable for kids (Rara’s favorite). However, the hotel is quite far from Legoland itself and the taxi fare was expensive! Phewww…

We are in Legoland on their 2^nd day of opening. Hence, the crowd was huge! And the park itself was huge too! I don’t think one day is enough to explore the whole park, let alone trying every ride. They don’t have much option for a 3 year old kid like Rara. I think a 6 year old and above will have more varieties of ride to choose from.


The weather was very hot! Please make sure you bring a lot of water and spare clothes for your kids. They have café and mini kiosk selling food, drink and ice-cream (of course) along the way. Most of our money goes to all this café (and it’s quite expensive). However, we do enjoy ourselves, strolling the park minding our own business.Hahaha...Till then, bye!

My first ever island vacation – Tioman Island

Oh yes, the title is so true. Hmm…wait a minute. Ok, not 100% true. I went to Pulau Pinang & Pulau Pangkor when I was a little kid with my beloved family. But, it doesn’t really count because I never got to do all those island trip thingy as such snorkeling, island hopping. Ok, fair enough.

We went to Tioman somewhere in June. This time around is not just the 3 ‘angry bird’ trip. We went with my big family (parents & siblings). Tioman is indeed a peaceful island with beautiful beaches. I don’t want to write much but just want to share the beautiful memories with pictures. (I do actually want to write more but a few emails from work make me sick and hence the sudden change of mood :-(..)   

The 6 excited people getting ready for island hopping. Lil Rara opts for another trip with my parents..hehehe

We are here! The happy faces :-)

We went to a few islands but I can’t remember the exact names for each of the island. Hmm...Taman Laut, Renggis Island and etc. We were charged RM100 per person for the trip (quite expensive, rite? Hmm...) For a first timer, we do enjoy our day! Even though it’s quite scary to let myself into the water when only 1 from the 6 of us can swim and the rest is just flapping our way around the water in a ridiculous motion..hahaha. We had a great time laughing to each other :-P

Rara favorite place: the pool

We stayed in Berjaya Condo. It’s not that far from Berjaya Tioman Resort but it’s a hilly ride though. So, it’s not advisable to walk (at least for us). However, they do provide a bus every hour to go up and down from the condo to the resort.



And the last picture..Rara’s Tioman style

P/S: Salam Aidilfitri to all my readers! Mucho gracias...:-)

The Oven Project: Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake by Joy the Baker

This is my 2^nd favorite recipe after the super easy Choc Chip Muffin recipe which I posted a while ago. The cake turned up moist and irresistible. Once you tried it you’ll crave for more! Please try it & you’ll never regret (ecececeh…dah macam iklan la pulak).

Chocolate Orange Cream Cheese Pound Cake – my version

Recipe from Joy the Baker

Chocolate Orange Pound Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

2 tablespoons orange zest

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

3/4 cup (1 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

4 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup dark chocolate pieces

Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F.  Grease a 9×5-inch baking pan and dust with flour.  Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt.  Set aside.

On a clean cutting board or counter, place the granulated sugar.  Add the orange zest.  With a bench scraper or the back of the spoon, work the zest into the granulated sugar, creating a fragrant and orange flavored sugar.  Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together softened butter and cream cheese.  Stop the mixer occasionally to scrape down the bowl and make sure that the butter and cream cheese are evenly mixed.  Add the citrus zest to the butter and cream cheese mixture, and beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 3 minutes.

Stop the mixer.  Scrape down the sides of the bowl.  On medium speed, beat in one egg at a time, beating for one minute after each addition.  Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.  Beat in vanilla extract.

Add dry ingredients all at once.  Beat on low speed until dry ingredients are completely incorporated.  Fold in the chocolate pieces.

Spoon batter into prepared pan.  Bake for 50-60 minutes, rotating once or twice during baking.  Bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, or with just a few crumbs.

This is how the batter looks like – creamy and gooey...yumm2

My loaf pan can’t fit it the entire batter, hence the cupcake version

Not so Wordless Wednesday [10]: Upin & Ipin love Green

Upin dan Ipin versi Hijau
(Rara and her cousin)

…less angry birds hit the road to Genting Highland

We went for a short trip to Genting Highland somewhere around April for Rara birthday’s trip. At first, I was contemplating to choose either Genting or Damai Laut Pangkor (they have Groupon’s promotion!). In the end after considering the amount of travel that we need to go through, we choose the nearest which is Genting.

Go Go Genting!

Paparil and I have been there twice as a couple. So I guess this is a trip back to memory lane when we were still young and lovey-dovey. Ahaks! Will the feeling still be the same? (Alhamdulillah…)

We stayed at Theme Park Hotel for RM128 per night via Agoda. It’s a new hotel and VERY near to the Outdoor Theme Park. It is just a jump away from the window..Hahahaha.

Our little girl is beyond excited, especially during the Skyway trip. However, when we reached the theme park she refused to take any of the rides! Why Rara why? So, we took the fun train ride as a warming up. She always loves taking the lrt. So this is definitely her most favorite thing to do in Genting. In the end after a few persuading & forcing session, we managed to get her on a few rides (with either one of us accompanying her…).

The Solere shot is definitely not for me and Rara :-P

The winner of Rara’s heart is their Rainforest Splash pool (water park). This is among the new attraction in Genting. Even though it’s just a basic heated water park with a few slides and limited space, she really enjoys it. We have to drag her out in order to get her out of the pool. She loves water! (But not the beach…).

Rainforest Splash pool, Rara's favorite

We have fun and a little bit of drama (when ‘someone left the car security’s lock key in the hotel room after checkout *ahemm*). Other than that, I would say this is among the best trip we had (not that we have many). We are getting less angry than our previous Cherating/Kuantan trips. Job well done!

Up and down of life

Alhamdulillah...akhirnya berjaya jugak mengatasi semua kesibukan, kemalasan dan macam2 hal lagi dan update blog yang kena tinggal ni...kesian...

So, what is happening around me? My life? I would put it this way...I'm in a phase of rearranging, readjusting and rebalancing my work, family and life. Complicated? No, it's not that complicated but it's a matter of self willing, effort and priority. A recent change and shift in work place have make my life upside down, enough said. Other than that, I am fine and thankful for everything Allah gave me. It's all for the best.

How about my lil Rara? She is growing!! Nowadays, she loves singing, painting and sticking stickers. I still yet to find time to create a learning routine for her. A 15 minutes a day session, maybe? I don't know. I have to change my routine before I can start her routine. Change...change...change... Why is it so hard to change??



My growing little girl


Till then, bye!

P/S: Oh by the way, the three of us, Paparil, Rara and I have turn 3(0) in these past few months!! Welcome to the 3 series club!

 

In the mood of...Mushroom Risotto

Cooking mood is back in town. I’m in the mood to try new recipe for my little family (which consist of 2 picky eater, yes Paparil & Lil Rara).

A few months back, I got to try risotto for the first time. I always watch those chefs in MasterChef or Hell Kitchen cook risotto. So, I was wondering how it taste? It looks like baby food with decorations…Hehe..

 Risotto with Grilled Beef in Meatworks, Citta Mall

Apparently, risotto not that bad and I kind of like it. So, why not trying to cook it at home, rite? Tadaaa, here I am trying to cook my own risotto!

Risotto in the making

 For Coffee Mama & Little Zara: Mushroom Risotto with Salad

 For beef lover, Paparil: Mushroom Risotto with Grilled Beef

Where did I take the recipe? After googling for a few minutes, I used this 3 recipe for guidance. Mix and match after considering what I have in my little kitchen.

Basic Risotto by Jamie Oliver 

Mushroom Recipe by  Myleen@Allrecipes

Mixed Mushroom Risoto by TheSweetSpot

My version:

Chicken stock (2 cube of Maggi Chicken stock + 1 litre of water + 1 bay leaf)

2 handful of shitake & oyster mushroom (up to you which mushroom you want to use)

2 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp butter

1 large onion (finely chopped)

2 garlic (finely chopped)

Parsley (finely chopped)

1 cup of sushi rice (I can’t find any risotto rice in Giant)

Salt & pepper

Garnishing:

Butter

Parmesan Cheese

1.   Boiled the chicken stock and then turn down the heat and let it simmer.

2.   In another pan, fry the mushroom with olive oil for about 3 minutes/until it softened. Set aside.

3.   Heat olive oil and butter, add in the onion, garlic and parsley. Keep the heat very low and fry about 10 minutes.

4.   Add in the rice and turn up the heat. Keep stirring until it become translucent.

5.  Then, add in 1 cup of the chicken stock and low down the heat. Stir gently and let the rice absorb the liquid. Repeat the step for a few times until the rice is al dente or up to your preference. (About 15-20 minutes)

6.  Remove from heat and stir in the mushroom, butter, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper.

7.  Tips from Jamie Oliver: “Place a lid on the pan and allow to sit for 2 minutes. This is the most important part of making the perfect risotto, as this is when it becomes outrageously creamy and oozy like it should be.”

8.  Let’s eat!

Leopard which I love

I’m officially addicted to this particular brand…Gin &Jacqie! All their bags are irresistible, especially when they are on sale. I will keep refreshing the website and calculating inside my mind…Should I buy it? Or shouldn’t I?? I bought one in the end…*grinning ear to ear* (They’re having free shipping! Of course I will buy it!!)

Sassy Anish the Laptop Bag

The bag was great as I expected and I loveeee the leopard print! I’m considering this as a reward after a few weeks of working late hour (I don’t want to remember those weeks…). My new motivation to work!

My other collection:

Bags which make me win 

Bags which I received for free, yeay! 

Bags which I want..(Now, I got it!!) 

 

Not So Wordless Wednesday [9]: The leaf project

Inilah pokok kunyit saya yang malang itu..Daun2 dah takde sebab:

Kena makan oleh serangga

&

Kena trim dengan tuan yang gagal Gardening 101

(Ada ke orang trim pokok kunyit?)

Baby serai (nampak tak?)