Homecoming of our son

Today marks a special day in our family life, our first child completing and be homecoming today. Wallace, our second son is coming home after completing his University study and what is special is he will dive straight to work tomorrow. Actually, he has been planning about work for over a year now. We always worried that he would not be focused enough to complete his course, that he would be distracted and wanted to give up quoting all those billionaires who did not complete their college degree. It has been with a lot of cares, talks, prayers that he would reach today. 

Growing up, he was into all these high dreams :- Superheros, Lion Dances, Football, Basketball, horses too. Spiderman special web and special sound effect of spitting web, those were his favourite superhero acts. The boy with a big dream to be the best in anything he sets his mind to - the best football player, the rich guy dream. When he wants something, he pursues with passion and unweavering faith, unstoppable and child-like faith. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoYVTPFs84o

He has grown up to be a man of vision, courage and generous. We pray that He will be kind and knows how much he has been blessed and loved and will fulfill the divine calling upon his life. 

Welcome back, Son ! The world is your oyster ! 

Elliot learns to Cook 3 - Chicken Rice In a Pot

One Pot Cooking is a very important cooking skills for survial. In many circumstances, due to lack of resources or reduce washing or camping, we need to cook everything in a pot. This Chicken Rice recipe is supposed to be cooked using a Rice Cooker but Elliot does not have a Rice Cooker at his University house at Saujana Putra. I taught him using the Cooking pan and just be very careful of the fire not to burn the bottom of the rice.

To fry together :-
2 Tbsp Oil
1 medium Onion diced
3 cloves Garlic minced
1 tsp Ginger minced
1 medium Carrots diced
5 pieces Mushroom diced
2 Tbsp Sweet Soy Sauce (ABC Brand)
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce

Note :- 
Mushroom can be fresh or canned Button Mushroom or if dry soak in hot water for 20 minutes.

To marinate meat :-
1 piece Chicken Breast (not skin and diced)
1/4 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Pepper
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce

3 Cups of Rice washed
3 Cusp of water (pour out and ready)

1) Heat up oil, fry onion, add in garlic and ginger, then add carrots. It too dry, add a bit of water.
2) Add in marinated meat, fry till almost cooked (if over-cooked, meat be very dry).
3) Add in mushrroms and the rice, continue to stir.
4) Lastly add in the water pre-measured and press for Rice Cooker. If cooking using a pot on gas stove, when it comes to boil, put on the lid, lower the fire. If the smoke is getting less or stop, then lift up to check if the rice is cooked. If the rice has translucent part that means its not fully cooked yet.
5) Off the fire, let it simmer inside.

Elliot learns to Cook 2 - Homemade Burgers

This is yummy, healthy burger recipe for students when you need comfort food. I just learnt this homemade burger recipe recently from my sister in law, Rebecca Poong.

Chicken Burgers - Homestyle

500 gm Chicken minced

1 Egg (a bit too much for 500 gram but it does give nice aroma when frying the si
1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Pepper
1 tsp Paprika
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
2 Tbsp Yoghurt
1-2 pieces of Bread cubes
1 Tbsp Persley chopped or powder

Elliot learns to Cook 1 - Bolognese Sauce

It is long overdue that Elliot should learn cooking. Here is his first away-from-home cooking lesson at Saujana Putra home on 15 October 2017.

Bolognese Sauce - The Heng's Style

Vegetable :
3 Tbsp            Olive Oil
3 Large           Onions - diced
2 Medium       Carrots - diced
1 Large           Garlic - diced finely
1 Thumb Size Ginger - diced finely
2 Tbsp             Oregano Spice

Marinating Minced Meat :
500 gm            Chicken Minced
3-5 Tbsp          Corn Flour
1/4 Cup            Red Wine or Rice Vinegar
1 Tin               Tomato Puree (medium size)

1 Cup               Water (optional if too dry)

For Taste :
1 Tbsp             Sugar
1 tsp                Salt
1 tsp                Pepper

Addtional :
1 piece           Green Pepper diced
1 Tin              Mushroom (Chinese button mushrooms) diced finely
1 Tin              Kidney Beans

1) Heat up oil, fry Onions until fragrant. Add in garlic and ginger.
2) Continue to fry with Carrots in, add oil if too dry.
3) Add in Oregano Spice, fry to let fragrance out.
4) Mix Corn flour into Minced meat, add in Red Wine or Rice Vinegar. Mix well.
5) Put Minced Meat into sauce and add in Tomato Puree.
6) Add in Sugar, Salt, Pepper and adjust according to taste.
7) Put in mushrooms, green peppers, Kidney Beans and mix well and stop the fire. Cover with lid.

Best to cook this 6 hours prior to eating.

This is a very versatile dish. From this sauce, we could make :-

• Homemade Pizza - may use thin wraps or bread with butter spread
• Lasagne - use non-cooked type, possible to use bread but cut off sides and roll with pin.
• Pasta & Sauce with cheese

Bel learns to bake 2 - Chewy Chocolate Cookies

Chocolate Cookies, Brownies and Moist Chocolate Cakes, who do not fall into with these goodies?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vUtRRZG0xY

The Best Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies Servings: 12 

 INGREDIENTS ½ cup sugar ¾ cup brown sugar, packed 1 teaspoon salt ½ cup butter, melted 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1¼ cups all-purpose flour ½ teaspoon baking soda 4 ounces milk or semi-sweet chocolate chunks 4 ounces dark chocolate chunks (or your preference) PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugars, salt, and butter until a paste has formed with no lumps. Whisk in the egg and vanilla, beating until light ribbons fall off the whisk. Sift in the flour and baking soda, then fold the mixture with a spatula, being careful not to overmix too much. This will cause the gluten in the flour to toughen which will result in cakier cookies. Fold in the chocolate chunks evenly, then chill the dough for at least 30 minutes. For a more intense toffee-like flavor and deeper color, chill the dough overnight. The longer the dough rests, the more complex its flavor will be. Scoop the dough with an ice-cream scoop onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 4 inches of space between cookies and 2 inches of space from the edges of the pan so that the cookies can spread evenly. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the edges have started to barely brown. Cool completely, and enjoy!

Here is a Chewy Chocolate Cookies recipe we tried.

Chewy Chocolate Cookies (makes 12 large cookies)

1/ 2 Cup      Sugar (1/4 Cup)
3/4 Cup       Brown Sugar (1/2 Cup)
1 tsp            Salt
1/2 Cup       Butter (melted)
1                  Egg
1 tsp            Vanilla Essence
1 1/4 Cup    All Purpose Flour sifted
1/2 tsp         Baking Soda
4 Oz            Milk Choc chopped or chips
4 Oz            Dark Choc chopped or chips


1) Pour sugars, salt and add in melted butter then egg and stir well.
2) Add in Vanilla and sifted Flour & Baking Soda and whisk.
3) Add in Chopped Chocolate or chips.
4) Chill in fridge 30 minutes to harden.
5) Scope using Ice Cream Scope and place 4 inches apart

Bake 180C 12-15 mins until sides slightly brown

Bel learns to bake 1 - Brownies

Bel is interested to bake Brownies, she wants the fudgy type. She gave me one YouTube link and I felt it was too much fat. So I googled another source. We gave it a few tries and here are the results.

Bel's original Video Link :-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIb_741_dIw

Science of Fudgy and Cakey Brownies

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIonKbKM-tE

Fudgy Brownies 

4 Oz (113 gram)   Butter (melted)
6 Oz                      Cooking Chocolate
1 1/2 Cup              Sugar (reduced to 3/4 Cup)
3                            Eggs
1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp  All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup                 Cocoa Powder
 Pinch                    Salt

180 C  30 minutes

Cakey Brownies 

2 Oz (56 gram)     Butter (melted)
4 Oz                      Cooking Chocolate
1 1/2 Cup              Sugar (reduced to 3/4 Cup)
3                            Eggs
1/2 Cup + 2 Tbsp  All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup                 Cocoa Powder ?
Pinch                     Salt
1/4 tsp                   Baking Powder

180 C  35-40 minutes

Take # 1 (23 Oct 2017)

We tried the Cakey Brownies (by accident) on 23 October 2017 as we did not have enough Cocoa Powder and it was replaced by flour (too much).

The difference between Cakey and Fudgy are actually the Butter and Cooking Chocolate portion (more for fudgy Brownies). 

The Best Fudgy Brownies Servings: 9 INGREDIENTS 8 ounces good-quality chocolate ¾ cup butter, melted 1¼ cups sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup cocoa powder 1 teaspoon salt PREPARATION Preheat oven to 350°F/180°C. Chop the chocolate into chunks. Melt half, then save the other half for later. Mix the butter and the sugar, then beat in the eggs and vanilla for 1-2 minutes until the mixture has become fluffy and light in color. Whisk in the reserved melted chocolate (make sure the chocolate is not too hot or else the eggs will cook), then sift in the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, being careful not to overmix as this will cause the brownies to be more cake-like in texture. Fold in the chocolate chunks, then transfer the batter into a parchment paper-lined square baking dish. Bake for 20-25 minutes, depending on how fudgy you like your brownies, then cool completely. Slice, then serve with a nice cold glass of milk! Check us out on Facebook! - facebook.com/buzzfeedtasty Credits: https://www.buzzfeed.com/bfmp/videos/...

Because I touched those cups

It was past midnight around 1:30 am, our son woke up crying and rubbing his hands real hard, "My hands are dirty. I want to bath." He kept repeating in between sobs, I was feeding the younger brother, dad had to give in for his wish of a bath at 2 am! I could hear his little bathtub being filled up with water and he went straight into it. I thought to myself, this is rather unusual, I know my kids love to bath and its play time for them but why at 2 am? Our son was enjoying his bath and I thought it might be the start of another episode of you-ain't-see-nothing-yet phase a.k.a. from now on, he is going to ask for midnight bath as when he fancies a midnight bath ! 

I got out of bed and checked on him, he was still washing and rubbing his hands as if they were dirty. I asked him, "You wanna to bath now because your hands are dirty?". "Yes", he replied me. "Why are they dirty?" I need to hear from him his explanation. His reply gave me a chill, "Because I touched those cups!"

My mind went back to that very Sunday morning. 

Every Sunday morning after church, we would have our breakfast with another family, it was the favourite time of the week for both adults and kids, they got to meet with their buddies once a week and its food and play time for them. One of our favourite place to dine was the Tom Yam Noodles place at Iramanis, a place of warehouses and shops. In between the two rows of shops, there was a pavement and in the middle, was a little red altar house. The boys were really curious when they first saw it, "Mummy, there is a little red house over there." "There are little cups lined up there with food and sweets." We explained what those are, told them never to touch it or eat anything there. The boys stood in a row, nodded indicating they understood but their eyes were filled with questions. They went away and jumping around. Then came that very Sunday, one of the boys came telling us, "Wallace touched the cups, he removed them." We came running and reprimanded them or being over curious. We asked him why and what did he do and I remembered saying a little prayer of protection over him and the boys. The boys were asking "Will the gods be angry now since he touched the cups?" 

I motioned him to get out of the bathtub, dried him and dressed him up in his PJ. "Next time, when we tell you not to do something, you must obey. OK ?" He nodded and promised me to be so. I handed him a bottle of milk as surely he would be hungry after a midnight bath. He was drinking from the bottle on the bed while I was praying that this would be it and no more issue from this. I even braced myself for him to develop a little fever arising from this ordeal (logically as he showered head to toe in the early morning and spiritually as I knew he has touched something of the spiritual realm). In the quietness of the night at 2:30 am, our boy softly recited, 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. 

He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever."

With that, I just knew in my heart that all is well. 

Some parents told me they do not think kids can understand spiritual things and even some say they let them choose when they get older. Our son was just 3 years old then, clearly, he knew what he did was wrong and something was bothering him that night. He seemed to figure out how a bath could help and I had to seal it with a prayer to make sure there be no more issue arising from his curiosity of disturbing a worship altar. 

Life for young families are full of daily fresh challenges, our kids are like little antennas ready to receive and broadcast what are in their hearts. They can be such "teachers" for their parents with their child-like faith. In our son’s mind, he thought a cleansing bath will get rid of the dirtiness. I am still amazed where did that come from. 

As to how our 3 years old could recite Bible verses, that itself is another story. I read somewhere that reciting the Bible is a good way to boost speech and memory. So I was teaching our eldest 5 years old Bible Verses during bedtime every night, starting with Psalm 23. I was not really teaching the 3 years old, it came as a bonus as he was listening in the whole time and one night he broke out reciting with the 5 years old brother.  

Psalm 8:2

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Matthew 21:16

Jesus answered, "have you never read: 'From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise?"

This incident happened in the year 2001 at J10 Taman Likas Jaya, our first house, after Malcolm was born (8 Nov 2000) and before Oct 2001 as we moved out of the old house at J10 Taman Likas Jaya. Wallace was about 3 years plus, so that could well be between April to October of 2001.

Bel's Drama Recording

This was Bel's first recording experience at a local studio in Damai. She was quite tense with the headphone and the microphone but she sang well.

Bel recording in RAM's Studio Damai for the Christmas Drama

Growing up pain and injury

Our dear Bel had a fall during early morning basketball practice session on 27 March 2015, form teacher called me at 7:20 am saying that she has been crying after the incident for quite some time and suggested that I took her home or to bring her to hospital.

It was a small fracture on the radius bone of left arm, tiny fracture but yet it has to be set in a cast. After review by the specialist on 30 March with another Xray taken, doctor concluded that she only needs to be in a cast for three weeks. This is a relief.

Sport injury is part of sportman's adventurous journey. Growing up pain does include fracture. All these are part of growing up journey.

Growing Wings and Flying soon

All the years of parenting, all the years of caring, tutoring, fetching, learning by both kids and parents, all have a singular purpose which is to see our kids ready to grow their own wings and flying off the nest. Oh, the nest, it shall be empty soon, well, half empty.

 One does not quite get prepared for this, no matter how much you plan or pray about it from the time that they were born and little. This day was just too far away, too long a journey to fathom as possible to have completed, too distant a destination to have arrived. There was a time, they seem to be so little, and that they were attached permanently to our apron's string, they just would not let go, but slowly and surely, one fine day, they cut the apron's string off and declared independence and they do not need us that much anymore. They asked for space, private space and to be left alone. There were dinners they did not want to join; holidays they rather be somewhere else with their friends and own kind; movie they declined to be with us. 

Our two boys who are in their teens will leave home for further studies soon. So much planning has been evolved around this. We realised that the parenting journey of hand-holding and coaching will come to an end, at least the part where we are coaching in person, living in the same house scenarios. We will begin the mentoring and away from home coaching stage soon.

Where have time gone ? Where have our youth gone ? In the midst of all these parenting and growing and nurturing our kids up, suddenly the next few years will be the summation of our parenting goals, the peak of our existence and the reason of our beings (as if we live just for our kids). But very soon after that summation and peak, is a steep slope where we cannot follow and just have to let go and let them try their own lives. It will also be a instant draining of our financial savings and planning.

There is a quotation about the bird having its confidence not on the branch that it sits that it will not break but should the branch breaks, it can trust its own wings to fly away. The moral of the quotation - always believe in yourself. Well, in this case, we have to believe in our kids to have grown a strong pair wings to fly away from home, fly higher above the storm and fly further to achieve their full potential in pursuit of their dream and fly off to start their very own life journey. 

We wish our dearest flesh and blood, a very good journey full of mercy and grace from God, protected and always in His love and care. And mum and dad will also have to embark on another journey where we have to learnt to live without you at our sides, to have a part of us living away and far from us, to have more time to ourselves and learn to cope with new challenges.

Bel's Private Lake

I always want my kids to be raised strong and ready for all the weather. I like them to try outdoor, be brave, run bare footed and catch butterflies and tadpoles. All that are not possible in the city. So when I brought Bel to Sapulut in November 2011, I did not expect her to get to do all that and more and thoroughly enjoyed herself and totally healthy and happy. 

It was raining heavily the night before, there was a paddle of water outside the center, just under the cross. Bel told me its a lake, "Mummy, can I play in the lake with them ? Please !"

Christabel's joyous moment at Sapulut on 27/11/2011.

Bel's private lake in Sapulut !

I think she finds that the outdoor fun in Sapulut is World Class standard. Catching butteflies, playing river sands, chasing the boys, swimming in her private lake ! She was 6 years old then, just joined GB for over a year.

 In this photo, she was completely wet, after playing in the "lake"!

Ha Ha ! I must confess I am not a normal mum, somehow I trust my 6 years old, she told me its ok and its safe ! She also added she wont get too wet (this she could not manage) ! I am pleased that she will come to me to ask to try new things ! 

She learnt so much in this trip about being Sabahans, having Native playmates, enjoying childhood. We even discovered how much she loved pets, especially cats. She actually begged to bring one cat home but it was not possible.