maameemoomoo

With the helper gone..

Feb 012012

Unbeknownst to most, it was actually our decision to let the helper go after 8 years of being a great help to us.

With the boys all grown up, it’s high time for the boys to learn the ropes of housekeeping and the concept of sharing responsibilities and to just be responsible. However, like i mentioned earlier on Twitter, it wasn’t the boys’ fault to begin with. For most parts, the responsibility was mine and i am to be blamed for what they are today. Ever since the helper arrived 8 years ago, i’ve been taking the back seat for most of the house chores except for cooking and baking + running endless errands. I closed both of my eyes when it comes to organizing the house and keeping things in order.

To begin with, i’m not that a fussy person to live with. As long as the house is cleaned and tidied daily, i don’t mind the rest. I was so comfortable with our daily arrangement that i sorta slipped into the back up parent role. I didn’t quite care if the boys didn’t make their beds in the morning, i didn’t care when they didn’t know how to do proper toys keeping after playing because very often, the boys will get shoo-ed by the helper just so she’ll help them to keep and i certainly didn’t give a damn when the boys changed a few sets of clothing daily.

Because..

She was there to take care of everything. :x

It wasn’t planned this way at all before we got the helper. Things just got very comfortable and given how good and reliable the helper was, everything just slipped into auto pilot mode without us realizing. Sigh.

But what i really minded was how well the boys are taught, behaved and conduct themselves. I’m absolutely a tigress when it comes to disciplining educating (new word learned). I accept no brats in the house. I have zero tolerance to children who whine, throw tantrums, cry anyhow and scream their lungs out be it for fun or for requesting for something. That, i took care of it pretty well. Oh, and the part of being independent too. Seeking help oh so often will certainly get me roaring out loud. So yeah, they are pretty ok, to the point where friends get rather impressed with the things they do for themselves.

So now the $1 question.

Why let the maid go when everything seems OK?

Well, to us and their grandparents, the boys are not doing good enough. Basic chores eg, floor cleaning has not been mastered etc. And what made the grandfather really ticked was when the boys left their clothes on the floor every time they shower/ change because the grandfather saw that as an irresponsible act. As their mom, i got the blame mostly.

As time passes, i realized things were not getting any better despite countless warnings and punishments. Something gotta give, we thought, and so the helper must go because we were simply too reliable on her.

Apart from above, it was largely because we were living a too comfortable life (need not do house chores!) as well. The grandpop thought we ish no setting good example to the boys, which was quite true to certain extent. Haha! Also, the thought of having strawberry children never fails to send shudders to my spine. EWWww! I like my boys tough but kind and can rough it out sort especially during bad times, not the opposites. Hence, our decision.

So what happens now that the helper is gone?

It has been almost 3 weeks since the helper left us.

So i cried for 2 days. Not because of anything, but for our friendship. We had lived pretty well together. I saw her more than i saw Darcy. I laughed with her more than i laughed with Darcy. We ate countless meals together. We get excited over food i cooked/baked. No one, no one else shares my passion for food (be it eating/cooking/baking) as much as her. Geez, we even squatted down together in front of the oven many times oohing and aahing over my bakes! If she were a man, i dare say she was the perfect man for me. I once had this prolong crazy thought that i could live with the boys with her without Darcy but i cannot live with the boys with Darcy without her. Heh. Insane right? But she was that important to me, not too long ago.

8 years… 24/7… heck, even some marriages don’t last this long!

As of this second, i’m quite loving the time i spend with the family and on the house. :)

If you read my previous posts 3-4 months back, i was complaining quite a bit on how busy i was with the mini makeover i did for the house. I basically upgraded the house to somewhat liveable. I spring cleaned the entire house, re-arranged stuff my way and labeling almost everything for both the boys and my convenience. I even painted the whole house just so i don’t get frustrated seeing the ugly walls on daily basis after she leaves. In short, the house is now a home. Cleaning it daily ain’t so bad anymore, compare to last time whenever the helper went back for home leave – it was a total mess. I cursed and swore everyday! Haha.

Till today, i haven’t quite swept/mopped the floor, let alone washing the bathrooms.The boys have been doing it for me. ;)

Every Saturday morning is our house cleaning day but sweeping is a daily affair for the boys. Apart for sweeping, they have their own tasks to complete on daily basis. Of course, nagging is inevitable but on the bright side, they will execute it at once when i ask. Not too shabby eh? But usually, i won’t take the nagging path if possible (i condemn nagging and i dislike to be nagged at) because pretending to be the damsel in distress works much better. Hahahaaa!

What really takes the cake is how much love they have for me now.

Seeing how hard i work daily, they will volunteer themselves to help with my tasks, massage my shoulders without asking, demand that i go to bed at certain timing even though i’ve not completed some chores, helping me to sound each other out when they are found dirtying/messying up the house etc. In a nutshell, they are extremely protective of me now and highly sensitive towards my moods and feelings. They can emphatize, symphatize and they care.

Despite the hectic and tough life i have now, i feel very complete. I feel good. I feel accomplished. I ermm.. finally feel like a mother. *hide*

As for the in laws and Darcy, they dote on me/us so much more than before. Now i get a full day off even without asking! ;)

The downside?

I get pretty lonely at times, especially when Darcy stays out at night due to work / volleyball commitment. During the daytime, i long for another adult’s company and conversation (yeahhh, that’s why i’ve been more active on the social media these days!). But! I reckon i’ll survive. I’m probably not used to it yet… AHEM. But being alone without the kiddos is another story altogether ok? That, i LIKE!
(this is why you must not stop dating me okay? you will help to keep me.. sane. grin. me busy? yes of course, but housework can always wait!)

So yupyupyup, one door in our lives has closed and another has opened up… We are definitely on the right track this year! *fingers crossed*

ps : the helper wishes to work for me again, as soon as next month. sigh. i don’t quite know how to reject her yet. hopefully i can find someone nice for her before the 2 weeks’ up!

pps : hopefully when i’m more or less settled down, i can swing by to say hello more often at your blogs. but for now, ermm…. there’s this Chinese saying, wanna poop also no time ah! LOL!

Nihari Ghost / Nihari Gosht

friends, homecooking 6 Responses »

Feb 012012

I know this is not my usual style/food post but this recipe is too awesome not to be posted up for my future reference! (yup, it’s for myself again :P)

Having just returned from India then, i was all in the mood for anything Indian.. Indian food, Indian-inspired outfits, Indian-looking earrings — okaay, this one is authentic since i bought them from New Delhi itself. Then, some of the *ahem* thick skin friends (but you know i like you like this right? right?! Heeee!) requested for a guinea pig session after i posted some food pictures from India on Instagram (my ID : maameemoomoo) which i said i was gonna try cooking them. And i thought, why not?

I love hosting, i enjoy cooking/baking and i cherish these friends’ companies, so within a day or two, a Christmas lunch was arranged.

If you have hosted before, you’ll know how crazy it is in the kitchen. What more, an Indian theme Christmas lunch. It was OH EM GEE. SooOOOOOOoooo much work i tell ya!

For the first time, i actually spent the whole day preparing in the kitchen. Yeah, my first time. I’m usually a very fast worker. For me, most food preparation take only a couple of hours max but NOT Indian food, especially this insanely delicious Nihari Ghost.

Nihari Ghost (Lamb or mutton shanks infused with garlic)

1kg boneless lamb/mutton leg
16 tsp garlic paste, ground very fine*

For the masala

10-12 tbsp ghee
4 tsp red chili powder
16 tsp coriander seed powder
12 tsp ginger paste*
salt to taste
2 1/2 cup water
6 tsp flour (maida)
1 cup milk
1/3 cup chili paste, blended from dried chili (optional)

For the baghar (flavouring)

12 tbsp ghee
1 cup onion, finely diced
12 cloves, powdered
12 green cardamoms, powdered
20 peppercorns, powdered
4 cinnamon sticks, 2″
1 tsp lemon juice

Method

1. Boil the lamb in 1 cup of water for 15 minutes. Drain the meat pieces and keep aside, reserving the stock. Add the finely ground garlic paste to stock and stir well. Use later to bhunao.
2. For the masala : Heat ghee, add the red chili powder, coriander seed powder and ginger paste. Add salt and bhunao, adding the garlic stock a little at a time. Continue until the stock is consumed. Add the meat pieces and 2 1/2 cups of water. Dilute the flour in milk and add to meat. Cook on very low heat, stirring regularly until the meat becomes tender. Remove from heat and keep aside.
3. For the baghar : In a separate pan, heat ghee, add onions and saute until golden brown. Remove with slotted spoon to make paste (yes, you have to make paste with this). Add the onion paste to the meat and stir well. Reduce heat to low and in the same ghee, add the clove powder, cardamom powder, peppercorn powder and cinnamon sticks. Immediately add to the meat. Stir. Add the lemon juice, stirring regularly until meat is tender. (i took 2.5 hours to cook till the meat is tender)

(adapted from Art of Indian Cuisine, Rocky Mohan)

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What we had -

Starter

Keropok Special from Malaysia
Stollen

Mains

Nihari Ghost
Matar Paneer
Cucumber Raita
Basmati Rice

Dessert

Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream
Yogurt with honey (but everyone was too stuffed to try this. Teeheee!)

And of course, wines from the friends!

After slaving in the kitchen one whole day preparing all the above, i was totally knocked out to do any decent photo taking. The next morning before the friends arrived, it was flower buying time. I went to 3 different locations just for the roses. I’m mad, am i not? Hahaaaa! But you know, it was worth the 1.5 hours trip. To me, hosting = good food + flowers. ;) So again, no photo taking. All i did then was to chill with the friends over food and wine, but not before i snapped this one precious picture (above), just to remember how Nihari Ghost looked like. :)

So why this very specific Nihari Ghost despite its laborious work?

On our last day in India at the airport, after roaming around almost the whole floor of eateries, this was what we had – Nihari Ghost. It was so good that i actually walked back to the stall and asked for the dish’s name.

Never mind i got laughed at by the girl behind the counter for my pronunciation, i mean, how else will you pronounce ghost (?!?!) other than ghost?

Never mind i got stared at in a very strange way by other customers, for asking the dishes’ names and writing them down at the same time.

Importantly, i got the names of the dishes that i wanted to know. ;)

Chor Yee : Potato, Onion and Gruyère Galette

pies & tarts 10 Responses »

Jan 242012

This year’s Lunar New Year is a little strange.

It never used to be this quiet. Chor Yat and Chor Yee are visiting days. Sometimes, even Chor Sam too! But not this year. Perhaps it is because everyone knows that i’m without helper now so they don’t quite dare to jio me that much anymore? (i sure hope this is not the case, because with helper or without, i still wanna be jio! :P) Or perhaps because the older relatives are getting fewer as years pass, so we have less visiting to do? Whatever it is, i kinda miss it but at the same time, i also welcome the eng time i have to myself, especially today.. when i can finally whip up something decent in the kitchen again. :)

Oh!

Before i forget… LOOK!!

My gorgeous 梅花 -mei hua (Plum Blossom)!

Few days ago when i lugged this pot home, most of the flowers were rather small and hardly attractive. But came yesterday morning, it was a different story altogether. They were all blooming so beautifully! I actually sat down in front of the pot for a couple of good minutes just to admire it. Aaaaaahhh… so gorgeous them. *smile*

Anyway, back to Chor Yee, today.

So early in the morning, okayyy, not really that early because it was already 10am (don’t we all love weekends and public holidays?) by the time i woke up, i told Darcy that i’ll whip up something decent when he suggested to bring the kiddos out to McDonald’s for breakfast.

I’ve been meaning to bake this for the longest time. The flaky dough was first sitting in the freezer. Then a week ago, i brought it out to thaw, with the intention to bake this but alas, i didn’t. Since then, it had been in the chiller, just waiting.. till i found time for it. Terrible am i not? In out, out down, down in.. seriously?! Pssttt, and it doesn’t just happen to this particular flaky dough! :P

Potato, Onion and Gruyère Galette

Ingredients

For flaky tart dough, see here. Just halve the recipe in there.

Filling
1 large onion (12 ounces), thinly sliced
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
5 grinds black pepper
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme or rosemary
4 ounces Gruyère cheese, grated (i used Aged Cheddar)
1 pound red potatoes (i mixed both purple and red potatoes)

To Finish
1 tablespoon olive oil
Pinch kosher salt
3 grinds black pepper

For Serving (optional)
Crème fraiche
Golden caviar

Method

1 Advance Preparation: Roll the prepared dough into a 13-inch round, transfer to a parchment- or silicone-lined baking sheet, and chill for 1 hour. Preheat oven to 400°F and position an oven rack in the lower third.

2 Make the filling: Heat the sauté pan over a medium-high flame. Add the olive oil and when it is hot, add the onion slices to the pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and lightly colored, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the salt, pepper, and chopped thyme or rosemary and blend well. Scrape onto a plate and set aside to cool. Wash the potatoes and pat dry, but don’t peel them. Cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices.

3 Assemble the galette: Mix together the cooled onion mixture, grated cheese, and potato slices. Spread the mixture over the prepared pie dough, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border around the edges. Drizzle with the remaining olive oil and sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Fold just the border of the dough up around the filling, pleating it to make a pretty, circular enclosure, leaving the center open. In a small bowl, beat the egg with a fork. Lightly brush the pleated dough with the egg to give it shine and help it brown in the oven.

4 Bake the galette for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the potatoes are soft when tested with a paring knife or skewer. Check the bottom of the galette for doneness by lifting slightly with a metal spatula. Transfer to a rack to cool for 5 to 10 minutes.

5 Transfer the galette to a serving plate with a cake lifter or two spatulas, or the bottom of a tart pan slipped underneath to keep it from breaking as you move it. Slice and serve warm.

(adapted from The Art & Soul Baking, Sur La Table)

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Verdict?

My perfect lunch on a very free day.. ;)

Purple Sweet Potato Cookies with Sesame Seeds

cookies & brownies, festive yummies 5 Responses »

Jan 212012

I know what you are thinking!

Yup, the purple is back. Hahaha.. but fret not, you might, just might see this colour once this year, promise.. unless i’m feeling creative or craving for something purple. :)

I actually made this last year too but instead of using purple sweet potato, i used the usual orange hue ones. I have zero intention to bake any Chinese New Year goodies this year but since i had a few purple sweet potatoes sitting around in the fridge, i thought why not, especially when i had promised AromaCookery some of these since last year’s CNY. *facepalm*

Thankfully i could still squeeze out an hour or two to bake this despite the crazy schedule. What i did was, sacrifice one of my precious yoga sessions. ;)

Purple Sweet Potato Cookies with Sesame Seeds

165g flour
1/2 cup sweet potato puree
1 egg
120g butter
85g caster sugar
85g sesame seeds – i mixed both white and black
1 tsp vanilla

Method

1. Cream butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and whisk well.
2. Add flour and puree. Mix well.
3. Mix in sesame seeds and rum. Shape it into a roll or log. Refrigerate for at least half hour.
4. Cut dough into 0.5cm thick. Place them on greased baking tray and bake at 180C for 15 minutes.

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Looking at the ingredients, one can tell that this cookie is somewhat pretty kind to the waistline eh? ;)

And quite nutritious too!

As I love sesame seeds like crazy, especially the black ones, i thought the addition of them into the cookies would go swimmingly well with the potatoes and it did. The seeds totally elevated the level of addiction to the cookies but at the same time, it sorta robbed away the sweet potato taste too unfortunately. What you can do is to cut down on the sesame seeds but personally, i won’t do that because i love the cookies as it is for now. ;)

Sharp eyes you might find the photos a little different this time round especially the lighting. That’s because i’ve got a new ‘workstation’!

After going through some of the photos, methinks the old ‘workstation’ is still better, plus, the old workstation puts me into styling mood better too. New workstation is a tad squeezy for me, i no like.

Last but not least…