12.05.2010

i went for an interview for a post in the government sector today. you might heard before, that it's easy to get the job in the government..yes, it would be easy if there's someone who is sitting on top of the organization to approve your application. but if you are a second-class bumiputera (that's what we are labeled as) and go through the proper channel..all the interviews and exams, it could not be that easy.. unless you have 85% of luck on that particular day of your interview =) (those who went through this process before, will surely understand) well, it's not that i'm hoping for a new one, as i'm loving my job now..
however, there were reasons why i went..the main one was because, i do not want to give up. ok, let me tell you this. i have been called by the government for at least 9 times, of which i attended 5 interviews and 3 exams. can you imagine that?? and it's tiring, when in the end of the day, the answer i got is DUKACITA..and i want to prove that, one day, it will be SUKACITA =) apart from that, i would like to see how good i am in promoting myself ;D and to know if i have 85% of luck today.. somehow, after the interview today, i felt something different! the same feeling i felt during my previous successful interviews (of my current and previous job, of course!)..credits to my current company for the experiences i've gained. whatever the outcome of the interview, decision will be made when i need to make a decision =)

at this time, things getting more interesting and challenging at work..the new equipments to deal with, documentations and calculations and lots of trials to do..hmm, i'm loving it! =)

27.04.2010

what do i do, if i have a pack of oreo biscuit? hehe..

yes, Oreo Cheesecake it is!


i have never really tried this kind of oreo cheesecake recipe before..the last oreo cheesecake that i bake was a simpler one, where i used a piece of oreo as the base and a quarter of oreo on top of the cheese for garnish.

and, this time, i mixed the oreo with the cheese for a rich oreo cheesecake. :)

here's the recipe, i use to bake mine:

ingredient A- the crust:

5 pieces of oreo cookies
8 pieces of mcvites- digestive biscuits
1 tablespoon icing sugar
125g melted butter

1. crush digestive biscuits and 5 pieces of oreo together in to fine crumbs. then, mix in the icing sugar.
2. pour the melted butter into the mixture, and stir until they crumbs is evenly moistened.
3. press the mixture evenly into the bottom of a baking tin of appropriate size and put into the freezer for 10mins (or until you are done with the filling) to hardened.

ingredient B- the filling:

the remaining of the oreo cookies (crush them into smaller pieces but not fine)
250g cream cheese
50g softened butter
2 eggs
1/2 tsp of vanilla essence
100g icing sugar

1. beat cream cheese and butter and also the icing sugar until creamy.
2. add in the eggs, one at a time and vanilla essence into the mixture. the mixture will become smooth and glossy.
3. add in the coarse oreo cookies in to the mixture and mix to spread them evenly.
4. pour the mixture onto the hardened base and bake at 170 C for 30 mins.
5. after 30 mins, open the oven door and gently shake the tin, the filling should have a slight wobble. Let cool in the oven for 1 hours.
6. refrigerate your cheesecake overnight (or if beh tahan, refrigerate at least 4 hours)


then, you can enjoy you cheesecake, as soon as you wake up in the morning.

06.04.2010

do you know where to get the best banana cake?

as for me, the best that i've ever had, was from the puduraya bus station. and you must know which is the good one because not all banana cakes in puduraya bus station are good. choose the one where you can see lots of dancing little bananas on the plastic packaging. there was once, mom bought 15 (if i'm not mistaken) cakes, and we have a month's supply of banana cake. well, i'm not sure if they still have good banana cake, now..

it has been a while since i last baked a cake. if i'm not mistaken, my last one was during Christmas season, last year. i was so excited to bake my own fruit cake. i even soaked my mixed fruits in rum, a month ahead so that my fruit cake will be flavourful. hmm, but too bad, i failed. the cake does not look like a fruit cake at all. and did not taste good at all.. it was so discouraging! perhaps, it's not my time yet, haha. oh ya, i still have a bottle of mixed fruits soaked in rum. if anyone of you is interested with it, just tell me, i can pass the whole thing to you ;p


ok, back to my banana cake, hehe..i was browsing through nigella's website, searching for simple and easy cake recipe, to encourage me to start baking again..and i found a banana cake recipe. i dont even need my beater..

here's the recipe:

3 very ripe bananas
125 ml vegetable oil
2 eggs
250 g flour
100 g caster sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder

1 cup of raisins

methods:

1. preheat oven to 200 C
2. mash the bananas and set aside for a moment
3. pour the oil into a jug and beat the eggs
4. put the flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder into a large mixing bowl and mix in the beaten-egg-and-oil mixture, followed by the mashed bananas
5. fold in the raisins, then place equal quantities into the prepared baking tin/ muffin cup
6. bake in the oven for 45 mins

hot banana cake/ muffin is best enjoy with a cup of milo..ermm, coffee is good too! ;D

05.04.2010

He is risen! Alleluia!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia!
He is truly risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

May the risen Lord brings new hope in your life today.

BLESSED EASTER

29.03.2010

it has been sunny since chinese new year..erm, i think even before that.. there was no rain..not even a drop of water.. green grass became brown. even the water is hot (without the help of water-heater), early in the morning..

one of the bush-fire on our way to menumbok

there were lots of bush-fire..a small cigarette-butt can ignite fire and burn the whole bush. there was smoke. everywhere.
last friday, on our way back to Menumbok, there was another bush fire.


but, today..a good cool day. it rain! finally. the rain put smiles on everybody's face.. and the after-the-rain smell, smells so good! =)

28.03.2010

we had our extended-family gathering in menumbok yesterday. and it was a good one. at least we achieved some of the objectives, to get to know the family members. although not all families were able to join, but it was good to have those who were there. =)


a brief history about my ancestors (which just got to know in detail, recently). Teo Bu Yu (my great-great grandpa, four generations ahead of me) was originally from China, who sailed and arrived in the land of Borneo, specifically in Kuala Penyu. he got married to a local lady, a Dusun named Nuak Bandari Pasar and moved to Menumbok to settle there..that's where i got my Dusun blood. they had Teo Geok Kew (my great grandpa) and other children but i'm not sure how many are there because it was a little too complicated. according to ah ma, Teo Bu Yu went back to China once, with his son and left the child there..and no one knows what happened.
Teo Geok Kew was married to Tan Kee Chee and had 5 children, of which my grandpa was the first child. by the way, Tan Kee Chee was born of a chinese-dusun parents too. My grandpa was married to my ah ma, Tan Ah Yu, and my dad was the firstborn. =) and here i am today..born 25 years ago, 6 years after my dad married to my mom. :D

and today is also dad and mom's 32nd wedding anniversary. =) happy anniversary mom & dad!

15.03.2010

in my opinion, the happiest thing for a teacher, is to know that his/her students excel and doing well in studies as well as in their lives.

Clinton is my one and only boy student. i taught him Chemistry and Maths. he can understand with just one-time explanation. YES, he is a smart boy. but it's not easy to teach him or to make sure he does his homework. it's just that he needs constant reminder and do not have the initiative to do his own revision.

there were times when i had to drag myself for my sessions with him..and i'll feel good when he had to cancel classes..there was once, i let him waste his time and my time by doing ONLY 8 simple questions in one and a half hour..i almost gave up.. ok, perhaps i'm not a good teacher =|

well, he changed his attitude two months (if i'm not wrong..) before the exam, and i can see his changes and i know he wants a good results for a better future..although it's a last-minute preparation, but at least he did it.

last thursday, when i got to know his SPM results whereby he got an A for his Maths and B for his Chemistry (he never do well in his Chemistry, and the only exam he got credit was the first one, in Form4), i was so proud of him ..and i knew his parents, especially his mom is proud of him too. =)

soon, he will pursue his studies in audio engineering and i hope the best for him.