Moist Banana Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250g butter
2. 1/2 cup brown sugar
3. 4 eggs (room temperature)
4. 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence
5. 1 cup of home-brewed soya milk
6. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 3 cups of self-raising flour (sieved twice)
8. 8 ripe bananas (mashed)
9. A teaspoon of oats

*Note: Bananas contain amines.

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1. Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.

2. Gradually add the beaten eggs one at a time while continuously stirring the mixture.

3. Add mashed bananas into mixture bit by bit while stirring continuously.

4. Then add the sieved flour and soya milk alternately while mixing continuously until everything is thoroughly mixed.

5. Preheat oven at 190C.

6. Pour mixture into 2 round baking pans which are lined with baking paper.

7. Sprinkle some oats on the mixture before baking the cake.

8. Bake at 190C for 10 minutes. Then bake at 170C for about 20 minutes.

9. Allow to cool.

Bon appétit!

Before baking.

Fresh from the oven!

Exhausted

So exhausted,
Just can't get started,
Right on cue, the Cloud of Fatigue farted,
Mighty jaded.

Life is such a drag,
I want to just wave the white flag,
It has made my spirit sag,
I feel like I'm running in zig-zags.

Eden seems so far away,
The road is simply filled with decay,
I'm like a whale dancing a ballet,
Who ends up facing doomsday.

Rusted
Deflated
Dented
Haunted
Stunted
Exhausted.

One Kid Too Many!

'When are you going to have another kid? He's EIGHT already!'

Like as if I do not know that my son is eight already.

'He'll grow up to be selfish and conceited. If he had a sibling he'll learn how to SHARE!'

You want me to give you examples of people who have a multitude of siblings but yet grow up to be conceited pigs? They have siblings as vast as the sand but their motto is still I, ME and MINE!

'He'll be so lonely. At least with a sibling he won't feel so lonely.'

Seriously? I've seen how siblings hate each other to the point that they cut all ties! And if they could cut each others' throats, they would! Alone does not mean LONELY! You can be surrounded by a multitude of people and YET still feel VERY lonely and alone.

'Your son is so handsome! You should have a daughter so that she can be the next Miss Universe!'

Are you for real??!! You mean I have a button somewhere about my body that I can press to choose 'BEAUTIFUL' or 'UGLY'??!! REALLY???

And don't get me started on people who do not LISTEN when I tell them that I have a medical condition that puts me at very high risk if I get pregnant again.

'You must have faith! If Abraham and Sarah could have Isaac at the age of 100, what more you!'

Aiyah, for God's sake, please shut up.

Which brings me to my next point.

I have THREE kids at home. Not the bleating type of kids. REAL kids. Human kids. Three male kids.

Don't believe me? Let me show you the conversations that I have with my 'three kids' everyday.

For easy reading, I shall name them Do-Re-Mi.

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Do

Do is the oldest of this pack of three. He is supposed to be the leader. The one that I can rely on. *Guffaws*

Day 1 Morning:

Me: Remember to wipe the door once you're done showering.

Do: Ok.

Me: (5 minutes later) Did you wipe the door like I asked you to?

Do: OMG! I forgot!

Day 1 Evening:

Me: Remember to wipe the door once you're done showering.

Do: Ok.

Me: (5 minutes later) Did you wipe the door like I asked you to?

Do: OMG! I forgot!

Day 2 Morning:

Me: Remember to wipe the door once you're done showering. 

Do: Ok. 

Me: (5 minutes later) Did you wipe the door like I asked you to?

Do: OMG! I forgot!

Day 2 Evening:

Me: Remember to wipe the door once you're done showering.

Do: Ok.

Me: (5 minutes later) Did you wipe the door like I asked you to?

Do: OMG! I forgot!

Day 3 Morning:

Me: Remember to wipe the door once you're done showering. 

Do: Ok. 

Me: (5 minutes later) Did you wipe the door like I asked you to?

Do: OMG! I forgot!

Day 3 Evening:

Me: Remember to wipe the door once you're done showering.

Do: Ok.

Me: (5 minutes later) Did you wipe the door like I asked you to?

Do: OMG! I forgot!

Day 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 20, 58, 101.... c'est la même chose 

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Re

Re loves to mumble. Anything that is spoken to him is replied with mumbling. Mumble here, mumble there, mumble everywhere. Re is also very absent minded.

This happened today.

Re: (On his way out to work) *mumbles... mumbles....mumbles* Where did I put my car-keys?

Me: Huh? What do you mean? Aren't they at their usual place?

Re: *mumbles... mumbles...* They are not here!

Me: WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU DROPPED YOUR KEYS??!! WHERE??

Re: I don't know. I came back with my food. I locked the car door..... 

Me: Are you sure you locked the door??!!

Re: I'm not sure. I think so. I can't remember. The door is locked. 

Me: Think hard. Where was the last time you saw your keys?

Re: I don't know. 

Me: WHAT??!!! 

And Re and I went for a frantic 'treasure hunting' all over the house, the lawn, the porch, the shoe case, the FRIDGE, the dustbins, to where his car keys could have dropped into. NO KEYS TO BE SEEN ANYWHERE!

Me: How can your car keys just disappear into thin air???

Re: I don't know.

Me: (In exasperation and panic mode) Are you high on something or what?!! (Even though I know he does not do drugs. He does not even drink or smoke!!)

Re: OF COURSE NOT!

Me: Then where are they???!!!

Re: *mumbles... mumbles...*

I went to all possible and IMPOSSIBLE places looking for them while Re decides to call the car dealer to change his car lock just in case someone did pick the keys from the roadside and knows which car it is! Lo and behold, I found the keys in between this pile of papers in a container behind the bananas! 

Me: AREN'T THESE YOUR KEYS?!!

Re: OMG!! Where did you find them?

Me: Here! (Pointing to the papers) Why would they be here? How can they be here? OMG! What is happening????

Re: I don't know. I don't remember! How could they be there??!!

Me: (OMG! Now I'm mumbling!)  *mumbles... mumbles....*

(I'm completely soaked in sweat from the panic, pumped up from the adrenaline (no usage of Epi-Pens at all!) and vigorous 'treasure hunt'.)

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Mi

Scene 1

Me: Make sure you pack up your bag and toys before you go to bed.

Mi: Ok, mommie. 

(1/2 hour later, NOTHING is packed)

Me: (In screaming mode) WHY ISN'T ANYTHING PACKED UP??!!

Mi: Oh I forgot.

Scene 2

Me: When you're done with your drink, place the drinking bottle at the kitchen sink. Make sure you remember. 

Mi: Ok, mommie.

(1/2 hour later)

Me: (In screaming mode) WHY IS THE BOTTLE AT THE STAIRCASE??!!

Mi: Oh I forgot.

Scene 3

Me: (In school, on the way to the car) Did you bring back your jacket from school?

Mi: Yes, mommie.

Me: (At home) Where's your jacket? I want to wash it. It's not in the bag. 

Mi: Oh, I forgot to pack it mommie.

Mi: OMG!!!!! Then why did you say that it was in your bag when I asked you??!!

Mi: I forgot. 

Me: *mumbles....mumbles.....mumbles....*

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Therefore, no one can say that I have only one kid. I have three. THREE MALES who are more than a handful. I tell my 'kids' that anaphylaxis won't be the thing that will kill me. THEY will kill me! HAHA! 

Oh yeah, there was something else which I wanted to tell you all. But I guess, I forgot. 

Let me think.... 

*mumbles... mumbles... mumbles.................*

Feed the Flu with Chicken Soup!

Ever since we fell sick with the influenza b and THEN the viral and bacterial infection, the chicken soups have been keeping us nourished.

We've been drinking soup every single day until at the mere mention of soup, I will shudder and my stomach will churn at the sound of the word 'soup'.

Below is one of the soups we had during the one month duration of being sick!

Ingredients:

1. 1 whole free-range chicken cut into 4 parts. (skin removed)
2. 4 medium sized potatoes (outer layer removed)
3. 2 carrots (outer layer removed and cut into chunks)
4. Sea-salt
5. Filtered water (about 3 litres)

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1. Put ingredients 1 to 3 into a large pot.

2. Fill water into the pot until all ingredients are submerged.

3. Boil on high heat until water starts bubbling. Then turn down to low heat and boil for about 2 hours.

4. Add sea-salt to taste.

Bon appétit!

Slurp it up to fight the flu!

Rich Vanilla Butter Cake

Ingredients:

1. 250gm of softened butter (salted)
2. 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
3. 6 eggs (room temperature)
4. 1 cup of soft, brown sugar
5. 3 cups of organic self-raising flour
6. 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
7. 1 1/2 cup of soya milk (room temperature)

___________________________________________________
1. Preheat oven at 180C.

2. Pour all the ingredients into a large mixing bowl.

3. Beat ingredients until thoroughly mixed.

4. Pour the mixture into two round baking pans lined with baking paper.

5. Bake for about 15 minutes at 180C and then at 170C for 10 minutes.

Bon appétit!

I made 2 cakes. This cake is for my parents. The other one is undecorated. 

100% Home-Baked Cashew Nuts!

Ingredients:

1. 500gms raw cashew nuts

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1. Wash the cashew nuts throughly under running water.

2. Pour them into a pasta drainer and drain all water away.

3. Pour them onto a tray lined with kitchen towels and pat them dry.

4. Preheat oven at 200C.

5. Line baking tray with baking paper.

6. Spread cashew nuts evenly onto baking tray.

7. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cashews turn golden brown.

8. Allow to cool before keeping in an airtight container.

Bon appétit!

PS: Yes, I can FINALLY eat nuts!!!!!!!!!!!! HAHAHA!!

The Mighty Flu

It comes

It lingers

It gives you the shivers.

It strikes

It bites
Fight it, with all your might!

It makes your nose leak

And leaves you feeling mighty weak

You don't even have the voice to speak.

You can't sleep 

It makes you curse words,

That must be bleeped.

Downtrodden 

Everything forgotten

Oh how the mighty have fallen!

Everything has frozen, 

While the knives glisten,

Be haste, strike while it is stricken!

Another Round at the Hospital & A Conversation with Little Miss Doctor!

Yesterday, Joel and I had gotten worse. The never-ending-spiking-fever which he had since Monday night had rose to 104.3F! I, on the other hand felt a cold in my chest and as though weights have been placed on my chest. I felt that it was getting difficult to breathe.

By 9 something in the morning, we went to the hospital. There was the usual long waiting list at Joel's pediatrician's clinic. And the doctor on call at the ER had a patient with a severe, full-blown heart attack! The doctor had to accompany the patient to another hospital in the ambulance as he wasn't stable. This hospital is not equipped to admit such cases. Thus, we had to wait for another doctor to attend to us.

Joel had a blood test and the results showed that he had a bacterial infection! He was placed on a 5-day-antibiotics treatment. He finally slept through last night after waking at every single night from the raging fevers.

--------------------------------------------

Finally it was my turn to see the doctor. Here are the excerpts of the conversation:

Little Miss Doctor: You had high fever?

Me: No. I only have low-grade fever. My son has very high fever. It started on Monday night and he is currently still burning. (We haven't received his blood test results at this point of time.)

LMD: Have you had this before?

Me: I don't know what I have now. But both my son and I had Influenze B last month and we fully recovered 2 weeks ago.

LMD: Did you finish your Tamiflu?

Me: I did not take Tamiflu. But my son finished his Tamiflu.

LMD: (In an appalled tone) Why did you not take the Tamiflu????

Me: I have a condition called Idiopathic Anaphylaxis. I basically have no idea what can kill me or save/heal me.

LMD: (In an irritated tone) What drugs are you allergic to?

Me: NSAIDs, painkillers, panadol, aspirin...

LMD: (With eyes as wide as teacup saucers) WHAT??!! PANADOL??!!

Me: Yes, P.A.N.A.D.O.L! (which is basically paracetamol)

LMD: What about antibiotics?

Me: Bactrim. Sometimes I am able to take medications for the first time. The second time round, I have an allergic reaction.

LMD: (Gives me the look as if I am LYING and says in a matronly and condescending tone) Well, since you did not take Tamiflu, you still might be having Influenza B.

Me: But I recovered and was symptom-free for 2 weeks. The raging fever stopped. In fact, I have not had fever since then, until now. I thought our body is able to fight the influenza virus on its own? I know that it takes longer to recover without Tamiflu. What about people who are allergic to Tamiflu? How do they overcome the viral fever then?

LMD: Ignores my questions AND statements, glares at me and barks out orders to the nurse to give a chest X-Ray, swab for Influenza A & B, blood tests.)

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While I was on the sick bed, behind the curtains at the sick bay waiting for my blood to be drawn, I could feel her irritation as she continued to bark out orders to the nurses. I asked the nurse as she drew my blood (and LMD was within earshot) who this doctor was. I even asked whether she was some locum doctor. (She must have been super-pissed when she heard that! I was super-extremely pissed at her!) Apparently she is a full-time doctor at the hospital!

As a person with this truly pain-in-the-ass condition, I cannot understand why doctors think that I am spewing out crap just to make their job difficult. Do you think I enjoy living my life like this???? Whatever happened to being compassionate to your patients? If you don't have compassion and you think you know everything, you're a sad case of a doctor! Your ignorance, stupidity, arrogance and cold-indifferent attitude will kill your patients sooner or later. You should resign and look for another job where human contact is at a minimal.

Ask yourself, who in their right mind would want to go through sickness, by prolonging it and suffering from the maximum effects of not being able to take medication??? I am certainly not one. I have no choice. I could experiment, but could you guarantee that I will not keel over and die (or worse end up in a comatose state!)

To all doctors out there, please think before you judge us. We are no longer in the medieval times where someone who does something or lives out of the ordinary is a witch, whose end is at the stake, to be burned alive. We have advanced. We have knowledge. We are supposed to be smarter. Allergies, sensitivities, anaphylaxis and idiopathic anaphylaxis are real. People like me are real. We exist. Somewhere along the line, our immune system got screwed up. Instead of wasting your time (and mine) asking and making stupid questions and remarks, go and read up and talk to specialists and doctors who are experts in this line.

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As I was waiting for my results, the usual ER doctor came back! Hallelujah!!!!!! Though he has never met someone like me, he understands and accepts and always tries to accommodate me where treatment and medications are concerned. And he LISTENS! And remembers what I tell him about my condition.

My results showed that I have a severe viral flu. Not influenza (as the swabs both came back negative), but a viral flu. My platelet and white blood cells are so low that the doctor thought that I have dengue! Luckily, the dengue test came back negative! Thank god!

Joel and I have been weakened tremendously by the Influenza B. When I went to the pharmacist to collect my antihistamines and nasal sprays, the pharmacist thought that I had Influenza! I told her that was last month. This month is another viral attack. She told me that many in the hospital were down with the influenza. One of her colleagues had the influenza in October last year. And it takes a few months for the immune system to be back in tip-top condition! And in-between, we will fall sick more than usual! I went, "WHAT??!!! You mean to say that this isn't going to be the last attack????" The thing is, Joel's pediatrician and the nice ER doctor told us the same thing!

Oh my god....

Back At Square One

We've only just recovered,

Barely two weeks ago,

And now we're back at where we started,

Revolting even at the thought of gumbo.

We've only just recovered,

Still tired and weak,

But not the least bothered,

As our air was no longer bleak.

We're back at square one,

In battle with a virus again,

Our immune system being guzzled by a glutton,

Trapped inside a bullpen.

We're back at square one,

We're hit left, right and centre,

By fatigue, fever, flu and we've fallen,

It seems worn and torn, our armour.

We're in the thick of the battle,

Where good food and sleep are our weapons,

And that we're normal for feeling mighty mortal,

Secretly, we're loading our canons.

We're screaming out the mighty battle cry,

Knowing well in our hearts that 'shit happens'

We'll collect our treasure at Mount Sinai,

And we'll just step over a thousand mighty canyons.

We'll say goodbye to the fool

Who said 'You've caught a cold,

'Because of the ice inside your soul'

Our healing will be two-fold, five-fold and ten-fold,

And our health will be our stronghold,

Now and forevermore. 

Lightly Salted, Garlic Rice

Ever since I fell sick this second time, I have been craving for garlic rice! Not fried garlic rice, but cooked lightly salted, garlic rice.

Ingredients:

1. 4 cups of sushi rice
2. 1/2 bulb of garlic (outer layer intact) (wash the outer layer under running water to remove soil and dust)
3. 1/2 teaspoon of sea-salt
4. 2 1/2 cups of filtered water
5. Butter (If you want it to be buttery. My stomach isn't able to take anything oily at the moment)

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1. Wash rice under running water twice in rice pot.

2. Pour the 2 1/2 cups of filtered water into the pot.

3. Add the salt and stir to mix thoroughly with the rice and water.

4. Add the garlic cloves.

5. Cook the rice for 15 minutes on high heat and 15 minutes on medium low heat.

6. Serve hot with dishes.

Bon appétit!

Viral Infection... AGAIN!

Joel and I have caught another virus. Our immune system is still down after the influenza b infection. Thus the susceptibility to another infection.  We've been having simple food such as steam chicken, leafy veggie and ABC chicken soup.

Container Garden - An Update

Baby grasshopper!

The yam plant!

One of the three cucumbers in the garden! My first ever successful plant!

The okras are flourishing!

The garden soldier fly grubs who are composting machines. They chomp away at my decomposing food and produce compost for my garden! Amazing!

Terry the FAT toad sunbathing!

Spinach harvest!

Abundant spring onion harvest!

An Oleander Hawk Caterpillar in the process of turning into a pupa.

2 Orange Dog Caterpillars on the lime tree.

A Swallowtail butterfly on the orange tree.

3 EPI-PENS in Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya

There were 5 Epi-Pens in Sime Darby Medical Centre Subang Jaya when I called up yesterday. I went there early this morning and got 2. They have 3 left this morning. The expiry date is June 2014. If you are in need of Epi-Pens, better be quick!

Soft Butter Buns

Ingredients:

1. 3 1/2 cups of organic unbleached all-purpose flour
2. 2 teaspoons of instant yeast
3. 4 tablespoons of soft brown sugar
4. 100gms of butter (softened at room temperature)
5. 1 1/4 cups of warm soy milk (click here for soybean milk recipe)

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1. Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix and knead into a soft and smooth dough.

2. Cover the bowl with a cling wrap or damp towel. Allow the dough to rise for 60 to 90 minutes or until it has doubled in bulk.

3. Punch the dough back down.

4. Divide the dough into equal round pieces.

5. Roll the dough in between your palms into a smooth ball.

6. Place the buns in a baking tray.

7. Allow the buns to rise until they are crowded against each other.

8. Preheat oven at 180C.

9. Bake the buns for about 1/2 hour or until golden brown.

10. Allow to slightly cool before serving them warm.

Bon appétit!