Cream Cheese Pound Cake

I usually make butter pound cake. But once I had some cream cheese, so I went to look for a recipe online and found this at grouprecipes.com. This is a simple recipe that I've tried a few times. And each time in turned out great. It's really easy to make with only a few ingredients. One of my neighbour at Unimews gave me some bubur jagung today, so I thought it would be a nice gesture to give her some cake. Since I'm travelling tomorrow, I'm going to take some with me on the flight cause I'm sure the food is not going to be great. The cake taste as lovely as always, especially when it's fresh out of the oven.

Ingredients
125 g butter or margarine, softened.
125 g package cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp.vanilla
1 1/2 cups sifted self raising flour

Directions
1. Grease and flour a 10" tube pan or a 12-cup bundt pan.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
3. Beat butter and cream cheese together until well-blended.
4. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
5. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6. Blend in vanilla. Sift flour and salt together and blend into the creamed mixture.
7. Bake 1 hour 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted 1" from edge comes out clean.


Hot out of the oven

Relief

I have been trying to get the application to built my protoype in order before leaving for a short break. I wanted to submit it two weeks ago but I had to make minor changes to the drawing. Since it was Easter last week, my supervisor and Gil, the technician who's going to help me fabricate the wing, were on vacation. So I had to put it on hold for another week. This morning my supervisor finally signed the request form. Then I went to see Gil at the workshop and handed him the drawings. So I'm all set. Alhamdulillah. The only thing left for me to do is get the Nitinol wire from AGR Matthey. I've e-mailed them before Easter and called them last week to request a quotation but I have not receive any feedback. If I don't hear from them by the end of the day I just might go the hq in Thomastown.

Shrimp and Avocado Pasta

As always when I run out of cooking ideas, I will go online to search for one. Meals.com is one of my favourites and I've been using it for more than five years now. There's a lot of simple recipes and it helps you find a recipe using ingredients that you have at home. So I went searching for a recipe with avocados as they are now in season. I found a pasta recipe which looks easy enough to make. It turned out to be quite delicious and Zade loves it too. Yummy!


The shrimp and avocado pasta

The ingredients are:
Olive oil
Garlic
Basil
Shrimp
Avocado
Salt
Cooked pasta

Zade's New Wheels

I'm sure most parents are dependent on prams and strollers, especially those who travel a lot or take the public transport regularly. For new parents, to decide on the right one can be pretty daunting given the selection available in the market. And the price starts from as low as RM50 and it goes up to thousands of ringgit - the average price of a Buggaboo pram is about RM6000. And I'm sure that there are more expensive ones on the market.

Anyway, Zade's first pram that he still uses till today is the Graco Winnie the
Pooh Travel System with Snug Ride. I actually bought it in US just before I graduated in 2004. I wasn't even pregnant back then. I knew how expensive prams are in Malaysia and so I decided to get one there as it is much cheaper. It cost me about USD150 which was a really good deal. It comes with an infant carrier which doubles as car seat. Zade used the infant carrier till he was about 6 months after which I had to get a bigger car seat. So do I like it? Absolutely. It has excellent handling qualities, the seat is easy to recline, it has a huge basket and it's very easy to fold. However it has one major drawback. It is very bulky and quite heavy which makes it unsuitable for travelling. I leave it in the carboot and only use it for shopping around here.


Zade in the Graco pram when he was three months old with the infant seat.


Zade at 10 months old sleeping in reclined position.

Before going back to Malaysia last year, I decided to get an umbrella stroller so that it would be easy for me to carry it around. I decided to buy a Baby Love umbrella stroller (Australian Brand) as it was one of the lightest that I found. It was on sale for AUD 60 at Target. I soon found out that the only good thing about this stroller is that it's lightweight. It had terrible handling, buckling was very tricky, it has a very small basket and the seat doesn't recline. After travelling with it for two months, it became harder to navigate.


Zade in the Baby Love stroller


Since I'm going travelling again soon, and this time it would be just me and Zade, I thought it would be a good idea to invest on a better stroller to make my life easier. I went online and did a little research on strollers that are available here. I found out that a Maclaren stroller would be my best bet. I'm quite familiar with the brand and I've heard some good reviews. So yesterday, Zade and I went to Baby Bunting in Thomastown to get the Maclaren Triumph. The price is AUD 269but I got it on sale for AUD 199. I've tried to unfold and fold it several times, and found it to be quite difficult. It's lightweight and has a bigger basket compared to the stroller. I'm still not sure if I really like it, but I'll know for sure after my trip next week.

Lunch for SAMME Postgraduate Students and Staff

I received an invitation for lunch today but didn't plan to go cause I probably couldn't have any of the food served. However Chong wanted to go and asked me to go with her. So I thought of accompanying her and might have some salad and a drink. To my surprise the food served was halal, so I was able to eat after all. I had a bbq burger with salad and coleslaw. It was such a lovely day that we decided to eat outside at the picnic table. It was a nice lunch with wonderful company.

Zade's Art Work

While I was at Numdaji Kwei today, I had the chance to see some artwork that Zade has done this year. I was amazed that he's already painting. When he brought home his first artwork two months ago, I realized that he's actually ready to start drawing. I bought some crayons and let him draw at home. He really enjoys it.


Zade's feet and hands


Zade's painting displayed on a wall

Easter Morning Tea at Numdaji Kwei

Today I was invited to join Zade for morning tea at Numdaji Kwei. It was in conjuntion with Easter which will be celebrated this weekend. When I came by around 9.30 am, most other parents in the babies room were already there. Zade was excited to see me again so soon after I dropped him off this morning. While Zade and his friends were having their vegemite and cheese toast with sultanas, the parents were served with hot cross bun and o.j. Very nice as it was served warm with some butter. After tea, I spent some time reading and playing with Zade outside in the playground. I left around 10.30 am and head back to the office.


Zade having morning tea


Zade relaxing with a book


Zade and Mama


Zade's all excited


Playing outdoor

Earlier this week Zade gave me and Danial a card with a chocolate egg for easter. Happy Easter!


A card with a photo of Zade with rabbit ears


A chocolate egg for mummy and daddy

Anniversary

Today is my 8th wedding anniversary. And it's the 2nd one in Melbourne without Danial. Only God knows how hard it is being seperated but I know that it's all part of the big plan. Danial and I have been through a lot of good times, bad times, laughter and tears. I know that God has chosen the best mate for me and I'm thankful for everything I have in life. I have come this far, alhamdulillah, and I pray for many more anniversaries.

I love you and I longed to be with you again. Happy Anniversary Sayang.

Farewell Yeo, Chit, Joshua and Justin

Chit's family used to live across from our old apartment. We we're neighbours for almost a year. Chit was very helpful especially with advise on how to raise a baby here and also she gave me tons of Joshua's clothes for Zade to wear. Her husband Yeo is a PhD student at RMIT, and he finally submitted his thesis last week. They will be leaving Melbourne to go back home. So today Aileen, May, Tien, myself and the kids had a little get together with them at Unimews to bid them farewell. I wish your family all the best. Thank you for all your help and for being wonderful friends. I hope that we'll meet again when I go home to Malaysia, and may our friendship continue to grow.

Alyssa's Birthday Party at Wriggle It

Zade received an invitation to Alyssa's birthday party at the Wriggle It Play Centre. Alyssa is May and Tien's daughter. She turns 4 today. The party started at 2 pm, but we went after Zade woke up from his nap. We arrived around 3 pm, just in time for snacks and birthday cake. Zade and I gave Alyssa a Barbie musical box which we got from Target the week before. There were a lot of familiar faces there. Keanne and Layan from Unimews, Joshua and Justin were there too. I had a chance to catch up with the moms. After cake, Zade had fun chasing balls and running around the playground. We left with a ggody bag filled with lollies, toy and balloon.