The most dangerouse cake recipe.

a.k.a 5 Minute Chocolate Mug Cake

I got this in the email from a colleague. Another colleague apparently has tried it, and it worked. I might just try it this weekend, actually I don't need to wait that long since it takes only 5 minutes!!! Will try it the soonest possible, and upload my own pictures as proof. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Method:

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high).

The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Enjoy!

Al- Fatihah. Ode to Dr. Haliza Shafie.

March 28, 2009 22:47 PM
Missing Doctors Found DeadBy: Ramjit-->
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Mac (Bernama) -- The two paediatricians from the Ampang Puteri Specialist Hospital who were reported missing four days ago were found dead at Bukit Tabuh, Taman Melawati, Ampang here today.Ampang Jaya police deputy chief Supt Amiruddin Jamaluddin said a police helicopter, involved in the search for the two doctors, found the bodies at about 12.30pm.Dr Haliza Mohd Shafie's body was brought down the hill at about 3.30pm, while that of Dr Amin Tai Abdullah @ Tai Yun Ming, about 15 minutes later, he added.He said a Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) helicopter was used to send the bodies to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for post-mortems.Dr Haliza, 53, and Dr Amin Tai, 57, were reported missing by their families on Wednesday after they were last seen leaving their work place together.Police found Dr Haliza's car at Bukit Melati, Ampang at about 6am today, following which a search and rescue mission, involving the police, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Civil Defence Department, was mounted.From Bernama News.com

***********************

I just don't know where to begin. Dr. Haliza has been our kid's Paed since Nayli was born and now Nayli is 8!!! Oh, what a great loss! When Zarif and Zaim were born, we did not hesitate about insisting her to be their Paed too. The kids have grown so comfortable with her. She is loving, and soft spoken, full of energy and enthusiasm. She is always so patient when attending to all my 3 kids, especially when all of us came and filled her room with one problem after another. I will always remember the way she would great us, each time we enter her room, all 5 of us. Quite a racket we would be each time. I have completed all my vaccination for Zaim with her, except for his final 1 year old jab obviously. But, the latest was when Nayli had to undergo major Brain Scan because of her constant headaches, we managed to complete this too, and Dr H assured us that her brain is clear, so it's just a normal sinusitis. I am going to miss her tremendously. The kids, were equally shocked hearing about her sudden demise. What was worse, Nayli had read the news article about how her Dr.'s body was found decomposed! Even worse, she read the Malay paper, the word used well I don't even want to write it here. Dr. Amin Tai is no stranger to us either, he circumcised both of my boys. What a great loss.

May Allah bless their souls. Al-Fatihah.

Attached are two links of bloggers that mentioned about them, with clearer pictures of Dr. H.

http://ceritaibu.blogspot.com/2009/03/al-fatihah-dr-haliza-shafie.html

http://rimarhythm.blogspot.com/2009/03/dr-haliza-mohd-shafieal-fatihah.html

40 Tips for a better life in 2009.

I know it is already the end of March, so the 1st quarter of the year is gone. Are you having a good year so far? Perhaps it is still not to late to ponder on this 40 tips that I stumbled upon in this lovely blog http://zaitulchantel.blogspot.com/2009/02/40-tips-for-better-life-in-2009.html

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile . It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep .

4. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to ___ today.'

5. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy .

6. Play more games and read more books than you did in 2008.

7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, tai chi, and prayer . They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.

8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.

9. Dream more while you are awake.

10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

11. Drink green tea and plenty of warm water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

13. Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.

14. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

15. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn . Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

16 . Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

17. Smile and laugh more . It will keep the energy vampires away.

18. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree..

22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

26. Forgive everyone for everything.

27. What other people think of you is none of your business.

28. GOD heals almost everything.

29. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

30. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will.Stay in touch.

31. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

33 . The best is yet to come.

34. No matter how you feel , get up, dress up and show up.

35. Do the right thing!

36 .Call your family often.

37. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I amthankful for _____. Today I accomplished _____.

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed .

39. Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don't want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.

40. Please Forward this to everyone you care about.May your troubles be less,May your blessings be more,May nothing but happiness come through your door!

1st Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta 2009

We were lucky to have found out about this Hot Air Balloon Fiesta that was held in Putrajaya last weekend. Luckily too, our Langkawi trip was not scheduled then! We decided to catch the Saturday morning show. We arrived exactly at 8 a.m. Most of the balloons we inflated and were ready to go. What a spectacular sight it was. That was my first time ever seeing a hot air balloon.

We were so excited to see this particular balloon that had Nelly -B- printed on it. Poor Nayli had to endure Nelly - B - jokes, half of the morning. Like Nelly Busuk (smelly), Nelly Besar (Big/Fat)...

Because of its name and I guess the sheer size of it, Nelly - B - took sometime to be inflated.

We all waited patiently.

Peekaboo! A friendly looking Mastercard balloon behind Nelly.

If you look closely, the people handling it are not in a basket!!!

Love this orange balloon!

Another closer shot, taken by Nayli (a budding photog huh?),

I honestly did not compose this shot for her. We just did what we were told... to smile :-).

Don't the balloons make such a lovely background? So colourful and big!

This peacock balloon was shot by Zarif... he explained to me how he waited patiently for the balloon to slowly move into position right in the middle of his viewfinder before he actually clicked the camera. Not bad for a 5 year old huh! Hope they are not expecting a camera each.

Up and away!

All were up in the sky.

CAT balloon.

Nelly finally lifted off.

That thing in the background is supposed to be the "New Millenium Monument" (Monumen Alaf Baru, if I translated that correctly).

While waiting for this final balloon to be inflated, there was a paragliding show.

Up close.

Must be nice to be flying freely up there.

Once the show was over, we took a walk around the stalls.

At least they got a chance to get up close to the basket.

Letting Nelly do her thing with the camera.

The kids got a treat on the inflatables, not balloon though.

Climbing the twin peaks.

Zarif's turn.

Since it was early still, about 10:30 a.m, when we could not bear the heat any longer, we decided to check out Alamanda Mall, which we have never been to before, ever. The excuse was that Zarif and Nayli needed new school shoes. Whatever! The mall is nice and big. Lovely place. Since we had the camera... more photography sessions ensued.

The kids fooling around.

This is at one of the side entrance. Very nice isn't it??

Lunch

Until next year, hopefully by then I would have a longer lens already! Amen!

Langkawi

For this mid-term break, we got some low fare tickets to Langkawi. Decided on this Island because the last time, we were there was four years ago, that year that the Tsunami hit the Island, infact we came back to KL just a day before!!! What a close call that was! Plus we had to choose a vacation that involves flying to be fair to the children as they are not joining us to Bandung in July. Hopefully they still remember this trip come July. We were not that ambitious this time around, what with Zaim being only 9 ½ months only. Even though there is plenty of things to see, do and try in Langkawi, we took it easy this time around. Whatever it is we limited the sightseeing time, when it is too hot to swim and it is time for meals. At least this way, the kids get their dip in the pool and I get to go window shopping and sightseeing. Fair.

We arrived on Sunday night, like really late at night, as in check in time was 12 ish at night, such un-godly hour, I know. This is what happens when you are on a budget! We had 3 whole days because guess what we also left on Wednesday evening at almost midnight, 11:25 p.m to be exact because our 10:40 flight was delayed!

In the Air Asia bus from KL Sentral to LCCT. Not a bad ride. Comfy seat, good air-condition.

At CBTL, while waiting for check-in. Had our dinner here, packed some sandwiches.

Killing time!

After check-in, more time to kill. Surely killing the teddy. Yes, that's a teddy that they're flinging around.

Zaim is already fast asleep by the time, we were ready to board.

Our first time flying with Air Asia... so excuse all the hoo ha...

Just arrived , at the hotel, still waiting for the extra bed and cot.

A separate area for bagage and clothes, and coffee/tea making facilities.

1st day breakfast.

Zaim asleep, which means time for me to really dig in.

still asleep. good boy!

After a long lazy breakfast, we went for a walk around the hotel ground. The place is huge, with two free form swimming pools (with slide in both), two lakes, a playground, a mini golf course (which we did not manage to get to even). We jumped straight into the pool, till about lunch time.

Then it was off to find Laksa Kedah. We ended up at Langkawi Fair, a mall that we remembered were quite a nice place to go to, plus there is a huge Billion Supermarket adjoining it, as we needed to stock up some ration for the rest of the stay. We decided against any fancy restaurant because we were planning to have a big meal that night. While browsing around the mall, we spotted the Food Court up on the 1st floor. A very modest food court I must say especially if you compare it to the ones in Suria KLCC or Pavilion. It had like 5-6 stalls only. He!he! But the size didn’t turn us off at all. So we ordered the 2 Laksa, for me and Nayli, Jack ordered the Nasi Paprik Kering and for Zarif we ordered a Simple Nasi Goreng. All turned out to be so good!!! We have to say that anywhere you go in Langkawi even from our visit four years ago, you can go the simplest of shop, the quality of Laksa can be guaranteed. Absolutely fabulous! Honestly!!! More about the Laksa later.

the foodcourt

our first Laksa Kedah

Then, it rained and it rained and it rained. Later in the evening, we went to the beach.

this was another day. the coffee house has a little corner for play area,

which means, mummies and daddies get some peaceful time enjoying their 2nd and 3rd round of coffee

without having their children pester them to take them to the pool immediately.

those few precious seconds when he was awake and was happy in the cot.

otherwise, he won't last 20 minutes!!!

Kota Mahsuri, one of two major places that was a must see during this trip because Nayli had learnt about it in school. She is very intrigued with the this legendary tale of love. She was asking endless questions about Mahsuri.

Mahsuri's house

their first time seeing a well, poor city kids.

The second place that was a must do in our list is the Eagle Square in Kuah. I have neve ever been up close to this bird ever I think. Just could not be bothered to walk all the way in. This time for the kids, we actually braved the sweltering heat and blazing hot sun. Luckily Zaim did not get a sun stroke. He just refused to wear his hat. Keep taking it off and throwing it on the ground.

Zarif running toward our room on the right.



the view of our balcony on the ground floor from the playground.

getting ready to jump into the pool

fun in the pool, Zaim loves the water

we all loved the slide. yes, we all!!! go figure!

Nissan Latio that took us all around the Island, nice cute but spacious car.

our 1st dinner at Langkawi was at Shrimpz Restaurant, on the way to Kuah

if you take the route from Pantai Cenang, you cannot miss this place.

cozy dining area

yummy sea food

Gamat Factory, a must stop in Langkawi

On the 2nd night, we had dinner at The Lighthouse. Owned by Chef Shuk, who was actually featured in the Travel and Living Channel, with Merrilees Parker I think that lady.

the lobster was fab!

the fish and chips yumm!

this is at Beras Terbakar. another place where we had excellent Laksa for only RM2.50 per bowl. We ended up having 3 and also forgot to take pictures, imagine that! we came here after a quick stop at the Langkawi Craft Complex. I purchased lovely voile pareos here! The last time I bought one was 4 years ago, is still good. So, I had to get a couple more.

in the car, driving around during our last day.

at the airport in Langkawi, killing time, check out what we had at Starbucks??

on the way home, tired but satisifed... when's our next holiday???