What Mama Says - Being stylish in the face of haze-versity.

Mum's was very concerned about Mama during this time and went out to buy her a face mask.

"....that's why I you need to wear the haze mask" I hear a concerned mum tell mama convincingly.

"trixh, your mum bought me a mask for the haze, I want to show you.

Go and get it for me, it's in her handbag"

I dig around mums bag and find a large white folded mask.

"This mask is huge, it looks so ugly!" 

I say in disbelief.

"Eh trixh! Don't let your mum hear that, you know, she will be very offended that you call it ugly" 

mama says sarcastically.

"This is supposed to be the best mask! The only one that effectively blocks out the haze!" 

mum argues.

 "She bought this mask for me and asks me why I don't want to wear it. 

Bring it here I'll put it on and show you why,"

mama continues.

OH MY GOODNESSSS!!!

I burst out laughing. It was hilarious. My grandmother is a comedian.

"trixh, your mum told your aunty that I refuse to wear the mask she bought for me. Can you take a picture with your telephone? Send it to her and tell her I will  only wear it when she wears it out"

........




.....



....



..



.

She also made me send one to my uncle. 

My grandmother, so modern ah she?

Oh mama, you're a riot! :*

Ps: Do you love my title? Face of haze-versity, get it get it? face!

Party Un-etiquette.

If a friend were to ask you,

"I'm having my birthday party next Tuesday, will you be free to make it?"

And you reply,

"Oh, who's going?"

Just slap yourself.

1. Party invites

While the above is probably a really common question asked, many don't realize that it's also an incredibly rude one. Let's look at it this way, if you were to invite someone for a function, you would invite them because you want their company. You want them to be there to celebrate whatever milestone it is that you are going through.

And by asking that, it almost seems that instead of being there for me, you need to weigh out whether or not the other people going will be cool enough for you to hang out with before you decide on going.

Sure, nobody likes to be the only "unknown" at a party, but if you're an adult about it, you'd go to be there for your friend and you'd probably be able to make other friends there too.

2. RSVPs

Everyone knows that it takes quite a bit of planning to organize a party and it really doesn't help if the host has to call you and ask you if you're going. I especially hate it when someone can't decide whether they're going or not even until it's 2 days to the party.

"Uhm, I think can but maybe cannot."

Slap yourself. If you don't think you can just say you can't. Don't be that one flaky friend everyone has.

3. Plus-ing a plus one.

It's pretty impolite when someone brings a plus one without telling the host (maybe an exception if you're the Bestest of FF's)

Here I am, only expecting you (the person I invited) when suddenly your plus one (the person I hadn't) walks in with you, completely destroying the well thought out seating, food portions and tables setting I've arranged for.

" It's okay that I brought a friend?" 

Don't be that person the host has to cram in another chair for and politely say "No it's no problem" to with a forced smile to because she's really thinking this :

It's almost as bad as showing up to a party you weren't invited to.

4. Dress codes and themes

Unless it's a casual get together with your friends, I always think that a person should be presentable for a party, especially a sit down party. Presentable meaning no slippers, no shorts and no T-shirt.

It doesn't really matter how close you are to them, you should at the very least respect the fact that they put a guest list together and made the effort booking a nice restaurant la.

Secondly, maybe a Malaysian thing, but many people tend to put up a fuss whenever there's a theme involved. I'm not sure why, I love themed parties! *crickets*

\

But even if it's a little more difficult for me, I'd usually at least try to follow the theme because I feel it's pretty disrespectful if I don't.

And btw, saying "I couldn't find anything to wear" is not an valid excuse, especially if the invites were given out early.

Imagine it this way, your friend books the venue of a party, they set a date to accommodate everyone, they order the food, they think of the entertainment, they plan the days out in your calendar and lastly, they don't expect payment or favours in return. All they want is the pleasure of your company, with the simple request that you dress up for it. In return, you cringe, you complain....

and you ignore their request completely, like it was your God given right to be invited. 

Makes you sound pretty terrible doesn't it?

5. Malaysian party time 

Malaysian timing is...probably something everyone needs to work on haha. I must admit that while I'm not the most punctual of people, I do consciously try to remind myself that I shouldn't be late for a party.
The worst kinds of guests are the ones who show up late, eat and then leave early. Like they weren't for their friend, just the food. Like it was their God given right to be there. 

Probably the worst if it were a surprise party!

6. Helping to clean up
House parties always end up pretty messy. Some people don't need the help, but it's always nice when someone offers to help with the clean up after a party right?

You say,

" Do you need help cleaning up?"

and they say 

" No no leave it there"

But really, they're thinking,

Especially when the party ends really late and they've been prepping for the party since morning. lol.

So, be mindful of your host's efforts and time. RSVP when you're supposed to, follow the theme, show up on time and if you want to bring a plus one, ask if it's okay. If you don't...well don't be surprised you aren't invited for the next party.

The host already has so much to do and so much on her plate, don't be that guest who makes someones life difficult okay? lol

That's all from me! This is a community message, reminding you to be a good guest!

*thumbs up for your favourite 90's movies references!...and mean girls lol!

Mama tales.

Happy Sunday err'body!

I'm having a paper tomorrow and I really should be studying, but instead my brain's deciding that everything else is more important.  Like when I went downstairs just to get water, it decided I was hungry and I ended up making a cheese omelette instead.
But well, priorities are priorities! 

So instead of fighting it, I decided I could use a break. I've been studying since 8.....

and working hard at making omelettes, I think I deserve it.

I was going through my pictures and I miss mama, she's in Perth now, doing what Perth people do (retire).

And I found this picture of her and started chuckling to myself.

Mama is very concerned that she eats too much every time she comes to KL.

But I'm pretty sure that's one of the main reasons she comes here, the food. 

Where else is she going to get Char Kuey Tiow?

So whenever I ask her "Ma, do you want *insert food name here*?"

She'll shake her head at me and say she only wants to eat bread and oats and other boring things like that.

Maybe she wants to get in shape for summer or something I dunno, but anyway, I found a way around this.

I'd go up to her waving something like mango pudding in my hand (which she loves)

and I'll say,

"Ma! I got you this mango pudding you like!"

She'll start to shake her head and wave her hand and I'll say,

"It's ok! Just try a small tiny spoon! I'll eat the rest!"

 *big grin*

She'll quickly take a spoon and then push the rest towards me.

"I'll get it later ma, I'm gonna go wash my hands first"

or some other ridiculous excuse like that.

Then she'll slowly inch her hand toward the pudding cup and take another spoon.

"I think I can eat this, it's not too sweet ya trixh?"

"Ya ma, it's not too sweet!"

*rubs palms together* my plan is working brilliantly!

"I'll eat half only and leave you the rest" she says

and by the time I get back,

"Aiyo, I only wanted to eat half, I ended up eating the whole thing! 

We can go to the supermarket and you can buy some more"

Look at mama, offering to take me to the supermarket to ease her guilt.

"It's okay ma, I don't really like it anyway"

Success! 

*in my head, I'm pumping my fist in the air*

I always find some entertainment in this because of the way mama tries to deny all the yummy food that I offer her, but always fails miserably and sheepishly reaches her hand toward the bowl to eat some more. 

Mama and her pudding cup. 

I have so many more pictures of her eating coconut jelly, char kuey tiow, etc 

but I can't seem to find it!

It's okay guys, she's 90. 

We let the woman eat what she wants.

and what she pretends not to want.

Ok, back to studying, you can do it brain!

What mother says - Snow White.

"Mum...Whyyy is there a mandarin outside??"

"Ooooooh" 

*in descending tone, I'm sure you know what I mean*

"You forgot you wanted to eat it is it?

"Nooooo" 

*in descending tone again*

Here I'm thinking don't tell me she wants to be festive and decorate the wet kitchen outside as well, 

this was during CNY.

"So what is it for then?"

She gave me this guilty, wide eyed shrug and then she said...

"It's.......for.......

.....thesquirrelthatcomestoourhousesometimes"

Oh boy.

She's been leaving mandarins and other fruit outside our house
so that a particular random squirrel will come to visit her. My mother thinks she's Snow White, it's true.

-

Later, we were talking about potentially moving and I said,

"We can try moving nearby, to a condo" 

"Yea but we have to see if they take pets because of the dogs. Some places don't allow pets 

and we have 2 dogs and a cat....

.....and potentially a squirrel"

Oooooohhh booyyyyyy 

*descending tone*

x

How you know, you've known someone for too long

When they send you a whatsapp to tell you about their weird dreams 

and it's become such a norm that it doesn't faze you anymore.

Cooking Adventures | Chunky Salted Egg Chicken

Salted egg chicken, how hard can it be? 

That's how I convinced myself to make it hahah!

Truth is, it's not. 

To begin, and this is the hardest part, you need: 

1. to know that you'll need to do deep frying

2. to realize that you'll need to wash your hair after 

- even if you did wash it earlier today because you WILL smell like oil and chicken

3. be okay that there will be oil everywhere and be ready to scrub your counter and soak your pans

4. to get rid of the oil in a environmentally friendly way, there's this oil coagulator powder

you can find in Daiso that turns hot oil solid so you can throw it away (not down the sink).

Alternatively, to avoid 1-4, you can pan fry the chicken instead but it won't turn out as crispy la.

For chicken batter, mix all to form paste:

2 tbsp cornflour

2 tbsp custard powder

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup water

To fry :

2 chicken breast, cut into cubes

 I used the breasts, but I'd recommend the thigh, it's tender-er.

2 steamed salted eggs

Some recipes only use the egg yolks but I use the whole thing, 
why waste haha. If you wanna use only yolks, up the amount to 3 yolks.

3 stalks of curry leaf

4 chilli padis 

or any amount to your preference of spiciness

1/4 can evaporated milk

To taste:

chicken stock

pepper

sugar 

soya sauce

1. Marinate chicken with pepper, sugar and soya sauce

- my grandmother told me if you use your hands it's more evenly coated. You don't have to but her marinated-everythings always taste the best, just sayin.

2. Mix marinated chicken in batter

- the above technique applies here too, but to each his own hahaha.

3. Heat oil in wok, fry chicken until golden and crispy, remove and leave aside

- do not accidentally drop chicken in when removing. It will splatter, you will get burns in the shape of those splatters. True Story.

4. In another pan, heat oil and butter (I used about 2 tbsps of butter). Fry chilli padi and curry leaves till you smell it - curry leaves will look dark and crispy, be sure not to overcook as it burns easily.

5. Add salted egg and fry till it bubbles. Pour in evaporated milk and let it simmer.

- You can add or reduce evaporated milk depending on how saucy you like it.

6. Add pepper, chicken stock and sugar to taste.

7. Add in the deep fried chicken into pan and fry until sauce thickens.

8. Enjoice.

Barely any pics and these are from my instagram. I tried, but my hands were soaked in either chicken juice or smelling of chilli padi most of the time. How people take pictures of the ingredients and the process while cooking is beyond beyond me haha.

Cooking Adventures | Vinegar Pork a.k.a Chi Kiok Chu

....or is it zhu jiao chu?

As everyone knows, I don't speak an ounce of Mandarin.

So buying pork trotters was a bit of a challenge.

There I was in the pork section of TTDI market, where I approached the butcher hesitantly:

"Hi, uhm... Can I get the trotter?"

"HA? What?" 

lady butcher replies.

"The front trotter?" 

"What is that ah?"

This is where I started a mini game of charades with the butcher lady, waving both my hands in the air in a "trotting" movement

"Ohh! the hand ah?"

"Oh..yes, the hands. I want to make Vinegar Pork, I use this part right?"

"WHAT??"

Between this and watching a pigs leg slapped onto the board in front of me and butchered in to pieces, it was almost a cultural experience for me. Especially since no one in my house 1. goes to the wet market to buy pork and 2. even eats pork trotters.

But not bad hey?

Mum : What is this?

"Vinegar pork"

"Oh, why did you make this? You like eating this?"

"Uhm, not particularly. I dunno? I just wanted a challenge?....maybe"

*insert incredibly mystified look here*

She wasn't as excited as I was.