Banana Chocolate Cake

Another wonderful recipe shared by fellow mama. It was supposed to be chocolate banana squares. I tweaked mine because I wanted to cut down on the washing of utensils. I poured out the banana batter first then mixed the remaining batter with cocoa powder and poured the second layer. Whichever comes first, doesn't really matter.

Feed them well

Why do mothers not provide healthy home cooked meals to the family even when they are home most of the time? Especially in this part of the world where food scare is plentiful.

Maybe a lack of understanding that feeding children is not just about filling up their empty tummies. It is also about feeding their tiny bones, muscles, blood vessels, brain cells and everything that is required to help the body function. It is not about now, it is about building a healthy body which will last them for decades.

Kai came home with an interesting book. 'The Miracle of Water'. He is supposed to read it and do a power point presentation during the Monday assembly. The book is about positive words beget positive reactions. This author did a series of experiment on water crystals. He pasted words, positive and negative words in containers filled with water and when frozen, they became water crystals. Those with positive words attached, the water crystal has beautiful shapes. Those with negative words…. not very nice of course.

I noticed these two pictures in the book with the respective words attached to them….


How interesting. Even water crystals react well to home cooking!

Design by me




Lego has this site where you can visit and design your own Lego toys. Kai did that.

When the first one arrived, it was during his exams period. The spouse decided to keep in his office so as not to distract him. Until the exams are over, he will then bring home for Kai. Guess what? It was stolen! *Shake head*. The spouse felt sorry for him and decided to order again. The price of two for one. Lesson learnt. NEVER assume any place is safe, especially here!

I thought this is a great idea from Lego. It even comes with your own manual. Talk about being creative and innovative. These are the strengths of USA. Something which you can't take away from them. Oh yes, not Made in China.

Back to cooking

I know you have seen this many times but you know, each time it has a different taste…

Beef flank stew eat with steaming basmati rice, ideal for winter


Shepard's pie with rocket and capers salad. Ahhhhh…comfort food!

Free advertisement here. If you have spare cash, it is really good to invest in a cast iron pot…Le Creuset if possible.

C…O…L…D

As I am blogging, it is snowing, I mean flurr-ing outside. I thought I will miss the cold this year.

Money or Soul? (Update)

Guess what I saw on the web? Click on the link.

Apple:Make the iPhone 5 ethically

Extreme weathers

From tees and bermudas to these…


From 30 deg C to six deg C and tomorrow expecting to hit sub zero. Home not even for a week and the lips are starting to crack. Moisturiser not enough.  Brrrrrrrr…….

Imagine, wearing sweaters and jeans to do my cooking, that gives you a clearer picture.

Money or Soul?

Back from Zumba. Glad to shed off some CNY fats *Grin*

Was reading an interesting article…
How the US lost the iPhone job to China?

Excerpts…
"The first truckloads of cut glass arrived at Foxconn City in the dead of night, according to the former Apple executive. Managers woke thousands of workers, who crawled into their uniforms - white and black shirts for men, red for women - and quickly lined up to assemble the phones by hand.

Within three months, Apple had sold a million iPhones. Since then, Foxconn has assembled more than 200 million more."

"Apple executives say that going overseas, at this point, is their only option. One former executive described how the company relied upon a Chinese factory to revamp iPhone manufacturing just weeks before the device was due on shelves. Apple had redesigned the iPhone's screen at the last minute, forcing an assembly line overhaul. New screens began arriving at the plant near midnight.

A foreman immediately roused 8,000 workers inside the company's dormitories, according to the executive. Each employee was given a biscuit and a cup of tea, guided to a workstation and within half an hour started a 12-hour shift fitting glass screens into bevelled frames. Within 96 hours, the plant was producing more than 10,000 iPhones a day."

Last year Apple earned US$400K in profit per employee and the Chinese worker each earn only US$17 per day.
 
Sources : http://www.straitstimes.com/World/Story/STIStory_760748.html, http://www.straitstimes.com/World/Story/STIStory_760747.html

Very interesting indeed, in fact, it send my mind pondering over cold hard truths. People are protesting for sharks "don't sell and don't eat shark fins". People are protesting for tigers, bears, cats and dogs….What about these Chinese workers? Imagine fixing thousands and thousands of iphones' glasses for 12 hours. In the words of a friend, "it is like dehumanising them" . Can one stop using iphones (by the way, no. 5 is on its way), ipads, ipods and all the 'i's? I have yet to own an iPhone, it is just too smart for my simple brain cells.

But on the other hand, for a Chinese worker earning US$17 per day that works out to about 2,500 RMB per month. This amount is very much higher than what an average blue-collar worker earns in big cities like Shanghai. Pulling out means denying these workers of a fat pay which may lead to a better life. A chicken and egg issue.

Whatever it is, I have now a new habit, looking at the 'Made In' …. tag and will continue to use my hand-press Nokia E-series. It may be worth a lot, a vintage item! *Wink*

Gloom and doom or Groom and bloom

Well, if you are a pastor and looking at all the events happening around us, what would you preach?

Two really contrasting figures. One preach and reminded us of the gloom and doom awaiting us. One preached about grooming oneself and blooming to be victorious in Christ. I so much prefer the latter.

A strange silence

Finally, back at home. Five weeks of being surrounded by friends and families. Suddenly, there is this strange silence surrounding me…