Cooking 101 #4

Victims: Tammy and Momo
Date: 4th January 2008
Venue: My house
Time: Dinner
Occasion: Momo resigned from her job. Sorta a celebration...

I've always wanted to cook omelette rice. Although I failed in wrapping the rice in the omelette, the taste was just fine. The alcoholic gravy was quite good...


Um, this was supposed to be Cassata but I couldn't find all the ingredients needed. Nevertheless, the vanilla ice cream is mixed with flakes and raisins and topped with melted chocolate.

Cooking 101 #3

Hmm, am I living up to my new year resolution? Anyway, it was my first time utilizing the new recipe book which I bought last month. Chose 3 simple food to cook. As simple as they looked, it was tougher than I thought. The three dishes which I experimented were:

1. Green Curry Puffs
2. Roast Lime Chicken with Sweet Potatoes
3. Coconut Custard with Mango

The puffs were quite a success. Screwed up with the chicken a little after misreading some of the procedures and added one of two of my own. The filling tasted well, but I will add up more spice the next time. Besides, I failed to gather all the ingredients needed because I wouldn't find any whole turmerics in Jusco mart and Cold Storage. The taste was fine but it needed a little more roast and less gravy. As for the custard, it was rather overcooked, making it rather hard. Topped it with mango slices. Well, overall, I had fun using a few hours just to make everything. At the end of the day, I was full, and exhausted.

Unlike the puffs sold outside, this one uses wanton skins as wrappers.


Yellow chicken with tender meat. I would call it a failure, but nevertheless, it was edible!


Coconut custard is easy to make, but not everyone would like it. My mom didn't. But my sister did.

This year.

Year 2007 was not just another year. It was a year of reinvention, exploration and adventure. Well, first of all, it was our country's 50th year of independence, and we very much celebrated it with our very own Eye on Malaysia in Titiwangsa and Visit Malaysia campaign. Although it was initially said that the Eye will be removed by next year (which should be by tomorrow), the duration has been prolonged to the next Independence Day (31st August). Certainly, it's good news for those who have not gone abroad on it before, including me myself.

This year, a late new year celebration took place in Julia's house, Kajang. Whilst her house is the venue for numerous parties occasionally, this one is worth a mention because of the people who turned up and the joy that we all shared back then.

Of course, celebration reoccurs during the month of February when Kelly and I celebrated out birthday in the old Monash Campus. Well talking about birthdays, Stephanie just turned 20 yesterday! Happy birthday girl!

Somewhere around the year, there was also a reunion for ex-SSGians. It took place in a random Indian restaurant located in the busy street of Jalan Ampang. Even though the food was just mediocre, the importance of the reunion is having the chance to meet back some old friends. Most of the K2s were there. Julia? Kelly? Where were you all?

Sometimes, not everything comes in a good way. My precious Keahi ( the name of my car), was attacked anonymously on one fine morning. Luckily, it can be counted as a minor injury. No immediate loss was found. Must have been a failed attempt, I suspected. Anyhow, it has now recovered.

Moving on, I've joined a few competitions this year. They might be minor, but they did open up my opportunities to different jobs and experiences. For the first time in my life, I did a TV promo ad for Project Superstar Season 3. On top of that, I had one of the main roles! I can't express how fortunate and blessed that I nailed that job down.

Other than that, there are many little other things that makes this year as fantastic as it could be. Just lately, I was at Tammy's house for a Christmas party and fu-yoh, it was terrifically enjoyable. Thank you Bitch for inviting! Your homemade salad is undoubtedly the best!

Year 2007 has been an exciting year, I hope 2008 will be better. Few resolutions for the brand new year would be:

1. Improve on line-dancing. Hopefully, will be able to take part in the upcoming competition.
2. Improve on studies. I can't screw up on my final year.
   
3. Improve on languages. Chinese, Japanese, Thai... I just want to learn too many. Most probably won't accomplish this one at all.
   
4. Improve on cooking. I actually bought a new recipe book recently.
5. And many more...

Well well time for me to say bye bye! Hereby, I wish everyone a a simple phrase.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ANTM 9 Episode 13 [Finale] Quickie

As the competition narrowed down to only 3 girls, it was time for the CoverGirl photo shoot and commercial. The product was CoverGirl Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers, and each of them had to portray different flavors. Chantal chose lemon, Saleisha was tangerine-d whilst Jenah went for strawberry. Saleisha and Jenah struggled with the commercial. Chantal wasn't that great either. At the panel, the following was the call-out order:

Chantal was called first!


Oh-oh. Saleisha was called second...


Which means bye bye to Jenah. Seriously, I thought Jenah's picture is fabulous.

That leaves Chantal and Saleisha for the runway battle. And d'oh, anyone would know who's stronger in that. Saleisha did a really good job, and Chantal, unfortunately, had a little mishap during her final walk, which probably worsened her chances at winning. Nevertheless, she has a strong portfolio, although not as strong as Jenah's, but at least way better than Saleisha's. Yet, Saleisha had more experience, and a greater control on her runway walk. So who won in the end? Scroll down to find out!

Chantal looked pretty stiff.


But Saleisha kicked ass.


No doubt she's pretty experienced in walking.


Oh my, Chantal had a sharp misfortune.


And her recovery was, no good...

So, who win's America's Next Top Model this time? Chantal? Saleisha? Bring on the results!

And there you have it....


Saleisha's reaction immediately after the was crowned.

Okay, as much as I dislike the results, Saleisha had gone a pretty long way to the top. Read this if you're not quite sure what I mean. Anyhow, winners always have extra photos at the end of the show, sharing one or two of them with the show's creater-cum-judge, Tyra Banks herself.

ANTM 9 Episode 12 Quickie

The remaining four girls moved to Beijing, China where they were introduced to the Four Beauties of China. The next day, they had to turn the traditional costumes into their own style. All of them were given one hour to shop around, and bloody Bianca purposefully gave a bad tip to Jenah. Luckily, Jenah did an amazing job on the runway, earning her the challenge reward of qipao. As the winner, she chose Chantal to share the prize with her. On top of that, she was rewarded a one on one runway lesson from Ms. Jay.

Why is the room everytime a mess?


The four beauties!


Bianca was being a bitch again, victimizing Jenah.


Like it or not, Saleisha has a great presence on the runway.


Chantal's walk was smooth, but her look isn't strong and fierce enough.


Haha, Bianca strutting her stuff...


Jenah, was with no doubt the best.


Jenah looked good in that.


So did Chantal!

Once Beijing is mentioned, how can one not think of the Great Wall of China? That's the place for the photo shoot that week, and Tyra herself was the featured photographer. Apart from individual picture, a group picture was taken to test their ability to stand out as a group. The call-out order for that week was:

Chantal was called first for the second time so far. She did extraordinarily in both photos. Bravo!


Um, is it just me, or does anyone else find it hard to appreciate this photo of Saleisha?


Jenah was again in the bottom two! She'd better work on her personality, or she'll fade away really quickly.


Finally, Bianca was axed from the competition. I have to admit, throughout the competition, she had been improving consistently, but she wouldn't win anyways, right?

Wait, who was the CoverGirl of the Week? Guess what, it was Heather again although she has been eliminated! It was a Top Model first!

So, the finale will be aired tomorrow. Who are you rooting for? I myself love Chantal, but my instincts are telling me that she wouldn't win as she's a rpetty nice girl who can model naturally, but doesn't stand out between Jenah and Saleisha. She, very much reminds me of Kahleen from Cycle 5, who was just the runner-up. As for Jenah, she has what it takes to be a model, but she really has to work on hr characteristics. From the preview I've seen so far, I think she will be one of the final two. Now, coming to Saleisha, I think her odds of winning is pretty high due to her long history with Tyra, and her need to win the competition in order to succeed in the modeling world. However, I would love to see her go next, leaving the final runway battle to Chantal and Jenah. And if that happens, Jenah will most probably be named as America's Next Top Model.

ANTM 9 Episode 11 Quickie

Finally, the girls went for go-sees. Saleisha showed how evil she could be to Bianca by not telling her the location of the agency which she knew. Heather was lost in the city and made to only one go-see. Jenah had a little personality problem which sorta turned off the designers, and Chantal had a wrong undergarment on. In the end, Bianca booked the most jobs, crowning her as the winner of the challenge. Anyway, Heather, Chantal and Jenah were all late and were disqualified. Otherwise, I think Bianca might not have won.

Apparently, that lady is a popular model in China.


Nude panty is a must for a model. Striking pink with lace is a huge mistake.


Poor Heather was lost in directions.


Saleisha is being a little devious to Bianca.

The photo shoot that week had the girls post with Chinese lions and dragons. Apart from that, they had to impress their photographer and also a judge, Nigel Barker. At the end of the judging, the final call-out order was:

For the first time, I'm liking Saleisha's photo.


But, why was Bianca called second?


Chantal was safe again!


The reason Jenah landed in the bottom two is her personality.


Meaning Heather, surprisingly, was eliminated from the competition despite having a strong portfolio. But at least, she was again the CoverGirl of the Week.