Vanilla Chocolate Eclairs

Just saw SUGAR at Asian Food Channel (AFC) hosted by Anna Olson. Their theme for the show is Vanilla Bean. I love the eclairs. So, this is the recipe for Vanilla Chocolate Eclair from the show:

Ingredients:

Pastry Cream

• 2 cups milk
• 1 vanilla bean
• 8 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 5 tbsp cornstarch
• dash salt
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp brandy (optional)
• 1/4 cup whipping cream

Eclairs

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 7 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cups bread flour
• 5 to 6 eggs, at room temperature

Chocolate Glaze

• 1 1/4 cups icing sugar, sifted
• 4 tsp cocoa powder, sifted
• 1 tsp corn syrup
• 2 tbsp to 3 tbsp milk or water

To Assemble

For pastry cream, bring milk and scraped seeds and pod of vanilla bean to a simmer over medium heat. In a bowl, whisk together egg yolks, sugar, cornstarch and salt. Whisking egg mixture constantly, gradually add milk, a ladle at a time, to the egg mixture until all the milk has been added. Pour mixture back in pot and return to medium heat. Whisking vigorously, bring mixture up to a simmer. Due to the cornstarch, pastry cream will thicken quickly, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat and strain. Stir in butter (this will help halt the cooking process). Stir in brandy, cover surface of pastry cream with plastic wrap and chill completely. Whip cream to medium peak and fold in. Chill until ready to assemble.

To prepare éclairs, preheat oven to 400° F. Heat milk, water, butter, sugar and salt and bring up to a simmer. Sift flour and add all at once. Stir mixture over medium heat for 2 minutes. By hand or with a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add eggs one at a time, blending completely before adding additional egg. To know if you should add the sixth egg, lift a spoon (or the paddle) from the paste. If it "sheets" or leaves batter as you lift it then it does not need egg. If it still feels tight (is hard to pull away) then add the extra egg.

Fit a pastry bag with a large plain piping tip. Fill bag and pipe 4-inch long lines of paste onto a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving at least 2 inches between each (secure the edges of the parchment to the pan by sticking it with a little of the paste). After all the dough has been piped, touch the finishing point of each éclair with a finger dipped in water, to flatten the point the tip has left.

Bake éclairs for 12 minutes at 400° F. Do not open oven yet! Reduce heat to 360° F and bake for an additional 8 minutes, until éclairs are rich golden brown. Allow to cool before filling.

To fill, fill piping bag with plain tip with chilled pastry cream. Insert tip into a long end of éclair and fill until cream stops at end of éclair. Continue filling all éclairs.

For chocolate glaze, stir together icing sugar and cocoa powder. Stir in corn syrup with milk until a smooth, pourable consistency. Dip éclair tops in glaze and let set on a cooling rack to dry. Keep éclairs chilled until ready to serve

Yield: approximatley 12 eclairs.

* Can't wait to try! I will post some picture of the eclair if I manage to make it.

La Risata, Damansara

When for dinner with Man and my parents at La Risata, Damansara last weekend for my birthday. It was an Italian restaurant. It was not an exclusive restaurant but a cozy one. It was hard to find space for parking at that area...and for the restaurant have to make reservation. We have called the restaurant earlier if we could be there by 8.30 p.m. but they said our reservation was at 9.00 p.m. and they currently were full.

The food was very very good compared to my last Italian food at Villa Danieli at Sheraton Imperial.

Srinco Di Agnello - Braised Lamb Shank

Bistecca Fiorentina - Grilled T-Bone Steak

Spaghetty Alla Risata (their specialty), every table ordered this!

For desert we have the Panna Cotta with Caramel Sauce and Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding with Butterscotch and Vanilla Ice Cream....very yummy and forgot to take photo.

Problem

There always problem with my project in Morib. The hotel, the golf course plus the villa. I'm feeling stress.

The thing with the hotel was the maintenance....since my officer had quit his job, everything falls on my head....every detail things that happen in Morib.

The golf course...with the improvement process but glad the flooding issue has settled.

The villa....the main problem is to getting CFO - Certificate of Fitness of Occupancy. There were SYABAS problem that soon to be solve, IWK problem that I'm not sure how to go about, now...the TNB problem when I thought that's the problem had been settled.

So....tomorrow off to the TNB for appeal process....how to appeal? Next week appointment with IWK on the master layout....uiskh!

Greek Season 3

Wow....I am so happy. I am so happy.....and almost shouted! I have been following this tv series from the first season. Now it's already in season 3 and up date on episode 6.

Scot Michael Foster as Cappie

Spencer Grammer as Casey Cartwright

Casey has been in loved with Cappie and Cappie loved Casey so much too. But Evan also loved Casey or still have some feeling for Casey....Ouch.

Casey is the perfect match for Cappie..... CASEY & CAPPIE, what a match!

Cappie had confessed .....Huray!!! Awesome. They finally kissed, made up, and agreed they want to be together. But I just don't know what this relationship leading...since Evan just being friend again with Cappie.

I hope that Rebecca will be with Evan....so that Casey will be forever with Cappie.

Dilshad-Vadsaria as Rebecca

Jake McDorman as Evan Chamber

But as you all know....Love and Life were not so simple....it was tough! Can't wait for the next episode....out by Monday 2nd Nov.

Tagged by Kak Yus

I've been tagged by Kak Yus for a game....I wanna call it 'What In Your Handbag?' and Kak Yus, for your information Wanie tak de la banyak handbag.

A. Sila ambil gambar beg yang anda bwk gi kerja:)

This is the bag that I've been using for pass one month without changing to other bags...the reason is I loved the bag so much!

B. Kemudian sila ceritakan sedikit apa yang terkandung dalam beg anda. Sila sertakan sekali kemudian terangkan secara detail isi beg anda

So....this is the things in my handbag

1. purse pink yang semakin kusam
2. handphone which I can't live without
3. tumbdrive 4 Gig
4. pen & pencil...to scribble notes for meeting
5. blotter tissue
6. membership cards organizer (various memberships...especially for departmental store)
7. make-up bag and things inside my make-up bag is....

a. brush set
b. compact powder
c. eye shadow and blusher in my favourite colour
d. mascara...which I rarely used
e. mini size cream foundation
f. lipstick in Brave
g. lip condition with SPF 20...very very effective for my dry lip
h. black colour eye liner and lip liner in gingerroot

C. Nyatakan sebab2 anda suka beg anda itu.

Why I love the bag so much....it's look small but you can just put anything in it and it can fit. Love the handbag design and the mainly the price is KW42,000 which is approx. RM120.0o when I went for holiday in Seoul last July.

D. Nyatakan kenangan manis atau apa2 yang istimewa beg itu pada anda.

Kenangannya...when everything is so expensive in Korea....there were this handbag market that open from 12 am to 12 pm with various of handbag design with good quality of leather and workmanship with a very very reasonable price.

E. Sila tag orang lain

1. Ms. Azida
2. Ms. Umie
3. Mrs. Ainul
4. Ms. Dils
5. Mrs. Izwanee (the one that actually have lots of handbag)

and anyone who want to do it.....

Handsome ERIZ

Eriz will turn 12 month this 25th October and he looks very handsome especially with his new hair cut and John Travolta's chin.

Now....he can walk from his mummy's room to the hall by himself and I'm so proud of him (hehehe, as if I'm his mother plak).

with his mummy

See....the hair style? Nice hair cut

The Aunties....during a cousin wedding last weekend

Me & Ayin

Min Amalia, Eriz & Kak Ina

After Raya - Sushi King

First day in the office since Hari Raya Aidilfitri...The office still empty and I'm still in holiday mood and want to eat something yummy.

So...together with my office mate...we went to Sushi King, Metropoint. Everyone ordered the Set Meal and plus round the table sushi.

Each one of us ordered different kind of Set Meal.

Kak Zai, Kak Sham & Kak Rozie

Me, Kak Zulfa & Pus

The set meal

The round table sushi - my favourite is baby octopus

Wii Addiction

We just bought Nintendo Wii since all Man's cousins including Malia was so obsess with Wii during the Aidilfitri gathering at Kuala Pilah.

What is Wii? Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3.

The Console

I'm really sweating while playing this game even in the air-conditioned room. The best game that I loved the most was Wii Sport Resort. There were bowling, table tennis, archery, basketball and many more interesting game.

lRemote Control

For personalized exercise, Wii Sport EA is the game. There were various type of exercise to suit everybody needs. This really felt like we were actually exercise.

l10 Free Games

Why Why Why

I kept asking myself Why Why Why! Everything I have to do...why me? why? why? Then what came out from mouth was "Why does the sun go on shining, Why does the sea rush to shore ".

I gave a call to Ms. Azida and asked her about the song and it is The End Of The World.



Why does the sun go on shining
Why does the sea rush to shore
Don't they know it's the end of the world
'Cause you don't love me any more

Why do the birds go on singing
Why do the stars glow above
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when I lost your love

I wake up in the morning and I wonder
Why everything's the same as it was
I can't understand, no, I can't understand
How life goes on the way it does

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

Why does my heart go on beating
Why do these eyes of mine cry
Don't they know it's the end of the world
It ended when you said goodbye

Farm Town Addiction

Currently...I'm addicted to the Facebook's game Farm Town. Before this, I love to play the Barn Buddy. Then proceed to the Farm Ville. However, for me...Farmt Town is the best! The layout, color, features and the game itself.

I'm currently at Stage 24 : Green Ace....but only have this small farmhouse. I love to see my neighbour with lake, river and many more features. When we proceed to upper level, the features were made available but money was always needed to buy the features.

I would like to have the pond and the river...and I can't wait to have more money to buy them later. I'm quite addicted to this game....even half an hour lunchh break, I'm still at my desk harvesting and plow my farm or other farmers' farm to earn money.

Buffet Ramadhan

Last night...I went for breakfast with Man and his office mates at Melting Pot, Concorde Kuala Lumpur. So far, I've went to seven (7) Buffet Ramadhan. First at Cyberview Lodge, Cyberjaya... then Equatorial Bangi, Marriott Putrajaya, Chatz - Park Royal Kuala Lumpur, Marriot Putrajaya again, Pullman Putrajaya and lastly the Concorde.

The best buffet...I've been to date was Melting Pot, Concorde. Why? Grilled Lamb? Yes...they have it. Roasted Beef? Yes...they have. Oyster? Yes...they have it.

What Concorde have that others don't? They have Gear Box Soup! I can finished one gear box alone. Alone! Love it so much! Their roasted beef was also marvelous. But Concorde also missing something that others have...such as pasta and pizza.

The best pasta was at Equatorial...the sauce was so thick and very tasty but Marriott's pasta was also not bad. Equatorial also have pizza which was freshly baked.

I think I might have another two or three buffet lined for next week...but I'm not really sure how it's gonna be. This Ramadhan...I don't think I could lose any weight but gain weight was definately.

Breakfast at Tony Roma, Pavillion

I went to the office in the morning too prepare my management brief for the Board of Director's meeting tomorrow with help with my colleagues. After everything settle...I went to my bird house in Seri Kembangan and wash my dirty car after being complain by Man continuously.

From Seri Kembangan, I took Putrajaya-Kuala Lumpur Expressway to Pavililion withhout any traffic and arrived 20 minutes early than my expectation.

When to ZARA while waiting for my dearest Ms. Azida and bought an orange suede pump which was marked down with price of RM69. Then headed to WATATIME to change my watch's battery.

Me...waiting for the food at Tony Roma. I'm so hungry!

Love Ms. Azida's scarf

Ms. Azida wore white skirt with the pink shirt and very very nice scarf that I love so very much. The color suit her with her fair skin....but I don't think it suit me....

Ms. Azida's Mushroom

Ms. Azida's Potato Skin, Onion and Chicken

Mine....Grilled Salmon

Before when back....when to La Bodega and take away their Cheese Burger for Man.

Euro Moda Addiction

My main weakness was Euro Moda. Everytime I enter the store....I can't resist myself from buying something from the store....even the intention was to accompanied others.

First incident was at Euro Moda, KLCC when Ms. Azida want to bought a birthday present for her sister...and I just can't take my eyes on the fabric that were display at the main entrance and what happen? I bought the fabric even after spending money at Seoul on fabric....I still cannot resist it.

Latest incident was during lunch time on Friday, my colleagues was going to Metropoint Kajang and as I'm not doing anything...I had follow them and enter the Euro Moda. And again....I can't resist from buying...not one but two. Actually, I bought only one for me...but if my mom knew that I bought another fabric...she would definately complain, so I've bought one for her.

Mine: Blue abstract....My Mom: Yellow with paisley design

I have to restrict myself from entering Euro Moda...for that...I can't go to Metropoint or Jalan TAR anymore...and please don't ask me to accompany to the store....I'm a bad person when I enter the store. VERY BAD.

Sunday....Family Day

Since my in law's maid, Kak Siti was on her holiday for one month...I've been getting up early than usual for ironing and machine the dirty clothes.

I was craving to be pamper...I want to be massage....I want to go for facial. I've been surfing for facial treatment online and I've booked an appointment at 128 Faubourg at Bangsar Village 2 and coincidentally my sister in law, Malia and Ayin want to tagged along....but the appointment at 128 Faubourg was fully booked.

Since it was fully booked, Malia's having her facial at Bella and Ayin just wants to shop around the Bangsar Village.

My main concern was for the uneven tone and blemish marks, so the Beauty Specialist recommend for the Synergy Face Treatment - Brightening consisting of face cleansing, peeling, brightening serum, massage, exfoliate, steaming, extraction, brightening serum, face massage, mask, brightening serum, hydrating serum, moisturizer and sunblock. So many serum and massage.

C Renewal System

After the facial, the Beauty Specialist recommended a C Renewal System (as always they will persuade you to buy their product) and guess what? I bought the C Renewal System. In the C Renewal System there were Micro Dermabrasion Mask, Double Renewal System Peeling I, Double Renewal System Comfort Solution II and Continuous Renewal Care which can be use at night time for a month for more glowing and reduce the blemish marks by cellular renewal and speed the healing process.

All free items except for the Pore Refiner System

I can't wait to see the result...and hope it worth the money I've spend.

As for Ayin, she also replenish her beauty product at L'Occitane with their new product Almond Apple skincare range and the Immortelle Eye Balm. Another product that she been used before was from Cellinique which she claimed that when being applied at the nose area for 2 weeks, the appearance of whitehead and blackhead at nose area reduced visibly.

Malia's facial was so tragic, she's been crying during the extraction session in two facial treatment...Bella and previously Serenity at AmCorp Mall.

Later that night we were having our 'berbuka' at Kelab Tasik Putrajaya for Lee's 28th birthday. Happy birthday to Lee, Kaer and Lisa.

Buffet At Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa

My first 'berbuka' buffet for Ramadhan 2009 was at Cyberview Lodge Resort & Spa, Cyberjaya with Man and his office colleague.

The surrounding environment and the ambient was really wonderfully with the lush green landscaping. We had our 'berbuka' at the Veranda Restaurant.


Our first menu...as usual was the grilled LAMB which was really delicious. For me the other food just okey...not so much attraction for me to eat the food repetitiously and plus the food was not so variety.

The main attraction was the resort setting environment.

Salam Ramadhan

I would like to wish to all my dearest friend.....Happy Ramadhan and Happy Fasting Mosnth.

Let's have our Breakfast session together!

Before that, I'm sorry for any wrong doing that may hurt anyone and thanx for being wonderful friends for this couples of years and years ahead.

Love you all so much!

Lips

I just realized when I've started to watched the second season....the casts for this series, Lipstick Jungle....they all have one thing in common. I mean the main casts....not the supporting or the extras.

The LIPS. I know that everyone have their own lip. Just the main casts of the Lipstick Jungle, they have BEAUTIFUL & SEXY LIPS.

Love their lipstick color too....very very nice!

Lipstick Jungle Season 1

I just finished watching the season 1 of Lipstick Jungle and guess what? I loved it. Love it very very much. The story was so sexy and the dressing was gorgeous. Love it! Love it!

I have my favorite couple in this series....My favorite couple was Victory Ford (Lindsay Price) and Joe Bennet (Andrew McCarthy). Victory Ford was so cute! and as for Joe Bennet....he was simple a match for petite Victory Ford.

I still remember Andrew McCarthy in Pretty in Pink with Molly Ringwald. I think he looks more charming when he's became older and matured.

* I hate the ending for the Season 1...but they always end the story that way you be tempted to watch the next season.....here I come Season 2....I love Jungle Trekking in the Lipstick Jungle.

Lipstick Jungle

I never really watched this series.....so today, I'm gonna start my journey to the jungle, LIPSTICK JUNGLE, Season 1.

Thanks to Ms. Azida.

Sakae Sushi

Yesterday went to KLCC to have lunch with Ms. Azida at Sakae Sushi. The environment of the restaurant not much differ than Sushi King except for the exclusive look with computer ordering system.

Me....waiting for our food


Ms. Azida was so geogeous with her purple scarf and blouse plus the skirt

The price was reasonable and just as same as sushi king but the menu was more variety. We ate until our stomach full. There was a promotion for Citibank Credit Card holder....Buy 1 Free 1 for the handroll. Ms. Azida had two Spicy Salmon Handroll and for me the Soft Shell Crab Handrolland Prawn Tempura Handroll.

Fried Maki & Miso Soup

Salmon Skins and Spicy Salmon Handroll

My favorite : Eniko Niku Maki (Beef with Mushroom)


My favorite : Baby Octupus
(which I think the cheapest baby octupus)

My second intention to KLCC was to buy a customize make-up palette pan by Bobbi Brown for easy carrying and organizing my make-up case. Bobbi Brown currently having promotion for the customize make-up palette pan....buy three items (eye shadow, blusher or any items that can be fixed into the pan) and received the four palette worth RM40. Actually, all palette pan (3, 4 or 6) was sold at the same price of RM40 and I'm thinking of buying the 3 palette pan which was for my two eye shadow and another for a blusher.

So, I've bought three items (metallic eye shadow in Champagne Quartz, blusher in Sand Pink and a foundation stick compact) and got the 4 palette pan for free plus Isetan's voucher.

The 4 Palette Pan plus the Stick Foundation Compact

With the voucher from the cosmetic and Isetan's membership, I've bought a bra at Wacoal. Then we went to Parkson and I've bought Patchi with voucher also.

At MAC....Ms. Azida tried the cream eye shadow and she bought the cream eye shadow that match her outfit....every nice and smooth.

Before going back...we went to Chili's to order a take away for Man. Happy eating and happy shopping and went back home with hole in the pocket.....:)

My 'Go To' Beauty Product

I love the Yahoo! Shine especially reading about their Fashion + Beauty section. Then I read this User Post about 'My Go To Beauty Product' and I want to have My Go To Beauty Product.

So...My Go TO Beauty Product:

1. CHANEL Whitening Modeling Effect Base SPF 30

I need to put up sunblock everyday. Therefore, the Chanel's Beauty Advisor recommended the this make=up base cum sunblock and love it so very much.

2. MAC Studio Tech

Always and forever cream foundation. I never fan of liquid foundation cause I think that it make my face blotching after wearing it for sometimes. Another cream foundation that I love is Bobbi Brown's Oil Free Cream Foundation which is slightly expensive that MAC.

3. MAC Select Sheer/Loose Powder

I'm always using this loose powder or sometimes just buy the press powder which I think the effect was the same when being applied with brush.

4. CHANEL Mat Lumie're

This two way cake foundation powder which can be applied dry and wet. However, I just used it as touch up and for reapplied as easy to carry, two in one.

5. MAC Powder Blush

My favorite color was Dame...I've once tried other color but not to my liking as much as Dame. But I would like to try the Bobbi Brown's blusher.

6. BOBBI BROWN Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow

The most easy color combination for me was the rose/pink with brown....simply can match with everything. Got in Rose Gold and Chocolate.

7. MAC Technakohl Liner (Eye Liner Kajal)
Of course in Graphblack. It was so lasting. Before this I'm using the eye liner from Estee Lauder and after sometime...the color faded away.

8. MAC Lip Pencil

Currently I'm using the pencil type and I would like to change to the Creamstick Liner which could be accumulate for the exchange of lipstick.

9. STILLA Shadow Pot
The best shimmer and eye shadow based ever in Honey....couldn't find it anymore.

10. MAC Studio Touch-up Stick Corrector & Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35

I rarely use this corrector and concealer...just went it was really really necessary. But I just carried with me the stick in case of emergency.

11. ESTEE LAUDER

MagnaScopic MascaraI'm not usually wear mascara. Just got the sample size mascara from the counter which I carry in my make-up case but rarely use it. But I love the finish compare to my MAC Fibre Rich Lash which look crumble.

MAC Lipstick

Estee Lauder Lipstick

12. LIPSTICK

I love the Baby Pink by Estee Lauder, Brave by MAC, High Tea by MAC which can neutralize the not so facy color, Admirable by Chanel and Secret Garden by L'oreal.