Asian style pork bites

I love to cook and try new recipes but lately I just don't have the time or the energy.

When we were younger, well before we had kids, I was always trying new things. I loved it, and so did hubby!!

Today I was looking for something fast, tasty and simple. And this is exactly that!!!

480g organic pork mince
1 egg , lighty whisked
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
1 Tbsp Kecap manis ( I didn't add this )
1/4 cup of rice flour, but I guess you could use plain flour
1/4 cup of thai basil leaves finely chopped, I used half regular basil and half cilantro
1 green shalot, finely sliced
1 clove garlic, finely chopped

Mix all the ingredients and leave for 2 hours in the fridge for flavours to develop.

Roll into  balls and fry until golden in a little oil.

Olivia , my eldest has her school play next week and the parents have to take something along for the buffet afterwards, so I guess this is what I'll be taking.
These little bites will make a pleasant change from the usual quiche, chocolate cake and mini pizzas that normally cover the table.

Bon appétit

A is for Apple, A A Apple!

I can't get this damn alphabet song out of my head. Our youngest is always singing it. God forbid if the cd changes in the car and the next one is hers.... there's no stopping it!!!

Just thought I'd share this delicious  recipe for apple crumble. I know crumbles conjure up thoughts of chilly autumn days, chestnuts, apples, woolly socks and roaring fires.
But hey, I'm in Hong Kong, so unfortunately none of that.

This crumble is easy to whip up  and always gets devoured.

Apple crumble (serves 4-6)

Filling :

1.2kgs apples ( I use granny smith)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
Half Tbsp corn flour

Crumble

3/4 cup of plain flour
3/4 cup of oats
3/4 cup sugar
113g  cold butter

Peel, core and chop apples into chunks. Place into large bowl, add sugar and corn flour. Toss to coat. Place in baking dish.

Pulse all the crumble ingredients in a food processor. If you don't have one, the butter can be rubbed into flour, sugar and oats, until it resembles bread crumbs. You can also add cinnamon if you like.

Spread topping over your fruit mixture. Place crumble into preheated oven on 190° and bake 45 minutes until bubbly and brown.
Serve with vanilla ice cream or custard or gently whipped cream, whatever takes your fancy.
We always have it with yummy vanilla Haagen Dazs.

Bon appetit 

Two sick little girls

What a week !! I'm so glad its over.

Last week-end I called in the babysitters (AKA grandma and grandad) to take care of the girls while Alex and myself went to watch a movie. Its just 5 minutes up the road but as we stepped out of the lobby, we were greeted with torrential rain. So into a taxi we hopped.

Its been years since I've been to watch a movie.The last time it was Happy Feet with our little  Olivia. Alex has taken Olivia quite a few times here in Hong Kong. I prefer not to go as I um, fall asleep!!

We watched Pirates of the Carribean .... and yes, I dosed off. But only until a big bang woke me. So I made it through and only catnapped twice, not bad!!
Alex asked if I fell asleep as he knows how it goes. Told him yes, he didn't notice and we had a good chuckle.

Sunday came, invited my parents for lunch , then the plan was for Alex and myself to hit the streets and just have some us time.
As I'm sure many of you know, when you plan some alone time and you have kids, they quite often get SICK!
Olivia didn't want to eat and fell asleep before lunch which sent alarm bells ringing. Took her temperature and... fever.

Monday, no school and off to the doctor we trot as she had fever the whole night with bouts of coughing. When she's like that, I don't wait it out as she normally ends up worse for wear!

Verdict.... she has bronchitis.

Monday night, Mathilde starts with... fever!! So its meds every 4 to 8 hours. After tossing and turning and a few turns of musical beds, the night is finally over!

Mathilde has full blown tonsilitis and is so sore, I feel so sorry for her. She's still eating and takes her meds no problem which is always a good sign.

I was just saying how we hadn't been to the dr in a whole month, which is a record and there I went and jinxed it!! We got to see our dr Chows new office twice this week. She recently moved there and I was thinking that she proberly thinks that we've desserted her or left Hong Kong as I'm always at her office.

And as you guessed our plans of being 'childless' for a few hours turned into a week of clingy and grumpy girls.
Topped off with sleepless nights, musical beds, phlegm vomiting and extra clinginess.

So thank heavens this week is coming to an end. I now have happy faces and quiet nights and no more fever. Everyone seems to be on the mend.
So to celebrate that, we went out this afternoon to fly our kites.

Sisterly love

Yesterday, Mathilde and myself were looking at photos of when she was a baby.

Amongst the many, many photos were a few of her when she was small, sitting on my sisters knee. I explained to her that it was her when she was a baby, sitting on Jades knee.

She then looked at me and said 'thats your best friend, thats your sister!!'

I was gobsmacked, this from a two and half year old.

But then it got me thinking. No, its not that difficult for her to comprehend.
Her best friend is.....her sister!

Battling the bulge!

Well, not so much the bulge, more like ripples or should I say dents that one calls cellulite!
Yes, I admit.
I HAVE CELLULITE!  But then again so does my 2 and a half year old little girl. How come hers looks so cute? I want the same please, 'cute cellulite' like the one the 2 year olds have!

Now with the heat and humidity hitting us smack, bang in the face, its time to cool off. Its beach time, pool time, well any time where there's minimum clothing and maximum skin exposure, with sunblock please.
Add 2 young girls to the mix who love splashing and swimming and there you have it, no more hiding under my long , flowing dresses!

So our first trip to the beach was a little over a month ago.

Oh my, that was harsh. Bright sunshine on whiter than white skin didn't do the body any justice.  But, like the previous winter months, I just ignored it!
Now after a few more trips to the beach and to the pool in our complex, I can't do it, something, anything, needs to be done.
I kid you not, I can feel the one 'dimple' (sounds cute but it really isn't) through the material of my dress . Yikes. This is just out of control.

I've started speaking about 'it' to my hubby and of course he's seen it. He'd have to be blind or completely not interested in me not to. And because he's neither of these, he's spotted the dreaded dimples/dents.

And so I say stop!!! Drastic times call for drastic measures!!

So for one whole month, I'm going to cut out completely all the 'baddies' in my diet.

No more choco, sweets or chrisps.

No more alcohol and up water intake.

No more coffee, yes, I said drastic measures.  

Exercise. Even though I'm on my feet the whole day and don't stop until night, I need proper , fat burning, muscle toning exercise. So I 'm going to squeeze in two weekly trips to the downstairs gym.
When we were in South Africa, we had a yearly gym memebership. I never went once. I always said to my hubby, its too far away and I have too many things to do. It was 10 minutes away!
Now we have this state of the art gym downstairs  and I still don't go. I  just don't like to exercise. But like I said....drastic measures!!

I've also been out and bought myself some essential oils and mixed them with my sweet almond oil to make my own anti cellulite, detoxifying miracle oil . I must say, after a week of using it, I do see a wee difference. It also leaves the skin silky smooth which is an added bonus.

We already eat lots of fruit and vegetables.

So now its wait and see if my efforts and sacrifices  pay off.

Below are a few of the beaches we've visited recently.