It's back to one of the many great times of the year where we get the "bestest" opportunity to fatten up our bellies and indulge in yummy fatty food! So i say we keep that weighing scale far into the corners of our dusty storeroom and forget about it whilst we enjoy what we enjoy most- GLORIOUS FOOD!
I do remember my saying once that all these festive seasons never fail to give us an excusable reason to forget whatever diet we may be on and simply feast on the many delicious dishes available during the celebration! The various mouth watering dishes that differ on every festive occasion really makes it something to look forward to every new year! :)
For me, Chinese New Year is the best. Simply because it gives me this wonderful going-back-to-hometown feel that gets me all excited and happy! :D Though my hometown is located some 3 hours drive away from my house, i really don't mind the distance. (Just so long the car that i am in gives me ample space for my legs and it's relatively spacious and comfortable.) :)
My hometown is a very typical kampung hometown. It has a small chicken coop (with yes, chickens), lots of fruit trees- rambutan, pineapple, papaya, coconut and etc, oh! and my grandparents plant nuts too. :D And make their own lap chiong or Chinese sausage which is super duper yummy compared to those you get at the markets or hypermarkets. :) Everything is lay back in that area and you'll see the men wear singlets and short pants walking about (the singlets are not those tight ones that hot guys put on k...it's those loose white ones...xD) and ladies (usually in their early 60s onwards) dressed in long pants and a simple top. And they usually all walk on clogs. xD
My favourite days of the new year would be the eve of New Year's and the first day. :) That's 'cause we get to have steamboat on the eve which means i get to have what i simply cannot live without- cili padi!!!! ahahaha! Oh...how i adore chili. I went to US once and suffered terribly without chili! The one poor substitute for it was mustard! Which was definitely not spicy or thrilling at all! Oh...you have no idea how much i was craving for chili then. I felt like those people who got stuck in the desert and craved for water, except... i was craving for CHILI! xD
Steamboat dinner on the eve is one of my best days because all of my uncles would be back and the entire family would be crowding around the table eating and sweating (because of the cili padi) and drinking beer (for the adults) and us kids AND teenagers drinking 100 plus! xD It's basically really the whole idea of having a family get-together that i love! I love the noise when there's a family gathering. Yes, kids screaming and running around may be a tad bit annoying at times. But once they go back, i miss them! :)
On the first day of Chinese New Year, is another favourite day for me because my grandmother makes the BEST vegetarian dishes EVER! And she makes the BEST red bean soup. It's sweet! It's So tasty! Oh, my grandfather can make super great dishes too! Their cooking puts everyone else's cooking to shame! LOL. I may sound like i am over praising but i love it so much! It is home cook food after all. :)
That's what we all or at least i look forward to for every Chinese New year. My grandparents would also prepare prawn crackers and tapioca crackers too! I love the prawn flavoured ones most. :) Oh, we also have the colourful yee sang too! That we buy. LOL. This year i had 5days straight of yee sang. xD It's fun!
Then the second day we would celebrate my grandmother's birthday! :D We usually have chocolate cake. It's so fatteningly yummy. xD We went to Cameron Highlands too! And had tea! And strawberry ice in the plastic- wrap- around stick. lol. Kids around my age should know what i am talking about. :D
Our First and only stop for tea
Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice cream! It was Goooood!
Short Bread and Blueberry Cheese cake! Pretty good!!
The oh-so-tasty-ly good scones!!It was awesome. Loved the cooling weather very much! It was truly refreshing. :)
After the snack, we went off further to visit the strawberry farm. First stop- strawberry ice cream! Then we went on to buy fruits and got conned into buying jeruk guava. Or in other words, sweetened guava or guava soaked in sugar. LOL. What we saw and was told was that this guava is very different. In fact, the texture of the skin is smooth and it was sweet! We didn't even see the packet stating that it was and we ate it, saying how amazed we are at how different and sweet this guava was and what a good buy it was; until my sharp eyed bro saw what was written on the packet and told us. HAHAHA.
The night before we went back, i met up with Daniel! HAHa! Our very own Kampar-Shu Yi's-argue-partner Daniel!! LOL!! It was great to see him again! First time meeting a friend outside KL! :D
So anyway, i spent the rest of the afternoon drive home on my birthday sleeping and watching the scenery. :D And speaking of my birthday, i must say:
To all my wonderful dearest friends, I just want to say million times thank you for all your sweet birthday wishes that you have sent to me! :) It was really thoughtful and incredibly sweet of each of you to remember my birthday. It meant a lot to me! *hugs* :)
And to Chu Ian!! Thank you so very much for the cake!! :) It was really good!! No one except the bakers at Secret Recipe has baked me a cake! hehe. By the way, here's how the lovely cake looked like:
It's my fav. Caramel Cheesecake! :D
I had to try it...*takes a bite...* OMG! SooOO GOOOD! XD
And mind you, i wasn't being bias k! It was really really good!! My family, who is very particular about cheesecakes, LOVED it. HEHE!! Thank you, Chu Ian!!! *hugs*
That's all from me for now!!! Thank you again to all of those that wished me!! *hugs* :) Have a Great Chinese New Year and Happy Holidays!! Gong Xi Fa Cai!! Enjoy!! ;)
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