CNY food in Melbourne

Voila! How's 2014 been treating everyone? CNY has been quiet here in Melbourne, as usual, but we tried to create the atmosphere by making FOOD, food and MORE food. What is CNY without food btw? LOL. Anyway, here's a recap of some of the homemade stuff we had during CNY:

Fresh from the grill

Homemade Bak Kwa! 

Cookies - Peanut, crunchy almond, pineapple tarts, and milo koalas

Packed some to send out as gifts to friends

A must for Beijingers - dumplings

A must for Hakka-ers - Pork trotter vinegar (Chu Kiok Son)

Shanghai-nin delicacy - Kao Fu

Malaysian Chinese seaweed cracker

Hubby's best stir-fry lobster

Another must for Hakka-ers - Yam with pork belly (Kiu NYIUK) 

Kumquat marmalade - thanks to kumquats from neighbour

Looking at all the photos, i am so proud of myself this year for being brave enough to attempt some of the delicacies which i never thought i would be able to make. My most favourite is kiu-nyiuk ... pretty good for a first timer. All thanks to tips from mom and hubby who helped me fried the yam and pork. 

  

Where did all my time go?

Boom!! I have been neglecting this blog for a long time now....cannot believe how time flies! Where did all my time go?? Many many things have happened in the past few months and our dear little prince has grown into a walking active lively little toddler who just cannot stop even for a second. Sigh. That's what you get when you have boys. BTW, how did your Christmas, new year and Chinese new year go? We had some simple quiet celebrations here in Melbourne with a couple of visitors over for meals. Summer has been mistreating us this year, with temperatures scorching up to over 40 degrees consecutively for many days.Imagine that. 

My boy is one!

The birthday boy

 

 My dear boy Micaiah turns one on the 28th September, last Saturday. We had a mini party for him and his little friends (including theirs parents of course!) at our house. I just couldn't imagine how time could go by so quickly; a year ago i was admitted to the hospital and the memory of the childbirth pain was still very fresh in me today (:-S). I suffered a great ordeal of 2 days after my water broke before this little man came into the world at 3.84kg! I could still remember him sucking his little thumb in his daddy's arms. His fresh scent. His little chubby face (and still chubby haha); eyes closed tightly and his jaundice episodes. God has been great for the last year! Though i have to admit motherhood is no easy job, its something that i would never think of exchanging or giving up for and thank God for giving me the opportunity to be a mother to a cute adorable little prince!

 

My two aunties, who happened to be one, a great cook and the other a great baker came to visit and help out with Micaiah's first party, so we had the luxury of having everything homemade including the birthday cake! Micaiah was a big fan of the song 'who is the king of the jungle?' so the theme i chose for him was 'lion safari'. I also pray he would grow up to be strong and superior like a lion, and model after our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah.

 



Isn't the cake awesome? Carrot cream cheese, personalised and made by my dearest auntie Amy. Oh ya, including the cupcakes too.

The spread on the day. Yummilicious food cooked by my dear auntie Agnes and some by me. There were still some dishes not served when this photo was taken. Popular dish of the day was sweet and sour lychee fish, also happens to be my favourite!

Desserts are a must for me. Agar-agar, fruit platter, tarts, tiramisu, macarons, baby food/snacks and drinks. Not forgetting the two bottles of wine too!

Daddy's birthday is only 2 days away from Micaiah's. Hence, that explained the two birthday cakes. And candle blowing together.

 

Did Micaiah knows it was his birthday celebration? I don't know, but he was a happy chap that day. He received many gifts and pressies (thanks to everyone!) and was laughing a lot the whole day. At one year old now, he is getting more active and aware of his surroundings. Couldn't talk or walk properly yet but he was a fast crawler and good eater, who would happily finish his vegetables and fruits without fussing. He sleeps through the night in his own little room, which is only next door to our room. A tall boy for his age, but has not been gaining much weight since he was 10 months old (11kg +) due to all the movements and crawling. People have been praising how good looking he is, and how he would grow up to be a heart breaker (haha) which, i believe he understands because he would give his loveliest smile when someone praises him!

 

 

Homesick virus

These a few days, i am plagued with some homesick viruses (+ a bit of cold), that got me all teary and depressed. For no reason, i miss home! I miss homecooked meals; be it my mom's, grandma's or aunts'. Just the taste of home food. I miss speaking the language. I miss my own identity. I miss my home. I really do.

I shared this with Michael just yesterday, and the reply i got was ' Is this place here not your home?'. Fair enough. I chose to leave my home to come to this place. I chose to leave my family to be united with this family. But they are different. Maybe i shouldn't use the word 'leave'. The right term should be ... well, i don't know.

 

My aunties left yesterday early morning after Micaiah's birthday. Their visit to Melbourne made me realised how much i actually missed KK. And how long i haven't spoken my own mother tongue. How long i haven't tasted that particular taste of homecooked meal. Living in a foreign land where home and family is thousand miles away is not easy at all. I have friends coming to me, complimenting how perfect my life is. Yes i am blessed, God has never fail to provide our every need, He is faithful and has never made my life any harder in this foreign land. In fact, i have everything. So much that i am starting to realise how I have been mistreating myself for the last few years. I put myself in a space where there are too many constraints and limitations that I am suffocating to this point. I wish i can find someone whom i can really talk to. Who can really listen without judging. Who can tell me it's ok, you are not alone. Who can lend me a shoulder to cry on.

 

Am I suffering from antenatal depression?

 

Sigh....

 

Micaiah is growing too fast



 

Sometimes I wish I can stop the time and pause for a moment. My boy is growing too fast at a time. From a tiny weeny cry baby to a big lovable little joker who would laugh kekekekekeke to passersby and give away his sweetest shy crooked smiles. Yes my little Micaiah will be  growing into a handsome young lad in no time. I dreaded that. Oh yes i do. Never has it been my wish to see him grow up so quickly.

 

 

'Beanie knitted by yi po is too small for me but i love it'

I like to stare into space sometimes. Trying to keep cool while they snap my pictures.

It was a cold cloudy day and I was sleepy. I managed to steal some sleep at the church during the sermon, but had to wake up when everyone started standing up. That explains my weary look.



I hope the photos above describe how much he has grown. He is sure a tall boy for a six month isn't he? I have started him on semi solids and his current diet plan includes spinach, broccoli, pumpkin, carrot, potato, apple, pear, rockmelon, baby rice cereal, egg yolk and fish. And recently greek yogurt too.

Six month old to be little Rice

Look at how much this little boy has grown.

Sigh, my boy is soon to reach his half year on planet Earth. How time flies!! From a small little munchkin to one of the cheekiest babies around. By looking at my son, I am constantly reminded not to judge a book by its cover coz as innocent and 'cute' as he may look, he drives me nuts!

He doesn't sleep much for his age. Since he 'found' his voice, he likes to wail and scream to grab attention. He likes to throw his towels and toys onto the floor (clearing his highchair i guess). And he likes to laugh a lot. LOL. He laughs for no reason sometimes.

 

This is my little boy Micaiah at almost six months old. He is sure growing fast and big. A hefty weight of 10.5 kg and 72 cm tall. And, did I mention he has a BIG head? It's so big, even a one year old shirt's opening cannot go through. LOL.

 

Autumn

Micaiah's autumn fashion

Autumn is finally here and I'm back to my masters! It has been difficult managing my time so far but then again, week no 1 is always hard! I find myself stuck in the midst of many chores and assignments. Sigh, n a little baby boy to care for. Really hope i can settle in soon and delegate my roles properly. This autumn has been pretty hot too, in fact, for the last few days the temperature scorched up to 35 degrees! Double sigh, with the unbearable heat and confusion; it was excruciating hard to focus and study properly.  And poor Micaiah went red all over.