THE ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CAKE
I wanna share a chocolate cake recipe with you today. It's simple, fast, and nice! You can sit down and have a chilling high tea with your friends after 2 hours.
Ingredients:
Cake:
1) Flour - 170g
2) Sugar - 350g
3) Soda - 1/4 teaspoon
4) Raising flour - 11g
5) Cocoa powder - 25g
6) 2 dark chocolate bars, 60% cocoa
7) Butter - 200g
8) 1 packet of 3 in 1 instant coffee
9) 125g of cold water
10) 3 eggs
11) buttermilk - 5 tablespoons
(I modified the recipe by substituting buttermilk with kefir, sourmilk in Russian)
Chocolate topping:
1) 1 milk chocolate bar
2) Butter - 50g
Steps:
1) Preheat oven at 160 ' Celsius for 10 minutes.
2) Mix flour, soda, raising powder, cocoa powder and sugar in a big bowl.
3) Break dark chocolate bars into pieces and cut 200g of butter into small pieces. Mix the chocolate and butter in a bowl. Then mix the instant coffee with 125ml cold water. Melt in the microwave for 4 minutes, or over a slow flame. Mix well.
3) Beat the eggs in a bowl. Add buttermilk later and likewise mix well.
4) Pour the chocolate mixture and the egg mixture into the flour mixture. Stir well well until the consistency is smooth.
5) Pour the mixture into a baking pan greased with butter.
6) Place the baking pan into the preheated oven. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes at 160' Celsius.
7) It's time to rest and wait for the end product.
8) After the cake is done, take it out and let it cool.
9) Break the milk chocolate bar into a small bowl and add 50g of butter. Heat the mixture for 2 minutes in the microwave oven. Mix well and spread the chocolate on top of the cake.
10) The ultimate chocolate cake is ready to be served!
Enjoy...... ;)
You can bake a birthday cake for your dear friends too.Look at Elaine & Mei Sze!
They look so happy cutting the cake.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELAINE AND MEI SZE!
Stay happy and God bless you always~~ :)
It's time to distribute the cake...... yummy...Reaching - Jason Reeves
Hey there!!
I have a new song to share with you guys. This cover was recorded yesterday night. Hope you guys like it......
Well, i'm beginning to like this song more and more actually. I find it rather soothing and peaceful. Don't you think so? A beautiful friend of mine introduced this song to me recently. In fact, she is the same person who sang in the video...hehe.... =)
In my point of view, i think that this is an easy song to begin with for new guitarists. The chords are not that hard and it's pretty easy to move around on the fret board as not much movement is needed. Well, as for the strumming pattern, it's rather simple... DDU UDU...D=down and U=up... and also practice makes perfect so practice hard and wish u all the best. GBU!!! =)
REACHING - JASON REEVES
Standard Tuning
Capo 6
Chords Used:
G 320033
Dsus2 xx0233
Em7 022033
Cadd9 x32033
Am x02210
Intro: G Dsus2 Em7 Cadd9
Verse 1
G Dsus2 Em7
Boy, you are like summer rain
Cadd9
Soft and warm and delicate
G Dsus2 Em7
And I am a foolish girl
Cadd9
Tryin' to catch every drop of you
On my tongue...
Am Cadd9
But there's just too many
Am Dsus2
And I can't get enough...
Chorus
G Dsus2
You're inches from my fingertips
Em7 Cadd9
I've come as close as I can get
G Dsus2 Em7 Cadd9
I'm reaching but the rest is up to you...
G Dsus2
Cause I don't ever wanna miss
Em7 Cadd9
Being here with you like this
G Dsus2 Em7 Cadd9
I'm trying but it's all that I can do
G Dsus2
I'm reaching but the rest is up to you...
Verse 2
G Dsus2 Em7
Boy, you are the morning sky
Cadd9 G
Glowing calm with burning light
Dsus2
And as I am waking up
Em7 Cadd9 Am
You paint your reflection in my eye(I)
Cadd9
Wonder if you've noticed
Am Dsus2
I can't look away...
Chorus
(play chorus once till the end, then play G Dsus2 followed by the bridge)
Bridge
Em7 Dsus2
And you say, so you say
Cadd9 Dsus2
It's a brilliance meant to fade
Cadd9 Dsus2
Love is wild like a fire
Burning underneath the rain
But this is not the same...
Chorus
Outro
G Dsus2 Em7
Girl, you are like summer rain
Cadd9 G
Soft and warm and delicate
Dsus2 Em7
And I am a foolish boy
Cadd9 G
Tryin' to catch every drop that I can of it
P/S: the blue stick on the 6th fret is actually my blue colour pencil. i used it like a capo...so, for you guys out there who wants to play this song, but do not have a capo, u can start creating your own now...
Taking A Trip Out of Moscow Part 2 (Suzdal)
Hi everyone, as promised, this is the sequel to my previous post Taking A Trip Out of Moscow Part 1.
We took a bus from the Vladimir central station where you can purchase train or bus tickets to other satelite towns/cities/other states in Russian Federation. It was cheap but I do not remember the exact price though.
During our short 1 hour break, waiting for the bus to Suzdal, the moment for unforgettable! Some brought snacks, cheesecakes and even hot baverages to share. Just at the right time, my inviting stomach welcomed a piece of cheesecake and a cup of hot chocolate drink!
In a blink of an eye, we were on the bus again. The journey lasted for an hour. When we arrived at Suzdal, we knew it from the sight of more cathedrals. So, upon arriving, our tour guide Yi Xiong, showed us the Market Square.
And again, we wouldn't enjoy a particular place or scenary without some history:
For centuries it functioned as the capital of several Russian principalities. It forms part of the Golden Ring.
During the time of the Soviet Union, nearly all of Suzdal's economy was planned around its tourist potential. As a result, very few modern buildings were constructed in Suzdal (by law there are no structures more than 2 stories high except cathedrals). Also, a number of wooden structures from other parts of Russia were transported here, and the whole city was converted into an 'open-air museum'. Unfortunately, Suzdal's dependence on tourism also meant its economy nearly came to a standstill when tourists stopped coming after the fall of the USSR. The town's tourist trade now appears to be revitalizing itself however, mostly due to an influx of Russian tourists from Moscow and elsewhere.
Suzdal retains a rustic atmosphere. You will not find any McDonalds restaurants or any trace of Western chain shops or hotels here. Livestock wandering the streets and elderly women washing clothes in the river (and tourists wielding digital cameras) are regular sights in Suzdal.
Suzdal retains a rustic atmosphere. You will not find any McDonalds restaurants or any trace of Western chain shops or hotels here. Livestock wandering the streets and elderly women washing clothes in the river (and tourists wielding digital cameras) are regular sights in Suzdal.
In my very own opinion, the houses and shops seen in Vladimir somewhat resemble our Kampung houses back in Malaysia.
Eating Time!
Restaurants are quite rare in Suzdal. If you can find one, there's a high chance it might be full.
As you can see, the restaurants are quite traditional and very homely too.
The 18 of us
The Saviour Monastery of St. Euthymius is a monastery in Suzdal, Russia.
The monastery was founded in the 14th century, and grew in importance in the 16th and 17th centuries after donations by Vasili III, Ivan IV and the Pozharsky family, a noble dynasty of the region. Among the buildings erected during this period were the Assumption Church, the bell tower, the surrounding walls and towers, and the seven-domed Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour. The cathedral was built in the style of the Grand Duchy of Vladimir-Suzdal. Its interior contains restored frescoes by the school of Gury Nikitin of Kostroma, dating from 1689. The tomb of Dmitry Pozharsky lies by the cathedral wall.
The monastery also contains a prison, built in 1764, which originally housed religious dissidents. The prison continued in use during the Soviet period, and among its better known prisoners was field marshal Friedrich Paulus, who was incarcerated here for a time after his surrender at Stalingrad. The prison now houses a museum about the monastery's military history.
The monastery was founded in the 14th century, and grew in importance in the 16th and 17th centuries after donations by Vasili III, Ivan IV and the Pozharsky family, a noble dynasty of the region. Among the buildings erected during this period were the Assumption Church, the bell tower, the surrounding walls and towers, and the seven-domed Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Saviour. The cathedral was built in the style of the Grand Duchy of Vladimir-Suzdal. Its interior contains restored frescoes by the school of Gury Nikitin of Kostroma, dating from 1689. The tomb of Dmitry Pozharsky lies by the cathedral wall.
The monastery also contains a prison, built in 1764, which originally housed religious dissidents. The prison continued in use during the Soviet period, and among its better known prisoners was field marshal Friedrich Paulus, who was incarcerated here for a time after his surrender at Stalingrad. The prison now houses a museum about the monastery's military history.
At approximately 5pm, we headed back to Suzdal bus terminal station to take a bus back to Vladimir and then another bus to head back to Moscow. We arrived back in Moscow at approximately 11pm. It was truly a memorable trip!
Special thanks to Goh Yi Xiong for arranging the trip and also for acting as our tour guide.
Gin-No Taki Japanese Restaurant
I hv to recommend this restaurant to u guys. The surroundings
is good, definitely a great place for dating or just hanging out
with friends!
DONT'T MISS THESE--------
1) Dragon Roll
It looks like the usual UNAGI RoLL, but it has prawn, avocado and
caviar wrapped in the middle,totally big enough to fill ur whole
mouth! Furthermore, the Unagi is well grilled, with sauce and
sesame seeds spread on top, the whole combination is just so
good! See how many we ordered!haha!!
6 for 298rub. For the taste, size and ingredients,worth it!!
It looks like the usual UNAGI RoLL, but it has prawn, avocado and
caviar wrapped in the middle,totally big enough to fill ur whole
mouth! Furthermore, the Unagi is well grilled, with sauce and
sesame seeds spread on top, the whole combination is just so
good! See how many we ordered!haha!!
6 for 298rub. For the taste, size and ingredients,worth it!!
2) Ebiten Karami Maki
It is sushi roll with tempura prawn and different types
of vege, wrapped in rice and thin layer of egg. Goes best with
the sauce in its own saucer! Taste very natural, healthy and
refreshing!
8 for 220rub
3) Utama Dziu
Japanese rice with 2 big pieces of Unagi fish and some fried
eggs on top. Comes in lunch box. Taste great! The unagi fish
is big enough!
270rub
4) Drinks
Ice Tea in different flavours -90rub per glass, large enough!
5) Kani Kara Yaki
Soft crab with mushroom and spinach, covered with
cheese~~~ We din order, but saw some russians
ordered,the size is bigger than we thought.May be u guys
can go there try and let me know..i love crabs!!
185rub
Not recommended--
My friends tried these and they were not satisfied.
Location : Metro Oktiabryskaya, come out through
brown line exit. When u come out from metro, you will see
a big statue in front of you. From the metro, turn left,
cross the road, Restaurant Gin-no Taki is just in front of
you, a 2min walk from the metro.
For more infomation and location of the branches,
visit http://www.gin-notaki.ru/
Personal opinion : i have been to Planeta Sushi,
surrounding not as nice as Gin-notaki,waitresses are few
and rude, food in little portion, long wait for the food, the
taste is also getting worse and the price is always expensive!
Teruk!
Vegelovers Meatball
Hi, everyone. Today I'm going to share with you all another easy-to-make yet delicious recipe. Well, I need to confess that this recipe doesn't belong to me. It's my mom's recipe, and maybe she learned it from my grandma.. I'm not sure. But one thing for sure is that me and my siblings like to eat it so much when we're kids, even now.For this you'll need:
1 piece (Russia size) @ 3 pieces (Malaysia size) beancurd <-- preferably fresh one (you can get it from the Chinese market at Metro Partizanskaya, they called it tofu here)
150 g minced meat (preferably pork or chicken)
7-8 chinese mushrooms
1 carrot
1/2 onion
5 tbl.spoon cornflour <--can't get cornflour? Normal flour also can.
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 tbl.spoon sesame oil
1/2-1 teaspoon salt <-- depends on individual
Few dashes of white pepper to taste
Ok, now you've prepared all the ingredients that you need, let's get started. First, smash the beancurd into small pieces using your hand.
Make sure you wash your hands before preparing..lol. After that, add in minced meat. (see picture)
Cut the chinese mushrooms into small pieces, do the same for the carrot and onion.
Throw everything into the bowl with the smashed beancurd. Add in flour and all the seasonings. Don't forget the sesame oil, which is the key ingredient.
Meanwhile, heat up the oil in your frying pan but don't overheat it.
Mix everything in the bowl. Add some water if it's too dry, but not too much. The texture should be something like in the photo below.
Then, scoop it into the oil using a spoon. Try to make them in standard shapes. Turn the heat down if it is too hot. Make sure the meatballs don't get dark too fast as the filling may not be cooked yet. Remove them from the oil when they're golden yellow. Drain off the excess oil.
Ta da..here is it. Serve it on a nice plate. Eat it with tomato or chili sauce as you like.
Did you guys wonder I named it "Vegelovers meatball"? Well, it's easy.. because the amount of minced meat I put inside is very little.. lol.
Wanna know how good it is? Try to make some yourself today.. I'm sure you'll be amazed =p
I almost died......
Today sth happened for the first time...I got trapped in the lift! Actually it was just 4 floors, but my 6 other classmates and i were so lazy to walk down, we decided to take the lift..
Haha, ya, it was walking down, not up.
10 min later,Khairul came back and encouraged us from outside. He said "Korang sabar ya, pakcik tu cakap ada orang AKAN datang tolong" It had been 20 min and the orang AKAN datang tolong... When is AKAN?Tomorrow???!!
Then.......
Haha, ya, it was walking down, not up.
So the lift descended to 1st floor and the door did not open... The light was still ok, no weird sound was made by the lift.. We were discussing about ECGs (just given some ECGs by
our lecturer) and we stood inside for about 5sec, then i think it was Liyana (one of my stuck- together groupmates) who suddenly screamed "WE ARE STUCK!" From there on started
our 40 minutes of "CTPAX CMEPTU" experience.. Hahaha... Do u guys still remember wat does that mean?? In russian languange - scared of death..
When we realised that we were really stuck inside, i immediately went and pressed the "bell" button, and i said "LIFT HE PABOTAET", and IMAN screamed from the other
side "pAMOGUTE~~~" then the russian responded sth.. Then we started waiting inside. John tried to call someone using his handphone, but sadly, there was no network coverage inside
the lift.. Zakaria said because the wall is too thick.
By the way, the trapped people included LIYANA MAZNI, JONATHAN TAN, ZAKARIA AHMAD, MADIHAH PUAAD, IMAN ALI, PENGHULU HAFFIS n YEOH XIAO TIAN.
4girls and 3 guys.
Obviously my groupmates were so into analyzing ECGs that at first ,even when we were trapped, they were still discussing about ECGs (by they, i mean i was not involved..haha)..Then
we joked and talked nonsense, then after 15 min, we started feeling sleepy and tired..and actually i felt a bit dizzy and hypoxic.. U know 7 people inside a small space is not funny!
Then suddenly our "SUPERMAN" came rescue us! He was MOHD KHAIRUL bin ANNUAR. He knocked on the door and asked "korang kat dalam ya?" then we said yes, then he said " I go get help, korang tunggu dekat dalam tau!" Then liyana immediately slapped the door from the inside and screamed "OF COURSE WE WAIT HERE, WHERE
THE HELL U THINK WE CAN GO!?!?!?!?!"
Inside, most of us already started squatting down, some even sat on the floor. luckily the lift is not too small and the light was working.. If not there might be some misunderstandings..
(got 3guys 4 girls mah..) Haha...and it would be really scarry!
10 min later,Khairul came back and encouraged us from outside. He said "Korang sabar ya, pakcik tu cakap ada orang AKAN datang tolong" It had been 20 min and the orang AKAN datang tolong... When is AKAN?Tomorrow???!!
Then.......
We wrote this SOS thing.. and tried to slide it through thecrack of the door.. but we failed..
30min had passed.......and we were still inside..Khairul was no longer outside chatting with us.. It was just 7 of us inside the lift..We were abandoned..We didn't even know if somebody was already fixing the lift or not..
Disappointment...On the verge of dying..we finally decided to write this "group will"..40 minutes later, the door opened itself.. Nobody was standing outside...We were really abandoned! And we din know who actually helped us also..must be a real superman..haha..
HAHAHA>>>actually it wasnt that bad lah..Those SOS and "will" were made for fun..We actually joked and laughed alot throughout the 40min inside the lift..HEHE...
Anyway, i did feel slightly hypoxic..and after i came out from the lift, i immediately sent a sms to my Mr K and told him I LOVE U!
Moral of the story : Do not be lazy to walk down the stairs.. The lift is unreliable!
Jam La Vida in action
Jam La Vida in action.
Catch us if You can!
Venue: Room 408, Spartive hostel,
Date & Time: Every Saturday, 7 pm.
SEE YOU THERE!
Dancing Lady (Visual Test)
Hey friends, have some time for a small visual test. Take a look at the dancer and confirm its direction of turning. Close your eyes and reopen to focus on the turning dancer again. If it turns the other way round, it is not magic. It is your brain is playing a trick on you.
If you see this lady turning clockwise, you are using more of your right brain.
If you see it the anti-clockwise, you are using more of your left brain.
Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way.
If you try to see it the other way and if you do see, your IQ is above 160 which is almost a genius. (I don't know how true is this fact, I think it's applied to those who can see both ways easily, not like straining your eyes to see it.)
P/s: BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
So which way of turning did you see on the first sight?
Notes: Here is a link to an IQ test for those that think they're maybe genius.. try do it and see whether your IQ is above 160 or not ;-)
If you see this lady turning clockwise, you are using more of your right brain.
If you see it the anti-clockwise, you are using more of your left brain.
Some people do see both ways, but most people see it only one way.
If you try to see it the other way and if you do see, your IQ is above 160 which is almost a genius. (I don't know how true is this fact, I think it's applied to those who can see both ways easily, not like straining your eyes to see it.)
P/s: BOTH DIRECTIONS CAN BE SEEN.
LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic
detail oriented
facts rule
words and language
present and past
math and science
can comprehend
knowing
acknowledges
order/pattern perception
knows object name
reality based
forms strategies
practical
safe
RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling
"big picture" oriented
imagination rules
symbols and images
present and future
philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning)
believes
appreciates
spatial perception
knows object function
fantasy based
presents possibilities
impetuous
risk taking
So which way of turning did you see on the first sight?
Notes: Here is a link to an IQ test for those that think they're maybe genius.. try do it and see whether your IQ is above 160 or not ;-)
PORNOGRAPHY
All of us at one point another have been exposed to pornography - whether in the written form or pictures or in explicit texts. It is has been found that about 420 million adult sites are available to anyone who is willing to explore the "apparently wonderful world of sex." It is just a click away and there is no policing on these sites.
The front pages of all these sites have this really stupid line -" You are allowed to enter this site only if you are 18 years of age or above." I mean how hypocritical!!!!
We, from the upper middle class of the social ladder, are taught to respect the opposite gender. Yes, in many cultures, it is seen that there is a preference towards men than women but the mutual respect is taught. We are taught from a very young age that sex is the harmonious and sometimes a holy union between a man and a woman. A union where there are no barriers and both parties give to each other fully and with any premonitions.
Many women of the lower classes in every country are forced to sell their bodies to feed their chilldren. Many work in strip clubs and pick-up joints. They don't enjoy having sex but they do it for money. They don't do it willingly. Many are forced to do it by their husbands, fathers or circumstances. There are so many underage girls who have been raped and now forced into prostitution.
Yet pornography potrays the sex quite differently. There are basically three kinds. One is where the girl seduces the guy, another where the girl is bound (here the girl is sexually exploited in many unthinkable ways and is shown to enjoy it). And the third is female domination (the boy is physically assaulted). The third type is rare and mostly the first two prevail. Pornography potrays the act in a very sleazy manner treating the human body like trash. I'm sure most of us are aware of the porn magazine called 'Playboy'. For those who don't know - It is the most popular porn magazine in the world. The women who pose here are considered 'stars'. I wonder at times how their parents must be feeling.
Teenagers are the ones who are most affected by these sites. Unsupervised television viewing and net surfing has increased the popularity of these sites. These impressionable minds grow up with a very twisted version of the idea of sex. There have been many cases where the wives have committed suicide because the husbands have tried to sexually exploit them. There have been cases where teenagers take in stimulators like viagra or ecstasy to enjoy the pleasure and hence caused death.
Pornography is not the answer to know more about sexual intercourse. The blame of course goes to the elders in society who don't think it necessary to discuss about the taboo subject, hence raising a lot of unnecessary questions in the inquisitive innocent minds of the young.
Please try to help these women. Stop this injustice.
Padas River White Water Rafting
Sabah is a place full of hidden gems. Nature lovers, those looking for adventures will find full joy in traveling Sabah. Even though I have lived in Sabah for more than 10 years, I must admit there are still many sides of Sabah I've never explored.
Last summer hols, I went white water rafting with 5 other friends in Padas River. We met up at Merdeka Supermarket in Lido and was picked up by the van which was to bring us to Tenom.
We reached Tenom around 11.30am. We heard that the Hakka yong tow fu and chun juan (egg rolls) at the 1st floor of the Tenom Central Market was very famous. So we decided there and then to find to try those specialties even though we did not have much time. If you're interested in eating there, just ask the locals where the Central Market is and they'll point the way.
This is us waiting for our food to come. No photos of the food as all of us were too busy digging in to take any photos.At 12:30pm, we took the train from Tenom to Pangie vilage. The train we took must be the oldest train in the world. I was surprised that it was still functioning! Apparently these trains have been in use since the late 19th century in Borneo. Too bad we did not have our camera with us so I can't show you guys the pics.
At the starting point, we were given a short brief on the dos and don'ts and what to do if we went overboard....etc.Before long, we were rafting on the Padas River. There were 9 of us on one raft, including our two guides who sat at the back of the raft. Actually, it was not that hard of a job, for us at least. Basically, all we had to do was row when our guide ordered us to row and to stop when he said so. Our two guides at the back had the heavy and important job of steering the raft.
It was really an exhilarating experience rafting thru the numerous rapids with amusing names such as Merry-Go-Round Rapid, Break Point Rapid, Scooby Doo Rapid, Cobra Rapid, Curve Rapid, Lambada Rapid and Head Hunter Rapid.Halfway thru, we stopped at Rayoh Station for a quick lunch and rest. Lunch consisted of BBQ chicken, lamb and some stir-fried cabbage. Though the food was not exactly the most delicious in the world, it did its job of filling up our hungry stomachs.
This is Nicholas showing how much fun he's having!
After filling up our stomachs, we continued rafting down the Padas river while enjoying the majestic view of the Borneo rainforest. As the waters were more calm downstream, we started to have fun by splashing people on other boats with our oars. Our guide even threw the guys overboard!
Endpoint of our rafting trip was a place called Halogilat, where we took the speedboat to Beaufort town. At Beaufort,we dried and changed our wet clothes for dry ones in some makeshift changing rooms (when I say makeshift, I really mean it!)
A small reminder: Do remember to bring a towel to dry yourself and a change of clothes, including underwear or you'll end up like Adeline who looked as if she'd just urinated into her pants (look hard at the photo). She had forgotten to bring her underwear!!!From Beaufort, we took the van back to KK. Though all of us were tired out at the end of the trip, it was an experience we would never forget.
This is the certificate i received for having challenged the Padas River! Hooray!!!For those who're interested, the agent we used was Traverse Tours Sdn Bhd (Riverbug). You can just google it up and you'll find all the extra info you need or just leave your questions at the comments and i'll try my best to answer them. We paid RM 175 per person at that time (we had a small discount)! But expect to pay around RM 200 as you know all prices have increased with the economic recession.
Note: It's best to wear a shirt, shorts and slippers or sandals. Do bring sunblock to prevent yourself from getting sunburn! And don't forget your change of clothes and a towel.
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