Vietnamese BBQ Pork Steamed Buns

So I did some late night grocery shopping on Thursday night by myself, once Super-J came home from work... I had forgotten how peaceful and enjoyable it can be when you don't have little ones in tow pulling at you and asking to hold every little thing you put in the cart (many an odd lime has had to be forcibly purchased after Mini-V has insisted on holding it through the entire shopping experience and then refuses to let it go as checkout... I don't think they want it back with teeth marks anyway!).

Well, you know what happens when you shop alone? You roam down the aisles you really don't need to go down (just so you can prolong the "alone time") and you end up discovering all kinds of exciting ingredients. Then, you have a false sense of time and buy everything you really don't need, thinking oh yeah, I will make that on the weekend.  I had one of those moments on Thursday night and purchased a mysterious packet of Vietnamese "mixed flour" labelled Bot Banh Bao.  OMG steamed buns!! I love those at Dim Sum, really how difficult can it be!?!?

Let me tell you.... 6 hours of cooking later and I made them!!! They were delicious. I am adding this to my new section called "What's Cooking" because I love to cook and know you will love to see what I make!

First, I had to roast the pork. I looked up 'Chinese BBQ pork' on the internet and found this amazing recipe.  I varied it to only use the marinade. I didn't marinate it overnight and I did omit some of the ingredients, it turned out great. Here's how I made the sauce -

Combine -

1 1/2 Tbsp sugar
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp Chinese five spice
1 garlic clove chopped
3 Tbsp ketchup
3Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp rice vinegar (I didn't have the white wine the recipe called for)
2 Tbsp Hoisin sauce
2 Tbsp Honey

 After mixing this, I smeared it all over boneless country style pork ribs and put it in an 350F oven for about 2 hours, turning it over every now and then to check.  I admit, you can cook it for less if you want but I wanted the sauce really caramelized and pork super tender.

Once the pork was cooked, I started on the Bot Banh Bao dough. I really wish you can make the dough ahead of time because having to wait for the pork to be done first adds so much time to the cooking process. Unfortunately, it is one of those sticky doughs that has to be mixed, rested, then re-kneaded and finally rolled and steamed immediately. Time consuming (especially with two small kids).

I followed the instruction on the packet. Basically, you have to mix the packet of "mixed flour" with 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 Tbsp vegetable oil. The instructions said to hand-mix for 10 minutes. No way I was doing that, so I put it in my Kitchen Aid and set the dough hook on low for 10 minutes.

Then you have to let the dough rest for 15 minutes (this is when I took a break to have my lunch, which might I add, I did cook simultaneously!). After 15 minutes, I used the suggested 2 Tbsp of reserved mixed flour to flour my board and then you have to knead the dough for ten more minutes. Let me tell you, the dough is sticky so make sure you reserve more than the recommended 2 Tbsp of mixed flour.

The DOs and DON'Ts of owning an engagement ring

So you're engaged or married and sporting a fabulous engagement ring with that bedazzling diamond perched on top.  It's the ring either you or your partner, or maybe both of you together, agonized over for months and months let's do a cushion cut... yes, has to be a carat... no I prefer platinum... It must have a halo! Well.... what now? I will tell you! You must now spend your lifetime following my simple DOs and DON'Ts to make sure your ring always stays pristine and your luck too!

DO have your ring cleaned often.  If you are lucky enough, you have a jeweler who has offered lifetime cleaning for your investment. Take advantage of this and make sure you have your ring cleaned at least every few months. Alternatively, you can purchase a great ring cleaner on the market. I have the Brookstone Ultrasonic Jewelry Cleaner (retails for USD$49.95) and uses only tap water and advanced sound wave technology to remove dirt. It's great and there are no fancy detergents or solvents to buy or worry about.

DO take your rings off when you cook, clean with detergents - actually generally around the house. There is no need for you to be lazying around the house in your sweats and feeling the need to adorn your finger.  If you are conscientious about your stone and its settings, just leave it in a safe place in the house and do your housework stress-free.  Detergents unavoidably enter your ring setting, build up grime in small crevices and can even loosen the stone if the solvent is strong enough. Settings can also be compromised if you knock or damage your ring accidentally.

DON'T let anyone else wear your rings, even your best friend. Haven't you heard that it is completely bad luck!? It's also not wise to take your rings off when out and about, you never know when you will lose it or what will happen!

DO take your rings off at night when you sleep. Not only is sleeping with your rings a pain, literally, but it is bad for your circulation and your fingers.

DO reconsider wearing your rings on vacation, particularly at the beach.  It's not urban myth that rings go missing while snorkelling. It does happen.  Wearing a nice engagement ring could also pose potential safety risks to you and your traveling companions if traveling to areas that are not too safe. Rings have been known to go "missing" even in hotel rooms!

DON'T apply moisturizers, creams, sunscreen or any other lotion on your hands whilst wearing your rings.  Take the time to carefully take your rings off, put them somewhere safe (not on your lap!) and then apply your creams.  The oils in the creams build up over time in your ring and its setting and even good cleaning will rarely get it all out, unnecessarily making your ring cloudy and gritty.

DO take care when allowing your ring to "rub" on another metal, for example another ring, because this can cause erosion and abrasions, degrading not only the general aesthetic of the ring but also the metal quality. Gold is expensive today so you want to look after, just as much as your diamond! Always make sure your wedding band and engagement band are made of the same metal to preserve the finish of your ring.

DO not fall victim to this growing trend of having your ring re-set if you have more money or if you simply tire of your ring setting. The design you and your partner chose is symbolic of the journey you have made together and the love and commitment you share.  It is not a reflection of your bank balance or status.  Be wary of this growing trend to "upgrade" and hold on tight to sentimental attachments to a ring offered to you in the grandest and most romantic traditions known to man and woman! To her dying day, my mother wore the simplest of engagement rings, it had a teeny tiny chip of a diamond and two little tiny rubies.  She always wore it proudly because my father had saved his money and designed it just for her in the shape of an "S" - for her name.  Now, that is meaningful, not the carat size of your stone!!

Finally...

DO look after your ring!!! Keep it in a safe place, have it insured if you need to and keep that insurance current and appropriately certified.  If you leave your unworn rings in the house, be mindful of who is in your house and who has access to it.  Rings commonly go "missing", especially when left lying around carelessly.

The Important Things in Life

This is an old and memorable story that circulated years ago. Don't know if it's an urban legend in teaching us life's lessons, but it's worth sharing again.  These kinds of stories always hit home for me, since losing my mother two years ago.  It's important to always cherish the important things and people in your life and not lose sight of it. Here it is:

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students if the jar was full.  They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes".

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.  The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - things that if everything else was lost and only they returned, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter - like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff."

"If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued "there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.  Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities.  The rest is just sand"

Author Unknown.

Laundry Tip #1

I don't know about you but Velcro is my No. 1 enemy when doing the laundry. It only takes one piece of Velcro to attach itself to something delicate and cause a pull.  This is particularly irritating when washing the girls' clothes because children's clothing is covered in Velcro, especially the bibs.

So the next time you wash your children's clothing, or even the next time you toss their clothing in the hamper to be washed, take an extra ten seconds to fasten the velcro first.  Always fasten the bibs before you wash them.  This will ensure they don't stick to anything else in the washer or dryer (namely socks, tulle and knits - which seem to be magnets to Velcro!), causing unsightly and irreversible pulls in the fabric.

Hope you enjoyed my little laundry tip!

Peeling fruit

There is something so deeply satisfying about peeling a fruit all in one uninterrupted strip! Here's the peach that gave me such satisfaction this morning!

Product Review: NUK Bottles

Both my girls have enjoyed the NUK Orthodontic bottles made by Gerber, as well as their sippy cups (not included in this review). There are a few versions, all differing in the outside design of the bottle but they all function the same way and are made of the same materials.

Nuk Nature Bottles

Nuk Nature Bottles

Nuk Trendline Dots Bottle

These bottles are designed specifically to ease the transition between breast and bottle.  Both of my children were both breastfed as well as bottle fed and they both took to the NUK bottle very quickly and easily.

The NUK teat has a patented "Air System", which vents the nipple to reduce colic.  The nipple is made of silicone (much better than latex in my opinion since a lot of people react to latex) and is shaped very similarly to a breast, with a wide base and a "nipple" tip.  NUK actually claim on their website that the bottles have been scientifically proven to make feeding easier.  I will say that the bottles are easy to use and easy to feed with.  I also found that the Air System promotes a certain ease in burping after each feed.  The orthodontic design also promotes proper oral development.

All the bottles parts are interchangeable so you can mix and match, which really comes in handy when you are mixing in the pink bottle but cannot find the blue cap!  Each bottle is made up of five pieces: the bottle itself, the teat and ring around it, the cap as well as a removable inner seal, making travel mess-free.

The bottles are available in two sizes: 10 oz and 5 oz.  My recommendation is to go straight to the larger size because both my children only drank 4 oz, or less, for a couple of months and once you start actually mixing 5 oz in the 5 oz bottle, you have to be really careful to not spill the formula as it really is full to the brim.

Washing the NUK bottles is great!! The wide opening makes it really easy to get the bottle brush inside and clean the bottle effectively.  This wide neck also makes adding scoops of formula to the bottles very easy and mess-free.  I had gone from pumping (and using) the Medela bottles to the NUK system and I was starting to really cringe every time I had to wash the yellow-capped Medela bottles as they have narrow necks and crappy nipples. The NUK, by contrast, is much easier to wash and use, especially as there are few parts (unlike the Born Free bottles, which I do actually like, but have six parts to wash!! Too many for busy Moms).

 The NUK bottles really are my favorite and we have tried at least 5 other brands (Nuby, Born Free, Medela, First Step ad Tommy Tippy). I have always had some beef about the other brands, whether it was a leaking top or difficulty in washing but I have nothing but good things to say about the NUK Bottles. I highly recommend them to any bottle-feeding parent or caregiver.

10 Steps to Take if You're a Victim of Identity Theft

For the full article please go here

Identity theft can happen in a variety of ways, but regardless of the method, the outcome is still the same: Your personal identifying information has been misused and it could have a serious impact on you, your reputation and your personal records -- including those pertaining to your employment history, health and credit.

If you are the victim of identity theft, what should you do?

Although every identity theft case is unique, the licensed investigators at Kroll Fraud Solutions offer the following general advice for a quick and prudent response to immediate signs of identity theft. Depending on your specific case and situation, you will likely need to supplement these steps with additional activity.

1. Analyze Your Situation

There are multiple types of identity theft. How have you been affected? If you are a victim, your case might involve one or more of the following types of fraud: credit, banking, taxes, employment, government benefits, medical, and criminal.

2. Place a Fraud Alert with a National Credit Reporting Agency (CRA)

Contacting one of the three CRAs reduces the risk of accounts being opened in your name without your authorization. Place the alert by calling either Equifax -- (888) 766-0008, Experian -- (888) 397-3742 or TransUnion -- (800) 680-7289. If you place the alert with one agency, they will notify the other two for you. A fraud alert also affords the right to a free credit report from each credit reporting agency. (See step 9 for more on ordering your credit reports.)

3. Check Your Financial Accounts

Close any accounts that were opened without your permission, and close any of your existing accounts that have seen unauthorized activity.

4. Check Your Computer for Viruses 
If you use your computer to access sensitive online accounts, a computer infected with malicious computer programs could allow a hacker to steal sensitive data you may be typing to manage online transactions, such as bank, credit card and other sensitive identification information. If you believe your computer is infected, run your anti-virus program to scan for any viruses that need to be removed.

5. Secure Your Proof of Identity 
Expect that you’ll be required to complete and submit an affidavit and provide proof of your identity. The Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Affidavit is widely accepted and can be downloaded here.

6. File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 

Share information about your situation with the FTC so they can collect it for possible use by law enforcement across the country. You may file online and print a copy to show to the police when you file your report (see step 7). You may also file a complaint by calling the FTC Identity Theft Hotline at (877) IDTHEFT, or (877) 438-4338.

7. File a Police Report

The police may only take the report as a courtesy and not pursue the matter. However, this step is still helpful to you, because you will need proof you reported the matter to the police. Preparing the FTC ID Theft Complaint beforehand will help you organize the pertinent information.

8. Keep a Record of Your Actions

Log the steps you take to address the situation. Include numbers called, names of people you talked to, dates of calls, faxes and mailings. Keep copies of all correspondence, affidavits, reports, etc.

9. Order Credit Reports for Review

If you’ve placed a fraud alert, confirmation letters from the CRAs will tell you how to order a free report. If you chose not to place a fraud alert, use the Annual Credit Report Request Service to obtain a free copy from each CRA. Federal law mandates that one free report from each CRA is available once every 12 months. You can request your credit report online or by calling (877) 322-8228.

Please note: Don’t rush to take this step if the ID theft event happened recently. Creditors may only report to the CRAs monthly. If you discovered credit-related ID theft right as it happened, wait 30 days or more before ordering a report so you don’t miss something that hasn’t been reported yet.

10. Don’t Ignore the Activity

You must take action to prove you are the victim and that you are not the party responsible for the suspicious activity in question.

For more information on what to do if your identity has been stolen, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s “Take Charge: Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,” which provides excellent basic information. 

Hilarious look-alikes!

This is a hilarious list of celebrity look-alikes. The Ellen DeGeneres one made me laugh out loud!

Great tip for traveling with small children

Traveling with small children can mean packing lots of little bits and pieces in big suitcases.  Suitcases filled with small items can be time consuming to weed through in a hurry, not to mention it is easy to forget what you packed!  When you pack your suitcase before your next trip with the kids, pack one complete outfit (including hair accessories, underwear etc) in one zippered bag. Each bag can also be easily labelled with a felt tip pen, so you can mark whose clothing it is and what it contains.

Having one complete outfit neatly packed in one zippered bag will not only make dressing your children a breeze on vacation but will also ease the whole unpacking process, both at the hotel and when you return home.  Your kids will also love the opportunity to pick which bag they will "wear" each day on the trip.

10 Things: How to keep your refrigerator clean and tidy

Here are 10 tips for making sure your refrigerator is clean, hygienic and not a dumping ground for old food.

1. Every week, do a stocktake to check the expiration dates of everything in your fridge and do a big "throw out". The best day to do this is the night before your trash is collected so you are not creating a big stinky mess in your trash cans.  This basically means, go through all the dairy and left overs, as these are the things that are constantly perishable.
2. Every month, get into the habit of clearing the shelves so you can wipe them with soapy water. Alternatively, you can mix 1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda with 1 quart of warm water to naturally clean and deodorize.  Wiping the shelves is really important in keeping everything hygienic.
3. Everytime you wipe your kitchen counters, try to wipe down the front of the fridge, especially the handles.  The refrigerator is one of the most touched things in the kitchen and the handles can be a breeding ground for bacteria due to sticky hands and food residue left on the surface. This takes less than a minute at a time and once you form this habit, you will notice how nice your fridge always looks.
4. I am not against magnets and personal accolades adorning the fridge but if you do have them on your fridge, try to keep it neat and uncluttered.  Try to go through everything weekly and decide what is to be discarded, which to file away as a keepsake and what remains on the fridge.
5. Have you ever stored your food according to categories? It is simple and keeps the fridge very neat and tidy.  Use the drawers for cheeses and cold meats. Drinks such as larger juice bottles and milk can take up the large middle shelf and then try to use just one shelf for all your leftovers.  Raw meats should always be kept at the bottom to contain any potential contaminations from drippings or escaped raw meat juices. Reserve the door storage for dressings, sauces and jars. Starting the categorization in the beginning will seem silly and tedious but once your fridge is sorted, you will see how easy it is to complete No. 1 above and also how neat the inside becomes.
6. Always store your leftovers in tupperware-style containers and never in bowls with plastic wrap on top. Cooked food should always be kept airtight to prevent contamination and to extend its longevity.  Additionally, containers with lids helps promote a greater stacking system, so you get the most out of the limited fridge space you have.
7. Start buying those zip-lock bags. They aren't cheap but you can buy these in bulk at Sam's Club or Costco.  Whenever you open a package that requires re-packing, using plastic wrap and then inserting the food into another zip-lock will not only mean everything is neat and tidy but it will increase the shelf life of your food and put money back in your wallet in the end.  Products that do well with this system include block cheeses and packets of cold lunch meats/bacon.
8. Every week, take everything out of the fruit and vegetable drawers and wipe them down.  These drawers collect so much dirt and debris that if you don't do this, not only does it compromise the fresh new items you put in these drawers but it also stains the drawers and makes the fridge smell
9. At the rear of your top shelf, keep a small open container of bicarbonate of soda (about 2 Tbsp). This will help eliminate nasty odors through an easy absorption method. The bicarbonate only needs to be replaced every couple of weeks and is a very inexpensive way of deodorizing your refrigerator.
10. Regularly check your thermostats.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states, "Keeping foods chilled at proper temperatures is one of the best ways to prevent or slow the growth of these bacteria." Read more: Correct Temperatures for Refrigerators | eHow.com Getting it wrong poses serious health risks to yourself and others.  Although the FDA requires the refrigerator thermostat to be at or below 40 degrees (F) to maintain quality and slow bacterial growth, most refrigerator manufacturers and repair centers will tell you that 38 degrees is the optimum temperature.  We tend to keep ours at 36-37 degrees but do note that below 35 degrees, your refrigerator will require a forced defrost cycle and it will use additional energy.

Family Photographs - tips and information

Seven months ago, we had our second baby and we have still not had a single photo taken as a family of four. In fact, I am always finding myself on the other end of the camera.  I am really keen to have a nice family photo taken this Fall - one that we can use for our Holiday cards.

Here are my hopes for our family photos:

• keep it simple and casual
• try to time it right with the children's "best times" - avoiding meltdowns, meals and naps. 
• Aim to co-ordinate our outfits but not match. Also aim to fit the season we will be shooting in
• Keep the energy positive and natural. I really want to just capture the moment and not have the photos coming out contrived or fake
• Keep the background and location interesting and fresh, but I don't want it to detract from the subject matter of the photos - US!!
• I am hoping to use a photographer we already know and trust, that the girls will be comfortable with and hopefully we can get some sort of package deal to keep the cost low.

Resources:

• Ideas of what to wear for Family Photos
• 10 Tips to take great Family Photos
• More tips for Family Photos
• What to wear for Fall Family photos

Toddlers and Balls

I have just realized that having a toddler in the house means you live in a house of balls. I mean, literally.

I am constantly stepping on balls, finding them in the most obscure places, not to mention that I have to play dodge ball everyday - balls are whizzing by me all the time.  Mummy, catch!

I wonder, am I alone? Surely not because I see that Mini-V's 2 year-old friends are just as ball-obsessed as she is. They gravitate to them like it's some sort of baby crack. So today I decided to do a stocktake and actually walk through the main floor of the house, counting and documenting all the balls I found. I did not expect to find so many!!! There were TEN balls randomly placed on my first floor. I didn't even know I owned 10 balls. Here they are:

Ball 1: Next to the oven

Ball 2: Next to the couch in the living room

Ball 3: Under the Piano

Ball 4: in the corner next to the living room fireplace

Ball 5: in the foyer (and damaged by little teeth)

Ball 6: at the front door

Ball 7: in the kitchen

Ball 8: in the breakfast nook by the deck door

Balls 9: caught and grouped in a carrying case on the coffee table (this one is really cute to watch being toted around!)

Balls 10: in the play tent