These Muffins are meant to be Eaten, or for Easter

It is just one thing to buy muffins from the store, and another to have them as surprise treats presented to you (and the family).
I am a fan of muffins, well, kind of anyway, as like most of the things that I like, I am quite particular with the types of muffins and how I really want them to be like.
I don't appreciate sweet stuffs; I really do not, and I could even feel nauseous if it is just too sweet for me.
I don't like it to be too mushy either; you know the kind where it is an in-between of stale hard and squished soft with that extra moisture, especially moisture, I could throw the whole thing away if there is that moist because it just makes me feel sick to the stomach.
Yes, I can't stand it when my pastries are just too moist; especially when it comes to muffins, but that's me.

It is again, really hard for me to find a place which sells or even bakes really good muffins, but there is this girl who is just so passionate and spends her time learning and perfecting her baking that she saved me that effort from the search.
She is really busy with work too, and that itself brought more meaning to the lot she specially prepared and baked for occasions and even occasionally, just to share her passion with everyone.
I love that the muffins were baked with careful thought put into it, and that itself scored higher than most off-the-shelf muffins I bought from bakeries and confectioneries.

This year's Easter was made special with this special batch of muffins; and I loved the flavors and theme altogether.
She just knows how to tug at my heartstrings and my picky tastes.

Now, how could anyone not fall in love with such a warm combination of colors; vibrant and just screaming of exuberance while appearing temptingly soft in that just-out-of-heaven kind of appearance?



Starting off with this Carrot with Walnut Muffin, which is just so adorably sized (and shaped)!

Bright orange with that smooth reflective top is just striking indication of the softness of the muffin sparingly filled with little walnuts in it.
The dome-shape is just a unique presentation of this simple appearance of the muffin.
Never judge the muffin by its dome shape, for the tiny threads of carrot strips line the insides of the muffin with the little beads of walnuts embedded in them.



There is just no photo to show the inside of the muffin (I should have snapped one before it was devoured), but it was perfectly justifiable for the petite size just makes for a few bites before it just disappears down the trachea.

The Carrot muffin was a warm starter, but my heart was truly captured by this Green Tea Muffin with Red Beans!
I am just so obsessed with anything in this combo; it is just perfect to melt my heart - of course, if it was done right.




Everything in this muffin was handmade, and done from scratch; including that gorgeous top overlay of red bean paste.
If there is anything I could accept mashed, it's definitely this red bean paste.
It is so hard for me to find this muffin baked with the exact combination and the ones I have found were somewhat lacking in that satisfaction factor for my personal tastes.
This aspiring baker definitely found that tweak in her recipe to make it tailored to satisfy that picky taste buds in me; with that moderate texture of the green tea muffin complemented by the sweet and thrilling taste of the red bean paste.
It was not too sweet, and there were no additional sugar or sweetener added into it.
I would love a little more green tea packed into it and just a little softness or slight percentage of moisture perhaps?
But that's just me.



It was just so good, that I even tried to save one for the next day, and I was just so disappointed when I got home and the only one left was the carrot muffin.



I am sorry, you do look a little sad but I just cannot help it.
Alone you may be the star, but next to the other, you are in second place.


No offense, for I don't hate the carrot muffin; I just wanted and craved for that green tea with red bean version.

Yes, it is definitely good enough to "Share and Enjoy"



I think I need to request for another batch of muffins, personally for me and keep them away from the rest of the family?

Just kidding....or Not...






Note: I don't bake these, they are baked by a talented baker who is someone very dear to my family.
If she is accepting orders, I will let you guys know.

This is not exactly a review, but more of a sentimental post dedicated to my new muffin love.
Even muffins got to have some love, and of course, thank you dearest baker; that beautiful girl who always bakes for our family for this wonderful treat, for Easter.

It is definitely meant for Easter, and to be eaten....

Chinese Celebration with 8-course set meal

The festive season is just around the corner; with the Lunar Chinese New Year exactly a week away.
Any festive celebration always brings food to mind, which is always the centerpiece to keep family reunions and friends gathering animated as conversations continue to flow while satisfying their appetites at the same time.

The Chinese are always lavish with their celebrations; a tradition which is traced back to the early days during the civilization era. A celebration feast is always associated with a table filled with carefully crafted and prepared dishes.
The preparation of the dishes are always with thought and delicate preparation, with extensive and meticulous efforts put into the cooking method, sourcing of raw materials, garnishing to the style of presentation. The whole process is to ensure that one can find fulfillment and happiness in the tastes of the food, and that will be a sense of achievement to the person preparing it.
The amount of dishes symbolizes the generosity and prosperity, to laud the joy which comes with the celebration and the types of food are well-balanced with a varied selection of staples like rice/noodles, fish, prawns, poultry, pork, soup and concluded with something sweet to soothe one's soul at the end of the meal.

While the West has their 4-5 course set meals, Chinese celebration meals always come in 8-9 courses designed to serve 10 pax. The Chinese loves crowds, and large numbers add to the merry environment and of course, shared happiness with rowdy banter and laughter going around.

These elaborate course set meals can be found in weddings, birthdays, besides the festive celebrations and those who attend Chinese weddings are definitely not unfamiliar with these courses.
However, the course set meals are grand and with the variety of food, they are definitely tempting, not to mention stimulating one's palates and memory to induce that craving for these dishes.

It was a birthday we celebrated at this restaurant, Green Bamboo Restaurant which I have previously blogged earlier last year.

Typical courses of Chinese course set meals, in a general orderly manner:-
(We have customize the number of dishes due to small number of diners in our group to avoid wastage of food)

Like Western dinners, appetizers always grace the start of the meal and names of the dishes are often associated with an auspicious term as the Chinese are great believers in good symbols for they believe it brings happiness, luck and all things good.

Four Seasons of Happiness typically comes in a variety of mini samplers presented on a round plate, and each could symbolize one element associated with good meaning charms.
(Sometimes, it could be FiveHappiness and Six Happiness - the usual number associated with good beginnings)


(Sauteed jelly fish with sweet and sour sauce)


(Fried yam basket filled with kung pow chicken cubes, assorted vegetables topped with cashew nuts)


(Braised fish rolls with light egg batter gravy)


(Mayonnaise pork ribs)


Appetizers platter


Steamed Garoupa in plain light soy sauce






Spicy Mango Prawns




Braised mushrooms and broccoli with pacific clams






A Birthday meal is never complete without the auspicious Longevity noodles.
The name says it all, and the braised noodles is simply my daddy's favorite.
Though I must say, the presentation is definitely not really what I was expecting, and I believe they could have done a much better job rather than making this look like a mess.




Desserts are popularly presented with a combo of sweet soup along with an assortment of pastries.

Fried and sweet flaky pastry filled with lotus paste and glutinous rice balls filled with peanuts.







Sweet chilled Longan soup to polish one's taste buds after the fulfilling meal.




This is only a customized version and an elaborate full course set meals are usually found in wedding dinners and also large birthday celebrations where a minimum of 10 pax fill an entire table.

This may be an idea for dishes to whip up for that upcoming Chinese New Year reunion dinner, though it is usually the favorite dishes of family members as everyone returns to gather around the round table.

The most important of Chinese meals are not about the number of the dishes, though significant, but rather, the union of all the loved ones and the sharing of laughter and stories which brings warmth to the soul, and that makes up the meaning of the celebration :-)

Chicken, Seafood and Pasta @ Tony Roma's, The Gardens

Ribs, Seafood and Steak sums up the the signature specialties of Tony Roma's, one of the popular casual dining American chain which has found their way into our shores for a few years and have since expanded to outlets around the nation.

Famous for their baby rack ribs in their home country, Tony Roma's here, with adherence and respect to the local culture, is a halal (or known as kosher in other parts of the world) and therefore, it is a pork-free restaurant and the commonly favored pork ribs are substituted with beef ribs instead.
Yet the restaurant remains popular among the food-loving local Malaysians, and they are ready to accept anything new with open arms and mind, though halal food is not uncommon in the country.
It is no doubt Tony Roma's has also gained their place in the hearts of Malaysians, who are after all, ardent fans of food, a fact evidently backed by the endless eateries found in almost corner of the country.

It is definitely not my first visit to this chain restaurant, though I fail to recall the last time I was in any of their outlets for a meal which is definitely a sign of the long gap in time since my last visit.
They may be known for their ribs, but that is not the only specialty they have here as they proudly boast of an extensive selection under the seafood section, a fact which is just right for the seafood loving me.

I must say it is a good place for friends to gather, families to spend quality time together and of course, for celebrations too.

Tropical Smoothie is an eclectic yet enticing mix of orange juice, banana and kiwi blended with ice cream to give it that creamy froth of a taste, leaving behind a light hint of citrusy scent and aftertaste.
The fresh fruits and whipped cream topping polished this drink off nicely, enhancing the zesty taste of the drink.

Like most American casual dining, there is always a range of appetizers to select from for one to brush up the palates to be ready for the mains, and Tony Roma's very own trio combination of Red Hot Buffalo Wings, Potato Skins and their signature Onion Loaf (Half) form the Roma's Sampler.
It is probably one of the more popular choices too, where one need not sweat on which appetizer to have as there is a variety of three to save you that time in making the choice.



The accompanying dressing works perfectly well to complement the trio combination respectively; from the Bleu cheese dressing for the buffalo wings, sour cream for the potato skins and the TR's original BBQ sauce which TRfor the Onion Loaf.

(Potato Skins)


(Hot Red Buffalo Wings)


(TR Signature Onion Loaf)


The signature Onion Loaf is indeed a delightful and unique specialty, though slightly oily, but the compensating taste of the thickly sliced onion wrapped with the well-battered flour forming the outer skin, and spiraling like the twist of a bun is more than enough to capture one's interest.
Peel away at the layers, dip it into the bbq sauce and be ready for an interesting taste journey!

A fan of greens will never settle without any form of salad, and while there is a list of salads to choose from, Caesar Salad is definitely a conventional yet comforting one to have to nibble at while waiting for the mains to arrive.



Crunchy Romaine lettuce leaves tossed in with the classic dressing topped with croutons and Asiago cheese. To make it even more appetizing, throw in the addition of salmon.
Well, technically, I was expecting smoked salmon slices but it was grilled salmon steak fillet which appeared to accompany salad, making this salad worth every cent.




Chicken Alfredo Florentine
Grilled chicken breast, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach tossed in a lemon alfredo sauce and served over linguine. Topped with shaved Asiago cheese and fresh chopped parsley.



Shrimp and Salmon Piccata is a lovely combination, mixing both of my favorites; a well grilled portion of salmon steak with juicy shrimps sitting on top of the fillet drizzled with lemon caper sauce, along with sides of rice and fresh broccoli.
It makes it easier for me to have the best of both worlds, for those who simply cannot decide (like yours truly) and be satisfied by the appetizing combo to fulfill that seafood craving.


One definitely cannot go wrong with both salmon or fish, with shrimps, I say, that's for sure.

We are definitely obsessed with salmon, as another plateful of salmon appeared on the table.
For an interesting and flavorful twist to the grilled taste of salmon fillet, the Avocado and Mandarin Orange Salmon is the answer to living it up a little.



The colorful sight and mash of the exciting tastes of mandarin oranges and cut avocados, enhanced with the extra zest of grape juice to dress up the avocados just please the taste buds, besides the visual attraction of the blend. Throw in the freshly cut tomatoes, red onions and cilantro, and I'm sold!

Oh yes, not just salmon, we are also big on shrimps, obvious with this Shrimp Scampi Pasta which tosses fresh juicy shrimps, lightly sauteed with garlic, fresh basil and tomato pesto beforehand.
If you sensed something else in the mix, that is probably that light bit of chipotle in there to add to the  satisfying mass of linguine.
Shaved Asiago cheese (TR is big on this cheese eh?) completes this for the pasta lovers.





A Birthday treat for the celebrant accompanied by the lovely singing of the servers, makes this lava molten cake topped with ice cream a memorable one for my daddy!



The food, service and ambiance in this Tony Roma's outlet in The Gardens makes this a winning combination to court more patrons to their outlet, besides the obvious strategic location along the connecting passageway between Mid Valley mall and The Gardens.

Besides who need more reason to enjoy a good meal to treat oneself, or even to go for the special occasion with family and friends?
Or do we even need the reason of a special occasion to enjoy Tony Roma's?

A very Fishy and Sea-ful Christmas

Christmas Day this year was totally unplugged; more of a go-with-the-flow kind of thing where we did not really plan the venue for lunch/dinner or the itinerary for the day.
Well, wrong move, as everyone was packed to the brim when we headed out for our traditional family meal.
(We used to whip up a big meal at home, but recently we just decided it would not be bad to enjoy a day's out with the family once in a while?)

Our original plan was the good old western and jolly Christmas celebration with ribs, but due to the overwhelming crowd at the restaurant, we went for another option and we had fish and seafood instead.
Yeah, it turned out to be a good treat as well, as I was enjoying a nostalgic treat for the festive season at one of my famous restaurant; Fish and Co.



They were offering Christmas set meals; for 2-3 pax and priced reasonably at MYR59.90 for a platter for two, soup of the day, and a drink. The platter includes chicken, fish shrimps and mussels, served with rice and was a good deal which can feed more than two, to be frank.

Passion Fruit and Tropical Fruit fiizzies for the set drinks (to select from)







Mine was my Pink Passion, which was a lovely drink filled with fruity goodness.
I only remembered that there was cranberry, orange but it tasted great, all the same!




Seafood chowder was the Soup of the Day



We ordered the Garden Salad (a healthy option!)
(Loved the topping to fried anchovies)


And the Grilled Calamari for our starters



The Platter for Two





And a Seafood Platter




All in accordance with the fishy theme, and the best part was not the food but the look of enjoyment and happiness on my parents' faces as they were indulging in their meals.
That, to me, is all the food and celebration promises and the joy and smiles just say it best~




How has your Christmas been?
Found the meaning of Christmas, besides the extravagant celebrations, and all the temptations of food?

Now...we are heading towards the last day of 2013....time to reflect and make the final touches to the resolutions for the New Year!
Or do you still make the resolutions? ;-)