【Venetian Mask 。威尼斯的神話】

October 05, 2011 Wet windy day

Cute and happy cartoon characters are common icon of {ma-masak}; it very seldom collects something like this one -.-

*happy lunch* includes:
Strawberries from Cameron Highlands
+ mini potatoes from Cameron Highlands
+ sweet corn from Cameron Highlands
+ hard boiled egg + Engllish gourd soup

Iroko kept asking mummy what is that, yet she didn't seem uncomfortable with her *happy lunch* because there are two Venetian mask fridge magnets at home. In fact, she has gotten used to see them but she was curious to know what they are and how should she "address" them.

卸下eye mask，看起來真的很滑稽 >,<

（童言童語？？）：
今天要記錄的不是小妞說過的話，而是她讓媽咪很窩心的一些舉動 ^^
（所以覺得標題有點不合適，但又懶得去想了;p）

兒童教育系列Barney有一首經典（對那紫色小恐龍的小粉絲們來說）的片尾曲：I love you You love me We're happy family With a great big hug and a kiss from me to you Won't you say you love me too ....
通常看Barney時，小妞都很專心地自個兒在那裡跟著唱歌+跳舞，完全不理會媽咪。可是，每當小妞聽到那首片尾曲，不管媽咪在哪裡，她一定奔向媽咪，抱抱媽咪，唱到 “...a kiss from me to you...” 時，就豎起腳尖，用力地把身子往上伸，再用雙唇輕輕貼著媽咪的唇。。。

這種舉動完完全全把媽咪給征服了，更足以說服媽咪育兒再辛苦，勞累，也是一種幸福的+心甘情願去扛的負擔。。。

【Tick-tock, tick-tock, breakfast time 。童話老爺鐘】

May 25, 2011 Stuffy hot weather with languid mood

It was a bright morning when working on the breakfast. Both mummy and Iroko were excited having the tick-tock breakfast ;)

The key man of the *happy breakfast*: Cogsworth
(one of supporting character in Beauty and the Beast)

There used to be only Hi-5 in Iroko's world. She has no interest in watching other cartoons. Until daddy introduced her "Beauty & the Beast"-- the first ever animation movie in her life! As she paid full attention to the movie, she got herself fell in love with those characters of the story.

When she first saw the Beast, she was so frightened and requested to stop watching. The second time, she wanted mummy to accompany her when the Beast appeared. By the 3rd time, she only called ,"mummy, mummy, commmmme", yet she was still staring at the screen!... and now she knows all "ins and outs" of the story! Her record of playing (and watching) the movie is 3 times a day!!

童言童語：
小妞看起戲來真的絕對百分百投入故事。就說她最近很喜歡的《美女與野獸》，每一次看到美女姐姐因為被“獅子”怪獸關進房間而破涕而哭的那一幕，她一定瞅緊眉頭，悲傷萬分，咽啃地告訴媽咪，“姐姐cries.... 可憐哦!! Because lion catches 姐姐！”說著說著，那小妞的眼眶竟然翻紅，眼淚在那裡打滾。。。還真的是感情豐富，眼淺的女生！！

【Daddy, you missed this "ho liau" 。今日重頭戲：雪蓮果】

April 26, 2011 It's summer day!

雪蓮果（又稱“山雪蓮”，“神果”）就是這個樣子了！！像番薯吧 ;p

When mummy over-heard the auntie next to her (who was so excited and busy choosing this stuff) mentioning the name of this potato-like tuber--山雪蓮，mummy suddenly became so "kiasu" and grabbed one into her basket too (because she thought that this is the “天山雪蓮”(Saussurea/"Snow Lotus")-- the magical medicine that always been used in those martial art action movies to save lives of heros & heroins!)

After doing some research, then only mummy realised the tuber that she bought is YACON/雪蓮果, but NOT what she expected, aakkkaaaaa ;p

However, it's also a surprise!! Yacon is well-known as a kind of supernutritious root vegetable!! It can also be eaten raw as fruit!

It is crispy in texture and sweet in taste. Of course, Yacon is health beneficial!
For Iroko: 
Serves a pre-biotic that helps digestion, thus prevents constipation;
feeds human colon-friendly bacteria, thus improves immune system.
For mummy:
Serves as antioxidant that maintains healthy skin (*u*)V;
regulates blood sugar level & reduces hypertension;
protects liver & lowers the bad cholesterol!!

Seems like the soup becomes the "main course" of the *happy lunch*, hehe... So, we have 3 ducklings as the side dish!

Iroko misses her daddy, who's out for business for > 10days, BADLY....
plane plane, please don't take my daddy away :...(

The *happy lunch* includes:
mashed potatoe + grilled chicken breast + steamed Freach beans & carrot

童言童語：
那小妞除了STAR和STOP, 其他‘S’ 開頭的詞，她都沒有辦法把‘S’的音先念出來，總是把它留在後面 >,< 

比如: SPOON 就變成了POON-S; SLOW--> LOW-S; SQUARE--> QUARE-S

【Sound of the Music 。天籟之音】

March 30, 2011 Pleasant sunny day

"Rasa sayang hey

rasa sayang hey..."

This "traditional" Malay song is Iroko's favourite that daddy must play whenever she saw guitar.

When she was young (before she could speak understandable language) she always asked for it, "Mummy sing sa-sayang." Mummy did not get it until she heard the little one sang along with her daddy, who was entertaining her with guitar months later >,<

Iroko was so excited to play her new guitar and piano ;D
It is so far the most challenging work!!

She loves Saturdays because she can see, feel, touch, and play on a real piano before and after her ballet class. So, mummy decided to make her a guitar and a piano as her *happy lunch*.

The lunch included strawberries (appetizer)
+ stir fried green amaranth & carrot, of course served with white rice
+ radish soup

童言童語：Iroko is now at the stage of being autonomy, learning to be independent. She always offers her hands to press buttons at lift lobbies/inside lifts. Days ago, she forgot that she needs to be carried in order to help mummy to press the button. There and then, she told mummy, "oo ouu, koko cannot reach because koko not tall enough!"
It's okay, darling ;) You'll grow up as tall as (but better taller than) mummy soon!

【It's not too late ('u')v 。末班列車】

March 28, 2011 Dim sunny day

Mummy was wondering what to prepare for Iroko's *happy lunch* last night until she logged in FB and saw a friend's photo album, she got the idea v(*u*)v

Yes, is you--Thomas!! This is another cartoon charcter that mummy is not familiar with, thus she needed some preparation (or she could skip drafting step ;p)

This is the draft of Iroko's *happy lunch*

However, it's a "blue dilemma" again ;s (mummy tries not to use artificial colourings). Ended up, mummy gave up Thomas but chose his friend!

Lunch of the day: Stir fried turnips + boiled broccoli + watercress soup

童言童語："mmm, yum... I LIKE IT!", "mmm... 香香(smells good), I LIKE IT!", "Good, I LIKE IT!"... Mummy forgot since when the little one learns her new pet phrase--mummy LIKE IT!!
Doo dooo..... here you are Thomas' friend ;D


Do you notice what's wrong? hehe....
Yes mummy didn't put the nose! Because--LAZY!!

Why is the *happy lunch* given the title "It's not too late"?
Ans.: Because Iroko got her "BIG business" done by 14:00--the last minute of her "output routine" (12noon - 2pm). phew... mummy was somewhat worried because she would rather hold it until the next day if she missed the "working hours". Luckily she made it!

【Gummy Bear under the Umbrella 。為妳擋風遮雨】

March 22, 2011 Rainy day sunny mood

Iroko loves rainy day because she could hop jump splash those paddles on the ground;

Iroko loves rainy day because she could have her umbrella up and dance with it;

Iroko simply loves umbrella...

Mummy's new favourite material in her {ma-masak} kitchen

As expected, Iroko was thrilled to see the umbrella;

and was excited playing & dancing around with it!

Mummy, "What is this?"
Iroko, "Orange umbrella!"

It'd be quite quiet to have only an umbrella;

So mummy invited Iroko's new friend, the Gummy Bear, to the *happy luncheon*!

Lunch of the day:
Soba + fried sausage egg + stir--fried broccoli & chinese sausage (lap cheong) + oyster mushroom miso soup

PS: Although it's rainy day, mummy has sunny mood because Iroko has gotten rid of the suffer of constipation!!!

【Shopping Queen 。“拜鞋”女王】

March 05, 2011 Warmmmmmm cloudy day

Nothing is more excited than preparing this *happy lunch*!! Mummy has had the idea since long time ago (more accurately, since Iroko got addicted to shopping)!

SHOEsssssss...
Lunch of the day: pasta with tomato sauce + corn soup + grapes

Mummy was a typical woman who loves shopping anytime, anywhere... Who knows the daughter is even more "lady-like" than her mummy!! She called for shopping in her dreams; wakes daddy/mummy up by saying "shopping, shopping"; greets mummy "Let's go shopping" instead of "Good morning"...

Flip-flop & sandals are Iroko's favourite!

Daddy always asked mummy "Want to have a look?" whenever they passed by shoe shops. The situation changes nowadays--without permission/request, the little one will slide in the shop as she saw shoessssss... then she will order mummy to let her try this shoe and that that shoe....

Mummy thought of making a pair of boot, but Iroko just couldn't wait any longer--too hungry!

【A Wonderful EAT-PLAY-LOVE Day 。好心情】

Jan. 13, 2011 Rainy day

Cat was the first animal attracted Iroko when she was 6-month-old. As she grows, more animals enter to her world and she is now not so fond of cat. For no special reason, mummy simply felt like making her a kitten this morning.

【Playful Dirty Kitten 。污濁貓】

Although it couldn't be done within a minute or two (definitely < 10min. for beginners), it is still considered as an easy-to-prepare non-cook breakfast!



Tools used to prepare the【Playful Dirty Kitten】

 Mummy used 3 cookie cutters (eggplant, peanut, and bell shape) to cut the tail, paws, and the ears. The body and head were cut by using the measuring cup and the lid of Marmite container (forgot to include in the photo). Now only mummy realised that she was so blundered--she was to put the scissors, which was used to cut the nose, instead of the knife >,<

The lunch is also Iroko's top favourite--ICE-CREAM!!


【Potato "Ice-Cream" 。不是雪糕，是“薯”糕】
arrrgggg, got cheated by mummy!!

 Of course mummy will never prepare real ice-cream as Iroko's lunch!! It's mashed potato. Besides, to make sure the little one gets sufficient fluid intake, mummy prepared spinach soup (forgot to take a picture of it).
Guess what, Iroko finished everything!! That was a big size potato!

Iroko loves orange soooooo much recently until she totally forewent her "EX"--strawberry. We don't always get nice strawberry even some were imported and didn't come cheap--RM12 for <10 strawberries!! Daddy, as you wished--your daughter found her new love!



看她這副吃得津津有味，多麼享受的模樣，就想像得到她是有多愛ORANGE!!

 

【雞蛋變形餐 （3）。The EGG Meals (3)】

The Shapy EGGs series has been adjourned for quite sometimes. Because of the rumour (or truth?)--FaceBook is shutting down soon in March 2011, mummy forced herself to build up the {媽-masak} as quick as possible. Be honest, the progress of buidling and maintaining a blog is so much slower than updating own space in FB. It's more demanding (or mummy is the one who make the job demanding??) as a post in the blog is supposed to be more narrative (to mummy).

Well let's back to the track. Shapy Eggs.

【Dinosaur】

Seriously speaking, the egg was not re-shaped, mummy merely cut into half ;-p In fact, mummy doesn't like this egg dino. Simple reason--it's so rough and ugly as compared to other work of shapy eggs. This one has never been published in FB. Anyhow, mummy changed her mind--there is nothing perfect!! We should learn to accept everything: good or bad, beautiful or ugly or even disgusting like this pity dino... Such a bad experience is a good lesson that drives mummy to perform better in future ;D

【Struggled Mouse】

 The day became so grey suddenly. Not to say being moody or down, but mummy simply found herself quite uncertained and trapped in "yea-&-nay". Should wean Iroko off now or let her be? Should introuduce punishment or maintain a total caning-free caring early child-education? Should emphasise more on the outcomes or the process (childcare and early child education)? Should enroll Iroko to enrichment classes/preschool courses at this age (because kiasu--afraid she will lag behind >,<) or wait until she's mentally, emotionally & mentally ready...

This is one of the most satisfying job of *happy meals* Yipeee ;D

But mummy is quite certain that she is not alone--almost all parents are somehow facing the same dilemmas in relation to childcare/early education. So mummy named it "struggled mouse".

【chopper chopper Helicopter】

Hi-5 has exposed Iroko to the world quite fairly. Iroko is so attracted to helicopter recently because of Hi-5. Mummy noticed the little one tends to learn faster from Hi-5 than what mummy taught! Well, this is another dilemma--is that alright to let the little one watches Hi-5/Baby Eistein/Brainy Baby whenever mummy needs to do her cookings or housechores? Because it seems like switching on the TV is a must every day!!  >,< arghhhhhh Okay, mummy knows well the general and "official" advice is--be moderate!! Control the time, and bla bla bla...
Opps... mummy is off the track. This helicopter egg is not a good one because it's under-cooked. So it became a bit difficult for mummy to shape it. Ended up, it cracked when the ice-cream stick was inserted into it. Another defect is the "body" of the helicopter. Due to "time constraint" (Iroko was hungry when mummy was half way preparing the meal) the sticks were not cut symmetrically... Luckily, Iroko still named it as HELICOPTER!!