Early morning

It has been a while since we dropped by this food court but one early Sunday morning, we went there as we needed to get something from the hypermarket across the road.

Chee cheong fun (RM5)

We had this nice prawn chee cheong fun as a starter.

Cha kueh (RM6)

The cha kueh stall was next to the ccf stall and smelling the nice smell out from the stall, we decided to try a plate of cha kueh.

It was sweet version but thankfully it wasn't too sweet to my liking.

Kueh chap (RM6)

I had this lovely bowl of warm, herbal kueh chap as well that morning. Something to warm me up.

The packets

The red packets that I got so far this year. I love generic red packets. Not those that follow the Chinese mosaic signs and you could only use them on that particular year or 12-years down the road!

Maybe because it is the Year of Pig or some called it Year of Boar. I haven't got any printed with the pig zodiac.

First packets we got were from Parkson when we did our shopping. And from a local pharmacy which giving out their own printed red packets.

Lovely design of red packets from this bank this year.

I think this year, Maxis outdone themselves with this design. I love its ang pow the most. 6 in a pack and you need to assemble them to see a bigger picture.

Red packets from 2 insurance/investment companies. I like the gold fish red packet.

My man saw these packets from Supersave one weekend and he couldn't resist not to buy them.

Changed

Remember the beautiful enchanting Christmas decoration in The Spring Mall last year?? Like previous years, they recycled and used the same set up for the Chinese New Year decoration. Of course the poinsettia flowers changed to cherry blossoms to create that spring season ambience.

No more magical garden but they did keep that wind or whatever it is gadget around and shifted it to the other concourse area. Somehow, felt like not much effort in putting up a nice showcase of CNY decoration this year after an impressive Christmas piece.

I enjoyed its past years decoration as this and this.

We went to its food gallery for late lunch after done with our shopping and movie on one Sunday. I tried the Indonesian stall for a change. New stall to me since I never tried it out before.

Nasi bebek (RM13.90)

They have this fried duck rice on the menu, called nasi bebek so I had that. Surprisingly it was good. The duck meat wasn't tough, the skin was crispy and I enjoyed my first nasi bebek that day.

Olden days

This year CNY decoration in Emart Batu Kawa depicted the Chinese shop set up back in the old days. The set-up may be simple but I loved it; very nostalgic and original. 

These charcoal decoration wasn't part of the mall decoration but  I couldn't help and bought one home that day. 

Our CNY shopping? Almost complete except for mandarin oranges, fruits and vegetables since they are perishable.  Will shop for them on the last weekend before CNY.

Miscellaneous Picture # 85: Harvest

My chilli plants started to bear fruit last month and my first 2 chillies that I harvested

Weather has been good for the lime tree as it bears more tangy fruits for me

Aloe Vera and growing babies in a pot

Screwpine plant at the backyard growing healthily 

Also at the backyard, a new addition since last year. Lemon tree. Growing higher now but couldn't get away from those pests that keep eating its leaves.

Not a harvest but a plant that grows like nobody business in my garden. Cut and keep this baby indoor for greener effect and decoration.

Which one do you like?

We dropped by 38 Food Street for lunch, just me and my girl last week.

Chinese New Year songs played at the background and thankfully it wasn't so loud that it irritates ears and spoils the mood to enjoy a decent meal.

I asked my girl what would she like for lunch, and she replied me 'ayam penyet'! So that stall shall it be.

Ta-da! Our lunch. RM10 each, we had our different order that day.

My girl faithfully had her nasi ayam penyet, which she enjoyed very much but she prefer the one from Nanyang Food Court better. 

I opted for its nasi ayam bakar which I tasted once and I liked it.  It didn't turn out bad and I enjoyed it with the sambal dipping and its lovely soup.

I prefer the ayam bakar than ayam penyet. The thigh was more flavorful and moist. Totally not dry. Crispy skin but moist and tender meat inside.

So, which one do you like more? Ayam bakar or ayam penyet?

Before she goes

Most of the days, I cook lunches at home.  Starting this year since Jan is schooling in the afternoon. 

Sometimes I would bring her out for lunch together before she goes to school. For instance the other day, we dropped by this coffee shop in Green Road.

My girl wanted salad chicken rice for lunch that day so she got her wish. RM4 salad chicken rice. 

I like it's fried chicken very much, I usually order that to go with nasi lemak if I buy from the stall here. It's chicken rice is moist and well seasoned.

But that morning, I went for the steamed chicken rice from the Chinese chicken rice stall. Also RM4 for my lunch. 

I loved its rice. Very fluffy, fragrant and vertical reminded me of the old time. The way Chinese chicken rice should be.

The steamed chicken was nice as well but usually not enough for my rice. Or probably the rice is of bigger portion, and my chicken finish up before my rice.  But for RM4, it is a good deal.

That was our early lunch that day.  

Maid at home

These days, I am a maid at home, preparing and cleaning for the coming Chinese New Year.

I did some dusting and spring cleaning lately. I done a good job in clearing my fridge few days ago. Some were left way inside that I didn't know. Lol. Need to reorganize my fridge more in the future!

Most of the job in the morning when it was quieter with Jan helping me here and there whenever she could.

While clearing my dry pantry, I noticed this cat peeping on me from across the neighbour's house.

It sure enjoyed up there. 

I ordered this sofa cover last month and it came in not long ago. Something to cover my poor torn sofa. 

Still thinking to change or re-wrap the whole thing but for time being, I am happy with this sofa cover for the festive season.

Still more to do and prepare for the holiday. For now, I am doing a little by little every day. Don't want to exhausting myself out.

Not far away

Chinese New Year is not too far away if you are looking at the calendar. 3 weeks sounds long but trust me, it isn't.

Last weekend, we did some shopping in the mall. Mostly for me, Jan and my man. We had bought the boys' stuff last year so it was our turn to buy new clothing and shoes.

We spent half day in the mall, walking and shopping till we drop! 

The decoration in this mall wasn't ready yet.  Maybe if we have time, we will drop by again and by then, the decoration would be in full force.

We spent most of our time in the departmental store. By the time we were done, it was late in the afternoon and everyone was pretty tired from walking.

We went to Kuching Flavours for our late lunch.  The place wasn't full then so it wasn't long queue to collect our food.

Simple and fast lunch. Ah Suan Chicken Rice. Steamed drumstick rice for me.

And cangkuk manis with egg as side dish.

My girl went for the fried chicken rice.

After lunch, we went to catch a movie. Aquaman!

By the time we finished the movie, it was around 630pm. On the way home, we stopped by this road side house's kolo mee stall for a quick dinner.

The road side house just before St Garland school, Batu Kawa for its special kolo mee and big bowl of dumpling soup.

And our loot of the day. It was a fruitful outing, I have to say. ^^

We had done with the new clothing. Next, would be some goodies and tidbits shopping. Another day for that.