Juicing4Life

My latest addition to my kitchen benchtop is this medium size red little engine called Hurom 400. I bought it from TVSN channel as a pressie to myself for Mother's Day. I am so sick of being sick that I thought that this would be a great investment, to start juicing for life.

I just returned from a holiday sick as a dog and I fell ill on the third day of my holiday. How shitty is that? I missed out on so much just spending time sleeping in the hotel room. It wasn't even a long holiday, 7 days and six nites, half of that in bed. I vow never to let that happen again. What a waste of time and money, laying in bed. I was in tears!

I have been eyeing this Hurom for a while, I researched, googled, watched the youtube demos of various brands and decided that when I could afford it, I'd buy the Hurom. Hurom is made in Korea, you can buy it locally and register your product for Australian warranty.

I bought mine from TVSN Channel as there was an option for part payment. That suited my budget well. Not everyone can go out and hand over $400- $500 cash just like that. Expecially after a holiday. So the part payment suited me fine and I chose the Burgundy colour, because Red goes faster, right? I paid $399 for mine. That is the cheapest by far on the market for a Hurom 400. A Hurom 300 starts at $350 from Hurom Australia website, and that is the baby Hurom :)

This morning, I dragged myself out of bed. I am still on sick leave after returning to Australia. I chopped up some veges and fruits and a small piece of ginger. You can fit a whole apple in the Big Hurom, top range, but I only got the Hurom 400, so I must cut the fruit and raw veg to size to fit the chute.

{It is really easy to use, to assemble and disassemble. One thing you need to know about me, is that I am a complete gadget idiot, yes, computers I can fix but putting together a blender is a different story. From the youtube demo, I could see that cleaning this juicer and assembling it, was going to be easy. That is always the deal breaker when I buy things. It has to be idiot proof!}

My doctor has told me that I need to change my diet and get healthy as I could be prediabetic as well. Great!! The flu and prediabetic, all wonderful news!! Not! The good news is that my blood pressure is now normal, last reading was 122/77. The lowest it has ever been. Now I just got to work on, my high cholesterol and weight. All these bad news and the flu too!!

So I am making a lifestyle change. You won't find any more sweets or dessert blog posts here as I must really give them up. I have even contemplated giving up blogging.

However, I decided to post this because I wanted to share this amazing product with my readers. I am drinking the best tastiest glass of juice this morning with a zing! I hope jucing will improve my health.

So apolgies in advance for my future absences. I need to focus on getting better. I am still looking for great books on juicing, so please comment and share if you are juicing too and enjoy any particular books/recipes.

This morning's juice:
Ingredients

• 1 small piece of ginger
• 3 carrots
• 1 small beetroot
• 2 apples
• 2 celery sticks

Pathuwan Princess, Bangkok

I recently fulfilled one of my travel bucket list which was a trip back to Thailand. I had been there in the eighties when I was a flight attendant for Singapore Airlines.

Bangkok, we flew in with Qantas and I had booked a stay with Pathuwan Princess Hotel via Qantas Holidays. I had wanted to be near the malls and the location was just perfect. I also chose this hotel because of it's smoke free environment. Nothing worse than smelling stale cigarette smell in your room, right? We checked in the evening around 6.30pm and was welcomed with a welcome drink in a test tube bottle. I can't remember what exactly it was now, just a purple fruity drink which was quite refreshing in the heat. Believe me, it was extremely hot in Thailand.

The hotel lobby was buzzing that night due to a local promotion with visiting models and idols. As we got off the taxi, our bags were immediately taken by the concierge who gave us a chit for the suitcases. We walked through a metal detector scanner at the entrance, to get in the lobby. I was amazed by the level security of the place. 

Reception was on the second floor, a Guest Relation staff walked us to the Reception and we were checked in and walked to our room as well.

My initial room was a Double Queen, we asked to be moved to Twin, that was not a problem at all. Still on the high floor with fantastic view. The staff were just fantastic, so polite and hospitable. Always greeting you with a smile. This is a great hotel.

The breakfast buffet were impressive, so was the dinner buffets. I could not fault the meals served at Pathuwan Princess.

I had gotten sick during my holiday. I must have caught a cold or flu and was bed ridden for days and every day, without fail, Room Service would deliver honey lemon tea to me without charge. I was even given a bunch of rose as well. Reception staff visited me to check on my wellbeing and needs.

I saw the on call doctor "Global Doctors" that came to my room and gave me some medication to help me feel better. This was also organised by the hotel staff for me.

My in-room dining was discounted because of my illness. It was just those little things like goodwill gesture, thoughtfulness and classy service that makes me want to recommend this hotel to everyone. 
I missed out on doing few tours in Bangkok and if ever I get a chance to go back to Bangkok, I will definitely stay here again. I was treated like Royalty! I am so grateful for the care during my stay.

The hotel lobby is connected to MBK mall. Further down within MBK mall, there is another walkway that leads to Discovery Science, Siam Square and Siam Paragon malls. The location of this hotel itself, is ideal for shoppers and perfect base for tours. There are two tour desks in the lobby.

My only negative experience in staying here is the annoying Indian guy from PN Fashion in the lobby. He was a pushy little turd and I put him in his place and he stopped annoying me after. There are plenty of other tailors around the malls. I certainly won't be buying from him if ever I wanted any dressmaking done.

Overall, my stay at the Pathuwan Princess was most enjoyable and I would certainly return to this hotel in a heartbeat.

Lastly, I leave you with this photo of my dinner buffet to drool at ;)

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Bye Bye Pathuwan Princess, hope to see you again.

Qantas to Bangkok

Route Sydney to Bangkok
Aircraft Airbus A330-300
Economy Class, seat 29 K and J (middle of the middle section).

I had the old uniform on my flight. The new uniforms will begin to appear on Qantas’s 12,600 uniformed staff from early next year.

Flight time: Nine hours, 40 minutes.

Seat: 29K, can live with it for a trip to Bangkok. Don't love it.

The Airbus 330-300 aircraft offers a two-class, Business and Economy, service. There is no first class.
Seat configuration 2-4-2.

Luggage
Economy 30 kilogram
In addition to your carry-on baggage allowance, you may also carry on board one small personal item such as a handbag, laptop computer*, overcoat, small camera, a reasonable amount of reading material or a small amount of duty free goods (where permitted). We carried one suitcase which had only 11 Kilos as we will be shopping till we drop in Bangkok.

Comfort
It was not too bad, can live with it, any longer trip, I would gotten the exit row because on the A330-300, there is an entertainment unit under your seat and makes it hard to stretch out your feet. This is on every row except bulkhead and exit as there is no one in front of you. I walked a few times around cabin and had short naps to break the boredom and discomfort.

Entertainment
There was 60 movies, over 250 TV programs, 250 CD’s, 10 games and 20 radio programs to choose from. I watched 2.5 movies. Will have to repeat my last movie as we landed on time.

Service
The service was excellent, a little different in style to other Asian airlines, noticed they do not use tray to bring your drinks. It was handheld. The crew was friendly and courteous, we had Asian crew on our Thai flight.

Food and beverages
I had the Fish Hake fillet in shittake mushroom with rice and chinese greens. Darren had the Beef ragu in wine sauce, he ate his mashies and veges and not the ragu. I think the wine was over powering for his personal taste. He asked for a coke and it came in a mini can. My Chardonnay came in a little tiny bottle, it was very cute.

Flight frequency QF flies daily between Sydney and Bangkok.

Onigiri

For my birthday, I decided that I was going to make onigiri for lunch. I thought that, it would be a piece of cake, how hard can it be? Rolling some sushi rice into a ball shape and then slapping on some seaweed. Boy! Was I ever so wrong? My kitchen is a mess, it's hillarious! Aisshhhhh! At least, I can laugh at myself, I am such a clown!

It was damn hard, okay... I got rice in between my fingers, in my hair, on the floor, in the sink, even the furkid was helping me by eating the rice that had fallen to the floor. What a good puppy!

To my Japanese and non Japanese foodies that do this everyday...my RESPECT to you on these tasks.

So I committed the great foodie sin (cheat) of compacting everything into a Chinese rice bowl and turned it upside down on a plate! True story!

Recipe are from Japanese rice balls

All ingedients can be purchased locally from any supermarket.

Aplogies for the over the top styling ;) I missed Japan and really wanted to be there for the Cherry Blossom season this year but alas, that was not possible. Fingers and toes crossed and prayers that I can get make it for Koyo 2013.

Until then, must keep saving... OMG!!! Leave me some sake guys, don't drink it all!!

{Tokyo Encounter is from Lonely Planet... money is all mine....hehehheeheh ;) How many yakitori can I buy with that???}

Stay safe Japan. See you soon!

Folding Wontons

Easter Sunday 31 March 2013, the day I decided to conquer my fear of folding wontons.

There is a story to this fear. As I recalled, the last time I folded one, was in my teen years in my Mum's kitchen and I had failed miserably with all contents falling out from a torn wrapper. I was devastated. For me, it was a validation that I am more like a Malay than a Chinese person! This does not helped me at all, with my not liking to eat pork already and Mum always teasing me that I am not Chinese.

Obviously, I am not Malay, I just prefer to eat spicy Malaysian dishes more, to the mild boring plain old Chinese meals. Given a choice of Laksa or Sweet and sour pork, I would grabbed the Laksa. And this is why I never learnt to cook proper Chinese meals and hence why I failed to fold a wonton! What Chinese child does not know how to fold a wonton?? It is a disgrace, at least in my eyes!!! Hahhahahahaha, needless to say I have never tried again till this day.

So why? Why put myself in this situation again? To face yet another failure? Was I up to this challenge? No, I was scared shitless...BUT I was BORED!!

So here goes nothing. I didn't really have much to lose.

[And so I laughed at you, "you stupid little tiny wrappers! I am not scared of you.. I shall succeed and if not, Meh!!! There's Tassie.... he'll like the mince meat for dinner.. (the furkid in the house)"]

Crazy much? Absolutely.. This is what happens, when I get stuck in the that same level in Candy Crush... Argh!!

For my wonton fillings, I used these below.

Ingredients

Chicken Mince
Chives
Chopped scallions
Salt and Pepper
I teaspoon Minced garlic
1 TBspoon Soy sauce
I packet wonton wrappers
Water for sealing the wrappers

Method: I followed a youtube video. I found this instruction to be the easiest to understand.

You can deep fry these for an afternoon snack, or served as an appetiser with hot chilli oil sauce or you can add these wontons to soups or noodles. So many great things to use it with. I am so glad that I attempted this again, many years later.

So there... in my mouth, yo!