Assam Fish Noodle Soup

When mum was here, she brought with her a whole box of spices from Malaysia. It was lent and it was Friday and I was racking my head as to what to make. Wyld Man isn't big on fish. I wanted something different. I thought of the box of spices and thought-what can I make with those? What it I used it on fish (they were mostly spices for poultry or beef dishes.) When I was back in Malaysia, there was a shop near dad's clinic that sold this delicious fish head assam soup with noodles. It was EXTREMELY yummy. Golden, milky, spicy and hot. I craved it. I didn't know how to make it. I made a guess. And so this recipe was born.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Ingredients"][/caption]

Frozen fish, dried noodles, Nyonya Steam Fish Spices, turmeric powder, okra, tomatoes, milk, African seasoning, salt, pepper and sugar.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Uncle Sun's Brand of Nyonya Steam Fish Spice Paste"][/caption]

This is the first time I've used this brand. I imagine you could use substitute brands with similar ingredients. I didn't take a picture of the ingredients list on the back, but I would hazard a guess and say that any paste with chili, shallots, ginger, garlic, turmeric, lemongrass, galangal should do as well.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Boil some water"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cut the stalk of the okra heads."][/caption]

I used about 10 little okras for two serves.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Quarter the tomatoes"][/caption]

I used 3 large tomatoes.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Cube the fish"][/caption]

I used Nile perch that were on special-you could use anything as a substitute. The dish has so many spices in it that even fish that smell usually smell fishy won't. You can also use fish heads for a more intense flavour.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Heat some oil in a pot"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add spices into the pot and stir."][/caption]

Do not burn the spices. Pour in when the pot is medium hot.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add the fish and stir."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add okras"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add a tablespoon of turmeric powder"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add a few dashes of African seasoning"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Masterfoods"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Fill half the pot with boiling water"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add tomatoes"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Add half a carton of milk"][/caption]

Add sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for 20 minutes till the soup has thickened considerably. Add your dried noodles and boil till the noodles are soft and floats.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="YUMMY!"][/caption]

Motherhood

I've had my little prince for over 5 weeks now and I still can't get over him. Everyday I wake up and remind myself that I'm a mother now and that there's a little person utterly dependant on me. It is a wonderful but heavy responsibility. His every smile and sound and movement is a little miracle for me. I can't believe that he is the little baby I carried in the womb for 9 months! He's getting so big now, growing an average of 2 cm a week-at 5 1/2 weeks he is 60cm long, from 50cm when he was born.

He loves having his bath, and he loves being held. He likes listening to music - it calms him down and makes him sleep. He loves curling up on my chest and sleeping. Everyday I discover something new about him. He is starting to look around him and taking an interest in things. He has a wonderful personality and everyday is made more beautiful because of him.

Being a stay-at-home mum is wonderful. I can't imagine being away from my little prince for any length of time. I love being around my little man and just watching him sleep, or listen to him gurgling and playing. People and told me that everything will change after the little one is born. No social life, sleepless nights, nappies and and crying. Yes, things have changed. But only for the better. What are dirty nappies and sleepless nights when there are beautiful smiles and beaming eyes looking at you? Who needs parties and late nights out when my little prince fills all of my days with joy? Our lives have definitely changed for the better.

Being a mother makes you appreciate all the emotions and feelings that other mothers go through. Love, anxiety, joy, fear, delight. The pain of labour. The satisfaction of giving birth to a healthy baby. Exhilaration and exhaustion.  All of the above and everything in between. It makes you appreciate my own mother and what she went through giving birth to me and bringing me up. Who did fly all the way here to look after me for three weeks after the birth.  Thank you Mi.

Motherhood is such a beautiful thing.

And as I write this, he is curled up on my chest, snoring and sleeping peacefully.

Deo Gratias!

Little Prince William

When I first started this blog, I was 6 weeks away from my due date. On Friday the 19th of February, my little man decided that it was time to see the world, and I gave birth to little William Anthony Wyld, who weighed 7 lbs and 1 oz at birth. He is one week old today.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="My little Prince William"][/caption]

I can't believe it could be possible to love someone so much.

Sewing and Pattern Drafting Books

Last week I found a Winifred Aldrich book on Metric Pattern Drafting for Men's Wear on Ebay selling for AUD16 dollars and won a bid on it. At Dymocks I paid for my Women's Wear one for AUD 75! I thought it was a bargain for 16 dollars. But I had to go and pick it up from the seller at Brighton Carboot Market, which is South West from where we live. Saved me about AUD12 in postage. So Wyld Man and I rushed there from church in order to meet Jim the seller before 12 noon, which was when they close shop.  While I was there, he took out some more books on sewing and pattern drafting. And I got them all. Sigh.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Aldrich's book on Menswear"][/caption]

It's the 1990 edition.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Overgarment block"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Classic Shirt Block"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Draft for a sports jacket"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafting collars and revers"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafts for boxer shorts and undies"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Easy fitting classic suit block"][/caption]

I can't wait to draft something for Wyld Man! He needs a new cassock for serving at mass.

This second book I picked up there was a real treasure.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Successful Dressmaking by Ellen and Marietta Resek"][/caption]

There is no date of publication, but it looks like it was written in the 40's or early 50's.

Although the book is titled "Successful Dressmaking", it has a big section on just pattern drafting, which got me really excited.

It actually made a reference to Harriet Peppin, her book Modern Pattern Design being the definitive drafting book published in 1942. You can read the entire book at VintageSewing.info.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A reference to Harriet Peppin"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A draft for a bodice block"][/caption]

I liked the simplicity of it. However, the armhole curve wasn't detailed-it just said "Curve armhole".

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Sleeve draft"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Skirt draft"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Shorts draft"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="How to draft facings"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Even a section on children's wear"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A list of contents"][/caption]

I paid AUD 20 for it. It was well worth it, because its more than 60 years old, in excellent condition for it's age. The binding was tight, and the dust jacket in very good condition for a book that old. It was also published in Adelaide, which Wyld Man noted was unusual.

My next find-

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Principles of Dressmaking by Doris Lewis"][/caption]

This book was published in Adelaide as well by the Education Department by the Government publisher in 1945.

It also has a big section on pattern drafting.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Publication information"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="How to take measurements"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Basic Bodice"][/caption]

This book has actually made drafts of the basic bodice for different body shapes.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafts for the underdeveloped figure"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafts for the stout figure."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Drafts for the extra stout figure"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Brassier top slip"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Smie fitting top coat"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Double Breasted coat"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Dressing Jacket"][/caption]

I paid AUD11 for this one.

All in all, it was a good day's work.

Grandma's 80th Birthday

Yesterday we celebrated Grandma's 80th birthday.The whole thing had been in the works for 2 months. We wanted Grandma to have a really posh birthday party. She had asked that we go to one particular restaurant, but we thought it wasn't nice enough for her birthday-everyone thought she'd like to go to the Naval and Military Club where Grandpa had his 80th 2 years ago (and also where Wyld Man and I had our wedding reception.)  The Club is a very classy establishment and men are required to wear a jacket and tie to enter. We had to keep mum about it-didn't even tell Grandpa for fear that he might let slip. We did tell him to wear a jacket and tie-although when he did, we were afraid that Grandma might figure it out where we were going. We also had another surprise for grandma-Uncle David had arranged for a stretch limo to pick us up-she thought it was going to be an ordinary cab.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Family photo in front of the stretch limo"][/caption]

Here's what it looks like inside.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A bar and dvd player"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="People living it up"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Grandma and Grandpa"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Wyld Man and me"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Wyld Man and his brother"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Another look at the limo"][/caption]

We rode in the limo for an hour around the city and really enjoyed it.  We arrived at the Club at 7pm.

We had a private room all ro ourselves.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="The Colonel Downes Room"][/caption]

The boys wanted to play a round of snooker before ordering though...so us ladies had to wait. A loooong time. I don't think they knew what they were doing.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Playing snooker."][/caption]

We finally got to order at 830pm.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Marron and King Prawns."][/caption]

I had marron and king prawns in garlic butter as an entree-marron being a crablike crustacian, but more meaty that crab. It was delicious.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="Butter Chicken"][/caption]

For mains I had the special, Butter Chicken. I love anything that comes with rice.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="We brought the cake out and sang Happy Birthday to Grandma."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="639" caption="A group picture before we wrapped up the evening."][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="321" caption="And of course, a picture of me and Wyld Man"][/caption]