Let Them Eat...Bread!

Ah bread - my favorite carbohydrate.

Unfortunately, in Asia the staples of the diet are rice and noodles. Bread takes a backseat - like back of the bus back. If people eat bread here, they want it to be sweet and light. You can easily polish off an entire loaf in a single sitting because the bread is nothing but air. That's why I was so excited when a group of us found out about a bread making class at the Cooking House in Sri Hartamas.

Our originally scheduled class was postponed (the chef contracted Dengue Fever!!) and Chef Lee stepped in.

We set out to make four loaves - ciabatta, baguette, pita and multigrain - that would be suitable to feeding a European!

When baking bread, you need to use a flour that has a high gluten content. This is what makes the bread hearty, not light like a cake flour might. In the past I've used Canadian Strong flour, but in Malaysia, you just look for a sack of "Gluten Wheat." (FYI, it's not that easy to find).

For the multigrain, we simply soaked what we would normally eat for breakfast, and added it to the dough.

Unfortunately, Chef Lee took the easy way out. We had an industrial machine do all of our kneading. I think the class would have been much better if we'd hand kneaded at least one bread.

All bread needs to proof - the rising process. I don't have one of these at home. But a cozy, warm spot should provide a nice substitute.

"How do I know you're really bread?!"

Chef Lee demonstrates how to roll a baguette.

Still learning...

Now we must score the baguettes.
Perfect 10!

We mixed some black olives and sundried tomatoes into the ciabatta. Oh yes, we did.

Finally, it was time to pop these dough boys in the oven.




We've got bread people!

Say cheese sandwich!


Lunch is served...

After stuffing ourselves, we still managed to have a few loaves to take home.

So, what does a real, live European have to say?

"Is niiiiice!"

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday, Mr. Happy and I celebrated two years of wedded bliss. It seems like just yesterday I married him in Cape May, NJ.

And then again in London.

Our life together has taken us from the hustle and bustle of New York.

To prim and proper London town.

To the fast and furious Dubai.

To the slower SE Asian pace of Kuala Lumpur.

Tonight we celebrated at home with a special dinner that was topped off with....

MOLTEN CHOCOLATE CAKE!!!!

Apologies for the blurry shot, my hand trembled in anticipation of this dessert.


So gooey good!


Technically, you are supposed to bake this in ramekins. Alas, I do not have ramekins here in KL so I used a small casserole dish and upped the bake time to 18 minutes. It was purr-fect. And not too difficult - check out the recipe.

I leave you with some fond images of our wedding day.

(obviously, you must hit PLAY to actually see the image...)

The Best Things in Life are Free?

I saw this sign outside my apartment building.

Sure, 70RM (approx. $20) seems reasonable for a free haircut. Sure.

Bride's Hour

A friend of mine recently told me that, in India, they refer to sunset as "Bride's Hour."

It is the time of day when the natural light is at its most flattering. Therefore, prior to an arranged marriage, parents schedule the bride and groom-to-be's first meeting during Bride's Hour, when they will most likely find the other person attractive.



I responded to my friend that we have the same exact thing in America.






We call it "Happy Hour," the time of day we are most likely to over look a stranger's faults (especially if he's buying!).

Movin' On Up

A la the Jeffersons...

Mr. Happy and I have moved to a DEE-lux apartment in the sky!However, in our case, we would be better portrayed as George and Weezie's neighbors who were...

...levelheaded.

Moving is the WORST. And Mr. H &I have moved around a lot since we met each other. It took a lot of motivation to get us to move again within the same city. But I LOVED the new apartment.

So we packed our boxes.

And more boxes.

And a few suitcases.

And more boxes.

And soon we were cleared out of the old.

And into the new!

We've not got three bedrooms (instead of one), a proper kitchen (!), and lots and lots of amenities.

Care to stop by for a dip in our 50 meter swimming pool?

There is piped in music under the water.

There's a 80% chance that your breast stroke will be set to "Eye of the Tiger".

How about a bite to eat in the apartment cafe?

Or a BBQ on the roof?

Feel like working out? Well there's the gym by the pool.

(I adore admiring the koi while workin' it out).

And one on the roof.

Have little ones? There are several play areas to occupy them...

...while we have cocktails on at the sky lounge.

And if I've run out of milk for my coffee, there's a mini-mart in the building too!

There's also a games room, a dry cleaner, and, supposedly, a theatre (though I've not found this yet).

I literally never, ever have to leave. So hopefully YOU will come to visit US soon!

Brunch in the Sky - Bring Your Bathing Suit!

Last month, Mr. Happy's sister, EconGal, and her husband, Trader, visited us in KL! We had a jam-packed itinerary for them and we kicked it off around noon of their first day at Trader's Sky Bar. borrowed photo: luxuo.com

Normally, we wouldn't pass through the doors of the Sky Bar until well past sunset, but they've just introduced a weekend brunch and, seeing as time was tight, we thought we'd show off the city's best view over a daytime meal.

The brunch costs 148++RM (12pm-3pm) and includes all the cocktails and beer you can drink. As anyone who frequents the Sky Bar will tell you, this is a pretty good value as their drinks are on the pricier side. You also get to choose from several set brunch menus. And you get to swim!

When you walk in the door, you are given a robe, slippers, and a bracelet to identify you as 'brunch clientele'. I wouldn't have gotten so dressed up for the day if i realized I was going to be lounging around in my bathing suit all day.

Girls in sarongs come by and spray you with Evian to keep you cool when you're not in the pool. And masseuses from the spa also drop by to give you a free 15 minute massage!

Relax boys!

The food was good HOWEVER it took ages to arrive and they forgot about our main course. It wasn't a big deal because we were happy drinking and swimming and we just had to keep reminding them.

May I recommend some drinks in pastels???

This was only the second week they held the brunch, so I'm sure they are still working out the kinks. Once they work out the service of the food, it will get my two thumbs up. Oh, and the extensive drink menu should include BLOODY MARYS. Hello, this is brunch!