Sausage Bun

I’ve always loved breads, buns, and puffs. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or honestly… anytime. So yesterday, I finally decided to try making my own sausage buns at home. For a first attempt, I’d say it wasn’t too difficult. The only “workout” part? Kneading the dough by hand, definitely a bit tiring! But overall, it’s quite straightforward and doesn’t cost much to make.

Here’s what I used:

Ingredients:

330gm flour (I use all purpose flour since I do not have bread flour)

60gm castor sugar

10gm instant yeast (I use Mauri-pan instant yeast)

1 egg

1/ tsp salt

1 1/2 tbsp milk powder

40gm butter

120ml water

Filling:

Sausages

Methods:

1. Mix the instant yeast with water, and put aside.
2. Mix flour, sugar, milk powder, and salt.
3. Add water, egg and the yeast.
4. Mix well to form a dough. (It can be very messy and sticky at this stage)
5. Then add in butter into the dough and knead the dough until smooth and elastic.
6. Remove the dough and place it in a mixing bowl. Cover with cling wrap, set it aside to let it rise to double its size.
7. Cut the dough into small portions about 40g, and let it rest for another 15 mins.
8. Then roll the small dough to a long shape and roll around the sausage.
9. Arrange them on a greased baking tray and spaced apart.
10. Cover and let them rest for another 30-40mins until the buns rise to double the size.
11. Glaze the buns with egg wash and bake in pre-heated oven at 180 degrees until golden brown (about 20mins).

For my first try, I’m quite happy with how they turned out. The only thing is I didn’t let the dough proof long enough the second time, so the buns weren’t as light and fluffy as they could be. Lesson learned.

Also, I think I got a bit too excited with the egg wash… the buns came out extra shiny!

Still, seeing those freshly baked sausage buns come out of the oven was such a satisfying moment. Soft, warm, and homemade, definitely worth the effort!

These are the sausage buns I made.

Small portions of the dough, let them rest for 15 mins

Rolled dough over the sausages... setting aside to let them proof

Porridge Steamboat

Last Friday, I went back to my hometown for the Hari Raya break. Since everyone was home, my brother suggested to have porridge steamboat for dinner. He was really excited, he had tried it once before and had been craving it ever since.

For me, it wasn’t something new, but it’s one of those meals that always feels special when you have it with family.

So early in the morning, my mom, dad, and I headed to the market to get everything we needed. Fish balls, chicken, fish, prawns, vegetables, mushrooms… a full steamboat spread.

Back home, we started preparing the porridge base. It’s just plain white porridge, simple but comforting. It’s not difficult to cook, but it does take time. We let it simmer for hours until it turned smooth and creamy—that’s the key to a good porridge steamboat.

Meanwhile, we prepared and marinated the ingredients to bring out more flavour.

For the chicken marinade:

Oyster sauce

Light soy sauce

Sesame oil

Sugar to taste

For the fish marinade:

Salt

Fish sauce

Sesame oil

Sugar to taste

For the prawn marinade:

Salt

Sesame oil

Sliced spring onions

Chopped ginger

By around 7.30pm, everything was ready and the steamboat feast began. Before we started, we added a little cooking wine and sesame oil into the porridge to enhance the flavour. It made the broth extra fragrant and rich.

Part of the ingredients for our steamboat

Wow... the pot is full!

And just when we thought the meal was already complete, my dad surprised us with a pot of curry pork on the side. It paired so well with the steamboat—warm, hearty, and full of flavour.

The curry pork and prawn

The table was filled with ingredients, the pot bubbling away, and everyone just enjoying the moment together. Simple food, but one of those dinners that feels extra comforting.

Bazaar Ramadhan TTDI

The past two days, I made a little after-work detour… to the Bazaar Ramadhan at TTDI 🌙

I thought, “Why not make one last visit before the Ramadhan month ends?” So I did a quick search for the nearest bazaar to my office, and guess what? The one along Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad 3 in TTDI is just 5 minutes away from my office. How did I not know this earlier?! 😅

By the time I reached, it was around 6.20pm, and it had started to drizzle. But honestly, that didn’t stop anyone. The place was still buzzing - people holding umbrellas, queuing patiently, all on the same mission: good food for buka puasa!

Food-wise, I’d say the variety was pretty decent. Compared to other bazaars I’ve been to, the prices here are slightly higher (The one in Serdang still wins in my heart). But overall, no complaints. The food was satisfying, and that’s what matters, right?

So here’s what I brought home… already plated and ready to makan 😋ngap ngap ngap ..!

Ikan kembung bakar (RM7.00)
Ayam percik (RM5.00)

I have to say… I loveeee the sambal for the ikan bakar. Spicy, rich, and just hits the spot!










 

Nasi briyani ayam masak merah (RM7.00)

And that my super dinner… Little adventure, unplanned but totally satisfying!

Words of Encouragement

Lately, I’ve had a little more breathing room in my schedule. With that extra time, I decided to tackle the mountain of emails sitting in my Inbox. Buried among the usual clutter, I stumbled upon a message from a dear church friend, and wow! It was exactly what I needed.

These words weren’t just uplifting; they were a powerful reminder of how often our human doubts clash with God’s promises. And honestly, I think this is something we all need to hear. So, I’m sharing it here, not just for me, but for anyone who could use a dose of encouragement today.

What YOU Say vs. What GOD Says

YOU say "It's impossible". GOD says "All things are possible". Read Bible verses Luke 18:27

YOU say "I'm too tired". GOD says "I will give you rest". Read Bible verses Matthew 11:28-30

YOU say "Nobody really loves me. GOD says "I LOVE you". Read Bible verses John 3:16 & John 3:34

YOU say "I can't go on". GOD says "My grace is sufficient". Read bible verses II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15

YOU say "I can't figure things". GOD says "I will direct your steps". Read Bible verses Proverbs 3:5-6

YOU say "I can't do it". GOD says "You can do all things". Read Bible verses Philippians 4:13

YOU say "I am not able". GOD says "I am able". Read Bible verses II Corinthians 9:8

YOU say "It's not worth it". GOD says "It will be worth it". Read Bible verses Romans 8:28

YOU say "I can't forgive myself". GOD says "I forgive you". Read Bible verses 1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1

YOU say "I can't manage". GOD says "I will supply all your needs". Read Bible verses Philippians 4:19

YOU say "I'm afraid". GOD says "I have not given you a spirit of fear". Read Bible verses II Timothy 1:7

YOU say "I'm always worried and frustrated". GOD says " Cast all your cares on ME".  Read Bible verses 1 Peter 5:7

YOU say "I'm not smart enough". GOD says "I give you wisdom". Read Bible verses 1 Corinthians 1:30

YOU say "I feel all alone". GOD says "I will never leave you or forsake you". Read Bible verses Hebrews 13:5

Fried Tung Fun

After work today, I did that classic “walk around, think around, still don’t know what to eat” routine 😅
One thing I knew for sure... no more chicken! I already had chicken rice for lunch, so that was out.

Then suddenly… craving hit. Glass noodles (tung fun)! 🍜
At first I was thinking of a comforting fish ball tung fun soup… but my mood quickly switched, fried tung fun sounded way better. More flavour, more wok hei, more satisfaction. So here we go ~ my simple, no-fuss fried tung fun dinner!

Ingredients:

Glass noodles

Some prawns

Some shredded meat

Some sliced fish cakes
Shredded cabbage

Shredded onions

Bean sprouts

Chopped garlic

1 Egg

2 tbsp oil

Seasoning:

Dark soy sauce

Light soy sauce

Fish sauce

Oyster sauce

Salt to taste

A bit of sugar to taste

Let's Cook!

1. Soak the glass noodles for 20 mins and drained well.
2. Heat the wok, and then heat the oil.
3. Fry the garlics until fragant or yellow golden in color.
4. Add the prawns, meat and sliced fish cakes. Stir fry constantly well.
5. Add the cabbage and shredded onions and fry for a little while.
6. Mix all the seasoning in a bowl and stir in the mixture.
7. Add the glass noodles and stir fry for a few minutes.
8. Add some water (chicken stock will be better) to the glass noodles if it is too dry. Don't add too much, you don't want it to be too wet after that.
9. Fry until it almost dry up and the push aside all ingredients to the side of the wok. Put a little bit of oil and break in the egg.
10. Then continue to cover the egg with the glass noodles and then add in the bean sprouts. Fry for about 2-3 minutes.
11. After that, you can dish out and serve. You may also want to sprinkle fried shallots or spring onions.

And that’s it, dish it up and serve! 🍽️
If you’re feeling fancy, top it with fried shallots or spring onions for that extra yum. The best part? You can totally mix and match... swap the prawns, change the veggies, use whatever you have in your fridge. This is one of those “anything goes” comfort meals.

Simple, quick, and honestly… so satisfying after a long day :))

Orange Butter Cake

It’s been a while since I last baked anything… but today, my fridge had other plans for me 🍊

I spotted a few lonely oranges sitting there, and suddenly ... boom ~ the baking mood hit! I thought, “Why not make an orange butter cake?” Simple, cozy, and smells amazing while baking. So I pulled out my baking tools, got everything ready, and got to work.

Honestly, this recipe is super easy. It’s just like a classic butter cake, but with a citrusy twist. I swapped the milk for fresh orange juice and added some lemon and orange zest for that bright, refreshing flavor. Trust me, your kitchen will smell incredible.

Ingredients:

250g butter (softened)

250g flour

200g fine sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp lemon rind

1 tsp orange rind

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup orange juice

A pinch of salt

Method:

1. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy

2. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Continue mixing.

3. Add in lemon and orange rind.

4. Fold in flour, alternating with the orange juice and end with flour. Mix well.

5. Greased the baking pan and pour the batter into it.

6. Bake in the pre-heated oven at 170 degree for 40 mins. You can test if the cake is done by insert the cake tester or a toothpick and make sure it comes out clean.

7. Let the cake rest to cool before slicing it (I was too hurry to cut the cake, so it crumbles a little bit here and there) 

 

And tadaaaa - freshly baked orange butter cake! 🍰

Okay, my photo didn’t turn out great (old phone!), but the smell and taste totally made up for it.

Soft, buttery, with a hint of citrus… so good. I already know this will be my breakfast tomorrow, with a hot cup of Nescafe on the side ☕

Simple joy, really. 💛