I'm a full-time mummy

I would like to dedicate this post to my breasts

for the wonderful jobs that they have done in providing (up to now),

18 blissful months of

nutritious, yummylicious, healthy, full of goodness

breastmilk for my little boy...

To those who said the following sentences to me:

* "You need to supplement Ben with formula milk. Can't you see him crying? It means he's hungry!" (This was said during the first 2 weeks after I delivered Ben)

* "Give him water to drink too! (This was said THROUGHOUT my first 6 months of exclusively breastfeeding Ben)"

* "Ermm... so small (looking at my breasts) you sure there's enough milk for your baby? You should top up with formula!" (This was said after Ben turned 6 months old and started solids)

* "He already started solids, don't you think it's time to wean him off your breasts?" (This was said after Ben turned 6 months old and started solids)

There are many many statements like this that I get...

but the above are the common ones I hear most often.

Now, for those who said the above to me, let me tell you this,

Month after month after month, I proved you guys wrong.

I am still going strong.

It's still zero speck of formula powder in our house.

Look, I'm not breastfeeding on just to prove to you guys anything,

what I wanted to say is that you guys should really keep your 'smart-arse' opinions to yourself,

especially if you've NEVER breastfeed before.

Negative statements like the ones I heard above can turn any vulnerable new moms to depression

and made them think breastfeeding is such a big challenge with so much hassles.

For any new mums or those who are going to be a mum anytime soon,

don't give a hoot to what others think or say about your ability to produce breastmilk and feed your baby.

If you put your thoughts to it, you can and you will succeed!

Cheers to my breasts again for the 18 wonderful months and pray for more to come!

Oh, and of course, happy 18 months to my dearest Benjamin!

Breastfeeding Ben at 16 months old...

This is my 1st attempt of making:

CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFIN

PREPARATION TIME: Less than 1 HOUR

* Less than 5 minutes to mix & fold batter

* 30 minutes for baking process

Ingredients / Tool Required:

* 1 pack of Chocolate Muffin Mix (500g)

* 4 eggs (room temperature)

* 130ml water (room temperature)

* 135ml oil

* A measuring jug

* A big containter to mix ingredients in

* A flexible spatula for mixing and folding

* Cupcake casings-depending the casing size, I used 22 pieces

(Note: I used the hard type which can put into oven and bake together)

* A small ladle to spoon mixture into cupcake casings

* Baking aluminium foil the size of wire rack

What to Do?

* Place all ingredients into a big container.

* Mix and fold using the flexible spatula.

(Check out Ben helping mummy out!)

* Continue mixing and folding until all ingredients are combined.

* Using the small ladle, spoon the mixture to each cupcake casing until about 3/4 full.

* Drop in small amount of chocolate chips into each cupcake casing (if you want to eat more, then dump more!)

* Place each cupcake casings on top of wire rack which has been lined with baking foil.

BAKING PROCESS

*Pre-heat oven at 190℃ (about 5 minutes)

* Place wire rack tray into oven.

(Check out the chocolate chips on top of the muffin mixture)

* Set oven to 190℃ and bake for 25 minutes.

(25 minutes seem long especially when you start smelling the sweet aroma of the chocolate muffins. Oh, and you get real excited when you start seeing the muffins rise!)

THE RESULTS

CLOSE UP SHOT

REACTIONS FROM MY "GUINEA PIGS"

* Test subject 1 (aka me): "A bit dry all over... suspected due to the smaller cupcake casing and small surface area. Inside muffins are moisty though."

* Test subject 2 (aka Ben): "Mmmmmmmmm... "(showing mummy his index finger which meant "GOOD"-he has yet to master the thumbs up...)

* Test subject 3 (aka hubby): "Looks 3/10, taste 8/10!!! Yeah you are right need bigger cup... 1stly its not enough in 1 cup to feed my appetite. The moist part inside oooooo heaven..."

QUESTIONS TO ANYONE WITH BAKING EXPERIENCE:

* I'm wondering when is the right time to put those sugar decoratives in?

* Why does some of the muffins 'sway' to certain directions? (Due to fan?) and how do I overcome this?

* Do you think using pre-mix ingredients are good? Somehow I feel as though I'm cheating but I was told I need to get more experience in baking first and not focus much on what flour and all at the moment...

TO TAKE NOTE IN NEXT ATTEMPT

* Definitely going to buy bigger size cupcake casings... (don't think reducing mixture amount will help)

So there you go.... my 1st CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS attempt!

Overall, I feel it should be better! I'm a tad disappointed with the hard crust though. And I wanted to put the sugar decorative on top of the muffins but it just rolled off the cupcakes because of the hard surface.

If you have any questions or tips to share, feel free to leave a comment as I might have left out details of it or I could find out more from my SIL who taught me this during my 1st baking class recently.

To view my other recipes, feel free to hop over to my Recipe Library page for more info!

Brought to you by: Baker wannabe aka

This is my 1st attempt of making: 

ROASTED CHICKEN WINGS

PREPARATION TIME: 1 HOUR

MARINATING PROCESS

Ingredients / Tool Required:

(Note: I actually chop off the wings and upper thighs, so for the sake of this recipe, I will just refer to it all as chicken wings)

What to Do?

GLAZING PROCESS

Ingredients / Tool Required:

What to Do?

ROASTING PROCESS

(Check out my Astronaut Gloves! Hehehe...)

(See who is waiting anxiously for the roasted chickens!)

THE RESULTS

(Check out Ben eyeing the roasted chicken wings...)

CLOSE UP SHOT

Honestly speaking, this chicken wing above looks sooooooooooooooooooooooo yummylicious that I almost wanted to frame it up or make an Oscar deserving speech to thank my SIL and everyone else who helped me and supported me through my journey into the baking world...

REACTIONS FROM MY "GUINEA PIGS"

TO TAKE NOTE IN NEXT ATTEMPT

So there you go.... my 1st ROASTED CHICKEN WINGS attempt!

Overall, I feel such a nice sense of accomplishment! It's such an euphoric feeling seeing the chicken wings get finished up and that people are happy with the food I made!

If you have any questions or tips to share, feel free to leave a comment as I might have left out details of it or I could find out more from my SIL who taught me this during my 1st baking class recently.

Btw, I will also write another post later for my 1st CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS (which I made right after the chicken wings).

To view my other recipes, feel free to hop over to my Recipe Library page for more info!

Brought to you with a full stomach by: Baker wannabe aka