Our Camping Trip (Part 1)

After 3.5 years of camping hiatus, we finally geared up for our long awaited camping trip. It was Evy second time and Edda first. We love camping in the national forest where there was some distant between campers and lots of shades. This seem to be our favorite place to go camping as it had everything, a trail to a lake, lots of trees & shades, restrooms, fire pit, water supply and the basic necessity for a camper site. Now, I will let the pictures speak for itself.


Our campsite.


Lots of shades, it's shaded all day long.


The campground.


Our SUV was packed to the brim! This is what we called car loaded camping.


Inside the tent. Edda was happy sleeping in her Dora cushion bed.


Evy was helping me taking the water out from the truck.


Edda wanted to be a little helper too!


Enjoying their breakfast of apple juice and matcha castella cake.


Happy, happy!


Let's pose for the camera!


Trying to build a wood castle from the pile below.


Heeya! KungFu fighting jump!


I thought this was super cute!


Haha, now I could see you!

Stay tuned for part 2 when we walked to the lake and what's serving for our camping lunch!

Green Tea Castella or Matcha Kasutera

We were going away for a three days two nights camping trip and I wanted something easy to serve as breakfast. What easier than having two pieces of cake and a cup of instant 3 in 1 coffee or milk tea? Since I made the Castella cake earlier and we all loved it, that sponge cake was my easy picked. I read that the original Japanese sponge cake does not called for oil/butter/margarine so I was interested in experimenting. However, I was too careful to remove all the oil because I was afraid that it might be too dry thus I reduced half of the oil and some sugar. I added 1/2 tablespoon of green tea powder for a change too. Since I reduced the oil, I also tried the method mentioned in my previous post that was to place the cake in the refrigerator while still warm but I didn't brush the top with honey water (I didn't want it to be sticky).

The resulted cake had fine crumbs and more compact than my previous one. Still soft and light like a sponge cake with the tint fragrant of green tea. Still tasted good after reducing the oil.



Makes one 8×8 x 2-inch pan

Ingredients:

5 large eggs

150 grams granulated sugar

200 grams all-purpose flour

1/2 Tbsp. green tea powder

100 ml whole milk, at room temperature

4 tablespoons honey

3 tablespoons canola oil

Method:

1. Grease the square pan with baking spray. Cut out a parchment paper the size of the pan for the bottom of the pan and place it on the pan, spray it with baking spray too. Preheat oven to 350 degree F and place a rack in the middle of the oven.

2. Mix eggs and sugar with a stand-in mixer for about 5 minutes or until batter forms a ribbon when the wire whip is lifted, the color should be light yellow.

3. Whisk together the flour and green tea powder. With the mixer running on medium speed, pour the flour mixture into the batter slowly. Next add the milk, mix it well. Then add the honey and mix it again well. Last, add the oil and make sure it is incorporated into the batter thoroughly.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Place it in the oven and bake for 10 minutes in 350 degree F. After that, lower the temperature to 325 degree F and bake for 35 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

5. Remove from the pan as soon as it is done. Place it on the cooling rack and when it's not too hot to handle (still warm), wrap with plastic wrap and put it in the refrigerator for at least few hours. Then, take it out and let it sit at room temperature overnight wrapped. Cut it the next day.

POM Pomegranate Juice

My parents' house used to have a pomegranate tree and I remembered my siblings and I used to pluck the pomegranate fresh from the tree and eat it. It was fun time back then where all kinds of fruit tree can be found at my parents' yard and we just ate from what we grew. Pomegranate tree is very common is Asia where the weather is hot all year round. But when I moved here, it was pretty scarce and those carried in the supermarket can be quite pricey as it's hardly go on sales. Then, POM came along and made this 100% pure concentrated Pomegranate juice. For me, it is easier to drink the juice then eat the fruit itself (tedious don't you think?).

What is so wonderful about this Pomegranate juice is its' antioxidant potency, where better than green tea, cranberry juice, red wine, concord grape juice and blueberry juice. Not only that, it also proved in a $25 million scientific research that by drinking 8 oz. of 100% pomegranate juice daily, one can experience significant improvement in heart (increase blood flow, decrease arterial plaque, lower LDL oxidation), prostate and erectile health.

Thus far, the only brand that can guaranteed to contain 100% authentic pomegranate juice is POM Wonderful where they grow their own fruit, pick it by hand, squeeze it with their own proprietary presses and even manufacture their own bottles all the way in California's Sunny Joaquin Valley. Their juice is all-natural with no added sugars, preservatives, colors or cheap filler juices. I saw the interview on T.V. about POM Wonderful Pomegranate Juice before but I forgot which station already. They definitely trying to create and raise awareness about this wonderful juice. I found this juice to be on the strong side so I had to dilute it with ices. Drink for our health ya!

Dog Shampoo

I do not own a dog now but this is a general good information for dog lover owners out there who might face with these problems and might think this information is useful. Do you have a problem with your dog itching, scratching and stinking beyond belief? Do you, wash your dog one day, just to have the stink return the next? Wait weeks between bathing your dog because his skin gets so dry and flaky? Hate bathing your dog because no matter how many times you rinse, and still cannot get him completely rinsed? If you are facing these problems, why not give the all natural dog shampoo Dogosuds ® made by Dinovite, Inc. a try? Isn't it time for a new dog smell? Happy dog for a happy owner?

Dogosuds ® Benefits:
• Makes your dog smell CLEAN and WONDERFUL for a long time.
• Lathers beautifully ... and RINSES EASILY!
• Contains 100% pure, therapeutic grade essential oils that have natural, healing properties.
• Gentle soothing shampoo works well for sensitive skin.
• Is a NATURAL FLEA DETERRENT.
• Contains NO CHEMICALS, NO PERFUMES, NO FILLERS, nothing to irritate or dry your dog's skin!
• Also works great to remove SKUNK odor!

You can also visit Dinovite for other dog related products.

Stir Fried Nai Pak (Asian Green) with Fish Balls

I had some leftover fish balls from my previous night noodle soup so what better way than to slice it up and cook with the veggie planned for the next day. Just sliced the fish balls into four pieces and added them in when stir-frying the veggie, as easy as that! I had some thinly sliced carrot for my napa cabbage so I just used that instead of cutting another carrot. For the real Chinese cooking, the carrot would be cut into a flower shape, or circle for better presentation of the dish. We are quite particular about the way we cut our ingredients, for even cooking and presentation, but for home cook food within my family, I won't care that much. :P


Another super easy recipe!

Ingredients:

Nai Pak (Asian Green), Carrot, Fish Balls, Garlic, Oyster sauce, Water, Oil for cooking.

This is so easy, I don't think I need to write up the steps. Or refer here for similar cooking method or another way to serve nai pak.