Bidding Skills

I was bidding for something on ebay recently and I have just learn that bidding actually takes a little bid of skills and the need for a good internet connection. Many times, I have been outbid at the very last minute, sometimes even seconds by just a fraction of the value.

I have also learned that hesitance will cost you when comes to bidding. If you are not sure about your maximum budget and had to rely on the auction as it goes, you will end up like me, taking a few seconds to ponder before confirming the bid. And these actions actually cost you to loose out on the bid especially if your broadband connection is slow.

I use a mobile broadband at home and I never had any complaint about the speed. But yesterday, while I was bidding on ebay, due to the "slow" loading time of the page (took about 5-8 seconds to load), yup... only merely 5 seconds and I actually got outbid :(

It was at times like this that seconds are considered preciously important. So here's something else I learn...

By the way... I have just won a bid on a Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8D without even thinking that I will win. So... I am happy... yeah :) haha...

Mango Cheese Cake

I received this fabulous mixer from a friend as a Christmas gift but it has been sitting in my cupboard ever since. I was dying to give it a go and was looking for something to make. I scanned through all the recipes I have and decided to make a chilled mango cheese cake.

Ingredients:

100g biscuits (whatever you like... personally I like to use Digestive biscuit)
60g butter, melted
500g cream cheese
1/2 cup (110g) caster sugar
200g white chocolate, melted
300ml cream, whipped
3 teaspoons gelatine
1/4 cup (60ml) hot water
2 mangoes, sliced
1 mango, cubed


1. If you have a food processor, place biscuits in it and pulse until fine crumbs form. If you do not, place biscuits in a plastic bag and using a roller, roll/crush the biscuits until fine crumbs form.

2. Add butter and mix to combine. Press into base of a 20cm springform pan. Chill for 15 minutes, until base is firm.

3. While waiting for the base to firm, using an electric mixer (my new one :>), beat cream cheese and sugar together until smooth and creamy. Fold through chocolate and whipped cream.

4. Whisk gelatine with hot water until dissolved. Stir 1/4 cup of cream cheese mixture into gelatine. Return to cream cheese mixture and mix well.

5. Combine the cubed mangoes into the mixture and pour cheesecake over biscuit base. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

6. Arrange mango slices over top and cut into wedges to serve.


Making this cheese cake actually made me miss my home grown mango... I would say, there is no better mango than the ones from the mango trees in our garden. Simply no comparison... Thanks dad for the delicious mangoes :)

Chicken With Ham & Cheese

My sister recently posted an event on her blog about me cooking for her family. Among the comments, there are queries for the recipe. So I thought I would do her a favour by posting the recipe here.

I decided to do this dish as I saw the recipe somewhere online and I have never tried it before. So I thought this would be a good chance to try. Unfortunately, I can't remember all the ingredients exactly, but I know the few main ones, so I did it my own style.

Ingredients for 4 serves:

4 chicken breasts/thighs with skin, about 150g each
4 slices of Swiss Cheese or Cheddar Cheese
4 slices of ham
1 bunch of spinach
Dry herbs (oregano or Italian herbs or sage)
Salt and pepper
Toothpick (optional, only if needed)


Preparation method:

Place the chicken skin-side down on a board. With a sharp knife cut the chicken almost in half from the side, cutting parallel to the board, and leaving the other side joined. Open up like a book and lightly bash flat.

Or

Buy ready cut and flatten pieces of meat like I did... hehehe :>

After cleaning the chicken, season well with the dry herbs, salt and pepper. Set it aside to marinate. While waiting, wash the spinach and then chop it into small pieces.


Cooking method:

Heat the oven to 200 degree celcius and warm an oiled baking tray.

Heat the oil in a pan, cook the chicken, skin-side down first, for a few minutes, until well coloured.

Place the chopped spinach, a slice of ham and a slice of cheese on the inner side of the chicken, then close it as you would a book. If the chicken is too thick, use toothpick to hold it together.

Place skin-side up on the baking tray, then roast for 15 minutes or until cooked, which will depend on their size.

If you do not have an oven, then place the chicken back onto the pan and fry it until cooked.