Joan, The Brave Fighter

My hearfelt prayers went to Joan Chan when I read the Sunday papers about her plight. In 2004, this bubbly, spunky, doe-eyed former Raffles Girls' School (RGS) and Raffles Junior College (RJC) student was struck with Stage IV tongue cancer. Words from Joan herself upon knowing about her cancer: " I will not go quietly into the night. I'm not going to let cancer have its way so easily. If I'm going down, I'm not leaving without a fight." Joan's one wish is to beat the debilitating condition and then attend university, a place at the National University of Singapore's architecture faculty but as for now all her study plans were derailed due to the cancer. The cancer, which has spread throughout her neck and face has also affected her spinal cord and even holding her head up has become a challenge. Doctors has given Joan just a few weeks to three months more to live! Joan wrote in her blog on March 22, which was also her last entry "I just want to say my dear friends, I am prepared for the worst." Joan's friends and family have been keeping vigil at her bedside battling the final stages of her tongue cancer. Her alma mater was so moved by her cancer striken plight that it raised S$130,000 for her medical treatment! Joan is currently resting in the comfort of her home, with family, close friends and her cat, eddie.She is no longer on any medication for cancer, but requires painkillers and occassionally uses a respirator to aid breathing.Her doctor visits her regularly, and so do her priests. Please continue to pray for her! May God bless Joan with courage and strength to fight the battle courageously to the end!
Here's the link to Joan's blog set up by her friends: http://joanchanshufang.blogspot.com/

Jam Tea aka Citron Tea

This was introduced and given to me by my Korean neighbour as their parting gift as they will be shifting out of our estate by end of this month. This is known as the Citron Tea, the Koreans love drinking this mixture packed in a glass bottle resembling exactly like jam with lots of citron slices. The Citron tea is a sugar preserved fruit tea, a very unique and unusal drink indeed. This tea can be made just like any drinks either to be mixed with hot or cold water and stir. The taste of this Citron Tea is really refreshing with it's great benefits, like the vitamins C found more than in oranges, which helps to prevent colds and known to be very good for sore throat plus it also helps to enhance good skin conditions. No wonder, most of the Koreans have beautiful complexion including their MEN!

To All My Online Friends ~ True On-Line Friends

The true friends who we meet online are a very special kind. They pierce your shields and see within the corners of your mind. They're always there when you're in need with their power to discern. They feel your pain ... they offer hope and genuine concern. We bare our souls, expose our hearts and show our inner fears. And then before you know it the keyboard's stained with tears. If we could see them through that screen then no one could deny
That to be a TRUE online friends they too must surely cry. Thanks for being my on-line friends!
And you know who you are!

Good Friday ~ Hot Cross Buns

Hot cross buns Hot cross buns
One a penny Two a penny
Hot cross buns
If you have no daughters
Give them to your sons
One a penny Two a penny
Hot cross buns

This is a familiar nursey rhyme that I used to sing when I was small not knowing that hot cross bun is related to Good Friday. Hot Cross buns are symbols of Good Friday. Today they are sold in bakeries like Sweet Secrets even the churches also sell them on Good Friday. Each bun has an icing cross on top to signify the crucifixion of Jesus Christ! Today being Good Friday, as catholics we are encouraged by the church to fast and to abstain from eating meat. Therefore, the thought of eating hot cross buns cross my mind and I thought of baking them myself and to be enjoyed with a wonderful cup of coffee!

Recipe For Hot Cross Buns
1/4 cup water - at room temperature or just slightly above
1/2 cup lukewarm milk
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg, lightly beaten
3-1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
pinch of ground cloves
pinch of allspice
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup finely chopped, mixed candied fruit

Glaze
2 Tablespoon granulated sugar
2 Tablespoon water

Icing
1/2 cup Confectioners' sugar
2 tsp. water

Preparation
Place all the dough ingredients, except the raisins and fruit, in the bread machine pan. Set on the dough only cycle. Add the raisins and candied fruit at the bread machine's signal for adding extra ingredients. Remove the dough from the bread machine at end of dough cycle. Place it in a bowl, cover with a cloth and let it rest for 10 minutes.

**Divide the dough into 12 pieces. Shape the pieces into balls and place them 3 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise in warm place until almost doubled, about 45 minutes to an hour. Bake in a preheated oven at 375º for 15 to 18 minutes, or until light brown on top. Remove from the oven. Place the baking sheet full of buns on a wire rack to cool. Prepare the glaze, then spread it over the warm buns. Let the buns continue to cool on the baking sheet. When completely cool, fill a cake decorating bag, fitted with a round tip, with icing. Pipe an icing cross on each bun. Or... simply spoon narrow stips of icing, in the shape of a cross, on each bun.

To prepare this recipe without a bread machine, use this mixer method
Mix the yeast, 1 cup flour, sugar, salt, and other spices in a bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the milk and water together. Combine the dry ingredients mixture, the liquid ingredients, and the butter in a large bowl. Beat for 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed. Add the egg and beat 1 more minute. Stir in the raisins, fruit, and enough of the remaining flour to make a firm dough. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 5 to 7 minutes or until smooth and elastic. Use additional flour if necessary. Place in a lightly greased bowl; turn over to grease the other side of the dough. Cover and let rise in a warm place. After about 15 minutes, test the dough to see if it has risen sufficiently and is ready to be shaped. To test, gently stick two fingers into the risen dough up to the second knuckle... take them out. If the indentations remain, the dough is ripe and ready. Continue to follow the preparation directions above, from the **

Milo Dinosaurs ~ Milo Gozillas ~ Milo Chinchillas

This is a must have for me whenever I'm eating at a Malay cafeteria. I love to order the thick chocolatey taste of Milo Dinosaurs or Milo Gozillas or Milo Chinchillas costing about S$2.00 per jug. Hmmmm.. yummy yummy... sedap sekali....
Here's how this drink is to be made:-
Dilute 2 or more tablespoons of condensed milk with warm water because the ice cubes will dilute the sweetness of the drink . Then add in 3-4 heapfuls tablespoons of thick chocolatey Milo powder(would be better to use made in Australia Milo) the more milo powder added, the thicker and tastier it will be! Finally, add in ice cubes and the delicious Milo Dinosaurs or Milo Gozillas or Milo Chinchilla ready to be enjoyed! Slurp Slurp Slurp!!!!! Anyone for a Milo Dinosaur or Milo Gozilla or Milo Chinchilla? Milo Chinchilla the name was created by my friend, Joshua(copyright!)

Sore Throat or Throat Cancer

I've not been updating my blog for a period of time. I've been plagued by this terrible sore throat that has been with me since mid Feb till to-date. Went to the doctor three times, given antibiotics but the cough and sore throat still persists. Even the doctor was telling me that I should have an X-ray and blood test taken, I've been procrastinating it. Hmmmm.. just wondering could it be I'm suffering from throat cancer? I did a google search and all the symptoms shown are similar to what I'm having. To all my friends and colleagues who are so worried for me, thank you for your care and kind concern.

Here are the symptons for throat cancer:-

Throat Cancer Symptoms are related to other head and neck cancer symptoms.
Common throat cancer symptoms are a lump or sore that does not heal, a sore throat that does not go away, difficulty swallowing, a change in the sound of the voice, and a new hoarseness in the voice.

Throat Cancer Symptoms: Other Symptoms
Please keep in mind that while your symptoms may seem like throat cancer symptoms, they may be caused by other unrelated and less serious health conditions. Tell your doctor about any throat cancer symptoms you are feeling.
Throat cancer symptoms, and head and neck cancer symptoms, may also include trouble breathing, trouble with speaking, pain in the ears and frequent headaches. Throat cancer symptoms and head and neck cancer symptoms may also include sinuses that are blocked and will not clear. Throat cancer symptoms and head and neck cancer symptoms may also include bleeding through the nose, pain in the upper teeth, headaches, and swelling in the eyes. Throat cancer symptoms and head and neck cancer symptoms may also include chronic sinus infections that do not go away when treated with antibiotics.
There is more to learn about throat cancer symptoms. If you have any of these throat cancer symptoms, it is important that you see your doctor.
Possible Throat Cancer Symptoms
Throat cancer symptoms and head and neck cancer symptoms may also include numbness or paralysis of the muscles in the face.
Throat cancer symptoms and head and neck cancer symptoms may also include pain that does not go away in the face.
Throat cancer symptoms and head and neck cancer symptoms may also trouble pain that does not go away in the neck.
There is more to learn about throat cancer symptoms. If you have any of these throat cancer symptoms, it is important that you see your doctor