As I have said in yesterday’s post, Christmas isn’t Christmas if not spent with loved ones – family or friends. Melissa had a terrific time at last year’s Christmas party, so I decided to hold one again this year…
…but a slightly toned-down one at that.
Last year, we were planning a western-themed party and Melissa and I were supposed to cook some special dishes…but my missus, despite the fact that she had to work around that time, wanted to get into the thick of the action (and insisted on cooking certain dishes not related to the theme my daughter and I were working on) and it was a real hassle – all three in the kitchen at the same time, fighting for the gas stove and the oven…and tempers (mine mostly) were wearing thin – I was quite upset that the guests were starting to arrive and my missus was still struggling to get her dishes done and served.
This year, being older and wiser, we decided to let her do everything and besides, she was on leave so she had more time to do whatever she wanted. I only cooked this satay beef…
and ketupat…
– all instant but it was well-received except that everyone was commenting, “Oooo…the beef rendang‘s really good!” Duh!!! It wasn’t rendang! LOL!!
My daughter wanted to cook tomato rice…as she and her friends did something of the sort in Wellington, New Zealand and she loved it and was quite certain that she could do it on her own. I googled for the recipe and got very complicated ones…so I had to ask around, only to get different suggestions in the end. We decided to take a bit from here and a bit from there and come out with something of our own…
…and thankfully, it turned out all right and was really very good.
I wouldn’t want to cook something for a special occasion like this unless I have done it before and I am sure that it would come out just perfect. Kinda’ risky, don’t you think?
My missus cooked the chicken curry…
…A1 Mountain Globe instant curry paste, kay liao (with added ingredients) and her specialty, the ngor hiang (meat rolls)…
She also made these lokam which my daughter loves…
*Melissa’s photo on her Canon IXUS 95IS*
…and the baked chicken wings…
…and the salad…
I bought these super-duper cream puffs from a bakery near my house…
…and my sister gave us this yummy Horlicks cake…
…which was something like batek cake except that they used Horlicks instead of chocolate…and chocolate Marie biscuits instead of the plain ones.
Other than those, for dessert, we also had the very rich and nice fruit cake that Annie-Q gave me, made by coffeesncookies…
…and everyone liked it a lot and was praising it to the skies. There were only a few slices left when the party ended.Β All in all, I guess it all went pretty well, thankfully – everyone had their fill and had a good time.
Well, it’s New Year’s Eve today. So what are your plans to say goodbye to 2010 and to usher in the New Year – 2011? Care to share?
...STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS! 
See Arthur, i have never been your first commentor after all these years but today beat the rest lol, see my one of mine in 2010 achieved already..
here once again wishing you,missus and Melissa a great, joyful and healthy 2011.
thank you
Congrats. What are you doing up so early? Public holiday today… Try and catch my New Year post – 5 minutes past midnight tonight… LOL!!! π My warmest New Year wishes for the very best of everything to you and your family!
Sorry, typo error, as iwas rushing to be your first commentor, i said was one of my aims in 2010 was to be your first commentor, here iam – kau tim already
LOL!!! π Slow and steady wins the race…
*snarl* That wun last long… wait till I not so busy, i will be FC queen here… LOL!
You kalah liao lor…often, goldflower would beat you to it…
hahahahah! I was late too today, just woke up from sleep – thats why Eugene can be first commenter. lol that does look like rendang beef btw. feel like hari raya with the rendang and ketupat,.mwahahaha
1Malaysia bah…. Hehehehehehe!!!! And things that my daughter would not be able to get easily or cheaply in NZ.
Ahhhh… ketupattttttt! I wan, I wan… aiyo… raya stil far… mana mau dapat ketupat now? T_T nvm, my mum still in Msia. I beg her for ketupat.
Ushering the new year? I’m beat… it’s been a very hectic end of year…. I think I’ll probably sleep away… been sleeping away these few days… lol…
I dun really have any resolution for 2011 too…I just want to be happy and hope that God will bless me and my loved ones. Maybe one more novel to my collection…if God wills it.
Huh? I thought over there, can get ketupat everywhere, so easily… Here, nobody makes ketupat – eat satay, no ketupat. Tsk! Tsk! What is satay without ketupat? Grrrrrr……. But mine instant ones lah – just boil with lots of pandan leaves in the water. Beggars can’t be choosers… Hehehehehe!!!!
Northern part of Malaysia banyak ketupat… but central part like KL… aiyo… lemang banyak la… the ketupat palas mana mau cari in KL. π¦
Ohh… I dun call those u eat with satay ketupat… I grew up knowing it as ‘nasi himpit’.
Nasi hempit is different…ketupat in the leaves, boiled to cook…no press-press one. The instant ones also, not really nasi hempit…and not really ketupat as not in the leaves – but something is better than nothing. π¦
so yummy..i would have driven to Sibu on Christmas day n got myself invited..haha…btw am interested in the tomato rice recipe…can share?
I managed to buy the chicken pie at the bakery-ordered a day earlier..when I go n collect he gave me 7pcs only. VV nice n so is the curry puff.
Yup, the chicken pie is nice – the curry puffs…just ok, not that great. Tomato rice recipe? Must confirm with Mel and missus first and then share – didn’t really follow one strictly… The end result turned out very good. May cook again Chinese New Year. Coming to Sibu?
wow..i would love the ketupat for a change…
Instant ones – your shop not selling kah? Just boil with lots of pandan leaves, more fragrant.
Something different for the usual Christmas dinner party, this is Malay Themed Party?
So many foods!! Your satay beef look very good and the nasi tomatoes. I love nasi tomatoes too. yum yum yum!!
Cream puff and two type of cakes for dessert, wow!! Glad everyone love the fruit cakes. Must thanks Elaine for the great job.
Here wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!! May year 2011 be a better year for all of us.
The same to you and your family. No theme – rojak…or 1Malaysia. Got Malay, got Chinese, got everything. LOL!! When are you coming back to Sibu again? Maybe I can host one like this – invite fellow-bloggers in Sibu…
wow..what a grand Christmas party you have.. the yummylicious food.. gosh!! how can one not praise the food!! u really made us envious… home cooked food is anytime better than dining outside… so many choices too!
Not really grand lah…but it’s true. Own-cooked more sincere and meaningful as it comes from the heart – something money cannot buy. Outside catered – anybody else can have the same thing as long as they have money…
Sleep!! coz I’M WORKING ON NEW YEAR’S!!!
bloody @#$@#*(%&($%*#
You’re going back into the jungle today? I just flew home this morning… Well, count your blessings – there are many who do not work on New Year’s Day or on any other day as they do not have a job at all.
Lol! when I read about how the three of you fighting over the stove & oven last year…and your missus insisted to cook something not related to the theme of the party..lol..so cute!
Looked like a lot of delicious food for the party this year..can’t figure out the theme..Malay?
Anyway, totally agree that Christmas isn’t Christmas unless you spent it with loved ones.
Here’s wishing you and your family a Happy New Year π Looking forward to more interesting posts from you in 2011!
LOL!!! It’s true, every bit of it is true. No theme this year, whatever my missus wanted to cook – didn’t want a repeat of last year’s experience…just stayed out of the way, goyang kaki. Hehehehehe!!! Same to you and your family – have a great 2011.
EEEVILLL!!!Kasi orang drool only…lol.I would never have guess the curry and satay beef were made from instant paste.I think I am going to follow your footsteps and do just that whenever I am hosting any dinner parties.Save time and not stressing myself out.Delicious food you got there and wishing I was there to savour them all.Happy New Year to you and family.God bless.
Same to you, Shereen…wishing you and your loved ones the very best in 2011. Ya…it is so easy, no need to start cooking a few days earlier like before as so tedious, all the preparations needed. Well, if you come to Sibu, I’ll have all these waiting for you and more… π
What yummy dishes…!! I would not complain if I would be your guest, lol !! If I can make those all by myself…hmmm ! Wishing you and your family a Happy and Healthy New Year 2011. Always enjoy reading your blog, even though I do not write any comments… keep it up, Arthur ! God bless!
Here, you can buy the instant curry paste…and the satay sauce – just add extra ingredients to make them nicer. So very easy to cook! Same to you and your family and do keep dropping by my blog for more… π
Glad the cake went well and must thank Annie for believing in me. She’s the first to place an order with me, with one for you in mind.. and then she started the ball rolling.. more orders came in. π
I like the way you propped up the cake.. perhaps I should do the same too next Christmas !
Wishing you, Mrs Wee, Melissa Wee a very Happy New Year that’s filled with blessings!
Thanks, and the same to you and your family…plus it’s your birthday today – so, happy birthday and may all your wishes come true! Looking for more cakes from you in the coming year… Wink! Wink! LOL!!! π
aiyooooo…..salivating here liao!!!!!!!!! now that i am dieting some more, si beh beh tahan seeing those food pic u posted!
Aiyor…what a time to be on a diet! I will start after Chinese New Year! LOL!!! π
Alex was there.
coffeesncookies & Annie Q, thank you for the fruitcake. It was excellent!
Arthur, happy new year to you and your family. May your new year be filled with lots of joy, warmth and of course, money money come!
Thanks, Alex…and you’ve been here two years in a row…and another year sometime ago – certainly looking forward to having you around for many more years to come! Have a great 2011 and wishing you blue skies and everything nice throughout the year ahead.
P.S. And my “rendang” was great too. LOL!!!
Happy 2011 to you and family. May the new year brings us a new spirit to reach all our dreams, good health and happiness ….Happy New Year 2011 ! And to Melissa..best wishes in pursuing her degree π
A toast to all the three good cooks in your family π and hope you will share more of your local specialities this 2011:)
With regards,
Elin
Thanks, Elin…and all good wishes for a wonderful 2011 for you and your whole family. God bless!
Wow…Christmas isn’t Christmas without those glorious food right? :p
Not exactly…but it certainly makes it a whole lot better… π
all the food makes me feel hungry!
It is 1000% better than food in Russian for sure.
Yakah? I dunno anything Russian…other than vodka! LOL!!! π
Wow..what a good spread!
Hey.. about the ‘batek’ cake..is it steamed? I’m looking for a similiar type looking cake, which uses biscuits.
Not easy to find, because it’s one of those “DIY home cakes” by the older generation.
In any case..HAPPY NEW YEAR STP! May it be filled with lots of good things!
Thanks, and the same to you… Dunno about the cake. I think they just arrange the biscuits, pour in the Horlicks caramel and let it harden – same as the chocolate when making batek cake. So have to keep chilled…
Wah.. the beef rendang looks yummy!
LoL! Ok.. so they were not rendang! haha..
but the food looks good and william went “Wah….” hahahahha.. now now.. how often does he do that?! π
Come! Come to Sibu…and I’ll throw a party like that for you all and get to meet other bloggers here…and of course, I’ll take you all over to eat the best in town. After all, that’s about all one can do in Sibu – EAT! LOL!!! π
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. That looks like a very mouthwatering spread. This year I’m cooking fried chicken (and dip into Thai chilli sauce), mash potato, french fries (requested by my little boy) and salad.
Same to you and your family. Not too sure what we’ll be having yet. Will have a nap and sleep on it first – decide when I get up. One thing’s for sure, I’ll post on the dinner…so stick around.