Thoughts on love

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

I know, I know, if you're sick of the phrase or feels that V day is too commercialised, you're not alone. But I just want to pen down some thoughts on not just V day but love in general. Different people express love differently. Some like to show it publicly, some like to only show it privately, some 'go big or go home', some like small intimate thoughtful gifts etc. Well, people are generally programmed differently. But if there's a day (Valentine's Day) where everyone can share and express their love, why not? Nothing bad ever comes out of expressing love, other than the people who don't celebrate and give hate comments because they see other people celebrating >.< 

Yes, it is commercialised, yes, the flower businesses are laughing all the way to the bank, yes, people like showing off, yes, the bigger the better etc. So what? Businesses need these celebrations to boom, girls need to feel the 'extra love' on that particular day, some guys need this special day to express their love where on normal days they are kinda shy, couples need an extra special day to just celebrate 'love'. Because truth be told, people get complacent, people get tired from their daily work, people take the other half for granted sometimes, people don't pamper themselves sometimes.

So, okay, everyday should be valentine's day. But if there is no V day, is everyday really valentine's day? Do you wake up everyday, planning for the other half a special date night? Do you buy her extra flowers every other day? Do you take some time to buy him a gift that he really wanted? Then why not? V day is just another day but it's a day themed with 'love'. I see social media being flooded with love messages, love gifts, love everything. Isn't that nice to see? Rather than focusing on the current corona virus, the daily hectic life, the work stress, but to see people celebrating love, that's a happy moment. Sometimes, people just need to take some time and focus on just 'love' and for each 'love' given, the world could be a better place.

Then you ask, what is love? Does love come in the form of a gift? Is it in the form of money? Is it in making love? Or is it something deeper? Something which comes from the heart which cannot be expressed in physical gift? I say, all of the above. Again, people are programmed differently. People express love differently. If A wants to express his love by singing on a piano to his loved one, that is his way of expressing love. If B wants to buy his wife 990 roses, that is his way of expressing love. If C buys a stalk of rose for his girlfriend, that is also love! If D just wants a day of cuddling with her boyfriend and watching movie at home, well, who's to say it's not love? Love can be expressed in so many ways and no one is in any position to compare, to judge, to hate, to say that whatever the other half did in his own love language is not love. Even self love is love. Who's to say, a single lady going out on a spa alone on V day is not love? She probably needed some self love and some self pampering session. What I wanted to say is that there is no one definitive word or action to describe love and there is also no right or wrong in celebrating V day. Just remember not to compare, judge or hate. Spread the love and once again, Happy Valentine's Day =) xoxo

Chance of a Lifetime to Win a ‘Salary for Life'

Want to win salary for life? I do!! *Me me me*

Nestlé Malaysia today launched its biggest nationwide contest to-date, giving Malaysians the opportunity to fulfil their dreams and earn a “salary for life” through the Peraduan Nestlé Gaji Seumur Hidup (Nestlé ‘Salary for Life’ contest) – just by purchasing RM15 worth of Nestlé products in a single receipt. How cool is that? My tai tai dream can finally come true *laughs*

The Peraduan Nestlé Gaji Seumur Hidup offers two lucky Grand Prize winners the chance to win a ‘Salary for Life’ of RM3,000 every month for 35 years, and 10 Consolation Prize winners the chance to take home a ‘Salary for a Year’ of RM3,000 every month. There will also be cash prizes of RM500 given out to 50 winners every week throughout the contest’s 11-week duration. This brings the total cash prizes for Peraduan Nestlé Gaji Seumur Hidup to over RM4 million, and benefitting over 560 Malaysians. Nestlé’s ‘Salary for Life’ contest will take place from February 14 to April 30, 2020.

 Mr Juan Aranols, Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad, said the contest is their way of saying thanks for the heartfelt support Malaysia has given to Nestlé and the Nestlé brands for over 100 years, by giving Malaysians the chance of a lifetime to fulfil their dreams. This contest is their biggest competition to-date in Malaysia and they are making it as easy as possible for Nestlé shoppers to win a “Salary for Life” of RM3,000 – just by purchasing their favourite Nestlé products.

Simply by purchasing a minimum of RM15 worth of participating Nestlé products in a single receipt and by answering a simple question, consumers will be eligible to submit one entry via post or Whatsapp. Nestlé shoppers can choose from over 300 product variants across 25 participating Nestlé brands to purchase, and submit as many entries as they want. The more entries submitted, the higher the chances of winning! Consumers can also purchase one MILO MAKAN KOMBO meal set in McDonald’s worth RM19.90 to participate in the contest. 

Participating retailers include major minimarkets, supermarkets, hypermarkets, petrol marts, convenience stores as well as e-commerce platforms, including Lazada and Shopee, across Malaysia who provide official receipt as proof of purchase. Other participating etailers also include Qoo10, Lelong, Presto, Astro Go Shop, PGMall.

For more information on Peraduan Nestlé Gaji Seumur Hidup and details on how to take part in this chance of a lifetime, check out https://www.dearnestle.com.my/event-and-happening/peraduan-gaji-seumur-hidup

What are you waiting for? Faster purchase and whatsapp your receipts!

Anchor tinned butter recipes with Chef Florence

Anchor Food Professionals, the food service arm of Fonterra and Malaysia's celebrity chef, Florence Tan unveiled three specially created recipes for baking and cooking enthusiasts using Anchor tinned butter made with 100% pure New Zealand dairy. The dairy is a product of New Zealand's temperate climate, where cows graze on grass all year round and the hard work and dedication of Fonterra's 10,000 farmer shareholders, whose generations of farming expertise produces nutritious and safe products.

Anchor tinned butter is made with high quality fresh cream and its rich taste and aroma is sealed and preserved in a tin to deliver a great flavour and mouthfeel. With the high quality packaging, it enables easy storage while keeping the butter fresh and silky to enhance both savoury and sweet delicacies- from layered cakes, cookies to nasi kurma and chicken kurma.

One of the familiar faces on TV since long time ago, the ever smiley Chef Florence taught us the recipes with much passion and laughs.

First recipe of the day: Supermoist Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Glace.

Chef Florence showed us the step by step instructions and some tips in between to making a delicious chocolate cake.

Of course, the star ingredient of the day is none other than Anchor tinned butter beated together with castor sugar until light and flurry.

After making the cake batter, we moved on to making the chocolate glace.

While the cake is being baked, we cook the glace and it smelled so good.

Tadah! The cake is now ready.

Now, to turn it upside down.

And spread the glace all over.

It was really moist, yummy and a crowd's favourite.

Next recipe: Pumpkin Cheesy Tart

Using the star ingredient.

Made the dough and shaping it into the tray.

Pumpkin Filling was also made using Anchor products.

I'm not a fan of pumpkin but this one was really yummy!

Then came the exciting part. We were able to hands on make Honey Gold Cornflakes with Almonds.

Everything prepped by TCH Foodworks which was so convenient.

Of course, we must only use the best butter.

Beat them all together.

Meanwhile, the flour and baking powder are sifted.

Mix them all in.

Roll into small balls and coat with cornflakes and pop a cherry on top.

Bake in preheated oven 165 degrees for 18 minutes.

Yay! Done and ready to be eaten.

Not perfect but it was crunchy and delicious =)

Thank you Chef Florence for teaching us!

Each can of Anchor tinned butter contains 454g of pure New Zealand butter, and is available on the shelves of supermarkets mainly at Tesco and baking ingredients shops throughout Malaysia. Choose the best quality butter for cooking and baking that lingers on tongues and in hearts today.