Then something else surprised me. This greatgranny, who has several great-grandkids already, engaged ds1 and ds2 for a long time while dh and I were mingling with everyone else talking. I saw they were in good hands so I carried on chatting with others for very long. ds1 was even wrestling with her on the ground by the time I returned to them. She was tickling him all over, he was twisting her arms, and generally they were attacking each other but laughing a lot in the meantime. (a bit like my mom and titus sometimes)
I was a bit shocked and reminded ds1 not to be too rough, but the greatgranny told me it was fine, she enjoyed this kind of rough play! She does it too, with her greatgrandchildren. Wow... She's 90 yrs old this yr! Still hale, hearty and young at heart.
Great experience, we will return to visit regularly I am sure.
This past week, I made some bak kwa too, after the Mei Zhen Xiang ones that Angeling and my family sent ran out. Thanks to Dory (in UK) and SammiCheng for the recipe! (Sam, i decided to use this cuter moniker of yours, cos I've 2 students who go by Sam too. :-)) Dh was pleasantly surprised when he saw it after he arrived home. He loves it very much! ds2 likes it with his rice too, and he eats much much more rice when there is bak kwa served together, haha.
I like it because it is a "piece of home, piece of Singapore" that we have here. Apparently it is very unique to Malaysia and Singapore, as Dory researched. We feel less homesick because of it! Sammi, it tastes very much like the store-bought ones! Only thing I rolled mine a bit thicker because I wanted it to be more chewy but next time I will make it thinner, because it can keep longer if drier and dh likes it crispier.
As mine is a small toaster oven, I divided the 1lb meat into several pieces. This is one of the rolled out slices.
BEFORE baking:
AFTER baking and cutting into pieces:
You are right, it does burn easily, look at the edges of the bak kwa, bit chao tar, but dh likes it that way. Aiyoh. Is the homemade one more healthy than the store-bought ones? Comments from those who provided the recipe? If it is still as fatty or sinful, then I better restrict the boys from eating too much!
