The Day Has Finally Come for CFAL4 Penang & How I did it.

The long awaited day has finally come, many of us have somehow prepared in a way or two for this event. Here is my perspective based on my pace.5:00am - Allan & Ho Lin waited for me at Farlim Petronas Station at 4:45am and rode to regroup with some of our local friends at Jelutong.6:30am - Many friends from Kuala Lumpur were there.These ladies are also from Kuala Lumpur.7:00am - The event started on time and watch out for this Go he is fast.My brothers were also in this g! rand eve nt Yong Lim, Ho Lim & Allan.7:20am - Jelutong7:30am Still on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.7:40am - I began to witness problems encountered by cyclists many with flat tyres.7:40am - This one was serious with saddle missing.7:45am Queensbay Mall7:50am South Bay8:20am Stalled at Teluk Kumbar by a fatal accident.8:30am We resumed.8:40am the start of the first long climb many pushed and I was glad I could mnaged it. Thanks to all thetrainingat Bukit Damansara & Ulu Langat.Apparently this newly built road helps make it safer and easier to climb. It was scenic and an enjoyable climb.I was amazed by this young boy one hand on the handle the other checking smses. He rides well with confidence.9:05am A couple on atandembike, well done and I can see that them enjoying the ride.9:25am my first stop for an isotonic drink @ Balik Pulau, by the time I reached most of the drink stations they were out of drink.9:35am Jalan Sungai Rusa9:45am The left turn is leading to Jalan Kuala Sg Pinang but we went straight.9:45am Going ahead into Jalan Telok Bahang

There were many cyclists stopping over here for food and drinks and after this point it was a tough ride, the second climb to Titi Kerawang.

9:50am I got excited when I saw this lorry sweeping for "gave-up" cyclists at the beginning of the second climb.Full load of gave-up cyclists on the way to the finishing line.9:55am This is the road of Jalan Teluk Bahang and the climb is covered with matured trees, the climb is tough but manageable.One of the biggest challenge of the ride.10:05am Titi Kerawang Waterfall10:30am Teluk Bahang Dam

10:40am Teluk Bahang town for food and drin! k.10:50 In front of Caltex Station Jalan Teluk Bahang11:10am Park Royal Hotel with drink station for cyclists (Batu Ferringhi) .11:35amStraitsQuay Shopping Mall11:40am Fettes Zone11:57am The ultimate point, the finishing line.We did it. And I did it my way with a time of 4hrs 57mins.What a feeling!!!Lucky draw time.Congratulation to Team Ori the fastest clocked 2hr 55mins and averagely 3hrs 30minutes. Well Done.Lunch with Ori Team at Cecil StreetDinner with Ori Team at Sunshine Bay at Tanjung Bungah, Thanks Jeff Yap for therecommendation.Thank you G Club Penang....I shall return.

Homemade Oreos

I made some cookies yesterday from one of the cookbooks Ive been wanting to dig into.

Home. Made. Oreos.

And all Halloween like with orange creme centers, too. So fun!

I found the recipe in Flour by Joanne Chang. This book is full of treats I want to try. Especially the Brioche au chocolat and vanilla cream filled doughnuts. Oh my. But I needed much more time for those oh and yeast.

And since I always try to keep chocolate on hand well, these cookies were an easy choice.

For the cookies, you need butter, flour, sugar, cocoa (dutch process), chocolate, 1 egg, vanilla, baking soda and salt.

Melted butter and chocolate yeah, this is heading in the right direction.

Add the butter to the sugar and whisk away.

Then keep on going with the vanilla and melted chocolate.

Add zee egg.

Now whisk the cocoa, flour, soda and salt in another bowl.

I love love love to see cocoa blend with flour and watch the two colors mix together.

It makes me happy.

Add the flour and cocoa mixture to the chocolate mixture and stir together until the dough forms.

Shape the dough in to a log and wrap in wax paper. (I made two sizes to play around with)

Chill. And chill out because you need to let it firm up for a couple of hours

So you can cut out cookie slices. And if youre! like me , youll probably still be compelled to make the edges perfectly round.

Even though you waited all that time for it to chill so you could slice it.

But definitely not a requirement. Just a compulsion.

Bake them and sandwich them with vanilla cream filling tinted orange if youre in a Halloween kind of mood.

Cute!

Creamless are good, too.

So I didnt stop there, since I was already breaking out my round cutters, I finally opened up some mini cutters Ive had for like three years.

A $2.99 Hobby Lobby score Ive neglected to use the past couple of Halloweens.

I chose the cats. I was in a kitty kind of mood. Ill show you why at the end of the post.

Slice the dough and then just use a cutter to make fun shapes.

For the cats, I used a skewer to make simple details. The flat end worked great for the defining the ears and eyes. And the pointed end was great for whiskers.

Mini Meow Meows!

Yum! Yum!

____________________________________________________________

Homemade Oreos
Makes about 18 2-1/2 inch sandwich cookies
Recipe from Flour reprinted with permission from Chronicle Books.

Cookies
1 cup (2 sticks/228 grams) unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
3/4 cup (150 grams) sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup (200 grams) semisweet chocolate chips, melted and slightly cooled
1 egg
1 1/2 cups (210 grams) unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (90 grams) Dutch-processed cocoa powder
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Filling
1/2 cup (1 stick/114 grams) unsalted butter, softened
1 2/3 (230 grams) confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
Pinch of kosher salt
Food color, optional

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar until well combined. Whisk in the vanilla and chocolate. Whisk in the egg until combined.
• In another bowl, whisk flour, cocoa, salt and soda until combined. Stir flour mixture into the chocolate mixture. Mix with your hands if it helps to combine the two. Let the dough sit for an hour to firm up.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of wax paper. Shape into a log about 2 1/2 inches in diameter. Place log along the edge of wax paper and roll. Shape as you roll to maintain a smooth cylinder. Twist ends of paper to secure and help keep the shape compact. Refrigerate at least two hours or until firm. If log settles and flattens on one side, rotate every 15 minutes or so to maintain a round shape.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut dough in quarter inch thick slices and place on prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes or until cookies are firm t! o the to uch. Note: I under baked mine (almost half the time) and they were still great. Just watch them because its hard to tell by looks if they are done since they are so dark to begin with. These baked in batches well, so bake a few to test if you have time. And if your cookies are smaller, adjust the baking time.
• Cool and prepare the filling. In a mixer, beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Add milk and salt and continue beating until smooth again. Place about a tablespoon of filling on the bottom of one cookie and sandwich with a second. Repeat with remaining cookies and eat em up.

____________________________________________________________

Okay now Ill show you why I had kitties on the brain this weekend.

I am so excited to share another project I created for Womans Day Magazine. Check out these cute cat scratch cupcakes in the October issue! Its on stands now if you want to get a copy. Meow. Meow.