Tuesday, 24 July 2012
Recipe - Aussie Lamington Cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups of flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups desiccated coconut
- 4 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
- 3 teaspoons melted butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Sift flour, baking powder, and salt and set it aside.
- In another bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixture until creamy.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs, vanilla extract and milk with the electric mixture. Slowly add the butter-sugar mixture.
- Without the electric mixture, fold in the sifted flour mixture until smooth.
- Grease a 9×11 inch rectangle pan and pour the mixture in.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden.
- Cool for 5 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to completely cool.
- Let it cool over night.
- Next day, prepare the chocolate icing: in a large bowl, sift the confectioners’ sugar and cocoa together. Add in the melted butter and milk. Stir until well mixed.
- Cut the cake into 48 pieces.
- Using tongs or hands, dip each square into the chocolate icing, then using a butter knife roll each square in the coconut to coat it.
- Let the squares chill for half an hour before eating.
Checker board cookies
Ingredients:
Prepare 48 checkerboard cookies.
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tablespoon butter (used to melt the chocolate later)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 square (or 1 ounce) semisweet chocolate
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tablespoon milk
- In a bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt together.
- In large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup of butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Gradually beat in flour mixture until it’s well blended.
- Divide the dough into two.
- Melt the dark chocolate and 1 tablespoon of butter together. Click here to see how to melt the chocolate. Add in the cocoa powder and mix.
- Knead chocolate mixture into one of the doughs.
- Shape each dough into 12” by 2” by 1” block.
- Cut each block into 12” by 1” by 1” block.
- Use the milk as “glue” and “glue” two strips of opposing colors next to each other. Place the last two strips on top of those, so that the colors are alternating.
- Wrap the block with plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate 5 hours or overnight.
- After refrigerating, preheat oven to 375ºF.
- Cut the dough 1/4” thick slices place them into two large nonstick baking sheets.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes until lightly golden.
- Transfer to wire racks to cool.
Pools
Through the cold winter wasteland he trudged, leaning into the harsh
wind which spitefully tried to force him back. He was covered from head
to toe in layers of thick clothing, layers of protection against the
harsh environment. On he fought, searching, searching. He was working
so hard. This must be the way.
In the distance he saw what looked like steam rising out of the ground. It rose a few feet and then was quickly whipped away by the biting wind. He altered his course and turned towards the steam, gaining some blessed relief as he turned his chapped face out of the gale. As he got closer, he thought he could make out voices. Their tone was unfamiliar to him - musical, relaxed and warm - their melody enticed him closer. Finally he got close enough to peer through the mist.
There before him was a remarkable sight. In the midst of the frozen wasteland, cut into the ground was a large pool. Several people were in the pool, they seemed to be floating easily without any effort. As they saw him approach, a woman called out to him.
"Come in here. It is lovely and warm. You can just lie back and relax," said the woman.
"I can't. There are no steps." The man replied.
"Just jump in. It really is lovely in here. Come on. There's plenty of room for another." Another of the floaters joined in the persuasion.
"But what if I don't like it, how will I get out? The sides are too high to reach up to."
"Believe me, you won't want to get out. Come on. It is so good in here."
He stood for a moment, paralyzed with indecision. It looked so much like the answer, but how could it be this easy? Just jump in? Lie back and relax? It couldn't be that simple. It must be a trick. He could not trust them. There was no way out if he changed his mind. He blocked out their warm invitations and once more filled his mind with grim determination.
On he trudged. Hours passed and his shadow grew long. Then once again in the distance he saw another cloud of rising steam. Entering the mist, a similar sight greeted him once more.
"Come in here. You don't have to be cold any more," said one of the bathers in a gentle voice. All the faces in the pool turned to look at him. Warm smiles reached out to him but his eyes could not perceive them.
"How do I get in? I can't see any steps. You are a long way down." He asked once again.
"Just jump in. It is very deep. You will be quite safe."
"But what if I want to get out? What if I get tired and cannot stay afloat any longer?"
"This is not like normal water, we are kept afloat without any effort. I promise you, you really will not want to get out."
"But my clothes will get wet and their weight will drag me down."
"You can remove all those layers. You will not need their protection in here. It is always beautifully warm."
But he could not bring himself to do that. Those layers were his protection, accumulated over the years to keep out the bitter cold. How could he now discard them, just like that? How could he allow himself to be so exposed?
On he trudged. Darkness came and the temperature dropped still further. Snow began to fall and the wind drove it into his face. Walking blind he carried on.
Then suddenly he felt some warmth in the air and the ground disappeared beneath him. With a scream he fell and his fall was broken with a splash. Panic overcame him and he thrashed around desperately until his hands touched a wall and he clawed at the smooth surface, loudly cursing the futility of it.
Then suddenly he heard a soft voice beside him. '"Shhhh. It's OK. It's OK," said the voice in beautiful feminine tones. "Just relax. You will be OK." Then he felt her hands moving over his body, searching then loosening his winter clothing. Layer after layer was gently removed, her voice continuing to sooth his panic until eventually he could feel the wonderful warmth of the water directly against his skin. "It's OK," she said once more as she held him close in the dark. For the first time since he could remember, he fully relaxed and quickly drifted off into a much needed sleep in her arms.
He awoke to a wonderful new dawn. He gazed into the beautiful eyes of his rescuer and felt the wonderful warmth of the water around him. Then he heard footsteps above. A weary man dressed head to foot in winter furs peered over the edge of the pool.
"Come in here!" He quickly shouted to the man. "It is so wonderful in here!"
"But what if I don't like it? How will I get back out?" The man asked.
"Believe me. You really won't want to get out," he assured the man.
In the distance he saw what looked like steam rising out of the ground. It rose a few feet and then was quickly whipped away by the biting wind. He altered his course and turned towards the steam, gaining some blessed relief as he turned his chapped face out of the gale. As he got closer, he thought he could make out voices. Their tone was unfamiliar to him - musical, relaxed and warm - their melody enticed him closer. Finally he got close enough to peer through the mist.
There before him was a remarkable sight. In the midst of the frozen wasteland, cut into the ground was a large pool. Several people were in the pool, they seemed to be floating easily without any effort. As they saw him approach, a woman called out to him.
"Come in here. It is lovely and warm. You can just lie back and relax," said the woman.
"I can't. There are no steps." The man replied.
"Just jump in. It really is lovely in here. Come on. There's plenty of room for another." Another of the floaters joined in the persuasion.
"But what if I don't like it, how will I get out? The sides are too high to reach up to."
"Believe me, you won't want to get out. Come on. It is so good in here."
He stood for a moment, paralyzed with indecision. It looked so much like the answer, but how could it be this easy? Just jump in? Lie back and relax? It couldn't be that simple. It must be a trick. He could not trust them. There was no way out if he changed his mind. He blocked out their warm invitations and once more filled his mind with grim determination.
On he trudged. Hours passed and his shadow grew long. Then once again in the distance he saw another cloud of rising steam. Entering the mist, a similar sight greeted him once more.
"Come in here. You don't have to be cold any more," said one of the bathers in a gentle voice. All the faces in the pool turned to look at him. Warm smiles reached out to him but his eyes could not perceive them.
"How do I get in? I can't see any steps. You are a long way down." He asked once again.
"Just jump in. It is very deep. You will be quite safe."
"But what if I want to get out? What if I get tired and cannot stay afloat any longer?"
"This is not like normal water, we are kept afloat without any effort. I promise you, you really will not want to get out."
"But my clothes will get wet and their weight will drag me down."
"You can remove all those layers. You will not need their protection in here. It is always beautifully warm."
But he could not bring himself to do that. Those layers were his protection, accumulated over the years to keep out the bitter cold. How could he now discard them, just like that? How could he allow himself to be so exposed?
On he trudged. Darkness came and the temperature dropped still further. Snow began to fall and the wind drove it into his face. Walking blind he carried on.
Then suddenly he felt some warmth in the air and the ground disappeared beneath him. With a scream he fell and his fall was broken with a splash. Panic overcame him and he thrashed around desperately until his hands touched a wall and he clawed at the smooth surface, loudly cursing the futility of it.
Then suddenly he heard a soft voice beside him. '"Shhhh. It's OK. It's OK," said the voice in beautiful feminine tones. "Just relax. You will be OK." Then he felt her hands moving over his body, searching then loosening his winter clothing. Layer after layer was gently removed, her voice continuing to sooth his panic until eventually he could feel the wonderful warmth of the water directly against his skin. "It's OK," she said once more as she held him close in the dark. For the first time since he could remember, he fully relaxed and quickly drifted off into a much needed sleep in her arms.
He awoke to a wonderful new dawn. He gazed into the beautiful eyes of his rescuer and felt the wonderful warmth of the water around him. Then he heard footsteps above. A weary man dressed head to foot in winter furs peered over the edge of the pool.
"Come in here!" He quickly shouted to the man. "It is so wonderful in here!"
"But what if I don't like it? How will I get back out?" The man asked.
"Believe me. You really won't want to get out," he assured the man.
Monday, 23 July 2012
CONTINUOUS WRITING - ONE WORD
CONTINUOUS WRITING
MODEL ANSWER
Write a composition
entitled ‘Clothes’.
Clothes play a very important part in the
life of man. We are about the only mammal on this earth that is wrapped up in
clothes. Clothes have seen many changes since the day Adam and Eve first donned
leaves before they were driven off from the Garden of Eden in shame. Since
then, fashion trends have been constantly changing and fashion slaves will tell
you that it is tough job keeping up with them.
The main purpose for wearing clothes is to
cover our nakedness. Besides, clothes are needed to protect man from the
elements. In winter, people wear thick clothing to keep themselves warm and in
summer, they switch to thinner fabrics to keep themselves cool and comfortable.
Hence, people dress in different styles in different parts of the world to suit
the climatic changes in countries that experience seasonal changes.
Clothing gives the wearer his or her identity.
We can identify a person’s race and cultural background from the clothes he or
she wears. Similarly, we can identify a policeman from a postman from the
uniform he wears. People also dress up in certain styles to suit different
occasions. A school uniform tells us where the wearer is going. An informal
style made up of jeans and T-shirt, for example, tells us that the wearer is
not going to school but for an outing.
Clothes also speak volumes about a person’s
age and even attitude. Young people go for everything western from jeans to
shoelaces. Sometimes or most of the time, youngsters strut about in outlandish
and outrageous costumes simply to make a statement, ‘I’m modern; I’m in’.
Sometimes, it is a rebellious statement and shows a refusal to conform. Young
and old alike go for designer labels and branded stuff so as not to be left
out. Some say they feel more confident, striding in expensive clothes. Then,
there are number of them who dress up just to show off a good figure or a good
pair of legs. Whatever, the reason, preference in clothing is closely tied up
with attitude and personality.
Finally, the business of dressing up people
has become a big-time industry. Clothes have made millionaires out of
designers, models, boutique owners and even publishers of glossy fashion
magazines. It is a source of income and a career option for the aspiring model
to the humble tailor. Names like Versace and Calvin Klein are living proof of
how clothes have changed the lives off people. Clothes and the clothing
industry have also inspired people to achieve heights of creativity never
before seen on the history or mankind.
In conclusion, we cannot deny that clothes
play a very important part in our lives. Clothing, like food, is a necessity.
But we must be careful not to become slaves of fashion. Keeping up with the
changing fashion trends can be both tiring and expensive. After all, clothes
are only a facade that hides the true worth of the wearer. Above all, clothes
must be affordable, comfortable and make the wearer presentable.
PRACTICE
1
Write a
composition on ‘Flowers’
COMPOSITION
OUTLINE
1. Introduction (Factual
Statements)
2. Flowers and their role in
maintaining ecosystem
3. Flowers as symbols –
romance, religions, ceremonies
4. Flowers in dressing
5. Flowers and business
potential
6. Conclusion (Reflection –
power of flowers)
ANSWER SCHEME
What would the world be like without the
beauty of flowers? Some flowers last, some fade after a while. Some are
remembered long after they wither from their tantalizing fragrance. Like human
beings, the beauty and life of flowers is transient unless they are captures in
poetry and painting.
Contrary to what most of us think, flowers
are not made solely to beautify the earth. Flowers do have a role and are part
of the ecosystem. In a more mundane manner, flowers are designed to attract
insects and birds to pollinate and fertilise so as to facilitate multiplication
in the natural world. In this respect, man being attracted contributes in this
grand design through gardening activities. Flowers whether grown in the garden,
in nurseries or in the wild are a part of our ecosystem.
Flowers throughout the ages have been used
extensively as powerful symbols. First and foremost, flowers are symbols of
beauty. Some poet said
‘My love is
like a red, red rose’. Flowers are also symbols of coyness. The celebrated
poet, William Wordsworth says his Lucy in his Lucy Poem collection, is like ‘a
violet beside a mossy stone’. Roses and carnations are symbols of love that
speak a thousand words and are sent on special occasions like birthdays,
anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. Flowers used in religious and cultural
ceremonies are symbols of purity and piety; white ones in Indian ceremonies and
yellow ones in Buddhist rites. They are also symbols of gaiety and are used to
bedeck floats, carriages and ceremonial structures in parades, processions,
parties and sports functions. At the other end of the spectrum, some flowers
such as chrysanthemums and frangipanis are symbols of grief and mourning. The
frangipanis that come with a dull heavy scent are used in floral wreaths.
Flowers are also used to enhance beauty.
Flowers on the hair, behind the ears, on hats and clothes are used in every
culture and corner of the earth to enhance the beauty of the wearer. Gypsies,
no matter how unkempt they may be, believe in the beauty of flowers. Flowers
are selected and grown to enhance the beauty of gardens and landscapes. They
are used in the decor of offices, hospitals, hotel lobbies and foyers. They
exude and air of radiance and a touch of gentleness, elegance and class. Flowers
adorn crockery pieces, flooring, wall tiles, bags, shoes and textiles. In
Malaysian hand-painted batik pieces, the floral motifs seem so real and alive
on the wearer’s body.
Growing flowers and selling flowers is big
business everywhere. Nurseries and florists have been sprouting to cater to
this craving to manifest the gentle and soft side of human nature. Temperate
countries like Belgium and the Netherlands rake in huge incomes from their
blooms of tulips and carnations. Temperate spots like our very own Cameron
Highlands, Fraser’s Hill and Penang Hill are doing well in the flower business.
Little known but gaining ground is the growing of flowers for food.
Flower-based products such as rose hip syrup and hibiscus juice are making
their mark in health circles.
In conclusion, flower power is not an
exaggeration. The power to send unspoken messages and expressions of love,
grief or happiness cannot be denied. The startling effect of flower is not a
myth. It is no wonder that many adorable female babies have been named after
flowers, the more popular ones being ‘Rose’ and ‘Lily’ and the less fancied,
‘Violet’ and ‘Daisy’.
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