Counting down Jeriel's 3rd Birthday

This is going to be Jeriel's biggest birthday party ever, even that, it's not gonna be a real big one...

Jeriel will be having his 3rd birthday celebration in his day care centre. There will be 17 kids and 4 teachers if everybody turns up. The theme of the birthday party will be 'Barnyard & Tractor'. Well, a tractor cake was what requested by the little fella while 'Barnyard' was what I added in as barnyard party stuff, e.g. plates, stickers, door gifts for the kids, etc, are easier to find than tractor-related party supplies. This is my first time organising my own kid's party. As a matter of fact, I think I am more excited then Jeriel :P.

Here's how an excited mom plans for her kid's birthday party:

1. First party-related question thrown to the birthday boy: "What cake would you like for your birthday?' and the answer given by the kid was..... 'A Tractor Cake'.

2. Started searching on the internet the various ways and means of conducting a tractor theme party. The closest and easiest birthday theme was 'Barnyard' to tie to tractor. Hence, the 'Barnyard & Tractor' theme.

3. Informed teachers of the Centre about the intention of having a party.

4. Designing of birthday invitation: Looked for tractor and barnyard animal images to be given to my ever creative graphic designer, none other than my beloved SISTER, to come out with the draft of the card.

5. A trick question came back from sis - What color should the tractor be? Tractors of different colors were drawn and submitted to YRH to pick. Final color was GREEN.

6. Menu planning: No spicy food, no food with runny gravy, so it has to be dry and not so messy food. Shortlisted:

Food:

a) Egg mayo sandwiches
b) Sardine samosa
c) Chicken ham & cheese pinwheels
d) Probably macaroni cheese too

Drinks:
Orange drink with cocktail fruits

Desserts:
a) Cupcakes decorated with barnyard animal picks
b) Tractor Cake

7. Started shopping for party favour at Petaling Street. Managed to get some stationeries for the kids.

8. Shopped for party plates, napkins and cutleries. Managed to get animal party plates. Preliminary shopping for food and ingredients that are able to keep till the day like cocktail fruits in can, sardine, ham, puff pastry, popiah skin, macaroni, etc.

Will update you guys again nearer to the day :)

Quick & Easy Sushi

This was supposed to be Jeriel's snack for tomorrow but he obviously didn't like it by throwing his first bite out. Probably he didn't quite like the nori. It's really not easy being a mommy huh? Food needs to be delicious as well as nutritious.

Quick & Easy Sushi
Serves 6

Ingredients:

300g calrose rice

3 tbsp sushi vinegar

2 tsp salt

1 tbsp sugar
2 eggs, made into omelet

5 nori sheets
3 crab filament sticks

1 cucumber

1/2 cup mayonnaise

To serve:
Sushi soy sauce
Wasabi

Method:

1. Preparation: Cut omelet into shreds. Divide crab filament sticks length wise into four. Peel skin and remove seeds of cucumber. Cut into long strips. Set aside.
2. Rinse the rice thoroughly. Repeat 2-3 times or according to the directions on packaging.
3. Add water suggested in the directions. Cook the rice in rice cooker.
4. While cooking rice, dissolve salt and sugar in vinegar. Set aside.
5. When the rice is done, set it aside for 15 minutes to cool a little.
6. Pour vinegar mixture into rice. Use a wooden spatula to mix thoroughly but take care not to mash the cooked rice.
7. If you have a makisu (bamboo sheet), set it down on table top. Lay a piece of nori sheet.
   Spread a thin layer of rice on norri sheet with the back of a spoon. Leave gaps on the four sides of the nori sheet, do not spread rice till the edge. Spread a thin layer of mayonnaise on the rice.
8. Place omelet, crab stick and cucumber on nori sheet. Lift makisu and start rolling from the end closer to you. Roll sushi tight with the help of makisu (like rolling swiss roll).
9. Using a sharp knife, cut roll to obtain 6-7 sushi of approx. 1.8cm thick.
10. Serve with sushi soy sauce and wasabi.

I know you do not like leftovers, so do I. The leftover cucumber, crab filament sticks, omelet and nori sheets were made into the below soup.

Cut crab filaments, omelet and cucumber into thin fine shreds. Cut nori sheets into small pieces. Bring a pot of stock, either homemade or bought, to boil. Turn down the heat and add the shreded crab filaments and cucumber. Simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add shreded omelet, then bring the soup to a boil. Beat 1 or 2 eggs in a bowl. Add in to the soup and immediately turn off the heat. Stir the soup quickly to obtain egg drop. Serve soup while still hot with nori sheets and some chopped spring onion.