Ingredients
250g good-quality dark chocolate, roughly chopped
150g unsalted butter, chopped
2/3 cup caster sugar
125g almond meal
5 eggs, separated
Icing sugar to dust
Ice cream to serve
Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Grease a 23cm springform tin with butter and line base with non-stick baking paper.
Combine the chocolate, butter and sugar in a medium heatproof bowl. Place over a saucepan of simmering water (make sure the bowl doesn't touch the water) and stir frequently until melted and smooth. Transfer the chocolate mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the almond meal. Add the egg yolks, one at a time, and beat well with a wooden spoon after each addition.
Place the eggwhites in a separate clean bowl. Use an electric beater to beat until firm peaks form. Add a third of the eggwhite to the chocolate mixture and use a large metal spoon to fold in until combined. Fold through the remaining eggwhite.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, until crumbs cling to a skewer inserted into the centre. Remove from the oven and cool in the tin.
Dust the cake with icing sugar and serve with ice cream.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Kevin's MSN chat with Mum
Kevin: to man ___ fishing and daiy fishing iro days.
Xiaojing: Hello Kevin!
Kevin: (L) i love you (F)
Kevin sent the wink "Kiss"
Xiaojing: I love you too!
Kevin: MSNShell is a free powerful MSN Messenger/Live Messenger addon. It gives you more funny when using Messenger. The Homepage is http://www.msnshell.com
Xiaojing: Are you cold?
Kevin: sacq
Xiaojing: Are you cold?
Kevin: no
Xiaojing: Good boy!
Xiaojing: Do you like music?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Do you like to play piano?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Do you like dancing?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Are you hungry now?
Kevin: I know!
Xiaojing: Know what?
Kevin: no i jirst chrik you
Xiaojing: just
Xiaojing: Are you hungry?
Kevin: no
Xiaojing: Where is Dad?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Where is he?
Kevin: mam you jirst usk to meni qasjts
Xiaojing: Mum you just ask too many questions.
Xiaojing: The above are the correct spellings.
Kevin: #2063~1#2063CF (Kevin sent some cartoon images)
Xiaojing: Kevin, you are a clever boy!
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Hello Kevin!
Kevin: (L) i love you (F)
Kevin sent the wink "Kiss"
Xiaojing: I love you too!
Kevin: MSNShell is a free powerful MSN Messenger/Live Messenger addon. It gives you more funny when using Messenger. The Homepage is http://www.msnshell.com
Xiaojing: Are you cold?
Kevin: sacq
Xiaojing: Are you cold?
Kevin: no
Xiaojing: Good boy!
Xiaojing: Do you like music?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Do you like to play piano?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Do you like dancing?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Are you hungry now?
Kevin: I know!
Xiaojing: Know what?
Kevin: no i jirst chrik you
Xiaojing: just
Xiaojing: Are you hungry?
Kevin: no
Xiaojing: Where is Dad?
Kevin: yes
Xiaojing: Where is he?
Kevin: mam you jirst usk to meni qasjts
Xiaojing: Mum you just ask too many questions.
Xiaojing: The above are the correct spellings.
Kevin: #2063~1#2063CF (Kevin sent some cartoon images)
Xiaojing: Kevin, you are a clever boy!
Kevin: yes
Monday, July 2, 2007
10 Healthy Lunchbox Ideas
1. Grated cheese, snow pea sprouts and carrot with a little mayonnaise rolled up in lavash bread.
2. Chicken breast, chopped tomato, celery and capsicum in pita or pocket bread.
3. Lean roast beef, tomato, grainy mustard and lettuce on rye.
4. Banana on raisin bread.
5. Baked beans and alfalfa sprouts on a bread roll.
6. A salad box with lettuce, potato salad, green beans, pitted olives and a hard boiled egg.
7. A cold lean lamb cutlet, cous cous, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
8. Stir fried vegetables and pork with rice or noodles.
9. Tuna or salmon rissoles, salad and pasta.
10. Ham, chutney, lettuce and grated carrot on foccacia.
2. Chicken breast, chopped tomato, celery and capsicum in pita or pocket bread.
3. Lean roast beef, tomato, grainy mustard and lettuce on rye.
4. Banana on raisin bread.
5. Baked beans and alfalfa sprouts on a bread roll.
6. A salad box with lettuce, potato salad, green beans, pitted olives and a hard boiled egg.
7. A cold lean lamb cutlet, cous cous, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
8. Stir fried vegetables and pork with rice or noodles.
9. Tuna or salmon rissoles, salad and pasta.
10. Ham, chutney, lettuce and grated carrot on foccacia.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Kevin's drawings
Falling in love...
Kevin & Mum
(It's sooooo sweet. Look at this, you will smile from the bottom of your heart)
(It's sooooo sweet. Look at this, you will smile from the bottom of your heart)
Kevin's got his first reward - Kevin的第一笔奖金
Kevin won the First Place for the Rotary Club of Holroyd Poster Competition.
As a reward, Kevin received $50 of Dymocks gift card, which is the biggest reward he has ever got.
Kevin's teacher, Mrs Neill told us there was initially no prize setting for Kindergarten students but Kevin's drawing was so lovely that finally won the first place.
We haven't even got the chance to have a look at the drawing yet. But we believe it must be a wonderful drawing just like so many others Kevin has done at home.
Kevin的画最近得了个大奖，并且拿到了50元Dymocks书店的购物卡。Kevin到底画了什么连我们都不知道，是他的班主任觉得太可爱了而拿去试试看的，想不到居然以幼儿班的学生身份拿到了一等奖。
Kevin从小喜欢画画。三岁不到的时候，我们买了个可以随时刷新的画板给他，从此他就玩画画玩得不亦乐乎。小孩的表达方式总是最简单最直接的，几笔线条往往也能把个复杂的世界活灵活现地勾勒出来。我们从来没有刻意地去改变他想画的东西，或者让他去模仿物体本身，因为那样反倒会看不到他心灵世界里的东西。
曾经碰到一个年轻却很有见地的学艺术的朋友，她在周末专门教小孩子学画。她说很多家长总是匆匆忙忙地送孩子来上课，看到画得象了就很高兴，却从来不肯花点时间听听孩子述说画里的故事。她说对孩子来说，一副简单的画其实就包括了一个很完整的故事，而孩子们最难能可贵之处就是他们的想像力，这也是学艺术的人最需要的特质之一。如果逼孩子去模仿去学素描，反而会过早地遏制了孩子想像能力的发展。
每个父母都会觉得自己的孩子是个天才，尤其在他们小的时候。但是成人的眼光却会在不经意间磨灭了那些天分或是为之戴上一个沉重的枷锁。
我也会和所有的父母一样，尽我所能让Kevin接触和学习所有美好的事物。但最重要的是，我希望这些美好的事物能带给Kevin更多美好的记忆，让更多的快乐伴随他的人生。
As a reward, Kevin received $50 of Dymocks gift card, which is the biggest reward he has ever got.
Kevin's teacher, Mrs Neill told us there was initially no prize setting for Kindergarten students but Kevin's drawing was so lovely that finally won the first place.
We haven't even got the chance to have a look at the drawing yet. But we believe it must be a wonderful drawing just like so many others Kevin has done at home.
Kevin的画最近得了个大奖，并且拿到了50元Dymocks书店的购物卡。Kevin到底画了什么连我们都不知道，是他的班主任觉得太可爱了而拿去试试看的，想不到居然以幼儿班的学生身份拿到了一等奖。
Kevin从小喜欢画画。三岁不到的时候，我们买了个可以随时刷新的画板给他，从此他就玩画画玩得不亦乐乎。小孩的表达方式总是最简单最直接的，几笔线条往往也能把个复杂的世界活灵活现地勾勒出来。我们从来没有刻意地去改变他想画的东西，或者让他去模仿物体本身，因为那样反倒会看不到他心灵世界里的东西。
曾经碰到一个年轻却很有见地的学艺术的朋友，她在周末专门教小孩子学画。她说很多家长总是匆匆忙忙地送孩子来上课，看到画得象了就很高兴，却从来不肯花点时间听听孩子述说画里的故事。她说对孩子来说，一副简单的画其实就包括了一个很完整的故事，而孩子们最难能可贵之处就是他们的想像力，这也是学艺术的人最需要的特质之一。如果逼孩子去模仿去学素描，反而会过早地遏制了孩子想像能力的发展。
每个父母都会觉得自己的孩子是个天才，尤其在他们小的时候。但是成人的眼光却会在不经意间磨灭了那些天分或是为之戴上一个沉重的枷锁。
我也会和所有的父母一样，尽我所能让Kevin接触和学习所有美好的事物。但最重要的是，我希望这些美好的事物能带给Kevin更多美好的记忆，让更多的快乐伴随他的人生。
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Secret in Kevin's bag
From time to time, I tidy up Kevin's school bag for him. But last week Kevin didn't allow me to touch his bag. He said he would let me know on Sunday.
Kevin was the first to get up on Sunday and excitedly show me the secret he had hidden in his bag - a Mother's Day card and gift.
On Tuesday, Kevin bought the gift for me by using the $2 he had planned to buy an Ice-block.
What a lovely boy! I'm so touched.
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Painting Workshop
It's Easter and school holidays.
We took Kevin to the Westfield Shopping Centre Parramtta yesterday. There happened to be a Painting Workshop on level 4. Kids or even adults could choose one of the white plasters and color it by using brushes.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Rating for NSW Schools
To promote for a fair and equal learning environment, the Department of Eduation has never encouraged any ratings for schools.
But parents, of course, are still keen to find out the ranking or rating of schools. It is said most of the ratings origin from tutoring schools or colleges.
The following are the unofficial recommendations of good schools.
Some good primary schools
1. Carlingford West Public
2. Murray Farm Public (Carlingford)
3. North Rocks Public
4. Caringbah North Public
Opportunity Class Placement
The Opportunity Class Placement Test is usually taken in Year 4. Places are offered during the final term of Year 4 so that students will be prepared for the following school year.OC classes is not easy to get in. All government primary schools have been zoned to at least one school with opportunity classes if there is one within reasonable distance. Students attending government schools will be notified by their current school of the school(s) with opportunity classes relevant to their application. Non-government primary school applicants and home-schooled applicants are zoned according to their residential suburb.
Unofficial Selective School Ranking
1. James Ruse Agriculture High
2. North Sydney Girls
3. North Sydney Boys
4. Baulkham Hill High
5. Hornsby Girls High
6. Sydney Girls High
Some good Non Selective High Schools
Epping Boys High
Carlingford High
Cheltenham Girls High
Caringbah Girls High
Famous Private Schools
Pymble Girls High
Sydney Grammer
The King School
Tara Girls High
MLC High
But parents, of course, are still keen to find out the ranking or rating of schools. It is said most of the ratings origin from tutoring schools or colleges.
The following are the unofficial recommendations of good schools.
Some good primary schools
1. Carlingford West Public
2. Murray Farm Public (Carlingford)
3. North Rocks Public
4. Caringbah North Public
Opportunity Class Placement
The Opportunity Class Placement Test is usually taken in Year 4. Places are offered during the final term of Year 4 so that students will be prepared for the following school year.OC classes is not easy to get in. All government primary schools have been zoned to at least one school with opportunity classes if there is one within reasonable distance. Students attending government schools will be notified by their current school of the school(s) with opportunity classes relevant to their application. Non-government primary school applicants and home-schooled applicants are zoned according to their residential suburb.
Unofficial Selective School Ranking
1. James Ruse Agriculture High
2. North Sydney Girls
3. North Sydney Boys
4. Baulkham Hill High
5. Hornsby Girls High
6. Sydney Girls High
Some good Non Selective High Schools
Epping Boys High
Carlingford High
Cheltenham Girls High
Caringbah Girls High
Famous Private Schools
Pymble Girls High
Sydney Grammer
The King School
Tara Girls High
MLC High
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Cindy's Birthday Party
Cindy is Kevin's classmate. She is going to be 5 on 6 April.
Cindy's parents held a birthday party for Cindy in McDonald this morning.
There were 8 kids joined the party. Kevin was one of them.
They were playing games, dancing, chasing and screaming in the playground, and eating happy meals and icecream cake.
No doubt, eveyone had a very good day today!
Cindy's parents held a birthday party for Cindy in McDonald this morning.
There were 8 kids joined the party. Kevin was one of them.
They were playing games, dancing, chasing and screaming in the playground, and eating happy meals and icecream cake.
No doubt, eveyone had a very good day today!
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Kevin's school's reward system - kevin学校的奖励制度
星期五，Kevin放学回家高高兴兴地展示了他今天得到的奖励：一张Green Card和一张Well-done Card。
得到Green Card是因为他“Doing the right thing”，其实也就是坐姿比较端正。Well-done card是因为“drawing beautiful and detailed pictures”。
累计得到五张Green Card后，可以换一张Bronze Card，而五张Bronze Card又可以换一张Golden Card。拿到Bronze及Golden卡的，在每周三的晨会上都会得到校长的点名亲自颁发卡片。
家长会上，Kevin的班主任Mrs Neill就曾告诉我们，对于Kindergarten的学生，老师通常会保证一个Term内，每个孩子都能得到一张奖励卡，以提高他们的积极性。
现在的Kevin，是没有回家作业的。问他做了些什么，几乎都是在“玩”，什么drawing，tracing numbers，weather forcasting等等。但是不知不觉，我们发现Kevin的词汇量越来越多，也时不时反映出一些学校里教的规矩——看到老师会大声问好或再见，“thank you”“excuse me”也常挂嘴上。难怪Kevin在Childcare里的老师就告诉我们，孩子玩是天经地义的，他们正是从“玩”中认识这个世界的。
得到Green Card是因为他“Doing the right thing”，其实也就是坐姿比较端正。Well-done card是因为“drawing beautiful and detailed pictures”。
累计得到五张Green Card后，可以换一张Bronze Card，而五张Bronze Card又可以换一张Golden Card。拿到Bronze及Golden卡的，在每周三的晨会上都会得到校长的点名亲自颁发卡片。
家长会上，Kevin的班主任Mrs Neill就曾告诉我们，对于Kindergarten的学生，老师通常会保证一个Term内，每个孩子都能得到一张奖励卡，以提高他们的积极性。
现在的Kevin，是没有回家作业的。问他做了些什么，几乎都是在“玩”，什么drawing，tracing numbers，weather forcasting等等。但是不知不觉，我们发现Kevin的词汇量越来越多，也时不时反映出一些学校里教的规矩——看到老师会大声问好或再见，“thank you”“excuse me”也常挂嘴上。难怪Kevin在Childcare里的老师就告诉我们，孩子玩是天经地义的，他们正是从“玩”中认识这个世界的。
Monday, February 26, 2007
Kevin the "builder"
Kevin is such an excellent block builder that he has never duplicated anything made by him before.Kevin started to play with Lego blocks since he was only 3. He is able to be there for hours to build houses, beasts, weapons and once a big key!
You will be suprised by kids' imagination. They are the greatest artists in all aspects. But why not all of those skills could be last forever or longer? Is that because we, as adults have given them so many rules or frams to follow?
Sunday, February 25, 2007
游泳课
今天带Kevin去参加了学游泳的课程。
一来是为了让Kevin强身健体，二来在澳洲的小孩如果不会游泳实在有点说不过去。到了二年级，大多数学校都会组织“游泳嘉年华”这样的娱乐活动，到时候，孩子们不仅要比较谁会不会游，还要看谁游得快谁的动作更标准。在澳洲孩子心目中，运动项目上的强弱，是比功课好坏更能体现个人能力的。虽然对于刚刚kindergarten的Kevin还没有这些概念，作为家长的却不得不考虑得长远一些。
游泳课报在了设在North Parramatta的Ling Ling Swim School。一个学期10次课，每次一个小时，一次20澳元。（听说上海好的游泳课也要100RMB一小时呢！）
游泳学校的创办人Daisy正好是我的旧识。我差不多在3年多前认识她的，她的游泳学校名字正是我受理登记的。Daisy以前是上海市游泳队的队员，所以是真正的专业出身。几年过去了，她的学校已经在华人圈子小有名气，据说是因为她的学生比其他学校的能更快地学会游泳。
Kevin在第一堂课只是练了练闭气，闷水，踢水等很简单很基本的动作。但显然他比呆在家里要高兴得多。
一来是为了让Kevin强身健体，二来在澳洲的小孩如果不会游泳实在有点说不过去。到了二年级，大多数学校都会组织“游泳嘉年华”这样的娱乐活动，到时候，孩子们不仅要比较谁会不会游，还要看谁游得快谁的动作更标准。在澳洲孩子心目中，运动项目上的强弱，是比功课好坏更能体现个人能力的。虽然对于刚刚kindergarten的Kevin还没有这些概念，作为家长的却不得不考虑得长远一些。
游泳课报在了设在North Parramatta的Ling Ling Swim School。一个学期10次课，每次一个小时，一次20澳元。（听说上海好的游泳课也要100RMB一小时呢！）
游泳学校的创办人Daisy正好是我的旧识。我差不多在3年多前认识她的，她的游泳学校名字正是我受理登记的。Daisy以前是上海市游泳队的队员，所以是真正的专业出身。几年过去了，她的学校已经在华人圈子小有名气，据说是因为她的学生比其他学校的能更快地学会游泳。
Kevin在第一堂课只是练了练闭气，闷水，踢水等很简单很基本的动作。但显然他比呆在家里要高兴得多。
Swimming lesson
Kevin started his swimming lesson this evening.
In Australia, I believe, a kid would feel ashamed if he/she couldn't swim. When kids turn 8, they will be allowed to attend the swim carnival held by the school in the first semester. Kids will then compete their swimming skills in the carnival.
I enrolled Kevin with Ling Ling Swim School in North Parramatta. It's $20 for a session of one hour each time and there are 10 sessions each term. The school will teach not only how to swim but also backstroke and freestyle.
Daisy, the owner of the school, was a player of Shanghai Swimming Team. I met her about 3 years ago when I just started my current job. It was me who registered the business name for her then. Now she has very good fame in local Chinese community for quality swimming teaching skill - most people believe she could help kids to learn to swim in a much shorter period than other schools.
Kevin enjoyed himself so much in the swimming lesson.
In Australia, I believe, a kid would feel ashamed if he/she couldn't swim. When kids turn 8, they will be allowed to attend the swim carnival held by the school in the first semester. Kids will then compete their swimming skills in the carnival.
I enrolled Kevin with Ling Ling Swim School in North Parramatta. It's $20 for a session of one hour each time and there are 10 sessions each term. The school will teach not only how to swim but also backstroke and freestyle.
Daisy, the owner of the school, was a player of Shanghai Swimming Team. I met her about 3 years ago when I just started my current job. It was me who registered the business name for her then. Now she has very good fame in local Chinese community for quality swimming teaching skill - most people believe she could help kids to learn to swim in a much shorter period than other schools.
Kevin enjoyed himself so much in the swimming lesson.
Saturday, February 24, 2007
Kevin starts blogging!
Kevin has just completed his first own blog.
He is not able to spell all the words at the moment. I have asked him to express his feeling orally to me. Then I summarised into two sentences for him and asked him to type his blog.
Kevin said he didn't like the template very much. I told him he could choose his own settings one day by himself.
Kevin has his own computer. He mostly use it to play games or watch cartoons. Hopefully he will get more fun after starting blogging!
It's a great start.
He is not able to spell all the words at the moment. I have asked him to express his feeling orally to me. Then I summarised into two sentences for him and asked him to type his blog.
Kevin said he didn't like the template very much. I told him he could choose his own settings one day by himself.
Kevin has his own computer. He mostly use it to play games or watch cartoons. Hopefully he will get more fun after starting blogging!
It's a great start.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Who is Kevin?
Kevin is my little boy. He is five and a half now. His birthday is 22nd August. In Chinese Zodiac, Kevin is a 'snake'.
Today is a grand-opening of Kevin's blog. This blog will record all aspects of Kevin's life - study, activities, hobbies, achievements and etc.
At this stage, myself, Kevin's mum will write most of the blogs for Kevin. However, gradually, Kevin will learn how to manage his little kindom by himself.
Today is a grand-opening of Kevin's blog. This blog will record all aspects of Kevin's life - study, activities, hobbies, achievements and etc.
At this stage, myself, Kevin's mum will write most of the blogs for Kevin. However, gradually, Kevin will learn how to manage his little kindom by himself.
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