Busy busy

Was a busy day today. Picked little one from school before classes ended to rush down to the paed before the clinic closed for lunch. Made a big 'donation' to the paed but what to do, hopefully this will sort out the problem of her cough. The GP had suggested that if she still wasn't well after this round of medication, that she should go for an x-ray. Huh? Is it really so serious? We decided to go to the paed instead. The minute we saw him he diagnosed it straightaway as an allergy. He asked if she coughs after a run, and yes she does. Also she coughs straight after eating ice-cream. I guess that's what you pay for. It's the experience that they have. Even if it's way more than the cost of seeing a GP, it at least answers my questions. I don't think it warrants an x-ray. I mean she's had it before and we went for TCM after western medication didn't help. Well, it eventually tapered off, but I really pitied her that time. Had to force her to down the yucky chinese medicine (I doubt I can drink that myself), but after threats with cane, and the buckets of tears every time, we finally found a solution, that was to add honey to it and she drank it much better (I was really so proud of her), but always accompanied by some preserved plums. :) She loves them. That is so Chinese. I think her Chinese genes are much stronger than Irish. And I guess living here in Asia contributes to that as well. She loves noodles and tofu more than potatoes or roasts.

So for the next 7 days we have to do this inhaler thing. It was a lot to absorb at the paed's. Goodness, must remember all the steps etc. So we have to get up a little earlier in the mornings to get it out of the way before leaving for school. Sigh. Then after 7 days have to report back to paed and continue for another 3 weeks. Mega sigh. But he says it works better than liquid allergy medicine. And also thank God it's not the nebulizer or it would have been more costly to rent the equipment etc.

Note to self - No pineapple/orange juices, berries (basically acidic food), no nuts. No green kiwi, golden kiwi is fine. Can take apples, papaya.

On a happier note, the tooth fairy visited for the 2nd time this month. The tooth has been bugging her for ages since the 1st one came out (they were both shaky together) and the poor child couldn't eat the last 2 days and the 1st thing she said when it dropped while she was eating papaya was, 'Yay! Now I can eat!'. Hahaha. The greedy child. She was really happy. This time the 'tooth master' decided that the tooth fairy should give the little princess $10 instead. Woohoo!! We woke up all happy this morning when we found out what the tooth fairy brought us.

This funny thing happened before she went to bed this evening. She mentioned that she could smell brownies, hmmm, they smell so yummy. I said I didn't smell anything. But she did. Oh well, weird, considering I was planning to make some brownie muffins after she went off to sleep. Haha. Hmmm... 6th sense??


This is for you, Peony...

Chocolate Brownie Muffins

Ingredients -

2 cups (300g) sr flour
1/3 cup (35g) cocoa powder
1/3 cup (75g) caster sugar
60g butter, melted
1/2 cup (95g) chocolate bits
1/2 cup (75g) chopped pistachios (optional - I omitted, or you can substitute with other types)
1/2 cup (125ml) Nutella
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup (180ml) milk
1/2 cup (125ml) sour cream

Method -

1. Grease 12 hole muffin pan.

2. Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl, stir in remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into prepared pan.

3. Bake in moderately hot oven about 20mins (I used fan-forced 160 deg C). Makes 12.

Note - The muffins were really light and soft with a lovely crusting on the top when eaten freshly baked. However, this morning, it's gone heavier. Maybe a quick zap in the microwave for a few seconds will make it warm and soft again? I have not tried.

Also, special thanks to inspiredmumof2 for kindly offering me the loan of her baking book where I got this recipe from. Can't remember the title and publisher.