I hate my breakouts and inflammed tired skin especially when I don't get enough sleep and when the monthly visitor comes about. My two best friends swear by it to sooth acne and I thought I would make some of my own.

According to Michelle, Aspirin contains Salicylic Acid for anti-inflamattion, exfoilating dead skin cells thus showing imporvement for wrinkles, discoloured skin, photodamaged skin and acne

My problem is that I'm always so pressed for time, I have to keep making the mask which take up too much of my time (about 8-10 minutes) I mask twice a week, so that means 20 minutes a week / 90 minutes a month to prepare the mask. T-T

I got me some of these DIY masks from Yokoso! (either Pavilion, 1 Utama or Sungei Wang). A pack of 50 goes for about RM9.90 and after using them, they are easily disposed.

I purchased a pack of 24's Bayer Aspririn (Ranging from RM 8.00 to RM10.00), alternatively you may also use Disprin ( A pack of 8 at RM1.88 from watsons)

I emptied the entire box of 24's into a jar with Evian Water (yes only good water for my skin which was actually not that necessary) and you can see the aspirin dissolving almost instantly.

I topped up the water to half the jar and then filled it up with half a bottle of honey (which has rejuvenating properties)

And shook the entire jar to mix. The grit from the Aspirin bits will still remain but this will be great to exfoilate as you wash off the mask later on.

Take out 10 sheets of the disposable mask and individually fold them before soaking them in the Aspirin Mask Mix. This Prevents them from sticking together as an entire clump when you're pulling out the mask for use.

I then seal the jar and put it in the fridge for quick and future use, shaking the jar each time to get more of the grit (which has settled on to the bottom of the jar) on the mask. As you wash of the mask, use the grit left by the mask on your face to exfoilate

Keeping it cool in the fridge will help more with the skin inflammation and is a fantastic sweet smelling mask to use on a hot day after a sweaty outdoor activity that is sure to give you breakouts.

I found that making this mix also tends to make your skin less dried out as the salicylic acid from 24 pcs is well distributed through out 10 pcs of mask

The cost for 10 pcs of mask?

[RM3.50 (half a bottle of honey) + RM8 (24s Aspirin) + RM2.00 (10pcs disposable mask) ] divided by 10 = RM1.35 /mask

Thanks again to Michelle for sharing the recipe!

          

My first #SeptSocials outing was with a very low key kind of guy. I asked his permission if he can be called as "Evil Henchman" so that it doesn't change much (Thanks very much again!)

He came all the way from Klang to join me on this date (which was initially a dare from a friend of his), researched the restaurant and yes plus points, he was extremely punctual!

It was funny as he told me his "Evil Henchman" was going to kidnap me and bring me over for lunch. Blur sotong me, kept asking him about his "Boss" until we arrived at the café...

April : Eh, order now ah? don't you want to wait for your boss?

EH: *snicker*

April : Hah? two ppl only? Your boss leh

EH: I'm the boss lor.

That really kinda took me by surprise. All in good fun though. This Java Programmer actually managed to confuse me! *LOL*. He was very obliging recalling our conversation on MSN ordering my favourite Thai Dishes! Although timid in nature, I could see that he was quite opiniated. An extremly careful driver and a person who takes note of the needs and wants of other people.

Here are some other photos of the date tho

Thank you again for the wonderful time and you know how to look me up when you're in the area when you're free

          

This time the surprise was this burger was a corner along the alley lined with carpet and plush pillows. Eat your burger while drinking Halal "beer" and smoke Shisha at the same time! Only this was not exactly Ramly's, they proudly called themselves "Joe's"

Joe's Operates at the alley behind Pelita at Sri Hartamas curtaining the front porch of Klinik Segara. Look for a big yellow Truck!

The novelty of it all is the cool relaxing ambience you won't get at your normal Ramly Burger store.. Candle light, Pillows and Plenty of Leg Room.

Pop open a Halal malted. Get Yourself a Cooling drink served to you.

Lets skip that and move on to the part I like to talk about...the burgers.

The popular choice of the night was Joe's Burger. A thick patty plastered between two soft buns and a side of BBQ flavored chips. @spinzer suggest that you put the chips in between for a full experience of what Joe's Burger is like.

@aizatto had the Roti John which looks like a sloppy mess. Watch how he packs it in...

I had my Double Special

So yes I can elaborate more on it Each burger is well presented. Looks dry and easy to eat until you get to the very last bits. The patty is thicker than most ramly burger stores with a slighlty more intense flavour. Hints of Worchestier sauce I definitely taste in there

I also had an incident with the buns. I nearly set the place on fire. More details when @aizatto is done with the video clip.

The operation is incredibly clean but I would say, Go for the ambiance, Shisha, the wide leg room and Thick Patties.

Click here for more photos, meet the people behind the twitter names and the full sized versions.

          

The Yummy Brown capped Beech Mushrooms! Also known as "Buna Shimeji'" Mushrooms!

However if you really want to find them, They go for a really hefty price at about RM5.00-RM7.00 for a pack enough to serve a maximum of 3-4 pasta servings. And you probably won't be able to find them so easily unless you are in a hypermart that focuses on imported goods.

The great thing about these shrooms is that they have an incredibly long shelf life of 30 days (provided properly chilled) and they are incredibly versatile cause they are quite crunchy even after cooking. Slightly  nutty and firm fleshed, this is a gourmet's mushroom and I'm already thinking up of other recipes from clear to cream soups, sauces and Asian salads.

So let's get to the dish I was about to cook. An Olio pasta with a lemon tinge to it. I've got my Olive Oil, Oregano Herbs, McCormicks Lemon and Pepper, one fresh lemon (which I will only use a quarter of) Sphaghetti No.5 Thickness, Chicken Fillet and the Wonderful Mushrooms! Well of course u are also going to need salt, and pepper as well.

Lemon Zest, Beech Mushrooms and Skillet Chicken Pasta Ingredients

First Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil! I picked the one called "Olio di Olivia" (basically means Olive Oil lah) by "First Choice"

Yes I am a b**** when it comes to cooking and I only use the best ingredients possible. None of that local sore excuse for olive oils or worse 'minyak masak'. My olive oils must be:

1) EXRA VIRGIN

2) Exracted from the FIRST COLD PRESS

3) Spanish

So here we go!

While boiling the spaghetti and waiting for it to cook, Let's take a looksie at the chicken marinade.

Cut up chicken Fillet, Olive Oil, Lemon Juice, Oregano Flakes, Lemon and Pepper Seasoning, Sugar, Salt

I do recommend cutting up the chicken fillets with a kitchen scissors so u get bite sized pieces enough to pick up with your pasta fork. Also go easy on the salt. I like my dishes a little salty so the bit of salt up there is a misrepresentation of quantity .

So i just mix all the stuff in this plate up with my bare hands, and it will end up looking something like this:

Marinade for today's Pasta Recipe done!

Well it's not really a marinade but more of a light toss of the ingredients with the chicken. (Gwad I love fast recipes!) Going to then lighlty skillet fry these in a pan with olive oil!

Cooking the Chicken in abit of olive oil

Let's move on to the shrooms. These mushrooms are usually sold in a cluster. It's quite important to do away with the cluster's base and of course, wash, wash, wash!

Off with the Stem!

Wash your shrooms!

I really don't recommend eating these mushrooms raw. They've got a bitter flavour when eaten in their raw form but it goes away when it gets cooked! A good 10-15 mins is all you need!

Boiling Shrooms!

Proceed then with your freshly cooked and drained pasta. Toss in Olive oil, lemon juice, oregano leaves, the lemon and pepper seasoning, plus some ground black pepper. The Olive oil will lubricate the pasta so that it doesn't stick together and passes through your lips with a slurpy sensation!

Toss with Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Oregano, Lemon and Pepper Seasoning and Ground Pepper

After you're done, toss in the mushrooms, place the chicken on top and pepper the dish again once more with oregano and pepper!

Pasta Perfection!

You know you want some

A pasta that's not spicy, not to heavy, easy to cook and definitely great with kids! Nyum! I'm gonna go cook another round for my friends at my usual haunt again

          

Since there was a rain check to initial buxing plans, Kitteh decided to scavange the fridge and bring out the goods.

Oh yes. Nothing soothes the soul of the savage beast than a late snack of milk and Tim Tams...believe me if I had I my way, that wouldn't be LOW FAT milk

I'm the proud owner of a pack of original Aussie produced Arnotts Tim Tams!

MADE IN AUSTRALIA!

When it comes to eating indulgent choccies, my philosophy is a purely simple one.... YOU NEVER BUY CHOCOLATES TO INDULGE ON IF THEY ARE NOT FROM A COUNTRY WHOSE TOP EXPORTS DO NOT INCLUDE DAIRY OR CHOCOLATE!

Put your milk and Tim Tam pack in the fridge for hours. This is cause Tim Tams are best served cold. So we start by chomping off the sides of the Tim Tam bar. Taste that subtly sweet Aussie chocolate melt in your mouth.

Bite both ends of the Tim Tam. Just at the edges will do

When you're done savouring the Tim Tam in it's most original form, the next step is the penultimate of an orgasmic Tim Tam munching experience. Dip one end of the Tim Tam into the milk, the other end in to ur mouth. Suck through the bar as if using it like a straw. Trust me...It works as well as a straw

Use the Tim Tam Bar as a Straw

You will taste a slight hint of milky and chocolatey goodness as you draw the liquid into ur mouth,...Yum. Just when you thought that was good. The 2 seconds of milk running through every crevasse of the chocolate bar will leave u with the PERFECT SATURATION RATIO of chocolate wafer/biscuit and milk.

The Perfect Saturation <3

PHREAKIN' AWESOME... <3

          

We were about to turn back when I noticed a small road sign. Following 3 of the same signs later led us to a brightly lit corner behind a seafood processing factory cars all parked until it backed up into the main road.

Your typical seafood restaurant, Malaysian Chinese style. Fumbling with our limited Cantonese food vocabulary we just requested for several recommendations including Lydia's much craved for Fried Sotong.

          

With no maps and only names of restaurants scribbled down in a pocket notepad, we arrived for lunch in surprise to see much of Kuantan shops closed or barely occupied by patrons.

"Maybe folks here eat at home..."

Circling around the commercial blocks near Berjaya Mall, we stumbled across a shop that was lit and the word 'laksa' just above the entrance. Aprons and posters and newspaper cuttings as testimony for us to take a gamble on our limited vacant stomach space to give it a go (of course we were hungry as well)

Meet our lunch, a fantastic bowl of Sg. Katong Curry Laksa.

What really differs about this laksa compared to your usual curry laksa is the texture of the gravy/soup. Instead of a homogenous mix of drippy soup, there is a delightfully sloppy mix of santan in it.