Crazy.China.Rich

 The movie inspired me to read.

Well, for this case, the news of an upcoming movie inspired me to read the novels. At first, it was just the Crazy Rich Asians. But the first novel gave me so much hangover that I failed to resist and moved to the next novel - China Rich Girlfriend. And then to the third one - Rich People Problems. I was done in less than 2 weeks!

My hangover was so intense that I cannot stop reading. I am reading while commuting, during lunch breaks, when I am not eating with someone during dinner (which at some point came to me breaking our rule of no gadget in the dinner table), while the little one is watching Disney Junior, in the bathroom, during coffee and restroom breaks, and on wee hours of the night. I was crazy over it! Kevin Kwan's novels are addictive and I wish he would write more books.

See if you would like to read them..

When Rachel Chu agrees to spend the summer in Singapore with her boyfriend, Nicholas Young, she envisions a humble family home, long drives to explore the island, and quality time with the man she might one day marry. What she doesn't know is that Nick's family home happens to look like a palace, that she'll ride in more private planes than cars, and that with one of Asia's most eligible bachelors on her arm, Rachel might as well have a target on her back. Initiated into a world of dynastic splendor beyond imagination, Rachel meets Astrid, the It Girl of Singapore society; Eddie, whose family practically lives in the pages of the Hong Kong socialite magazines; and Eleanor, Nick's formidable mother, a woman who has very strong feelings about who her son should--and should not--marry. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, Crazy Rich Asians is an insider's look at the Asian JetSet; a perfect depiction of the clash between old money and new money; between Overseas Chinese and Mainland Chinese; and a fabulous novel about what it means to be young, in love, and gloriously, crazilyrich.

On the eve of her wedding to Nicholas Young, heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Asia, Rachel should be over the moon. She has a flawless Asscher-cut diamond from JAR, a wedding dress she loves more than anything found in the salons of Paris, and a fiancé willing to sacrifice his entire inheritance in order to marry her. But Rachel still mourns the fact that her birthfather, a man she never knew, won’t be able to walk her down the aisle. Until: a shocking revelation draws Rachel into a world of Shanghai splendor beyond anything she has ever imagined. Here we meet Carlton, a Ferrari-crashing bad boy known for Prince Harry-like antics; Colette, a celebrity girlfriend chased by fevered paparazzi; and the man Rachel has spent her entire life waiting to meet: her father. Meanwhile, Singapore’s It Girl, Astrid Leong, is shocked to discover that there is a downside to having a newly minted tech billionaire husband. A romp through Asia’s most exclusive clubs, auction houses, and estates, China Rich Girlfriend brings us into the elite circles of Mainland China, introducing a captivating cast of characters, and offering an inside glimpse at what it’s like to be gloriously, crazily, China-rich.

When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside--but he's not alone. It seems the entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe, ostensibly to care for their matriarch but truly to stake claim on the massive fortune that Su Yi controls. With each family member secretly fantasizing about getting the keys to Tyersall Park--a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore--the place becomes a hotbed of intrigue and Nicholas finds himself blocked from entering the premises. As relatives claw over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu, but tormented by his ex-wife--a woman hell bent on destroying Astrid's reputation and relationship. Meanwhile Kitty Pong, married to billionaire Jack Bing, finds a formidable opponent in his fashionista daughter, Colette. A sweeping novel that takes us from the elegantly appointed mansions of Manila to the secluded private islands in the Sulu Sea, from a schoolyard kidnapping to a gold-leaf dancefloor spattered with blood, Kevin Kwan's gloriously wicked new novel reveals the long-buried secrets and rich people problems of Asia's most privileged families.

Synopsis are from www.goodreads.com

Does the above inspire you to start reading them?

Or have you read any of these novels? How did you find it? Let me know...

If you want e-book copies, leave a comment below. :)

Banana Oatmeal Muffin

It took me 3 tries before I was able to perfect it. The first one was overcooked and slightly dry. The second one tasted like oatmeal muffin only, no hint of banana at all! I used the wrong variant of banana..and learnt in the process that not all bananas are equal.

So first lesson, use Lacatan variety. They give more banana-ish flavor. You can, of course, use artificial flavoring, but I personally prefer, the natural tastes (the artificial once kinda have like cough syrup or some child medicine tastes).

Second, I always hear this from cooking shows - "every oven is different". I thought that is just a cliche. But lo and behold, this Banana Oatmeal served me that lesson, in a cold saucer holding an overcooked muffin. Ahahah So.. (1) I learn to get to know my oven and (2) to test the muffins 5 minutes shy from the cooking time specified. Stick a toothpick and if it comes out clean, its time to get those muffins out of the oven and let them rest.

They say 3 is a charm. That is definitely true for me with this Banana Oatmeal Muffin experience. After the 2 attempts/mistakes, I finally got it right. AND yummy! *big smile


You'll Need:
3 ripe Lacatan Bananas (mashed)
1 Egg
2 cups Rolled Oats
1 and 1/2 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Baking Soda
2 tbsp. Brown Sugar
1/2 cup White Sugar
1 and 1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1 and 1/4 cups Flour
1/4 tsp Salt
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil
2 tbsp Butter

For the Toppings:
1/2 cup Rolled Oats
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
2 tbsp Brown Sugar
2 tbsp melted Butter

You'll Do:
1. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients - oats, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and brown and white sugar.
2. In a smaller bowl, mix the wet ingrediets - egg, oil, butter and vanilla.
3. Combine both wet and dry ingredients. Add to it the mashed bananas.
4. Divide into 12 sprayed or lined muffin tins.
5. In another bowl, combine the toppings ingredients. Sprinkle mixture over each muffin batter.
6. Bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

A few things:
1. You can use 5 tbsp of butter instead of using oil + butter. I just find using the combination giving better results. The butter gives the muffin a creamy taste while the oil keeps it moist.
2. I saw in some Nat Geo - People show that freezing the Bananas for at least 24 hours before using it for baking would result to more banana-ish flavor. I've still got to try this trick (or myth).

There you go folks. Enjoy and may this have alleviated (somehow) the burden of baking. :) hahaha

Xoxo