Broccoli Beef

Ingredients...

- 3/4 pound flank or sirloin, sliced thinly across the grain
- 3/4 pound broccoli florets
- 2 tablespoons high-heat cooking oil
- 2 cloves garlic, very finely minced or smushed through garlic smusher
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

For the beef marinade:
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
- 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce:
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 2 teaspoons black vinegar (or worcestershire sauce)


How to...

1. Marinate the beef: Stir together the beef marinade ingredients in a medium bowl. Add the beef slices and stir until coated. Let stand for 10 minutes

2. Prepare the sauce: Stir together the sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

3. Blanch the broccoli: Cook the broccoli in a small pot of boiling, salted water until tender-crisp, about 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly.

4. Heat a large frying pan or wok over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and instantly evaporates upon contact. Add the cooking oil and swirl to coat. Add the beef and immediately spread the beef out all over the surface of the wok or pan in a single layer (preferably not touching). Let the beef fry undisturbed for 1 minute. Flip the beef slices over, add the garlic to the pan and fry for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until no longer pink, Pour in the sauce, add the blanched broccoli and bring to a boil. Pour in the dissolved cornstarch and cook, stirring, until the sauce boils and thickens, 30 seconds.

All u need to is pair it with steaming white rice!


^^

Cream Scones with Chocolate Chunks

Ingredients...

- 2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- ¼ Cup (50 g) Sugar
- 2 ½ tsp Baking Powder
- ½ tsp Sea Salt
- 3 ½ oz (100 g) Bittersweet or Semisweet Chocolate Chips or Chunks, coarsely chopped
- 1 ¼ Cups (300 ml) Heavy or Whipping Cream

Glaze
2 Tbsp Heavy Cream or Whipping Cream



How to...

With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 425˚F (220˚C). Line a cookie sheet with 2 layer of parchment paper.


In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and sea salt. Mix the dry ingredients well with a whisk. Stir in the chocolate and make a well in the center and pour in the cream into it.

Use a rubber spatula to push the dry ingredients from the sides of the bowl into the well, cutting and turning the mixture just until the dry ingredients are almost entirely moistened and the dough looks rough and shaggy. Gather the dough into a lump and knead it gently against the sides of the bowl five or more times, pressing in the loose pieces, until the dough just holds together (it should not be smooth) and the sides of the bowl are fairly clean.

On a lightly floured surface, flatten the dough with your hands or roll out to about 3/4 inch (2 cm) thick. Using 2 inch (5 cm) round cookie cutter, cut the dough into rounds. Arrange the rounds on the baking sheet, leaving space between each one.

Brush the tops with cream and bake until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a rack, and serve warm or at room temperature.

mummy's call

so ♥ when mum called n asked me how i did for my driving test.
so sweet that she remembered.
so touched that she called.

her call stopped me from further impluse buying.
=)

"angry" tat my sister nv help me take test!!
=P

Pad Krapow Moo

Easy Thai food!


Ingredients...
- 250g minced pork
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 6 slice chilli padi (more if u like it spicy!!)
- 3 tbsp oyster sauce
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sweet soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 big bunch of Thai basil leaves
- some cooking oil


How To...
1. Heat up wok and add oil, followed by chopped garlic and chilli padi. Stir fry garlice and chilli until aromatic.

2. Add pork. Use spatula to quickly stir-fry and break the minced pork into small lumps.

3. When the pork is cooked, add oyster sauce, light soy sauce, sweet soy sauce and sugar to season. Stir well.

4. Add basil leaves and do a few quick stirs until the leaves are wilted to their fragance.

Served with warm jasmine rice.


How can this meal be completed without Tom Yum Goong!
=)

Chocolate Wantons

Yep. U read it correctly.
Chocolate wantons.
Fusion is still pretty in.


Ingredients...
- Hershey kisses
- Banana, cut into slices
- Peanut butter
- Wanton skins


How to...
Take out a piece of wanton.
Put a teaspoonful of peanut butter in the centre.
Followed by a slice of banana, and finally topped with a kiss!

Wet ur finger and go round the perimeter of the wanton skin.
You can fold it anyway u like as long as it stay closed!

Put all the wantons into hot oil.
Once it turn goldie n with blisters, it's time to take it out.
Drain excess oil on kitchen towel cause u'll rather eat chocolate than o*l right?!

Trust me. U wont ever regret making this.


Afterall, it just dessert.
=)



*pixs coming up soon. cross fingers.

home alone!

mr loy's away, left me all alone back here. =(

we went for a quick grocery shopping on monday evening.
and look at what i bought!



i did buy lettuce and mushroom to add in, so it wont be that unhealthy. =p
(but i lazy to add it in...)


oh! and mum's popping over with BKT tomorrow! can't wait to dip in with you tiao!!

but before i can savour all that, i have to clean up the WHOLE HOUSE BY MYSELF!!!
*lucky mr loy*

and please remind me to tuck those ash trays away.


think those outside food is giving me a sore throat instead.

old love

i had N95 since it was first launched.

it accompanied me thru my fly days.
i took scenic photos with it since i was too lazy to lug around a real camera.
it provided me solace when travelling all over.
it accompanied me when i started my new path.

recently buttery finger me dropped it into a pail of water.
speaker spoil and was a bit sad as it had served me well.

still, i chose to continue using it though i had spare phones.
just that the only slight inconvenience is to SMS only.

but miraculously, it recovered today!!


could it be that it's time is alomst up?

omgomgomgomgomgomg!!!!

mr loy says it resembles "200pound beauty".
and he's laughing at me non-stop.

=S

birthdays

mr loy's birthday coming up this Saturday.

sunday is mr lim.
monday is von's.

i haven got much time to bake!
and i haven got a clue to bake which cake!!
manager is back in china, meaning i gotta shoulder everything for a month.

think i gotta skip baking birthday cakes(and baking!) for this year.

migraine, migraine...


=S

Not Your Usual Mushroom Soup

Ingredients...

- 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- 1 whole Small Carrrot, Finely Minced
- 1 whole Celery Stalk, Finely Minced
- 1 Tablespoon Garlic, Crushed And Minced
- 450g (or more!) White Mushrooms, Sliced Thin
- 120ml, fluid Chablis White Wine
- 120ml, fluid Tomato Juice
- 120ml, fluid Chicken Broth
- 450ml Heavy Whipping Cream
- 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, Freshly Grated
- 1 teaspoon Cornstarch
- 1/4 cups Water
- 1 pinch Salt And Pepper, to taste

*i had tomato paste on hand and didn't want to waste it. thus i mix 3tbsp of paste with 1 cup water. and voila! i now have a cup of tomato juice!


How to...


Heat oil, over medium heat, in a large deep pot.

Mince the carrot and celery nice and fine. Too big and the soup will end up chunky. Toss into the pot and allow them to soften while you slice the mushrooms. (Please remember to clean the mushrooms first. You probably already knew that … I’m just sayin’.) Next, add your garlic, right as the carrots and celery start to cook down.

Add the mushrooms to the pot and allow them to reduce and soften. Pour in the Chablis, and let it cook with the mushrooms for a few minutes.

Add the tomato juice, and the chicken broth. Allow it to boil for about 5 minutes before adding the heavy whipping cream, and bring to a soft boil.

Grate Parmesan and add it to the pot. Let this cook for a few minutes, until the cheese is melted and blended with the soup. Add the cornstarch to 1/4 cup of water, then pour into the soup.

Lower the heat and let the soup simmer for about 10 minutes or so, until thickened. Salt and pepper the soup to your own tastes.

Serve with French bread or just plain ‘ol crackers. Whatever floats your boat!

Panko Mac n Cheese

Ingredients...

- 454 grams Cooked Pasta (slightly Undercooked)
- 4 tbsp (60ml) Butter
- 1/4 cup Flour
- 2 1/2 cups (600 ml) Milk
- 2 tsp Mustard Powder
- 1 tsp (more To Taste!) Salt
- Black Pepper
- 230 grams Cheddar Cheese, Grated
- 230 grams Fontina Cheese, Grated
- 4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Sliced Thick
- 1 cup (237g/ml) Panko Breadcrumbs (more To Taste)
- Salt And Pepper For Sprinkling

* feel free to use any cheese that makes your skirt fly!


How to...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cook pasta until al dente.

1. Melt butter in a large skillet.

2.Sprinkle in flour, whisk to combine, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until it deepens in color.

3. Pour in milk, whisking constantly.

4. Add mustard, salt, and pepper. Continue cooking until it thickens, 4 minutes or so.

5. Add cheese and stir until melted. Pour in cooked pasta and stir to coat. Check seasonings and add more salt if needed.

6. Pour into a buttered casserole dish. Top with 3/4 of the panko crumbs. Arrange tomato slices neatly on the top. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Top with the rest of the panko crumbs.

7. Bake for 20 minutes. Broil for 3 to 4 minutes at the end to make the top golden brown.

Meatball Burger

Ingredients...

- 1 pound Ground Chuck Or Ground Beef
- ½ cups Panko Or Other Bread Crumbs
- 1 clove Garlic, Minced
- ½ teaspoons Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- ½ cups Milk
- 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
- ½ whole Medium Onion, Diced
- 1 jar (large) Marinara Sauce
- Hamburger bun
- Provolone Cheese


How to...

1.Mix meat with bread crumbs, garlic, salt, pepper, and milk. Knead together with hands. Roll into palm-sized patties.

2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook for one minute. Add patties between the onions and brown for one minute.

3. Pour in jar of marinara; shake pan gently to mix. Put on lid and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.


When ready to serve, cut each hamburger bun in half. Place a wedge of Provolone on the top and bottom of each roll. Spoon a meatball with the sauce onto the bottom bun; top with the top bun.


Serve immediately!

Com Do (Vietnamese Tomato/ Red Rice)

Adapted from Luke Nguyen & Mark Jensen's Secrets of The Red Lantern


Ingredients...

- 150 g (3/4 cup)rice, cooked, left in the fridge overnight
- 10 g butter
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp tomato paste (concentrated puree)
- Salt to taste


How to...

1.Put the cooked rice into a large bowl. Wet your hands slightly so the rice doesn't stick to them, or don a pair of plastic gloves, and break up the rice.

2.Place a wok over medium heat, add half the butter and the garlic and stir-fry until the garlic is fragrant, then add the rice.

3.Increase the heat and, using a wooden spoon, stir and toss the rice.

4.Add the tomato paste and continue to stir-fry, working the tomato through the rice until it is evenly coloured. Add the remaining butter and fry until it is incorporated.

5.Season with salt and serve.


something different than normal fried/plain rice.

=)

Apple'ssant

*will take a nicer pix in a few days time


Ingredients...

- 2 whole Granny Smith Apples
- 1 packet ready bake puff pastry
- 230g Butter
- 1-½ cup Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla
- Cinnamon, To Taste
- 1 can (12 Oz.) Mountain Dew Soda


How to...

Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir.

Add vanilla, stir, and pour entire mixture over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan.

Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top


it's a mini apple pie!
=)

Pineapple Fried Rice and Thai Green Chicken Curry

added a little too much of water when simmering down the onions, thus the fried rice turned out to be a teeeennnyyy bit sticky.

but it still turned out yummy!

going to try making burger next.
wish me luck!

=))

Abby Dodge's Nutella Brownie

This recipe comes from pasty chef, cookbook author, and Fine Cooking Magazine’s contributing editor, Abby Dodge. She has a new cookbook coming out in September called Desserts 4 Today: Flavorful Desserts with Just Four Ingredients filled with fabulous everyday desserts made with only four ingredients! Can't wait for the book to launch!

Ingredients...

- 1/2 cup Nutella spread ('bout 155g)
- 1 large egg
- 5 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts


How to...

Makes 12 mini

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12-cup mini muffin pan with paper or foil liners.

2. Put the Nutella and egg in a medium bowl and whisk until smooth and well blended. Add the flour and whisk until blended.

3. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin tins (about 3/4 full) and sprinkle with the chopped hazelnuts.

4. Bake until a pick comes out with wet, gooey crumbs, 11 to 12 minutes. Set on a rack to cool completely. Serve immediately or cover and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.


If u don't like hazelnut or for what so ever reason, switch in one of the following:
-ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon (add with the flour)
-peanuts, chopped, 1/4 cup


it's more like a molten lava cake than a borwnie.
super moist and will literally melt in ur mouth!

Salmon Steak with Teriyaki Sauce

*taken with iPhone 3, thus the lousy photo quality


Ingredients...

- teriyaki sauce
2 tbsp mirin (cut down to 1 tbsp if you don't want it too strong)
2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar

- Salmon steak


How to...

Put all that into a saucepan and boil over a low flame. Once it bubbles, stir to dissolve all the sugar. Make sure your flame is not too big or the sauce will caramelize.

Within minutes, you'll see that the sauce will thicken slightly and turn glossy. Turn off the fire and leave it to cool. To make the teriyaki sauce more syrupy like, add more sugar.

Once your fish fillets are seared, place them on a cooling rack for about 3mins, then transfer to a serving plate. Drizzle teriyaki sauce over and you're ready to eat.


home made teriyaki sauce taste sooooooo gooooooood!!

Braised Ee Fu Noodles

*taken with iPhone 3, thus the lousy photo quality


Ingredients...

- Braising sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1/4 tsp dark sauce for colour
1/4 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp Hua Tiao Wine (optional but it makes a difference)
Dash of white pepper
1 cup water

- Mushroom of any variety
- 2 cloves garlic, sliced thinly
- 2 to 3 handful beansprouts, heads and tails removed
- 2 dried mounds Ee Fu Noodles (enough for 2 servings)
- 2 to 3 tbsp vegetable oil + 1/4 tsp white sesame oil
- and any other ingredients u like to add in!


How to...

1. Heat vegetable oil and sesame oil. When it is very hot, add in garlic and fry briefly before throwing in the bean sprouts, chives and mushrooms and other ingredients u chose. Stir fry for about 1 minute.

2. Add braising sauce and allow to simmer (about 1 minute). Maintain medium high heat throughout.

3. Add in Ee Fu noodles, making sure you submerge them in the braising sauce as much as possible. Cover with a lid and let the noodles stew in the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes.

Open lid and check for doneness. There should be little or no braising sauce when the dish is done. Do not overcook or the noodles will become soggy. Allow the residual heat to continue cooking the noodles till al dente.

Dish up on serving plate and garnish with cut chives or coriander.


TA-DAAAAAAH!!!

this is so much nicer than those served at wedding banquet!
cause it's made with loooovvvveee!
♥

=p

Chicken Katsu Don

Ingredients...

- 4 pieces tonkatsu (sliced into 1 inch-wide)
- 1 thinly sliced large onion
- 1 1/4cup dashi soup stock (i use chicken broth)
- 5 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp mirin
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 4 eggs
- few dash of sesame oil for sauteing the onion


How to...

1. Saute onion in sesame oil till fragrant.

2. Pour chicken broth in a pan and heat on medium heat. Add soy sauce, mirin, and sugar in the soup. Add onion to the pan and simmer for a few minutes.

3. Slice tonkatsu pieces in the pan and simmer on low heat for a few minutes. Beat eggs in a bowl. Bring the soup to a boil, then pour the eggs over tonkatsu and onion.

4. When the eggs are almost done and the bottom is cooked and brown, lift from the bottom and remove from pan with care.

5. Serve steamed rice in deep bowls, then place the simmered tonkatsu on top of the rice. If there is any leftover sauce, pour over the katsu don or pour into bowl.

trust me! this is pretty authentic!!
=))

Sausage and Mushroom Baked Rice

Ingredients...

- 1 cup uncooked rice, washed
- Water to cook rice
- 20g to 30g butter
- 5 garlic cloves
- 200g (white or brown) mushrooms, sliced
- 5 gourmet sausages (around 200g)
- cream of mushroom (undiluted) or Japanese mayonnaise
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Salt & Pepper
- Parsley (garnishing)


How to...

1. Using a microwave, melt butter to liquid form (should be less than a minute). In the rice cooker pot, add melted butter, sliced mushroom, garlic cloves, salt and black pepper to taste, washed rice, water (i used slightly more as i cook the mushroom with rice) to cook rice. Stir well.

2. When the rice is cooked, dump in the sausage and mix well.

3. Smear the cream of mushroom (or mayo) on top of the rice. or u can mix it in the rice cooker.

4. Top with a layer of shredded cheese. Baked in a pre-heated oven at 200C for about 20-25 minutes, or until all the cheese has melted and is very slightly browned. Garnish with chopped parsley


easy peasy!
=)

smart!

on thursday, i cut chilli on chopping board.
on sunday, i cut watermelon on chopping board.
so tell me, how did i get chilli watermelon.

=S

wwwhheeee!!

yippie!
no fever since sat evening!

but the ulcer on the lip hurts preeetty sting-ing.
and with a throat that screams for help when swallowing.
plus a horribly stuffed up nose.

so i guess my illness should be soon over!
been 8 days already since fever started.
=(


which means i dun have a excuse for not cleaning up the place.
=p

aaaaahhhhh aaaaaaHHHHH AAAAAAHHHHH......

fever started on sun morning. max was at 37.9.
it went off on Tuesday morning after taking panadol.
but still could feel the energy being drained away.

and it did came back with a vengeance on wed morning.
and to make things worse, the heavy downpour. that caused my foldable umbrella to gave way after battling with the strong winds and rain.
i was half soaked by the time i reach store. and the air con was *bbbbrrrrr* cold.

by the time i reach home in the early noon, body temp was at 37.8.
by 9pm, it hit 39.
almost got dragged by mr loy to the hospital.

refused to change. popped more pills and slept in.
constantly waking up throughout the night to sneeze and sneeze.

fever finally went down to 37.3 now.
but the nose is a heavy leaking tap. luckily it those watery type, not sticky kind.

and finally!
mr loy cooked his first ever meat dish at our new place!! (which means i had to fry the veggies even though im sick...)
it taste great!! just that my taste bud is in hibernation mode.

any volunteer to cook for meeeee these few days!!

microwave disaster

thursday

wanted to heat up kenny rogers famous corn muffins.
placed microwave safe container inside.
2mins later when i sneak a peek, the container had become flower shaped.

after reading instruction manual for 100th time, came to a conclusion (cause there's no definite answer stated) that only "reheat" can use microwave safe container.
what the hell is the purpose of a manual?!?!

*aaarrrggggghhhh*



friday

wanted to heat up cinnamon rolls from Provence.
placed microwave safe container inside.

"reheat"

2mins later.

*sniff sniff*
HOLY COOOOOW!!! microwave is giving out thick choking chao dah fumes!!!!!

opened door and saw a black roll instead. very soon i was engulfed in smoke. had to opened up all windows and blast the fan in max speed.

half hour later(in fact till now) and the whole house still smelled the same.

tried to make things better by spraying lemon grass room spray.
and it smelled like chao dah lemon grass.

luckily no neighbour call fire brigade.

*AAAARRRGGGGGHHHHH*



no wonder this week didn't have much "feeling" to cook.
if not it won't be just the container and roll that have gone to waste.

=S

mirror mirror on the walls!

i learnt my lesson. never to have to many glass in a house.
thank god mine is considered a small house though.
=S

lemme list down how many glassware i have...

1. MBR toilet mirror
2. MBR tampered glass shower screen
3. MBR full lenght mirror
4. common toilet mirror
5. kitchen glass wall
6. kitchen glass door
7. kitchen glass counter back, extended till sink
8. TV room glass wall
9. TV room glass door
10. dining table
11. coffee table
12-14. 3 pieces of hanging mirror

not yet include 13 panels of window.
*Mr Loy says to wait till CNY then clean.

and the need to vacuum/ mop the whole place every other day cause it's so so so freaking dusty! it's that dusty that dust balls are rolling all over the place!!! plus it doesn't help with my hair fall.


think i need to hire a part time helper.
just by cleaning all those glasses is enough to giving me "mickey mouse".

Beauty Herbal Tea

Dan Shen & Chrysanthemum Tea

5g fu ling (Poria cocos)
5g dan shen (salvia roots)
5g chrysanthemum
5g gan cao (liquorice root)

Wash all ingredients.
Pour 300ml water into pot, add all ingredients and boil for 10mins.

Benefits:
Dan Shen promotes blood circulation. Pairing with chrysanthemum can reduce dark eye circles. Fu Ling is good for reducing water retention and whitening the skin.



Whitening Tea for Pigmented Skin

5g bai ji (Rhizoma bletillae)
5g wolfberries
5g bei sha shen (glehnia roots)

Wash all ingredients.
Pour 1000ml water into pot, add all ingredients and boil for 30mins.

Benefits:
Bei Sha Shen helps to clear spots on the skin. Wolfberries nourish the lung and cleanse the liver.



Whitening Tea for Wrinkles Removal

6g huang qi (astragalus root)
6g wolfberries
6g dang shen (radic codonopsis pilosulae)
1/2 tbsp honey

Wash all ingredients.
Pour 500ml water into pot, add all ingredients and boil for 5mins.

Benefits:
Helps to remove fine wrinkles, tightens the skin, reduce heat and improve eyesight. Also calms the nerve and nourishes the skin with whitening effect.



Slimming Tea

5g da huang (rhubarb)
1/2 tbsp green tea

Soak ingredients in 300ml boiling water for 5mins.

Benefits:
Good for slimming and reducing the fats, especially fats accumulated around the stomach.

cement on my feet

feel stuck-ed again.

feel that i'm always in the same spot.
never moving forward.

some are climbing the corporate ladder so quickly.
some are building their empire with their burning passion.
some are buying what they want (fine! what i want. im green).
some are hitting the five yrs mark in a couple more months.
some are preggie and/or having their new born.
some are holding their dinner. in fact so many in oct!!

i dun have any passion or skills or talents!
it has been coffee tea ever since i got out of school, which means 6yrs already!

shop is not doing any better.
almost every other week catch a rat or a thief.
if not will be sales doing a dip and drop pattern.
and it's not making any decent profit.
in fact, i'm eating myself out.

doesn't help with all those house loan. reno loan.
all kind of loans and bills are draining me.


think im just feeling crappy coz stupid rumbling tummy have been bothering me since monday. plus falling sick contirbutes to the emotions. =(


i need a cake and B&J ice cream.
blah.

frugal... i try

guilty as charged!

first time was when i bought those white bread from the neighbourhood bakery. i put it in a airtight container, thinking that it might be able to last longer.
the next day a heavy scent of sourness engulfed me when i opened up the container. which means i have to throw it away. =(

then come the strawberry story. 2 punnets was going for $10. the auntie instinct kicked in. "cheap cheap! can buy!!"

went back home and diced up one punnet so as to save time should i want to eat it the next few days.
3days later, a tiny dose of weird scent greet me whenever i opened the fridge door.
i hate smells. i opened up all the containers and found the culprit to be the diced and moudling berries.


aaaarrrggghhhh!!! this is damm irritating!!

this whole MICROWAVE OVEN thing is confusing me.

can i put in aluminium foil? i remember microwave function cannot right?
meaning i can use the foil when in "bake" or "grill" mode?
how about the "reheating" part?

can i put in glassware? or plastic?
i know can use micowave safe plastic tupperware. but can i use it during "bake/grill"? no?

then which kind of container can i use if i want to "bake/grill"?
aluminium foil container? or those baking pan?

i dun even dare to use this appliance nowadays!!


sure am getting dumber and dumber.
=(

Chinese Egg Drop Soup 蛋花湯!

Ingredients...

500 ml Chicken Stock or Water
2 Large Eggs, beaten with a pinch of salt and white pepper
Some shredded carrots
Some leafy cabbage
Freshly Ground White Pepper
*if u like to thicken the soup, add about 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch


How to...

- Bring the chicken stock to a rolling boil.
- Stir in the cornstarch mixture gradually until the soup is the desired consistency.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and egg yolk together using a fork.
- Remove saucepan from heat before adding eggs.
- Drizzle egg a little at a time from the fork, stirring soup in clockwise direction with wooden spoon.
- A pinch of white pepper adds depth of flavor.

some like their veggies crunch, some like it soft. i like to add the vegetables in the very beginning when boiling the stock. or throw it in when it's all about to boil.

Stir-Fry Bean Sprouts (with salted fish)

hhhmmm...seemingly easy.
and i have the capability to botch it.


Ingredients...

400 g Bean Sprouts, washed and drained

200 g Firm Bean Curd, cubed 

2 Scallions, cut into an inch in length

2 Red Chilies, sliced thickly

3 Cloves Garlic, coarsely chopped
2 tsp Oyster Sauce

1 ½ Tbsp Oil

Sea salt to taste


*20 g Salted Fish

How to...

Heat the oil in a wok and pan-fry the bean curd on moderate heat until light golden in color. Toss in the garlic and cook until fragrant.


Turn the heat on high. Add in the chilies, bean sprouts, scallions and oyster sauce. Stir-fry for about 30 to 40 seconds(and mix in the salted fish). Season with salt.

Stewed Pork With Tofu

shall attempt to try this someday...
don't worry. i got instant noodles in the pantry.
=)


Ingredients...

650 g Pork Shoulder, cut into 2 inches chunks
5 Cloves Garlic, Whole
1 Tbsp Light Soy Sauce
5 Tbsp Dark Soy Sauce
4 Cups Water
6 – 8 Large Hardboiled Eggs (or Quail eggs!)
1 Packet (90g) Tau Kua, sliced
2 Tbsp Oil
Salt to taste


How to...

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add ½ tsp of salt and blanch the pork for about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.

In a large saucepan, heat the oil on high heat. Brown the pork and mix in the garlic. Keep stirring to prevent the garlic from burning. Mix in the light and dark soy sauce and continue to stir until all the pork has been well coated with the sauce. Add the water and bring it to a boil and simmer for 40 minutes.

Then add the eggs and tau kua, continue to simmer for 25 minutes. Season the stewed pork with salt if necessary.

眼针!!

woke up this morning feeling lethargic, eyes feel heavy.
was thinking didn't sleep well last night.

mid noon came n went by.
eye still feel swollen, as if i cried the whole week.

met sister in the evening.

sis: "ur face seems weird."
me: "got meh? no la. jus tat 眼睛怪怪 niah"
sis: "AAAAHHHH! the corner of ur eye!!"
me: "油泡啦! no meh? then u got mirror boh?"

*hands me her mirror*

EEEYYY!!! BAK JIAM!!!!! first time lei! HOW??!!


大小眼了啦!!! 好痛哦!!!
=(

fruit juice to the rescue!

avoid falling sick by building up ur immune system:
milk + honeydew + watermelon + grapes


for frequent travellers, this relieves jetlag and also cure hangovers after a night of partying!
carrot + beetroot + apple + orange


detox ur body, lose weight the healthy way:
ginger + watermelon + apple + grapefruit


removes toxin in body and counters a feeling of heatiness:
mango + apple + carrot + pear


increase metabolism and improve complexion:
pineapple + papaya + milk


enhance ur complexion in and out:
cucumber + apple + kiwi


ease constipation and indigestion, plus cleanses ur system:
beetroot + orange + grapes


improves complexion and helps get rid of bad breath:
cherry tomatoes + apple + carrot


reduce pain from stomachaches and headaches:
apple + carrot + ginger


strengthen skin's ability to retain moisture, reduce wrinkles and cools ur body down:
ginger + orange + cucumber


try it and let me know!
cause i haven't!
heeheehee...

au revoir 阿公

i think i cant bear to watch any dying/ death scene for the time being

the passing on of my grandfather affect me more than i thought.

the scene of grandmother wailing and sobbing aches everyone's heart.

the tearing of whole family is saddening.


=..(

头痛啊!!

why didnt anyone tell me that buying a house, renovating it, purchasing furnitures and fittings, is so chim and so DARN EXPENSIVE!!

so much brain cells killed till the extend that my migraine which started in the noon on the left brain...
(took medication, subsided by 10ish)
"migrated" to the right side at 11pm...

medicine expired liao ah?

nbananas


"""-_-"""

hacking starts today!

WHEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

hacking started in the morning!
and finally submitted renovation loan after lazing around for so long.
*pat on back!*

it was pretty easy for the contractor as he just had to mark a few countable areas that is to be left alone! =p

estimation to complete all hacking will be this week.
and construction to commence next week.

time to shop for furnishings and furniture! how will we fare?
wallet screaming? hair pulling? fist fighting? ear splitting debates? brows frowning expression?

this week magical item: air con!

where to get the cheapest and quality-est goods!?

Happy Mothers' Day!

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY!
and also to all Mother-To-Be!!


every mother's day we'll go out for a meal. but this year celebration is slightly different. in fact i think it's the first time.

this year when we asked her where she want to eat out, she just shook her head and say "dont want la".

well, you see... grandfather suffered stroke a couple months back. he cant talk, cant control his bowel movements, have to be tube feed and he's paralyse on the right side. since his hospitalization till discharge, mother have been diligently going over to take care of him every night without fail.

and it didn't help that grandmother mental health seems to be on the roller coaster ride. sometimes she cant recognize anyone and just "hahahahhahahaahaha" at that person. nowadays, aunt have to hid the house key. once she even said my dad is a indian stranger!

last night, mother cooked a fiery concoction of hainanese chicken curry, accompanied with plain rice, french loaf and prata! and to share the love around, i baked a heart shaped durain cake. of course with the help of mummy catherine!

it's also a kudos to my aunt who have been living and taking care of them since many many many years ago, especially more when grandparents health start to deteriorate.

it a cycle eh.. when we were born, our parents take care of us. and now that they are old, we take care of them...


life is like a ferris wheel eh?

~_~

pre pms

emo-ing.

must be the PMS thingy.

i feel like eating chee kway now.
with hot fiery spicy chilli and lotssssss of cai por.

where to find at this time???

=((

tiles chosen!

finally!!

choose the tiles after pondering over it for a couple of days.
din even know that choosing tile could be a dilemma. can't imagine having to decide where to set up those electrical points later!

now is the hunt for sofa, bed tv console, coffee table, dining table, hob, hood, kitchen appliances, toilet stuff and what knots else!!

well, life is all 'bout choosing (the hopefully correct) choices right?

=)

growing girl?

EEEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWW!!!!!

why does those humongous pimple always pop out non stop on my chin!!
i'm no longer a growing teenager liao lorrr...

if not, it will be The Eczema problem.

it's either this or that.

guess i'll never have a peaceful day for my face.



OOOHHHH!!!

and i must have my eyes check soon.

i just saw a guy wearing black tight leggings walking past me at bugis mrt station.

is it me who is lagging behind or is he too forward in times?

-_-""

birthdays!

SHUCKS!

sunday is jie fu b'day. monday is mother b'day.
tomorrow is bernice b'day celebration.
and i haven bake any cakes yet!

no time no time!!


------------------------------------------------


after dilly dallying for so many months, now almost finalizing the house thingy! just need to get the final approval from the Master.


excited?


very!


with the quotation...
-_-

it's definately more downs...

emo-ing

just so suddenly... emo-ing.

could be either...

1. others say i became voluptuous after being skinny for a few months. =(

2. staffing is still a headache. and it's killing me pretty quickly. coz i have to be at the shop by 7am. every single day. =(

3. shopping impulse: i saw a pair of shoe. it cost $140. and i am so so so so so tempted to buy it. but dont know should /could /would buy it anot. =(

4. haven found a suitable I.D. yet. am have to start oaying for the house liao. =(

5. haven been on holiday since the 3rd quarter of last yr. =(

6. pay day is due soon. and i'm the one who is giving out the salary. =(

7. i miss my frens. kate la, maddy la, diane la, jean la, yvonne la, dorinn la, the olio gang la and so many more. =(


but of coz there are many others things to celebrate as well!

1. congrats Paddie!! her little tigress was born today at 12.07pm! =)

2. also! eagerly waiting for Cat's little tigress, Queenie's little tigress, Corine's little tiger and Regina's!

3. grandfather is out of hospital after being there for almost 2weeks.


and i'm still FAT!!!


*see! incoherent emo-ing out of the blue...

how cheap are those words?

talk is plain dirt cheap.

no words can be listened.
no plans can be believed.
no one can be trusted.

who can u trust?
who can u pour ur heart out to?
who will answer ur calls and reply ur text in the middle of the night?
who will know what u had happened to u just by looking at ur face?

why are human so selfish?
why is there so much misunderstanding?
why is there so much disappointment?

it takes two hands to clap.
reflect on urself and dont push all the blame to the other person.

Fluffy Pancakes!

Dry Ingredients...
2 cups plain flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
1-1/2 tbsp baking powder

Wet Ingredients...
1 egg
2 cups milk
2 tbs melted butter


How to...

Mix and sift dry ingredients.

Beat egg, then add milk and pour slowly on first mixture.

Beat thorougly and add melted butter. Drop by spoonfuls on a greased hot pan or griddle, cook on one side.

When puffed, full of bubbles and cooked on edges, flip and cook other side.

Serve with maple syrup and butter or whatever floats your boat.

手痒.....

aaarrgghhh!!!!

so itching to BAKE!!!
but got no time, no oven, no staff @shop to relieve me!!!

i wanna bake red velvet cake! =]
i wanna bake button cookies! =]
i wanna bake lychee(or persimmon) muffin! =]
i wanna make baked rice/pasta! =]

i wanna go overseas holidayyyyyy... =[

KEYS!!

EEEPPS!!! ^o^








collected!!









but alas, we can't step in yet as certain Chinese ritual have not been performed.
and we haven found any suitable I.D. or contractor!

so many things to dooooooo!!! but not enough timeeeeee!!!
*4 months and counting, i still haven't solve the staffing situation yet. i so want to hang my neck on the rope. =(


pray for me peeps!!
for both house and staffing issue!!!

1st Appointment!

it's going to be Jan 15th in a couple more minutes!!

but so not looking forward to having a page less in my cheque book.

A&F.....

i miss u.



i miss ur unique smell.
i miss ur touch n texture.
i miss ur expensive taste.
i miss ur gloomy (hall)ways.
i miss ur provocative pictures.
i sooooooooo wanna hold u in my arms again.

i miss u really badly.

=...(

~ from 2009 to 2010 ~

this yr was the most unusual-lest way i counted down to 2010.

2347hr
Chilled delivery man arrived.
total item count: 58(!!)

thought it will be a fast count.

2359:55
radio DJ at sentosa: 5!!
he: meiji plain milk 1L, 1 bottle...
me: *rummaging the box* ya, 1 bottle

DJ: 4!!
he: DL chocolate milk 1L, 3 bottle...
me: 1 only...

DJ: 3!!
he: here write 3 lei
me: nb... short delivery again. tml then do return la... -___-"

DJ: 2!!
he: meiji chocolate milk, 1 bottle...
me: here have 3 lei...
he: then how?
me: keep quiet lor... more is better, less variance when got audit! *heehee*

DJ: 1!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
me: eh, we also counting down. by counting all these milk and such. lomantic boh?
he: -_______________-""


it's better to live as a lion for a day than to be a lamb forever.

♥ and his T&C

♥ bought me (my first!) T&Co!
xmas ala 1st anni present!



he's getting slightly smarter.
getting things that i need. and not those furry, useless, dust-gathering crap.

=p