This is not really supposed to be here and such posts wouldn't come out often. I just needed to put this down somewhere and this is perhaps the most convenient place, seeing that I don't keep any diary or such.
Today I went to pay a long overdue visit to my babysitter's place. It's been more than a decade since I've really seen her and talked to her. I remember telling myself I have to do this before the new year so that I can leave 2008 without any regrets. Especially after I've seen the fragility of life.
I thought I would feel like a kid once I saw her, I thought it would feel as if the clock merely stopped for 10 years. I was wrong. And it frightened me as I saw how much she has aged. I was suddenly scared of the future where she would no longer be around and those people that I've taken for granted my whole life would leave.
Then I started to regret, ironically, seeing that I was trying to prevent regret in the first place. I wanted those years back, those years where I actually covered her up with all the other childhood memories and people with years and years of dust.
I like seeing her smile because of me. The old folks aren't that good at expressing their feelings but it radiates off them, for you to feel. And I can imagine how she must have been anticipating my visit since the call I gave her yesterday.
It amazes me that some things in life don't change. I know that no matter who I became in these 10 years, she would still love me as much. Even if I completely forget about her, she would still occasionally dig up those photographs and reminisce about the days when she was in my life.
It's the little things, like giving me all her containers after I told her I was selling pineapple tarts for new year, sending me off at the lift just so she could see me a bit more despite the 3 hours and calling to check that I'm home safely, that makes the regret turn into pain.
I'm just so glad that I grew up before she left to realise her love and try my best to make up for the lost years. My grandma died 4 years ago and it's been a regret of mine all along that I didn't reciprocate everything that she has done for me. I wish I could tell her that I really appreciate all that she had done and I really want to make a cake for her. Even if she doesn't like it, I know she'll still pretend to like it because I made it. And she'll be proud of me.
I really want to make a cake for ahma. The best cake in the world for the best ahma. I want to see her smile because of me again.
I came home today and mopped the entire house, I even bought biscuits for my dad. Then I realised how old my parents are, both in their fifties. And I didn't want the same kind of regret in my life.
It's love like these that doesnt change. Love that can be felt even if they are no longer around. It's to be reciprocated before it gets too late.
Life's too short for regrets.
20081230
20081229
Hokkien Mee
Food Republic chain of hokkien mee. A rather steep price of $4.50 but worth the buy.
Get it at any Food Republic chain, Wisma or Vivocity or whereever.
It's fried with pork lard and the chilli is fragrant but not too hot.
Get it at any Food Republic chain, Wisma or Vivocity or whereever.
It's fried with pork lard and the chilli is fragrant but not too hot.
The Sweet Stone Parad'Ice
The Sweet Stone Parad'Ice
Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
#01-67/76/94
11.30am-9.30pm (mon to wed open till 6pm)
http://www.thesweetstone.com/
Nearest MRT: Lavender
Bus 100
Belgian waffles in dark chocolate fondue. Affordable luxury. It's what makes life so much more bearable.
Golden Mile Food Centre
505 Beach Road
#01-67/76/94
11.30am-9.30pm (mon to wed open till 6pm)
http://www.thesweetstone.com/
Nearest MRT: Lavender
Bus 100
Belgian waffles in dark chocolate fondue. Affordable luxury. It's what makes life so much more bearable.
It's $2.50 for a waffle and a chocolate dip. Good Good Eat.
Cinnamon cookies
This was originally meant to be gingersnaps, but I could not find the gound ginger and cloves, hence I replaced both of them with ground cinnamon instead. The sugar can be slightly cut down and it is very important to make the cookies as thin as possible as they taste better thin. Use a good and big rolling pin.
Here is how thin it should be. As it gets thinner, it's best to roll slowly and exert more force. There's a trick to doing it and you usually get it after the first batch.
Cut it with a cookie cutter.
Remove it slowly and carefully. It tends to break very easily as it is very thin.
Baked. Take note that it burns very easily so keep an eye on the cookies!
Here's the original recipe:
Swedish Gingersnaps
Ingredients:
300g Sugar
100ml Water
50ml Treacle (Molasses)
1.5tsp Ground Cinnamon
1.5tsp Ground Ginger
1.5tsp Ground Cloves
200g Butter
560g Plain Flour
2tsp Baking soda
Brandy (optional)
1) Bring sugar, water, treacle and spices to a boil and let the mixture cool.
2) Add butter little by little (and brandy if used). Stir vigorously.
3) Add sifted flour and baking soda.Let the dough rest overnight.
4) Roll out the dough to 1-2mm thickness. If it is too dry,a little water may be added. Do not let the dough get too wet as it will stick on to the rolling pin. This is best done on non-stick paper.
5) Cut using a cookie cutter and bake at 200 degree Celsius for 5-8 minutes.
6) Leave to cool and store in airtight containers. They may be kept up to a week.
If anyone knows where to find the ground cloves and ginger, please let me know! Thank you.
Here is how thin it should be. As it gets thinner, it's best to roll slowly and exert more force. There's a trick to doing it and you usually get it after the first batch.
Cut it with a cookie cutter.
Remove it slowly and carefully. It tends to break very easily as it is very thin.
Baked. Take note that it burns very easily so keep an eye on the cookies!
Here's the original recipe:
Swedish Gingersnaps
Ingredients:
300g Sugar
100ml Water
50ml Treacle (Molasses)
1.5tsp Ground Cinnamon
1.5tsp Ground Ginger
1.5tsp Ground Cloves
200g Butter
560g Plain Flour
2tsp Baking soda
Brandy (optional)
1) Bring sugar, water, treacle and spices to a boil and let the mixture cool.
2) Add butter little by little (and brandy if used). Stir vigorously.
3) Add sifted flour and baking soda.Let the dough rest overnight.
4) Roll out the dough to 1-2mm thickness. If it is too dry,a little water may be added. Do not let the dough get too wet as it will stick on to the rolling pin. This is best done on non-stick paper.
5) Cut using a cookie cutter and bake at 200 degree Celsius for 5-8 minutes.
6) Leave to cool and store in airtight containers. They may be kept up to a week.
If anyone knows where to find the ground cloves and ginger, please let me know! Thank you.
20081224
Christmas baking
MERRY CHRISTMAS
圣诞节快乐
HARI KRISMAS
ONE AND ALL!
And to celebrate this wonderful occasion and the spirit of giving, limei and I embarked on a 7 hour baking marathon!So as to give 40 people cookies this holidays, limei faced up to her worst fears and became a cookie master... with a teensy bit of help from me.
She made almost 300 chocolate-chips-sunflower-seeds-hundredsandthousands cookies and wrapped them up in cellophane paper. All set and ready to be Mrs Claus tomorrow at her chalet.
Just one of the many many many batches.
Just another of the many many many batches.
Now, how could my family not have a log cake of their own? Hence, since my mum expressed distaste in all my other chocolate log cakes, I decided to create one that she would like. And of course something the family would love.
So I racked my brains till the juices were dry and spent hours on the computer, scouring through websites after websites, hoping to find the perfect recipe. Which unfortunately didn't happen.
Well, basically I just put together a strawberry swiss roll, created my very own strawberry butter cream and TA DAAH!
Naked STRAWBERRY LOG CAKE
(For the first time ever, I rolled the cake with no trouble whatsoever!)
STRAWBERRY LOG CAKE
I think I could work on the decoration. But this cake is delicious. And we are all having it tomorrow! I am very happy with myself. Thank you Santa, you made my holidays.
And to limei the master chef, thanks for your awesome present, even though I have no idea where they came from. I hope that when we are old and saggy, we'll still make cookies together. Regardless of hundreds or thousands or millions ingredients. Love you very much my dear!
20081223
Waffle Factory Buffet
Candice and I went out today to try something new and add some colour to our otherwise pointless lives. This shop appeared on TV once, where it was introduced for the waffle buffet. It sounded like a pretty good idea, but after going there, I doubt there will be a second visit. Located at Singapore Post Centre, just next to Paya Lebar MRT station.
This was the menu, we could only order 2 per person at a time. The shop is very small, Clan would've occupied the entire shop space. Maximum 18 people I think.
We had drinks. Candice had the mango float while I had the strawberry float. They should rename it as strawberry syrup though, too sweet and syrupish. We barely had half.
From left, Chocolate hazelnut, Nacho Cheese, Chocolate almond, D24 durian, Apple Cinnamon.
Strawberry, Cranberry, Peanut Butter, Blueberry.
The berries were too sweet, seeing as they were preserved jam. D24 durian was savoury as the fillings were quite a lot but each customer is only entitled to one. Apple Cinnamon had a lot of filling and the sweetness was just right. Don't try Cranberry unless you want the tooth fairy to visit you any time soon. It tastes like sugar.
My preference: Apple Cinnamon, D24, Chocolate Hazelnut, Blueberry, Cranberry.
Candice's preference: Chocolate Almond, Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Nacho Cheese.
Dissatisfied and messy. I wasted my $8.80.
No more waffles for a week. (I do still love waffles!)
This was the menu, we could only order 2 per person at a time. The shop is very small, Clan would've occupied the entire shop space. Maximum 18 people I think.
We had drinks. Candice had the mango float while I had the strawberry float. They should rename it as strawberry syrup though, too sweet and syrupish. We barely had half.
From left, Chocolate hazelnut, Nacho Cheese, Chocolate almond, D24 durian, Apple Cinnamon.
Strawberry, Cranberry, Peanut Butter, Blueberry.
The berries were too sweet, seeing as they were preserved jam. D24 durian was savoury as the fillings were quite a lot but each customer is only entitled to one. Apple Cinnamon had a lot of filling and the sweetness was just right. Don't try Cranberry unless you want the tooth fairy to visit you any time soon. It tastes like sugar.
My preference: Apple Cinnamon, D24, Chocolate Hazelnut, Blueberry, Cranberry.
Candice's preference: Chocolate Almond, Peanut Butter, Strawberry, Nacho Cheese.
Dissatisfied and messy. I wasted my $8.80.
No more waffles for a week. (I do still love waffles!)
Checkered green tea cake
My very first checkered cake, in the flavour of green tea. Disappointing. Too sweet, too much green tea and I personally do not like it much. To be further improved.
I'll work on it sticking more firmly together though. There was a minor screwup when I was doing the layers resulting in unfitting circles.
The proper way of doing this was to use a special cutter to cut it, but I had to improvise with using different cups to measure out the circle and cut the cake vertically. Hence, to be improved.
But I do so love pretty things and all things colourful.
Made the cake for the picnic, which took 3 years to plan.
I can't believe Clara bakes too. If only she wasn't so old that she had already graduated from RJ, maybe we could have more chances to talk and exchange ideas. I think I'll miss her, and I still don't believe that she'll abstain from a boyfriend for 3 years. It's not Clara. (If she sees this I'm so dead.)
Much love and merry christmas and a happy new year to my gym seniors! Thank you for that awesome time.
I'll work on it sticking more firmly together though. There was a minor screwup when I was doing the layers resulting in unfitting circles.
The proper way of doing this was to use a special cutter to cut it, but I had to improvise with using different cups to measure out the circle and cut the cake vertically. Hence, to be improved.
But I do so love pretty things and all things colourful.
Made the cake for the picnic, which took 3 years to plan.
I can't believe Clara bakes too. If only she wasn't so old that she had already graduated from RJ, maybe we could have more chances to talk and exchange ideas. I think I'll miss her, and I still don't believe that she'll abstain from a boyfriend for 3 years. It's not Clara. (If she sees this I'm so dead.)
Much love and merry christmas and a happy new year to my gym seniors! Thank you for that awesome time.
Mussel Guys
I went to Mussel Guys on the 19th at vivocity with the family. It was not very nice and it was very expensive. In any case, I wouldn't go back there again.
We've got to try the mussels somehow, but it was $16 for a plate of this. My mum could cook this in under $5. Nothing special, completely ordinary.
This was the appetiser, along with the set meal, cream of corn. The garlic bread was practically insignificant but it tasted pretty good. At least from what I could taste of that pathetic crumb.
We've got to try the mussels somehow, but it was $16 for a plate of this. My mum could cook this in under $5. Nothing special, completely ordinary.
The beef is quite tasty, but I didn't have it so no comments.
Chicken rice and chicken with sausages. Sausages were not bad too.
This was what I had. Quite oily and too little sauce. The batter had some spices in them. Ordinary.
Dessert. Comes with the set meal. Mango pudding that was perhaps the best dish. Thick and smooth, quite fragrant too.
They only serve ice water on mondays to thursdays. I cannot believe them.
20081217
6A christmas party
16/12/2008 - Christmas Party at Jack's Place. (Get the pun anyone?)
Once again, 6A met up again to celebrate the festive of joy. We are such happy people.
The main attraction in Jack's house is this drum set. It giggles when the funny drum is hit. Kinda like how we get tickled. And when it laughs, we laugh together. Magical happy drum set.
This is our festive feast, courtesy of Jack's mum. Sushi is made by Olivia and me, please refer below. What's not here includes many packets of junk food, many bottles of drinks and 2 cans of amsterdam beer and 1 bottle of long island.
Hard at work putting up our deco. Courtesy of Teresa with a bit of help from her sister. I could've been the one putting up the deco, but noooo, I was too tall, so I thought photo-taking was a much suited task for someone as tall as me.
Cheers to finally opening the sparkling grape juice!
For our night activity, we headed off to West Coast Park where we sat in a circle and played "I never.../I have...", because we are too old for truth or dare. Not only that, we fed the ants and mosquitoes and Jeremy even shared our precious and very expensive alcohol with the concrete. He's pretty nice, isn't he?
To prove that 16 is not too old for cute.
Stick insect on a leaf. If you don't get it, refer to group shot below.
It's a bundle of happiness under the tree. Santa's within all of us.
Opening the gifts together made me feel like we were primary school kids again.
I hope we never lose our sense of wonder. (Adapted from I hope you dance - Leanne Rimmes)
This is my present which I bought together with Olivia. And the lucky people who got these two presents will now have a reason to look forward to shitting.
And Teresa, I think your present is awesome.
Congratulations Jeremy and Jack! You have received a toilet roll holder disguised as a toothpaste and a wasabi tube. We hope you like it as much as we do.
I've got a sexy radio! Thank you Daniel, I don't think your gift sucks at all, it's pretty cool.
And finally,
Daniel, Qiyuan, Fiona, Olivia, Eric, Jack, Jeremy, Jingxian, Teresa and Perry... (clockwise from the green man)
wishes to say:
This was the log cake that I made with help from Olivia for this party. Unfortunately, I can't give the recipe because the cake wasn't up to it. Thank you everyone for saying that it's nice, it really gives me the motivation to continue.
Here are some answers to the commonly asked questions,
- The pattern on the cake was made using a fork.
- The toys were bought from a Phoon Huat, where I get all my baking needs from.
- The added Rum which some of you guys tasted was not real Rum, but rather Rum flavour.
- A log cake is basically a swiss roll with frosting and coated with buttercream. It's very versatile and what you want to add to it is up to your imagination. For this I put chocolate mousse on the vanilla sponge and coated it with chocolate buttercream.
This is sushi which Olivia and I made. Most of the rolling was done by olivia, so well done girl!
Ingredients (all available from the supermarket):
Crabstick
Japanese cucumber
Egg*
Furikake Nori Tamago (Japanese Rice Topping)
Japanese Rice
Seasoned rice vinegar
Roasted Seaweed (those big pieces)
1) Wash and cook rice, 1 cup of water to 1 cup of rice. (per cup makes about 2.5 long rolls).
2) When rice is cooked, cool for 15 mins and then mix seasoned rice vinegar slowly to the rice.(1.5tbsp of vinegar to a cup of rice) Leave to cool completely.
3) Lay a piece of seaweed onto bamboo rolling mat and put some rice on the seaweed, spreading it evenly.
4) Sprinkle some rice topping on the rice and arrange the already sliced ingredients on the end of the seaweed nearest to you.
5) Roll the seaweed, pressing it firmly with each roll. Make sure all the ingredients are in the first roll.
6) Cut into even pieces, each about 1cm thick. The ends are usually not served.
7) Serve with wasabi or Japanese soya sauce.
This is how the ingredients look like:
*Egg: 3 eggs mixed with 4tbsp milk, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, fried with olive oil.
Sushi is very flexible and easy to make. What's more, it's healthy! However, if possible, avoid putting it into the fridge as the rice becomes hard and dry. So serve immediately, it's too delicious to resist anyway.
Once again, 6A met up again to celebrate the festive of joy. We are such happy people.
The main attraction in Jack's house is this drum set. It giggles when the funny drum is hit. Kinda like how we get tickled. And when it laughs, we laugh together. Magical happy drum set.
This is our festive feast, courtesy of Jack's mum. Sushi is made by Olivia and me, please refer below. What's not here includes many packets of junk food, many bottles of drinks and 2 cans of amsterdam beer and 1 bottle of long island.
Hard at work putting up our deco. Courtesy of Teresa with a bit of help from her sister. I could've been the one putting up the deco, but noooo, I was too tall, so I thought photo-taking was a much suited task for someone as tall as me.
Cheers to finally opening the sparkling grape juice!
For our night activity, we headed off to West Coast Park where we sat in a circle and played "I never.../I have...", because we are too old for truth or dare. Not only that, we fed the ants and mosquitoes and Jeremy even shared our precious and very expensive alcohol with the concrete. He's pretty nice, isn't he?
To prove that 16 is not too old for cute.
Stick insect on a leaf. If you don't get it, refer to group shot below.
It's a bundle of happiness under the tree. Santa's within all of us.
Opening the gifts together made me feel like we were primary school kids again.
I hope we never lose our sense of wonder. (Adapted from I hope you dance - Leanne Rimmes)
This is my present which I bought together with Olivia. And the lucky people who got these two presents will now have a reason to look forward to shitting.
And Teresa, I think your present is awesome.
Congratulations Jeremy and Jack! You have received a toilet roll holder disguised as a toothpaste and a wasabi tube. We hope you like it as much as we do.
I've got a sexy radio! Thank you Daniel, I don't think your gift sucks at all, it's pretty cool.
And finally,
Daniel, Qiyuan, Fiona, Olivia, Eric, Jack, Jeremy, Jingxian, Teresa and Perry... (clockwise from the green man)
wishes to say:
This was the log cake that I made with help from Olivia for this party. Unfortunately, I can't give the recipe because the cake wasn't up to it. Thank you everyone for saying that it's nice, it really gives me the motivation to continue.
Here are some answers to the commonly asked questions,
- The pattern on the cake was made using a fork.
- The toys were bought from a Phoon Huat, where I get all my baking needs from.
- The added Rum which some of you guys tasted was not real Rum, but rather Rum flavour.
- A log cake is basically a swiss roll with frosting and coated with buttercream. It's very versatile and what you want to add to it is up to your imagination. For this I put chocolate mousse on the vanilla sponge and coated it with chocolate buttercream.
This is sushi which Olivia and I made. Most of the rolling was done by olivia, so well done girl!
Ingredients (all available from the supermarket):
Crabstick
Japanese cucumber
Egg*
Furikake Nori Tamago (Japanese Rice Topping)
Japanese Rice
Seasoned rice vinegar
Roasted Seaweed (those big pieces)
1) Wash and cook rice, 1 cup of water to 1 cup of rice. (per cup makes about 2.5 long rolls).
2) When rice is cooked, cool for 15 mins and then mix seasoned rice vinegar slowly to the rice.(1.5tbsp of vinegar to a cup of rice) Leave to cool completely.
3) Lay a piece of seaweed onto bamboo rolling mat and put some rice on the seaweed, spreading it evenly.
4) Sprinkle some rice topping on the rice and arrange the already sliced ingredients on the end of the seaweed nearest to you.
5) Roll the seaweed, pressing it firmly with each roll. Make sure all the ingredients are in the first roll.
6) Cut into even pieces, each about 1cm thick. The ends are usually not served.
7) Serve with wasabi or Japanese soya sauce.
This is how the ingredients look like:
*Egg: 3 eggs mixed with 4tbsp milk, 1 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, fried with olive oil.
Sushi is very flexible and easy to make. What's more, it's healthy! However, if possible, avoid putting it into the fridge as the rice becomes hard and dry. So serve immediately, it's too delicious to resist anyway.
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