Our X'mas feast

Freshly baked orange chiffon cake
(for recipe,please refer to www.cuisine-asia.com under cakes)



Creamy ham and mushrooms pasta with pumpkin cheese sauce



Baked char siew chicken with fresh salad greens

A time to make merry is here again...hehe..This year,I tried to prepared healthier meals,hence,the dishes are slightly less sinful than ones served in restaurants...Besides,eating outside can be rather costly,and since cooking at home allow me to have total freedom,so why not?Heres what I did:
Baked char siew chicken
approx 1.5kg chicken
2 dsp char siew sauce
1/2 tsp sugar
1 dsp sesame oil
3 cloves garlic
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 dsp oyster sauce
some shredded ginger
Methods:
1.Remove the skin,trim off all visible fats,wash and pat dry.Marinate using the seasonings as stated in glass bowl,covered and store in fridge overnight.
2.Wrap chicken tightly in aluminium foil,bake in preheated oven at 200 degree Celsius for about 30 minutes.Do remember to pour sauce over chicken and baste it after 20 minutes of baking time.
3.Make a slit on the foil and expose the chicken to let it brown for about 10 minutes.Serve with fresh salad greens,I choose not to use any salad dressing to reduce fat,sodium content,instead I use the sauce from chicken as salad dressing..yum

Creamy ham and mushroom pasta with pumpkin cheese sauce
Approx 3/4 pack of spinach fettuccine
(Boil in water till al dente.I realise that with constant stirring,no oil or salt is required to separate it)
assorted fresh mushrooms,approx 350 g
300g cream(I used 170g cream and fresh HL milk,this helps to lower amount of fat)
50g butter(I used 20g butter and extra-virgin olive oil)
1 cup chicken stock?(I boil 1 bowl of chopped pumpkin,blend it to replace the stock)
2 slices of low fat cheese
1 bowl of shredded chicken ham
1/2 bowl chopped spring onion
1 onion,3 cloves of chopped garlic
pinch of black pepper
Methods:
1.Melt butter,add in olive oil.Fry onion,garlic till fragrant,add in ham,mushrooms.
2.Pour in cream,milk,stock,lower the heat to simmer.Add in 1/2 the amount of chopped spring onions.Once mushrooms are cooked,add in cheese,black pepper to taste.
3.Drain the pasta,and toss to coat in sauce.Enjoy!!
(Do note:In terms of mouth feel,it still lack the creamy,rich taste as compared to 100 % cream being used.However,the calories is reduced,otherwise,I will have to work much much harder to get rid of excess bulges,haha)

Orange Bran Bread

Yipee,I finally succeed...haha...In achieving the soft,fluffy interior with a crusty,chewy crust that goes well with jam,peanut butter or just plain warm,freshly baked...Peipei,if you are reading this post,I am proud to say I did it,this is much better than my first attempt...haha...Lets bake bread together one day,shall we?hehe...

History of tomato pumpkin rice with salmon

Believe it or not,everytime I toss food out,theres always a pang of guilt that overcome me,promising to shop according to the grocery list,which unfortunately has been unachievable till now...sigh...I am such an "auntie" who can sniff out the best deals,pouring over the ST thur best supermarket offers,never mind if its the third time this week that I am patronising the supermarket,albeit a different one though,from giant to NTUC to shop"n"save,the offer is too enticing to be missed...oops...
Bad habit or an underlying disorder huh?Whatever it is,it sure is costing me unnecessary spending,wastage of space and food,so I have decided that the next best thing is to improvise and create...Having friends over for pizza-making was wonderful,but leaving me with extras is not...haha...A little bit of this and that,this appetizing tomato,pumpkin rice with salmon was born...hehe...Created from "leftovers",such as tomato pasta sauce and fresh sliced tomatoes from pizza-making,flaked salmon bits from the bony salmon "spare-parts"(er...fresh salmon is on offer again at giant,haha),orange sweet-potato from making ondeh-ondeh,pour out some white wine,chicken stock,pre-cooked some rice(use less water than usual,so that the grains do not break up when frying)...Well,lets just say I did my best...haha..

Failure mua chee

This has to be one of my lao gong much loved snack,for everytime we pass by pasar malam stalll,he never fail to get one to satisfy his craving...Hence,after making some tangyuen,I attempt to make some mua chee-which did not pass the test...hmm..It turned out to be rather dry,tough,not soft or chewy,in addition,I made the mistake of purchasing pre-packed grounded peanuts,which taste like well,dry powder without much fragrance,case in point-this certainly needs much improvement...Anyone knows of a better recipe?hehe...Or maybe we just ought to settle for the pasar malam version?hehe..

Parents-Not just a title

Picture this"Your child is in distress,whos the person the child runs to?Whos the child's playmate?"Pardon me,but I believe it ought to be the parents,not the maid..While more hands mean light work,allowing me the luxury to have more time on my hands to take a break,enjoying my cuppa or catch up on errands,it certainly does not mean I intend to let my helper taking over the mum's role....I am proud to say this,I am still clover's mummy and she is clear about that...no doubts at all..haha..It is sad indeed to read about some kids addressing the mum as auntie,and the maid as mummy...Ouch..Personally,I have witness that,with a red-faced mummy trying to clear up the air...While I decline to provide names,my lao gong and I have no qualms about that,we are the parents and not just in titles only...Clover is our responsibility,not the maid nor the grandparents,for which I receive pathetic looks whenever people say"oh,u poor thing,no grandparents to help you out"
Tired?Who isnt?As all hands-on mums know,we complain,we vent,BUT,we know we are not ALone...theres still joy beneath it all,the peaceful look on our child when we pat the child to sleep,the ability to soothe tears and replace it with joyful laughter..To that,mummies,lets rejoice and say good job!!haha...

Free day treat

After nearly 3 months of taking a break from baking,I finally found the perfect excuse to get my butt off the couch and get it moving...haha...Bananas are on sale evrywhere,humble-looking bananas that seem to beckon me,I must laid my hands on at least one bunch...haha...heres one lemon banana quickbread for viewing,hehe...
Moist and chewy,I like it and was happy to be able to try it out on my designated "free-day"(read:to heck with calories),haha...Will post the recipe after obtaining permission from the owner...Have some patience,will you?hehe...

Stuffed Baked Lotus chicken

Stuffing- cooked and ready



Friends were curious about my mysterious "disappearance",they waited and waited,finally could not take the suspense anymore,asked me outright if theres a reason as to why this blog been left idling,haha...Gosh,I am blessed truly to be surrounded by so many concerned friends who do read my ramblings and were worried when I "poofed"..Thank you everyone...I am alright,actually...

What have I been busy about?Nothing much actually,apart from pottering around,been busy with clover,and settling in the new maid...Once bitten,twice shy,this time round,I am more firm with the maid,and so far,she has fit into the daily routine better,though clover is still very much attached to mummy,but at least she does not repel this auntie...

Exercising has become very much part of my lifestyle now,which I intend to continue for as long as I can...Adhering to a strict diet mean that I only permit myself one "free" day once a week,a day for me to indulge in that little extra without guilt..haha...Noticing the pounds dropping off really give me a all-time high,haha..my skin has improved too,not to mention a great booster to self-esteem...hehe,hence,I am now committed to share healthy meals,rather than mostly bakes,haha...Sounds rather boring,huh?haha...Yet the rewards are tremendous,look at it on the bright side,good health,great skin,can fit into most clothes,including boundless amount of energy to play with the little one,I have strangers commenting that we seem to be having tons of fun in the park,chasing each other,A little sacrifice and hard work goes a long way...

With that,I sign off with a delicious recipe which is nutritious and suitable for the whole family,enjoy...

Stuffed Baked Lotus Chicken
Approx 1.5kg chicken
Marinade:
1 tbsp oyster sauce
2 cloves garlic,chopped
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp dark soya sauce

stuffing:
1/2 cup chopped pumpkin
2 shredded carrots
8 dried mushrooms,soaked and chopped
1/3 cup ke chi(chinese wolfberry)
garlic and onion to fry the stuffing
1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
1/2 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 tbsp sesame oil
1 piece lotus leaf,soaked to soften
1 large piece aluminium foil

Methods:
1.wash,remove gibbets.Pat dry and marinate the chicken overnight in a glass bowl.
2.Preheat oven to 220 degree Celsius.Fry the onion and garlic,add in ingredients for stuffing and seasonings.
3.Once stuffing is cooled,stuff into cavity of chicken,I also stuff some under the skin.
4.Wrap up the chicken with lotus leaf.Once done,wrap up in aluminium foil,making sure the foil is sealed tight to prevent gravy from leaking during baking.
5.Place chicken package onto baking tray and bake for 1 hour.After that,reduce heat to 180 degree Celsius and bake for 1 1/2 hours.
Result:chicken is moist and tender,drop off the bones,with the lingering fragrance of lotus leaf penetrating into it.Yummy,my lao gong polished off half the chicken in one sitting...haha

Appearance can be deceiving

Our dinner,pasta bolognese filled with veggies such as carrots,celery,button mushrooms,tomatoes and shredded chicken,though for clover,her pasta was vegetable spirals,which has added antioxidant in it....


Brought clover to the polyclinic for her 18th month developmental assessment,was told that shes a big and tall for her age,well,nothing new,heard that comment all the time from family and strangers alike...As we were about to leave,the nurse threw in this advice,cut down on snacks...???Simple enough yet seem like a tall order when clover is steer off candies,cakes,chocolate and the likes,her tea-times comprised of fresh fruits,baby yoghurt,oatmeal,steamed carrots,pumpkins,manago,avocado...As for the bakes,she only get to enjoy a morsel of it once in a long while,hardly called worthy of a slice...Told this to the nurse,who went "oh wah!a healthy diet ,keep it up!!"There u go,despite her size,clover indeed is eating wisely,haha...much to the surprise of everyone around her...haha...Hmm...If only the mother can be just as disciplined,gosh,I can shake off those flabs without much difficulty,wouldn't I ?haha....

Neck-rest banana chiffon cake

It does resemble one,doesn't it?haha.The cake can be further improved,for sure,and I learnt that I ought to wait till the cake is completely cooled before inverting,which in a haste,I did not do so,the cake is meant to be baked in 25-inch chiffon bakeware,but as I only have a 23-inch,I simply poured it till 1/2 full,hence the height is not as tall as I liked it be.The cake is light,airy with the lingering aroma of bananas with every bite,it is so addictive that I forsake my strict dieting,haha...,Offered my friend a ride home,she spied the Barney neck pillow resting on the car seat and commented,"U bought that for your ger?Arent you indulging her far too much?"Haha...Unabashedly,I am pampering her too much,being the only child ,I suppose I want the best for her,huh?Oops,must be careful for I certainly do not want a spoilt brat...As clover gets older,it is a challenge to balance the scales...hmm..any parenting strategy,anyone?hehe...

Banana Chiffon Cake(adapted from recipebazar.com with modifications)
2 cups flour(I used top flour,flour with less protein will result in a light-texture cake)
3 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cup sugar(I reduced it to 1 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup oil
6 egg whites
1 cup mashed bananas,mixed with 1 tbsp lemon juice
4 egg yolks
2 tbsp milk
1/2 tsp cream of tartar

Methods:
1.Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius.

2.In bowl,sift flour and baking powder,blend in oil,mashed bananas,milk and beat well.Add in half the recommended amount of sugar and beat.

3.In a clean bowl,make sure bowl is truly clean and dry.Add in egg whites and beat till stiff peaks,adding in rest of sugar and cream of tartar,when peaks are about to form,adding in too soon will result in longer beating time.

4.Fold in banana mixture into egg whites,gently and in one direction,do not stir,as the built-in air structure will be deflated,yielding tough crumbs and hard cake.Pour into 25-inch ungreased chiffon bakeware,to bake for about 40minutes,test cake with wooden skewer.

5. Leave cake to cool before inverting.enjoy with hot cuppa.

Something Sweet

Came across suggestions of a quiet timeout include a cuddling,reading of a short story before tucking into bed,our little one seem to have other ideas of her own,now she will insist on a tight little hug,planting a sweet gentle kiss on our cheek before drifting off to sleep,woo...that certainly justify a good reason for me to tuck her into bed every night..haha..If she can,the little one will stay up for me,whereby we will perfom this "ritual" night after night...hehe..

More than meets the eye

Something just does not seem right,call it mother's instinct,clover has been clinging to me like a velcro tape,and it is so extreme,that she is terrified if I just leave the room,she will wail and bang on the toilet door,insisting on me cuddling her,carrying her all the time...Strange when she ought to be closer to the helper,isnt it?Afterall,the helper is there with her 24hrs of the day,whereas the mum is not..Initally,clover used to be quite close to her,seeing her as both caregiver and playmate,running to her with her balls,calling her auntie,but now,that is history,at the most she only stand and watch her,or playing with her only when my hubby or me is around..hmm...If only clover can talk,sigh...On numerous occasions,the helper will prepare way too hot milk or bath for clover,which I managed to stop in the nick of time,teaching her how to test the temperature,yet today ,she did it again,sigh...Came up with the usual reasoning of I did cool down the barley water,Ma'am,hence I told her to try it out on her wrist,she too was taken aback by how hot it is...goodness,I am not always around to monitor her,my assistant has now become my worry,what a headache...I told myself to be patient and give in to her request of advance salary,earlier off-day,yet she still sneak out at night and refuse to admit it,gosh,my patience is certainly wearing off...urgh...

Low-sodium 5-spice mango chicken roll

The first attempt was a learning lesson ,for once I was meddling with dried beancurd sheets,which I had no idea that it itself is so saltish that it ought to be thoroughly swapped with wet cloth on both sides,ignorant me simply wipe one side ,slab on one big scoop of fillings on it,and rolled it up like a carpet...and plop it into the wok,the end result was nothing to boost about after seeing all the grimaces on their faces,haha..
Fast forward to now,I do think that this chicken roll is worth a try after a 2nd attempt,haha...I wiped both sides thoroughly with wet cloth rinsed in cold water,lower the sodium content of the fillings,add in some mangoes,chestnuts for a refreshing taste and texture..An improvement ,I will say compared to the first one,haha...


Even clover wants to have a go at it..haha..
Tsk tsk,it will be some time before you get to try deep-fried foods,baby...

Heres my version of the roll:
approx.300g chicken fillets
5-6 dried mushrooms,soaked and retain water,sliced mushrooms
approx.200g prawns,shelled,devined,chopped roughly
5-6 water chestnuts,chopped roughly
handful of fresh coriander,chopped
1tbsp 5-spiced powder
1 tsp sugar
pinch of salt
Beancurd sheets
Methods:
1.Mix all ingredients well,pour into a bowl,add in water used to soaked mushrooms.I marinate the ingredients overnight.

2.Cut the beancurd sheets to about 1/2 the length of A4-sized paper,wipe both sides with wet cloth,I keep a bowl of cold water so that I can rinsed the cloth each time I use it.Take care not to tear the sheets,spoon in the filling on one end of the sheet,add in mango slice,roll it up,secure the ends and sides with egg whites and toothpicks,if needed.

3.Deep-fry/Pan fry the rolls,remove the toothpicks after cooking.Drain on absorbent papers before serving.

Work from the heart

Someone touched me today,it all started out ordinarily enough,we went out for dinner at an Indo restaurant,suddenly I heard a shriek and a young lady waving excitedly at me,giving me her broadest grin...."My Sec one form teacher"I overheard her telling her colleagues,she came over,instantly I recognised her,Aahhh...one of my ex-student,I did not know that she was working here part-time as a waitress...We made small talk,in which she invited me to her graduation ceremony,wow...how time flies,shes graduating soon and moving on to ITE...I was glad that she remembered me,and told her so..."Because you are a good teacher,you bring out the best in us,thats why our class invited you,we have placed your name in our invitation list"These words were like music to my ears,haha...Seriously,I do not even know what I had done,I only knew that I did my best,and now whenever I get disappointed or upset with the kids,these words will always be my inspiration urging me to rule others with a heart...

Ga-ga over lemons

Judging from the ratings,this appear to be an enjoyable tea-time treat,since I have the ingredients on hand,I thought of giving it a go too...Indeed,the cake is moist,not so sweet,with tender crumbs,and not as time consuming as creaming method,all the more perfect for a lazy afternoon,when I feel like relaxing on the couch,enjoying hot tea with feshly baked lemon cake..Oops,was enjoying so much that I forgot to record the website and bookmark it...haha..
Lemon Cake with lemon glaze
2 eggs
160g sugar
150g butter,softened
2 tbsp oatmeal(optional,I added in to increase fibre and make cake chewy)
180g sifted self-raising flour
125ml milk
zest of 2 lemons

Lemon glaze
100g icing sugar
40ml lemon juice(approx 1 lemon)
heat the mixture gently,do not boil.
Methods:
1. Preheat oven to 180 degree celcius.Beat eggs and sugar for about 2 minutes using electric hand egg-beater.

2.Drop in tablespoonful of the butter ,together with lemon zest,beat till mixture resemble mayonaisse

3.Add in flour and milk.Beat till mixture is smooth,do not overbeat otherwise the cake crumbs will be tough.Fold in oatmeal quickly.

4.Bake for 45 minutes,when slightly cooled,remove onto cooling rack,place baking tray below,prick warm cake all over with fork,brush the lemon glaze over it,letting the glaze set before serving.Best eaten on day it is baked.

Mischievous Clover

I know that I have friends who care and are curious about little clover,here is an updates on her latest developments at 16mths old...a spunky ,very active toddler..haha..
She is not toilet-trained yet,but recently,she started bullying me whenever I attempt to change her diaper,she will wiggle and struggle violently,then when she manage to get free,she will laugh and become a "RUNAWAY BABY",goodness giggling and running with her bare bottom for all to see,eeks,no sense of shame at all,so please do not be alarm when you comes visiting and see a bare-bottom toddler running at top-speed...haha...

As mentioned,she loves to scribble ABCs on the floor,papers,sofa,so if you do drop by,can always get her to scrawl for you and autograph it...haha...However,I must warn you that her scrawls are not really legible,though you can still make up the alphabets...

She loves to fling food onto the floor,but will feed you properly if you guide her...in return for a clap for a job well done...haha.

Clover makes a good dance partner and exercise playmate,in fact,she enjoy twirling around the room,or demonstrating her kickboxing moves when I do it together with her...

Her favourite activity is throwing and identifying her balls by colour,so far,she can pass you the ball by the colour you requested for,but she still cannot distinguish lighter or darker shade..to her light/dark blue are both blue,so she will usually pass you both balls,if you ask for blue..haha..

She enjoy a game of hide and seek,so do not be surprised if you feel a light tap on the shoulder or leg and when you turn,theres nobody there,most likely she will turn away giggling...haha..well,thats all for now,hope that answer the queries on hows clover now?hehe...

Leftovers?Where?

Whenever possible,I try not to waste food,but it seem unavoidable when cooking for the little one,at times,it can be difficult to gauge how much she will eat,hence what am I to do with leftovers?Pass it on to the dumping bin(me) ,of course...haha..But,of course that is not a good idea,especailly since it leads to overeating which in turn lead to excess weight gain...Hence ,I admit I do feel the need to work out on a frequent basis,especially since I do indluge once in a while ,last time used to be once a fortnight,now change for the better,once a month,haha...

Fortunately,clover has a strict diet which to many adults may seem a tad boring,consisting mostly of brown rice,oatmeal,fish,fruits ,vegetables,tofu,etc..since I cannot place a value on health,I will do my best to provide her a good nutritional headstart..

Heres an example of her snack,oatmeal with prune and blueberries,which was my "supper",though at times,I will sneak out for some forbidden foods too...haha...Life ought to be enjoyable at times...haha..

Loaded with fruits n bran Teabread

One glance at the photo,my lao gong starting shaking his head,lamenting that I ought to leave it to him to snap the picture,instead of a "brave attempt"...haha...hmm..a picture is worth a thousand words,and if my attempt is to tempt the readers to try baking it ,I believe I have flop miserably...haha...But I were too impatient to wait for my lao gong to come home,as I want to distribute the teabread before my kickboxing session...I am lucky to be surrounded by friends who do not mind trying,giving me comments,after all,how much bakes can I eat?haha..

Enough of my rumbling....heres a reason to celebrate with this
"Loaded with fruits N bran teabread",clover is finally eating!!Yipee,hip hip hurray,she has make a vast improvement by finishing her meals,without me making drastic changes,growth spurts maybe?haha...
To celebrate,I bake this wonderful teabread as a treat for her,instead of the boring oatmeal with prunes,which she likes but I enjoy a variety too...It makes a nice teatime treat for her,breakfast for the adults,especially with a steaming hot cuppa,do try it...
Recipe is modified from fruity bran teabread of many more kitchen secrets by Betty Saw
Loaded with fruits and bran teabread(makes 2 loaves)
480g self-raing flour
200g cold,diced butter
approx 150g sugar
80g bran
2 beaten eggs
250ml milk
6-8 peach slices,chopped
(I rinsed and soaked in tap water for a short while to remove the syrup)
4 ripe bananas,mashed with 1 tbsp lemon juice
200g dried fruits,chopped(I used unsulphured dried prunes,apricots,mangos)
Methods:
1.Rub in butter into flour till it resemble breadcrumbs.Stir in sugar,bran.Take 1/4 of the flour mixture to coat the dried fruits and peach.Add fruits into flour mixture.(By coating the fruits with flour helps to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of cake after baking)

2.Beat eggs with hand whisk till frothy.Add banana into the egg,pour in the milk,stir.Then fold in the mixture into flour.Spoon into baking pan,which have been lined and greased.Smoothen the top,top with extra bran if desired.

3.Bake in preheated oven of 160 degree Celsius for about an hour,I increase temp to 180 degree Celsius in the last 10 minutes to brown the top.Cool for about 15 minutes before removing from pan to cool on rack.

Look up to us....

Different personalitites can affect our parenting styles,our own family upbringing,our beliefs all come into play...yet having said that,I still think that it is important for the child to be disciplined when need be,for the parents to come to a joint decision on the punishments/rewards...in my work,nothing frustrate me than seeing how lax one partner can be,while the other simply lash out,or worst,the child is like a tennis ball being tossed from one parent to the other saying,"Im not free now,you tell my XXX,he/she will handle ,not me" Sad but this is the reality of life,when parents are too tired,too stressed in making ends meet,how the child misbehave somewhat appear trivial and pale in comparison to the problems they are facing....

I consider myself very lucky indeed that my lao gong and I believe in equal partnership,clover has to learn to put away her toys,her shoes after a walk...While she used to hurling her toys,books,or anything she laid her hands on,that has become much less frequent now,we follow the "one strike and u're out"rule,whenever clover threw something forbidden,she will be given a firm warning,do it again,and the toy will be confiscated...Instead she is given ball as a replacement for throwing...No exceptions from both of us,the little one picked up fast,haha...Whenever she has shown good behaviour,she will be rewarded with her favourite DVD or a short walk,which provide us with immense pleasure,haha...So ,maybe shes not the boss afterall,huh?haha....No doubt it takes lots of time,efforts and patience,so much so that I nearly want to give up at times,it is always easier to give a smack and shut her up,haha...But I realise that it gets easier once boundary(rules)are set,discipline begins even now...haha...

The chilli padi

The terrible Twos,throwing tantrum,screaming,incessant crying,craving for attention,a stage which I thought will happen when clover start to reach the age of 2 and beyond,but the truth is not to be...Facing rejections is not something to be tolerated,at least in her view,she do not see the rationale in throwing away her books,toys,wanting to watch dvd after 10pm,or why I refuse to bring her out for a walk in rainy weather,or why she is not allow to scribble her ABCs on the sofa,yet is approved on paper...Facing a firm mummy who told her no,she start to get upset,very upset indeed,banging her head on the floor,screeching at the top of her voice,refusing to be carried or pacify,with streams of tears flowing furiously down her chubby cheeks,it is painful to watch,I need a solution and fast....

Times out,reasoning with her were recommended which does not seem to work,for facing an impatient toddler at 16 months with limited vocabulary,it does not make sense,besides,I feel that clover will be so preoccupied with crying to notice little else,whats more,facing a toddler throwing tantrums is enough to make my own temper fraying too,little wonder then that some parents resort to smacking or hitting the kids....

Fortunately,I discovered that the small impersonator is good at imitating,hence I provide her with a soft little cushion,as a punching bag,a good outlet for her frustrations,haha...Initially,she laughed,perhaps she think that I am acting silly,punching the cushion and screeching with all my might,but little clover soon caught up with it,and when she is about to throw her temper,its the cushion to be punch and kick,phew,sound silly but at least clover no longer bang her head on the floor....Though I wonder how long this trick will last?haha...

Hi,ok,yes,you can replace plain flour with self-raising flour,and omit the baking powder,baking soda.Do let me know how it turns out.enjoy.

When every bite counts

Feeding clover used to be sheer delight,watching her little mouth opening wide eagerly,swallowing and asking for 2nd helpings,that now have faded into a distant memory,now mealtimes is always a gamble,not knowing if she will finish even half a bowl,she tend to stick to her old favourites,of avocado,cod fish,pumpkin,when these foods are served,she can lap it all up,but mostly,she will take a few mouthfuls before spitting into our face...eeekss..Worse,she refuse to chew well,preferring to mouth it,till the food is mash before swallowing,hence mealtimes is always slow,patience is required,remaining calm is a true virtue,whenever food is being spat out,usually we will remove it,no fuss,no tears,haha...

This is a challenge for the cook(me),who will then have to be creative in churning out foods that do not choke her,yet every mouthful is bursting with vital nutrients...This is what I have come up with:


Wholemeal cream cheese banana bran muffins with oat milk

It must be moist,else she refuse to even swallow it,hence I added in bananas,some cream cheese for calcium,as clover can be prone to constipation at times,fibre is of utmost importance,bran,oats,wholemeal flour(together with sufficient water and exercise) can help to ease the transitions,resulting in regular bowel movements,to avoid it being too gritty,wholemeal flour,bran is not required in substantial amount,yet enough to help in fibre content,it also makes a healthier breakfast or snack,do try it....

Specially for busy mums who really prefer to rest in bed and lack the time or energy to even bother with cooking,this is meant for you...Or for someone who want to eat healthily yet crave for sweets,try this option...It irks me to see kids tucking into deep fried wings,burgers laden with much sodium,fats,sugars...Though moderation is the key,to some of them moderation is once a week...gosh,isn't that much too often?Healthier options may be available,but I know if I were to eat at fast foods outlet,the more sinful the foods are,the better-tasting it is...haha..if not,why bother going?
(I modified from the book of kids and toddler food: cheese ,bran muffins recipe)
Recipe for the muffins(makes 12)
11/2 cup plain flour
1/2 wholemeal flour
1 tbsp baking powder
60g cream cheese,cubed
1 egg
1/2 cup unprocessed bran(I bought from Nature's farm)
1 tbsp instant oats mixed into 11/4 cup warm milk,can blend to make it finer
4-5 medium bananas,ripe till skin is blackened,mashed,add in 1 tbsp lemon juice
100g melted butter,plus 25g extra-virgin olive oil(note:can choose to use 125g butter instead)
approx 1 cup sugar
Methods:
1.Melt the butter,add in olive oil if using,remove from heat.stir in sugar.Add in egg,oat milk.

2.Sieve flour,wholemeal flour,baking powder in mixing bowl,make a well in centre.Pour in the wet ingredients,stir till just mixed,lumpy mixture.Add in cubed cheese,bananas,fold in.

3.Spoon into muffins cups lined with oil or use paper cups,bake in preheated oven at 200 degree Celsius for about 15-20 minutes.Can freeze in freezer and microwave before eating at medium high for about 3 minutes.

homemade char siew

For the record,this recipe did not come from me,nor did I modify it...It is derived from the AMC cookbook which can be used for grilling,baking,steaming without additional oil,sealing in the juices,making food healthier,and if to seriously compared,well,have to comprised a little on the flavour...In true grilling,the oil is brush on contionusly,food when slightly charred is the best,but of course the oil is always dripping onto the hot coals,emitting a type of fume which makes grilled foods ,especially the charred bits carcinogenic,besides,we hardly go for bbq outdoors,hence this make a healthier alternative,in a league of its own,I would not even called it char siew as it taste not quite the same,but since this is what is titled in the cookbook,so be it...haha...Cant think of any suitable name anyway...haha..Serve wrapped with cruchy vibrant green lettuce,it is a good way to indulge without much guilt...haha...

fruity salad loaf

The best part about baking is that I get to be in full control,omitting this,adding a pinch of that,and finally,to gain full satisfaction upon knowing that my "experiment" work,with a peace of mind,having been able to provide a "healthier" version than commerical one,that is motivational factor,which I cling onto to create and churn out one product after another...haha...Heres a fine example of one bake which I did modify to make it a snack for the little one,tea-time for the adults...Though canned fruits is not really a good option,I must add,however I am stuck with 3 tupper-wares of it,after making fruit-tarts,it is a good way to dispose of it as soon as possible,as much as I can....haha..It also translate into less sugar to be added into this loaf,as canned fruits are usually soaked in heavy syrup,some adjustments is required...
However, I do not dispel the notion of everything in moderation,once in a while,I do indulge especially when comes to chocolate cake making,Mmm...haha..
The response was so positive,moist,soft,slightly chewy and gritty, that I will not hesitate to do it again,anyone who like to try is most welcome to have the recipe:

Fruit salad Loaf
11/2 cup plain flour
1/2 wholemeal flour(I substitute wholemeal flour to increase fibre content)
3/4 cup sugar(original recipe uses 1 cup of sugar)
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup cold,cubed butter
1 egg
rind of one orange/lemon
juice of one orange+30ml milk
1 cup mixed chopped fruits(I sieved the fruits to drain away excess syrup)
Methods:
1.Preheat oven to 180 degree Celsius.Grease and lined loaf tin.

2.Combine flour,raising agents,sugar in bowl.Rub in butter till it resemble breadcrumbs.Add in rind.Toss the fruits into 1/4 of flour mixture.(This is to prevent the fruits from sinking to bottom of cake after baking)

3.In separate bowl,add in egg,juice,milk.Gently fold in fruits,adding all into flour mixture,fold gently.Pour into pan and bake for around 40-45 minutes,till skewer comes out clean.

A poor man's fare

Thats it..what you see is what you get,absolutely no hidden ingredients,no scientific preservatives or chemicals which can easily fool the unaware consumer...a dish that hardly conjures excitement at the table,but to me,it is pure comfort,a dish that evokes memories of me having a quick meal while working as sales assistant,back then,we took turns having our meal usually in the food court to save money,and since I do not like to wait too long for food,whilst the seats are easily filled up,of course,it is easier to have our meal later,but somehow,food courts are always crowded,and I have a strange quirk,I want to have a corner seat,almost as if eating alone is a pathetic,lonely affair which ought to be hurried for fear of exposing of how "unwelcome" I am,haha...(Fortunately,today,I mange to outgrow my "fear" of eating alone...hehe.)

Hence,chicken stew which left simmering for hours,the meat so soft,it simply slipped off the bone,with root vegetables thrown in,makes a substantial meal,and since it has already been cooked,the queue timing is distinctly shorter...haha...Besides,the root vegetables being full of fibre,low cost,filled me up,most importantly,I need to serve dishes which clover can enjoy too,lazy mum do not wish to cook for her separately,haha...Last month,the straits times run an article on sample meals to cook for a family of 4 for only 10 bucks,however,I like to provide a little luxury to see if I can feed the adults and one fussy toddler for around 20 bucks,see if I can rise to the challenge?haha....To try out the poor man's fare,here is what you need:
Chicken stew with root vegetables
3 drumsticks,marinated overnight with a tsp of oyster sauce,sesame oil,dash of pepper
1/4 pumpkin,peeled,cubed
1 carrot,peeled,cubed
1 potato,peeled,cubed
1 sweet potato,peeled,cubed
3-4 sugar peas
1 onion,chopped
2 cloves garlic
approx 500ml of water/stock
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp white wine(optional)
Methods:
1. Heat pan,oil.Add in onion and garlic,fry till fragrant.

2.Add in the drumsticks,fry till brown on both sides,add in root vegetables,add in 1/2 of liquid,stir once in a while.Add in wine.

3.Leave to boil,then simmer,add in rest of liquid,cover and stir once in a while,check water level,add in more if liquids seem to dry up.Add in the peas,as it cook fairly soon.Simmer till chicken is cooked and root vegetables are soft but not mushy.

Thanks for the compliments regarding the muffins,Lishi,sorry to know that the muffins were a tad too dry,perhaps,you can try storing the muffins in the fridge or freezer,and before consuming,pop them into the microwave,to make them warm and fluffy again,instead of leaving it for 2 days on the table,which may dry it out....

Hi-fibre seafood pumpkin risotto

I dislike instant noodles as much as my lao gong cannot stand the sight/taste of wholemeal spaghetti/brown rice...Hence,I was rather surprised when he expressed delight at the wholemeal pasta bolognese the other night,I had even set aside some chicken porridge for him,perhaps,it was curiosity that got the better of him...haha..which is an added bonus for his health,since wholemeal products help to stabilise blood sugar,lower cholesterol,not to mention,rich in fibre,b-vitamins..Bought a pack of short-grained brown rice intending to make some risotto,which I am sure will anger most food critics,haha...well,at least it gives me a peace of mind,knowing that my family is doing well health-wise,hehe...With the addition of home-made apple,cabbage stock,the risotto was so tasty that my lao gong polished off 3 plates,imagine that...wow,do give it a try,especially if you happen to have a family member like mine,haha....
The original recipe is pumpkin risotto,to make it more of a one-dish meal,I added in seafood,and more water/stock may be needed as brown rice require longer cooking time and slightly more water...

Pumpkin,seafood brown rice risotto
(Adapted from pumpkin risotto recipe taken from Oriental cuisine magazine)
1.2 litres water/veg stock(I used apple,carrot,cabbage with lean pork to make stock)
1 tsp butter,1 tbsp olive oil(the original recipe called for 30g butter)
1 chopped onion,2 cloves of chopped garlic
900g cubed pumpkin(I used around 1kg)
80ml UHT whipped cream
60ml white wine
4 tbsp grated cheddar cheese(salt is omitted as cheese is used)
500g brown short-grained rice(rinsed,can be soaked to reduce cooking time)
2 big squids,cleaned and sliced
500g prawns,peeled and devined
freshly ground black pepper

methods:

1.Heat pan,add in butter and olive oil,fry onion and garlic.
2.Add in rice,pumpkin,cook till rice is transparent.
3.Pour in wine,allow to bubble fiercely.
4.Add 1/4 of the stock/water,stir consistently until all liquid is absorbed.
5.Gradually add in the stock/water,stir all the time,till all liquid is absorbed before adding the next ladleful of stock/water.Lower the heat.
6.After 30 minutes or so,the rice should be creamy,add in the UHT cream.Stir in seafood.Once rice,seafood is cooked,remove from heat,add in cheese,black pepper,cover and leave to stand for 5 minutes.Garnish with extra cheese,black pepper,sliced cherry tomato if desired.



Wow,Do I have a genius baby?"Gasp"
Clover is flipping an Oxford dictionary,after which she happily flung it onto the floor,together with my "shattered dream" of a natural born reader...haha...

Being small does not matter

Lemon-banana bite-sized muffins

I sworn to eat healthily,exercise regularly,yet I must have my desserts,especially when it is that time of the month,craving heightens,sensory buds on high alert,every month I will be muching on the one thing,before getting so sick of it that the particular food will be strike off my list for months,haha...Strangely,every month my cravings differs,but whatever the chosen dish is,it is always a headache for my lao gong,for I will grumble if I cannot get hold of it ,believe it or not,I can eat the dish or food for days on end,haha...Some cravings that I had were soyabean jelly dessert,chocolate,durian puffs,oyster omelette,white cabbage soup,red bean ice cream, french loaf,no kidding,I will be chewing on the plain crusty bread during tea-time,which added more kilos,making me work much harder ,sigh,a kiss on the lips ,an inch on the hips,haha...So this time round,my cravings were banana muffins,baked in bite-sized portions,what a CHEATER,haha..just who exactly am I kidding?To make up for it,I jogged three rounds at the stadium,way to go,hurray,more room for desserts now,haha...

Lemon banana muffins(Yields about 18 mini muffins)
100g plain flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
rind of one lemon
1 egg
50g sugar
25g melted butter
3 tbsp milk
1/2 cup mashed bananas,add in 1 tbsp lemon juice
Methods:
1.Put egg,sugar,rind and melted butter in bowl and mix well.Sieve flour,raising agents into a clean bowl,and pour all into the egg mixture.

2.Mix swiftly into a wet,thick,lumpy paste.Fold in bananas and take about 1 rounded tsp of mixture to fill into mini paper cups.Check that mixture is about 3/4 full.(To be eco-friendly,simply oiled the muffin tray before adding in the mixture)

3.Bake for about 15-20 minutes in preheated oven at 180 degree celcius.


Notice how clover is imitating us?Even the way she sits cross-legged at the ankles is so much like her daddy,haha..

Waste Not,Want Not

Skipped grocery shopping for almost two weeks,rushing to attend workout sessions,meeting friends up over dinner has left my lao gong in an unpleasant mood,to say the least...coming home famished,and a peep under the food-cover reveal one pathetic vegetable dish is hardly his idea of a standard dinner fare...Not that my helper do not know how to cook,but when she require 45 minutes to get a stir-fried vegetable dish ready from the chopping board to the table,excluding washing -up,well,it seem so much easier to just double the portion for a hungry man rather than attempting to satisfy the tastebuds by cooking more dishes,anyway,back to the salmon,well,these are what we are left with,while I am glad that the fish came completed,it also prove a challenge as to what to do with the niffy-gritty bits,read"scales,tail and little flesh on bones" The possibilities were not limited ,I realised,but since I had only bare essentials,it make sense to prepare my own version of salmon-sardine spaghetti bolognese...haha..Boiled some water,dumped in the rinsed "spare parts",remove ,flaked it and coupled with canned mushrooms,bottled spaghetti sauce,canned sardines,wholemeal spaghetti,thrown in some capsicums,grated cheese ,I was able to well,prepared a one-dish dinner,with minimal fuss,satisfy the hunger and tastebuds of that lao gong,what more can I ask for?haha....

Introducing the QA inspector

Do not underestimate her even though she stands at only 84cm,and weighs merely 11.9kg,and cannot speak properly yet,she walks with her hands behind in an authoritative manner,inspecting the goods through that fussy taste buds of her,fortunately,she decided that our tarts deserved a clap for she enjoyed the little cherry,morsel of the tart shell,giving us her broadest grin,haha...we passed the test,phew...
Baking with friends make my afternoon an enjoyable one,to me,spending time with friends is a way for me to recharge,to catch up on the latest gossip and generally involved in one another's life...I am very blessed to be surrounded by supportive friends,and somehow,over the years,I learn that if a person is negative,not because of a bad patch,but generally is pessimistic in nature,that will emits out bad vibes which goes round affecting others,oh,dear,usually,I will steer clear of them,life is tough,I want to surround myself with positive aura,hence this small small gathering of creating lovely chocolate fruit tarts...hehe..I had a great time ,what about you?



Recipe for fruit tarts
Tart shell
220g butter
360 flour
1 tsp baking powder
120g sugar
2 eggs

Filling:
fruit cocktail/peach/sardine with chopped onion,chilli,lemon juice with cheese/any other desired topping
melted chocolate
whipped cream/custard

Methods:

1.Cut butter into cubes,rub into flour till it resemble breadcrumbs.

2.Add in eggs,make into a dough,if it is still too dry,add a little cold water.

3.If dough is too soft,place inside freezer to firm it a little,roll out pastry to 4 mm thick,cut using pastry cutter.

4.Line the tart cases with dough,prick surface using a fork,weigh it down with beans on greaseproof paper before baking it blind for about 20 minutes in a preheated oven at 180 degree Celsius.

3.Remove tarts,remove beans and paper,bake it blind again for about 10 minutes till the centre is dried.Leave to cool before adding in melted chocolate and top with fruit cocktail.(Due to time shortage,we made it into chocolate tarts,if time permits,pipe some whipped cream or custard before topping up the fruits)

4.Glaze with either agar-agar solution or apricot glaze.
(Note:I used strawberry jam as glaze as I do not have apricot,which seem to have dull the colours of the tarts.It will be better to use apricot jam instead)

Cry Foul

"Injustice,I am no plain jane" Er...oh...oops,I supposed if these citrus egg tarts were given a voice,thats most likely what they will be yelling...I certainly need lots of practice on the asethetic aspect,even my lao gong had a hard time -deciding on the photograph so as not to potray a poor image on himself-the hard-core photograpy enthanastic...haha..Fortunately ,whats lacking in the looks department is more than make up for in the sensory aspect...The tarts shells were buttery,melt-in the mouth,with a tinge of orange with each bite,whereas the custard,though slightly overdone,provides a satisfying lemon scent...Nice,however,it is boring doing it alone,hence I think it will be a rather long time before I attempt tarts again...haha...
Citrus Egg tarts recipe(yield about 15 egg tarts):
(Adapted from AMC cookbook with modifications of my own)
pastry shells
125g cold cubed butter
225g plain flour
1/2 beaten egg
1 tbsp sugar
orange rinds of one orange
Methods:
1.Sift flour,rub butter in flour till it resemble breadcrumbs,Add in beaten egg,orange rinds and shape into a dough.Pinch a ball from the dough and shape into tart mould.

2.As the dough may appear wet and hard to shape,freeze it when it becomes too soft and sticky for a short while before shaping into mould,bake empty shells into preheated oven at 180 degree celcius for about 10 minutes,I weighed down the shells with greaseproof paper and beans to prevent the shells from puffing up.

3.After 10 minutes or so,take out tray,remove the beans,and bake it blind again for 5 mins till centre of shell is dry too.Pour egg mixture into shells,bake for 10-15 minutes,centre should still be wobbly,which I made a mistake by overbaking till centre is completely firm.

Tart filling:
70g sugar
150ml milk/water
2 tbsp lemon juice
4 egg yolks,3 egg whites
Methods:
1.Stir sugar into boiling water or milk till dissolved.Add in lemon juice,leave to cool.
2.Beat in eggs,filter mixture using a sieve,pour into tarts shells to bake.


Check out her Sexy pose

The weather is so scorching hot nowadays,the fiery sunrays beating down mercilessly which make me keep clover indoors,dresssing her in sleeveless tops and dress do help to cool her down,since she is so prone to heat rashes,yet her nose is sensitive to air-con...Hmm..will the clouds please gather more often around here?haha...

Bak Kwa Pizza

Went to visit my uncle and was presented with bak kwa,the bbq sweet meat..We hardly consume bbq or canned foods,yet I accepted the gift with good grace,for fear of offending...So that was that...now the inevitable question of how/what to do with the meat?Serving it alongside with porridge or rice is fine,but I like to prepare something simple before the big cookout for the night,as I am expecting nine guests for dinner...and it will be a one woman-show for me..haha..

Since we love pizza,so why not let bak kwa be the topping?Nowadays,along with rising food cost,it seem that the price of wheat is going to be on all-time high,I prefer to make my own with a fraction of the cost compared to commerical pizza,and I get to choose and pick our favourite toppings,and most importantly avoid overeating,haha...Usually,I can get so tempted with the side order that grilled chicken wings,garlic bread is added,the drink seem to be at a reasonable price too?well,bring it on...haha.

If you like to try your own pizza,heres the recipe for the dough,it is so simple that only 15 minutes is require,but one hour is needed to proof,so usually I will just prepared my dough much earlier then leave it under the sun covered with aluminium foil or cling wrap to let teh yeast work hard(warm,sweet,moist environment is best for yeast),while I play with clover or do my own stuff..hehe..

Pizza Dough:
(Adapted from 500 all-times great recipes)
1 1/2 bread flour
1 tsp dried yeast
1/2-3/4 warm water,warm milk(If using milk,omit sugar as milk contains lactose-milk sugar)
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp salt(I omit)

Methods:
1. Sift flour and salt in a large mixing bowl.Stir in the yeast.Make a well in the centre,pour in warm water,warm milk and oil.Mix into soft dough.

2.Knead a dough lightly onto lightly floured board for about 8-10 minutes till it is smooth and elastic.

3.Place in another clean greased bowl,cover,and leave to double in size for an hour.Shape it to pan,bake in preheated oven at 200 degree celcius,poke the dough lightly all over using a fork,bake in oven for about 5 minutes,before placing the toppings,and bake again for about 20-25 minutues.Enjoy.
2.

Recipes for Us..

Over the years,I have lost count of the number of recipes and recipes that I hoarded,some were carelessly flung asides,some were well-thumbed,trusted upon when I am expecting guests,many of which,I am somewhat embrassed to confess,will have to wait for their turn,to be proven on how delicious it can be,before deciding to keep or dump...

However,in my quest for searching for that "perfect" recipe of a particular dish,which of course do not really exist ,for we all have different perspectives of taste.I have stumbled upon two recipes of which I like to practise and honed my "skills"upon,one of which is a cake,whereby,with experience and sufficient baking time in the oven,will yield satisfactory result,the other being a stew of which we all know require long cooking time,slow fire to produce a thick,not too cloying dish that I just could not get enough of,haha...enjoy..

Happiness Cake(RECIPE BY Ajahn Brahmavanso)
Adapted from Be magazine
*take half a tablespoon of inner peace
*mix with half a tablespoon of service to others
*Sweeten to taste with many heaped teaspoon of loving kindness
*Sift out the lumps from the fault-finding mind
*Add plenty of nutty jokes and fruity wisdom of the sage
*Bake a lifetime in the oven of daily experience until happiness cake is light and happy
*But nibble some of it now,lest past and future steals it...

Marriage stew
(Unknown author)
Adapted from so fat,low-fat and no fat cookbook

2 concerned persons
2 cups love
2 pinches understanding
2 teaspoons patience
2 cans of trust
2 well-rounded measures of sex
plenty of honest friendship

Combine the 2 concerned persons and 2 cups of love.Blend with understanding and patience.Beat lightly with a spoonful of laughter.Add 2 cans of trust and pour mixture into the casserole of life.Add in tears,dreams,soft touch and remembering.
As mixture is simmering,saute sex in tenderness.Cook to taste,garnish with a heap of kisses and serve with honest friendship.

My most expensive ,worthy catch

After having my caeffein fix upon completion of walking a mere 1.6km(anlene mile),the distance is nothing to boost about,but for me,it is a good headstart,in addition,I get to catch up with my girlfriend,peipei...hehe..Not many shops were open then at plaza sing,well,we were the early birds,headed to the supermarket,where we stumbled upon a good bargain,or so I thought,fresh cod and salmon were on offer...yum yum...But the catch was this,I had to purchase the whole fish in order to qualify for the offer,woa,what a big,heavy fish to lug home..nevertheless,I was delighted at the offer.this is OMega-3 at its purest form,good for clover brain,skin development,besides,it is a good opportunity for me to showcase my culinary skills,putting my collected,almost turning yellow recipes to good use...haha..so that was it,the most expensive catch I ever bought.but the fish were really fresh,will I buy again?For sure,I will..haha...




Presenting to you my 2nd slab of salmon,orange teriyaki salmon,the flesh was flaky,not too salty,yum,I like it...The night before,my helper took one chunky slice,cut half to add into clover's porridge,which she detest as salmon has a particular milky taste,which can be lessened by using some seasonings..Clover took no more than 2 bites before she refuse the whole bowl..the rest my helper fried it till the salmon was blackened,which upset my lao gong so much that he complained to me via sms...80 bucks is slowly disappearing into black soot,haha...Oh well,to compensate him,I whipped up this salmon and this whole chunk was specially reserved for him...haha...

Heres the recipe to try:
2 thick salmon slices
3 tbsp teriyaki sauce
skin from 1 whole orange,sliced thickly
chinese parsley,handful,chopped to release aroma
1/3 cup orange juice
3 cloves of garlic,sliced,reserve one for frying
1/2 tomato chopped
1/2 large onion,for frying

1.Use a eyebrow plucker to remove the splinters without tearing the flesh apart.Rinse and marinate the salmon using the orange skin,juice,parsley,garlic and sauce for 3-4 hours using glass bowl.Flip every now and then.remove the orange peel before cooking.

2.Heat pan,add in 1 tbsp of olive oil,add in garlic,add in salmon and marinate,add in some water if it appear dry,garnish and serve once cooked.enjoy.

Hi,all,thanks for your comliments on the chocolate cupcakes,glad you all like it.Sorry Joanne,but I have to decline your request,this recipe was somewhat created after numerous attempts and I like to guard this recipe,letting it remain a secret...haha...

Oreo chocolate cakes

Oreo pieces floating


Intense chocolate cakes

Out of impulse,I bought two boxes of oreo cookies,intending to try out a non-baked chocolate oreo cheesecake,only to discover later that I have no idea how to pack it if I were to meet my friends without risking the cheesecake becoming a runny mess...haha..Hence,I turn it into chocolate oreo cupcakes instead,but as this is only a trial as I was worried that too many oreo cookies may cause the mixture to be too dry,fortunately my worries was unfounded,the next time when I baked this again,I will definitely add in more oreo cookies,thats for sure...haha...Out of the 12 cupcakes,I gave all away,leaving my lao gong and me with only one cupcake to share,which my lao gong then claimed that "one person one bite,relationship not broken"..haha...which I think if you have heard of the famous hokkien song in 881 show,most likely you know what I am referring to...haha.

Citrus cake for clover,family,friends and more,,,,

Hmm...who took a big chunk of the slice?


Eat,drink,play,be merry

I am intrigued by the wide choices of dishes that can be prepared for a toddler,which somehow inspired me to create my own too,haha...Oh well,and there you see it,a citrus cake prepared using her milk,for fibre intake,I added in 2 tsp of blended prunes(from baby food),oats and reduce the sugar intake since I intend this to be a somewhat healthier than normal cake...haha..The result is well-received by both adults and clover too...not too sweet,crumbly with the uplifting tangy taste..yum yum...Nice but well,it is never good to consume too much..hence,this morning,my lao gong brought the rest to share with his colleagues for tea...haha...

Moderation is the key,input must be balanced by output(not through the other end of the body,haha) to achieve energy balance..Attended my first kickboxing class last night,verdict:gosh,its whole lots of fun,I enjoyed myself thoroughly,I guess the feeling is different working out alone versus one group of women breaking into a sweat....somehow,looking at others exercising make me carrying on too...Now that my lao gong has agreed to accompany me to participate in SAFRA shear bridge run,it has brought our family fitness to a new level,hehe...Life is good,haha...

Interesting dish indeed

Can you figure out what this mixture is?When I saw this was what my helper had cooked for lunch,I was skeptical...firstly,it is savoury,using lean pork and soya sauce,secondly,it is not the dish I am used to,bittergourd and green beans...hmm...either I cook bittergourd soup or green bean sweet dessert,but not married the two together...Nevertheless,the curious side of me took over and I took a bite...Hmm..not too bad,though I would not say it make my list of favourites in the near future...haha...

However,this is a good dish/meal for detoxifying(minus the lean pork)..haha...for green beans and bittergourd is cooling and good for lowering cholesterol,cleanes the blood,I have read that bittergourd is effective against constipation,fever and cough...in fact,I ought to consume this more a more frequent basis,without the pork or soya sauce next time....For a good,clear complexion maybe?haha...

Why worry,be happy

For the longest time ever,I noticed that clover's right eye somehow seem misaligned with the other,the eye appear to be drifted off the line of vision,worry that she may have lazy eye,or inherit poor vision as well,since both my lao gong and I wear specs,I slot an appointment with an eye specialist to check her eyes thoroughly,to my relief based on the detailed report,the findings show that she is normal,as her face is growing,it appear as though her right eye is not focused ,but in actual reality,she is phew,having good vision...To which my lao gong says"I told u so",oops,is my anxiety getting to a suffocating level?

At times,I thank my lucky stars that I have only one child,or else my worries may seem endless,but then again,having more kids may also mean I am more experienced and less likely to let such trivial stuff truffle my feather,haha...gosh,am I contradicting?haha...Boy,am I always worry over clover?Hmm...wondering if my mummy friends can testify to my list,haha...I worry when :
1.clover don't flip,then when she does,I worry if she will fall off the bed
2.clover don't poo,then when she does,I will observe the poo closely to see if shes having constipation,undigested food particles,never had poo become a subject of interest till she comes along..haha..
3.clover don't eat solids,then when she does,I worry about what to cook,whether she will eat,or if she choke...
4.clover don't know how to walk independently,then when she does,I worry about whether she will bump into things or knock her head..
5.clover refuse her milk,then when she does,I worry if I am overfeeding her...haha..
The list gets longer as time goes by,but hey,why worry so much?Things will sort itself out,I really must learn to put worry into perspective....easier say than done...haha..Hey,I must change it to can be done,slowly...haha...