Days [and nights] should be so.

I have to admit, ever since H and I splurged on our marital bed, every other bed is just seemingly -too hard, too soft, has poking wires and so fourth.

Then we'd complain about the pillows whenever we're travelling. On that note- why are hotel pillows always so darn sinking soft?

Every hotel should have pillow menus I reckon!

We're kinda spoilt that way. Brats! Annoying brats. Whingers!

I was pretty lucky this time. As part of the birthday-mini-getaway, H decided to book a fairly reputable hotel right along Orchard.

I have to admit, the bed was pretty good. [I still love my bed, but hey who's complaining on a holiday?!] The sheets were soft. But I guess the pillows were still a little too soft for my liking.

I liked how the adjustable lamp hung from the ceiling.

..How they had modern interpretations of Chinese decor...

...How they had small details to make the guest feel welcomed...


...And how there we're a-plenty of shower nozels to scrub myself clean.

Oh..and I had to tell you this...

Meritus Mandarin Hotel is also well known for their Hainanese Chicken Rice.

We arrived quite late from our flight and after settling in a bit, we got a tad hungry. The bonus was, Chatterbox was on the 28th floor and was open 24 hours during weekends. -Just right for our Hainanese Chicken Rice dinner.

How could you beat eating Hainanese Chicken Rice, drinking Chin Chou and looking into Singapore's cityscape way into the night?

Ok, so it wasn't the best place for photos, but hey, it was a great beginning to a mini-getaway.

Meritus Mandarin

333 Orchard Road

Singapore 238867

Tel: (65) 6737 4411

Another Candle on the Cake

I've got alot of explaining to do. I haven't been blogging much because ironically so much has been happening. [Ironic because when I have lots to say I have no time to write it-life just works that way sometimes]

Anyways..

Happy birthday tweedledee! -I just got another year older. Bleh. ...

Four years ago (2005)- I was living in KL, H flew to surprise me on my birthday only to find he'd be meeting my parents for the first time! -They too, flew in to celebrate.

...Three years ago (2006)- H cooked up a dinner for two, baked his infamous Prune cake [and maybe that was the last I've ever had it] and we flew to Perth after for a friend's wedding. I was also then pleasantly surprised by a birthday dinner thrown by my dearest and closest girlfriends.

...Two years ago (2007)- I think we celebrated with dinner at Marriott, but all is vague now.

...One year ago (2008)- We had a quiet one. I got a cake and present at the stroke of midnight- My very first taste of Mac. We then went for a day trip to Brunei, followed by dinner.

-All of which I remember [or don't] because I flipped through photos.

This year, I thought I better keep track because I'm fast forgetting! We had a birthday-getaway at the Merlion City. -Hail Singapore!

We started bright n early with a trip to Tanjong Pagar just for their renowned Bak Ku Teh. My family has followed this outlet around Singapore for the past 20 years or so. We're serious BKT fans!

I love how their soup is infused with garlic and pepper

..How their mustard greens are just right- not too salty or overpowering

..And how my love for pork inner bits can be ordered here..

..simply..just how everything goes together.

And it is here I confess, I love their mustard greens so much I decided to pack some, and fly them back-hand carried. Taking care of it as though it was my baby. I would of asked for a Fragile sticker but I didn't want customs to think I was insane. -I get crazy about food like that.

..Moving on..

The heavy breakfast meant we weren't really up for lunch..so we figured we'd try some snacks.

Here's Green Tea Mochi ice cream- say it with the Cookie Monster tone- cos you can chomp it down really easy. We got ours from Beard Papa's. So addictive!

Here's my cream puff also from Beard Papa's.

We ended the day with dinner at Lawry's [again]. This time I took better photos to show you why I clearly have a Lawry's addiction.

First there's the spinning bowl salad, served with chilled plates and forks complete with a waitress doing a rotating dance routine. -serious!

Then, the beef is carved in front of you by a chef, with meat to your liking and cut specifically to either enhance taste, flavour or texture.

For those who just aren't into blood or rare meat, skip now! Here's my beef served with yummy mash and a rich gravy. I kind of feel like a carnivore sometimes.

..and Yorkshire Pudding. Soft, crunchy..just right with gravy.

We nearly always also order a pan of mushrooms because H is a mushroom addict.

And this time, I got a cake too! Complete with photos complimentary of Lawry's that was emailed to me the next day. Thats what i call 5-star service!

So there..this year's birthday was kinda..literally...all about food. I guess next year or the year after and the year after that will most probably be about food too.

So long my Swedish Love

I'm currently going over this.

As in over, and over- squint- your- eyes- and- see- the- ruffled- corners-over!

I know its slightly late, but hey you got to give me credit. Let me tell you all about the trials and tribulations of getting anything Ikea around here.

A few months ago, this catalogue was flown in. Yes, air-flown. My beloved sister knows I have this weird attachment to all things Ikea and hence saves me anything Ikea related when she sees one. My parents bring it back to me and I start drooling.

Bless my sister and my parents for enduring this weird obsession I have. But I swear I'm normal.

Then if I were to order anything, I'd need to fly it in too..or even cargo it. Yes, I've done that before.

So now that I'm going over and over it for my own house, I realised I'm just going to get the carpenter to make my furniture. Serious. And before you come knocking on my door to tell me I've broken my life-long promise to stick through thick and thin with Ikea..let me tell you why.

Ikea gets expensive once I have to ship it in. And when I do ship it in, sometimes it gets broken. Not to mention I need to go over things a million times or so on the phone with my shipping agent. So it kind of defeats the purpose of Ikea in the first place.

So, I'm going to start from square one. Draw my own cupboards/wardrobes and give it to my carpenter. This was the scenario for doing my kitchen and I guess I'll have to go through it again. But it doesn't stop me from picking up this book...cos it's kinda my inspiration.

Sorry I've betrayed you Ikea, but I guess we needed to part some day.

Where's my craft room?

The last time I did anything remotely crafty was back in August and my hands have been itching ever since. My supplies are still everywhere and nothing [in terms of crafting] has changed.

I've been busy with my other hobby- baking. Ala-mooncakes! I felt like a mooncake factory last week after churning boxes of mooncakes for family and friends. After the first batch, I made more, and more ..and more!- Oreo Mooncakes, Pandan Mooncakes, Green Tea Lotus Mooncakes..which has most probably deterred me from making mooncakes for another five years or so..

But maybe thats what marriage does to you. Part of [not so] newlywed novelty is indulging your other half with food and all things equally comforting. -I'll keep you updated on this one. Or maybe I'm in serious need of a huge table with many drawers to sort out all my nic-naks.

Yesterday I felt compelled to write a thank you note. I haven't written notes in a very long time. Not the lovey-dovey-might-make-you-gag type anyway.

H has been sweet. He's organised a mini-getaway for my birthday- I'll tell you about it soon:) It provided me the perfect excuse to use my new-but old supplies.

Wait..does that make sense? New because I've never used them, despite buying them for a looong time. They've been really lonely sitting in boxes. Poor crafties. We will meet soon, I promise.

So this was a quick one, complete with matching transparent envelope @ postcard size.

I need this

..So maybe I don't. But I've been drooling over it and couldn't live another day without buying it. I got it for my nephew!

They should make this for adults. Seriously. Adults would look so cute- you might spot me from 10 kilometers away, but heck I'd have a fun ride. I'd just tell H to tug me along when my feet are tired. I'd sit on it when I'm tired from shopping and put my stuff in it too.

I think these are one of those moments H is proud to have me as his wife.

hahahaaa....

Just incase you have similar thoughts as me and think you'd look uber cool with one..I got my [technically my nephew's] Trunki Tipu Tiger from here and the link is here. -Got the image there too.

Where are my bed bugs?

Shhh..it's midnight, and I'm awake. I've turned a million times, closed my eyes for atleast a few hours, read magazines..and now I'm here. Hurray. ?!?!

H is fast asleep right beside me. Snoring away. 

Midnight thought: You reckon if I start tickling him he'd be angry? Or entertain me like last time ? Hmm. No. I'm a nice wife. I swear. Despite previous times where I may of asked him stupid questions, tonight I won't. I promise. But I am tempted to wriggle his nose and pinch his cheeks.

Ok, I won't. Nice wife. Nice wife. Think nice wife. Think sheep. Sheep. Lots of sheep. Or cows? No..sheep. Sheep jump over the fence better. Dogs? No, sheep.

My latest obsession

These, yes these, are my latest obsessions. No, not my fat feet...my shoes. My dear shoes. I wear them everyday. They are shoes that love me. Really. They are my OKA b's. So I should of cleaned them before the photo...but just ignore that part.

They [should] kinda look like these, but mine has a ribbon. I wear them everywhere. Just incase you're wondering, they havent commissioned me for this, I'm just in love. They were even on Oprah. Come on people..Oprah!

When I bought them, I wanted two. The other one would of been like this.

And this was my justification to H :

I can use them when I'm preggers next time, you know, they're safe and non-slip.

-Thats how I work my hubby. Tee Hee.

Well, I didn't get my second pair..but I wish I did. And I will [I'm terribly determined on this matter].

Just to give you some information about my OKA b's, here's what the website says:

WHY OKA b.

Shoes That Love You™OKA b. offers unmatched comfort in footwear without sacrificing a sense of style. OKA b. cares about feet and fashion, and offers more than just footwear – we create Shoes That Love You: -I agree. Totally. Did I tell you that already?

Antimicrobial material resists bacteria, keeping feet clean and healthy-No smelly feet so far! Wait, did you need to know that?!

Microplast® technology provides cushioned, lightweight and flexible foot support -I don't really know what's Microplast, but yes they're light and soft.

Massage-beaded foot bed pampers feet with each step -Uh huh

Reflexology-inspired and ergonomic design

One-piece, fully molded construction ensures stability and durability

Non-slip, non-marking soles prevent slips andtrips in spa and pool areas -I told you they're good for maternity?!

Colorfast, non-fading material keeps OKA b. styles looking new

Vegan-Friendly and Recyclable -Seriously?! Are there non-vegetarian shoes??!!!

Proudly made in the USA

Two-year guarantee

And here's the extra bonus. When I bought mine in Singapore, the tanned-beachy dude who was most probably 10 years younger than me told me I can chuck them in the dishwasher or washing machine to wash them. Aint that cool?! -Atleast he thought it was uber cool.

So who's up for some internet shopping???

*Note: Original images, besides the one of my fat feet are from OKA b's website.

Snow Skin Mooncake

Rewind 10 [ok, possibly 20] years ago. I got back from school to a house filled with chatter-aunts and sweet aromas all coming from my mum's kitchen. The dining table had a stack of mooncakes baked and another pile filled with white fluffy mooncakes. This bunch of housewives had everything going- tins of lotus paste, lots of pastry and even matching mooncake boxes.-This was my first recollection of mooncakes and Mid-Autumn Festival.

I remember asking my mum why were there fluffy mooncakes? Were they raw and uncooked? ..And then I most probably scoffed them down the second she told me they were edible and digested the whole thing when she told me they were Snow skin [ping pi] mooncakes.

Now, a few months into marriage and I'm conforming to my wifely duties. -Much like those chatter-aunts that were in the kitchen pleasing their husband's tummy. To be utterly honest, I wasn't too keen on making mooncakes. From memory, it seemed like something that would test my patience and make my body go weak. Yes, I'm lazy like that.

But after H's failed desperate prowl for snow skin mooncakes the night before, I thought I'd be nice- you know, to make up for the times i'm embarassing, childish..or for those toe drawings I do.

So here goes my mess..

Life is so much easier with plastic moulds

Excuse my fat fingers- pandan lotus mooncakes in the making

Green Tea Snow Skin Mooncakes

The lot. With imperfections and all.

Guess who got lots of kisses and wife points last night?! Tee Hee.

Simplicity takes it

My mind had been calling for some comfort food for the whole week. It had to be warm, with loads of egg and cheese.

Come Saturday afternoon and I needed some lunch fast, no fuss- way easy.

And this is what came from it..I'm not sure if its a frittata or a omelette..either way it tasted good!

Egg and Cheese bake

1 cup cream

5 eggs

Handful of Cheese- I used whatever was in my fridge, in this case, Colby cheese

Dash of Paprika

Dash of Pepper

Dash of Salt

This is the easiest instructions ever - you ready?

Chuck everything together and mix 'til even. Bake on 180 Celcius for 20 minutes.

What came out was what I had conjured in my mind all week. It was light, soft, fluffy, cheesy.. just what I needed.

Now I'm suffice...

Butterscotch Cheesecake

I'm a lazy cook. So lazy in fact, I couldn't be bothered taking those huge distracting crumbs away before taking the photo.

I'm the type who loves simple recipes made with the least amount of ingredients. Preferably from things already stocked in my pantry. This is one of those lazy cheesecake recipes.

Butterscotch Cheesecake

Base

250g plain sweet biscuits

125g butter, melted

Filling

4 eggs

140g Caster Sugar

500g Cream Cheese

Butterscotch Topping

1/2 Cup firmly packed brown sugar

40g butter

1 tablespoon Cream

Method:

1) Process biscuits until fine and combine with melted butter. Press mixture over a 20cm springform pan and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2) Preheat oven to 120 Celcius fan-forced.

3) Make filling by beating eggs and sugar until thick and creamy.

4) In a separate bowl, beat cheese until smooth and add into egg mixture. Beat until combined.

5) Pour filling into springform pan and water-bake for 1 1/2 hours or until set.

6) While cooling the cake, make butterscotch topping by heating the ingredients in small saucepan until smooth.

7) Spread over cheesecake and leave for 3 hours or overnight to set.

And if you're lazy like me..you can still take the photo with the crumbs in it.

Dear Mr Jobs

Dear Mr Steve Jobs,

I write to inform that your Iphone is a bad invention

... and I suspect my husband is cheating on me.

Ofcourse, I know I really shouldn't bother you with our marital problems, but I suspect- no, I'm positive, my husband is cheating on me with your Iphone 3G.

Ever since my husband found Miss I.3G, our communication has deteriorated. Every night before we sleep, he would be totally engrossed with Miss I.3G only to gently lay her to bed right beside him. Every morning the moment he wakes up, he greets Miss I.3G before he greets me.

When we have dinner he concentrates on what she's communicating instead of me.

Furthermore, last night I caught my husband furiously tapping his fingers on Miss I.3G. Apparently Miss I.3G has a function that makes his fingers run on her- my husband tells me its a finger race! Good gawd!

But you know where the real problem is? My husband also encourages me to find another.

I plead you to also warn others by adding this extra warning to your device. Your label should read: Warning: marriages my fail after the usage of this device. Use at own risk.

Please help.

Yours Truly,

Married with I-trouble.

Cake Flour

There are some really nifty smitten cooks out there!- and since i'm not one of them..I thought i'd introduce you to one.

I've been following Joy the Baker for a while now. It's one of those foodie blogs i religiously follow and wish I had such kitchen talents. Anyway...she gave a great blog on Cake flour. Yes..making your own cake flour. I just had to share.

'Cos I know alot of people overseas find it hard to find cake flour, and when I go to baking classes, alot of my foreign classmates don't know whats cake flour. And really, cake flour costs an arm and a leg in comparison to plain flour- which really shouldnt be the case.

Cake flour simply put- is sifted all purpose flour and cornflour! It makes cakes/bakes lighter and softer, but isn't ideal for breads. Go here for the full instructions.

How's House?

I've been counting...and I'm really in Week 52 of house building. Which technically makes this house 1 years old, still not finished and completely delayed. I could sit here and ramble on about the causes of delays..but I won't. I'm not going to whinge. I'm just gonna live with it. 'Cos I'm [suppose to be] a mature woman.

What I will tell you is this..we've finally got windows. Parts of the house have been decked with louvre windows. For two reasons really- one for aesthetics and the second for security. I was quite sure for one that I didnt want grills over my openings. Yes, in Asia, its very common to have grills over windows and doors for security purposes. But then how would I deal with security?

So together with my glass maker, we came up with this system- louvres with grills inside the frame. Within each white frame holding the glass panels is a steel bar. This steel bar acts as a hidden grill. Kinda nifty I reckon- cos you wouldn't of otherwise known.

And if you notice close enough..our ceilings are up too.

Ahhh..the tiles. The tiles have been up for a while now. I remembered the pain of choosing them. I would complain to you about the suppliers..or lack of..but I wont. Because I promised. But can I just say there are some very unprofessional people out there?!

Now that its out of my system..lets continue.

This is the common bathroom. Kindly excuse me not wiping it down for photograph purposes..but I wanted to show you how boring I am. Beige. Off white. Mosaic tiles. As simple as that. After hours if not days of labouring whether tiles should be creamy white, white white, beige white...it really doesnt make that much of a different when it's up. Seriously.

House isn't quite home yet. We've still got lots to do. But look who has moved in-

Wasps. oh Gawd! I'm not befriending them but can someone tell me how I shoo them away?

Try-Hard Gourmet

Sometimes I dream of being a chef, having my own patisserie, slaving in my little kitchen making daintly things sweet and savoury. So then I try and realise my dream for a second, and by that I mean a split second! The moment I have a tad of hope for that patisserie of mine..POOF..I do something terribly wrong and I realise I need my day job. Desperately!

So here is my try hard moment-

I imagined tiny carrot cupcakes with little crunchy walnut bits, smothered with cream cheese frosting, accentuated with a dash of white chocolate.

Just to let you know, the little crunchy walnut bits were replaced with chopped prune bits because walnuts decided to go on holiday that day. First detour.

So the little cuppies were getting baked and I didn't hear my timer because I was cooking dinner. Hence, cuppies sat in the oven a tad too long. Second detour.

I still had some determination left and thought I'd made the most out of it anyway. I creamed the cheese and melted my chocolate. Here's where it got all tricky and my dream was quickly poofing away.

I thought doing chocolate was gonna be damn easy. How wrong was I!

I melted the chocolate, gently spread it out. When it hardened I placed my cookie cutter on it only to realise my try hard gourmet part wasnt coming through. Darn. Think TweedleDee think. A few minutes of searching whats left in my tiny brain I finally got the solution. So I bring you...tadaaaa....

Swirled chocolate on white chocolate!~

The end product didnt turn out too bad. I present to you Carrot detoured Prune Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting..its nowhere near gourmet though...

and.....me being a patisserie chef? Bleh.