End of 2011 & Beginning of 2012

According to Mayan calender, 2012 is predicted to be the year when the world comes to an end. For me, 2011 should be the end of the world. Nothing can come in comparison with the amount of negative vibes I received in 2011. In a way, every month is a bad month for me and every quarter a big thing will happened.

Stated below is the biggest events that happened to me in 2011

1) 1st holiday for CNY to Bali - Volcano eruptions. Trip postponed
2) Pregnant in May and D & C operation in July - Blighted Ovum, pregnancy concluded failure
3) News of Dr Loh leaving KK
4) Failed FETs in Nov & Dec
5) Relationship with Bok hit rock bottom
6) Last holiday to Hong Kong on 30 Dec - Postpone because of bird flu.

A fortune teller once told me that I should have quite a easy life and if I did any mistake then things will start to change. Guess my payback days are officially here and good bye to my carefree days.

2012, what should I be expecting?

Unhappy Xmas 2011

Xmas is a season of joy and sharing. Eventhough, I am not a Christian but I have always like xmas as it give me a excuse to shop till I drop. While growing older and not working, there is lesser and lesser chance for gift exchanging therefore the feeling of xmas also reduces. Since my niece Isabel dropped to earth 3 years ago, she become my fix recipient of gift and seeing her greedy look whenever she received my gift makes the whole xmas season come alive for me.

Again, this xmas is an unhappy one which is no surprise for this year. The first ever xmas that I am not looking forward to and to the extent of hating it.

If Jesus was really born on Xmas then I will like to beg for his forgiveness today and hope that he can be one of them up there that forgive me. As for Santa, I know I been a bad girl therefore you didn't make my wish come true. Hopefully, next year you will climb into my house and give me a big xmas present.

Please forgive me ..................

To : Anyone Up There

Please forgive me for the past mistakes made during my young days. I know I cannot go back times but I really regretted it and sincerely hope that you can also forgive me. 

A Happening Birthday Celebration

Today is Bok's 35th birthday and it is suppose to be a day of shopping at Orchard Road. Unfortunately, the plan did not go according to my wish. I am getting more and more emotional and short temper when it comes to him. Both of us knew about this and the root of the problem but it is just difficult to resolve. I have a bad feelings regarding it and if our wish cannot come true then we will definitely drift apart in our relationship.

Anyway, I will like to wish him a                                                                              and sorry for spoiling it.              

                                           HAPPY 35TH BIRTHDAY


                                                                                                                                                

Chanel Classic

I always wanted to have a Chanel Handbag to add on to my bag collection. However, as I am not the chio bu or the rich tai tai style therefore Chanel always seems too mature for me eventhough I am already in the 30s. Another reason on not having a Chanel bag earlier is that the sales representative in Chanel Singapore always never fails to make me feel like a beggar who is just window shopping. Of course, must be my dressing and auntie look. Therefore, I always like to go to those branded shops like Hermes, Chanel during my overseas trip. Hong Kong especially is the branded shop paradise where I can go in without having eyes monitoring my movement.

This chanel caught my eyes in the Milan Shop while we are going to have our dinner at Yung Kee Restaurant. The size is just right for me and most importantly is that it is able to cross sling. Unlike the other classic, the length of the chain is abit short to cross sling eventhough there is still people doing that. After modelling for a while, Bok also agreed that the bag suits me unlike the normal classic which does not suit my dressing. Having said so, of course Bok is willing to buy for me. The main reason is also to make my mood better after the loss of Bb.

Alot of other incidents happened before I managed to get hold of this bag. We almost spent 4k on this bag at another branch of Milan Shop at TST. The final damage is almost $2.8K after currency conversion and when I came back Singapore, I checked with Chanel Singapore and realised they just launch the bag a few days ago while I am in Hong Kong and the price is ard $2.7k. Arrgh if I know I will get it in Singapore as it is cheaper and also the 100% authentic. Again, maybe in Singapore Bok will not get it for me and I will not dare check the price of the bag. Nonetheless, this is my most expensive bag in my bag collection. I am hoping to get a bigger size one on my delivery date. I know it does not suit my dressing now it should suit my dressing when I am 40s.

2011 Birthday Present - Mulberry Watermelon Mini Alexa

Mulberry Watermelon Mini Alexa is the latest addition to my collection. It caught my eyes when I went shopping before my birthday. The bright pink color seems to be designed especially for me. I always wanted to get myself a bright color bag but gutless to do so. The size of mini alexa is ok for the bright color, adorable and yet not too loud to walk in the street. Without any hesitation, I declared this bag as my birthday present for 2011. Of course, my dear Bok have no issue buying it for me. With his short term memory, he will not remember that I have already exceeded my bag budget when buying Balenciaga Velo. Lol

Prawns Noodles Soup

It slowly came to my notice that there seems to be some kind of fixed weekly menu for us. Every week, Bok will request for 2 days of 1 dish meal like noodles or porridge. After seeing the box of frozen prawn shells, I decide to give a try at cooking prawn noodles soup. Of course, the taste is not as rich as those selling outside but at least there is no msg added and also a good way of using the prawn shells.

Ayam Panggang (Indonesian Grilled Chicken Drumstick) V.2

Since my first version of Ayam Panggang, I have never stop in the process of perfecting my recipe. I tried many ways like marinating the chicken with salt, boiling the chicken with the sauce first before grilling or using other brand of kecap manis. However, all efforts are wasted as Mr Bok cannot taste the difference (there must be something wrong with his taste bud lol). I must said this recipe is a keeper.Sayonara V.1

Heart Shaped Sago with Gula Melaka

Bought a pack of gula melaka for my other cuisine and have no more use of it. Wanted to do a simple dessert for V day dinner instead of the normal baking. Since it is V day, so of course something must be in heart shaped. I am yet a expert to cut my chicken chop into heart shaped therefore the only choice is to make a heart shaped dessert. Bought the heart shaped pan from Daiso for donkey years and have not even use once so at least now can use liao. There will definitely be more recipe for gula melaka to look forward to until I manage to get rid of all of it hahaha.

Black Pepper Grilled Chicken Chop

On special events like Christmas or birthday, I will always try to cook something different from normal days like western food. I am not good with western food and hate deep frying of fries therefore I always have to search for recipe before deciding what to cook. For this V day, I manage to get the recipe from Kuali and it is definitely a keeper.

Drink of Love

When we moved in, we bought alot of wine glasses from Ikea but we never have any party that put the glasses to use. I will only see them once a year that is during spring cleaning.

I am a soda drinker and I definitely can taste the difference between coke and pepsi. I know it is unhealthy to drink soda drink and is trying to cut down on it. Since we do not take wine therefore have to make do with using soda. I must said it is quite suitable as it is sweet just like love hehehe.

Valentine Day Dinner 2011

This is the 9th Valentine Day I spent together with Bok. Eventhough everyone knows that V day is just a commercialized day but still cannot help but to celebrate it. The crap with anyone who said everyday is a V day as it is really mission impossible. Couple will have their difference in daily life, even the way he shits irritate you.

I am a romantic person who likes to give and receive surprises. Sad to say, Bok is directly the opposite. He cannot stand my surprises and do not give surprises. I really wonder how we can get together with all our differences.I still remember our 1st V day celebration which ended in a nightmare. No dinner, no sweet talks, nothing but arguments.First, he complained about the cost of the lily bouquet which he bought from the flower shop in WET MARKET. FYI, the cost is $80. Then he complained about the dinner which we are suppose to have. Again the cost is around $120 for 2. The mrt journey downtown is about cost, cost and cost.For me who is looking forward to spend the 1st V day with my beloved, it really is a mood spoiler. The end result is Bok do not have to spend the $120 as we parted our own ways without dinner. The dustbin become the immediate home for the bouquet of lily and I promised myself that it will be the last time I ever see the man again. (Of course, the promise did not work out)

With the first V day celebration experience, I know that my dream romantic V day celebration will never be happen with Bok. Therefore, we will just have a simple dinner but not on the actual day. Since we got married, I will then cook western food or at least some baking for the day.

As for 2011, I just prepared a simple meal with no baking but still with plenty of love.

3 Course Dinner Menu

Campbell Mushroom and Seafood Soup
Black Pepper Grilled Chicken Chop
Heart Shaped Sago Pudding with Gula melaka
Drink of Love Mocktail

Total cost is less than $20 bucks. A homely affordable V day dinner

Dashi Stock

Dashi stock are basic in Japanese cuisine. In fact, it is also very easy to make unlike pork / chicken stock where it need at least a couple of hours. All we need is dried bonito flakes which is available in major supermarkets. Many people will simmer bonito flakes in the water thinking that the taste will be stronger and nicer but it is wrong.

Oyakodon (Japanese chicken and egg rice bowl)

Anyone can tell me if god creates chicken or egg first. This question always come to my mind when eating oyakodon. Bok always like to eat oyakodon in Japan. I think is because of the sauce and makes the rice tasty and easy to eat.

Of course, I have to recreate the meal back home. This is really a idiot proof dish and fast easy meal to prepare. I always cook this during my lazy days. Pair with either grilled eel / saba plus miso soup will complete the whole meal

Recipe

2 boneless drumstick, cut into small pieces
1/2 onion, sliced
200ml dashi soup
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp mirin
3 1/2 japanese light soy sauce

Preparation

• Heat dashi stock in medium heat
• Add soy sauce, mirin and sugar in the stock
• Put chicken and simmer on low heat for a few mins
• Add onion and simmer for a few more mins
• Bring soup to a boil and pour eggs over chicken and onion. Turn off the heat
• Serve over hot rice

Japanese Curry

I always love Japan, think it is the culture and people there. Japanese cuisine are popular throughout the world. Eventhough I love going to Japan, but I cannot said much about the variety of food. Of course, all the food is fresh and delicious but after eating similar food for a few days I will get bored and yearn for singapore food.

In Japan, I love going to those 100 Yen shop. Maybe because it is the cheapest kind of shopping in Japan. I will always pack back those instant packs like japanese curry. Fast and cheap to cook as a meal in Singapore and taste is good. After the instant packs finished, I tried to buy in Singapore supermarket but it is selling so expensive in Singapore. Anything Japanese is selling with so high margin in Singapore. Therefore, no choice but to buy those Japanese curry blocks and cook myself.

With fried rice

With chicken

Recipe

1/2 onion, diced
1 potato, diced
1 carrot, diced
40g curry cube
280ml water

Preparation

• Fry onion until fragrant
• Add potato and carrot until half done.
• Add water and simmer for 15 mins
• Add curry and simmer for 10 mins.
• Serve hot with rice and other side dishes 

Remarks

1. You can cook with chicken meat to make the meat more complete.

Ayam Panggang (Indonesian Grilled Chicken Drumstick) V.1

These recent years, alot of Indonesian stalls start popping up throughout Singapore. The most popular stall should be the Plaza Singapura one. I try to come up with my own version but sad to say it is no where near to their standard. Nevetheless, it is still ok and consider not bad for home cooked version. I will serve with other side dishes to complete the meal.

Indonesian Grilled Chicken

Recipe 


2 - 3 chicken drumstick / half chicken
100g shallots (sliced)
100g salted butter
4 tbsp kecap manis (preferably Indonesian ABC sauce)

Preparation 

•  Heat butter over low heat till there is foam
• Add shallots, stir to coat in butter
• Saute till golden brown
• Remove from heat and allow to cool
• Add kecap manis
• Pulse in food processor till shallots are chopped up
• Spread chicken on the chicken. Allow to marinate for about 20 mins
• Preheat oven to 150 - 200 Celsius
• Grill for about 30 - 40 mins
• Serve hot with white rice

Salted Egg Congee

My family is never a porridge/congee family. My mum will always said we can never eat white porridge on 1st day of CNY as it will definitely rained later during our visiting. Porridge/congee to me is always eaten only if I am sick and of course when I am still a baby.

However, my hubby Bok is a porridge guy. He basically like soft things like soft toys and even the food he eat. No hard type of veggie for him. Therefore to win his praise, I try all ways to master the skill of having good porridge. I am proud to announce that my congee are as good as those porridge selling outside.

To have a more balanced dinner, my congee is always full of ingredients like cantonese style of "ting zai congee". The must have ingredient is definitely minced pork as Bok have soft spot for minced pork also. Sometimes, side dishes will have bbq pork, pork floss or even braised intestine( bought outside when my mood is good) 

The salted egg recipe came out accidentally when one day I intend to cook century egg but could not get and the shop assistant actually told me that I can try use salted egg instead. So here it is.