A little gathering

EL's mom used to be my neighbour. A wonderful old lady that was blessed with 5 girls! Each Friday, all the girls with their spouses and kids will gather at mom's place for dinner.

That is how I got to know Mrs L's 5 daughters. I especially clicked really well with EL.

Perhaps it is her warm personality! Coincidentally, her youngest son was also in the same kinder as my girl. Thus we had a chance to still stay connected even after we all moved to respective new home.

In August, I bumped into EL again and we promised to meet up. Days gone week passed, we were too caught up with our lives. I was already thinking to call her next week and then today she ranged. Inviting us to join her family for a Popiah lunch. I just couldn't say no! Afterall, I haven't seen her kids for ages.

Not nice to go empty and thus I baked a brownie from a premix. Sorry because I have an order this order and seriously have no time to explore other recipes.

To be honest, this ain't bad at all. In fact, it tasted really good as I had already baked two sachet out of 4 not too long ago. A huge box that my brother gave me. Thanks Bro!



Our gathering lasted for nearly 12 hours! Yes it was a long gathering but we had such terrific time that we stayed for dinner as well. Of course the kids were delighted for they get to play water polo, football and many hours of chit chating.

You won't see how much your kids grown till you see others. Gosh, I definitely won't recognise I if I bumped onto him on the road!

Getting it off

For the past week, I just couldn't shake off that shitty feeling about my helper. The feeling sucks as she is living under the same roof as me and I definitely needed that trust back. If not, it became meaningless having her in the house.

After speaking to my hubby, I think I can wait no more for him to come home to settle it.

My hubby actually suggested that I do a room spot check so that she won't be able to deny but for me, this is just way too hassle for I am already having such a handful with my son.

So I took the opportunity of pretending to look for my bag of nut and to tell her that I am no fool and once again make sure she understood my house rules.

Initially she denied that she took numerous of my personal stuff (out of my bedside table as well as in my room). She denied that she took my girl's hand phone as well as helping herself to a full bag of macadamia nuts that was brought by my hubby for me.

I told her I won't accuse her of doing something that I didn't see with my own eyes. I asked her whether she prefers me to put her on the spot when I caught her or rather give her a chance to put it back to where it belongs.

After all, all these months she is with us, we always treated her like one of our child. When we buy sweets for my kids, she will get her share. When we ate something, she will get her share too. We definitely don’t mind her eating but to dominate all is not a practise in my household. Even to my kids, I always teach them about sharing.

I definitely won't condone such behaviours of her helping herself to our stuff especially behind my back!

After putting her back in place, I felt so much better now and happier. Let’s pray that she won’t relapse into those bad behavioural and continue her next 7 months contract.

Now to distract my son from getting too much gadgets, I got him to bake cookies. This batch of cookie dough was given to me by LT. This is what he had done up after much complaining about scooping the cookie dough onto the trays.



As for our dinner, I opted for Passionate about Baking's Black gold pizza.

I modified the recipe to have white sauce instead of tomato based as I briefly saw it on AFC.



So we are happy birds having our non meat Friday dinner with this Black Pizza with white sauce.

A funny note, both my kids commented why the pizza was burnt when I presented it on the dinning table.

Overall, I love the crust and the white sauce is really something that I will try again.

Replacement

I was in the process of looking for a better candy thermometer when my helper broke my candy thermometer during our last macaron making session with C and V

You see, I wasn't prepared to let this one go as yet. My classmate, DP actually recommended me a good one but due to budget and I wasn't sure whether I will put it to really good use, I was thinking real hard as the shipping cost might equate to the price of the thermometer.

Thus, before this accident, I was actually looking for a cheaper alternative. Well, I guess I had to speed up my search when she broke it.

Just as I was thinking hard, another classmate of mine JW was coming home for a visit. She was so sweet to ask me what I need in the States. So I gave her my cheaper alternative. Blessing is that the shop was just across where she lived.

So now I am a happy bird and my son is even a happier bird because he will get to eat his macarons real soon.

To thank her for the trouble, I baked her Double Chocolate Muffins. I saw this recipe from Kitchen Flavours which she adapted it from Good Housekeeping, Christmas Cookbook.



Personally I really love the texture of this muffin. Intense and yet moist and fluffy. It is also not difficult to put together.

I brought some cute little cupcake liners but was disappointed actually by the outcome. Instead of baking it into nice little squarish cups, it ended up really ugly. Haiz....

Nevertheless, ugly or not, this is definitely a keeper!



Now I really hope JW likes it.

Today we went to the psychology appointment. Pretty disappointment by the outcome as it is yet another doctor. For the past appointments, due to my course, my hubby was the one to bring my son there.

I wish they stick to one so that we don’t have to repeat the whole experience.

At S$75 an hour, I came out feeling just as lost. Now she wanted another appointment in two weeks time. Geesh!

What you need:

125g unsalted butter
100g plain chocolate
225g plain flour
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
40g cocoa powder
150g golden caster sugar (I use 150gm brown sugar)
200g chocolate chips
1 medium egg
200ml milk
150g natural yoghurt
1 tsp vanilla extract

Method:

Preheat the oven to 190 ºC (170 ºC fan). Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper cases.

Melt the butter and plain chocolate. Mix together very gently and leave to cool a little.

Sieve flour, bicarbonate of sode, cocoa powder.

Add caster sugar, chocolate chips and a pinch of salt to the flour mixture. Stir everything together.

Beat egg, milk, yoghurt and vanilla extract together in a bowl.

Pour both the egg mixture into chocolate mixture and mix well.

Add this into the dry ingredients, then roughly fold together. Be careful not to overmix, or the muffins won't rise properly.

Divide the batter among the paper cases.

Bake for 20-25 minutes until well risen and springy. Take each muffin out of the tin and cool on a wire rack before serving.

If not serving immediately, the muffins will keep in an airtight container for up to three days.

Trust

I am really at lost what to do. I hated it when I can't trust someone and especially living under my roof.

I don't ill treat but yet dishonesty still sets in.

Does it give her the right to take without asking, even for my kids, I always teach them to ask for permission before they take something or eat something.

Why I am so pissed was that my hubby already told her that besides the cleaning and dirty laundry, she cannot remove things in my room without permission.

I really hated it when the family don't get to eat it and she, on the other hand was helping herself to a full bag of it. She always heard me lecturing my son about selfishness, sharing and acts as a family and yet, she is also doing it.

Damn how am I supposed to treat her as part when she is so dishonest! And even cunning because yesterday I still see it in her drawer and this morning, I casually told her that I am looking for it and when I went back to check, it is still not in my bedside drawer and the evidence had been removed from her drawer as well!

I have to endure, endure and endure.... 7 more months! Hubby said to remember her good points and not the bad. I am trying ….. arrgghh

Okay, talk about happy thing, food! I borrowed a book from library on Truly Nyona - Penang. Tried their chicken and it was delicious. Unfortunately didn’t had a chance to take a picture to show you all.

So today I tried another recipe, Bean sauce fish (豆酱鱼) and I really like it.

Hope you do too.



What you need:

1 slice fish fillet, rub with some starch
2 tbsp bean paste (soak in 1 cup of water and then drained)
1 pcs ginger, sliced thinnly
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 red chilli (chopped) I omit as I don't have

1/2 tbsp light soy sauce
1 tsp sugar
some minced spring onion (I omit)

Method

heat up 1 tbsp of oil. Fry fish until both sides are golden brown over med heat. Remove and set aside.

Add ingredient ginger and minced garlic and fry until fragrant.

Add bean paste and fry for another 5 mins.

Add fish, light soy sauce and sugar.

Add 1/2 cup of water and bring to a boil and turn down heat to low.

Braise for 5 mins.

Sprinkle minced spring onion on top.

Serve with jasmine rice.

A terrible weekend

This weekend is just absolute horrible. After our big fight, I was down with a bad migraine. It got worse and by Sunday morning, I was in a bed ridden mode.

Panadol extra no longer able to ease my pain. Last night, after searching in my medical box, I finally found a slab of Nurofen. Unfortunately that still didn't help.

My sister buzzed me yesterday asking for permission to bring my son out for lunch. Well... a pep talk.

I could hardly open my eyes when they came back from lunch. After hearing our sides of the stories (helper's, daughter's and mine), I guess my sister finally know the hell I am living in.

Strangely, after a good cry, my pain lifted. I was able to function and even baked in the evening! I am so glad that they stayed for dinner as at least I get some happy time.

Since my sister was craving for scones and my pain is gone, I decided to bake the recipe that I shared in a magazine early this year.



As I wanted to get this done quickly, I didn't bother to measure out the height of the dough as well as giving it a nice egg wash. So pardon the "short" and dull scones.

Since my sister only eaten sweet scones but never a savoury, I am happy that she liked my Bacon and Cheese Scones.



Been eyeing on Chocolate Bottom Banana Slice from Hearty Bakes for a few weeks and since my pain eased, I quickly follow through my motion and done a batch.



My niece liked it very much and even asked for second helpings.



As for the rest of the week, the only peace I think I can get out of it all is to be the one giving and giving, since he can't take no as an answer.

The only solace I can get right now is to stay away, but then I am being labelled as a mom who doesn't care and love. So seriously, I no longer know what to do.

Hubby asked me to take it easy but living under the same room with hostility in the air is really no easy job.

Just a moment ago, he was talking into the air, asking for his weekly allowance. I choose to ignore, since after all, he is not talking to me.

Am I doing it right? haiz. At 14 already so rude to his mom, I can't imagine him earning his own money. I guess I will have to live in hell by then.

Better save up my own money so that I can decide on my own retirement villa.

Chocolate Bottom Banana Squares
What you need:

113g butter -113g (softened)
210g sugar
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1 tsp vanilla
3 medium ripe bananas (mashed)
212g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
14g cocoa powder
169g chocolate chips

Method:

Preheat oven to 180 ºC and prepared a 9” Square pan, greased and lined.

Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy.

Drizzle in the beaten eggs, vanilla and mashed bananas, beating thoroughly.

Sieve in the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt to the creamed mixture in above step and mix it well.

Divide the batter into half. Add the cocoa powder to one portion of the batter. Spread that portion in the bottom of a greased 9inch square baking tin.

Spread the remaining plain batter on top the cocoa batter, swirl gently with a knife and sprinkle top with chocolate chips.

Bake for about 30 minutes or test batter done with a toothpick or fork.

Cool and cut into squares to serve.

Bonding

My girl has been pestering to bake muffins with her. The reason why she is so attached to this recipe was that she attended this class. Her good friend JY actually celebrated her birthday by baking together with her friends.

Baking muffins is the easiest activity that you can do with your kids. It takes less than half hour to get everything done.

Now I am happy that she is happy. Okay, this week had been really easy. Time really flies.

To end this week, I have gotten a very good news. My son has achieved 4 As this time round. A huge improvement from all his past 3 examinations.

I am sure he will excel if he continues to put in effort. I pray that he will mature and know his direction in life soon.

So let's enjoy a nice Chocolate Chip Muffins.



I am going to take it easy this weekend as next week will be another hectic week. Preparing my girl for her Holy Communion as well as Cupcake Fantasies commitment.

Curiousity

I am not a hard core foodie if you asked me. I won't go that extra mile to check out good food. If there is a very long queue, I won't hesitate to forgo if I am hungry. I will of course go for the most famous if I am around that area.

I am game to try out dishes that I never tasted before (that is besides 野味). I will get bored if food is cooked the same old method daily.

I remembered there was a period we lunch out every Sat. Unlike my hubby, who always picked mini pot bak chor mee, I will go for different menu each week.

I can't hold down to a sport or activities for long. I will get bored. I need varieties in my life. There was a period I tried cross stitching, done three pieces and the rest was packed into a box. I had done knitting too, the same for the rest of the wool.

So far, baking and cooking still held the longest in my heart. So is it really passion or merely survival? Am I someone who is not determined enough to excel? I won’t say I am Jack of all trade but I am definitely master of none!

Anyway, when Table for 2.. or more posted a Hakka Xi Ban recipe that I have been wondering for the longest time. Actually, I wonder how this taste liked more than anything else. So I hesitated no more.



Especially after chatting with my good friend and knowing that she is now safe and settled into her new life, I feel a lot happier to get my groove to go back into my kitchen.

I still have some time to spare before bedtime. Perfect timing as this recipe needs proofing time.

Verdict: It is chewy but I don’t know whether I done something wrong or was it the recipe. It has a stick to the teeth texture which I don’t really fancy. My girl took a bite and rejected it. My helper said it is not too bad except that we can add in fillings to make it more flavourful. I didn’t even bother to offer these to my son for I know the reaction.



Will I make this again, I doubt so.

What you need:

A. Sponge dough

1 tsp yeast
200g plain flour
150g water

B.
100g plain flour
150g glutinous rice flour
125g water
125g sugar
few drops of pink colouring (I omitted)

Oil for rubbing hands

Method

Mix well all the ingredients for the A, cover and let it proof overnight. (approx 9 hours)

Mix A into B ingredients to form a soft dough. Proof for another 4 hours.

Divide the dough into 50g each (oiled palm) and place onto a piece of greased banana leaf.

Leave to proof for another 15 mins.

Steam over med heat for 15 mins.

Remove from steamer and leave to cool.

Pop Pop Pop

Have you been to cinema lately?

I was flabbergasted when I saw how much they charge for a small box of popcorn with drink.

The last time I made popcorn was 3 years ago. Time really flies. It seems like just yesterday we moved out of Seletar Airbase. haiz... beautiful memories from that place.

Anyway, my kids love popcorn. So while grocery shopping, I finally remember to grab a bag of kernel. (Yes I am very forgetful, even with shopping list, I tend to misplace it while doing grocery! 没得救）

Making popcorn is really easy. You just need a heavy wok cover and you will have freshly made popcorn in no time.

Initially, my girl requested for savoury popcorn. So I actually divided into two batches, a sweet (my favourite) and a savoury.



Before I had time to settle down, she already finished up my share as she was giving herself a "movie" treats by watching Chipmunk and munching on popcorn.

Now, I thought she said she prefers savoury?

What you need

3 handfuls corn kernels
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp oil
1 cup sugar

Method

Heat oil in the wok and add in corn kernels. Stir evenly.

Add in butter and stir fry.

Cover the wok and lower to medium heat.

Open the cover only when popping sound stops.

Remove from pan and into a bowl that is big enough for the popcorn.

Add the sugar in a non stick pan and caramelised it on low heat.

When sugar has melted, pour over the popcorn and stir evenly till all pop corns are coated.

Another round

I still have some sweet potato left after our Ang Koo Kueh project.

As I didn't know what else I should cook with it, I decided to turn it into another favourite snack of ours, Edith's Fried Sweet Potato Balls.

This snack definitely brings back fond memories of my childhood.



So is this the shortest post I ever posted?

I am pleased to submit this post to this month's AB event, Aspiring Bakers #12: Traditional Kueh (October 2011) hosted by SSB of Small Small Baker.

What you need:

500g sweet potato
225g glutinous rice flour
10g corn flour
10g rice flour
170g castor sugar (adjust to your taste)
100ml water

Method:

Brush and clean sweet potato, cut into quarter and steam till soft. Scoop the flesh out and discard skin. Mashed while it is hot.

Add sugar. Mixed thoroughly.

Add in all the flours and water. Knead till it forms smooth dough.

Weigh about 14g each and roll into a ball.

Heat oil in wok and fry the balls to golden brown.

Cool and serve.

My favourite

This week, my girl is staying home for one full week. Besides the 4 days PSLE marking days, the school also declared Friday as the school marking day.

I can't recall there were so many holidays when I was in school!

Thus to keep this little one from getting bored, I have to find some projects to do, so made Ang Koo Kueh together.

I love Ang Koo Kueh. Before my parents' place went en bloc, whenever I passed by Cantonment Road, I will always buy from one of my favourite stall. So many flavours to choose from, peanut, green bean, durian, yam.....

Last year, I also tried making my own which I uses Do What I Like recipe. As it yield a very good recipe, I once again used her recipe this time round.

I remembered I didn't have very good experience with peanut fillings, so this time round, I will just used home made mung bean paste instead.

I was also too lazy to tint the dough into red. Strangely despite the sweet potato being orangy, the kueh turned out yellow! Any logic?



Next recipe will be one that my aunt shared but first I need to translate it to English!

I am pleased to submit this post to this month's AB event, Aspiring Bakers #12: Traditional Kueh (October 2011) hosted by SSB of Small Small Baker.

Sweet Potato Skin:

200 g sweet potatoes
300 g glutinous rice flour
2 tbsps oil
160 ml water
Some red coloring (optional)

Mung Bean Filling:

200g yellow split mung beans (soaked until soft)
100 g castor sugar
½ tsp salt
2 tbsps oil
¼ - ½ cup diced shallots
Water

Method:

Sweet Potato Skin:
Steam the sweet potatoes until soft. In a bowl, mash the sweet potatoes with a fork. Add glutinous rice, oil and water and mix well to obtain a smooth dough. Cover with a damp cloth and leave aside. You can add a little more water if the dough is too dry.

Mung Bean Filling:

Steam the yellow split mung beans until soft.

Add in the sugar and mash with a fork.

In a non-stick wok, fry the diced onions in oil. Leave aside to cool.

In a bowl, mix the mashed split peas, salt, fried onions, oil and enough water to form a soft dough.

Shaping the Ang Koo Kueh:

Brush the ang koo kueh mould with a little oil to ease removal of the kueh from the mould. (mine I didn’t and had no problem)

Take a small lump of sweet potato dough and using your palm or a rolling pin, flatten it, into a round shape with the centre thicker than the sides.

Spoon some bean filling into the dough, pinch the sides of the dough together, and using the palm of your hand, roll it into a ball.

Press the ball into the mould firmly, to obtain the design and shape of the mould.
Tap the mould gently on the table to remove the ang koo kueh from the mould.

Place the ang koo kueh on a square piece of oiled banana leaf.

When all the ang koo kuehs are shaped, steam them in a wok over high fire for 3 minutes covered. After 3 minutes, remove the cover to release steam, then re-cover and steam for another 3 minutes over a medium fire, until the kuehs are cooked.

Remove the kuehs from the wok and brush them with a little oil to prevent them from sticking to each other. Serve when cool.

Notes:
26g pastry and 19g filling.

It is official

that my kids ended their final examination for the year. Strangely I realised that most of my friends' kids are still not done with it! So my kids can't go on play date as yet.

We took the kids out for a nice dinner on Friday as daddy will be away for two SOLID week.

Right after daddy left in the early morning, my dear son went into his angry fits in the afternoon. It sure been quite a while he lapsed. In fact, he had been really living up to his promise to be a good son.

This time round, just because I intervene a bullying, he was dominating two computers at one time and refused to let his sister play her games. I couldn't close my eyes when he started bullying his sister this way, she was so helpless.

When I removed his privilege, he couldn't take it and started to vent his anger on his sister. Nasty words spurts out, fist came as well.

If you ask me whether I am angry? I can tell you I am more frightened than angry. I didn't know what to do. He talks louder, he is taller and he is stronger.

Luckily for us, when he saw his sister coiled up and even refused my comfort, he relented. He started to break down and felt apologetic. I quickly too this opportunity to calm him down and reassured him that I love both of them equally.

After the hugs and kisses, I heaved a sigh of relief.

It was one nasty big fight we ever experienced. I pray that it will never happen again and I pray that he will have more self control.

Well, at least this Orange Jelly brought back some laughter and smile on my little one.



As for my older one, he managed to calm down and I took the opportunity to talk to him again about his anger management.

Now let's pray that these two weeks will be smooth sailing from today.

Complicated

I enjoy browsing through Chinese recipe books as much as the English.

Personally I find that the Chinese ones offer more variety than others. Unfortunately most terminology is like alien to me.

Flour alone, I am already confused despite friends translating it for me some time back. I just failed to remember them. Hopeless right?

Okay now I know 高筋面粉 is bread flour, 中筋面粉 is plain flour, what about 底筋面粉? It is cake flour？ Thanks to my friend G, clarification done. 高筋面粉 is bread flour, 中筋面粉 is plain flour and 底筋面粉 is cake flour.

During a visit to the library as a weekly routine these days to hid away from the sun while waiting for my girl to complete her tuition. I enjoy sitting by the chinese book section and browsing through all those beautiful pictures.

When I couldn't resist, I will usually loan it but attempting these recipes are only 1%.

Thus for this particular book that I loaned, the pictures are just too awesome to resist.

One such is mizu manjzu. I think this is the Japanese version of our 糕点 (kueh kueh).

It looks so much like our 水晶饱！

But I couldn’t get to work immediately as the main ingredient and some other ingredients that I don’t even know what they are! So I set out to do my search on the net.

Finally, I found the translation and then set out to find the ingredient as it is not commonly available at the supermarket.

Thanks to my new friend LT, she managed to find for me arrowroot powder at a smaller packing. After she bought that for me, I was able to locate it at Tanglin Supermarket as well as the Cold Storage in town! When you need it, you just don't seems to find it. Once you get it, it looks like it is available everywhere! arrrgh.

Now let me present to you Mizu Manjyu aka 水馒头.

I have never used arrowroot flour before, so I was surprised by the texture. It brought back memories when my mom will make a batch of starch to starch our clothes when we were very young. Of course, gone are the days we starched our clothes.

The sticky and transparent texture is a little hard to handle. Luckily I was able to fix a mistake that I nearly commit. I mistaken 薯米糖 as glucose, I think the correct one should be corn syrup. Correct?

Didn't have time to make red bean paste so I actually used store brought.

Seriously, I failed to make them pretty as in the book. Taste wise, it is definitely something new. Next time, I will change the corn syrup to sugar instead to make it sweeter.



Don't know whether this will consider a traditional kueh kueh as a Japanese version.

Nevertheless, I am pleased to submit this post to this month's AB event, Aspiring Bakers #12: Traditional Kueh (October 2011) hosted by SSB of Small Small Baker.

Source: Chilled dessert

Serve 4
What you need:

1 tsp agar agar powder 寒天粉
30g arrowroot powder 葛粉
200ml water
2 tsp corn syrup? 粟米糖 (will replaced this with castor sugar)
green bean paste or pumpkin paste or red bean paste

Method

Stir a little water from (200ml) into arrowroot to form a paste. Slowly add the remaining water and blend well. Sieve.

Add agar agar powder, corn syrup to the arrowroot solution and bring to a boil. Stirring continuously till it starts to thicken and become transparent.

Fill half the mould with the arrowroot mixture and fill two tsp of green bean paste and top off with arrowroot mixture. Set aside to cool before chilling it.

Serve cold with maple syrup.

Fly fly away

After since my girl's science project, we started breeding butterflies.

Each time my helper finds the eggs or caterpillar on our plants, we will transfer it into a container and slowly let it turned into a butterfly.

So we had been releasing butterflies for the past few months. A pity we didn't record how many we had already released.



It is really excited to watch the whole progress. God really created beautiful things around us, just like lately he had blessed me with wonderful friendship that makes me feel so special.

Enough said, I was actually craving for brownies. Yes my flu bug is finally kept at bay and I can eat chocolate once again.

With the kids’ examination coming to an end soon, I guess eating such "heaty" stuff won't hurt anymore.

Upon my daughter’s request, I also make a tub of Cookie and Cream Ice cream to go with this lovely brownie for tonight's dessert.

So which brownie did I choose? Seeing a packet of Reese Peanut Butter Candies. I decided to go for the Peanut Butter Cup brownies.



Seriously, this is to die for.

What you need:

226g semi-sweet chocolate chips
113g unsalted butter
4 tbsp dutch process cocoa powder
3 large eggs
200g castor sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
226g creamy peanut butter
½ tsp salt
128g plain flour
10 Reese’s peanut butter cups, 5 coarsely chopped and 5 whole

Method

Preheat oven to 180 ºC. Lined and greased an 8″ square pan.

Melt chocolate chips and butter. Stir until smooth. Whisk in the cocoa powder. Set aside.

Beat eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, peanut butter and salt until combined.

Mix the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture.

Stir in the flour until just combined.

Fold chopped Reese’s peanut butter cups into batter.

Pour mixture into prepared pan, spread evenly and level the surface with a rubber spatula.

Bake approximately 35-40 minutes.

Cool brownie and then cut into squares.

Destress

Many people had the misconception that being a stay home mom is the best deal on earth. Life is like a tai tai - eat and shop.

For those who opted this route in parenthood will truly understand that life as a stay at home mom (SAHM) is nothing close to a bed of roses.

I agree that we don't have to deal with office politics and work load stress but our role is definitely not without stress.

For me, I am blessed with a helper to help with the heavy duties household but how many can truly understand the emotional stress? They are not like our kids that we can’t teach and punish.

Children these days are unlike our time, whereby we listen and obey. These days, children are so much exposed that they will challenge and question.

With the tough school education system, we too inherited the school load stress as well.

So when streetdirectory.com approached me to do a review on a spa establishment. I took it up, having other homemakers in mind, who just like me, feeling the "invisible" stress.

Once awhile, I think we need to pamper ourselves, to love ourselves and feel good about ourselves. Only then, we can take on the challenges we faced daily.

EDES Spa is located at the corner of Changi Road and Frankel Avenue. Besides this establishment, there is also EDES Institue that offers spa and beauty peronnel development in Bugis Village.



What I love about this place is there is ample of parking space for its client. No frantic search for a car park lot.



As you enter, you are welcome by the cosiness of the establishment, no corporate feel at all.





We can choose four different type of oil to suit the different requirement of the day.

- detox
- anti stress
- feminie
- up lift

The place is divided into two sections, the male



and the female section.



Both offered single and twin bed services.

I opted for a Java style massage and I am amazed that the pressure was consistent throughout the session. The tiredness was all knead away and me, coming out of the room feeling rejuvenated.

Now I am wondering whether the Swedish massage will be equally good as well.

In the ladies wing, they also have facial services. I noticed a nice detail is that they actually provided a leg pillow and as well a light quilt for comfort. This is very good for me as I have back problem and it makes me feel more relaxed.



I was given a Swiss Facial and I am truly happy with the result. Sometime back, I paid for a very expensive facial package with a well known salon and after 5 -6 treatments, nothing come close to the result I had gotten today.

Strongly recommend this if you have problem skin like me.

They even have two rooms for slimming services.



Hang on, there is more to come. They also have a steam room for relaxation.



where by you can take a shower after.



A little Nail Bar is tuck in a nice corner.



and if you are happy with their product from Switzerland, you can also purchase them at a discounted rate.



This is truly a one stop spa that knows how to pamper a woman!

So if you need a some ME time, a little pampering and a recharged YOU, drop by at EDES Spa.

EDES Spa
500 Changi Road
Singapore 419904

Business hour: 10am - 10pm daily.

Reservation tel: 6449 6900

Time

We are now doing our countdown to this final year examination. Throughout this revision period, I am happy to see that my son started to put in more effort in his revision.

Looking at him study, it reminded so much of my late cousin R (he died just before he turned 25 of colon cancer). I remembered R was staying with us for a short period. I was amazed that he doesn't have to put in as much effort as any other kids when it comes to study. He just merely flipped through the textbook pages and he was able to score great results.

Unfortunately for him, his life was shortened. The news came to us with great blows. I remembered my dad still make a comment that they should not play such nasty jokes but the truth we can't denied. He didn't suffer much as he was already in his fourth stage when he was diagnosed.

From a healthy young man, I witnessed him went through chemotherapy and that literally suck him dry to end up like an old man. He found God during his last stage on earth and fought with such courage. He passed on with tranquil peace.

We used to play together often and I am very close to my aunt. I know that he will be heaven as he got a very kind heart and looking at my son, is just like looking at R.

Up to now, after 10 odd years, you are still very much missed.

Well, these are moments that something hits me ... and makes me treasure loved ones around me more.

Okay, let's talk about my kitchen adventure. I told my helper that this month theme is kueh kueh. She was suggesting that we make something that comes from her kampong.



I really like this Mendut as it remind me of mochi. As we didn't have unhusked green bean, we cooked usual green bean into paste.



Overall, a nice snack.

I am pleased to submit this post to this month's AB event, Aspiring Bakers #12: Traditional Kueh (October 2011) hosted by SSB of Small Small Baker.

What you need:

200g gluntinous rice flour
2 tbsp rice flour
4 tbsp tapioca flour
100g coconut milk
4 pandan leaves
1/2 tsp salt
Banana leaves

Fillings

Green bean paste

Method

Simmer coconut milk with pandan leaves till fragrant. Set aside to cool.

Mix flours and salt with coconut milk to form a dough.

Wrapped dough with green bean paste. Form a ball and using banana leaves encased it and steam for 10 mins.

Serve hot or cool.

I fear most ....

I have been really busy these past few days. Now what have I been up to?

My dizzy spell went away and I was down with a itchy throat for a few days. Pumping water, herbal tea and gurgling with mouth wash. The thing I fear was cough. It came but at least it didn't hit me hard. Just a few cough here and there and it went away. Perhaps I have been drowning myself with lots of vitamins.

Though the cough was kept at bay, my blocked nose didn't. I blamed it on the fan that my daughter insisted on turning on for the night. So after two weeks, my blocked nose is still here! This is really irritating.

Enough said, and I am sure you are tired of my whining and thinking of happy time now.

I met CC and VL when our kids were in kinder. CC left soon after for Australia and some how we lost contact.

While doing housekeeping on my email one day. I found an old email from her. From then onwards, we were connected again.

Since she is back for a visit, we took the opportunity to catch up.

We spent the afternoon making macarons as requested by CC. She said she did tried once but was unsuccessful. Not that I am an expert but the girls didn't mind the blind leading the blind. We had so much fun that I forgotten to take picture of the wonderful sumptuous spread of tea time snack (courtesy from VL).

Anyway, the macarons turned out beautifully. Both VL and CC were like little girls. All excited getting the final touch of doing the fillings. CC's 13 years old son also couldn't stop sneaking around us popping these babies into his mouth.

All agree that these were goods! (thanks Swee San).

Most importantly it was a very good afternoon spent with great friends and catching on our lives.

CC, have a safe trip home.

VL, let's do it again. Thanks for that cough mixture.



I filled the rest of the remaining shell with vanilla curd that I bought last weekend. Never really know how vanilla curd taste like so I decided to give it a try.



Do I really like it? Not really because the vanilla was not apparent at all. Though the texture is smooth and thick but it is really very sweet.

I will incorporate this into buttercream next time.

A new friendship

A last minute decision to attend an ice cream workshop was well rewarded with a new friendship. Really had to thank my hubby for being able to baby sit the kids on that weekend.

I wasn’t seated near LT during the class but after class, as the teacher was selling some chocolate on promotion. L agreed to share her purchase with me as it was the last packet.

As we were departing, she invited me to bake along with her some day. Things just go on so naturally after. She helped me to purchase some yuzu juice and I, for coral jelly and things just started rolling from there.

Since I have completed my toppers for tomorrow’s cupcake order, I readily agreed to have a bake along session with her today.

I ask L whether she will be interested to test out Lana Esque Chocolate Cake that DP shared with me. Unfortunately due to a blunder, I forwarded and printed the wrong recipe. Also there isn't any sugar indicated on that recipe. Luckily all is not lost when I phone DP to clarify.



The cake turned out cottony soft but we didn’t have enough time to frost it. She was really kind to give me half the cake. So I came home to complete the second part of this cake.



Verdict: It is still not close to Lana's standard. Next I will try DP's modified version. Overall, my girl likes it but my son finds that it is not sweet.

L also demonstrated how to bake Madeleines that has a hump. In my memory, I think I only attempted it once and it was not a very successful experiment. She really make it looks really easy and not to mention delicious as well. My daughter loves it.



Most importantly, I see that signature humps that madeleine is supposed to have.



I really enjoyed myself so much. Not only we had fun baking together, it also enables me to get to know L better.

I admire her strong faith and I felt so honoured that she shared a miracle that happened in her life.

Her sharing helps me to renew my faith.

Thanks so much L!

Lana Esqu Chocolate Cake

What you need:

202g plain flour
79g cocoa powder
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
½ cup vegetable oil
200g castor sugar
7 eggs yolk
192g boiling water
2 tsp vanilla extract

7 egg white
½ tsp cream of tartar
50g castor sugar

Method

Preheat oven to 165ºC and line the bottom of 2 round 9" baking pans with baking paper. Do not line the sides or brush with oil/butter as the chiffon cake needs to be able to "cling" to this to rise.

Beat egg whites, part of the sugar and cream of tartar till stiff.

Combine cocoa powder and boiling water to form a paste.

In a separate bowl, combine dry ingredients (sift first), egg yolks, cocoa paste, oil, sugar and vanilla and mix well.

Fold egg whites into the egg yolk mixture.

Bake for about 40 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

Let cakes cool in pan.


Frosting

3 cups water
350g sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
120g butter
90g cocoa powder
90g cornflour
1 cup water

Method

Combine cocoa powder and cornstarch and mix with 1 cup water to make a smooth paste.

Bring other ingredients to a boil.

Take off the heat and add in the cocoa paste.

Return to heat and stir till thickened. I used a balloon whisk for this.

Keep stirring/whisking while it cools to avoid a skin forming on top of the custard.


To assemble

Split the cakes into half horizontally.

Brush with a little milk, slap on the custard, put on another layer etc. Cover cake with custard.

Refrigerate for several hours before serving. The cake really tastes a LOT better so resist the temptation to eat it straight away!

Long overdue

I had been ill for the past few days. Though I wasn't down and out but I was experiencing something more frightening. I kept having dizzy spell.

Initially I thought it was fatigue but after drinking tonic and resting, it still didn't go away. Then the cold hits me and I had block nose for a few days.

I was afraid I might get hypotension or hypertension? After a GP visit, my doubt was clear. After two days' of medication, my nose block is gone but the dizzy spell wasn't completely gone.

Sometime I feel that the older doctors are the worst lot, they think that they are so experienced that they do such a wishy washy job. In less than a 5min consultation, I was out of the clinic, diagnosed with flu. He couldn’t explain to me why I had dizzy spell. All he can provide is that my blood pressure is normal.

Anyway, I am much better today and the weather is really nice and crisp after a night of rainfall.

I woke up early to make Soon Kueh for breakfast as I had already prepared the fillings the night before. If I am not wrong, it’s been two years ago that I organised a blogger's party at my home? Though I can't recall the date but I can still vividly remembered the good time we had during the party.

One good memory was HSB's ban kuang kueh which also known as soon kueh. She was really kind to mail me the recipe after the party but my hard disk crashed and all data was wiped out. When I email her for the recipe, she was really sweet to forward to me again.



I didn’t do a good job in rolling out a nice round disc. I also had problem sealing off the dough and thus most of the kueh was “open”. I only managed to select two decent ones for photo shoot.

But don’t be deceived by the looks, my family likes it especially my little one who asked for more.



Now let’s enjoy the rest of the day. The next few weeks, it will be all hard work to prepare for examination.

Recipe link will be posted after Honey Sweet Bee share hers.