Happy Halloween!

Hubby and I decided to do some pumpkin carving today... As it's halloween, most places have already ran out of pumpkins for sale. So, we made a few phone calls to Cold Storages around our area and later found out that King Albert Park's branch have some pumpkins left for sale. We made a quick trip there.. When we arrived there, there's still a number of giant pumpkins, a couple of medium pumpkins and a few small ones.. They also have really tiny ones with printed face and feather on them.. really cute. The good news was all pumpkins were on 25% off the original prices.. Guess it was a good idea to do pumpkin shopping last minute.



..:::The giant pumpkins and the tiny one:::..



We went home with a medium sized pumpkin and a small one. This was the first time we ever carved a pumpkin, so, we weren't sure that it'll work.. I've printed the stencils for the pumpkins earlier on. After dinner, we started work. Here's our results:



..:::The small one's a bat and the big one's a looney pumpkin:::..



..:::The lights off:::..



It's much easier to clean and carve a larger pumpkin.. the small one is really difficult to clean.. Needless to say we were both happy with our work.. It's really easy, but time consuming.. but we both had loads of fun..

Next year, we'll do it earlier so that we can decorate the front part of the house..



..:::Arghh! Hear me roar!:::..



Happy Halloween!

Read More

Fancy yourself an artist?

Wanna create a great work of art like Picasso? Try this - Mr. PicassoHead. Great.. if you have nothing better to do..

Check out my work - Happy Family.. lol..

Read More

The Kids..


The small one is my student, after lesson, waiting for his mum. The big one, well... you know who.. both so engrossed in an online game on my laptop... so kiddy... I mean the big one.. Ha!!

Read More

Seafood Herbal Wine Steamboat

I read about this place from molemole's blog, which I linked from 9. Hubby and me, decided to give it a try yesterday. We reached at about 5.30pm, because we wanted to catch a movie after that, and already it was rather packed..

..:::Nomin Seafood Restaurant, 31/33 Teck Chye Terrace:::..



..:::The menu:::..



..:::The wine and liquor used in the steamboat:::..


We ordered the steamboat ($30) that comes with a platter of seafood (which includes fish, squid, fishballs, prawns, crabs, frog legs, scallops, sea cucumbers, vegetables and straw mushrooms). Hubby was worry it's not enough for the both of us.. since we declined having rice.


..:::The seafood platter:::..

The soup was delicious!!! I loved herbal soup.. and with the wine, it's yummy! Even Hubby says so.. Midway through dinner, both our faces were red, though we didn't really feel the effect from the wine. I guess it's because of the heat as well..

..:::Hubby's face was really red in this picture, but he's too dark to see.. ha!:::..



..:::We finished nearly all the soup!:::..



At the end of dinner, we were both very full! Maybe because we finished the soup till the very last drop.. haha! The steamboat, together with 2 drinks came up to $34. All in all it was really worth trying..

We went to watch a sneak preview of 'Stardust' after that. It was really nice! Light hearted and funny.. Do go and watch!

Read More

More pictures..

I'll upload soon on Flikr. Then you guys can download from there.. Bear with me.. Ha!I know I'm slow..

Meantime, enjoy..

DINNER NIGHT 1




DINNER NIGHT 2

Read More

Half A Year Late...

Ha! Better late than never.. Enjoy..
















More to come..

Read More

What's in my Ipod...

4 wonderful albums:


..:::Tony Bennett - Duets, An American Classic:::..


So many singers of different genre croning to classics like "Put on a Happy Face" (with James Taylor) and "Sing, You Sinners" (with John Legend). This album was destined for great success. Tony Bennett, at 81 is as fit as ever. My favourites, besides those mentioned earlier, are "Lullaby of Broadway" with Dixie Chicks, "Just in Time" with Michael Buble and "For Once In My Life" with Stevie Wonder. Arghhh! Just love the album!





..:::Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible:::..


I've been a fan of Michael since I first heard him singing "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart". His first album, Michael Buble, was really light and fun, It's Time was more romantic, Call Me Irresponsible depicts a much more mature Michael. My favourite? Hit song Everything, of course! Haha! "Wonderful Tonight", "I've Got The World on a String", and "The Best is Yet to Come" are really good too!




..:::Hairspray OST:::..


I loved the movie! Love the soundtracks! Brings you right back to the 60's (Not that I was there, but I did grow up listening to Elvis, Beatles and Carpenters..) My favourites are 'I Can Hear the Bells', '(You're) Timeless to Me' and 'Without Love'. This album's great for light and easy listening..




..:::The Secret OST:::..


Did you guys know how well Jay Chou could play the piano? I sure as hell don't before watching this movie! I had no idea he was classically trained. Other than starring, directing, and creating the story for the film, Jay also took care of the music, which plays a key role in Secret. Talk about talented.. I never did pay much notice to him before this.. let's just say my respect for his talents just raised several notches.. Look out for 'Piano Duel', 'Piano Duet' (my ringtone now), 'Secret' and 'Xiao Yu's Confession'..

Read More

New Gate!

We just recently repainted the main gate! From this:


..:::The gate, before:::..


To this:


..:::The gate, after:::..



Not bad huh.. Did it with lots of help from my dad and mum.. Thanks Daddy and Mummy!

..:::Love the new gate!:::..

Read More

Botak Jones's Coming to Woodlands!

Read it from 9

Hubby, you hear that?!?!?!

Lol.. he'll be whopping around!

Sigh.. haven't had the mood to blog since hubby left for Taiwan.. He'll be back in less than two weeks though.. :) Miss you baby...

Might be baking again tomorrow.. will post some pics if I do..

Ciao!

Read More

Bye Bye, Love...



Hubby just left for Taiwan... missing you already baby! Be safe and come back soon... and don't forget my pressies!!

Read More

No QC Lehz!

..:::Layered Strawberry Jam Spongecake:::..


I used the exact same amount of ingredients lehz... but it turned out very sweet... No QC!!!!! And my decorating skills still sucks! Arghh!

Read More

Make A Paper Plant!

..:::The Bamboo Tree.. made this last night:::..

..:::The Cactus, this is easier than the bamboo tree:::..



Found the templates from Epson Hong Kong. You'd just need to print out the templates, cut them and paste them together! It's great for killing time and looks really cute! I found the pot for the bamboo tree a little harder to do though, and my end result does look a little sloppy at close inspection.. hehe.. Oh well.. Do try it if you like paper crafts.. there's also animals, buildings, plants and many more..

Read More

Spongy Cup Cakes

Got this recipe from fellow blogger Baking Mum. Do check out her amazing blog!

This is really easy to do! The texture's really light and fluffy, and if you're into cakes like Ji Dan Gao, you should really try this! If you're not just add a drop or two of vanilla essence or any other flavoring, I'm sure it's just as nice!


..:::Paper cups lined with baking paper:::..

..:::The ingredients ( recipe below ):::..


..:::The cakes in the oven:::..


..:::Cooling the cakes:::..


..:::Viola! Great to whip up and serve if you have unexpected guest coming over:::..


The recipe:

Ingredients:

4 eggs
100 gm cake flour
100 gm castor sugar
12 gm spongecake stabliser (about 3/4 tbsp)
25 gm milk
90 gm melted butter

1. Put all the ingredients except the melted butter into a mixing bowl.Beat everything on high for at least 7 mins until ribbon stage. This means that if you use your whisk with batter to write an "8" on the batter won't sink in but will appear visible for a while. This will be the right constitency for your batter.
2.Add in melted butter at this stage and mix in thoroughly.
3.Line some waxed papercups with baking paper. Pour batter into the lined cups abt 3/4 full and bake it in a preheated oven at 190C for about 20 mins.
4.When done, remove the cake from the cup immediately and leave it on wire rack to cool.
5. Makes about 10 cups depending on the size of the paper cups.

Recipe from http://bakingmum.blogspot.com

So, I was so happy of my success that I made another batch, only this time I bake it in a 8" round baking tray.



The moment after I took this photo, the cake deflated like a balloon! I've never had success with cakes... Arghhh!! Don't ask me why... Darn! And I've prepared the whipping cream too! So, I cut it into half and did up half a cake......

My decorating skills sucks too.. as you can see in the pictures below.. Hur Hur..


Oh well... I shall try again.. Sigh..

Read More

Shanghai Mooncake

..:::Shanghai Mooncake with Green Tea Paste Filling:::..


Not a very satisfactory result.. :(
The filling's too small, the crust is hard as rock! Not flaky enough.. no buttery taste! Will try again next week. Will post the recipe if it turns out better...

Read More

Darthsalacious in the Papers!


Hubby's post on CPL Dave Teo was featured in Digital Life. You can read more here.

Read More

Beef Stroganoff

Chef Hubby tried this for dinner last Sunday.. it was yummy!





BEEF STROGANOFF

Preparation time: 15mins
Cooking time: 20mins
Serves 4.

Ingredients


600g rib eye fillet or rump
1/4 cup (30g) seasoned plain flour
375g fettuccine
60g butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
300g button mushroom, thickly sliced
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup (60ml) red wine
300ml cream

1. Pound the slices of beed between two sheets of plastic wrap with a mallet or rolling pin until half their thickness. Cut each slice into strips about 1cm wide. Place in a plastic bag with the seasoned flour and shake to coat.
2. Bring a large saucepan of water to the boil and cook the fettuccine according to the packet instructions until al dente.
3. Meanwhile, melt 40g of the butter in a frying pan over medium heat and cook the onion for 2 minutes. Add the beef in batches and cook for 5 minutes, or until evenly browned. Remove from the pan and keep warm. Heat the remaining butter in the pan and add the mushrooms, stirring, for 2-3 minutes, or until soft and lightly browned. Add the tomato paste and the red wine, stirring continously for 2 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced. Add the beef, stir in the cream, then reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently for a futher minute, or until the sauce has thickened. Serve with the fettuccine.


From Quick and Easy Tasty Meals in Minutes.

Read More

MidAutumn's Cookies.

Mooncake Biscuits/ Koong Chai Pneang.

This is my first attempt making the biscuits. It's really easy actually, but takes a lot of time.
Makes about 15.

Ingredients:

200g golden syrup
1/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
3/4 tbsp alkaline water
50g corn oil

300g plain flour, sifted
Thick soy sauce (for colour)

1. Combine golden syrup, alkaline water and sifted bicarbonate of soda in a basin. Add oil and mix with a wooden spoon and allow to rest for 4-5 hours.

2. Add thick soy sauce and stir well. Fold in sifted flour gradually and mix evenly to form a smooth, soft dough. Do not knead. Let dough rest for another 6-7 hours.

3. Divide dough into small portions. Dust with flour and press into figurine mould. Knock out and place on greased baking tray and bake in preheated oven at 180 degrees C for 8 minutes. Remove tray from the oven and leave for 1-2 minutes. Brush biscuits with eggs glaze and bake again 6-7 minutes or until golden.

Recipe from At Home with Amy Beh.

..::: Before baking:::..

It took much longer for the mixture to stand than stated in the recipe. I waited about 4 hours before mixing in the flour. Then another 6 hours when I first tried putting the dough into the mould, but it was much too soft to be moulded. In the end, I left it overnight, before moulding and baking it. I added the heart shaped Quins for fun.. Ha!

..:::After Baking:::..


..:::After cooling the biscuits:::..


No comments on these biscuits yet as no one has tried them yet.. except for me.. I find them quite ok...

Read More