Baking!

This holiday what should I bake?

What should I bake?

What should I bake?

I have been racking my brains to think what kind of desserts should I bake. I don't have an oven nor a hand mixer at home so I need to get some recipes that are simple and easy to bake using a toaster. Yes, that's right a conventional toaster oven.

Shall look out for new stuff to bake before I fly back to Melbourne!

Nutella Blossoms

 

Banana Muffins

Durian Muffins

 Egg Tarts

 Marmalade Scones / Chocolate Scones

Porn's - Local celebrity thai restaurant

Porn's

28 Liang Seah St, Singapore 189049

I love Thai cuisine but I heard from my partner that the place that we frequent standard has declined so my friend and I decided to try some where else - Pornsak's Thai Restuarant at one of the shop houses in Bugis.

 Rice shaped like an elephant :D

 shrimp omelette - something like our furong egg. 

huge pieces of shrimp and the omelette is not dry. Love it!

 hotpot tom yam soup - fish only

Huge pot with many pieces of fish. I still prefer the tom yam I had in Bangkok more. The soup taste a little bland. I prefer the sour and spicy soup with more spices though.

Apart from the above we had fried chicken winglets, but we were too hungry to remember to take a picture of it ><

The entire meal caused SGD65 damage to our pockets. It is pricey but I guess it is pretty standard in Singapore.

Anywhere else to recommend? :O

Carpenter and Cook

 Carpenter and Cook

19 Lorong Kilat, #01-06, 598120

After our Korean dinner, we decided to pop over a vintage themed cafe for some pastries and  tea. I love the ambience. Really retro and relaxing. Perfect place for afternoon tea with some friends to catch up on our lives. We went there about 8pm and the choices of pastries and cakes were pretty limited. I am not too sure if it is because it is too late in the evening but the variety of cakes is TOO SMALL >:(

I love cakes and tarts, not much of a cookie person so I didn't have much choices.

SGD 5 for each pot of tea.

SGD 6.50 for the tarts.

SGD 8 for the cakes but there's only Tiramisu, hence I opted for the tart that night.

left (yellow coloured tea) : counting sheeps - camomile and pepermint

right (orange coloured tea) : african sunrise - mixed berries

Pots of tea are refillable for free so it is a good thing, although it will definitely taste blend after each refills hahahas.

Nothing beats having a cup of aromatic fruit tea with your desserts - heavenly.

 Lemon cream tarts

The tarts are disappointing. They taste terribly sour. I know lemons aren't supposed to be sweet but it is too sour for my liking. It feels as if I am biting a piece of lemon except there isn't any bitter after taste. I am not too sure how lemon tarts should taste like but maybe I will give it a miss the next time :(

And so... Yan Ngee left her handphone unattended.

This is what happens if you leave your mobile unattended.

Selfies spam!

 

 Just to wrap things for us, a few compulsory shots :D

Kim's Family Restaurant

Kim's Family Restaurant

#01-06, Kilat Court, 17 Lorong Kilat

 

Blessed 23rd birthday to my dear goofy friend Tesring :D

Since it is her birthday we let her choose where we shall have dinner and here you go - Kim's Family Restaurant. We ordered army stew, japjae, seafood miso soup and pork bulgogi which eventually cost about SGD76.50? Each bowl of plain rice cost SGD2 if you order ala-carte which is crazy expensive. I know I shouldn't compare prices between Singapore and Melbourne but things here in this restaurant and tiny country is expensive. Singapore cost of living is definitely rising at the speed of light. 

Kim's restaurant offers 12 different kinds of sides, not to sure if they are refillable but they are specially seasoned to suit the local taste buds - not very authentic in my opinion. They are either too salty of sweet with a lot of msg - felt really thirsty after eating and I need to down them with plenty of rice. For the record I drank about 3-4 glasses of water throughout the meal feeling thirstier than ever :( I must say they don't taste terrible though in that segment in fact pretty nice perhaps because of excessive seasoning.

Thumbs up for the Jap jae worth eating but it is SGD15 for a tiny plate. It is flavourful, chewy but stingy with vegetables in that dish. I like it that it tastes good and it is not oily compared to the others I had else where.

Army Stew SGD 35 for a tiny pot barely enough for two. The stew is not spicy at all compared to all the other stews I had. The soup is pretty diluted but acceptable because of the unique twist - cheddar cheese :B Those who are scared of spicy food may consider trying. I contains golden mushrooms, two dumplings, two mouthful of instant ramen, sausages, luncheon meat, rice cake, prawns, clams and few pieces of pork belly.

In general I feel that the dishes are not bad tasting but nothing fanciful to rave about. It is too expensive given the portion provided. The above is definitely not enough for three although it did much damages to our pockets leaving hungry afterwards :(

Managed to catch up with the girls and took some pictures. I certainly have tough luck with white-coloured clothes. I will, no matter what stain my clothes with food stains no matter how hard I try. I will topple my soup spoon over and yes it happened after dinner , ARGH!

More pictures below :)

Paris Baguette Cafe

Paris Baguette Cafe

#02-48/53, Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, 435 Orchard Road

Strawberry cake!

I loveeee strawberry cakes with soft fluffy sponge in the middle.

Sponge cake , sponge cake, I miss my sponge cake hahahs.

I haven't been having good spongecake with cream for the longest time in Australia. In Melbourne, chocolate mousse is more common compared to sponge cakes.

SGD6.50 for a tiny slice. Savoring every bit up but I think it is kinda overrated and overpriced though. My partner had almond pastry but it is too oily and served cold. The service of this outlet needs some improvement in my opinion. No matter how packed and busy, tables need to be clean and pastries meant to serve hot should be heated up. 

Thanksgiving 2013

2013 is coming to an end, time to reflect and come up with a new year resolution.

1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2013 has been a year filled with plenty of ups and downs for me. A year which I cried buckets but grew stronger and much braver than another other years. A special year with increasing spiritual growth and better walk with my Lord. 

Thank you Lord for being in my life, hearing and answering my prayers; forgiving me of my sins, love me and flood me with your grace and mercy. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! 

1. In and out of hospital, fainted in the gym, bad migraine attacks in Singapore & Melbourne.

2. NTEU bans release of results, delaying my transfer.

3. Transfer screwed up, unable to access to onshore lesson materials.

4. Bank deposited all my money into wrong account.

5. Made use of by new ' friend' for enrollment and thrown aside.

6. Stalked by junkie / took lift with junkie.

7. Selfish project mates, one man show for assignments.

Romans 8:31

If God is for us, who can be against us? 

Despite all these crap that I had to face throughout the year, God blessed me with many more, so much that I forgot all my troubles for I know I am not alone. 

1. Reunited with Lord, attend church and cell weekly - spiritual growth.

2. 21st birthday party with my loved ones, helped mended broken relationships.

3. Made many new brothers and sisters in Christ.

4. Made many new friends - true friends who are sincere and cares.

5. Learn new life skills : do laundry, cook , clean house, dishes , change light blubs , manage rent , manage bank account, aunty level grocery shopping,

KILL ROACHES

6. Explored Melbourne with close friends, family and my favourite boy for our anniversary.

7.Explored Australia - Sydney with friends.

8. Did well for my onshore semester.

9. Received parcels and cards filled with love from friends temporarily stationed around the world.

10.Strengthen relationship and treasure bonds with family and friends.

11. Independence.

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The list just go on and on...

Resolution for 2014.

Let Jesus be the center of my life.

" Abba Father in heaven, I pray and give thanks for Your grace, guidance and mercy throughout 2013. Despite being in a foreign land, I do not feel lonely because I have Jesus. Thank you lord for Your strong spiritual presence, providing me with comfort and strength when I am down. Thank you Lord for being my light in the darkness, shepherd of my life. Life couldn't be any better without Jesus. As 2013 comes to an end, I pray for continuous spiritual growth, improvement in my walk with Lord my God. Lord may You be my shepherd to shine light and provide me with directions in my life as 2014 will be a year of critical life transitions. Lord I pray for salvation of my family and my boy, good health and happiness for everyone. Lord I also pray for Alabaster, may we continue to grow spiritually together as brothers and sisters in Christ, to do everything that is pleasing in Your eyes, glorifying to Your name. Father please mold me in your image, to love like the way You love Your children - You selflessly gave Your only blameless son for unworthy sinners like us. I thank You and praise You Lord, in Jesus most precious name, Amen."

Brighton Beach / Gami Chicken & Beer

Last week of spring and my cousin is here to pay me a visit in Melbourne :D

Time to pay Brighton beach a visit on this perfect sunny day. Check out the blue sea peeps.

check out the colourful bathhouses! 

AUD 5 for 3 huge and ripe mangoes :) 

chilled mangoes and anchovies salad - perfect snack for picnic by the beach.

My gosh the sun was scorching and really unbearable that day despite the breeze though, just saying ><

After sun tanning my tummy couldn't stop growling so I had to head back to the city quickly for dinner. Check out Gami below for my favourite fried chicken in Melbourne city.

Gami Chicken & Beer

100 Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000

If you don't already know, Gami does delivery for people who lives in specific proximity with AUD3 delivery charge and minimum expenditure of AUD30? Have to check it out with my mates again but it is really convenient if you are planning to stay in and enjoy your meal :B

 sausages on hot plate

 half-half (whole chicken in 2 flavours) fried chicken : sweet chilli and original

No matter who many pieces I eat I won't get sick of eating unless I have those with the sweet soy sauce. Each piece of chicken fried to perfection. The crunch is something not to miss. Almost every one orders a whole chicken there. Remember to make a booking or visit early to avoid disappointment!

Tastes really good even if you leave it over night - especially the sweet chilli ones. All you have to do is to microwave for a min and half to heat them up. Missing them already :(

spicy seafood soup

you get bits of scallop, squid, prawns and glass noodles in the spicy soup. Trust me it is really spicy, perfect choice for dinner on a winter night.

Don't forget to get a mug of chilled beer to go down with your meals. Ultimate yum!