Wednesday's Letters

Dear God, thank you for always being there when I need you the most especially during past one and a half weeks which was crazy due to some irregular voting saga going on within the contest which left us rather furious, worried yet sad that a friendly and fun competition had turned out so sour. But, You "sent" me a message, telling me 'Why worry when you can pray'. I guess all we need is a little leap of Faith.

Dear friends, friends' friends, family members & relatives, I can't thank you enough for your unstinting support for Lauren that qualified her to the Finals which will be held this Sunday, 3rd June at Botanic Garden Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, at 5pm. We could not have done it without all your votes and support! So, if you want to listen to Lauren sing Live or if you happen to be in town and would like to come, we would be thrilled to have you there! Admission is free.

Dear Karyn and Michelle, it was really sweet and nice of you for the compliments regarding my blog posts and that you have enjoyed reading them especially the recipes. I'll certainly continue writing and posting up more recipes. Thanks with a wide smile.

Dear Evening Sky, you were pink today which made you extremely beautiful. You've made me believe that there is hope for tomorrow, a better tomorrow.

Dear Beth, Kate & Lauren, you girls are maturing day by day but you three will always be those little girls I used to play Play-dough & toys with, watch your favorite Barney series on replay mode countless times with, take pictures together, and used to help out in feeding you, bathing you and changing your diapers. You girls are simply my favorites.

Dear Beth, it was nice to have gotten to know you even better for the past weeks over our supper parties and to find out that we actually have a number of things in common. It must be because we were born in the year of the Rabbit I say?
Dear Multi-talented Lauren, though mischievous most of the time, I think you are the funniest yet the sweetest. It was so you when you asked me, "Jiejie, what's your email address?" And, that was when I realized you were going to send me a birthday ecard. Such a sweetheart.

To Our Wonderful Wife and Mother

Mom sure is fortunate that she gets to celebrate two special occasions within the same month. But then again, the Ng Family too is blessed to have a wonderful wife and mother whom can never be replaced. Am sure yours is as well!

Celebrating Mom's birthday first, we went straight to cake-cutting since we know we would always be too full after dinner. We made dinner reservations at a recommended Korean restaurant which sits on the 7th story of Orchard Central. I can't agree more that Sarang (사랑) Heartbeat of Seoul has one of the best views of Singapore's downtown cityscape, completing a memorable dining experience for those who dine at the restaurant's vibrant outdoor seating area while enjoying endless catchy Korean pop music and music videos that gets you singing along.

The name of the dishes are pretty interesting, i.e those we ordered; Ying Yang Pancakes (Pan-fried Kimchi and Scallion Pancakes), Chewy Surprise (Korean Rice Cakes & Fish Cake in a sweet and spicy sauce), Sarang Japchae (Stir-fried Veg Vamicelli tossed in Sesame Oil), Under The Sea (Seafood & Silky Beancurd Hotpot), Shooting Star (Marinated Chicken), World Star (Beef Bulgogi), and Piggy Jumps Over the Well (Pork Belly w Veg served in a Kimchi Hotpot).  

Service was relatively good and dishes are at affordable prices as well. However, we did not think that the food was something to scream about. Most of the dishes we had were slightly too sweet, i.e. the Tteokboki (korean spicy rice cake) turned out sweet instead of spicy. The stews which were served piping hot and pancakes were some of the nicer tasting dishes we ordered.  We also noticed that most tables ordered Chicken Bong Bong (Deep-fried Chicken drumlets in Chef's special batter) , so we presume that it must be the restaurant's Hot Favorite. So, if you happen to dine at Sarang, don't forget to order a plate of Chicken Bong Bong! Also note that, Sarang does not provide complementary side dishes like most Korean restaurants do unless ordering their mains/sets, they'll serve two sides;  kimchi redish and a handful of stewed peanuts, but their fresh Kimchi sure looks appetizing enough.

Sarang (사랑) Korean Restaurant
181 Orchard Central, #07-01
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: 6773-1322
Website: http://www.sarang.com.sg/
Opening Hours:
Sunday - Thursday, 12nn - 10pm
Friday - Saturday, 12nn - 11pm

This year, Mother's Day falls on a Sunday, 13th May 2012, and knowing everywhere will be packed with people celebrating Mother's Day as well, Mom requested we cook for her.

We prepared an 8-course dinner, 3 of which she requested while the rest would be a surprise. Nothing beats cooking for Mom because of the love that has gone in to the dishes being prepared.

Appetizer: Refreshing Sweet & Sour White Radish with Zucchini, Carrot & Pear

Soup: Korean Seaweed Soup with diced beef

Deep-fried Sesame Tofu

Honey Marmite Chicken, garnished with Red Chili, Almonds and Coriander

Soyur Lodeh

Steamed Fish in XO Sauce

Noodles: Tung Hoon

Jie was in-charge of settling dessert but due to her busy work schedule, she bought Apple Strudel instead. The Apple Strudel we haven't had for years since the last time we went crazy over it for a period of time was extremely delightful! Definitely a good dessert choice after a heavy dinner of seven dishes. The night ended even better with jokes and laughter.

To our wonderful, loving wife and mother, Happy Birthday and Happy Mother's Day! We love you, Mom ♥

Instagram @Week Eighteen

Week eighteen of 2012 has come and gone like a lightning bolt, and we've just entered the month of May with April saying goodbye to us.

Here was my week,

Monday: A white package arrived at my doorstep today. And, it's my long awaited shorts I purchased from Klarra. Whoopy!

Tuesday: Have you ever come across a black & white pigeon? Spotted one downstairs Mr. L's flat and I thought it stood out from the rest. Apparently, this black & white pigeon is known as 'Galazi Roller' originated in Romania and these pigeons perform air acrobatics when they fly. Now, what's this Galazai Roller doing in sunny Singapore?

Wednesday: Arriving home safe and sound with a luggage full of snacks brought back from Beijiing. Welcome Home Dad!

Thursday: Enjoy reading inspirational/motivational novels and self-enrichment books. The Happy Student by Daniel Wong and How to Talk to Anyone by Leil Lowndes are my latest reads. What kind of books do you love to read?

Friday: 3000 screaming fans, 15 songs sang, 90mins Hi-5 Session. What an awesome fan meeting cum mini concert! I'll never forget our two seconds handshake. Cheers, from one of your loyal fans.

Saturday: A scene from Jensen & Amanda's wedding banquet. Everyone was having a ball and so did the bride and groom together with their bridesmaids and groomsmen. With dance moves and optimistic atmosphere like that, it's a wedding to remember!

Sunday: An advance birthday celebration for Mom with her requested birthday Triple Layer Chocolate Cake. We all thought that Lana's and Awfully Chocolate's still tasted nicer though, sorry Pine Garden, our votes go to Lana and AC.

So, that was my Week 18. 
Have a fantastic Week Nineteen everyone! Hope Week Eighteen went well for you.

Honey Marmite Chicken

If your favorite type of meat is Chicken, here's one more recipe you can try cooking this simple Honey Marmite Chicken dish. If Tricia and I succeeded on our first try, we are certain you will too!

(Adapted from Appetite Recipes Annual Book 2012)

What You'll Need:

1 Whole Sakura Chicken (w/o backbone)

2 tbsp light soy sauce

1 tbsp Hua Tiao Chiew

Oil, for deep-frying

Gravy:

1 tbsp oil

4 cloves garlic, chopped

1 tbsp Marmite Yeast extract

4 tbsp runny honey

2 tbsp water

2 tsp dark soy sauce

1 tsp light soy sauce

1/2 tbsp Hua Tuao Chiew

Garnish:

Handful of coriander leaves

1 red chili, sliced into strips

1 tbsp almond slices, toasted

Method:

1. Chop chicken into pieces (I got 14/15 pieces) and toss in soy sauce and Hua Tiao Chiew. Leave to marinate in the refrigerator overnight.

2. Heat oil in fryer and deep-fry chicken pieces till they turn golden brown and skin is crispy. Drain on paper towels to remove excess oil.

3. Prepare gravy. Heat oil and saute garlic till fragrant and light brown. Add remaining gravy ingredients and cook till gravy becomes glossy. Turn off heat and toss fried chicken in gravy to coat well.

4. Add a splash of Hua Tiao Chiew over  chicken pieces just before dishing up. Garnish and serve with hot steamed rice.

Have fun!

Instagram @Week Sixteen & Seventeen

Yup, so I'm finally getting around to blogging this week. Week 16 and 17 were pretty much quiet weeks with most days getting some work done. First, I'll do a quick recap of the both weeks.

Monday: Nuts about cashews? I am that I was about to finish a container full of it while doing work; like we say, 'once you start, you can't stop!'

Tuesday: How can anyone say am so skinny when I'm always committing sin No.3, 'Gluttony'? I no longer could resist this lychee martini cake sitting patiently in the fridge and I left no trace of it. Sinful I'd say!

Wednesday: I've finally helped Mom re-organized all her Dessert recipes that has been stacked onto one another, creating a pile of mess on her supposedly coffee table into a proper 'My Baking Organiser', bought from Kikki.K. With this, the Baking Bible is born!

Thursday: Did some research on birthday gift ideas for the Bestfriend and finally got my inspiration from Oh Happy Day!. I thought a box full of energy supplies would be a splendid idea knowing that he just entered the workforce and works till very late on most days.

Friday: 40km away, so near yet so far, we experienced flashes of lightning across the skies for two hours or so from Mom's window while we were all trying to get good shots. Pretty scary but it made the skies amazingly beautiful!

Saturday: Bestfriend's birthday cupcakes tasted like bitter socks when yours truly forgot all about adding sugar into the batter and only realizing it while putting the cupcake trays into the oven. It was too late to salvage them and had to throw away all 15 cupcakes. There goes my surprise for him and  there goes the flour, eggs, cocoa powder, chocolate, milk, butter, vegetable oil, heavy cream which I used.

Sunday: High in protein and low in cholesterol, Mr. L♥ and myself indulged ourselves with a healthy cookies & cream ice cream from Soyato. Yum!

Monday: There are days when you crave for chocolates and that day is today! I grabbed 2 bars from the nearest grocery store and like a happy kid, it was gone before I knew it.

Tuesday: Spotted a Macha Wafer Ice Cream for less than $3. Not the best green tea ice cream I've tasted but it was satisfying enough.

Wednesday: A 'Get Fat Campaign' I seem to be on. I noticed feeling hungry quite quickly these few days and would crave for sweet things. Got myself egg tarts from a nearby bakery and could not at least wait till I get home to savor on them.

Thursday: Developed bad rashes all over my tummy area and thighs which sent me straight to the doctor's where I was prescribed with 3 different types of tablets and 2 types of creams. One of the nasty things that can happen to me!

Friday: Baking with ♥; while trying to make some fluffy pancakes for our afternoon tea. Anyone with a good recipe to share?

Saturday: Battleship turned out awesome with a good storyline, the action, the effects,  the heart-rending moments and the comedy which made reference to Sun Tzu's The Art of War. Worth watching it a second time! And, also worth adding this movie to your dvd home collection.

Sunday: All for beauty; Collagen & Avocado Sushi we tried at Sushi Tei.

So, that was my Week 16 and 17. What did yours look like?

Dim Sum at 揾到食 126 Eating House

1. Drinks: Barley ($2.20) and Honey Lemon Tea with jelly bits ($2.50) served in the take-away containers. Thirst-quenching!

2. Loved the smooth texture of the 皮蛋粥 Pei Dan Chok (Century Egg Porridge) ($3) that had big chunks of century eggs and I could not stop at one spoonful; very addictive! It reminds me of my younger days when Mom would cook this for us and how much I used to dislike eating century eggs with my porridge but somehow outgrew to love eating them.

3. 煎香菇肉肠粉 Fried Mushroom Cheong Fun ($3.50) was our favorite amongst all the dishes we ordered and couldn't help ourselves but to order another plate. Absolutely YUM!

4. 蒸萝卜糕 (Steamed Carrot Cake) ($3.20) and 香港叉烧包 Cha Siu Bao (Steamed Pork Buns) ($3.20) piping hot, fresh from the kitchen. So..good!

5. Biting into the 炸虾卷 Fried translucent Beancurd Skin stuffed with crunchy Prawns ($4) screams delicious. 纸包鸡 (Paper Wrapped Chicken) ($4.50) was finger-licking good, you simply can't stop at one.

6. The 小笼包 Xiao Long Bao ($3.50) was a disappointment; was expecting the usual burst of soup when putting it in the mouth but it turned out dry and there was a lack of flavor to it. 烧卖王 Siew Mai ($4.20), 虾饺 Har Gao (Prawn Dumplings) ($3.20), Crabmeat wrapped with Seaweed ($3), and 鸡脚 Chicken Feet ($2.50) on the other hand were good, just like how they should be. The 叉烧肠粉 Char Siu Chee Cheong Fun ($3.50) had a unique twig to its sweet sauce. Their sauce was thicker than the usual but I still prefer the traditional one. Nevertheless, its a good try. 
7. 珍珠糯米饭 (Pearl Glutinous Rice) ($2.50), 炸紫菜卷 (Fried Seaweed Roll) ($3.50) and 明虾角 Ming Xia Jiao (Fried Prawn Dumplings) ($4) worth to try. There were over 70 dishes staring back at us, we had a slight dilemma on which to decide. And, did I mention that everything is at an affordable price? 
8. Total damage caused: 15 dishes, 18 servings, 4 drinks = $73/-.

"Not a very light dinner after all..."

揾到食 126 Eating House

126 Sims Avenue

Singapore 387449 (between Geylang Lor 15 and 17)

Tel: 67464757/67454869

Opening Hours:

Daily, 24-hours

Instagram @Week Fifteen

Happy Monday everyone! This week I have another birthday gathering to plan and I've got four days left to think of something good. But now a moment of reflection and a peek into my Week 15,

Monday: Made myself an afternoon cup of hot Topical Passion Tea with CBTL's Kaldi Machine.

Tuesday: It's L's Birthday today so we dined out and got her a cake. Happy Birthday L! Hope you were touched. heee.

Wednesday: My first attempt in baking Salted Caramel Cupcake with Buttercream Frosting. Cupcake alone was super soft, light and moist but the buttercream frosting was too runny. I may have over beaten the butter. Cupcake: Passed, Frosting: Failed. I'm still on the quest on finding the best, not too sweet Buttercream Frosting.

Thursday: Today's baking was clumsy while attempting Salted Caramel Cupcake with Buttercream Frosting for the second time. Dropped an egg on the floor, burnt my foot, and got myself some cuts.

Friday: Pampering of the feet with bath confetti, bath caviar and bath crystals that was given as a gift. It's been too long.

Saturday: I don't remember it being that crazy the last time I went to the wet market. Housewives pushing and shoving with their trolleys/baskets, not caring about anyone's existence especially when vegetables were priced ridiculously cheap. It was worse than going to work in the morning I'd say. Oh dear.

Sunday: What a long Sunday for Mom, Mr. L♥ & I, all for the Birthday Jie; baked Macha Azuki Red Bean Cupcakes, picked Dad from the airport, prepared the ingredients for five dishes as requested and cook, picked up another cake as a fall back just in case the cupcakes failed on me, and made sure the surprise was a success.

How was yours like? Hope Week 16 will be a much better one! XOXO

Today's Letters

Dear Friday the 13th, you aren't that bad as I thought you are. Mr. L♥ and I were in better luck this time round, catching a total of 26 prawns. I think it's all in the attitude. So, #TGIF. 
Dear Early Saturday Morning, waking up to do marketing was easy, though the fact that I only got to bed at 2am. Breakfast became a three part meal with the usual Cheerios cereal, followed by custard puffs an hour and a half later, and Tau Huay another hour after. But, it's the aftermath that kicked in right after that. It was hard to keep awake.
Dear Bed, I know how much I grumble every night on how I can't sleep but right now you and I are like best buddies. And you, Pillows and Blanket compliment one another so well, it's making my fingers slow down in pace in trying to complete this sentence. 
Dear Mom, thanks for boiling Dang Gui (considered the women's ginseng) every month which helps to nourish blood because my cramps can be really terrible.
Dear Munchy's Wheat Krunch Collagen, you are officially the cracker that comforts my daily hunger pains and at the same time you are good for my body with not only 300mg of collagen per pack but also 80% wheat content with no artificial sweeteners/preservatives.

Yours truly,
Ashley.

Crisp Fried Tofu Balls

This second tofu dish that Tricia and I tried is extremely easy and we had lots of fun making them. We were like fish ball makers that day. This would not only make a quick and great snack especially for parties but also a good bonding session with your kids; a good exposure for your kids to experiment making/cooking simple dishes.

(Adapted from Betty Saw's Mini Cookbook)
What You'll Need:
1 1/2 long/big firm tofu
3/4tbsp tapioca flour
1/2tsp water
1 egg, lightly beaten
3 big and fresh shiitake mushrooms, chopped
2 thin slices turkey bacon/ham, chopped (optional)
3 red chili, deseeded and chopped
1 stalk spring onion, chopped
1 stalk coriander leaves, chopped
1/4tsp salt

Method:
1. Press tofu through a sieve into a mixing bowl.

2. Add the remaining ingredients to bowl and mix well.

3. Use a small ice cream scoop to scoop up some mixture and shape into balls.

4. Deep-fry them in hot oil at 175deg for 5-6mins or until golden brown. Drain well.

Have fun!

Instagram @Week Fourteen

What a long weekend which has come and gone by in a blink of an eye! Hope Week 14 went great for you as well. Here's a recap of what Week 14 looked like for me,

Monday: It has been bucketing with rain for weeks and today was no exception. Such cooling weather. But, it was crazy enough to topple an approx. 50g Jambu plant/tree down and destroyed the fruits it was bearing.

Tuesday: 'The Wedding Letters'  is now available in stores and am so grateful that Mr. L got it for me. Time to be inspired by Jason F. Wright once again.

Wednesday: I declare Wednesdays - Indulgence Day! Who can resist a chocolate cake, what's more, a. double. chocolate. layer cake Mom and I baked?

Thursday: My favorite scene in the movie, 'The Vow' - Paige: "I vow to help you love life, to always hold you with tenderness, and to have the patience that love demands. To speak when words are needed, and to share the silence when they’re not. To agree to disagree on red velvet cake, and to live within the warmth of your heart and always call it home." Leo: "I vow to fiercely love you in all your forms, now and forever. I promise to never forget that this is a once in a lifetime love. I vow to love you, and no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way back to each other."

Friday: Does having desserts or ice cream in particular cheer you up when you are feeling down as well? They work for me and ice cream with waffles I had at Udders.

Saturday: Having family and friends over for Easter tea is a blessing. We couldn't be more full with Mom's wonderful Easter tea ring, scones and hot cross buns.

Sunday: Drove to the airport to welcome L. back to humid Singapore. So glad to have her back!

Happy Easter everyone!

God Bless.

Letters To A Bunch of Awesome Friends

Dear Pill, it's been years since I last shared something like that with you. Thanks for being my listening ear and I'm glad I still have you. And, for real we should meet up. Say next week? Hope your aches will get better soon. By the way, I would love to see your 4kg naughty cat and adorable hamster. Dear Alex, you've been one of the best listening ears despite you having to study for your exam. Sincerely, do appreciate all those positive pictures you sent over. They've helped. Smiles. Dear Rach & Mel, Esther, Shirley and Shux, you girls have definitely made be feel much better after pouring it out. The heart-to-heart talk helped and I'm blessed you've got my back. Thank you girls so much. Love you dearly.

A friend though may not agree 100 percent with you but its the words used, their understanding, care and concern.

Life always has its up and down seasons. No full 365 days a year, will one be happy nor sad. One just needs to pass that stage and all is well again but during these low moments, what is really needed is not friends that get irritated with you, then roll their eyes and think that the problem is ridiculous/a small matter. But, rather a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on; being a good support system, and not making you feel worse as you already are. And, adding salt to the wound is a definite NO NO.

Friends/partners should also be understanding with each other. Sometimes one party may be busy at work or at school and may not have time to reply. However, it is important to make up for it after work or before heading to bed with just a simple reply/message, or a date to keep the relationship going because it does help to make things better. Your friend will feel known that he/she is still as important to you as you are to them in their lives.

I do have a fair share of friends that have walked out of my life while there are those who have stayed. If you are in the same boat as me, it's always good to reflect if you have been a good and true friend, and vice versa. Treasure those who are still in your life. Don't let them fade away. They are just important as your family.

Love,
Ashley.

45 Easter Ideas

Holding a Easter tea party this weekend or maybe you just want to have fun giving friends something for Easter? Here are 45 inspiring ideas!

Have fun and Happy Good Friday!