Bakes

I can't remember the last time I really bake something sweet. I mean, I bake quite a bit, using the oven more for dinners than sweets. The last time was just last week, baking a little pumpkin. Love roasted pumpkins! They are packed with super duper stuff like antioxidants and vitamin A. Such an awfullly wholesome thing it is. Makes me feel like it is fall, jumping into glorious amber coloured piles of leaves. Yeah, I know, there is only 2 seasons in Singapore, nonetheless let me just pretend and indulge in my overactive imagination ok?

Anyway, as I was just saying, I can't remember the last time I baked something sweet. So this evening, was in the mood. Nice cool and windy, the husband is out meeting his cuz, so the place is nice and quiet, just perfect for baking.

I like baking at night. When all is still and quiet. There is something really comforting in that. Well, it wasn't all that still and quiet since I started at 8pm. At least I was alone. I have a habit of baking alone when my husband's out with friends. It is my downtime. I enjoyed the baking session thoroughly, I almost forgot how nice it is to be baking alone. Must do it again soon!

Donuts

I never really indulge in the nation's favourite past time - queuing. Ok, second favourite past time next to shopping. Ok ok, third favourite past time next to shopping and makaning.
Donut factory has all those things. It is located in a SHOPPING MALL. It has ridiculously LONG QUEUES. Donuts are FOOD.

How more Singaporean can you get? By offering sambal donuts is it?

Anyway, I love donuts. My family adores donuts. And as much as I adore my family, I can't bring myself to queue for them. The queues centipedes its way all the way to Gloria Jean's, which is a good 15 meters at least. It is ludicrous!

But admittedly, I have always been curious about those donuts. One fine saturday afternoon, my sister and my brother decided to go down to and get them bloody donuts.
I tell you, they are great! Especially the glazed ones! I still have some of those at home. Thank you guys!

Putting the Char in Char Siew

Charred that is. Eventually I did out my char (fork) to the siew too.
I attempted making char siew on my own since I had a char siew attack last week, but I hate those orangey looking ones.

I was a little nervous that it might not come out so well, but it did! Well, it wasn't fantastic (but fenntastic loh! hurhur!), but I loved it. It did looked a little too charred, hahahaha, I think I over-glazed it with too much honey. It definately tasted better than it looked. But I like the charred bits best.

Spring Cleaning

You know how some friends just take you for granted? How some just don't put in that little bit of effort to upkeep relationships? You know, these so called friends? Those that ask you out only when there are no other people more interesting and available. Those that make you few like some kind of gap filler.

I think I have wasted enough time and have been pretty patient with them. I had given more than enough chances and benefit of the doubt. I decided that I should put in my energy on people who are genuine. Most of us will have so called friends like that. Those that are interested in you because you are fresh and a little bit of a novelty to these people, like entertainment. You got a sell-by date. So, I am saying adios to these people. I hate having to feel like some kind of
When I think about some friends, it brings a certain warmth to your heart. You will be smiling inside and out. They make you feel all nice and soft and great. I love my friends! I have a close set of friends whom I can talk about anything and nothing at all, whom I know I can run to to whine and complain or just plain gossip. I love them to bits, and I would be so sad if they are not around me anymore. Makes me think about Seinfeld, just less offbeat and kooky. You know that you are important to them without them having to tell you that. They make you feel that. Sometimes, they do the simplest things and that would touched you in the deepest way possible. These friends are hard to come by, and honestly, you don't need that many of these gems in your life.

With that done, I can focus on the things and people that matter most!
Phew!

Comfort Food

My brother highly recommended the triple chocolate cereal, so i bought it. Eat it with chocolate milk, very POWER. At the risk of having nose bleeds, I will just stick to normal low fat milk. I can eat cereals any day of the time. Supper, in front of the TV, afternoon reading the papers. It is one of those comfort food. We are such creature of comforts...

Apple and cinnamon go really well don't you think? I can't think of a better match for apples than cinnamon. It is one of those classic food pairings. Like thyme and chicken or basil and tomatoes. The smell always puts a smile on my face. I love having some really hot apple crumble with vanilla ice cream on a rainy day! One of life's pleasures! I remember Ken and I would always go down to the Black Jack Cafe (when it was still below Hard Rock Cafe and when they were still carrying Kate Spade) for just that after school. Brings back good memories for me.

I love a huge greasy juicy burgers when I am really hungry. I like the satiated feeling I get after I am done wolfing down the burger. Another comfort food of mine.
I love bak changs too, I don't eat it often, usually just on dun wu jie, but I love it no less.
I love love love that chicken rice stall in Ubi Ave! I used to eat it ever so often when I was living there. I still make my way there, braving the horrid Eunos traffic just to have that. It was such a family affair.

The ultimate comfort for me has got to be my mum's chicken curry, very healthy, she uses part coconut milk, part low fat milk, some curry purists will scoff at this, but I ADORE IT! It must be accompanied with her fried bee hoon. Shioka-doo-da-doos! Most times now, she only cooks either items, so when there is curry and no bee hoon, I love eating mee sua drenched in a pool of curry. Heavenly, although bizarre sounding, it is really yummy!

Speaking in Tongues

I signed up for a Japanese language course. A short one, if I am really into it, I might take up the higher elementary class. I think I might be turning into a japophile. An anglicised one. An anglicised japophile or a japadised(so lame) anglophile?
Lessons start next month!

Give Thanks

Often, in our uber busy lives, we forget about the people around us who love us. Often, we are too caught up with everyday life or get into some sort of comfortable routine that doesn't seem to include people who should be included more.

Relationships, all kinds, take effort. Don't expect anything to blossom or even stay the same if no efforts have been put into them. Relationships are like plants, gotta give some attention or they will wilt and die. I know, sounds a little corny, I got this quote from an ultra perspective friend of mine a decade ago! How I love this friend!

I should make it a point to visit my grandma more, call my aunt up to chat or even lunch. hahaha. My dearest friends, I need to get them out more. I can be such a lazy person, sometimes I just like staying at home.