Some of my immediate family managed to take time out of their holiday plans and spend time with ADCA in Singapore… It’s been awhile since all of us bunked out in one house and just chilled and ate… They all stayed at our house and although, there weren’t enough beds – it was fun to all squeeze in together and sleep wherever there was space! I rather miss those days when we were younger and we all squeezed into each other’s bedrooms, or had sleeping bags laid all over the floors cos we just liked the whole ‘sleep-over’ thing!

Shame that it rained ALOT during their stay though… cos it would have been nice to take them to more places to eat good food!

My youngest sister Ansy was the last to leave Singa and she so reminded me of myself when I first came to Singapore…. She currently lives in Taiwan, and whilst she was here, she had a list of things that she needed to do.. Like have her hair cut, eat a good western meal, buy certain british stuff to bring back with her…. These things seem so trivial but when you live in a country where you don’t understand the language (and they don’t speak much english), where good old british stuff are hard to come by – I tell you, you have serious cravings… I was like that… I longed for jacket potato, a good bangers and mash dish, certain chocolates like Wispa, Fish and chips from a take-away… I still have the cravings but not so badly anymore! In a nice sort of way, I think I’m getting used to Singapore… the weather, the lifestyle, the accents, the foods… I never thought I would really… Because it was such a big culture shock to me! When we relocate back to UK, I think I will miss Singa and have those ‘cravings’ that I once had when I arrived here…

Chloe turned 2 during CNY… I look back and time has flown… I can’t believe how much she has grown…. She’s a proper madam now! And Andre, he’s also growing up so quickly…

Who knows what will happen in the future, But what I do hope is that all will be happy and stay close and in contact x

Happy Chinese New Year to all my family and friends out there!

And since that day, it has been a headache testing foods and avoiding them… For the foods that trigger her eczema, poor girl has puffy, red, itchy, dry patches on her face, esp the around the eyes….

So far, her avoid foods include cow’s milk (but recent introduction of this in certain products seem to be ok, fingers crossed), egg, peas, plums, citrus fruits, berries (including strawberries, blueberries), kiwi, shellfish/seafood (except fish) and the list goes on!

Cooking for her is a mission cos I’m not particularly brilliant at cooking and now because there’s Andre, there just isn’t enough time nor energy!! I cook her 2 meals every day & because she’s not that adventurous, it’s getting difficult! Also, now that she’s hitting the terrible twos stage, she’s starting to get picky & bored of foods that she once loved! Problem is, ideas are running low because of 1) the lack of foods she can eat, 2) the fact that she doesn’t want to eat this and that! 3) Singapore doesn’t offer many dairy free and egg free alternatives like dairy free cheeses/spreads/yoghurt/cakes etc and egg free biscuits/cakes freely off the shelf! What is in abundance here is soya milk!!!

At times, I feel sorry for her because of the lack of things she can eat and enjoy…

It’s her birthday soon and I have decided to bake her some cupcakes for her birthday… I wanted to order a sugar free, nut free, dairy free and egg free cake but it was difficult to source one and when I did, it was stupidly expensive! For her 1st bday, I made her cake but she couldn’t eat it. This year, she will be able to blow the candle from her cake and then be able to eat it!! Yay!!

Gotta go through more allergy-free recipes!! Some of her faves that she helped to make include spring rolls and gingerbread men!!!

We had originally planned to go out with Mama today, but she ended up being far too busy! She had a pampering session including a full body massage, hair cut and nail manicure, which took practically the whole day! Oh well – nevermind!!!

i) Chloe has turned one and we are pregnant with our 2nd baby and as of today its 14 weeks + old. Daisy is having a hard time with this pregnancy, and comparing it with Chloe’s, this one is making her think twice about the 3rd baby at this moment whilst with Chloe, she really enjoyed her pregnancy.

ii) we went away to Phuket with my mum’s siblings and family, 11 of us and the trip was fun yet hectic. Eat lots of nice food, but some of us got food poisoning on the last day. DnAnC + Mama is going back to Phuket again, (thanks to Marriot Vacation Club complimentary stay) and we hope that this coming trip will be a much more chilled holiday.

iii) I noticed that they are a lot of dangerous and rude drivers around and I seriously was considering if I should buy an in-car video cam to record the rude moves that some drivers do. Sometimes I get “cut” by “F1 racers” in Toyota and Hondas doing a speedy lane change, so dangerous that if the car previously in front of me brakes we would get into a collusion, me hitting his right rear bumper. One particular driver I remember, SCP1133A, Silver Honda Civic.

iv) Have been playing a bit of badminton, and decided that will pick up this sport back and play it a bit more seriously and long term.

v) Wanted to go to visit a nursing home back due to time clash, we could not go and went to attend a relative’s wedding instead. Almost gone to a CNY dinner for grassroot leaders with GOH, PM Lee, but had food poisoning so gave it a miss.

vi) Health has not been fantastic. Currently having a back pain that goes back since a while ago. Seeing a specialist to get a diagnosis. Hopefully will not miss the ICT in May.

vii) Potentially (80%) selling the car as it is nothing but a big liability to us right now. 80% of the time its just sitting in the carpark. It is more of a luxury item than a necessity, hence it should really go. Anyone wants to buy it? Or anyone wants to buy the registration plate? SGN126P.

viii) Want to try scenario paintball one day so if someone wants to join me pls pls pls let me know. Need to travel to Malaysia though. Maybe airsoft too.

I think that is about all. Updates again later..

However, our journey with Chloe so far, has been a blessing – and I wouldn’t want to change a thing! To be honest, time has flown by so quickly, that I can’t even remember the exact details unless I go through my blog and pictures again! She looks SOOOO different compared to when she was born! The only thing that’s similiar is the fact that her hair still won’t grow!! She’s started to stand up whilst being aided recently, she’s crawling much better now! But in general, she’s still a lazy little girl.. She’d rather sit on her bottom or whine to be carried!!

Made a birthday cake for her (not that we’re gonna be giving it to her, as we haven’t introduced egg yet!)… Still got more cakes to bake for her party on the weekend – so I’m gonna be pretty busy these next few days.. So until then…. Au revoir!

Secondly, I must apologise for not updating my blog recently, since my return to the land of the heat – Singapore! Seem to have been really busy – with what exactly? Who knows!?!?? Time just flies and before you know it, the day has ended!

Anyways, today is Christmas Day and we had some relatives over… DnA cooked… Hupps – the roast chicken main dish, moi – the dessert and Christmas/Birthday cake for Allan’s second Uncle… Not really a traditional Christmas dinner though – cos Allan’s relatives aren’t that keen on western food like that!! The elder generation think that if they don’t have rice, they won’t be full!!! Ummm… Thank goodness, we only served “sort-of-Christmas lunch”! So that if they aren’t full – it can be rectified at their dinner meal!!! hehe

The menu for today:
-Roast Chicken with herbs
-Steamed veg (carrots, sweetcorn, peas)
-Mushroom gravy
-Sausages
-French fries
-Chocolate mousse-type dessert
-Chocolate sponge cake with icing and strawberries

This Christmas is a relatively quiet Christmas – maybe cos Chloe sleeps at 7pm, hence, we try not to go out too late – as it may disturb her routine? Anyways, looking forward to tomorrow – Boxing Day – cos it’s opening pressies time!!

From where I come from, and from when I grew up – mooncakes were a rareity… They were highly priced for a simple box of 4 and the flavours were just the plain standard pure lotus seed paste… Sometimes, there were single yolk and if you were lucky there were double yolk! We would cut them into small slices, share them out amongst the family and savour each bite – trying to make them last for ages! I love mooncakes – maybe cos to us it was a delicacy and a once a year treat!

Well, today I passed a mooncake fayre… crazy really… The amount of people, the amount of stalls and shops selling the stuff! The flavours and sizes were vast too!

Shame really – last year, I had to avoid mooncakes as they contain peanut oil and I was preggers. This year, I’m breastfeeding, so still avoiding it! But I’m already thinking about when I am able to have them, what would I choose?

I must admit I love the original mooncake – the plain and simple pure lotus seed paste…. I’ve not really tried that many new funky tasting modern mooncakes… So I wonder whether these will superscede the original? So as a result, I have come to a conclusion that one day, I will buy lots of many mini mooncakes so that I can test the different flavours and styles… Yip, that’s what I will do!

Can’t wait to try Huppy’s favourite – Champagne Truffle & Chocolate Ganache Snowskin Mooncakes from Szechuan Court, Swissôtel The Stamford.

So yesterday, off I went to the local library and loaned “The Bread Book – the definitive guide to making bread by hand or machine.”

I’ve always wanted a bread-maker cos I lurve the smell and taste of fresh bread… but still haven’t seemed to have bought one yet! Nevertheless, no machine doesn’t mean it’s gonna stop me!

Bought the ingredients and started the baking process… Oh man – the kneading process was an absolute killer on the heels of my hands… By the end of it – my hands were sort of shaking! It was meant to take 10 mins from the recipe – but it took me 20 mins to get to the desired smooth and elastic dough… And it still wasn’t that smooth and elastic!!!

Result @ 11pm: Fresh in-deed! Smelt fab! Tasted it when it came out of the oven and it was soft and nice… But ofcos there’s always room for improvement – like other flavours, styles! So sliced the loaf in readiness for the following morning’s breakky – which was this morning!!

To continue with my home-baking, decided to bake some cookies today – house smelt lush and cookies tasted fab – but ofcos Im gonna say that – right?!?!

I thoroughly enjoy going to different places and tasting foods – so much, sometimes I think I should have been a food critic! (But then again – my palate is not fantastic cos unlike Hupps – I can’t even taste what’s in a partic. dish sometimes! Oops)

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Menu:

Cold Selections
Barbecued Atlantic Salmon, Nicoise Salad and Smokey Barbecue Sauce
Seared Tuna Salad with Sesame Dressing
Char Grilled Asparagus, Buffalo Mozzarella Salad in Warm Caper Vinaigrette
Salad Lyonnaise with Mustard Dressing
Blue Swimmer Crab Salad
Smoked Salmon with Crispy Capers, Micro Herbs and Lemon Garnish

Live Sushi and Sashimi Station
Selection of Fresh Sashimi, Sushi and Maki Sushi
Served with Condiments and Sauces

Chawan Mushi
Salmon, Shimeji Mushroom, Garlic, Chives

Seafood On Ice
Oysters, Chilled Tiger Prawns, Mussels, Crabs and Scallops
Served with Condiments and Sauces

Miniatures on Ice
Foie Gras with Poached Fig and Lavosh Crackers
Seared Scallop with Barbecued Pork Salad
Seared Tuna with Calamansi Lime Salsa and Peanut Purple Shiso

Salad Bar
Selection of Salad Greens and Tossed Caesar Salad
Served with Home Made Dressing, Nuts and Condiments

Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup, Truffle Oil
Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup

Hot Selections
Black Pepper Crab
Roasted Chicken Thigh, Wild Mushroom, Leeks and Porcini Sauce
Aromatic Braised Duckling
Crispy Fried Sea Bass with Sweet and Sour Sauce
Coq au Vin
Seafood E-fu Noodles
Butter Prawns
Spare Ribs with Guinness Malt Sauce
Stir Fried Asian Greens with Garlic and XO Dressing
Roasted Potatoes
Grilled Red Snapper
Sautéed Vegetables with Butter Sauce

Asian Curry Station
Thai Green Curry Vegetable
Lamb Vindaloo
Beef Rendang
Japanese Seafood Curry
Vegetable Korma
Butter Chicken
Briyani Rice served with Papadam ; or Aromatic Rice served with Garlic Naan and Onion Seed Naan

Carving Station
Local and Chinese Roasted Meat
Char Siew, Roasted Duck, Crispy Pork Belly, Soy Chicken

Live Station
Traditional Oyster Omelette Spring Onion, Chinese Parsley and Chili Sauce
Baked Oyster with Choice of Toppings – Mornay Sauce, Crispy Bacon with Kilpatrick Sauce, Tomato Salsa

Cheese Station
Selection of French and New World Farm House Cheese
Served with Crackers, Lavosh, Fruit Paste and Dried Fruits

Fruit Selections
Selection of Sliced and Whole Fruits
Water Melon, Honey Dew, Cantaloupe, Dragon Fruit, Pineapple, Papaya, Water Apple

Desserts
Chocolate and Hazelnut Royal Feuillatine Mousse Cake
Chocolate Fudge Cake
Vanilla Crème Bruleé
Orange Chocolate Cheese Cake
Tiramisu
Fresh Fruits Tart
MilleFeuille
Berry Angel Cake
Chocolate Praline
Assorted Nonya Kueh
Thai Sweets
Selection of Miniatures
Assorted Ice Cream and Sorbets served with Nuts and Fruit Coulis

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We arrived at the restaurant and saw the different stations – quite impressive I must add…. Very colourful and inviting! The dessert station and sashimi station partic. caught my eye… Cos I’m a MASSIVE fan of these! So with no delay, got shown to our table and started with the buffet!

Dan and Hupps were partic. impressed with the seafood section (esp. the oysters) – so they were keen to be one of the first to try them… Me, ofcos the sashimi!!!

Thank goodness littl’ Chloe was sound asleep in her pram for most of the evening – so that Hupps and I could enjoy our food in peace!

Overall verdict:

-The menu on paper is expressive but when you actually get there – there are some dishes which were not served (e.g. Foie Gras with Poached Fig and Lavosh Crackers – I was rather looking forward to this)
-The spread is good – so caters for different groups of tastebuds
-The seafood section looked fresh – Hupps said it tasted good! I didn’t have any… Not a major fan!
-The sashimi station was good and fresh cos they cut the slices in front of you, but I think because the turnover was so fast, the sashimi wasn’t as chilled as it should have been
-Fruit section was fab
-If you’re a cheese fan – you’ll love the spread here
-Good range of salads
-Soup station was different to what was stated on the menu…
-Didn’t really try any of the hot selection!! Ate alot but mainly salmon sashimi and dessert!
-Asian curry station was ok…

Overall, the food was ok…. For some unknown reason, although the spread was fab and the place was buzzing – it didn’t really “rock my boat” as they say! I ended the evening thinking to myself – it was only ok… there wasn’t much to rave on about..

I still rem the time when the “5 Tans” we went to the Fullerton back in Nov 2007 – now that buffet still stays in my mind (even though that was 1.5 years ago!).. The spread was not as vast, but the food tasted much better – from what I remember of it… *Just had a look at the posting again and it looked great! Maybe we should go again to the Fullerton*

I went to NTUC to buy the ingredients. Steak was my top choice as we both haven’t had beef since a long time ago and we both had this craving for beef…. After shopping for ingredients, that we brought Chloe to a swimming lesson trial. She really enjoyed it and we were both glad that we brought Chloe there. We went for lunch and quickly went home after I realised that the beef that I bought was left by the basin and not in the chiller. Whoops..

It was a simple meal and we watch a documentary about treasure hunting.. I suppose today is well spent with family..