F is for food.

Food is my fear, my fantasy, 

foundation of my failings. 

Stuck.

It goes round and round and round and on and on and on. 

When will you stop?

How will you stop? 

But first... 

Do you really wanna stop? 

Round and round 

Till you're underground. 

San Lou Hor Fun.. Finally cooking it!

I feel so accomplished that I managed to cook San Lou Hor Fun after dreaming of making it myself for so long!
Since Granny was coming over to stay, and the last time she cooked Beef Kway Teow Soup for me (and mom) when we stayed at her place, I decided to take this opportunity to cook something for her too.. and what else but San Lou Hor Fun!

Got Rema to help me trim and wash the beansprout,s and chop the garlic (the thing I actually really don't like to do when cooking)... but the rest was up to me! Hehe.

Here's my recipe which I mainly followed (except adding more beansprouts, garlic, pepper and cornstarch accordingly).. But I added a touch of squeezed lime over it, just like the white beehoon that I ate!

Clockwise from Top-left: kwayteow, fish, tauge, garlic and cong

San Lou Hor Fun Ingredients -        About 530grams Batang Fish Fillet (3 Fillets) -       A lot of beansprouts (I am not sure how much, but it was a basket full)   -       800g Kway Teow -       3 full tbsp Garlic (1 big clove, with at least 8 mini cloves?) -       A lot of spring Onion (I could have put a lot more though) -       Cooking Oil -       Soy sauce -       Cornstarch -       Salt and Pepper -       Chicken Stock (I used concentrated chicken stock) -       Lime (an added ingredient!) Preparation -       Slice Fish thinly (Should be more thin!) -       Trim head and tails of beansprouts -       Cut spring onions in lengths about 5cm long -       Soak/Rinse Kway Teow from packet in hot boiling water before draining. Set aside -       Make sauce (After blanching fish, see directions below) o   800ml – 1L of chicken stock (I used the fish water to dilute the 4-5 tsp concentrated stock) o   Cornstarch and water (ratio 1:2), approximated o   Salt and Pepper to taste -       Chop garlic Directions -       Boil a pot of water to blanch fish slices for about one minute. Then remove set aside. -       Use the fish water to dilute the chicken stock. Add salt and pepper to taste. -       Heat wok until super hot, then add 2 tbsp of oil (make sure it starts smoking) -       Then throw in the spring onion and stir-fry for about 15s -       Add in the Kway Teow and 2 tbsp of soysauce, stir fry gently to ensure kwayteow doesn’t mush up. -       Stir fry till slightly burnt, 2-3 minutes (add a little bit of water if too dry and getting mashed up), then throw in the beansprouts.* -       Stir/mix well before quickly turning off the heat, then continue to mix a bit with heat off. -       Dish into plates, then add the fish on top. -       Heat up wok again with 2 tbsp of oil and throw in garlic. -       Stir-fry garlic for about 30s (don’t let it get burnt) till fragrant, then add the chicken stock. -       Bring to boil, then add the cornstarch/water mixture. -       Stir thoroughly as sauce thickens, if not thick enough, add more cornstarch. -       Add more salt/pepper to taste -       I added the remaining beansprouts into the sauce just before turning off the heat. (*I think I will do this next time instead of it with the kwayteow) -       Dish the sauce over the kwayteow, -       Serve and eat while still hot! -       Squeeze some lime over the horfun while eating

End result: San Lou fresh from the wok! 

Next up, I think I am going to try my White Beehoon... yum..

I wish I were the kid!

Wow so many things for kids to do this December holiday, I also want to be part of the fun!

I better list them down (in case I get to do them, hehehehe)

- Adventure Water Cove Park at Sentosa

- Spongebob at Changi Airport

- Spaceball and 3D Golf at Amazonia

- Kids Amaze Playground at  SAFRA Jurong

- Legoland Malaysia?? 

- Musicals - Grimm Fairy Tales etc?

- A Pottery session?

- Plan a mini camping!! Outdoor cooking, tent pitching and activities!

- Day trip to JB - eat and shop

- A mini Christmas party??  But with whom? Hmmm.

- Stayover!! Lance place?? 

Right, not all are for kids, but they are actually the things I hope to do, hehehe.

Other things already lined up:

- Batam/Bintan 3D2N trip

- Escape (lockdown) 

- Playnation

- Heartfriends Literacy Camp (Not a holiday, more of a facilitation but I hope to have some fun too)

- Cyan Christmas Celebration 

I'm not back to ground zero, I think I am underground.

Why do I feel like ____________ at random times, all the time??

@ Old Malayan Cafe, 313

Teh Si for me, Kopi Si for mom. 

Had lunch with mom after dental to catch up. Pity her Kopi sucked and the popiah we had along with it sucked too haha. 

@ Yakun's, Clementi mall

Yuan yang with 0X - second sit down, first at yakun's. :)

P5 Adventure Camp

Morning runs are like coffee to me... It kickstarts my day. 

At P5 Adventure Camp now, Day 2.

Terribly wanted to escape the camp yesterday, from the moment it started.. It didn't help that I didn't have my run in the morning. 

The mentor for my group is horrendous.. Lacking in energy, initiative and any form of awareness about what is going on or what is going to happen.. Today is not much better but at least during debrief, my frustrations with the mentors were mutual among the teachers. 

I badly was thinking of ways to escape the camp - falling sick, emergencies at home... etc.. And I felt I was wasting my time.. I guess babysitting kids, making sure they are ok is not really something I can do with ease, because I get restless. And plus, I also rather be the ones DOING the activity rather than watching. Hah.. 

More ranting.. 

The meals are so not to my liking, I am not comfortable with the foods provided... 

I don't know any of the kids prior to this, not do they know me.. Likewise with the fellow teachers, I don't really know any of them and yet have to bunk with them etc. 

But on the bright side, Day 2 seems to be starting better than Day 1, and I am leaving early. 

Don't know whether I will regret missing the campfire which suppose to be the most fun?? Oh well.. 

Time to get back to "work" and not use my handphone too much. Hai.  

 

@ Al Azhar

Just a cup of Teh Si for supper..

Wanted to do a stayover part #3 after Thor with the family (while the others watched the same show elsewhere haha) but wasn't feasible in the end. 

@ Chris' home!

Ok this isn't coffee or tea, it's actually milo - but felt great cos it was prepared by Chris! Haha. Homemade milo by others somehow makes one feel warm and homey.  

Stayover part #2, with Abi at Chris' place. 

I slept in the living room, Abi in Chris' room, and Chris in his parent's room. 

:) bliss. 

@ Craft bakery & cafe

Cappuccino.
Lunch with Vicky and Amaria at Holland V.. Catching up :) 

Thursday Morning @ NUS Engin Canteen :)

My Yuan-yang-yuan (my recipe, passed down to Angel) @ NUS Engin Canteen.. 

Been super long since I've had it :)

Friday morning breakfast at NUS Canteen before school.

But what is knowing without doing?

The wise don't just say wise words, but also display their wisdom through their actions. 

In fact, appearing wise but committing foolish acts is worse than a fool. 

I've taken one step, but there are a million more steps to go.

So please don't comment how much better I am now.. because no... I've still a long way more to go..

My outward appearance and disposition doesn't reflect the inner sinful me.. But I'm hanging on to this facade because maybe I'm fearful of you others looking at me and thinking "oh man, not again...", I'm fearful that I really might have gone back to square one.

And this isn't me being "emo", blogging sad depressing stuff.. It's just me being me, my real thoughts, my real struggles, my life... Reality. 

@ Park, Holland Village

Cappuccino - 2nd one of the day! 

FINALLY PPG reunites full force after 43 weeks (since last year's Polar Express Christmas  party!)

@ Wild honey (Scott's Square)

Cappuccino to accompany the expensive breakfast at wild honey! 

My treat to granny, uncle and mom after receiving my first new pay. 

@ Greenwich Toast Box

First ever dine-in Toastbox yuan yang with 0X.  After many takeaways I have had :P 

Review of my 2 Oct 2013 To-do list

1. my mini rescue-or-kill game project 

A SUCCESS! :D:D:D
Escape Artist team  and more (Huimin/Chris/Carole/WeiRu, Josh, Joel and Minxin) came to my house to play my game!
Bad minions (Badminton) vs Good knights (Goodnight) to save the princess from the dungeon, through clues given by Mr Gudan Bart!
I really enjoyed myself planning the game, creating clues and making the props.. including my save/kill mechanism, story-line video... and I am so glad they enjoyed it as much as I did making it!
HEE HEE. So proud of myself, tsk tsk..
Another one for CYAN Christmas Party??!

2. research ipad or ipad mini for LDS claim

Ok, I did my research but I can't decide... iPad Mini, but with or without cellular?? And for what purpose?? Hmm...

3. update life in BLGPS

Oops.. no updates yet. Too much to update! Will need to start somewhere I guess! My schedule and what I do is not exactly that fixed especially 'cos it is term 4 with so many things going on.. Hah.. So I am tired of explaining to others what exactly I do actually.

4. fix my ikea chair

Ha. ha. ha.

5. when Leon comes back, ask about taking over his bike

He said ok! But I haven't gotten down to fixing it up... (hmmm sounds like my ikea chair problem.)

6. a running schedule plan for Great Eastern run?

Sigh, still no running schedule.. cos I have not been sleeping well again recently (not going to go into that) and the weather and I can't seem to wake up as readily as used to? SIGH.
MUST DO SO BY TONIGHT.

7. recipe and cooking for Granny's birthday

Completed and accomplished! See previous post :P

8. and maybe time to record my recipes somewhere (this blog's one possibility)

Yup.. decided to use this blog to put my recipes, labeled under Kitchen Doodles!
Since then, I have not cooked or make anything yet.. but so I will try to keep it up in recording, if I do!

9. start on my jigsaw puzzle!

Not yet... :S I want to but inertia or?? Haha.. Still must coordinate with my Mom because she wants to do too. Maybe, I will have to arrange a day of the week with her again, like the one with our Europe Album. Hmmm.

10. go for photo shoot for PS card

This week I can't because of PSLE Marking week where I have to be in school 8am - 430pm.
Ok, I shall set it to next Monday 21 October 2013! Cannot delay anymore!!

KTB!

@ Clementi Ya Kun

Yuan yang and butter sugar toast set - breakfast with Mom after sending Leonie back to camp. 

Cooking for Granny's 87th

I made these 2 dishes (+ 1 dessert) for Granny's birthday dinner!

Mango Teriyaki Chicken

Grilled Mushrooms with Cheese Sauce

Mango Jam Bread Pudding

Here are my recipes :)

Mango Teriyaki Chicken Ingredients -       About 1.2 kg (5 packets) boneless skinless chicken breasts and/or fillets  -       2 medium-sized ripe mangoes  -       1 red onion (or more if you prefer) -       Mirin -       Soy sauce -       Brown Sugar -       Rice wine vinegar -       Hot red pepper flakes -       Olive Oil Preparation -       Cut chicken into small bite-sized cubes. -       Make sauce (approximately, to taste):  o   3-4 tbsp mirin o   5-6 tbsp soy sauce o   2-3 tbsp brown sugar (mixed till dissolved) o   1-2 tbsp rice wine vinegar -       1-2 tbsp water (if too salty/sweet) -       Coat chicken with sauce, cover in fridge for at least 1 hour. -       Meanwhile, Slice red onion thinly lengthwise. -       Peel, pit and cube mango Directions -       Heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat in large pan -       Add onions, and saute for about 2 minutes until slightly softened.  -       Remove chicken from fridge, pour in the marinade sauce and bring to a full boil -       Add the chicken, lower heat to medium, and saute for about 5-6 minutes (stir occasionally) -       When chicken is cooked through and the sauce has reduced slightly, add mango and red pepper flakes to taste. -       Cook for another 2 minutes, stirring gently but constantly until the ingredients are warmed throughout. -       Serve!

Grilled Mushrooms with Cheese Sauce Ingredients -       400 g white and brown button mushrooms -       1 large onion (more or less) -       150 g Shredded Chedder Cheese (more or less, to taste) -       Dried Rosemary (or fresh) -       Dried Thyme (or fresh) Mirin -       Chopped Garlic -       Olive Oil -       Salt and Pepper -       3-4 tsp butter (to taste) -       2-3 tbsp Tomato Puree (to taste) -       Toothpicks (for mushrooms) -       Mini saucers (for sauce) Preparation -       Marinate mushrooms with (approximately): o   Rosemary (to taste) o   Thyme (to taste) o   3-4 tsp chopped garlic o   Salt and pepper and oil Directions -       Grill mushrooms in oven at 160 deg for 10-15 min till cooked. -       Meanwhile, make sauce: o   chop onion and saute in butter. o   Add to pan 2-3 tsp garlic, tomato puree, pepper and thyme and more butter (to taste) o   Cook for some time, off the flame then add cheese to the sauce. o   Mix well, then put into blender (add a bit of water else too dry to blend). o   Add more cheese/spices to taste if necessary. -       When mushrooms are ready, put in toothpicks -       Pour cheese sauce into mini saucers. -       Coat mushrooms with sauce in the saucers and serve!

@ Old Malayan Cafe (313 somerset)

Yuan yang - chilling after zombie race pack collection, (using $5 voucher from downloading some 313 app?)  

Because creating lists of 'to-do's keeps me somewhat sane

1. my mini rescue-or-kill game project
2. research ipad or ipad mini for LDS claim
3. update life in BLGPS
4. fix my ikea chair
5. when Leon comes back, ask about taking over his bike
6. a running schedule plan for Great Eastern run?
7. recipe and cooking for Granny's birthday
8. and maybe time to record my recipes somewhere (this blog's one possibility)
9. start on my jigsaw puzzle!
10. go for photo shoot for PS card

"Good afternoon Miss Teh"

Thought I would like to start having a journal again, to pen down my thoughts, lessons, and life as i am experiencing it.

Yet another new chapter of my life, hoping some thing would change, others to stay the same.. either way, I hope for the better.

First week into my new job - a Primary School P.E and Math Teacher.

Will blog again.. Until then.