I keep taking things for granted like the fingers on my hand, my car keys, my alarm clock, my husband (ooppss..! but I don’t think I’m the only one. Admit it *looking at you*) and I suddenly realize how integral these everyday items are to me. Of course the husband is not an item but he’s a very integral part in my life. I find the simplest thing like holding your toothbrush can be absolutely awkward with an injured finger. I go absolutely berserk when I dig through my bag and can’t find my keys when I need to hurry off and be somewhere like NOW! And if my alarm clock doesn’t buzz…well, I wouldn’t mind sleeping in, if not for the other people who depend on me to wake them up on time for their appointments. And who would I go on and on and on about the days’ events if not for my very patient husband with very good listening skills (if only to humor me!)? But I just figured last week that my camera has made it to this list of taken-for-granted-absolutely-integral-item.
Vietnamese Beef Pho
By Za on Jul 1, 2010 in Featured, Food, Main Course, Meat | 0 Comments
Watching cooking shows are seriously a dangerous past time for me. It is totally scary that I develop cravings after watching these shows and even scarier when I thought I wasn’t watching but letting it just drone on in the background as I go about doing my daily chores. So this meal was inspired by Rachel Ray’s Pho. Watching her cooking made easy method, it inspired me to find out how pho would originally be cooked.
First, I found out that pho is pronounced as “fuh” like in “fir” with an ‘h’ sound at the end. And it’s called pho because you use pho noodles which can be easily bought from Asian stores. I got mine from Uwajimaya. It’s probably one of the easiest and tastiest noodle soup recipes I’ve ever tried. The only thing that some might like and others not about the recipe is that you’ll need to remember that it takes 3hours to get the stock simmered right. For me, this is perfect. It means while the broth is simmering, I can get on with my housework, the e-mail, the facebook, a bath, some TV time and then back to the kitchen to start preparing the condiments for the dish. And finally to enjoy lunch with the family and have fun with the mix-and-match condiments spread. This is one fun dish to try out if you’ve never done it before.
Cream Cheese Frosting
By Za on Jun 26, 2010 in Desserts, Featured, Food | 2 Comments
We bought a cupcake frosting toy for my daughter for her birthday. It’s one of those toys which makes toy land start to cross over and become real. And since I won’t allow her to eat those instant cupcake and frosting mixes that came with the toy, she’s been asking me to make cupcakes and frosting. She’s not a cupcake die hard, but she is a die hard fan of that frosting toy. Well with summer in and the sun out, some chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting looked like just the thing to make everyone happy. My daughter put her toy to good use, I got some extra frosting in the fridge and everyone loved the cupcakes. My review of the toy : It squirted, it spun and was loads of fun for the kids to use but it was really a messy affair. The frosting didn’t always gets squirted directly on top of the cake but nothing a little soap and water can’t get rid off.:) Hmmm, I think I’ll have to take a look at that toy manual again just to be sure that the fault was not ours. But what’s summer without a little mess in the kitchen? We had frosting on our clothes, on the floor, on the counter, but that’s summer. Time to get messy, get playful and enjoy being young (even better - being young at heart) and let out a whoop in the air. Wheee hoooo…! Hope you have just as much fun with this frosting recipe!
Spice Bag for the Soup
By Za on Jun 21, 2010 in Featured, Food, Other Yummy Stuff | 0 Comments
Have you realized how “instant” we have become? Instant noodles, Instant Messages, Instant drinks, instant yeast, instant dinners are just some of the instant things that come to my mind instantly. Of course, there are other words we like as well associated to the word instant. Here’s some and I’m sure you can come up with more; now, immediately, pronto, real time. We look for shortcuts and we love time savers. We have become so efficient with the way we use and spend our time that it’s amazing how we still complain that we don’t have enough time! What would my great great great great grandmother say about us - not that I ever knew her!? I just feel that some times, it would take so little to actually do things DIY. That doesn’t mean I think we need to go back to doing things from scratch all the time, but I just wonder how something so simple as a spice bag can actually become a product to be sold in stores when all you need is some cheesecloth and nimble fingers.;) Read the rest
Chocolate Banana Cake
By Za on Jun 3, 2010 in Desserts, Featured, Food | 6 Comments
Last year my daughter requested for a princess birthday cake. This year she said she wanted a chocolate banana cake. I’m not a chocolate fan so the thought of combining chocolate and banana in a cake brought back memories of having eaten such a cake from Secret Recipe a couple of years ago. It was a favorite item on its menu. So here’s my version of the cake and I think I came quite close to the real thing. Or maybe the years have dulled my memory but I’m certain the final result was good… if not better than the real thing. And the best judge? I’d say the empty cake tray, chocolate smeared faces and a delightful Thank-you-mummy hug and sloppy kiss! So here’s to a superb chocolate banana birthday cake for my little darling. Happy Birthday sweetie! Read the rest
