Vote for Ringo ..... "Star Pooch of the Month"

Yeah!!  And thanks if you have voted.  Ringo has been picked TOP 6 and has advanced to the final rounds of voting.  If you have not voted, please do and if you had voted earlier, please do vote one more time.  Votes are now counted from zero again ...... closing date is 27 January.   Keeping my fingers crossed! 

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I recently entered Ringo, my Boston Terrier into a competition which is meant for three different dog breeds - Botson Terriers, French Bulldogs and Pugs. 

The top two pooches with the most number of votes will receive a spa treatment and a make-over.    There are 2 rounds of competition and the first six pooches with the most number of votes will advanced to the second round. 

So as a "mummy" and with all parents, you would want your child to win!  In my case, the "child" happens to be a 4-legged furkid.  So I am reaching out through my blog to ask that you Vote for Ringo - "Star Pooch of the Month" .

You would need to LIKE the Facebook page first before you can vote.  Only one vote per person is allowed - and here is a sneak of Ringo's picture.   Isn't he adorable?  He is a very sweet doggie and I adopted him in April 2012.  He is 7 and half years old and loves ... absolutely loves to play fetch.  He is very good at it too.  I think in his order of life it would be food, ball, sleep!

Please do vote for Ringo as he whispered to me last night that he "oooh so want to have a spa treatment".

Zinio Give Away Results

If you had participated in the recent ZINIO GIVE AWAY, you must be anxiously waiting for the results.  Well, wait no longer!

Ten lucky winners have been picked using Random.Org and they are, in no particular order:

*  Cathy of Cathy's Joy
* Jasmine of The Sweetylicious
* ykristen
* Ann of Anncoo Journal
* Lubna of Kitchen Flavours
* Esther (wikilOv@gmail.com)
* Jesslyn
* Sinsationscakes
* Janine
* Kim Reid

Kindly drop me an email at jos2829@yahoo.com.sg with your email address and also confirming the choice of your subscription.  Please do so within the next 48 hours.  Your contact details will then be forwarded directly to Zinio to commence your subscription.

Happy reading and have a great weekend ahead!

Zinio Give Away

I was recently contacted by Zinio via email with a fantastic offer on their magazines.  Not familiar with  Zinio?  Well,  Zinio has thousands of top magazines from around the world and you can browse and purchase subscriptions or single issues instantly from your computer or mobile device to read wherever and whenever you like.  Their EXPLORE section lets you read as well even without a subscription - thousands of articles from your favourite magazines and share them with friends!  Some of their popular magazines include La Cucina Italiana, Vegetarian Times, Food Arts, Clean Eating, Vogue, Style at Home, PC Magazine and MacWorld.

 Zinio is currently offering readers about 300 different magazine titles at up to 50% off their already-discounted prices.  Interested?  Then go find out more about their ZINIO OFFER..  Hurry and sign up as their offer will expire on January 7th!



In addition Zinio is also running the ZINIO HOLIDAY SWEEPSTAKES and anyone can  take part in this competition.  You will have a chance to win an iPad Mini - contest will end on January 7th.


As if the above is not enough ....Zinio is also giving away 10 free subscriptions to 10 lucky winners!  Wow!  If you are interested, leave a comment in this blog by midnight January 6th.  Your comment should include which magazine you would like to receive free and why. 

An Irish Love Affair with Rachel Allen

Last Saturday I attended a paid event show-casing one of my many favourite chefs, Rachel Allen. Her latest program which is currently aired on BBC Lifestyle is called "Rachel Allen: Easy Meals".

Born and raised in Dublin, Rachel Allen left home at 18 to attend the world-famous Ballymaloe Cookery School. There, she began to hone her skills on food, "growing it, preparing it, cooking it, eating it and,crucially, enjoying it."


In this series, Rachel Allen brings us to her home town and shares her expertise with the audience. Rachel shares the secrets of her approach to delicious but fuss free food, perfect for the hectic lives we lead, through a collection of simple but sumptuous recipes.  Each show is themed around a particular occasion or cuisine: Oriental Feast; Sunday Lunch; Take a Few Ingredients; Easy Indian; Lazy Sunday Mornings; Cooking for a Crowd; Quick Easy Baking; Romantic Dinners; Middle Eastern Spice; Cook Ahead; Speedy Sunshine Food; Inspired Italian; Easy Christmas.

I have seen a few of the show's series and I love the simplicity of the dishes she whips up. She also gives tips about ingredients as well as information on how ingredients are grown as well as a visit to a local cheese factory, how local sausages and meats are cured and made.






The event was organized by Starhub, a local cable network provider.  About 170 people attended the function, all foodies for sure. Heh if you weren’t you definitely would not be there would you?  It was held at The Jewel Box, a splendid venue which is atop Mount Faber with commanding views of Sentosa Island. I was even vowed by their washrooms as it too had full height glass windows (with the exception of the toilet cubicles) and an amazing view of Sentosa skyline.


During the two and half hours, Rachel Allen interacted with the audience and she even had an omelette cooking competition going with two participants from the audience, both of whom received a personal signed copy of her “Easy Meals” cookbook.






The meal served that night was a scrumptious three course dinner from Rachel’s cookbook. She even demonstrated one dish which was the Apple Tart. The recipe for the tart dough seems so easy and the pastry was amazing. I was expecting the bottom crust to be slight soggy as it was a closed tart and no blind-baking was done. But the pastry was not soggy at all – in fact it was so soft and crumbly … simply delicious!

Overall I loved how the event went. Maybe I am bias because I do like Rachel Allen. Her personality was exactly how I had imagined her to be … easy going, ultra friendly and very approacheable.

Salad with Beetroot, Toasted Hazel Nuts and Cashel Blue Dressing - for starters



Roast Duck with Gravy and Sage and Onion Stuffing Served with Cucumber Pickle, Buttered Cabbage and Granny's Roast Herbed Potatoes - for the main



Apple Tart - to round off the whole evening

A Year Has Passed ......

A year ago, exactly today, my world was turned upside down! My dearest LT was taken away from me and I had to pick up my life and try to move on. At that time, it had seemed so difficult. Every day flashes of what could have been would come to my mind, even as I was driving. Every love song that was played on the radio would bring tears streaming down my face. At night alone in bed in an empty apartment I would stuff my face in my pillow and the tears would come again.

Time passed and I have somewhat picked up my life again. Gone back to doing some of the things I love such as baking and even started taking up oil painting. But once in a while I would swing back to my little world and be sad again.

Time does heal but it is surely a long and cobbled road! Memories of my dearest LT will always be in my heart.

Closure of a Chapter in Malaysian Railway History

On 1 July 2011, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was officially closed after being in operations for 79 years. This was a historical chapter in so far as Malaysian/Singapore railway operations was concerned.

The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, located along Keppel Road, used to be the main passenger station for trains operated by the Malaysian rail operator Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Berhad travelling between Singapore and Malaysia. The Tanjong Pagar Railway Station was previously known as the Keppel Road Railway Station. Built between 1929 to 1932 by a French construction company, the Station sits on reclaimed land and was officially opened on 2 May 1932.

Over the last few weeks prior to the official closure of the Station and with so much publicity in the media, the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station drew a lot of public interest. Enthusiasts took pictures to preserve the memory of the station, while other visitors purchased KTM souvenirs or sought autographs from station staff. Train rides were also fully booked as many tried to get a seat on board the last few journeys out of the station.











From 1 July to 17 July, the entire track line was opened to the public to explore. After that from 18 July to 31 July, only a 3km stretch remained accessible. During these weeks thousands of people took the opportunity to explore the tracks and there was even organized guided tours. I too joined the thousands to walk the tracks and managed to take some photographs as momentos of a by-gone era. As I write this post, parts of the tracks are already being dismantalled but there is hope that some sections of the tracks especially where the bridges are would be preserved as historical monuments. It would certainly be a shame to loose all of its history to development.

Farewell to a Faithful Companion

My faithful companion, Benji, passed over to doggie heaven last Friday. He was fourteen and a half years old. In doggie age he is considered really old - in fact older than my dad. In my head I knew he would not have many years left but nothing really prepares you when the time is near and in this case unexpected.



Benji at his age has had his fair share of aches and pains. He has had inter-digital cyst on his paws for many, many years. We have taken him to so many vets over a span of four years and none could diagnosed what was wrong with him. Finally we found a vet who told us what that it was inter-digital cyst. Something that is pretty rare in Singapore. The vet said that there was nothing much we could do as by this time his front right paw was swollen until his paw pad were turned upwards. The vet said he could operate to ease the pressure on his paw but it would have meant amputing one of his digits. We were totally against it especially after hearing that the problem would eventually come back again. Benji was already eleven years old by this time. He didn't seem to be in much pain unless the cyst flared up and he would have some open sores on his paws. The sores would disappear in less than a week's time and in-between I would dab tea-tree oil on the open wound to sterilize it.

Last Friday morning, I would as usual give Benji and Milo (my younger shitzu) their morning meals. Benji did not eat much the night before and that particular morning, he didn't have much appetite as well. I gave them a quick treat before leaving, saying my good byes. I was slightly home later than normal timing that evening, arriving home at 7.30pm. Milo greeted me at the door and Benji was asleep (or so I thought at that time) on his cushion. I dumped my bag and some groceries on the dining table and went towards Benji wondering why he had still not moved at all. Upon looking closely I noticed his stomach was not going up and down with breathing motions. I could not help but scream in my head "no, no it can't be". I immediately touched Benji and he felt cold in my hands. I knew then that my faithful companion was gone. He was in a sleeping position on his favourite cushion and I can only hope that he had passed on quietly, without any pain, in his sleep.



For a small little dog, Benji was quite a character. He has always been an independent dog, doing his own thing and had a mind of his own. If he was not happy about things he would definitely show it. I remember one time when I was on holiday, I had to put Benji in a pet boarding place. When Benji was sent back to the flat by the boarder upon my return, he absolutely ignored me for the entire day. I think he was showing me his displeasure for being sent away to a strange place.

I am sure wherever my faithful companion is right now, he would be enjoying his after-life and meeting a lot of doggie friends and probably snifing their butts too. Rest in Peace Benji - you have been a faithful friend!

A French Toast Breakfast

There is really nothing better than waking up on a Sunday morning to be welcomed by a plate of delicious warm french toast with maple syrup, fruit and a dollop of my faviourite jam on the side. I love having breakfast such as this.

In fact I think an English breakfast gets me moving faster than an Asian one! Heh I'm Asian right so I should be having my fried beehoon, or porridge or chee kueh .... shouldn't I? When on holidays, the best meal of the day for me would have to be breakfast, especially a buffet spread (ok I love stuffing my face). I thoroughly enjoy moving from one station to another, spread out with fresh fruit, cereal, cold cuts to the guy who keeps flipping sunny side eggs to scrambled eggs. My knees go jello at the sight of this and I would methodologically start with my fresh juice, to fruit and work my way to the main spread of eggs, sausages and pancakes.

Well it's been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so what's your favourite breakfast dish?





French Toast
Serves 3 - 4

Ingredients:

8 slices of Brioche loaf, cut into about 1" thick
4 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup cream (can be omitted)
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
Maple syrup, jam and fresh fruit to serve

Method:

1) Place eggs, milk, cream salt, vanilla extrct, cinnamon and nutmeg into a bowl. Whisk to combine well. Soak the brioche into the egg mixture.

2) Preheat a large frying pan over medium fire. Add about 1 tablespoon oil and about 1 1/2 tablespoon butter.

3) Fry the brioche for about a minute of each side until golden brown. Do not overcrowd your pan. Repeat with the remaining slices.

4) Serve immediately with maple syrup, jam and your favourite fresh fruit.

TGIF and My Two "Boys"

TGIF and thought I'd leave you with some pictures of my two "boys".

Orange Cinnamon Marmalade

Ever since I started blogging I would bake Christmas goodies for family and friends. However this Christmas has changed my life around on a personal basis and because of this, I am keeping this year's celebration to a very low key. However I did decide to do something and it was to make marmalade jam. I had been wanting to try making jam in the early part of this year but had put it off. Why? I guess the logical part of me said why put so much time into it when buying a jar off the shelf isn't really that expensive.

The next time the idea crept into my head, which was a couple of weeks ago, I decided not to use the logical part of my brain. I went ahead to make this over a weekend. The marmalade turned out very well, only slightly bitter (as what a good marmalade should be) and not overly sweet as I had reduced the sugar content in this recipe.





Orange Cinnamon Marmalade
Makes about 8 cups
Recipe Adapted from Taste.com.au

Ingredients:

1 kg (about 5 small) oranges, scrubbed
300g (about 2 medium) lemons, scrubbed
9 cups water
1.1 kg sugar
3 cinnamon sticks about 2" length

Method:

1) Thinly slice half the oranges and all the lemons. Then cut them up long strips.

2) For the remaining oranges, slice off only the rind part, leaving behind the white parts around the flesh of the oranges (a bit of the white part on the rind is fine). Then remove only the flesh of the remaining oranges. Cut the orange rind into thin strips and chop up the flesh.

3) Remove all the seeds from the oranges and lemons, and reserve aside. Wrap seeds in muslin to form a pouch and tie with a long piece of unwaxed string.

4) Place oranges, lemons, cinnamon sticks and water into a large heavy-based saucepan. Place pouch in fruit mixture and tie the string to saucepan handle. Bring to the boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 2 1/2 hours or until citrus rind is very soft. Squeeze excess liquid from pouch and then remove the pouch.

5) Reduce heat to low, add the sugar and stir, without boiling, until the sugar dissolves. Increase heat to high and bring to the boil. Boil, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until jam reaches setting point (105°C on sugar thermometer). To test, place a teaspoonful of jam on a cold saucer in the freezer for 2 minutes or until cooled to room temperature. Run a finger through the jam - if the surface wrinkles and the jam remains in 2 separate portions, it is ready.

5) Remove saucepan from heat and use a metal spoon to skim off any scum from the surface. Stand marmalade for 5 minutes to cool slightly. Ladle the marmalade into hot, sterilised jars (about 2-1itre [8-cup] capacity in total), seal and invert jars for 2 minutes. Turn jars upright and allow to cool. Label.

Notes:

To sterilise jars, wash the jars and lids in warm soapy water and rinse well. Place in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and boil for 10 minutes. Transfer jars and lids to a baking tray lined with baking paper and place in preheated oven at 100°C until dry. Use jars straight from the oven.

The marmalade will keep, unopened, for a year in a cool, dark place. Once opened, store in the fridge for up to 3 months. You will need a 10cm-square piece of muslin and unwaxed string for this recipe.

An Evening at Merlion Park

I happened to be at Merlion Park on Wednesday evening and it was a wonderfully cool evening as well. I could not resist joining the tourists who were there snapping their cameras away. I too had brought mine along with my tripod and snapped along with the crowd. I had not been there for a very long time and took this opportunity to take in the sights of the Marina Bay area.

The Merlion Park is located near Marina Bay, Singapore. This park is a popular tourist attraction. At the Merlion Park, a 40 tonne statute of a creature which is half lion and half fish sprouts an endless jet of water from its jaws. This creature has become the famous landmark of Singapore, the Merlion.





Just behind the Merlion, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore could be seen. The Fullerton Hotel Singapore is a five-star boutique hotel located near the mouth of the Singapore River, in the Downtown Core of Central Area, Singapore. It was originally known as The Fullerton Building, and also as the General Post Office Building before being refurnished to become a hotel.





The famous structure of the Singapore Esplanade (or fondly known by Singaporeans as "The Durian" due to its roof which resembles the spikes of a local well loved fruit) is also another tourist feature which is nearby, You definitely cannot miss this building when you are at the Merlion Park. The Singapore Esplanade is the melting pot of arts, music and drama, where overseas and local performances are staged. The Esplanade is probably as significant as the Sydney Opera House is to Australia.



Nearby you would be able to see a few hotels namely the Pan Pacific Hotel and the Marina Mandarin Hotel.



Right across the Marina Bay is Marina Bay Sands. Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land. Marina Bay Sands features three 55-storey hotel towers which were topped out in July 2009. The three towers are connected by a 1 hectare sky terrace on the roof, named Sands SkyPark.