Final day of the Lunar New Year

homecooked roasted duck – it was super yum. my aunt and grannie made it

Last Saturday was heaven. I totally dig Chinese New Year. Was at my aunt’s place for dinner and boy did I had a satisfying meal. It was to celebrate the last day (also the 15th day) of the lunar new year. The actual day was Sunday but we had it on Saturday instead.

Remember what I said about family gatherings and how food is a central part? Seriously, I’m blessed… truly blessed! My fifth aunt did most of the cooking that day, with help from the rest of my aunts and the food was delicious.

I invited Urszula, my Polish classmate and she was truly bowled over by the amount of food. I’m happy to report that she loved everything she tried, including century eggs. She’s such a dear… She bought back some Norwegian brown cheese, Chrzan and herbs plus some others from her recent trip to Norway for a conference. I’ll post about that another time though.

Today I’m just going to let the pictures whet your appetite…..

Some vegetable dish that tasted good.

You got to check out this yam basket:

It’s made from scratch! Looks so much like the ones you have in Chinese restaurants eh? But oh no no no, this one is made by my fifth aunt. I was really impressed!

I couldn’t resist taking a photo of it at a different angle:

Yam never tasted this good…. Yummmm…

My aunt made Tiramisu too! I was sooooo happy! This tiramisu was to die for…

She used Martell instead of coffee liquer but you know what.. I think it worked well.

I know I should have taken more photos but I was too preoccupied – with eating (what else?).

We had yu sheng again – a HUGE one.

I’m so happy I have a family who appreciates good food and knows how to cook and bake as well. My aunts rock! I have so much to learn…. I will have to master the yam basket. Man.. it’s just so good!

P.S. Sorry for the lack of posts – these few weeks have been really busy for me. Will post as much as I can. Have a great week!

Food & Family

My best friend Cheryl Anne came to my house a few days ago and we were reminscing about old times when we started talking about food. She tried my Dad’s Ayam Buah Keluak and totally loved it (except for the black nut… it really is an acquired taste I guess!) Us girls then started talking about how things were in Secondary school, and then she casually asked how did I come to love food so much. She noted that I wasn’t that much into food when we were in sec school. That dear girl remembered what I usually ate during recess too! haha…

I started to ponder about what she said because true enough, I do enjoy food but it was only in recent years that the passion tripled – that explains this humble food blog and how I became an avid baker and cook. My ultimate dream when I was a mere child was to be a world renowned writer. Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl were my inspiration. They helped me with my imagination and it ran wild with dreams and ideas.

Fast forward to today, and I am happy to say that I still love writing (it’s my one true love) and right now, I am also equally passionate about doing something with my baking to inspire others. Eden is my current project and I am determined to give my best. I believe God has blessed my ministry (Amplify) and I with a bunch of dedicated people who will go to great lengths to serve.

So… some of you might be thinking, yea it’s food, so what? haha, it is a big deal to me. Food is a central part of my life. Growing up, my maternal extended family (my mum has 7 sisters, and I have 15 cousins at present) always gathered during special occasions like Chinese New Year, Christmas, birthdays and holidays. Food was always a central part of these gatherings. Every family meet was greeted with anticipation and curiousity. My 7 aunts can cook – and a few of them are seriously talented. You can imagine how it’s like, to be treated to a buffet of home-cooked delights all made with love! I don’t care how cliched it sounds, but hey, I can really taste the difference.

Most of my memories are marked with traces of smells, tastes, lovely crispy bits of sweet and sour, spicy and bitter. Culinary memory milestones I call them. Events that bring back that whiff of freshly baked bread or doughnts, chiffon cake, etc. Each food item holds a memory and vice versa. That’s how my mind works I guess. When you’re brought up in a family that places an emphasis on good homecooked food, then you’d naturally have ‘food values’ inculcated one way or another. Food is a sign of hospitality too and I like that. I get excited when I bake for others.

Today I have plenty of yu sheng photos that I took during Chinese New Year at my grannie’s place. All my relatives from my maternal side were here. There was good food and I was too busy to take shots of every dish but here’s a peek at my aunts’ yu sheng. Homemade and totally fresh! Cheaper too….

The plate’s darn H-U-G-E!

Here’s the tossing…. “Lo Hei” they call it in Cantonese, I think.

Many hands and pairs of chopsticks make for more prosperity? Yes? Not? Whatever it is, the yu sheng tasted good… hahaha..

Check out this gold bar:

It’s edible! The whole bar! Someone gave it to my aunt. It’s some butter cake sprayed with edible gold paint… I think it’s cute. But I heard it doesn’t really taste good. Don’t know how much they sell it for.

Anyway I think today was the 7th day of the Lunar New Year and it’s everyone’s birthday! So Happy Birthday to you, you and YOU!

*P.S. For all who have been asking me about my bake sale, I will have one in the holidays, probably in April so look out for it! I’m itching to bake! I haven’t baked much since I started the semester at SMU. Busy busy busy me… ahhhh.. okay I have got deadlines to meet!

Eden

I don’t quite believe in horoscopes but I have got to admit that as a Leo, I fit the said personality to a T. Especially my passionate nature. It’s true, I have various passions, all of which I pursue with great zeal and the most obvious one is self-explanatory – which explains the existence of this humble food blog.

Seriously, FOOD is like my second name. That’s what most of my friends know me for, my great passion for food – both producing, appreciating and consuming it. I am not really sure how to properly explain it, but let’s just say that I take immense joy in using my humble talent to make others happy. I enjoy it when I see others enjoying their food, especially if made by me and I just gotta say – food goes beyond feeding one’s hunger. Some of you might have noticed the various occasions when I post about me baking or cooking for an event of some sort at Amplify (the youth ministry I’m in) and well, this post itself has alot to do with that.

You see, I’ve decided to take my passion for baking and cooking to a higher level. I recently assumed the role of Food & Beverage head at Amplify. I won’t deny that it’s going to be loads of hard work, but really, I’ve been thinking about it and I think God couldn’t have made it clearer. I want to use my skills for the benefit of others and to spread His love at the same time. It’s a belief of mine that one can actually taste food and notice the difference – whether it’s cooked with love, or not. Sounds utterly cheesy, but seriously, it’s usually rather intangible but that’s just one way I see food.

Wait, there’s more…

At Amplify, the hospitality team (of which the F&B dept. works very closely with) has recently launched Eden, a lounge area at the foyer where we reside. So before session starts, this area will be a place of fellowship where youths will gather and enjoy good food, music, and company. Doesn’t it all sound uber exciting? Well I think it is. I seriously can’t think of a better way to utilize the space and turn it into a haven. Though the lounge isn’t a permanent fixture, I think it’s a great start – to have it every Friday before session!

Amplify holds what we call Amplify Fridays (it usually consists of lively praise & worship – the band rocks! + inspiring teaching, etc) every weeknight at CSC (Catholic Spirituality Centre) and we just had our first Friday of the year this week! It also marks the opening of the lounge area. I’ve got to take my hats off to Lydia (head of the hospitality team), Flo, and Winston for coming down super early to set up the place. Also, to the rest of the hospi team: Larris, Nat, Vivian, Rebecca, Lynette, Thelma etc… Thank you! It is not easy to set up and then clear up the place all in one day. It couldn’t have been done without each and every committed person in Amplify.

Now, I’ve said so much, now let’s see what’s all this hoop-la about!

Welcome! This is the menu display (yea, the Eden name is not up yet because the designer is still printing the signboard I think .. haha ) and as you can see, I baked cookies for sale, chocolate chip cookies to be exact. Yep, and now every week I have to rack my brains to think of what to sell at Eden.

The area looks so dreamy and ‘lounge-like’ right? I love it! Most of the furniture we got at Ikea and the red sofa is actually from our room. Haha.

Look at all the buzz. It’s amazing to see the area when it’s full of activity. It’s only the first week and the response has been really good.

Here’s some of the hospi team at work, rearranging the stuff. We actually bought nice glasses and mugs from Ikea to serve our drinks. Oh and, check this out:

HUGE cookie jars. I adore them. They were from Ikea and they just fit right in. This is what I call a real cookie jar!

Gosh, I really have loads to say! I’m really anticipating what 2007 is going to bring. God is just so good and I feel really blessed in more ways than one. Having an opportunity to hone your baking and cooking skills – I mean come on, to me it’s a dream come true. Nothing gives me more joy than knowing that I’m able to serve and give to others what God has given to me.

On a different note, ahhh… yes I’ve been busy busy busy, also because school started this week. Haha, yea I know what some of you are thinking – NUS starts school next week don’t they? Well yes, that’s true but this semester I’m actually studying at SMU. Yep, I applied for the local exchange programme. I know it sounds silly at first, but I mean seriously, I’m curious to know how things run at SMU. I love challenging myself and I really am going to make full use of this semester there and learn as much as I can. Besides it’s nearer to my home and it’s in town! I’m able to walk to Orchard Road or Bugis from SMU!

P.S. For some of you who are wondering what I’ve been going on and on about – Amplify, etc. Well, just for those who don’t already know, I’m Catholic and I’ve been serving in Amplify, a youth ministry since 2002 and our mission statement is : To spread a love for Jesus Christ and His Church to every young person. Yep, well if you’re curious, you can find out more at our blog.

Merry Christmas to you!

Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you!

A year has come and gone, and this is the second christmas this blog has celebrated. Ah… I love Christmas not for the gifts and lights but for the joyous celebration of the beloved One. The One I love the most in the entire world! Yea… and I went for my parish’s Christmas midnight mass too. The entire church was packed like no body’s business. Was with Mum, lil bro and sis and of course, JF and his mum.

Right after mass, we went to Ros and Charles’ place for Amplify’s Christmas Party! Wow, the people at Amplify – they gotta be the most fun bunch ever. The party was a blast and I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

I got some pretty cute and heartwarming gifts which I have to share with you!

First, check out the photo above. Isn’t it oh-so-cute? It’s meant to be a chocolate cupcake topped with cherries! I love it. Well it’s actually a towel but heck I’m never gonna use it. It’s a gift by Winston, my fellow foodie-in-crime. Haha we’re both as crazy about health and fitness as we are about food so it’s a perfect balance. Thanks sooo much Winston! I look forward to more ‘lunch-ners’ with ya!

Ooooo and what I’m going to show you next will literally blow you away….

Are you ready?

You sure?

Okay, here goes….

The best present ever…

IS:

A personalised wine bottle! Geez… I was speechless when I saw it.

I was so touched as well. Utterly beautiful and thoughtful and creative. How can anyone top that?!

The lovely gift was by my two dearest friends Leonard and Cassilda. Both are also leaders in Amplify (the youth ministry I’m in) and I love them to bits. They inspire me and they make me wanna serve with so much more fervour.

Here’s the entire bottle:

Really! How cool is that?

If you’re wondering what it says: Positive, resolute, go getter, generous. A fine friend lovingly celebrated by Leonard and Cassilda. Produce of heaven.

I’m never gonna open the wine. Well maybe 20 years later… haha. or I could even make it like an heirloom :p

Thanks Leo and Cass, I thank God for bringing both of you into my life!

Gosh, the party was swell and we had a gift exchange – only thing that it was a gift exchange with a twist. Totally different from the usual way. It’s called the Evil Santa I think. First, everyone picks a number, and that number signifies the order by which you will go up to the heap of parcels and pick out one. But here’s the catch, anyone can choose to ‘steal’ the others present. Everyone has to open their presents in front of all, and if someone else after you likes your present better than the one they picked out, they can swap it with you, regardless of whether you approve or not. Ha!

Evil ain’t it? My number was 22 and I did exchange a bookmark for a Print notebook but someone after me ‘stole’ it from me! Haha, but anyway it was a fun game. I ended up with a South Park shirt which is much too big for my liking. Probably giving it to Dad or Bro.

Ahhh… the party lasted until the wee hours of the morning and I reached home around 6:30am. Imagine that! I slept until 1pm and here I am blogging all about it. Also brought home loads of food. It was a potluck and some brought fried rice (by Winston… and it was uber yum!), pasta, shepherd’s pie, salad, tiramisu (this one rocked.. made by Clarence!). Yea, I’m sure you are also wondering what I brought…

I made some finger food:

This was made using the ready-made mini croustades from Ikea. Filled them in with crabmeat, corn, and flavoured with mushroom. It disappeared quite fast! Which I guess, is a good sign.. haha.

And then, there’s the tuna puffs:

I have loads to say about this one. I made everything from scratch! Yes, even the choux pastry puffs. My my, it was my first attempt at making choux pastry and I was so relieved it turned out all right. I will blog about in my next post.

You know, I’m starting to like making finger food. It’s so fun and easy to eat. Besides, I will have to learn more about making finger food or as the French call it: hor douvres. Especially since I’m now the F&B head of Amplify. Yea, I crossed over from Publicity, realised that I’d be much happier preparing food each week for people. So from now on, I’ll be busy on Fridays before Amplify Fridays start at 8pm. We’re gonna have this cookie and milk thingie which is going to mark the start of Cafe @ Amplify. Cool huh? I’m seriously really excited and can’t wait for it to start. More about that another time.

Ahhhh… what a christmas this was. Well it’s still christmas! I have lots to be thankful for. God has been very kind to me. I feel really blessed. To have a family, a roof over my head, and such great friends.

There you have it, my christmas, all summarised in 1 post!

Merry Christmas to you once again and God bless!