Saturday 19 July 2014

"I HAVE THE KITCHEN"

What do you do when your mother relinquishes control of the kitchen for a few hours?  I don't know about you, but I thought it would be a good time to finally make Pork and Fennel Sausage Rolls from Bourke Street Bakery: The Ultimate Baking Companion!  

Mum decided that she would take a break from cooking this evening and opted to have durian for dinner.  Yup, you read correctly - durian for dinner.  For Dad and I, who was horrified at the thought of surviving on durians alone, these sausage rolls became substantial snacks before the durian party began.



These sausage rolls tastes fab.  I love the hints of thyme, fennel and garlic.  Though I secretly feel that they'll be even better if spiked with paprika, or dried chill flakes! The recipe says to bake them until "they are a golden brown roll of steaming, oozing goodness".  I think I've managed to do that!

SaveSave

Wednesday 2 July 2014

HELP I'VE RAN OUT OF WEEKEND!



The weekend quickly filled up with errands to run, and a dreaded visit to the dentist. The hole is now dug - in this Friday’s diary - for wisdom tooth extraction (gulp!) 

Mum said it was time for a trip to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale Market.  She wanted to pick up some dried seafood for my cousin Mary, who'll be visiting us from Auckland. It was a long bus ride.  Cold too.  As soon as I got home, I came down with fever and stomach flu, and spent Sunday feeling weak and nauseous. 

Dad needed some sleeveless cotton vests. China’s Swan brand has stopped producing the design that he has been used to all his life. (Downright unpardonable, I tell you!) Last Saturday Mum and I finally found something similar in a small shop in Chinatown. You would think that having found something after a massive search, we’d buy it in bulk but no, we bought ONLY ONE. Only if Dad is happy with it that we were allowed to come back for more.

Dad acknowledged grudgingly the fact that all good things come to pass and he’ll now have to make do with Crocodile brand vests. So on Sunday I again trotted to Chinatown -- to buy two more vests. The shop owner was somewhat surprised that I made two trips to his shop specially to buy just three vests.  "Why don't you buy a dozen right away?" A seemingly fair question to ask of normal folks, except Dad doesn't behave normal.  Trust me,  if Dad says to buy two, you DO NOT buy three. Not unless you want to spoil what's left of your weekend (and the following week too.)

Me thinks Dad is a depressed bi-polar person with dementia.

Sometimes it's so hard not to quarrel with my mother. When I left for Chinatown on Sunday she told me: Take all the time you want ... have a good lunch in Chinatown and shop around ... no need to rush home, etc. Then at 12:30PM sharp, she calls me: Will you be home soon?

Arrgh!!!  

AU REVOIR

French Kiss by Huebucket I wish you bluebirds in the spring To give your heart a song to sing And then a kiss, but more than th...