APPRECIATION

I've always told friends that flowers are wasted on me.  I don't even own a vase.  Give me good food anytime, I'd say.  But who can say "No" to such a gorgeous bouquet?  It is so massive, it won't fit into a single frame!

Thanks, Annette Male!  I'll miss you.

TEBA SHIO AND BAKED CHICKEN KATSU

Tried a hand at making Japanese Salted Chicken Wings.

Teba Shio calls for only three ingredients - chicken wings, sake and LOTS of salt.  Very easy to cook under a broiler.  They are crispy, juicy, salty - perfect finger food for parties, and to accompany beer.

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I love deep-fried chicken cutlets but have never tried making them myself.  Some weeks ago, I chanced upon this baked tonkatsu video by MASA and decided to give it a try using chicken instead of pork.  MASA's recipes are all very easy to follow and my Baked Chicken Katsu turned out perfect!

FRESHLY BAKED

Nothing beats the smell of fresh bread in the morning.  

Last night, I made the dough and left it the fridge for the final proof.  

Up at 7:30 this morning to bake bread but Mum sent me on an errand.  Before I headed out, I removed the dough from the fridge and set it on the dining table to thaw.

Shoved the pan inside a pre-heated 200 degrees C oven at around 8:30AM.  

Got to eat hot, buttery homemade tear-apart butter buns before 9.  How cool is that?

Mum says the bread has "good flavour".  Thanks to the overnight fermentation of the dough.

Bread dough: 250 grams Casarine flour, 1 packet (5 grams) Shirakami Kodama Koubo, 25 grams caster sugar, 2.5 grams salt, 110 grams milk, 70 grams water, 25 grams butter

Filling: 45 grams butter (5 grams x 9)

Chilli Crab Kitchen is on IG.

SEEING CLEARLY

Things that I've discovered after my cataract surgeries are:

1. All colours are richer and more vivid.

2. The pigmentation on my skin is worse than I thought!

3. My black backpack is actually quite dusty!

CATARACT SURGERY II

Had cataract surgery performed on my left eye this morning.  Unlike the last one, I was awake throughout the entire procedure today.  It wasn't scary at all but I'm glad it's all over for both my eyes.  Hurray for ultra HD vision!

I've been relying on my friend and coworker, Donna, to help me out with work while I'm on medical leave.  She is holding the fort marvellously.  Truly cannot ask for a more fantastic colleague.  

Gotta rest my eye.  See you back here in a few days.