DAYS LIKE THIS

I wish every day is like today - uneventful, unassuming, undisturbed.

The day started off with a yummy breakfast.  The avocados I bought earlier this week have ripened nicely.  They were creamy and buttery.  I ate one on toasted bread, with sea salt and a dash of guacamole spice.  

I'm loving this Guacamole Spice that I bought from Gewurzhaus.  Recently, I discovered that it pairs very well with chickpeas!

I asked my BFF if might like to come with me to buy more avos but she already made other plans. 

Luckily, I'm someone who enjoys my own company.  I went and got avos, ate fries at MOS Burger, bought a couple of popiahs home to share with my mum.  

Our maid was feeling under the weather so I offered to do the dishes.  Was rewarded by  a burst of golden sunlight that came through the kitchen window.  A splendid sunset.  

And that, dear reader, was my day.  

BLUE

 

BAKING CLASSES & OTHER FUN STUFF

June 25 

Decided to sign up for a baking course with Catherine (who I fondly nicknamed 小猫 or Little Cat).  We've known each other since, like 1990 (or thereabouts).  Now, we'll be stuck in the same class for three consecutive Wednesdays.  We're making use of our SkillsFuture credits supported by the Singapore government so the entire course is free!

In the first class, we learnt to make two emerald-coloured cakes - Pandan Chiffon Cake, and Ondeh Ondeh Cake.

We started by working together one cake batter, then split it into two to bake and decorate invididually.

We were supposed to whip the egg whites to a medium peak.  Instead, we beat it to a stiff peak!

July 2

Learnt to make Chocolate Cupcake with Choc Buttercream, and Lychee Rose Cheesecake.  It eez very French (think Ispahan by Pierre Hermé).  I thought the cheesecake looked quite stunning.  Unfortunately, Little Cat said it looked like an Onion Cake!

July 3

Ate French-Alsatian  food with Joycelyn at the homey La Table d’Emma.  Ooooh such fine quality food.  The food is very rich so I'd probably only come back in another five months or so.  One cannot have too much of a good thing.

July 9

Exam Day in SSA Culinary Institute.  Revisited recipes for Ondeh Ondeh Cake, and Choc Cupcake with Buttercream.  

I don't get this.

**

Our neighbourhoods are now overrun with chickens.  

I had feared that sparrows might have become extinct.  I'm so pleased to still spot a number of them during my morning walks these past weeks.  

Fav pics:

 

ABLAZED

The sky is on fire.

AN EVENING WITH JOE HISAISHI

Another super HOT day! I hid indoors until about 6:00PM, when it was time to leave for The Arts House.

Tonight I had the urge to rewatch all of Hayao Miyazaki's films after immersing myself in "The World of Joe Hisaishi".  I do love a good string quartet, don't you?

I even wore my Totoro jeans!

BRUNCH ON A SUPER HOT DAY

Early morning. Woke up to a crimson "yolk" in the sky. It's going to be another HOT, HOT, HOT day!

Still, I dived right into the heat and blinding sunlight and made it to Chinatown Point by 10:30 to have brunch with friends. (My love of food clearly outweighs adversity.)

Four friends from secondary school went out to brunch but one decided to sleep in so we became three.  

Three friends turned up at Victor's Kitchen for the Minced Pork with Dried Veggies Congee (菜干肉碎粥) but sadly it wasn't something to write home about. Instead my favourites were the Victor's King Prawn Dumpling （超级虾饺皇）and Poached Szechuan Dumplings in Spicy Sauce (酸辣红油抄手).

Photo by Mayz

Photo by Mayz

Soph and Mayz couldn't stop raving about the "whole prawn inside the Har Gow!". I guess Victor's Kitchen will be the venue for our next secondary school gathering.