Choke choke cough cough.. Haze please go away

So we haven't had conditions this bad since 1997, when the PSI was 226 at its highest. The talk all over Facebook is about the severity of the haze, and the lighting of fires in Indonesia (which is causing all this). 

One of the (most disliked) steps our family is doing to combat the haze is to close all our doors and windows (argh, stuffy) and to keep checking the PSI on the NEA website. The highest so far this time is 172 at 3pm today.

We were chilling out in my bedroom (actually going through mistakes in assessment books) with the aircon on when Ray looked out the window and gasped, "Wow! The sun is red!" and so I took a pic.

Red sun through the haze

With our naked eye, the whole sun is red, but this doesn't show through the camera lens.

Logistics before homeschooling

After a whole lot of homeschooling research this evening, I realise that we really need a proper schoolroom or school area before we can start schooling in earnest. Up till now, for most of Tot School we have been playing/learning anywhere and everywhere in the house, which is not too good because there are lots of distractions from his siblings and other stuff happening in the house.

When we moved to this flat, we had planned to have the two boys share a room in future (currently both boys sleep in my room although the big boy actually has his own bed in the other room). Big boy already does his homework there, since all his stuff - school, clothes, toys etc are there. He just sleeps with me. The opposite side of the room from where his desk is is actually supposed to be for the Mouse when he grows up and goes to school, but there's a toy cupboard that takes up lots of space.

So we are seriously going to have to do some major rearranging of furniture. I've been procrastinating (surprise, surprise) till my parents move house and my stuff that's at their place needs to be brought here, but now I'm motivated to try and get it done these June hols.

Stay away from me, Korean dramas!

Cheese cupcakes

I first fell in love with cheesecake years ago when I tried out (for fun) this recipe on Allrecipes called Chantal's New York Cheesecake. It took some time to make (and get right) but the final product was incredibly delicious. My daughter likes it too, and over the years often begged me to make it, which I seldom acquiesced because it takes some work, quite some cost and most of all, lots of TIME to complete (including leaving it to cool in the oven for at least FIVE hours and THEN chilling overnight in the fridge, ye gods).

A slice of New York Cheesecake

Then recently, I came across a recipe that made mini-cupcakes out of cheesecakes. It seemed so easy - just beat, pour and bake. Really? I had to try. The result of that recipe was passable cheese cupcakes (I didn't have mini muffin pans at that time) that were a tad hard and dry. However, it was fast to make, lower in cost (only half a kilo of cream cheese whereas a whole 9 inch cake required 1 kg at one go, that's not cheap!) and simple to complete, which meant I could do up a batch easily anytime we wanted a cheesecake fix. Best of all, I can double the recipe or halve it to my requirements. I wanted my cake and eat it! (Oh dear, this last sentence was bad grammar but I'm too sleepy to figure the right structure out).

I brought out my trusty Chantal's recipe to compare and decided to give it another go, this time using the ingredients ratio for Chantal's recipe but baking it the cupcakes way. The results? I don't think I've ever made more delectable cupcakes or cheesecakes in my life.

Cheese cupcakes

In the pic above, two cakes are topped with some chopped strawberries that have been mixed with sugar, and the others  are just topped with grated dark chocolate. A few members of my family prefer another topping - strawberries mixed with passionfruit.

And here are some I made for a family friend's birthday. All topped with only the strawberry-sugar mixture (ran out of dark choc).

Totoro Cookies

Thanks to my neighbour's craze over Totoro, we made a batch of these together this morning. If you're wondering where I found or bought the Totoro cookie cutter, it was made by My Neighbour (pun intended) d:)

My Neighbour (and our) Totoro

Ugh, my dough was way too sticky. It wasn't like this the last time I used this recipe (4 years ago), so I must have done something wrong. But it was fun, especially letting my almost 12yo use the leftover dough to cut out cherry blossom cookies.

All that are left of the cherry blossoms

Nobody heard the timer ring, so they're a little *ahem* overbaked. But still yummy! And soooo suitable for using in bentos.

So let me get this right...

They want couples to have more babies. They want women to return to the workforce asap after having these babies.

So now they are making it more difficult for young families, who are usually on a tighter budget and have less cash on hand, to own a car, no matter whether new or used.

Then how are we going to ferry our kids around (childcare, school etc) so we can get to work on time? And have quality family time together outside the home (and help contribute to the economy by shopping and spending)? And build the strong core that they want?

Sounds contradictory to me.

The Ugliest Loaves You've Ever Seen

I haven't finished reading the Jamie Oliver cookbook I received for Valentine's Day yet, but one good thing that came out of it so far is that I've gotten interested in baking bread again. I'm especially hung up on the Coconut Buns in the very first recipe, but I have to get my head around the way that he made them.

Yesterday, I was inspired to make some loaves suitable for panini, the Italian sandwiches that are more like American subs. Unfortunately, I had very little time to shape them as my 2.5yo tot was konked out on his father's shoulder and waiting for me to takeover, so they're ugly as... *insert appropriate word*.

They looked and felt really light and holey when I slit them for today's bentos for my children though, so I think they'll pass. Because the loaves turned out much bigger than expected (hahaha), I sliced one loaf in half before splitting and filling. So each kid brought half to school.

Recipe for Panini loaves
Ingredients:
4 cups bread flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano OR 1 tsp dried oregano
Pinch ground black pepper
2 tsp instant yeast
1-1/2 tbsp olive oil
1-1/4 cups warm water (40deg C)

Method:
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir with a large spoon till all ingredients are moistened. Dough will be sticky.

With well-floured hands, knead dough in the bowl about 5min, till dough is elastic but still rather sticky, and sides of bowl are clear of flour, flouring your hands when necessary. Resist the urge to add more flour to the dough.

Drizzle about 2 tbsp olive oil around the sides of the bowl and toss dough to coat. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and stick bowl in the fridge for 4-5 hours.

Turn dough out onto work surface and punch out all the air. Divide into 4 equal pieces, roll each piece into a round tight ball. Let rest 5 min.

Roll out and shape each piece into a rectangle about 12cmX5cmX1cm thick.  (I did this by hand)

Place loaves on silicone mat or parchment paper on a large baking tray, about 2 inches apart. Let rise uncovered in a warm place for about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 220C. Dust loaves with flour and bake in the middle of the oven at 200C for 15min, rotating pan halfway through, till loaves are brown on top and bottom.

Remove and cool on cake rack at least 30min before slitting and filling.

Meringue Kisses

Over the weekend, I finally found something else to do with my 30+ eggwhites leftover from making kueh lapis legit, other than macarons (which I've failed at and do not intend to try again, yet) and steamed milk custard (which I love but am not in the mood to make). 

Meringue Kisses are new to our family, but I have seen them outside at some specialty bakery, think it was some stall at Raffles City. All those huge brightly-coloured round shapes.

I followed Laura Vitale's recipe and got the following results.

They're a little browner than what I've seen in photos online, but after two tries in which I varied the temperature and oven settings, I'm guessing this is the desired result of her recipe. In any case, they are really yummy, crispy on the outside yet melt-in-the-mouth inside. A little sweet, yes, but the descriptions online say that the sugar is necessary for the meringue to hold its shape while baking.

So I can continue to churn out more of these to use up more of those egg whites. I've already found one eager "receiver".

V Day gift from Hubby

Was supposed to be Christmas gift last year, but it arrived later than that d:)

Milestone Day

To give me a break once a week from driving to school 3 times almost daily, my eldest child who will be twelve soon, is going to come home on her own via public bus for the first time in her life. 

The whole journey is about an hour long, she has to change two buses (making a total of three), and she does not have a mobile phone. She has been very confident all along, and I know she can take care of herself and watch out for traffic etc. But somehow as the time approaches for her supplementary class to end, my heart rate involuntarily begins to increase and the jitters are invading my body. I'm very tempted to just drive to school to pick her up.

But I know I must let go and allow her to grow up. So I am going to take a shower and have a little nap (if I can).

And if she doesn't show up by 5pm I am going to walk down to the bus stop to wait.

Lunar New Year equals FOOD

I made a total of three batches oh kueh lapis. Oh goodness. I'd say the third try was the best, as batch #2 was wayyyy undercooked. Even after the portions I gave away, we still have lots left, maybe to keep till next year. Haha!

On the second last day of the old year of the Dragon, my dear kind neighbour blessed us with this lovely dish. And oh, what a glorious, delicious, good to the last drop dish of pen cai 盆菜! It tasted better than any I've eaten at Chinese restaurants.

Pen cai

For the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Snake when we went visiting, my 11yo girl who was born in the Year of the Snake sported a snakey Dutch braid which started from the front of her head to the nape of her neck.

 

And I have to share that one of my absolute favourite LNY dishes has to be what Singaporeans call "lohei" 捞起 (Cantonese) or yusheng 鱼生. A family (or group of colleagues, friends, etc) stand around this huge plate of vegetables on the table and, after all the blessings are called out by the serving waitresses (during which some ingredients such as raw salmon and all the wet dressings are added), everyone uses their chopsticks to stir and toss up the dish, all the while callling out more blessings. The higher the ingredients are lifted, the more auspicious.

Lohei with fellow PVs

 This dish is only available commercially once a year, at LNY time, and I can never get enough. So far this year I've had it twice, once with my family and once with my fellow Parent Volunteers of our school. I believe I shall have at least one more to go, hurray!

Wishing everyone a blessed and prosperous Year of the Snake!

Kueh Lapis Legit Attempt #1

Only just passed. The bottom two layers are almost cookie-like (crispy, because somewhere in the middle I turned the oven off and accidentally put it to convection oven), and the layers are way too thin and uneven. Some of the middle layers are rather wet-looking, not sure what caused this. But the worst thing (to me) is - it's only half the height of the 10 inch square pan (not enough batter).

Well, it's still edible, and tastes quite good, once I've shaved away the sides and bottom two layers. The spices really came through, and so did the cognac (shiok!).

I'm aiming to try again next weekend. Never say die, right? And Lulu will never say "give up" when it comes to baking!

Culinary exploration - Kueh lapis legit or Spek koek

I have been thinking about this for a long time and I think I have psyched myself enough - I am going to make kueh lapis! Not the Chinese kind aka 九层糕, but a many-layered cake made with lots and lots of egg yolk and butter, and lots of TIME.

If I pull this off, it shall be one of my greatest achievements in the universe of baking.

After picking a suitable auspicious day to carry out the deed (the DH must not be working so he can help handle the tot while I labour in the kitchen), I bought the equipment, and today I got all the last of the ingredients, namely the eggs, which must be as fresh as possible. Tomorrow will be the day!

I think I shall be too excited to sleep tonight.

About the new fridge (and starting it up)

And here is the new, bigger refrigerator! It came yesterday, much earlier than expected, and I am now all smiles.

My new SHARP SJPC54 in a gorgeous, classy black

I learnt something new yesterday. My neighbour told me she'd been instructed by her fridge delivery guy not to open the fridge doors for at least 3-4 hours after he had plugged in and switched on her new fridge. This completely boggled me so I turned to my good friend Mr Google. 

From Stack Exchange:

"The short answer is to check with the manufacturer. That way you can be sure to stay within warranty guidelines.

The longer answer is that it varies from model to model. When a refrigerator is placed in a non-standard position (for example on its side), compressor oil can run out of the compressor and up refrigerant lines. So if you don't stand it upright and wait, the compressor will pump without sufficient oil -- not good.

-M"

Apparently, most standard refrigerators (like mine) are always transported upright, so the risk of this happening is lower. However, sloshing may occur during transportation, plus they do tilt the box when loading or unloading it from the lorry, so my delivery man told me to wait at least an hour before switching it on. No problem, as long as I can clean it first.

I guess my neighbour's delivery guy didn't know what he was talking about. She's rather pissed (many years too late).

Fridge dead, but life must go on

My Fisher & Paykel refrigerator only lasted me 4.5yrs and it's totally gone. I should've sensed it was nearing the end of its life by the way it was acting up the last few months. But I didn't think much of it at the time, because our previous (smaller) F&P fridge was still going strong when we sold it off after 5 years!

Meantime, I'm living out of cooler boxes. And I am ever so grateful for neighbours with whom I have good relationships. They're helping me to store some dairy and other stuff that absolutely need refrigration.

Living out of cooler boxes SUCKS

AND I still have to bento for the P3 boy. It's a(nother) challenge to come up with foods that require no refrigeration, for the night after packing or to keep till early the next morning. Looks like I will have buy another big bag of ice cubes this evening.

Happy New 2013!

This year marks a rather big change in my lifestyle, as my two older kids will both be in the morning session so I am returning to my old job of chauffeuring them to and from school. Yes! I am not going to spend anymore moolah on school buses! It's ridiculous that they should make us pay for the holiday months as well. (So what if this has been the practice for years.)

A significant challenge will be the little one, who is apt to wake at the wrong times (ha ha). I can foresee having to drag him along with us so early in the morning, if he wakes up, or if his Dad is on AM duty.

And now that the big boy is in the morning session, I will have to, alas, wake up even earlier many many mornings to bento. And I no longer have the luxury nor time to prepare different foods for the two - bentoing must be more streamlined. This is a tough one because these two have such opposites likes and dislikes!

I am looking forward to my first day of school tomorrow. It will be really satisfying to overcome the challenges!

Bintan, at last.

We just got back from a Bintan getaway last week, after having wanted to go for years. Everyone got sunburnt, in varying degrees, except for me. I guess ten years of outdoor volleyball did condition my skin to take up to quite a bit of sunshine. I only started peeling slightly today.

I got to play a little beach volleyball while we were there, and this is what I got.

Ten years of volleyball. Then thirteen years of no volleyball. Ouch. I could only play on that first day. Subsequently my arms just hurt too much.

How To Make a Felt Board

Update 26 Dec 2012: Today, we discovered that the black felt can slip out rather easily, so I took the board apart and glued the felt down onto the plastic with PVA glue.

This craft project for the little one was turned into a Christmas gift from his Ga-jeh and Gorgor. It was easy enough for one or the other of them to do each step, with a little adjusting done by Mum along the way. Instructions are from Totally Tots, a homeschooling website dedicated entirely to tots.

First, we placed a 40X50cm picture frame we got long ago from IKEA (for another project which was cancelled) and removed the cardboard backing and plastic sheet from the frame. We went to Daiso and after some discussion, decided on a large piece of black felt as the background for the board. Ray traced around the cardboard with tailor's chalk, cut the felt out and I trimmed it a little.

Top: pic frame, bottom: felt cut to 40X50cm

Second, we replaced the cardboard and plastic sheet back into the frame with the black felt on the topmost layer, and the board was done.

Felt board complete

 Then came the fun part (for the kids). We have a few packs of small felt squares from Daiso and they set to work with scissors and pinking shears, cutting out lots of shapes to form pictures. I had to keep reminding them to cut the shapes bigger for little hands.

Felt pieces all cut and stuffed into a ziploc

Here's an example of how the pieces of felt can be arranged on the board.

Simple scene on felt board

It's all wrapped up with newspaper and placed under the Christmas tree. Made with love by Ga-jeh and Gorgor.

A New, Different, Christmas Tree

I finally decided to chuck out our old tree earlier this year (after lots of nagging from HL), firstly because it's been with us for 10 years (so we got a lot of use out of it), secondly because it's horribly dusty, and lastly because there's simply no place in our flat to put it on display. All suitable corners are covered by furniture (alas, lots of storage has to come with a price, eh?).

So after scouring the shops for a smaller tree that I can, perhaps, place on our TV cabinet and finding none that I liked, I came up with an idea to do a rather minimalist tree (there's no Christmas mood if there's no Christmas tree, dear!).

We purchased 2 lengths of green tinsel and a large piece of shiny gold wrapping paper from Daiso and did THIS.

Christmas Tree on the wall

The idea is adapted from another wall tree made by sticking tree lights onto the wall in a tree shape, which I once saw in an old IKEA Xmas catalogue. Not bad for $6 and some sticky tape. We only realised it was rather lopsided after we stepped back from it. But couldn't be bothered to fiddle with the tape again.

Ray commented that it looks rather like the outline of a woman.

I still have all my old Christmas ornaments (which can't be hung here, for obvious reasons), which I'll try to hang elsewhere in the house.

10 Superfoods to eat

Thank you Dr Mercola for the condensed list. We will eat more of these:

1. Avocado
2. Broccoli
3. Spinach
4. Berries
5. Wild salmon
6. Coconut oil
7. Bone broth such as chicken, beef, pork stock
8. Fermented vegetables (I just made a new batch of kimchi!)
9. Raw macadamia nuts
10. Green tea (unsweetened)

And try to avoid:
1. Beans
2. Unfermented soy
3. Dried fruits

We're already eating homemade, full fat yogurt.

French twist

Learnt this on CuteGirlsHairstyles. It's actually pretty simple to do, much easier than, say a French braid or Dutch braid (for beginners). But the end result is really sophisticated, great for work (and OLs).

Here's what it looks like on Ray.

And the same style on my neighbour, who has layered hair and highlights. The pattern is more obvious. (Please excuse the mess in the background, they're all the tot's toys.)