Pork shogayaki

What do you do if you have left-over shabu shabu pork after rounds of steamboat from CNY, and happen to have a bottle of Sake in the fridge? Buta no shogayaki (Japanese ginger pork).

What you need:-

• Thinly sliced pork collar (typically used for shabu shabu)
• Soy sauce
• Finely grated ginger & juice
• Sake
• Sugar or mirin
• Onions - sliced
• Cabbage - shredded
• Toasted sesame seeds (optional)
• Spring onions

1. Marinate pork with soy sauce, ginger, sake and sugar for at least 30 minutes
2. Heat some oil and fry the onion until slightly fragrant
3. Add the pork slices and stir fry
4. Finish up with the marinate sauce and let it simmer
5. Serve ginger pork with shredded cabbage
6. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and spring onion

Sanctuary breakfast

We were pleasantly surprised by our latest breakfast joint at The Canopy. Nestled in the lush greeneries of Bishan Parks, it's a nice place for al fresco experience given the recent killing hot weather. The garden dining ambience gave us a ‘getaway’ feeling, as if we were out of Singapore, having a holiday somewhere...

Most of all, the food was pretty good. I was impressed by the Eggs Benedict with the nicely poached eggs and Hollandaise sauce to my liking – sourish, yums! The English muffin that came with it was crispy and toasted perfectly. The latte rounded off our meal on a perfect note.

Take a stroll after the meal... Hmmm...I could do this everyday...

Pit stop

We've been out a lot recently with bb S and this is the sign that's on our constant look-out (to avoid the recurrence of car boot incident). So far, the best nursing/changing room that we have ‘patronised’was in Orchard 313. Key plus: it's NOT SMELLY and it's well equipped – with cold/hot water dispenser and a microwave! There're 2 cubicles with armchair for the mom and a bench for shopping bags.

I don't understand why some shopping centres place nursing rooms next to smelly toilets eg. Thomson Plaza. I've experienced it once and would rather nurse in public with a bib the next time than to endure the stink.

I'm not whining (netizens out there). I should be grateful that Singapore malls have reasonably clean public facilities for baby care.  After all, I don't expect all nursing facilities to be as swish as the one in Great World City* :)

* picture taken from www. squidoo.com/breastfeeding-room-Singapore

Contented

She's a charmer. She charms us, the grandparents, the aunties, the uncles and sometimes strangers too! Her smile simply brings so much joy to the family...I pray that she'll keep up her ‘smiling spirit’ in life, taking things easy and be restful...

Art connoisseurs

Gustav Klimt’s youngest fan?

or like mother,  like daughter?

CNY with the Doretts

“To go or not to go", “To go or not to go”- this is the fickle me talking. Before bb S was born, we've decided not to go back to Penang for CNY this year, thinking that she might be too young to fly. But recently I've been having second thoughts as things seem to have settled down and we started to get the hang of parenthood. So I started looking around for air tickets, needless to say, it's too late as flights are all booked out!

This will be my first CNY in Singapore in 10 years ... Frankly, I'm sad. To some, CNY is for kids but to me, it's THE event of the year (followed by Christmas). I get all excited by just being home with my folks, despite doing the same old stuff year in year out - visiting, steamboat, hot weather, vegetate...

Oh well, I'm learning to look at the bright side. Staying in Singapore means:-

• Spending CNY with my ‘own’ family with M and bb S as the Doretts
• Attending CNY service on Sunday
• Spending time with all of my good Singaporean friends (and selected few Malaysians who are grounded here)
• Less chance of putting on weight from over eating :)

Tau You Bak

We like mom’s Tau You Bak so much that we made her cook a big pot and portioned into small bags before she left for Penang. If a war breaks out now, we are covered for at least a week, surviving on the TYB! Her recipes are always simple yet  yummilicious.

What you need:-

• Pork belly (If you get it from the market, tell them you want ‘bu jian tian’ (direct translation: can’t see the sky). Apparently this is the best part!
• Pork – tenderloin or lean meat
• Beancurd skin- soaked
• Black fungus- boiled and soaked
• Hard boiled eggs
• Soy sauce
• Black soya sauce
• Pepper
• Garlic – a few cloves, crushed

How:-

1. Marinate pork with soya sauce, black soya sauce, pepper and garlic for at least 30 minutes
2. Fry (1) until water from the ingredients evaporates – it takes about 45 minutes
3. Add black fungus, beancurd skin and water to cover the ingredients. Simmer for another 30 minutes
4. Add hard boiled eggs

Poke me not

I’m scared of injections, from young, even now. I usually close my eyes and turn my head away. If I can, I would also close my ears and sometimes one ear with the free hand that is not being jabbed!

I’ve been counting down to the day of bb S’s 8th week vaccination, somewhat worried for her- how painful will it be? Will she react to the jabs and have fever? How do I help to distract or comfort her if I’m scared?

Finally the day came… and before I knew it, the swift 2 pokes were done. Chop chop! She cried briefly and that’s it!

It’s not as bad as I thought…she’s stronger than I’ve imagined. I think she’ll grow to be more courageous than the mummy!

Oh yes, praise the Lord, no fever!

Lesson learnt: let go and stop worrying for our kids!!!

Becoming bimbo again (post-baby)

I finally understand how my friends with babies feel when their husbands are on business trips. It feels incomplete, even though it could be short trips.

Prior to bb S , I was a sloppy bimbo whenever M travelled, sometimes secretly felt happy that I could arrange for girls night out. With bb S around, I'm definitely not a slob but I still can't help to be a bimbo!

Case in point 1  -I was all set to drive bb out today but caved in and took a cab when I saw the car seat! Gulp- how do I squeeze the bb into that thing?!

Case in point 2 - Reached destination. BB is safe in the stroller but how do I adjust the seat?? So I called M (who's in Philippines and probably in a meeting)!

I'm not missing M because of his usefulness (wink), I do miss him. Though our ‘couple’ time is less now with bb S, his presence does complete the picture...