Dinner Post

One of those random days when I cooked a really quick dinner in a great hurry. I had a large pot of water boiling the spaghetti.



And then I had another pot sauteing the onions and mushrooms before I added the cream and Swiss meatballs from IKEA. I peppered the cream sauce and added salt and chopped basil for more flavor.


I also made Chirashi Sushi in a separate casserole from leftovers.


Yummilicious!

Bento 301

It'a been a lonnnggggg while since my last post on Bento. Below is a simple lunch for #3.

Clockwise: ABC soup, piping hot rice topped with some sakura denbu (for color) and a box of chicken karaage and lots of grapes. You'll notice there are no vegetables because #3 doesn't eat them!


The "TIGER" flask all ready to go.

Of Birthdays and family

Last week, #3 turned 11 years old. We had a small family celebration in the midst of a everybody's busy schedule. Dad-in-law was in town and brothers-in-law too. Lots of men. (and a Holy man)

Mum and I planned the menu. As usual, mum has the last say and she very quickly eradicated my list of choices. In the end we had a braised duck, prawns and petai sambal, Ginger wine and chicken, braised pork, vegetables, pickled carrots, cucumbers and chillies, braised tongue and a pork bones and arrowroot soup.

My collection of bone china casseroles.


Braised tongue. Had raving reviews for this dish.


Mum braised duck for the first time and it was simply delicious.
A great cook always becomes a greater cook!


Sambal petai and prawns. Yummilcious!!



Dishes served...


"Death by Chocolate" by Just Heavenly.
Happy Birthday baby!

Julie Andrews shares @ 69

So, an anonymous comment in my inbox tells me that this article I received and published here was a hoax (thank you).
Apparently snopes.com debunked it ages ago.

Nonetheless, I like this parody of "My favorite Things" because I'm beginning to be able to relate to it. *Bleah*

Thanks Em for sharing!


It wouldn't be funny if it weren't so true... Julie Andrews turned 69 and to commemorate her 69th birthday on October 1, actress/vocalist Julie Andrews made a special appearance at Manhattan 's Radio City Music Hall for the benefit of the AARP. One of the musical numbers she performed was "My Favourite Things" from the legendary movie "The Sound Of Music."

Here are the actual lyrics she used:

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favourite things.

Cadillac's and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favourite things..

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,
When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favourite things,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favourite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short, shrunken frames,
When we remember our favourite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,
When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,
And then I don't feel so bad.

Ms. Andrews received a standing ovation from the crowd that lasted over four minutes and repeated encores.

Steam Boat dinner

Last night was one of those rare evenings we could have a long dinner together and not rush off for some appointment or other. I made some fish cake (the longish looking ones), the other two fish balls and mushrooms came from Jusco.


There was fresh squids, prawns and fish in the menu.


Delicious home made pork balls mixed with chopped prawns, more mushrooms and straw mushrooms.




Simply dunk into a hot pot of delicious stock.

Grocery shopping

If you haven't heard from me or I've yet to respond to your e-mail, know that I'm rushing around a lot lately. There are lots of runs and errands to catch up on.

Today was most fruitful though. Thanks Alice and Celia for all the effort to enable me to stock up my Japanese pantry.

Sometimes thing aren't the way it should be or look the way they should look or even seem the way they are expected to BUT so what! Life is too short to snort or get all hot to rot! Hahaha! I'm happy all the same.

My giant bag of Tuna Katsuobushi.


Frozen Unagi, Ebiko, Natto, Tako and a box of Chuka Iidako.



All the different sauces and condiments, teas and Japanese noodles, seaweed and rice (not in picture) necessary for cooking more Japanese dishes.