FRESH STEAM SNAPPER

Nowadays when we want fresh fish we head to Seng Siong Supermarket as they sell live fish.  They would throw out the fish to replace new stock later part of the morning which is going cheap for $6.90 per fish, if not it is sold at per kilogram per fish.

The snapper was steamed in szechuan chilli paste with brown bean paste.  The flesh of the fish was soft and tender.

HONEYMOON DESSERT

After a heavy meal we proceeded to Honeymoon Dessert Place again to continue with sweet indulgence.  We managed to secure a table with ease.

Snow White Sago  -  A mix of palm oil seeds, mangoes, dried longans and sago 

Durian Pudding  -  Smooth pudding top with fragrant durian cream

Hot Ginger Milk  -  Hot and velvety smooth

Durian With Green Tea Ice Cream

 Basil Seed With Green Tea Ice Cream

TEA & DINNER

Had been busy preparing for the lunar new year which is only less than 2 weeks away.  Went shopping at Vivo City on Sunday and ended up having dessert and follow-up by dinner there.

Honeymoon Dessert is based in Hong Kong and they had set up store in Singapore.  The place at Vivo is not very big as the kitchen occupies a large area leaving a L-shape space with less than 30 tables.  It is always crowded with long queue waiting for seat. 

A busy kitchen

Red Beans Soup Grass Jelly

Double Boiled Papaya With Almond

The fungus was crunchy and sweet papaya

The mango was sour. Not a good choice

We proceeded to dinner at Crystal Jade Harbour Front which is 2-door away from the dessert shop.

BBQ Combination

Bitter Gourd with Duck  -  A salty dish

Vegetables with Tofu, Scallops and Bamboo Pith

Fried Rice with Ginger and Salted Fish - Full of wok hei

PINEAPPLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

Recently I had enjoyed baking birthday cakes for my family.  When the cake turns out well I feel elated and is motivated to continue baking for their birthday.  I try to bake simple and tasty cake without cream or icing.  Recently I baked a pineapple upside down cake for my DH's birthday.  It turned out marvelous.

Ingredients :
(a) 250g butter,
     200g sugar,
     220g plain flour,
     5 egg yolks
     1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate soda,
     1 teaspoon baking powder
     1 tablespoon rum
     1 tablespoon pineapple syrup

(b) 1 can pineapple
      3 tablespoons brown sugar
      Maraschino cherries
 
(c) 5 egg whites
     1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Boil 100 ml pineapple syrup with brown sugar till caramelized.  Watch over fire to prevent syrup being burnt.  Pour syrup into baking tin.  Arrange pineapple slices onto baking tin and put a cherry in every pineapple ring.

Cream egg whites, 110g sugar and cream of tartar till stiff and put aside.  

Cream the balance sugar with butter.  Add in egg yolks slowly into mixture and continue beating till fluffy.  Lower beating speed and add in flour.  Lastly add in pineapple syrup and rum and stir well.  Add in egg white to butter mixture.  Fold lightly and mix well.  Pour mixture slowly on top on pineapple slices.  Bake in the oven for 45 mins.

SHEPHERD PIE

The pie is one of the dishes I cooked for New Year gathering.

Fillings : Carrots, fresh mushroom, onions, celery, bamboo shoots, green and red peppers, tuna, mayonnaise and mustard.

Stir fry the fillings and place in a casserole. Add in tuna and mix in mayonnaise and mustard. Season to taste.

Mash up boiled potatoes while hot and put into mixer.  Add in salt, pepper, sour cream and butter.  Beat on high speed till mixture is creamy and smooth.  Spread over fillings and bake in the oven for till top is lightly brown.

CRANBERRY CHEESECAKE

The dessert we had for the New Year eve party was cranberry cheesecake.  Everyone loved it and in no time the plate was empty.

120g fresh cranberries, orange juice and sugar  -  Boil orange juice, cranberries and sugar in a small pot till cranberries turn to pulp.  Orange juice to cover 3/4 of cranberries and add sugar to your preferred sweetness.  Add a teaspoon of cornflour if thicker jam is preferred.  Spoon the jam over the bottom of the baking pan and set aside.

Melt 250g light cream cheese, 60g butter and 100ml milk over double boiler.  Stir until mixture is utterly smooth.  Set aside and cool.

Whip 6 egg whites with 120g castor sugar and 1/2 tsp cream of tartar till firm and glossy.  Mix 6 egg yolks with 60g cake flour and 20g cornflour.  Add in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and add in cream cheese mixture till well mix.

Fold in egg whites thorougly.  Pour mixture carefully over the cranberry jam.

Water-bath bake cheesecake for half an hour at 100C till lightly brown and thereafter at 50C for 1 hour (depends on individual oven and my oven is very hot and thus I have to bake in low temperature).  Cheesecake is ready when skewer comes out clean when tested.  Remove from oven and serve when cold.

The cake can keep for 1 day outside room temperature without refrigerating. 

N Y D C

Outing and eating during holiday season 

Feel of festive mood when you entered the place.  Even the lights were not spared from decorations.

Cosy and bright color seating

Classy seating with view

Artistic painting

Artistic display of kitchen activities

Honey Baked Ham Sandwich

Club Sandwich

Boney Cake - overwhelming sweet

Mochamisu Chocolate Cake

NEW YEAR GATHERING

Another year passed and gathered with friends to ring in the New Year.  With such busy life it is not often that we catch up with friends and the only chance is during holiday or festive season.  Every year we will take turn to host during the festives.  As usual New Year gathered at my place and on potluck.  With good food and laughter we toasted each other with champagne at the stroke of midnight to ring in the new year.