MINI PANCAKES

A long queue at one of the food stores in Takashimaya and out of curiosity joined the queue.  It was mini pancakes made on the spot for 10 @ $3.50, a novelty snack.

Batter was poured into cast iron mould

The pancakes were cooked till brown on one side and flipped over to continue cooking

The ready pancakes were sprinkled with icing sugar and drizzled with lemon syrup.  There are choices of chocolate and strawberry syrups

Thick cream to go with the cakes.  Convenient snack to eat on the go.

CAPSICUMS & PORTOBELLO MUSHROOM

3 color capsicums fried with marrow and portobella mushroom, together with tomatoes make a healthy dish.

KAI LAN

I seldom fry kai-lan as it smells of strong insecticides.  But I cannot resist the crunchiness of its stalk.  The greenery of the stalk attracted me when I saw it at the market and brought it home.

The vegetables was totally soaked in water for at least half an hour and rinsed many times to get rid of the chemical.  It was stir-fried in high heat with marinated pork and rice wine.

NEX

Nex at Serangoon is huge, with hundreds of shops & restaurants and take a bit of time to complete the whole place.  When time to settle for dinner we landed at the Crystal Jade where they are having a promotion - a set meal complete of 2 main dishes plus a drink, rice and dessert.  We ordered 2 sets for 3 persons to share.

The scallops were fresh and the tasty sauce to go with the rice

Vegetables cooked with 3 types of eggs in superior stock

Deep fried prawns coated with oats to go with mayonnaise sauce

Roast duck is a must

Osmanthus jelly with wolfberries

Creamy mango pudding

Sour plum drink

LOSS

Life is so unpredictable.  My father died shortly after discovered with lung cancer 3 months ago in June. Before he was healthy and go about his carefree life until he had his fall.  When the hospital did a CT scan on his head it was shown his brain was invested with white spots.   The spots were confirmed stage 4 carcinoma which spread from his lungs.  He underwent 3 rounds of light chemotherapy and was given six-months to live, which was not to be.  

It was a blessing that he did not suffer any pain.   He was having breathing difficulty and hospitalized on his last days.  He went into coma and slipped away in the morning on Saturday 3rd at 11.28 am with his children and grand-children by his side.

During those busy days cooking was impossible and meals were taken in the hospital.  At Singapore General Hospital Coffee & Toast Cafe the food is flavorful although a bit costly for the public.  

Chicken Rendang Nasi - A big chicken drumstick with thick curry gravy and santan fragrance, accompany with acar and fried anchovies & peanuts.

Thick chicken curry with huge potatoes and egg plants

Sweet sourish mee-siam to whet your appetite

Laksa in excellent gravy with huge fresh cockles and tau-pok.  Biting into the tau-pok opens the flood of laksa gravy which is irresistible.

SOUP RESTAURANT

We step into memory lane with home-cooked food whenever we dine at Soup Restaurant.  These are dishes of traditional delicacies which revived childhood fondness.

Tender steam chicken to go with minced ginger  -  signature dish

Considered delicacy during World War II as this was the only vegetable available for survival

Tofu, a simple dish upgraded

Plain rice fried with pickled olive leaves

 Beggar's bowl with amazing fill

RADISH STEW

Eat more vegetables during hot weather.  A vegetable stew cooked in a crock pot with dashi stock and let it simmer till tender.  Soaked and rinsed cuttlefish, cut into medium pieces and add into the radish till softened.   Add in seasoning. 

The flavor of the radish is overwhelming when you bite into it.

LEISURE LUNCH

Have a leisure lunch on eve of National Day. 

SOUFFLE BEANCURD

Make use of left-over egg white to make a cold dish.  While waiting for egg-white to thaw at room temperature before use, marinate silken bean curd with light soya sauce and sesame oil.

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Beat egg-white till firm and spread over to cover cold bean curd.   Steam till egg-white is set. Sprinkle with benito flakes and sesame seeds.  Refrigerate till serving time.  (P.S. Actually I could not remember whether I steam the dish or not as I make this dish out of random).

FOOD BONDING

The weather is so hot that I do not want to cook. But it is worth the effort  and sweat when all family members are present to enjoy the food and camaraderie.  With everyone busy with work and occupy with other activities nowadays it is rare that all are hardly able to enjoy a meal together.

Simple and quality meal.  A soup, main dish, vegetables and a salad.  Boiled soup and marinate fish in the morning.  When ready to eat, grill fish in oven and prepare salad.  Last of all fry the vegetables.

Lemon juice with seasame oil, soya sauce and sugar mix together and pour over fish before serving.   Fry onions till caramelized and add in fresh mushroom till cook.  Spoon over fish.

Prepare fresh prawns and add in avocado pieces, fresh onions and tomatoes.  Toss salad in olive oil, lime juice, salt, mirin sauce and a spoonful of mustard.  Mix well and refrigerate till serve.