In search of...

Anyone knows where to get pretty MJ tables? *Grinz* not contented with the usual ones. Any suggestion would be much appreciated!

Home-decor in progress...

Centerpiece of Kitchen

As Ween had said, it doesnt matter if we use it or not, whats important is that it look pretty on the kitchentop, hah, I m sold and indulge in a KA mixer as well. To make myself feel less guilty, I did wait till the Mayer Warehouse Sale and got it. Initially I was so hoping to get red bcos most of the small kitchen accessories (ie peeler, zester, whisk) I got in America and bought it home with me are all fine-engine red. Turns out RED is never on sale...bumpers. I was standing there for the longest time, contemplating to get the pink 1, so sweet that it remind me of a doll-house kitchen appliance.

Anyhow I decided my kitchen is too pretty for me to cook =p

Memories...

My grandmother-in-law had passed on, in her sleep, when I closed my eyes, I will just picture her in her usual chair in the living room, facing the main door, greeting everyone coming home with a smile.

I am so grateful for the little time I had since coming back from US, to buy some snacks for her, spend some time with her, talked to her about K.

She is in a better place now, looking down on us, wishing the best for all of us. She had been well cared and loved by all of us. She will always be on our mind and in our prayers.

Happy, I am!

Time flies...so fast, it has been 1 month and 2 weeks since I am back.

Busy, busy, busy. Finding a job, doing some touch-up to the flat, buying furnitures and catching up with friends. Also, praying for Pensacola to be blessed with good weather so my hubby can come home soon!

Nutella Tart

Lastly, I would highly recommend a Nutella tart for all Nutella lovers out there. This was also probably the last sweet treat I made in my tiny toaster oven in Pensacola. I am so grateful the oven did not give up on me in this past year. This recipe is from Mandy, a fellow Singaporean whom I did not get a chance to meet up in USA sadly. I wish her much success in her new-found career!

I

I

1) learnt how to cook and fed my hubby without any major case of poisoning
2) hate doing dishes
3) enjoy marital bliss
4) visited the Big Apple, had the best meal for our 1 yr wedding anniversary
5) had many wonderful roadtrips- Chicago, Miami, Houston, New Orleans, North Carolina, Orlando
6) love love Disney World, easily my favourite place in the whole of America
7) had an awesome holiday with my best friends in California
8) made dear friends whom I will miss
9) am home!

Serimuka-II

Yellow serimuka!
I still have a big bottle of custard powder leftover from making my pineapple tarts, this is absolutely perfect for me! The taste is the same but still I couldnt make it as high as it should be (my stove is still unbalanced, argh).

Happy Birthday Goh

Aunty SS had very kindly invited the whole gang to her house to celebrate Alex's 23rd birthday, with a ice-cream cake no less! Look at how happy the birthday boy is!

ban jian kueh

Found a new blog, a new favourite, I tried making ban jian kueh from Aunty Yochana's recipe, it turned out really well. Only thing I would change is decrease the sugar by 20%, I would prefer more peanuts to sugar. Enjoy!

Blueberries season is here!

I couldnt believe my eyes when I saw Target selling 1 pint of blueberries for $0.99. Woohoooo time to dig out blueberries recipes again! Going to hunt down blueberries farm, pluck and eat at the same time. Too excited, I didnt take picture of the end product oops.

Ang Ku Kueh (Green Ku Kueh)

It was a mess that day hah was trying to make it for Alex's birthday which Aunty Tan had kindly invited us to their house to celebrate. But I cant finish it in time, with my dough in 1 bowl and my filling in another, I brought it to Aunty's house. She helped me to finish it! Yeah! She has the mould even, how cool. She had taught me a valuable tip, do not use parchment paper or foil as the kuehs would stick onto them. Thanks a million Aunty! I feel so blessed to know the Tan Family in Kampung Pensacola. I added a few drops of pandan essence in the dough to get the tinge of green in the skin instead of red colour colouring. There are many other recipes out there with coconut milk in the dough, unsure how it affect the taste of the ang ku.
Ang Ku Kueh's recipe from My Kitchen Snippets

On a sidenote, my fave ones are from a shop along Jalan Bukit Merah Blk 146, they have all kind of ang ku kuehs with different fillings, yum.

Tuna tartare

I am using the term loosely, according to Wikipedia, tartare is a preparation of finely chopped raw meat or fish optionally with seasonings and sauces. I did not chop up my tuna, I just put it on top of the salsa-avocado mix, it is 80% avocado and 20% salsa. Love love avocado and tuna! Just wondering how much does tuna cost in Singapore, it costs 12 USD for 450 grams in Pensacola, which make it the most expensive fish we eat here but we just love the taste of fresh tuna.

Kenny Poh's birthday

A very belated post, thought I blogged about it but I guess my brain is turning into mush. I made a pandan cake and Kenny spent 30 mins trying to pipe "Happy Birthday Kenny" But we gave up at Happy Birthday, we wasted so much chocolate cream, it is everywhere, our hands, the table...

Check out what they did to his car, made with love. Wow.

Happy Birthday Kenny!

How not to over-cook my fishy?

Using A1's Thai Sweet and Spicy sauce for steaming a mahi-mahi fillet. Mahi-mahi is one of our fav fish just because it taste like stingray. I still can't grasp the timing to steam my fish properly, I tend to over-cook it, also because the thickness is not uniform etc etc. Just eat lar~

Happy Memorial Day to all~

Milo

We have a tin can of milo which has been there forever so I just google for "milo" and found a Milo Double Chocolate Chips Muffin recipe. I made them bite-size, top it with some chocolate frosting and walnuts. They are yummy but the you can hardly taste the milo though.

Loh Mai Kai

Okay, I cheated a little, I did it without chicken. Recipe is from Aunty Lily.
I promise try to it again with chicken. Hah.

Brunch, Boat, Booze and Bitches!

First 3 Bs are quoted from Kristy and I added on the last B. It was a fun-whirl wkd, we were at Nicolle's gorgeous house on Sat's evening for a belated party celebration. Her hubby made the most yummy appetizers...finger-licking yum!

Sunday afternoon, we went Atlas for bottomless mimosa and brunch, everyone consume more mimosa than food I am sure. Afterwhich, we went to take a spin around Pensacola Beach in a boat no less! woohooo... first time I go to the beach's hooters in a boat, awesooome. Brunch, Boat and my bitches, I Love! (pls note no booze)

NBA Playoff 2009 Round 1 @ New Orleans

We watched our first NBA playoff in USA, luckily we have a team who qualify for the playoff and is within driving distance.
Denver Nuggest vs New Orleans Hornets

It turned out to be the only game they won for this playoff so we were indeed lucky to catch a winning game at its homeground! For a $20 ticket, we get a free Tshirt, a voodoo doll which NO is famous for and lots of fun, well worth the money! Woohoo... I sent my Playoff Tshirt to my cousin who is in faraway Australia who is a big big basketball fan so I know he will appreciate my gesture, good luck for your exam kido!

Feasting again!

I was just lucky to be the only one invited to Aunty's house, there is a school in Pensacola whereby the undergraduate female students are not allowed to go out with boys. It is a very strict school, there are other rules such as the female students must wear skirts etc. Anyway this is a party for the graduating class, it had been so long since I hung out with so many girls hah
The ice-cream had 4 layers- pineapple, peppermint, chocolate chip and vanilla. SINFUL, shall not remind myself.

The highlight is ROJAK!! Yummmmm

Crawfish festival @ Pensacola

I seldom eat crawfish because the frozen ones taste like prawns which had been left out for too long. But the first time I tried live crawfish broil, I am addicted! I tried to wiki "crawfish" but the term "crayfish" comes up, compared to the crayfish we have in Singapore, the crawfishs are really tiny. Some locals taught us a slogan to enjoy the crawfish, twist the tails and suck its heads! I still prefer the crayfish back in Singapore especially fried with chili sauce or pepper.

Kuih Sarlat

Ever since watching Little Nyonya, I developed an instant craving for nyonya kueh. What to do in Kampung Pensacola? Make my own loh, what else?
I definitely need to try again, the upper layer is not really as firm as it should be but the taste is definitely there, can be proven by the boys. It looked abit sloppy, heh. The green layer is supposed to be taller, the steaming tray I used was too shallow, so some of the custard over-flow out while I was moving the tray, etc etc...alot of booboos *sigh*
As usual, I used Aunty Lily's Serimuka recipe, I followed the recipe to a T except for the green colouring which I did not have.

Kennedy Space Center

We did not do much of the touristy stuff while we were in Orlando, the boys wanted to wait till their gfs are visiting them then they will visit all the theme parks. We did visit the Kennedy Space Center, unlike my hubby, these 2 boys are as bored of space as I am. Hah.

Happy Birthday NKW!

My brother and I never show sister-brotherly love in words, I never never told him in person before, I am truly very proud of him. At the age of 24, he already owned 2 tutition centers and 1 swordcase company and embarrassing to say, earning more money than me (haha~). I am very grateful to have him around to take care of the house, with me as a military spouse, relocation is highly possible in the future, but I am very confident my parents are well taken care of his hands.
Happy birthday kido, here's wishing in making your first million bucks asap! He is so going to scream at me when he sees this haha~

Dim Sum Haven

The place for good and affordable Dim Sum!

Golden Lotus

8365 S John Young Pkwy

Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 352-3832

Happy and Full we are!

In loving memory of Erika Jean Coffey

We attended Capt Coffey's wife's memorial, she had passed on last week from a traffic accident, leaving behind a loving husband, 2 boys and beloved family members and friends.

We wish to express our condolences to the Coffey family.

"How great the Yield from A Fertile Field"

The farmer ploughs through fields of green, And the blade of the ploug is sharp and keen,
But the seed muts be sown to bring forth grain, For nothing is born withough suffering and pain.
And God never ploughs in the soul of man. Without intention and purpose and plan,
So whenever you feel the ploughs sharp blade, Let not your heart be sorely afraid.
For, like the farmer, God chooses a field from which He expects an excellan yield.
So rejoice through your heart is broken in two, God seeks to bring forth a rich harvest in you.

Author unknown, taken from the Journal of Erika Coffey

The Yummmmiest Key Lime Pie

No doubt about it, the best Key Lime Pie I had eaten in Florida is in Mrs Mac @ Key Largo. Key limes are actually the same type of lime we get in Singapore, the small and super sour ones. Key limes get their name in association with Florida Key why explains why key lime pie is a must-try dessert when you are down here.

Mrs Mac's Kitchen

99336 Overseas Hwy

Key Largo, FL 33037

(305) 451-3722

I am so craving for it...

Partying in Miami~

The Mansion
1235 Washington Ave, Miami Beach
Majority of the crowd were spring-breakers from NY, they were like "We are on Spring Break! Are you?" I was thinking in my head "Yeah, like 7 yrs ago?" We had a great time all in all, remember to give Mansion@Miami if you are into the clubbing scene.

Miami Heats vs New Orleans Hornets

Our 1st NBA game at Miami, the atmopshere was electrifying! Basketball is such a thrilling game hah our game ended in a draw and it went into overtime with the Hornets winning. It was awesome, basically I got hooked. In fact we just came back from 1st playoff (3rd match) between New Orleans Hornets vs Denver Nuggets, that is a story for another day~

Meanwhile I saw Miami Heat's gnome and it reminded me of Jo!

Welcome to Miami~

Finally! The most famous beach in USA -South Beach of Miami

I love the street scene much more than the beach, there is 1 whole row of cafes facing the ocean, people-watching, just chilling out. Awwww what a life!

Japanese feast in Miami

Hiro's Yakko San

17040-46 West Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach, FL 33160

Tel 305.947.0064 Sun-Thu 6pm-2am, Fri-Sat 6pm-3am

The single one food item which made my trip worth it~ it cost 1 USD for 1 takoyaki whosh but it taste so good after so long although not as puffy as those sold by the small Tako-Pachi stalls found near many foodcourts back at home. Do not be put off by the little sign they hang out "Japanese Tapas", without a doubt, the is one of the best meal throughout the trip. Kinda of too excited and greedy, we only took picture of the appeitizers and ate the main courses in record time before we could say "snap".

Nascar

Ignorant me, always thought racing tracks are as flat as it can be. It is an amazing 30 degrees slant, whooosh~

I love their wings, they are famous for their burgers it seem but I ordered a sandwich because I know I can never finish a whole burger by myself. I thought I am the biggest wing fanatic, it turned out ZW is even a bigger wings-lover than me.
Daytona Brickyard
747 International Speedway BlvdDaytona Beach, Florida 32114
(386) 253-2270


Daytona 500 Experience
Highly recommended for car enthusiasts.

Daytona Beach

My picture did not do any justice to Daytona Beach, it was already evening time when we reached and hencewise the lack of beach-goers on the beach. We went around the busy Ocean Walked on foot and found a little excellent cafe- Hog Heaven for BBQ porkribs and buffalo wings. I definitely prefer their wings to their pulled pork.

Hog Heaven

37 N Atlantic AveDaytona Beach, FL 32118
(386) 257-1212

To the South it is!

Back from a 1 week roadtrip, this is a picture taken at Key Largo's John Pennekamp State Park where we went snorkelling. The water visibility is the best I have ever been, but the corals are maybe 1 or 2 inch below surface so it was not possible to hover above the reefs which I was accustomed to. Instead it was more like watching national geographic underwater, we were viewing from the peripheral of the reefs. Nonetheless, great waters and beautiful reefs, saw 5 barracudas which scared the hell out of ZW who came really close to one, they swam really slowly though. We also saw a shark when we board the boat, only caught a glimpse of its dorsal and caudal fins but enough to get me all excited. The boys were saying "it is only the fins" but I was telling them "how often we get to see a shark in the wild even if we can only see the fins haha we only get to see shark's fin on the banquet table."
Key Largo is the most southern town we accomplished in this roadtrip, it takes another 2.5 hrs to reach Key West, the southernmost point in the continental USA.

Barracuda
http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/images/Barracuda2006SRogerson1.jpg

Sour Cream Coffeecake

This cake is really moist, I never failed to be amazed by the wonders of sour cream. I did this cake in a 9 x 5 loaf pan as the 10 inch pan does not fit my little toaster oven. Ina's orginal recipe does include a glaze but I felt the cake was already sweet and delicious as it is hence I skipped the glaze. Enjoy with a cup of coffee~

Sour Cream Coffee Cake, adapted from Barefoot Contessa Parties!
For the cake:
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups sour cream
2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

For the streusel:
1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease and flour a 10-inch tube pan.
Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla and sour cream.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Finish stirring with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed.

For the streusel, place the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, salt, and butter in a bowl and pinch together with your fingers until it forms a crumble. Mix in the walnuts, if desired.
Spoon half the batter into the pan and spread it out with a knife.
Sprinkle with 3/4 cup streusel. Spoon the rest of the batter in the pan, spread it out, and scatter the remaining streusel on top.
Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean.
Let cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Carefully transfer the cake, streusel side up, onto a serving plate.

Feast at Aunty's house again!

This time round, I contributed 3 dishes, curry chicken, sticky gooey cake and tapioca cake~

Sooo glad the tapioca cake turned out well for my first attempt, phew! As usual, the recipe is from Lily's blog.