Foodie Fridays - It's easy to Cook for Family on weekdays

Last week I tried cooking dinner for us during weekday, it was tiring but I was glad that I did it.  It all started when I bought some vegetables and did not managed to cook it that same weekend.  Instead of keeping it till the following weekend (which they probably turn bad before that) I decided to cook them.

With the Cook for Family Event coming up next week from 24th May to 31 May 2013 I thought I'd share what I've cooked during weekday.  All these are whipped up within an hour except for the fish stew that took 1.5hours.  I made the wrong estimation on the cooking time thus I have one impatient 7 year old who keeps wander into the kitchen saying "Mum, I'm HUNGRY!"

As a FTWM and weekend cook, I am very proud that I have decided to make an effort to cook dinner during weekdays.  The dishes does not need to be fanciful, one pot dish or one dish dinner should be ok but make sure the ingredients are mostly fresh and not processed food.

07 May 2013 - quick stir-fried choi sum with fresh black fungus and abalone mushrooms in oyster sauce, done in 45mins including preparation time.  We had this together with left over soup from the weekend and rice. It was a simple but tasty dish, the black fungus was soft, even DinoBoy likes it.  However, when DinoBoy sat down at the dinner table he asked me innocently "Mum, where is The Meat??" O-kay... no more 1 vegetable dish meals, must have meat as I have a meat eater at home.

08 May 2013 -Tuna baked pasta, this took an hour including preparation time as I have to boil the shell pasta and heat up the can of mushroom soup, baking time took 30mins.  Fail proof dish!  Both DinoPapa and DinoBoy love it.  I should be more adventurous and throw in more cheese, never mind I'll remember this the next time I bake this again.

09 May 2013 - White fish stew & Crab meat soup to go with white rice, took me 1.5 hours including the mad rush preparations.  Ok I seriously do not know why the fish stew turns out white, perhaps I put too much milk?  And I have coincidentally prepared 2 "white" dishes, I don't blame DinoBoy for not having any interest in that night's dinner as it really does not appeal to anyone's appetite even though they are delicious.  On top of that, I forgot to remove the bay leaf in the stew, it gives a weird bitter spice taste.  The crab meat soup is YUM!, this is the first time I am preparing starchy soup and I am happy that it turned out well. 

14 May 2013 - Creamy ham pasta & mushroom soup.  This was a simple pasta dish, cooking instruction given to me by Regina, she said "Use olive oil.  Fry chopped onions.  Add bacon or ham.  Then add cream sauce.  Don't let it boil!  Fire must be low.  Add salt to taste.  Then add pasta. That's it!"  And it REALLY is as easy as she said!

DinoBoy requested for the "twist-twist pasta" aka fusilli pasta, I added the some ham I found in the fridge to the sauce and TA-DA~ savory creamy pasta for dinner.

That same night I get to play with my new kitchen toy; Philips|Jamie Oliver food processor, to prepare DinoBoy's favourite soup; mushroom soup.  I can only say this "I TOTALLY love my food processor!"

We reached home around 6.45pm and dinner was served on the average at 8pm, DinoBoy was famished by then but this also mean that he finishes his dinner in shorter time.  It was consider late as we usually have our dinner outside between 6.45pm to 7pm, but I'll still try to keep this going because late dinner or not most important thing is we have well balanced home cooked meals that are nutrition, delicious and healthy.

Note to self : I MUST start doing meals planning.

Hope I have given you inspirations or ideas on the food you will be serving to your family, I sincerely wish to see you at the Cook for Family event starting end of next week.  Do join the event by clicking the link provided at the top of this post and share your food photos you have cooked during the event.

Till the next time, Happy Cooking Everyone!

This week I am linking my post with Adelina of Home Maid Simple for her Foodie Friday linky.

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This linky is for anything that is FOOD related. It could be a restaurant you visited recently, meals you cook with your family or for your family or recipes you wish to share with every one.

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A little something from HeART Studio

The wonderful people in HeART Studio was very happy after reading our recent post on the Peranakan painting and they would like to give 1 free workshop class (worth at least SGD65 each) from the following 3 categories to 3 of my lucky readers with 7 years old and above child (That's DinoBoy's age too)!  Hip-hip-HOORAY!

HeART Studio have workshops for younger children and there are holiday camps for the 5 years old and above children.  Do check out their workshop timetable below.

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Workshop Details

Workshop Name : Young Master Workshop (Painting & 3D Relief Art)
Suitable Kid's age : 7 years old and above.

Workshop Date : Thursday 13 June 2013 & Friday 14 June 2013
Duration of Workshop class : Approx. 2 hours each

1) 2D hands (Wassily Kandinsky)

This art programme enables students to experience the painting of a famous artist (Wassily Kandinsky) with a twist. Using Gouache paints to interpret the artist’s painting style, students will also explore ‘collage technique’ by drawing out their hands on a piece of paper and drawing in lines on the hands to create two-dimensional effect.

2) Relief Leaf Print

A Fossil is a trace or piece of an organism from the past, such as a skeleton, shell or leaf preserved in the earth. In this programme, students will explore on how to create printing on air dry clay using dried leaves/flowers. Students will also use paints to add colours on the surface of the print.

3) Relief Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal art was first created by the indigenous people of Australia. In this programme, students will explore the famous ‘Aboriginal Dots Painting’ using modelling clay.

HeART Studio June 2013 Holiday Workshop Timetable

Mark these dates!
Little Master Workshop (for 3 - 4 years old child) 03 - 07 June 2013
Young Master Workshop (for 5 years old & above child) 10 - 14 June 2013

HeART Studio June 2013 Holiday Workshop art work from the different workshop for different age group.

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS

Please read the giveaway requirements carefully.

1. The 3 catergories of workshop in my giveaway are ONLY suitable for 7 years old and above child.

2. Participate in the giveaway through the Rafflecopter widget below.

3. Leave a comment below this blog post telling us the following;

a) Your Name
b) You email address

c) Child's Name

d) Child's Age

e) Workshop interested (2D hands (Wassily Kandinsky / Relief Leaf Print / Relief Aboriginal Art)
4. We do not like to say this but incomplete info will means that we have to strike off your chance to win the giveaway *so sad*.
5. Giveaway will end on 22 May 2013 @ 2359hrs and winners will be announced in our blog and facebook page on 23 May 2013.
6. Giveaway is open to Singapore only.

If your child is between 3-4 years old, here is a good news, MamaSue from Beanie N Us! is hosting the workshop for this age!  Quick!  Hop by there NOW!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Heart Studio LLP

101 Soo Chow Walk Singapore 575385

Tel: (65) 6554 7563

Fax: (65) 6554 7562

Email: info@heartstudiosg.com

NOTE : All comments with personal information will be removed immediately after the giveaway ends.

Wordless Wednesday - A Bored Mum & Child

What do you do while waiting for friends to reach the lunch venue? You'll probably read a book if you have one or you glue your eyes and hands to your smart phone.

Add a bored 7 year old and what do you have to do to entertain him, even for 1 minute?

Well, I did this...

I asked DinoBoy to show me his version of the 4 basic emotions.

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Linking up with

The "battle" with them Bicycles

Before going on, I must proclaim that I have nothing against cyclists or bicycles, I am ok with them riding the 2 wheels pedal-driven transport around the neighbourhood.  I can't cycle for nuts and I wish I could so that I can save some leg walk and money when I need to get around the neighbourhood.  However, some inconsiderate cyclists has made this into a love-hate relationship.

DinoBoy's school is about 10mins walk from our house, we always enjoy the slow walk to & fro the school, taking the chance to chat about school, discuss that day's dinner plan or just plain nonsensical chatting.  Many a times during our walk and chat we were interrupted by some cyclists who pressed on their bell many times, some times from a far and most of the time with no intention of slowing down while expecting us to get out of their way FAST!  They fail to understand that it can take longer then usual for some reaction to take place especially when you are with a child, carrying heavy school bag and sometimes with groceries.  Instead of being patient, the cyclist continue to press on their bell vigorously, maintaining the same "zoom-zoom" speed while the distance between us gets shorter and shorter.

Take a look at the photo below, you can see that the path way is not wide, it is already "squeezy" with a man and a cyclist side by side.  Imagine DinoBoy and me with his big school bag on one shoulder and my bag on the other, we practically take up 2/3 of the space.  With the cyclist flying towards us in top speed, we are often being forced out of the path way and onto the sometimes muddy grass patch. 

Many a times the cyclist zooms passed us too close for our comfort.  During morning rush hours, the path way is always crowded with people walking along it, the cyclists still rides at fast speed, oblivious to others' safety.  Once, an elderly uncle zoom passed DinoBoy almost knocking into him, DinoPapa was unhappy and shouted at him to be careful, the uncle slowed down, turned around and hurl vulgarities at him before zooming off again! 

I really do not think we; the pedestrians, deserve such a treatment from cyclists.  There is a reason why this sign was put up at both ends of the path way.

I got really frustrated with their inconsiderate selfish thinking that they have the right of way over the pedestrians on the path way. 

I protested on my own, I made DinoBoy walked at the side while I walked in the centre, when I hear the irritable familiar "ding ding ding ding" sound coming from behind us, I ignore it.  I continue to walk with no intention of giving way to them.  When the cyclist is flying towards us, I stare at the cyclist hard, daring him to continue at that speed, they usually slowed down when they see my murderous stare.

Then I grew tired.  All these makes me tensed up, sometimes I will start scolding under my breath, using words that I do not allow DinoBoy to say and feeling guilty when DinoBoy caught the words and questioned me.  Our pleasant 10mins walk turns out to be stressful and unhappy.

Well, they say "If you can't beat them, join them!"  I wish I can but this mama is not going to go out and get a bicycle to learn how to cycle it, risk falling down, scraping my kneecaps, breaking my arms and legs in the process.  Ok ok I'm exaggerating I know but you get the idea.  Plus, going through the hard work of learning to cycle just to join the "baddie" and "bully" the others?  No Thanks!

So what did we do?  We start taking the public bus to school!  No more chatting and additional money spent on transport but we get to enjoy 5mins of cooling air condition which we welcome with open arms especially during the hot and humid mornings.  We still walk back home from school as there were far lesser "threats" at that time and have our usual casual chatting about the day's event.

In the end, we won the battle, so to say.  We took action and removed ourselves from that danger zone.  And we end up "Happily Ever After".

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Linking up with

   

Peranakan Painting & Village Hotel, Katong

Last year October HeART Studio approached the parents to ask if we would like our kids to take part in a project with Far East Organization.  They are rebuilding the ex Paramount Hotel that was destroyed by fire on 16 July 2012 and thought it would be a great idea to hang the kids' Peranakan paintings inside some of the hotel rooms.  We thought its a neat idea and agreed to let DinoBoy participate in the project.  So for the following 3 months DinoBoy worked with Teacher Elma on his Peranakan painting.

During the first lesson, Teacher Elma did a great job in gathering some key information about the culture and introduce it patiently to the kids.  She asked each of them to choose 2 photos that they wanted to paint, after that the kids are requested to study the photos and then do a sketch. 

I must say I am very impressed with the way Teacher Elma teaches the kids, as you can see from DinoBoy's "Before" photos below it did not exactly look like anything Peranakan.  Teacher Elma guided him to see the photos in details, the shape of the basket, the beaded pattern on the slippers etc.  You can now see the new sketches was something totally different in the "After" photo, there were more details and lines, shapes and it has a 3D effect.  These were done within one lesson of 1.5 hours, amazing isn't it?

At the next lesson, DinoBoy traced the sketches onto tracing papers and then transfer them onto 3 square canvas. Here are the progressive photo of the canvas painting done over a few lessons, little bit of details are added slowly and painstakingly onto the canvas with Teacher Elma's guidance.  It was hard work but DinoBoy did not complain a bit, he was actually enjoying it. 

Here, I proudly show you DinoBoy's Peranakan art work up close and in details.  I am feeling so proud of him, it never crossed my mind that he will ever produce such exquisite (at least to this proud mama) work.

In details

On 3 February 2013, DinoBoy proudly writes his name on the small card and his art work is officially completed.

All Great artists must sign on their Great art work

The Great artist in a goofy pose with his Great art work

Far East Organization even gave the kids a Certificate of Participation, how cool is that!

So the next time you check into Village Hotel, Katong take a look around your room and if you see a beautiful Peranakan painting in your room, please take some time to admire it.  

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Remarks : I am in no way affiliated to the management of HeART Studio or has been compensated to write about this. DinoBoy is currently attending art lessons in HeART Studio.  All opinions are 100% based on our experience with them.

Heart Studio LLP
101 Soo Chow Walk Singapore 575385
Tel: (65) 6554 7563
Fax: (65) 6554 7562
Email: info@heartstudiosg.com

A special Mother's Day request for the husband

Following my post Celebrating Mother's Day? a few days ago, I have a after thought and it gets stronger after seeing many of my friends posted in social media about Mum's wish list, gift ideas for the husbands, perfect gifts for Mothers.  Seriously, what is the PERFECT gift for Mothers or is there even something called the PERFECT gift?

What does a Mother want?  Ok let me rephrase, what are the gifts that a Mother deserves or desire?

* a romantic candle light dinner in a posh restaurant?

* a very expensive branded bag/wallet?

* a high end kitchen gadget?

* a 2 hours spa treat?

* a dinner prepared by the husband?

* a super expensive bouquet of your favourite flower?

How about happiness? Or to be exact Time Off Happiness?

Let's face it, even though we proclaimed equality in parenting, dads getting more involved in the kids and all the whole nine yards, the truth is we know our kids will always look for us; the Mother, the Mum, for anything and every thing.  Have you seen the quote below floating around in the web?

Get the idea yet?

Mothers handle different level of work stress and pressure depending on their job requirements and company environment.  Add that to the the above demands from one kid, double that if you have two so on and so forth.  What to do think is the state of mind of the Mother now?

Get the idea already?  Good!

"Happiness?" you asked.  Of course Mothers naturally feels happy when work runs smoothly, when their loved ones are healthy and happy, when their kids excel in some achievements etc, but what about deep down inside them?  Do they feel happy FOR themselves?  Do they have a sense of fulfillment?  Are their emotions and love tanks filled to the brim daily?

With all the responsibilities weighing on their shoulders making them feel like a stretched rubber band, most of the time Mothers are burnt out or too tired to do anything for themselves.  Some of us, the lucky ones, gets to go for facial, spa, manicure and pedicure, girls night out frequently.  Even so, we always feel a sense of guilt creepy behind us when we are away from our family, having fun without them.

My point is a Mother deserves to get away from the family demands after work for a couple of hours a week to recharge, doing something that will relax them both mentally and physically, of course doing it without a sense of guilt will be a bonus.  A Mother who is truly happy have a well balanced state of mind which in turns benefits the whole family.  For a start, they are able to meet the never ending demands from their kids and deals with them with a clear and positive mind.  No more yelling or brushing the kid off, YEAH!

Of course we cannot forget about the husband too.  A truly happy wife makes a truly happy husband, you get what I mean *waggle eyebrows*.  Besides that, both of them are able to stay connected and focus with the the aim of being great role models to their kids, providing a well balanced family environment filled with positive thoughts, love and support, 

So to all husbands, if you have not done so, why not start by doing it today, on Mother's Day?  Give your wife guilt free Time-Off Happiness.

Celebrating Singapore Mom Bloggers 1st Birthday - Baking Workshop

Hokkaido Chiffon Cake

Did I made you have a sudden crave for a piece of cake with the above photo?

If I tell you this was baked by me and my baking partner Connie, do you believe it?

No?  Serious!  We made these beautiful delicious smooth Hokkaido Chiffon cakes during a baking class hosted by Munch Ministry as part of our Singapore Mom Blogger's 1st Birthday Bash!

This happened on 27 April morning and we had 3 hours of fun filled baking class. So while I leave DinoBoy with his ipad I joined 14 ladies n 2 girls whipping n baking.

First, opening speech by Pauline and Louisa, which I missed out on the most part as we arrived pretty late.

Founders of Munch Ministry; Pauline & Louisa

Luckily we still made it for the demonstration by Pauline.  She made every thing look so easy and simple, I was itching to start messing around with the ingredients and make that cake that minute!

Everyone's so attentive!

I took so many photos of the steps, scrolling through them made me wanna eat the chiffon cake again! I choose the best photos to show you the simple steps to make the cake. 

The challenging part is to try to separate the egg yolk from the egg whites without the smart tools, there must have no trace of egg yolk in the whites..  Some of the ladies did it easily, some like me &Connie who have to struggle with it.  The eggs just won't listen to us and we broke 1 egg yolk and I have to tr to scoop them out from the egg white slowly.  So note to self : Get them smart tools for the separation of yellows n whites!

Alright, this was supposed to be a 2 person partner team, but while Pauline was showing and explaining the steps I was busy, so my partner Connie was alone paying full attention. She did almost all the work while I... hmm... was busy with something.

My very hardworking baking partner

But I DID do my part!  You better believe me because I have photos to proof it!

Who dare say I did not do my part!

"Teacher, I tell you, I really did my part, REALLY!!!"

"And what was I busy with?" you asked.  Busy goofing around with these people!  It's all their fault that I was not paying full attention in class and almost got chased out by Pauline and Louisa.  See!  Even Rachel cannot take it and have to cover her eyes, she must be thinking "See no evil."

The Naughty Ones

Here are the wonderful ladies from Singapore Mom Bloggers who attended the workshop with me that day.  Thank you Pauline and Lousia for the workshop!  Thank you ladies for tolerating my craziness that day!  I had fun, loads of it and I'm sure you did too! Let's do it again, I promise I will try to stay away from the naughty ones in the above photo and be a good girl this time.

The baking class gang

At the end of 3 hours, we have 17 happy ladies and many many chiffon cakes to bring home and share with our loved ones. 

DinoPapa and DinoBoy love m Hokkaido Chiffon Cakes, I am going to bake them just as soon as I get that smart tool from Daiso.

Last but not least, a big THANKS to Rachel, Regina and Pc who so gladly shared their photos with me without even me asking for it.  Gotta love these friends!

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This linky is for anything that is FOOD related. It could be a restaurant you visited recently, meals you cook with your family or for your family or recipes you wish to share with every one.

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