The Soup Spoon

I first tried Soup Spoon at ION.
I had the Minestrone soup and the Falafel with Hummus Wrap. Nothing to shout about the Minestrone soup but the Hummus wrap was delicioius.

The next time I tried again in Soup Spoon was at VivoCity.
I had the Falafel Hummus Wrap again but I had the Tangy Tomato with Basil soup.

What happened to the Hummus Wrap this time around? It was dry and look at that small amount of side salad. The ones I had in ION had plenty of salad leaves. Is this just one off or have it being changed?

Now as for the Tangy Tomato Basil soup - wow! it was really good and addictive! Hmm.... think I'll try to get a recipe from the net and cook it.

Tangy Tomato Basil soup - so damn shiokadoo!

One look and you can tell that it's dry - tsk tsk tsk.....

Hubby's Beef Goulash soup - ok, quite nice.

The Soup Spoon

http://www.thesoupspoon.com

SJDA Award Winner 2010 - Pauline Lim Pau Ling

Congratulations Pauline!

Pauline was my classmate in NAFA 2007 in the Jewellery Design Class.

I remembered her telling me that her dream goal is to be a jewellery designer and she has moved a step closer to realising that dream by being one of the winners in the SJDA (Singapore Jewellery Design Award) competition.

I would truly say that she has that creative mind. She can see something and think of something artistic out of it.

I remembered a lesson in class where we were supposed to find inspiration for our jewellery, like nature, furniture, buildings etc.......

My mind was blank. My mind don't work that way. I know everybody find inspirations differently but I feel that hers is really the 'artist' type.

But what struck me about her is her unselfishness. She encouraged and told me how to see, look at things in order to come up with a design. She gave me ideas.

Another time, we were interested to buy some natural stones and she went to some places to recce and told us the addresses.

I told her once a place to buy some jewellery stuff, she went but the shop had moved and she quickly smsed me to tell me the new address. She readily shared informations.

She is the only person in our class who still touch base now and then,  even though, I am ashamed to say, did not really touch base with her.

So to her, I apologise and I promise I will keep in touch.

Oh, what designs did I come out with?

I think I drew a bracelet and everybody in class said that it looked like tow-kays (beansprouts) and another of a ring where I was asked if I got my inspiration from a pineapple tart - yep, we all had a good laugh.

Frankly, I do enjoyed my class and course mates and I missed going back to class.

 Congratulations again and Good Luck on your next upcoming competition!

Spaghetti Aglio Olio with Anchovies

Here's a dish of spaghetti aglio olio with a twist - it's aglio olio with anchovy fillets!

It is so simple and so fast to cook up.

I fry my sliced garlic and onions together and then put in the anchovy fillets and season with Italian herbs - do not add salt as the anchovies are salty already. Also do not stir too much as the anchovies will break up into minute pieces, unless if that's what you want.

Add in your cooked pasta, add in the chopped red chilli and stir gently and that's it!
(you can add in your red chilli together with the anchovies but I was afraid that it will be too hot for my hubby who's unable to take hot stuff - so my red chilli here is more to add colour to the dish).

Do excuse the not-so-great photos. I am living on the lower floors and it is hard to get good lighting.

Fish Chok with You Char Kway

Eugene enjoying dunking his You Char Kway (dough fritters) in my almost finished bowl of fish porridge at Tiong Bahru market.

Meter Testing

Eugene was curious about this multi-meter and hubby showed him how to place the two points together.

Don't be alarmed by the sound emitted, of cos it's not dangerous.

Looks like Eugene is more of a "hands-on" person.

Joby Gorillapod Magnetic

Love this product!

This is a camera tripod with a twist.

This is a tripod with flexible, wrappable legs that you can use to position your camera on.

The original model comes without magnets.  But now, their newer models comes with magnetic feet - that means you can use it on virtually any surface!

 Here're some pics which are self-explanatory.

Bend and Wrap

I can stick it to my refrigerator door too!

 It is very easy to use. Just twist it in. Note that there is a quick release button to release your camera from the tripod instead of having to unscrew it.

There are different gorillapods which can hold different weights like the heavy SLR. Read more from this maker, Joby.

I bought mine at Cathay Photo, Peninsula Plaza.

Raffles Town Club

Oops! it's Raffles Town Club.

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09 August 2010

At the Tanglin Club.

I scared !

Eugene sitting on the ledge and refusing to get into the water.

Eugene getting down to the next level of the steps after much cajoling.

Hmm.... this is not so bad........

Quite ok actually......

Wow, this is fun!

Ok, hold onto the ledge ....... and try to kick.......

I managed to get a life-vest for Eugene to wear. I like this vest because it comes with a detachable chin support that keeps his head above water.

But if you somehow tilt your body to one side, you will of cos kind of roll to the side, which was exactly what happened to Eugene. He kind of tilted his body to one side and thus some part of his face was touching the water and he gulped down some of the pool water.

And then......... he threw up.  By this time, hubby already had him in his arm and out of the pool.

So that was the end of the swimming. Eugene refused to go back in. Hubby and him were in the pool for all of about 20 minutes only.

Pushing Stroller

Eugene's pushing of his own stroller is now getting better - quite steady and better control. Before, he was unable to control the stroller to turn in the direction that he wanted.

I have put down the cover so that he can see where he's going.

Ramen Play

08 Aug'2010

We have never been to 313@Somerset and so decided to check it out.

Hubby was in the mood for ramen and we found this ramen restaurant called "Ramen Play".

With a name like that, I was rather skeptical about how serious they are about their ramen. But we thought we'll give it a try, hopefully they don't 'play play'.


I had the 'char-su' ramen while hubby had their specials which had 'char-su', pork-belly and the pork-cheek.

For my 'char-su' ramen, I can order it with 2 or 4 'char-su' in it.

The 'char-su' were sliced very thinly. So thin that when I pick it up with my chopsticks, it broke apart - but it was very tasty.

I've heard that the egg is supposed to be runny on the inside - but it looked and tasted like a normal hard boiled egg to me.

Noodles was QQ which I liked.

And as for the soup - to me it was rich and flavourful and I finished it to the last drop **slurp**

The usual condiment of garlic. Not so usual condiment of chilli chives.

Bamboo Chicken which you're supposed to dip in the egg yolk before eating.

Sorry, but it didn't taste fantastic to me.

Would I go back again? Yes, I would, but only for the ramen.

Ramen Play

313@Sommerset

313 Orchard Road

B3-04/06

Tel :66340051

10am - 10pm daily

Cut n Roll PlayDoh !

We were at Robinsons to get something. While I was browsing, hubby brought Eugene up to the Children's level.

After buying my item, I went to look for them.

Hubby mentioned to me that nowadays kids are a bit abrupt and aggressive - ??? - later I realised what he meant.

There was a long table with sets of PlayDoh for the kids to play.


Eugene's the youngest there.

As I was squatting there, some of the kids just snatched the play stuff from Eugene. Eugene was so surprised that he just looked at the kid and looked back at me, I too was taken aback and had no time to react and also just looked at the kid and back at Eugene.

Then, another kid tried to take away the rolling pin from Eugene. I stared at the kid :

Me : You want to borrow the rolling pin?

Kid : Nodded head.

Me : I will have to ask 'Ti Ti' 

Me : Eugene, can you lend your rolling pin to 'Jie Jie' ?

Eugene : No

Me : (passed him a toy knife) why don't you cut your playdoh and lend the rolling pin to Jie Jie first, Ok?

Eugene : Ok

And where's Eugene's PlayDoh? Can't see it right? 

Apparently the kids started taking his piece of PlayDoh and left him with a poor miserable piece of PlayDoh about the size of a 50 cents coin :( 

By the time hubby tried to intervene, it was too late :(

We bought this set for Eugene since he was so engrossed in it. Think it will help even more with his motor skills.

I squash

I roll with the roller.

I stamp!

I cut!

Have our S'porean kids become too self-absorbed, selfish and too 'I take, i take, give me, give me, mine, mine'? - results of too many violent video games or inappropriate tv programmes? latch-key kids?

I don't know how Eugene will be as he gets older as there will be outside influences, good and bad. But for now, at least I can  try to nip it in the bud if he shows any inappropriate behaviours.

Digital Scrapbooking by MixBook

I had done my digital scrapbooking of my wedding pictures with "Scrapblog".

But unfortunately they have become too commercialised. Most of their stickers etc, stuff to decorate your scrapblog are not free unlike before. Yes, there are some free ones but very few. I wonder how they are going to compete with the many digital scrapblog sites which are offering their stickers to decorate your scrapblog for free.


I have managed to find another digital scrapbooking called "Mixbook" and so far, it's free to use their themes.

It might not have that many themes and decorations like Scrapblog, but it is good enough for me.

I will be ordering prints of it soon.

| View Sample Photo Books | Create your own Photo Book

| View Sample Photo Books | Create your own Photo Book

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Eugene's First National Day

06 Aug'2010

Teacher Liz wanted the kids to come dressed in Red and White colour for a National Day celebration.

Teacher Liz had been teaching the kids about National Day, the anthem, songs, the flag. Also about the Merlion and the places where you can see the Merlion.

Kids had each a Merlion Hat and a flag to carry.

Exercise Corner Turn and Turn

04 Aug'2010


Eugene taught himself to hang onto that round metal wheel and to turn it by using his feet.

Today was the 1st time that I saw him do it and I was quite surprised. Sometimes in his excitement, he might forget to use his feet to push and have to be reminded.

But I'm really pleased that he is able to think and do it on his own and not have hubby or me tell him what or how to do it.

HeadPhones

 01 August 2010

Eugene trying on a pair of headphones for the first time at the library.

Looking so serious

Toa Payoh Light-Up

30 July 2010

Light up in Toa Payoh Central for our National Day.

Usually the light up is for only half of this road, but this year, it's the whole stretch.

I like staying in Toa Payoh.

All the amenities are nearby. My place is within walking distance to the MRT, Central, lots of kopitiams and wet markets in all the different lorongs.

Line Dance

28 July 2010

Here's Eugene grooving to the music.

I like the second segment of the slow music - the part where he put his hands on his stomach and raised his hand - a bit drama, ha ha.

Crab Party Restaurant

31 July 2010

Hmm.... we were thinking of having crab bee-hoon soup after having eaten it before at Mellben Toa Payoh.

We decided to try it at this place called 'Crab Party'.

Hubby with Eugene clowning around.

We ordered Thai Papaya Salad and Garlic Pork Ribs.

And here's our Crab Bee-Hoon.

Verdict on the Crab Bee-Hoon (based on my personal opinion) :

The crab was very very fresh. Hubby found the soup very delicious. Yes, the soup was very delicious but for me, compared to Mellben, I prefer Mellben as I find the soup at Mellben much more robust and infused much more stronger with the crab flavour.


I had just read on the internet of a lot of negative review for this place especially the parking and the bad service.
Yes, the parking is a nightmare there, you have to park along the lanes and we were lucky to have found a slot.
As for the service, were we lucky? we didn't have anything to complain about the service.

Creamy Mushroom Soup without the Cream

Here's a creamy mushroom soup recipe that I had made (quite sometime ago) without using any cream. And it tasted as good as the ones using cream which sometimes do get a bit cloying.

What's the secret to it ? Use pearl barley !

Ingredients

- 2 cups chopped onions (2 medium ones)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup uncooked pearl barley (do not use the Chinese barley. I use the Ayam Brand White Pearl Barley)
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1 1/2 pounds white mushrooms, wiped clean, stems trimmed
- 8 cups vegetable broth
- 1/4 cup sherry (I omitted this)
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- salt and pepper to taste

1) Saute onions and garlic in a large heavy pot in water or sherry.

2) Add barley and nutmeg and cook for 1 minute, stirring.

3) Add chopped mushrooms, broth and sherry.

4) Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 40 minutes.

5) Add parsely and cool soup slightly.

6) Puree soup in a food processor or blender until smooth or to your preferred consistency (I use a hand-held blender and blend it directly in the pot).

7) Return to the pot (if you're not blending it directly in the pot with a hand-held blender) and season with salt and pepper.

8) Reheat and serve garnished with more sliced mushrooms (optional).


Ok, as I've said, I made this quite sometime ago and I really can't remember how many it serves. But I do remember that it was just as delicious as the ones made with cream.

When I do make this again, I'll repost it with pics.