My niece's masterpiece

My sis sent me this photo of my niece E's masterpieces at cooking class. I think she has the potential :) I liked the birdie sandwich and the choco dessert looks yummy too! Too bad that the food is not here in SG, so I didn't get to taste it. It is really nice to see kids interested in making their food.

Sentosa Boardwalk and crane dance

We were at the Sentosa Boardwalk which opened recently. It was a lovely stroll against the backdrop of the sunset and among the gentle breeze.Actually our initial thought was to just stroll along the boardwalk, we decided (with the girls' enthusiam) to enter the resort island. Entrance fees to Sentosa was $1 per person.

Sentosa was having it's annual flower show, although we didn't have time to go to, there were flowers aplenty along the boardwalk. We managed to catch the Crane Dance. The show was great although we were taken aback by being misted with salty seawater due to the wind direction being 'kind' to the audience hehehe

The show combines graceful movements of the mechanical crane, sound, water and light effects.

Icing Room II - Angry Bird Cake

For hubby's birthday this year, it so happened that it was also the girls' first day of school. We spent quality time with them having breakfast, lunch and sending them to and fro school.

I asked Blossom if she wanted to decorate a cake for papa, she was very happy to do so - alone (the other two were in school then). Remember the last time they decorated a cake together at Icing Room? It turned out to be a everything-also-pile-on cake. I know it is hard as each of them was an individual with their artistic ideas.

I asked Blossom to decide on what to put on the cake. At first she wanted butterflies coz that is usually a girlie idea. Then she changed her theme to 'musical'. I hinted to her perhaps to have something that papa likes or can relate to, and I know that he is currently obsessed with his iphone app game Angry Birds. She agreed and we started work on it. I drew the outline of the bird from what i remembered and she filled the colours and put in the musical notes.

When we cut the cake at night, luckily the other two didn't make too much a fuss on why jie jie was allowed to decorate a cake. Phew.
Later I checked out the app image. Forgot to put in the tail and the angry furrowed eyebrows. hehehe.

What a hiatus!

Happy New Year 2011! Time, subconsiously amidst our busy-ness, passes by without our noticing. Ironically, it is only when we stand still and relook back that we alarming realise that it is another year (and my white hair strands coming out) But good things also deserve our notice - my girls have grown (Blossom's height is now at my shoulder).

Didn't realise that it has been such a long while since I last wrote or posted a photo. Lost the passion at some times. Things caught up. Or I was caught up.

Enough of the procrastinating. I have given the blog a new skin and look!

Notwithstanding the above, I have done a few things for my loved ones during the 'hiatus'. Let's rewind the clock :)

Mid-Autumn Festival

Went for a course with my fren L. It taught us how to make the baked mooncake as well as the snowskin one. We had a good time at the course and also during our search for the best mooncake filling that brought us to the east side of the island. I only managed to try the snowskin one at home. I loved the moulds.

Trip to Hong Kong

We went for a short trip over the National Day holiday. The egg tarts were truly delicious!
Christmas

No creative juices flowed when I had to put down what to bring for my Buttercup's Xmas party in the childcare centre. It was a repeat item (from 2008). But I think the kids liked the colours and the cute edible icing figurines.

Last year i did egg-boats for them:

Cookies for my colleagues:
And Gingerbread men done by my 3 girls:

Ad hoc items:

Avocado mousse tart

I think i overbeat the whipping cream, resulting in the specks on the mousse, sigh. But the taste was creamy, a pity the girls didn't like avocado.

Icing Room

We passed by Icing Room @ Jurong Point and the gals were so amazed at the icing. This is a really good concept, especially for those who do not want the hassle of preparing the cake with frosting but just want to try their hands being a decorator. We bought the medium-sized cake that was ready frosted with white fresh cream. A few cones of coloured frosting and some sprinkles came with the 'package'. The gals were so eager to add 'colours' to their 'canvas'

Deciding how to decorate... With 3 different minds, I know it is difficult to come to a consensus.

Blossom took charge and told her siblings to make it a "Happy day" cake.

But look at the final 'product'! Aiyo! Colourful indeed... But what is the theme huh? "Mesh of colours"? " Bird's nest rainbow" :P They had a happy day indeed.

Countryside in SG

Did you know that in the metropolitan and busy Singapore, there lies some countrysides? We finally had a chance to take a roadtrip to check it out. It was a Sunday morning, weather was cool but slightly overcast, and no classes for the gals.

Couldn't resist taking a photo from the car, at the long winding road along the 'countryside', no high rise buildings in sight (which is hard to find in the built-up SG).

There was actually a promotion organised by the Kranji Countryside going on. It was something like treasure hunt, and participants could drive to the many farms listed in the "FarmPass" to collect a stamp. After collecting a number of stamps, participants were entitled to the gift. Although the gals looked forward to the stamps at each stop, nevertheless, I thought it was a good way for us to learn more about the farms in SG.

First stop was the Hay Dairies Goat Farm. Missed the milking session, but still had a good look at the goats. Buttercup, who had just been to the farm a few weeks back with her classmates, was the unofficial tourguide giving her "introduction". She was saying that the goats came all the way from America (?). She even knew that the goats have udders. Hmm, not bad for a 4-yr old's vocabulary. I don't think I was aware of the word until very much older. Bought some goats' milk before leaving, the kids (except Bubbles) tried the chocolate-flavoured goat milk.
Next, was a vege farm. Have you seen a scarecrow before in Singapore? Everyone was amazed...
Here's Blossom posing next to the long melon (sorry, could remember the name of the melon)

At the koi fishfarm We also went to Bollywood Veggies, it was a nice place to see all the different tropical fruit and veggies. It brought the "Wild Singapore" side to us.

Another pitstop was the bullfrog farm. Looks quite easy to rear, they just need a bit of water, and the love to pile ontop of one another.

Pardon my ignorance, this is the first time I have seen a dragonfruit plant (龙株果) in my entire life. You could have imagined my excitment :P

This photo was taken at the GardenAsia, where the gals picked up their gift (2x keychains, 1 $20 voucher redeemable at the cafe, and 1 packet of roselles). Mission accomplished!

More activities

These are some of the activities that the kids have been enjoying now that they are on "June holiday" from the enrichment classes.

Scooter Gals
Painful "fun" at the reflexology corner Trying their hands at tennis (or rather picking tennis balls)

The tree house - looks like the house was built before they placed the tree in :P

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy belated Valentine's Day to everyone! Yes, this day should be for everyone (not only lovebirds) as everyone could celebrate it with their loved ones.

Baked a simple vanilla sponge cake on Valentine's Day and turned it into my very first cream cake! Looks amateur and simple. My elder 2 gals helped with the deco. They loved and couldn't keep their fingers off the whipped topping as it was light and slightly sweet - they even commented that the cream taste better than the cake :( . The sponge cake was sandwiched with strawberry jam and more whipped cream. The gals had a lot of suggestions on how to deco the cake, but luckily we could come to a collective decision to have hearts and more hearts on the cake.

Xmas Butter Cookies

What's Christmas without puddings and cookies?

Using the simple butter cookie receipe that I have in my receipe file, this was a easy mix and cut project. Again the gals were really excited in the kitchen, all wanting to decorate the christmas tree and stars. Proud to say that the cookies you see in the photos are all done by Bubbles and Blossom.

Buttercup was excited initially, but eventually she was putting more of the sprinkles into her mouth rather than on the cookie dough! Had to distract her out of the kitchen in case the sprinkes get all used up. hehehe.

Xmas Cupcake Project

The gals and I did some cutey Xmas cupcakes on Saturday. Well, I baked them and the gals iced and decorated them. It was a premix that comes with the sugar decorations, which I felt was so adorable and easy.To me they were a tad too sweet, but the gals loved the cupcakes to bits.

Project completed!

Flight to nowhere

1 Nov - Flight to nowhere - on the Singapore Flyer

This was a blue moon occasion, an office colleague outing with family. It was such a warm feeling to have everyone there, together with their family. The slight drizzle that morning made our day cool. Our flight was at 10.30am and we "took off" smoothly. The children were fascinated with the big ferris wheel. Flight journey was about 30 minutes. We could still identify some of the tracks used during the F1 night race.

Children's Day n Hari Raya Puasa

It was a public holiday yesterday - Hari Raya Puasa as well as Children's Day. Was thinking about what to do on this day and keep the active kids occupied. When we woke up, the air was feeling little cool. Not quite good day for a swim in the pool. Told DH and my mom that there was a promotion going on at Jurong Bird Park where kids get free admission on 1 Oct. After that it was all excitment getting ready for the trip. Packed some sandwiches for everyone to munch on, and off we went. We were quite early, reached about 9am. Kids even received a goody bag, courtesy of JBP.

Gals wanted to feed the birds, so our first stop was to Lory Loft. Colourful, greedy and at times agressive (my DH got a peck on the finger, which bled) birds. Bubbles not in the pic coz she was more afraid of the lories.
One for the camera - the bird and Blossom
New exhibit called Dino Descendants. Bubbles thought we were going to look at dinosaurs, not knowing the meaning of descendants.
We left JBP around 12.30pm, and my! The queue at the admissions booth was snaking so long! Even the carpark was full. Luckily we got there early yesterday.

Went for lunch at West Coast McDonalds. Had a leisure stroll along West Coast "beach". Not much of a beach but more to look at ships and boats and people fishing. Buttercup said there were dolphins in the water ( think they were just some debri or buoyants) :)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Was in the mood for baking last night. After dinner and the washing up, i set off quietly into my "escapade" in the kitchen. Usually I try to sneak around in the kitchen when I am preparing the ingredients, if not once the Powerpuff gals storm in, it is really chaotic and difficult to get things organised. :P

Tried out this Chocolate Chip Cookie receipe from Aunty Yochana. It is definitely a keeper. DH took a bite and said that this was the one! He had been trying to tell me to bake "that" cookie that I had done last year, as he said it was really good. Finally got the cookie that he likes! This is a little crunchy yet melt in the mouth. The gals sniffed out that I was up to something in the kitchen and in no time, they took their kiddo chairs into the kitchen to join in the action. Look at Buttercup having a great time. Her smile says it all! Not bad for a 3-year old - she is an accomplished "mixer"
Today, most schools celebrate Teachers' Day. Packed some of the cookies into the goody bags for my gals' teachers. Thanks so much for being so tolerant to my gals! Esp the kind teachers at the daycare centre. Happy Teachers' Day!

Watermelon cookies

Blossom and Bubbles did not have school yesterday. We had a beary good breakfast of ham and cheese sandwich! They were cut in the shapes of bears.

The afternoon was long, I always think so when I am home. Inspired by Pure Enjoyment's success at baking watermelon cookies, and since the two gals were restless, I promised them to make some too. They were really excited about getting to knead dough again. I was more worried about the cleaning up. Blossom can now read recipes for me, and it was a good opportunity for her to learn the different types of measurements, scales and ingredients. She was pretty good at telling me what the ingredients we have to get and the next step to do.

The making of the watermelon cookies were pretty tedious. The dough had to be divided into three portions and two portions were coloured red and green. The red ball of dough had to be wrapped in uncoloured dough, then afterwhich wrapped in green dough. It was a little difficult feat for my gals, so I ended up doing most of the wrapping. But they had fun cutting up the doughball into 6 pieces of "watermelon" and putting the "seeds" on.

Here is the result:

I thought the colour looked really lovely after the baking. The rough surfaces really made it looked like a real watermelon wedge.

Here's the tray of dough before it was sent into the oven.
Blossom and Bubbles had even more fun eating the cookies. When Buttercup came home from daycare, she was served some cookies. And she asked for seconds. And she asked for somemore even during dinnertime.

Cookie Baking Class

My girls are very interested in baking too. Perhaps they treat it the same way as playdough but with an added gift at the end of it all - they get to eat their creations!


Look at them having a good time at their cookie baking class. I thought I wanted to know how messy or chaotic they would get if they played with dough (the real dough). What better way to try it out at a class rather than own kitchen :P But they did suprisingly well and were so behaved. Maybe it was because there was a instructor standing by!










It just brings me so much pleasure to see their smile of satisfaction when the final product came out of the oven!