Outing..............Gardens by The Bay

Yesterday was National Day Holiday. We were excited to be making another trip to the city (yeah...... usually so busy with work and studies that we just slump at home to re-energize). Early morning, we met up with grandpa and off we went to the lovely Garden. We had a grand breakfast at (where else) McDonald's..... and once the stomachs stop growling, we started enjoying the garden and clicking on the hp camera.

Happy 51st Birthday Singapore!............and Dinner at home

Happy 51st Birthday Singapore!

We watched the National Day Parade, broadcast live on TV, at home, and had some great food prepared by my sister.

This is the first time NDP is held at the Indoor Stadium, after it's re-construction for many years. Everything was grand, including the fireworks!

Spectecular Fireworks at the Kallang National Stadium

Durian Sponge Cake with Durian Filling

Here's a follow-up to the previous post on Durian. My Durian puree has been keep frozen in my fridge. Today is the day I try this major project! A Durian sponge cake with Durian filling (I have 1 kg to play with!)

Ingredients:
6 yolks (I bought big, lower cholesterol eggs from Seng Choon Farm)
10g caster sugar
60g durian puree (from Ah Seng Durian)
70g coconut milk (Ecomil)
50g corn oil
110g cake flour (Prima Flour)

6 egg white
50g caster sugar

Durian Day.......

My sister was craving for some Durian (榴莲). She has placed order with Ah Seng Durian at Ghim Moh Market for some Mao Shan Wang (猫山王), and asked me to go collect together. I took the opportunity to get a kg of pure durian puree too, because I have been wanting to try baking with Durian. Durian fruit and its characteristic memorable smell and taste is no stranger to the people around this hot and sunny region of South East Asia. Known as the "King of Fruits", it comes in various grades and species. But the iconic appearance is always the Khaki Green spiky fruit with irregular shapes. 

People usually love the Durian for it's strong taste and smell, and the creamy texture that is truly addictive. Some Durian flesh taste sweet, but we like it bittersweet. Read more about Durian here (and other information sites).

Our queue number (yes, please pre-book with them) was 97! Even then, when we arrived at the pre-assigned time-slot, we had to wait in a short queue, but they were efficient and swift in the packaging process. After confirming the order and upon payment, the staff let us check the fruit quality and then seal-packed the fruits for us (No smell in the car:). There were also some vacuum-packed durian fruit, for customers who wish to bring it overseas or anywhere by public transport, how clever and thoughtful!

Durian and Rambutan fruits

These are the vacuum-packed Durian. Take and go!

Our seal-packed fruit

Yummy............. next thing to do of course, is to try my hands on baking a Durian cake!

Ah Seng Durian's Facebook is here

Another beautiful day at Chinese Garden

It rained cats and dogs this morning, while I sent my daughter to school. The weather remained cloudy and cool till the afternoon. By evening, it was sunny again and the evening rays were bright golden.

Around the neighborhood....................(2)

We live on a quiet street, in a beautiful and busy town on the Little Red Dot, the amenities and big shopping malls are a stone's throw away, we can jog to the gardens, or take a walk to visit the Science Centre....  we LOVE our neighborhood.

Sometimes we just want to laze around at home, doing things we like..........

Sometimes, after a busy morning, we take a stroll around the neighborhood, and admire the little things of nature...

We see beauty in life's little things...

Around the workplace................ (3)

Today marks the last of of operation at the Frontier (Our Science Faculty Canteen) before it undergoes another "face lift". The renovation/ rebuilding is expected to commence soon and will be completed by end of 2017.

The temporary canteen which is situated adjacent to it is now open, however, it is much smaller in capacity and the number of stalls reduced to just 5, including our beloved drink stall.

I came to work earlier today, just to sit at my favourite corner and have a simple breakfast and to soak in the atmosphere one more time....

I am not the only one who is going to miss this place, I saw many others stopping by to snap a few photos of the place, some taking selfies too:) Of course, the canteen, no doubt old, is an important place  for many during their student days at the university, moreover, for the staff who work here for decades, the canteen is a favourite place for makan (meaning eating in Malay) and for daily chit-chatting sessions with friends and colleagues. Tearing it down and rebuilding it, sure would brings back many fond memories for many.

I am going to miss you a lot, I sure hope i will find my favourite little corner again next year!

Beautiful Sky....

Look at the sky today, isn't it beautiful? This was the sight which greeted me when I opened my front door to leave for work.







A beautiful day calls for a healthful and hearty breakfast:)
We are having french toast with fruits and a blend of pink grapefruit and 小白菜 Xiao Bai Cai (see photo below)。 The french toast was yummy of course, especially when it was drizzled with maple syrup. As for the juice, well, let's just call it "health juice" of the day.... How's that?