Vainpot

Vainpot Kimi - pix courtesy of Aunty Meow

Cat played hide & seek with Kimi so she could capture a shot of him smiling and she is just so good with her cam. She can just about get any pix she wanted. I'm jealous and envious! Nowadays I can never get Kimi to look into the cam and smile.

Japanese Style Fried Shirataki Noodles

Oh, I just cant get enough of these noodles - Shirataki noodles and it is good whether fried or soup. Frankly, it is a bland noodle but I love its texture and oh, so light feeling after eating!

Ingredients

• 1 pack of Shirataki noodles, washed n drained well
• Japanese Stock Base Sauce
• Chopped garlic
• Nori seaweed
• Shredded seaweed

Method

1. Fry chopped garlic till fragrant
2. Add in noodles, fry lightly about 5 mins
3. Season with sauce and mix well
4. Sprinkle nori seaweed.
5. Dish and top with more nori seaweed and shredded seaweed
6. Serve hot and ENJOY!!

Tips

1. Add any meat, tofu or mushrooms to make it a more fulfilling meal or eat it with a separate steak of fish or beef.

Keyboard Fun

This is another toy which I got that was so cheap, only S$25 for this keyboard that didn't look like a toy. And that was what I liked as its key were real-like and if Kimi liked this, it would be an easy transition to the piano.

I'm still hoping that he will learn to play the piano so I can just lie back and enjoy the music. I love being serenaded!

But, deep in me, I know ultimately, it's really up to Kimi and what he wants and not what I want. But, it's still nice to hope and day-dream sometimes and I do not deny I am such a dreamer! Hee Hee!

Getting into the action immediately

Kimi is so happy that he is clapping for himself - My silly & cute child!

Looks professional?

Can fake it ya? Wuhaha!

Kimi's First Drum Set

Kimi has always been so keen on music and he simply loves playing the drums. We really wanted to get him his personal set but we were sure that those toy sets were really too 'amateurish' (pardon me for my pompousness) for him. Well, it's simply cos he has such strong strokes that it may just rip those toy drums that use a plastic film for the drum.

Hb bought this child starter kit from First Act(http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/FD523-Discovery-5pc-Drum-Set-Silver-wBlue-Stars,634,102.aspx) which even comes with a drum seat for Kimi and he really enjoys it.

But, he still wants to play on papa's set. That's what we thought might happen too... we must make him get used to it else papa will have to play on Kimi's set. Haha!

Father & Son unwrapping the box

Kimi trying out his personal drumsticks

Standing and strumming also can! Keke!

Kimi can't wait for the drums to be assembled and must start playing the Tom and Snare drums

The complete set ... oops the Tom is upside down... It's ok, papa will adjust later

Kimi trying out his drums - look how fast he is that my cam can't capture it nicely

Papa teaching Kimi to 'peddle' the base drums. He picked it up immediately! Except he likes to use his left leg rather than right...

Father & son having a noisy time together

Choo-choo!

This is what Kimi will say when he sees trains and it's also what he calls them.

I bought quite a bit of toys at the Taka Toy Fair and this is one of them. Always wanted to get a train set for Kimi but hb is hesistant as he feels he is still too young to appreciate it and will throw it around.

So, I decided to get a cheap set so even if Kimi were to throw it around, it's still alright. Yes, he was intially very curious and played with the train more than letting it go round the track but after a while, he was able to let it run its course. And I feel this is such a good buy, only S$7!

So maybe, Thomas The Train set will be next on the cards. What say you hon? Keke!

Kimi playing intensely with his new train set

He loves how the train goes 'around' this track

Kimi clapping happily when he could position the train to run round the track

A happy boy (and happy mummy too!) - the train occupied him almost the whole afternoon and he wanted me to sit next to him to watch and play the train with him.

Thai Fried Dry Kway Teow

Left with half a pack so decided to do a quick fry that is a little Thai style except I do not use chillies. I had my kway teow with a small piece of salmon which was seasoned with five-spice powder, fish sauce and lime. I liked how the salmon tasted with this blend of seasoning!

When I have very fresh salmon, I like to have it still pink inside so it's really juicy and melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pack of Kway teow
• Beans sprouts
• Fish sauce
• Cilantro
• Thai lime
• Oil and chopped garlic
• Small pc of salmon seasoned with five-spice powder, fish sauce and a squeeze of lime

Method

1. Heat a little oil and fry garlic till fragrant.
2. Add in kway teow and fry till fragrant and throw in beans sprouts.
3. Season with fish sauce when kway teow is brown and fragrant enough.
4. Squeeze some lime and sprinkle cilantro.
5. Serve hot and ENJOY!!

Vietnamese Beef Noodle (Pho Bo)

This is the express version where I used a beef cube instead of boiling beef bones for hours. So how does it compare up? Well... I had only a few mouthfulls and the rest my lap-top ate it up! Yes, that's why I was offline for almost a week!

Well, if you ask me, I think it was good enough for an express meal and I will make this again. I do not have Pho, I simply used ordinary kway teow to substitute.

Ingredients

• 300g thinly sliced beef (marinate with fish sauce and a light squeeze of lime for 30mins)
• Some beans sprout (tow-gay)
• 1/2 cube of Beef Cube Stock (Knorr)
• 1 small stalk of lemon grass
• 4 leaves of lemon leaf (tear into half to release fragrance)
• 1/2 packet of kway teow
• 1-2 tsp of dark brown sugar
• Fish sauce
• 1 green lime
• A few sprigs of mint leaf, Thai basil and cilantro

Method

1. Once water is boiling, add stock cube, lemon grass and lemon leaf.
2. Let it simmer/boil for at least 15 mins or till you can smell the aroma from the lemon grass & lemon leaf. Remove and discard.
3. Add some fish sauce (approx 2-3 tbsp) and dark brown sugar. Taste to check the taste and adjust accordingly.
4. Stir in kway teow and bean sprout.
5. Once kway teow is slightly soft, turn up the fire till boiling.
6. Add in the beef slices and bring everything to a boil.
7. Pour into boil with the mint leaves, basil and cilantro.
8. Squeeze some lime on top before serving.
9. Serve hot and ENJOY!

Tips

• You can omit adding the mint leaves and basil if you do not like too strong herby smell and taste.
• If you like spicy food, you can also add some chilli padi or make a chilli dip for the beef slices.

Shirataki Noodle Soup

I was so happy when I chanced upon shirataki noodles at Giant (Tampines) today and decided to make a simple miso soup base to go with this noodle.

You can add whatever ingredients you like for variety. I like the "QQ-ness" of this noodle and it is so light! I had mine with a small piece of grilled salmon at the side. You can also add meat-balls, fish cake, meat, etc for a more fulfilling meal.

Shirataki is made from the the fiber of the roots of the Konjac plant (Elephant Yam) and it has almost zero carbohydrates and in fact can play a role in blood sugar control, as well as improve cholesterol control and weight loss.It also contributes to fiber intake, and can be a substitute for starchy noodles. (Read more about Shirataki here).

Ingredients

• 1 small packet of Shirataki noodles (rinsed)
• Miso paste
• 1/2 cob of sweet corn
• 1/3 pack of Umeiji mushrooms
• 2 stalks of China XiaoBaiCai
• 1/3 carrot, cut thinly
• Some thinly sliced seaweed toppings (can get from Daiso)

Method

1. Add water to saucepan, once boiling add miso paste.
2. Stir till well combined and taste if flavour is sufficient. Adjust accordinly.
3. Add in corn, carrot and mushrooms.
4. Boil for about 10mins, add in noodles and veg and bring to a boil.
5. Sprinkle seaweed before serving.
6. ENJOY!

Tomato Pasta & Salmon

Salmon is the best reward after a hard day's work! Hee hee! And I don't even care that it is not even a 'real' pasta style dish - I just like to use what I have and what I like and as long as it tastes good and fills my tummy.

Sorry that I have been posting my dinner - it's to assure hubby that I am eating dinner well.

What I did was boil up some pasta and set aside. Fry up freshly shaved corn kernels, mushroom and tomatoes, pour some ready made pasta sauce and mix up with the boiled pasta. Serve with my grilled salmon. Yum!

Days of Being A Drummer ...

Need I say more? Pix say a thousand words! Everyday, Kimi has to strike the drums not once but a few times. Maybe it's his way of releasing stress? Haha!

First, select your favourite drumsticks (not the chicken kind hor?)

Then hit on them and act cool and professional

Papa says must be an all-rounded musician so I also need to use my hands

Can also do a little play-acting ... hmm... don a helmet, maybe I can play better?

Adjust it well ...

And strum it with style ... oops.. this red thingey must have gone to my head cos I thought I can play it like a piano... hmm.. not really working this way...

Wah, it's really tough being a drummer!

But still, mummy says that even after a hard day's drumming, I must keep my drumsticks properly. See how fast I can put it in!

Chicken Soup With Pacific Clams & Mushroom

A piping hot bowl of soup almost always warms our soul and makes us feel so homely & fuzzy after a hard day. Hopefully, now I would have more time to whip up soups for hubby again and share these easy yet nutritious soup recipes.

Serene, here's another soup recipe which you can use. Easy and yummy!

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken, chopped into large pcs & skin removed (approx 1.1-1.3kg)
• 1 can of button mushrooms (pour away the brine and rinse briefly)
• 5 ears of Dried Chinese Black Mushroom (optional)
• 1 can of Pacific Clams (Bao-bei)

Method

1. Soak black mushroom in hot water till soft, cut off stems
2. Blanch chix in a pot of boiling water
3. Remove and rinse chix in running water
4. Boil another pot of hot water (1.5l and pour into slow cooker)
5. Add chix, mushrooms and the whole tin of pacific clams (together with the stock)
6. Put slow cooker on high heat and let it simmer for 4 hour.
7. Serve hot with rice or on its own. ENJOY!

Tips

• If your pot is large enough, you can use the whole chik w/o chopping it up. If you only want a small portion, you can use a spring chix. Always remember to remove all skin so the soup is nice and clear.
• If you do not like the stronger flavour of the black mushrooms, then leave it out.
• I use slow cooker as it is load & forget! You can also boil over the stove. If doing so, ensure that the fire is on high and water is boiling (bubbling) before adding ingredients. Let it boil on high for 20 mins, then reduce to low fire and continue for another 3 hours 40mins. The degree of heat should be simmering where you will only small bubbling on surface of water.
• Of course soups taste best when simmerd over charcoal fire but on the stove, it is as good too. But, really, I do not have the time now to watch the fire so I just make do with the slow cooker. It may not be as nice as a slow fire but it is good enough! For us, Cantonese, the essence of the soup is to be able to grasp the quality of fire. Well, we can't always have everything can we? :)

Fried Udon With Grilled Chicken

Tangy dinner fare!

Ingredients for Fried Udon

• 1 packet of fresh udon (1 pax portion)
• Some Bulldog sauce or Jap Stock Base Sauce or soya sauce
• Chopped garlic
• Nori seaweed
• Oil

Ingredients for Grilled Chicken

• 2-3 chicken fillet
• Pinch of salt, black pepper and dried mixed herbs
• Some fresh lemon juice
• A few cherry tomatoes or 1 large tomatoe cut in quarters
• Half or 1 ear of sweetcorn (husk & silk removed)
• Some butter
• Oil
  

Method for Fried Udon

1. Heat oil in pan and fry garlic till fragrant.
2. Add in udon and fry lightly with chopsticks.
3. Season with sauce and nori seaweed.
4. Remove and plate and sprinkle more seaweed on top.

Method for Grilled Chicken

1. Season with salt, pepper, mixed herbs and some lemon juice for 30 mins
2. Heat griddle, do not add oil.
3. Once griddle is hot, put chicken fillet, sweet corn and tomatoes on pan and let it grill till golden, turn over and let it grill likewise.
4. Brush some butter on the cooked sweetcorn.
5. Remove and serve together with udon

Tips

• If you do not have a griddle, you can also use a non-stick frying pan. Add only a little oil. When pan-frying/grilling meat, remember not to keep flipping the meat as it will dry and toughen the meat.
• The trick is to let it cook well on 1 side, turn and let it cook the other side. If you need, only flip 1 more time. Then dish and serve.
• I love tangy chix fillet, but if you are not a fan of lemony taste, omit the lemon. However, lemon do soften and acts as a natural tenderiser for the meat.

BB Pum-tato Croquette & Milk Poached Salmon

I did this for Kimi some time back and forgot to post it.

I was inspired by Cat and Serene this time - Cat made (such delicious!!) potato croquettes for us during our Sentosa playdate and Serene made steamed pumpkin puree for Estelle.

So I put the 2 together and made potato and pumpkin croquette and threw in some poached salmon. Potato and pumpkin are such great partners in the croquette!

Poached Salmon Ingredients

• Salmon fillet
• Dried Mixed Herbs
• Milk

Method

1. Season salmon fillet with mixed herbs and let it stand for 15mins
2. Bring milk to a boil and add the salmon
3. Once cooked, remove and set aside

Pum-tato Croquettes Ingredients

• 1 small Russet potato, steamed or boiled
• 1 small wedge of pumpkin, steamed or boiled
• Milk
• Some butter
• Mayonnaise
• Breadcrumbs (bought or self-made)

Method

1. Scrape the flesh off from the potato and pumpkin and put into a bowl.
2. While still hot, add the butter and mash till blended.
3. Add mayonnaise and milk till it becomes smooth but not too wet.
4. Shape small balls out of this 'dough' and coat lightly with breadcrumbs.
5. Panfry till golden brown.
6. Serve with salmon. ENJOY!

Tips

• When using milk to poach, be very careful as the milk boil over very quickly. You can add some water to reduce the high boiling point

Swim Fans Meet 1

Tong joined Kimi for his first swim lesson today and it was obvious he loved the water!

Tong : "My arms are as strong as the lobster I am holding!"

Kimi can't not hold anything ... and he must make sure that his BOTH his hands are full!

A simple game to train babies to get used to lying on their back on water!

Punggol Park

Another park to add to the list for Kimi to run. I like this place as there is a large walkway that is sheltered from the sun's rays anytime of the day. The mature trees on each side have such large foliage canopies that it joins and makes a nice sheltered walkway.

Some of my favourite shots of 2 of my favourite persons, father and son having a laughing good time - priceless!

Kimi is always happy running!

Pointing out the bird to us that is perched on the tree

Now Kimi wants to slide down on his own

Trying out the swing that is not for babies - he didn't like it... he prefered those barrel type that he can sit in it

What a cheeky grin! My fave pix!

Kimi's 2nd Day @ School

Today they started letting the kiddos do some art & craft and this is Kimi's glittery star!

Adding the sparkling stars

Kimi spreading the sparkles - well done son!

Kimi is so like me here - when in deep concentration, tend to stick the tongue out! Keke!

Trying to catch the bubbles!

Chop Chop Lunch

My chop chop (read : fast) lunch for today and I'd never expected that frozen dumplings (Springhome) would taste so good.

I finished the whole pack of 10 dumplings. It's actually quite small each, slightly larger than a 50 cents coin.

Washed the dumplings down with a green tea with lime juice! Yummy!

Green Lemon Tea

Ingredients

• 1/3 glass chilled green tea
• 2/3 glass chilled lemon juice (Ripe brand)
• 2 tsp brown sugar
• 1/2 lemon cut in quarts (remove seeds)

Method

1. Put lemon & brwon sugar in glass and use a blunt stick to muddle it (end of rolling pin is good).
2. Once the lemon has been 'pressed', fill it with the green tea and lemon juice.
3. Top with ice and serve chilled.

Tips

• You can use more green tea or add more brown sugar if you do not like the drink to be too sour.


• Adding a sprig of mint leave while muddling the lemon and brown sugar can give the drink a refreshing lift.

First Day At School!

It's Kimi's first day at school today, not school, school. It's a playgroup for 2hours everyday. I tell you, it was chaos! Kimi and Estelle are attending the same playgroup and they are really the youngest there. Most were close to 3 already.

Kimi did not take much interest in the activities today. He participated a short while in most of the activities and were the rest of the time exploring the door knobs, stoppers and what have you around the room!

Overall, am glad to start him early. I really hope and want him to learn to play and participate in a group cos he is just too overly independent and prefers to play on his own now. And, yes, my boy did not cry. Told you, separation anxiety is reserved for me only and not him! haha!

Before leaving home - grab a quick snap but still no frontal shot. :(

Kimi's in his new unifrom and bag that came in a set. The shorts are awfully big that he looks like he is wearing a skirt! The bag is oh-so-auntie on him!

Papa, I can hold my bag and walk on my own ...

Free play

Music time - Look how small Kimi is among the other children!

Dancing time - twirl, twirl, twirl