tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-225404952011-11-15T15:18:08.904+11:00Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.comBlogger821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-14041730711006002552011-02-13T01:20:00.005+11:002011-02-13T01:45:56.228+11:00

i love memories. you may never be able to relive them again, but you can certainly play them back as and when you wish and as many times as you like. and sometimes, you may even be able to savour a little bit of them once more. like these raspberry jellies that my mum used to make. whenever any of us opened the frigo and spotted the blushing red liquids setting in their little glasses, it will

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-88570962352523027552010-11-21T11:18:00.002+11:002010-11-21T11:51:03.673+11:00

When your uncle comes knocking on the door at 7am, it usually makes one catch their breath for a bit. Did something happen? Thankfully, no. An avid fishing hobbyist, my uncle had just rounded up a night of fishing and decided to drop by to share some of his catch with my mum - a nice, fresh hunk of a fish caught off the waters in Singapore. Him and his buddies must have lined up some 9 fishes of

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-73686713183803590862010-11-02T00:53:00.005+11:002010-11-02T01:19:45.590+11:00

29 years on, we still find ourselves getting all excited over halloween and costumes. Heck, there was even a theme this year with some of us honing in on our long-forgotten art & crafts skills to make insect wings, flower headgears and what not. We also tried downing shots of a wonderfully-scented vanilla vodka, but only 2 managed to finish that vile liquid. Foie gras is indeed very toothsome but

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-40733789265019015482010-08-20T10:35:00.008+10:002010-09-09T01:36:30.397+10:00

i can only imagine that the smell of fresh bread baking in the oven evokes warm, comforting, cozy thoughts for most people. the promise of a crusty, soft loaf is enough to make anyone go weak in the knees, no? or maybe more so for bread people like me. i love 'em all - flat, leavened lebanese rounds, puffy golden brioche, baguettes, ciabattas, chinese-style mantous, japanese an-pans, wholewheat

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-51041567061163816772010-06-13T18:53:00.003+10:002010-06-13T19:52:33.094+10:00

i have never been one for fussy, fancy desserts...you know, the ones with pretty foams and intricate sugar-spun webs and so forth. that's not to say that i do not admire them - in fact i'm constantly wow-ed by those who are able to push the boundaries and limits of creativity to entirely new heights. these masterpieces are works of art and is an area i'll much rather leave to the geniuses to sort

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-57585289433950014252010-06-08T23:51:00.003+10:002010-06-08T23:54:30.373+10:00

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-22392778373506037822010-01-10T14:20:00.003+11:002010-01-31T14:50:31.335+11:00

2009 ended on a most lovely note. My 2 week Christmas break saw us back in France visiting Paris, Strasbourg, Bretagne and the French Alps. This trip felt different, almost familiar, as we went around visiting friends and family alike. It was so good meeting everyone again, and I have to admit, knowing the basics of french did help make life a lot easier and made my trip all the more

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-33843873880070436052009-12-07T23:59:00.002+11:002009-12-08T00:53:27.603+11:00

I cannot wait. That is, to sink my teeth into all things buttery, yeasty and good. Yep it's less than 2 weeks til I leave for des vacances in France and I'm feeling antsy to get going. I swear I must be hallucinating 'cos I hear all those baguettes and croissants calling out to me, waxing lyrical with their flaky, crusty tones. Aaahhh.Since my family and friends aren't able to come with me, I

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-63152537565356465482009-10-27T03:07:00.009+11:002009-10-27T04:11:23.981+11:00

Ever since I have returned to Singapore, I have been spoilt rotten by Mum's cooking and all the cheap eats (not to mention huge variety) out there. So it seems that getting down and dirty in the kitchen has become somewhat of a rare occasion for me.And the heat. Nom de dieu, it has been stinking hot over here for the past few days. The walk back after lunch must be the only time I feel that happy

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-88598444871191635842009-09-16T00:30:00.007+10:002009-09-16T01:55:49.015+10:00

Buckwheat. It's grey, it's drab, it looks like Portland cement, but oh how I've come to hold it in complete adoration. Its nutty flavour. Its grainy texture. I love it in all forms - as crunchy grains tossed in a fresh green salad, in delicious buckwheat galettes (oh yes we used to prepare them quite often for dinner), and even as a beverage such as beer! :) Just the other day, Mum bought some

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-65263308820540022472009-08-23T12:57:00.004+10:002009-08-23T13:55:55.293+10:00

Mmm. It's interesting how kitchen aromas draw people like moths to a flame. As I stumbled out from my room, bleary-eyed from a late night out, the delicious smell of breakfast being prepared practically had me tripping over myself to get to la cuisine. It was unmistakably one of the three: crepes, waffles, or pancakes. For a carb lover like myself, you can only imagine the delirious effect of

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-31638272883788780572009-06-28T13:12:00.003+10:002009-07-20T22:38:35.681+10:00

Oh my, did time just whizz past or has it really been 4 months since my last updated on this blog? Settling home, after all, does take up quite abit of your time, what with a new job, fervent catch-up sessions with loved ones and slowly clue-ing in on the local scene. Then there was that kitchen renovation that took place in between. Whew. I will definitely post up pics on that sometime soon.I am

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-88872017886202409622009-03-10T07:49:00.005+11:002009-03-11T09:11:15.930+11:00

*Huffs and puffs and blows away the dust* Yes I know, I have been missing a good 3 months! It has been a busy period highlighted by my thesis submission in Dec (woo!), a vacation back home for the Chinese New Year holidays, and a job offer lined up back home that fell into my lap quite unexpectedly.Yep. You heard me right. After 8 whole years here, I'm finally leaving Sydney.In this economic

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-57879308404497324622008-12-11T17:23:00.007+11:002008-12-11T17:59:59.972+11:00

Christmas has indeed arrived early.The good people at Cocoa Farm have kindly sent me a box of their beautiful, wholly-organic wine chocolates to sample. The package arrived in the form of 8 individually wrapped samples of 36%-cocoa chocolate studded with petite, shiraz-infused raisins. For once, I thought I’ll try to do these little babies justice and educate myself a little on chocolate

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-7627239434082801322008-11-30T21:16:00.008+11:002008-11-30T23:13:57.633+11:00

Sometimes the best things happen out of spontaneity. I wasn't even that keen on dessert after a dinner of zucchini omelette and some seriously good pate Henaff with bread, but someone sure did. And he sure knows what gets me."Shall we make some riz au lait?""Nah, I'm not really that hungry.""Do you think it'll taste good with coconut cream? Cause I'm really craving it.""Oooo coconuuttt. Yeah why

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-73648823243483358542008-11-29T22:26:00.010+11:002008-11-30T18:32:08.598+11:00

If there is one dessert that's synonymous with the little black dress, it'll have to be half-cooked chocolate cake or spoon cake as I like to call it (yes, a spoon is mandatory!) :) You can dress it anyway you like: a dash of spice, a good douse of coffee, crunchy nut pieces or just leave deep, dark and delicious. Whatever it is, you simply cannot err on the wrong side with this.This is one

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-80748066730325164902008-11-28T23:19:00.010+11:002008-11-29T00:31:19.593+11:00

Dear dear me. Moist, satisfying sweet, intensely buttery and slightly nutty, I can't believe how luscious and addictive these cakes turned out to be.This is the first time I've experimented with brown butter as I've always been wary about the whole carsinogenic thing, but hell, so are those deliciously crisp charred bits you get with your bbq and that doesn't stop me from consuming them from time

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-38829870851001310372008-11-27T10:01:00.003+11:002008-11-27T22:58:06.718+11:00

Have you ever had a farcie? If you haven't, you seriously dont know what you're missing out on!I was first introduced to these little babies by frenchie and have fell hard for it ever since. The sight of plump, juicy, tomatoes stuffed to the brim with herbed pork mince sitting in the oven, happily dribbling juices all over themselves is enough to make any bosom sigh. What a clever way to sneak in

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-71168594374206437222008-11-19T23:12:00.003+11:002008-11-20T09:07:26.621+11:00

With the stormy, temperamental weather going in Sydney, it almost feels like a luxury to be curled up at home with a warm cuppa frothy, fragrant chai . Simply soak a couple of tea bags in hot water over medium heat and add milk, sugar and spices (I used a generous sprinkling of freshly crushed up cardamom, cloves and cinnamon) Bring to a boil, turn off the flame and let steep for a couple of

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-6652187432686393992008-11-17T21:13:00.004+11:002008-11-17T21:52:34.167+11:00

High teas have never really particularly appealed to me. The idea of piling you up with a whole lot of desserts is a weeeee bit of a stretch even for my immense sweet tooth. Personally, I'd rather just have one or two quality desserts at a time so I can savour the treat. But of course, a birthday celebration always calls for excesses, and Sunday saw us at The Tea Room in QVB.The Tea Room was set

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-56294290237025768052008-11-11T07:14:00.005+11:002008-11-11T09:03:48.942+11:00

Yes yes I know. You'll be forgiven to think that I've disappeared from the face of the earth given the frequency of my postings. But well, it is kind of hard to fit in blog posts especially when you're out about been travelling and having such a wonderful time. I've never felt this pampered in my life. My babe flew me down to Victoria for my birthday and the memories of cruising down the Great

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-34686485205869250452008-09-17T22:27:00.004+10:002008-09-17T22:36:06.539+10:00

Fillet mignon surrounded in a cushy bed of crunchy long beans, tender mushrooms, melt-in-your-mouth fagioli beans and creamy, buttery chestnuts. Sighz. Need I say more?*Burpz* Oops, 'cuse me.

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-32635359562937799732008-09-10T23:07:00.003+10:002008-09-10T23:11:44.636+10:00

With the cheap meal deals on offer and fast service, Thai food invariably draws in much of the student crowd around Sydney Uni. Seriously, I’ve never seen more Thai restos anywhere else. Back in Singapore, my knowledge of Thai food was limited to fluffy pineapple fried rice with generous servings of pork floss and the ubiquitous sour, tangy Tom Yum soup. Sydney (okay, and maybe Africa) must have

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-43969019133112196802008-09-07T19:00:00.003+10:002008-09-07T20:17:26.801+10:00

Even having lived overseas for 8 years, I still get hit by the occasional bout of homesickness. Anyone who has been to Singapore must know that food is central to our society, and as such, I've been seeking solace in SE-Asian cuisines whenever I can.Anyone who has been to yumcha would recognize these cheong fun rice-noodle rolls. Back home, it is known as chee cheong fun and is quite a popular

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-41907102842980461562008-08-30T21:25:00.009+10:002008-08-31T22:35:04.799+10:00

Sometimes, too much of a good thing really can be a bad thing.Think about it. Apples half the size of your head. Big fluffy pillow-like croissants instead of small, buttery, flaky ones. Slabs of banana bread pumped up to the equivalent size of 3 slices of bread stacked together. Now what they make up for in quantity, they fall short in quality. I usually buy free range eggs and there was a

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-21028592642704471992008-08-24T16:26:00.003+10:002008-08-24T17:47:32.717+10:00

I love Harris Farm. It's like a supermarket version of a deli in Sydney, stocked with all sorts of lovely foods, fresh or prepared. It's my mini haven to escape into and the minutes just fly by as I take my time to peruse the aisles. I like to come here to stock up on crusty ciabattas, wholemeal lebanese rounds, thick greek yoghurts, dried and fresh fruits, veggies*, nuts and the occasional soft,

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-41822010894773307132008-08-23T11:21:00.007+10:002008-08-26T00:14:10.967+10:00

There must come a point in every foodie's life where they just want to try making everything from scratch.Pasta is one of the essentials in my student pantry, making for a nutritious and delicious meal in just minutes. Therefore it becomes somewhat of an irony that I've never tried fresh pasta. The logic is simple: We don't eat out a lot, and I think having pasta as one of our staples

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-81398354557877574972008-08-07T20:47:00.006+10:002008-08-07T21:53:29.505+10:00

Having come across Linda's "Got Milk?" event in support of breastfeeding, I knew I had to participate. Yes I haven't got any kids yet (and I dont see any in the near future as well), but one thing for sure: when I do, I'm going the au naturel way. I can only imagine it's such a wonderful feeling to be able to nourish and nuture your bub like this.I've bookmarked this dessert ever since I

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-77316848059843147632008-08-02T18:07:00.008+10:002008-12-12T15:24:13.585+11:00

With these little babies in season, it’s hard to walk past the fruit stall and not grab a bagful. Especially when the damage is only a mere $2! Oh the pure joy you get when finding a steal extends even to the fruit stall…?Having bookmarked this recipe from Australian Gourmet Traveller for ages, I was glad when the perfect excuse to make it finally came up. Aparna of My Diverse Kitchen is hosting

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-60269128141210182272008-07-30T09:35:00.007+10:002008-07-30T15:09:36.639+10:00

It's that time of the month again - and the DB task this time is a Filbert Gateau with Praline Buttercream cake by Carol Walter.Other than the slight panicky moment when the buttercream would not come together (this was fixed with a little bit of heat), the cake was relatively easy to whip up, having had some experience with Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party Cake. And yes, it did involve a fair bit

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-38763594665095338562008-07-19T14:36:00.006+10:002008-07-20T20:14:00.425+10:00

When it comes to cooking, I love to do things the good old fashioned way. That means even if I have to cream the life out of butter and sugar to make it 'light and fluffy', I'll roll up my sleeves and put that hand whisk to work. Kneading dough? Nah, put away the dough hook, all you need to enlist is just a pair of strong, soft hands. Coming into such intimate contact with your food also makes

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-21458650670980785952008-07-12T10:18:00.005+10:002008-07-12T10:46:06.023+10:00

There's nothing I love more than discovering a new resto that serves up great food with reasonable prices. And boy did I find a little gem, tucked away on Anzac Parade in Kensington.Aptly named Tengoku or 'Heaven' in Japanese, this little unassuming shop serves up some of the most generous pieces of sushi I've ever had. Three pieces of fat, juicy scallops on a little knob of rice? Oh oui, j'adore

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-58610076584459639112008-07-04T12:59:00.003+10:002008-07-04T13:15:48.999+10:00

What could be more heartwarming than a bowl of warm cassoulet on a rainy, working weekday?Mmm. I am so lucky to have a generous frenchie-french neighbour. :)

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-1884515077379089542008-06-30T09:04:00.006+10:002008-06-30T11:17:36.202+10:00

It's finally ready! A little late, but still very much here!Right, so the June DB task was Danish pastries, or more specifically, a Danish braid using a Sherry Yard recipe. This is where I go off track a little. I still have more dough to make a braid, but I thought I'll leave that one till later in the week so I can share it with friends. (Food always tastes better when you get to share it with

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-36322246739112041852008-06-29T16:00:00.006+10:002008-06-30T09:03:06.348+10:00

Damn! Due to a technical difficulty, my DB post will be a day late. But better late than never, right? :) Check here tom for the post!Wow I feel like I'm busier than ever! If I'm not at some party, I'll be catching up with someone over dinner or drinks or just simply catching up on my reading. I'm delving into Buddhist teachings and the Dalai Lama dialogues now, something which I've always found

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-64423932453962730102008-05-31T14:02:00.009+10:002008-06-01T16:59:13.194+10:00

If you take a look at the food blogs around, it seems like almost everyone's already attempted a baked doughnut, except yours truly of course. I've bookmarked this recipe from Australian Gourmet Traveller eons ago and finally found the time to try it this morning. And the entire batch almost ended up in the bin. 2 things happened. One: it wasn't a recipe for baked doughnuts but fried ones, but it

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-8814712417502641472008-05-30T21:23:00.011+10:002008-05-30T23:40:15.341+10:00

I didn't mean to take a hiatus on blogging. Honestly. I even missed out on May's DB challenge (which everyone did such a fantastic job on btw!). But you'll see why in a sec...Instead of labouring over joconde and mousse layers like a good Daring Baker should, I went on a camping trip instead to the Royal National Park. In winter. Amazing feat for a tropical-blooded person like me (yeah the moment

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-59676348494211675632008-04-30T08:53:00.016+10:002008-05-03T20:41:20.678+10:00

I can imagine there are a few cocked up eyebrows around regarding the title of this post. It's a joke that came about when E was buying banana bread from a cafe. The French pronounce the letter "a" as "ah", so naturally it came out something like "Can I have some Bah-nana bread please?"The lady behind the counter started cracking up so hard and handed him the slice, repeating "Bah-nana bread

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-23988047332785265202008-04-24T23:36:00.008+10:002008-04-28T16:25:17.431+10:00

If there's any faster way to ruin a diet, it's to pack all your calories into innocuous little bite-sized pieces. They look so harmless in that state cos they look well, kinda tiny, and that means we can sort of waive off the calories right? Oh sure. Just wait til you put one in your mouth. Oh it's incredibly good. You ooooh and aaaahh and mmmm for a bit as you savour the last creamy

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-76353588228200325062008-03-29T21:24:00.008+11:002008-04-28T16:24:52.624+10:00

Finally got my first DB task down to pat! The theme was Dorie Greenspan's Perfect Party cake - the idea was to make a layer cake using her basic recipe and tweak it to any flavour you desire. Deciding on what flavours was no mean feat - there were just too many ideas that immediately popped to mind! Should I stick to the original lemon/coconut combination the recipe called for? Pandan cake with

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-1398216110139755262008-03-21T17:49:00.008+11:002008-03-21T19:17:00.429+11:00

I know it's waaay past St Pat's day, but well, dont think it's ever too late to put up a post on irish soda bread! Twas my first attempt (and taste!) at this and I have absolutely no clue or yardstick to measure it by. I was nonetheless thrilled when a nicely browned gigantic scone-looking mound emerged from the oven, all warm and toasty that I wanted to hold it close and hug it lovingly and let

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-84002205389765692382008-03-15T09:20:00.002+11:002008-03-15T10:05:26.256+11:00

Came across this video on Youtube yesterday on foie gras (from the Anthony Bourdain show). Makes me feel less guilty about enjoying it now!

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-67859377197430124282008-03-13T22:48:00.008+11:002008-03-14T08:02:41.749+11:00

Cupcakes have always intrigued me. I've always thought of them as some fancy food phase that'll come to pass in time. Pretty as they are, I think the sugary frosting is usually just plain overkill. Or maybe I'm used to the idea that a good cake doesn't need much adornment and should be flavourful straight up.Yep. Only 2 things seem to be guaranteed out of a cupcake: toothaches and an expanding

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-5939726754414705102008-03-09T18:37:00.007+11:002008-03-09T20:06:47.089+11:00

Oh god, just finished cleaning the kitchen inside out. You can't believe the rate at which mould grows here. It attaches itself to EVERYTHING, even the walls! You can't even leave your bread out for more than 5 days 'cos you'll find the little wicked green spores come a creepin' n crawlin'.Had a really good session out on the water today. We did pyramids up to 160 which felt immensely good on my

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-71091676708408999412008-03-02T10:34:00.008+11:002008-03-08T10:06:52.197+11:00

Been catching up on missed episodes of Food Safari lately! Watch the videos here.Meanwhile, here's a pic of the delectable, tender baked barramundi we had last night. Other than the fact that I had to deal with a whole fish for the first time which seemed to feel more and more alive the longer I handled it, it was a breeze to prepare. Quite the achievement for someone who enjoys fishing but who

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-6727602768207139242008-03-01T22:13:00.005+11:002008-03-02T10:31:09.211+11:00

Are you a pancake freak? I LUURVE them. Never mind that it takes only one pancake to make me feel queasy at the thought of having another one. Whether I do end up having them or not, it seems like they're forever dancing at the corners of my mind whenever I have time to ponder over what to cook for brekkie or when the brunch menu comes by. Kinda like that old Mac's commercial with the hotcakes

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-83574225299310972942008-02-25T20:29:00.008+11:002008-02-25T23:07:22.874+11:00

Wowee! Felt like an eternity since I last blogged. It was such a fun CNY with the post wedding buzz still hovering about and plenty of laugh-til-your-sides-hurt moments with family and friends. Since my arrival back in Sydney, I've been busy shifting, catching up with my paddling, settling back into work mode amongst a long list of seemingly trivial chores that never seem to end. In fact each

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-81113156792130902008-01-30T21:59:00.000+11:002008-01-30T22:24:45.183+11:00

Finally, a moment to sit down and catch my breath! Been scouring the shops downtown for all sorts of things - dress shopping for the bridesmaids and the wedding dinner, hen night party ideas and items, shoes, CNY goodies.....and I've fallen sick in the midst of all this activity. Along the way, I somehow managed to get myself plastered on Friday night on red wine, dirty sanchezes and long island

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-56900334937206948372008-01-20T14:40:00.000+11:002008-01-22T16:49:41.122+11:00

Whew! Preparing for weddings is tiring! Yesterday saw my sister, cousin and moi rushing around like chickens with their heads cut off to settle the bridesmaid gowns, what with the wedding 2 weeks away! We practically swept half of Orchard road in the span of 3 hours, so when we finally got to my auntie's resto, it was with much relief that we plonked our tired butts down to settle in for

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-42150413606239690762008-01-18T15:41:00.000+11:002008-01-20T14:34:31.751+11:00

To celebrate the union of two families, it is a long standing Chinese culture to send out gifts of sweet cake along with the wedding invitations. The cakes are normally stamped with a dragon/phoenix or with a 'double happiness' sign in red. So in observing the tradition, my sis and B.I.L. ordered Teochew mooncakes from Mui Lee, a bakery famous among the older generations.The Teochew-style

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-56882468557443103692008-01-16T19:45:00.001+11:002008-01-16T20:57:28.007+11:00

Boy, does it feel good to be back home! I've been feeling increasingly disconnected over the past few years and I decided this could not continue. Thus it was with much aplomb and anticipation that I touched down on the wet runway yesterday night.And guess what? It isn't unbearably hot here, not after what we have been experiencing in Sydney all summer. In fact, I thought the weather was cooler!

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-51153101684458953352008-01-16T15:40:00.000+11:002008-01-16T15:41:45.835+11:00

Whee!!! Back home in Singapore! So begins the food fest!!! :D

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-77054918406856251532008-01-06T17:49:00.000+11:002008-01-14T10:26:39.555+11:00

One of my strongest memories of Brittany is that of the food, and in particular, sables or 'sand cookies'. This Breton butter cookie has a crumbly texture akin to that of sand - hence the name - and hails from the region of Normandy. The sables normally come in a tin box - I purchased one with prints on it mimicking the highly prized porcelain from Quimper. What really left an impression on me

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-79204854534711572682008-01-02T23:31:00.000+11:002008-01-14T10:25:44.044+11:00

This is not a postcard pic. Imagine waking up to this view early in the morning...Breathtaking huh? Welcome to the Aussie countryside! :)I must admit I've always thought the Aussie landscape was pretty much the same all round NSW - the usual dry vegetation dotted with bushlands and the same towns everywhere - but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a spontaneous, spur-of-the-moment kind of trip.

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-16736154616921805912007-12-25T15:18:00.000+11:002007-12-25T15:46:41.230+11:00

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-46103920605712385172007-12-21T09:04:00.000+11:002007-12-22T08:30:36.835+11:00

I can't believe Christmas is here once again. Last year I was in HK with my family, jostling with the crowd and street shopping endlessly from one lane to the next. This year will be one spent quietly over dinner and drinks with friends in Sydney. Though of course I still wish my family and besties were by my side, I'm more than content for having friends here to spend my holidays with. Yep, they

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-37950793400307508712007-12-16T13:11:00.000+11:002007-12-22T08:31:16.831+11:00

Whoopee!!! Christmas is almost here!!! ;D

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-17589620852623974242007-12-12T22:16:00.000+11:002007-12-13T09:12:35.558+11:00

Mmm. If you ever need one reason to wake up early in morning, it's gotta be homemade granola. I love museli for brekkie and I lurrvveee granola clusters even more, but nothing irks me more than having to shell out 7 bucks for a small pack of those cheery little clusters. Feeling kinda cheated and not terribly satisfied with having to settle for the cheaper alternatives, I did what any

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-21096337540431591472007-12-11T23:24:00.000+11:002007-12-13T09:13:01.577+11:00

Oh bliss. Just 2 minutes to put together and 1 minute to enjoy. Best of all, it's au naturel and chock full of fibre, calcium and natural fatty acids. What more could you ask for? Apricots, mascarpone and walnuts (noix)Slit dried apricots into half, but not all the way such that it remains a whole piece (sort of like butterfly-ing a fillet).Using a teaspoon, fill the apricot with chilled

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-39377953707816777762007-12-09T21:21:00.000+11:002008-01-03T11:23:07.498+11:00

Twas a weekend of fulfilled promises. I got to try out sailing, and he got to try Singapore chili crab. On his part of the promise, I had the time of my life on the water and it was 100% PURE fun! Seriously can't wait to do it again!!! The most stressful part was probably making sure that we kept our heads way out reach of the boom.We took a smaller boat thus it was heaps more dynamic and only

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-53748849098777368632007-12-01T12:22:00.000+11:002007-12-01T13:22:15.032+11:00

Light, fluffy, airy, crispy. Mmmm. This is my first attempt at choux pastry of any sort and what emerged from the oven was absolutely delightful - crackly golden mounds of lip smackingly delicious chouquettes. And the best bit? It took only 5 minutes to put the pate a choux together and another 25 minutes to bake it to perfection. I was rather skeptical initially when my 'dough' looked more like

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-56836690588214134092007-11-24T10:21:00.000+11:002007-11-30T08:30:51.497+11:00

I dont know if you've yet noticed, but yep, I'm kinda obsessed with cooking. In particular, I only want to attempt dishes that sound interesting or those that I haven't done before, which actually encompasses almost everything. Like the soft, chewy, tender, melt-in-your mouth figs braised in red wine vinegar and red wine I made last night. Served with chilled mascarpone cheese and walnuts, it was

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-6456518279817950062007-11-23T22:09:00.000+11:002007-11-30T08:31:05.273+11:00

One of my fave "junk" foods ever, especially topped on nasi lemak, or coconut rice. The saltiness of the dried anchovies cuts right into the creaminess of roasted peanuts and is further accentuated with homemade chili paste. One bite and I'm reminded of home sweet home...Ikan Bilis n PeanutsHeat a tbsp of oil in a pan. Take equal portions of unsalted raw peanuts and dried anchovies (ikan bilis)

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-32432783251813300792007-11-18T17:50:00.000+11:002007-11-29T23:41:22.164+11:00

Oh boy. Judging from the windless and sunny conditions in the early morning, I knew this was going to be a sweltering HOT day. And after two hours of paddling, lunch and a cold, refreshing shower, the last thing I wanted to do was go out again. Then again, the annual Glebe Street Fair was on and well, a quick browse won't hurt! I admit I was half expecting a blown up version of the Glebe

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-72470587394201093742007-11-11T17:54:00.000+11:002007-11-29T23:42:55.530+11:00

You know how sometimes you inexplicably take a sudden liking certain foods that you didn't before?For me, it is citrus flavoured desserts.Yeah I know lots of people love all things citrusy. I, on the other hand, tend to steer clear from them for some reason. Sure, I'll eat oranges, kumquats, grapefruits and what not, but put them in a confiture, ice-cream, cake or even chocolate and you can be

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-14562412286982057542007-11-05T21:21:00.000+11:002007-11-29T23:43:32.819+11:00

Ominous clouds. Thunder. Light rain. Gusty winds. I was so not looking forward to racing yester-morning.Woke up all sleepy-eyed at 6am, had a brisk hot shower and we sat through a short and quiet brekkie of cocoa pops, milk and a mandatory long black. Quickly put together a salad of tuna, corn, tomato, rice & vinegrette and packed a box of museli as well as a white chocolate + matcha cake (gateau

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-88949983708928443962007-10-29T17:22:00.000+11:002007-11-29T23:47:11.683+11:00

ooh, the joys of living on a student budget. it forces you to start getting creative and maximize the most out of what you've got. you start focusing on what you really need and cut out any excesses. being frugal is not all bad however, and does come with a small handful of benefits. really! LOLfor example, i'm walking instead of taking the bus and appreciating the health benefits of it (as well

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-89582860762384864672007-10-27T07:21:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:44:22.447+11:00

holy cow, i am officially an old woman.i went to bed before 10 last night and woke up at - get this : 540 am in the morning. okay so i read somewhere that our bodies are programmed to wake up the moment light hits our eyes, but this early? and this is taking into consideration that i pop out of bed automatically at 7 every morning (yes even on the weekends)...simply cos i'm so used to it. so what

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-89489278637957492132007-10-24T09:51:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:44:38.522+11:00

Eeks. Read more about this controversial ad by Italian photographer Oliviero Toscani here.

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-53730141065701780522007-10-15T21:24:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:44:54.022+11:00

Right. Now that summer's rolling around and race season's round the corner, it's probably a good time to start making the transition from my usual sugary treats to more healthy, waist & heart-friendly options. For someone with a serious sweet tooth such as myself, flipping through the numerous recipes in search of healthy baked goods was pure torture. Cherry tarts, crimson red and luscious,

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-91898758700224372322007-10-13T10:32:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:45:12.672+11:00

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-4076648534708858812007-10-06T15:38:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:45:36.791+11:00

The Food Growers Market is well, a market that opens on the first Saturday of every month. Been hearing so much about it, so when the opportunity came, I simply couldn't pass it up! The market is open only from 7-11am, and boy did it take a will of steel to say no to dinner and drinks with the girls to make sure that I get my 40 winks. Met up with Ash, Chris, Tom and Tony at around 9ish. It was

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-51200205817101013252007-10-02T21:17:00.001+10:002007-11-29T23:51:26.779+11:00

Back from the Labour Day long weekend. First thing that pops up in my mailbox was the much anticipated "Congratulations, you've just been accepted into the so-and-so conference." Woohoo! Then the bomb was dropped. "Session : 31st January 2:20-2:40pm". Merde. My sis' wedding is slotted on the 2nd feb, and that leaves me exactly 2 days to fly my pantak back to sweet, sweet singapore. Looks like it

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-30651309380428011622007-09-27T22:21:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:46:31.229+11:00

Voila! Say hello to my chevre (goat's cheese), apple and honey tarts! :) Leafed this recipe for my gotta-cook-this-someday list. Bebe just got home and the both of us felt like something light for dinner and these tarts were perfect. Got this recipe off Bon Appetit, and you should have been here to catch the lovely, warm whiffs of honey caramelising on the apples in the oven. The lemon juice

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-13123534564248540812007-09-23T18:51:00.000+10:002007-09-23T20:15:30.181+10:00

***okay i aint exactly singing the blues .. simply cos i'm not that good yet! ;p my baby's out of town, and as a result, this poor guitar's gonna cop a bit of a beating over the next few days. been trying practising, and in a desperate bid to make it sound better, i even strummed with my nails - i think running a nail over the surface of a window pane might be easier on the ears. and since no

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-88286691402032460252007-09-12T17:13:00.000+10:002007-09-12T17:24:31.813+10:00

It's one of those things you always hear, but just don't get. Then one fine day, it suddenly sinks in. And you think "God, that makes so much sense!"It tickles me to think about it. LOL.

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-54417832484436294232007-09-09T21:55:00.001+10:002007-09-15T11:55:06.609+10:00

some long weekend....all it did was rain. :/really digging photography right now. it's amazing how the little details just pop right out when you start paying attention. made a ham & cheese quiche for lunch and tried to snap a few shots then, but there was just too much activity in the kitchen and i couldnt get the lighting i wanted. So instead of getting in the way of a couple of hungry guys

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-59683036870065132322007-09-07T22:57:00.000+10:002007-11-29T23:48:17.716+11:00

i'm going to have a warm delicious slice of far au breton for breakfast tomorrow morning. perfect paired with a hot, bitter long black. lucky ol' me. :)

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-61217362932852808472007-09-07T21:34:00.000+10:002007-09-07T21:50:51.194+10:00

been down with a fever and itchy cough after that durian. thanks to cups of warm honeyed tea, my throat has been coaxed and soothed ... well at least for awhile. looks like i'll need more of those after last night's impromptu mixer party! with all the potent concoctions, youtube karaoke and performances, my voice is practically gone now. sadly it's hoarse but it aint sexy.there's a far breton

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-4617363260275753542007-09-02T23:06:00.000+10:002007-09-07T23:10:10.174+10:00

it had a bit of the 'icey-water' taste cos all the liu-lians are frozen here, but i ain't complaining! yums!

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-20391871188619151122007-08-28T23:47:00.000+10:002007-09-03T21:02:59.324+10:00

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2007/03aug_dreamyeclipse.htmthis morning saw me jump out of bed all excited cos of the much anticipated lunar eclipse. so nerdo right? woke up a little earlier so that i could finish work a little earlier to catch the much awaited moon-out, which was due to commence at around 10 to 7pm. anyways, brebis and i decided to pack some food to have a picnic dinner by

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22540495.post-69826881920418352062007-08-27T18:38:00.000+10:002007-09-07T23:11:38.950+10:00

Argh! I cant believe it is THIS difficult to find a simple hoodie here for everyday wear. everything's either striped, too thin or comes with some stupid motif or a huge logo plastered across the sweater. pootoey. and all i was looking for was a simple black hoodie that's thick enough to keep me warm. *sobs in despair*which got me looking online for one. and i'm absolutely in love with these two

Cynthiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12107242364747795662noreply@blogger.com0