Busy Sunday

You know when you have a list of things to do that keeps growing and growing and you complete a couple on a Sunday and feel so pleased with yourself...well this Sunday is one of those!






sand, scrub and clean the letterpress drawer I bought almost a year ago from Cambridge - I am in love with this tiny beauty...its original purpose was to keep the different letters, numbers etc for printing. We have hung it in the living room but no pic yet as it is not ready for its big unveil...I have a couple of ideas of what to display on it!


While cleaning the drawer...I noticed the rainbow chards are having a 'second life'and the leaves looks ready to be picked! The garden always surprises...both good and bad surprises...


Lunchtime...I made chicken and chinese sausage claypot rice. Double up the portions so we have extra for lunch tomorrow.. a treat for Monday






Roasted maple syrup almond and hazelnut - half kept as whole to scatter on our morning porridge and the other half blitz to death into nut butter (after 15 minutes of crazy whizzing in the food processor...it taste like home-made nutella!)
I can't resist taking pictures of my cutie duck measuring cup - it stacks and come in 4 sizes....too cute not to buy. Same with the sea-shells measuring spoon...you can see it but the back of the spoon is shaped as shells - all purchased from Anthropologie (interior heaven)


Made a 'good luck' card for my colleague/office-buddy Lucy who is going on a secondment to our NY office. She has agreed to be my unofficial postwoman. I'm excited...so excited about the shopping possibilities...without the expensive postage!




One of Scott's xmas pressie was a voucher for a craft class near us and I chose to do a silk-screen printing class. I had grand ideas of filling the whole tea towel with different shape bottles but the printing frame and time limitations meant I scale down my design and this is what I ended up with. I love it! I came home with 2 tea towels and 1 bag

We also hung about a million pictures and Scott's drawing/painting around the flat but none has a finish look (i.e. still waiting for a few more pieces / need to buy the correct nails to hang some of the frames!!) so no pics.

That's my Sunday sorted! Phew....

Burns Supper

Another delayed meal....Burns supper this time!

Good ol' wiki for an explanation of Burns supper:
"A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day or Burns Night (Burns Nicht), although they may in principle be held at any time of the year. Burns suppers may be either formal or informal. Informal suppers typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns' poetry"

Since Lyn is here visiting, we have the party at Bayswater (i.e. bigger table vs. our wee flat!).

Scott insist on celebrating it every year and we do the full hog...meaning

1) cullen skink soup (made with smoked haddock, potato, cream and celery) - no pic...we were hungry and down it before we can take a pic!

2) As tradition dictates, before we eat our second course, Scott will recite one of Robert Burn's poem. The poem is written in 'old Scottish' and hence should be read as such (i.e. doesn't sound like English!)


3) It was a good laugh for everyone at the table






2nd course...

4) haggis, neeps (swede) and tatties (potatoes) with whisky cream sauce. Funny story about buying the haggis...but before that a brief introduction to haggis if you don't already know - by wiki again, "Haggis is a dish containing sheep's 'pluck' (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally simmered in the animal's stomach for approximately three hours"....which essentially means it's not for everyone!

OK back to the story of buying it. I was looking for it in the supermarket, found it but it only came as a huge serving for 10 people or a vegetarian option (what's the point eh!). I guess I must be looking perplexed as I was poking around the shelves looking for a smaller haggis when an elderly (English) man questioned me:
Man: Excuse me...do you know what is it that you are holding?

Me: Yes ...a haggis. I'm looking for a smaller portion

Man: umm...are you sure?

Me: Yes...my bf (side note: it still sounds odd to call Scott 'fiancee') is Scottish. I know what a haggis is (smile)

Man: Ah...ok..... (turning to walk away before turning back just to reconfirm I know what I am intending to buy)....you do know that haggis is made of pig's...

Me (butting in his conversation): Yes..pig's blood. Trust me...I'm asian...I have eaten worst

Man: You're right (swift turn and walk away)

Me (under my breath): Take that ang moh! Muahahahah

ok back to the dinner...
Or you can also have a small portion of chicken breast stuffed with haggis wrapped in bacon with it!


5) Dessert time! Tipsy trifle!!!
It's what I call 'heart attack in a bowl'!!!
It's made of sponge fingers soaks in orange juice and whisky (free-pour to your heart content love), layer up with custard, scatter some raspberries, then top it with whipped double cream and mascaporne. Finally, scatter more raspberries and white and dark choc shavings



the beauty of this pudding - no hard measurements required...just add and add until your thigh wobbles then you know you have got it right!


oh yes yes yes....load it up....wedding dress diet can start tomorrow!


heaven....the end!

Victoria Sponge

mmmmmmm....made victoria sponge for the first time. I kept putting it off as the double layer cake requirement meant having 2 of the same size baking tray which somehow seems like too much effort for me. Never had 2 trays of the same size until we bought a baking set that came with 2. Biggest regret is letting my silly thoughts of '2 trays = big effort' put me off for this long as it is easy peasy for the wow factor you get from it.

this is a start to something beautiful...

Delayed Christmas Dinner

Christmas dinner last year was delayed until after the New Year to include Lyn in it and also to save money on presents (xmas sales presents doesn't sound so bad!).


Da gang!


Something yummy awaits!


get in there!!!


kids waiting to be fed...


waitress for the day


something for dessert


golden syrup cake - warm off the oven...mmmmm....


Sister reunited again

pressie time!!!



Not sure about this moo moo sweats from Korea from Lyn...hmmm...rather have a bag of kimchi


yes Scott is 'delighted' with his surprised xmas present from Jasmine! Spiderman keychain!!

Finally, a couple of pictures showing the 'big freeze' hitting our humble home

My winter wonderland garden

Day 1 – 2 Louisville, Kentucky

Hello from America!!! Woohoo...yes I am on holiday for a week!















First stop is Louisville Kentucky for the Breeders Cup event – the horse racing event that happens once a year and they stage it at different states every year. This year is it in Kentucky, land of southern fried chicken! Unfortunately I didn’t see much of Kentucky at all as it was very much flying in from NY to attend the event and flying back to NY asap for the shopping. Nothing is close by where we stayed (typical sprawling city where you need a car to get anywhere) so I only saw the University of Louisville stadium from outside (huge) and couple of drive-in diners ($1 dollar burger sounds tempting!)

It was a cold cold day - don't be deceived by the sunglasses! Yes the sun is shinning but the cold is biting.....8 hours outdoor sitting on a metal bench, feels like sitting in a fridge. And they are still selling cold beer! Mad but business is still brisk!







Some of Scott wins for the day. A tradition his dad and uncle has which is to take a picture of their winning horse (from the program) to celebrate. By the last picture, he and his uncle is looking blue (from the cold)!


Proof that we were out for that long - even the sun has gone down!

That's it from Kentucky!





Woohoo...New York Baby....Sing it!