I'm Dreaming of a Bright Christmas ~!

Every year for Christmas, Orchard will be lited with bright and colourful lightings. It has become an annual affair and almost like a tradition to lit up during the holiday season. You can don't have a christmas tree outside your building, but you must have lights. The more the better it seems. It is almost like magical when walking down the streets with bright light shimmering above your head like stars, cold wind blowing on your face and christmas carol singing in the background. Who cares about white christmas with scenery like this?

Fresh Pasta

Went to library last Saturday and I found a lot of Jamie Oliver cook book. I borrowed some of them, hoping to try out some of his recipes. So while on leave last week, I managed to try out his recipe for making fresh pasta.

My first taste of fresh pasta was at Pasta Frasca. They were very good, very chewy unlike what I had before. I just love them! However the standard of Suntec City's outlet kept dropping until eventually it closed down. Anyway, since then I have been wanting to try to make fresh pasta like pasta frasca.

It was not as easy as I thought to be. I tried out several times before this and could never suceed as the dough was never kneeled properly or cut out evenly. Also, the dough would taste weird. Then, while shopping at JB's Giant, I chanced upon pasta machine on sale. One cost about $20 sing dollars which is cheaper than Singapore's, so I brought it.

Jamie Oliver Says:

Every 100g of tip00/cake flour or plain flour, use one egg. 200g of flour can feed about 3 -4 people.

To use tip00 flour or cake flour is so that the pasta will be silky soft and smooth. I used cake flour which cost more ($3 from NTUC) than normal plain flour.

Method:

Place the measure flour in a bowl or smooth marble or wood surface table. Make a well in the middle and crack in the eggs. Mix them until all the flour are covered with eggs.

Depending on the humidity of your kitchen, you might need more flour than stated to form the dough.

Kneel the mess with more flour if needed to form a dough. It will be ready when the dough surface is smooth and will not stick to your hand.

Dough when ready should be smooth and will not stick to your hand

Leave it to rest for at least half an hour before flatten it out to make pasta.

After resting, divide the dough into parts so that it will be easier to feed through the pasta maker.

The Pasta

As they are rolled out quite thinly, they should take about 3-5 mins to cook. My fresh pasta looked like this:


Honestly, it looked a bit like "instant noodles" noodles and tasted like the very springy kind of noodles, but nothing like fresh pasta. I guess I must have kneel it too much. Anyway, at least it is edible and taste very much like noodles. Will go look for more fresh pasta recipes. . .

Noodles anyone?

Organicafe Xperience - Good !

When mentioned of organic food, what will come to your mind? Some of us will probably think of "healthy, unpolished, tough and over-priced rabbit food". I will not blame them as organic food and ingredients are not that readily available and popular locally as in other countries. Also, the price of organic stuff are indeed more expensive than those commercial farms produced stuff.

So, imagine the surprise I had when colleague mentioned that the food at Organicafe Xperience is good and quite value for money. I thought to myself "Really meh? Set Lunch with soup, drink, main course and desert cost $14.90 ++? Wah..." Usually, set lunch around 20 dollars only comes with either soup or drink, drink or desert, so where got all of it with that money? But it is really so at Organicafe Xperience.

First of all, as I have mentioned their set lunch is really quite value for money. That why their cafe is often packed during lunch time. You might not be able to find a seat if you are there really late. All of their food ingredients are organic-grown except meats, perhaps due to the fact that organic meat are not easy to find in Singapore. Also, if they really used those meats, think the price of the set lunch will definately go up much more.

However, don't get me wrong, the standard and quality of their food is quite high! The portion is quite generous and in fact filling enough to substain me till dinner time (that impressive already). I especially appreicate that they served food on heated plates so that it stay warm for a longer period of time. A lot of western food are served lukewarm or cold (I don't know what they do in the kitchen) and that put me off. I usually do not like the vegetables sides like brocoli and carrots which taste sloggy and frankly no taste at all, but theirs' taste quite good. Their carrots has much more flavour and is very sweet!!! Definately because it is organic-grown.

Let's just put aside that they are an organic cafe, but the food they served can easily rival any restaurants. They looked and tasted very good. Doesn't really remind me of rabbit food of any sorts. I love their set lunch's carrot cream soup most. It tasted like home-made soup than those canned oily stuff. Even though it is a cream soup, but it taste quite light. Our favourite set lunch main course is their grilled chicken steak.

Don't want to explain futher, just take a look at the picture below and you will know why.

Juicy and tender chicken fillets stacked high with potatoes wedges and veges.

We also tried the following ala carte main courses which are also good. I like them stacking the food high high, which asthetically looked very nice.

Verdict: Good food not because of the taste, but for some of the organic-grown ingredients they used which is really good for our body! Set lunch is value for money and portion is no way french, but generous enough. Must try !!!

Organicafe Xperience can be found at Novena/Velocity, next to Mos burger, opp Spinelli.

Read also:

Cloudmuse's review on their food (especially the tasty carrot cream soup). :P

http://cloudmuse.blogspot.com/2007/11/caro-tene-for-health.html

All I want for Chirstmas is You... !

Without you, I will never smile again. Never.

My gums started to swollen again. So, went to see dentist, but a new one as I don't think I can fix an appointment so soon with my previous dentist.

But curse the new dentist, don't think I will go back again. He just basically rush things off, so that he can go off on time. In my opnion, I don't think he did a thorough job. Worse, I was told to reach there at 11.20 pm, but I only get to see the doctor at 12.20 pm. Angry. Why did they ask me to reach so early? What is the point of making at appointment then? Don't think I will go back to NTUC denticare ever. The charges is not cheap either, more expensive than Tan Tock Seng's in fact. Very bad impression of them.

My previous dentist was recommended by my friend. He is Dr Chong from Q&M. I heard he was quite famous and honestly he is good. However, as a "famed" dentist, appointment had to be made very early and treatments are not cheap. He dignosis that I have gum problems and I can't really fix the gap until the gum healed. He recommended to do root treatment first. After the treatment, I asked how we can fixed the gap, he said to better extract the teeth since they were not stable anymore, which I will never agree, so I went off to seek second opnion at Tan Tock Seng.

There, the dentist commented that my previous dentist did a very meticulous job for the root treatment and my gums were healing. (See, he is good...)Tan Tock Seng said I can either see their specialist for further consultation. For normal cleaning, he said I can chose to go back to Dr Chong or him. Don't they want my business? I do not know what to do, so didn't think about it until recently with the swollen gums again.

To remove or not?

I tried to fix the gap, but it can't be resolved so easily. I don't want to live with dentures at such a young age. I don't think I can take it. Worst, I have to prepare to spend my saving on it again. Honestly, I feel that I have better use for that money than on my teeth.

Last try, I will go polyclinic to get a refer letter to Alexendra Hospital. If they cannot fix it, I don't know what I will do. . .

What is root treatment?

Normally, when doing scalling, dentist would use the drill like equipment to remove harden plague between the gap of your teeth or on the edge of your gums. When doing root treatment, that instrument would probe deeper into your gums to dug out dirt hidden there. Sound painful? Of course, Dr Chong told me that he would locally anesthetized the affected area first, but what he didn't say is that I have to take 32 shots of anesthesia!

Is not like BCG where the needles only stop at the skin surface, in fact the needles has to be inserted quite deeply into the gums. For me, it was at the gums above your front teeth, the roof of your mouth etc. If you ever extracted teeth before you will know the pain, but 10 times more as it was positioned at my front teeth where there are a lot nerves. I cried everytime for the treatment.

After treatment, the gums would take days to heal. You can see blood masses on the teeth. Eating was difficult as everything is coated with blood. For info, that treatment is not cheap. I almost depleted my savings doing it.

什么都变了。我？我也是。。。

很久以前从杂志上看到souffles，觉得它蓬蓬的，长得好可爱，好想尝尝看。终于 在Bakerzin吃到了，记得当时的我好开心，而且好喜欢那甜点。 上个月我又回去那里，叫了一直很怀念的Souffles，结果味道不同了。怎么会这样呢？是我变了吗？

人不管怎么样，在某个程度上是会改变的。我一直认为我不会，应该说觉得自己不会那么快改变吧，但经过岁月的洗礼，改变加快了脚步。这种思想上和心理上的改变有时会让人不知所错，似乎在过程中我担心会迷失了自己。

不知不觉中，我踏入社会工作已经4年了。当然，跟四年前的我比起来，待人处世方面比较事故了，想法也没那么天真了。我不敢说自己成熟了，相反的跟刚出到的我比较，我似乎没那么成熟，或许害怕迷失自己，我更加坚持我的立场。

朋友都知道我有自己独特的一套原则，对某些事情会很坚持某个立场。我知道不是每个人会很认同这些想法，可是我不认为因为大部份的人认同那个立场，那就是对的。我当然也知道太过执着不太好相处，可是我有时就是不想迁就别人，常常会有“事故的自己”和“坚持立场的自己”在拔河。

再来就是不太会说话的我，很在意自己是否说错话了，还是回答别人的问题笨笨的。 我也不知道为什么说话不会聪明些，讨喜些，或许就不会一直被人误会。 可惜，我真的就是没那方面的天份。很多时候，人与人之间的沟通都是印象再搞鬼。你对某人有很好的印象，就算那人说的话无理，你都会买账。我真希望人与人之间不需要说那么多话，最好没有偏见，没有第一印象作怪那该多好?

几时我才可以完完全全适应“大人们的世界”和接纳“自己已经是大人所以说话要聪明和有深度些”呢？ 说真的，每个人都顺从别人的意见，而隐藏自己的想法，那有多可悲？你确定那人要认识的是你吗，还是他想像中的你？

"别太认真，别太执着, 乱说的话怎么可以当真 - 难道我是神？"

歌曲 "一人分饰两角" 的词

金马奖07

近几年的金马似乎都是由东风台主办，但今年意外的由新手-卫视电影台主办。姜果然还是老的辣，东风平时在主办金曲，金钟和金马所以经验非常丰富。我看着卫视的节目，就发现他们犯了经验不足的错误。首先是嘉宾的椅子上都贴着白纸黑字斗大的名字。嘉宾们都没有老花到那么严重吧，需要那么大的字体吗？那些斗大字从 电视上看很碍眼，非常的不雅观，尤其节目到一半，镜头带到空荡荡的座位上，你几乎都可以知道汤唯或许去补妆了，还是王力宏到后台准备搬奖等等。。。Reminder to self - shall never stick big big names on chairs for VIP if I ever organise event...

再来前几排的嘉宾椅子都看起来很寒酸- 都是折凳。就算不顾他们是大明星和嘉宾，也要顾及场面吧。金马奖可是亚洲的奥斯卡奖，这么隆重的场面怎么可以出现折凳呢？还说什么全世界联播，好了全世界都在看笑话了。我觉得就算没办法用折凳至少也加块椅套看起来也会美观些吧？

第三个的经验不足的地方是收音。他们邀请了很多的歌手现唱很多电影主题曲，现场观众一定听得很入神，但是不知道在家收看的你们是否和我一样，听得很吃力。。。他们的收音似乎没接上，害我们这些全世界的家庭观众都没法听的很清楚。我只听到比较明显的背景音乐，而歌手的声音只剩下回音，好失望。。。

我也不是很喜欢今年的主持搭档，别误会我觉得蓝心眉和周英奇都是很好的主持人，但似乎少了默契。至于黑人，表现不错但也一样经验不足。全场似乎蓝心眉的表现亮眼些。

全程的搬奖礼上，我最喜欢李安和吴君如那段。吴君如真的炒热了气氛。 她说李安是个非常压抑的人 (像色。戒的易先生)，问他是否会摆出可爱的表情。见李安尴尬的笑容，她举例要李安示出怎么样哄太太开心的表情。很配合制造笑果的李安，立刻湎腆的摆出一个表情，大家立刻捧腹大笑。吴君如再要他摆出生气的样子，然而李安也给了同样的表情，十分滑稽。吴君如再问哄生气的太太开心的样子呢？他还是那个表情，果然好忧郁。最后，李安比起胜利的手势，摆在脸庞装出可爱笑容，逗得大家很开心。

吴君如觉得李安很"压抑"

爱搞笑的吴君如在搬奖的时候，竟然问李安是不是很想让梁朝伟得奖。然后，二话不说看也没看，就把得奖名单撕破，宣布梁朝伟得奖。这一举动吓的李安很慌张，立刻蹲下捡起碎名单验证。幸好，还真的是梁朝伟得奖，场面才没那么尴尬。

他们一段真的很有娱乐性。就在当下，我突然觉得李安很有魅力，尤其是那种温文尔雅的谈吐和举止，其实很吸引人，给人一种随和与和蔼可亲的感觉。

当然，色。戒是这一届的大赢家，我觉得是众望所归的。汤唯拿下最佳新人当之无愧，梁朝伟在色。戒里眼神所透露出的没有安全感和压抑应该让他再次称帝。

汤唯凭色.戒拿下最佳新人，而梁朝伟再次称帝.

我虽然没看过“意”，但觉得陈冲把色。戒的易太太角色演的很亮眼，已经显示出她的演技超凡，所以得最佳女主角不意外。

陈冲凭"意"得金马奖07最佳女主角

色.戒

Penyet Craze

Beware Hainanese chicken rice, you have a challenger! Mind you, they are hot and fierce~! They can "penyet" (smash) you anytime !!! I am talking about Ayam Penyet, the Indonesian Fried Chicken Rice. So, just chicken rice what, what is the smashing here and there about? Well, just before serving, they will smash the crispy fried chicken pieces so that it will be more tender.

I am not sure if they have been here in Singapore for a very long time. I only came to know about this kind of chicken rice this year. The first time I had it was at Hong Lim Food Centre. Ok, actually, don't really remember if it was Hong Lim, just this hawker centre at CBD, can't really remember the place. :P Anyway, I saw a lot people eating this fried chicken rice served in a wooden bowl. The chicken pieces looked big though, so hungry me practically walked all over the hawker centre trying to locate the stall.

In the end, I managed to find it at an ordinary looking Malay stall. See below. It cost $3.50, still reasonable. The taste was not really good. I mean the chicken has not much flavour and the sauce is peanuty and rich. I think it is a bit too much to accompany the oily fried chicken. So it is really disappointing. . . Then

One such stall opened at Novena Sq selling Ayam Penyet and they claimed that they are from Indonesia, so will be authentic. Curious me just has to try the so called authentic Ayam Penyet which by the way cost $6.50. It turned out to be good! The so called real Ayam Penyet is really nice!!! I especially love their chili sauce as it is very spicy and is tangy. Just nice to cut the oiliness of the fried chicken !

When I say it is spicy, it is really spicy. Do go easy with their sauce if you are not good with chili.

Chicken marinated with typical malay spices taste nice even without the chili sauce. It was accompanied with Kang Kong and their special mix chili. Sedap!!! I had two servings of Chili sauce. :P (Yummy) See picture below.

Although it is nice, but cannot eat too often. I remember having ulcers just days after eating it. Must be the fried chicken and the spicy chili...

So Chili Lovers, I strongly recommend you to go try out their Ayam Penyet @ Ayam Penyet RIA, but after eating don't forget to drink liang teh.

They also have Ikan Pomfet Penyet (don't think they really smash the fish), Embal Penyet (Beef) etc. Got website, can click here to check it out.

保龄(武林)大会

第一名: 来无影，去无踪，轻轻一跃便飞上天的水上飘杀人不眨眼。 绝招当中以铁沙掌闻名，至今不知振碎了多少人的心肺。。。

第二名: 太极张三丰的传人，以三两拨千斤的方式出招看似无力却又奇准无比，是黑马中的黑马。

第三名: 力大无穷，出拳潇洒， 不在呼输赢，只怕没气氛的张飞。虽然看似没技巧，但他并非浪得虚名的，只怪当天心情差。。。


分析：
三两拨千斤首先出招，看她徐徐的运气，慢慢的走到起点，然后渐渐摆起姿势(她伸展，再伸展)，随之缓缓的把球举起，轻轻一放。当场，观众们不禁传出一连的惊叹声！只见那球很慢的转。。。转。。。 转。。。 再转。。。它再转(对不起真的很慢)，再转。。。渐渐的从旁转到中间，一击~！球竿竟然几乎倒下？！就这招打天下，她拿下不少分数。

水上飘最有运动细胞，加上穿着舒服，所以场场高分，甚至于连倒几盘，让她胜券在握。

张飞心情差劲，加上批上厚重的盔甲，球技受影响。她只求气氛欢乐，不计较输赢，所以垫底了。不过，若有再战，她决不儿戏，必定血洗耻辱！