Watermelon Vodka Cooler

When the weather was unbearably hot last week, I seek solance in a big big watermelon. It was way too big, and my stomach too small... and lucky me found this old recipe from an dated Her World magazine for which I can use up all the balance watermelon!

I got down to make this right away and keep the jug in the fridge. It was amazing I managed to stay sober that afternoon!!!

You can also replace watermelon with rock melon or strawberries. Just don't use apple and banana cos they turn brown really quickly.

I love this drink - frothy and refreshing in a humid afternoon!

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Watermelon Vodka Cooler
Makes 2 tall glasses

4 cups red watermelon cubes (without skin)
6 tbsp (90ml) vodka
2 tbsp fine sugar (I skip this)
Juice from 2 limes

1) Blend all ingredients in a blender until smooth.

2) Pour mixture thru a fine mesh sieve (this is to remove the watermelon fibre, you can skip this step if you dun mind some roughage in your drink)

3) Serve it very chill.

Blueberry Cake

I thought I was going to run thru all the past bake and put them up, but I found that my memory really sucks... I can't recall anything surrounding those bake, and i simply not quite inspired to put up the post if I cannot recall the circumstances.

This afternoon I was longing for a warm mantou, and I knew I have a box of bun flour to use up before i move out. But. Where is the recipe?

I totally forgotten that my favourite recipes and folders have been cleared into boxes by now. Luckily I have few books which were intended to be remain in Singapore

Malaysian Baker, Kevin Chai, has a book where all the cakes can be whipped up without using any mixer. Though this is named Blueberry Cake, I think it is more like muffin than cake.

BlueBerry Cake
Source: Easy Stir n Bake Cakes, Kevin Chai
yield: I get about 5 muffins

100g plain flour
20g nestum (i used quaker oaks)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
80g castor sugar
80ml corn oil
150g blueberry filling ( I used 120g fresh blueberries)
100g canned pineapple (I omit this)

1) Combine flour, nestum, baking powder, baking soda in a mixing bowl.
2) Combine eggs, sugar and oil. Stir into flour mixture together with blueberries and pineapple (if using) until well blended. Pour mixture into small paper cup.
3) Bake in preheated oven at 175C for 25-30min. Leave it to cool.

Tokyo Banana

Last night my kind sister nudged and reminded that I have long neglected my blog. Haha, lest I know there's at least 1 person in this whole wide world interested in what I write.

With most things being packed up for the shift, I hardly bake these days. Not that I have the time anyway. I remembered that I had quite a few things that were baked early this year, but never been blogged so I took few min to go thru my folder. And the very first photo I saw was this yummy banana cake which my buddy D brought back from Tokyo.

D told me this is a very popular souvenir in Japan - many people lug this home for their friends and relatives.

Each piece is shaped to look like the banana, and individually sealed, which is convenient for the modern urban people like us but a no-no to the environment. Haiz, but who is complaining!

Beneathe the wrapping is a ultra light chiffon (or is it sponge?) cake with banana cream filling.

The banana cream is delicious, a mysterious yumminess... The scientist in me wondered if it is made with real banana or just flavouring simply becos real banana will turn black in few minutes. To find the answer, I involuntarily reach out for another one, devouring after another, in my feeble attempt to reach a conclusion.

Soon enough the box is empty, and I am even thinking of ordering some on line and have then shipped to Singapore... hahaha, but the shipping cost is exorbitant!

D suggested that I made my own version which I think I would need years of research... but thanks for even thinking that I have the skills and knowledge to replicate this airy yummy stuff in my humble kitchen!

Thanks D for the "discovery" in Tokyo, and be sure I will send you a box if I succeed.

London Calling

I gone MIA again.

This time I was put on a west bound flight right after I returned from my family vacation at Club Med. I was expecting to have a nice warm summer in London, just like the sunny Cherating I basked with my family the week before.

But I was so so wrong, I had a miserably cold summer this morning. For tempearture of 16C, I was shivering all the way from hotel to the office. Lucky me it was a short 3 min walk!

Here's some pix taken at this trip:

nice new lounge at the Terminal 3!

going for healthier choices... or rather wanting to look classier snacking on fruits. :-)

Most ppl I know hates the airline meals, but I am among the few rare species that really enjoy the food served at 40,000 ft!

Buckingham Palace, London

Parliament Sqaure, London

The Millenium Eye, London.
taken this pix from my hotel window.

I was pleasantly surprised that the room is actually quite spacious.

You know what I did in the 13+hour flight? Listened and watched Jerry Yen through and through!