That Ted in my life

Psychologists say that teddy bears are so loved, even by adults, because they hold a lot of memories for people. They hark back to a time when life was simpler and relationships less fraught. They also remind people of not just the good times but also the bad times in their lives, when the teddy bear was that imaginary friend who listened silently as you unloaded all your problems and cried into its furry outstretched arms.

~ Ignatius Low, "Just bear with me" (The Sunday Times, 8 Sep 2012)  

I thought Ted looks very much like Jingle. I cannot forget those few times that I had cried hugging Jingle close to me. That must have been quite a long long time ago. His eyes were exactly like those of Ted's. Those times that I cried myself to sleep, Jingle was always beside me. His fur was wet from my tears but there was not a single word of complaint. Sniffing his fur had brought much comfort to get me through those nights. Ha, I can still remember that smell on him :) Watched Ted and oh boy, glad I did! What a beautiful and heartwarming exploration of a relationship between a teddy bear and a man. I guess not everyone can really understand this kind of relationship. Cried both tears of sadness and joy towards the end of the movie. Ted really made my day and I very much wanted to give Jingle a big hug, thanking him for being such a special friend in a part of my life.   

Are you hungry and foolish?

Cooking seems like a breeze for Derrick, no fuss, no sweat, swift and most importantly, tasty! I am kinda impressed at times how skilful and knowledgeable he could be in this area. We were all invited over for dinner at his place last weekend. I thought it was a good dinner, liked the simplicity in the dishes and it's a good variety. Oh yes, I wanted to get the recipe for the tofu with century egg and the roasted pork :P You know, I really have so much more to learn in mastering the art and the craft of cooking. Wonder if there is a boundary in learning how to cook or even if there are basics to be mastered. Well, as what Steve Jobs said, "Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish". Ha, I am quite sure the meaning and essence of this quote relates much to cooking too. In learning to cook, I stay foolish...and hungry too! What do you think?

Baker & Cook

Chanced upon Baker & Cook while checking out the restaurants along Hillcrest Road last week. The loaves of bread, sandwiches and pastries at the counter seemed to entice my taste buds a great deal as I stood at the counter wondering which should I choose for a little tea break. Miss Tan's indecisiveness did not really help :P In the end, decided to give the lemon tart and the eclair a try. Both seemed to signal to me, "Melt me in your mouth and allow me to tango with your taste buds." It was a nice, quiet and cooling afternoon as we sat outdoor enjoying our afternoon tea. Hmm, no matter what kind of cafe, I guess I have come to a conclusion that afternoon tea is always best enjoyed during a weekday. Maybe it's just me, a quiet environment is important to me in defining what a good venue for afternoon tea is. 

Spruce @ Old Bukit Timah Fire Station

 Love the combination of black, white and wood. Love the light that was filtered in through the windows that afternoon. I thought the red door of the old fire station was a good contrast to the whole decor of the restaurant.

 Hmm, wasn't exactly a good variety for lunch, at least to me. 

 My choice for lunch, Spruce's signature burger. Hmm, seemed smaller in size as compared to what I had at Tanglin outlet a few years ago or was it my pair of eyes? I wasn't that impressed as I was with that burger few years ago when I had it. Erm, I think HandBurger seems to be able to offer better burgers.  Disappointed...

Don't get the wrong idea. This isn't a picture of the dessert we had at Spruce. This is a picture of what our dear Kat has baked for us. It's cherry pie! Thanks Kat, it's really thoughtful and sweet of you :)

I missed good eggs benedict and was kinda disappointed to know that Spruce only serves brunch (eggs benedict) only during weekends (Saturdays & Sundays). Nevertheless, we still decided to go ahead to have our lunch cum gathering at Spruce, thinking of giving its lunch menu a try. It was a nice and quiet Friday afternoon. We could literally smell the lush greenery outside the restaurant. It's indeed a bigger outlet than the one at Tanglin, I love the space in this old fire station. I guess a high ceiling does have its benefits. It's a peaceful afternoon except for our occasional laughter. And I still miss eggs benedict!

The experimenter and her guinea pigs

 Mark's scones seem to be tastier with every attempt, what is the secret ingredient??? Love the abundance of cranberries in those scones. One thing I would really love to have with the scones would be good clotted cream.

 I kinda prefer the taste of those grilled chicken wings which I prepared in my first attempt. I think winglets seem a better choice for grilling as compared to drumlets. 

Have always loved this combination, pleasant to the eyes and any kind of food will taste great with this dip

Told myself that I must set aside a day this week to 'indulge' in my own space, to be precise, I felt like cooking a little in the kitchen. Missed going to the wet market too. Well, I made it happen and did what I wanted to do. Came up with five dishes (fried wanton, vegetables, chilli prawn, grilled chicken and salted vegetables with duck soup) and I am sure each experience and attempt would always come with lessons to be learnt and things to improve on the next time. I would certainly look forward to the next 'indulgence'. Ha, many thanks to Angeline and Mark for being such courageous guinea pigs, from trying the food packed in lunchboxes to meals prepared by silly me. We need such brave souls in our lives at times :)

Fika, Food & Friends

I thought I have taken quite a few pictures of the food we had at Fika Cafe & Bistro where we met up for lunch on Wednesday. However, this picture taken by Zai seems to a personal favourite of mine, or could it be my love for that little corner? Couldn't help catching glimpses of it as we feasted on pasta, ribs, seafood and lotsa potatoes from wedges to mashed potatoes. Simplicity in design with a touch of contemporary simply has a way of calming senses and relaxing the mind. It was a good lunch and great that we are still keeping in touch.   

12 Cupcakes

Heard about "12 Cupcakes" quite a few times and finally got to give it a try that day. Thanks to Edmond, realised that there's an outlet at Millenia Walk where the group of us had lunch. The sponge beneath was soft and moist. I thought the frosting in general wasn't too sweet and worthy of mention was the cream cheese for the red velvet, I thought it was delightfully pleasant to the taste buds. Well, not forgetting my favourite - peanut butter cupcake. You know, with regard to this whole peanut butter business, it's either you love it or you hate it. Some people just don't understand one's love for it. Hmm, I guess where matters of the heart are concerned, it's not always easy to explain and provide reasons. The heart somehow rules the mind. 

Life lesson by Baby

Always so forgiving and understanding even though I could not remember when the last time I walked him was. Always so affectionate even though it's been quite some time since I gave him a big beary hug or held him in my arms. He has never been calculative and has never had any expectations of me. Thank you Baby for always reminding me that the loveliest gifts in the world can never be bought, the best things in life are not things and the rewards for the day can be simple yet joyful.  

It's mine

I bet you cannot deny the fact that personalised gifts have a way of bringing a smile on your face. It did that day when I received a lovely cookie that had my name on it :) Couldn't really bear to eat it. I guess some things just need to be appreciated longer visually. Thanks Snoop for delivering this lovely cookie. Should I eat it? Should I not eat it?