Goodbye, Our Nation's Father

It had been a sombre week, throngs flocked to the parliament to pay their tributes to our founding father, however, many, like myself couldn't make it there. Paid my last respect to him at tanjong pagar cc instead and the atmosphere there are just as touching. Many brought their children and many were old and frail. 

Today, as we sent our founding father off for the last time, heaven poured down rain as well, as if crying for the great man who is no more. 

Standing in the rain and looking around as we waited for him to pass by, I felt small, among the many people who were also waiting in anticipation. As he passed us by, screams of Lee Kuan Yew! Lee Kuan Yew! Rang in the air. It happened so fast, I couldn't be in time to finish the little prayer for him. 

The eulogy by his son, PM Lee, touched me to tears. He was so brave, he made his fathe proud. The man who just lost his father had to give the eulogy on behalf of the nation. He was so close to tears several times, but regained composure in a matter of seconds. I'm so awed by his courage and self control.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew, thank you! For all you have done! I pray that your soul rest in peace with Mrs Lee! 

Macha Azuki Roll

I'm inspired to make my own sweetened red bean like those found in Japanese desserts and what better combination than macha and Azuki? And so red bean macha Swiss roll it shall be. :)

I ended up making 3 of these and I really like how soft and moist they stayed even in the fridge for a few days. It's a winner! 

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. (Hebrews 11:6 NIV)

Adorable Polka Dots Mango Swiss Roll

I chanced upon this decorative Swiss roll, it was decorated with cherry blossoms, I thought it would be fun to decorate mine too! I didn't know if it would be successful, so I did a simple polka dots design, it turned out very adorable, don't you think? The roll was really soft too! Lovely! Lovely! 

I did the mango one together with the green tea one, both very different methods, but both turned out really good and remained soft even if they're just out from the fridge. 

I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14 NIV)

Oreo cheese pop

Unwinding and enjoying Oreo cheese pop, yum!

Would you buy for $2 per stick? Hehe

It's kinda stupid to know it's a whole load of crap and you still gotta do it. 

A Tribute to Our Founding Father

I'm no good with airing my emotions over social media and since this space is still quite unknown, I thought I'll pen my thoughts here.

I pray for the great leader who gave us our lives we are living today, that in his heart, he knows and believes God, that for all the work he has done for us, his soul is saved and resting in peace.

Though I have only seen him once, at Sungei Buloh by chance, he feels so strangely familiar. He was already white haired and frail looking at that time, but was still mobile and looked like he was going to take an evening walk in the nature landscape, one of the many green elements he envisioned the garden city of Singapore to be. I will always remember him in that picture with that mixed feelings of awe, respect and curiosity, like a little fan girl. I should have bravely gone over to shake his hands or take a selfie, but I was too chicken to do anything. I wished I had. 

When coverage of his death was announced all over the media, my heart grieved for the man who gave his life to give us the life we are leading now. Of course, his love may not be unconditional , but we all cannot deny this life he has given to make singapore a thriving city. 

I am thankful and grateful to this man who is selfless in giving his all to build this nation. Like what my husband said, in his time, with qualifications like his, he could have made lots of money doing something else, but he chose politics because he wanted to give all a fair life and not be subjected to what he went through overseas earlier in his life where there was discrimination. 

Thank you Mr Lee, our founding father, a selfless man, an inspiring individual and a great leader. 

"For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" 

- Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Chocolate Pound Cake

Chanced upon a baking book where the center of the cake was a surprise decoration when it is cut through. Inspired to try, I baked a chocolate pound cake first and cut stars in preparation for the cake I am going to bake. Banana Star Surprise Cake seems promising. Hopefully it turns out well. :) Adapted the recipe from Joyofbaking, with sugar reduced.

(Makes a standard loaf tin)

150g sugar

180g cake flour

25g cocoa powder

60 ml boiling water

227g unsalted butter at room temperature

3 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

pinch of salt

1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Preheat the oven at 180 degrees and line a loaf tin. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt together and set aside.

2. Dissolve the cocoa powder with the hot water and set aside.

3. Beat the butter and sugar till light and fluffy.

4. Add the eggs one at a time, beating to combine in between each addition. Add the vanilla and beat to combine. 

5. Add the cocoa liquid and beat to combine.

6. Add the sifted flour mixture to the egg mixture and fold to combine.

7. Pour batter into prepared loaf tin and bake at 180 degrees for 55 minutes. Insert a skewer into the middle of the cake and if it comes out clean, the cake is ready.

8. Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.

It's really simple to bake, try it. :) 

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground. (Psalm 143:10 NIV)

Summer Fruits Overnight Oats

I have some fruits left over, so here's another version of overnight oats.

To soak overnight

Half a cup rolled oats

A cup of non sweetened soya milk

2 tbsp maple syrup

Rock melon, kiwi, mango cubed

To top in the morning

Rock melon, kiwi, mango cubed

Fill the jar with oats, some of the fruits, maple syrup and soya milk.

Stir and soak overnight in the fridge.

In the morning, top with more fresh fruits and enjoy. 

I like this combination of summer fruits better than blueberries. The natural sweetness from the rock melons was perfect and they retain the crunch even after been soaked overnight. 

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. (2 Timothy 2:24 NIV)

Banana Mango Overnight Oats

Today, I realised how precious support and kindness are in life and that bit of humanity makes a lot of difference in shining some hope in what may seem like a hopeless situation. The few angels who are genuinely lending their helping hands to me, I am ever grateful. Thank you, you, you, you, you! You made my day. 

My husband said 'Wah the banana oats is horrifyingly dam ridiculously unexpectedly good!' Hahaha! I'm not a fan of bananas but I think I could give this a try. 

The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name. (Zechariah 14:9 NIV)

Summer Tart

I'm stressed like hell, but keep calm and bake! It sucks to have like 11 stacks of work lurking in background and sickeningly depressing, but I'll steal time to bring my spirits up! It's nothing new, used the pate Sablee base, lemon curd and changed the friuts for a summer feel!

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 NIV)

Easy Dark Chocolate Cake

Although work has been really cruel to me this week, I managed to squeeze in a bake for the husband's birthday. It's easy,  quick and hopefully as nice as described by Donna Hay, from whom I adapted the recipe from. We're cutting it tomorrow, so the verdict will be given tomorrow.

(Makes 22 cm round cake)

375 dark chocolate chopped

175g light brown sugar

120g ground almond

35g plain flour

5 eggs

125 butter cubed

2 tbsp milk

Cocoa for dusting

1. Preheat the oven at 170 degrees and line a 22cm cake tin with removable base with baking paper.

2. Melt the chocolate and the butter over a pot of simmering water.

3. Add the flour, ground almond, sugar and milk to the chocolate. Mix to combine. 

4. Add the eggs a little at a time and mix well. 

5. Pour the batter into the lined tin, cover the top with foil and bake in 170 degrees oven for 40 minutes.

6. Remove the foil and cool in the tin and chill in fridge till set.

It's really fudgy and full of chocolate goodness! Happy birthday, hubby! 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, because He lives, all fear is gone, because I know, I know, He holds the future and life is worth the living just because He lives. 

Raspberries Lemon Madeleines

This is a crazy week, but I rewarded myself with a bake I have been wanting to try, inspired by celebrity chef, Rachel Khoo. Made this for a Chinese New Year gathering at a lovely couple's place, such genuine and hospitable people. :) Oh! They even have a KTV system right in the comfort of their home, how cool is that? I hope they enjoyed the madeleines! 

(Makes 24 Madeleines)

To make the madeleines

270g unsalted butter

260g plain flour

160g caster sugar

4 eggs

1.5 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Zest of 2 lemons

To make the lemon curd

Lemon Curd

To assemble

24 raspberries

1. Sift the flour and baking powder together and set aside.

2. Melt the butter.

3. Beat the eggs and sugar until pale and fluffy and triple in volume.

4. Scoop about a quarter of the egg mixture into another bowl and mix in the melted butter and zest. This will make the butter easier to combine with the rest of the egg mixture. 

5. Pour the butter, egg mixture into the remaining three quarter egg, sugar mixture and fold to combine.

6. Cover the batter with cling film and fridge for about 2 hours or overnight. 

7. Preheat the oven at 200 degrees. 

8. Grease Madeleine mould well before use.

9. In the meantime, wash the raspberries and set aside. 

10. Spoon the batter into the greased mould. 

11. Press a raspberry into the center of each madeleine. 

12. Bake for 6 minutes before reducing the oven temperature to 160 degrees and bake for another 6 minutes. 

13. Leave to cool until cool enough to handle. 

14. Pipe a teaspoon worth of the chilled lemon curd into madeleines.

15. Dust with icing sugar and serve. 

I love them too! The sharp lemon curd cuts through the sweetness of the madeleines. I'll be baking this again soon.  :)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22 NIV)(Galatians 5:23 NIV)