Food, Fun & Shopping

I spent Tuesday morning with Samia, Hayley, Birgit and the cooking class learning about Italian Cooking. It was really nice to sit in between two friends and take the class; we shared fantastic food and, as always, learned some great recipes and tips, i.e. don’t ever cook with really good EVOO – there’s no purpose in it – the heat destroys all of the nutritional value. Just regular Olive Oil will do!

Myself & Hayley -

Birgit & Me -

I love this kind of stuff and Paul, of course, loves it. Since his family is Italian he was especially interested in the menu and delighted to hear about the Roasted Chicken recipe (one of his all-time favorites). I had actually roasted up two chickens the Sunday night before using Samia’s recipe from her book. Absolutely delightful! I should have gotten a picture of that! AND, I was wearing my naughty apron that says, “Dip Me in Chocolate and Call me Dessert!” LOL

Here was the menu for Italian Interpretations:

Crab Ravioli with a Tomato, Vodka & Cream Sauce (TOO DIE FOR!!!!)

Ragout of Mushrooms with Cream & Fresh Pasta

Farafelle with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Artichoke Hearts & Pine Nuts

Mixed Baby Greens with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Slow-Oven Roasted Chicken

Sauteed Spinach with Olive Oil & Lemon

Tiramisu

Yes, many of these recipes have dairy and you guys know I don’t eat dairy, but I did have to sacrifice a few days of digestive health for the greater good and try these out! Wow!

Enoki Mushrooms -

I’m now, more than ever, ready to make my own pasta. Samia exhibited all of the steps (see pictures below) and told us how to dye the pasta, make special types (lasagna blankets with herbs pressed in between two sheets – see below – Samia used her signature Coriander Leaves in the pasta)!

After we had partaken of all of the good food, Birgit and I headed out to Holland Village to “raid” Pantry Magic and Phoon Huat! We had a lot of fun; I finally got a food mill! Oh, yeah, I’m easily amused and pleased! I also picked up some spatulas and Madagascar Vanilla – yum!

Birgit showed me some great places to eat and then we headed into Phoon Huat – another fantastic gourmet shop and I found Brown Sugar along with Sliced Almonds. So, I would say I’m well stocked for some good meals. And after all of his hard work, Paul deserves some gourmet meals to keep him going!

I’m going to another class tomorrow (Arabian Nights) so I’ll have even more to share later. Birgit and I are going shopping after that class, too. Smile…

A Variation on Serving Individually - Tiramasu

Iris and the Botanical Gardens

What a great day! I met Iris (we met back in January at a cooking class!) and her daughter at the Botanical Gardens today. We had a light snack and then walked the gardens – such beauty. It’s still my favorite place in Singapore.

Iris and her family are off for their next adventure in Gabon, Africa – we wish them the best. We’ll only have them in S’pore for 2 more weeks! It’s great meeting people from all over the world – her and her husband are from The Netherlands and I have family from there. It’s such a small world, after all! (Smiles)

We were lucky to have sun (and a lot of heat/humidity) in the morning but it just poured this afternoon – luckily we were out of there by then. My afternoon was also a lot of fun because I had my second Pilates session with Jessie. It’s great to be back doing that! My body needs it, for sure!

Tomorrow is Italian Interpretations Class - yum! I'm meeting some great friends there - Hayley and Birgit!

“Julie and Julia” & Samia at Her Best

Well, it took me going to S’pore to learn some French cooking! I have never really experienced French cooking other than eating it in the US and France, but I really didn’t understand some of the nuances that define the cuisine.

Today was such an eye-opening experience and I not only learned new French words, but some of the secrets of French cooking. Samia is a wonderful chef and fantastic teacher and that was especially exhibited today. The menu was taken from Julia Child’s book Mastering the Art of French Cooking:

Potage Parmentier (Potato & Onion/Leek Soup)

Salad Nicoise (or Mediterranean Combination Salad)

Pommes de Terre A L’huile (French Potato Salad)

Sauce Vinaigrette (French Dressing)

Homard aux Aromates (Lobster Steamed in White Wine with Herb Sauce) - today Samia used Prawns instead of Lobster

Boeuf Bourguignon (Beef Stew in Red Wine, with Bacon, Onions and Mushrooms), Oignons Glaces A Brun (Brown-braised Onions)

Champignons Sautés Au Beurre (Sautéed Mushrooms)

Crème Plombières aux Fruits (French version of the Tiramisu)

Salad Nicoise - Plating...

Salad Nicoise with Tuna and Anchovies -

Samia made some changes to the recipes that really helped me understand the dishes more fully and didn’t make me so scared to try Beef Bourguignon (if you’ve seen Julie and Julia, you’ll understand what I mean)! This was truly a spectacular class and I enjoyed every minute. I know that I have so much more to learn but the fragrances, textures and flavors will stay with me for a long time. What an experience!

Boeuf Bourguignon -

Potage Parmentier -

Oignons Glaces a Brun -

Samia using a rolling pin (of sorts) to press the liquids through a Chinoise - for the Wine with Herb Sauce

I also learned about the gourmet shops around S’pore and I tasted the most wonderful Late Harvest Riesling Vinegar (Cuisine Perel – out of CA) – can a vinegar taste good? Yes, yes it can! I also learned to use fresh-dried Bay Leaves – Samia has a friend in (in the south of France, mind you) that brought her fresh-dried Bay Leaves from her garden – oh my – they had the most wonderful fragrance. McCormick has nothing on these – these leaves were about 3-times larger than those we buy in the supermarket!

I’m taking Italian Interpretations on Tuesday and Arabian Nights on Thursday, so it will be a culinary week and Paul will probably enjoy the “fruits” of my learning.

Here is Samia testing the blanching of green beans - for Salad Nicoise

I just liked this tree - outside from Coriander Leaf

“The Wedding Date”

We had a blast in one of the hottest areas in Singapore – Club Street. We went to the “Screening Room” and had dinner downstairs and then drinks on the rooftop and finished up by watching “The Wedding Date” in an intimate (seats about 30, tops), plush theatre. We’re absolutely in love with this concept! Denver definitely needs something like this! Someday – when I’m rich and famous! LOL

Views from the Rooftop Bar -

There are 5 floors encompassing different experiences depending on your taste - the rooftop bar was very popular!! We think it was all meant to be – we love “The Wedding Date” – it’s such a cute little movie and Paul likes it because the boy gets the girl (very important criteria for him!). Also, you get to have drinks and food in the theatre with you while you watch the movie – it such a relaxed and inviting environment!

We will definitely be going back – they also show foreign movies, etc. so we’ll get to see more obscure movies that would normally pass us by. Interestingly enough, they are playing the “Gangs of New York” this upcoming weekend and having a movie-inspired menu to go with it. Too fun!

An interesting view in one of the bathrooms - how's that for eternity!

Singapore Love Nest

Paul dared me, so I went for it! Let’s see if he will chime in on my post heading (LOL)! Anyway, here are some pictures of our apartment in Singapore. We’re quite comfortable and have enjoyed the layout – as you can see it’s pretty much white, brown and more white. So, I went to Little India a few days ago and picked up some color (placemats, runners and FLOWERS)!

We have a docking station, so I get to groove to my favorite music (right now – Billy Joel “All About Soul”). TV is okay here in S’pore but we don’t have movie channels, etc. and the DVD player only plays Asia region DVD’s – ugh! So, all of the DVD’s I brought back here, we have to watch on our computers (to be fair – we did have a player at Pan Pacific that did play all of our discs, so I just “assumed” that they would work here. FYI – never assume anything in Asia – you will be disappointed every time!).

As my parents say, “So, it’s more like a hotel than an apartment.” Yes, I’ll admit, we’re spoiled. We’re in a “serviced apartment,” so it gets cleaned daily (if we want) and the sheets/towels are changed. But, at least we have a kitchen this time (and I’ve used it multiple times every day this week)! As you can see from the counter, I already have my staples: Kecap Manis, Dark Soya Sauce and Light (not Lite) Soya Sauce. Paul’s already enjoying the feasts and I’m taking another class on Saturday, though more Western, “Julie and Julia: Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” Coriander Leaf is going to get a lot of my business these next four months!

Off for a fun night tonight – going to The Screening Room (dinner and a movie: The Wedding Date). It’s owned, I believe in part, by Samia Ahad – owner of Coriander Leaf. Looking forward to it!

Of course - there have to be some toilet pix - and yes, they are Western toilets - yeah! LOL The first is my bathroom and the second, Paul's - love it!

Not quite ready for visitors (just kiddin') - but, the second bedroom is starting to take shape...

The Master is nice but you have to scoot in between the wall and the bed - too funny! Of course, that's Paul's side of the bed!

A Birthday in the Gardens!

Paul really went above and beyond by making my birthday special yesterday. He knows how much the peace and beauty of the S’pore Botanical Gardens calm me. So, he made reservations at the Halia restaurant nestled within the Ginger Garden. What a fantastic atmosphere with the fragrance of the Gardens surrounding us.

We shared a bottle of G.H. Mumm Champagne with a strawberry at the bottom of the glasses. The food was exquisite: Chilean Sea Bass, Mango, Ginger Sorbet, Glass Noodles, I could go on and on…

We, of course, had a few trials getting to the restaurant, and back. But, that’s just another day in S’pore – you have to take it in stride, or you’ll go crazy!

Paul finished it off with a hilarious singing card and two books: Scent of the Monsoon Winds (a cookbook – can’t wait to try out the Lovers’ Oxtail Stew!) and the NEW Jodi Picoult book, House Rules. I’m so excited; I have to finish my Chris Bohjalian book!

Paul, I love you – you are truly the love of my life!

Thank you to all of my family, Facebook friends for the birthday wishes. And, thanks go out to my High School Peeps that got me a cake on the cruise! This birthday has been fantastic and has made me forget the mounting numbers…though, to Paul, I am forever 24 – bless him!!

Back in Singapore!

Hi all, thanks for waiting for the newest update. We are back in Singapore and will be here through June! We are blessed with an apartment this time and have finally started settling in. I’m enjoying the kitchen already – boiling down 2 chicken carcasses right now to make Chicken Broth. Then, I’ll be cracking Samia’s cookbook and making some yummy (yet healthy) dishes for Paul.
So, the plan is for Paul to work, get healthy and have some fun along the way. I plan to explore, cook, take more cooking classes and get back into Pilates & working out! Of course, I will also keep up the Blog daily (or almost). I’ve missed posting here so it’s great to be back! We’ve had quite a couple of months.
Paul has been traveling back and forth to Singapore. I was in AL for a time; in CO for only a few days; then on a cruise with my peeps from high school and now back in Singapore. What a crazy life! But, we did manage to make it back for my birthday – which is today! So, Paul has got something planned and I look forward to tonight – I’ll upload some pix tomorrow!

Take care everyone and please post comments as much as you can – follow our Blog, too, if you aren’t already! I’d love to get more followers!!