Zak Pelaccio of Fatty Crab fame reinterpretates traditional otak-otak (a steamed/grilled fish cake wrapped in banana leaves), creating these Spicy Fried Fish Balls. Definitely an easier way and I am willing to try it at home.
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I can’t believe how time flies by. I have been looking forward to some time off this long weekend and it’s finally here. We’re heading to the beach with some friends. Mike has been missing his beach trips these past few years and I feel bad. I hope he gets the rejuvenation he needs, in time for his fall quarter at school. He’s going to be busy but it’s such an enriching feeling to know that he loves what he’s working towards.

As for me, I’m looking forward to some time off work. Also, to visit a rain forest in North America. It will be fun.

Let me leave you with a picture of a new orchid I bought at TJ’s – they have really good deals on plants. I love how this bloom is so tropical and jungle-like. Have you even wondered why most orchids are named after a lady?

This fall, I’m taking a bookbinding class here. I can’t wait. It’s been a year and a half since my letterpress class.

It’s part of my “getting out of the comfort zone” to try new things.

“I’ve been thinking about what a trap it is, to do well, but not well enough, so that you never have a chance to think about anything else.” – Lori Carson

I love what she pens down because I feel what she is describing.

At this point in my life, I think I am doing well but how do I push out of this comfort zone to do better, to do what I’m meant to. I’m beginning to think that I am not meant to do just one thing. That I won’t really have a thing but a multitude of things. At times, that isn’t good enough for me because I keep searching for that one thing. But really, who’s to say there should only be ONE thing?

I only hope that I will always try to challenge my comfort zone and become comfortable in trying many new things, until I feel like I have made good use of my life.

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation.” – Henry D Thoreau

A favorite Singapore dish to make when I miss home. Folks who have read my blog for a while now have probably seen this posted a couple of times but last night, I think I made my best version yet. The secret is in the rempah (spice mixture).

For a while, it was hard to find the right type of chilli kring (dried chilli peppers). I tried Tian Jin peppers but those can get quite spicy if you want your end result to be red enough. I have found the Arbol Chilli Peppers are the right amount of heat that you can use a fairly good amount to turn the dish sufficiently red (not this specific dish but other sambal dishes and curries).

A weak rempah can render the dish tasteless and almost watery. And adding more coconut milk won’t save you either. It’s almost like cooking with a roux, it has to be “paper bag brown” when you put in your ingredients. Basically, you want to cook the spices until the raw-ness is gone, particularly the onions, shallots, candlenut, galangal etc.

As a result, we had happy tummies last night!

Last night, Mike and I had his classmate over for dinner. She brought her bf who happens to be Singaporean. I decided that a good meal for a homesick fellow countrymen would be nasi lemak. I could prepare all the sides ahead of time and enjoy a leisurely dinner.

Nasi Lemak means rich (in a hearty way) rice. It is cooked with coconut milk and some screwpine/pandan leaves. In my honest opinion, it tastes great on its own.

This anchovies dish is a favorite accompaniment for the rice, as well as some fried egg, cucumber and a delicious homemade sambal. Sambal is really a spice mixture of chilies, candlenut, shallots, garlic, onion, blue ginger (galangal), and dried shrimp. In the western world, everyone’s grandmother makes the best gravy, in Singapore (and most of Asia), everyone’s grandmother makes the best sambal!

We served the dish on banana leaves that we cut out to fit our dishes. I wanted to take a final picture but I was too hungry and I couldn’t make our guests wait. Besides, I’ve posted some pics before here

Mike’s classmate, ZR, made the yummiest “hun tun” (Shanghainese dumpling).

We had a most fabulous time.

I cannot believe that it’s been 5 years since Mike and I first met at the airport in DC. I had flown in on a flight from Boston after visiting my friends from school and felt a little nervous about meeting someone I’ve only talked to online, over considerable distance. Granted, we had talked for a long time (years!), but I remembered how my nerves were before we met.

I had my best friend on the phone from Singapore – thanks Cin! – and she was ready in her way to protect me, should I get stood up. She had seen me go through enough pain in the last few months before that, so even though she worried about my heart, she sent me off with much hope. I gratefully carried it with me.

The flight came in early and I collected my bags. My cellphone rang. It was him. He said he was on his way (much like what he usually says when he comes to pick me up from work now). I sat and waited, book in hand. Simone de Beauvoir. Before long, I noticed someone approaching from the corner of my eye. Then I hear that familiar voice. We said our hello’s and we gave each other a big hug. It did not feel uncomfortable at all. It felt like I’d known him my entire life.

The week we spent together was one of the most amazing weeks in my life. I felt so very lucky. I still do.

“I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for truth – and truth rewarded me.” – Simone de Beauvoir

For the longest time, I struggled with what to put on the walls of my tea nook. I first noticed box shelves with mirrors and then I thought, perhaps other floating shelves to showcase my tiny teapot collection…but when I saw these hexagonal shelves, I knew they would be perfect here. Their shape also mirrors the moroccan tea table I have. There also appears to be room for more shelves but right now, this setup works well.

It was a great birthday weekend. There were friends, food, family, cake and presents. Our backyard bbq party for me turned out really well. The weather was just perfect outside and sunny on Saturday.

On the menu: deviled eggs, bay shrimp avocado in toasted bread cups, smoked oyster pat�, baby back ribs, salmon burgers, potato salad, grilled corn, Japanese sweet potatoes, hot dogs, Italian sausage, rolls, buns, Red Velvet cake (my favorite!), chocolate cake and ice cream.

I scored on presents too – especially Mike’s – a gift card to a local nursery to pick out fall bulbs and perhaps containers! Even an appointment with the garden designer for some added creative input.

Thanks to all of you, who joined us in our backyard and those of you who sent your hugs and kisses from afar!

I wanted to write this today because without you, I wouldn’t be able to have a day like this.

My life is blessed. I cannot be more thankful and grateful for the abundance of love and friendship that surrounds me from near and far.

Thank you, for remembering my special day and the reminder that my life is so rich.

“And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln