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With the everyday busy day, it may very well be the best time to treat yourself or a loved one to a fresh set of sheets. After all, there’s nothing better than a good night’s sleep. From the type of weave to the thread count, there are many things that make up a great set of bedding, and they don’t always have to cost an arm and leg. There are tons of international brands that have good quality bedsheets but it’s never affordable, that’s when we came across this local brand — SOJAO located at Joo Chiat.
Also a local bedding brand, Sojao actually translates to “go to sleep” in Hindi – which probably hints to you just how seriously they take sleep. Specialising in luxury organic bed sheets, expect to find silky smooth sheets that only get more amazing with each wash. How? Well, they boast a perfect thread count and use single-ply yarn, which basically means you’ll only be getting softer and comfier sheets as the years go on. If you find yourself going crazy over just how luxurious home living can be with Sojao, consider picking up some towels or loungewear to really find yourself lounging in heaven.
Not only you could find their line of bedsheets and sleepwear but you also can find many other local brands regarding lifestyle. Some of our favourites are Soil Boy, Oasis Beauty Kitchen, Xenia Tayer Diningware and more. At SOJAO we have a very comfortable experience, everything is what I need for my home. One of the products we highly recommend you to get is OASIS x SOJAO Sleep in Room and Linen Mist. It’s a product that collabs with Oasis, with a few lights, and spritzes, you will transform any room into a lush flower garden immersed with dreamy floral and green aromas. Heading outdoors for the day? You can also mist this over your face masks and clothes as a light perfume to add that touch of elegance while removing any lingering odours.
SOJAO Address: 251 Joo Chiat Rd, Singapore 427505 Operating Hours: 11 am to 7 pm (Closed on Tuesday)
Wood paneling conjures up pictures of dark and stuffy drawing rooms that look and feel oppressive. The truth is completely different. Modern wood wall paneling is a fantastically versatile wall finish that can be whatever character you choose.
From bright and airy to warm and cozy, wooden wall panels have come a long way from the dark and broody mahogany-clad rooms that we usually associate with wall panels.
If you haven’t considered wooden wall panels for your home, then this article might just sway your decision. Let’s start by considering some of the benefits of wooden wall panels.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Butter board has been streaming across all social media platforms. If you still don’t know what’s a butter board, the simple answer is that it is butter that is spread on a board. But it’s so much more than that! It’s all about serving butter to a large group of people in a new unexpected way. Butter boards may not actually become the next charcuterie boards, but we think they will play a large part in holiday entertaining this year because they are easy to prepare, look festive, have a shock factor associated with them, and only require butter (salted or unsalted) along with any other ingredients available on hand to prepare.
What’s fascinating about butter boards is that they seem over-the-top and elaborate. We are much more accustomed to the butter is in the shape of a stick, ball, or even a flower at a fancy restaurant — anything but a flat mixture spread over the entirety of a board. However, when you grab a piece of bread and swipe some butter onto it, it starts to feel more familiar and comforting. Us, we prefer cream cheese on our bread instead of butter therefore using the concept of butter board we made a Cream Cheese Smoked Salmon Board.
Ingredients that you may need
Cream Cheese
Smoked Salmon
Red Onion
Capers
Garnish (Drill and Saseme seeds)
How do you prepare them?
There is much cooking skill needed for this recipe, but you may need some hand skills for plating. However, before you start plating them you will need the right consistency of cream cheese.
If you are using hard cream cheese. You want to make sure that you’re using softened cream cheese, not cream cheese straight from the fridge. Simply leave it out at room temperature for about 15 minutes, using a spatula fold the cream cheese well to remove clumps.
If you are using soft cream cheese. If you are lucky enough to get soft cream cheese, you can skip the part about leaving it out at room temperature, and move on to using a spatula to remove the clumps.
Once the cream cheese is softened, you’ll use a small knife or spoon to spread the butter as flat as possible onto any decorative board, cutting board, or flat platter you have. We like to create small swirls in the butter because it allows for small crevices that can collect the toppings you’ll add to the cream cheese board.
If you try this recipe please tag #byplaincanvas on Instagram. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also, follow us on Instagramto keep up on what we’re cooking up.
If you are using hard cream cheese. You want to make sure that you’re using softened cream cheese, not cream cheese straight from the fridge. Simply leave it out at room temperature for about 15 minutes, using a spatula fold the cream cheese well to remove clumps. If you are using soft cream cheese. If you are lucky enough to get soft cream cheese, you can skip the part about leaving it out at room temperature, and move on to using a spatula to remove the clumps.
Once the cream cheese is softened, you’ll use a small knife or spoon to spread the butter as flat as possible onto any decorative board, cutting board, or flat platter you have. We like to create small swirls in the butter because it allows for small crevices that can collect the toppings you’ll add to the cream cheese board.
I’m back with another amazing piece of news from the East (best) side, this time it’s to inform you of the opening of Bloom Coffee at Upper East Coast Road. Taking over the now-defunct Stamping Ground Coffee, the new cafe comes with a Scandinavian minimalist interior, serving coffee and sangas, and is pet-friendly!
There for a quick sip? Bloom Coffee have Filter Brew (S$3 – S$10), Long Black (S$4.50), Matcha Latte (S$6.50), Yuzu Cardamom Lemonade (S$7.50), and other delightfully concocted drinks on the menu.
If you find yourself around the area, why not stop by for an Instagrammable shot of you sippin’ coffee.
Bloom Coffee Address: 87 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455223 Operating Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon to Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Tue
There are many decisions involved in the process of choosing tiles. Color, size, and shape are obvious factors to consider, but an often overlooked tile characteristic is a matt or gloss finish. This may seem like an easy decision, as gloss tiles are an extremely popular choice for homeowners, but this significant factor can make a huge difference to the feel and maintenance of any room.
Gloss tiles can make even the smallest of rooms appear larger. The outcome is similar to that of adding a mirror to a room. The light reflection opens up the space and tricks the eye into making the room appear wider and more open than it actually is. As a result, gloss tiles are an excellent design choice for bathrooms, ‘box rooms’, and hallways, which are typically smaller and narrower.
For a room to feel lighter and brighter, gloss tiles are the go-to. In spaces with low amounts of natural light, gloss tiles maximize this small amount by bouncing light back and forth around the space. A great option for small downstairs bathrooms.
Extremely easy to clean and maintain, the smooth nature of the glossy surfaces need only a simple wipe-down for them to sparkle. This is one of the many reasons as to why gloss tiles are a popular choice for messy spaces, such as kitchen backsplashes and shower walls.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Carpaccio is a dish that originated in Veneto, Italy. The original preparation consisted of thinly sliced raw beef slices served with lemon juice, olive oil and shaved parmesan. The term carpaccio has later expanded to include all sorts of raw meat or fish preparations where the toppings or dressing on top consists of some sort of variation of lemon juice and olive oil.
This variation that I have put together is inspired by traditional carpaccio but uses cold smoked salmon. To me, smoked salmon carpaccio is the ultimate spring or summer dish! In this recipe, smoked salmon gets lightly marinated in a lemony-shallot dressing then topped with crispy pan-fried capers, and garnished with fresh dill. You can then serve this dish as-is or on top of crostini, crackers, or heck…you can even serve this on a freshly toasted bagel for an elevated lox brunch situation!
I absolutely love this appetizer and it would be perfect for an Easter Sunday appetizer or brunch as well!! I hope you all enjoy this easy, elevated appetizer.
1 small shallot halved lengthwise and thinly sliced into half moons
FOR THE SALMON:
½ pound center-cut smoked Atlantic salmon *I get mine from the deli at Central Market
1 tablespoon loosely chopped fresh dill or more to taste
freshly cracked black pepper for garnish
crostini for serving
Methods
For the Dressing:
In a bowl, combine all the dressing ingredients and whisk until well combined. Set aside while you prepare the capers.
For the Smoked Salmon:
Cut the smoked salmon into 2-inch pieces and arrange on a large plate in a single layer.
Spoon the dressing over the salmon evenly. Next, top with crispy capers. Lastly, finish the dish with fresh dill and cracked pepper. Serve alongside crostini.
In Joo Chiat, you could find lots of hidden gems from lifestyle to food. One of our good finds was this muslin-friendly eatery selling banh mi & Vietnamese drip coffee along Joo Chiat Road. It was always a full house when we passes by it, we have always wanted to try it when we passes by it and we are glad that we did. From it signage you can see that it sells bánh mì and otah, not your usual bánh mì but offers a fusion banh mi with a local twist! Yes, they have an option of otah bánh mì.
There’s a total of six different variations of banh mi are available such as Honey-Glazed Grilled Chicken Thigh with Homemade Chicken Pate ($6.50), Battered Crispy Fish Fillet with Honey Mustard Sauce ($7), and even a whopping Earthquake ($8.50) that combines some of the best they had to offer in one baguette: chicken cold cut, grilled chicken thigh, and lemongrass beef patty.
The sofa is the main centrepiece of the home, it brings all the furniture together, all the family members together. It’s the place we came home to rest once we reaches home. This sofa that looks like seating on clouds has been a popular trend since 2022. There is one common with this cloud-like sofa, it is legless, while it looks bulky but the simple shape of the sofa still provides a minimalist look to the house.
A cloud sofa is basically what it sounds like! A dreamy, cushy oasis of all comfort and no hard edges. With a low frame and practically invisible legs, it looks like it’s merely floating in your living room. While it’s pretty standard to see this type of sofa upholstered in white or cream, you can also find these beauties in black, grey, brown, navy, and more! The cushions of a cloud sofa are often larger than your standard cushion. After all, fewer breaks in cushioning means it’s easier to settle into naps.
The beauty of a cloud sofa is that you can totally skip additional pillows because they already come with the perfect pillows built in. Add a throw and you’re good to go! If you’re pairing it with a coffee table, we’d suggest picking something that isn’t too tall. This helps to keep the sofa the centre of attention as a taller coffee table could throw off the proportions of the room.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
If we only can choose one roastery to visit in Singapore it can only be Apartment Coffee. The roastery was once located at Lavender Street which is hidden away from the crowds. We first found out about the place due to the interior vibes they have, the big glass panel and white minimalistic interior make it a good place to chill during the afternoon.
It’s been our bi-weekly place to visit, as we love their seasonal menu as there’s always something new to explore each time. Filter coffee ($7.00 – $7.50) is the focus here, but you can also get your favorite espresso-based White ($5.50) or Black ($5.50) if you prefer. Look forward to trying beans from around the world, including less common options. Therefore we were worried when it was announced that they will be moving to a new location (as we were worried the place will be too far from us).
However, we were glad that the place got nearer to us instead. The new space is now located at 139 Selegie Road, a short six-minute walk from Rochor MRT Station. The new space retains its signature bright and airy look with an industrial meets minimalistic look; think concrete floors, clean walls, and a plant feature corner for photo ops. Now the “apartment’ has also grown in size, which means it is able to accommodate more patrons.
We highly recommend you visit this roastery at least once, not only you can have a good cup of coffee but experience good service there. Even though Apartment Coffee can get a little crowded at times, we love that the service staff members are prompt in service and very enthusiastic in giving recommendations. They always ask for our feedback and answer all our questions. Here it is not only about the coffee but also building a relationship.
Perhaps this is their definition of slow living, the barista kept to his own pace of weighing the coffee beans, grinding them, and making the perfect cup of filtered coffee at a consistent pace. We love seating at the bar table and watching them do the process. Thus if you are in rush, this may not be a good place for you, as at times you may need to wait for at least 30 minutes. A little reminder to you is that the place doesn’t provide takeaway cups, thus if you want your coffee to-go remember to bring your own cup.
Apartment Coffee Address: 139 Selegie Road, #01-01, Singapore 188309 Opening Hours: 10 am to 6 pm
Snow Fungus Soup with Pears (冰糖银耳炖雪梨) is a Chinese dessert soup usually served on special occasions like Chinese New Year. Snow fungus and pear sweet soup is a common dessert in most Chinese families. This dessert is good for treating dry cough as snow fungus helps to nourish the body, lungs, and stomach, and because red dates contain loads of vitamins. It is very quick and easy to prepare this nourishing dessert by simply simmering the ingredients for 30 minutes. It is very refreshing to serve this sweet soup chilled and it quenches thirst, especially in our humid weather.
Ingredients that you will need
The main ingredients are, you guessed it, snow fungus, pears, red dates, wolfberries, and rock sugar.
Snow Fungus: Snow fungus, also known as ‘white wood ear’ is a natural tree fungus. You’re probably more familiar with the more common wood ear fungus which is a dark brown color. Snow fungus is a naturally sweet ingredient that tends to detoxify the body and replenish energy. It can also cure coughs and is said to be anti-inflammatory as well. Both these properties play a role in reducing inner body heat, also known as yang.
Pears: The addition of pear in the soup provides benefits such as micronutrients which are important for cardiovascular health. Pears are also used in Chinese cooking for their moistening and cooling effect. Snow fungus and pear soup is a great way to counter hot weather during the summer months.
Rock Sugar: You can also use white sugar, however, we prefer the sweet taste of rock sugar which taste more natural and sometimes like honey.
Woftberries & Red Dates: They are often associated with the ability to ‘calm the mind’. These dates contain saponin which is a natural ‘sleep promoter’. Low doses of these powerful fruits help ease anxiety and calm the nerves. Other than the benefit, it will provide some natural sweetness to the drink.
Preparations of Snow Fungus
You can find dried snow fungus in Chinese grocery stores. It will have to be soaked overnight prior to cooking, so a little bit of advanced planning is required for this recipe.
Soak white fungus in a bowl of hot water (covered) for about half an hour, then carefully discard the water. The white fungus should be puffed up and turned a whiter shade. Using a pair of kitchen scissors, trim and discard the dark yellow hard part on the center underside of the fungus. Cut the rest of the fungus into smaller pieces.
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Soak the dried snow fungus in a bowl of hot water for 30 minutes or overnight until they become rehydrated and soft.
While the fungus is soaking, clean and peel the pears before removing the core and slicing them into bite-sized chunks. Rinse off the goji berries and Chinese red dates as well.
When the snow fungus has softened, remove the hard slightly darker bottom center of the fungus using a pair of scissors. Then cut the fungus into bite-sized pieces.
After, add the water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Then add in the snow fungus and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover the pot and let it simmer for 30 minutes.
Once 30 minutes have passed, add the remaining ingredients. Add in the rock sugar depending on your preference for sweetness.
Let the soup simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the pears become soft and tender.
Snow fungus and pear soup are best served hot. Enjoy!
We have been stressing as Lunar New Year is so close to us but yet we have prepared anything. This year Lunar New Year falls on the 22nd of January, we just remove our Christmas tree and now we need to hurry to get prepared for it. To save some time like to create a simple dish for the eve of the Lunar New Year.
Eggplant is one of those polarizing vegetables—people either adore its soft, spongy texture or absolutely detest it. Us, we use to dislike eggplant, but until we discovered the steaming method. Eggplant is often fried with a lot of oil and ends up being too heavy for my tastes, but steamed eggplant is light and a wonderful vessel to soak up the sauce. It’s a fast way to cook eggplant, and even more important, the texture transforms and becomes silky soft, tender, and creamy.
Preparing the Eggplant
About Eggplant
Cooking eggplant can be equally frustrating, though. That beautiful and vibrant purple color can turn ugly grey after cooking. So, how do you keep eggplant purple after cooking without frying it? The answer is salt and/or vinegar. Once the eggplant is cut into pieces, it starts to oxidize when it meets the oxygen in the air. For this dish, we soaked the eggplant in vinegar water for 3 minutes. Eggplant is very absorbent, but since we are steaming them, it’s ok to soak them.
How do you steam them? Prepare your steamer, we use our traditional pot and steam tray, and turn the heat on low to preheat the water in the steamer. Cut each eggplant crosswise into 3 equal sections, then cut each section into 8-10 bite-sized strips. Fill a large container with about 2 quarts of water and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Soak the eggplant in the vinegar water for 3 minutes. Then remove the eggplant and squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Arrange them on a heat-proof rimmed dish and carefully lower them into the steamer. Cover and turn the heat on high. Steam the eggplant for 8-10 minutes.
Combine all your ingredients
When the cooked eggplant is slightly cool, you can start plating them up. Start by laying the cooked eggplant, and the finely minced garlic, spring onion, and chili on top. Your only seasoning is soya sauce, thus when it comes to choosing one, we will choose one that is less in sodium avoiding it overpowering the taste of eggplant. Evenly pour the sauce over the eggplant.
The key step of this dish is here, heat 3 tablespoons oil in a small saucepan until it starts to smoke lightly, and then carefully pour it over the garlic and scallion. You’ll get a wonderful sizzle and delightful aroma.
1 pound Japanese or Chinese eggplant (450g, about 3 eggplants)
1/4 cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
4 cloves garlic (minced)
1 scallion (minced)
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
Methods
Prepare your steamer. Turn the heat on low to preheat the water in the steamer.
Cut each eggplant crosswise into 3 equal sections, then cut each section into 8-10 bite-sized strips.
Fill a large container with about 2 quarts of water and 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Soak the eggplant in the vinegar water for 3 minutes. Then remove the eggplant and squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Arrange them on a heat-proof rimmed dish and carefully lower them into the steamer. Cover and turn the heat on high. Steam the eggplant for 8-10 minutes.
Remove the eggplant from the steamer (no need to pour out the liquid in the dish), and evenly pour the sauce over the eggplant. Top it with minced garlic and scallions. Pourover soya sauce and soak the eggplant evenly.
Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a small saucepan until it starts to smoke lightly, and then carefully pour it over the garlic and scallion. Serve hot or cold. If serving as a cold appetizer, you can make this dish in advance.
We got attracted by the colorful photo that everyone took from this MENTAL: Colours of Wellbeing exhibit that is displayed at the Art Science Museum till 26 February. Without much reading of the description of what the exhibition is about we got our tickets and head over to it. Unlike what we think that colors are actually for happy things, on the other hand, the uses of colors in these interactive installations tackle weighty topics like addiction, anxiety, and suicide by contemporary artists, scientists, makers, and designers from around the world.
They want to use colors to discuss the bleak and dark depressing issues. upends our assumptions about how an exhibition on mental health should look and feel. Rather than focusing on illness or treatment, it instead celebrates the kaleidoscopic spectrum of mental well-being, It was objective enough that the organizers want to create an ongoing conversation with the younger generation struggling with mental health and were supported by experts who helped explore the topics more deeply. Where it really does get our attention on it.
A few exhibitions provoke us to recognize our emotions. Even Fear features a weather balloon in a pink cage building up pressure slowly. When an explosion seems imminent, it deflates. Can you take the pressure from watching the process? Are you feeling anxious? Even Fear evokes anxiety and mimics the stress from everyday life. That’s how we feel when we look at the balloon.
Sometimes the words “mental health” could be dark, gloomy, and perhaps intimidating to us. However the Wheel exhibit, for instance, is a giant “hamster wheel” that will encourage you to get on your feet to run, walk, crawl or use your hands to clock as much distance as possible. Consistent effort is required to keep your mental health in check and improve – move well, feel well. The assistance there helps to key us safe on the wheel and at the same time encourages us to not be scared and try it.
The floating inflatable heads: Go Mental caught our eye. However, when you stand inside you will experience of night terrors, the history, and the future of Josh Muir. Pop your head inside the characters to hear the soundscapes of Josh’s mind created by the University of Melbourne students. It’s weird but a good experience.
Unlike other exhibitions, MENTAL has no recommended flow or fixed narrative. Visitors are encouraged to gravitate to whichever artwork they choose. Everyone can take different routes, just as each person’s journey is different from another’s.
Our take on MENTAL – it’s a fun exhibit to get your hands full and your hearts lighter. It’s a great exhibit to bring your old fashion minded parents or friends for a walk, letting them see a different side of mental.
Mental: Colours of Wellbeings Address: ArtScience Museum, 6 Bayfront Ave, Singapore 018974 Opening Hours: 10 am to 7 pm daily, last entry at 6 pm
One of the most exciting parts for the start of the year is a new set of Pantone colors of the year. One that caught my eye was Viva Magenta – according to Pantone, Viva Magenta is “a vibrant, attention-getting hue that emanates heat and energy.” This hue is said to be “intriguing and inviting,” making it a perfect choice for those who want to make a bold statement.
Vibrant and full of energy, Viva Magenta is the perfect color to inject some life into your home. Designers and homeowners alike can use Viva Magenta in lots of ways. You can bring it into your space as a velvet couch or feature wall. Or you might opt for a more neutral palette, using it only as one pop of color by using scatter pillows, a throw, or a lamp. Because it is such a strong color, too much Viva Magenta can be overwhelming. Use it sparingly in small doses to achieve the desired effect.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
It’s almost time for the Chinese New Year, streets are bustling with people buying their 年货 (goodies), and many like us are cleaning our houses in preparation for a good Chinese New Year. To ensure we’re all ready to celebrate, last year we’ve put together a guide on what to eat during Chinese New Year and thetop lucky foodswe need to have during the Chinese New Year. Moreover, the guide is also packed with useful information on the festival, customs, and things Chinese people do to say goodbye to the old year and welcome the new year.
However, there are times we feel difficulties in following or practicing the custom. Thus this year we came out with our Top 10 favorite Chinese New Year recipes, while we try to follow the custom we also want to enjoy them.
Five Spiced Rolls (Ngoh Hiang) wasn’t really a Chinese New Year dish, however, since young our mother make them quite often, especially during the New Year. Like our family, Ngoh Hiang is a family staple for many households of generations, be it the Peranakans or the Chinese. Similar to the commonly seen spring rolls, they are cylindrical-shaped rolls filled with vegetables and meat. However, instead of a spring roll wrapper the beancurd skin is been used.
It’s always good to have something hearty and with wok-hay flavor on the table during the Chinese New Year. Glutinous Rice with Chinese Sausage – this dish represents wok-hay in all ways. Wok hay is a Cantonese phrase used to describe a particular essence and aroma that is created in a dish when authentic stir-frying is performed. “Hay” means “energy” or “breath”; therefore, “wok hay” means “the energy or breath of a wok”.
This Glutinous Rice with Chinese Sausage, commonly also known as Chinese sticky rice is loaded with dried shrimp, sausage, shiitake mushrooms, and a flavorful sauce that’s all cooked up in the rice cooker! It’s an easy way to make this deliciously popular Cantonese dish which we really enjoy a lot.
If you are looking for something simple and meaningful, these fried crackers are something you can make for your family and friends as a snack during the gathering. Prawn crackers are deep-fried and expand like a flower when dropped in hot oil. If you’re worried about being tempted by calorie-filled Chinese New Year treats, then this fried vegetable cracker might be something you want to replace with the traditional prawn crackers. As a Cantonese family, we love to serve prawn crackers as they represent happiness and wish individual laughter throughout the whole year.
Ever since we were a kid, our family inevitably buys or makes this treat for the Chinese New Year celebration, in the hopes of having a better year ahead. It’s also a popular gift to give when visiting family and friends during the festive season. Traditionally, our grandma will just dip the Nian Gao (we got from the store) with egg wash and pan-fried it. While our mom preferred to steam or pan-fried it with root vegetables like sweet potatoes or yam.
Honestly, the block of Nian Gao is not quite appetizing. We promise that it is very delicious so don’t judge the book by its cover! Just to let you know, you might fall in love with this piece of Sweet Niao Gao sandwich instantly. You have to give this a try.
When we head to the market to reserve some ingredients with the butcher’s uncle whom we know, pork belly is one of the ingredients on our purchased list. As it is a flexible part of the pork, it can be used in many kinds of cooking methods. One of our favorite ways is to steam or braised it and Steamed Pork Belly with preserved Mustard Green which is also known as Mei Cai Kou Rou, 梅菜扣肉 are on our top of the list.
It’s loved by Hakka, Cantonese, and Teochew Families, we remember that our mom always will prepare a super huge pot of Steamed Pork Belly with preserved Mustard Green and served us hot porridge or noodles to enjoy the amazing savor. And it can last us for at least 2 days, but usually, it is too delicious we finish instantly.
Another simple yet delicious recipe that is on our list is this Stir-Fry Braised Broccoli Mushroom Scallop. This is a popular vegetable dish we enjoy during our family meals, and you would often see it on the menu during your CNY reunion dinner. There are many variations to this recipe but for us, we love preparing it using shiitake mushrooms and seared scallops to enhance the sweetness and delicious umami flavor. Of course, not forgetting the symbolic meaning behind the round shape of the scallops and mushrooms represents oneness, prosperity, and the blossoming of new beginnings – an integral concept of reunion during Chinese New Year.
If you don’t enjoy eating broccoli, you can also replace it with bok choy or kai lan – which are longer vegetables representing long life, while leafy greens like cabbage or sang choy represent growing fortune.
There is no way you want to miss having a prawn dish on your table during Chinese New Year. Prawns are pronounced “Ha” in Cantonese, which means to 笑哈哈, laughing all year long. How could you miss the happiness of a brand new year? Therefore you wouldn’t want to miss out on this additive Chinese New Year dish – Crispy Cereal Prawns Recipe, 香脆麦片虾. Highly addictive, pour some on plain-tasting white rice to add some taste, especially for the kids who love the cereal coating that goes on the prawns!
Whenever we look at a fridge from a Korean and it is always full of pre-made side dishes that you can enjoy them whenever you like. Unlike them we Chinese has fewer cold side dishes as we like enjoying them fresh and hot. However, during the period when we are preparing for the Chinese New Year, we like to prepare some food ahead of our busy schedule. And this Spicy Bamboo Salad is one cold dish we will have in our fridge, all you need is some patience in tearing the bamboo shoot.
During the Chinese New Year, when we get to rest at home for a period of time, we tend to gather all the family and cook something that required more time to make and Turnip Cake is the one. One good thing about making your own version of Turmip Cake was that you can have more turnips in your kueh than the flour. We love the result of the Lo Bak Go, as it is firm and flavourful. You can serve and garnish it with spring onion. You will be able to taste all the amazing flavors from the ingredients with not even a bit of salt.
As we know Tang Yuan is a delightful dessert that is served as part of the family reunion meal. With an interesting texture and a super tasty flavor, Tang Yuan is one of our favorite Chinese sweet treats and one we cook all year round as dessert for dinner parties.
We have always been wanting to make some goldfish tangyuan because of the idiom 年年有余 symbolist that every new of the year there will still be food on our table. The recipe for making tang yuan is a no-brainer really. It always helps to relive a childhood memory when we used to play with glutinous rice dough as well!
Let’s celebrate this Chinese New Year, by creating new memories and preserving traditions in safety manner by all means. Let’s bring love, joy, and laughter to the people who treasure the most. Have a wonderful festive season! Give this recipe a try and don’t forget to tag us on Instagram as @leplaincanvas and use the #byplaincanvas hashtag. We love seeing your takes on my recipes.
For the first time in our lives, we didn’t have time to enjoy our festive holidays last year. All the gatherings and event is tight in the schedule. Well, the trip to bail was pretty last minute and the first time we spent less time preparing for one. We have missed out on a lot of events during the festive season.
As the year comes to an end, we swap our light sleeves for a cosy winter coat at Ice Magic: The Great Fantasy on Ice. The last day of the event was January 1, 2023, 3 days before it ended. We are pleased to have made it on time for it.
My sister and I always remember visiting a place like this with our parents when we were really young, maybe 4 years old for me and 7 years old for Angela. As a result, we always want to return there with our parents and recreate the family photo. Unfortunately, our parents could not attend as they are busy with their business as the Chinese New Year approaches. Even so, we are happy that we had the opportunity to experience it, a special moment for us before the year ends.
Ice Magic: The Great Fantasy on Ice
While we knew that the place would be freezing, we were still under-prepared for it. While they offer free winter jackets and shoes, they will still get chilly if you stay inside for an extended period of time. We stepped multiple times to the non-cold zone to warm up. After this experience, we know what we’ll need when we visit a cold country.
We hope we can visit one with our parents next year. Thank you Ice Magic: The Great Fantasy on Ice for having us.
2022 is a year of self-discovery for both of us. We have had a crazy eventful year and we think it ends in a positive way – at least we’ve decided on that. This year we are juggling a little more as both Joe and I have a lot more commitment in our life at the moment. In the earlier part of the year, we search for it, while later on, we try to make them work! Being a part-time blogger wasn’t always easy but it gave us fulfillment in doing things that we love. We get out of the kitchen a little more than in the last two years when we are confined in the house. So let’s run through the year together!
When adventure becomes part of our life
Recording our lives through photography and journalling has been a very big part of our life. As you could never imagine how much one person changes until you have something to look back on it. At the start of the year we have slightly more time for ourselves and Le Plain Canvas as we have less commitment compared to now. Thus we spend a lot of our time traveling around Singapore and discovering places we could never pass by during our everyday. We could never imagine having an “A Walk at ” series for our blog; A walk at Kampong Glam, A walk at East Coast Road, A Walk at Joo Chait, A Walk at Chijmes, A walk to the East | Changi Bay, A walk at National Gallery Singapore and A Walk to National Design Centre. Looking back we are really amazed by how small Singapore is yet how different was for different areas.
One change we have made with the content of the blog was this year we share with you our experience at some café. As Singapore has still many restrictions during the first quarter of the year, one of the new things we like to try was to visit a café in Singapore. This is one of the activities that brought us happiness when we are enjoying the vibes of the café and the food. Some of our favorites were Chu and Co, O Happi Place, Glass Roasters, Homeground, and Dawn. When the list started to build up we then introduce a new series called the “Café Explorer”.
An emotional journey of self-love
One of the dramatic changes, this year, I have kept my hair short and it has brought me joy to have it short. I’ve learned an emotional lesson about self-love. For almost 10 years, I have kept my hair long and never had the intention to cut them off but something happened and here it goes. When friends asked why I was cutting my hair, I could only say that I wanted to break free from the chains that bound me. The ritual of cutting my hair helped me to break away from all the unwanted feelings I had been experiencing. It helped lift my mental state.
We fell in love with Beach.
During the second quarter of the year, we get to have more commitments and worries. Rather than spending time in a crowded space, we move ourselves to the beach. All our worries seem to go away when the sun’s rays fall on our faces and we step on the warm sand.
This year, we have also learned how to embrace our bodies and skin, and allow ourselves to reconnect with nature. In the past, I felt ashamed of my body. I used to hate my body weight. After losing weight, my skin became saggy as well. In the process of healing from all my trauma, I am embracing everything about myself. It’s time for us to fall in love with our bodies a bit more. Let’s not be afraid to wear and do what we like. Life is too short to walk away from all the joy we deserve!
Closing the year with Bali
When it is nearly the end of the year, we got busier with all the celebrations and holiday season. We really need a break before the year’s end, thus having left the country for the first time in three years, we are both anxious and anticipating the trip. The trip brought all the joy we were looking forward to. We managed to hike up to the peak to close the year with the most picturesque sunrises and sunsets viewed from the hills and sea. (Can’t wait to share our experience at Bali with you)
How was 2022 like for you, to us it may not be the best but we know it is helping us to move to a better self. Looking forward to embarking on even more adventures in 2023!
We are always so anxious yet excited to welcome a new year, as we can’t wait for the challenges that we will be facing. Every year we will gather our family and friends to celebrate the last day of the year, with a little mini feast. However, there are times we like to rest and not worry about anything for that day. We got you! This New Year’s Eve, take some stress off your plate and ditch dinner in lieu of party food like dips, appetizers, desserts, and cocktails. It’ll cut down on the mess of forks and knives without sacrificing good eats, and leave you more room for what’s important—celebrating having made it through another year!
To start planning for the meal, we would always like to choose a main for our “party”. Chimichurri Beef Flank and Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Spinach has always been our top choice when we can’t think of anything else.
As to cooking a steak, fats in it play an important role, thus comparing the flank with other parts it is lean and has close to 0% of fat in it. However, it changes your mind about this meat after trying them. It is lean but much more flavourful compared to other premium parts of the beef. Matching it with the chimichurri sauce, elevate the flavour of the steak to another level – making it a perfect and economic dish for your holiday. (we make it for our Christmas this year!)
Food is always better when we can share it with each other. This Stuffed Pork Tenderloin is one of our favourite dishes to make as it is juicy, filled with Mediterranean spinach and feta cheese blend and then covered in a tangy balsamic and rosemary sauce. Any home cook can make this gorgeous pork tenderloin recipe with restaurant-worthy results! Looking for side dish ideas to accompany your Stuffed Pork Tenderloin? Try these easy Grilled Green Peas and an upscale Cauliflower Quinoa Rice.
A Chinese hot pot party is as important as a social event as it is a meal, where friends and family gather and cook around a common pot while chatting and sipping beer. The great thing about a hot pot party is, it’s easy to prepare and very affordable. Plus, a group of people can share so many ingredients, so everybody has an opportunity to try out a variety of things, as well as enjoy their favourites. It’s a good and simple meal when we don’t want to be too complicated (although we always make it complicated).
How could we miss the drinks when it comes to parties?!
In the mid of the holiday, we love making different homemade lemonade to spice up the holiday mood. Especially because we always do it in small batches and it just feels like such a treat. Our all-time favourite is this mandarin orange lemonade (it’s SO good!). However, we love having the citrus in the summer, thus we decide to do one for the winter holiday and we have this Cajun Peach Lemonade.
Where the cocktails are fun for the night when we have a lunch gathering we don’t want anything too heavy thus this Raspberry Mojito Mocktail recipe is the perfect drink to enjoy year-round! It’s loaded with juicy raspberries, fresh thyme, and a hint of lime. This non-alcoholic mojito drink is then topped off with Ginger Beer. This recipe is on repeat at our house. It’s so dang good! We had some raspberry jam so we set out to make a delicious drink.
If you are an alcohol lover, similar to the Raspberry Mojito Mocktail we use ginger beer for this Ginger Fig Cocktail. A cosy spirit-forward fall cocktail with fresh figs muddled in gin and ginger beer and topped with thyme. This will soon become your favourite cocktail to sip by the fire on those crisp chilly fall evenings. There’s always something special about the night and thus we think we need to do something to spice up the drink too.
It’s easy because you pulse the ingredients together in one machine and the do-ahead potential means having time to watch my favourite drama. The ingredients should be at room temperature and you’ll need to refrigerate the cheese for at least three hours after mixing, so plan to prepare ahead of time. It’s the perfect do-ahead appetizer, leaving just the nut coating until game-time. Using just a food processor for combining, you save the time of chopping watercress and herbs and for clean-up. Not to mention you can make this ahead and keep them in the fridge.
Smoked salmon with cream cheese is certainly not revolutionary, but they have taken all of my favourite parts of a traditional Sunday bagel brunch (which is a very big deal in our family) and pulled it together in, dare I say, an extremely elegant way. We use sliced smoked salmon from IKEA, but you could certainly sub this out with any canned smoked salmon flakes that you can find locally. Don’t skimp on the red onion and radishes, though! You need that sharp bite to contrast all the creaminess. This is exactly the type of food I crave, and I know I’ll be making it again and again and again. Recently we did a simple version of the dip Cream Cheese Smoked Salmon Board.
Hummus is our ultimate go-to when it comes to dips. Unfortunately, the store-bought hummus had white sugar, refined sunflower oil and other nasty ingredients, so I prefer to make this homemade hummus and it tastes even better.
We eat hummus as an appetizer with some crudités (we love carrots!) or with homemade tortilla chips, salad dressing or as a side dish, but my favourite way to enjoy this delicious dish is spreading the hummus over a baked pizza crust and I also add chopped tomatoes, sweet paprika, extra virgin olive oil and some olives, it tastes really awesome! You could also try Pumpkin Hummus, Green Goddess Hummus, Green Split Pea Hummus, Roasted Carrot Hummus, or Classic Chickpea Hummus with Peri Peri Sauce.
We hope this little guide will help you ease your busy day of planning the party. If you recreate any of these appetizers for the holiday let us know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging us on Instagram, we love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
Previously we shared with you one of the mocktails – the Raspberry Mojito Mocktail we like to enjoy during the holiday afternoon, we were then thinking about how about the night. There’s always something special about the night and thus we think we need to do something to spice up the drink too.
A cozy spirit-forward fall cocktail with fresh figs muddled in gin and ginger beer and topped with thyme. This will soon become your favorite cocktail to sip by the fire on those crisp chilly fall evenings.
Ingredients you need for the drink
Fresh figs – this is one of the heroes of this cocktail. If fresh figs are not available, you can use a good quality fig preserve instead.
Figs Jam – the key to this simple drink is this fig jam, where it’s hard to get them you could also make your own fig jam.
Homemade ginger syrup – homemade syrups make all the difference in the world when you want to make really good cocktails. But I understand that this may not always be possible, especially when most of these syrups have to be made in quantities significantly more than what you need for one or two cocktails. A good quality ginger beer like Fever Tree is a good substitute for homemade ginger syrup. You can add the ginger beer towards the end instead of the seltzer.
Seltzer – any club soda will work for this fig and gin cocktail. If you are using ginger beer in place of homemade ginger syrup, skip the seltzer.
Thyme – this is a garnish as well as works to entice the nose while sipping your cocktail. It brings out the botanical aromatics in the gin.
Making it ahead
I always thought that we make cocktails fresh after it discovering it will be sold in bottles by many bars thus I thought why not make batches of them and store them in the fridge so that I can enjoy them whenever I like? However, to keep it fresh remember to clean your bottles well and not to keep them for more than a month. Also do shake your bottle well but not to hard before enjoying your glass of cocktail.
If you try this recipe please tag #byplaincanvas on Instagram. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also, follow us on Instagramto keep up on what we’re cooking up.
0.5 oz fresh lime juice about 3 tsp, juice from one small lime
3-4 fresh figs
4 oz seltzer to top with
more figs and thyme for garnish
Methods
Muddle the figs in a cocktail shaker with a muddler.
Add the ice cubes to the cocktail shaker along with other ingredients except for the seltzer and thyme.
Shake well for 5-8 seconds.
Pour over a tea strainer (basically a double strainer – the strainer in the cocktail shaker and the tea strainer) into cocktail glasses filled with crushed ice.
Top with seltzer and give it a quick swizzle to mix well.
When it comes to Christmas, many think of a bright and colorful one or a simple one. Where will you like a plain and simple Christmas for our small home, when I look at moody Christmas I don’t hate it, however on another hand, it is cozy to me.
What kind of Christmas decoration do you prefer?
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
When it comes to octopus dishes, it is always the most expensive seafood you can see in restaurants. It always looks fancy and difficult to make, thus they always make us scared to create them. Finally, we give it a try it may look like a fancy meal, but this Grilled Octopus with Chickpea Puree is much easier than you thought.
How to Make Grilled Octopus?
You can buy fresh, raw and uncooked octopus or boiled octopus that has been cooked. As octopuses are naturally briny, you don’t need a lot of ingredients. All you need are great olive oil and basic seasonings. A few minutes on the grill and you’re done! Not to mention the chickpeas puree will help you to complete the flavour of the octopus.
If the Octopus is Raw If you are lucky enough to get a raw octopus you will need to steam it before grilling it. Steaming it will allow the juice of the octopus to store in the fresh, as grilling or boiling it immediately will allow the octopus to lose its juice before you grill it. 1) In a steamer, place the marinated octopus in a bowl and steam it for 10 minutes till it is slightly curled up. 2) In a pan, drizzle it with 2 rounds of olive oil, and grilled the octopus till slightly browned at 3 minutes for each side.
If the Octopus is Boiled If you want a fast meal, it is great for you to get octopus that is already boiled, while it has less flavour compared to the raw octopus, it is a great option when you want to have a quick meal. Not to mention you can store them longer. All you need is to drizzle the pan with 2 rounds of olive oil, and grilled the octopus till slightly browned at 3 minutes for each side.
How to make Chickpeas Puree?
Chickpeas puree is like a runny version of hummus one of our favourite dips. The basic ingredients for the hummus are chickpeas, garlic, olive oil and tahini. But for the chickpeas puree
How To Grill Octopus Without Boiling?
If you are lucky to get fresh octopus, you just need to grill them on direct heat for a total of a few minutes on both sides. As soon as the tentacles or limbs curl up and the flesh turns white or opaque in colour, they are cooked. Do not over grilled or they will turn rubbery and chewy. Perfectly grilled octopus should be tender to the bite and juicy.
If you try this recipe please tag #byplaincanvas on Instagram or Twitter. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also, follow us on Instagramto keep up on what we’re cooking up.
It’s the time of the most beautiful time of the year, during this holiday period when we will be hosting differents gatherings at home, where we will be serving different food and chit-chat together we like to make different drinks.
Where the cocktails are fun for the night when we have a lunch gathering we doesn’t want anything too heavy thus this Raspberry Mojito Mocktail recipe is the perfect drink to enjoy year-round! It’s loaded with juicy raspberries, fresh thyme, and a hint of lime. This non-alcoholic mojito drink is then topped off with Ginger Beer. This recipe is on repeat at our house. It’s so dang good! We had some raspberry jam so we set out to make a delicious drink.
What Ingredients do you Need?
Raspberry Jam: Raspberry Jam is the key to this drink, usually we will squash the raspberry and make it into raspberry syrup but using raspberry jam saves you all the time. You could make your own jam too instead of the store-bought one.
Fresh/ Frozen Raspberry: Fresh raspberry not only is short in the season but it also has a short lifespan, thus frozen raspberry is a good choice.
Ginger Beer: Ginger beer is ginger ale’s sinister cousin. Like ginger ale, it is ginger-flavoured, sweetened, carbonated, and served cold. But where ginger ale is sweet with a hint of ginger, ginger beer is ginger with a hint of sweet.
Thyme/ Mint (of your choice)
How do you make this drink?
While there aren’t many steps in making this drink, all you need to mix all the ingredients well will they are iced. After making sure the drink is been mixed well, we will drain the ice awhile from the drink, to prevent it to diluted over time. It will be great if you have a cocktail mixer as it will make sure the drink are been mixed well.
Can I replace Ginger Beer? The key to this drink is the hint of ginger in the drink and it will be a totally different drink if you replace them with tonic, soda water or anything else. Thus we would recommend you not change the ingredient.
Tips when using frozen raspberry. DO NOT thaw the frozen raspberry but treat it like an iced and serve them frozen in your drink!
If you try this recipe please tag #byplaincanvas on Instagram or Twitter. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also, follow us on Instagramto keep up on what we’re cooking up.
In many countries, during the winter they warm up the house and themselves with a fireplace that has at home. And during the Christmas period, they will specially decorate the place as it is the place where most of the family members gather together. Christmas tree, socking, ribbon, throw over, and more, are used to make the place wonder.
While we don’t have one in Singapore but it is always nice to see some inspiration about it. We especially love the fireplace that is in white theme as they complement the green and red in Christmas really well. Simple element are used to provide the clean look.
Would you like to decorate your fireplace if you have one?
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Sometimes cooking steak can be very intimidating. Paying a pretty penny on the perfect cut only to end up over-cooking it is so heartbreaking! Learning how to cook steak the right way isn’t only great for your wallet but also benefits your steak-cooking confidence. To us, Ribeye is the perfect cut of steak. The beautiful marbling of fat throughout breaks down and cooks into the meat, making it deliciously tender and flavorful without elaborate seasoning. The flavor only gets even better it’s slow-cooked!
Ingredients you need for this Steak
Ribeye steak – A boneless, 2 to 2 ½ inch thick cut is best for this method. Make sure it has minimal amounts of gristle and is marbled evenly throughout.
Steak seasoning – A thick and juicy Ribeye doesn’t need much to help bring out the flavor. A simple seasoning of fresh garlic, sprigs of thyme, and sea salt are all you need before this steak heads into the oven.
Compound butter – Slices of fresh, homemade, and creamy compound butter melt into the steak to add more flavor.
Roasted potato – Make this a meal with a few roasted tomatoes on the side. They will add a natural sweetness and acidity to the dish that is also highly nutritious. Keep them on the vine for a pop of color and elegant presentation.
How To Cook Ribeye Steak In The Oven
Season the steak: Completely pat the steak dry with paper towels, making sure to dab the sides as well. Add the salt, smashed garlic, and thyme to both sides of the steak. Press the seasonings into all areas. If they aren’t sticking, add a little oil to the steak.
Cook the steak: Place the seasoned steak on a cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet. Bake on the middle rack in the oven for about 45 minutes or until it’s at the temperature you like.
Let it rest: Take the cooked steak out of the oven and loosely add a piece of foil over top. Leave it to rest on a cutting board for 15 minutes to help redistribute the juices inside. Meanwhile, preheat your skillet over high heat.
Serve and enjoy: Slice the cooked ribeye on a cutting board against the grain to serve to a crowd or leave it uncut. Drizzle with chimichurri sauce, place the roasted tomatoes on the side, and enjoy with your favorite low-carb side dishes.
Lola’s Cafe first started in Kovan, opening its doors in 2013. They are well known for their food and required to book if you are visiting them during the weekend. We are glad they open a new brand at Holland Village which is more accessible for us. Do take note that the menu at both outlets is slightly different, with the Holland Village outlet offering exclusively new dishes, such as pasta!
The cafe is located right at the end of Holland Village where all the popular pubs is located at. They consist of both outdoor and indoor seat for different preference. It is tastefully decorated with wooden tones and has a minimalistic vibe. Dashes of plants are sprinkled all over the cafe, bringing nature indoors.
We went for the Crab Cake Benedict ($19) which consist of handmade crab cake on toasted English muffins, topped with miso hollandaise sauce and furikake.
Not forgetting the poached eggs as well. As you cut across, the combination of oozy egg yolk, moist crab cake and unique miso hollandaise may just create that mini explosion in your mouth.
All of the pasta looks amazing and we decided to go for the classic Bacon Carbonara (S$18) is your typical pasta with a twist— there is wine in this dish! Handmade fettuccine is topped with smoked bacon, parmesan and a sous vide egg that is egg-cellent.
Head over to this cafe for twice during lunch hours and it requires a 30 minutes waiting. Thus if you hate waiting please book a table ahead before heading. But even if you don’t I believe the wait is worth it.
Lola’s Cafe Address: 48 Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277699 Operating Hours: 9am – 10pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon
What better way to get your holiday started off right than with these festive Christmas appetizers? If you need to satisfy a crowd before your holiday dinner, keep them happy and snackin’ on these deliciously filling apps until you’re ready to serve up the main meal.
Cream Cheese Smoked Salmon Board
The TikTok viral butter board really got my attention until…we were scrolling through Instagram several days ago and saw someone take the butter board trend and use cream cheese and smoked salmon…one of our favorite combinations!
It’s really so easy you don’t need a recipe and you can make this board for as many or as few people as you like. There is no cooking required, it makes a beautiful presentation and as we said above, it is so yummy that you won’t even believe it! We can’t think of a season or an event that this board wouldn’t be perfect for…Christmas morning (definitely happening here), a cocktail party appetizer, drinks on the porch, by the fire, and even dinner for 1 or 2! It’s seriously that good!
Lemon Burrata with Basil
We love an easy starter to kick off a dinner party or to enjoy with a pre-dinner cocktail. Isn’t it great when you can combine a few fresh ingredients on a plate and call it done?! Creamy burrata blend with grassy olive oil, lemon zest, and sweet basil for a satisfying spread on toasted ciabatta. Pair it with a young, crisp Pinot Grigio or white sangria for a festive start to your special occasion.
On the surface, it looks like a ball of fresh mozzarella, and it sort of is. On the inside, it’s a velvety mixture of cheese curds and cream wrapped up in a shell of mozzarella cheese. Burrata hasn’t been around as long as mozzarella and was invented as a way to make use of mozzarella scraps to reduce waste in the cheesemaking process. Brilliant! A great choice for those wants to try something new.
Mixed Roasted Potatoes With Mozerella
While this is more like a side dish for a meal, there are times we also like to have it as an appetizer. With Christmas right around the corner, it seems like mashed potatoes and potato gratin are all the rage. Sure, these classic potato recipes are tasty, but oven-roasted potatoes offer something totally different and equally delicious. If you’re looking for a last-minute holiday side dish that your guests will love, this recipe is the one for you. Here’s why:
Crispy potato skins. Is there anything better than crisp, puffy potato skins straight out of the oven?
Creamy middles. Those crave-able, golden brown edges give way to super creamy centers, so each bite has an amazing mix of textures.
The dressing. Honestly, it’s tempting to devour these roasted potatoes straight off the sheet pan, when they’re simply tossed with olive oil, salt, and pepper. But I like to take them one step further. While they’re still warm, I toss them in a bold, zingy vinaigrette made with lemon, Dijon mustard, and rosemary. Once the potatoes absorb it, they become bright, rich, and totally irresistible.
Clearly, we’re hooked on these easy oven-roasted potatoes. Whether you make them for a holiday meal or for dinner any night of the week.
Spicy Smoked Salmon
are fantastic appetizers or finger food, and perfect for entertaining. Smoked salmon, dill, and mustard are combined to create an easy savory starter. If you love smoked salmon, you have to try these easy salmon “dips”! They look really fancy, and perfect for entertaining, but they are also easy enough to prepare for brunch.
Whether you’re looking to make a simple appetizer for Christmas dinner, or you’re trying to impress guests at a birthday party, this recipe is a guaranteed hit. Spicy smoked salmon has a very mild and pleasant flavor, which is sure to please a crowd.
What do you need?
Smoked salmon: Cold smoked salmon or smoked trout will both work well. If you use frozen smoked salmon, you will have to defrost it before use.
Whole grain mustard: Unlike mustard, whole grain mustard is a prepared condiment that is only partially blended, with some of the mustard seeds still visible, creating an overall coarse and slightly pasty texture.
Dill: Fresh dill is a great pairing with salmon and cream cheese. It is however optional, so you can omit it if you prefer, or substitute it with parsley.
Red Onion: The key to this dish is this small red onion, it will elevate the dish.
If you recreate any of these appetizers for Christmas let us know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging us on Instagram, we love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
First, preheat the oven to 350°F for toasting the ciabatta.
Place the burrata in a serving dish and set aside to rest at room temperature while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
Combine chopped fresh basil, lemon zest, chopped garlic, and one tablespoon of good-quality olive oil in a small bowl. Add a pinch or more of crushed red pepper flake and flaky salt to taste. Let the flavors mingle while you toast the bread.
Mixed Roasted Potatoes With Mozerella
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Place the burrata in a shallow serving bowl, and set it aside (it’s best served at room temperature).
Combine the basil, lemon zest, garlic, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a small bowl. Add crushed red pepper and salt to taste. Let the flavors mingle while you toast the ciabatta.
Place the ciabatta slices on a sheet pan + brush them lightly with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Toast them in the oven for 4 to 6 minutes.
Arrange the toasted ciabatta in a serving dish or basket. Spoon the basil mixture over the burrata. Drizzle the last tablespoon of olive oil around the bowl.
Here’s the best part — slice into the burrata to let the gooey middle flow into the bowl. Scoop the cheese onto your ciabatta and enjoy!
During the birthday of Joe, we decide to capture that special day but heading to a hidden place at Singapore for a mini photoshoot for her 30th birthday.
Ribbons, bells, miniature angels, and candy canes are just some of the things we fill our house with every Christmas season. Most of us tend to over-decorate every area of our home in order for us to feel happy and cozy during the festive period! How do you think a minimalist can pull off the season without having “too much” of what we traditionally do?
Rather than those big and bulky Christmas trees, pick a smaller one so that your home won’t be overwhelmed with them.
If your home boasts neutral tones and simplistic vibes, your Christmas décor can fit right in without throwing off your perfectly-curated aesthetic. Add small, simplistic wreaths across your kitchen—an unlikely space to receive Christmas cheer–for a unique but still low-maintenance decorating idea.
What do you think about a simple Christmas?
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Once Thanksgiving is over, you’ll know that the holiday season is just around the corner. It was just January and here we are less than a month from the end of 2022. If you’ve been following us, you know that Christmas is our favorite holiday season. As the most meaningful season of the year, I give back and am grateful for all the love and joy I have received.
This time of the year we will be busy with an endless list of agendas. While work is burying us, we still find time to do things that we love – and explore ideas in food and drinks. Both Joe and I were thinking since we have the thought of making a Christmas Wreath but we do not have time to pick up the greens why not make an edible one?
It is ready simple and beautiful Antipasto for serving individual items at a party so many fingers aren’t touching the food. These skewers can be made quickly and restocked with extra throughout the party. Let us get started.
What is Antipasto?
Antipasto is the first course of an Italian meal (it means “before the meal”) and typically refers to a small plate of meat, cheese, pickled vegetables, and olives. Instead of serving our antipasto on a plate, we’ve added them to skewers for this recipe.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this recipe.
1-pint cherry tomato
½ pound mixed Greek olives
8 ounces fresh Mozzarella balls (we used Ciliegine)
4 ounces sliced salami
1 bunch of fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
pinch of salt and pepper
30 bamboo skewers
Can you use different ingredients for making an antipasto wreath?
Absolutely! The whole idea is to mix and match different ingredients and enjoy. So, you can use whatever ingredients you love. Remember to tick the boxes for cured meat, cheese, and vegetables. This Antipasto wreath recipe is very versatile.
Substitutions and Alternatives
This holiday wreath appetizer is so great because you can truly mix and match whatever ingredients you like. You don’t have to stick with the traditional items that you’d find in an antipasto tray.
For a change, try one of these alternative ingredients:
Pickled/smoked meat
Roasted vegetables
Mushrooms
Artichoke hearts
Anchovies
Asiago or cheddar cheese
If you try this recipe please tag #byplaincanvas on Instagram or Twitter. We love to see your photos of our recipes! Also, follow us on Instagramto keep up on what we’re cooking up.
If you’ve ever visited Holland Village, you’d recognise Thambi Magazine. The iconic old-school magazine store is known for being one of the only newsstands left in Singapore, but did you know that it also houses a hidden little cafe? It wasn’t a very big place, but at Caffeine Xpress you couldn’t find the coffee that you need.
The cafe uses beans from the local brand Six Four Coffee, and for freshly brewed coffee, their prices are relatively affordable. An Espresso is priced at S$3, while a Latte costs S$4 for 8oz, and S$5.50 for 12oz or an iced drink.
If you’re not a coffee person, the cafe also serves Matcha (S$4 for 8oz, S$5.50 for 12oz and iced) and Chocolate (S$4 for 8oz, S$5.50 for 12oz and iced). There’s also the option of replacing the coffee in your Dalgona Latte with chocolate if you prefer a non-caffeinated version of the drink.
Caffeine Xpress Address: 211 Holland Road #01-K4 Holland Road Shopping Centre, Singapore 278967 Opening Hours: 8am – 6pm (Mon to Sat), 9am – 6pm (Sun)
Having open storage creates an informal, relaxed feel in the kitchen – but it doesn’t work for everyone. You need to consider the shelves’ position, what you intend to store on them, and how they will look. Here are 10 points to think about before deciding whether this style is right for you.
Keep it neat and tidy If you’re more inclined to the latter, you should perhaps think twice about installing more places where you’ll be tempted to scatter your stuff. If you are a tidy lot, however, and know that everyone will generally put everything where it belongs, open storage could be perfect for you.
Be prepared for more dusting There’s no getting away from it – open storage will gather dust far more quickly than closed units will. So if you plan to display some of your more attractive but little-used items on shelves, remember that they’ll need to be wiped down more frequently.
Take your height into account If you’re a little shorter than average and will frequently have to climb a stepladder to reach high-up pots and pans, then open storage might not be the most practical option for you. If the height is on your side, however, you will probably find reaching up to an item much easier than bending down to rummage around in a low cupboard for it.
Are you still up for this shelving?
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
While we have been meat eaters for many years, we are still very new to going vegan. For now, our vegan diet consists of potato, tempeh, and lots of tofu. However, even with only just these 3 ingredients, there are many ways and flavours we can make use of and have fun enjoying them. Here are our Top 8 Vegan Recipes for the Fall!
You will fall in love with this Soy and Scallion Tofu bowl instantly. If you are a vegan or decide to have a meatless Monday (just like Angela), this recipe shows you how to make tofu taste like teriyaki meat without a fuss. You can enjoy the juiciest, well-seasoned bowl without worrying about your plant-based meal tasting like grass.
The crispy-crumbly texture and the juicy, savoury flavours of this simple tofu stir-fry are oh-so-lovable. Scooped over a pillowy bowl of steaming white rice, it’s a new (to us) kind of comfort food and we are all about it.
Sweet potatoes are a staple food in many parts of the world. They are a good source of fibre and potassium, When did you first decide to let sweet potato slide into your diet, forcing some old buddies out? I know people who did it for the hype of how healthy sweet potatoes are (usually compared to potatoes). It’s higher in fibre, and lower in Glycemic Index(half of the potato’s value), and because it was once overlooked, its mauve-orange appearance feels fresh and chic.
Teriyaki Tempeh Rice – this recipe comes together in just 15 minutes and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser in your home! It’s packed with flavour and has a ton of plant-based protein. I’m glad the pictures now reflect how absolutely delicious this recipe is!
This is a healthy, vegetarian/vegan take on beef and bak coy, my Chinese take-out dish of choice growing up. It’s just as delicious and satisfying! And like most of the dinner recipes you’ll find here, this one is pretty easy to toss together — no cooking experience needed. Everything is cooked in one skillet so you don’t have to worry about cleaning a bunch of dishes either. Hooray!
Years back we tested our very first spam musubi and ever since it has been our favourite to-go snack/ quick bite for the lunch. However, we couldn’t enjoy it as much as we could as spam is one of the unhealthy options and not to mention it is kind of overpriced. Therefore, with A vegan twist on the classic spam musubi, this tofu musubi will win over our hearts!
For those who don’t know what is spam musubi, it is basically big sushi with spam on it with seaweed wrapping over it. You could prepare it ahead without the seaweed and refrigerate it for the next day. Although, we are sure that you won’t keep any after you did it. All you need is to microwave it for 30 seconds and wrap the seaweed over like an onigiri.
This colourful Fall Harvest Salad combines so many great textures and autumn flavours. Loaded with roasted sweet potato, fresh crisp beetroot, quinoa, and toasted walnut, this fall salad is tossed with lettuce and a delicious homemade tahini lemon dressing. It’s healthy, wholesome, nourishing, and filling. Plus, it’s a gorgeous and colourful salad to put on your holiday table this year. Enjoy this for dinner and save the leftovers for lunch the next day!
As you know we have been trying to improve our diet for the past year by introducing healthier options such as vegan, replacing our refined with grain, choosing a healthier cooking method and more. In the past year, my knowledge of vegan food is minimal, I always thought they are plain. However, as time passes and we learn more about it, there are days we could replace them with our meat. This time we pick up another new ingredient – tempeh.
As we mentioned, tempeh has a nutty-mushroom flavour as opposed to tofu. Using spices to create marinades that have strong flavours is the key. This Korean BBQ marinade is sweet, salty, and full of Asian flavours. To make the marinade, whisk together all the ingredients in a bowl. You can also use a mason jar and shake up all the ingredients together.
This vegan pasta bake is everything you want from a saucy cheesy pasta dish! it’s a firm favourite in our house and for a good reason! With colder days creeping up we crave comforting meals that are delicious and easy to make. This is actually one of Angela’s signature dishes so she’s the inspiration behind it, and we’ve tweaked it with some of our favourite things!
Our Vegan Pasta Bake is packed with ingredients, topped with our favourite vegan cheese, and baked to perfection. It makes for a perfect weeknight dinner that freezes and stores very well. Leftovers, anyone?
We fell in love with hummus the first time Angela tried it a few years ago, but we’ve always made the traditional version until I try a store-bought roasted red pepper hummus and it tastes even better! Unfortunately, the store-bought hummus had white sugar, refined sunflower oil and other nasty ingredients, so I prefer to make this homemade hummus and it tastes even better.
We eat hummus as an appetizer with some crudités (we love carrots!) or with homemade tortilla chips, salad dressing or as a side dish, but my favourite way to enjoy this delicious dish is spreading the hummus over a baked pizza crust and I also add chopped tomatoes, sweet paprika, extra virgin olive oil and some olives, it tastes really awesome!
Some people manage to go vegan overnight and if that’s the right approach for you, fantastic. But don’t be concerned if you feel you need more time. Like any other lifestyle change, going vegan not only takes getting used to it, but it takes time to determine what will work best for you. It’s not a one size fits all experience and there are numerous approaches you can take. Which are your favourite recipes?
Kohi Roastery & Coffee Bar isn’t all that remarkable at first glance. At a fleeting look, it’s a literal hole-in-the-wall. Mind you, it’s a rather unique “hole” that’s framed by a bright canary yellow paint job – one that has hoards of customers waiting patiently outside for their coffee fix during the day.
This particular coffee chain might hail from Bangkok, but there’s certainly no shortage of good coffee roasters in Singapore. And that’s exactly why Kohi is using a Red Dot blend, as a nod to our local coffee scene. Expect notes of citrus and tropical fruits, with an overlaying base of black tea.
Don’t expect to find items like your Caramel Macchiato here, the menu isn’t too extensive with simple items like White ($6), Black ($5), and Espresso ($4). There’s also Espresso Tonic ($7) and Coco(nut) Xpresso ($7) for sweltering hot days.
The coffee uses a Red Dot Blend, which has hints of tropical fruit, citrus, and black tea.
Fifty shades of brown might not have quite the same ring to it as the titular literary franchise it calls to mind, but it’s arguably a better design proposal. If you’re considering new ways to decorate with color, the humble hue is suitable for just about any design style and myriad tastes.
From a variety of earthy tints to all of the sumptuous wood tones nature can muster, brown is an elevated color choice that’s perfect for boosting a room’s style factor.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Roasted Carrot Soup is an easy carrot soup recipe with tomatoes, garlic, cumin, and Greek yogurt to make it creamy and filling. This tomato-based vegetarian soup is simple and healthy, and the leftovers are perfect for lunches and dinners all week long!
Roasting carrots in the oven means this carrot soup is more hands-off than a traditional soup that involves sautéing veggies on the stovetop. But this Roasted Carrot Soup is also miles better than a standard carrot soup because roasting caramelizes the veggies and adds depth and complexity to the flavor. This alone makes for a delectable soup, but we decided to take it to the next level by adding cumin, freshly grated ginger (optional), cream, and vegetable stock. This is a vegetable soup worth getting excited about!
Why you’ll love this recipe
Simple Ingredients: All you need is 4 ingredients to make this flavourful soup.
Rich Flavor: Roasted carrots have a rich, sweet, and savory caramelized flavor that is made even better by turning them into a gorgeous creamy soup. You can really taste the roasted carrots and I love it.
Easy to make: There are a few steps involved in getting this soup just right, but they aren’t very hard. Follow these easy instructions to learn how to make carrot soup that everyone will love.
4 Simple Ingredients
Carrots. The trick to the rich, almost intoxicating taste of this simple carrot soup is roasting the carrots which enhances their flavor and makes them super sweet.
Cumin. Added to the carrots prior to roasting for a little extra kick.
Vegetable Stock. We like to use the vegetable stock for more flavors
Cream. Gives the soup a light tang that balances the sweetness of the roasted carrots and onions and creates a smooth, velvety texture. The cream’s high protein content makes the Roasted Carrot Soup more filling too.
Additional tips to make your life easier
Use two sheet pans if needed. If you crowd your vegetables, they’ll steam instead of roasting and caramelizing. If your veggies look crowded on the sheet pan, transfer half of them to a second pan so they have sufficient space.
The broth needs to be hot. You’re not cooking the soup after pureeing, so heat up the broth before you put it in the blender with the vegetables. Vent the top a little to let steam escape and avoid hot soup splattering all over the place.
Don’t overload your blender. You can puree the soup in batches if you need to.
How to store and reheat?
This is the kind of soup that tastes better and better as the days pass! Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days; reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.
If you recreate any of theseRoasted Carrot Soup let us know how you liked it by leaving a comment and rating below or by tagging us on Instagram, we love seeing all of your tasty recreations!
3 cups great quality vegetable broth, boiling hot*
1 can, of 400g cream
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
Methods
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F/218 degrees C.
On a large sheet pan prepared with a silicone mat, parchment, or foil, add the carrots and the onions. Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and season with a grinding of fresh sea salt and ground black pepper. Rub the seasonings and oil into the vegetables and spread them out.
Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, turning halfway until veggies are roasted and carrots are fork tender.
In a large blender, add all the remaining ingredients to the vegetables. Ensure that the broth is very hot. If you’re not using a large blender (holds at least 6 cups) then do this in increments. Vent the top a little to let steam escape and avoid hot soup splattering all over the place.
Using the soup setting on your blender, or a very powerful blend option, blend until creamy and smooth. My blender automatically blends for about 3 minutes continuously.
Taste and add salt and pepper to taste if necessary. Top with garnish, we use carrot oil and basil leaves. Serve in bowls and enjoy!
Puck Provisions is the new kid on the block. If you’re the type that needs your caffeine to kick in before reality does, then we’ve got your back. We’ve got no shortage of places to hit up, and this hole-in-the-wall spot will tick all your boxes.
They’ve got a massive coffee bar counter for you to chill with a friend, and watch the barista make your coffee. Is it just me that loves the hum of the coffee machines and the smell of a fresh brew wafting in the air?
They’ve got pretty sage walls for a calming effect, perfect for starting your day on a good note. Puck Provisions is still in its soft launch phase, and everything on the menu is on a tipping basis. They use single-origin Ethiopia beans roasted in-house for their range of espresso drinks. Avid coffee drinkers can pick between Doppio, Piccolo, Black, or White, depending on preference.
We especially love the huge sharing table here, as it is not as busy as many places, it is a good place to work or have a read on your book.
Puck Provision Address: 618 Serangoon Rd, #01-01 Opening hours: Tues-Fri 10 am – 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am – 6 pm (Closed on Mon)
We’re often praising the versatility of nature-inspired green shades, and we’ve always had a soft spot for the wonderful luxe, timeless, and understated appeal of olive green. The richness of this deep and earthy colour makes it a go-to consideration for any new decorating scheme.
When utilized as a wall colour, olive green warms the space and adds a calming quality to the home, making it popular in biophilic interiors. When it comes to décor, it’s a shade that works well as an accent piece in neutral and nature-inspired homes, as being both inviting and pared-back. For a playful interior, olive green can also be paired with pink for an eye-catching look.
‘Olive green is a perfect all-year-round shade – in the summer it reminds us of the Italian countryside and alfresco dining, and pairs beautifully with white or even a very pale blush and gold accents.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
This vegan pasta bake is everything you want from a saucy cheesy pasta dish! it’s a firm favorite in our house and for a good reason! With colder days creeping up we crave comforting meals that are delicious and easy to make. This is actually one of Angela’s signature dishes so she’s the inspiration behind it, and we’ve tweaked it with some of our favorite things!
Our Vegan Pasta Bake is packed with ingridents, topped with our favorite vegan cheese, and baked to perfection. It makes for a perfect weeknight dinner that freezes and stores very well. Leftovers, anyone?
What ingredients do you need?
Impossible minced meat: It is one of our go-to ingredients when we want to go vegan and replace our meat. While it tastes very different from the beef we usually have but the texture is 100% similar to it.
Choice of vegetables: We uses chopped onion and bell pepper here, but you can add in the things you like such as mushroom, lentils, peas, and more. Sometimes when we are feeling fancy we like to add in some herbs like basil leaves.
Tomato Paste: We use ready-made pasta sauce here, but you too can use tomato pasta and water as replacements.
Cooked pasta: When cooking your pasta at a good amount of olive oil and salt for the right texture and to maintain the colors.
Mozerella cheese: We use shredded mozzarella cheese here.
How to make Vegan Baked Pasta
You will find full instructions and measurements in the recipe card at the bottom of the post. This is a summary of the process to go along with the process photos.
Put the pasta on to cook. When it’s cooked, drain it, cover it (to prevent it from drying out) and set it aside.
Prepare your bolognese sauce. Add chopped onion and crushed garlic to a pot with olive oil and fry until softened. Add chopped bell pepper and cover the pot for a minute and allow the bell pepper to soften. Then remove the lid from the pot and add in the impossible minced meat, stir and cook well before adding in the tomato sauce. We like to stir in the pasta and soak it will the sauce for more flavour.
Assemble it in an oven-proof dish. Filled the dish with the pasta and top it generously with cheese. Bake uncovered at 430°F for 20 minutes until golden on top.
Finely chop the onion and place in a saucepan on medium heat with some oil. Leave to fry for a few minutes.
Mince the garlic and finely chop the red pepper and add to the pan. Cook for about 10 minutes until the onion and pepper are soft.
Add the chopped tomatoes, water, finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes, tomato puree, balsamic vinegar, sugar, mixed herbs, and pinch of chili flakes (optional). Bring to a gentle simmer and leave to cook for 15-20 minutes. It should have thickened and deepened in color, add a little more water if you need to whilst cooking.
In a separate pan, heat some oil. Cut sausages into small chunks and fry until browned and crispy. Set aside.
Make the white sauce. Add vegan butter to a small saucepan on low heat. Once melted add the flour and mix until it forms a roux/paste.
Gradually add the milk and whisk continuously until smooth. Add the vegan cheddar and whisk again until melted and thickened. Set aside.
Cook pasta until al dente. Drain and place in an oven proof dish.
Taste and season the tomato sauce and pour over the pasta with the cooked sausage. Stir well.
Sprinkle the vegan cheddar and mozzarella on top and place in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
The cheese should be melted and the sides crispy and bubbling.
It’s been months since we visited the newly opened Plain Vanilla at Joo Chiat. Plain Vanilla has been one of the cafes that grew up together with us. It is also one of the very first cafes we visited years back when cafe hopping become a trend. Now this locally grown cafe had already a few branches all around Singapore. We got to visit the newest branch at Joo Chiat.
Once you reach the cafe, you are been welcome by a full glass of bakeries. In terms of interior design, the colour tonality of the interior is similar to its revamped Tiong Bahru outlet. Think of patches of red walls, wooden furniture, and indoor plants – it is a very cosy ambiance. The space is split into indoor dining and backyard space with a skylight over the yard. Although it’s a little warm, we enjoy seating outside when we intend to stay at a cafe for a period of time.
It’s not the first time we dine in Plain Vanilla, we always enjoy their bake, especially the cupcakes. On this trip to the Joo Chiat branch, we got ourselves two desserts the Apricot Galette and Caramel Truffle Tart. Apricot & Pistachio Galette ($5) the sweetness of apricot blends well with the roasted pistachio. It has a flakey crust with is good to my liking. Salted Caramel Truffle Tart ($8), start to eat from the center of the tart, you will then be surprised with the runny salted caramel. Don’t worry it will be sweet as it matches well with the dark chocolate of the tart.
Other than the bakeries, they also serve a Breakfast menu (8 am to 3:30 pm) and Brunch menu (11 am to 3:30 pm), with the likes of toast, granola bowls, Eggs Benedict (S$22), Smashed Avocado Toast (S$22) and even handmade pasta. We also ordered some drinks to enjoy with our dessert Summer Fruit ($7) and Piccolo Latte ($4.5). The coffee here is by Allpress, one of our favorite New Zealand coffee roaster brands. We also like the fact that they have free-flow sparkling water as an option for their drinks, while it required us to pay a small amount of fee for it, it is totally worth it!
Plain Vanilla East Coast Address: 199 East Coast Road Singapore 428902 Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday: 7:30 am to 7:00 pm
THERE AREN’T many Parisapartments that we don’t like, but when we come across ones that are Joseph Dirand-esque, like this incredibly chic bachelor pad in the Place du Trocadéro, it’s a very special thing. Designed by Paris-based interior designer Isabelle Stanislas, the 4,800-square-foot pied-à-terre is the ultimate in sophistication with its muted tones, chevron wood flooring and boiserie. It is a study in art and architecture—Salinas opened the living room to the dome above and added a sweeping staircase—as well as restraint and an astonishing amount of wood.
We especially felt in love with the furniture that were used here. Every piece was so unique yet fit the apartment real well. The fury chair gave a fall/winter vibes which is what we really need now. Really want to have a seat on them during the rainy day.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
This butternut risotto recipe is comforting, yet redeeming, and absolutely delicious. It features tender, caramelized cubes of butternut squash throughout. Unlike most risotto, this one calls for brown short-grain rice instead of white. This yields a super creamy risotto full of whole-grain goodness. The lightly nutty brown rice makes this risotto recipe remarkably flavorful, in the best of ways.
4 Ingredients to make Roasted Butternut
We always have been making roasted vegetables or even pumpkin puree, thus roasting butternut has been one of the techniques we are really familiar with. For this roasted butternut, you will need butternut, thyme, sage, and olive oil. Butternut Squash Vs Pumpkin Both butternut squash and pumpkin are winter squash,but butternut squash is available year-round. They’re usually sweeter and more nutritious in the winter because they’re harvested locally, rather than being shipped from further away or grown in less natural greenhouse-type environments throughout the year.
Making a good Risotto
Roasting butternut before making risotto is a common step in butternut squash risotto recipes. This one isn’t. In this recipe, butternut squash becomes a kind of sauce thanks to the fact that it is cooked in the same pot as everything else. We are amazed at the results. Making risotto is easy if you remember these two things.
Use hot stock. It is important to add the stock gradually when cooking risotto. Adding the stock to the arborio rice at a warm temperature prevents the temperature from dropping. The rice will also absorb the stock more quickly, resulting in a creamier texture.
Never stop stirring. It’s therapeutic for some and troublesome for others. There is no way to avoid it. Arborio rice—the kind generally used in risotto— is extra starchy, which means it’s more likely to stick (and burn). Stirring constantly is how the best way to do this.
Risotto is a great side dish to any number of meals. Serve it with a simple roasted chicken, a perfectly cooked steak, or a buttery piece of salmon. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Risotto can also be frozen for up to 1 month. Reheat with a little more broth to bring it back to life.
1 small butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled and sliced into ½” cubes
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced
1 teaspoon salt, more to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
sage & thyme
Methods
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Toss the squash in 1 tbsp oil together with the chopped sage. Scatter into a shallow roasting tin and roast for 30 mins until brown and soft.
While the squash is roasting, prepare the risotto. Bring the stock to a boil and keep it on a low simmer. In a separate pan, melt half the butter over medium heat. Stir in the onions and cook gently for 8-10 mins until soft but not coloured, stirring occasionally. Stir the rice into the onions until completely coated in the butter, then stir continuously until the rice is shiny and the edges of the grain start to look transparent.
Pour in the wine and simmer until completely evaporated. Add the stock, a ladleful at a time, and stirring the rice over a low heat for 25-30 mins, until the rice is cooked al dente (with a slightly firm, starchy bite in the middle). The risotto should be creamy and slightly soupy.
At the same time, gently fry the whole sage leaves in a little olive oil until crisp, then set aside on kitchen paper. When the squash is cooked, mash half of it to a rough purée and leave half whole. When the risotto is just done, stir through the purée, then add the cheese and remaining butter and leave to rest for a few minutes. Serve the risotto scattered with the whole chunks of squash and the crisp sage leaves.
I’ve seen Hello Arigato pop up multiple times on my Instagram feed. Whenever I pass by the street of Joo Chiat, the seats of Hello Arigato are always full and a long queue forms outside them. For those who are unfamiliar, Hello Arigato is a new-ish cafe located in the Upper Thomson area. They are known for their thick Sandos, stuffed with Wagyu and more.
The team behind the venture is not new to the food business though. They are also behind The Refinery and thus are considered experienced in offering modern Japanese and brunch fare. With Scandinavian-style interiors, the café was smaller and narrower than what I have expected though. Likewise, the place is already full even before lunchtime, and we could only get a table outside the cafe. If you have a pet, the outdoor seats here are a great choice for you.
To start, we got the popular Gyu Sando ($26). This was the most expensive sandwich on the menu, so my expectations were pretty high. The bright pink center of the beef was the first thing to catch my eye—we requested for our meat to be cooked to medium rare. The sand is made with a slab of Angus beef sirloin, a generous spread of caramelized sweet onion jam, and Japanese milk bread.
We also ordered a Sakura Ebi Udon ($22). First of all, I love how it is still piping hot when it was sent to the table. This creamy really blows our minds, the combination of Shinichi Inaniwa Udon, Creamy Ebi Sauce, Tiger Prawns, Honey Cherry Tomatoes, Pickled Myoga, Ebi Oil, and Scallions really goes well with each other. I was wondering why didn’t anyone mention this at all.
Guests can also expect new bakes and creations in the Joo Chiat outlet which houses their Bakery department. Expect sweet treats of Sticky Bun ($6), Miso Brownie ($8.50), Miso Banana Cake ($7), Cookie Arigato ($5) Burnt Basque Cheesecake ($8.50), and Yuzu Meringue Cake ($9).
Located on the upper hills of Cannes, the home boasts dramatic views of the Bay of Cannes, the Lerins Islands, and the Esterel Mountains. It also sits on 150,700 square feet of private grounds with exotic trees and shrubs planted in the 18th century.
The monochromatic palette of sand tones and beige hues makes every object and piece of made-to-measure or vintage furniture pop. This scheme is complemented by touches of green introduced on the kitchen credenza wall—which features glazed zellige tiles—and in the primary bathroom, where Caprini and Pellerin installed handmade feather tiles to echo the outdoor palm leaves. The use of five main materials—ash gray Dordogne stone, travertine stone, oak wood, walnut wood, and bronze—also contributes to a cohesive feeling.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Bugis is one of our favorite places to visit since young for shopping and food. After shopping, we like to walk to Jalan Besar for more amazing places. Jalan Besar is a one-way road in Singapore that connects Kallang and Rochor. While literally meaning “Large Road” in Malay, Jalan Besar is often used to refer to the immediate areas around the road. Jalan Besar is mostly known for its local restaurants and cafes with trendy flairs.
These conserved areas also boast colorful architecture and vibrant locals that are a feast for the eyes. You can never go wrong with visiting the area. So, if you’re in the neighborhood and looking for things to do, here are some of our suggestions for you to check out!
Double Up Coffee
Double Up Coffee which is located at Jalan Klapa, is considered quite a hole-in-the-wall. As there isn’t a shop name located anywhere, with just a big logo welcoming us, we almost doubt ourselves if we are at the right place.
There are two halves of Double Up Coffee. Outside, you would spot three chairs of solid colors of red, yellow, and blue, along with a table repurposed from a skateboard. It suggests funkiness and young vibes. Walking in, the mood changes with a light grey cement coffee counter, and light wooden chairs, but most customers were sitting back facing the wall on a row of concrete seats. Don’t be surprised to spot Double Up coffee beans in many of the small cafés. As they are one of the best roasteries in Singapore.
Double Up Coffee Address: 7 Jalan Klapa, Singapore 199319 Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues
Madu Bakery
As we stepped into the bakery cafe, the first thing that hit me was the aroma of garlic. Next, the only thought we had was how this place looks right out of a furniture catalogue or a Pinterest board — the beige-woody interior was so aesthetically pleasing and strangely calming.
We headed straight for the glass display case where their seasonal bakes were laid out for customers to choose from. These aren’t on the menu though, so you’ll have to go over to see what’s available!
Madu The Bakery Address: 421 Race Course Road Operating Hours: 10 am – 8 pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays.
Haus 217
Designed by the people behind ANDSOFORTH and Warehouse16, Haus217 is a brand new venue in Singapore that takes on the Japanese lifestyle concept of Wabi Sabi, which is to embrace imperfection. Haus217 is located within a 60-year-old shophouse, and its interiors feature meticulously-crafted stained wood accents, reminiscent of European travel homes.
On random days of the month when there are no bookings for their event venue, HAUS217 will be transformed into a cafe with art installations. In late May, we got our chance to make a visit before it went into hiatus for reformation. For this current pop-up concept, we booked tickets where they are priced at $8 per person, with $8 credits given to spend (technically free to enter).
HAUS217 Address: 217 Lavender Street, Singapore 338772 Opening Hours: 10 am – 4 pm, only by reservation (Currently on hiatus)
Class Exhibition at Design Center
During the Night Festival, one of the highlights events was most of the museums and centres are open out to late at night instead of closing during the evening. We then come across an exhibition located on the second floor of the National Design Center – Class Acts. We were attracted by the orange translucent “curtain”, which very clearly explained the exhibition, a history of Singapore creatives pioneers.
National Design Center Address: 111 Middle Rd Operating Hours: 9 am to 9 pm
Asylum Coffeehouse
Asylum Coffeehouse is located along the road of Jalan Besar; with its blue and red heritage shophouse set along Jalan Besar (near Petain Road), Asylum Coffeehouse has the typical white and woody (well, MUJI-like) interior, with natural light streaming in.
With a cozy environment, great coffee and pastries, and friendly staff, it checks off most of our requirements. Despite the short time we spent in the cafe, the interior was welcoming and facilitates communication between baristas and staff. There’s probably a crowd near the counter that’s directly in front of the door that the cafe must manage.
Asylum Coffeehouse 311 Jalan Besar, Singapore 208970 Mon-Sun, 8am-4.30pm
It’s not a surprise of our love for coffee, as seen on our list most of them are coffee roasteries. We have been searching for interesting coffee and bean. Let us know in the comment below if you like us to share with you our favorite coffee in Singapore.
We’re getting back to minimalism again! Striking a balance between simplicity and lifeless can be a bit hard to pin point. After we’ve decluttered and edited down our stuff, we have to think about how we use the space. How do we create a minimalist home that’s cozy? It comes down to the details. And that’s where warm minimalism comes in.
If you’re looking for a luxe, tidy but lived in feel, warm minimalism is something to look into. A style that will make your home feel more elegant but cozy too.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Salmon is our favorite fish to work on, not to mention it’s easy to obtain in the local market, it is also easy to work with using different cooking methods. This Thai-inspired Salmon Coconut Curry has tender pan-seared salmon in a creamy red curry coconut milk sauce. It’s flavorful and comforting!
It’s one of my favorite sauces. we can’t resist a good coconut milk sauce. It is a symphony of flavors dancing on your tastebuds with a symphony of Thai red curry paste, garlic, onion, fish sauce, lime juice, and sugar. Rice is an excellent accompaniment to this coconut curry salmon. It worked out nicely to eat the leftover salmon cold the following day in a salad. Salmon is kept tender with coconut milk.
Pan-Sear vs Baked Salmon
The perfectly prepared fish is moist, flavorful, and succulent. Salmon is no exception. When fish is overcooked, it dries out and loses delicious flavor. Should you pan-sear or bake salmon? The answer is yes! You can fry or bake salmon, but you can also grill, poach, and broil it. All of these cooking options will leave your fish tasting amazing.
Pan-searing Salmon: Before cooking the salmon, rinse and pat the fillets dry before seasoning it with salt and pepper. Once the preheated pan is hot, add the olive oil to the pan. Place your salmon skin side up (this is important!) and set a timer for 3 minutes. You always start the skin side up because dry spices on the flesh can burn if cooked longer than 3 minutes. Flip the fillet and reduce the heat slightly (to about medium), and cover the pan with a lid. Set the timer for another 2-3 minutes, and you are done!
Baked Salmon: Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil for a much easier clean-up. Place the salmon fillet on the baking sheet, skin side down. Brush the salmon with olive oil and season it well with salt and pepper. Bake the fillet for 10-15 minutes, and you are done!
What to take note to make it better?
You don’t have to add fish sauce to the recipe, but if you haven’t tried it before, I strongly recommend it. It adds another layer of flavor to the dish, and don’t worry, the flavor mellows out a lot (it smells quite fishy out of the bottle). It also lasts a long time in the fridge.
The coconut milk you buy really matters. We prefer full-fat coconut milk. It’s rich and creamy. Other brands I’ve found can be watery. You can find it in the Asian section of the grocery store along with the red curry paste and fish sauce.
This coconut milk salmon recipe can easily be adjusted to your tastes as needed… don’t be shy to add more of any ingredient – that’s what cooking is all about! If you’re not a fan of the veggies we used here, you can definitely swap them out for something different, just be sure they’re cut up small enough that they cook fast. Peas (or snow peas) come to mind as a tasty addition, red peppers would be delish, and you could even try cut-up asparagus (get the thin kind).
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (more for a larger filet)
1–2 teaspoons olive oil
Coconut Curry Sauce:
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 small knob of ginger (minced)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon red curry paste
1 can of coconut milk
2 tbsp of fish sauce or soy sauce
lots of lime juice and zest
1 red pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
1 tbsp of tomato paste
cilantro, basil, mint, or other fresh herbs
Methods
Salmon: Mix the spices and the olive oil to make a paste. Place the salmon skin side down on the baking sheet. Rub the paste liberally over the top part of the salmon. Pan fry for 6-12 minutes (depending on the salmon thickness and desired doneness – I usually opt for 8-10 minutes).
Coconut Curry Sauce: Heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic, ginger, onion, and red peppers; sauté for 5 minutes. Add brown sugar and curry paste; sauté for 3 minutes. Add coconut milk. Season with fish sauce and lime juice to taste.
Serve: Place salmon over rice. Cover with sauce, lime juice, and fresh herbs.
Remember the Brunt Cheesecake trend back during the pandemic period? This dish brunt cheesecake is so delicious that I even start a mini business of it. My brunt cheesecake consist of cream cheese, sugar & cream, all you need to do is to mix it well and bake it on a low then high temperature allowing the crust of the cheesecake to brunt yet the insist of the cheesecake maintain creamy and moist.
While the trend is dying down, it is still much appreciate by many and thus you can spot many cafe having this item on their menu. However, on of the restaurant decided to open one cafe that solely sell these yummy cheese cake and they are Quiec by Olivia.
Stepping inside, the interior is painted in yellow and brown hues, just like a burnt cheesecake, and it smells like one, especially when each batch of bakes is being replenished on the display. From the tiles on the walls to the floor, four tables and benches, the designs are symmetrical, which somewhat reminds me of a cheese grater with its neat arrangement.
I have tried many version of cheesecake and thus I doesn’t has high expectation on it as how special can a brunt cheesecake be? But these cheesecake blown my mind, I could remember vividly how distinctive and remarkable Olivia’s version is. They uses Valdeon cheese (a Spanish blue cheese made from a blend of goat and cow milk) that give it a savoury note, which change my view on a cheesecake,
Their signature Olivia Burnt Cheesecake can be found here at QUEIC in various sizes: 4” ($15), 6” ($48) and 9” ($78). We order a slice instead where it cost $15. This cheesecake is on top of an almond sable base that is firm and crisp, before scorching the top layer to add a caramelised touch. More like a pie instead of the cake due to the almond sable base, the result is a semi-molten cheesecake at room temperature, creating a myriad of textures from the oozy cheese to the crazy caramelised layer and the crunchy almond sable base.
While many homeowners consider red a challenging hue, the colour actually possesses lots of potential to bring out the sensuality and cosiness of a room. Find out how you can work the colour into your home, without letting it overwhelm your style.
Instead of painting the wall red, these days red tiles was used to add texture to the place. Small rectangle or square are used to bring out the accent of the place. While it is rare to find a red table, red tiles are used instead to bring out the uniqueness of the place.
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Before knowing what is vegan, we had never heard of tempeh. In fact, tempeh was one of the last plant-based “staple” foods we tried. Before even giving it a fair shake, Joe even decided “nope, tempeh is not for her”, as it looks plain and dry. However, with the right cooking method and sauces to accompany it her views on it changes and we know it will change yours too.
Teriyaki Tempeh Rice – this recipe comes together in just 15 minutes and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser in your home! It’s packed with flavor and has a ton of plant-based protein. I’m glad the pictures now reflect how absolutely delicious this recipe is!
This is a healthy, vegetarian/vegan take on beef and bak coy, my Chinese take-out dish of choice growing up. It’s just as delicious and satisfying! And like most of the dinner recipes you’ll find here, this one is pretty easy to toss together — no cooking experience needed. Everything is cooked in one skillet so you don’t have to worry about cleaning a bunch of dishes either. Hooray!
What is Tempeh?
Tempeh is an Indonesian plant-based protein source. Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans shaped into blocks, though store-bought tempeh often contains grains and beans as well. Despite its high protein content, it offers many health benefits as well. As an example, it is packed with calcium, manganese, phosphorus, and iron! We got ours at this premium supermarket Little Farms which have many options for organic product.
They have plain and marinated tempeh for you to choose from. Well, the plain one is a healthier choice and has the flexibility to customize the flavors but on the other hand, it will take a while for the marinate to get absorbed into the tempeh. For someone that like quick meals, we decide to opt for one that is already marinated, and the one we have is the tasty version where it was marinated with soy sauce and ginger.
How do you cook Tempeh?
As we have it marinated, we will skip that step and move on to cooking. Many choose to cook the whole piece and have it cut into smaller pieces only after cooking. However, we like every small piece to be crispy on every side, thus we cut them into long pieces or cubes before cooking them, you can pan-fry or bake them in the oven.
Pan-fry; On a heated pan, drizzle it with a good amount of oil. spread the tempeh evenly on the pan and pan-fry every side till brown. We usually kept ours longer on the pan as we like them slightly crispy.
Bake; Spread the marinated cubes on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and transfer them to a 425-degree oven for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove them from the oven, and brush more of the marinade over the cubes. Bake for another 10 minutes, until the cubes are charred around the edges. Enjoy!
Soul of the dish – Homemade Teriyaki Sauce
Teriyaki Sauce has become one of the most popular seasonings outside of Japan because of its savory taste and versatility. There have been a lot of questions about how to make your own teriyaki sauce without purchasing the store-bought version. Well, you can make them at home, what’s the best thing about homemade teriyaki sauce? The most delicious sauce goes well with anything you serve it with, and it only takes 4 simple ingredients! Keep it on hand all the time since it’s so easy.
Our favorite Homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe is by Just One Cookbook, while it is already perfect we make a little twist to it based on our taste. You will need;
Soy sauce – If you are more well-off use Japanese soy sauce it has deeper flavors. However, we also do use the Chinese soy sauce sometimes, but the high sodium content may affect the taste.
Mirin – This is Japanese sweet rice wine. It adds a delicate sweetness and fragrance and gives the sauce a nice luster.
Sake – When added to a sauce, sake intensifies the flavors of the other ingredients.
Sugar – Sugar adds sweetness and balances the savory taste of the teriyaki sauce. It is also crucial to give the sauce its sticky texture. We don’t use honey or maple syrup because they have a strong flavor. But, if that’s your preference, go ahead but take care as it burns easily.
This is one of the recipes we like to make when we are busy, as it can be done in just a few simple steps.
Your choice of veggie, we choose bak coy and avocado for ours
Teriyaki Sauce
4 tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil or olive oil
2 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp apple sauce
½ tsp minced garlic
½ tsp cornstarch
Toppings
Sesame seeds
Scallions
Methods
Prepare the ingredients: Cut tempeh into triangles or squares. Place oil in a pan and sear the tempeh for 3-5 minutes on each side until crispy. At the side, blanch the vegetable in boiling water and keep it aside. Using a mason jar mix teriyaki sauce ingredients.
You always see us raving about Everton Park as it may be one of our favorite places to take a break in Singapore. Recently 46 Mittsu had moved into this quiet estate and of course, we have to give it a try. We had over during the early lunch period and it is already filled with people. Some of the popular items on the menu had already sold out before we reached, so get there early if there’s a specific item you would like to try.
Before heading over we research some of the must-try items and one of their best-selling B.E.C ($14). This all-time favorite sees thick-cut bacon, creamy scrambled eggs, American cheddar, and a secret sauce, served between freshly baked ciabatta bread from local bakery Pelle. We recommend to add-on a hashbrown ($2) and it does compliment the sandwiches/sando really well.
We decide to give the special menu a try too, and the Ric & Tomotry ($12) caught us. If you do not want something too heavy this is something you can choose from, where it contains juicy tomato, sunny egg, and avocado with creamy ricotta cheese, which elevate the taste of each other.
Although they only have a few seats in the store, a camping chair is provided for you to dine in outside the store, which is what we prefer. The sandwiches are served on a tray, which looks like we are really camping.
Do note that 46 Mittsu has been selling out earlier than its stipulated closing time of 5 pm since reopening, so do make sure you arrive early to beat the crowd. Seating is also limited with a few camping-style chairs, so it might be better to dabao instead of dining in.
Another cafe in the area worth trying is O Happi Place, which offers unique gelato flavors in a chic setting. Everton Park is indeed the place I like to spend my afternoon during a quiet weekday.
46 Mittsu Address: 2 Everton Park, Singapore 081002 Opening hours: Daily 8 am to 5 pm (or until sold out) Website
Douglas House is a new six-floor office building in London, designed by Stockholm’s Note Design Studio for The Office Group, and it’s warmer and more inviting than half the houses we’ve seen.
One of the main features is a curved wall of glass bricks, which separates the warm neutrals and desert shades of the common areas from the cool blues of the breakout rooms. The palette, as in any Note project, is impeccable, with pops of ultramarine in the form of Marenco chairs, red stools, chartreuse Muller van Severen lights, and a raft of small accessories.
The studio also made extensive use of surface treatments, like a reception desk fabricated from powder blue Sottsass ALPI veneer and wallcoverings made from recyclable terrazzo-esque Tarkett rubber. Sustainability was key, with Note and TOG retaining as many existing materials as possible, and elsewhere using materials that can be recycled in the future, including steel, glass, and ceramics. A plant-filled “oxygen room” and a recharge room that looks like a James Turrell installation finish off the space. Raise your hand if this is better than working from your couch and working on five days of squash soup leftovers.
Do you want to a place like this?
xoxo, Joe
Credit | All shots are used on the mood board via our Pinterest boards.
Salmon is truly one of the best choices of fish out there! I like how readily available it is, how versatile it is, and how healthy it is for any meal. The recipe we’re sharing today is my tried-and-true easy salmon recipe called Baked Miso Salmon with Scallion Sauce.
Miso & butter marinate salmon fillets, which are then baked until succulent & golden brown. Served with rice and scallion sauce, it is simple and satisfying for the whole family.
