Oh-my-gosh-you're-cooking?!

"I hate skirts, I hate make-up, and I hate hate HATE Barbie Dolls!"

"How about cooking?"


I pondered for a while. I then shook my head.


"Don't like cooking, too!"


That was a conversation that took place between a friend and my 11 year old self. My friend, a year older than I, was someone who I secretly worshipped. She was tall, smart, cool, and she scored 99% in English. To appear as cool and tomboy-ish as I could be, whenever I was around her, I'd make sure she knew I rejected all things weak and stupid (ie girly).


Somehow things changed throughout the years and today, I love skirts (hello Asos!), I love my eyeliners, eye-shadows and BB cream, and, I dare say I'm increasingly enjoying spending time in the kitchen. Being a popular food blogger's daughter (eh hem), I get questioned A LOT about my culinary skills. I used to shrug and say something stupid like, 'I'm blessed with a mum who cooks well, so I don't even know how to use a spatula...' but one day, I suddenly realised that 14 years later, the person who I really adore and look up to is my mum. I can throw a last-minute party, and she can still cook up a storm and impress my guests. I wanted to be like her. I decided to lift up that spatula.

{Helped out in the outdoor kitchen during Chinese New Year - made Stir Fried Rice Cakes, a dish we have almost every CNY}

{Fried eggs and crabs - a dish I learned from my relatives in Shanghai. Turned out pretty good, just didn't like the 'murdering-the-crabs' part!}

{Mum made seafood paella a month ago, and I got to help out too. It isn't an easy dish to make; it involves lots of preparation, long hours on the stove and constant eye-ing on the fire to make sure it doesn't burn}

{Sticky date pudding was a real success and was surprisingly so easy to make!}

{Made red velvet cupcakes for those who attended my singles party on V'day (see, I had fun!). Mum and I thought they were just okay, but we did receive lots of compliments :) }

{I would consider this more art than food, but I believe I've found a new hobby - fondant modeling. It all started when I saw Auntie Ai Fuah's photos on Facebook, of the gorgeous fondant cakes she makes...I later learned that she got her recipes from mum. I've played with fondant a few years back but with little success (there were cracks everywhere!), so I was intrigued by Auntie Ai Fuah's attention to detail and finesse. We invited her over to teach us a few modeling tricks, and I came up with this! Not too bad for a newbie, right? :)}

{I sat down yesterday and decided to do some Angry Birds models, and came up with these! Something tells me that I'll be playing with fondant A LOT the next few weeks...! Mum suggested a fondant chicken rice cake. Dare I attempt to do that?!}


ps: I still don't like Barbie Dolls