The switch

Hi readers,

 

It has been forever since I last blogged.

 

So much has changed since my last post. - 1) My diet 2) My job

 

One of the major changes is my diet. I have switched my 8 years vegetarian diet since February this year. Shocking? Not quite. I have been toying with this idea for quite a while. My diet consists of mainly seafood and vegetables for now.

I received mixed reactions from my close buddies -  when I first broke the news to them, some were overjoyed and wanted an immediate celebratory meal (Full of meat), while others were concerned and felt I should persist with my vegetarian diet.

Like what I have mentioned in my previous post,
 http://the-diet-fix.blogspot.sg/2011/09/vegetarianism-ii.html
you do not have to be a vegetarian to be kind & compassionate.
( I know this because I was an evil vegetarian hehe )

Buddha said:

"Monks, I allow you fish and meat that are quite pure in three respects: if they are not seen, heard or suspected to have been killed on purpose for a monk. But, you should not knowingly make use of meat killed on purpose for you."

My decision to make this diet change is mainly for social convenience. However, I hope to eat meat with as much compassion as I can. I may make another diet transformation when I grow old and retire.

Take a look at this article: http://www.urbandharma.org/udharma3/meat.html

Another major change in my life this year is my career switch.
I am now working in a new company which requires frequent meetings over meals.
This diet transformation would indeed bring greater convenience for me.

And to be perfectly honest, seafood taste quite heavenly.
At this moment, I still cant take the taste of pork, mutton or chicken. Unless they are deep fried and heavily seasoned, I feel nauseous when I eat them. But I love the taste of all kinds of seafood, especially fish. *greedy grin*
Yes, this is a form of indulgence and I am highly guilty of it.

My future posts would be entirely different.
However, the subject would remain my favourite, ie. FOOD.

Stay tuned.

xo.

 

 

Yi Xin Vegetarian

Hi my dearest!

I would like to introduce Yi Xin Vegetarian stall I discovered near my workplace.

It is located at a walkable distance from the Clementi MRT station, approximately 10 mins walk.

Indeed a hidden gem.

The menu offers a wide array of choices from bento sets to ala carte dishes.

Being rather fickle-minded, I had a tough time deciding on the order. #_#

What I ordered in the end:




1) Hand-made Tofu with roasted sauce
I was taken aback at how much I enjoyed this dish. It has been quite awhile since I last tasted a dish that made me feel like hogging this plate and enjoy it all by myself. The filling within this golden brown layer is mushroom and mock-prawns that tastes equally heavenly.



2 )Deep fried oyster mushroom with assorted vegetables

This dish is awesomely prepared with sweet and sour sauce. I am hungry all over again just by blogging this.
I am a loyal fan of mushrooms, and hence, this dish will certainly hit the mark for me. The oyster mushrooms were well-fried, without being overly hard or soft, and tasted heavenly with the sweet and sour sauce.


Yi Xin Vegetarian
Location: Blk 308, Clementi Ave 4, #01-335
Contact: 94765385 or 96943056
Opening Hours: Daily 11am -3pm & 5pm - 9.15pm.
 Closed on Wednesday.

Perfect Pancakes

Hey there!

Today my post will be on yummy pancakes for the perfect breakfast/brunch.

Ingredients(6 pancakes)

1 cup of Aunt Jemima mix
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 Tb spoon vegetable oil
optional(topping): blueberries/strawberries/nuts
Maple syrup
Butter

Directions:
1) Crack egg into a bowl and beat until fluffy, then add milk and oil

2)On a separate bowl, add Aunt Jemima mix and a pinch of salt.

3)Add the dry ingredients into the wet. Stir gently, leaving some small clumps of dry ingredients in the batter. Do not blend until completely smooth. If your batter is smooth, your pancakes will be tough and flat as opposed to fluffy.

4)Heat the non-stick pan to a medium low flame. I flicked a little water onto the pan to make sure it sizzle-this means the pan is ready for the batter.

5) Butter the pan and pour the batter. The amount of batter determines the size of your pancakes.
My first pancake was really cute and small round one.



6)Cook for about two minutes until you could see bubbles form and then pop around the edges. Then gently flip the cake.

7)Cook the other side until golden and remove.

And...BOOMZ! My first, yummy yummy pancake.



8)Repeat the steps. Add your favorite toppings- Nuts(eg. Almonds, brazil nuts) or berries(strawberries, raspberries).



And...have fun decorating however you like.



or pair your pancakes with delicious scramble eggs for your breakfast.


Perfect it with the Citadelle 100% pure maple syrup.

Have fun and good luck guys.

Love you.

The Letter J.

Reviving this place

Wow. I should be ashamed of myself for the incredibly long hiatus.

I was laughing to myself as my profile status in this blog is still a student. 

*Buries my head in shame*

Time really flies. I have been working for almost a year already.

 Looking at my past posts, I was still so young, naive, and innocent(maybe).

 Oh, how i miss those carefree times as a student.

I am thinking of reviving this dead blog, hope I persist!

What happened since my last post:

1) I graduated.

Yes, i slogged hard, studying through wee hours. But i guess my efforts paid off as I received my desired results.I am thankful to so many people, especially my parents and friends.

3) And of course, i found a job.
All thanks to my job that requires shift work, my social life is close to dead.

Thank god I still have my bunch of sisters sticking with me.

4) I am still a vegetarian.

I do admit, I swayed. *gasp* But yes..I did thought about eating meat all over again.
not switching completely to a meat eater, but more of a pescetarian.

The reason?

One fine day, the idea just came to me, and I toyed with the thought for awhile.

But again, when I thought about having a cute piglet/fish/anything with eyes being chewed in my mouth, i quickly brushed off the idea.

Besides all these, I am pretty much the same old me. :)

Stay tuned for more posts peeps!

Love,

The Letter J

Goodwood Park Durian Buffet 2012

Hello all!

And I present to you Goodwood Park Hotel's yummy Durian Buffet!!

(I am telling you my stomach is growling while blogging this)

I visited this place recently with my loved ones to celebrate Belated Father's Day.

**WARNING: This post is for Lacto Vegetarians, and not  appropriate for Vegan diet

**DOUBLE WARNING: This buffet comprise of non-durian pastries and desserts, which tastes really good. However, I would strongly recommend you to select durian options at the first round to save stomach space for the durian goodies.  

Location: 

Goodwood Park Hotel 

22 Scotts Road

Singapore 228221

Tel: 6730 1867 / 1868

Price: $32.80++ per person

We were the first few to arrive!
Perfect ambience.
My loved ones happily chatting away.

Selection includes the Durian puff, Durian Mousse Cake, Durian Cappuccino Cake and homemade Durian Pengat with Glutinous Rice and Gula Melaka. 

PLUS! There is a special live station highlighting the Durian pancake and Mini Chocolate or Vanilla Waffle Cones filled with Durian Mousse. Are you salivating already?
Its dessert time!!

Mango sago dessert

BurBur Terigu and Redbean soup

Wide selection of fruits available, as well as ice cream with various toppings

As a durian lover, I am satisfied with this buffet with the many yummy durian pastries available for selection.Personally, my top favourite would be the hotel's signature, Durian Mousse Cake, Durian Puff, as well as the much-loved Durian Pancake. The velvety mousse filled with pulp melted my heart. All these 3 comprise of generous amount of durian mousse, is light and not too sweet, and will definitely leave you wanting more.However, please be warned that you should make careful selection as these lovely durian pastries are incredibly filling. It may be near impossible to go beyond 3rd round of serving. Also, after this buffet, you may end up developing cravings for hot,spicy, and salty food. I know I did crave for spicy ramen and carrot cake.

Marché

photo:credits to elder sister

We couldn't wait to tuck in!

This is my second post on this Swiss restaurant.

In my recent visit to Marché with my sisters, i discovered some hidden gems in the restaurant!

Photo and caption:credits to my younger sis ;)
Roasted pumpkin, alfafa sprouts, feta cheese, olives, red cabbage, lettuce, kidney beans, new potatoes, cheesy cauliflowers, pickled zucchini, mashed potatoes, a variety of bell peppers = a smashin' plate of delish salad(large size)


At the salad station, you can select the salad plate size(small,medium and large). After getting the salad plate of the size you desire, you get the freedom to choose from a wide variety of fresh ingredients lined up at the station.
The buffet style enable customers to choose as large portion as they prefer, as long as it fits the plate( hurray!  hehehe) My sisters and I literally strategised on how we can fill the plate, ensuring all empty spaces are filled. No, we are not greedy people, just very hungry.  

Savoury crepes with mushroom and vegetable fillings(photo: credits to elder sister)
This dish comes with a cream sauce which is to die for!
The skin of the crepe is soft and tender, and tastes amazingly delicious. One downside of this dish is that the fillings may be a tad too salty for some. Nonetheless, overall a tasty dish!
I will definitely order this again on my next visit.

VivoCity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#03-14 Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 8226

Fuss-free omelette-potato-veg lunch

Now, let me introduce my unique fuss-free omelette-potato-veg meal! 

1)beat the eggs thoroughly
2)**this step is important to yummitize the omelette instantly
season the fresh mushroom with sesame oil, soy sauce, and brown sugar.
trust me, the end result is incredible.
3) in the mean time, steam sliced potato and local cai xin( you can choose to stir fry Cai xin with sliced ginger, but I love steamed cai xin with soy sauce-convenient and yummy)

pan-fry your omelette
add a tad of salt and pepper to taste

superbly yummy.
I have no idea why my omelette always ends up in chunky bits.
According to my mum, I have to add much more oil to achieve a perfect  piece of smooth omelette.
But I think what I really need is a new non-stick pan.

A perfect lunch that comprise of  steamed baby granula potato topped with cheddar cheese, fresh mushroom omelette, and local Cai Xin(one of my favourite veg)
So easy to prepare, yet delicious and healthy!
Sorry for the blur picture, I am using my old camera as my current camera has been acting way too funny.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas day@Zen Japanese vegetarian restaurant(will blog soon!)

@Queens Sentosa Broadwalk

THIS IS A SEASON TO BE JOLLY
TRALALALALALALALALA~

Whole Earth vegetarian restaurant

Firstly, I would like to apologise for the HUGE delay in blogging.(if there is anyone out there reading that is)I cannot believe how long I've dragged to blog about this fabulous Whole Earth vegetarian restaurant.  I need to get rid of my die-hard procrastination habits.

Turn right from exit A of Tanjong Pagar MRT station.  
I love how convenient and accessible this place is.

Signature olive brown rice $7
This may look like just any normal boring olive rice.
When this dish was served, I was utterly disappointed. My initial thought was that this is going to be just another plain boring dish that is way over priced. (If you haven't realised after reading this blog, i like my food packed with intense flavour, fried, sinfully sweet, etc etc) My sisters and I were exclaiming how we should have ordered the Tom Yam fried rice instead, which looks way more exciting and delicious on the menu.
But we were so wrong. You cannot judge anything by its cover, and that goes the same with food.
We were all taken aback by how superbly delicious this olive brown rice is. I could hardly stop myself from scooping more!

Home-made Assam pedas $18
The thick and flavourful sauce contains fresh ingredients like tamarind, galangal, chilli, and ginger flower.
It tastes deliciously rich and intense, exactly the way I like it to be.
This is a signature Peranakan dish with crispy slices of bean-curd wrapped in seaweed, and assorted vegetables like lady's finger, tomato, pineapple.
yummilicious~!

Penang Rendang $18
This dish is made up of pan-fried mushroom with incredibly flavourful and thick Peranakan curry and herbs dressing.
I am not exaggerating, but every bite brings a burst of delectable flavour. The taste and texture of the mock-meat is so genuine, I'd bet a meat-lover wouldn't realise this is just mock-meat. 

In the past few weeks, I have sampled plenty of vegetarian food. I will post more blog worthy vegetarian places soon! so stay tuned! :)

Merry Christmas & happy new year to everyone in advance.

xx
Lots of  love

I don’t hold animals superior or even equal to humans. The whole case for behaving decently to animals rests on the fact that we are the superior species. We are the species uniquely capable of imagination, rationality, and moral choice – and that is precisely why we are under an obligation to recognize and respect the rights of animals.
—Brigid Brophy (1929–1995)

Ling Zhi vegetarian restaurant

Ling zhi !
Be prepared for a picture-loaded post as I had steamboat buffet. As It is highly impossible to review each and every dishes I sampled at the buffet, I have only included those that left an impression on me.  Hope this post will be of help to save stomach space, and direct you to the yummmiest food in Ling Zhi hotpot buffet!  ;)

Hotpot and Dimsum buffet with a la-carte dishes: 

$22.80++ Mondays-Thurs

$24.80++ Friday, Weekends, Public Holiday

Great ambience, don't you think?
We were the first few customers as we reached early.
Great opportunity to capture photos! 

Hot pot buffet with a la carte dishes

Beautiful lotus paint.

Vegetarian pork pastry, curry puff, yam croquette, carrot cake
The vegetarian pork pastry is a must-try. The sweetness of the fillings that paired perfectly with the crunchy pastry crust is unforgettable.

I just couldn't get enough of their self-made fresh chilli and sesame paste!

Easily one of the best Chinese curry I have sampled.
The curry has just the right amount of spiciness and taste, with a wonderful mix of coconut milk.
The tau pok is still crispy and oh-so-flavourful! 

Tom yam steamboat!

What I love about this steamboat buffet is the freshness of the vegetables and other ingredients.
This particular plate only consists of less than 1/4 of the food available for the steamboat.
The ultra-fresh monkey-head mushroom is my favourite of them all, and I almost took a whole bowl of it! 

I really enjoyed the Rojak served.
It is so rare to have really fresh fruits in a rojak and the crispy you tiao topped with delicious sweet sauce is a huge plus too!

Spoilt for choice!

Dim sum time!

These 3 are my favourite!
(The names of the Dim sum not stated >< )

I could'nt stop gushing about how delicious this tian teng tastes!
Just the right amount of sweetness.

Address :
Liat Towers #05-01
541 Orchard Road
Singapore 238881

Tel : +65 6734 3788
Fax : +65 6734 5788

Address :
Velocity@Novena Square
#03-09/10
238 Thomson Road
Singapore 307683

Tel: +65 6538 2992
Fax: +65 6252 5234

Cuisine Served : Vegetarian

Opening Hours :
Daily
Lunch : 11:30am - 2:30pm
Dinner : 6:00am - 10:00pm

Last Order
Lunch: 2:15PM
Dinner: 9:45PM

GUESS WHAT! 

My long awaited juicer!!!
My sweet daddy surprised me with this!!
Love him to bits!

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品

Ciaossu people!

Sorry for the huge delay in blogging! x)

Recently, my family and I dropped by our favourite dessert place after our dinner.

 It has been soo long since I last visited the place and I was really excited about visiting there again.

Mei Heong Yuen is located at the Temple street and is less than a 5 minutes walk from Chinatown MRT station. This popular dessert place always has an endless stream of customers, so be warned that a vacant table is an unusual sight. My top few favourite desserts from this place are namely, their almond paste, black sesame paste, carrot cake and yam cake.  Recently, my sister informed me that ultra-fine shaved ice, a highly popular dessert originated from Tai wan, is added to the menu. I waited 2 whole weeks and finally had the chance to taste it that day.

This place looks so foreign, a huge disparity from Singapore's usual tall buidings and shopping malls.
But I really love the vintage oreintal feel of Chinatown.

Mei Heong Yuen Dessert place!!

Mango shaved ice $5
The weather was blazing hot that day. I could barely contain my happiness when this dessert arrived, literally grinning from ear to ear. This Mango shaven ice not only quenched my thirst, but tasted amazingly tasty as well. Initially, I suspected that this dessert would taste a little diluted, afterall, it is made of ice. But I was so wrong. I was in for an intensely fresh and flavourful treat. It tastes so good I couldn't stop myself from scooping for more.
7/10

Durian Shaved ice $5 

My family and I had a heavy dinner, and we thought just the mango shaved ice would be sufficient. But all of us couldn't resist ordering another shaved ice. When the durian shaved ice arrived, my family was so eager, they started digging in almost immediately( even before I could snap a photo).  I am glad that the fruits in these shaven ice dessert tastes genuine and fresh, not canned. Also, another plus point is that they are generous with the toppings, with every bite accompanied by rich flavourful durian taste.

9/10 

Stall: Mei Heong Yuen Dessert 味香园甜品
Main Stall Address: No. 65-67, Temple Street, Singapore 058611
Tel: 62211156
Second Stall Address: #B4-34 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Tel: 65093301
Opening Hours: Mon–Fri: 10.30am – 8pm; Sat–Sun: 10.30am – 10pm

imma daddy's girl!
Trying to make him smile wider x)
The weather was so humid I had no choice but to tie up my small bunch of hair.

Let me introduce this squirrel cat I always see near my place.
I call him squirrel. hehe. 

Handsome boy.
Beautiful fur don't you think? But squirrel is abit old.
I think he's a ragdoll mixed breed.


Lots of love!