Zhi Char in chinese literally means cooking, stir frying. In the local context, it usually refers to a "Chinese food stall serving a wide variety of a la carte dishes usually with white steamed rice and soups". (Source: www.goodfood.sg)
Some time back, a friend of mine who had migrated was back in Singapore for a business trip. We were meeting her for dinner and she specifically requested for "zhi char" in a coffeeshop. I guess she was missing the experience.
My friends and I cracked our heads on where to go. (When my family eats out, it is either hawker food, fast food or restaurants. We hardly go for zhi char.) Fortunately she came to our rescue and suggested a place she frequented when she was still living here.
We had a scrumptious meal at a reasonable price. (Sorry no photos!).
This is what we had at the zhi char place:
Stir fried chicken in sesame oil and ginger
Steamed garoupa ,
Fried sweet potato leaves with sambal
Liver, kidney and pig stomach soup
Steamed Tou foo with micned meat
When I got home, my MIL asked about the dinner. I told her all about it, and she suggested that we should actually bring the kids one day since I had enjoyed the food.
But actually there is no need too. Why?? Coz these are the food we frequently cook for ourselves at home!
No wonder I had trouble finding a zhi char place to go to!!
Monday, July 22, 2013
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Full circle
I remember when we were young.
Variety of shops available were not that great.
We did most things ourselves. To get help was expensive, by the standards of those times.
Only the really rich could afford the luxuries.
Even a cake for a birthday was home baked.
Then the country prospered.
We became more developed.
Businesses flourished.
Variety became the spice of life.
Cake shops galore.
Nobody baked their own cakes anymore.
It was easier and sometimes cheaper to buy, than to make your own.
BUT we nowadays, more people are now getting back to basics.
Doing their own stuff. Making their own things,
For the last few birthdays, I have been baking.
For my friend
For my child
Simple cakes coz I am no expert. I am not good at the frosting and cake decorating side of it,
And just last evening, my son baked me my birthday cake!!
GASP! A very good first time attempt!!
I am definitely touched.
Thank you my boy for the thought and effort.
Love it.
And a full circle we have come from home baking to buying, to me baking for them and now they bake for me!!
Variety of shops available were not that great.
We did most things ourselves. To get help was expensive, by the standards of those times.
Only the really rich could afford the luxuries.
Even a cake for a birthday was home baked.
Then the country prospered.
We became more developed.
Businesses flourished.
Variety became the spice of life.
Cake shops galore.
Nobody baked their own cakes anymore.
It was easier and sometimes cheaper to buy, than to make your own.
BUT we nowadays, more people are now getting back to basics.
Doing their own stuff. Making their own things,
For the last few birthdays, I have been baking.
For my friend
For my child
Simple cakes coz I am no expert. I am not good at the frosting and cake decorating side of it,
And just last evening, my son baked me my birthday cake!!
GASP! A very good first time attempt!!
I am definitely touched.
Thank you my boy for the thought and effort.
Love it.
And a full circle we have come from home baking to buying, to me baking for them and now they bake for me!!
Monday, July 1, 2013
Shapes
The skirt felt really snug.
So when I was at the club, I stood on the scales in the changing room.
I couldn't believe the number the arrow went to.
The stone on my new ring doesnt weigh that much!!
Taking it off I weighed again.
Same number.
So, I walked over to another set of scales, the kind where you move the weights for the arrows to reach an equilibrium.
It, too, said I had gained weight!
But fortunately not as much as what the other one said.
So I'm believing it.
Walking has to resume tomorrow.
Please bless us with clear skies and beautiful weather.
I need to get back into shape.
Not the round shape.
Neither do I want to be a square, apple or pear shaped.
Hour glass shape please!!
What shape are you?
50 = 25 x 2
A new milestone is ahead of me.
When I was young I couldnt imagine being 50. To me it was just waaay too old.
Now that I am at the door of it, it's like "no big deal".
Some call it the new 30 but for me I think it's probably the new 25.
At this age, we dont worry so much about what people think of what we wear, how we look or what we eat. We are not here to impress anyone! We live life the way we want. If they dont like it, too bad!! We know who are real friends are, and we are comfortable the way we are.
We would probably have twice the fun we did at 25!! So, 50 is indeed 25 x 2!
When I was young I couldnt imagine being 50. To me it was just waaay too old.
Now that I am at the door of it, it's like "no big deal".
Some call it the new 30 but for me I think it's probably the new 25.
At this age, we dont worry so much about what people think of what we wear, how we look or what we eat. We are not here to impress anyone! We live life the way we want. If they dont like it, too bad!! We know who are real friends are, and we are comfortable the way we are.
We would probably have twice the fun we did at 25!! So, 50 is indeed 25 x 2!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
The June Hols
We started the June vacation on a high note.
Full of beans doing lots of exercises. Swimming up to 3-4 times a week during the first week, and even before the holidays started.
This year, we decided to do an activity filled vacation. We chose a Club Med holiday.
We spent time swimming, kayaking, playing badminton, tennis, and even Mahjong!!
It was four days of sun, sand, sea, and fun!!
And then we came home. And mid-way into the 3rd week of the vacation, the haze decided to visit us.
That put a stop to all of our physical activities, especially when the PSI hit the hazardous level, and we could even smell the smokiness of the haze when we were indoors, even with our windows and doors shut. The haze had crept in.
We tried to stay in as much as possible, the air purifiers came out from cold storage. The air-cons worked over-time. So did our lungs.
When the PSI dipped a little out of the hazardous level, but still unhealthy, we were already itching to go out and exercise again.
But on the side of caution, we wrung our hands and sat tight.
Now that we are in the last days of our vacation, that urge to exercise has been lost. Even though the PSi is now ranging between healthy and moderate, the kids are so comfortable at home in their couch-potato position, they dont want to exercise!!
All the benefits of the exercise we have been doing is going to be lost. We have been eating quite a bit too. With numerous birthdays celebrated in June amongst family members, and friends visiting, it has been makan, makan, makan. (Makan is the malay word for eat). Singaporeans favourite past-time.
Well, let's hope that with July will come clear sunny weather, and we manage to get back to our exercise routine.
Go haze, go!!
Full of beans doing lots of exercises. Swimming up to 3-4 times a week during the first week, and even before the holidays started.
This year, we decided to do an activity filled vacation. We chose a Club Med holiday.
We spent time swimming, kayaking, playing badminton, tennis, and even Mahjong!!
It was four days of sun, sand, sea, and fun!!
And then we came home. And mid-way into the 3rd week of the vacation, the haze decided to visit us.
That put a stop to all of our physical activities, especially when the PSI hit the hazardous level, and we could even smell the smokiness of the haze when we were indoors, even with our windows and doors shut. The haze had crept in.
We tried to stay in as much as possible, the air purifiers came out from cold storage. The air-cons worked over-time. So did our lungs.
When the PSI dipped a little out of the hazardous level, but still unhealthy, we were already itching to go out and exercise again.
But on the side of caution, we wrung our hands and sat tight.
Now that we are in the last days of our vacation, that urge to exercise has been lost. Even though the PSi is now ranging between healthy and moderate, the kids are so comfortable at home in their couch-potato position, they dont want to exercise!!
All the benefits of the exercise we have been doing is going to be lost. We have been eating quite a bit too. With numerous birthdays celebrated in June amongst family members, and friends visiting, it has been makan, makan, makan. (Makan is the malay word for eat). Singaporeans favourite past-time.
Well, let's hope that with July will come clear sunny weather, and we manage to get back to our exercise routine.
Go haze, go!!
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The Friendly Gecko
I always thought lizards were afraid of people.
But there is one in my home that seems to think it's our pet.
It gravitates towards humans.
It comes out when we turn the lights on.
Last evening it tried to jump onto my lap.
I am generally not afraid of them ....
... if they keep their distance.
This one was too friendly for my liking.
So I screamed.
So did the little one.
Our knight in shining amour didn't come to our rescue.
He was glued to the computer, downstairs, despite all that screaming (and excitement?) upstairs.
Awhile later, on his way upstairs, when the rest of us were cool and collected downstairs he said:
If I scream, please come to my rescue!!
:P
But there is one in my home that seems to think it's our pet.
It gravitates towards humans.
It comes out when we turn the lights on.
Last evening it tried to jump onto my lap.
I am generally not afraid of them ....
... if they keep their distance.
This one was too friendly for my liking.
So I screamed.
So did the little one.
Our knight in shining amour didn't come to our rescue.
He was glued to the computer, downstairs, despite all that screaming (and excitement?) upstairs.
Awhile later, on his way upstairs, when the rest of us were cool and collected downstairs he said:
If I scream, please come to my rescue!!
:P
Friday, June 7, 2013
Nerd or cool?
My daughter sent me a message the other day.
She wanted to know if I could pick her home at a certain time.
I decided I wanted to be funny and cool mum.
I replied with: Potassium.
It shocked her. She laughed non-stop.
Hope she didnt show it to her friends, or they will think I am a nerd!!
She wanted to know if I could pick her home at a certain time.
I decided I wanted to be funny and cool mum.
I replied with: Potassium.
It shocked her. She laughed non-stop.
Hope she didnt show it to her friends, or they will think I am a nerd!!
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