CNY Bakes

Hello people!

I have always wanted to try making Pineapple Tarts myself, so finally this year I made some, together with Cornflake cookies, which is also a common Chinese New year Treat!

We still have one more weekend before CNY, so do try baking some yourselves!



Now, I finally understand why Pineapple Tarts are sold at such an expensive price. Alot of work goes into each tart and it is not easy to make! Ours sort of failed (too hard), so I shall just share the Cornflake Cookie recipe which was a success!

Cornflake Cookies Recipe

Ingredients:

280g butter
180g caster sugar
330g plain flour, sifted
200g cornflakes, crushed (50g for mixing with dough, 150g for coating)
1 teaspoon vanilla essence (I used flavour, works as well)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 egg
Pinch of salt



Steps:

1. Mix butter and sugar, then add in eggs and vanilla essence. Mix again.

2. Pour in sifted flour, baking powder and salt and add the 50g crushed cornflakes. Mix and make sure that the cornflakes are abundant evenly.

3. Chill the dough in the fridge for around 20-30 minutes.

4. Roll into balls LIGHTLY and coat with crushed cornflakes. Be sure not too compress the balls as the cookie will turn out too hard.

5. Line them on the baking tray. I used baking paper so that it won't stick.

6. Bake in preheated oven at 180°C for around 20 mins, or till it turns golden brown



I didn't want the flat ones (I assume they spread when baking so I was glad mine turned out the way I wanted it to be - rocky round)

Mushroom Pot

I went to prep my hair at Bugis Essensuals! Dyed my hair a lighter shade of brown. Did treatment as well and it's obviously smoother than before!

If you have yet to trim or touch up your hair for CNY, do make appointment at Bugis Essensuals (Tel: 63330039) and quote my name for their special CNY promotion!

$88 for Cut + Treatment
$188 for Cut + Color + Treatment

This price is applicable for all hair length and promotion is valid till end Jan only!



Had Chinese New Year dinner with Churpies and Alphas at The Mushroom Pot earlier this week!



What a spread!




This is probably the only time I ate so many different types of mushroom in one night!


Another variation of mushrooms wrapped in fried seaweed skin.


This plate looks like "Ko-Lo-Yok" right? It's actually mushroom and quite yummy!


Sliced meat, a must-have for all steamboat sessions!

OOTD Box by Lyra Minn (Giveaway!)

I love to dress up, but most of the time I am just lazy to mix-and-match. Sometimes it's just about adding an outerwear, or a pair of earrings but I always spend a long time matching my clothes because I am not sure if the items I choose matches. I am a safe dresser and seldom experiment with my dressing even though I really wanted to. When shopping, many times I am tempted to buy everything on the mannequin and wear the whole outfit according to how the shop staff styled it. However, that costs a bomb and so usually it doesn't really happen.

Lyra Minn recently launched the OOTD Box, which is a a box that has contents that are specially picked to make up one outfit without you having to mix and match yourself.

If you read my blog, you would be familiar with Lyra Minn. Lyra Minn is an online female boutique based in Singapore since 2012. Besides FREE NORMAL MAIL for all items, low rates are also offered for international shipping. One good thing about Lyra Minn is the prompt replies and good customer service.

So anyway, back to the new launch, the OOTD Box by Lyra Minn. What's inside?

Outfit* + Bag/Clutch + Accessory + Beauty Products + FREE DELIVERY
*Outfit = 1 dress or 1 set of top & bottom. Occasionally with an outerwear.


Here's me unboxing mine yesterday!


For beauty items, I got a nail polish and a face mask. Other items that could be in, would be lip glosses, hand lotion, mascara, etc! For accessories, I got a pair of pretty pink and gold earrings and DREAM bracelet! What I love most is the bag! Outfit is a two-piece, consisting of a dress and pink outer.


I love every single item in mine and I wore it out! (The colors turn so saturated after I upload to blogspot! For better color, click on the photo!)




Here are some photos of the coordinates and contents of the OOTD Box put together by Lyra Minn:



You may view the sneak peeks on http://www.lyraminn.com/collections/ootd-box

You know what is the best thing about the box? It is VERY AFFORDABLE. If you went out and purchase a set like that for yourself, it would probably cost twice or more.

Regular price: $35

BUT! For my readers, you get it at only $25 per OOTD BOX! You save $10 off the original price! It's for a limited time only, so quick grab your items. Lyra Minn has a Live Chat system, so you can send in your enquiries if you have any.

Quote ESTHERXIEOOTD for the reader offer!

After wearing once, you can match using your own items for a different look. If you calculate it this way, the price is extremely good!

There is an OOTD Box Giveaway too!

Like and Share www.facebook.com/shop.lyraminn for a chance to win, it's so easy! I liked and share on my page already!

There are also normal "ala-carte" pieces besides the OOTD Box, and the Chinese New Year collection has just been launched earlier this week. Check it out!

Shop: www.lyraminn.com
OOTD Box: www.lyraminn.com/collections/ootd-box


***$25 Promo sold out! You can still purchase the OOTD Box at $35 each, which is still a very good price!***

Hello~, 过年几happy有没有？

Hi all! How is your Chinese New Year preparations coming along?

"

I will be dyeing my hair for a fresh new look for a fresh new year but have not decided on the color yet. Maybe the same color since everyone around me feels this color suits me best!

Will be baking CNY goodies tomorrow and shopping for new clothes on Sunday. My days are all packed!

Some days back I went to do my nails at Millys for CNY! I wanted a flowery one to suit the occasion and the final result is this glittery base and florals in cheery colors. So dainty and feminine!



Milly's offers a full range of nail services from classic manicure and pedicure to nails extension and designs! They have design boards to choose from, else you can just choose online and show them the photo.

Book your appointment now before the slots fill up!

Far East Plaza #03-131
Tel: 67376723
Operating Hours : 11am - 10pm (Mon - Sun)
(Inclusive of Public Holidays)

Bugis Village Extension, Level 2
Tel: 63384137
Operating Hours : 12pm - 10pm (Mon - Sun)
(Inclusive of Public Holidays)

SMS 83835395
http://www.millys.org



Ending off this photo with my favorite floral dress and bag from HURS~


***Update: Lol, just read my entry and realized that I ended all my sentences with an exclamation mark. Just edited some to make myself sound sane. Haha. 

Teck Teochew Porridge

So last week while I was having a terrible time with my painful wisdom tooth, I was not in the mood to go out and have brunch food or all my other favorite food at all. Bf brought me to have Teck Teochew Porridge after reading good reviews about it online.

At that point in time, it was already a week since I had porridge everyday because I can't eat anything else that requires biting and I actually slimmed down a little after the forced-diet. However, after this meal, I immediately gained back all the fats I lost :(

Anyway, I recommend this place for everyone who is having a toothache. If we have to eat porridge, eat good and yummy porridge!





At first I was kinda disappointed that the variety is not as wide as compared to other teochew porridge stalls I went to before. But then I realize that most of their items are on the menu and cook-upon-order! So the choices are actually quite satisfying.


Introducing my favorite fish that day..... DUCK MEAT. It's SO SO SO good and came piping hot because of the sauce. I couldn't bite into the meat and had to swallow each piece but it was so worth it. I am missing the duck meat right now. I want it right now. NOW.


Another dish that deserves the thumbs up is the pork trotters. The meat is soft and tender and tasty. I think this store really does their lor-chup well.


Minced meat fried egg which was fried on the spot. This can never go wrong with porridge. Plus, it's one of the things that can be easily swallowed without biting.


Fried potato leaves with garlic. I have always had this vegetable with sambal chili so I was doubtful about how it would taste when cooked like this, but surprisingly it's quite nice too and paired well with porridge. However, I wasn't able to eat too much of this because it requires biting and it's not easy to swallow the leaves.


Bf's pork intestines. Not my favorite, but not too bad.


I loveeeeeeeee fish but the ones they sell are quite expensive considering it's only teochew porridge and not zhi-char. Was quoted $32 for a pomfret fish and bf said ok but I quickly told the staff that I do not want it. Siao ah, not like the fish is very big and we can easily get a similar-sized fish elsewhere at only $18 per fish. In the end, we got ourselves this slice of fried fish off the rack at $7~ Suddenly I feel that it's not that expensive when the economical rice stall near my work place quote me $4.30 for a similar slice piece of fish. Haha.


Tau-kwa. Nice! It absorbed the taste of the sauce and soft enough. Most tau-kwa I eat outside are too hard and tasteless but this one is good.


Bf ordered tau-kee.... I ate only 1-2 piece though. When with so many other good food, of course this will be neglected.


All this for two pax. It was a very happy meal for me cos I love it when my food is yummy! Haha. It costed $40+ for this meal. I remember the last time we ate 8 dishes elsewhere, it was $28. But the forty dollars was worth every cent! Will definitely go again!


Photo of happy me before the meal. Hehe. Top from www.earthdoll.net!


Teck Teochew Porridge
128 Tembeling Road
Singapore 423638

Economic Bf

This morning, I sent bf this message I found on the internet:

"Some men hold their girlfriend’s hand in malls because if they leave her hand... she’ll go shopping.
It looks ROMANTIC but actually its ECONOMIC."

Then bf replied with:

"I am already doing it sometimes. Hahaha. You just don't know only. But it's sometimes. Not all times ok. Hahahaha." 

Lyra Minn for CNY

New launch at LYRA MINN featuring Chinese New Year collection!

There is also new navigation tab which states CNY PICKS, featuring all CNY-ish dresses from past collections!

Some items from the new collection:








More on the site!

If you like any, remember to quote ESTHERXIE2 for $2 off!

SHOP: WWW.LYRAMINN.COM