Heart droplet

Didn't believe my eyes when I saw this, I could have wiped it off without noticing!

It wouldn't be a heart-shape anymore if I were to move to the other side of the counter ( I should have taken a picture to show you ). Anyway, this is the only angle to catch the image. =)

We're having a long weekend, as Japan is having a holiday on Monday. Let me see... The calendar says it's a ' Sea Memorial Day '. Whatever... I wish you a truly HEARTY weekend!

Fruit tart with cherries and blueberries

This season, the market is overflowing with many fruits at a comfortable price! Thankfully, my favourite cherries and blueberries are playing no exception as well. =)



Bear had an assigment in a picture blog sometime ago. The active theme was ' Red, White and Blue ' and right away, I knew I could help. =) Thanks to the timely abundance of the puny fruits.

Fruit tart was all that was on my mind as it is one of my favourtie desserts. A friend kindly shared her recipe with me, but sadly, the recipe demands a food processor that I do not own. So I looked up those recipes on hand and found one which seemingly looks feasible, except for one.


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A large frozen ice pad is neccessary, but it's something that I do not own again. Apparently, it is used to control the buttery dough so that it does not melt quickly and get too difficult to handle. I decided to ' cheat ' by filling a tray with water and froze the fella stiff hard. Before use, I placed plastic wrap over so that the dough could sit on it without getting wet. As it wasn't my intention to make many tarts, the medium sized tray worked fine though the ice did melt quite readily in the summer heat.

I tried to fit the dough into tart shells that I have, and landed up producing slightly thick crust. I shall try to distribute the dough thinner next time. =)

To answer the photoblog's call for a ' Red, White and Blue ', I had the fruits combined with yogurt to make it complete, quite glad that I need not prepare some custard for it. =P Bear gladly took a picture of the tart and submitted the picture, like a happy boy with homework done. =)

So tart making isn't all that difficult like I've imagined afterall, and I'm sure that I'll try it again very soon. Bear thought fruits and yogurt topping was refreshing and healthy, he has already ordered one with mango toppings and asked when would it be served. ( ~ ~;)

Recipe for tart's crust

adapted from Japanese recipe of fine sweets

Makes 8 crusts

Bake ware required : 8 Diameter 6.5 x height 2cm tart shells, frozen ice pad



Ingredients

Non salted butter : 50g soft at room temperature

Sugar : 30g

Egg : 25g

All purpose wheat flour : 100g

1. Preheat oven at 180 degrees.

2. Spread butter over tart shells and put aside.

3. In a bowl, mix softened butter with sugar using a wooden spatula, until the mixture becomes smooth. Add in egg and mix till incorporated. Add in flour and mix till traces of flour disappear.

4. When the dough is done, roll into a rod and cut into 8 portions, and roll them into balls. Place them on the ice pad.

5. Dust wheat flour over the balls of dough, and press them flat to spread the dough.

6. Fit flattened dough into tart shells. Use a fork to stab holes into dough at random areas.

7. Bake at 180 degress for 12 to 13 minutes. Extract the crust when tart shells are cooled.

I guess being deprived of what's required doesn't always mean an impossible ending. Try looking around for what's available, and they may just compensate finely. I hope it works for you too. =)

24 days to National Day!

Singapore, my beloved homeland, celebrates 43rd birthday on 9th August 2008!

In Singapore, citizens fly the Singapore flag outside their homes a month or so prior to National Day, to celebrate the birthday of our young country. Here in Japan, it's impossible to fly the National flag like nobody's business, so in a rather seclusive manner, allow my little tribute to Singapore in this God-Blessed Box. =)

National Day has long meant a great deal to me since young schooling days. Every year, students are showered with National Day souveniers imprinted with date, mostly useful stuff and they actually didn't come cheap. Singaporeans out there, don't you feel an instant pang of nostalgia if you manage to recall any of those souveniers you've received. For myself, there are still some I manage to keep and use these days.

The 15th time I celebrate National Day, my little brother is born, and National Day has become even more special to our family. For the consecutive National Days when fireworks were admired at the comfort of our home, we used to con little brother into believing that the fireworks were meant for his birthday celebration. =P

Someone ever told me, a person who has left his home to live in a foreign land, will either loathe his own country, or develop a patriotic heart. There's no doubt that I belong to the latter. I used to get goosebumps whenever I heard those patriotic songs that we're taught to sing in the past. These days, they actually cause such a stir in my heart and bring tears to my eyes.


Unbelievably, and so unlike my old self, I start yearning for stuff related to Singapore since I've started living in Japan. I spotted the National flag at a local shop and ' rescued ' it without second thoughts. This small one in the picture, was parading with other flags on a sushi belt, and Bear practically helped me to GRAB it before we lose it. Hahaha...

And of course, my collection of Orchid, the symbolic flower of Singapore.

Phal Kun is still producing new buds, while Rowndy has fully-bloomed since mid April. Believe me when I say : Orchids are such lasting darlings to look at! =D



It has never crossed my mind to leave my beautiful country for another. I even had serious intention to join the Air Force and serve my country after graduation. I do feel sorry that I chose to live with my partner in his country, but this heart has never thought any less of Singapore. Even my husband, who has lived in Singapore for 3 years, loves Singapore so much to call her his second homeland.

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May you grow strong ever more, in peace, prosperity and happiness, Singapore!

Termination of ' Spot the Heart ' project

It's been several days since I've expressed intention of starting the ' Spot the Heart ' project.



I've sought advice from a few hosts of other picture blogs. As I've expected, hosting of a blog requires great deal of time, especially when the group gets larger with increasing members.

After some careful consideration, I've decided that it's best that I don't start something only to abort it later. In future, it's very likely that I'll have other priorities in my private life that will require more attention. I understand that some hosts decide to pass their project over to others due to increasing burden, and this is what's least that I'd want to do.




I'm regretful about having mentioned it in the first place, and feel apologetic to disappoint those who have responded positively. I guess it was the idea of doing charity that encouraged most of us. For myself, I'll continue to look out for blogs that serve the same purpose, and share relevant information through my God-Blessed Box, if any. Meanwhile, ' Spot the Heart ' will remain a corner of this blog where heart-shaped images are collected.

Lastly, I would like to thank all who have expressed support towards the project. Hopefully, we can make our contribution somewhere else one day...

Spherical Beauties

Where I sit, I'm hearing Cicadas trumpeting the arrival of Summer.

Just a week ago, I took the liberty to announce Summer cos it was simply hot, Hot, HOT! We're probably in the transition period between monsoon and Summer, but everytime the rain stops, I feel myself cooking inside a steam basket.

The impending heat has soon roasted my flowers at the porch, and many others are not spared.

These adorable Allium ' Lucy Ball ' were standing before homes some weeks ago, but here no more.



Clustered in rich violet, they're too eye-catching not to notice. I always walked intentedly slow along houses that grew them, eye-wide in wonder, because...










They are this HUGE!




I couldn't capture those owned by private homes, but we're fortunate to find them at other locations. Here, they stood in abundance like wildflowers.




These flowers are actually grown from bulbs belonging to the onion family, which probably explains the scent in the air. Strangely, I was convinced that I smelt provoking pineapples, while Bear could not figure out what it was. Some of these stood slightly shorter than me before my nose, seemingly saying ' smell me '. I couldn't as I was too amused. Don't they look like a crowd with Dads, Moms, and kids? I had to gently push them apart in order to make my way in, without not saying ' excuse me ' at the same time. These fellas looked like cute clumsy heads nodding as they swayed in the wind. =D





Bear spotted this Mickey-look-alike, with 3 balls in union.


Let's play a game, find ' Mickey ' in the picture below!

Cousins of Lucy Balls, these spherical beauties too are grown from onions.

This picture shows the evident roots. Indeed, they are grown from onions, smell like onions, round like onions, true to characteristics of onions. =P

These are a little different though, as they are cultivated in sheltered environment with heavy attention. Their size fit in nicely within my palms, and attract a great deal of busy bees. Just as we wonder why the unusual number of bees, we found bee boxes nearby. So these flowers are grown especially for making of honey! Yum!

Now, these rounded heads are begining to look like pretty honeyed-lollies to me. Ha!





Kind words are like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy to the body. Proverbs 16:24

Lord, help me to remember that I should always speak kindly and bring sweetness to those around me. =)



And so, I hope that your week is smooth and sweet like honey of gold. Have a blessed week ahead! =)

Preferred Japanese Plum Wine

Proceeding the previous post, I recommend this Plum Wine that I'll bring back to Dad everytime. Strangely, it is not available at the place I live, though I suppose that it is selling in bigger cities like Tokyo. I get it from the duty-free shop at Singapore's Changi Airport.

It is produced by the same company, but the products selling at DFS are presented at a finer range. Classic wine at 12 years of age, different concoction with herb or black sugar. My favourite is this version with royal honey.


Richly colored in gold, and sealed with a refined aftertaste, this smooth Japanese wine is the favourite at my home in Japan and Singapore. Available at a very comfortable price, it is a purchase of no mistake especially for starters. Do try it if you're wondering what to buy for your next purchase, you may fall in love with it for a lifetime. ;)

Salmon with Japanese Plum Wine

Being passive drinkers, we are often clueless about wine even when we are offered the best, but there is always a good bottle sitting at home and constantly replenished.

Note : this is not an ad. Neither am I paid for this post. =P

My love relationship with Japanese Choya Plum Wine or ' Umeshu ' has long influenced big boys like Daddy and the Bear. Yes, Japanese Choya Plum Wine fascinates the ladies, and lures gentlemen drinkers alike. Lightly alcoholic, the wine infused with the sweet and sour taste of plum is delightful to anyone, anytime.

Do you know? Plum wine is homemade in some prefectures of Japan. When the harvest of plum begins, the method is widely shared on tv and magazines. Seemingly easy indeed, and the wine can be consumed a year later. To be on the safe side, we would rather buy this household brand which is available year round at a very cheap price.

I shall share different ways of drinking this wine some time later. For now, the wine is used for this recipe. =)

Evolved from the Japanese Terriyaki flavour, this dish has the flavour of plum emphasized. With a pinch of wit, I decided to throw a plum in and it turned out to be a positive move! The plum and salmon complemented each other so finely , Bear and I actually fought over them. =P Very well, I shall throw in 2 plums next time.

Recipe for Salmon with Japanese Plum Wine

Serves 2 people

Salmon pieces for 2 persons. Cutting into wedges is optional, remove bones if you must do so.

Japanese Plum Wine ( Choya Umeshu ) : 3 tablespoon

2 plums from the bottle of wine, cut into fleshy pieces, not too small. Discard the seeds.

Soy sauce : 1 tablespoon

Mirin : 1 tablespoon

Water : 1 tablespoon

Brown sugar ( or white ) : 1/2 teaspoon

Olive oil : 2 1/2 tablespoon

Wheat flour

Salt

Pepper

Salad idea : Green salad leaves, sliced onion , tomato, olive, nuts, etc.

1. Lightly marinate salmon with salt and pepper. Coat salmon ligthly with wheat flour.

2. Fry salmon with olive oil in a pan, till golden brown. Draw out salmon and put aside. Wipe off excess oil from pan.

3. In a bowl, mix wine, soy sauce, mirin, water and brown sugar. Mix well. Add in plum pieces. I've added some black fungus for mine ( it's optional ).

4. Heat pan at medium fire. When the pan is hot enough, throw in salmon pieces again, pour in the bowl of mixture prepared in step 3 and stir fry. Do not cook too long for it will soften the plum much. The dish is ready when the mixture starts to thicken a little. Draw out all the ingredients. The remaining sauce should go very well with accompanied salad, if any.

The fleshy plums give salmon a desirable taste, and I suppose they go well with Mackerel too. ( ? Well, I'll find that out... ) The mild tinge of alcohol is no way overwhelming, but absolutely complementing. A refreshing and appetizing dish perfect for Summer. =D

Purple dreams... Prelude to Summer

Gentle hue of purple like the Lavendar's, cradles me into a dreamy state.


I adore the mild tone of Lavendar, and the fragrance it makes the breeze carry.


I simply love losing myself in a field of Lavendar...















Seeing purple puts me on a time capsule. Lavendar and Vanilla were the theme colors used for our wedding. How I loved every detail designed and prepared in these 2 lovely colors. Ever since then, I've fallen in love with vanilla and soft purplish tones.







Not just the purplish flatter, there's more to Lavendar. The scent that the breeze delivers puts me under a hypnotising spell.








There were just 2 of us within the purple spread, and the tranquility was ours to embrace for the whole afternoon. Not forgetting the hospitality of my favourite pal. Bees! Bees were lingering around me all the time as if to say ' Hello '. Bear was very amused, he couldn't understand why bees would be so unbelievably attracted to me.



Look down, see what we've found. Drinking butterflies! I've seen so much on Discovery Channel, but to watch it live, it was the first in my lifetime. =)
How many butterflies do you find in the picture below?


















I've taken lots of satisfying shots but I can't share them all. The next 2 are my favourites.

Flirting butterflies... They were darting really fast and I flew into panic! I knew I could miss them any second so I took the shots without going shutter speed dominant, but I'm so glad that I've captured the moment of flutter. These must be my favourite shots of the year.

Butterfly kiss.





Hands clasped, we left the field slowly in sunset.





But the lingering scent of Lavendar remains, and I hope it makes its way to you too. Have a lovingly-scented week ahead. =)