Author Archives: chayohome2020

Beginner’s Choice: Light meals – Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch

From breakfast to brunch In my first year at university, breakfast was served in the hall of residence on Sundays until it was replaced by brunch. Very few students woke up early enough for breakfast, and were starving by lunchtime.  Andrea calls her brunches “big breakfasts”, and they are simply scrumptious. From staycation to vacationContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Light meals – Breakfast, Brunch and Lunch“

Beginner’s Choice: Vacation, Staycation and Celebrations

The joy of a well-deserved rest Val was looking her cheerful self again and she had a reason to celebrate – she was on holiday! It has been two and a half years since Covid disrupted our lives. Many who graduated during the Circuit Breaker period missed out on the fun of posing on campusContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Vacation, Staycation and Celebrations“

Beginner’s Choice: Mama’s Cooking is Good

HomSkil’s Cooking Workshop Challenge When Ferninda asked me to give her a hands-on cooking workshop, I wondered how much she could learn in a short time, since she is a busy working mother of two toddlers with another baby on the way. But she was so keen and motivated that I thought we had toContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Mama’s Cooking is Good”

Beginner’s Choice: Finger food and movie nights

Carol’s contribution Many people have travelled abroad on holiday in the past few months, though many others are still hesitant to venture too far. I fall into the latter group. Carol went to Italy, and she sent photos of tapas (Spanish appetizers: a piece of bread with a meatball covering a drink, and dates withContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Finger food and movie nights”

Beginner’s Choice: Learning to nurture from nature

The chicken story When I started my first job, I would occasionally take the No. 10 bus to work. It took a longer route to get to the central business district (CBD), but it was a more scenic route than the highway. There were huge old trees and kampung houses on stilts along Pasir PanjangContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Learning to nurture from nature”

Home Traditions: The Butter Cake

By Andrea Pavee Our family traditionally celebrates everyone’s birthday with a home baked cake, candles and loud, if off-key, singing of “Happy Birthday”, before everyone tucks into the yummilicious treat. The only exception is myself, since I am the home baker, and so for my birthday, I get an apple pie, my favourite dessert. TrueContinue reading “Home Traditions: The Butter Cake”

Beginner’s Choice: Picnic and breakfast treats

Ferninda asked if I had suggestions for picnics a few weeks back. I gave it some thought. A picnic is “an occasion when a packed meal is eaten outdoors, especially during an outing to the countryside”.  I remember going on a picnic in the Philippines. The packed meal was practically a normal homecooked meal takenContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Picnic and breakfast treats”

Gardening: Lipstick, Powder and Paint

By Andrea Pavee After a hiatus from gardening articles, I am back, with more adventures to share. Having recently celebrated my birthday, I received two beautiful pots from two dear friendsto commemorate the special day. The first pot was gifted by Marcia – a beautiful Taro a.k.a Colocasia Esculente plant. How did she know IContinue reading “Gardening: Lipstick, Powder and Paint”

Beginner’s Choice: Discovering New Flavours and Textures

Treats for Teresa International travel has started again. Teresa, a teenager from Spain, is here on holiday. She wanted to visit a country where she could practise her Mandarin. Singapore is the perfect place as she can get by with her fluent English, and have exposure to spoken Mandarin. This morning after attending Mass inContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Discovering New Flavours and Textures”