chayohome2020

Gardening Tips: Purple Hearts

By Andrea Pavee In a previous article, I wrote about the purple Rhoeo plants, commonly known as the Moses-in-a-Basket plant, which blooms tiny, white flowers at its base when mature. Today, I thought I would speak about Purple Hearts, and my history with them. When I moved into a new home, way back in 2002,Continue reading “Gardening Tips: Purple Hearts”

Beginner’s Choice: Kids’ First Cooking Adventure and More

Ferninda sent a photo of the meat patties she made with her two boys. Both are less than three years old. It was their first attempt at helping Mama in the kitchen. Her two year old helped to crack an egg and mix the minced meat. Her other little toddler wanted to help Mama fryContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Kids’ First Cooking Adventure and More”

CULTIVATING HOBBIES IS GOOD FOR YOU!

By Andrea Pavee Back in the day, as part of our curriculum, girls were taught embroidery in school. I was about 11 when I learned how to do this and to this day, I remember that class vividly. We were given green felt cloth, some colourful thread and a blunt tapestry needle (to make sureContinue reading “CULTIVATING HOBBIES IS GOOD FOR YOU!”

Beginner’s Choice: Little Wonders and Festive Food

Hors d’oeuvres, tapas, canapes and dim sum have something in common – they are “little dishes” or appetizers. Hors d’oeuvres and tapas are finger food. Some dim sum items are finger food, like char siew pao, but others require the use of chopsticks, so they can’t be called finger food. “Hors d’oeuvres” translated literally meansContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Little Wonders and Festive Food”

Gardening Tips: Mother Nature’s Gift – Perseverance

By Andrea Pavee A year ago, gung-ho into gardening, I bought 3 pots of the Peace Lily. One was gifted to Marcia on her birthday, another went to Kar Im, a very good friend, and the last one was to be a new addition to my young, growing garden. I remember asking the nursery owner,Continue reading “Gardening Tips: Mother Nature’s Gift – Perseverance”

Beginner’s Choice: Meat Bone Tea and Leafy greens

Have you ever thought of where the word “restaurant” comes from? I was pleasantly surprised to come across the origin of this word in Joy of Cooking by Irma S. Rombauer, Marion Rombauer Becker and Ethan Becker. The first restaurants were eighteenth-century Parisian establishments that served rich soups to restore, or restaurer, the hungry citizenry.Continue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Meat Bone Tea and Leafy greens”

Beginner’s Choice: Starting small (mini mooncakes)

It’s good to dream big, but have one’s feet on the ground and start with small steps. There is more chance of success. I am talking about small home-made mooncakes. The Mooncake Festival is coming up (Tuesday, 21 September), and there is an abundance of mooncakes on sale. I am surprised to see so manyContinue reading “Beginner’s Choice: Starting small (mini mooncakes)”

Beginner’s choice: Every Dish Tells A Story

I mentioned in an earlier blog post, Beginner’s Choice: Sunday Cooking-made-Simple, that the best way to start is to be inspired to cook. I was looking for people who could inspire others with their story. Then just by coincidence, my cousin Siri told me about Soph, a Singaporean friend of hers in Portugal, who hasContinue reading “Beginner’s choice: Every Dish Tells A Story”

Sunday Cooking: One Dish Wonders and Ice Cream Treats

We all look forward to something special on Sundays, even if it’s just a favourite comfort food or a small appetizer like peanuts. Ice cream is a great treat on Sundays, even if it’s just a potong (popsicle). My brother almost always brings ice cream to family celebration meals. Now that he has an iceContinue reading “Sunday Cooking: One Dish Wonders and Ice Cream Treats”

All For The Love of Comfort: Pancakes

By Andrea Pavee Hello everyone! I am back again after a small hiatus. While busy on some projects, I also took the time to keep busy and voila! I found an absolutely delicious pancake recipe. My pancake recipe search has been an adventure for the better part of many years. While there are loads ofContinue reading “All For The Love of Comfort: Pancakes”