01.01.12: I took down the Christmas tree

01.01.12: Dinner at my place. I made Thai green curry, a pumpkin dish, egg fuyang, salad, Thai mango salad, fried finger foods (sweet potato fries, french fries, calamari rings). We also had dholl purri and sis made fried chicken

31.12.11: Breakfast in the car. We were on the way to Pulao Ubin island

31.12.11: At Ubin Island — this was lunch for just the two of us!

31.12.11: At Ubin Island — fresh coconut juice — sooo refreshing

30.12.11: My breakfast at work which is rare for me to eat breakfast at work. I was running late that day.

30.12.11: Thai food for dinner. I ordered this set meal – tom yum soup (yummm), spring rolls and desert

27.12.11: Salad which my body was craving

Back to work tomorrow! Fortunately January is a short month. Looking forward to the Chinese New Year break (23rd and 24th)!

This was the happy me this morning before getting some bad news and breaking in tears … Life is full of obstacles.

I haven’t bothered with the internet much in the last week . What have I been doing? Spending time with the family after I get back from work and watching Chinese drama at night. Mum started to watch the 2100hrs local drama and I started to follow too!

Food always tastes better when someone else (mum) makes them

Even the cat thinks so

Check this video of Mikey if you haven’t seen it yet on my YouTube channel. Mikey was trying to get into the room. The gym ball was purposely placed there.

The other day the husb was dressed in his Team Singapore attire  as he had an opening ceremony to attend. He will be at the SEA games soon, not as an athlete but as a coach.

We are heading to Malaysia tomorrow with the fam just for the day. Goodnight!

The bread ‘hardened’ the next day as it was kept in the fridge. so it’s best to re-heat it before eating

Dad flew to Singapore in the morning and we (mum, dad and I) straight away headed to a cancer seminar which was organised by Parkway Health and Channel News Asia. They talked about breast cancer, blood cancer and colon cancer and how an early diagnosis can lead to successful treatments of various types of cancers. Overall, it was pretty interesting and worth the $11 that we each paid. The next health seminar will be about Liver health.

About colon cancer: Limit your red meat intake to 500g per week. As a guideline, the two beef patties in a big mac are 100g (each 50g).

About breast cancer: Women 40 years and older must have a mammogram every 1-2 year. I hope you already knew that :) A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, and/or daughter have been diagnosed with the disease, especially if they were diagnosed before age 50. Oh, and men also DO get breast cancer but of course it’s very rare.

Food and refreshment were provided during the tea break and at the end of the seminar we each received a 1L carton of Magnolia Oat milk. I tried the milk this morning for the first time and it’s pretty tasty.

Mum also bought a recipe book there

Afterwards we headed to my bro’s place for dinner with la famille <3  So glad to have both my mum and dad with us! I have not seen them for a year — skyping doesn’t count — Gonna spend as much as with them while they are here.

Food ..  there were about 8 different dishes. Delish!  I really enjoyed the curry fish head (not pictured).

This is a lotus root dish — pretty tasty .. there’s something in the middle and I think the whole thing is deep fried.

Some other pix

Niece

Work shoes (love!) — I feel the most comfortable in sports shoes

On the way to work. Good thing I decided not to cycle today

Because it rained minutes after I reached the office. Yep, it is the rainy season over here …

After work I went for a 8 km run around my place.  I know I’ve said this a few times before, but it was my first run in 2 months. I know it’s a bad habit! I run, then I stop, I start running again, then again  I stop  …  and the cycle goes on and on.  My last run was back in August. Sadly, upping our intervals to 300m, then 400m never happened! Oops.

On the other hand,  I am officially done with  ChaLean Extreme 90-day programme! Mum watched me as I did my last  ChaLean workout yesterday hehe. I’ve always encouraged my family to incorporate some strength training in their life.  It is  fun. It never gets boring. Lifting weights makes you stronger and helps you lose inches too.  I’m gonna follow ChaLean’s “Lean For Life” phase now, which mixes up all three phases. And hopefully will add in a weekly long run too …

“Lean For Life” Calendar

Week 1
Burn Circuit 1
Rest Day
Push Circuit 2
Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs
Lean Circuit 1
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day

Week 2
Burn Circuit 2
Rest Day
Push Circuit 3
Burn Intervals & Ab Burner
Lean Circuit 3
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day

Week 3
Burn Circuit 3
Rest Day
Push Circuit 1
Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs
Lean Circuit 2
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day

Week 4
Burn Circuit 1
Rest Day
Push Circuit 1
Burn Intervals & Ab Burner
Lean Circuit 3
Burn it Off & Recharge
Rest Day
Burn it Off & Recharge

Tonight I made Chilli Rubbed Salmon. Yum!

I seasoned the salmon with salt, pepper, chilli powder and dried oregano. Had it alongside Thai red cargo rice and a simple cucumber salad.

Chili-Rubbed Salmon

Ingredients (1 serving)

• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder or flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• Pinch of salt
• 1 salmon fillet (about 120g)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the chili powder, oregano, and salt. Pat the spices on the fish.
2. Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
3. Cook the salmon until opaque throughout. (Reduce the heat if the spices begin to turn black.)

Mum baked a buttermilk cake (texture of a pudding) in the morning too. The cracks look pretty don’t they ;)

For lunch, we prepared some vegetarian dishes

On the plate: Stir fried veggies, Mauritian Brinjal dish (steamed brinjal, garlic, tomatoes, chilli flakes and salt) and red cargo rice

In the late afternoon, we headed to Carrefour after mum saw a salmon promo on the newspaper

And we bought a whole salmon! The fishmonger scaled the fish and we told him to cut it into fillets. We got about 12 (averaging 140g) fillets plus the carcass. The whole fish was $27.50 weighing almost 2.4 kg

So far, I’ve already baked some salmon fillets

And made salmon pie which I froze (make-ahead meals)

We spent 2 hours at Carrefour that day! The husb was patiently waiting for us :P

Lunch on Sunday

Sis bought these pizzas from IKEA

Have a great week ahead!!

Popped some popcorn (drizzled some olive oil and nutritional yeast over)

And everybody watched as it popped

Prepared make-ahead meals (chicken meatballs in homemade  sauce) for the week

Snacked on these delicious (and sinful) Taiwan Pineapple Tarts — somebody hide them from me!  The husb received a few boxes.

Caught the husb doing this

Lunched at Harbourfront with mum and sis

Made protein oat bars

Was at Vivo City

Oh and I also slept a lot!

What have you done this past weekend … ?

I woke up to the sound of rain … Definitely no cycling to work in this kind of weather. I was secretly happy though–I wanted a little break. Plus, somebody drove me to work  :P

After a sweaty workout (ChaLean Extreme Lean Circuit 2), I made a warm bowl of oatmeal.

For 2 servings: 1/2 cup rolled oat, 2 tbsp milk powder, 2 cups of water, 1/4 cup peanut flour, 2 tbsp flax seed, cinnamon, vanilla essence, plum (topping). Sounds like a lot of liquid but the peanut flour will thicken it.

Yesterday for dinner at sis’ place … Fried rice

Buffalo (baked) chicken — one of the best I’ve ever eaten – tastier, crispier and healthier than KFC!

Salad – lettuce, cucumber, mango, cherry tomatoes with balsamic vinaigrette

Some random eats … Homemade peanut-oat protein bars (rolled oat, peanut flour, coconut flour, agave nectar, egg, cinnamon, vanilla)

Egg Cake — I didn’t know what to eat for breakfast one day. So I just took 2 eggs, added some coconut flour to it, then drizzle some agave nectar over… I always think that my palate is weird because the average person won’t like this egg cake … I do.

Fruits

Have a good day ahead!

Made fish in creamy mushroom sauce yesterday

I used portabella mushrooms, onions, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper,  frozen veggies (carrots, peas, corn), milk, nutritional yeast (you can use cheese instead), oil, fish fillets (I don’t dare buy Sutchi Fish after having read that they are reared in dirty ponds).

Did you know …

Frozen vegetables retain almost all of their nutritional value, since they’re picked and frozen while at their peak flavor. However, fresh vegetables or fruits that are in season should always be a first choice.

***

Mum’s surgery went smoothly (Thank God)!  She is able to talk and eat light food. Should slowly be able to start walking around. She’s resting in her room now. We are taking turn to keep her company. Last night I spent the night at the hospital and  went to work from there this morning.

I froze one piece (leftovers) and had it for lunch on Wednesday I think (this one was a little burnt on top)

Marinate chicken breasts in yoghurt, turmeric, some salt, pepper and crushed garlic cloves mixture overnight or for a few hours.

Pound to 1/2 inch thickness <– actually its better to pound the chicken breast before you let it marinate … less messy!

Steam spinach (or stir fry or microwave it — as long as it’s cooked and is tender)

Chop cooked spinach into small pieces and add dried oregano, bit of salt, pepper, sour cream and cheese to the spinach and mix well

Lay the chicken breasts out on a clean surface, and spoon some of the spinach mixture onto each one.

Roll up chicken to enclose the spinach, then wrap each chicken breast with two slices of bacon. Arrange in a shallow baking dish.

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes.com

Variations: You can use feta and parmesan as cheese, add mushrooms, onions and fresh basil to the spinach mixture as well as red pepper flakes. You could totally skip the overnight marinating part.

This morning, my ChaLean Extreme Lean Circuit 1 workout went like this:

• Single-Calf Raise, Bicep Curl (x12 reps on each side)
• Tricep Push-Ups (x12 reps)
• Split Lunge with Biceps (x6 reps on each side)
• Stationary Runners Lunge – Double Triceps (x12 reps)
• Bicep Curl with Hamstring Curl – Right and Left (x6 reps on each side)
• Plank with Single-Tricep Extension (x12 reps)
• Reverse Lunge – Double-Arm Bicep Curl (x6 reps on each side)
• Supine Tricep (x12 reps)
• Sumo Squat Calf Raise with Bicep Curl (x6 reps on each side)

Including x3 very slow reps of Extremes after each exercise. The changes in phase 3 are  that now the Reps are back up to 10-12, and the workout length is up to 40-45 min for the most part. Also, you work your lower body, upper body and your core with one exercise.

***

People think that I am the receptionist because I am sitting at the receptionist’s desk.  Its not too bad this position … I can peek outside and relax my eyes from time to time.

I bought this mango pickle at a ‘mama’ shop the other day

Mmmmm it’s nice (though too salty) and I like. I’ve used it as a dip for one of my afternoon snacks

Part of tonight’s dinner was as simple as this — cheesy spinach omelette

I bought a mango mousse last week from Breadtalk

I have a coconut muffin recipe to share with you soon

But before that I need to post my spinach-laughing cow cheese stuffed rolled chicken recipe <– what a long name!

Pray. Don’t be afraid. Let God fight the battle.

***

Here’s a recap of my birthday celebration. Warning: Heavy pictures ahead.

Part I: First, on Thursday, we attended CODE:EDGE Dance Charity Gala Dinner at Raffles Town Club.

I tried to do a waterfall braid hairstyle (I followed this video) on my own hair that night. Didn’t quite get it right because my bangs are still too short and the top part of my hair is too smooth. I had to use some styling gel to hold the braid a little. By the way, I’ve been making my own hair conditioner using honey and olive oil. More on that in another post!

Yeah we have a a few water guns at home haha

Don’t have pictures to show you how yummy the food was.  I don’t photograph food when I’m around many people

The room

Throughout the WHOLE night we were entertained by dance performances. There were hip hop, break dance etc. performed by various schools in Singapore.

End of the gala dinner

After  dinner was over, they brought a birthday cake for me :)

With the husb

***

Part II of my birthday celebration happened yesterday. This time, it was among my dearest famille.

Dinner was almost very primal. We had spinach-cheese stuffed rolled chicken (get the recipe) and curry crab prepared by moi. Sis made a salmon-cod fish pie, bro brought chicken drumlets and pork ribs and the husband bought some roasted chicken from the coffee shops. Such a protein meat-feast night!  Lots of chicken consumed that night.

Sis baked blueberry muffins and brought some for us

My birthday cake was a ‘Chocolat Amer” from Bakerzin — we finished the whole cake the very same night! Something that rarely happens among us :P

Time to blow the two very christmas-y candles

[The way my niece is looking at the cake is so cute]

That night, we played a few Xbox Kinect games — from dancing to bowling to beach volley

Although I had a good time, I couldn’t not think about certain things …

My niece (who recently turned 2) also kept herself busy with her “La caze zouzou” .. I keep a cooking set at my place so that when she comes over, she can play with them

I also showed her my big exercise ball and she wanted to carry it hehe

She was also happily running around

My family means the world to me. They have been there for me through thick and thin and I’m forever thankful to have them.

Back to work tomorrow … enjoy the last bit of your Sunday!

My stuffed rolled chicken is in the oven right now

And curry crab is ready. The husband was supposed to cook that but in the end, guess who did most of it :D

I’m just waiting for the family to arrive.

Cya later …

I made myself a on-the-go breakfast today — a quick protein bread using sun warrior and peanut flour.

For the bread: 1 scoop sun warrior + 1 egg white + baking powder + cinnamon powder + water. Then microwave on high for about 2 minutes.

For the peanut topping: 1 tbsp peanut butter + 1 tbsp peanut flour +  water

Anyway, remember yesterday’s Mango prawn avocado bacon green salad? Here’s the recipe.

The dressing

This recipe is also shared on Slightly Indulgent Tuesday

A note on avocados (source)

• Seventy-five percent of the calories in an avocado come from fat, whereas most fruits derive their calories from sugars.
• The monounsaturated fat found in avocados is mostly oleic acid, which  may help lower cholesterol.
• Avocados have 60 percent more potassium than bananas, making them a great post-workout recovery food. They’re also rich in vitamin E and other antioxidants.
• You’ll also find a large amount of omega-3s and omega-6s in avocados, excellent news for vegetarians and vegans who want to incorporate these beneficial fatty acids into their diet without consuming fish oil, poultry, or eggs.
• Avocados are also rich in vitamins C and E and folic acid. They also help your body absorb beta-carotene from other foods. Half an avocado is only 150 calories, and makes a perfect topping on a salad or some of your favorite whole-grain toast. 

Tip: Eat a spinach and carrot salad with a little avocado, and you’ll not only get a dose of good fat, but you’ll also absorb more phytonutrients like lutein and beta-carotene. Scientists at Ohio State University in Columbus found that more antioxidants were absorbed when people ate a salad containing avocados than when they ate a salad without this tasty fruit.

***

We are heading to sis’ place later to celebrate my niece’s 2nd Birthday! I’m preparing a mango salad to bring over.

******************************************************************

200m x 10 sets (1 : 1)

I’m not a fast runner. Those 200m were done in the 40 sec – 45 sec range, good enough to shoot up my heart rate. Right now I am liking short distances and can’t imagine myself running a marathon. Next month we will up our intervals to 300m, then 400m and so on. That is, if he sticks to the plan!

After our run, I made us dinner and we ate while watching “I am Number Four” on DVD <– I enjoyed the movie!

Pek Chye with shrimp in oyster sauce (2 servings) – 2 packets pek chye, 16 small shrimps, 10 Chinese red dates (optional), 2 garlic cloves (chopped) 1 tbsp cornflour, 1 tbsp oyster sauce, salt, some water.

Honey glazed chicken – Some honey, some black soy sauce (I prefer the black one for the color), salt, pepper, ground ginger (optional), red chilli powder (optional).