My friend Mich from Melb was in the Europe for her choral group tour. She bought me these amazing pralines (chocolate) from her Euro tour. It is nicely packaged in a little box with a green ribbon. So beautiful!

I finally opened it and find a variety of pralines inside. I have tried a few but I decided to keep it to share it with friends. Too sweet for the tooth!

I tried the famous Hummingbird’s cupcake last weekend.

It is beautifully packaged. Awfully sweet. Always recommended with a cup of tea or coffee, unless you can take just the sugar rush on its own.

I think the beauty of cupcakes is that it can be eaten during tea time with a group of friends while sipping a cup of hot English tea. Maybe redbush tea, if your friends wish. I would opt for coffee, perhaps. On the other end of the spectrum, cupcakes make the most wonderful birthday gifts as well. It is sweet, simple and most likely to be well received.

There was one season when my mum’s all into preparing ‘kiao’ (wanton or chinese wet dumplings?) for breakfast. It is just minced meat wrapped in popiah skin (made of flour, I believe).

Yums!

But if you are in London craving for this ‘kiao’.. it is extremely expensive to get the materials (presumely, in Chinatown?)…

How do you then do the cheapskate budget way?

A couple of days ago, I learnt that there is something similar in the western world. It is called tortellini.

You can cook it in broth or just do it the ‘kolok’ style. It has meat wrapped in pasta ’sheets’. I think it is quite similar to wanton/kiao/dumplings. I think it affordable, simple and makes a good meal. Toss them with extra virgin olive oil, some oyster sauce (don’t forget you’re chinese, after all), soy sauce, basil and pepper. Sometimes, you can also add some colours to the dish. Long beans can do the greens while tomatoes give the vibrant redness.

Improvise your meal. Stretch the dollars!

A crush is a drink made from fruit juice, purees and water. It’s often found in supermarkets and is much thinner than a true 100% fruit smoothie.

From Innocent drinks

I took nearly 4 cups of black coffee today, so I decided against more coffee. Instead, I tried the Fortnum & Mason orange scented aromatic black tea my friend gave me.

It definitely tastes quite nice! I think I should start drinking more tea. The tin is so cute and exquisite. Lovin’ it so far! Shall drink this brew while reading a time traveller’s wife book.. yes, Audrey Niffenegger’s book.