McCafe Frappe Mocha, Caramel

McCafe Frappe Mocha, Frappe Caramel ($3.45)

This Summer, Singapore's McDonald cools our humid climate with their new Real Fruit Smoothies and these 2 Frappes. We tried the sourish sweet smoothies of Strawberry+Banana and were less impressed with the 'ice crunching' dessert; i would in fact declare 'no more McDonald's Smoothies.'

Conversely, McDonald's Frappe had improved much from our last purchase! It's now creamier and more flavorful. We like it so much to return for another.

家香, Sarawak Kuching Kolo Mee

"Whoa... At least $6.40 for a bowl of noodles. Any special in it?" We were held with such suspense until a deal from Insing comes along for the test; and we were still skeptical as many described the noodles as just "instant noodles".

How's food standard from an underdeveloped City of Kuching, in the East Malaysian of Sarawak??

Fried Chicken Kolo Mee ($7.80)

It's great. We love it.

The succulent deep fried chicken endorsed the quality of food this little eatery upholds! And the firm Kolo noodles is impeccable; definitely having more substances than our packed instant noodles. 

If you get bored with their plain noodles with light seasoning, spice up the bowl with their sambal chili that had wowed many over. But i had much appreciated the original taste of the floury noodles with light savory sauce of shallots + pork lard oil!

Their lightly fried, crisp golden brown pork lard was never the overly fried stuff we usually have from the hawker centre, those here were truly 'golden'. Ask for more, if you dare.

Lime Juice, Water Chestnut drink ($2.40 each)

Punchy lime juice they have here! And refreshing water chestnut drink to break down our lardy meal.

And i will never again reject a visit to Jia Xiang Kolo Mee.

Alpha NEX Camera Mount Adapter

Sony LE-EA2 ($430) on Sony NEX-5N and DT 35mm F1.8 SAM Lens

Having bought the older Sony Alpha NEX adapter, LE-EA1, Ric was quick to replace it with the newer and faster mechanism of the EA2. The new EA2 costs more than double the price of the EA1 but was valued for its new Translucent Mirror Technology - makes high speed, accurate AF possible when using a 15-point AF system and 3 cross sensors.

For the extra bucks paid and bulk of just 200g to carry about, we get to enjoy our collection of Alpha lens which we trusted. And Yes, everything working well together :)

章发, Zhang Fa Char Kway Teow

Fried Kway Teow ($2.50)

The music of steel spatula working the wok enthusiastically was clearly audible throughout the Tanglin Halt Food Centre whenever we dine here. Today, we witnessed what was the dins about - a scrumptious plate of Char Kway Teow.

I could still vividly relish on how the ultra soft yet unbreakable kway teow rice noodle fought the chopsticks to feed my eager palates. Yummm..!

The littlest plate we shared was just enough for snacking though; with hawkers maintaining their prices but reducing food serving. Sinful food becomes less unhealthy when you consume in small portion?

美味, Delicious Duck Noodle

Braised Duck Noodle, Soup ($3)

Blk 48A Tanglin Halt Market houses a duck noodle you would missed having. I do, after our first visit today; i knew i would be thinking of it in the days to come.

Particularly for its noodle in soup. I'm a "dry duck noodle person" who can't get enough of savory braised sauce mixed with yellow noodles but the shree smoothness of sipping warm nourishing soup while i took in the silky kway teow was overpowering. Great soup they have.

Braised Duck Noodle. Dry ($3)

Ric was on the dry noodle and we noticed its less cloying braised sauce for the noodle mix, thinner texture in a nice way. But it left us wanting when both $3 portion had been too little to fill our tummy.

As with all popular stalls with odd operating hours, the hawker here serves 4am - 2pm daily and rests on Thurs and Fri.

Red Bean Soup - the Basic

INGREDIENTS:

100 grams Red Beans

3 Pandan Leaves, tied in a knot

1.5 liters of Water

Few slices of Ginger

Sugar

Special: Porcelain Spoon

STEPS:

1. Soak the red beans overnight. Rinsed and drained in the morning.

2. Add all the ingredients (and the porcelain spoon) into a big pot, bring to boil. Our grandma believe the porcelain spoon 'somehow' helps to cook the red beans.

3. After bringing it to boil, switch to low fire and cooked till the red beans 'break up'.

If you are using a Thermal Pot, simply place the inner pot into the outer pot after boiling; the beans will be cooked by the evening.

4. Finally, stir in the Sugar according to taste.

I have been enjoying this easy recipe that never fails to nourish the body. You too!