Life Hacks: Recipes For Improving Your Coffee Brewing

 

The Best Coffee

There aren’t quite as many recipes for coffee as there are people in the world; but there are definitely tens of thousands of prep methods out there. There are probably too many potential coffee recipes for one person to fully get their mind around in a lifetime. Certainly this statement is speculative, but you get the point: there are a lot of recipes out there.

So which ones work best for you? Well, a lot of people tend to simply put the coffee grounds in a filter, and let hot water run through it into whatever receptacle is beneath. There’s your “default” coffee prep method. The thing is, you can jazz that up with a few simple and delicious moves, here we’ll explore five of them.

Dig In Cakes Delivery in Singapore

 

Staying home and staying safe doesn't mean you need to cut down on indulgences. Here's another cake delivery service - "Dig In Cakes" - to the rescue. 

We got an amazing Speculoos Biscoff Cheesecake (8", currently on sale for S$69, usual price S$82). It's got a Biscoff Biscuit Base, a creamy Biscoff Cheesecake filling, whipped cream and sprinkled with Biscoff biscuit bits on top. You can never have too much Biscoff, is what I say! I totally loved this one. 

We also got a 6" Crunchy Hazelnut Feuilletine Gateaux Cake (S$42 now, usual price S$59).

This was also quite lovely, with its crunchy base of crispy crepes. It's definitely smaller and lighter than the cheesecake. There seem to be three different layers of chocolate here, varying between mousse-like and cakey.

Check out the variety of cakes they have online. I'm also curious about the Okinawa Milk Tea Cake with Brown Sugar Jelly (it's sold out every now and then). And they have a Mao Shan Wang durian cake too. 

Enjoy free islandwide same day cake delivery with orders above S$100. Otherwise it's S$10. They also have one-hour express delivery (S$20) and even a midnight delivery option (S$30). They have an in-house delivery fleet, so they're definitely the people to call when you need a cake last minute when all shops are closed!

 

Many thanks to Dig In Cakes for sending the cakes.

P2HA Ultimate Food & Beverage Guide: Best Takeaway & Delivery Deals

I got this compilation in my email and though it was interesting enough to share. It's a long one featuring 72 brands, so enjoy! All info and photos courtesy of Brand Cellar.

This will be the first National Day in 56 years that we’d be spending at home, but don’t let it dampen your spirits. Let’s take this as a precious opportunity to have an intimate cosy celebration with loved ones at home over good food.

It may be stay-home till 18 Aug, but we can still count on takeaway and delivery service from our favourite restaurants and cafes, made all better with discounts and deals especially for this trying time. Think uniquely Singaporean flavours and $5.60 deals for National Day; 50% off and 1-for-1 promotions; free islandwide delivery and more!

We’ve consolidated the ultimate list of F&B takeaway and delivery deals to tide you through P2HA:

Recipe: Collagen Bak Kut Teh using NoMSG Premium Collagen Soup and Powders

Collagen bak kut teh? Hey, why not? 

Collagen is such the coveted beauty supplement. I do know the marine peptides work, but those can taste a bit fishy. Collagen in soup is definitely a nicer way to get your boost for skin, joints, nail and hair. 

And combining it with bak kut teh? Epic! 

Here's an easy way to get affordable, small batch, freshly cooked collagen packs - NoMSG. As the name implies, there's no MSG added. No salt, no additives, no preservatives. They double-boil the soups for 8-9 hours daily. And because they're an online shop selling direct to customers, they save a lot of costs on advertising and retail costs. 

Buying New Zealand Manuka Honey: UMF vs MGO Ratings

When it comes to manuka honey, it's important to know what you're buying. I recently learned a lot from Manuka Honey Singapore about how honey is rated and certified. We are all very familiar with the MGO (Methylglyoxal) number that measures this antibacterial compound in honey.

However, there is a more complete and advanced grading system called the Unique Manuka Factor or UMF that measures not just MGO but also Leptosperin (the natural chemical only found from Manuka plants) and DHA. The UMF rating certifies genuine Manuka honey from New Zealand. This number is usually between 5 to 25, and the MGO numbers are usually higher, so this can cause confusion when you're buying manuka honey.

Purest Nest: Bird's Nest, Snow Hashima, Collagen - Skincare Superfoods!

Bird's nest is such a prized delicacy and yet it's hard for most of us to determine the quality and quantity of the product we are getting. I recently got to try a selection of PurestNest.com's bottled bird's nest and snow hashima. The founder created this brand when he couldn't find clear answers to the contents and nutritional value of the bird's nest products on the market.

Each bottle of the Bird's Nest contains 9 grams of genuine bird's nest and all natural ingredients. It's so concentrated that just one bottle per week is recommended. It's free of artificial flavouring, colouring, preservatives, synthetic stabilisers and chemical processing. The bird's nests are ethically harvested from farms in Southeast Asia and hand-cleaned.

Here are the flavours:

Bird's Nest with Wolfberries & Pandan 150g
Bird's Nest with Collagen & Pearl 150g
Snow Hashima with Red Dates 150g
Snow Hashima with Ginseng 150g

Yes, the bottles were filled generously with product. I really liked the Premium Bird's Nest with Wolfberries and Pandan. The texture is more "QQ" with better mouthfeel. The recipes also are rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. What's great is the sweetness level that's just right - palatable without being overly sweet.

But what really matters is the results! To my surprise, my skin improved noticeably. It was more plumped up from within and firmer. I should have taken before and after photos, but I really wasn't expecting anything to show within a week or two. I still have more than half of the bottles left! Seriously, whatever skincare you slather on externally can't really match the benefits from bird's nest. I love that it's such a delicious way to take care of your skin too.

PurestNest also offers convenient subscriptions of four bottles per month (S$209-$359). Choose your favourite flavours or try a mix of different ones to see which you prefer. Delivery is free. 

These are the consumption directions:
- Recommended daily intake is 2 tablespoons (I think these are dessert spoons, which are half tablespoons) in the morning (best on empty stomach)
- Once opened, please keep it in the fridge
- Consume within 7 days after opening

Many thanks to Purest Nest for letting me try the product!

Xian Dan Chao Ren: Salted Egg Yolk Hero!

Have you ever wanted to have salted egg yolk dishes just as a snack and not have to pay through the nose at a zichar place or restaurants? 

Meet Xian Dan Chao Ren (咸蛋超人 meaning Salted Egg Superhero）- at Punggol Waterway Point! They are bringing super addictive bites at very affordable prices.

 


The mascot is a chicken donning a salted egg yolk costume; he's encouraging the other ingredients to come dress themselves in salted egg yolk too.

The menu is fairly straightforward with standard pricing for most items, so you won't have to take too long deciding.

Chicken or Fish at S$5.90 

Mantou or Pumpkin or Lotus Root at S$4.90

You can have them prepared either wet or dry (with a separate dipping sauce). 

Go for a duo, trio or the whole platter of five! 

If you'd like to make it a full meal, just add the rice and egg combo (S$2), or salad ($2). This is the "dry" version with the sauce served separately.






I prefer the items fried with the sauce (wet style).

The salted egg yolks used here are handground and not from commercial premix. You can taste the texture in this stir-fried version.

 



My absolute favourite is the crispy lotus root!





Try the entire platter for sinful sharing. Super-delicious! All returning customers in March will get a 10% discount voucher. Go check them out. 

Xian Dan Chao Ren 咸蛋超人 (Your Salted Egg Hero) 

Waterway Point, 

83 Punggol Central, #B1-K4, 

Singapore 828761 

Contact Number: +65 9829 2285 / +65 9618 9069 

Facebook: @xiandanchaorensg 

Instagram: @xiandanchaorensg 

Operating Hours: Operating Daily Daily: 11am – 10pm

Many thanks to XDCR for the invitation!

International Women's Day: Why It's Special

 

Happy International Women's Day! On Instagram, I mentioned that my teenage girls are also growing up to be young women who bring joy and cheer. I adore their sweet innocence and hope to prepare them for independent living, especially Nadine who has special needs. We love her fearless spirit. 💕 

She’s holding an Admiration Bouquet from @farmflorist along with a Chocolate Banana Cake. It’s their International Women’s Day Bundle (S$80) that’s available all March.

You can see more selections on their website (these are valid til end March):

https://www.farmflorist.com/product-tag/international-womens-day/

No matter what role you have as a woman - daughter, mother, sister, boss, colleague, friend, lover, spouse, partner - you mean something to someone. You have the ability to impact other people's lives. 

Much of the focus of International Women's Day will be on successes women can achieve, but I feel that even little bits of kindnesses matter too. Bringing warmth, joy and a smile - that's priceless.

Many thanks to FARM Florist for sending this bundle.

Keisuke Chicken Yakiniku Tori Yaro at Geylang

 

Look at this feast! The Keisuke Group continues to expand in Singapore with yet another concept - Keisuke Chicken Yakiniku Tori Yaro - this time a standalone chicken specialty offering fresh cuts for yakiniku and plenty of customisable sauces. 

 

What's more unusual is this outlet is tucked in a coffeeshop in Geylang, blending into the local scene. Well, we did get UNESCO recognition for our hawker culture recently, so this fits right in. You get your own little grill to cook the food on, and the al fresco setting means you won't smell like BBQ. 

It's a lovely meal to share with a friend or a small group, chatting over delicious bites.

 

CNY 2021: Golden Peony at Conrad Centennial Singapore

Feeling bullish for 2021? Golden Peony Restaurant at Conrad will help you step into the new year with their Fortune Ox Yu Sheng featuring pan-fried Wagyu Beef! OMG! This is my kind of yusheng! Seasonal greens, salmon and a homemade sour plum sauce bring this dish together.  

CNY 2021: 藝 yì by Jereme Leung at Raffles Hotel

藝 yì by Jereme Leung at Raffles Hotel is a gorgeous venue with expertly executed fine Chinese cuisine. Celebrity MasterChef Jereme Leung started his career in kitchens of Hong Kong, mastering all four cornerstones of Chinese cooking ranging from dim-sum, Chinese barbecue, wok-cooking to knife work. 

After stints at some of the most prestigious hotels in Southeast Asia, he went on a food pilgrimage across China in the 1990s to explore the flavours of different regions, their ingredients and cooking techniques. With that knowledge, he has opened over 9 restaurants worldwide. 藝 yi by Jereme Leung is his first restaurant in Singapore and his long-awaited homecoming. 

The food is not of any particular province, but you may see lost masterpieces and ancient favourites, with a modern touch.

CNY 2021: Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant at Singapore Marriott Tangs Plaza

Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant at Singapore Marriott Tangs Plaza has always been known for exquisite Cantonese fare. Executive Chinese Chef Brian Wong Shiuh Yean dazzles with thoughtful culinary creations and spares no effort to fashion the best out of fine ingredients.  

Their Chinese New Year menu for 2021 offers eight-course set menus from S$108++ per person (4-8 pax) to S$2088++ (per table of 8 pax) from 20 January to 26 February 2021. New Year Eve Reunion menus on 11 Feb 2021 are from S$118++ per person. There are also Lunar New Year a la carte delicacies and takeaway offerings. Here are some of the highlights you can expect. 

CNY 2021: Jade Restaurant at Fullerton Hotel, Singapore

Jade at the Fullerton Hotel has always been one of my favourite Chinese restaurants. Chinese Executive Chef Leong Chee Yeng is remarkably creative, the food never disappoints, service impeccable, and the setting is just elegantly gorgeous. For a special occasion like Chinese new year, it's definitely one of the best choices for celebratory dining.