Cranberry Fix

I make it a point to have a weekly cranberry fix.

Recent scientific research shows that cranberries and cranberry products contain significant amounts of antioxidants and other phytonutrients that may help protect against urinary disease, heart disease, cancer and other diseases.

Cranberries are available in a wide variety of forms including fresh fruit, juice, sauce, and dried. Juices, sauce and dried fruit are available year-round at your nearest supermarket. Fresh fruit is generally available from September to December.

My cranberry fixation sees me at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf almost every Saturday morning. Its cranberry muffin is medium size, low fat and generous with the red berries. Together with unlimited cups of coffee, my 'muffin medley' breakfast (as the folks in Coffee Bean call it) cost a mere $4.70.

Include more cranberries in your diet today and start eating healthier today.

Mediterranean Classic

A couple weeks ago, I took on the task of attempting to create tabbouleh from a mixture of fresh veggies & cracked wheat. Now this particular dish, tabbouleh, from what Wiki tells me, is a Lebanese salad. Very mediterranean looking. But that wasn't the reason why I had a thirst of whacking tabbouleh up.

The thing is, I got confused with the term tabbouleh & a particular brown rice, salad type dish my lips often patronised back in Singapore at Cedele Depot. I can't remember the details or why I loved it. In any case, there was definitely parsley in it and Mom would often take away that brown rice salad thing whenever she happened to pass by CD.



Tabbouleh is a whole lot different. It is especially refreshing on a hot summer day. Red bouncy tomatoes and crunchy green cucumbers, just gushing out all that wonderful cold juices. Bunches of roughly chopped parsley drenched in that tangy flavour which a lemon can naturally dissipate. Sampling it spoon by spoon, this salad is a grade A addition to any approaching, summer-feasting occasion.

(Recipe can be found at Cooks.com)

Fraser's Restaurant@Kings Park, Perth

The contemporary atmosphere and stunning views of The Swan River and Perth city, together with award winning food and service, makes Fraser's the ideal venue worth bringing your loved ones.



In one of our earlier trips to Perth to survey the college landscape for our daughters' education, the four of us made a definite bee-line to have lunch at Fraser's. After all, it came highly recommended by my brother who considered himself an authority of all food Australia.

Truly, the food did not disappoint.

The grilled snapper fillet on porcini pearl barley risotto, garlic and brown butter was one of a kind. Fresh from the sea, the fillet was moist. Its juices mixed with the risotto's garlic was simply divine. So was the roast kangaroo loin with potato cake & mushroom lentils.



Opened in 1997, Fraser's Restaurant, located at Fraser Avenue, Kings ParkPerth, WA 6005 - just minutes from Perth's CBD is open for lunch and dinner 7 days a week.

Nuts About Nuts

I don't quite remember how my fetish with anything nuts started.

My earliest recollection was chocolate-coated macadamia nuts. Yes, my first ever foray into Hawaii was in 1984 on my honeymoon. And between the newly-weds, we lugged back 10 boxes of Hawaiian Host! Later, I found that salted roasted cashews is a popular Chinese New Year festive snack served by families - my in-laws included.

Nowadays, not a day can pass without me foraging into packets of almonds, cashews and peanuts found in my office desk, at home and even in my car. They are great snacks especially in between meals. Sometimes, they can even replace an entire meal!

Nuts are definitely healthier alternatives to other snack items such as chips. Studies have shown that nuts contain fibre, minerals and vitamins necessary for a healthy lifestyle. Nuts are high in mono-unsaturated fats, which is beneficial to health and even reduce cholesterol levels.

As long as you control total calories, eating a handful of nuts daily may help prevent weight gain and possibly promote weight loss. The fat, protein and fiber in nuts help you feel full longer, so you may eat less during the day. By helping induce a feeling of satiety, nuts may help people feel less deprived and not like they're "dieting." Just limit your portion to a healthy handful.

Walking Down 'Song He' Memory Lane

Song He is the teochew name for Carp fish. It is not an expensive fish and is commonly found in wet markets.

When I was a youth (seems so long ago!), my mum used to steam the Song He Tao (Carp fish head) with yellow soya, sesame oil, ginger shreds and calamansi limes. It was a dish that is enjoyed by me and my mum. My dad and other siblings are not too fanatic about it. Some times, mum even steam the entire fish - just for me!

One must be careful with the Song He. It has many small delicate bones as well as longer stiffer ones - especially near the stomach and dorsal fin area. The soft tissues around the eye region is jelly-like with some fats but ooo...oooh, so ever tasty! Just thinking of it makes my eyes water and my stomach growling!

Not many restaurants serve the Song He. Among those that do is the popular HongKong Street Fish Restaurant that has sprouted many outlets all over the island - from Thomson to Clementi, and from Balestier to East Coast! Instead of steamed Song He, the restaurant chain cook the fish head in spicy sauce and the dish is one of their highly recommended dish. These days, whenever I have to get my Song He need fixed, I'll get my hubby to bring us there. Our last Song He dinner was just last Sunday at the outlet in Thomson Novena.

Some hawkers also serve the Song He. One such hawker centre is the Chinatown Complex which has 2 to 3 stalls selling the dish. We've yet to try there but do drop me a line if you have!

Soothing Chai Latte

From our many sojourns to Perth, my hubby and I have discovered the popular Chai Latte. As ubiquitous as the 'Coffee Latte' in the cafes of Singapore, Chai Latte is found in cafes all over Australia. From Gloria Jean's and Dome to specialty outlets and restaurants, Chai Latte is a popular afternoon indulgence among the Aussies.

What is Chai Latte? Mixed with milk (skim for me, the usual for my hubby), this is a hot and creamy, fragrant tea made from black tea leaves and a blend of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla and honey. One cup of soothing Chai Latte is sure to revitalise both the mind and body. Mildly spicy, Chai Latte is a comforting drink which is sure to satisfy coffee (that's me!) and tea (that's my hubby) lovers alike, and bring inner warmth and well-being to all who enjoy its exotic flavours.

The last trip in earlyJuly saw me in Woolworth's (Perth's largest supermarket chain) peering at the rows and rows of beverages available. To my amazement, I was able to find ready boxes of Chai tea bags. I got a 50-tea bags box and since my return, both my hubby and I have been enjoying the body and sophistication of the Chai Latte. Drink it after dinner as an after-dinner beverage and it will leave your pallet tingling and refreshed.

What is my Chai Latte recipe? It's easy. Microwave and boil a cup of milk and soya bean milk. Once it is boiling, pop in a Chai tea bag. Let the bag steep for 3 mins and voila! A refreshing hot Chai tea! Enjoy!

Healthy Ginger Soya Milk

Soya has a high protein content and is rich in vitamins, minerals and fibres. It plays an important part in the function of bones, heart and arteries.

Ginger is good for appetite loss, indigestion and motion sickness; it can combat nausea and vomiting including motion sickness. It has also been taken to loosen phlegm, relieve gas and

ease menstrual and arthritis pain.

The easiest way to consume soya and ginger is by drinking ginger soya milk.

In Singapore, soya milk is easily accessible - from hawker centres, food courts, cafes, chinese restaurants and standalone kiosks. The last is dominated by two major brands - Mr Bean and Jollibean. And they are the only ones that offer ginger soya milk.

I've tried both. Each has its good and not so good areas. For those who have a sweet tooth, go for Mr Bean's. The ginger comes in liquid form with sugar already added. The concoction is tangily sweet and thick with a lingering after-taste.

For those of us who prefer less sugar or even none (like myself), opt for Jollibean's. The ginger powder is added into the soya milk only when you order. The final touch is sugar liquid and you can always say 'less' or 'no sugar'. Due to the ginger powder, the Jollibean's version may taste powdery if the seller did not mix and blend the ginger powder thoroughly into the milk - a small inconvenience compared to unnecessary calories.