After Happy Call, This Is What I Am Experimenting With....

After using Happy Call pan for a few months, I've began looking around for other kitchen gadgets that either cooks faster or saves me effort and energy (electricity/gas).

I remembered having two Endo brand thermal magic cookers (5L and 2.5L) stored away at the top kitchen cabinet and decided to take them out and give it another try.

I purchased the pots more than a year ago from Metro during a special promotion. If I'm not wrong, I paid about $80 for them.

Pic source

How the Endo thermal cooker works

The thermal cooker comes with an inner pot and an outer/thermal pot.

According to the manual, you just need to place ingredients in the inner pot, put on stove and cook for about 10 minutes (start timing after water boils). Then transfer inner pot into the outer pot and cover lid. The food will continue cooking using heat retention technology (to read more about the technology, go to here and here).

Benefits of thermal cooker

• No monitoring required
• Saves electricity/gas
• Helps keep food warm for a few hours

The Endo cooker also comes with a small 'saucepan' so you can cook two things at the same time e.g. boil soup in pot and steam tofu in the saucepan.

For full-time working moms, you can cook your food in the morning and by the time you're home, dinner is ready.

My experience with Endo thermal cooker

The reason I stopped using the thermal cooker was that I found the food wasn't as tasty as compared to cooking on the stove or using slow cooker.

This time round, I tried letting the food cook longer on the stove before transferring to the thermal pot, and also let it cook longer in the pot and the taste turns out better (not as bland; more concentrated). But I would still prefer the food cooked the 'traditional' ways or maybe I just need to experiment a bit more.

So far, I've only used the pot for cooking porridge, soup and making desserts.

I would say I'm a happier thermal cooker user now because the food taste better than when I first used the cooker.

The helper is also happy with using the cooker. She would make porridge in the morning, then concentrate on doing other chores. When lunch time comes, our food is ready. Or she makes soup in the afternoon and it will be ready for dinner. Meanwhile, we save on gas and electricity.

By the way, one tip I read from a local forum is that you can take out the soup/stew about an hour later to boil again and then put it back into the thermal cooker. I believe the food will definitely taste more concentrated/stronger done this way. Will try this out.

Besides Endo, there are also other brands available in the market. What I know of is Tiger and La Gourmet (sometimes I wonder if the results would be different if I use one of these more expensive brands).

By the way, it seems that thermal cookers can be used to make cake and bread loaf. Now, this begins to sound like a good addition to the kitchen, doesn't it?


Thermal cooker recipes

Bubur Terigu the healthy version (dessert) - by Ellena Guan
Red bean soup - by Ellena Guan
The thermal cooker thermal cooking weblog
DreamPot Recipes


Are you also using a thermal cooker? How do you like it? Do you know of other time-saving or energy-saving kitchen ware?

Let's Play Doctor!

You might have read in a previous post that we don't really buy much toys for Kenan. Yet, my boy has two sets of doctor's kit. Simply because I couldn't resist buying the second set after seeing how fun it is:

* Stethoscope with heartbeat sound
* Otoscope and magnifier with light
* Syringe with spring loaded
* Medicine bottles with  caps that can be opened

Each item is functional in its own way, which is the total opposite of everything in the first set of doctor's kit we got for Kenan (thermometer can't 'read' temperature, bottle caps can't be opened, a stethoscope that not only didn't make any heartbeat sound, it kept saying "you're sick".. how irritating is that? In the end, I removed the battery). The best part is, it's just $9.90! 

The brand? My Family Doctor. I've seen them at various places, like at a Metro sale (pics on the left) where there were two sets with different combination of the items and came with a soft  bag, and also at Kiddy Palace (right pic); all at $9.90. 

The one Kenan has was bought from NTUC Xtra but it didn't come with any container (too bad I bought it a bit too early). The items that have light or sound are battery operated but are not changeable. Honestly, the battery didn't last long, but at just $9.90 a set, I thought it was worth it. 

Now, who wants to see a doctor?

Happy Call Pan - The Latest Rave in Singapore Homes

If you are living opposite my apartment, you would have noticed something different going in our kitchen the last few weeks. Instead of the helper doing the cooking, this mistress of the house has taken over!

Thanks (or no thanks) to my latest kitchen 'toy' - the Happy Call Pan (a Korean innovation), I'm now possibly on my way to becoming a domestic goddess, at least in the culinary department.

I was first introduced to the pan through a review on my friend Pauline's blog.

Then I watched its TV ad on Channel U and was so amazed by what I saw that I immediately went online to order one (you can also watch a video about the pan here).

So what are the advantages of cooking with the Happy Call Pan?

• Cooks faster than normal wok or pan because of its patented heat retention technology as well as the fact that it's coated with titanium and ceramic (making it a non-stick pan as well)
• Because you cover the pan when cooking (there's a magnetic clip at the end of the handle that keeps the pan tightly closed), there's not the usual smoke and odor, thus leaving the kitchen almost grease-free
• Healthier cooking because you only need to use minimal amount of oil, or none at all if you prefer
• You can also cook on both sides with an easy flip of the pan, so some thing like frying fish becomes much easier
• Cleaning the pan is easier because of its non-stick property

When I ordered the pan, their newest product, the Ocher Deeper Pan has just been launched. Since I originally wanted a deeper pan, I went ahead and bought the Ocher pan.

My Ocher pan - came with a pack of free sealer and manuals (original manual in Korean, and a translated English version)

So how was my experience with the pan? I'm happy with the shorter cooking time; more importantly, I'm pleased with having a cleaner kitchen since there's no spattering oil and the pan doesn't emit any smoke like the wok does.

Here's a small sampling of what I've cooked over the weeks...

Top: Grilled BBQ ribs (doesn't look that appealing but it tastes good) - this was such a chore to prepare previously because when the caramelised ribs are finally cooked, the wok would be so sticky that it's hard to wash; what's worse was the strong odor lingering in the air and the kitchen left in a greasy state. But with the Happy Call Pan, I no longer have such problems! Bottom: Making french toast is a real breeze now! It takes no more than five minutes to get them all done.

Pic 1: Stir-fried green marrow (or 'hairy melon' as some call it) with carrots, prawns and eggs, Pic 2: Stir-fried cauliflower with carrots, tomatoes and beancurd, Pic 3: Fried rice - cooked the ingredients using Happy Call then transferred to wok and fried together with rice (too much rice to be cooked in the pan), Pic 4: Stir-fried broccoli with prawns

One thing I've yet to master is frying a whole fish. I couldn't really make the skin crispy, guess I'll just have to keep experimenting till I get it right. But I could make teriyaki cod fish easily with the pan:

By the way, I also make muah chee with the pan. Yes, you heard it right - muah chee! But we were so excited with eating it that I forgot to take a picture. Oh well, the next time.

And there's now also a Facebook page for sharing of Happy Call recipes, which even include creations like cakes and breads - yes, you can bake using the Happy Call pan! 

So are you tempted to get one as well?

More about Happy Call pans:

• Mamabliss' Treasured Moments - review of Happy Call Pan, recipes and even videos showing you how to cook with Happy Call!
• Superb Mothers - include recipes and a FAQ about Happy Call Pan as well as organising Happy Call spree 
• KiasuParents.com - forum thread about Happy Call pans
• Singaporemotherhood.com - forum thread about Happy Call pans

Update (21 Feb 2012):
Check out the Munch Ministry website and Facebook page for more Happy Call recipes and more!

Interesting Finds at Daiso - Part 3

As some readers would know, I'm on a major home decluttering and organising project. For that reason, I popped into Daiso today (Rivervale Mall branch) and guess what I saw?

Looking for Space-Saving Furniture

Before Kenan came along, I have a study room where I get to work in peace and quietness. Now, the study room has been converted into a bedroom for the helper and my current work space is just a small corner of the dining table in the dining area. No longer can I enjoy the quietness I used to have - which is so important to me as a writer and sometimes, this really frustrates me.

So now, I am exploring the possibility of recreating a work space in the bedroom that was previously the study.

A while back, I saw a video clip on a friend's Facebook account that showcased some really cool space-saving furniture. I was especially intrigued by what are known as wall beds. As the name implies, the bed can be folded and tucked away in a 'wall' or cabinet. You can see the video here.

I began looking for something similar here and found one company that produces what they call the 'hidden wall beds'. I sent an enquiry to them and they responded quickly with a call followed by tonnes of photos of  projects they did for clients living in HDB flats and private condominiums. I thought I'll share some of them with you, starting with this single-bed with attached cabinets and table:

Here's another one; it's a queen-size bed and I certainly prefer it in white.

This one shows two single beds, it's a good idea to have it flushed against the wall:

However, I must admit I'm not really excited when I see these local wall  beds, after being so impressed by what I saw in the video clip. The design and finishing of the European furniture are really so much more sleek and stylish, but of course, the prices will imaginably be equally impressive.

I went to the website of the company that posted the video clip to find out more. I saw one that I love - it comes with a single bed, a wardrobe and table. Here are the pictures:

picture from Resource furniture

picture from Resource Furniture

What's really great about this one is that when you bring down the bed, the table gets tucked neatly underneath without having to remove the things placed on it! There's also more storage space by the side of the bed, in addition to the wardrobe on top.

I really wish someone would bring in these European furniture. Singapore's apartments (HDB and private ones) are getting smaller and smaller, these furniture will help solve our space shortage problems. And I rather pay more for the better design and quality. 

Oh, while I was researching about wall beds, I found someone sharing about his renovation works in a forum and this person actually flew all the way to Italy to buy a wall bed and then arranged for it to be shipped back. Wow, I wish I have that kind of money to do such a thing! He bought a simple wall bed, without all the additional cabinets and storage space, and got it boxed up so that it flushes with the wall. If you have time, go through his thread and see the amazing transformation of his entire apartment. I was super impressed, and  he's got lots of cool, high-end stuff in there!

Anyway, back to the local wall beds produced by the eponymously named company Hidden Wall Bed. The price of a basic single/super single wall bed ranges from about $2,000 to $2,400 and queen beds are from about $2,400 to $2,800. Prices exclude mattresses. Additional storage cabinet is charged by per foot run.

I probably visit their showroom to check the beds out. But how I wish I can have one of the European wall beds!

Interesting Finds at Daiso Part 2: For the Boots Lovers

If you love boots but have problem keeping them in shape while in storage, here's something you can get from Daiso to solve your problem - 'Boots Keeper'. The boots keepers come in two sizes: one for medium-cut boots and one for high-cut boots.

All you have to do is to inflate them and put inside your boots. They can help maintain the shape of your boots and prevent creases  and wrinkles on the leather.

Interesting Finds at Daiso Part One: A Handy Toy to Have In Your Bag

I chanced upon this magic drawing board at Daiso a while ago and bought it for Kenan.

At that time, he had just turned 13 months and didn't quite fancy it. Recently, I took it out again for him to play with and he got hooked.

I initially wanted to get a bigger one for him from places like Kiddy Palace but when I saw this, I decided it would be a better choice, because I really don't know if he will like it and I don't want to waste the money. So at only $2, this is a steal.

It's also a handy size - at about 20cm x 15cm in dimension, it's a great toy to carry around in your bag. It keeps my boy entertained on the highchair when we are eating out.

But watch out for the two small red magnets - one in heart-shape and the other a triangle (see the left of the magic board in photo). I only let him play with them under close supervision as they can end up as choking hazards.

These Books Are Cheap!

Was at Nex shopping mall this morning and happened to pop into FairPrice Xtra to grab something and saw some children's books on sale. They were so cheap I couldn't stop myself from getting a few titles. It might be a while before Kenan gets to read them all - he has a tendency to rip pages off and it's not really suited for his age so I got to 'ration' his reading, but I think it's worth stocking up!

Here are the books I got:

Disney's Little Einsteins Series: Christmas Wish ($1.90)

Little Einsteins Series: Incredible Shrinking Adventure ($1.90)

Little Einsteins Series: Dinosaurs After Dark ($1.90)

Little Einsteins Series: Farmer Annie's Garden ($3.90)

Little Einsteins My First Picture Dictionary: Arts and Music ($3.90)

A few Chinese books, all at $1.90 each

Inside one of the Chinese books; these are board books, so Kenan will get to read them now.

My First Learning Card Series: Daily Necessities ($6.90).

Also saw transportation, animals, fruits and vegetables. 

The back of the box of cards

I overheard someone asked about the sale and was told it started yesterday and will be on for two weeks. My husband stopped me from getting more, but I might just go and grab another few!

Petit Bowl - Solution for a Quick Meal

Recently I discovered a solution to quickly and easily prepare my boy's meals - Petit Bowl at United Square.

Petit Bowl is a cafe that sells frozen meals for babies (four months onwards) and children. The food are "without added salt, sugar or artificial flavourings".

I first came across the cafe some months back but never thought of getting anything there as our old helper was still around and she cooked Kenan's meals for me.

But now that the new helper has yet to arrive and I'm getting really tired from doing all the housework, I thought why not get the frozen meals and make cooking for Kenan easier? But before that, we decided to let Kenan try out the food first.

Kenan playing with some of the toys in the cafe

As we've not cooked much red meat for him so far, we thought it would be great to give him either beef or lamb. We chose the pumpkin stewed beef (beef, pumpkin, apple) as suggested by the staff; it was marked as 'Chef's Recommendation' and smells really yummy. By the way, the cafe also let us tried two items and if I'm not wrong, different items are available for sampling everyday.

While Kenan doesn't particularly like beef, the stewed beef and the two samplings smell so irresistably good that we just decided to go ahead and buy something for our boy. We bought the following:

• Lamb casserole (4oz for $6.90) - includes lamb, potato, carrot and tomato
• Chicken with tomato and rice (4oz for $5.90) - includes chicken, tomato, carrot, potato and brown rice
• Cod fish spinach and alphabet pasta (4oz for $6.90) - includes cod fish, spinach, milk, cheese and gulten-free pasta
• Buttenut risotto (4oz for $4.90) - includes butternut, tomato, brown rice and cheese

The frozen meals are packed neatly into a plastic box for taking away

The 4oz meals we bought were split into two 2oz cups (so you can use either half the portion of the full amount).  To heat up the food, remove the cover and either steam (recommended) or microwave the plastic cup. The frozen meals can be kept in the freezer compartment of the fridge for up to a month.

For the complete menu, see here. The options include baby starter pack (for babies four months onwards) that comes in a pack of nine capsules (can choose three flavours- mainly pureed fruits and vegetables) and blended/pureed meals like those we purchased. There are also desserts for babies nine months and older, and meals for children three years onwards.

The owner was very friendly and came to find out about Kenan's eating preferences to make appropriate recommendations. I mentioned that it appears that Kenan doesn't really seem to like chewing his food. So he suggested that we use the frozen meals as ingredients for the porridge.

And that was exactly what I did for the past few days where I steamed the frozen meals, add it to plain porridge, mix well and a wholesome, healthy meal is done. Sometimes, this kiasu mom would even put in additional ingredients.

By the way, the food Petit Bowl sells are more 'western' style; you can make it more Chinese or Asian by adding to porridge like the way we do.

However, it isn't a solution that is as easy on the pocket as it is to cook. Yet in desperate times as these, I'm more than happy to fork out the money!

Petit Bowl
101 Thomson Road, United Square #01-77/78
Tel: 6256 5359

Great Finds at Daiso

I know that Daiso has a myriad of products including household items, stationery, snacks, drinks, cosmetics, skincare, accessories and many more. Recently I discovered that they carry some useful baby stuff too. Here's what I found:

Corner guards to prevent crawling babies from knocking against

sharp edges of furniture

Edge guards/cushion tapes that you can stick around edges of tables, door frames etc.

to prevent babies from bumping into them

Door safety locks to prevent little ones from opening cupboards

and take out things that might be hurt them

Big ,small, red, white, blue, silver, gold... there's lots to choose from.

I bought a bag of 10 multi-coloured balls to keep Kenan entertained

Was wondering where I can find a pump for Kenan's swim float and here they are!

The label shows the pump can be used for balloons, balls and floats

Mothercare Car Seat

Have you ever had the experience of shopping for something for months but nothing seems to fit the bill, then just when you were about to give up, it appears right before your eyes? That surmises our experience in getting a car seat for Kenan. We have been hunting for a car seat for many months, but it's either too expensive, too bulky or it just wasn't asthetically pleasing enough.

Then yesterday, we happened to pop into Mothercare @ Harbourfront as we saw that it was having a sale, and we found the perfect car seat! We had been there a couple of times but somehow we never noticed this particular car seat. But it doesn't matter, we're pleased to have found it, and at what we thought was a good bargain. More importantly, Kenan seems to like his 'throne' very much.

More information about the car seat:

Brand:  Mothercare

Model: Seville

Colours: two options, one is what you see above, another is an all pink one

Functions: For birth to about 4 years. Combination of rear and forward-facing, with four reclining positions for forward-facing. Cover is removable and washable. Comes with newborn padded cushion.

Price: $280 (we got it at15% off during the sale, which has ended last Sunday)

What we like: Reasonably priced, nice design, not too bulky, easy to install (can also take a look at the pink car seat here).


Now when I need to stay home and work during the weekends, my hubby can bring Kenan out alone!