Natale A Casa

 

We have been looking forward to Dicembre because L's famiglia are coming over - his parents and cousin, her husband and daughter Miki and it'll be wonderful to spend time and celebrate Natale together! We have set up the guestrooms for them and put up our very first live Xmas tree! :)

L's parents arrived first and we decided to invite some amici over for an early Xmas festa and house-warming too. Melina (MIL) who is a superb cook like most Italian mamma, prepared her specialita' - Casatiello - a savoury Neapolitan bread loaf that is usually enjoyed at Easter but M always makes it for Christmas too.

According to www.ciaoitalia.com, Casatiello derives from case - in Neapolitan dialect it means cheese, because of its use as a filling. "The rising dough meant the promise of new life; the shape of the bread symbolized a crown and the eggs meant rebirth." Apparently there are many variations of this stuffed bread and it is a traditional recipe that should be treasured. I love Melina's version that includes a tub of lard which she lugged from Napoli!

 

L also asked his amico who is a TV celeb chef in Rome to make 2 Xmas Panettone for us and they were delicious and light! For Xmas Eve, we will be enjoying a traditional seafood and fish dinner along with lots of vino of course. And then on Xmas Day, we will be flying off to Bali for 5 days per far niente.

Here's wishing you a Merrilicious Natale and abundant joyous New Year - I think I'm ready for the next stage in my life to unfold! Let the adventures begin. So be it baby.

Carla's Humble Kueh Pisang

With the kitchen in full swing, we have been experimenting with lots more recipes and one of them which I have perfected is the humble Kueh Pisang - a local dessert that you can find at Bengawan Solo (a small piece about the size of my palm costs $1.70!). I first learnt to cook it during Home Economics in secondary school and have always loved how easy it is to prepare and how delicious it tastes.

This dish is easy and cheap to make in the sense it only needs 4 main ingredients - Green mung bean flour, Coconut milk, Sugar, and Banana (Pandan leaf is optional) and it can serve 4 to 6pax although L and I can easily finish the portion.  You can find the Tree Brand Hun Kwee flour (as seen in the picture above) easily at most supermarkets. The only thing is you will learn from experience when the mixture thickens and when to turn off the fire. Well practice makes perfect!

Carla's Humble Kueh Pisang
Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:
1 Pack of Tree Brand Hun Kwee green mung bean flour (90g)
180g White sugar (approx 3 big heaped tablespoons)
2 cups Thick Coconut milk mixed with 1 cup water
Generous pinch of salt
1 Pandan leaf (optional)
1 Ripe Banana (or 2 also can) - sliced
* You may substitute the banana with half cup of corn kibbles which make sit Corn Kueh :)

Method:
- Mix the flour, sugar, coconut milk, water, pandan leaf and salt in a small saucepan.
- Stir gently with a wooden spoon to make sure most of the flour has dissolved well in the mixture before putting the pot on the stove at low heat.
- Stir the mixture gently for about 8 to 10mins till the watery mixture starts to thicken and coats the back of the wooden spoon. You should also taste the mixture to tell if it's ready - it should taste smooth, rich and not floury.
*Tip: the stirring part is important so that the mixture doesn't become lumpy. See the pictures below as a guide.
- Once it's ready, remove the pandan leaf and let the mixture cool for a couple of mins while you slice the banana and place them into one mould**. Then pour the mixture into the mould and let it cool for another 5mins before chilling in the fridge for at least 30mins to an hour. To serve, you can slice the kueh into pieces. I find that it tastes better when served within the day.

 

**Fun Fact: we used to fold pandan leaves into tiny square boxes which will hold the mixture and impart the fragrance of pandan as you chomp into it.  I think it's a great idea if you also set it in silicon mini cupcake moulds or soft icecube trays which you can easily turn upside down and remove the kueh! For me, I set it in a cat-shaped shallow mould as it is so cute :)

**For an extra touch of decadence, L and I decided to cook up a durian sauce for the Kueh Pisang. We mixed a cup of Mao Shan Wang fresh durian pulp, a cup of coconut milk and 2 tablespoons of sugar and let it simmer on low heat till it's well mixed. We then blended the puree so it reaches a finer consistency but not too fine till it becomes juice! We served the warm sauce with the cool kueh which is DA BOMB :D

Cooking Up A Storm

 



My healthy colourful salad for office lunch

Can I declare that I loooove to cook? It's so fun to dream up recipes and discover new ingredients and how to cook them right. Over the weekend, I bought beetroot and boiled them for 30mins in salted water before peeling them to add to truly yummy salads. I also sliced the skinny Japanese cucumbers and pickle them with some brown sugar, chilli flakes, sliced shallots, lime juice, salt and pepper.

I also made a Grilled halibut fillet with tomatoes and garlic on Sunday - and it's so easy and tasty! I didn't know halibut is so cheap ($1.80- $2.00) per fillet at NTUC Fairprice. There are many ways to prepare the fish and this is just one of them. Enjoy!

Here's the recipe to share:

Grilled Halibut Fillet 

Ingredients:
2 x Halibut fillets - can get from most supermarkets
10 Cherry tomatoes - halved
3 Cloves of garlic - finely sliced
2 tablespoons Olive oil
Salt & pepper to taste
Chilli flakes (optional)

Method:
1. Season halibut with salt and pepper in a roasting pan/tray, then add garlic, chilli flakes, tomatoes and drizzle the olive oil over them.
2. Grill in preheated oven at 180 degC for about 20mins till fish is cooked.
3. Serve with any green salad or mashed potato or polenta.


Working With Contractors

 

 

Contractors - Woe or Yay
Many times I have heard horror stories about contractors from friends - and that was before we embarked on our renovation in early 2013. Probably 8 out of 10 contractors are terrible according to friends - which led me to ask our contractor P why they suffer a bad repute and he explained some "contractors" are purely sales men - they are hired to get the jobs in and they get a high commission and many perks. However after they signed on the jobs, they move on and don't really care about the renovation process or after service. Real contractors are the ones who get their hands dirty and work closely with the clients and their various trusted partners from the carpenter and electrician to the plumber and tilers.

 

Anyway here are some steps to looking and working with a great contractor based on my experience:

 

1) Ask for 3 quotes from recommended sources and compare prices based on a common brief. I started with a carte of requirements and briefed the 3 contractors who are recommended by trusted friends and family. One didn't give us a quote (busy). Another asked us for our budget (which was $50k) and said it is not possible and said it'd cost $70k and didn't bother to provide a detailed quotation! P's quote was $50k – even though he didn't know our budget, so naturally he was the Chosen One.

 

2) Know what you want and communicate it clearly to the contractor from the start. Agree on the list of tasks for the renovation and the handover timeline (especially if you are in a hurry to move in). Also since you are the ID, you have to come up with a mood board with pictures to articulate what you want and he can advise you if it is possible. Surf the internet for pictures - it's easy!

 

3) Sign on the agreement and payment terms. It is usually in 3 instalments but all my friends' no.1 golden rule is - DO NOT Pay them in full until you are 100% satisfied with the renovation. They say usually they will disappear after getting the money but P didn't - and sent his right hand man XL to help me with putting up accessories and fixing the pipes :)  

4) Don't be BFFs with them but maintain a professional, friendly and open relationship. Don't be mean - that doesn't get things done. From the start, I told him upfront I trust him to do a good job since he was recommended by my sister and he probably feels the pressure and delivered haha. It's a give and take relationship.

 

5) Act swiftly if you don’t like how certain ways turn out, so this way the contractor can correct things easily without further hindrance to the project. You have to pay a little more to rectify certain things that weren't in the original list, but  consider the fact that you will have to look at it for a loooooong time, it's worth it! For example, I have designed the balcony tiles in a certain design and I hated the corner tiles that stick out (my fault) so I told P to remove them and smooth out the concrete at additional cost of $300. Always ask for the costs of rectifying things and weigh your decisions.

 

6) Be the manager and be on top of things from day one, no matter how good the contractor can be. They can't guess what you want so you need to check on the progress often, especially when major things are done like flooring or carpentry. I wasn't there everyday but he actually what'sapp me pictures so I can see the progress. 

 

7) Work on a reasonable deadline so he can deliver quality work. I wasn't in a rush so I gave him 8 weeks. We also worked on a schedule to track progress and along the way he reminded me when to buy the tiles, lights, switches, taps, toilets stuff etc. This way you can source ahead and buy your stuff in time for each step! If you are a swift decision maker, things get done quickly. 

 

8) Be open to changes as your vision will change along the way because you might not see the whole picture from the start (unless you hire an interior designer). It’s fun yet a bit stressful along the way! But it’s a fluid process and just communicate with your contractor and partner/spouse/family involved in the decision-making.

9) Decide on the decision maker - to avoid arguments and hasten the renovation. I know it's tough if both partners are equally opinionated or passionate about the project but you have to work out a compromise based on your tastes and budget. In our case, L trusted me to be the visionary and left me to my devices and be the main liaison with the contractor since I can banter in Mandarin and Hokkien. I do consult him on the major stuff like tile designs, lights and paint colours so he feel involved!

Here's a link to an article on Differences Between An Interior Designer and A Contractor
 

Anyway before you know it, the home is ready! Good luck!   

Gatti A Casa

Yay i gatti sono arrivati - finalmente! We waited till the casa is cat-proof - which means the white PVC Venetian blinds and insect screens are installed - before moving the 2 girls, Mimi and Lucia last week. I made a painful decision to leave Lola with my folks because she doesn't get along with the rest but I'm assured that Lola is in good hands with my folks and the 2 Taiwanese tenants who love her to bits.

The first night when they came over, the 2 scaredy cats cowered in a corner and I moved them to the toilet with their new kitty litter pan so they know where to pee/poo. After a night there, curiosity got the better of them and they came out sniffing - surely but slowly - and explored the new territory. Mimi is the sweet older sister while Lucia is the more active no less-cuter sibling. They went from room to room together, ate together, played with the catnip bolster and chased each other up and down the stairs! It makes us so happy to see them so free - life's renewed for all of us.

 

I have been posting too many photos of them on instagram but I can't help it - they are simply adorable! :) Oh in the last 2 weeks we also bought new furniture from Ikea - including a sofa, 3 white metal tv benches, glossy grey shelving unit, cupboard, and white metal bed frame for the guest room. We still have to buy a king size mattress and bed, and another guest bed soon as L's parents and cousin are coming for Xmas in dicembre, so exciting!


 

Stuff we bought for Ikea to complement our Med chic look - working with the colour scheme!
 



Before and After furniture comes in - cosier to laze around, now to get the TV!



Allora Cuciniamo!

Secondhand rattan set found online in the balcony

Now that the dining table and oven are in, we wasted no time to cook! L is un monstro a cucinare - he's a good cook but the only thing is guys don't clean up after themselves and it drives me slightly mad when he leaves stuff everywhere. Ok I'm the neat freak lol. To date, we had 3 groups of friends who came and it was truly enjoyable to entertain them.

The JC girlies came last Saturday for lunch and L whipped up Baked penne pasta with cauliflower in a creamy butter sauce and Roasted potatoes in butter.  I woke up late and came up with an impromptu recipe - and it was a hit; even L loved it and went for seconds. So I will share it here - it's easy to prepare as long as you have a oven.

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Serves 4

Ingredients:
6 Portobello mushrooms (small to medium size)
Half cup of Japanese breadcrumbs (sold in a pack at most supermarkets)
2 tbsp Grated parmesan cheese (or grated hard mozzarella cheese will do)
1 handful Rocket leaves (chopped roughly)
2 tbsp Onions - finely chopped
1 clove Garlic - finely chopped
2 tbsp Unsalted butter
Salt & Pepper to taste
2 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil

Method:
1. In a bowl, mix well the breadcrumbs, grated parmesan, rocket leaves, onions, garlic, 2 pinches of salt, 2 pinches of cracked black pepper, and olive oil.

2. Stuff a tablespoon of mixture into each portobello mushroom. Grill or bake at 200 deg C for about 20 mins till the mushrooms are cooked anbd golden brown (see pictures below). You can serve them as starters with bread or with main courses, or with fresh rocket leaves and cherry tomatoes. Yummers!

Carla's recipes

Move In Time

We decided to move in before we left for Italy at the end of June and boy was the moving out stressful! My sister says moving is one of life's most stressful moments and I can attest to that. My cats were not happy as you can see from the pictures (they probably thought I was abandoning them). I wasn't happy and cried my eyes out on the first night as the aircon wasn't working amongst many things and I was homesick - ironic since I'm in my own home. Funnily I wasn't the only one - my friend Sandra also cried when she moved out haha.

It took me a month to settle in and find my groove since we returned from our summer vacanza in Italia. I will blog about the trip when i got time but it was a wonderful trip as my parents went for the first time and discovered why I love Italia so much! :)

From Italia, we lugged back tons of food, ham, cheese, coffee, and souvenirs like the ceramic plates, jug, pasta pots, post-wedding gifts, angel door knocker and cat doorbell in cast iron! Luigi's nonna gave us a precious antique framed Saint Antonio to bless our home; bless her soul - grazie! I particularly love the ceramics that we bought from Ischia and Capri. It certainly feels more and more like our casa when we put up all these personal artefacts and gifts.

 

 

 

And I have been busy shopping for the home, even when I was in Pozzuoli. My brother spotted a Med-style rattan set of glass-top dining table and 6 comfy armchairs on sale for $350 on a forum and I bought it at my mom-in-law's approval! Then my friend Lynn sent me a list of designer cast-offs from her friend and I also bought 2 Phillip Starck storage stools and a cute coat stand.

 

We also got the Mango wood dining table that seats 12 (sustainable wood!) and a matching long bench from Crate and Barrel for $2k and easily spent another $500 on kitchen accessories so that the delivery is free. Next up on my list are curtains and Venetian blinds, as well as an Ariston oven. I had my first dinner party - italiano style of cos - for my group of close amici and the kitchen survived the test!  

 

 

Oh not forgetting the kitty litter boxes, scratching post and beds so they will feel cofortable at the new home. I miss them a lot especially when L comes home late. Talking about cats, the past 2 months were also crazy as I had to juggle a punishing workload and organising the annual COTW exhibition and Purrzaars! But it was worth it to see all the cat lovers and our supporters together and celebrated our love for kitties. I even went on the CNA morning tv show with the CWS president and 2 cats! Check out the video link.

 

Ciao Casa Ciao

 

This is the handover week. This is it. I thought it'd be harder based on all the bitching I hear from friends but really it was quite painless and satisfying to see our fruit of labour. I'd recommend my contractor P to anyone but I won't undertake renovation so soon lol. Anyway they varnished the stairs to an off-white, painted the pipes and installed the bathroom accessories such as the towel rings, paper holders and mirrors. (I chose the Sonia Dallas range from SSC which matched the classic colonial look). The last thing to go in was the new main door in white and P handed over the new keys to us today on Sunday.

 

 

We went about cleaning the house and scrubbing the tiles and windows. It was massive work and kudos to my efficient mommy and aunt who came to help on Sunday. On Sat, I had hardly started and already suffered a blister within the first hour! Looks like housework doesn't agree with me. I have to admit I hardly do housework at home, save for washing up after myself and cleaning my room - when it gets messy. Now we have to contend with cleaning the whole mansionette ourselves! No wonder friends keep telling me wait till you clean the house lol.

Anyway I took much joy in taking out all my stowed away home accessories that I bought on my travels and can't wait to put them to use! These include the Italian dish towels from Amalfi, cat-shaped pasta measure, limone-shaped container, fountain moka pot from Italy, batik place mats and coasters from Malacca! Plus all the 'treasures' I found at Hock Siong haha.

Even though I'm excited at the thought of moving in, the notion of moving out of my parents' flat is a bit daunting and made me feel a bit sad and homesick. I get attached easily to things, places and people. I can't help it since I lived there for the past 20 years with my parents and the cats who have come and gone. I will miss living with my parents because they have been a source of comfort and support. My restless mom who cleans the house and prepares the meals. My dad, a a stoic calming presence. The neighours and neighbourhood kitties whom I've cared for.

I will take time to adjust to the new home and surrounds, and in time create wonderful memories with L. This week he received the wonderful news that we have been waiting for  - he got his PR; finally after 5 years at his third attempt. Thus he's less stressed about his work and hopefully can focus more of his time and energy on us and our casa. Speriamo.

Quasi Casa Almost

Almost there

As you can see from the pictures (taken from my instagram), la casa is almost there. They have sealed the cement floor and are putting the finishing touches. The quiet Malaysian electrician Ah Long has installed the lights this week and the plumber came to install the basins and taps. The 2 carpenters - Big Long and Xiao Long - have installed the kitchen cabinets, kitchen top and wardrobe in our bedroom, and we are loving the pale distressed wood laminate called Ramshackle. The sliding door for the kitchen toilet is also in but I'm not feeling it. Will see what the hubs says - I'm trying not to sweat and stress over the small stuff! 

 

 

If everything is in place, we can move into la casa before we leave for our summer vacanza at the end of June. I'm planning to save some euros from our angbaos so we can load up on Italian kitchenware and food for our pantry! Speaking of pantry, we also bought the sleek stainless Fisher fridge with the bottom freezer compartment ($1,699) and an Ariston washing machine ($799). We also got the country ceramic laundry sink on stainless steel stands ($400 including delivery). Now to shop for the Ariston oven! :)

Enjoying the views

Colours Per La Casa

 

 As much as I love a black and white neutral look, I do believe splashes of colours will liven up a home and add character to it. So considering our flooring is cement screed (grey) with white walls and ceilings, coupled with black window grills, the occasional pop of hues are in the details from the ornate tiles (keeping to the grey-white-blue palate). We chose to paint the main wall features of our four bedrooms in colours that will be complementary to the rest of the casa.

 

So after much pondering, we settled for Silver Reef (a warm shade of grey) and Windy Hill (a brighter shade of tiffany blue) - as you can see from the images above. I really have to squint at the Dulux colours and discern the subtle differences between the shades of blue. Imagining it on a full wall is another thing.

 

Various shades of blue

 

The 'Keep It Simple Silly' rule is really important. Don't try to do too much and paint every room in a different colour. We also paint the screed walls above the 3D white tiles in the toilets in a warm grey so it will have a more finished look.  Do you know there are in fact many shades of grey? I chanced upon this indepth article on how to pick the right shade of grey, and afterwards had to call my contractor to change the grey paint. I prefer to live with a warm grey than a cool grey.  

 

Warm vs Cool grey

 

I also decided to listen to my sista's advice and board up the balcony tiles to just leave the wood beams exposed for a neater clean look. L was reluctant at first because he likes the exposed bricked wall but I pressed on - and luckily we both love the new of the black beams against the clean white ceiling (to conceal the electrical tracking and aircon trunking too)!

Teak Talk

Who doesn't love wood furniture - whether it's teak, mango wood, etc? I've been looking for the ideal dining table in wood and it's a toss-up between the ones at Commune or Crate & Barrel. But I haven't had time to look at other stores that specialise in teak - here's a lowdown before I forgot.

Scanteak
I happened to walk past Scanteak store along Balestier Road so I popped in and have a quick look. They have every piece of furniture in teak wood and most pieces are evergreen classics from the beds to dining tables. What I like are the more modern sofas and shelves.
In fact they have an extended 39th anniversary sale on some pieces including the Stiga bookshelf which is stylish and can be flipped vertically or horizontally. The sales lady even helped to turn it on its side for me to see. I could imagine it in our bedroom, living room and balcony, so I bought it on the spot for $399 (U.P. $629)! Yay this is our first piece of furniture for la casa :) I showed L a photo of it and he said "hai gusto" (you have taste lol). The only bitch about Scanteak is I have to pay an additional $55 for delivery. If we want to do self-collection, we have to drive all the way to their warehouse in Jurong to collect it.

Helping Hand pieces

Helping Hand
I also popped by The Helping Hand at 819 Upper Serangoon Road (a bus stop away from Kovan MRT Station). These furniture pieces are brought in from Indonesia - some of them are quite rough around the edges but some are not bad for the prices. And what prices?! They are having a 50% discount on every piece (extra 5% on Sunday)! I saw a couple of retro designs and side tables for only $100 to $400. 

Pagoda Teak
V recommended me Pagoda Teak which seems to have very basic designs but the website needs better organisation and pictures if they want me to shop there lol. V said their prices are reasonable and they will even varnish the pieces in your preferred colour. Now that's good to know.



Mountain Teak Furniture
I'd like to find time to check out Mountain Teak which has a more contemprary selection from Vintage to Classic. I first saw their interesting lights in a local magazine and decided to google it. Oh my, they've got really nice contemporary minimalist recycled teak and rattan furniture designs inspired by nature. Best of all, they use eco/sustainable wood material to create a simple yet stylish range.
315 Outram Road, #07-02 Tan Boon Liat Building. Tel: 6224 7176

 

Ethnicraft
Another online store which I like is EthnicraftOnline Singapore which specializes in eco-friendly, solid teak wood furniture. It has a showroom but they don't accept walk-ins so must call to make an appointment.

Noden Collective
We love this Scandinavian collection of vintage furniture - from cute clocks to old skool teak sofas and dressers. Prices are available upon request. 
http://nodencollective.com/

i Light up my life part 2

Lee Broom crystal bulbs

In the last month since working on a campaign for the new Jewel Cafe+Bar at Rangoon Road, I've been lusting after their Lee Broom crystal light bulbs which hang so beautifully above our heads while we nurse the excellent coffee. They are so simple and elegant in their naked state, although they don't come cheap at 280 pounds each. Oh you can buy these bulbs here in Singapore at Grafunkt which is having its 3rd anniversary sale till July 2013. Anyway do check out Jewel Cafe for inspiration - their decor is very tasteful and chic, love the white 3D tiles!




Jewel Cafe + Bar

I have been researching on the different kinds of light fixtures out there and the choices are mind boggling indeed; from different periods in various styles and using all kinds of materials like glass and wood. The electrician have put in the switches so now we have to decide on the lights soon. 

For starters I have bought the LED strip lights and spotlights from Ikea which are energy saving yet understated. However the built-in LED lights mean you can't change the bulbs but the whole thing when it finally reaches the end of its life span which is about 20,000 hours = 833 days. I can live with that and honestly that will mean we will have a valid reason to change the lights haha.

I'm hoping to find interesting pendant lamps like the one in the picture below that I can hang on the wall. I just love brass light fittings and brass anything! They are so classy and add so much personality.  Maybe I can find quirky brass lights at a flea market in Rome or the back alleys of Naples.

 

Brass lights

 

I also saw the real designer lights at Foundry (Raffles Hotel) and they don't come cheap. That's why so many shops here do the replicas. Anyway I'm inspired by the story by Design Sponge on "Pendant Lamps Under $100" - perhaps it's a matter of time. 

 

 

In the end I went back to Light Craft at Jalan Sultan and bought 4 replicas of the Aurora glass pendants in the onion shape (2 Amber and 2 Smoked black finish). They are very cute and eye-catching yet subtle. Also bought a clear bell jar for the balcony and 2 brass lights that are meant for picture frames - and will hang them in our master toilet as a vanity lamp and also at the staircase landing upstairs. Bellissimo!

 

Aurora glass pendant in onion shape
 

Classic and classy brass lights

 

Living Room - Before and After Hacking

Benvenuto! Welcome to the before- and work-in-progress pictures of the living room, including the study room on the ground floor :)

Step right in...the "Before" picture

The "After" picture of the new front door and repainted gate!

 



Before hacking in the original state

After hacking floor...

After hacking walls between living and study

 

View from inside living room towards main door, before hacking

After hacking shelf, wall and floor

Seeing the semi-open kitchen!

Living room wall which sealed up the study room

  

After hacking to reveal study which will be a play den and guest room