I hope, I wish & I pray.

All booked ^^  Just booked my flight and accommodation!  It will be this Autumn. Will be flying off from Spore on 4th October and flying back on 20th October. Sigh...the thought of flying back is always so demoralising. Arghhh...can I stay there forever????? 

This trip is going to be a leisure trip by waking up naturally every morning but come to think of it, I usually wake up very early hahahaaa  This time, I moved out of my comfort zone, Myeongdong and will be staying in Hongdae becos I have some plans for next year *Hopefully I can make it happen* Shall reveal when the time comes.

Whatever it is, I am most thankful and happy to be able to return to my second home once again!  I know I took longer than usual to update my recent trip this time. That's becos I was too distracted with my research for my upcoming trip in October  ㅎㅎㅎ 

내가 저녁 식사 (Singapore)

Today, I got the mood to make my 주먹밥 and 찌개  ^^

I seasoned the cooked rice with sesame oil and salt.
Followed by mixing some roasted black sesame seeds, seaweeds and chopped cucumber into the rice. 
 Added some mayonnise tuna in the middle and shaped it into a ball.

I made two variations.  One with tuna and the other with chopped fried bacon. 

The ones covered with seaweed contained the chopped bacon.  
I need to add more tuna in future.

My 참치 베이컨 주먹밥 with 돼지고기 김치찌개 for dinner.

Satisfied with my Kimchi Pork Jjigae but I hope to learn the authentic cooking from a Korean next time ^^  

I want to try making 고구마 라떼 soon ^^

My second home ^^

A mad rush before heading out to the airport!  Yeap!  Its HOME SWEET HOME in a few hours ^^   May there be peace and no war. Not becos of my trip but for the sake of all beings.  Got to get ready! See ya ^^

Bibigo @ Raffles City(Singapore)

Emily and I went to Bibigo for dinner.  

Emily ordered 장조림밥 Jang Jo Rim Bap.  

Yummy but she finds that there's too little pork  Hahahaha

Nevertheless, this is delicious ^^

Hmmmm... 장조림밥 does not look difficult to prepare.  I want to try it one day ^^

화이트 치킨. The fried chicken taste normal but try it with kimchi.  It will taste very different ^^  
I wrapped my kimchi around the chicken and OMOoooooooooooooooooo
진짜 맛있다!!!

My 치킨 김치 볶음 밥.  Omg this is heaven!  

Lucky Happy Me ^^

I guess the craze for HappyCall was over but I am still very happy to win this! Yeah, I won this in a lucky draw during my office's annual event last week.  I am very happy becos this is "MADE IN KOREA". Everyone was hoping to get the first prize which was a mini ipad but I was aiming for this becos this is from KOREA ㅎㅎㅎ 

I tried cooking 삼겹갈 using my new HappyCall last evening ^^
진짜 맛있어 ㄱㄱㄱ

잘 먹고 ^^

샤이니 - Dream Girl

                            
Have been waiting so long for Shinee's new album!  I don't like this song when I first listen to it but I am now loving it!! Hur hur 

ZE:A 제국의 아이들 - 후유증

                             
                           Didn't take much notice of this song until I watched "The Romantic & Idol" ^^

Quick bite at 본촌치킨(Singapore)

Went to Bonchon Chicken 본촌치킨 with my friend last Wednesday.

We were not hungry but we wanted to try the fried chicken ^^

As always, I couldn't resist not to have my all time favourite 해물순두부찌개 ㅋㅋㅋ

My favourite way to eat my 찌개 ^^

It was a little bit spicy for me but bearable.  However, I find this sundubu jjigae a bit too "modernised" for me. Why do I say that? The toufu was nicely cut into small cubes. The prawns were shelled and there were small pieces of scallops. And abalones(I think)..I actually prefer toufu to be in chunks and unshelled prawns(though I am a bit lazy to shell the prawns). 

We didn't order this. I think this was complimentary becos they forgotten about fried chicken.  I reminded the waiter about our fried chicken.  He checked and came back to tell me that I have to wait for another 5 mins.  Not long later, another waitress came and presented this to us.  She said, "Please enjoy this while waiting for the chicken."  Wow.  This was something we did not expect. Thumbs up for the great service!

Our fried chicken arrived about 10-15 mins later but that's ok. We ordered 3 pieces of soy garlic flavour fried chicken becos we felt we couldn't finish 6 pieces and this left us craving for more! Yes, we will be back for more fried chicken!  I personally feel that the fried chicken at Bonchon and 4 Fingers are both equally good ^^

Juicy yummy fried chicken!  

My own version of 김치국밥 in Singapore

Today was home alone day. I did not want to go out to buy my dinner so I thought of cooking my own version of 김치국밥 Kimchi Gukbap. Hahahaaa..I didn't know there was Kimchi Gukbap until my recent trip to Korea. I saw 김치국밥 on the menu when I had my dinner at 요기 Yogi in Sinchon on my second last day in Korea. Though I did not had their 김치국밥 back then but it has been on mind since then.  Sigh.....It has been ten days since I came back from Korea...I miss my second home badly...

I marinated the pork this morning and left it in the fridge. Stir fry the minced garlic, Kimchi, Pork and 고추가루 (Korean Chilli Powder).  Add water, some Gochujang 고추장 and Doenjang 된장.  Allow it to simmer.

I add some golden mushrooms 金 针菇 and some sesame oil before serving.  

I have not eaten Kimchi Gukbap before. I couldn't find much recipes online and I am not sure how it taste like. Since Gukbap is rice with soup so I came out with my own version of 김치국밥 by adding rice to my 김치찌개 kimchi jjigae ㅎㅎㅎ

The 반찬 banchan was anchovies bought from Lotte Department. The anchovies were mixed with sunflower seeds and fried garlic slices. It was delicious but a bit expensive. It cost KRW6000 for about 100-200g. I stared at my Kimchi Gukbap for some time before adding something to it.

I added an egg to it!!  Ya...I know 김치 찌개 kimchi jjigae does not have any egg and I don't think 김치국밥 Kimchi Gukbap has egg in it but I just couldn't resist adding an egg to my hot soup!  I love poached egg!  Hahahaaa...this is really my own version of 김치국밥!! 

Going back to second home ^^

Heading out to Changi Airport in two hours.  I miss Korea and my friends there.  May everything be smooth and good for me ^^  

너무 행복해 ^^

Yipppeeeee!!  I managed to extend my trip for one more day in my beloved second home ㅋㅋㅋ
Although its only one more day, but it means a lot to me.  I really really reallllllllllyyyyyyyy wish I can stay there...arghhh...Anyway, my return date will be 19th instead of 18th ^^
Blur me, I thought I have to work on 20th so I booked the return date as 18th Oct. 
Just got an email reply from KTO(Singapore) that there will not be any no Eulalia Festival in Seoul this year.  Hmmm...I think the silver grass will still grow beautifully, 그렇죠? I will still pop by 하늘공원 if possible.

A day with my Kim Kim ^^

Brought Kim Kim to "4 Fingers" for lunch today.  We ordered the 12 pieces chicken set, which comprised of chicken wings and drumlets, a soda and fries.  We chose soy garlic flavour and Kim Kim loved it as much as I do. The chicken was very tasty and delicious but the big drumsticks that I had previously, had a more crunchy texture as compared to the drumlets and wings.  

After lunch, we watched this "movie" by SM Entertainment.  
Expensive tickets but it was almost full house..

Song Joong Ki CF Seoul Milk (2012)

                           

Another advertisement that stays in my head.   I didn't have much impression of 송중기 Song Joong Ki but knew that he was very well liked in Korea.  This advertisement was frequently played on TV and in subway stations.  It really caught my attenton because I think he is soooo cute!

Woohooooo!!!

The expected blooming dates for cherry blossom 2012 is finally released!!!   Didn't expect cherry blossoms to bloom earlier this year.  I thought it will be later than last year based on the trends of the past two years .  Anyway, I am HAPPY!!!  

I don't know why, but I just look forward to see Hangang and Banpo bridge for its beautiful night view.  Guess it should be the post effect of Banpo bridge 6 months ago *Hur Hur

너무 너무 배불러요......

I can't believe Red Pig is fully booked for both 14th and 15th April.  Despite calling up a week in advance to make reservation, I still can't get a table for 3 persons.  I hope the lady boss will consider expanding the shop space to accommodate my people.  Shar said we will just proceed to the place and wait for an empty table...don't know whether she mean it a not but I can't wait any longer.

I got to do something!  The results of my action has left me feeling quite guilty conscience!  Ahhh.....Had a very good dinner tonight but I can feel my stomach is going to burst anytime....

A little Ssamjang, Kimchi and Pork Belly.
Believe it a not.  I hardly eat pork until I eat Samgyeopsal 삼겹살!!  
Pork Belly used to be a CONFIRMED NOPE for me until I tried Samgyeopsal 삼겹살 in Korea.  

Bibigo!  Saw this in the supermarket and bought it to marinate the pork belly.  

Yup!  I divided the pork belly into two portions.  
One portion was simply marinated with salt,
 and the other portion was marinated with pepper and the sauce that I bought.  
The pork was marinated a night before, to make it tasty.   Niceeee!!!!

Ermmm......I know this doesn't look like 순두부찌개 Sundubu Jjigae but trust me, it taste like 순두부찌개  ㅋㅋㅋ

제가 한국 음식 많이 좋아해  ^^   Mum said I can't live in Korea because at the rate I am eating, I will become a fatty bom bom in no time..........ㅠㅠ   I told her I won't because there's a lot of walking to do in Korea unlike in Singapore.

开心 ^^

Saw this piece of news on FB, posted by Asiana Airlines(Singapore) today: 

"We are glad to inform you that Asiana Airlines has Additional Flights Schedule from Singapore to Seoul v.v on the following dates! 

24 May - 25 June, 18 July - 27 August, 17 October - 27 October

OZ 754 SIN-ICN ETD: 0230 ETA: 0950 (Mon,Thu,Sat)

OZ753 ICN-SIN ETD: 2000 ETA: 0120 (Wed,Fri,Sun)"

Great!!  The usual daily flight that fly between Seoul and Spore is OZ752 and OZ751.  OZ753 only fly to Spore in January and 4th quarter of the year.  Hmm...what's the occasion for additional flights?   Could it be due to Expo 2012 Yeosu??  Whatever it is, I am definitely most happy to hear this and PLEASEeeeee......OZ753 do fly to Spore more often  ^^  

잘 먹고 ^^

Home alone today, so I decided to cook 김치찌개 kimchi jjigae for myself.  Usually, I don't bother to cook a decent meal if I am eating alone.  I would probably cook 라면 just to fill up my stomach but I've been craving for 찌개 for the past one week, so I looked through the fridge and I found the basic ingredients to make myself  김치찌개!!!  Yippeee  

Stir fry the garlic and pork pieces as usual.
Today, I realised my small 뚝배기 is just the perfect size to cook for myself.  행복해 ^^

Taadaaaa!!   Although there's no 반찬 banchan, but this is a complete meal to me because besides the pork pieces, I added lots of garlic and kimchi as well.  Ermm...Personally, I think most Korean dishes are not difficult to cook...the basic ingredients will always be there...ie 고추장 Gochujang,  고추가루 Gochugaru and  된장 Doenjang.   I am not a good cook but I think cooking jjigae should be quite simple for most people.

I cooked two servings of Korean rice because any leftover of the rice can be used for 볶음밥 fried rice tomorrow.  Yes, using leftover rice to cook fried rice on the following day is what the Chinese usually do, because it was said that using leftover rice from the previous day to cook fried rice is even better.  I am not sure whether this is the same for Korean fried rice but anyway, I didn't manage to keep any leftover to cook fried rice tomorrow!!   

As you can see from this picture....the second helping of rice went right into the jjigae....arghhhh.....diet starts tomorrow....

And yeah I know...the same picture has been appearing in this blog thrice including this time...!!!   I just can't resist.... I think I have to look at Girls Generation more often to prevent myself from overeating....  -__-

새해 복 많이 받으세요 ^^

I cook 팥죽 patjuk this morning  ^^  Well, not exactly in juk form cos I prefer to eat some soft red beans  ^^    I think Korean eat 떡국 Tteokguk (soup with sliced rice cakes) on New year but I cook this instead!  Hahahaa...cos I felt like eating red bean soup .  Dessert symbolised a sweet year ahead for me ㅋㅋㅋ 
새해 복 많이 받으세요!  Wishing everyone a peaceful and harmony year ahead  ^^ 

안녕하세요!

Yesterday, my friend whatsApp this message to me, "민서엄마, 수환엄마예요. 오늘 몇시에 만날까요?  전화 좀 주세요.."   
He told me this message was sent out from overseas and asked me what does it mean.
I wish I'm the one to receive this message!!  ㅋㅋㅋ  Becos it will be a good chance for me to practise my Korean!   ㅎㅎㅎ   If I am the one to receive this message, I think I will reply, "안녕하세요. 너 사람을 잘못가지고.  나는 민서엄마 아니에요. 여기는 싱가포르입니다."

I wonder will she understand what I mean!  ㅎㅎㅎ   

Free samples ^^

Koreans are really generous when it comes to giving free samples.  It may be a sales tactic but it benefits their customers as well  ^^    I have already used some of the free samples and these are the remaining samples given to me during my trip in Oct 2011!  They might be able to last me till my next trip  ㅋㅋㅋ  Innisfree and Laneige are my favourites  ^^