Pancake making

While the visitors were out for a little excursion to the nearby mall, Ashley had fun making pancakes with Aisla. They were very happy spending time in the kitchen!

Thanks to friends with gluten free diet, I now buy rice and soybean pancake mix for the kids. They last longer in their tummies. The ones I use are small sized premix packages from Japan. All we need to do is mix in an egg and some milk (or water). Perfect with some sausages :)

Bread baking

On one Valentines day Matthew gave me a bread maker while we were living in Brunei. I used to use it quite often and definitely our amah used to bake with it a lot for us.

Once we moved to Singapore and living in the smaller apartment I didn't have enough bench space to put it up. But now we have a bigger space and the kitchen is more open I decided to have a go again. My friend upstairs suggested to use some special Japanese flour. I think it is definitely the key for delicious bread baking! It smelt wonderful, raised perfectly and of course tasted super yummy!

Now our kids are addicted to it, I might have to bake more often!

Fun day for Luca

Kylie offered to take Luca for a looooong scooter ride yesterday so that he can release all the excess energy he has. They managed to get to our nearest shopping mall - Parkway Parade.

When they came home they spent more time together in the kitchen making very yummy apple crumble. I don't think I have ever baked it myself before. Luca had so much fun making the crumble very crumbly.

It is so nice to have an extra adult in the house when you are getting crazy chasing all three kids. I think I will be lost without Kylie when she goes back to Christchurch next week. 

Bread baking

I have a lovely neighbour who loves cooking and baking. Hiroko invited me to join "super easy bread making". It was super easy! You combine all the ingredients into a bowel and mix with a spatula then leave it to rise. You don't even need to knead. Once it doubles in size you shape them and bake.

Hiroko did most of the work. I only joined in from shaping these little buns. 

They were absolutely delicious! We had them hot with some NZ butter. She gave me half of what we baked. The kids loved them. I do feel I need to spend more time in the kitchen baking...

Well, I've already ordered some Japanese flour and yeast. Maybe time to bring out the bread maker and try new breads. 

Gingerbread cookies

Wonderful Christmas festiveness continued at the Brunke residence. The kids were treated with some gingerbread cookie making.

Firstly, instructions were given on what we are making and how we are doing it.

Then the fun began!

Then the most exciting part - decorating the cookies with lots and lots of sweets! 

Luca and Oliver's - can you tell which is which?

The best part was of course trying them - yum yum yum! 

The cookies made the whole house smell so nice and Christmasy. It won't be the same if we try this in Singapore. Great for our kids to experience proper Christmas activities.

Muffins anyone?

Luca loves being in the kitchen. If I am making something he is right beside me on his stool. Like a very hungry dog with his tongue out.

Tonight he helped me make Matthew's lunch - yummy cheese muffins :) Thanks Luca!

Meanwhile in Singapore...

My little ones were busy cooking with daddy.

I am so happy Luca has turned into a very good big brother (he had been quite rough when she was smaller) to Ashley. Makes me smile a lot :)

Roses Ribs

Matthew has been a star preparing for BBQs. Our Japanese friends are now calling his ribs "Signature Roses Ribs"

He makes own rub, cooks the BBQ sauce and pre-cooks on our BBQ. Very time consuming but everyone loves them.

 

The expectation is very high now. They were very tasty once again. We might have to start up a shop!

Healthy breakfast

Our kids love smoothies which we should take advantage of more often when preparing their breakfast. I don't think of getting them involved often enough.

Yesterday they got to help prepare. We put some blueberries, bananas, strawberries, rice milk, ordinary milk, yogurt, baby spinach and honey. The boys were very proud :)

Once we put the blender on it was very noisy - even for our little noisy person!

Ashley loves drinking it too. Mmmmmm, yum!

ANZAC biscuits

Matthew was flying down to Perth on ANZAC day so the boys baked some ANZAC biscuits a day before. They turned out really really nice. I must say much better than when I bake.
They enjoyed baking together but most of all - eating what they baked themselves was the best part!

Pizza chefs

Getting the boys to help in the kitchen is always a hit! They made their own dinner tonight :)

Yum yum yum!