Nik


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Thursday, December 29, 2011 @ 3:47 AM PERMALINK

This year, I had decided that I was making everyone gifts and because I have barely ever stepped into the kitchen, I started my experimentation early.

I only ended up trying (and using) two recipes:

1. Basic Meringues
2. Thumbprint cookies 

I hadn't planned to keep my baking to the last minute but the batch of meringues I made for my gift exchange got ruined and I had to re-bake them on Christmas Eve itself.  My mom also requested a batch of thumbprint cookies to give to my grandmother (a rather suprising response especially since my scone disaster) 

So I spent my Christmas Eve at home with mum baking these sweet treats:

Jam cookies for the Bongs and mini meringues for the girls at the gift exchange 



Mum and I also exchanged gifts early since this year we didn't have much time to shop for one another. I got cash from her and she got a pair of cheap earrings that I had intended to buy for myself. (Sorry mum, I'll buy you real classy earrings when I get a job) 



I had bought these earrings via a Groupon that Rin suggested I purchase because I very attracted to their sparkly-ness. However, a couple of days after they arrived in the mail, my mum announced that she had dropped her old earrings in the bus. Being a bit of a hippie and believing in signs from the universe, I took this as one and decided to give them to her instead of keeping them.

Hence, I still do not own a serious pair of grown up earings.

Mum and I went to Midnight Mass alone and because we arrived early, we had the chance to listen to the carols before Mass. It made it feel a little more like Christmas and brought me back a couple of years to when I starred in a Christmas musical for my old church (haha, yes. You read that right) 

We were also seated next to a really nice family who were sweet enough to ask if we had enough space. It was also a happy coincidence that my old friend Christian and his family were seated just behind us.

After mass, Bong's dad & mum came to get me in their car to bring me over to Brendan's where we had the first christmas meal of the season, exchanged gifts and just hung out.









By the time we all went to bed, it was 5am and we only managed to get a few hours of sleep before it was off to Big 5 for Christmas breakfast.

Breakfast was wonderful. Sausages, eggs, hot chocolate, bread..just the things to get our stomaches prepped for the rest of the day's eatage.

The Bong family trying to figure out how to assemble an IKEA lamp. Ikea; keeping families entertained





After breakfast, we headed back and helped make some potato salad before our next stop at the Scully's for lunch. I forgot my camera because I was so wiped already so no pictures from there but the food was fabulous.

After lunch, we all went back, took a quick nap and before anyone realised it, we were off to Big 5 again for dinner.







Falcor looking curiously at the present, 


Falcor wasnt too happy about this gift. Either that or he thought it was a playmate for him. 






Jessica and Bong


Cutting up the turkey




My favourite part of the meal. Pudding and jelly! 


The Christmas elves hard at work to get the pudding to light up


Success! 





Someone had brought some old pictures to the party and everyone started talking about the old Singapore and what now stands in place of the buildings of their pasts. Grandpa Bong and Uncle Jerry also had some really interesting stories to tell about World War Two and how their family managed to survive.



Cheeky smiles because Grandpa Bong was telling us where he used to walk with his girlfriend (and later wife) when they went on chaperoned dates.



Rosewater flavoured Turkish Delight from Turkey. So addictive. 


Fish faces! 


Hafiz also dropped by Big 5 for dinner and after that we stopped at Gardens for some gossiping. By the time Hafiz dropped me off, it was (again) almost 4am and I could not wait to get to bed.

The next morning, I woke up this on the dining table:

More grub! A feast for three. 


While I slept like a log, my hardworking mother prepared all this food for my sister and I. My family is very photo adverse unless they are dressed up (which is never) so this is the only picture I managed to get.

There are a couple more dinner to have, including our yearly get together dinner on the 6th of Jan when Berns shocks us with her kitchen abilitie and leaves us all wondering "HOW THE HELL DOES SHE DO IT?"

This really is my favourite season of the year. Even if I do gain weight (WHICH I DID). It is Toats worth it. ;)

Labels: celebration, christmas, family and friends

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