This Lunar New Year is definitely a rush one because it falls in the month of January and earlier than before. Whatever I predicted last December about Lunar New Year stuff gonna start selling in mid December was so accurate. So you can have both Christmas and Lunar New Year vibes in a month. Interesting yet very common. So whenever we can, buy some LNY items, clean the cabinets, change curtains, putting up decorations and so on. Honestly, what I look forward to on Lunar New Year is wearing new clothes and shoes, and bringing new bags. The feel I have for LNY is not as strong as Christmas and sometimes I wonder if I'm even a Singaporean Chinese. Anyway, a sum up of 2023 Lunar New Year for me.
LUNAR NEW YEAR GROUPBUY PURCHASES
Have stayed in my current place for coming 9 years and only last year 2022, I started to join Groupbuys where I saw a lot of different food items that I have never knew its existence. Depending on vendors, I find that some prices were slightly higher by cents (or dollars) and NO DELIVERY CHARGES or delivery to your doorstep) so you do a self-collect at the collection point. I actually okay with that because I got to clock my steps to earn points for my EZLINK card monies. Bought the followings for myself and families this Lunar New Year. Another season of gifting like Christmas.
[HALAL] AH TAS MUFFINS COOKIES IN TUB
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| Dark Chocolate Macadamia Cookies |
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| Bite-sized Cookies |
Both Mister and myself taste tested and we loved the crunchiness of their bite-sized cookie that has a macadamia and most importantly, not very sweet and well-balanced with the chocolatey taste. Mister isn't a sweet taker so this has passed his sweetness test.
CAKEMADDERS CNY ITEMS
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| (Left: Trio Crunch, Right: Fish Crunch) |
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| Belinjos and Fish Crunch in 1 bottle |
Trio Crunch contains a mix of original belinjo, hot and spicy belinjo and their addictive fish crunch, which I bought a bottle of its own because Mister loved fish crackers.
Belinjo also known as Emping (or Arifin) is an Indonesia chips made of Melinjo or Belinjo (Gnetum Gnemon) nuts. The ones from CakeMadders wasn't too bitter (which supposed to be) so it made it enjoyable. Both Belinjos and Fish Crunch were thin and crunchy. I am convinced now when they named it Addictive Fish Crunch because it really was addictive, so were the Belinjos. Not oily at all too.
But too much Belinjos can be quite heaty so please drink more water and don't over-eat. I know it is irresistible but take it easy ya.
[HALAL] HOMEMADE KUEH BAHLU
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| Chocolate Rice Kueh Bahlu |
Bought the Chocolate Rice flavour for my bro and sis-in-law and instead getting the original as it won't be so boring. Who never tried the original one before, right?
ROUND 1 OF 2023 REUNION DINNER
Had steamboat cum BBQ dinner at my sis-in-law's place. I still feel that steamboat is the easiest meal to handle because all you need is soup base and the food items. Don't need to think about what to cook, for how many persons, and then get down to whipping up a feast. Busy and tired the entire day. Some will go out eat or order food catering, which is okay because don't need to cook and clean up or just eat and throw the unwanted. But expensive for sure with surcharges for some.
ROUND 2 OF 2023 REUNION DINNER
With my fam-bam for round 2. Same same but different. Also steamboat BBQ. But different location. Hahaha... my bro bought super nice chicken satay meat for BBQ for Bukit Gombak. Next time shall go and find it myself. Then I'm not sure why but my mum used lettuces to put into the soup and all sudden, I remembered that we could eat the Korean way since we have meat and lettuce. Wonderful idea. My dad tried it out too. It really helped to reduce the oiliness.
ROUND 3 OF 2023 REUNION DINNER
Of course this round would be on our own at home. Cooked something simple with whatever is available in the kitchen. Been busy the whole day doing last min chores which in my opinion, only doing on the last day made sense. And before the clock strikes 12am, have to throw all the rubbish out. As a tradition, no throwing of rubbish, sweeping and mopping on 1st day of Lunar New Year. If not, your fortunes will go away too. Told by my parents since young.
1ST DAY OF 2023 LUNAR NEW YEAR
The usual visiting started at noon and to the usual 3 places since young and his side. Raining the entire afternoon all the way to night when we finally finished the visiting day. Rain and stop, and rain again, and stop again. What a day! There is a saying that if it rains on Winter Solstice (in December), it will rain on Lunar New Year. And it was so true because I remembered that day was my Company dinner and it really did rained (but before that it has been raining on and off). So this saying is true.
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| Not so heavy rain after visiting our uncle's place. |
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| One downpour just ended at my aunt's place. Still can see Singapore Flyer and MBS. |
After sending everyone home, Mister was super hungry because we never had a proper meal all the way till we were done with visiting. Snacking at every house (my family but not me) till he couldn't take it anymore. And as usual, the son or son-in-law who has car will be the driver of the day like Grab driver but earn nothing except tiredness and hunger. Hahaha... lucky I can drive so towards the end of the day, I drove instead.
Had our dinner a.k.a 1st proper meal of the day at Yishun Park Hawker. Not much choices plus surcharge of $1 till 24 Jan 2023. I used CDC vouchers to pay for my food so to lessen my spending and reward myself for not snacking at every house we went. Really minimal and I drank most of the time. Yeah!
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| His Nasi Lemak with extra rice and begedil. Average taste but decent portion for $7 (include surcharge). |
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| My Seafood Phad Thai also average taste but decent portion with seafood for $7.50 (include surcharge). |
So that's the end of my post. The rest of 14 days of Lunar New Year will be nothing but work and celebrations with friends or in the office. And if you missed out on my Lunar New Year's post, click on the post here (traditions) and here (snacks).
🐇Wishing all a Happy and Prosperous Lunar New Year! HENG ONG HUAT AHHHH!🐇
Disclaimer: All the above were paid by writer. Not sponsored post. All reviews are based on writer's preference and taste bud and does not represent anyone else other than herself.