2009 December | the groovini

Christmas Recipes

December 21st, 2009

Freaking out at the thought of cooking Christmas dinner? Don’t panic! Help is at hand for all sorts of Christmas goodies

The Times’ comprehensive guide to Christmas cooking

The Guardian’s fabulous guide to Christmas cooking

Baking for Christmas

BBC’s Good Food Magazine’s guide to Christmas cooking

Mario Batali’s traditional Italian Christmas eve fish feast

We’re using this cornbread stuffing recipe for me this year, since I won’t eat pork

Julia Child’s turkey recipe

Cooking Light for the lighter alternatives

And…reader Carolyn’s Berrylicious Pavlova. I wish she’d make me one. Doesn’t it look YUM?

by Carolyn

I loved this recipe because it was easy, could be done ahead of time and is relatively foolproof! And everyone scarfed it down …. not a crumb was left behind. There are some suspicions that someone licked the plate …

Another trick is to slice the strawberries (which can be a little under-ripe), and toss them in a little sugar and balsamic vinegar to create a lovely glaze that sweetens the berries and makes it all lusciously delicious.

4 egg whites (try to use the large eggs here)
1 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp vinegar
1 tsp cornflour
1 cup double cream, whipped
Assorted strawberries, berries or frozen berry mix
If strawberries are under-ripe, then:
2 tbsp caster sugar
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

Method:

Preheat oven to 150°C* for 10 min. Draw an 8” circle on an oiled greaseproof paper and place on baking sheet.
If strawberries are under-ripe, slice them and sprinkle with 2 tbsp of caster sugar and 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar. This should be done at least 3 hours before to let the glazing occur. Chill. Toss other berries in one hour before serving.
Whisk the egg whites stiffly, add half of the sugar and whisk till stiff again. Fold in the remaining sugar. Add vinegar, essence and cornflour.
Spread mix over the baking paper, keeping inside the outline and form a shallow case (with slight depression in the middle). Bake in the centre of the oven for an hour or till firm. Leave to cool. If you do this too early and it starts oozing later, pop it back in the oven for another 20 minutes at 100°C till it dries out.
Top with whipped cream and then the berries. If using berries whole without the glaze, then add a dusting of icing sugar on the top for that ‘snowy’ effect.

*Tip: If your oven is fan assisted, lower the heat to 120°C – You need a slow heat to dry out the pavlova more.

Posted in Eats, Recipes | No Comments »

The Spirit of Christmas

December 21st, 2009

I love this story. I read it a year ago, and thought it was lovely. If we could all live like this, the world would be so different. I’m no saint…especially since I used to be so prone to road rages – and this moved me. Seems to me it’s what Christmas spirit is all about.

Watch this – such an inspiring friendship!

and more great friends

And here are some inspirational articles and videos to help you with your New Year’s intentions: make next year the best year you can possibly have! Life is now, not tomorrow…

“For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. This perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So treasure every moment you have and remember that time waits for no one. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.” – Souza

Can An Ordinary Person Live in A State of Grace?

Be Grateful for What You Already Have, not What You’re Going To Get

Aspire to an Inspired Life

Jill Bolte Taylor recovered from a major stroke and intends to live a great life

The Happiness Project

Posted in Blog, Reflections | No Comments »

Stuck in the office while everyone else is away?

December 21st, 2009

Here, some videos to entertain you

Love the Muppets

This is like watching a train wreck. You just can’t look away. Does he think he’s good?

(watch Wind Beneath My Wings too)

This is sweet. How talented is he!

This makes me feel so good!

These guys are so great!

Posted in Literati-Glitterati, Videos | No Comments »

Scarlet Fever

December 21st, 2009

Hitting the town for New Year’s? Our gorgeous beauty writer, BEAUTICIA recommends some reds for your smackers.

Scarlet Fever I have adored red lipstick for as long as I can remember. Influenced by the old-school movie stars of the 40s and 50s whose images I devoured in my formative years, red lipstick promised me instant glamour from a bygone era. As soon as I was old enough, it became my staple, go-to colour.

In recent years, bold lipsticks have taken a back-seat to sparkles, glitter and slick shininess after nearly a decade of gloss, gloss and more gloss. But it seems the current season has kicked off a lipstick revolution – and lucky for me, true reds are leading the charge.

Red lipstick is a big trend in beauty this season, with scarlet mouths fronting many a designer’s catwalk for the Fall/Winter collections.

Strong red lips have the advantage of brightening your complexion, in addition to making your teeth look whiter. Not to mention the drop-dead glamour that the it lends.

And with the festive season just around the corner, what better colour is there than bright fire-engine and tomato reds?

Just remember to go easy on the rest of your make-up (eyes, cheeks) to avoid looking like the star of a Chinese opera. And pay close attention to the application – bright reds need a steady hand and must be applied carefully (it definitely helps to use a lip-brush for the edges of the lips).

Here’s some of my top picks for gorgeous, true-red shades.

Chanel, Rouge Allure in Audace. $44

Chanel, Rouge Allure in Audace

A gorgeous, beautifully textured true red with slightly warm undertones.

Christian Dior, Red Premier. $42

Christian Dior, Red Premier

A best-selling red in a rich, true-red shade with slight bluish undertones. Divine silky satin texture. Red carpet glamorous!

Besame, Classic Enchanting Lipstick in Red Hot Red. About $21 (online from USA).

Besame, Classic Enchanting Lipstick in Red Hot Red

Creamy, rich colour in a semi-matte finish. Comes in a gorgeous retro gold bullet-shaped tube inspired by post-war 1940s packaging.

MAC, Matte Lipstick in Russian Red. $28

MAC, Matte Lipstick in Russian Red

Intense, bluish-red in a matte formula. Sexy, pin-up colour. Good staying power.

Revlon, Matte Lipstick in Really Red. $16.90

Revlon, Matte Lipstick in Really Red

A wonderful true red in a well-formulated suede-like matte texture. Good staying power and great value.

Chanel, Hydrobase Lipstick in Fire. $40

Chanel, Hydrobase Lipstick in Fire

My all-time favourite red. A bright, glamorous tomato-red shade. Unfortunately, this favourite amongst red-loving beauty junkies, will be discontinued by Chanel. So buy up before it disappears!

Posted in Beauticia, Fashion-Beauty | No Comments »

At last…great yoga gear

December 21st, 2009

So one of your resolutions for 2010 is ‘get fit’. And you decide that, to inspire yourself, you’ll get yourself new gear. Then dismay! You find that other than Nike and Royal Sporting House, options are limited. Unless like me, you go online and buy from the US (Athleta, REI) and Australia (Bella Bustiere, Lorna Jane. Limited Lorna Jane available at Novena Square). Happily, Par Jaune has just launched. Currently an online business, Par Jaune is the brainchild of my former yoga teacher, Ryan. Par Jaune is a Singapore-based site offering a good range of yoga pants, capris, crops and tank tops, from Hard Tail, Kitson LA and Be Present.

Ryan’s planning to bring in more brands and more product, but the Kitson and Hard Tail stuff he offers is pretty much exclusive to Singapore.

You can arrange for delivery or collection, it’s up to you – have a chat to Ryan if you have questions, he’ll gladly answer them.

This tank from HardTail comes with a built-in bra and is $68	This groovy roll-down tie die cropped pants are also by HardTail and are $99
Be Present Tank	I love this Organic Cotton Long Tank by Be Present ($53) but I’d wear a bra
Yoginis, these mobility pants by Be Present are $120 but that lotus embroidery is really cute!

Posted in Retail-Therapy | No Comments »

What’s in store for you in 2010?

December 21st, 2009

Felicity Wishes XVI at www.art.com

Astrologer Penny Thornton gives you a peek into your stars for 2010. Apparently I ‘ll be working very hard…

Posted in Play, Travel-and-Play | No Comments »

Oh Tiger

December 10th, 2009

Elin Nordegren Woods

I want to explain this week’s poll to you, in case anyone thinks I’m riding on the crass paparazzi Tiger Woods bandwagon, and trying Tiger in the court of public opinion. (What is it about human nature that rejoices when idols fall?)

My question for you, while it appears to be about Tiger, is really far more about relationships. There are children involved, private hurt and public humiliation for his wife, and who knows how much more dirt. A friend and I were talking about marriage, fidelity, and sticking it out. Should Elin stick with Tiger?

This morning I came across this article by Jessica Ashley and I agree. Whatever else is being said, I’m with Elin, and I hope she makes choices that will result in a great life for her and her children.

Like everyone else, I had believed Tiger to be cleaner than clean, focused on being a great golfer (the best ever, it’s been said), who found a beautiful woman, got married and they now have a great and loving family. A fairytale that made him more money than just being a great golfer would do.

This drama (2am, golf clubs, battered car windows, cut lips, a string of skanky women, and who knows how many more) clearly means that particular fairytale is over.

While there is intense speculation on whether this would affect his endorsement deals (the first sportsman to hit a billion dollars in earnings, 80% from endorsements) because his image is so shattered, clearly the biggest tragedy would be the breakup of a family, and the effect his behaviour would have on his wife, Elin, and her life in the future. Whether or not she stays with him (will she be tempted by the revision of the prenup to US$300m), Elin has to carry this with her and find a way to live with it, and be the best mother she can be.

If she stays with him, she has to find a way to get past her hurt, regain her trust in him, her belief in the sancitity of marriage, and love him still. The kind of love that involved fairy dust, unicorns and rainbows will clearly not be possible, but one where eyes wide open, a partnership, and reality are involved (that’s on the assumption that he will mend his ways) and a belief that this drama is a hump in the road, not the end of the road.

I wonder if that’s possible. So my poll question is really trying to find out if you believe it is. I’d really like to hear what you think. I hope you’ll also use the comment button if you have a point of view you wish to share.

Posted in Blog, Reflections | 1 Comment »

Fashion with a Cause

December 10th, 2009

By Fashion Jeannie

Over the last few weeks, fashionistas in Singapore have been going through their wardrobes, generously donating their gently used designer wear to a good cause – Buy to Save – a sale event that will be held in mid December.

Buy to Save is a joint project between local luxury fashion retailer Club21 and UNIFEM (the United Nations Development Fund for Women). Nett proceeds of the sale will go to UNIFEM Singapore’s programmes to end violence against women through public education initiatives, empowerment and character-strengthening program for girls and direct funding to shelters and family centres.

As I write, the clothes are being sorted and tagged, ready for the sale to be held on weekend of Dec 12 and 13 at the Inter Continental Singapore hotel.

For a few select pieces, UNIFEM is holding a silent auction- the kimono Donna Karan shoulder contrast hip band day dress, for example, retails for $5399.

The opening bid for this (pictured left) is $1889 and you can send your bid to auctionbid@unifem-buytosave.com.

The rest of the designer wear will be sold at a fraction of their original price.

Last weekend, I traipsed to the Forum, the collection point of the first part of the programme, Give to Save where people dropped off their designer goodies, and volunteers were sorting and pricing them to be then resold to the public. There, I felt like I was in (affordable) designer heaven. Never had I ever seen SOOO many designer brands under such a small roof – Prada, Armani, Donna Karan, Hugo Boss, Miu Miu, Hussain Chalayan, Calvin Klein, Dries Van Noten, Botega Veneta, Dolce & Gabbana – who needs chocolate when you got fashion, baybeee!

To my great glee, Saleemah Ismail, the President of UNIFEM Singapore let me try on some choice outfits before they were carefully packed away (no doubt, away from people like me. I was so tempted to leave money at the counter, and make a mad dash for the exit with my favourite pieces. But then, I realised I would probably be caught for ’shoplifting’ and I don’t think anyone’s going to be selling any ‘free jeanne’ t-shirts)

On my measly salary, I can barely afford the lining of a Prada evening gown at full price, but with Buy To Save, I actually can… so guess where I’m going to be on the weekend of the 12^th,

Best thing is, I’m chalking up karma points AND feel virtuous while shopping. How more guilt-free can one get from shopping?

From the groovini: By the way, MASTERCARD will be donating $2 to Unifem for every purchase if you use your Mastercard to buy. That’s so cool!

12 & 13 December 2009
Intercontinental Hotel Singapore
10am – 5pm
www.unifem-buytosave.com

Posted in Fashion-Beauty, Fashion-Jeannie | No Comments »

Eat Pray Love + The Power of Now

December 10th, 2009

I know ‘Life is a journey’ is a bit of a cliché, but it is so true…when you reach a crossroads and are stuck, when your options seem limited and it all feels just too hard…don’t despair. You are not alone, and remember, ‘this too shall pass’. For those times, when you need inspiration, I recommend these 2 books.

Has anyone NOT read Eat, Pray, Love? If you haven’t…you’re one of the few. This book was last year’s self-help phenomenon. Except it isn’t really self-help. Elizabeth Gilbert tells the story of her personal journey going from a miserable divorce tailspin, to self-discovery while spending a year off in Italy, India and Indonesia. The writing style is a bit clunky/cheesy – lyrical poetry it ain’t – but the experiences and emotions very real and honest. When reading it, I was struck by a lot of ‘me too’…why is it we think our walls of misery and fear are unique ? The strength of this book, and why it’s been so successful (other than Oprah’s plug), is that you really can relate to the emotions she’s experiencing. And while not all of us would have the courage to take off and put ourselves in totally new and unknown experiences in foreign places, you do journey with her in the book. Ultimately it is really empowering, bonding, and hopeful. Anyone dealing with any change or challenge in their life (and who isn’t), should read this. It’s now being made into a film with Julia Roberts. (and of course, Elizabeth Gilbert’s life has been totally transformed)

Another Oprah-pushed book, The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, became another phenomenon. Enough for me to be totally turned off by it and avoid it. Until, while reading another book (The Art of Racing In the Rain) I was struck by the wisdom of one of the insights of that book – that humans are gifted as well as blighted by our ability to think constantly of the future, plan ahead, and project.

I realize that I am guilty too of wishing my life away. And living ahead of what‘s actually happening today. And then the realization that life is short, and shouldn‘t we be making the most of the present moment, of enjoying whatever it is we have, right now, rather than waiting for tomorrow to come?

So the idea of a book called The Power of Now really struck a chord, and I went and got it. I am not far along, and so far, I really like it. It isn’t too new age mumbo-jumbo heebie-jeebie (well thus far anyway). It is pretty commonsensical, about the human condition, the mind, versus your inner being. (he puts it much better than I do!) Think about the soundtrack in your head, your ‘inner voice’ that is a constant commentary. Tolle says that that soundtrack is generated by your mind, is your ego, and your mind is not your whole being. And if you can learn to separate yourself from that soundtrack, you can experience the peace and pleasure of just being. There’s a lot more to it than that, but on the whole I agree. Meditation, yoga, and pursuits like that all harness the mind to quiet, and it really is a joyous experience. Sometimes it’s hard to put the feelings of anger and fear aside to acknowledge that there is another way to live…and this book aims to help you do that.

Posted in Books, Literati-Glitterati | No Comments »

Yoohoo!

Popular Posts