Egg Salad Sandwiches

 

They sell these sandwiches at a store at our local train station. I wanted to be able to eat as many of them as I like, so I tried making them myself. I like the fact that they're looks so colorful. 
The foundation of this sandwich is the egg and nanohana. After that, you can add and combination of ham, lettuce, tomato, shrimp or bacon.

The sandwiches will have a nicer texture if you chill them in the fridge for a while, as the bread will absorb some of the filling. 
If you make the sandwiches at night, wrap up in plastic and chill in the refrigerator, then cut them and eat in the morning they will be really moist and delicious. Recipe by Koyokkoyo

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Ingredients

1. 1 loafworth Sandwich bread
2. 1Margarine and Japanese mustard (or western mustard)
3. 1/2 bunchNanohana
4. 1 tbspMayonnaise
5. 1 dashJapanese mustard
6. 4○Eggs
7. 1/2to 1 ○Onion
8. 4to 5 tablespoons ○Mayonnaise
9. 1 dash○Salt, pepper, and sugar
10. 1Tomato
11. 1Lettuce
12. 1pack Ham

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Method

1. Hard boil the eggs.

   
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2. Add salt in a pan of boiling water, and boil the nanohana. When cooked, drain and refresh in cold water to stop the cooking and preserve its colour. Cut into the same size as the bread slices.

   
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3. Put 1 tablespoon of mayonnaise and a small amount of mustard (Japanese or western) in a bowl and mix together. Add the blanched nanohana and mix.

   
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4. Soak about 1 tablespoon of very finely chopped onion in water.

   
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5. Mash up the egg yolks with a fork. Chop the whites finely.

   
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6. Drain the onion and mix with the egg. Season with a little salt and pepper and about 1/2 teaspoon of sugar, add the mayonnaise and mix well.

   
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7. Cut the tomato in half and remove the seeds. Slice about 5 mm thick.

   
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8. Spread the butter and a little mustard on the bread. Top with the egg mixture, lettuce, nanohana and tomato.

   
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9. Tip: If you squeeze mayonnaise between the fillings, it will act like glue and hold the sandwich together.

   
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10. Add the ham. You can also add bacon or boiled shrimp!

    
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11. Wrap the sandwiches 2 at a time in plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator.

    
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12. Tip: When cutting the sandwiches, cut them while they are still in the plastic wrap to prevent falling apart.

    
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13. Pack the cut sandwiches with the wrap still on in lunch boxes. The plastic will prevent them from drying out.

    
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14. You could serve these for your afternoon tea.

    
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15. Spring colored nanohana sandwiches!

    

Staycation in Singapore

Hotel 1929

Image credit: Hotel 1929

Image credit: Hotel 1929

Hotel 1929 is a cosy yet sophisticated boutique hotel overlooking Keong Saik Road. Its rooms assemble complementary classic and retro furniture pieces and some rooms even have their own private balconies. If you’re ready to splurge a little, opt for the terrace suite, which allows for an outdoor bath underneath the stars.

Estimated price: $110/night

2. Wanderlust Hotel

Image credit: Wanderlust Hotel 

Image credit: Wanderlust Hotel 

Wanderlust Hotel offers three different designer room palettes – Pantone, Mono and Whimsical. From treehouse themed rooms to futuristic capsule-like rooms in monochrome tones, it is going to be tough to decide on one to stay in.

Estimated price: $160/night

3. Lloyd’s Inn

Image credit: Lloyd’s Inn

Image credit: Lloyd’s Inn

Though minimalistic, the rooms in Lloyd’s Inn are extremely elegant. Some of its rooms are equipped with private outdoor areas surrounded with greenery – perfect for lazy afternoons spent reading a good book while basking under the sun.

Estimated price: $180/night

Also read: 10 Photoshoot Locations in Singapore That You Never Thought Of

4. Treehouse Villas @ Changi

Image credit: Nightintothesky

Image credit: Nightintothesky

If you wish for a therapeutic escape from the bustling city, consider a staycation at this Balinese-inspired villa. Located near Changi Beach and Changi Point Coastal Boardwalk, there are many recreation options around as well.
Note: Unfortunately, these villas can only be booked by SAF regulars. However, it is possible to get your friends from SAF to book for you without them having to check in.

Estimated price: $120/night

5. Quincy Hotel

Image credit: Stay Far East

Image credit: Stay Far East

Image credit: Stay Far East

Though slightly pricey, Quincy Hotel has one of the best perks a hotel can offer – free breakfast, lunch, dinner, all-day complimentary pastries and everything from the mini bar! Quincy also has a Qool Weekend Staycation package, which is the perfect deal for couples. In addition to a free bottle of wine, couples can participate in activities including couple art jamming classes, movie nights in the pool and cup cake baking sessions. Yep, worth every cent.

Estimated price: $250/night

6. Moon 23 Hotel

Image credit: John Brunton

Image credit: Moon 23

Despite its cheap rates, this contemporary boutique hotel has a classy touch to it. It also has one of the swankiest hotel lobbies around, which doubles up as a bar in the evening. Guests are entitled to a free cocktail from the bar as well!

Estimated price: $110/night

7. Kranji Farm Resort

Image credit: Channels World of Hotels

Image credit: Channels World of Hotels

Fancy a staycation in a farm? Yes, this farm actually has their own villas. For recreational activities, guests can visit Kranji’s Farm Resort’s fishing village and outdoor beer garden. This kampong style staycation is going to be an unusual yet exciting experience.

Estimated price: $170/night

Also read: 7 Long Weekends in Singapore in 2016 (Bonus Planner & Cheatsheet)

8. New Majestic Hotel

Image credit: New Majestic Hotel

 

Image credit: New Majestic Hotel

New Majestic Hotel holds 30 rooms and each of them is uniquely different. They have mini-loft style rooms, rooms with private gardens and even one with an aquarium bathtub seated in the middle. New Majestic Hotel also prides themselves for their extra luxurious and comfortable beds, which use ploh bedding, whatever that means.

Estimated price: $220/night

9. The Champion

Image credit: Champion Hotel

Image credit: Champion Hotel 

Heads up Sanrio fans! The Champion is famous for its Cartoon Room, which is thoroughly decked in Hello Kitty merchandise and decors (even the towels). The Champion also offers other rooms which are stylish yet reasonably priced.

Estimated price: $130/night

10. 5 Footway Inn – Project Boat Quay

Image credit: Malcolm Sunny 

Image credit: 5 Footway Inn 

Besides boutique hotels, there are also many fancy and inexpensive hostels in Singapore where you can have your staycation as most of them have the option of private rooms. 5 Footway Inn is the largest hostel chain in Singapore and the outlet at Boat Quay is its newest one. From some of the rooms’ balconies, guests can even catch a scenic view of downtown Singapore including the iconic Marina Bay Sands.

Estimated price: $70/night (private room)

Tofu Hamburger Steak

Tofu Hamburger Steak

Ingredients

• 200g Tofu
• 300g ground beef
• 1/2 cup Panko
• 1/2 tsp salt
• pepper
• 1 Tbsp oil
• 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
• 2 Tbsp Mirin
• 2 Tbsp Sake
• 3 Tbsp water
• 1 tsp cornstarch
• thinly sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Put Tofu, ground beef, Panko, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix very well. Divide into 4 pieces and shape into oval patties. 
2. Heat a frying pan at medium high heat with oil. Place patties in the pan and cook for 4-5 minutes. Turn them, lower heat, and cook another 4-5 minutes covered.
3. While cooking the meat, make the sauce. In a small bowl, mix Soy Sauce, Mirin, Sake, water, and cornstarch. 
4. Add prepared sauce in the pan and cook until the sauce thickens. Serve with green onions.

Butter cakes receipe

(Recipe by Fiona Lau, founder of baking blog Baking's Corner)

Ingredients:

Makes one butter cake, 8' in diameter

• 250g Salted / Unsalted Cold SCS Butter (Cut into cubes)
• 5 eggs
• 200g sugar
• 220g self-raising flour
• 1 vanilla bean, seed scraped (Alternatively, use 1tsp of vanilla extract)
• 50g whipping cream (optional)

Method:

Pre-heat oven at 160 deg C to 170 deg C.

Separate the eggs and place the egg whites into a bowl. Beat the egg whites with sugar to form stiff peaks and put it aside.

Cream the butter until pale and white and add vanilla seeds / extract.

Put in egg yolks one by one into the creamed butter, followed by whipping cream.

Put half of the beaten egg whites and mix well before folding the balance into the mixture.

Once done, put in the flour and mix them well.

Pour batter into a pan. Tap the batter hard for at least four times before placing them into the oven to remove the air trapped in the mix. This ensures that air pockets are removed when baked.

Bake for 70 minutes.

Pineapple tart receipe

(Recipe by Fiona Lau, founder of baking blog Baking's Corner)

Ingredients:

• 200g All Purpose Flour
• 200g Cake Flour
• 80g Milk powder
• 20g Corn flour
• 70g Icing sugar
• 2 Egg yolk (small eggs)
• 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract plus
• 4 drop of Egg yellow coloring
• 300g SCS butter (Cold cut)
• 1 1/2 tsp Salt
• 1kg Pineapple roll into a small ball about 10g each (At your own choice)

Method:

In a large bowl, sift in plain flour, corn flour and icing sugar, mix well. Cut in butter and rub with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Make a well, add egg yolk with some water and vanilla extract and bind the ingredients to a soft dough (Do not over knead). Add a little extra flour if dough is too soft.

Place dough in the fridge for 20 - 30 minutes.

Remove dough from the fridge. Roll pastry between two plastic sheets to about 5mm thickness.

Cut into shape with a pineapple tart mold and fill the center of tart with pineapple jam.

Place in baking tray and bake for 20 - 25 minutes at preheated oven 175 deg C.

Cool tarts on wire rack and store in an airtight container. The pineapple tarts can last up to 6 month or more.

Letter to NUH quality manager

My mum Wan Soo Ha died on 30Dec2015 of colorectal cancer in NUH ward 58, bed 32. She was admitted to hospital on 3Nov2015. My family and I would like to express our special thanks to the ward sisters, nurses, doctors, medical social worker Vivian and other hospital staff who helped to take care of my mum during her most difficult and painful period in her life. 

My mum was asked to go to the hospice but NUH allowed her to stay till her last moments. We were touched by the nurses attentive care during her last moments to manage and control her pain, and to clean and change her to make her feel comfortable. My mum had always been very independent. She lived alone since my dad passed away. The cancer illness had entirely destroyed her health, mobility and her quality of life. She couldn't eat or drink during her last days. 

During the cancer treatment, her oncologist doctor, Dr Ho Jing Shan did not talk to us how my mum's body would react if she stopped chemo treatment and her cancer illness deteriorated. My mum took it badly mentally when her physical body deteriorated when she stopped her cancer treatment and had to be admitted in hospital. Initially, she was hopeful that she could be discharged. Towards her end, when she knew it was impossible for her to discharge, she was depressed and wanted a quicker death. 

I hope all terminally ill cancer patients who are currently undergoing cancer treatment in NUH would receive palliative care at the same time. It would help them and their family members prepare themselves better when they face death eventually. 

Thank you.