Newton Circus

Newton Circus is a convenient Hawker centre right off the Newton MRT (subway for those non-Singaporeans). First opened in 1971, the centre was closed for a makeover in 2005 and re-opened a year later. The 80 or so stalls now encircle the outdoor seating area for a fun and vibrant night. OK, so it can be touristy and slightly more expensive than your average hawker centre  (which is not at all expensive relatively speaking...) but it's convenient, filled with local foods and has plenty of seating so which makes for a nice place to go with friends before a night out... especially for me b/c I'm one stop away! 

Go there for bbq seafood - like sting ray with sambal chili - oyster omelets, satay, popiah (an overstuffed roll of veggies and either fish or meat or both and chili sauce) and sugar cane juice. Of course, there's much more to choose from... what we had:

Chili Squid 

Large Prawns covered in garlic 

You can't bring your friend from NY without getting Black Pepper crab...

Buns - a must for dipping

I always need some greens, even if they're doused in brown sauce

      

Always gotta have my sweets,
chendol (icy, jelly, coconut milk goodness)
and fresh mango

The Carnage....!

And of course, a good Singaporean beer to wash it all down... Tiger please!

East Meets West Rainy Day Brunch

And it all begins on a rainy Sunday in my 
new apartment in Singapore with my roommates

Mixed Veg Punjabi Pakora with Mint Chutney

Gram Flour (chickpea)

Salt

Red Chili powder

Ajmo (ajwainsee or carum copticum)

Coriander powder (and leaves)

Chopped masala

Garlic

Water to make paste

Veggies!  Any can be used, we like: potatos, cauliflower, 
pepper, spring onions and red onions, spinach

Mint Chutney

Mint leaves

Green chilies

Ginger (not much)

Garlic

Pinch of sugar and salt (to taste)

I can eat this on anything – and did eat with roti and as a dressing for my chickpea, beet, cucumber and pepper salads that week for lunch!

Indian-Spice inspired Cinnamon Buns

Can make dough from scratch (fairly simple with any recipe – yeast dough) or use pizza dough

For regular cinna-buns with icing

Butter, cinnamon, raisins, chopped pecans or walnuts or almonds (or all three), brown sugar

Icing: whole milk, icing or confectioner’s suger and butter – I like to add mascarpone or sour cream (and I don’t even like sour cream on food…)

For Indian Inspired:

Butter, cardomom, cinnamon, chopped pistachios or walnuts or almonds (or all three), little brown sugar

Honey (for topping)