Happee Monkee

It’s Swedish midsummer and everywhere in the city, there are strawberry stands. It’s the cutest thing, it’s almost like a lemonade stand. A small table with punnets and punnets of juicy jordgubbar or strawberries. We’ve been recommend to try the local strawberries (versus imported sorts) because at this time of the year it is at [...]

“Do you see? Do you see?” That’s becoming G’s favourite line. Seeing Mt. Fuji was one of his missions ever since he knew he was returning to Japan. And, boy oh boy, was the big guy excited when that weekend finally arrived. We’d planned to leave Tokyo as early as possible to get to Kawaguchiko. However, [...]

Wow, it’s been a while since I added a new post. Winter has only a month to go before spring arrives and I’ll be on a long vacation. A couple of weeks ago I sent an S.O.S. into the blogosphere inviting other food bloggers to write on Happee Monkee. Adriana from Baking Powders kindly obliged [...]

I’m going to do some shameless advertising now: … … … I need guest bloggers. There. I’ve said it. You see, I’m … (a) leaving for Malaysia/ Bali for a break and there will be a point where I will not be able to find the time/ motivation to blog and it’ll be sooooo quiet [...]

Today marks the first day of my niece’s life on earth.  Her parents have decided to name her Jolie, the french word for pretty. I haven’t met her and I can’t wait to. My first time as an aunt was when I was about 20 years-old and it’s 10 years since Bryan was born. Then [...]

This is The-Pie-That-Got-Away. It was one of my most beautiful creations. Like Gepetto, I was floating with pride and I wouldn’t let anyone touch it (at least until the next day to be photographed). I sighed after it. I lovingly gazed at it. I thought it was perfect from crust to the pointy tips of [...]

Having spent most of my life in a non-seasonal country, I’m fascinated by the way things grow in a timely manner in Australia. The last of the blood plums are picked but the green apples are just starting to ripen. I like to think that it’s a little bit like life, no? With science these [...]

It took me 23 songs on my iTunes shuffle to finish pitting a bowl of cherries. By then I had sticky blood-stained fingers. There was cherry juice all over the kitchen – it almost looked like a CSI scene. It also took me loads of mental strength not to gorge my self silly with cherries [...]

This week is pie week. I bought Granny Smiths and cherries preparing for some greasy pasty time. Now, don’t judge what you’re about to see because I’ve never made pies from scratch before. I’m usually an instant girl so this is step one for the pie journey. Cousin A. sent me an apple pie recipe [...]

When I was in high school, my sister started working in a French cafe and for almost every night, she brought home breads, tarts, dough nuts that didn’t sell during the day. We were ecstatic of course. However, after a few weeks, the novelty wore off. Blog this! Bookmark on Delicious Share with Stumblers Share [...]