Rice, stir-fried French beans, stewed pork belly with mushrooms, and prawn omelette.
Looking through my archives, I realized that this year, I haven’t been blogging about what we’re eating at home, save for two recipes. Some people might even get the impression that we eat out a lot.
On the contrary, we eat home more often than out. Breakfast is a must, and our kitchen churns out dinner at least five times a week. And for me, I often have lunch at home too, before going to work.
However, I seldom blog about home-cooked meals because:
1. After washing up the cooking utensils, drying the dishes, cleaning the stove-top, etc., who’s in the mood to take stylish-looking food photos? Not me when I’m feeling all hot, tired, and sweaty!
2. Too hungry. Can’t wait to dig into the food before it gets cold.
3. Ditto point 2 for family members.
4. I’m too embarrassed to show the world what’s on our dinner table.
If you visit the blogs of some outstanding SG food bloggers, you’ll see what I mean. For instance, take a look at Chubby Hubby. He and his talented wife whip up gourmet meals that look like they came out of 6-star hotel kitchens. My typical weekday meal looks like it came from an economical rice stall.
Don’t get what I mean? Refer to above photo. 2 meat + 1 veg. Yep, it’s chap chye png alright.
Humble it may be, but for many Chinese households in Singapore, especially those of my parents’ generation, the traditional meal of plain rice with accompanying dishes of meat, seafood, vegetables, and soup, is still very much our everyday fare.
Here are some random shots of what we ate at home in July 2006 (taken at times when I wasn’t too busy/no one was hungry yet):
Stir-fried greens.
There’s guaranteed to be a plate of greens at every meal. For leafy vegetables like these baby bok choy, I usually stir-fry them with just a knob of ginger and minced garlic.
Grouper slices with tomatoes, onions, and spring onions.
We also try to eat more fish rather than meat at home. The mother-in-law (MIL) does the weekly grocery shopping. For seafood, she’ll buy whatever that’s fresh that day. Then it’s up to me to decide how to cook it. This time, I had lots of leftover grape tomatoes, so I used them up to make this grouper dish.
Crispy fried black pomfret.
This is one of my favorites. It’s so simple, yet so satisfying. I love how fried pomfret is crispy on the outside, and the flesh soft and juicy inside. Even the fins are good to crunch because they are so crispy.
Tofu with minced pork and mushroom in oyster sauce.
Looking at this photo, I’m salivating at the memory of how scrumptious this tofu dish was. The oyster sauce gravy, enriched with the flavors of the pork, chopped chilli, garlic, and shallots, was simply smashing. Perfect for drenching plain rice.
Winter melon soup and fishball soup.
Although I do most of the actual cooking, the MIL sometimes makes her specialties. Being a Cantonese, she’s a master of soups, especially the type that’s boiled for at least 3 hours. This winter melon soup is a simpler version that needs to be cooked for less than an hour. We don’t have soup at every meal, maybe just once or twice a week.
Ok, I’ve embarrassed myself enough. 
It’s not much, but the idea is to have balanced, wholesome meals that are fast and easy to prepare.
What did you have for dinner today?
cheers!
Hear Julia on radio every Thursday at 11:10am & 12:10pm as she shares a Foodie Lunch Pick on 938LIVE's Lunch Box with hosts Howie Lim and Desmond Wong. 
Yums..!! can you give me the recipe.. for the tofu, minced meat and mushroom please..??
Hi Julia
Your dishes look very healthy and appetising. I prefer white pomfret, and eat the fin bones too if it is deepfried.
When I was living alone, my neighbour was the typical family with 2 boys and a SAHM. Every evening as I pass by their flat with the smell of homecooked dishes I wish they will invite me for a meal. Because my solo meals at home were more often than not cold cereal or sandwiches.
After marriage, I make sure we eat dinners at home at least 3 times a week. The menus are similar, and I bet is the same in thousands of Singaporean households, if they are lucky enough to have a system to take care of all that marketing, cooking and washing up.
you’ve got quite a variety for a one plate meal. mine is usually just one type, for a quick one. plunk! everyone gets the same! and the cleaning is easy – one wok and 3 plates.
Hello Julia,
Your dishes look beautifully and heart-warmingly well cooked with love and care. Thats why I guess … home cooked meals are always in a class above anything else.
You get to have such yummy dinner at home 5 times a weeks?! You’re a lucky gal, Julia!
hey dun be embarrased julia, i guess every normal chinese household would have the same dishes like yours
yeah even in kl ok 
Hi Julia, I read your blog quite often and love to read about Singapore dining. I have been to the city to visit a friend and loved every bit of my stay there.
And yes I WAS under the impression that you only ate out
Your home made meals look even more fabulous than the restaurant ones!
It’d be great if you could share some of the recipes with us (well at least the tofu one puhleaze!!!)
That wintermelon soup looks good. I can almost taste it.
a, what is there to be embarrassed abt? other blogs hv food that look pretty, but ur food pics look DELICIOUS!
yes do share the recipes! my mom never cooked much so i don’t have anyone to hit up for home cooking tips. living overseas, it’s comfort food for me! my home style dishes usually comprise a veggie dish stir fried in garlic and oyster sauce (not unlike yours) and an omelette with chai por. I have no idea how to cook chinese meat or fish dishes though
Pomfret! Your post made me remember this fish and how much I miss it…
Wow.. your homecook dishes realli look great, i love the Crispy fried black pomfret which is one of my fav dish during my school days…when my late dad used to cook…..
Hi everyone, thanks so much for your compliments!
I’ll take note of the proportions the next time I make the dish and post the recipe later.
MamaBok and Ashwini,
I don’t have the recipe for the tofu dish, cos I kinda improvised with the ingredients on the spot. Luckily, it worked.
hi
i found your blog just now
and was very happy i found it.
i love to know more about what we cook on a day to day basis
i was in singapore in may this year and really enjoyed myself
pls read what i have posted on singapore
my blog is http://www.love4cooking.blogspot.com
tell me your sincere view on my email
i will be reading your whole blog
will write back
Hello!
I am contacting you because I am working with the authors of a book about blogs, and I’d like to request permission to use the photograph you have posted in this book. Please contact me at mattvid07@gmail.com, and I’d be happy to give you more information about the project. Please indicate the name of your blog in any response. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Matt