Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste

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Easy Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Food waste makes up about half of the average 1.5kg waste disposed by Singapore’s households  daily.  Most people don’t realize how much food they throw away every day — from uneaten leftovers to fruits and vegetables that could be eaten or repurposed. You can help reduce food waste by following these 5 easy tips in this article. Every little bit helps.

1. Shop Smart & Plan Ahead

Keep a list of what you have in your fridge, a quick way is to take a ‘shelfie’ (photo of your fridge and cupboard).Make a meal plan and a grocery list before you start shopping. This will help you to avoid over-buying, reduce impulse purchase and reduce food waste. Tend to forget what you need to get, let Securit chalkboards and chalk markers help you with it. Let them have a permanent place in your home, and start penning down what you need!

2. Store Food Correctly

Do you know that potatoes, cucumber and onions should not be refrigerated and should be kept at room temperature? Knowing how to store your food correctly can increase their shelf life and prevent them from premature ripening or rotting.

Stor’eat from Mastrad, connected storage system helps reduce waste and prevent food waste in households. Designed in borosilicate glass, they resist extreme temperatures (-20°; +400°C) and can go directly from the freezer to the oven as well as from the refrigerator to the microwave. You can even download the Stor’eat mobile app that makes these boxes smart and connected. Scan the QR codes located on the Stor’eat boxes https://bit.ly/3wRCtZ1 to optimize your storage and better control your supplies, remember expiration dates, and find your food quickly in your fridge, freezer or cupboard.  Less waste, for a sustainable consumption!

3. Pick the Uglies

Try some ugly fruits and vegetables and make use of food that might otherwise go to waste. Off-colour or misshapen fruit and vegetables are often thrown away because they don’t meet cosmetic standards. But in fact, they taste the same, if not better. The next time you visit the grocery store, do your part by choosing slightly imperfect produce at the grocery store, or better yet, directly from the local farmers.

4. Learn to Preserve

Food preservation is a skill that has been cultivated for hundreds of years and is still used today. Preservation methods prevent foods from going bad, save money, and can improve flavour. There are many ways to preserve foods – pickling, drying, canning, fermenting, freezing and curing are methods you can use to make food last longer.  Le Parfait Mason jars have been specifically designed for long-term food preservation and have been approved for use with foodstuffs worldwide since the 1930s. Use these jars for canning fruit preserves, packing snacks for a picnic, or even use as an everyday drinkware! The brilliantly clear glass provides a view of the freshness of food and drinks  drinks which will never stain or retain odours.

5. Pack a Meal

One of the simplest ways to avoid food waste on the go is to bring  along your home cooked Investing in quality food storage containers like Zebra Stainless Steel Food Carriers that is easy to clean and fuss free to carry around makes a huge difference. Not a morning person? Try making extra portions of evening meals to keep in the fridge as ready-to-go packed lunches can eliminate the need to spend extra time making lunch before work or school in the morning.

Essential Pasta Making Tools

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Essential Pasta Making Tools

Pasta is one of the most widely consumed foods around. Homemade pasta is incredibly tasty and filling without being overly indulgent. Did you know that fresh homemade pasta absorbs sauces better and taste better too!

We nailed down the essential tools you require to make, cook, and serve pasta at home the way we like to do it.

1. Imperia iPasta Detachable Noodle Maker

Making your homemade pasta is easy as 1-2-3 with the Imperia iPasta detachable Noodle Maker. Not only is it easy to use but your family will be able to taste the difference between homemade and store-bought pasta!

Imperia’s Italian chrome-plated steel noodle maker is a must-have to all pasta lovers around the world. Fuss-free, the machine clamps to the side of your table, leaving your hands free for feeding dough through the rollers onto the guiding tray. It is easy to use and clean and features an adjustment dial that lets you make six different types of pasta, including linguine, ravioli, tortellini and super thin spaghettini!

2. Cuisinart Pasta Roller and Cutter Attachment

Bring the taste of fresh pasta into your home with this Pasta Roller and Cutter Set that attaches directly to your Cuisinart Stand Mixer. The pasta sheet roller lets you make fresh lasagne or hand-cut pasta of different thicknesses, while the other two cutters make fettuccine or spaghetti. Homemade pasta will become an everyday affair!

3. Imperia Raviolamp, Ravioli Classici

Roll your way to homemade ravioli success with the same tool used by Italian home cooks. Simply roll out a sheet of dough, place it on the base, add your desired filling and cover it with another sheet. Lastly, gently roll the pin over to cut and seal it. Voila, you have your perfect homemade ravioli.

4. Lacor Beechwood Rolling Pin

If you’re making homemade fresh pasta without a machine, a rolling pin is crucial for getting the dough perfectly thin, especially if making filled pasta where the dough will double in thickness once cooked. Lacor Beechwood Rolling Pin tapered style is the shape choice for most professional chefs as it allows for more manoeuvrability and control.

5. Imperia Wooden Square Pasta Drying Rack, Stendipasta

The worst thing that can happen after making a delicious batch of fresh pasta is seeing them stick together and become a heap of pasta. Unlike a sheet tray, which will trap the dough’s humidity when it makes contact with the pan, a drying rack ensures air flows evenly all around your dough. Hang and dry fettuccine, spaghetti and pasta sheets thoroughly before storing in air-tight containers or for an hour or so if freezing for later use.

6. Zyliss Pasta Tongs

Tongs are essential to prevent the pasta from slipping away when you are trying to get them out of the pot or when serving. Zyliss Pasta Tongs will hold on to your pasta through the spaghetti forks and not let it slide through. Designed for single-handed use, it features silicone tips that are heat resistant up to 400° F. This makes them perfect for swirling things around and plating your noodles to a restaurant-level flare.

7. Jamie Oliver Wooden Pasta Spoon

Get ready for a spaghetti dinner with pasta utensils. This chunky funky Jamie Oliver Acacia wood pasta spoon is perfect for lifting and serving spaghetti and noodles. Made from solid Acacia wood, it is safe to use with non-stick cookware. The pronged design grips noodles and a central slot allows liquid to drain through. 

8. Microplane Premium Stainless Steel Zester

Need finely grated cheese for pasta? Nothing beats using a Microplane Zester. Simply take out your favourite Parmigiano-Reggiano block and rub it against the grater, directly over your plate of pasta. See the light wisps of cheese flutter down and start to melt on contact. This multi-purpose tool can also be used for grating garlic, ginger, zesting citrus too.

Bonus!

Join our hands-on pasta making classes and learn the basic techniques of rolling and shaping pasta. Learn to make your favourite Italian fettuccine, gnocchi or stuffed ravioli and more!

ToTT Junior Chef: Handmade Pasta & Chocolate Mousse
09 Apr 2022 | 11:00am to 1:00pm

Pasta Master Class
01 Apr 2022 | 11:00am to 1:00pm

Essential Kitchen Tools For Healthy Eating

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Essential Kitchen Tools For Healthy Eating

Have you been food binging during this festive season? Time to swap your diet and start eating healthy for a new me! From a spiralizer to a pair of herb scissors, we have rounded up a few essentials that can inspire you to eat more greens! Each one helps to simplify and shorten your food prep or cooking time.

1. Mastrad Multi Slicer Mandoline Green

You don’t have to learn any knife skills to achieve these precise cuts. With the Mastrad Multi Slicer Madoline, it comes with a set of five blades for grating, thinly slicing and cutting. Designed for safety, the tool features a food guard that keeps fingers away from the blade. Non-skid folding feet can be opened to elevate the stand, or collapsed inward for storage. Use this nifty tool to make creamy vegetable bakes or a salad in a jar!

Check out this recipe from Good House Keeping: Salad in a Jar

2.Benriner Vegetable Turning Slicer

With this vegetable-turning slicer, any vegetable can be cut into strands of different sizes within minutes. Made of Japanese highest grade steel, it consists of 3 interchangeable blades consisting of fine, medium and coarse. You can switch out the blades easily with the simple turning of the thumbscrew. A must have too for your CNY yu-sheng prep and skip those carbs by creating your own zucchini “pasta” if you have been having too many ba kwa. 

 

Check out this recipe from Tasty: Chicken Pesto and Zucchini Pasta

3. Westmark Herb Scissors

If you’re adding herbs to a meal when cooking, forget the knife and chopping board! Grab this lifesaver – Westmark Herb Scissors and simply chop a bunch in 1 quick snip! Made of stainless steel with ergonomic handles, the herb scissors have five stacked blades on each side, so it is easy to snip your herbs or scallions as small as you would like. If you’re worried about the scissors themselves being clogged with food fret not as they come with a cleaning comb.

4. Cuisinart 5L Digital Glass Steamer

Looking for a way to cook healthy food? Equip your kitchen with the Cuisinart Digital Glass Steamer. Steaming is a healthy and effective cooking technique because foods like vegetables retain their nutrients, as opposed to when they’re simmered in water where nutrients can leach out. The 5-liter glass cooking pot is large enough for family-size portions of vegetables, fish, chicken, rice, and more. Complete with digital LCD controls, you get full control of how you want to steam your food with pause and reheat functions

5. Zyliss Swift Dry Salad Spinner

With the Zyliss Swift Dry Salad Spinner to wash, clean, and dry your leafy greens, you might be inspired to eat more greens–and you won’t need to buy pricey bagged salads anymore. From prep to serve, it only takes a couple of steps, with just a single pump of the lever, you can effortlessly spin the water from your salad. Tight for time? This nifty gadget allows your salad to spin freely until it settles or use the brake button to stop the spin when it is convenient for you.

6 Easy Meal Prep Ideas

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6 EASY MEAL PREP IDEAS, READY IN LESS THAN 30 MINUTES: START YOUR WEEK WITH THESE AWESOME & HEALTHY RECIPES!

It doesn’t have to be complicated! Meal prep can range from simply preparing overnight oats for breakfast to cooking complete dinners for the upcoming week. There is no one right way or method to meal prep, it differs based on food preferences, schedules and personals goals. Set aside an hour or less on your Sunday to prep these easy meals for the rest of the week.

Overnight Oats

Too busy in the morning to prep a healthy breakfast? Overnight oats are the breakfast meal prep that will change your morning routine for good. They take less than five minutes to make and are packed with whole grains and fibre. Oats are rich in fibre, plant-based protein, and B vitamins. They are 100% whole grains which means they are not heavily processed like other types of cereals. They are low in sugar and can help to increase your metabolism. Add in superfoods like chia seeds, flaxseed or your favourite berries and you are good to fuel your body for the day ahead!

Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Sandwich

We love a classic P&J sandwich as much as the next person, but sometimes the old standbys can get a little boring. Try this simple and delicious Greek Yoghurt Chicken Salad Sandwich. Swop your usual mayo with greek yoghurt for the rich and tangy flavour. Tip: Toast your bread lightly before assembling your sandwich to avoid soggy bread!

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This Mediterranean quinoa salad recipe is hearty, healthy, and packed with fresh flavour! It keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days, so make a big batch for lunches all week. Quinoa salad is a perfect meal for a busy day, Simply pull out of the fridge and it’s ready to go It is high in protein and fibre so you will feel sated for a long time after eating this salad.

Creamy Mushroom Pasta

Avoid the long lunch queues under the hot sun! Try making this one-pot pasta for your lunch. Loaded with hearty mushrooms, garlic and parmesan cheese, it’s a simple and comforting meal to prepare. For a non-dairy option, you can use soy, almond or coconut milk. The best part of one-pot pasta? You only have one single pot to clean!

Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado

To kick off a new year and new you, bring a healthy twist to a classic. Tuna Salad stuffed avocados are a delicious low-carb, keto and paleo-friendly lunch option. Made with only 5 ingredients, it is packed with lean proteins and healthy fats. A yummy way to boost your immune system!

Lentil Vegetable Soup

Chock-full of vegetables and so easy to make from scratch, this hearty lentil soup is full of protein, fibre that will keep you feeling full and satisfied. Save yourself some time and freeze a big batch so you can eat it the next weekend or within 2-3 months. When portioning it out into meal prep containers, keep in mind that you should leave some space up top as it helps keeps spills at bay when reheating it at work.

BONUS: PICKING THE RIGHT STORAGE CONTAINERS

Your food storage containers can make the difference between a fabulous or mediocre meal.
Here are some of our favourite picks:

A ToTTful Christmas Gift Guide

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A ToTTful Christmas Gift Guide!

It’s time to wrap that holiday shopping with Christmas just around the corner. Are you the detailed planner or the ultimate procrastinator? We’ve got your covered with the perfect gift ideas for the people you care about. Continue reading our gift guide to find the holiday gifts you can snag at ToTT store!

STOCKING STUFFERS

SAFICO PURPLE SILICONE ICE BALL MOULD, Ø7.8cm, 2pcs/pkt
NOW $30.00 U.P $41.80 

An essential item for any whisky lover, this spherical ice mould creates round, large ice balls, the perfect size for sitting in the bottom of a double rocks glass. The slow melting sphere will bring out the full flavour and add a splash of class to your next drink. You can also be creative and freeze ice balls with ingredients inside such as fruit pieces or food colouring. Let your imagination go wild!

MICROPLANE PREMIUM RED ZESTER
NOW $29.90 U.P $43.90 

A versatile must-have tool for the kitchen. From hard cheeses, ginger and garlic to chocolate, truffles, nuts and more, this unique grater makes obtaining fine grates an effortless process. A strong stainless steel construction also makes the grater strong and durable, whilst a soft-touch handle ensures you can grate in total comfort

BOSKA OAK CHEESE GRATER, $27.90

Your favourite cook will love getting this particular Stocking Stuffer this holiday! The sleek oak wood handle pairs perfectly with the stainless steel grater. It’s perfect for grating cheese à la minute. Adding freshly grated cheese to your pasta, pizza, or soup has never been easier. Bon appetit!

Gift idea Under $50

BOSKA CERAMIC/CAST IRON CHEESE BAKER
NOW $26.50 U.P $37.90

Attention to all cheese lover! This Boska cheese baker is the perfect size for creating a mini cheese fondue or baking camembert.Simply fill it with your desired cheese and heat in the oven or microwave for an easy, gooey treat. Perfect for serving guests as an accompaniment to a fine glass of wine, this cheese baker can even continue to keep the contents warm by lighting the tea light in the base.

Gift idea Under $100

NORDIC WARE CAST ALUM GINGERBREAD KIDS CAKELET PAN
NOW $55 U.P $68.90 

Be sure to draw admiration of your holiday guests by serving these adorable festive miniature cakes shaped like iconic gingerbread boys and girls. Gingerbread Kids Cakelet Pan from Nordic Ware makes six gingerbread kids and is made of heavy cast aluminium, with a heat-reflective exterior and nonstick surface so each cakelet pops out perfectly. For a festive finish, add a snowfall of confectioners sugar or decorate the cake with frosting, candies, whipped cream or glaze.

 

Recipe: https://www.nordicware.com/recipe/gingerbread-cakelets/

GIFT IDEA UNDER $200

LAVA FOLK CAST IRON OVAL CASSEROLE 25cm, 3.3L, (ALL COLOUR)
NOW $102 U.P $129.40 

This Lava Cast Iron Casserole is made up of three coats of beautiful porcelain enamel that are layered onto premium cast iron and fired twice for maximum beauty, lasting durability and superb cooking performance. The rich color and even heating characteristics makes this oval baker a go-to piece of cookware. Baking potato au gratin, warming left-overs, or cooking a small roast is easy with this oven to table cast iron oval baker. A perfect Christmas gift.

GIFT IDEA UNDER $300

CUISINART PURE INDULGENCE 2-QUART FROZEN YOGURT-SORBET & ICE CREAM MAKER + ACCS, FREEZER BOWL for ICE-30BC
NOW $259.00 U.P $431.90 

Give the gift of homemade ice cream with this compact ice cream maker from Cuisinart! The fully automatic machine makes 2 quarts of your favourite frozen desserts or drinks in as little as 25 minutes. It’s easy – an integrated motor, double-insulated freezer bowl and automatic mixing paddle do all the work. This bundle set includes an extra freezer bowl for those who want to stock their freezer with their favorite creamy confection.

Baking & Cooking Classes – Things to do with the kids this School Holidays

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Baking & Cooking Classes – Things to do with Kids this School Holidays

Baking is one activity that has stood the test of time and seems to span any age, making it a fun activity for parents and children to do together. Allowing your kids to help out in the kitchen gives them a sense of accomplishment, knowing that they had a part of play in whipping up a delicious meal.

We’ve come up with a list of baking & cooking classes that will not only keep your kids entertained this year-end holidays, but also allow them to learn new skills as well. Get your kids to don their aprons, adjust their chef hats, and get ready for a gastronomical adventure together!

ToTT Junior Chef Classes

The ultimate fun-filled Parent-Child Cooking and Baking Class. Under the guidance of our professional ToTT Chef Instructors, kids will learn to cook and bake from scratch!
Our classes include Asian Cuisine such as Japanese Udon, Western Cuisine such as fresh handmade pasta and pizza making and not forgetting Christmas festive classes. 

Suitable for Ages 5-12

ToTT Junior Chef: Pizza & Cupcakes

Master the art of making the famous Italian pizza.

Learn the science behind making the pizza dough and how to knead a perfect bouncy pizza dough base under the guidance of Chef Michele. Have fun topping it with your favourite ingredients and enjoy a delicious homemade pizza, just like if you walked into a Pizzeria in Italy.

No meal is complete without dessert! Learn to bake moist and fluffy red velvet cupcakes and make your own luscious vanilla cream cheese frosting. The sweet marriage of buttermilk and vanilla with a little cocoa brings the taste to another level!

At the end of the class, bring home your creations and share it with your family.

ToTT Junior Chef: Mermaid Buttercream Cake

Dive down to Atlantis with this Mermaid Buttercream Cake! In just under 3 hours, learn how to make vanilla swiss meringue buttercream and work with fondant to sculpt mermaid tails, seashells and other decorative ornaments. Chef Claire will also share the various tips and techniques of layering and frosting. So if you are hosting a tea party, don’t miss out on this class as you will be the next Mary Berry!

ToTT Junior Chef: Gingerbread House

Get a kick-start to holiday fun! Skip the prep and mess at home, and build your own Gingerbread House together with your child this Christmas at ToTT. Start off by learning how to prepare the gingerbread dough and assembling the baked pieces into your personal gingerbread house. Complete it by decorating with your favourite sweets, chocolates and icing – a perfect class for parents and children to celebrate the Christmas spirit!

Christmas Special

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! There is nothing more rewarding than spending time together creating a delectable Christmas feast for the entire family. Join us in our festive baking and cooking session this festive season! In our special Christmas themed class, your little Chefs will learn to make wonderful baked goods inspired by Christmas traditions around the world.

Guided by our ToTT Chef-Instructors, you will learn practical skills needed to master making your own Christmas goodies! Look forward to classes such as Gingerbread House, Reindeer Cupcakes, 3-Course Christmas Course, Cookie Decorating and more!

Come and celebrate Christmas together with us at ToTT!

ToTT Junior Chef Activity Kit

Engage your kids through a fun family baking activity with easy step-by-step picture recipes; a great way to bond with your child away from the tele. Each box comes with real baking tools needed for the recipes which you can add to your kitchen collection. Also included is an activity booklet with learning worksheets, puzzles, fun facts, trivia and simple craft ideas related to the recipes.

This also makes a great gift for little chefs in training! Get yours today and join our resident MonsterChef Mimo for a fun and educational baking adventure.

Find out more: https://tottstore.com/junioractivitybox/

ToTT 10th Anniversary: Come and celebrate with us!

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ToTT 10th Anniversary Special: Come and celebrate with us!

We turn 10! Celebrate with us throughout the whole month of October with fun-filled activities lined up just for you and your family! 

Enjoy amazing deals and discounts, including lucky draw prizes from all your favourite brands.

Click here to find out more!

Bake for a Cause 

Our popular charity baking classes are back for the fifth year running! Participants can sign-up for a variety of baking classes every Sunday in October for a token registration of $38, where they will be taught how to bake delectable cranberry cream scones, flaky egg tarts, mini chiffon cakes and more!

Get yourself, friends, families and colleagues to sign up for these classes, half of everything baked will be donated to Food from the Heart – a non-profit voluntary food distribution programme that channels surplus food to those in need.

Bake a Difference, click here to sign up now!

10 Cuisines Around The World

Miss travelling? Let Chef Michele bring you on an incredibly flavorful journey across the world with 10 cooking classes. Learn how to prepare a variety of cuisines, cooking techniques, and ingredients hailing from different corners of the world. That’s not all, for our 10th Anniversary we are proud to partner Marks and Spencer Singapore as our preferred ingredient partner for these classes. Some of the flavour and dishes you can look forward to discovering in this class include Middle Eastern Lamb Koftas to Japanese Homemade Udon.

Start your culinary journey and register now to get your foodie passport stamped!

Anniversary Demo Class

Watch our chefs in action and pick up valuable culinary techniques along the way in our Anniversary demonstration virtual classes starting at only $10! Expect to learn how to cook dishes such as Thai Tom Yum Soup to classic eclairs choux pastry. Get live culinary tips and tricks, step by step coaching from chefs and sharpen your cooking techniques from the comfort of your own kitchen. All demonstration classes include e-recipes, shopping and equipment lists.

Click here to sign up now!

Bake&Go

Cupcake lovers rejoice! Our popular Bake&Go classes are back once again! In collaboration with Marks & Spencer Singapore, bake rich chocolate cupcakes and decorate them with your favourite Percy Pig, Colin the caterpillar gummies and Halloween candies. Kids and adults of all ages will enjoy this fun, hands-on, and baking experience! What’s more, unleash your kid’s creativity with our apron design contest and stand to win mystery gifts!

Price: $24 per pax (Members: $21.60)

Sign up now!

Mid Autumn Special – Mooncake & Tea Pairing

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Mooncake & Tea Pairing

Been indulging in too many mooncakes? Let us guide you on how to pair the right tea with the mooncake you are about to have. This not only brings out the taste of this delicacy, but it also balances out the richness of the pastry. Read on to find out what are the best tea accompaniments for the different types of mooncake:

1. Lotus Seed Mooncake

The ever-popular lotus mooncake is the representative of a Cantonese-style mooncake, a must-have for Mid Autumn Festival. Top-quality lotus seeds are sourced and processed to achieve a smooth and fragrant filling. To make it richer and savoury, salted egg yolks are added to give an aromatic taste.

Best Paired with: Oolong

Why: Mooncakes with salted egg yolks have a stronger and richer taste. The smoky and woody flavour from Oolong helps to bring out the fragrance of the lotus paste and salted egg yolks, at the same time balances out the delicacy’s sweetness.

2. Snowskin Mooncake

Originating from Hong Kong, snowskin mooncakes have become wildly popular across South East Asia. Unlike a traditional baked crust, the outer layer (crust) is made of glutinous rice that is preserved at a low temperature—which explains how the name came about. With a slightly chewy and stickier texture, some say it is pretty similar to a Japanese Mochi! Snowskin mooncakes can be filled with everything from lotus paste to fruits and even chocolate. Best served chilled.

Best Paired with: Green Tea

Why: Green tea has a light, bitter aftertaste that pairs well with these dessert-like mooncakes. For example, Houjicha, which has a roasted mellow profile, with low astringency pairs harmoniously and enhance the subtle taste of these non-baked snowskin mooncakes.

3. Teochew Flaky Yam Mooncake

Round, flaky mooncakes that are composed mainly of flour, shortening and sugar. This traditional delicate pastry is usually filled with a smooth and sweet yam paste. Wrapped in a thousand-layer pastry crust, this Teochew delicacy is best eaten warm by gently heating up in the oven.

Best Paired with: Jasmine Tea

Why: Flaky Yam mooncakes tend to be rich and heaty and it is recommended pairing them with a light and floral tea like Jasmine. It is the most famous scented tea in China which is made by infusing the tea leaves with the scent of jasmine blossoms which gives it its signature aroma.

4. Red Bean Mooncake

A traditional and nostalgic favourite of our parents! Filled with sweet red bean paste made from azuki beans, this mooncake has been always a sought-after flavour among mooncake lovers. Today, we see more bold and creative creations, for example infusing orange and lemon peel into it, giving the traditional flavour a new twist.

Best paired with: Silver Needle or White Peony tea.

Why: White tea is classified as a lightly fermented tea with very little or no fermentation at all, making it light, fresh and rich in anti-oxidants. The floral notes in both teas will mellow out the sweetness from the azuki beans.

5. Five Kernel Mooncake

As the name suggests, it is made up of five types of coarsely chopped nuts and seeds, held together with maltose syrup, giving it a thick and crunchy texture. Typically, they are made with almond, walnut, pumpkin seeds, winter melon seeds and sesame seeds. For that savoury bite, Chinese hard-cured ham and bits of pork fat are added into the filling too! Did you know that the assorted nuts and seeds represent the 5 moral standards of Chinese teaching: benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom and trust.

Best paired with: Pu’er Tea

Why: Pu’er is a variety of fermented tea produced in China’s Yunnan Province. A stronger tea helps to balance the heavy filling of nuts, seeds and sticky, sweet maltose syrup. Drinking Pu’er not only aids in digestion, but it also helps to breakdown fat content and lowers your cholesterol.

Extra: For the tea connoisseur, consider these elegant and functional teaware to brew a cup of hot tea.

Celebrate National Day With 5 Heritage Dishes

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Local Dishes for the National Day Festivities

August calls for National Day! There is probably no better way to celebrate in the most Singaporean way – with food! So gather your friends and family at home with food while catching the National Day Parade on TV. Don’t know exactly how to pull it together? Don’t worry — we’ve got the menu, kitchenware figured out for you!

1. Singapore Chilli Crab Pasta

Known as one of Singapore’s national dishes, chilli crab can be enjoyed and available at most seafood restaurants, and surprisingly, it can be quite simple to recreate at home. Instead of the traditional wok fried chilli crabs, why not bring it to another level with homemade pasta. Skip your store bought  pasta and make your own with the Jamie Oliver Pasta Machine. With different attachments, you can create a variety of pasta from lasagne to fettucine.

Serve it with steamed or deep-fried Mantou (a Chinese bun) by the side – dip and soak up the sweet and spicy chilli sauce. To reach the sweet crabmeat, use the Zyliss Seafood cracker  which offers a firm grip for cracking, crab legs or shells!

2. Rojak

Throw on the apron and try your hand at whipping up a plate of your own rojak; a local salad of mixed vegetables and fruits, drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce comprising of local prawn paste, sugar and lime! A mandoline will come in handy for the preparation. Unlike other mandoline slicers, this Mastrad Multi Slicer Mandoline provides five different options of slicing. Stability is enhanced by the safety hand guard and the non-skid base allows you to hold firmly and safely as slice your vegetables. Eat it like a local and throw in some chopped chilli padi in that sauce!

3. Laksa

Take the heat to the next level with a fiery bowl of laksa, a popular spicy noodle soup from the Peranakan culture. Thick rice noodles in a rich, spicy coconut broth topped with shrimp, fish cakes, egg and chicken meat. Stir in a dollop of sambal and fragrant laksa leaves, sit back and enjoy this heartwarming dish! Use the Cuisinart Mini-Prep Processor to blend the rempah ingredients. A compact, yet powerful processor features a three-cup bowl with handle so it can handle plenty of food preparation. Easy-to-clean touchpad allows you to chop or grind with a simple touch of a button.

4. Kaya Toast with Soft-Boiled Egg

Start your day with classic Singaporean breakfast – Kaya Toast with soft boiled egg, best paired with a cup of kopi or tea. Prepare the soft boiled eggs in sous-vide style or using an egg maker. Try making your own kaya jam from scratch in just 30 minutes and  store them in mason jars to keep it fresh for a month.

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5. Milo Ice Cream

Beat the heat and whip out a delicious dessert! Transform your milky childhood drink into velvety, creamy and smooth ice cream bursting with rich chocolate and malt flavours. A simple recipe that can easily be made with the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker.

Secret tip: Go all out and pile heaps of Milo powder to your ice cream, don’t worry, we wouldn’t judge :P!

Extra:
What’s more, check out our Local Favourites Cooking Classes and learn how to prepare even more local cuisine!

Chefs Favourite Kitchen Tools

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Chefs Favorite Kitchen Tools

There are plenty of kitchen tools that make a chef’s life immeasurably easier. We caught up with some of our favorite chefs to get their recommendations on the kitchen gadgets they swear by. Here are some of the answers we recieved!

1. Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer 4.8L

“I bake very often for my family and friends. With the Kitchenaid, it makes it so easy to make the cake batter, cookie dough and even knead bread. I enjoy making fresh egg pasta at home. My family especially my little girl loves spaghetti. The taste and texture of fresh egg pasta are just so delicious.” – Chef Claire Chang

Easily make your favorite cakes and multiple batches of cookie dough with the 4.8 L stainless steel mixing bowl without compromising on your kitchen counter space. A wide range of optional accessories turns your Artisan Stand Mixer into a true kitchen aid. Simply attach them to the mixer through the single attachment hub and you can grind meat, make, roll or cut pasta. Choose from a range of appealing colours to perfectly match your kitchen.

Available at ToTT stores from $599.

2. Lodge Square Cast Iron Grill Pan

Grill steaks, chicken breasts or pan-sear seafood in this pre-seasoned cast iron pan from Lodge. It has high sides so splatters are kept to a minimum and the ribbed surface allows fat to drain from food while also searing tantalizing grill marks onto your food.  Ergonomic handles make a safe transfer from cooktop to the table. Made of even heating and superior heat-retaining cast iron, this is a pan that improves with every use.

3. Zyliss Easyslice Folding Mandonline

“I really LOVE this tool, because it’s razor-sharp, it has five different thickness and it’s so easy to handle, wash and store! I use the mandoline every day to slice vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, cabbage or radish to prepare my salads.”– Chef Susanne Despature

Conveniently slice vegetables and fruits into the uniform thickness you desire with ease through the high grade stainless steel  blades.The easy to use dial makes alternating between functions and slicing sizes easy and intuitive. The product is ergonomically adapted to body posture and range of motion so that the user will feel as if the tool were an extension of his/her own hand. The non-skid rubber feet ensure the mandoline remains steady on the kitchen bench during use.

4. Cuisinart Hot & Cold Blender

If smoothies are part of your morning ritual or  you love homemade soups, this innovative blender is perfect for you! Make soups, dressings, purees, sauces, smoothies, cocktails and even crushing ice with this nifty machine. Sauté, cook, stir, simmer and blend without the need for extra pots and pans, and no messy transfers from pan to blender. Create your own fresh, healthy soup from start to finish in just 20 minutes with a touch of a button, you can add desired ingredients anytime during the cooking process.