Pongal

We attended an Indian celebration called Pongal (http://www.pongalfestival.org). It was at the park in Meyer Road in front of Makena. There were Indian dances and a lucky draw. MP Mr Andy Gan was the guest of honour.

We ate a dish called Sarkkarai Pongal. It is actually rice cooked in milk, with raisins, cashewnuts & a few other ingredients thrown in. It was sweet but we like it.



SARKKARAI PONGAL
Ingredients :
2 litres milk 10 almonds 1 1/2 cups newly harvested rice 1/4 cup moong dal 15 cashewnuts 1 1/2 cup jaggery grated 30 raisins 1/4 level teaspoon nutmeg powder 1/4 teaspoon saffron crushed 1 teaspoon cardamom powder 2 tablespoons ghee.

Method:
Chop almonds and cashewnuts.
Clean raisins
Pour milk in the earthen pot called `Pongapani' and place it on fire.
When the milk starts boiling add rice and dal, after washing.
As soon as the rice and dal are cooked to softness, add jaggery and ghee.
Let cook on medium fire for some time and then put in almond and cashewnut bits, saffron nutmeg and cardamom powders.
Lastly put in the raisins.
Bring to one or two good boils. This SARKKARAI PONGAL is cooked in the Sun in courtyard and served directly from the pot.
Provided by Malini Bisen.


Wisma Atria
I accompanied Christopher to collect his gift from Amex. He chose the Longines lady watch with leather strap worth about S$790. You had to chalk up S$6000 with your Amex card within a year to get this gift.

Food Republic Food Court
4th floor, Orchard Road, Wisma Atria
I had read about this food court in a blog, so we decided to check it out. It was an interesting place. The place is done up like the '60s.

Thye Hong Hokkien Prawn Noodle stall
There was a long queue in front of the stall, so naturally Christopher joined in the queue. They placed a piece of dried banana leaf on the plate before ladling the prawn noodle over it. The noodle (S$4) was so delicious! The chilli is especially good.

Toast Box
We spotted this stall that also had a long queue. It was selling kaya toast. Christopher queued for 20 minutes before he could buy their teh-si (S$1.30), kopi-si (S$1.30) & thick toast with butter & kaya (S$1.30). I like their teh-si, thick & not too sweet. I don't like the thick toast, I prefer Ya Kun's thin & crispy ones.

Christopher remarked almost every customer asked for its pork floss toast. I asked him if it was expensive. He replied it cost 10 cents more.

Aiyoooh!!!! Why didn't you buy it since it is so popular?

Because you told me to buy kaya toast, if I buy pork floss toast, I'll get a scolding from you.

What a typical Singaporean! So square! I say you must obey 100%! It's popular & not expensive, why don't you use your own judgement & buy one to try? Every time you ........

Don't get worried. Christopher was not harm in any way. He was forced to eat up the whole kaya toast. hehehehe....