Vanilla Beige

03/01/2022

Coffee, chocolate and cookies please! The first Monday of 2022 and I have one kid remote learning due to Covid at the school and one kid going to school despite having cases at school (but not as many as in the High School). How are you going? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
#2022

28/12/2021

Hello, what day is it? Spending the week at the Poconos and it's our first time away from home in over two years! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

25/12/2021

Happy Holidays! Gosh, we had so much fun doing these cookies. So much so that we made two batches this season. We used a vegan icing. Don't ask me why, because the cookie itself is far from vegan. And I can barely get the texture right using aquafaba (chickpea water). However, I think I'd do no better making a royal icing with eggwhites 😂. For the cookie, I use a Swedish pepparkakor recipe because we used to get a tin of those every year when we were in Singapore. So another Christmas in New Jersey is here. I'd say what a year it's been! But really, it's just been a year that's flown by and when I look back through my feed, it seems like alot was done though it feels like it passed in a blur of not that much happening. It's almost like a sigh of relief that we've got to here. So wishing everyone near and far a very Merry Christmas. And to all a good night from where we are because I'm expecting a super early wake up call by eager little people.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

30/11/2021

I am cold therefore all I want to do is bake cookies and eat them. This winter seems more dramatic to me because last year, I never even needed to set foot outside my door! I don't think I have enough layers to get to and from my daily little one's bus drops. Anyone have a recommendation for warm layers, jacket, shoes? I probably should have asked before Black Friday, Cyber Monday sales 😂. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
PS. these peanut butter cookies were so good! From the unapologetic cookbook by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

24/11/2021

This post is probably something that should live on . But here's a view of my suburban life. And a little snippet of wisdom.
On the eve of Thanksgiving, I'm asking what I can do to look busy when I'm actually doing nothing. 🤣 Our usual list ensues - laundry, ironing, things you can do while watching telly. She remembers she must put the dishwasher on. I present a poem of sorts. It goes like this:
Ooooh, the never ending, unceasing, unrelenting tasks of the day.
The ones that mean nothing
but still take up space in my exhausted mind"
The conversation continues until finally, I say:
"Nothing is nothing.
Nothing is everything."
She says "that's the most poignant thing I've heard in a while".
To anyone spinning around thinking you're doing nothing. You're not.

22/11/2021

Cookies... these were the best choc chip cookies (from the cookbook) and they were well loved by all. From their wrinkly edges to their chewy centers. Yum. I just used normal semi sweet chocolate chips instead of chopping up posh chocolate bars for the recipe. No one noticed. They all disappeared. This colder weather is a disaster for healthy eating 🤣.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

29/10/2021

I keep thinking of these marbled cheesecake bites I made for a neighborhood potluck. Oh, they were good! I wish I'd left some at home to eat because I certainly didn't bring any home. Perhaps I need to make another batch but there are sooooooo many different other treats to be made. Do you have any favourite recipes to share?
Recipe

26/10/2021

Supremely rainy today... coffee please. Also, how many gooseneck kettles does one need? I had no idea they were functional - they control the flow of water when making a pour over coffee. I used to think they were just art forms used by hip baristas to complete the coffee snob aesthetic. Little did I know how important they were. I love all of mine. ♥️ Any guesses how many I have?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo for .co - my story on coffee gifts is on their blog.

19/10/2021

Four words... chocolate coated coffee beans ♥️.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
These were from a collab between .co and .my and they sent some all they way here to little ol' me in the wilds of NJ. So thrilled and of course, they're super yummy and I designed the label and I think it turned out rather well. Hope you're having a good week!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

14/10/2021

I'd rather like to make focaccia again. It's so nice and pillowy and yummy. But as my garden doesn't have nice cherry tomatoes anymore should I stud it with olives and garlic? Note to self... buy olives and garlic.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

13/10/2021

This decadent risotto was amazing. I'm such a corner cutter now adays that I haven't hand stirred a risotto for years! I usually use my Thermomix or bake them. However, this was divine. I made a homemade vegetable stock then used it in a basic risotto recipe. Tossed in rocket/arugula when the rice was al dente along with soooooooo much butter and parmesan. The cauliflower was roasted and pine nuts toasted separately then heaped on at the end. At the last moment I decided to add a wedge of brie and that topped it off in the most magnificent way. Maybe I will hand stir risotto more often... though it was rather labourious from start to finish.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

12/10/2021

It's been a while since I wrote anything. Here's one for my friends Perk Coffee about all the lovely presents I've received on my birthday.

https://perkcoffee.co/sg/reflections-coffee-gifts-of-love/

They're also looking for your reflections! So if you'd like to share,
email them at [email protected] with the Subject: Reflections.

Starting our series is Angie, our resident-but-remote content creator. She is a blogger (vanillabeige.com), graphic designer and the domestic goddess she never wanted to be. She moved from Singapore to the wilds of New Jersey, previously spending her time eating out and living the city life. She now gardens and makes baked goodies for her family. While her coffee repertoire has changed a bit, she is still obsessed. Here is what coffee means to her on her birthday.

Find out more about the coffee gifts that mean so much in our reflections on coffee, written by our favourite coffee lovers.

07/10/2021

Perhaps there are some things I won't try making from scratch... well, I tried but it wasn't quite right. But blame the maker and not to recipe because I only had green peppers from my garden - tabasco, jalepeno and poblano. And I didn't have enough so I halved the recipe and then forgot halfway that I did that 🤣. This was the start of a hot sauce that was blended then fermented for 3 days (after which is when I forgot I had halved the recipe). At the end it was so hot 🔥 and I probably could have kept it but decided not to because it wasn't quite right. Glad I went through the motions though. I always have a laugh when I realise that things directly out of a bottle or package can actually be made in the home kitchen. Just that sometimes, many times, I'll choose not to. But my curiosity on how to make things gets the better of me too.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

17/09/2021

The darkest, dreariest, rainy day over here in New Jersey. The tips of trees are starting to turn colours and it is time to cosy up and prepare for hibernation. I don't think I'll soon run out of ways to make coffee, considering all the different tools I have despite being a lazy coffee connoisseur now. Still, so happy I have these because so many of them were gifts from people I love and who love me. Do you have collections of loved items? Hope you have a lovely weekend⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Photo for .co - where a few of these items were sourced from.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

13/09/2021

The last gasps of summer this week, but you know the season is well and truly over when they're closing up the pool until spring. There are just a couple of days left of heat though, and even though I never got enough homegrown tomatoes at the same time to make this cold Mediterranean pasta, it is still one of those dishes that makes me think of warm happy days. Super simple - toss together ripe tomatoes, basil, garlic, sliced black olives and chilli flakes. Add salt to taste and splash over olive oil and red wine vinegar. Meanwhile, cook up your pasta (we used thin spaghetti or angel hair) until al dente, drain, rinse in cold water to cool off. Once the pasta is cool, toss over the tomato mixture. You can then chill it in the fridge or serve it, covering it with generous spoonfuls of feta before eating. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

08/09/2021

Starting to squirrel things away for the winter. For example - pesto (my 6yos second favourite kind of pasta) with garden basil. These are going in the freezer for emergencies. What do you do in case of dinner emergencies?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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07/09/2021

Don't mind me, I'm just sipping tea out of my favourite chipped mug and eating cookies baked from a premade cookie dough packet... Oh and getting through a mountain of laundry and wondering what to make for dinner. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

06/09/2021

It's a long weekend here, made even longer because the kids start of school has been postponed due to the remnants of Ida who stormed her way through last week. Still waiting for news of when school will actually start so in the meantime, even if the weather is definitely no longer summery, this will do just fine...⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Pic for .co ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

06/09/2021

Yes, I know I'm late to the game but is fantastic! I haven't been there since we got here but after many recommendations by my sister in law .nelia, I went and was delighted. These tiny baguettes were there, in the frozen section, and I think they are oh so cute and perfect with a generous spread of butter and used to dredge up the liquid from our mushroom topped with garlic and feta bake.

04/09/2021

I'm still working on pouring a good latte... well, in truth, I'm not actually working on it too hard. It just takes that next level of skill that I don't have yet. Or the patience to practice it. Another thing is that maybe the plant-based milk I'm using make the frothing hit and miss. I keep pouring though and, most of the time, the coffee tastes amazing, especially when using the best beans. I keep ordering beans and trying them out in my espresso machine. It's one of life's pleasures for me. When I get a bag of beans, I never know what taste notes I'll get, even if printed on the packaging. I open the bag and inhale. Oh, that smell of a freshly roasted, excellent batch of coffee. There is nothing better. Leisurely cups of coffee in peace and quiet are coming soon too! The kids are going back to school full time, leaving me to wander the house alone for hours on a weekday. I have no idea what I'll do with myself. Perhaps more time to pour lattes 🤣.

04/09/2021

I suppose it's been a while since my last sourdough bread post... hope everyone is having a great weekend!

01/09/2021

Oh, is my new favourite spot and a fantastic escape from my kitchen. I couldn't imagine being able to find pho here that was as good as . Still missing my dear friend in Singapore, because the company at her place simply can't be beaten. But this will do on a homesick, rainy afternoon with it's super generous servings, heady, aromatic broth, perfectly balanced flavours and a vegetarian option so I can go there with my sweetheart and enjoy a bowl with him, The Vegetarian. I love a place that only does one thing and does it well. There were summer rolls and (bizarrely) a side of kimchi on offer too but that was it. And I love that! Watching the pho brew master stir his gargantuan pot of pho was also a delight. (Is it weird that I'd like a pot that big?) Then sitting outside and slurping it all up along with many, many other happy customers. I'll be a regular there for sure.

01/09/2021

I've been loving the variety of tomatoes coming out of my garden. Although I'll definitely pick my favourites to grow next year. Maybe two or three max... Although one can't resist trying a few new ones, right? This was a baby mozzarella and cherry tomato salad with fresh basil drizzled with olive oil and balsamic. A sprinkling of flaky sea salt is a must!

29/08/2021

What to do with zucchini you ask? Since we have had an influx lately (as most gardeners with zucchini have), this simple pasta is one of my faves. Just simply sauteed with olive oil, garlic and chilli flakes then tossed with perfectly al dente pasta, parmesan and lemon juice. Perfection, don't you think? Especially for an easy Monday night dinner.

28/08/2021

Ok, so these have, far too often, become an indulgence in my house - and not just on a weekend! I was creating these affogatos for .co to go on their blog and now I'm addicted... Gee thanks!

27/08/2021

I'm still on the quick pickling. These were jalapeno with a couple of baby bell peppers thrown in because I happened to have a couple from my garden. This jar was just for G because I'm too much of a chilli wimp. I do have some Nadapeno growing though. Perhaps I'll try that next!

26/08/2021

I love cupcakes! These were lemon (from a box, sorry to the real domestic-make-from-scratch goddesses). I did make the icing from scratch though and, let's be honest, that's everyone's favourite part. At least in my house, it is.

24/08/2021

I suppose it seems like all I do is pics and reels of coffee and tea so here's a homemade pizza to even up the score. By the way, there's nothing better than a homemade pizza. Fresh dough smelling of yeast and flour, sauce (no, that is not homemade - I can no longer be bothered!), and cheese... lots and lots of cheese. This one also has mushroom and spinach.

17/08/2021

Eagerly awaiting the new batch of beets I planted for Fall. Not that I need to because I found pre-cooked beets at the supermarket and they are so easy to use. Just slice, arrange then drizzle with lemon juice and olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and parsley. The real deal sealer is the marinated goats cheese on the top. Delicious! Good thing I found those too because my beets probably won't be ready until October! And this time, I'm going to attempt patience and let them get a bit bigger.