A Manchu Chinese New Year

Dressing in traditional Chinese costumes during Chinese New Year (CNY) has made a come back in recent years.  Usually parents dressed their little girls in cheongsam or modernised cheongsam.  I myself have sewn a few for my girls in previous.  This year, I decided to make something out of the norm, the Manchu court costumes.

The Manchus is the tribe who ruled China from 1644 to 1912.   The era of their ruling is called the Qing dynasty, the last dynasty in China.  The Qing dynasty was succeeded by the Republic of China

The Manchu court costumes consist of a long robe, which is not as figure hugging as cheongsam.  During cold months, a sleeveless jacket is worn in addition to the long robe.   An elaborate head dress complete the look.  In the Manchu prime era, the head dress is an indication of the rank of the wearer.  Servants wear it very simple and bare.  Higher rank servants may decorate it with some flowers or cheap jewelry.  Women with rank wore very elaborate head dress, decorated heavily with jade and jewelries.  The style of the head dress however, differ from each reign of the Qing emperors.

Empress Cixi of Qing Dynasty

The Manchus, unlike the Han Chinese, did not bind the feet of their women.  The Manchu women wore elevated shoes instead.  Together with the heavy head dress, the Manchu women stood tall and poised.

Elevated shoes of the Manchu Women

I made some modifications to the costume, to cater for the tropical weather that we have here.  The girls look absolutely adorable in their costumes.  The head dress made them look very tall indeed, which was just what the Manchus set to accomplished with the head dress and elevated shoes.

Strawberry Jam with Thermomix

I  like homemade strawberry jam as I find commercial ones to be too sweet.  However, what I don't like is to hover over the stove to cook the jam while stirring it constantly.  With Thermomix, it is all a breeze.



Ingredients :


400g     strawberry (de stemmed)
120g     sugar
juice from 1 lemon




Method :

1) Put all ingredients in Thermomix bowl and cook at 100 deg C for 12 minutes, speed 2.
2) Blend the mixture at speed 4 for 10 seconds.
3) Cook at Varoma at speed 2 for another 10 minutes or till it achieved  your desired thickness.
4) Pour the jam into sterilised mason jars and closed tight.


Usual jam making requires the use of a thermometer to see whether the gelling temperature (~105 deg C) has been reached.  In the absence of thermometer, the gelling phase can be tested by putting a little of the jam mixture onto a metal spoon that has been placed in the freezer for at least 15 minutes.  If the mixture sets on the spoon, this indicates that the gelling temperature is achieved.  However, with Thermomix, these steps can be omitted as the Varoma setting cooks at 120 deg C, way beyond the gelling temperature.

Scones served with strawberry jam

Raisin Scones by Thermomix

The Thermomix is a great machine when it comes to preparing batter for scones.  Less than a minute, and they are done!



Ingredients :

450g          self raising flour
50g            butter
30g            sugar
1                egg
1tsp           vanilla essence
250mL      buttermilk
1/2 cup      raisins
pinch of salt




Method :

1)  Pulverise the butter and flour at turbo speed for 2 seconds.
2)  Add in the rest of the ingredients and knead for 20 seconds at dough setting.
3)  Open lid, scrape the sides of the thermomix bowl and knead again at dough setting for 10 seconds.
4)  Transfer the batter onto slightly floured surface and roll to 3 - 4 cm thick.
5)  Cut into round shape with a round cutter and place on baking pan lined with grease proof paper.
6)  Glaze with milk or beaten egg.
7)  Bake in preheated oven at 210 deg C for 8 minutes.


I like scones served with strawberry jam, homemade of course.

Scones served with strawberry jam

DIY Rapunzel Costume

After completing the Flynn Rider's costume, I set to work on the Rapunzel's dress next.  One of my girl will dress up as Rapunzel while my boy will be Flynn Rider this Halloween. 

The Rapunzel's costume consists of a purple dress, complete with the lace at the neckline, puffy sleeves and pink lace in front.  The white lacey petticoat shows from the hem of the dress but instead of wearing a petticoat, I just sewn the lace to the hem.  Attaching the grommets to the bodice was a bit of a challenge though.    After much difficulties,  I managed to finally sourced for the grommets and the tools to attach them in the right size.  I didn't know how to attach them and had to Googled for the instructions.  Didn't know that hammer goes along with dresses!

The dress was done in a day and it is a beautiful one.  I worked on the wig next.  The wig was fairly easy to make.  First, I cut the yarn of desired length, attached them to another piece of yarn and braided them in place.  I attached several flowers to the braids next and it is done!

The girls were delighted with the dress and wig!  I personally feel that the dress is beautiful and it has since become my favourite piece of work.  :)

DIY Flynn Rider Costume

I had an 'Oh my God!' moment when I received the notification from the kids kindergarten on the Halloween party that is to be held in one week's time.  Didn't know that the kindergarten will be having a celebration and I have let out all the costumes that I have.  Thus, I have to quickly sew another three costumes, in addition to the two that I planned to let the girls wear to the Disney Live show.  All in one week!

I have chosen the Flynn Rider from Tangled costume for my little boy.  The color of Flynn's vest is supposed to be of a green hue but since I have lots of blue fabric, I decided to give it a little twist.

It was fun sewing this costume though I wish I am not so pressed for time.  Anyway, it was done in just one night of labour.  Also sewn a leather-like bag as well as attach a pan and knife to go with the costume, just like Flynn in the movie.   The little Flynn is very curious of his pan and knife  :)

Savoury Sour Noodles

This is a recipe that I came across from the show 'Easy Chinese', hosted by Ching-He Huang.    Ching prepared this dish using the noodles handmade by the sifu.  I used hokkien noodles instead :


Serves 2 :

Ingredients :

1 tbsp      oil
4 cm        ginger (sliced)
1/2           medium chinese cabbage (chopped, with whites and greens separated)
3              shiitake mushroom (stemmed and sliced)
2 blocks   extra firm tofu (cut into long strips)
220g         hokkien noodles
3 cups       water
1 tsp          chicken stock paste
1 tbsp        light soy sauce
1 tbsp        black vinegar
1 tbsp        chinese cooking wine


Method :


1) Put oil and ginger in TMX bowl.  Set to 100 deg C,  1min, speed 2.
2) Add in chicken.  Set to 100 deg C, 2 mins, reversed gentle stir
3) At the last 1 min, add the chinese cooking wine.
4) Add the white part of chinese cabbage, tofu and mushrooms. Set to 100deg C, 2 mins, reversed gentle stir.
5) Add in water and the rest of the seasonings.  Set to 100 deg C, 7 mins, reversed gentle stir.
6) At the last 2 mins, add in the green part of chinese cabbage and noodles.
7) Garnish with scallions and serve.


The broth is so delightfully warm.   I imagine adding fresh cilantro will give it better taste, only that I did not have any at home and my planted cilantro is still in the sprouting process.  Well, maybe next time..

DIY Princess Anna's Party Gown

The movie 'Frozen' has been released for almost one year and yet, the craze just goes on and on.   Merchandise bearing the pictures and the words 'Frozen' takes form of everything imaginable : clothes, water bottles, eating utensils, bags, pencils, and even, swimwear!

I have sewn a 'mini' Princess Anna's party dress months ago, the green dress that Anna wore when she met Prince Hahn's for the first time. It is also the same dress that she wore to her sister, Queen Elsa's coronation ceremony and ball.  It is a beautiful and elegant gown, adorned with motif at the bodice and thoughout the dress.  And to go with it, a beautiful braided head of hair.

So many moons have passed since I feel like sewing the same dress in bigger size for my 5 years old daughters.  It was done with a little modification : the motif at the dress is sewn on using gauze ribbons, rather than drawn.   The motif at the bodice, however, were drawn using cloth dyes and heat treated. 

It looked doomed to fail at first and I nearly gave up half way. The skirt just wouldn't straightened, probably due to all the tugging and pulling when I sew the ribbons on.  However, after some 'serious' ironing, the gown started to fall in place.  Once the motif at the bodice is drawn, I fell in love with it.

And.. when my girl wore it for the first time, I fell in love with it all over again....

There are many similar 'Princess Anna's dress' out there in the market.  But nothing beats the DIY.