Song-Cho Rice Cookers - Why It is One of a Kind!

April and May have been eventful, both on home front, but also on the work front for me.  Yes, if you do not know, I am a full time working mother.  And I get people asking how I juggle, without any external help, i.e. helper or maid.  Well, my children are in full time day care and I have a pretty hands-on hubby, so I am really not that super.  I place priorities on different things - my house is always messy, my laundry basket is always full and so on, thus, I am not that overwhelmed on a daily basis.

But one thing for sure.  I try to cook as much as I can, although I know how we mothers feel after a long and tiring work day.  Which is why I rely a lot on kitchen gadgets.  And one such gadget is the rice cooker.

One may say that a rice cooker is just a rice cooker, why and how can any be so special?  I agree that the rice cookers in the market now are features-packed.  Apart from cooking rice, they can be used to steam and bake too.

But the rice cooker I am using now is different because of a very important component.  Its stainless steel inner pot!

Those who personally know me knows I am very particular over certain things, especially when it comes to feeding the children and things for the children.  Through reading and researching, it seems that we should just go back to basics, and that is using stainless steel for cooking.  I have had non-stick, teflon coated inner pots and pans and I get upset each time I see the peeled coatings.

I shall be very bias here as to why Song-Cho rice cookers then?  It is because they are the only rice cookers makers with stainless steel inner pots.  Totally what I am looking for.  Apart from the fact that it is made from food grade stainless steel, there is also no chemical coatings, thus making it perfect for use in cooking.  Plus, many I know often change their inner pots.  This, I think will last quite a long time.

For an idea of why I so much prefer a Song-Cho rice cooker with it's premium inner pot, this visual description explains everything.

Credit : Song-Cho (Imp & Exp) Pte Ltd 

One of the newer range of rice cookers, the SC-FCM58 model has 12 different modes of cooking.  But seriously, cooking rice and porridge are my favourite because a rice cooker is a rice cooker!  For the different ranges of rice cookers Song-Cho carries, click here!

My boys love the porridge cooked using the rice cooker.  Me too!  No longer do I need to stand by the stove, stirring the grains, hoping it will not get burnt.  Using the Porridge function, I get "sticky" porridge which my boys love in just an hour.  Tell me about achieving more in an hour.  The porridge is good for toddlers too!

Due to it's superiority in heat conductivity, one-pot rice cooker claypot chicken rice is easy.

By using the Reheat mode, I stir fried the ginger in the rice cooker itself with a little sesame oil, and added in bacon as I did not have Chinese sausage.  Thereafter, I put in the mushrooms.  It is quite uncommon to see ginger and bacon in our traditional claypot rice but we realise that with ginger, it makes the rice more fragrant.  Bacon was an adventure test that I did and interestingly, it adds a tinge of "saltiness" a.k.a the giam giam (Hokkien) at every bite.

Closed the lid to let it heat up and mixed in the chicken slices and rice after that.

Once mixed and water added, I closed the lid and started the cooking process by pressing the Start button after choosing the Crust mode. 

The see through glass cover will be useful especially when the bake or soup mode is used.  Don't you love it when you can see the food you are cooking when it is almost done?  I thought it was really cool as I love peering at my food.

So, here's my kind of one-pot rice cooker claypot rice.  I used to fry the items at the stove before putting them into the rice cooker but with this rice cooker, it's everything one-pot.  Totally for strapped-for-time-yet-want-variety parents like me.

One-Pot Rice Cooker Claypot Rice

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast - cut into small chunks
3 dried Chinese mushrooms - soaked and sliced
1 Chinese sausage, or a slice of bacon  - sliced
Garlic and ginger - chopped and sliced thinly respectively
2 cups of rice

Marinate
1 tbsp sesame oil
2 tbsp dark soya sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce

Method:

1. Marinate the chicken with the items under "marinate".
2. Using Reheat mode, stir fry ginger and garlic with a little of sesame oil in dry inner pot.
3. Add in Chinese sausage or bacon and stir fry till fragrant.
4. Add in Chinese mushrooms.  Close the lid to heat it up slightly.
5. Add in chicken slices and stir fry till chicken is partially cooked before adding in the rice.  Mix it well.
6.  Using the measuring cup, add in 2 cups of water.   (This is for white rice.  For other rice, add in the appropriate amount of water for the different rice types.)
7. Cancel the Reheat mode and press start for the Cook mode.
8. When the rice cooker beeps, the claypot rice is ready!  Drizzle more dark soya sauce if preferred and enjoy!


Disclosure: We were given the Song-Cho Rice Cooker for product review purposes.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photos and opinions are true to my own unless otherwise stated.

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Travel Insurance - Why We All Need It

The March school holidays are approaching soon.  And away are most of us.  Not me this March though.

You know how I always buy travel insurance whenever air tickets are booked?  I am to the extent of appalled when I came to know of people who do not buy travel insurance when they travel.  I ask why?

Reasons being, aiya there is not need to la.  Not so suay (aka unfortunate) lah.  Forgot.  No time.  Expensive.

But it is not that.  Yes, air travel is still considered one of the safest modes of transportation, but there are also many unforeseen circumstances.  Things can happen.  Not to curse but truth be told, life is unpredictable these days!  Even the weather is!  Travel insurance does not only cover air travel mishaps but so much more - some of which can cost a bomb!

Why i stand by buying travel insurance.  Simple.  For a piece of mind.  Insurance agencies often have discount on their travel insurance policies, sometimes up to 40% for a single trip plan and depending on the category one chooses, the premiums differ.

Once, B was supposed to be out for a company leisure trip.  We were all down for stomach flu that week and just when we thought D would be spared, he had to be hospitalised for dehydration.  Luckily, B bought travel insurance and was reimbursed for the trip.  

Now, I know of many who do not buy travel insurance when they travel to Malaysia.  I buy travel insurance even when going to Malaysia.  If you travel to Malaysia often, maybe an annual travel insurance will be better.  And there are Family Plans available too when the kids are usually "free".

We were off to Melaka last June.  Upon returning, E was down with influenza (not your common cold or runny nose).  Caught in Malaysia?  Highly possible.  And yes, we had the medical costs covered with our travel insurance.  Evidence that travel insurance claims exist:

Believe it or not, but I choose my travel insurance depending on whether I am travelling individually or with the family.

There are various categories in the travel insurance and for certain category, you get a "home guard" benefit that reinstate or repair against physical loss of damage by fire to the household contents etc when the permanent place of residence was left vacant while away from Singapore.

If I were to travel alone, I ensure that I get one with the highest coverage for "personal accident, medical expenses incurred overseas, emergency medical evacuation & repatriation" because should there be a mishap, the last thing I want is financial burden on the family or children at home.

People often say, you pay for what you want.  A low premium might be a good deal but always see if it covers what you really need.

Of course for each benefit, there are terms and conditions and each differs from every insurance provider.

But, one thing for sure, it is never difficult to buy a travel insurance.  Easily applied online on almost all insurance companies website, you can apply them on your own, without the need of an insurance advisor.  An insurance advisor can help you with it, and also with the claim should anything happen (though we all wish we never have to).

Apart from that, always remember to e-Register with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs when travelling!


Disclaimer: I am not an insurance advisor.  There will be terms and conditions for all travel insurance policies thus please do your due diligence before purchasing one.  All opinions and experiences are solely mine.

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{Media Invite} AIR+ Smart Masks and Why You Should Own Them

Remember the time when buildings not too far away are blurry?

Remember the days when we woke up and exclaimed, "Something's burning!"

Those days were not too long ago.  In fact, it was just last September and it lasted a month or so.

I fear of those days.  I wake up everyday, hoping that the weather is good, the air is fresh and taking deep breaths are not luxuries.

But, the truth is...  life isn't always a bed of roses.

Singapore periodically gets affected by severe smoke haze due to forest fires in the region.  Especially during the dry season.  Typically in the months of June to August.  With the ever-changing weather and whatever-you-call phenomenons, I seriously wonder if every other month is going to be a dry season now and in the near future.

I cannot stop the forest fires.  Neither can I change how the weather is going to be.  As much as I would like to simply fly off to another country when the haze hits, it is impossible.  The best I can do is to reduce the family's risk of exposure to air pollutants during the haze period.

My best bet last September.  It was so difficult to get my hands on these masks that are suitable for children as everyone rushed to get them when the haze hit us.  So this year, I am not taking any chances.  Slightly kiasu but yes, I have 2 boxes (i think) of each size sitting in my cupboard now.

Ahead of the possible haze period, we were invited to a informal sharing with the people behind the AIR+ Smart Mask at MINT Museum of Toys.

What's a better way to educate children?  Get them involved and let them understand the basics of it.  Now the boys know that once the haze is here, they need to put on their masks.  

I cannot emphasise enough about the use of the correct mask during the haze period.  I cannot remember how many people I have spoken to regarding the wrong use of surgical masks during the haze period.  In summary, a surgical mask is used to protect against micro-organisms, body fluids and large particles in the air.  Because it is designed only to cover the mouth and the nose loosely, one do not get the seal that is required to protect against airborne pollutants such as haze and that ridiculously harmful PM2.5 particles.

If you do not believe me, take a surgical mask, wear it and you will feel the gaps at the sides.

At the clinic, having a fever, sometime back.  Surgical mask provided by the clinic.

No one-size mask fits everyone.  There are also no masks available in the market that suit children.  Asians have a smaller face frame and that is why AIR+ Smart Masks are fit tested and trialed in Singapore, coming up with 3 different sizes to protect even children as young as 7 years old.

D trying out the 3D profiling used by the people behind AIR+ Smart Mask.  Through the profiles of hundreds of people, they came up with the 3 different sizes that are supposed to be able to fit most Asians comfortably.

About the AIR+ Smart Mask

The AIR+ Smart Mask is tested in accordance to the EN 149:2001+A1:2009 (European) and the N95 NIOSH-approved (American) standards.  Under both test standards, the Smart Mask achieved at least 95% filtration efficiency against non-oil based particles, including PM2.5.

This means every AIR+ Smart Mask, regardless of size, is a N95 mask.

In addition, there is the AIR+ Micro Ventilator that enhances breathability by expelling the moisture and carbon dioxide build-up within the mask rapidly as one exhales.  This reduces the heat and increased carbon dioxide levels for a cooler comfort.

Time for some fun now at MINT Museum of Toys:

MINT (Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia) Museum of Toys houses a world-class collection of vintage toys and collectable items in an international award-winning contemporary building on Seah Street.

Since its inauguration in 2007, the museum is house to over 8,000 exhibits out of its collection of 50,000 items.  Across 6 levels, one will find items from over 40 countries, ranging in dates from the 1840s to 1980s.  Wow wow wow.

Let us take a look at some of the toys you can find there.  All of them are older than us.  :P

The boys were so intrigued with Mickey Mouse.  One of their favourite characters never really seen before.  And how we adults were brought back to childhood days of toys of yesteryear.  Nostalgic.  

Disclosure:  We were invited to the AIR+ Smart Mask workshop.  No monetary compensation was received.  Terms and product information about the product were provided by them.  All photographs and opinions are true to my own.

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{Review} Labels / Stickers from Stickerkid and a Discount Code~~

We received a special package, all the way from Switzerland.  It arrived just in time for D, as he is going to Primary 1 next year and will be having tons of stuff which will have to be labeled.

Stickerkid, a company that makes personalised name labels for clothing, shoes, school supplies and other belongings, offer labels that are water resistant, microwave safe, freezer and dishwasher safe.  The labels come in different sizes with a variety of colours, fonts and fun icons to choose from.

Since he is of a age that can make certain decisions on his own, we decided to let him customise his own labels.  A fan of dinosaurs, ninjas, he is.  

The one good thing about Stickerkid is that they allow Chinese characters as well.  And the colourful background makes it easy for the object to be identified.

We have tried other labels as well and we can tell that Stickerkid's labels are of a good quality.  D did most of the labelling himself (not the clothes labelling though).  It is not easily torn so the preschooler can handle the stickers himself and not tear them.  

And if you are worried that the clothes labels will be permanent, fear not.  You can either iron them on to make it removable or permanent.  It all depends on the heat of the iron and Stickerkid provides instructions for them.

Stickerkid offers a range of value packs and "My First Pack", the value pack we received, seems to be adequate.  There are 60 small stickers, 32 large stickers, 14 shoe stickers and 48 clothes stickers.  If you think you need more small stickers, there is always the "My First Classes" with 120 small stickers.

Whichever your choice, I am very happy to announce that Stickerkid is offering a 10% discount for all my readers.  Key in the discount code : SG10STICKERKI4_D2 and enjoy customising your stickers with the children.

Disclosure: We were sponsored with the My First Pack by Stickerkid for the purpose of this review.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photographs and opinions are true to my own.
 
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Daiso 101 - How to Make Your Own Kids Friendly Bookmarks

We all know Daiso, don't we?

From food to wipes, baby toys to DIY products, bowls and cutleries to beauty products.  Stepping foot into Daiso usually means more than $2 spent.  Everything is at $2 each in Daiso.  Easy to remember and definitely easy to calculate how much spent.

I have bought many items from Daiso the past years.  Lately, I took a much longer time looking at the craft items Daiso carries in an attempt to make something with the boys.

I love the sketch books!  Both boys love doodling and sketching these days and I can never find enough paper for them to draw on.  And also, loose pieces of paper always get on my nerves when the boys do not stack them properly.

The Crayola school glue is not from Daiso, but that Made in Japan double-sided tape is.  The tape comes in various width and I chose something thin so that I can use them in gift wrapping and other craft activities.

My late grandma used to say that if a pair of scissors is used to cut cloth / fabric, it will no longer be able to cut paper as smoothly.  Thus, I bought one specially for cutting fabrics as I decided to do something with the felt materials I got from Daiso.  Look at those pretty colours!!

We have been reading chapter books lately and always seem to be using all sorts of items as bookmarks as we do not have a proper one.  I then decided to DIY a felt bookmark for the fact that it will not cut / scratch / poke like normal bookmarks with sharp edges do.  Thus, it is perfect for the little fingers and hands.

Time to get creative!

The felt materials come in different sizes and those that were pre-cut (square: 3.5" x 3.5"; rectangle: 7.1" x 3.5") are perfect.  

I further cut the squares into two and fold each rectangle into a square and seal one end of it.

There are also those with adhesive on the other side which I use them to decorate the bookmarks.

Time to practise those fine motor skills too!

Here you go!  A simple elephant bookmark,

The adhesive type of felt comes with grids for easy drawing of patterns.

Can you guess what I drew?

 This - for the Super Hero fan.

The ”十万个为什么“ book that I am getting D to read in an attempt to improve his Chinese.

And if you have little children, I think they make good finger puppets!  Cheap, imaginative and portable.

What I love about this DIY bookmark is that it will never be crumpled.  No lines, no signs of folds and they are children-friendly.  Seriously, I believe they make good Teacher's Day gifts, especially when personalised with names.


This post is part of the DAISO 101 blog train, click the button below for more great ideas and tips for shopping at Daiso!



Next on the blog is Estella.

Mama to 3 year-old Joy, Estella runs ESTELLA.SG, ESOD and is an occasional singer / host. She is passionate about living fully, breastfeeding, fashion / beauty as well as home design, care and organization. On ESTELLA.SG, Estella writes about Joy, her passions and the family’s journey towards getting their new home.

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