Thursday 31 December 2020

My Not-So-Great New Year Eve Dinner

So fast ya...today is already the last day of 2020. To me it felt like 2020 just came and is almost gone. 

Like all years, for me it has been a mix of ups and downs. Overall, I won't say that 2020 was a bad year for me. I mean of course it is bad in the sense that we are still in the midst of a pandemic that does not seem to be over anytime soon.

I count my blessings for still being healthy (touch wood!) and still keeping my job when there are many who have lost theirs or had to settle for deep pay cuts. 

Let us all hope and pray that 2021 will bring good tidings and hopefully it would be the year that we see the last or at least the coming of the end of the pandemic.

So were there any highlights or significant happenings in my 2020? Well, I adopted another cat.


Belle is still with me although she has become wary of me due to her "bad" experience of having me apply ear drops that she finds unpleasant. 


I am not able to cuddle her as she associates that with having her ears invaded. So I just leave her be.


Just last week I started cooking simple dinners for myself like how I used to do many years ago. It is so easy and yet so tasty and satisfying. I just steam vegetables, chicken and tofu.


Just a few days ago it was this pumpkin soup. It was made with soup and pumpkin which I had frozen a while back. It turned out so good.


Ah! This happened just last week, the winter solstice festival.


My partner brought back a packet of tang yuan for me to enjoy. He said it was from a famous stall in Penang. I haven't had this for ages! It sure brought back childhood memories.


Of course somebody had to kacau me when I was enjoying my tang yuan.


Of course she could not let me eat my banana in peace too.


In the end she decided nothing was suitable for her to munch.

Eh, what happened to my new year's eve dinner?


There you go. Fajitas Trio from Chili's via Grabfood. I never go out to eat on new year's eve because it would be too crowded. Never mind the pandemic, people have been coming out again and 1 Utama is not quiet anymore.


I should have know better not to order this (but I was craving) because it did not taste so good. At the restaurant, this is served on a sizzling cast iron plate and you get all the smoky charred goodness on the meat and veggies.


But OK lah.... I also ordered a dessert.


A Paradise Pie. I think this is a non-bake dessert served with caramel sauce, chocolate fudge, chopped nuts and vanilla ice cream (which obviously melted by the time it reached me. I put it in the freezer for a little while).

I transferred the dessert to a plate.


Very nice! Sweet but not overwhelmingly sweet. It more than made up for the disappointing main meal.


These were past good eats at Chili's that happened within the last few weeks.


In less three hours, we shall usher in 2021 with(out) a bang (hopefully, thanks to the pandemic I hope there are no noisy fireworks because I am going to bed soon).

With that I shall wish all of you a Hopeful and Happy New Year!

20 comments:

  1. Happy New Year to you Phong Hong! There are fireworks in SG but now they all happen in the heartland as they meant to disperse the crowds. Yes, you are right, we should count our blessing as we are healthy, safe (touch wood!) and still got a job but I won't miss Year 2020 in anyway.

    Your simple homecooked vegetables, chicken and tofu look so tasty! Nothing beats homecooked food. Your tangyuan is plain without any filling? I prefer my tangyuan big and with fillings. Lol.

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    1. Happy New Year! The tang yuan is the traditional one without filling. I am sure the ones with fillings are more delicious!

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  2. Happy New Year to u PH!!! Let's hope tht 2021 will be a better year๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽŠ

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    1. Happy New Year! It better be a better year, let's make it so!

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  3. Your pumpkin soup looks delicious! Happy New Year to you! Enjoy the long weekend! May Girl Girl and Belle be good furkiddoes and finish all their food.

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    1. Happy New Year! The two furry kidos are always hungry but sometimes leave some food behind. Haiz!

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  4. For all it's worth, a Happy 2021 to you and all loved ones. Doesn't look like it's going to get any better. We just had a simple steamboat dinner - did not even bother to go to the market to but something special. Don't feel any reason to celebrate.

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    1. Happy New Year! For now it does not fee like a new year at all. It's all gloomy and did not help that it rained so much the past two days. But we must continue to hope and pray that things get better.

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  5. Have a healthy n happy 2021 ahead, PH! Yes, all is not bad in 2020... firstly, I get to see my kids more often than ever before, secondly, I save some money not going shopping for clothing, shoes or makeup, and of course, traveling as well... and thirdly, I do not need to dye my hair as often as before cos no one can really sees who I am with the mask on! As you said, without the mask, I also feel more "naked" and revealed.. hahahaa..

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    1. Happy New Year! You have looked at it so positively and true lah, I also experienced good things that came out of the pandemic.

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  6. Tang yuan from Penang? Must be nice. No tang yuan making this year for me but I did used up those frozen balls bought from supermarket. Peanuts filling, my man's favourite.

    Hope 2021 is kind to us. To a better year.

    Happy New Year.

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    1. Happy New Year! My brother told me he had tang yuan that was filled with peanuts and it is very nice. I have yet to try. Yes, to a better year!

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  7. Your simple home cooked meals look delicious. I didn't make tang yuan this year but received some from my neighbour. Ha ha Girl must check your food first before she allows you to eat in peace. Hope the New Year will be a better and safer year for us all.

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    1. I hope for the same and I must shed off my MCO weight. LOL!

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  8. Oh dear, you also ended the year with a sad (makan) blogpost. :D I wonder if it's because Belle is confined outside that she does not feel like she's part of the family and so do not let you cuddle her. Ah, your visits to Chili's I can recognise someone's Santa Fe Chicken Salad...hahaha! Only you are brave enough to order ice cream via delivery.

    Happy new year to you, your partner & your two furkids. Let's all hope for a better 2021!

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    1. You could be right about Belle and not a day goes by that I don't feel a tinge of guilt. But that feeling disappears whenever I clear her litter box. The old girl is very clumsy and messy and she kicks a lot of litter outside the box. Of late she even deposits her poopies on the rim of the box >.<. So I had no choice but to remove the rim (which resulted in more litter falling out). At least this happens outside, all I nee to do is sweep more often.

      Ah! my partner still can't bring himself to order anything other than the Sante Fe Chicken Salad hah..hah...

      Thank you for your wishes and yes, to a better 2021!

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  9. I was at Penang from 29 to 31 Dec and had plenty of good food (but still feel not enough).
    2020 definitely not a good year for many and hopefully 2021 would be a better year.

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  10. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2021. The year 2018 was the worst in my life, so the 2020 wasn't too bad. Hopefully 2021 will be better and improve.

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    1. Looks like your years are improving. Happy 2021!

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