Cute Mask Storage Cases from Sleek Scribbles [Sponsored]

 
Based in Singapore and as advocates of animal welfare, Sleek Scribbles celebrate the uniqueness of every animal by providing stylish and affordable lifestyle accessories, and aspires to share our South East Asian culture with the world through their cute and quirky designs. 

Currently carrying cutely designed pouches and mask storage cases, I've gotten myself one in blue (one of my lucky colours for CNY this year, HUAT AH!) and with mask-up rabbit prints. 

Some of you may wonder, what's the use of such mask storage cases, other than being able to carry something adorable with you to brighten up your day. I'm sure all of you will be carrying a spare mask (or two) with you all the time when you're out and about, especially if you're wearing those 3-ply disposable surgical masks. 

Why? Because the ear loops are so fragile! Nearly at every gathering, I'll see a friend/relative or two having their masks torn at the ear loops.

Yes, you can just chuck a piece of spare mask in a plastic/ziplock bag and then stuff it in your bag. 

But ladies, let's face it. Our bags... are like the Bermuda Triangle! 

Such a fragile piece of 3-ply disposable surgical mask will likely NOT survive half a day of tossing about with our 101 other items in our bags that's highly comparable to doraemon's 4d pocket. Chances are, you're replacing a torn mask with a crumpled/deformed (soon to be torn, too) mask. 

So with a hard storage case, you'll never fear pulling out a piece of crumpled mask from the depths of your bag, at any time of the day. 

Make sense? xp

In addition, the storage case comes with flaps at the side to kiap (hold) your mask in place. How nice!

But actually, the most important factor is still.... the cuteness! Haha, everything is all about IG-worthiness these days, no judgement here. 

Other than the cute rabbits, the storage cases also comes in cute dog and cat prints.

And there's even a corgi + kueh lapis one, too! Not sure of what's the link with corgis and kueh lapis, but it sure look super adorable!

These adorable mask storage cases are available on Sleek Scribbles at only $8.50.
For more information on other merchandises available on Sleek Scribbles, visit their website HERE.

Till then,

Mia Foo

Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar with Goli [Advertorial]

 Apple Cider Vinegar, anyone?

-credits to freepik-

Well, this concoction of just fermented apples and water can be used to add flavour to dishes, potentially help with certain diseases, and also doubles up as a cleaning agent (gasp)!

In recent years, ACV seems to be everywhere and everyone seems to be loving it. But in actual fact, ACV was used as a natural remedy for health problems for a very long time. It just so happens that as more people are trying to improve their life by making healthier and more natural choices these days, the many health benefits of ACV was re-discovered. 

So here's the list of 4 health benefits of ACV based on scientific researches:

1. Helps lower the blood glucose level

Scientific studies has shown that ACV regulates the blood sugar level in diabetic patients. Adding ACV as part of an anti-diabetic diet may help to control the blood sugar level. 

2. Aids in weight loss

Researches have stated that ACV helps in weight management, lower our lipid levels, and prevent fat deposition around our organs.

Check out more details on why ACV aids in weightloss through Dr Eric Berg's video HERE

3. Antibacterial properties

Studies have shown that ACV has multiple anti-microbial properties on different microbial species, affecting microbe growth, suppressing mononuclear cytokine and phagocytic responses. 

I've personally cured myself of a ringworm infection using ACV, so yeah... it really works. 

4. May Lower Cholesterol (LDL)

Although research on cholesterol and ACV in humans is very limited, an Iranian study suggests that ACV may reduce LDL (bad cholesterol), total cholesterol, and triglycerides in people who have high cholesterol. 

Other benefits of ACV includes regulation of our body's pH level, improving our cardiovascular health, helping with indigestion, improves our immune system and energy levels, and even aids in the prevention of cancer. 

But one (or two, for many also hate the acute vinegary taste of ACV) biggest issue with taking ACV, despite all its promising health benefits, is that it erodes our precious tooth enamel. And they're precious indeed, because once tooth enamel is damaged, they cannot be restored. 

So, how do we reap the health benefits of ACV without putting our precious tooth enamel at risk, or suffer from the awful taste of the vinegar? 

Easy, with the Goli ACV Gummies! 

The Goli ACV gummies are literally just like ACV shots, but with an enjoyable taste (they've created the perfect taste with a mixture of apples, carrots and blackcurrants!). Like ACV, the gummies also contains pectin, a source of dietary fibre (natural prebiotic to support a healthy gut and immune system), vitamins B9 and B12, and includes the Mother (a healthy strain of bacteria, antioxidant and enzymes)

Sounds promising, yes? 

Go check out this amazing supplement at goli.com and use the promo code mollymia to get 20% (until 19th Feb 2021, usual 10%) off your purchases! 

Edited: 

Goli is now working together with Vitamin Angel for the betterment of the world! Do you know that malnutrition is the number 1 cause of preventable child deaths in the world? That's why Goli is proud to support the work of Vitamin Angels, who continually strive to reduce malnutrition in children by giving them access to lifesaving vitamins and minerals. 

With every purchase made on Goli, there will be a 1-for-1 Vitamin grant through Goli's partnership with Vitamin Angels to provide a child in need with a 6-month supply of vitamins! 

Till then,

Mia Foo

Mia Bakes: Healthy Cinnamon Roll Loaf Cake

 Craving for some warm, sweet, soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls, but not keen on all the time needed for kneading and dough proofing? 

How about getting one in the form of a fuss-free quickbread / loaf cake? 

And what if I'm telling you that it's a healthy, low calorie, reduced sugar one? 

So let's get over with the ingredients (for 1 standard loaf pan of 10 - 12 slices) to get started!

For the cake

250g plain yogurt 

(not greek, but not too watery)

205g plain flour

45g oat fibre 

(or replace with more flour)

80g baking stevia blend

60g vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/4 tsp almond extract

a pinch of salt

recipe adapted from theclevermeal

For the filling/swirl

120g applesauce

(I used homemade, but you can get store-bought)

65g brown sugar

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 mixed spice (optional)

First up, make sure that your ingredients (especially yogurt and eggs) aren't too cold, if not the batter might form curds while you mix. Well, not that it's the end of the world anyway, you can still mix in the flour and bake it off, though.

In a clean bowl, add in your applesauce, brown sugar, cinnamon and mixed spice and stir to combine. Then, set this aside. 

Next, in a large clean bowl, crack in your eggs and add in the sugar, whisking until the sugar granules has dissolved. Then, add in the oil and whisk until the oil is fully incorporated before adding in the (not too cold) yogurt, vanilla and almond extracts. There may be a little curdling (especially if your yogurt is too cold) but no worries, just add in the rest of the dry ingredients and fold with a spatula until everything is just combined. 

Line your loaf pan with parchment paper or spray it down with some non-stick cooking spray. Then, pour in half of the batter and level it out with your spatula. Get your bowl of applesauce-sugar mixture and spoon half (or slightly more than half) of the mixture over the top of the cake batter. Spread them out as evenly as you can. Then, pour the remaining cake batter over the top and level our the surface again with your spatula. Then, drop dollops of the remaining applesauce-sugar mixture over the surface, before swirling the dollops all over the cake to give it a marbled look. You can do so by simply sticking a butter knife right down the centre of the loaf pan and just swirling it around randomly. 

Then, bake at 160 degrees Celsius (fan setting) for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.

 

Allow the cake to cool off slightly in the pan before taking it out of the pan and letting it cool completely on a wire rack. 

As you can see, due to high yogurt content, this cake is ridiculously moist (hovering at the brink of being mushy, actually) and soft. I know the slices looked gummy, as if they've not risen properly, but that's actually because my knife has smoothen out the moist crumbs with my slicing motion.

Yes, it's THAT moist. 

Flavour wise, if you're a fan of cinnamon rolls or apple pies, then this is your jam! 

While the yogurt has made the cake extremely tender and moist, the applesauce-sugar filling has packed the cake with a strong punch of the tart applesauce (since I've made my own, I added some sliced of lemon to make my applesauce tart), with a lovely brown sugar and cinnamon sweetness. 

Best of all, due to the reduced sugar and reduced oil recipe, 1 decent slice of the cake is only barely 170 kcals, and packs a decent amount of protein and fibre! 

Till then,

Mia Foo

Let's HUAT together with ezsy Bitcoin Angbao [Advertorial]

CNY visiting this year is limited to maximum of only 8 pax a day?

You shall not visit more than 2 households during CNY visiting this year? 

No worries, there's always ZOOM, right? 
Hmm, but what about the blessing of good fortune with the giving of an angbao (red packet)? 

Fret not, now with ezsy Bitcoin Angbao, we can all ezsy-ily HUAT together! 

Yes, that's right. BITCOIN angbao. Because e-Angbao through PayNow is now so yesterday....

ezsy was created with a holistic approach to crypto and fiat currency in mind, to enable purchase and transactions with crypto currencies internationally within a multi-currencies, one-wallet app. 

And with the current Covid-19 pandemic, we're all trying out best to minimise social gatherings and ezsy has creatively evolved the season of gifting and receiving with the introduction of bitcoin angbao. 

Embedded with a one-time use unique serial number together with an ezsy redemption process, the bitcoin is then securely deposited into the recipient's verified account. 

Not only is the process safe (by encouraging social-distancing) and secured (regulated), it's also fast and instant. On top of that, you can skip the annoyingly long and snaking queues at the banks/atm machines to draw new bank notes! 

Best of all, ezsy's Bitcoin Angbaos are valued at:

SGD $18 for S18 bitcoin

SGD $30 for S38 bitcoin

SGD $60 for S68 bitcoin

And your recipients will have the freedom and flexibility of either cashing out the bitcoin, or keeping them to grow more money! 

So, whatchu waiting for? 

Check out ezsy Bitcoin Angbao HERE and download the app now!

Till then,

Mia Foo

Let's HUAT with OurPasar Halal Fresh Yu Sheng [Sponsored]

Yes, it's that time of the year again....

That ridiculously festive time when you will hear this literally everywhere you go:

每条大街小巷, 每个人的嘴里, 见面第一句话, 就是恭喜恭喜

恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀, 恭喜恭喜恭喜你

However, the situation is a little special for this year and it's rather unfortunate that much of the festive mood was lost.

So to get the festive mood going, I've arranged a rather impromptu 1st Lou Hei of 2021 (and also the last Lou Hei of the dreadful Rat year) with my family, all thanks to OurPasar Essentials, always striving to provide their customers with easy access to a wide variety of fresh halal produce. 

Yup, it's halal! Yay for the chance to lou hei with your friendly Muslim neighbours and friends this year! 

Prosperity Yu Sheng Set (3-5 pax) - $38

Comes with a choice of either Smoked Salmon or Sashimi Grade Salmon, 88g

My set came with the smoked salmon, which was quite a novel idea for yu sheng in general, which typically comes with raw fish or abalone slices. But sadly, the pillow crackers (my favourite part of yu sheng!) was missed out in the order. T.T 

HB was so disappointed by the missing crackers that he didn't want to eat the yu sheng at all, and begrudgingly ate his portion only when I insisted.  

Anyway, the yu sheng came well packed, with every single ingredients packed in separate bags/containers. 

The smoked salmon also came in huge slices as well, and we ended up cutting up each slice into more manageable (other than the HB, none of my family are fans of salmon) bite sizes. 

As compared to the typical yu sheng that I've eaten over the years, OurPasar's halal version seems to pack a lot more bell peppers too, not that I'm complaining though. I love them!

The sweet-sauce was also quite good, not overly sweet, such that we can all-in the sauce and get all the ingredients coated nicely without fearing that it'll end up being too sweet. 

HUAT AH!

OurPasar also carries the Abundance Package Yu Sheng for 5 - 8 pax at $68, and for all the salmon-lovers out there, you can also get additional orders of the raw/smoked fish at only $8 per box of 88g. 

For more information of what other CNY specials OurPasar Essentials has to offer, visit their website HERE

And if in any case you require immediate support from OurPasar regarding your orders, they can be reached at support@ourpasar.com or via WhatsApp (only) at 88745114. 

Till then,

Mia Foo