Be honest. Would you have known this was a McDonald’s ad if it weren’t for the Golden Arches in the bottom right corner?
First of all, it’s served in a non-McDonalds-like container. Secondly, there’s a GLASS of green tea. Not a paper cup. I thought it was an interesting local ad for McDonalds in Singapore.
One of the great things about traveling is trying new foods. I’m a big lover of fruit, so I was anxious to try some of the interesting fruits available in Singapore. Nothing unusual about the pineapple, blueberries and raspberries pictured above, but those little things that look like stars are called starfruit. (Clever name, don’t ya think?)
I cut one open this afternoon for the first time so the kids could taste it. The fruit comes from Thailand and is quite unusual in appearance. Without the help of the Internet, I would never have had any idea how to even cut or eat this thing. (TGFG - Thank God For Google!)
After cleaning the fruit and cutting off the edges, I sliced the fruit as I would a banana and removed the seeds. It’s very easy to prepare.
Then came the best part -- tasting it. I was less than impressed. I don’t hate it, but it tastes very much like raw peas. Not very sweet at all. I prefer my fruit to be sweet. I won’t write starfruit off -- after all, it makes a beautiful decoration!
Do-do-do-do-do I’m lovin’ it!
Marso and I ordered McDelivery for the first time today. That’s right, McDonald’s delivers! You can place your order online, get an e-mail confirmation, and in about 30 minutes the little McDonald’s dude pulls up on his McMoped with your McOrder.
Life is good.
What does going to the grocery store look like for you? Let me guess.
* You start out by making a list of what you need.
* You grab your purse, jacket, umbrella, bratty kids and head to the car.
* You drive to the supermarket and hopefully get a parking space. You tell your kids to quit fighting in the back seat or you'll stop this car right now and beat them.
* You find your spot and grab a cart. Maybe two if there's a lot on the list.
* You maneuver the aisles of the store, glancing at your list to make sure you get some of the stuff on it. Into the cart go the items you have written down, a few items you don't need (impulse buys), and some crap your kids throw in there that they *need.*
* You try to squeeze by some woman who is chatting with a friend, leaving her cart in the way so you cannot pass and are forced to turn around and go the other way just to get to the other half of the aisle she is blocking. You tell your kids to shut up as they whine out loud, "Why is that woman in our way?"
* You cuss under your breath, or maybe out loud (depending on which of my friends you are reading this at the particular moment)
* Once you have filled your cart, you approach the shortest line that will allow more than 10 or 12 items. You tell your kids to shut up or you will spank them right there in front of everyone.
* You tell your kids to stop grabbing at the gum/candy/chips/band aids/aspirin/tissues/disposable camera/whatever else is on the impulse shelf next to the register they think they need.
* When the guy ahead of you finally gets out of the way, you start putting things on the conveyor belt.
* You make the decision as to whether you really want the tampons since the clerk has to request a price check over the loud speaker. Forget it. You've got tissues at home. That's $6.99 you'll save on your bill.
* You pay the damages, grab your receipt, try to put the debit card/credit card/change back into your wallet before you leave the line so you don't lose it.
* You push the heavy cart back outside, begging your kids to shut up so you can just get home.
* You search for your car in the parking lot, hoping not to get hit as you walk up and down the rows of the parking lot.
* You shove the groceries into your trunk and tell your kids to crank the AC so it's cool when you get in there.
* You drive home, exhausted.
* You carry the bags into the house. By yourself. Your kids are no help and at this point you really just want them to go away.
* You unpack the bags and put everything away.
* Time for a nap.
Here's how I shop for groceries:
* Make my list
* Sit on my butt and open my computer
* Visit www.coldstorage.com.sg
* Type the items I want into the Search Box
* Add them to my online shopping cart
* Type in my debit card number
* Choose my delivery day/time
* Go to the pool
Next day:
* Groceries are here (someone else has bagged them, brought them here, carried them up 16 flights, and brought them in the condo and set them onto the table)
* I try to tip the guy, but he refuses
* I unpack my bags and put items away
Life is good. Groceries will be here in about a half hour and I'll be heading to the pool shortly after.
Grocery shopping here is so much easier than in the US!
I have always loved fruits of all kinds - apples, bananas, cherries, and all the way through the alphabet. So when I saw that the ExxonMobil Expats were having a class to teach ladies how to select, cut, prepare and eat fruits from Thailand, I had my name on the list but fast!
I couldn't believe the spread Nantana had laid out for us. Her table was covered in unique delights! The colors and shapes ... the textures! I knew before she began that there was going to be some really good stuff hittin' my mouth that morning!
Now I wish I had taken some notes, but I was too busy eating to hold a pen. The first thing we were served was grilled banana. It wasn't a long banana like you'd see in Publix with a Dole or Chiquita sticker on it. These bananas are smaller. Much smaller. And like I said, they were grilled. Well, actually she said she cooked them in her toaster oven because she doesn't have a grill. It was really good. Definitely very black on the outside, but so tasty on the inside. And Nantana told us the Thai people do not eat those same bananas "raw." Only cooked.
I don't remember the order in which we were served the rest of the fruit, but she also taught us how to choose and prepare rambutan, mango, mangosteen, santal, longkong, pomelo (my favorite), salak, guava, pomegranate and pineapple. I think there may have been some others in there as well.
The pomelo was probably my favorite. It resembles a grapefruit, but doesn't offer the same bitterness as a grapefruit. It was delicious and I can't wait to go buy some this week. My friend Melanie told me these are also available in Florida, but I was never introduced to all the deliciousness that is a pomelo while living in Florida. What a shame!
Before we left, Nantana made us some mango sticky rice. We had to peel our own mango (not an easy task), and the sticky rice was so good! It's basically white rice with coconut milk and sugar. Delicious! I would have never imagined I'd like it because I'm not a fan of the taste of coconut, but this was really good.
If I hadn't gone today I would have missed out on a lot of great fruits that are available here in Singapore. It's not that I'd be worried I wouldn't like them. It's that there's no way I'd ever have figured out how to peel or serve any of them on my own.
As anyone who knows me can confirm, I am a huge advocate for animals. I take in all the strays, especially those nobody else wants. In Florida, I had a blind, diabetic poodle to which I had to administer insulin shots twice a day. I also had an epileptic poodle who was prone to having seizures and freaking me out. The third poodle had a problem too, but his wasn't medical. It was just gross. He ate his own poop. (At least he never left a mess!)
I also donate to animal causes - money, time, talents. Whatever they can use, I try to give. In fact, I'm thinking of going into the dog-walking business here, but I'll save those details for a later blog.
Anyway, suffice it to say I love animals. But I also like eating meat. Sorry. I actually envy those people who can give up meat and dairy products. I really love fruits and vegetables, but I can't get myself to eat soy, tofu, a veggie burger or any of those other foods. I'd have to live off salads for breakfast, lunch and dinner if I gave up meat. I just can't stomach the substitutes.
Until this morning.
I've been working out almost every day, so I'm trying to eat healthier too. That includes egg white omelets about three mornings a week. This morning I just barely tapped my second egg. The light above the stove caught it just right and I noticed a feather sticking out of the crack of the egg. For a moment I stood there trying to determine what to do.
If I crack the egg completely open, is there a baby chick inside? Dead, of course, but still traumatic for an animal lover to witness.
I pondered that for a bit, and I'm not sure if it was gross curiosity, extreme bravery or sheer stupidity, but I cracked it wide open. No chick. Just a furry yolk I guess. Actually, it was just a small feather and I guess it must have just not been washed clean before it was sent to the grocery store. Still, it was enough to make me wonder if the vegetarians have it right.
I don't think I'll ever be a "good" vegetarian, but fortunately it's not a religion. I can pick and choose a little more carefully and maybe cut back on my animal products. I won't stop drinking milk (how else would I drink my coffees if not with milk?). I probably won't stop eating eggs, though I may switch to egg whites like Egg Beaters or something similar. I doubt I'll stop eating ham or turkey, but there are a few things I could probably cut out of my diet that would make my vegetarian friends a little proud, and make me healthier in the process.
The kids are at a movie tonight, so Marso and I are on our own for dinner. There are three delivery options that we know of:
McDelivery -- Get McDonalds food delivered to your door 24/7. www.mcdelivery.com.sg
KFC -- They've got more than chicken here. You can also order pasta and other dishes if you're not in the mood for a thigh. The "special dishes" are for delivery only, though.
Pizza Hut -- They've got some crazy combinations available in Asia. And I'm not talking anchovies.
We decided to have some pizza for dinner tonight. Not the crazy stuff though. Pepperoni with a cheese-filled crust. Yummmm!
Jean-Luc will be so disappointed he missed pizza night. But, if the kids had stayed in we probably would have eaten chicken and rice. Ya win some, ya lose some.
