I wrote this post while we were flying across the dessert towards Darwin to make our transit to Bali. No entertainment on Jetstar was not a nice feeling. I could either sleep in a very awkward sitting position or read the same National geographic magazine from back to front and back for the next 5 hours. So this is just one of the entertainment I found for myself while I hear Mister snoring away next to me. 
Cup day was a mad rush for both myself and Mister. We had so much to do before we left for Bali. After only 4 hours of sleep, I was a little grumpy. We had to pack the house and getting it ready for our kitchen and bathroom renovation, iron all the clothes that have been left neglected and also pack for our Bali trip. We did not get too much groceries over the weekend and so the fridge was quite empty.
It was the last day that I will be cooking in this small and dingy kitchen that I have been using for the last 3 years. So many fond memories. Successes and failures. Tears, anger, desperations and shouts of joy. Great aroma filled this kitchen. It had served us well. It was time to move on.
I had bits of bacon, cheese and plenty of eggs left. So I took cue from the brunch I had at Min Lokal and made some baked eggs. I cut strips of bacon and caramelised them in the cast iron pan with a nice snob of butter. Grinded some pepper over the top and cracked 2 Green free range eggs in. Then I grated a generous amount of cheese on top and threw it in the oven (160) for 3-5 minutes. I took the panh out of the oven, grated more cheese and dip my toasted bread sticks into the googey egg yolk. Gosh! I love eggs. I just love the whole simplicity of this dish. We were ready to face the daunting tasks ahead of us that day.
Frying bacon in cast iron pan
Toasted bread sticks in eggyolk
As we started packing the house and throwing away old things that I did not even know existed, we discovered old spices and hidden treasures that are mostly expired. I made a note to myself to have a better storage and organised system in the new kitchen. What a waste that so many goodies had to be thrown away.
As the day went along, we were hungry. We found a packet of instant noodle that we cooked and ate. There is no shame in eating instant noodles. I love it especially after a night out. And then I found a can of Almond jelly. This was pretty bad. It taste like tin. We have no idea how long that tin had been in the cupboard for. Yes. Shame. I know. But I still ate it Tummy did not like it very much though.
Instant noodle
Almond jelly in a can
I found a little time in between to grated some dark chocolate and made ourselves a nice rich cup of hot chocolate. And of course, I chopped off chucks of it and ate it as well.
Hot chocolate
The whole place was in a mess. Deep in the cupboards, I found 3 packets of flour, icing sugar, bottles of chicken essence, chinese herbal and Bak Tuk Teh packets, over 10 types of tea leaves and bags, old chutney that I had made, there were too many to name. I am a food hoarder!
How do you keep up with what you have bought? I would buy ingredients to test out a recipe and then forget about it. Such a bad habit to have. No wonder I never had enough space in my cupboards. And if I really want, I would buy a kitchen gadget for that recipe. Not forgetting cookbooks and magazines. Will there ever be enough of space? And how did I end up with 3 water tumblers?
We are moving back this weekend. I need help.
How do you keep your stock and obsession in check?
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You’ve just reminded me of ironing that I haven’t done for a long time. And honestly, I’d say it’s one of the houseworks I hate to do! It’s time-consuming. When you think you’ve spent quite some patience, then you realize you’ve only done ONE shirt! Gosh!!!!!
Your home-made brunch is superb! Love using that little cast iron pan to eat that!
Wishing you a smooth and painless move (well, as painless as possible). Great shot of those eggs in a pan!
Same here. Although it was worst before. I had experienced the expiration dates and some surprised items in the cupboard. I still don’t know how to manage it but one I do is cook more. I love the egg dish.
Oh…I can’t take it when I see soft eggs. So thankful that I have just fried 2 and am enjoying them now. So tempted to go for a 3rd & 4th one! Anyway, Happy Moving back!
Hahaha…. wow, almost all the ladies are the same! I think women have bad memories in these kind of things but good memories… in some way especially when your men promised you something!!! haha…. Well, I think it’s normal or is it?? Ahhhh… the only thing you need to do in managing your kitchen cabinet is to do weekly check up. Check the stock before making any new purchasing. Check your list(if you’ve!)what to buy and what not to buy. Try to list down onto a paper each cabinet storage items. Use transparent containers for storage. Try to do monthly house-keeping. Btw, arrangement also quite important! So that you can easily see what’s in the cabinet.
I just had to dump half a bag of expired dried longan into the trash. Am thinking some kind of penalty for myself, probably is to tidy up the cupboard again tomorrow, and on a monthly basis.
That is a lot of mixed-up stuff to put in one belly on one day … as for controlling obsessions, you are asking the wrong girl!!! I am always fighting being a messy packrat.
@lululu – Ironing is a pet hate too but it has to be done.
@The little teochew – Not sure about the pain. Still be painful and dusty!
@MaryMoh – Yes, I am such a egg glutton too
@Divina – There is always stuck at the back of the pantry…. tsk
@Kristy – WOW! I will attempt to check my pantry once a month. I am so slack! But I think good organisation is the key.
@TasteHongKong – Heartaches to throw something good into the bin. ughh
@Trix – I know how you feel. It is in us that we are messy!
Hi Penny,
It happens to me too, and I always feel guilty throwing away forgotten stuff from the cupboard and the fridge..what a waste..
Oh, I love eggs too and hot chocolate
..and I’m with you and Fanny(lululu) on ironing clothes, I hate doing it but I know I have to..
good luck on the renovation..
Those eggs look pretty amazing. We had a huge clean out of pantry and freezer a while back and I also threw out a bunch of stuff and felt terrible too…
It’s my dream to own a fridge that automatically takes inventory of every single thing you put into it: tells you the quantity and how many days until it goes bad. I’m sure something like this exists out there…if you see it, let me know
Sorry, I cant help you. I’m even worse than you. I’m sure if I look hard enough I’ll find food items from the 90’s. Probably not the best to use in any recipes.
Love the baked eggs though, they look gooey, just the way I like them!
Oh I hate ironing too, it’s so time consuming!
Some interesting information,well researched thank you!