Love Baked Into Every Meal

Today, Mum skipped her usual morning walk and spent almost the entire day in the kitchen — from morning right through the afternoon. And honestly, the kitchen smelled like pure comfort and love all day long.

First, she made me a double chocolate keto mug cake using coconut flour, an egg, unsweetened cocoa powder, and chocolate. She simply microwaved it for two minutes, and wow… it was absolutely delicious — rich, chocolatey, moist, and so delish.

Not long after that, she whipped up another mug cake — this time a coconut flour banana version, for herself. Again, just two minutes in the microwave, yet it turned out so soft, fluffy, and incredibly yummy. I still cannot get over how something so simple can taste that good.

In between all the baking experiments, Dad was busy cooking chickpeas in the pressure cooker — our plant protein for today and tomorrow. True to my parents’ generous nature, they even packed some chickpeas to share with the neighbours. Tomorrow, another batch will be cooked again.

Later in the day, Mum baked a loaf of wholemeal black sesame raisin bread in the bread maker. I had a slice for lunch.

For lunch, she used the dashi sachets that Alycia bought back from Japan to make a quick soup. She cooked gluten-free noodles and added roast pork and vegetables for a simple but comforting meal.

That’s my 80-year-old mum.

Even at her age, she still has such passion for cooking and baking. She genuinely loves making my favourite cakes and breads, always thinking about what the family enjoys eating. Sometimes I feel that food made by a mother carries something no bakery or restaurant can ever replicate — warmth, care, and love folded quietly into every bite.

My double chocolate keto chocolate mug cake - only 2 mins in the microwave oven

Keto cake using coconut flour, an egg, coconut oil, walnuts, and a squeeze of gula Melaka (optional).

Mum's coconut flour banana mug cake - only 2 mins in microwave oven.

Love these pressure-cooked chickpeas, seasoned with turmeric powder, curry leaves and some salt.

Bread is best eaten when it's still hot from the oven/breadmaker, on its own, without anything. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside.