One Month to SPM Trials — A Mother's Heartfelt Observations

Exactly one more month to go before Cass sits for her SPM Trials. The countdown has begun, and the pressure is clearly mounting, but Cass continues to push herself with an admirable sense of discipline and determination.

She studies late into the night, often at odd corners of the house — at the dining table, in the kitchen, and sometimes even just outside the bathroom. There have been nights when I’ve woken up to check on her, only to find her fast asleep at the table, her notes still open and highlighters scattered around her.

Despite her intense study schedule, she still makes time to exercise daily — her willpower is unshakeable. Her passion for figure skating remains strong too, although she has started to scale back on her practice sessions to focus more on the looming exams.

The actual SPM begins in early November and ends on 23 December 2025 — a long and grueling period. All I can do now is to support her in every way I can. Nutritious meals, moral support, and little comforts here and there — if her requests are not too pricey or overboard, they’re my command.

I often remind her to sleep more, to take breaks and care for her health, but like most teens, she just brushes me off with a pissed-off "I know what I'm doing" look 😒

As her mother, I can only hope and pray that she stays physically strong and mentally resilient throughout this crucial time. She’s given her all — and no matter what the outcome, I’m already so proud of the incredible discipline and drive she’s shown.

Hang in there, Cass. You're almost there. ❤️

Cass's school lunch box - often fruits, cherry tomatoes, boiled eggs, last night's soup or a flask of thick coffee. Sometimes she adds matcha powder to her thick coffee to have a double-caffeine effect to stay awake in class 😔.  

Cass sits next to the school’s Head Prefect in class — so dozing off might just earn her a gentle nudge or a polite reminder?  When you're seated beside the top role model of the school, you’ve got to stay sharp and be on your best behaviour too, right?

Cass's lunner - air-fried shimeji mushrooms with black pepper, garlic and olive oil.

Air-fried chicken chop, tomatoes, shimeji, and salad.

Miso soup with napa cabbage, shimeji mushrooms, big onions, and foo pei.

Air-fried saba fish, roast chicken breast and salad.

Embracing the Air Fryer Revolution

In the realm of kitchen appliances, there is one particular gem that has captured the hearts and taste buds of my family: the Philips air fryer. This revolutionary device has become an indispensable part of our daily cooking routine, bringing a delightful touch of crispiness and convenience to our meals.  

Here’s why I love my air fryer and why it has become an essential addition to our culinary arsenal.

1.  Versatile: 

The air fryer has become our go-to kitchen companion for a wide variety of dishes. Whether it's warming up bread, cakes (crispy chocolate brownies and crispy Swiss rolls!), and pastries to a golden perfection or creating crispy delights like fish, chicken chops, and pork chops, the air fryer consistently delivers outstanding results. Its versatility extends to cooking vegetables, including mushrooms, ensuring they retain their natural flavors and nutrients while acquiring a delectable crispness.

2.  Oil-Free Wonder: 

One of the most remarkable aspects of the air fryer is its ability to produce crispy goodness without the need for excessive oil. By utilizing hot air circulation, this ingenious device creates a similar texture and flavor to traditionally deep-fried foods, but with a fraction of the oil. The reduction in oil intake makes our meals healthier, while still maintaining the satisfying crunch we crave.

3.  Splatter-Free Cooking: 

Gone are the days of battling with stubborn oil splatters on the stovetop. The air fryer's enclosed cooking chamber ensures a clean and mess-free experience. No more scrubbing oil stains off the walls and countertops! With the air fryer, we can enjoy our favorite fried treats without the aftermath of a greasy kitchen.  I love how crispy my lobak (aka meat rolls) is when fried in the air fryer without oil splatters. Even my MIL who is an anti-modern gadget person loves using the air fryer to fry her favorite spam meat and bacon.

4.  Effortless Clean-Up: 

The air fryer's convenience extends beyond its cooking capabilities. Cleaning up after a meal is a breeze. Most air fryer baskets and trays are dishwasher-safe or require only a quick wipe-down with soapy water. This simplicity in maintenance saves valuable time and energy, allowing us to focus on enjoying our culinary creations. I usually wipe down the air fryer with chemical-free wet wipes. I buy dry wipes online and wet the wipes with water.

Chicken chop - our top favorite dish prepped in the air fryer. 

As devoted fans of the air fryer, our current model has been dutifully serving us day in and day out for almost a year. It is a hand-me-down from my mom as she bought a new air fryer with a bigger capacity.  However, should it ever decide to retire, we would undoubtedly invest in another air fryer, perhaps one with a larger capacity. 

Do you have an air fryer at home? What are some of your favorite air-fried creations that bring delight to your family's table? Share your love for this remarkable kitchen companion in the comments below!

Meals Made Easier With Philips Air Fryer

My mum gave me her old Philips air fryer early this year as she got herself a new one.  She previously gave me an Airbot air fryer but it was underutilized as the capacity is very small.  

The Philips air fryer was sitting in our larder for months until recently when the mil went for her cataract surgeries and can't cook for two months.  

Sherilyn pulled the air fryer out and started cooking simple meals in it. And I followed suit as we're all pretty sick of getting takeout food almost every day.  Sherilyn cooks quick meals for her school lunch box.  She's been staying back every day for athletics and volleyball practice for inter-school sports meets.  

Here are a few simple meals whipped up using the Air Fryer.

Air fried shishamo. Fish is lightly oiled and with a pinch of salt.

Our collection of kitchen gadgets. Some gadgets are inside the cupboard as our kitchen is pretty tiny. My wish is to move into a bigger house or apartment with a kitchen so huge that I can display all my kitchen gadgets on the countertop for ease of usage. 

Air fried boneless chicken thigh. Chicken is marinated with cajun, coriander powder, and teriyaki sauce.

Cass made this air fried custard toast.

Air fried boneless chicken thigh from the same batch of chicken thighs that I marinated and this is with  Gula Melaka for caramelizing the skin.

Air fried shimeji mushrooms.  Sherilyn marinated them with black pepper and teriyaki sauce at night. The next morning, she air fried the mushrooms.

Sherilyn's lunch in school - pan-fried wild-caught Pollock fish with herbs, steamed sweet potato, brocolli, and air fried mushrooms.

Air fried chicken drummets marinated with turmeric powder, soy sauce, a dash of oyster sauce, and corn flour.