I love to follow the evolution of hand written family cook books which have become quite multi-cultural as different branches of my family have married into diverse cultures reflecting the mix that is now Sydney and all of Australia.

From the fairly Anglo cakes and roasts to the now evolving Middle Eastern and South East Asian. The next generation will have even more interesting reading and experimenting.

Fun-tastic post! Reminds me of my trip to Singapore.

My mum still makes her own rice wine and stores it under her bed to ferment. I know when she’s tried some as she stumbles out with a bright red face!

Hi Blond Duck -Hehe it definitely does!

Hi Esz-Thankyou! I love that dress! She had some amazing clothes (a lot of which I received yay!)

Hi sandra-Absolutely, that’s totally right! Aww how lovely! I can imagine how fabulous they would be!

Hi Iron Chef Shellie -Me too I have to admit Hehe I know, she wondered why I wanted to take a picture of it!

Hi Anita -Thankyou so much!

Hi romaverona -You’re welcome! Oh fantastic! And this is so quick once everything is ready too You too, I hope you had a fantastic one!

Hi Trisha-Isn’t it hilarious! I laughed when I saw it and knew that I had to put it up Oh no not from what I can see about the aesthetics!? But definitely about the love of the kitchen

Hi Gera-Thankyou so much!

Hi Betty -Yes this hardly has any oil in it! Yup she did! I got lots of them and I love them She used to get bespoke dresses so the detailing and quality on them is superb!

Hi chinesechic-Oh thankyou! Ah yes you’re right, her family were well off although her mum was widowed during the war and she often got bespoke dresses as she loved clothes. That’s not my grandmother, I’m actually not sure who she is. Thankyou!

Hi Carol-How wonderful! That’s so lovely What a recious momento and I bet you were so over the mooon to come across it!

Hi Julianna-Thankyou so much!

Hi Yas-Thanks! Oh really! I bet it was great stuff too!

Hi Big M-Thanks darling!

Hi linda-Thankyou!

Hi Victoria-You’re more than welcome! Everyone always loves this dish

Hi SydneyGal-I gently separate them when I put them into the pan and very gently push them around the pan. That seems to work? Also perhaps it depends if they are refrigerated or not?

Hi Talia-It sounds like it’s a common problem, perhaps the suggestions for SydneyGal above might help? We use Lee Kum Kee Panda Brand Oyster sauce-hope that helps!

Hi isLa-You’re welcome! I like it as it’s lower in fat than ones you order and I love the aroma of it. Thankyou so much!

Hi Tuty-Thankyou so much! Yes it is isn’t it! Well they were posing holding up chopstick which we’ve done at times and then of course there was the camera taking the photo!

Hi lindsey clare-Haha maybe you were!

Hi holly-Haha I didn’t even think of that! That’s wonderful and good on your nana! That would be fantastic!

Hi Jacq-You’re welcome! I hope you like it!

Hi Angela-Hehe true about the Italian colours! Fantastic stuff!

Hi Teena -Hehe yes your former teacher! Please do and let me know what you think of it!

Hi Einna-Oh you have a great recipe for beef rendang! That’s one recipe that eludes me and I settle for buying it from Satay Delight at UNSW. Great idea! Oh you’re welcome, I hope you like it!

Hi Caroline-Hehe that’s the way!

Hi jen-Thankyou! Ahh interesting, ok thanks for that tip! Yes that’s true but my mum has never charred them too much. I love the char in Char Kway Teow.

Hi Belle-Oh how very cool! Haha yes different friend obviously I know, how did they stay that way?

Hi Sophia-Thankyou! Yep she sure is and yes I”m sure that has a lot to do with it! Your mum rocks!

Hi Lisa-Ahh well it can start with you! Thankyou so much, I hope you like it and you include it perhaps in your new family history!

Hi miffy-Thankyou so much! Oh wow, she ground her own rice flour? That’s dedication! Wonderful, I’d love to know what you think of it!

Hi Jetlagmama-Oh thankyou! That’s absolutely wonderful that you got to keep some of her things and that she shared her recipes Oh no, what a shame!

Although I have a recipe for fresh rice noodles (if you can get rice flour) that is so quick and easy so perhaps that helps?

Hi Steph -Thankyou! Hehe yes I had to take a pic of it and yes so homestyle Asian isn’t it

Hi Alexandra-Thanks so much! I’d love to know what you think of it if you make it!

Hi Arwen-It’s a great dress isn’t it-So Mad Men! Yes there are no boring bits there

Hi Forager-Thankyou! I know all of that fashion is back too! Yes beef is the normal meat and I love it with beef.

Hi Julia-Thankyou it definitely is!

Hi Simon -Are you thinking of Char Kway Teow?

Hi Ellie-Thanks! Well this one is via Singapore so it’s really like the one in Asia

Hi Anh-Thankyou! I think she is

Hi Christie-Aww thankyou darling! Haha yes I disagree with that I must say Of course!

Hi Moya-Hehe that’s true! yes you can’t get it out of your clothes can you?

Hi arista-Thankyou! I love looking through the pics Ahh really! Well that’s part of history too

Hi the projectivist-Thankyou! Yep she did most of them and I got them. They were so amazing I have to say!

Hi Happi blogger-I know, I’m so happy about that! Haha yes no fancy bottle there!

Hi Karen-Thankyou! I know, it’s sometimes hard to imagine isn’t it! Haha wow, she sounds like a very cool chick! Hehe so he managed to get her to marry him despite that? LOL at Dick Smith! My dad was channeling James Dean, all broody looks. Now brooding is just grumpy xxx

Hi Meg-Hehe aww really? My mum said a definite no to the current pics but I think she really likes the B&W ones

Hi T&T-Oh To’s is great! I miss To’s!

Hi Akila-Thankyou! OH that’s so wonderful and greta that you’re just like her! It’s amazing how creative people can be given the circumstances or perhaps because of the circumstances

Hi shaz-Thanks so much! Oh what kind is that? I must look that up! Haha that’s fabulous!

Hi pigpigscorner-Thankyou! Oh really? I suppose she’s just being protective huh?

Hi Faith-Thanks (I’m speaking for her now! ) Hehe good idea!

Hi grace-YOu’re welcome! I know, there was so much but it was so good!

Hi ArtemisIII-Thankyou! Hehe if I could teleport some I would!

Hi Ting’er-You’re more than welcome! I hope you’re feeling better? Wonderful, please let me know what you think of it!

Hi Suzie-Aha great idea! Thankyou

Hi foodie-central-Me too, that gravy is so good! You’re welcome! I know, all of those dresses were divine!

Hi Kevin-Thankyou! Oh fabulous well then you simply must make it once you find some fresh rice noodles!

Hi g-Thanks so much! What a fabulous idea, thanks for letting me know! That’s wonderful

Hi Palidor-I love it with beef but sadly we didn’t have any suitable beef to do it with

Hi Shereen-Hmm well if it helps the alcohol would cook off if you cook it off for a while. I’m not sure to be honest. I wish I could suggest something as it’s such a distinct flavour :S Maybe if you cook the alcohol off (without adding the cornflour) and then add the cornflour with a little cold water once it has been cooked off?

Hi Amanda -You’re welcome! Oh fantastic, thanks so much for letting me know! Oh no, I know someone like that and her cakes are rock hard! But great that you have developed a good sense of cooking despite this! LOL at being scared at what might eventuate

As for my mum, she is lovely but her cooking is appalling. Seriously bad. She prides herself on never following recipes, then wonders why things never taste right. I would send her this recipe but I am too scared to see what would eventuate…

Just wanted to know whether I can substitue the rice wine with anything as I don’t consume alcohol.

Thank you!

Thanks for sharing your family pics. I love the cheongsam and western style dress that your mum was wearing. So chic!