I look forward to public holidays and I treasure them so much more ever since I started work. Determined not to let the day go to waste, J and I decided to go for a walk and to go out to eat.

The weather wasn't on our side; our plans to talk a walk at the Botanical Gardens were foiled. We then ended up at Tanglin Village to check out Jones the grocer and Culina Deli-Pretty cool though overpriced stuff. After window shopping, we headed to one of our favourite haunts at Holland Village- Da Paolo's Pizza Bar. We love the pizza served there; thin crisp good pizza.

We shared a warm appetiser and a pizza. Our meal started off with a simple but lovely stuffed baked portebello which spells of homemade goodness.

Portebello mushroom served with salad greens

But it was the pizza that made us talk about it even after we left the place. We had the pizza with mozzarella, gorgonzola and caramelized onions. Though the combination sounds strange, I can assure that you would not be disappointed. Then again, I would have to warn those who are adverse to strong cheese. The smell of gorgonzola hit us immediately when it was served. Being a blue-veined cheese, its taste is distinct and it comes with a bite.

The very deceivingly plain looking pizza

The caramelized onions brought about a desirable sweetness that toned down the bite from the gorgonzola while the mozzarella brought about the familiar taste of pizza. This pizza is a winner in every sense and what's more, it comes with a nice bed of baby spinach.

After feeling full and satisfied, we went to hunt for vanilla extract but the whole of Tanglin Village and Holland Village did not have the extract. WHY oh WHY! I need to stock up on vanilla when I can.

However, my futile search did not dampen my mood for baking. In fact, it made me even more determined to bake my brownies. I decided to replace the vanilla with Kahlua instead.

Strangely enough, I have not baked brownies in the longest time though I remember it being on the list of my favouorite bake items when I was in secondary school and in Junior college.

It was my favourite because of two simple reasons. For one, everyone LOVES most things chocolate. And of course, brownies are almost always foolproof. You just need to keep time and ensure that you do not overbake them.

And so, on a Thursday afternoon, I had that familiar chocolatey whiff streaming out of my oven once again. Lovely! I love my home baked brownies best when they are eaten straight out of the oven, when they are still warm. I love them when i bite into the slightly crispy crust and then into the rich and dense chocolate center, and the best part is when it melts in my mouth.
Brownies- Familiar comfort food

This time, I added almonds and wheat flakes into my brownies though I think adding cereal of any sort is a bad idea because it doesn't keep its crunchiness. I baked a separate one for my sis- the all chocolate one without any nuts for she is nut-phobic.

The brownies (both types) were popular with my family and they disappear so fast that only the crumbs are left behind.