Getting Through Part1

Here is something I have somehow managed to master here in Singapore:
heating/cooking food using the microwave!!!

I have mistakenly chosen to live in a flat where I have to deal with arrogant and stingy landladies (owner and her Filipino girlfriend) everyday. A foodie like me will really find ways to be able to "survive." In the contract, one of the conditions says: Only light cooking is allowed. Little did I know that light cooking for her/them is just heating the food. I really should have asked her to elaborate before signing the contract. Anyway, to make things unbearable, we are not allowed to heat any raw food in the microwave because for her, that's considered cooking. Basically, all we can do is pre-heat water-based food and left-over. Her/Their irrational way of thinking is so good that it makes me question myself: "Am I really in a first world country? Seriously."

To enlighten me and further make me understand as to why, I have asked my flatmates about her brilliant house rules. They told me that the landlady does not want to lend her kitchenware or even the stove because apparently, the previous tenants who lived in her flat before us were a bunch of clumsy and inconsiderate people. So, okay. I get the point that she does not want that to happen again; however, when she posted and set the conditions in the advertisement and contract, she should have made EVERYTHING clear.

How on earth will I get through in this flat?

And so, my survival101 begins. Every time they are out of the flat or if their door is closed (Yes, they leave their door open so they can see what we do outside our rooms.), I always sneak in the kitchen and pre-heat everything and anything I want. I browsed through sites that teaches on how to poach eggs, cook rice, etc. using the microwave and voila! I am as successful as a hungry cat chasing for a sneaky mouse.

Here are the how-to steps. Enjoy!


1. Rice 

• microwave-safe container
• rice
• water

Rinse or soak the rice in the container before cooking. Put water together with the rice in your microwave-safe container. This is how I check if the water is just enough: I sink my index finger on the surface of the rice and see if the water level is 1/3 of my finger. Set the timer for 10-13minutes.

Caution: Container is VERY hot after cooking.

2. Eggs

• mug
• eggs
• water

Fill 1/2 of the mug with tap water. Gently crack an egg into the mug. Careful not to break the yolk when you crack the egg. Set the timer to 1 minute and 30 seconds. When you hear something pops, it means the egg is done. Drain the water out. Enjoy your poached eggs and don't forget to put some salt before munching on it!

As for the canned good, just pre-heat them in the microwave. :)