I know that I’ve told you about my mum before, but today I’d like to tell you about her again.
My mum is a simple, quiet woman, one who isn’t the kind to wow you with comical jokes or poke fun at others with cynical remarks. Instead of making you promises that don’t get fulfilled, my mum’s good intentions are often manifested in real, tangible actions.
She’s the kind who will bake you pineapple tarts during Chinese New Year, no questions asked; or give you a box of vitamins simply because your health could benefit from it. She’ll also visit a friend in the hospital even if she’s tired and it’s already late at night.
And she’s the very sort that always puts others above herself – even when she just came out of heart surgery, in the wake of an unexpected heart attack last Christmas, she told me “Don’t worry darling, I’m OK”, when I called her all the way from Buenos Aires.
We’re don’t have the chat-on-the-phone-for-hours sort of mother-daughter relationship, but over the years that I’ve been living overseas, we’ve become much closer, particularly in the latest trip I made back to Singapore.
During the three-week period that I was back home this March, I learnt quite a few things about my mum.
I found out that she prints out most of the recipes I post on this blog and tests them in the kitchen together with Miriam, our domestic helper. There is a stack of printed recipes from Dish by Dish attached to a hook on the kitchen wall, for easy reference and frequent making. I’m really not kidding when I tell you that my mum is my number one fan.
I realized that she lost around 8 kg after switching over to a low glycemic index diet to combat diabetes, and as a result dropped almost two dress sizes. We went shopping for a whole new wardrobe together, I picking out flattering tops and skirts to fit her now-slimmer frame, she asking me if the skirts were too short for her age. I tell her no, and she trusts my judgment wholeheartedly.
My mum isn’t an emotionally-demanding person at all, and when she thanked me for accompanying her to to hospital for a health checkup, I had to choke back my tears. I mean, I moved overseas and the least I could do was accompany her, and there she was, thanking me! Her unselfish nature truly moves me.
But more than anything, the one thing that I realized over and over again is how much she does her best to love my siblings and I, in her own simple, down-to-earth ways. Even if she isn’t the overly-affectionate sort, it’s obvious to anyone how much she loves us. She prays for us on a daily basis, lifting her three precious children up to God, knowing that He can take care of us better than she can.
And for my amazing mum I give thanks.
Thank you dear mummy for doing everything in your power to give me a good life, to make sure I never lack anything material, and for loving me despite my imperfections, and despite my being far away from home.
Thank you a million times over for what my words cannot properly express. And thank you for being you – the best mum I could ever ask for.
Happy Mother’s Day (every single day). I love you so, so much.
Today’s recipe is for all the mums out there in the world – a tribute to your unconditional sacrifices for your children.
This multi-seed bread recipe is a fuss-free, simple one that can be varied according to the type of seeds you like – in this recipe, I’ve used a mixture of sesame seeds, flaxseed meal, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and chia seeds – but you can mix and match as you wish. The batter is the combination of the seeds, almond meal, salt, water and eggs – which once mixed thoroughly well, is poured into the loaf pan, garnished with sesame seeds and popped into the oven for an hour.
This is a dense loaf – nutrient-rich and grain-free all at once – and take my word for it when I tell you that a little goes a long way. I suggest slicing it into thin pieces and freezing what you won’t eat immediately, and when you wish, take a few slices from the freezer and toast them.
I loved this bread slathered with cream cheese and topped with slices of salame. But you can eat it however you wish.
This is the type of recipe I can imagine my mum printing and pinning on the kitchen wall. And you know what? I can imagine you’ll do that too.
Grain-free Multi-Seed Bread
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 mins
- Yield: 1 loaf 1x
Description
A dense, nutrient-rich, grain-free bread made with a combination of seeds and almond meal.
Ingredients
- 1 cup almond meal (or 3/4 cup raw almonds ground into a fine meal)
- 3/5 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 cup golden flaxseed meal
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 2/5 cup water
- 1 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 5 eggs
- A handful of sesame seeds for sprinkling on top of batter
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 deg Fahrenheit ( 175 deg Celcius)
- Grease a medium loaf pan and line it with baking paper (this makes it easier to remove the loaf)
- Combine the almond meal, sesame seeds, flaxseed meal, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and chia seeds and salt together, and mix well.
- Add in the water and the five eggs all at once, and stir well until you get a homogeneous batter
- Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and sprinkle a handful of sesame seeds evenly on the top
- Bake in oven for one hour or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
- Let bread fully cool in pan before removing and slicing into thin pieces
Notes
Barely adapted from: Shift Ctrl Alt
This is a dense loaf – nutrient-rich and grain-free all at once, and a little goes a long way. I suggest slicing it into thin pieces and freezing what you won’t eat immediately, and when you wish, take a few slices from the freezer and toast them. I loved this bread slathered with cream cheese and topped with slices of salame. But you can eat it however you wish. This is the type of recipe I can imagine my mum printing and pinning on the kitchen wall. And you know what? I can imagine you’ll do that too.
- Category: Bread
- Cuisine: Grain-free
Hi Felicia! I usually don’t like to make comments on others people blogs, actually I think this is the first time I do so… But I feel the need to say that the way you write about your mom makes me wanna cry of joy. To know that even though we live in a very chaotic world there’s so much love out there, and the kind of love that you and your mom share for each other is actually close to perfection. As I was reading your article I was thinking about my mom and how much I miss her because we also live in different countries, different continents but she’s my best friend. And all I can do is thank God that someone else in this world has an awesome mom as mine.
Love her every minute! They deserve it!
BTW.. the bread looks delicious! I
Hi Gabs! Your comment just made my Friday! 🙂
You’re right – I must treasure my mum every minute, even though (especially because) we live in different countries. And so happy to hear that you and your mum have such a wonderful relationship too! To be honest, I think being in different countries makes me appreciate my mum even more (I think when I still lived with her in the same house in Singapore, I often took her for granted, knowing that I’ll always be able to see her). Absence makes the heart grow fonder… and I really miss having her around, to cook for her, or to go shopping with her, or just to chill out.
Thank you for taking the time to comment (esp. since the first time you’re commenting on any blog)!! Please know that I truly appreciate every single word you’ve said!
This is such a beautiful entry; makes me miss my mom tremendously too. Beyond your brilliant recipes, I’m touched to experience that each recipe has a major significance for you. See you on Sunday dearie! Barrio Chino, here we come!
Awww…. so sweet of you Jane! thanks for your lovely words! see you tomorrow at Barrio Chino! Asian food time!!
Hi Felicia
Well done!
Keep up with your interesting recipes. God Bless
Douglas
Thank you Uncle Douglas!! And thanks for reading 🙂
Hi Felicia
Although I don’t write very much but I have been following your blog and have kept all your recipes. Hopefully I can try these out when I moved to my new flat.
I am one of your fans too!
All the best
Ellen Choo
Hi Ellen!! So nice to read your comment! And I’m so happy you keep the recipes – hopefully you can try them when you move to your new home! 🙂 Thanks so much for your continuous support!!
Firstly your images are amazing! WOW!
And this looks incredible! Cannot wait to try this multi seed bread out!
Thank you Hannah! your comment just made my evening! I hope you’ll like this multi-seed bread – i loved it!!
Thank you darling for dedicating this article to me – I am indeed greatly appreciative of all that you have done for me while you were back home in March.
Yes, you are right – this is a recipe I am adding to my current collection. This bread look so deliciously good that I will be baking this bread for the family this week. I have always love multi-grain bread for its densely nutritious value. Thanks again for providing an alternative bread to replace the usual wheat bread on the supermarket shelf.
On behalf of all the mums out there, I thank you for your lovely tribute on this Mothers’ Day! 🙂
With much love and blessings!
Mum
★★★★★
Mummy…! I’m sure you’ll like this bread! But make sure to slice in very thin pieces because its very dense (due to the many seeds)….so a little goes a long, long way!! I love you!!