That massive project I have been banging on about since last year? Well, that will be my cookbook!

So, what’s it all about? One of the many ideas behind the book was to help to create happy, harmonious homes – a lot of people living here in Singapore have helpers/maids, many of whom are from the Philippines and speak Tagalog. Inevitably, sometimes things can get lost in translation. Whilst Filipino helpers do of course speak English, cooking terminology can be notoriously difficult to understand – even for native English speakers: blind bake, beat, blanch, braise. This book helps get good classic food on the table with minimal fuss and effort.

If this is enough to convince you, click here to be whisked over to the shiny new Helping Hand Series website which will relieve you of $39.90!

I sent the manuscript out to influencers and authors in Singapore just before it was printed and was blown away by the responses I got back (they all appear on page 1). People were incredibly supportive and I had lots of kind words:

“The Tagalog translations are an inspired idea. It’s glossy pages hold the promise of everyone’s favourites, from chicken pie to mee goreng.”        -VIOLET OON, Singapore’s Food Ambassador

“Why hasn’t anyone done this before?! A great idea and thoughtful contribution to the Filipino helper community.”                                                     – PHILIP CHIN, PS. Cafe co-founder.

The best bit? Your helper doesn’t need to have any previous cooking experience. Here’s a shot (below) from the thoroughly do-able cakes/puddings/desserts chapter. (I have an aversion to the word ‘dessert’ so compromised and called Chapter 8 ‘All Things Sweet’.)

As I am an angmoh charboh, it will come as no surprise that most of the food I cook and share in this book is Western. However, being Changmoh, there is no way that I could possibly write a book that didn’t have a local section somewhere within its pages. Courtesy of Mr Changmoh’s Nyonya grandmother there are some fabulous local staples including a Cheats Kueh Pie Tee as well as Mama’s Mee Goreng and other more impressive offerings that Singapore is famous for.  Either way, the book is intended to appeal both to Singaporeans and expats alike: Singapore is such a culinary melting pot that Western food is no longer the preserve of the expat; it does in fact form a staple for most of my Singaporean friends.

There are over 80 tried and tested recipes for every occasion, from breakfast to dinner parties as well as kids and packed lunches. Think classics like full English breakfast, mee goreng, a cheat’s recipe for kueh pie tee (third image from the top), chicken pie, smoked salmon and sour cream blinis, triple layered Victoria Sponge, roast pork belly…and much more.

A Helping Hand: Delicious Recipes in English & Tagalog is available online at www.helpinghandseries.com where it can be purchased at the exclusive online price of $39.90. The book will be launched officially next month.

It will be available from select stores in Singapore as of next week.

*A donation from each sale will be made to HOME, a society and a charity dedicated to upholding the rights of migrants workers in Singapore