Saturday, September 28, 2013

Ikan Masak Kicap

I guess then? When we have exhausted our avenues for inventing new dishes, yet we still have to cook, I think the best will be flipping or looking back at our previous recipes (Masak Lemak Ikan Masin Nenas, Teochew Steamed Fish, Spicy Grilled Fish & Fish Curry), and making some changes here and there for a different kinda? Wouldn't you agree (Steamed White Pompret, Fish Sambar & Belacan Fish), I hope you are agreeing with me that its not everyday we feel like being a mover and shaker in our kitchen? There will be days we just drag ourselves for entering our kitchen and sometimes that means we can ditch the pots and pans for eating out. Anywhere for the matter, of course affordable according to our budget can be hawker stalls (Grilled Fish In Banana Leaf, Grilled Fish Sambal Stuffed & Ikan Pari/Stingray Sambal) or we still put up a dish at home and a dish which does not rely on many ingredients. Ikan Masak Kicap. Soy Sauce Fish. Is always possible and when you grow your own lemongrass/serai, plus you already have the needed ingredients? Right. In my house, like I have repeated myself, I don't know how many times, fish is the brain food for my other half-half and I? Okay for me and usually, I settle for our local catch. So, ikan kembung lathered/gently lathered alongside turmeric powder and salt, and fried (Crispy Chilli Fish), thereafter, tip into soy sauce, fish sauce and lemongrass scented sauce and finally spring onion garnished (Chilli Soy Fish & Chilli Lime Fish), known as Ikan Masak Kicap was the outcome. Our satisfying Malaysian fish dish which will never let us down and trust me, adding fish sauce and lemongrass does add another food loving dimension to Ikan Masak Kicap. 

Friday, September 27, 2013

Andhra Sambar

Sambar. Indian dal curry. Do I have to like say anything? Indians and sambar, or dal curry and us Indians? I am actually lost for words. But one thing is certain. I have been making, and making and making, and I have not stopped because if sambar is not one of the dishes in my house at least once a week, my other half-half's food life is not complete. Says it all and pretty much the logic to my sambar story, and I don't think my sambar story will ever stop. Of course, me being like a small time home chef, I try to vary sambar each time I make (Palakura Pappu, Mulligatawny Soup, Bitter Gourd Sambar, Drumstick Sambar & Simple Sambar). More or less, or less or more, for celebrating lentils/dal (Dhal Rice & Mysore Sambar) and thank god for the various types. This Andhra Sambar is the outcome of moong dal/green gram and tempering cumin seeds, mustard seeds and curry leaves in ghee I must say infused an amazing and wonderful aroma (Fish Sambar, Palak Sambar & Tanni Saar).

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Moo Gook (Korean Radish Soup)

We are going places, are we not, or should I say that I am actually the one taking you all over the world for home cooking food trail? I think I am. Pretty much we have been food travelling together, obviously in the virtual world, we can be at home and still head to all the different food destinations in any part of the world? Shall we now recall where we have gone so far? Of course everything must begin in our home ground Malaysia (Chinese Mixed Vegetable Stew, Onion Soup, Lentil Vegetable Soup & Burdock Root Soup) and particularly for soups, we did head to other countries as well. More or less (Vietnamese Fish Soup, Chinese Chicken Herbal Soup & Tom Yum Goong), then again, with cooking invention and cooking thinking, anything is possibly? I mean, the marrying of cooking technics and ingredients from different parts of the world (Salted Fish Bone Soup) and in Malaysia by itself, there's not only the three main races? In fact, there is no short of, you name it, the various types of food from the rest of the ethnic community? Furthermore, when we speak about vegetarianism, vegetarianism in our country and elsewhere too (Vegetarian Pumpkin Soup, Portuguese Caldo Verde SoupThai Tomato SoupJapanese Vegetable Soup & Chinese Tofu Soup). What about this Moo Gook, aka Korean Radish Soup? A vegetarian soup, or if you really feel you like to convert it to a non-vegetarian soup, I think beef is the meat you should add. Otherwise, just stick to my version of vegetarian Moo Gook. Moo Gook, aka Korean Radish Soup? Super smooth utter satisfaction by our home affairs common ingredients, except for buying Korean radish and Korean soy sauce. 

Verona, Italy: A Journey Through Romance and History

As the days dwindled down to just two left in Italy ( Venice ), a feeling of reluctance settled in ( Florence ). How I wished our tour could...