Sago Gula Melaka (Pudding)

Nothing like our Malaysian desserts, wouldn't you agree? I don't know about you, neither I want to assume, I definitely am all for our Malaysian desserts. My Malaysia sweet pleasures. Of course, every now and then there is the call for Western pride sweetness (Lemon Buttermilk Cake), undeniably, but I will still stand strong, by our Malaysian desserts (Coconut Panna Cotta, Grapefruit Coconut Jelly, Dragon Fruit Coconut Jelly, Pandan Milk Jelly). Here's to the other. The other our Malaysian sweet melting moment. Easy-preasy simplicity, a couple of our affordable of course our local ingredients and anyone for the matter I believe won't struggle in putting together this Sago Gula Melaka. My version indeed, as usual, you can go ahead and replace lychee for another fresh fruit or a combination of fruits as per your liking and all the needed ingredients for Sago Gula Melaka are sago, coconut milk, palm sugar and pandan leaves. Pow!!

Florence - A Day In Florence (Italy)

Time flew. Just like that. It just flew. Within like split hours and at the glimpse of the moment. Our two days in Rome! Oh no! Wish, I sincerely wished we could have stayed back, at least another day for exploring other known or unknown sightseeing spots. Then again? When you are doing Rome route in a tour, I guess only so much once you have covered the essential main sightseeing highlights. Unless of course if you are touring Rome on your own? We definitely had to move on. Whether we liked it or not. But, come to think of it, with another new destination awaiting us? Wah! Let's get moving. Where to? Florence. The start in Florence? Piazzale Michelangelo. A square dedicated to Michelangelo, and designed in 1869 by Florentine architect Giuseppe Poggi. Genuinely appreciated. 

Tofu Scrambled Eggs

Eggs. The egg story in my house is a never ending story (Egg Rasam, Egg Vindaloo & Egg Curry Masala)?  For a matter of fact, say what you want, we are egg dependant. Maybe I won't say daily, but when the need warrants for. Especially for a side dish for our rice meals. Tofu Scrambled Eggs? Tofu scrambled alongside red capsicum, onion and spring onion. Easy-preasy yet satisfying. 

Sambal Kentang Ikan Asin

Sambal. Must I repeat myself again. No need right?  I think the rest of the sambal dishes can speak for themselves and for you as well (Sweet Potato Leaves Sambal Belacan, Sambal Sotong, Sambal, Sambal Udang & Nyonya Fish Sambal)? What's the cooking story for this Sambal Kentang Ikan Asin? Kentang is potato and ikan asin is salted fish (Pumpkin Salted Fish Curry, Bean Sprouts Salted Fish, Pineapple Salted Fish Curry, Salted Fish Pickle & Salted Fish Mango Sambal). What else should I say? Pretty much nothing much except getting your closer to the recipe. (Spicy Potato Ikan Bilis)? The splendid chillies and kaffir lime leaves and lemongrass scented, spicy our Malaysian Sambal Kentang Ikan Asin. 

Kurkuri Bhindi (Crispy Fried Okra)

Kurkuri Bhindi? Crispy fried sliced bendi/okra after dunking into a batter made from coconut milk, flour and turmeric powder. And fried goodies on the whole (Fried Potato Rolls) is? Tell me about frying and crunching in almost immediately (Prawn Fritters)? Sounds really mouth watering right? I know. Kurkuri Bhindi. Your snack (Fried Lotus Roots), or an accompanied for your rice meal (Chilli Aloo & Tapioca Stir Fry). 

Rome - 2 Days Of Rome, Italy

My travelling story. Honestly, never had one. For a matter of fact, sincerely, lemme repeat myself again. Never. Why? My life. God! Been really a roller coaster. Mostly downers and hardly anything great I should speak about. Furthermore, money by itself? I hardly could safe. Whatever I earned, all of it gone for my daily and monthly commitments. Even love? Such a mess for years and years until my first marriage crumbled. However, for the last 10 years or so, things have been working out. I met my second love before settling down and once we worked our butts out to put money and whatever needed into perceptive, I actually saw the travelling light shining at the end of the tunnel. The first shining light? Wow! Took both of us to Italy in a tour. Oh-my-god! I couldn't believe it. Me in Italy? Yep. A long haul flight from Malaysia before arriving and clearing out of “Leonardo da Vinci – Fiumicino Airport by 10.00am and prior to starting our sightseeing immediately. Where to? Of course, Rome was the start. Two days in Rome.  

Indian-Style Mustard Greens

Indian-Style Mustard Greens. Vegetables and us are best friends for our daily rice meals (Four Angled Beans Tempeh) and mustard greens on the whole are really affordable (Tapioca Stir Fry,  Eggplant Tikka Masala & Chloe Masala). A bunch will cost like, what, a dollar plus and alongside the ingredients you have already stocked up at home, you can pretty much put together this Indian-Style Mustard Greens. In a simple masala mix, soft and tender mustard greens. 

Grilled Fish Sandwich

Fish and us? God (Vietnamese Fish Soup, Shark Curry, Thai Green Fish Curry, Kerala Fish Fry, Hong Kong Style Steamed Fish & Tuna Cutlets). I say nothing further. Fish and fish and fish. Today however, its a different fish story. Grilled tucked into bread slices (Lamb Burger). Grilled Fish Sandwich basically.  So how? Grilled dory, vegetables and sauces and all of these packed in bread.  

Malaysian Fried Rice

Fried Rice. Yes everyone. Fried rice in need when the mind can't compute what should be the dish for the day. Fried Rice. I think I have already repeated myself, the anything goes dish? Anything literally (Kampung Fried Rice, Chinese Fried Rice & Lamb Fried Rice). Unless you have up your sleeve a specific need for a specific fried rice like Tom Yum Prawn Fried Rice? Other than that, what is there for me to say? We have already spoken in great length before right? Of course. I know I have fumbled with picturing, maybe not really obviously, then again why bother when taste is our concern right? Malaysian Fried Rice. The Malaysian heavenly promising tastes (Malaysian Lamb Stew, Malaysian Char Kway Teow, Malaysian Gado Gado, Nasi Dagang & Malaysian Fried Mee) and belacan, of course, of course. Me and my love for belacan (Belacan Fried Rice) and the rest of the ingredients listed below. 

Mor Kuzhambu

Aha! What's on our cooking page today foodies? I decided, yes I, decided it should be a vegetarian curry. Not those fiery red curries though (Indian Vegetable Curry, Indian Tofu Curry & Cauliflower Curry), but a yellow hue eye popping curry (Sodhi/Coconut Milk Stew, Bitter Gourd Sambar & Sambar/Dhal Curry). Mor Kuzhambu, aka yogurt curry, aka buttermilk curry. Interesting right? I know. Mor Kuzhambu.  A tiny boost of spiciness, coconut and cumin paste enhanced and walla, speak about the scent of curry leaves.   

Mutton Pepper Masala

Mutton Keema, Masala Mutton Curry, Mutton Kurma, Mutton Dalca, Pepper Mutton Curry, Mutton Parathal & Mutton Varuval. Says its all, isn't it? Our love, our Indian love for mutton? Of course. Obviously. Mutton loved to its core and I, mind you have already exhausted my avenue for the standard mutton dishes. All of it already repeated I don't know how many times before I decided I should invent a new dish. Pepper being the main highlight for this Mutton Pepper Masala, a dry style, mint for aroma and minty zesty, and like I have already said before, potatoes by far will swim into a mutton or even a lamb dish (Lamb Pho). Oh yes, yogurt tipped in as well for the natural burst of creaminess and tanginess.   

Egg Vindaloo

If you think only potatoes are far out the popularity in, if not all, in some households (Potato Gratin), how about eggs being the other favourite? In my house, goodness me, speak about eggs? We love eggs crazily. Eggs are never forgotten and they, mind you, will somehow head into dishes (Char Kway Teow). Either as one of the supporting ingredients or as the core ingredient (Egg Rasam & Egg Curry Masala).Today, obviously, I am featuring eggs again. The main highlight in fact for this Portuguese cuisine (Chicken Devil Curry, Devilled Prawns & Pada Salt Fish Pickle) Egg Vindaloo. Boiled eggs in a spicy,  thick and curry leaves scented gravy.  

Lamb Burgers

So, we must agree it can't be curries, rice and side dishes (Shark Curry, Tapioca Stir Fry & Apple Cucumber Salad), or even soups or noodles daily (Vietnamese Fish Soup & Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup)? I think we did speak about this matter before, if I am not mistaken? Lamb Burger. What a drastic change in my house. Seldom we love to bite into burgers, not me though, but my other half-half is food fine even daily with anything decked into any kinda bread stuffs. He in fact, unlike me, is a bread worshiper. These lamb burgers definitely were his dinner food pride. All made from a stretch, except of course, oh-please, I can't be bothered with making burger buns. Instead, wholemeal burger buns I paid for at the bakery, filled with seasoned by dried herbs grilled lamb patties (Lamb Stew & Minced Lamb Potato Fried Rice), lotsa raw veggies and those available at home sauces atop. Feel free. Veggies and sauces as per availability in your house or whichever you prefer.  

Tapioca Stir Fry

The humble tapioca. Wouldn't you agree tapioca is a humble from under the ground root digging? If you are asking me, I must say humbleness of tapioca is forever for me. From those years when I was growing up and till this day. Energy giving and sustaining, but somehow forgotten until recently when I couldn't help picking up tapioca again at the hypermarket and the dish had be? Tapioca Stir Fry (Brinjal Stir Fry). My Indian me style of cooking, some anchovies added and those customary Indian ingredients as well (Aloo Gobi, Curried Ladies Fingers, Carrot Poriyal & Eggplant Tikka Masala). Never ever rule out Tapioca Stir Fry for Sambar and ever loved Egg Rasam or Sodhi. 

Apple Cucumber Salad

So, the worst struggle in this fast and catchy era I am assuming, is time struggle. Tell me about it. Time and none. Time which by far is the crucial crisis for literally everything, including cooking taking place in our kitchen (Kampung Fried Rice, Chinese Mixed Vegetable Stew, Beans Thoran & Mixed Vegetable Soup). I know. I am aware. I go through it daily. Nevertheless, my motto is still a home meal. One which I try my best not to compromise. Thus, how do I keep it going? How do I manage my time for home food? Well, if you know and you have mastered the art to keeping it simple in your kitchen, you are already your own winner (Bean Sprouts Salted Fish, Kailan Oyster Sauce & Hong Kong Style Steamed Fish). Of course, every now and then, its worthiness to an elaborated dish (Aloo Gobi, Gado Gado & Chloe Masala). Otherwise? Take this Apple Cucumber Salad as an example. A healthy temptation. Easily put together. Right. Apple, cucumber, lettuce leaves, dried blackcurrant, olive oil, lemon juice, brown sugar and salt. Bang! Green is our food crunchiness and tastiness. Happy tucking in everyone.