Cucumber Yogurt Salad

Vegetarianism? A must? Is it compulsory? Is it if you are not a vegetarian, you should feel guilty? Seriously, I really give a damn about vegetarianism (Mixed Vegetable Soup, Vegetarian Sandwich & Cauliflower Fritters). If I can every now and then, I will and if I can't, please leave me alone. Stop preaching about your profound need for vegetarianism which you believe will make you a holy grain Hinduism. Well and good, good for you. Can I live my life according to my what I believe is best for me? Thank you. Regardless, its a fact as well in my house we prefer, when a veggie side dish is a concern (Kailan Oyster Sauce, Carrot Poriyal & Indian Style Mustard Greens), we love wholesome vegetarianism instead of adding meat inside for stir frying or even salad. We basically like the concept of totality for a side dish because on the other side, since it will be paired alongside a non-veg main dish, we respect our style to our own vegetarianism. Salads of course, as you know, what else should I say? Especially all about showcasing vegetables? Healthiness, simplicity and easy cooking raw style right? How about this Cucumber Yogurt Salad? Cucumber, onion, yogurt, (Mor Rasam & Bengali Yogurt Fish Curry) coriander leaves and tadbit of spiciness from chillies. Toss all of it and Cucumber Yogurt Salad is on the go (Mango Cucumber Salad & Apple Cucumber Salad). Rawwww!!!

Spicy Fried Wings

Chicken wings and frying? I don't know about you, I must admit wings are my fav. All time fav. Nevermind if wings are sinful (Grilled Chicken Wings) Fats and skin within this part of the chicken? I know. Still, I can't simply resist. I need my fix of wings every now and then. Moreover, this frying matter to cooking? You tell me (Cauliflower Fritters, Mushroom Rolls, Crispy Fried Okra & Kerala Fish Fry)? Shall we not speak about frying matter anymore? I think we shouldn't. Much has already been said in my previous recipes (Fried Shrimp Wantons & Tuna Cutlets)? Unless of course you are one of those who are really health conscious, perhaps grilling or baking will be perfection for healthiness for you (Grilled Salmon, Grilled Spicy Prawns, Baked Cornflakes Chicken, Curried Roast Chicken & Spicy Grilled Fish). So anyway, what's with these Spicy Chicken Wings? Wings marinated in herbs and chillies paste, cornflour and rice flour,  and obviously, fried to utmost crispy crunchy skin and tender meat inside. Bye my darlings!!

Egg And Potato Curry

My-My-Nava-Mia! Can you believe it? Two of our favorite ingredients in a curry (Prawn Mango Curry, Thai Green Fish Curry & Bitter Gourd Sambar)? Egg and potato (Jacket Potato Chicken Mince & Dum Aloo)? Shall we hit hard at the recipe right now instead of wasting any more time? We shall of course. Thank you darlings for your kind consideration. Aromatic-tangy-thick egg and potato curry. Grab the recipe will you? While you are still at this precious space of mine, lemme me also give you options for other egg dishes - (Fried Egg Oyster Sauce, Tofu Scrambled Eggs, Egg Fish Roll, Egg Curry Masala, Egg Vindaloo, Egg Rasam & Bean Sprouts Omelette).

Mango Cheesecake

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Oh-great! Me and my baking mode and mood turned on. Attuned and lighted up like a bright wishing star. Having said that, seriously, I had no slightest idea what should be baking in my oven (Cream Puff, Marble Cake & Chocolate Rum Tart) or should it be over the stove simmering or frying sweet guilty pleasure (Poached Pears in Citrus Syrup, Grapefruit Coconut Jelly & Fried Apple Fritters). Honestly, I was rather confused. I really couldn't comprehend, but the fact was that I had already bought a ripe like me in my age mango (Mango Coconut Cake, Mango Cucumber Salad & Mango Coconut Jelly). Mango! Don't we all love the sweet tangy mango? I do. I also must include the sour notes from pineapple (Pineapple Bread Pudding) and lemon (Lemon Cream Pie & Lemon Buttermilk Cake). Yet, staring at the mango didn't get me any further until I remembered my previous No Bake Cheesecake. Decided. Its gonna be cheesecake. Mango Cheesecake. The same biscuit theory. Not digestive biscuits but cream crackers. Would you try? What should hold your back?  After all, you never try, you never know and you must put your trust in me.  

Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis Petai

Petai. The food love, green pod ingredient of mine is up and about again today. Yes foodies. How can petai not be a repetitive? Petai. Can you still recall (Sambal Petai Udang Kering & Sambal Bilis Petai)? No, no. Not the same recipe. Not the same as the previous. It is the other side of the coin. The other Ikan Bilis Petai/ Stink Beans Anchovies (Nyonya Fish Sambal, Sambal Udang, & Belacan Fish Sambal). Mouthwatering and mouth packing making all you petai lovers to salivate right? Precisely (Sambal Sotong & Malaysian Spicy Sour Fish Soup Noodles). Least gravy kinda, a dry style in fact, and our Malaysian (Gado Gado & Malaysian Lamb Curry Noodles), forever petai pride. Petai trended alongside ikan bilis/anchovies (Spicy Potato Bilis & Ikan Bilis Fried Mee Hoon), belacan/shrimp paste, chillies (Chilli Soy Fish & Sweet Chilli Chicken) and lime juice. Enjoy petai lovers. Don't forget to stand by a few plates of cooked rice please. Take care. I'll catch up with you  again. 

Yong Tau Foo

Yong Tau Foo! Minced fish stuffed items. Yep. Fish alright. Fish minced or fish paste filled in various vegetables. Thereafter, frying of the stuffed veggies ((Fried Shrimp Wantons), followed by drenching in a broth or soup (Chick Kut Teh, Chicken Wanton Soup & Chinese Vegetarian Noodle Soup) made from fish bones and skin, and accompanied by chilli dip. Or instead of fish broth, you can also consider curry (Curry Mee). Choice is yours. This my version of Yong Tau Foo? Please. Do not compare with those from hawker stalls (Malaysian Fried Mee, Chap Chai, Penang Mee Yoke, Hokkien Mee & Chinese Fried Rice). You shouldn't in fact because I worked within my limitation of ingredients I had in hand, neither did I want buy any other. I basically didn't see a reason for spending for other ingredients. Why? What for? The smartness of cooking at home I believe should be keeping cost low. Wouldn't you agree? Spending is easy, saving is darn tough the call? So, do the little saving by always beginning with limiting the number of ingredients (Ikan Bilis Fried Rice, Char Kway Teow & Malaysian Sour Spicy Fish Soup Noodles) and as I have already said, start with what's already available at home. I'm done. Recipes is all yours now. 

Gurney Drive - Penang (Malaysia)

To be in Penang means you must also give a go to hawker food in Gurney Drive (Kandar Line Clear). At least once in your life time and trust me, choices are really aplenty. Rows and rows of stalls offering our local delights (Spice Market Cafe Rasa Sayang), but the one thing which may not be favourable if you are driving is traffic jam and parking. Quite a madness actually. We somehow thank god. We did it at this hour (7.30pm) and then of course, walking through the long stretch of lane and looking at the what's been offered, prior to calling for the food we wanted and like immediately quickly grabbing the empty table. What is new in Gurney Drive compared to the last time, a few years ago I popped by? Self-service in not only to ordering, but you gotto to pay and bring back the food you have ordered to your table. 

What did we order and tuck into? For the four of us, we decided to order a variety of dishes and then, we can pinch in a bit of those. 

Asam Laksa. I particularly loved the broth. The thick spicy tangy and made with fish broth in the bowl of rice noodles, and onion, mint leave and chilies garnished. Broth being the power house for asam laksa.

Prawn Mee. Not my favourite but I still tucked in. Basically, prawn broth in yellow noodles and some prawns, and half a boiled egg, plus fried onion and spring onion atop. Honestly, I was not really impressed. Perhaps a pass should be awarded.

Fried Kuey Teow. My other half-half's favourite. Did this flat rice noodles fried alongside beansprouts, prawns, egg, chillli paste and soy sauce put a smile on his face? Close to 6.5/10.

Chee Cheong Fun. Steamed flat rice sheets totally soaking in chilli sauce and brown sweet sauce, and some sprinkling of roasted sesame seeds atop. Not really a winner. Just so-so.

These dishes, washed down by soy bean and plum juice.

Overall? Gurney Drive and the choices to hawker fare? Affordable, but portions are rather small. 

Vegetable Kurma

Remember, can you recall my Mutton Kurma? I hope you can. Otherwise, just flip flop over to the recipe. Otherwise, give me a break please. I don't want to get down to the nooks and cronies on explaining what is kurma, aka, Indian vegetable curry (Indian Vegetable Curry, Cauliflower Curry & Indian Tofu Curry). So, no need for me to explain what is kurma right? This kurma curry, an absolute fab, don't you think so, yes, you have to make the kurma from a stretch. Kurma paste by far, unless you prefer store bought kurma powder? Up to you actually. But we shouldn't discount home made kurma paste right? Nothing like making right? Of course for this Vegetable Kurma. Kurma paste, potatoes, long beans, brinjal, spices and aroma of coriander leaves (Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry, Bitter Gourd Sambar, Mor Kuzhambu, Tanni Saar, Sambar, Sodhi & Spinach Dhal Curry). Sounds fab? I reckon.  

Spice Market Cafe - Shangri La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa (Penang - Malaysia)

Spice Market Cafe? The dining cafe in Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa where you will be having your breakfast. I think you can opt out as well, but please don't. Even I who is not a breakfast person, I must award high praises for breakfast in Spice Market Cafe. My-My. One of the best breakfast buffets in a hotel. Splendidness spoiled for choice. Until you won't know where to start. This or that, or that or this, or all of it if you are a piggy-pig. Plus, food aside, the customer service. All the plusses. All. All of it. Imagine! Morning positive energy showering greetings as you walk in and all throughout the time you are in Spice Market Cafe. In fact, from the time we stepped foot in Rasa Sayang, every staff we bump into, even the cleaners, they happily and smilingly greeting us.  

Cauliflower Fritters

Honestly, I don't have anything new to say. Nothing pretty much. No news from my side to yours. In fact, nothing much have been shining or shimmering except going through the daily motion of the daily grind. The grind of back and forth from work, and when our home affairs are a concern, we must slot in cooking right (Carrot Poriyal, Bean Sprouts Omelette & Tapioca Stir Fry)? I don't know about you, for me a home meal is essential. Home meal for which many of us career women struggle in finding the time. Many of us showcase a state of art kitchen, whether we cook or not, a question mark right? My kitchen anyway is just so ordinary. But in my sweating me crazily kitchen cooking is a forefront. Daily. I basically fight for time, but I ensure my family is not deprived of a home meal. Home meal a couple of days ago was this Cauliflower Fritters (Aloo Gobi & Cauliflower Curry). Of course as a side for our rice meal, regardless these can be for your tea time if you like. How to make these crispy on the outside and soft bite highlighting cauliflower inside? Chick pea batter in which cauli florets are dipped and fried (Kurkuri Bhindi, Valakkai Chips & Mushroom Rolls). Bye!

Lemon Cream Pie

Lemons! I just so love, in fact millions of love for lemons. That tang, zang and citrusy lemony taste and scent? Oh-my! Just so refreshing. Lemons are great in anything for the matter. For savory dishes (Lemon Cashew Rice) or should I say anything when baking and lemons are married together (Lemon Buttermilk Cake)? What's the dessert today? Dessert for celebrating lemon? Obviously, we are are getting closer and closer to this Lemon Cream Pie (No Bake Cheesecake). Flour-butter crumbled sugarless bottom layer and sweet-tangy lemony atop. That's about it foodies. I'll see you again the next time (Poached Pears In Citrus Syrup & Chocolate Rum Tart). 

Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa - Penang (Malaysia)

Tagging alongside my other half-half when he on a working mission is rather a complicated matter. In fact, not something that comes by as I wish for. He personally does not encourage, neither do I push my luck until we end up arguing. Work for him and wife tagging along? I don't know how it is for other people, but for my other half-half? Not something. However, like a ring tone from heaven given and also he himself, I don't know for whatever reason it was, he decided I should to Penang. Penang. Oh god, I think maybe 25 years ago? In fact, I can't even recall what I did in Penang that time and when this weekend trip was thrown at my feet? Of course. Why on earth would I say no? Fast and quick packing and we leaving next morning and once we arrived in Penang, we somehow opting for our 2 nights in Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa. 

Fried Egg With Oyster Sauce

God! Egg eating story is potentially a confusing theory. People just have to open their mouth and express their opinion. Whether the right opinion or not, people just must confuse us. Some, do or die, will debate eggs are bad for health, others will suggest you limit the number of eggs to maybe, three or four in a week, whereas the rest like me, can't be bothered. Honestly, I can't be bothered to listen to the wise cracks because, have you realise that people who are so particular about what to eat, including so worrying about eggs, they are the ones who kick their buckets faster? Than those like me who, I am not saying I live for eggs but I eat eggs without limitation. Not daily though. Gawking down unlimited eggs like a monster, basically overdosing yourself knowingly or unknowingly, can't keep your health in a safe state of affair. Going overboard on any kinda ingredients or food, wouldn't you agree is madness? An egg a day I think is really okay? If you are not agreeing, your problem and not mind anyway. Whether you eat eggs daily or its a once a while affair, can you just allow me to share this Fried Egg With Oyster Sauce recipe? (Bean Sprouts Omelette, Egg Rasam, Egg Vindaloo, Egg Curry Masala, Egg Fish Roll & Tofu Scramble Eggs). Really-really down to earth preparation. Ingredients as per your wish, fried eggs, oyster sauce drizzle over and spring onion garnished.    

Poached Pears In Citrus Syrup

Different right? I know. Green is the color poached pears? Of course. Where did the green like incredible hulk green splash out from? Not out of anger though. Its basically, me and my trying to be a recipe influencer. Me and my invention. I thought. I really thought. Why should I trend in front or at the back of those other wine poached pears. Why not to a Malaysian non-alcoholic pears poached? Of course. I did it. Quite a winner among those who tasted. But some commented that I should have made it less sugary sweet. Point noted. Maybe for the next round. So, what should we do, in other words, the cooking technique to these Poached Pears in Citrus Syrup? As the other kindas, its over the stove simmering (Fried Apple Fritters & Sago Gula Melaka) instead of into the oven baking (Chocolate Rum Tart, Lemon Buttermilk Cake & Pineapple Bread Pudding). Simmer (White Fungus Gingko Nuts). Just simmering. (No Bake Cheesecake). Green color extracted from pandan leaves/screwpine leaves (Coconut Panna Cotta) which are in bushes in my garden, one of my fav ingredients (Mango Coconut Jelly & Dragon Fruit Coconut Jelly) for our Malaysian desserts as you know or don't, and the tangy tinge from lemon juice for this sweet delight.  

Mushroom Rolls

Another fried food stuff today. Another vegetarian food lingo as well, can you still recall my previous Kurkuri Bhindi/Crispy Fried Okra in which much has already been spoken about frying crispiness? What else should I say when I have already rolled out a fair bit of fried goodies (Indian Potato Rolls)? Shall we just drop the topic of fried crispy delightfulness, instead head to the recipe for the day? I reckon that will be the best safe bet (Tuna Cutlets & Fried Shrimp Wantons). Joining the string of vegetarian dishes I have showcased is now these Mushroom Rolls (Bonda). Crisis management my saviour, saving me when I need was a tin of button mushrooms and of course, our Indian style of cooking must require spices and all things Indian nice.