Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Unagi Kabayaki

You know what foodies? If the front door is not the exit out of our house, there is always the back door in case. Similarly, when cooking is a concern, tell me, do we have to get it perfectly right and be as perfect as others or must our dish be alike, like theirs (Tofu Katsu, Kenchin Jiru  &  Simmered Daikon)? Not necessarily if you are asking me. Look, I wanted to make Unagi Kabayaki, but I don't think I will ever be able to hold the slippery eel, neither, can I bring myself to cleaning it. Thus, I took the other entrance. Call it the back door to (Japanese Eggplant Saute, Teppanyaki Salmon & Egg Fish Roll) Unagi Kabayaki. I actually bought frozen grilled unagi and basically, I gave it my twist for elevating it as my style to Unagi Kabayaki and instead of the sticky sauce atop, I paired it alongside my style Japanese style spicy, tangy and sweet sauce, also some thin strips of cucumber and spring onion. Invention? Wouldn't you agree and food proud moment according to how we prefer? Unless, you feel you should outrightly discount my, my style Unagi Kabayaki? Oh, of course, before I forget, we need a plate or bowl of rice for Unagi Kabayaki.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip

Me and avocado, me and dip? Like a strange thing right? Me, the typical Malaysian who is mostly showcasing our local sambal dip (Sambal Belacan) or Indian style chutney (Indian Mango Chutney), and all of a sudden, you actually see a dip made from Avocado in this precious space of mine? Honestly, to tell you the truth, maybe you already know it as well, me settling for our local produce and for a change, I decided I will pay for Avocado. To say Avocado is pricey, I am not really sure. RM5.00 for a single avocado? What do you think? I suppose once a while paying a bit more for ingredients, especially for an imported ingredient should be a fair deal right? Right. Back home with the single avocado, and already by then I had visualized a dip, this Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip (Creamy Mushroom Soup & Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry) came into our food picture. Yogurt of course as you know is one of my favourite ingredients (Cucumber Yogurt Salad) and yogurt pulsed alongside avocado, mint leaves, olive oil, salt and pepper for this Creamy Avocado Yogurt Dip, served with fresh salad (Asian Watermelon Salad) and crackers. Platter food (Gado Gado).

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Eggless Orange Cheesecake

Seems like I have not pulled the brakes to cheesecakes. I have not obviously, but I think I will finally. Enough of me (Chocolate Cheesecake & No Bake Cheesecake), and me practicing on cheesecakes and for me personally, since I stick to the easy way out cheesecakes (Mango Cheesecake & Pandan Cheesecake), neither do I have the intention of spiraling my cheesecake making further, I see the end. This eggless, yes guys, eggless, who said you can't make eggless cheesecake, not me though, another fruitiness version (Honeydew Sago, Mango Cocktail, Lemon Cream Pie, Poached Pear & Grapefruit Jelly), definitely is the last draw. Sort of similarities, what can be different anyway for the bottom layer except a biscuit layer, but like I have already told, fruity cheese topping made from fresh orange juice (Orange Sangria), cream cheese, condensed milk only instead of adding sugar and orange zest. My-my! Don't you think Eggless Orange Cheesecake is truly luring your dessert attention? Your crazing really popping up? Of course? So, get going foodies. Make this my version of Eggless Orange Cheesecake and of course, I will be glad to hear from you how it turned out. Bye. Take care guys.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Rasam - Tangy Peppery Indian Soup (home made rasam podi/powder)

Rasam. Indian Pepper Soup. Our, if you are asking me, our Indian healthy and akin magical soup. Rasam is definitely a popularity in our Indian household (Drumstick Sambar, Indian Mango ChutneyVegan Potato Curry) and of course, in any Indian restaurant (Navratan Korma) for the matter. I have already spoken about rasam before right? In fact, not once? And I have also shared a couple of rasam recipes before (Mor Rasam, Egg Rasam, Indian Crab Rasam, Indian Crab Soup & Instant Rasam)? Usually, me settling for ready made, store bought rasam powder, sometimes I won't mind pounding the spices and for this rasam, I actually made a different standard of rasm powder, aka, rasam podi. Recipe pinched from my mum and rasam powder can be prior made and store, and used as and when we need for a home style cooking rasam. The spicy, tangy (Pavakkai Puli Kulambu) and tadbit of heat from pepper Indian soup (Indian Spiced Salmon, Rice Pilaf & Cucumber Yogurt Salad).

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Tofu Katsu

Tofu Katsu Nava-K's style. As usual right? We must have our style to cooking right? Of course. I mean, its nice to trend behind other people's recipes, but potentially, we should set the parameter by trending in front of those recipes too? If you are asking me, its a big yes. Our recipes bench-marked against the rest and for setting our dishes apart from the rest (Kenchin Jiru). So, what the cooking food story for this Tofu Katsu (Japanese Eggplant Saute & Simmered Daikon)? Pretty much straightforwardness. Sliced Japanese tofu rolled over bread crumbs (Baked Bread Rolls & Sardine Bread Rolls) mixed with spring onion, salt and pepper, thereafter crispy fried and paired alongside roasted white sesame seeds and sugar in Japanese soy sauce (Teppanyaki Salmon). How interesting right? An invention in our kitchen and for a Japanese style appetizer or snack or even side dish? Gosh! I bet you are loving this my style of Tofu Katsu? Oh, by the way, before I leave you alone, I must say that you shouldn't discount tofu as a source of affordable and healthy protein. Much can be food accomplished with tofu, believe me you (Tofu Green BeansTofu Soup, Spinach Tofu Stir Fry & Tofu Curry).

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Orange Fruity Sangria

Gone with the wind and gone out of the window the Friday or Saturday nights of clubbing and partying. Indeed, yes, sure, admittedly age has caught up, I have slowed down mentally, physically and I definitely can't take the loud clubbing-partying atmosphere. However, those 5 years behind me were a different story all together. Dolling up, rounding up the girlfriends, partying and boozing with unlimited glasses of brandy, whisky and what not I have never regretted. Still, looking back now, I realise that it was a waste of money, friendship if not all some are fake and I don't have the guts to drive after drinking. 

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Bubur Cha Cha (Sweet Potato And Sago In Coconut Milk)

Guys, I think I have said enough about our Malaysian desserts? You can still remember the much I have spoken about in my previous recipe? Bubur Kacang Hijau? Our desserts usually made from our local ingredients like coconut milk, sago, palm sugar and pandan leaves (Honeydew Sago, Sago Gula Melaka & Coconut Panna Cotta). And for Bubur Cha Cha, the extras can be yam or sweet potatoes or maybe some of you may like to add tapioca. This my version of Bubur Cha Cha, what shall I say? I made do with whatever ingredients I had at home, except I had to get the sweet potatoes (Sayur Lodeh) and I also didn't want to over-load Bubur Cha Cha with any other. That's all guys.

Zen Style Chronicles: The Serene Aura of Home Attire

In today's Zen Style spotlight, let's explore the serene world of home attire. Let's start with a simple question: What's yo...