Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Easy Banana Bread

I think, most probably I am temporarily still wearing the baking crown (Cocoa Butter Cake, Cocoa Cake, Classic Genoise & Chocolate Rum Tart). Or maybe I accidentally wore it. Whichever, instead of storing back the baking utensils which were still crowding my kitchen top (Mango Cheesecake), I decided to give them another lease of life by making this Banana Bread. Thanks to "Simply Recipes" at once I knew I will have no qualms to mixing all the ingredients, prior to baking. Such is by far my simple baking concept. All about mixing the ingredients basically. How did Easy Banana Bread turned out to be? Not overly sweet and for putting to good use those bananas which if I didn't save, would have hit their grave. I mean,  throwing definitely would have been the next cause of action within a day or two. How about you now making my this version of Banana Bread before pleasuring in (Lemon Bars, Classic Genoise, Mandarin Orange Cake, Milo Cake, Sujee Cake & Marble Cake)?

Thursday, August 7, 2014

Cocoa Butter Cake

Me and my baking story? I think you already know it (Traditional Butter Cake)? My pastime and not hobby. Baking definitely can't be my hobby (Lemon Bars, Mandarin Orange Cake & Milo Cake) and me and baking are not even distant cousins. In fact, we are like touch and go, hit and run, acquaintances. Wish I can actually develop my interest in baking, but trust me, seemingly still inconclusive. What then to the outcome of this happy-tummy, soft and moist Cocoa Butter Cake? The calling for using up the ingredients and maybe, practice must make perfect. Absolutely. Cocoa Butter Cake actually is the other side of the coin to my previous Marble Cake. And pretty much, we need the same ingredients right? Of course. But instead of doing the swirling, I decided I want to a contrast between the dark brown tone (Chocolate Cheesecake) and yellow buttery tone (Sujee Cake). Not at all a letdown. I am sure you are agreeing?

Thursday, July 31, 2014

Cambodian Green Mango Salad

Mango and salad? I already told you before right? I did (Kerabu Mango/Mango Salad). Maybe I could have repeated the same food story and mango I think like donkey times (Mango Cheesecake & Mango Mocktail)? Thus, mango is a favourite for all sort of dishes (Aam ki Achaar & Indian Mango Chutney)? If you are asking me, undeniably. But when salad is a concern on our dining table, most of the time it must be the Asian style. As long as salads packs our Asian and Malaysian customary tastes, oh-my, our meals will be truly a delight and we actually have salad as a side dish for our rice instead as a starter, nibbler or appetizer. That's how it has been for us for as long as I can recall and since I have already showcased mango in our Malaysian style, I decided I will take on the Cambodian side to a mango salad (Cambodian Sour Fish Soup). Pretty much not much of a difference in the ingredients. I mean, what can be different? Our Asian cooking is all about more or less the similar ingredients right? Of course (Kerabu Kacang Botol, Vegetable Raita, Asian Watermelon Salad & Shrimp Pad Thai Salad). Cambodian Green Mango Salad? Obviously, green mango, and then garlic, shallots, chillies, coriander leaves, sesame seeds, sugar, oil and of course, we must need salt for this vegetarian version Cambodian Green Mango Salad  (Mango Cucumber Salad, Penang Acar & Cucumber Yogurt Salad). 

Monday, July 28, 2014

Maggi Goreng Mamak

Maggi Goreng Mamak. The number fried noodle selling. In fact, each time we head to the mamak stalls, its like a habit or food lingo we must call for a plate of Maggi Goreng Mamak. My knees too can wobble for this style. Quickly fried on the spot, there and then noodles (Mee Goreng Udang, Char Kway Teow, Anchovies Fried Mee Hoon & Malaysian Fried Mee). Maybe not always, yet, I do yearn for and I usually request for lotsa veggies in Maggi Goreng Mamak. Can be a satisfying mind you even when we make it in our kitchen and of course, without compromising on cleanliness and according to our taste (Nyonya Mee Siam, Malaysian Fried Mee Hoon & Hokkien Mee). Whichever and whatever ingredients we prefer, regardless, the essentials have to be Maggi instant noodle or noodles, chillies, soy sauce, and like I have already told you, throwing in lotsa vegetables.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Mochakottai Karuvadu Kulumbu (Field Beans Salted Fish Curry)

Look at this earthen pot and in it thick, salty, spicy and vibrantly exciting to our palates and eyes  Mochakottai Karuvadu Kulumbu (Field Beans Salted Fish Curry). Like immediately can trigger our hunger throne right? I know. I am definitely a big fan of this Indian style salted fish curry and salted fish on the whole by itself (Spicy Ikan Bilis Potato, Sambal Tumis Ikan Bilis & Sambal Kentang Ikan Asin), can drive me crazy because I so love saltiness. In fact, every day can be a salted fish meal day for me (Salted Fish Pickle, Bean Sprouts Salted Fish & Steamed Pork Salted Fish). But, I think we all know it? Too much of saltiness and salt can ruin our health? Of course. Then again, there is such a thing as every now and then saltiness as our best friend? How do make this salted fish curry? Nothing much, no major confusing cooking matter (Salted Fish Bone Curry). My recipes as always will never cause you to struggle in the kitchen. Ingredients listed below and of course coming with it cooking technic for the outcome of this mouth punching and jubilant (Salted Fish Bone Soup & Pineapple Salted Fish Curry) Mochakottai Karuvadu Kulumbu (Field Beans Salted Fish Curry).
Ingredients
For the beans
1 cup mochakottai/field beans
1 tsp turmeric powder
A pinch of salt
Water - as needed

Other ingredients
400g threadfin/kurau salted fish with bones - soaked for 10 mins and rinsed. 
2 potatoes - cut into medium size pieces (yes please with the skin on)
1/2 tbsp chilli powder
1 tbsp fish curry powder
** mix both with water for a thick curry paste
1 tsp fenugreek/halba seeds
1/2 tsp ginger paste
1 tsp garlic paste
1 tbsp red onion paste
2 tbsp thick tamarind juice
Sprigs of curry leaves
5 tbsp oil
Salt for taste
Method
For the beans
Simmer beans with turmeric and water till soft.
Drain off water and keep aside.

For the curry
Heat oil and fry ginger, garlic and onion paste for 1-2 mins.
Add curry paste.
Stir and cook till aromatic and oil splits.
Add potatoes, pour about 1 liter of water and simmer till potatoes are 3/4 tender. 
Put in salted fish, pour tamarind juice and season with salt (if needed).
Simmer to cook salted fish (about 3-4 mins)
Add boiled beans and curry leaves.
Stir, simmer for another 2-3 mins and remove from heat. 

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Eastern & Oriental Hotel - Premium Suite, Penang

Quite an action packed, full of activity previous day (Ixora HotelFlamingo HotelAyer Hitam Asam Laksa & Kek Lok Si Temple), next day after lunching in Karaikudi Restaurant, family decided to part. In fact, all of them returned to Kuala Lumpur, whereas, we decided to extend our stay in Penang. Huh-huh! Joy to my travel venture, my other half-half literally couldn't say no when I slyly insisted that we stayed on. He also I think was trapped in our marriage love trap because he gave in, again, to our stay in Eastern & Oriental Hotel. Joy on this day, I have always wanted to experience a stay in this, one of the best among the rest, well known and back then to those years hotel (Rasa Sayang Hotel). No booking whatsoever, at an ad-hoc basis, we tried our luck. We were actually only keen in a normal room, but since, we could get none, we agreed for the premium suite. Premium suite? Yes, believe me. So excited I was, not always, akin lottery stuck, of course, with my other half-half's hard earned money, while he sorted out payment and our particulars, we were served the punchy, fruity and extremely delicious juice. Wow! Honestly, the first quench into this juice was proven. I made sure I finished off every drop, thereafter, we were ushered to our suite by the butler.  

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Nyonya Acar Fish

Nyonya (Nyonya Mee Siam & Ayam Pongteh) and Acar (Aam ka Achaar & Penang Acar) and Fish (Indonesian Grilled Fish & Malaysian Fish Head Curry). Like a rhyme and rhythm especially for me and I just so somewhat love sour notes. Whichever and however, sourness is something I can't give up no matter what (Cambodian Sour Fish Soup) and this Nyonya Acar Fish? A splatter on our taste buds. In fact, can rekindle your appetite and of course you need a plate of rice. Nyonya Acar Fish made from the quintessential and like must have ingredients for Nyonya cooking or even for our other savory dishes, made ahead and stored in the fridge and the next course of action of course is tucking in during your daily meals.

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...