Chilli Sardine

Sardines. Whether canned sardines (Sardine Peratal & Sardine Sambal) or fresh sardines (Mathi Achar & Nyonya Acar Fish). Ahhhh! Sardines. They are, believe me you, they are my biggest savior in my kitchen. Pretty much, or logically, why, the reasoning to me having rolled out a string of sardine recipes this far (Tempoyak Masak Lemak Sardine, Sardine Varuval, Naden Meen Curry & Sardin Masak Lemak Cili Padi). Furthermore. Sardines. Usually. Generally. Especially canned sardines? One of my greatest cooking support, stocked up in my pantry. Albeit, if not every often, whenever, fresh sardines are available, they must and they will somehow return home alongside me from the wet market or hypermarket (Nyonya Hot and Sour Noodles In Fish Soup, Nasi Ulam/ Malaysian Mixed Herb Rice & Penang Assam Laksa) and to a certain extent, when my "My Fifty Five Life" cooking style is a concern (Sardine Rolls)? Sure. You can and you must put your trust towards Nava K's easy style to cooking as well. Today, my dearest ladies and gentlemen, my dearest supporters, I am featuring another style to simplicity sardine dish. Chilli Sardine. Pretty much, yea, canned sardines alright and as for the rest of the ingredients, please don't start sweat dripping now. Because, these ingredients are part and parcel of our pantry friendly ingredients. Right. Let's cook. Cook with Nava K.

Chennai (South India) - Nava K Explored

Chennai! Welcome to noise, pollution, traffic jam honking and honking non-stop, and the crazy hustle and bustle of daily life. Chennai! Where smile is like a rare commodity as well. Duh! What a life. The cut and dry Chennai culture. Unlike in Malaysia. Though, I must admit, its a mad life in our Malaysian cities too. Yet. Chennai life. Far out, the shocking shocker rocker, which really shook me and believe me you, never ever will I even consider uprooting my Malaysian roots to be planted in Chennai, or anywhere in South India (Madurai/Trichy). Of course, without a doubt, Chennai has made its mark as a popular holidaying and shopping destination amongst Malaysian Indians. Especially the shopping obsession in Chennai. As if, come of it guys, as if we are short of those things you can buy in Chennai and mind you, sometimes, some things are actually cheaper in Malaysia due to our Malaysian traders importing in bulk. In return, we paying a better price. Then again? Why bother putting sense to those who think they know better? I won't anyway. No doubt, maybe for certain items, like sarees, there's millions of choices in Chennai. Otherwise? I rest my case.

Masak Lemak Sayur (Malay Style Vegan Coconut Milk Stew)

Of course. Anything is possible. Including a Malay style vegan coconut stew. Who said you can't?  Who? Who is saying. No. Not me though. In fact, this recipe of mine, evidently? Pretty much, proven. Our Malay or Malaysian vegan or vegetarian coconut milk stew (Sayur Lodeh Vegetarian, Gado Gado Vegetarian & Vegetable Kurma). Coconut Milk (Vegetarian Nyonya Laksa, Vegetarian Nasi Lemak  & Vegetarian Mutton Rendang). Oh yes! Once said as the disaster for our health. But today, the same smart ones are professing that coconut milk or even, because coconut oil has been re-branded as "virgin coconut oil", these are for our healthiness. As if, like, our Malaysian coconut milk (Curry Mee Vegetarian) and coconut oil has never been virgins. Damn! How ingredients theories can be twisted and turned. By the way, for your information, I'm not a virgin or even "like a virgin". Hehehe!! I speak the truth and nothing but the truth. Tadaa!!

Chinese Style Eggplant

Eggplant. Sure. Truly and sincerely. A favourite in my house and eggplant, the edible fruit which, by far, as far as I know, pretty much really affordable as well. Like, you can pick up two or three eggplant, for, let's say, RM3.00 and the other I must say is that, you can convert eggplant to various types of dishes (Eggplant Tikka Masala, Japanese Eggplant Saute, Thai Style Eggplant & Indian Style Fried Eggplant). Of course. I know better because, if you are looking for eggplant recipes, look no further. Whether eggplant by itself, or into curries or gravies (Goan Prawn Curry, Nadal Meen/Fish Curry, Vegetable Kurma & Dhal Mutton Curry). Also, either as a vegetarian or non-vegetarian meal tucking in. Eggplant. Yes. They are, mind you, from same purple or green family. Eggplant, or brinjal (Terong Balado Pedas Manis, Ennai Kathrikai Kuzambu/Brinjal Curry, Baingan Bharta & Brinjal Stir Fry) or aubergine (Thai Green Fish Curry & Thai Vegetable Curry).

South India - Madurai/Trichy (Nava K Explored)

How's the going been so far? Pretty much. Interesting and exciting. Of course, there's room, mind you, of course for bitching. Bitching about those things that didn't take off promisingly or didn't fall in place as expected. Still, in all fairness, I must credit this South India tour travelling of mine. Now, what about, the characters I have been travelling alongside so far? Aha! You meet all sort of characters in life, likewise, in a tour. The ones you can click with, the ones who can get on your nerves, the ones who love to complain for no apparent reason, the ones who think they are the smartest in the world and who not. Then again. Even when family travelling together or best buddies travelling together? I know. There will always be bitchy bitches bitchiness? Or males like pussycats, or pussy in boots? Unless, of course if you solo travel? Which by the way is my traveling call as well. But. South Indian solo me? Noooo!! I didn't dare and I won't dare as well in the future. The reason why I hopped into this tour (Mysore/Coimbatore & Bangalore).

Bitter Gourd Omelette

Says it all I suppose.  Bitter Gourd. Either, you love bitter gourd or you don't. Of course, there's no two ways about it. However, trust me, believe me, when age comes popping in front of us or we decide to put put age behind us, we will somehow embrace bitter gourd. We will. And why it is so? Well, for a fact, we have digested the fact that, anything bitter is the healthy, bullet truth to health is wealth (Pachai Sundakkai Kulambu/Fresh Turkey Berry Curry). After all. The biggest fear as we grow older. I don't know about you, for me personally, nothing is more important than keeping my health so, so, so close to my body, mind and soul. Bitter gourd. As you know or don't, already classified as the health is wealth unique vegetable-fruit, and bitter gourd, you must believe me, can be converted to various types of dishes. Whether you prefer all the bitterness, as bitter as bitter gourd can be, or you prefer to remove some of the bitterness by soaking sliced bitter gourd in salt water prior to cooking.

South India - Kodaikanal (Nava K Explored)

Kodaikanal! The high up altitude. Yea. High up. Up there. 2,000 meters above sea level, also, a city in the hill of Dindigul district and obviously, sure, Kodaikanal as a nature grandeur. Of course. Of course. Me and nature? Nava K the nature loving and hailing person, though, lemme admit, no, nature walking or nature hiking is not my interest. Pretty much. Nevertheless, I am sincerely with any one of you who are into admiring nature and coming with it sightseeing. Henceforth, the moment we departed from Coimbatore (South India - Mysore/Coimbatore), I was already geared up for embracing nature in Kodaikanal. After all, throughout the years, much I have read and digested about Kodaikanal in the virtual world and should I also must mention all those Kodaikanal sharing on social media? No need right?