Saturday, January 18, 2020

Sambal Ikan Asin Kurau (Salted Fish Sambal)

Salted fish in sambal. OMG! Both of them. Salted fish and sambal in one, or in tandem or both akin synchronised together. Believe me. both of them, also, like match made in heaven, or the perfect combination in hell. Pretty much. Needless to say. Sambal Ikan Asin Kurau (Salted Fish Sambal). The power house mouth packing, mouth watering, spicy salty Indonesian (Terong Balado & Ikan Goreng Bumbu Sambal) or Malaysian side dish. I am, yes, me, myself and I alright, mind you, let me admit. Yes, yes, yes, all the yesses in the food world, I am the number one sambal queen (Sambal Goreng Udang Pete & Sambal Tumis Telur). Any kinda sambal (Nyonya Okra Sambal) for your information. Strange though. I can't help but wonder. What went wrong where. By right, I should be hailing, clapping, praising and jumping high up for Indian food (South Indian Fish Curry & Mushroom Sour Curry). Me the born and bred Indian who should, by right, be loving Indian food. Indian food. On the other hand. Aha! The food love of the man I have been married to for donkey years. Logically then, mostly, in fact, all the time, its Indian food on my home ground. For the sake of my marriage love, or maybe best said as marriage responsibility or commitment, or, like I am forced to believe as well, cooking with love for marriage housekeeping. Otherwise? I beg to differ. What the consequences will be. Maybe. Just saying. My marriage may have rocked, shattered and fallen apart.

Friday, January 10, 2020

Varanasi - North India (Part 1)

South India! Oh-My-God. Hallelujah. Finally. After all these years. Me in this earth for 55 years. Finally. I achieved. I achieved a fair share of South India (Chennai). 3 months ago. Having said that, there's still, still, a good number of places in South India, yet for Nava K to be seen and explored. Those places. Aha! Call me the earliest worm for putting my globe trekking in place, those places have already been plotted and projected as part and parcel of my, towards 3/4 of year 2020 travelling itinerary. Furthermore. If all goes well, hopefully, as I badly want to, this coming South India holidaying of mine. Yes please. Back to solo. All by myself in an arranged tour. Solo travelling personally for me? To tell you the truth, I've been missing it. I do, mind you, long for solo travelling every now and then. Why? Well. Obviously. I can do as I like. At my own whims and fancy. My free and easy time. Plus, I tend to embark on soul searching on my future each time I travel alone. 

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Vegetarian Potato Varuval (Urulaikizhangu Varuval)

Pure, authentic, traditional, exciting or even sex-citing like Nava K, "Vegetarian Potato Varuval, Urulaikizhangu Varuval, Potato Fry or Potato Simplicity.  Vegetarian Potato Varuval. Oh yes please. Such a delight to or in your mouth. Yes. Of course. Believe me. And potatoes, also known as "Aloo" in Hindi (Dum Aloo, Saag Aloo & Jeera Aloo). Aside to vegetarian potato varuval now, potatoes by themselves? Remember, I told you before? The kilos I buy weekly and no matter, how you cook potatoes? Potatoes as in, being the central, core or main highlight in a dish (Indian Potato Balls) or into other dishes (Mutton Meatball Soup, Egg Potato Curry & Spicy Potato Anchovies) and curries (Mutton Chukka & Indian Masala Chicken Curry)? My-My! Nope. Trust me. You can't go wrong with potatoes.

Monday, November 18, 2019

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.

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

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 VegetarianGado 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!!

Friday, November 8, 2019

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 CurryNadal Meen/Fish CurryVegetable 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 ManisEnnai Kathrikai Kuzambu/Brinjal Curry, Baingan Bharta & Brinjal Stir Fry) or aubergine (Thai Green Fish Curry & Thai Vegetable Curry).

Saturday, November 2, 2019

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).

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...