SPECIAL HOMEMADE CARROT CAKE

A month ago, I was introduced to a friend who is populary known as Dessert Queen. This name was given to her because she loves eating dessert and she is very skillful in making beautiful and colorful jellies. She is good in baking cakes too. Whenever she made jellies or baked cakes, it is usually for contribution to the church, party or function she attends.

At a recent gathering, she treated us with a homemade CARROT CAKE which received praises from all of us. I'd tried to bake carrot cake on several times but the end result always goes to the rubbish bin. When she gave me this secret recipe, I was so happy that I try it on the very next day and WoW..... it look and tasted like the one sold in cake shop.

SPECIAL HOMEMADE CARROT CAKE

1. 120 gm plain flour


2. 130 gm caster sugar


3. 3 large eggs


4. 60 ml orange juice


5. 120 ml corn oil


6. 1 tsp baking powder


7. 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda


8. 200 gm grated carrot


9. 3 tbsp grated orange


10. 100 gm sultana raisin


11. 50gm chopped walnut


12. 20g chocolate chips (optional)

Whisk caster sugar and eggs till sugar dissolve. Add in grated orange and the rest of the ingredients. Mix it well and pour into baking tray.

Bake at 175 celcius for 35-40 mins.

HAPPY BAKING:-)

LAPIS LEGIT

LAPIS LEGIT ZULAIKHA

Add:Jl Mojopahit No.62, Medan Indonesia

LAPIT LEGIT ORIGINAL
Add: Suan's Bakery- Suan's Plaza, Jl Tarama 9B Medan,Indonesia

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Few weeks ago, my boss who came back from Medan, Indonesia gave us two boxes of lapis legit i.e.normal/butter and pandan flavor. Feeling so excited and hungry at the same time (we didn't have our breakfast), my colleague cut the cakes and within a second, the whole plate of cakes was 'missing in action'.... gone into the mouth of 10 'hungry ghost'.....

I prefer the pandan flavor cos' the texture is firm and less sweeter as compared to the normal one which is moisted but sweeter and expensive.

Lapis Legit is a spice-flavored multilayered cake which is very famous in Indonesia. It takes a lot patience to bake this cake. Each thin layer is made by pouring a small amount of the batter, baked one layer after another in the oven until golden with heat from the top. Milling and mixing the spice before baking produces a cake with an excellent aroma.

**Ingredients **
Wheat Flour, Cane Sugar, Eggs, Margarine, Pandan Flavors, Salt, Cinnamon, Cloves, Cardamon, Mace, Tartrazine CI 19140, Potassium Sorbate

BACK TO MY HOMETOWN - DAY 3 (Seafood Lunch)

After a hearty durian treat, we felt quite full but still have space for some seafood.

While on the way to Batu Maung , we saw Batu Maung Seafood Restaurant http://www.batumaungseafood.oomph.com.my/. Immediately, we stop and walk towards the restaurant which is located next to Sam Poh Foothill Temple.

After taking 5 minutes tour in this small yet beautiful temple, we entered the restaurant thru its back door which faces the beach.

Since we do not want to waste food (and also money), we only ordered 2 dishes plus a plate of noodle.

Black Pepper Crab!!! (RM45.60)

**'cian ciak ho liao'/damn good**

strong smell of black pepper, fresh crab meat and lots of crab roe/egg

Fried Baby Squid!!! (RM12)

***'ho ciak'/good**

crispy and non oily fried baby squids in oyster sauce

'Hokkien Char'/ Fried Noodles Hokkien Style (RM6)
***'ho liao'/ delicious ***
tasteful and aromatic noodles with prawns, cuttlefish, slices of chicken meat and green vegetables

After we settled the bill, the owner told us that this restaurant will be relocated soon to make way for South Bay hotel and housing projects. So, to all loyal customers and seafood lovers, do have a peep in their website @ http://www.batumaungseafood.oomph.com.my/ on their new location.

BACK TO MY HOMETOWN- DAY 3 (Durian Treat)

Today is my last and most enjoyable day in Penang. Wanna to know why? Continue reading......

Our morning kicked off with cheap and delicious breakfast in Tanjung Bungah morning market. We had nasi lemak with fried ikan cencaru & sambal which was awesome. Fried noodles cost RM1.20 was simply delicious evident by the crowd waiting patiently for their order and some customers even came with 4 or 5 tiffins. The pancake with egg /'ba chang kuih' was marvellous. I couldn't ask for more.......

I met up with Mr S for my much awaited lunch in Teluk Kumbar. Seated in his old yet powerful Suzuki jeep, we speed off from Penang Queensbay Mall in search of famous seafood restaurant in Teluk Kumbar. About 10 minutes drive, we spotted Restaurant Seafood Hai Boey but it was closed for lunch.... phew..... we left the place and continue driving and stop at a beautiful and clean beach in Gertak Sanggul which is a small fishing village, located at the South-Western tip of Penang island faces Batu Maung and the mainland.

After seeing a beautiful view in Gertak Sanggul beach, our search for sea food continue and we came across Gertak Sanggul Fishing Stage. Just as we step in, we saw a fishing lake with a lot of fish anglers waiting for their luck. The restaurant open for dinner only. ..aiyoh!!!

On our way out to Batu Maung, we passed by few durian stall nearby road side and stop at one of the stall for a durian treat. Eating in the stall was fun. The friendly owner/uncle recommended us few 'top grade'durian and opened it for us to eat on the spot. As we eat, he told us that his durian came from Balik Pulau and he don't over charge his customer unlike sellers in Balik Pulau and in town. If the durian which are opened are not ripe or rotten, he will change it without extra charges but if one 'ta pau'/ take away, sorry la! In fact, we ate more eight durians, but the uncle only charge us RM20..... all because my friend told him that I'm a blogger.... very 'pai seh'/shy!!!

'MULUT BABI'/PIG's MOUTH (l) & No.15 (r)- RM10 each

.... more on day 3... seafood lunch

BACK TO MY HOMETOWN- DAY 2

After a light breakfast at home, my friend's parent took me to see a fortune teller in a nearby temple which is about 20 minutes drive from their house. Penang people always believes in seeking help, advice or direction from the goddess in any temple whenever they face problem.....but I went there just for fun..... and it was fun to listen to the nun who read about my life and destiny after providing her with my birth date and time......which was very accurate indeed and worth my RM20!!!

My lunch was with non other than the infamous and every friendly Penang Blogger i.e CK Lam www.what2seeonline.com. We met up in New World Park which is a one-stop centre for food, shopping and entertainment. After ordering our favourite food, we settled down, eat and chat at the same time. CK unselfishly shared a lot of blogger tips with me which I appreciate it so much!

The rest of the afternoon was spent on visiting shopping malls i.e. GAMA and Penang Times Square http://www.penangtimessquare.com/ The mall is beautiful, huge and tall but only a handful of shops are open maybe to due to its exorbitant rental. We took about 15 minutes only walking on the mall as compared to the time you spent when you were in Berjaya Times Square, KL.

Our plan to have dinner in New Lane was blew up by the heavy down pour. Feeling frustrated, we decided to eat in a coffee shop in Tg Bungah which is very close to my friend apartment. Among all the food we ordered, Duck Drumstick Mee Suah was the best....its herbal soup was superb with tender duck meat!!! Because of the wet weather, we cancelled our plan to the 'pasar malam'/nite market.....

........more on day 3

BACK TO MY HOMETOWN - DAY 1

A recent trip back to my hometown would be incomplete if I do not eat Penang food.... in the Pearl of Orient http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/

Upon arriving at the Sg Nibong Bus Terminal http://www.penang-traveltips.com , my friend & I went for a bowl of Pg Prawn Mee (taste wise,,,,yerk!!!) in a coffeeshop behind Bukit Jambul Complex.

Thereafter, we proceed to PISA (Penang International Sport Arena) in Bayan Baru for a Metrojaya sale.

We had dinner in Kedai Makanan Soong River in Gurney Drive but sadly all the food we ordered tasted damn lousy except 'Otak Otak'. Upon stepping out from the coffee shop, it started to rain.....wa lau !!!

Since I still feel unsatisfied with the food and eventhough it was raining heavily, I went to 'ta pau'/ take away Penang Rojak, Nyonya Kuih and Curry Mee from hawker stalls in Gurney Drive food court. And it was really really satisfying after walloping all the food.....what a relief:-)



................more on day 2

QING ZHEN

QING ZHEN literally means 'HALAL'....CHINESE MUSLIM RESTAURANT... QING ZHEN literally means 'HALAL'....CHINESE MUSLIM RESTAURANT

Our room and meeting facilities inspection was headed by Ms Nicole Khoo, Senior Sales Manager of Novotel KLCC http://www.novotel.com.asia/.

Today lunch was at Qing Zhen, Chinese Muslim Restaurant. The name "Qing Zhen" literally means "Halal", which should give an idea of what the menu would entail. Formerly, the restaurant chef was Master Chef Zhou who hails from Kunming, China. But now, the restaurant is headed by a local chef.

Seafood Soup.....

Slurp!!!

'Har Kau'/Prawns Dumpling.......
Succulent fresh prawns!!!

Fried Diced Chicken with Dried Chilies & Cashew Nuts.....
'Aromatic!!!

Stir Fried Brocollies with Fresh Scallop........
'Excellent !'


Steamed Cod Fish with Soya Sauce....
'Healthy & Perfect' !

Fried Ice Cream...
'Simply Irresistible! '

Lunch: 12 noon - 2.30 pm

Dinner: 6.30 pm to 10pm

Phone: 03-21470888

Novotel Kuala Lumpur City Centre

No. 2, Jalan Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant

Park Royal KL http://www.parkroyalkl.com.my/ has transformed into a modern yet contemporary hotel to keep abreast with other nearby competitor. We discovered this new impressive yet appealing transformation when we were shown around from its lobby to the guest room and meeting rooms during our visit to the hotel recently.

Ms Chee Mee Lan, Asst Sales Manager who led the inspection hosted a dinner for us (incl Ken of Fooipoi) in Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at Lower Lobby.

This restaurant serves authentic traditional Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine (pork-free). The Chef and tea maker are from the province of Sze Chuan, China.

You'll never miss the humble act of serving tea

....especially when he performs elegant stunts such as Nodding Phoenix and Boy Prays to Buddha as he fills your cup

8 Treasures Tea ..... to relieve heat
wolf berries, crysenthemum, rock sugar, jasmine tea, red dates, dried longan, 'pa hap' & 'mat thong'

Hot & Spicy Si Chuan Soup

Stir Fried Siew Bak Choy
simple yet crunchy

Vegetarian Fried Rice

Seafood Combo in Thai Sauce & Man Tau .......best of the best!!!
Fresh and succulent prawns, squid and fillet fish cooked in thai and peanut sauce

Peppercorn Chicken
Fried diced chicken cooked with hot peppercorn

'Tau fu fa'/Soft Bean curd with Wolf berries & Black Sugar Syrup
Soft and silky!!!



Lunch - 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm Dinner - 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Location: Lower Lobby, Parkroyal Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 0321470088

Tai Zi Heen

This Award-winning Tai Zi Heen Chinese Restaurant (PORK FREE) serves the best of fine Chinese cuisine and fine Dim Sum

Prince Hotel & Residence Kuala Lumpur

Opposite Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

No.4 Jalan Conlay,50450 Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia

TEL: +603-2170 8888 FAX: +603-2170 8999

http://www.princehotelkl.com/

We were at The Prince Hotel KL to conduct inspection on the guest rooms and function rooms. Thereafter, we have sumptuous dinner at Tai Zi Heen Chinese Restaurant hosted by Ms Cherrie Lee, Senior Business Development Manager.

TRADITIONAL PEKING DUCK SAUTEED WITH SPRING ONION .....irresistible!!!

OVEN BAKED BLACK COD FILLET WITH BUTTER
AND PARMESAN CHEESE CRUST .....excellent!!!


STIR FRIED HONEY PEAS WITH WOOD FUNGUS,

PINE NUTS AND LOTUS ROOT ......colorful and flavorful!!!

STEWED HONG KONG EE FU NOODLES WITH CRAB MEAT AND YELLOW CHIVES .....too strong smell of chives & bean sprout...

PAN FRIED CRISPY BEAN CURD TIAN WITH SHRIMP AND PARMESAN CHEESE...non oily and crispy!!!

ONION CAKE ....normal!!!

TAI ZI HEEN FOUR SEASONS DUMPLINGS
fantastic Spicy rendang, Hokkaido crab scallop, western wantan & abalone dumpling!!!

STEAMED SHRIMP AND SCALLOP DUMPLINGS WITH VEGETABLES
Unique and beautiful dumpling skin made of lavender juice !!!

CHILLED MANGO PUREE ICE CREAM, SAGO & PAMELO ....luv it!!!

BOILED GLUTINUOUS RICE BALLS WIH BLACK SESAME, ALMOND CREAM IN A YOUNG COCONUT ....suitable for almond lovers!!!

The restaurant is having “All-You-Can-Eat-Dim-Sum” on Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays from 11.30am till 2.30pm @ RM45++ for adults and 50% discount for children below the age of 12 .