MERDEKA! MERDEKA! MERDEKA!

HOORAY! Being a Malaysian, I always look forward to celebrate our country Independence or National Day. Our Government has gazetted this public holiday in order for all Malaysian to enjoy and celebrate this event annually. You can see the display of the nation's flag at the houses, office premises, shopping complexes or even public & private transports.

Malaysia will be celebrating its 52nd National Day on 31 August 2009. In short, we are celebrating the formation of Malaysia.

Every year, a brand new theme and logo were made to commemorate with the celebration. This year theme is "1Malaysia, Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan ( 1Malaysia: People First. Performance Now). The main attraction during this event are grand military parade and the fly-past by the Malaysian Air Force

This year's Merdeka Day celebration was earlier scheduled at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil has been changed to Parliament Square in Kuala Lumpur due to Influenza A(H1N1) pandemic and in deference of the holy month of Ramadan.

HAPPY MERDEKA DAY AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

(In view of the long holidays, I will be away from my blog but STAY TUNE FOR MORE WHEN I RETURN!!!)

SWEET CORN & CARROT SOUP

If you don't have appetite, drinking soup is a good alternative to get your nutrients and calories. Chinese soup ingredients like carrot and sweet corn or potato provide excellent source of carbohydrates while chicken or pork provide proteins

INGREDIENTS
sweet corn, carrot, pork/chicken, dried red dates & dried scallop


METHOD

Put all ingredients in a slow cooker and leave it to simmer for 3 hours.

RM2.50 SOUP WITH
CARBOHYDRATE & PROTEIN
serves 1-2 person

BARLEY, GINGKO & WHITE FUNGUS SWEET SOUP

NOT ALL CHINESE SOUPS ARE SAVOURY.

NOWADAYS, THERE IS A WHOLE RANGE OF

SWEET SOUP WITH A BLEND OF

'WESTERN & EASTERN' FLAVOUR.

This dessert is easy to cook and it is refreshing to eat especially when served cool. Suitable to eat in this hot and humid weather.

All the ingredients have many healthy benefits such as GINGKO NUTS for cooling and healing effect on the lungs, WHITE FUNGUS for healing dry cough and BARLEY prevents heart disease by lowering cholesterol

INGREDIENTS

Gingko nuts (peeled the shell), barley, white fungus (soaked in water till soft), screwpine leaf and white sugar/rock sugar


METHOD

1. Bring water to a boil and add gingko nuts, barley and white fungus


2. When the water is boiled, add in screwpine leaf .


3. Allow it to simmer for 45 minutes till barley cooked


4. Add the rock sugar and cook till dissolve







RM2 SWEET & HEALTHY SOUP
serves 3 - 4 person

FISH AND GLASS NOODLES SOUP

In this recipe, instead of using chicken or pork, I used 'Malong' fish to make a good nutritious and light clear soup. The fish seller told me if we regularly consume this soup, our blood are cleanse and thus resulted with a more radiant skin.


People on diet or sick can relieve their hunger pangs by eating this good nutritious soups which contains more nutrients for more energy.

"Be extreme careful when eating this fish because it have lots and lots of bones."

INGREDIENT

2-3 pieces of 'Malong' fish, glass noodles, chopped parsley

china salted vegetables, slices of ginger, garlic, wolfberries & garlic oil (optional)


METHOD

1. Put water in a pot and let it boil.


2. When the water is boiled, put in all the ingredients except chopped parsley.
   Let it simmer for about 30 mins.


3. Add salt to taste.


4. Scoop out in a bowl and garnish with chopped parsley and garlic oil.


5. Serve hot.


RM3 SOUP FOR A RADIANT SKIN
serves 2 person

WATER CRESS SOUP

CURE FOR SYMPTOMS OF INFLUENZA H1N1

In Chinese homes, soups are usually boiled using one whole chicken ('retired' chicken or farm chicken) or pork ribs/lean meat to produce sweet and flavoring taste. One trick to get rid of unpleasant smell is to boil the chicken cutlet or pork for about 10 minutes and skim off fat and foam from the surfaces of soups. Repeat this a couple of times until none or little foam appears. This trick produced a crystal clear soups.

My mom said "making a pot of good soup can tie a man's heart".... do you believe?

This recipe using water cress are good in cleansing/detoxify our lungs and toxins in haled from polluted air or from smokers. This “cooling” effect soup is suitable when you have symptoms of sore throat, flu and etc.

This soup is easy to make without complicated cooking techniques. Boiled using a slow cooker or a pot for at least 3 hours (min) or 4 hours (max) in order to produce a nutritious and healthy soup.

INGREDIENTS

two chicken drumsticks, water cress & red dates

METHOD

1. Put all ingredients in a pot or slow cooker.

2. Pour enough water to cover all the ingredients.

3. Leave it to boil and remove foams that is floating on the soup.

4. Reduce the heat to low and allow the soup to simmer for about 3-4 hours.

5. Add salt to taste.

HEALTHY & CHEAP @ RM2 ONLY!!!

serves 2 person

INFLUENZA A(H1N1)

SWINE FLU VIRUS/INFLUENZA A(H1N1)

In Malaysia, the swine flu virus or A(H1N1) are widely spread across the country. According to the flu count statistics http://www.flucount.org/, Malaysia have 4225 cases with 67 or 1.59% death rate. The 'locally transmitted 'virus had caused death especially to the young children. Few schools had been closed for weeks following dead case reported to prevent the virus spread to the rest of the students in the affected school. To understand more about this virus , log into http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/4/28/nation/20090428132524&sec=nation.

Even though the number of death cases is relatively small, Malaysians are advised to take precautionary steps to help stop the spread of the virus i.e seek immediate medical treatment if one have mild influenza symptoms and wear a three ply mask if they need to go out, avoid crowded area such as shopping malls, theater, market & etc, wash hand before eating and etc.

In Malaysia especially the Chinese home maker, good food are the key to excellent health. They do believe that drinking lots of plain water and taking fruits especially oranges and green apples do help to alleviate the infection. Consuming nutritious and cooling soup will help to clear all the 'viruses' inhaled throughout the day. In short, our body are cleanse thoroughly after drinking the soup.

Since I was having slight flu and cough (not caused by the virus confirmed by my doctor) , my mom have advised me to cook the soups (very easy) which I'm going to share the recipes with all of you in my coming blogs. You can drink this soup anytime time especially during lunch or dinner with a plate of hot rice.

STAY TUNE FOR MY RECIPES!!!

CHICKEN SAUSAGES AND HAM QUICHE

This recipe took me about 45 mins to produce 12 chicken quiche. But, its worth the effort I put into it cos' my 'foodbins' told me its tasty and wants more:-) The final product don't look appealing as the photo was taken using my hand phone camera.

INGREDIENTS FOR SKIN/PASTRY

wheat flour (abt 200g) & butter (abt 100g)

INGREDIENTS FOR FILLING

1 piece chicken ham, 1 fried sausages, 1 boiled egg, 1/2 onions, 1 boiled potatoes,

1/2 carrot, chopped spring onion, chopped garlic, 5 tablespoon UHT milk and 1 beaten egg

METHOD TO PREPARE FILLING
1. cut and dice chicken ham, fried sausages, egg, potatoes, onions and carrot
2. heat oil in a wok and fry all the cut/diced ingredients till its fragrant
3. add in milk, salt, black pepper, chicken cube and leave it to simmer for about 05 minutes
4. when it's cooked, scoop out in a bowl and mix it with the beaten egg

METHOD TO PREPARE SKIN DOUGH
1. sift the flour into a bowl making a well in the centre
2. add in butter and mix the ingredients till it resembles fine breadcrumbs
3. add a little water at a time to combine the mixture into a soft dough
4. put the dough aside and leave it to rest for about 10 minutes

READY FOR BAKING
1. roll out the dough and cut to fit small pie
2. spoon the filling in each dough
3. cook quiches in 190 deg C oven until golden brown for about 30 minutes

TASTY QUICHE.... (apologies on the blur photo)

STEAMED EGG WITH MINCED PORK, PRAWNS AND MUSHROOM

This dish takes about 10 minutes to prepare and cook. Suitable to eat with porridge especially in this hot and humid weather.

INGREDIENTS

minced pork (RM1), prawns-cut (0.50 cents), mushroom-diced (0.50 cents), egg-beaten (0.20 cents), chopped spring onion (0.10 cents), salt, pepper & chicken cube to taste, fried garlic oil (optional )

METHOD 1. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl
2. Add in salt, pepper & chicken cube to taste
3. Put it in a wok filled with water
4. Cover up and leave it to steamed for 10 minutes
5. Garnish with fried garlic & garlic oil (optional)

RM2.30....... ALL IN ONE DISH
serves 2-3 pax

ASAM PEDAS IKAN PARI

As a Penangnite, I love hot and spicy food. One of them is Asam Pedas Ikan Pari or sting ray fish cooked in pounded chilies and tamarind juice. This dish goes well with a plate of hot piping rice.

INGREDIENTS

1 piece of string ray (RM2) or other type of fish,
lemongrass + red & dried chilies+garlic+ candlenuts+small onions+ ginger+turmeric+ belacan = blend all (RM1.20), tamarind juice (0.10 cents), daun kesum/kesum leaf (0.20 cents), ladies finger (0.50 cents), salt, sugar & ikan cube to taste

METHOD
1. Heat oil in a wok and add in blended items.
2. Stir fry till fragrant and add in pieces of sting ray and kesum leaf.
3. Pour water & tamarid juice until it cover the fish
4. When the gravy is bubbling, add in salt, sugar & fish cube to taste
5. Leave it for 15-20 minutes till cooked

RM4... AROMATIC ASAM PEDAS IKAN PARI

serves 2-3 pax

GULA MELAKA & COCONUT MILK JELLY

In this hot weather, nothing is more refreshening and soothing than jelly.

1/2 packet of jelly, brown sugar/gula melaka, white sugar, pandan/screwpine leaf, coconut milk & salt

METHOD
1. Put soaked agar-agar in a pot and pour water enough to cover the agar-agar.
2. Add in white sugar and pandan leave.
3. Bring to boil for 10 minutes over a medium heat until all the agar-agar disolve.
4. Use a strainer and divide agar-agar into two portions.
5. Add coconut milk to the half portion and brown sugar for the other portion.
6. Bring the coconut milk portion to boil and pour it into individual mould
7. Leave it to cool
8. Bring the brown sugar portion to boil and pour it over the coconut milk layer
9. Leave it to set completely
10.Chill in the refrigerator before serving.

BUKIT GASING FOREST PARK

Bukit Gasing Forest Park is located between the border of Petaling Jaya & Kuala Lumpur. It is a safe spot with shady forest canopy overhead perfect for hiking, walking or strolling.
" This is an excellent exercise workout...we were sweating non-stop for two hours of walking up and down the hill"

OPERATION HRS,FEES & FACILITIES
* open from 7am-7pm
* no entry fee
* free parking, toilet and shower room in the community centre
"We were totally amazed by the beautiful and clean surroudings in the community centre"

GETTING THERE
@ from the Federal Highway, exit at the EPF building on Jalan Gasing. Follow the road before taking a left at Jalan Lembah 5/2. At the next junction, turn into Jalan Tanjung 5/4. A wooden arch opposite a children's playground marks the Bukit Gasing entrance.
@ map - http://map.malaysiamostwanted-gasing-viewpoint
"We entered the hill from the back of Pantai Hill Park condominium"

OUR ADVICE
^ Do come with a group of friends cos' you will feel more fun and relax as you chat while walking up and coming down the hill
^ Bring insect repellent and wear long pants & sleeves as mosquitoes are common in the evenings
^ Bring lots of drinking water as there is no drink stall
" Do not sit and rest at the bench, else you'll 'donate' blood to the hungry mosquitoes"


AT THE END OF THE EXERCISE, OUR TOTAL OUTPUT (sweat out)was 0.5 KG each & INPUT (makan/eat) was 1KG each^_^

STIR FRIED TURNIP/SENGKUANG WITH CARROT AND MUSHROOMS

This is always my no.1 dish ever since I was small. I named it a 'multi purpose dish' because you don't eat it with rice or porridge only BUT you can use the filling to make few appetizers :-

a) wrap the filling with a piece of green salad and sambal chili

b) put the filling in a piece of popiah skin to make 'fresh/fried popiah'

c) stuff the filling into a dumpling skin to make 'chai koay'

In this recipe, I did not include my favorite dried shrimps,cuttlefish, meat (pork/chicken) simply because all these ingredients are not available in my fridge.

^^^INGREDIENTS^^^

turnip (0.60 cents), carrot (0.20 cents), dried mushrooms (RM1), chopped garlic (0.10 cents) & spring onion (0.10 cents), chicken stock, salt & pepper to taste

^^^METHODS^^^
1) heat oil in wok and saute garlic till fragrant or brown
2) add in turnips,carrots and mushrooms and stir fry for about 10 seconds
3) add in salt and pepper to taste
4) pour in chicken stock and leave it till soft and cooked

RM2 'MULTI PURPOSE' DISH

FRIED VERMICELI

Whenever I don't have appetite for rice, I prefer to eat noodles or vermicili which is simple, healthy and easy to cook.

INGREDIENTS

vermicili -soaked in water (RM1), bok choy or any veges of your choice (0.50 cents), carrot -sliced (0.20 cents), prawns (RM1), mushroom-diced - (0.50 cents), egg -beaten (0.20 cents), chopped garlic (0.10 cents), salt, pepper & chicken cube to taste

METHOD

1. Pour a bit of oil in a wok and lightly pan fry vermicelli till it turn slightly brown

2. set aside in a bowl

2. In the same wok, pour in oil and add in chopped garlic, prawns and mushroom

3. Stir fry till its fragrant

4. Add in bok choy and pour in water

5. Add salt, pepper & chicken cube to taste

6. Leave it to cook for about 5 mins

7. Put the pan fried vermicelli and mix it well.

8. Leave it for 05 minutes before serving.

RM3.50 - FRIED VERMICELI

serves 3 person

FRIED ONION OMELETTE

Egg is easily available anywhere and anytime. It is cheap and you can use in various style of cooking and even to make face mask.

INGREDIENTS

2 egg (0.60 cents) & 1 big onion (0.40 cents), salt & pepper to taste

METHOD
1. heat up oil in a wok
2. add in sliced onion and stir fry till it turn slightly brown

3. pour the beaten egg (mixed with salt & pepper) to cover the brown onion
4. leave it to cook for about 5 mins

RM1 DISH
serve 1-2 person

SAMBAL FOUR ANGEL BEAN/KACANG BOTOL

"Nowadays, eating outside is easy but costly and inconvenient. EASY cos' you can choose to eat whatever food that suits your taste buds and budget. COSTLY cos' good and delicious food (added with lots of ajinomoto) are usually serves in a smaller portion. INCONVENIENT cos you have to go through a terrible traffic jam on the road and upon arriving at the destination, you have to wait for a long queue, find a seat or wait for the food to be served.

After gone through endless hassles (which most of the time kill my appetite before the food arrive), I decided to indulge in home cooked food which are must healthier, cheaper and yet yummy.

Since I'm 'diagnosed with cooking syndrome' lately, I'll share and blog on simple recipes which received praises from 'food bins' who walloped all the food.

I'm a guesstimate and thus I buy ingredients according to my budget and taste the food to my liking "

Now, here's a simple yet delicious recipe on sambal four angel bean/kacang botol. Hope you'll try and enjoy it with a plate of hot rice.

INGREDIENTS

4 angel bean (0.50 cents), Prawns (RM1), garlic,red chilies, small chilies, garlic,dried shrimps, shallots & belacan (RM1.50), salt, pepper & chicken/ikan bilis cube to taste

METHODS 1. pour cooking oil in the wok
2. add in chopped garlic, sambal and prawns and stir fry for 5 seconds
3. put in salt, pepper & chicken/ikan bilis cube to taste
4. add in 4 angle bean and stir fry until it's cooked & fragrant


END RESULT...RM3
DELICIOUS SAMBAL 4 ANGEL BEAN/KACANG BOTOL
serves 2-3 person

SWEET AND COLORFUL GLUTINUOUS RICE BALLS

In conjunction with Malaysia Open House 2009 with the theme 'My Sweet Malaysia' organised by babeinthecitykl, here's my entry on sweet dessert i.e. sweet and colorful glutinous rice balls/tang yuan.

I'm a guesstimate, so I shall share with you on the ingredients I used (minus the amount) and method to cook this sweet & colorful dessert.

*** TO MAKE GLUTINUOUS RICE BALLS***

1. put glutinuous/pulut flour in a bowl

2. add in water slowly and mix it well till form a dough

3. knead the dough for 5 minutes

MAKE SURE THE DOUGH DO NOT STICK TO YOUR HAND

*** TO COLOUR THE GLUTINUOUS RICE BALLS ***
1. divide the dough into 4 portion (picture below)
2. add in a dash of food coloring (your choice of color) for each portion.

*** TO MAKE GLUTINUOUS RICE 'BALLS' ***
1. pinch a small dough
2.roll it to form a ball (picture below)
3. when water is boiled in a cooking pot, drop in the rice ball into the boil water.
4. the balls will float when it's cooked
6. scoop the cooked rice balls and put into a bowl of luke warm water

*** TO MAKE THE SOUP ***
1. bring water to boil
2. add in pandan leaves and sugar (white/brown) and slices of young ginger (optional)
3. put in the cooked rice balls and bring back to boil.
4. served it hot or cool

here it is....... a bowl of

SWEET & COLORFUL GLUTINUOUS RICE BALLS

VIVO AMERICAN PIZZA AND PANINI

Vivo's story

It all started with the secret recipe of the Horrigan family, who served the best American style pizza in town using the traditional method of baking.Today, we bring you pizzas using the latest baking techonology that ensures perfection at all times. At Vivo, we combine the 30 years of pizza making experience with the new generation pizza-making concept to achieve the exceptional Vivo experience.

We bumped into Vivo American Pizza & Panini http://www.vivopizza.com/,
while we were seraching for our dinner in Berjaya Times Square. Since there were not much people in the outlet and without much hesitation, we walked into the restaurant and find our seat. It takes 10 minutes for a foreign waiter to attend to us. After browsing the menu, we ordered food which are currently on promotion.

1 Vanilla Brownie @ RM5.50
...... hot piping brownie with a scope of marvellous ice cream

Crispy Fish Bite @ RM4.90
.......tasty and fresh fish meat

1 set of Spaghetti Bolognaise with Free Soft Drinks @ RM8.90
....thick and delicious sauce

1 set Chicken Strips Panini with Free Soft Drinks @ RM7.90

...bread are soft, big chunk of chicken ham with fresh salad & hot french fries

We love the food here and will come back again. But sadly, the service is very slow and for customer who dine in, you need to pay 10% service charge .

VIVO TIMES SQUARE

LG 68 Lower Ground Floor

Berjaya Times Square

55100 Kuala Lumpur

Tel:03-21489799