TANTALIZING TREATS

Asian Delights for Tea

2009-07-20T15:44:00.049+08:00

When I was a little child, i once had a dream so vivid that i still remember to this day. A little old man was selling his sweet desserts in a small wooden box, (maybe approximately 3' wide x 1' deep x 1.5' high) that had been attached to the back of his old beaten down black framed bicycle (which might have been a tricycle. Whoever said dreams had to be logical?)

I even remember the colour of the wooden box, which was painted in uneven brushes and sweeps of azure deep blue. The tyres were worn and old just like the shirt and straw hat that he had on but that he had one of the most unforgettable, inviting and sincerest smile that could only have come from his heart. The same kind of smile that i have seen in mom, Ben, my children and all the people i have ever loved.

He had me drooling with my jaws gaping wide as he slid open the little wooden panel exposing the most magical and enchanting looking desserts that i had ever seen. As i did not have any money on me, he looked at me deeply, kindly and still wearing the same smile said that it was to be his treat and that i could choose one of anything i like from the grand array of display. Just one?

I never did make my pick. Now that i am a grown woman, I am quite certain that i still would not have been able to finalise on the pick if i had met the little old man again.

Which would yours have been, i wonder?

Rainbow Sago

Kuih Talam Pandan

Kuih Lapis Merah

Pulut Tatal

Pie-Tee (Top hat)

Alluringly gorgeous in presentation and rank high in the taste and flavor department, it’s undeniably one of the most inventive and vividly luscious Nyonya creations.

The two-step process starts with the making of the cases or “top hats” with a metal mold, follow by the cooking of julienned jicama, carrot, and chopped shrimp. These ingredients are then assembled to form these eye candy treats.

These munchies makes a killer hor’deurves in any parties, be it a Malaysian or Singaporean party or an all-American schmooze fest.

Sago dessert in coconut milk and palm sugar

Kuih Tako

Satay

Kuih Talam

Popiah

Kuih Dadar

Onde-onde

Kuih Tapai Nyonya

Kuih Jade

Mua Chi Kuih
(or sometimes also known as Japanese Mochi)

Pulut Inti Kelapa

These are commonly known as "kuih" and the assortments of the multi coloured and sweet flavoured snack items in the Malay Archipelago. They are easily available and are usually a tea time favourite for both the young and old.

They are in delightfully delectable bite sized pieces that is usually accompanied with a mug of "Tea Tarik" or "Pulled Tea". It is tea with condensed milk and best when it is frothy, airy and bubbly from the process of 'pulling'. Or one can also opt for the local black coffee, with or without milk.

In almost all kuihs, the most common flavouring ingredients are grated coconut (plain or flavoured), coconut cream (thick or thin), pandan (screwpines) leaves and gula melaka (palm sugar, fresh or aged). Their base and texture are built on a group of starches namely rice flour, glutinous rice flour, glutinous rice and tapioca. Two other common ingredients are tapioca flour and green bean (mung bean) flour (sometimes called "green pea flour" in certain recipes). They play a most important part in giving kuihs their distinctive soft, almost pudding-like, yet firm texture.

For most kuihs there is no single "original" or "authentic" recipe. Traditionally, making kuih was the domain of elderly grandmothers, aunts and other women-folk, for whom the only (and best) method for cooking was often replied to be in "agak agak" (approximation).

They would instinctively take handfuls of ingredients and mix them without any measurements or any need of weighing scales. All is judged by its look and feel, the consistency of the batter and how it feels to the touch.

Each family holds its own traditional recipe as well as each region and state. Though each may be called by other names, one is likely to find various similar versions of kuih in neighbouring countries, such as Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, and Indonesia.

Have a great week ahead all ! Be sweet, be safe.. as always. :)

fl

Tasty Hamburger

2009-06-22T16:48:00.027+08:00

Initially I had planned for a posting on STREET FOOD. Yes, with busy looking street peddlars, happy smiling children on the sidewalk, a grand array of street food, tantalising aromas and smells in the air that makes up the the very heart, soul and lure of the South East Asia.

I shall reserve that for another time, however. With a subject like that, i could use more time to gather more pictures to work on it. The pictures that i have and write up is hardly going to make it into a decent read at all should i release it now.

Following my last post on picky eaters, it gave me an idea to extend it a little to finger foods. Variety is the word. Ideas. Interchange. Small unintimidating looking bites.

If it doesn't work, try presenting the food by distracting them with their favorite movies on. Or try serving it outdoors. Anywhere for a change and not solely restricted to the rigid rule of the accustomed dining space.

And then i asked my fussy eater what he would like to have and both the boys (including the easy eater) unaimously voted for Mc Donalds. (stucked expression..)

So, even finger food post will have to wait. We'll do one on tasty hamburgers and a dinner so good they will hopefully vote for ahem, Mommy instead of my colorful happy rival sometimes, huh?

Tasty Hamburgers

(to make the patties)
250g minced beef
1 onion
1/3 cup dried breadcrumbs
a tablespoon(tbsp) of tomato sauce
a tbsp of Parmesan cheese
a teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tbsp of evaporated milk
1/2 tbsp of lemon juice
2 tbsp chopped parsley
seasoning to taste
some olive oil

Dark Soy Honey Garlic and Sea salt Roast

Creme Caramel

Caramel
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup water

Custard
4 cups of milk, warmed
1/2 cup sugar
6 eggs
1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

Melon and Passionfruit in Ginger Syrup

Kiwi Fruit Sorbet

Hope that it had inspired some ideas for you to have a most delightful dinner with your precious ones at home too.

.. and if your past week had been a hectic one, then i wish you lightness and sweetness as you stepped in to yet another exciting week ..with lots of wonderful and pleasant surprises awaiting you.

Bloggy love ,
~Silver

fl

Picky Eaters

2009-05-22T14:41:00.024+08:00

Have there been days when you feel like a short order cook? A short order cook, or sometimes also known as grill or line cook is someone who makes "simple, fast-cooking meals and snacks".

Having to deal with a child who seemed to go on food jags does put a great amount of stress on the parent or caregiver who has to get through these food battle on a daily basis.

Variety is an idea and presenting them in a most colourful, delightful manner is another to tempt and tease..and hopefully see some of these food get in can be such a challenge.

Bacon & Onion Quiches

olive oil or melted butter

2 cups plain flour

150g butter, chopped

Filling

3 rashers bacon, rind removed

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 cup milk

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup cream

finely chopped chives/optional

1/3 cup grated cheese

* sometimes i substitute bacon with crabmeat/salmon/canned tuna/sardines.

Sometimes the task can be an overwhelming one, so it's a good idea to break it into small jobs or batches. That way, it cuts down the whole preparation time when one needs to get a decent batch of quiche (for eg) ready and out on the Summer table when a request for a craving of carbo is on the alert.

Do you sometimes also feel like the entire weight of the world is upon your shoulders as one who plays such a vital role in determining and influencing the health of your young children and family members but feel like a total failure at the end of the day when the child can be so blasé about food or even refuse it after all those planning and preparation?

Cooks today break under the weight of devising a thousand variations just on one particular preferred food choice. Strolls through the farmers’ markets are replaced with trudges through the frozen food aisle. It is an unbelievably immense task for a quasi sane parent to go through in order to make the communal meal less hostile of a brutal battleground.

Aren't you glad it's Friday again? TGIF!! Those who haven't got much of a Saturday evening plan can join me in the kitchen.. creating more food ideas.. ;P

sending and blowing out lots of love to all my bloggy friends out there.. be safe, be well now. ;)

Love

~Silver

AN OUTDOOR AFFAIR..

2009-05-04T20:48:00.033+08:00

An Al Fresco lunch or a late evening meal outdoor just about when the evening breezes start to stir creates a very casual and comfortable setting. It can be set anywhere in the garden, a terrace or even a breakfast nook can be fine.

Racks of Lamb

Ingredients

4 racks of lamb, each with 3-4 cutlets

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar

2 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp lemon juice

salt

ground pepper

handful of rosemary sprigs

A delicious dessert. Oranges in Cointreau and Maple Syrup. Place the parcels on the hot barbeque and cook for about 10-15 minutes. You can serve with creme and topped with shreds of blanched orange rind.

(Substitute with Marmalade for the Cointreau liqueur if an alcohol free version is preferred.)

2 tbsp butter, melted
4 oranges, peeled, pith removed and slice them cross-ways
2 tbsp maple syrup
2 tbsp Cointreau
liqueur

(Reassemble each orange and place it on a a square of doubled foil parcel)

Rum & Lime Cream Pie

According to Wikipedia, the word barbecue has attracted several inaccurate origins from folk etymology. An often-repeated claim is that the word is derived from the French language. The story goes that French visitors to the Caribbean saw a pig being cooked whole and described the method as barbe à queue, meaning "from beard to tail". The French word for barbecue is also barbecue, and the "beard to tail" explanation is regarded as false by most language experts. The only merit is that it relies on the similar sound of the words, a feature common in folk-etymology explanations.

Another claim states that the word BBQ came from the time when roadhouses and beer joints with pool tables advertised "Bar, Beer and Cues". According to this tale, the phrase was shortened over time to BBCue, then BBQ.

Isn't that interesting?

I like kebab pieces or cut cubes of fillet for fish or meat on skewers. They are quick and so easy to make and taste terrific. With tender top sirloin, you don't need to marinate a long time to tenderize the meat, just long enough to impart the flavors of zippy ingredients like balsamic vinegar, crushed red peppers, ginger and soy sauce, you just can't go wrong.

Chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings and quarters are often popular choice. (It is a good idea to pre-cook meat in the oven first before transfering them onto the barbeque. )

Some ideas you might like to try out- how about cook mushrooms with herb butter in foil on the grill? Or desserts like baked bananas and glazed pineapple cook so well on the dying embers. Try it!

Put in some love into the preparation. Let the marinates and salts sit in just long enough before the grill, it's going to be one of the most tasty and tender outdoor meal ever. There is nothing more evocative than the delectable aromas of a barbeque. The cool breeze stirring, family and friends, beers and sensational looking cocktails- it's going to be an evening to remember.

So anyone in for a BBQ this week?

I have enjoyed putting this for all you friends out there and hope it inspires some ideas of your own and you may like to kick back and have a relaxing outdoor experience with your family and friends too.

Stay well, be safe and have a great week ahead!

fl

IT'S BACK INTO MY KITCHEN.. it's breakfast!

2009-04-25T10:42:00.027+08:00

It's back into my kitchen.. sticking my face deep into the spaces of the pantry, refridgerators, baking shelves and my once custom made to order huge oversized drawers to fit all those odd shaped baking trays and utensils and try to see what i've got in here to cook up a storm today?

WHAT HAVE I GOT IN HERE?

My kitchen secrets! Useful for days when you have to come up with a home baked cake for that school Fund Raising Project or Class Party.

also found these.. had almost forgotten i even had some of these..beautiful shiny Stainless Steel set in here.

Anyone of you guys out there got one of these babies?

You can cook like a Pro with one of these.. For most parts that i have tried with this set that I have, i must say, it hasn't disappointed me yet!

But for Breakfast- i'll stick to something familiar and cosy like this.

classic wholemeal pancakes with honey and fruits

had two slices of these..Chocolate Coffee Swiss Roll
(i didn't make this. From my friendly bakery..)

A welcoming fruit Shortcake..

Wishing all my bloggy friends a great week ahead and Blowing out my love and kisses to all!

Stay well, stay warm.. stay safe wherever you are!

THANK YOU

2009-03-29T22:52:00.006+08:00

For some personal reasons i am not able to disclose, i will need to get off blogging.

It would be so horribly rude of me to just disappear without saying why. I will need some good time off to attend to some things too personal to say, just something that will need my full attention for a while.

Wishing you lots of love and sunshine in your lives.

STAY WELL!

Silver

TELL ME IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND ANY OF THIS!

2009-03-28T00:20:00.006+08:00

*If you see the annoying ad popping out, just click the X at the edge on the Right to remove the obstruction.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK-END!

TIRAMISU AND MANGO TURNOVER

2009-03-23T08:56:00.016+08:00

Tiramisu originated in Venice. Literally translated, it means, 'pick-me- up' or 'pull-me-up' in reference to the espresso and liqueur.

It has been a very popular Italian dessert that has been adapted into cakes, puddings and other varieties of dessert easily available in most cafe bars, restaurants and bakeries.

However, did you know that in the original recipe, there was no liquor in the cake as it was originally made for children and even with the elderly in mind and the original shape was round. This is a very easy to go down dessert and not something too heavy which is welcoming for difficult eaters (children) and days when the appetite is down, recuperating or in convalescence .

Mascarpone is used in the recipe. . It is an Italian soft cream cheese from cow's milk that has a rich, silky texture giving it a creamy delicious flavour.

Very simple ingredients, savoirdi biscuits, eggs, sugar, mascarpone and cocoa. Add in dark rum/Kahlua, and strong black coffee.

The method is pretty much the same with any kind of Tiramisu. A quick google will land you on many similar recipes and method with little variation.

Ingredients used for Tiramisu

225 g/ 1 cup Mascarpone
1 egg, separated
2 tbsp natural yoghurt
2 tbsp of superfine sugar/castor
2 tbsp dark rum/Kahlua
2 tbsp strong black coffee
8 sponge fingers
2 tbsp grated dark chocolate/bitter (your preference)

Ingredients used for Mango Turnover

a largo mango, finely chopped
1/4 cup flaked almonds
a large pinch of cinnamon
2 tbsp of castor sugar
2 sheets ready rolled puff pastry
8 teaspoons custard(filling)
1 egg, lightly beaten with a little milk (for brushing on edges and over pastry)
sprinkle a little sugar on top
to serve with mango ice-cream, if desired.

note: you can use a fork to press the edges for a neater end.

enjoy!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK !

SOMETHING NO ONE NEEDS!

2009-03-21T01:11:00.013+08:00

When i got back, i was so disgusted to find i have like 15 comments each on both my blogs by a blogger in Australia who left me some creepy comments about satan, god and stuff i don't even know what he was angry about. It just totally freaked me out!! What's his problem? Not something i was expecting to be awaiting my return after such a perfect wonderful getaway.. of just the earth, the wind- the open heavens and me- oh yeah, and a book.

I was thankful to receive an e-mail from another blogger in my inbox warning me about those dreadful messages incase I have not got to them yet and advising me to turn the Comment Moderator back on.

I have also removed my e mail from my profile for now. After such an unpleasant episode, I think maybe, I should take another week off!

fl

Something light for lunch..

2009-03-09T23:49:00.047+08:00

We should go out today..

I couldn't decide if i would do one on Fitness or Food- but i don't think any of you will mind putting that diet or fitness round for a bit later.. so, girls.. let's go for the sexy Crustachea this week!

Oops, wrong pic.

Slightly spicy mud crabs stir fried in butter sauce

Crispy Wontons in Thai dip sauce

Then i made a special stopover at a favourite cafe that I'd used to frequent (when i was still working in that area as it was only a short quick drive from where our office was) for that must have dessert.

I just had to take Son 1 there for the Iced Garden Tea Punch today and the to- die- for Banana Chocolate cake in heavy caramel sauce.

Usually it comes with a dollop of vanilla ice cream or upon request. Son isn't keen on the ice-cream nor the cake. He preferred the Tea Punch more.

Reminds me of an ex colleague who used to eye my slice when she'd finished hers.. i used to enjoy tormenting her by making those "melting" ("foodie-blogasmic"-) expressions as i placed each tiny scoop into my mouth..slowly. May also explain why we were always late from lunch if we came here.. and she being a super slow driver certainly didn't help very much. And about the only person i know who'd never had a speeding ticket. (eyes rolled up..) Also a good thing she doesn't know i have a blog here.

Infact once, we were even "caught late" by our bosses when they too had stepped into the same lift the same time as we did. I think we (with another British ex-colleague cum accomplice with me on the same floor) had this blushing abashed cool cats look except that it had a more sheepish moronic colour to it during that few seconds as it took us all to the same floor.)
ME- GUILTY AS CHARGED!!

And, i also love the Italian Resto which is located downstairs of this favourite cafe that we frequent. My, they've got these hot looking and uh..just divine creme brulee.. hhhmmmmmm.. I've got to go get some soon!!

a pretty stalk of edible delicious chocolate rose creation.. had this come with a marriage proposal.. i don't suppose many will be strong enough to resist the exotic looking chocolate rose.

Pop in first baby, logistics- later!

They also have some neat display of chocolates of both white and dark, huge glass designer mirrors, other home decor handicrafts also on retail. A nice popular joint combi Concept of cafe and retail of sorts we find these days.

As always, wishing all you out there tons of bloggy love and kisses blown out ..

Be safe, be well, be sweet..

SILVER

A note to all my coolest friends who visit me here..

I'm going away for 2 weeks. DO NOT leave this page without saying HI or something. I will hunt you down when i get back if I do not see you here. It can get pretty ugly, that's as much as i can promise you.

I will be missing you guys .. more than you know.

Butterfly kisses,

~Silver

An Afternoon Delight!

2009-03-02T12:52:00.011+08:00

CHOCOLATE POUND CAKE

185 g sifted all purpose flour

60 g sifted unsweetened Dutch process cocoa

1/4 teaspoon salt

60 g bittersweet chocolate

250g unsalted butter at room temperature

440g light brown sugar

3 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

250g sour cream

Method

Preheat oven to 350 F/ 180C

Butter a 9 by 5 by 3" loaf pan.

Sift flour, cocoa and salt together. Set aside.

Place the chocolate in the top of a double boiler and melt over simmering water.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar together until fluffy.

Beat in the eggs, one at a time.

Add the vanilla and melted chocolate and mix well.

Fold a third of the dry ingredients, then half the sour cream into the chocolate mixture.

repeat - ending with the dry ingredients.

Pour batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour.

If the cake is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminium foil.

Let the cake cool in the rack for 10 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely.

Slice and serve.

*Dust the pound cake with powdered sugar if you wish. To top with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream. Then.. indulge, ladies! All senses will come to life again..

Have a delightful week ahead .. Prayers, love and hugs enclosed.

PS: Loretta from Under the Wild Cherry Trees has this very cool step by step tutorial (and a more friendlier-user conversion for the Pound Cake ...) at this link -click here

infact it is so cool.. i am simply too embarrassed to show myself in this part of town again with the same recipe. :)

JAPANESE

2009-02-23T00:55:00.079+08:00

Japanese cuisine is elegant and refined. The essence of Japanese food lies in its simplicity and flavour.

I think it's a great party idea because sushi rolls can be made several hours in advance but always store it chilled because the rule about sushi is- it has to be consumed at its best, which is the same day or even better, immediately. It also makes a delightful finger food adding to the array of colours and varieties. The varieties are endless and quite frankly, i just didn't quite know where to begin.

From the Chicken Kara-age, which is Japanese style fried chicken flavoured with ginger to the authentic Japanese grill over hot sizzling sauce baste on the Yakitori kebab pieces placed on the skewers in alternating order are simply marvellous. Yakitori are ideal for barbecues or parties as one can prepare them ahead of time and store them marinated until it's time for the grill.

A must have accompanying dip sauce- Tempura sauce and Japanese soy sauce.

Wasabi is Japanese horseradish. It is most famous in form of green paste used as condiment for sashimi (raw fish) and sushi.

Some sushi accessories that i'd found from a Japanese little store in a Mall i had bought to make work light for sushi rolling and moulding. I had hoped that even my younger son would be able to make some for himself whenever he wanted a quick snack.

But later found that the press mould was a little tricky even for me especially if the rice was not sticky enough. So the children usually prefer to either do a California roll (triangular wrap with the seaweed piece) or roll the usual way with the seaweed and then cut into bite sized pieces.

Simple Rolled Sushi

Variety shaped sushi

Some popular sushi names to get acquainted so you can order with ease-

-Nigiri are those with fish, shellfish, etc. on top

-Norimaki are those rolled out ones then cut into bite sized pieces. Did you know that these kind are only popular outside of Japan but rarely in Japan?

-Temaki are those cone shaped nori seaweed we usually refer to them as California Rolls.

-Gunkan are those with the sea urchin and various kinds of fish eggs. These are really the cool ones. My boys go gaga with these and snapped them up quicker than they could replenish on the conveyor belt in a Japanese Restaurant.

Chicken & Prawn Hot Pot

also known as Yosenabe, for a 4 pax,

400g chicken thigh or breast fillet
8 raw tiger prawns
4 shiitake mushrooms, stems removed
3 leeks, sliced diagonally
6 small tofu , cut into bite pieces

in 1 litre of kombu and bonito stock
6 tsp sake or dry white wine
2 tbsp of soy sauce
4 ysp of mirin
a pinch of salt

Miso Soup

A Japanese tradition which is very nutritious and delicious, a popular accompaniment that usually goes with a Bento, which is an adorable Japanese lunch box that offers not only a delicious slice in presentation, taste and colour but also a very healthy meal.

Is it any wonder that the Japanese are enjoying healthier and even more youthful lives even into old age. Is it not an astounding fact that more than 20,000 Japanese are over a 100 years old? Life expectancy in Japan, for both men and women, is statistically, still very much, the highest in the world.

Trout marinated with Teriyaki Sauce, grilled

Baked Salmon in Miso Sauce.

This one is too easy. i think i can do this blind folded- (with the fold slightly more over the top, of course :P)

here, i add in a few dashes of Japanese soy sauce, miso paste, some olive oil, a large tablespoon of butter and lots of grated cheese- a great pouch lunch with some rice after 10-15 min at 350F/180C. Open the foil and usually i throw in more cheese at this point and then bake it for a further 5 min or so until the cheese melts and oozes and is slightly browned.

or pan fried in a little olive oil and butter

Teriyaki Salmon in Garlic Butter Sauce

a slow searing in some olive oil, butter and finely minced garlic also releases some of the oil from the salmon pieces. Combined with the marinate and butter oils and garlic, the sauce is magical.

(And yes- if you must ask, it was a little over done because your gracious blog hostess here was trying to capture some good angled pictures while it was searing away back there?)

Cod pieces

Marinated cod pieces taste great whether poached or grilled/pan fried with butter. The secret is basically in the sauce and of course, if you use cod, the firmness and taste of the sea will just be a long affair to remember.

Vegetables deep fried in Light Batter

Tempura can be prawn or other seafood pieces as well.

Excellent with either sake (alcoholic beverage) or green tea. Finish off with some sweets of rice cake with fruit which is really a more modern version, although one would find it in aduki bean paste traditionally.

Here's some love blown out to all my blogging friends out there. Wishing you a great week ahead.. will be visiting you soon to find your posts and new happenings around the blog !

PS By the way, no Memoirs of the Geisha here- If you were the people who had clicked on my post when i first hit the PUBLISH button- you would have noticed a great part of incoherence, which is nothing strange about me usually- but .. the truth is, i did this post, putting all these pictures together in my insomniac hours..so, clarity of mind could be a tiny disadvantage.

Further editing only made more sense afterward- i hit the bed like 6 am this morning and.. I'm cranky!! Can someone get me a double Expresso, please?

A HEARTY MEAL

2009-02-17T17:12:00.022+08:00

Carrot cream soup

the tea lights come in a few different scents. i like the green one. It's in Apple Sauce. A little like when you have Apple Pie baking in the oven- it makes one feel a sense of .. contentment.

Spiced Beef Brisket

1/2 cup sugar
a teaspoon each of ground nutmeg,all spice, garlic, ginger
some olive oil
salt to taste
2 cups of beef stock
marinate in fridge for half a day minimum before roasting

with Vegetable Stew

( wedges of carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, celery and button mushrooms in beef stock )
1 sprig fresh rosemary, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 bay leaf, salt to taste

* personally, i always do the Asian stew version ie with Hoi Sin/Oyster sauce and Chinese Wine, lots of Chinese Wine.

Tropical Fruit Salad
(pineapple, banana, star fruit, Hawaiian papaya, lycees, mangoes, pulp of passion fruits)

In Ginger Syrup

rind of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons finely shredded ginger

to chill before serving

pretty tea cup and pot that stacks and break away

(Handpainted)

Chocolate Pound Cake

to top a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream before serving

( please e mail me if full recipe & Method is required. )

fl

CROSS STITCH & SILVER

2009-02-17T10:41:00.036+08:00

Nice little corner here for coffee and a little craft work. If you can only hear the birds in the background and feel the cool crisp morning air. Not forgetting the tantalizing aroma of coffee in the air.

I have some errands and appointments to keep today- but guess, i have become one of you guys now. Just got to steal some time to post this. It's a disease and i must have caught on!

Just have to view this from up close. I waited and staked out for about a week now. Sometimes it feels divine when you get a few open blooms at the same time.

Any idea what this is?
(pix above: a pair of silver Kitties)

Flip them upside down = Drinking Little Cups (!)

handmade ( from Lampung, Indonesia )

This is definitely one of my favourites. It's adorning one of the corner walls in Son 2's room at the moment. I don't think they appreciate it as much as me though but i think they do remember why i made this one. I don't say it very often, maybe just only every time i walk into his room and the brothers are there at the same time- " make sure you love each other like he's the only buddy you've got in this world, ok? "

some cross stitch pieces going to be sewn onto the pillow cases.

Must have been at least a decade old, this one. This was one of the fun pieces i did because my husband and boys get to pick out what mode of classic Transportation they would like to see me 'labour' on. Don't ask me how long it took me to complete this one. Just too long. I did a couple more small ones, but i think this was the last 'serious' one.

fl

The Nectar of Flowers

2009-02-13T00:47:00.013+08:00

Honey Mousse Napoleon

Mouse
1 teaspoon of unflavoured gelatin
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons cold water, divided
2 egg yolks
1/2 cup honey
4 Teaspoons egg whites
2 tablespoons sugar
1 cup whipping cream

Phyllo
4 sheets phyllo dough (14x9 inch shets)
5 tablespoons butter, divided
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons sliced almonds
2 medium nectarines
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

MEXICAN DINNER

2009-02-06T22:38:00.026+08:00

A mouth watering, healthy dinner that sizzles doesn't have to burn a hole in one's pocket and is achievable if one is adventurous enough to try this and they can all be churned out from your very own kitchen.

Fajita has come to describe just about anything cooked and eaten, rolled up, in a flour tortilla. Fajitas are terrific even for an informal dinner party. There is something inherently festive about them and their accompanying dishes. Or perhaps it's the margaritas and Mexican beer that so often go hand-in-hand with this Tex-Mex treat. Guacamole puts the finishing touch on a fajita and it is a dish with millions of fans. Just pick the variation most agreeable as there are so many out there. (The classic one, made with ripe avocados, Serrano chillies, cilantro and lime based marinate is a good choice to start.)

Taco shells can be tossed into the oven under low heat while waiting for the meat dish. When it's ready to serve, just pull those warm taco shells out and everyone can dish their own. it's both fun and interactive. This also enables the host to work a little lesser through the night. Just set out lettuce, cheddar cheese, grilled or fried onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and olives into its own bowls. Don't forget those salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

You 're in for a great evening.

Spicy Cucumber Salsa

1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 small red/green pepper, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro or parsley
some barbecue sauce mixture
chill them before serving.

Fruit Salsa

2 large cups of chopped assorted fruits.
( pineapple, kiwi, strawberries, mango )

Taco Snacks
1 pound ground beef
1 package (1.25 ounces) taco seasoning mix
fried onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup sour cream
1 large cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Red Hot sauce (optional)

good for about 30 round tortilla chips

Mexican Stir Fry Fajitas

1 pound beef sirloin, thinly sliced
1 large red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1 medium onion, sliced
Beef gravy
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin

(beef dish is good for about 8-10 flour heated tortillas. To increase accordingly if necessary)

ISN'T IT TIME FOR TEA?

2009-01-22T16:46:00.028+08:00

Strange how a teapot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasures of company.

This is one of my many favourites, I call it the "English Garden Tea Set". It's so dainty, so enchanting, so frivolous, so madly romantic and almost whimsical, it's sheer delight just to drink from it.

I pull it out from the china Amoire on days when i am in muse absolution, besotted by silly amorous moods.. and pretend i am having tea with the Queen Mother and my Prince is watching me swooned with passionate love for me from the balcony of strong black iron railings, surrounded with a grand ubiquitous panaromic harmonic profusion which is impossible to describe.. coupled with a sense of bliss and contentment in knowing everything will be allright.. even when things aren't going all too perfectly ..

I just have to show the silver tea spoon.. it used to be Ben's favourite. There are 4 of those but I'd used to avoid using them for Ben because i just couldn't bear the thought that he might be disappointed in not finding a clean one of this design that he likes so much when he's on to making another cuppa ..

Ah, notice too- the tea pot and the tea cup can be rested atop one another or break away..

I hope to get to the other sets soon, "The Peasants' Teaset", "The Country Folks teaset", "The Exotic...., The Playful .. " I hope procrastination will not get the better of me..

BB KING SOLO LIVE

2009-01-13T08:30:00.014+08:00

Watch this everytime and still feel like the first time.. so intense, a lot like how life is.. ocassional surprises and bursts of sunshine. Lingering sorrow.
Like one's whole life's story can be described in just this 3 min alone.

ROCK ME BABY : BB King, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jim Vaughn

2009-01-12T22:54:00.020+08:00

" I've said that playing the blues is like having to be black twice. Stevie Ray Vaughan missed on both counts, but I never noticed. "

~B. B. King

Another fun vid. with coolest guys jammin'.

It's a treat just watching these guys having so much fun! Each having his own distinctive style in playing but BB KING -uh, he's a cut above the rest.
And Buddy Guy, he's brilliant here too.

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The epitome of beauty and gooodness..

2008-12-31T12:09:00.025+08:00

Baring your soul...

I love the garden so much. Only just a week ago, while I was stucked in the car workshop for hours which not even a good book would help me kill waiting time, i had a most enjoyable chat with a gentleman who was also there.

After a couple of nods and courteous exchange of weather topics and car problems, we started on the topic of gardening.

I quite remember telling him that if I didn't have a garden to go to whenever I need to, I would have died by now. Life just seems too hard without this place to dampen all the hard knocks in life and heal us. He seemed to agree with me and drifted off in his own thoughts for a while.

Just as I was leaving, he pulled out a plastic bag of this tea-like substance and gave it to me.

It is compost(from palm fibres) he had made himself. I thought that it was such a nice gesture! Anything 'home-made', 'hand-made' is always a winner for me!

I promised that gentleman I will try it for my lawn and then sit back for 2 weeks and be blown away by the result. (Okay, a bit of procrastination here.. i was busy with Christmas, remember?)

I think, maybe that's what I like about genuine gardeners.

They may not be getting rich by what they do, but this passion of gardening that comes from a true gardener's heart prompts them to tirelessly work in their garden whether one has time or not, whether in sunlight or moonlight and always having something to share.

Just to work and play with plants carries an amazing power to soothe and calm every troubled soul and refreshes every spirit.

And just looking at these pictures from my garden, makes me want to go sit by each and every plant that I have visited today and tell them- just how grateful I am, for baring their soul to me and letting me do like wise.

What's for dinner, mom?

2008-12-29T20:01:00.023+08:00

Dinner bell rings..

1. Stir Fried chicken in dark soy sauce with Chinese rice wine in olive oil and ginger sauce. (Cooking time: ready in 10 minutes)

2. Kangkung (Water Spinach) stir fried in Thai sauce.(Cooking time: ready in 7 minutes.)

Sometimes referred to as morning glory and properly known as water convolvus, it is a leafy green with hollow stems that can be found in most Asian markets. A marvellous dish, where it shows itself off against an aromatic backdrop of pounded chillies, dried shrimp paste (belacan) and garlic.

A somewhat humble dish which often reminded me of my childhood in our old government rented elongated house tucked away just by the sea in that old sleepy town where nothing ever changes when I was growing up.

The unbelievable amount of sauces, spices, mixes of all shapes and sizes, whether bottled, dried or in paste form fills most of the spaces in my Asian pantry and in this tiny nook.
As South East Asia is home to a rich cross cultural table with every country boasting a distinctive cuisine which nonetheless shares similiarities with its neighbours, the ingredients and spices used often highlights such culinary links.
The starting point of even putting together a Southeast Asian meal would require more than a score of herbs and spices.

I was most thrilled when I found this stone mortar and pestle in the heart of the busy streets in Indonesia. It is said to be handmade from genuine stones from the mountains. When I heard that, it was, "OK, say no more. I'm taking this baby home with me."

Will forever be grateful to my mom- for always reminding me that a wife who cooks with love will forever be loved by her husband.

For storing spices and condiments.
(handmade pieces from clay)

A Handful of Over-Ripened Bananas

2008-12-22T14:37:00.043+08:00

Came into the kitchen this morning and found some over ripened bananas in the basket. Maybe about a handful of them. We call them "Pisang Mas" (Golden Bananas) here. They're small and very sweet.

Kids under this roof will have to be disappointed because if they were in here looking for a quick hi energy snack such as heavily salted chips or sugar laced colorful tiny biscuits from a pack, well, they just won't find it.

They have to go for real food which may require a little more effort unfortunately- ham sandwiches, fruits, cheese, spaggheti, a quick sushi roll of rice and tuna, crab meat and cucumbers..

These last few over-riped bananas thrown in with some flour, eggs, butter, milk and brown sugar, walla, should make a nice quick snappy snack for them today, huh?

Banana Muffin with sprinkled Cinnamon powder

250 grams butter
210 grams brown sugar
3 large eggs
500 grams all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 cups of milk a pinch of salt
a tablespoon of vanilla essence
sprinkles of cinnamon powder
Hersheys chocolate chips

Method

1. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs gradually.
2. Fold in sifted flour and baking powder. Pour in milk. Mix.
3. Scoop a third full of mixture onto paper cups.
4. Add in some cut banana pieces. Scoop more batter to fill about 80% of cups. Sprinkle on some cinnamon powder and some Hersheys.
5. Bake for about 20-25 minutes at 200 C

Makes a wonderful snack for the boys and a nice tea time for me a bit later today. i know Ben would have loved this for tea... This used to be his favourite breakfast spot.

The kitchen smells heavenly too of delightful cinnamon and vanilla, absolutely fabulous!

i have always love Muffins. They are so easy to make and good for anytime of the day! And i like that i can also pretty much throw anything in- (oatmeal, crushed corn or rice cereals, hershey chocolate chips, small cut up chunks of granny apples, pineapples.. it's endless.)

..and they'll always taste so good and wholesome.

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The joy in finding the little things.. it's breakfast!

2008-12-19T12:51:00.045+08:00

I especially love this little egg holder son 2 had made for me. He even had his signature on it.

Isn't this just too cute?

"When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,' said Piglet at last, 'What's the first thing you say to yourself?"

'What's for breakfast?' said Pooh. 'What do you say, Piglet?'

'I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?' said Piglet.
Pooh nodded thoughtfully. 'It's the same thing,' he said.

~A. A. Milne, 'The House at Pooh Corner'

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This blog is dedicated to MOM

2008-12-15T16:09:00.016+08:00

"My mom is a never ending song in my heart of comfort, happiness, and being. I may sometimes forget the words but I always remember the tune."
~ Graycie Harmon

My late mom had gone to Heaven in Aug 2000 after a cardiac arrest in which she just collapsed on the bathroom floor one morning and lost consciousness. I still feel her in a big part of my daily living because she had given me so much and yet asked for so little back.

I had learnt so much from my late mom and hoped that my sister and I have (hopefully) inherited some of her wit, humour, her fun loving personality, her vigour in living, her generosity, her hospitality, her love in gardening, cooking, Chinese Opera as well as her travelling bug. She has certainly seen and been to more countries than most of us in the family put together and certainly a lot more diplomatic and enduring than me.

It is a strange feeling like she had never really left us. She is still very much a part of my daily life- when i am looking at a flower or feel the wind in my face.. even though i can no longer see or touch her, but i feel her in my blood, in my heart.

And no matter how much my failings or times i may have broken her heart, it is true what they say about " ..the heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness. " ~Honoré de Balzac

author: felicia lam

my first post

2008-12-14T18:31:00.008+08:00

my garden

God made rainy days so gardeners could get the housework done.

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