Binding Love

Tips before cooking daylily (golden needle flower)

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:48:00 +0000

The daylily (金针花）or golden needle flower is widely available especially in cameron highlands market. Normally it comes in packets. One packet can average from RM1.70 - RM3. As you can see from photos above, you should snap out the inner core which is white in color. This is actually the stem of the flower before it bloom. This is told by the farmers & vege sellers. Those who has weak digestion might get diarrhoea if the core is not removed prior cooking. It's pretty easy to remove the core, just bend the 'head' and let it snap a little then pull it out, like the photo above. Anyway, this is a great vege dish :)

Night Charms in Kimberley Street Penang

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 05:17:00 +0000

koay chiap/duck porridge stall

koay chiap - glutinous rice cake in duck soup - nice!

koay teow soup stall

Koay teow soup - not bad....can give a try

Chicken leg and loh egg from koay teow soup stall (gravy quite salty)....prefer the mount erskine one....also from the mount erskine afternoon koay teow soup stall (beside the indian temple)

Red bean dessert

Nutmeg dessert (can take it with yeow char koay)...I like this!

yong tau fu motorbike seller

Purple Chili Padi

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:47:00 +0000

Seen a purple-coloured chilli padi before? Here is it. This is my first time seeing them. Found this in my neighbour's farm :-). This neighbour plant a lot of chili padi as he said his family can't live without chilies. I love chili padi too but not to the extreme that I can't live without it...hehe...

Met up with the neighbour yesterday evening when we were taking our dog for walk. He said this little purple thingy here is much more hotter and spicier than the green ones....hmm...forgot to ask one from him to try....

TAR CHANG JIN Korean Restaurant @ Autoworld Juru

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 02:23:00 +0000

Last week I tried out this korean restaurant with my hubby and sister. This restaurant is located at AutoWorld Juru Penang. All of us find the food here nice and good. The prices here are quite reasonable as well. Even though we didn't order the BBQ dishes but from the menu you beef BBQ cost < RM30, which I think it's quite reasonable.

Kimchi hot pot (2-3 persons serving)

Famous korean fried rice cake

Fried glass noodles korean styles- even though it looks like some normal fried glass noodles but it tastes different and it's good. It's the sesame sauce they used!

8 Refillable banchans

Nice highway view from inside the restaurant

1st Attempt on making Loh Bak (5 spice meat roll)

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 01:00:00 +0000

At first I was worried that it does not turn out well....but I was very happy and delighted...It looks good and taste good and ok :D....but need some improvement per my hubby's feedback that I need to add a little bit more of the 5 spices powder and maybe adding some water chestnut to include some crunchiness in it....I tried two types of wrapping.....one with 'ekor' and one without...hehe...but I like the one with 'ekor' one....like to bite the crunchiness of the 'tail'...hehe.... Just finished wrapping....before drowning 'them' into the hot bubling oil....

Here's the recipe:

1 pieces bean curd sheets (cut into 6″ x 8″ rectangles) **[just cut according to the pre-folded bean curd sheets after you get from the market]**

500g lean pork (cut into strips)

300g water chestnuts (skinned and chopped finely) - optional but this will give you the crunchiness

1 onion (finely chopped)

2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)

1 stalk chinese parsley (optional - finely chopped)

1 cucumber(optional)

Seasoning:
2tbsp of soya sauce

2 1/2 tsp five-spice powder

1 egg (lightly beaten)

2 tbsp tapioca flour

1 dash of white pepper powder

Method:
Combine the seasonings and add in lean pork strips and marinate the pork for at least 2hrs.
Chop the water chestnuts and combine with the marinated pork, add garlic, onion, chinese parsley and mix well.
Lay one sheet of pre-cut bean curd skin on a flat surface. Light dab it with some water to soften it. Spoon the mixture onto the sheet, fold in the two sides and roll up tightly. Alternatively, just fold/roll tightly and at the finishing fold, lightly press at both end of the meat to make the meat to compact in the middle. Seal the edges with the marinate juice.
Heat up your wok, pour in 2 cups of cooking oil and deep-fry the meat rolls over medium heat until golden brown.
Drain on paper towels. Serve with sliced cucumber and chili sauce

Kemunting Lakeview Restaurant @ Sg Kob, Mahang

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 07:10:00 +0000

This restaurant is located in the Mahang area of Kedah. The lake water fish dishes are good and tasty. I love them. To get to here from Penang, use the BKE highway and pass thru Kulim High-Tech park. After turning into Kulim High-Tech Park, go straight and at the fourth traffic light, turn left towards Mahang. Follow the road and go straight on. You will pass by Petronas on your left and caltex on your right. Straight on and you will pass by police station and pusat serenti on your left. Then about 1KM, you will come to a junction with the below sign board - Restoran Kemunting Lake View (GUINNESS). Follow it. You will notice that there is almost similar signboard with Tiger. Don't follow that. It will lead you to another seafood restaurant (competitor). Make sure to follow the one with GUINNESS logo. Comparative to the one opposite Petronas station (recommended by Astro Ah Xian), this one is more cleaner, brighter and most of all less less flies and road leading into the restaurant is in much better conditioned than the Restoran Kolam Ikan (oppo Petronas station). This restaurant is also floating on the fish lake. So you will have a nice view of the lake with the fishes swimming by your side. Besides fishes, paddy frog dishes are also their specialties.

Catfish in the water

lampan fish in the lake

Steamed lampan fish - it is a very nice fish to eat. The flesh is very smooth, tender and has that fresh sweetness on every bite. Just eat it slowly....while enjoying every bite of the fish and this will prevent you from swallowing any bones....this fish has many bones...

3 tastes tilapia fish

Restoran Q Wok Nyonya Curry House @ Bayu Mutiara (near Juru Auto-city)

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:59:00 +0000

This restaurant is located at Bayu Mutiara, Bukit Mertajam. It's just 1km away from Juru Auto-City. It's a new restaurant which just opened recently. Price is quite reasonable but the taste wise is so-so...err...I would say my grandma's nyonya dishes were much better than food in this restaurant...Missed my grandma's cooking a lot......

Good Hakka/Tai Po noodles @ Taman Inderawasih, Prai

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 06:39:00 +0000

The tai poo noodles is hand-made by the towkay neoh's husband. Normally this coffeshop is crowded with OL/OM & factory people especially during lunch time but if you reached there by 12 noon, I'm sure you will still find yourself a table. The coffeeshop is behind Public Bank where you can park your vehicle at the Taman Inderawasih medan selera parking space. Besides the hakka/tai poo noodles, the 'Koay teow th'ng' there is quite nice as well.

Restoran Fatty @ Ipoh (Old Town Jalan Bijih Timah)

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 29 May 2009 12:29:00 +0000

Delicious steamed lampam fish

Stir-fry ginger-onion wildboar meat

"Three taste HotPlate" in nyonya sauce

Homemade taufu in hot wok

五大天王 - 5 types of vege in one plate

We've tried the dishes in this restaurant twice. The dishes are great. Other dishes, like kong poh belut, etc. If you are in Ipoh, do drop by :)

Check out this lady :)

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:30:00 +0000

She has a good voice, right? :D

She is Zee Avi, from Miri Sarawak. She just released her album today. View her profile and listen to all her songs at http://www.myspace.com/zeeavi

Char Koey Kak

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:07:00 +0000

I know there are many Char Koay Kak sellers in Penang but I always like this Char Koay Kak from this uncle. I've this Char Koay Kak since young. This uncle stall is located beside Desa Green flat at Jalan Van Pragh. Normally he opens his stall around 1.30pm. The Char Koay Kak comes in small, medium and large, from RM1.30 - RM2.00.

If you have the chance, try it :)

What's Potluck actually?

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 01 May 2009 07:39:00 +0000

Recently, a few people asked me what does potluck really mean....I google and find the actual definition for it....

A potluck is a gathering of people where each person is expected to bring a dish of food to be shared among the group.

Folk etymology has derived the term "potluck" from the Native American custom of potlatch; the word "potluck", however, is actually of English origin

The original meaning was "food given away to guests", probably derived from "whatever food one is lucky enough to find in the pot", i.e. whatever food happens to be available, especially when offered to a guest.

Besides that, Elvis Presley also came up with an album in 1962, called Pot Luck :)

~Salmon Fever~

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 01 May 2009 03:41:00 +0000

I cook papaya almond spare ribs soup & salmon fish cake for pot luck on 4/19 at my home. This was my 1st time making the fish cake. I followed the recipe from Women Weekly magazine (My favourite magazine... :-) and received good feedback on them (glad :D)..As you can see, on my dining table, there are also other delicious dishes....Tamago sushi by MayLing, Bihun & cai kuih by Andrew and salad by Deepak. It was great having potluck. (Note: If you need the soup & salmon fish cake recipe, let me know :-)

Salmon Omelette

I cook this salmon omelette the other day. My hubby said it looks good and tasty. It's pretty easy....Just cut the salmon fillet into small cubes, same go for the tomatoes and zuchinni. Beat up 2 eggs. Sprinkle some pepper (here I used coarsed black pepper) & soy sauce into the beaten eggs. Heat up your pan and put in some oil. Stir-fry the salmon & veges until the salmon fillet turn to light pink (Opt: You may add some garlic powder to give it more aroma). This should takes less than 2 mins. Then, pour in your beaten eggs into pan and it will cover and combine with the salmon & veges. Just let it on the pan for 5 mins until the egg is cooked. Once done, serve it.

Pan-fried Salmon fillet with Italian Herb - I cook this for my tea snack on Wednesday.....hehe....(actually just had a very light brunch) :D

Ta Krai Thai Food @ Auto-City Juru Penang

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 01 May 2009 01:02:00 +0000

Recently, there is a new Thai restaurant located near the LOG and Fashion city of AutoCity Juru, Penang. I heard that it is owned by the LOG as well (but not confirm). Anyway, we went to try it out, turned out quite nice. It has a nice thai ambient. Most people will take the seats upstairs as the ambient is more pleasant, more tree-top milieu, minus the noise from kitchen and bar, part of it is fully covered air-conditioned dining place.

Food wise, overal is not bad, eg their specialty sausages, chicken dishes, lemongrass tea, etc. As for the northern thai tomyam, it was not to our expectation. Besides that, they have individual ala-carte meal as well like pad-thai, thai fried rice, etc. The price is quite reasonable.

Pumpkin Fish Porridge

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:38:00 +0000

As I know pumpkin is sweet and very nutritious to us and my hubby like my home-cooked porridge a lot. So I tried to incorporate both into one and end up it tastes good and delicious. My hubby loves it.

Recipe I used (for 2 portions):-

quarter pumpkin (can get it from supermarket)

2 piece of fish fillet (I used grouper's fillet)

rice for two

vege (as your liking - maybe cabbage, carrot, etc)

sesame oil

a little bit of soy sauce and pepper for some seasoning (to your liking)

~2 litres of water

Method:

Wash the rice and marinate it with sesame oil for 15 mins.

Remove the skin and cut the pumpkin flesh into cubes.

Boil the water in a pot and put the rice and pumpkin in once the water bubbles rapidly.. :-)

Still on high fire, cook the rice until it expands and a bit soft (approx. 10-15mins)..

Then put the fire to low and stir the porridge for a while.

Close the pot and let it be. Come back to look and stir at the porridge at the interval of 10mins (This will prevent porridge from sticking to the bottom of the pot which may cause your porridge to burnt)

Cook for another 45mins until the porridge is starchy and soft (it will have the texture like the porridge in dimsum house). At this time, your porridge will be in yellow golden from the pumpkin.

You may put the fish fillet and cook for 10mins and then put the vege in.

Serve while hot! (eat this especially on a rainy day with your love ones and feel the warmth)

**TIPS: To make the soup even tastier, throw in a couple of dried scallops when boiling the water. Besides that, you may add in some meatballs as well like in my picture**

I know that this may sound a bit effort and hard work but when you see the smile on your love ones when eating this porridge, all your sweat and hard work melts away.... :-)

Blue Reef Restaurant @ Tanjung Bunga, Penang

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:52:00 +0000

Recently I received forwarded email on the Blue Reef Restaurant of Tanjung Bunga, Penang. So went over to try out the cuisine there. We tried on Pan Seared Salmon & Mediterranean Couscous with Tomato Confit and the pasta marinara. We also tried the coffee, brew and cafe latte. Overall quite nice. Good is, there is no service/government tax. :-)

Wonder what fruit is this?

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:16:00 +0000

Seen this fruit before??Know what it is??Coconut??Still wondering....??
It's not a coconut...it's a FIG.

Fig
Ficus carica
Family: Moraceae

Description & storage Fig:
soft sweet fruit, full of small seeds and often eaten dried. Fresh figs are delicious and often jam and chutney is made from them. The skin of figs is very thin and ripe figs can't be kept or transported very well. As figs have to be picked when ripe you only can eat them fresh in the country of origin. In the warm countries the figs are dried for export and storage.

Tree / shrub
The fig tree/shrub grows upto 9m x 7m. Short histotory Figs are originally from small Asia and are one of the first fruits cultivated ever. The Greek mention them and around 60 A.C. and Plato promoted the fig as being the nutrition for athletes. A story is known of the Greek government that had forbidden all export of figs once to assure themselves a good outcome at The Olympic Games. The Greek knew about twenty nine fig sorts. Officially figs were imported to Europe around 1600. Today there are more than 600 different fig types.

Use Figs taste best consumed "warm" from the tree. They are dried often because they can't be stored.

Types and family
There are over 600 fig cultivars. Other peculiar characteristics A lot of fig plant races are used decoratively: like the rubberplant and the ficus benjamina; Dried figs contain a lot of sugar, about 60%. It is thought that that was the reason why Plato advised Greek athletes to eat many figs.
The white juice that drips out of the fruit if the the stalk has been broken off is called latex. It was supposed to represent the universal energy and was used as a remedy against infertility and to incite the breast feeding process.

Each fig cultivar has different shaped leafs; Dried figs consist for about 60% of sugar, contain a lot of vitamins and it is said that humans could live on figs alone. It is a very healthy fruit and you can consume as much of them as you like.

Figs and health

Figs are one of the highest plant sources of calcium and fiber. According to USDA data for the Mission variety, dried figs are richest in fiber, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, calcium, and vitamin K, relative to human needs. They have smaller amounts of many other nutrients. Figs have a laxative effect and contain many antioxidants. They are good source of flavonoids and polyphenols. In one study, a 40-gram portion of dried figs (two medium size figs) produced a significant increase in plasma antioxidant capacity.
Detailed nutrient available @ http://www.thefruitpages.com/chartfigs.shtml

dried figs

figs on tree

A Taxi Ride

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:33:00 +0000

~This article nearly caught drowning with tears~

TAXI

I arrived at the address where someone had requested a taxi. I honked but no one came out. I honked again, nothing. So I walked to the door and knocked. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets..

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'..
'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'
'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.
'Nothing,' I said'

You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.

'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.
What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Ais Tingkap/Window Sherbet @ Lebuh Tamil

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 02:49:00 +0000

After looking at Penang TuaPui's blog (http://www.penangtuapui.com/2009/02/desserts-ais-tingkap-window-sherbet/) on Ais Tingkap, I went to try with my sisters. The beverage is pinkish red in color (from the rose syrup) with the ice sherbet, lot of basil seeds & few slices of coconut flesh. It's a thirst quencher!

Some facts about basil seed:

Basil Seed

Ocimum canum

The small (half the size of a sesame seed), black, oval-shaped, seeds of lemon scented basil, when soaked in water, develop a slippery, translucent coat. These are floated in the sweet cold drinks which are popular in hot countries and are claimed to have a very cooling effect on the system. Their texture is slippery (gelatinous coating) and at the same time crunchy (the actual seed) with no appreciable flavour.

Medicinal uses:

The seeds are said to relieve stomach ailments. Because of their slippery coating, they are considered soothing to the digestive system.

Tasty pau in Simpang Empat (Penang)

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:21:00 +0000

Especially the 'big' pau, which run out pretty fast. The restaurant is after Public Bank and beside a big school, along the main road of Simpang Empat town.

Hairy Gourd with Dried Octopus Soup

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 05:35:00 +0000

Ingredients
600g hairy gourd (peeled, cut into pieces)
300g pig's spinal bone
30g perserved turnips (rinsed)
20g Chinese almond flakes
80g dried octopus
6 cored red dates
3000ml water

Seasoning
salt/light soy sauce (to your taste)

Method
1. Soak the dried octopus into water for 1 hr until soften. Remove and rinse. Keep aside.
2. Rinse the pig's spinal bone pieces, blanch into boiling water. Remove, rinse under running cool water, drain well.
3. Cook water into a deep pot, add in pig's spinal bone pieces, perserved turnips, red dates and Chinese almond flakes. Bring back to the boil, reduce to a low heat and cook for approximately 1 hr.
4. Add in hairy gourd pieces, continue cook for further 1 hr. Lastly, blend in seasoning, mix well. Serve at once.

Hand-made fish ball in malacca

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:43:00 +0000

Worth trying. Sorry I forgot the name of the shop...hehe....but it's a corner coffee shop, right opposite the menara taming sari..

Restoran Bunga Raya Porridge @ Melaka

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 10:25:00 +0000

Pork Porridge

Fish Porridge

Good porridge! It's the 2nd row of shop houses opposite the Menara Taming Sari.

Finding the right mattress

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:37:00 +0000

1. The first thing is, forget the old myth about getting the hardest mattress you can find.
2. There should be extra support along the edges. "People sit on the edge of their bed to put their shoes on. If the edges break down, then the center will break down over time
3. Pillow-top mattresses, which add a layer of cushioning to a moderately firm mattress
4. Investing in the largest bed you can afford, especially if your (or your spouse's) condition involves a lot of moving or twitching. "This minimizes the effect on the bed partner".
5. Lying down in the showroom and seeing what feels right. If can, get one with a good return policy in case it's not suitable for you after a couple of weeks.

P.S. If you find the hotel's mattress very comfortable, do ask the front desk on the mattress brand and model :)

蜗牛 by Jay Chou

estertan@gmail.com (~FoodLover~) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 07:41:00 +0000