Missing, almost

I wrote previously about not being able to find “Sweetened Condensed Milk” anymore in Malaysia. So imagine my delight when Pauline brought this from Bintulu. She said it was priced at about RM2.70 (she wasn’t certain). This particular condensed milk is manufactured in Singapore, and is being stocked in a supermarket in Bintulu! Are we missing something here? I have had some folks telling me that “condensed creamer” and “condensed milk” is exactly the same thing! It’s like saying full cream milk powder is exactly the same as powdered creamer (eg Coffeemate).

Although I don’t normally consume sweetened condensed milk with my coffee, I like to know that should I require it as an ingredient for cakes (eg honeycomb cake!), or when I want to treat myself to local coffee with condensed milk, it’s easily and readily available. I am beginning to think the palm oil lobbyists have their hands in this! Next time you come across a can of sweetened creamer, have a look at the ingredients.

Meanwhile, I am thinking how to get a local supermarket to stock this “luxury” item. Any ideas?

Thanks again Pauline!

Family Matters

Last week was mentally tumultuous for me, as I let myself be drawn into the political developments of the country. It was almost a welcomed relief when Malaysiakini loaded with nothing really exciting today (as at 12.30 pm), save for the ringgit (re)peg suggestion, which personally seems to be a knee-jerk reaction, again!

We had relatives visiting from Brisbane, Bintulu and Melbourne, actually three sisters from different places, on Sunday. True to (family) tradition, food was the dominant theme, with a high-tea themed gathering at Aunty Freda’s, culminating to dinner at “The Heritage”. It’s always heart-warming to meet family, especially when we’ve not seen some for many years. I’ll like to say that the years have been kind to us, and we’ve been blessed.

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to take many photos, but I am sure the following will send some scurrying to the stalls:

We also had some durian puffs, which was bought from Causeway Bay Dim Sum at Crown Square.

STP may post some pics of the food we had at “The Heritage”, as I was not in a position to be snapping away. (STP was not at dinner, but a diner very kindly snapped away, and emailed him the pics already).

Anyway, before the sisters left Kuching, we managed to bring them out for the infamous kolo-mee at Kim Joo at Carpenter Street. Again, I didn’t take any photos, as I’ve taken some before, so they had something like:

I love it when coffee shops still serve coffee in the traditional coffee and saucer set. I think at least three of us had 2 cups of coffee this morning.

To Teresa, Pauline and Genevie, it was really great seeing you all. Hope you all had a great time, and have a pleasant trip home.

Comfort Foods

We are all familiar with our own respective comfort foods, the common factor being simple carbohydrates which makes us feel great almost immediately. Of course the downward spiral/ crash is also just as fast, leaving us feeling laggy, sleepy, and lethargic. I read that to counter this effect, simple carbohydrates should ideally be eaten together with enough protein so the  digestive system will then take a longer time to process the carb/protein combo.

So when my daughter requested for one of her favourite food, pasta, I had to make sure there’s lots of meat as well. For a simple spaghetti bolognese, it’s best to use either fresh tomatoes, or canned tomatoes, which you then dice or just pulse in the food processor. I normally add brown onions, garlic, italian herbs, and some cream (if I happen to have that in the fridge), fresh champignons, and of course premium minced beef (top side is excellent if you want lean mince). For added flavour, I sometimes use anchovy fillets.

This is what my daughter had for lunch today. (I have not observed the “abstain from meat on friday” man made rule, for a long time).

A common and ever popular comfort food would of course be this:

Folks in KK would probably go for “”sang yuk mien”, which is quite nice as the distinctive smell of lard is rather prominent.

One of my favourite comfort food, however, is poached eggs on toast or fresh bread.

Let me know your favourite comfort foods!

Have a cuppa!

Coffee drinkers in this region are certainly quite spoilt for choice. We have a choice of local roasted coffee beans, imported beans, and of course various instant coffees. With Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Starbucks (phew! we were spared their “downsizing” exercise), with their selection of coffee beans from different regions, we can even do our own espressos and cappuccinos at home, if we have invested in a coffee lover’s dream machine, say something like this:

I have an incurable weakness for kitchen gadgets, and this is a super luxury that I’m fantasizing over, for a while now. For now, when I want to get that very bold full bodied cup of coffee, I use this very simple vacuum coffee maker:

Of course, when you just want a quick cup, there’s always the dependable instant coffee.

So what’s your cuppa?

Devonshire Tea, kinda

In the gym, we occasionally get asked this question, “I’m making scones today, would you like to order some?”, and the unanimous response would be ayes. F, the lady who makes the best british scones in town, made a batch yesterday, forewarning us that it may be a while before she bakes again, as her helper is leaving and a replacement is yet to be found. It could have been my imagination but I think everyone ordered just slightly more than their usual quantity….kia su much?

Of course I ordered, and the goodies were delivered today. Whilst panting away at the Summit trainer, I was already planning to drop in to Cold Storage to see if clotted cream is in stock (yes, we don’t have the luxury of having such items in stock at all times, somewhat a blessing). As I walked into Cold Storage, I noticed that the whole cold section where the cheeses and creams are normally shelved, were completely empty!! (A sign said that section was under repair or something to that extent.) Darn! No luck today then. But I turned a corner, and there they were, all sitting pretty, waiting to be picked. There is a chance for Devonshire tea after all.

I am not a tea drinker, favouring coffee, so it was Devonshire tea sans tea.

Of course Ms Totally Spoilt had the first bite!

I supposedly burned 386 calories this morning, but I am sure I shored up more than that, with a single scone! What’s life without some indulgence thrown in, every once in a while eh?

Almost like tea time at Kpg Nangka

Sometimes the best is the simplest, like tea time at my grandma’s in Kg Nangka many years ago. It would normally be coffee and cream crackers or “kay ben” dunked in said coffee. Good times!

Anyone else still eat this ocassionally? I love this!

Actually, how many of us actually do tea time these days?

Rare brunch with KNB

The day started just like any other, with a very ambitious work out plan in the gym, after dropping off my daughter at school.  The plan was to get my cardio clocked up for the week, as I have been slacking, and didn’t really work up much sweat at pilates and body rolling class yesterday. Well, pilates is very different from any other cardio regime.

A text message came in when I was on the way to my daughter’s school. KNB texted to say he needed a lift to the hospital as he had injured his leg, playing futsal! (This is his second injury from futsal). I thought I had a half hour to kill, so off to the gym I went. I pondered a very short while beside the  “The Summit trainer”, and thought “heck! I’ll just come back tomorrow and do this”. Happily, I got my stuff, went down to the coffeeshop, had a cup of coffee with friends and trainer (who already finished their x-circuit class), before going to pick up KNB.

KNB pulled some tendon or something in his calf, and was really walking funny, almost dragging his left leg. He was advised to rest, prescribed some pain medication, and sent home. We decided to go get brunch (super early lunch for me), and decided we’ll go to Bella’s so KNB can try the kampua there.  STP, if you’re reading, this is especially for you.

I had the laksa, which was just okay, though I remember it tasting better the last time I ate here.

I bought the chicken pie for my daughter.

Dreaming of Tony…….

Small cities in Malaysia seem to have the disadvantage of being largely left out by the more upmarket restaurant franchises, as the forecasted figures on their bottom lines deem them unfeasible. While KFC and McDonalds are doing very good business here, I do wish Burger King would make its way here. We recently saw the re-opening of Kenny Rogers Roasters, but the few times that I happened to walk past, I can count the number of patrons with one hand. There’s also Manhattan Fish Market, which I’ve patronised once, and have no inclination of going again in the near future.

When in Singapore, I will make it a point to lunch or dine at Tony Roma’s. I am normally not a ribs person, but Tony Roma’s ribs are tender, succulent, juicy and so very delicious. My family and I will normally order some combo plate for 3, plus a half slab Baby Back Ribs. We love the baked potatoes as well.

Tony Roma’s is now in KL, but wasn’t all that keen to try it when I was there a few months ago.  They have to comply with the Halal condition, so that’s a downer already. If I’m not mistaken, the baby backs are pork ribs, and that’s my favourite!

I doubt Tony Roma’s will be opening a restaurant in my neck of the woods in the near future, so I guess till the next trip to Singapore, the memory of this:

will have to do.

A1 STP Curry

If you’ve read suituapui’s blog, you would have come across his post on A1 curry paste. I’ve experimented twice, and this is my second attempt.

Before adding santan.

After adding santan.

Isn’t A1 great? Note the mustard seeds! Don’t you just love you some nyonya curry?

Almost Instantly

Someone recently commented that when one is very hungry, Maggi Mee (Curry Flavour) served with egg is “the best thing in the world”. As children way back when, our instant noodles intake were rather restricted, and I remember opting not to eat the meal that was already prepared for us, opting instead to cycle out to the shops to get a couple of packets of Maggi Mee, paddle all the way back, cook, and devour like it was the best meal ever.

Those days are long gone now, and eating Maggi Mee or other instant noodles occur once in maybe 6 months, at best.  There are many varieties of instant noodles now, and I’ve tried a few. Ta Kiong in the Spring stock among others, the Myojo brand. I believe the Myojo instant noodles being sold in this region are now produced in Singapore. It’s slightly more expensive, but totally worth it.

I tried this particular one, “Instant Hor Fun” (Chicken Flavour) for lunch recently, and it was yummylicious!

I don’t normally just have carbs, so I added an egg (free range of course!), left over luncheon meat fried with egg, and some spinach.

It will definitely be less than 6 months before I next have instant noodles!