Bonjour, I am back

1/8/2014

Yes, I am back.

Everybody has been asking "How was your trip?"

Hmmmm...... what can I say?

The trip was good:-

1.  Time to catch up with my daughter Sarah and to be with her during this period.

At Cardiff Tourist Information Centre. Exhibition on the history of Cardiff.  These stone animals are replicate of the Animals Wall. 

2.  There is no better time than this, to get to know my sisters who were travelling with me more ... guess even though we all come from the same family, each one of us is different.

Selfie prior to departure at KLIA

3.  I was able to see, taste (and also missed)  some of the places and foods which I have included in my itinery.
 

Paris Macarons..not the famous ones (too expensive) but taste good though!

4.  I was able to experience 2 different cultures and met some interesting persons along the way.

Mr. Ng... the best fish and chips in London

Mr. Alex - our French guide ...very helpful and patient with us and of course Mr. Alan too.

5.  Most of all, thanks to God, I am able to come home to my family   (dogs and cats included..hahaha).

The trip was "bad"  as in my absence:-

1.  My nephew was admitted for dengue fever, thank God again that he is alright now.

2.  the new stray dog,  Blackie was involved in a hit and run accident and thank God that she has recovered albeit with one missing leg!

3.  the sad news of the MH17 and infact 2 more airplanes accidents. My condolences to the victims and their families.

Well, after the rain and there is  rainbow.......

Outside Ibis Hotel in Cardiff.... it was already past 8 pm at night...

Anyway, I am glad to be back and I will update the photographs in due course... let me recover from jet lag first D:!

BE HAPPY DON'T WORRY

11/7/2014

FRIDAY

GOOD MORNING AND HAPPY FRIDAY ......4 more days to go ..

Everybody wants to be happy and everyone has different methods towards achieving happiness in their life. Well,  I will leave this topic of achieving happiness to the experts but I can recommend you one place to go and be happy which I did......

Welcome to HAPPYOLOGY....    

Cute cafe/bistro located in Bandar Mahkota Cheras.  They occupy a 3 storey shoplot. We were there at lunchtime.  A long banquette occupies one side of the ground floor  with the kitchen and bar at the end with more dining spaces upstairs. It  was busy but can see the staff moving very efficiently and smoothly among the tables. The menu is rather extensive and they do sell all day set breakfast and set lunch (cheap only RM9.90 each)  as well..... and most important no MSG is used!

There were lots of motivational quotes on both sides of the walls.

 

My niece ordered a Kiwi juice and the half-filled jug that came was surprisingly more than enough for 2 persons. I ordered a flower tea (refillable)  recommended for eye care  for both Esther and myself. 

Esther ordered a Cheese Baked Rice with Salmon. This was served in the pan and hence it was hot! The portion was generous and even with the sharing among us, we were not able to finish it.  The salmon was done perfectly and most important, fresh!

Really cheesy. 

My niece also ordered a Cheese Baked rice with seafood... and as you can see the scallops and prawns are big and succulent. 

I tried their "Must Try" Oyster Porridge and I really love it, though the porridge was more watery as I was expecting a bowl of smooth congee.  However there were plenty of fresh plump oysters and diced chinese sausage and the coriander adds a very aromatic flavour to the porridge as well. ... yum. 

The last dish we ordered was this Spaghetti Carbonara with oysters (again!) and this did not disappoint us with its creamy and cheesy sauce. 

The cafe has been operating for more then 7 months and judging by the crowds that keep arriving you know there is something worth coming back for. Let's just hope that they will maintain the standard of the food and their service.  

Lastly, they also serve us complimentary ice-cream, even though its just a scoop, this finishing touch is a  very good sales tactic but  much appreciated by the diners, I am sure.    

Enjoy yourself and be happy.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  I will be on leave till after Hari Raya. 

So an early  "SELAMAT HARI RAYA" greetings to all. 

FOOD FOR YOUR EYES

9/7/2014

I am looking forward to my trip  .... 6 more days!  I have never thought that I could visit London and now my dream comes true!  So many beautiful sights to see, taste to know and experience.  Must take time to care for my eyes now..hahah.. I saw this TV programme where Madam Wong invited her friends for a dinner date and the theme was eye care and of course the most popular item used in the Traditional Chinese Medicine is the "gei zhi" or wolfberries for the eyes.     

Did my best to re-create the recipe and here's my version of Steamed Glutinous Rice with Dried Scallops and Wolfberries.  It is simple and easy to cook and taste delicious as well.  I like the combination of sweet flavour of the wolfberries and the savoury chewiness of the dried scallop.  

Remember to soak the glutinous rice at least 4 hours (I soak them overnight). Drain and put into rice cooker with about a cup of the water/chicken stock which has been used to steam the dried scallops.

Cook till the light switch off. 

Meanwhile prepare the flavouring sauce: soya sauce, pepper, sesame oil, sugar and just a tablespoon of ginger juice + cooking wine.   She give this useful tip: minced ginger and add a tablespoon  of cooking wine, mix them together.  I reserve the minced ginger and use it for stir fry vegetables.   

  

When the light switch off, add the prepared dried scallops 

and the sauce and mix well.. 

lastly add the wolfberries.

Cover the rice cooker and press to cook for 2nd time till the switch pop up again and just let it rest for 45 minutes before serving. 

Warm and heartening rice..... you can see the rice is not soft and lumpy but can clearly each grains individually..... yummy.

One of her guests also suggest daily taking wolfberries immersed in hot water drink. Another recommended looking at more green and calming views eg looking at the fishes in an aquarium and of course, always wear your sunnies outdoors and less playing on computer and/or mobile phone! 

Oh, yes must remember to pack my sunnies too!  

EASY MEATLOAF

6/7/2014

SUNDAY

I am excited....... in a week's time, I shall be able to see Sarah and give her a BIG HUG. I really miss her a lot.    So it is time to start clearing my fridge for the 2 weeks trip.

What do I find in the fridge... 2 pieces of pork loin and a piece of pork belly.  Sometimes just keep buying that's where it ended up in the freezer.    Search through the pantry and thought better use that last can of tomatoes even though the expiry date is early next year... hey time pass so fast and its just another 6 months to next year. 

So decided to make a meat loaf for Esther's lunch.  She has been asking for homecook meals for her lunch as around her office mostly mamak stalls,  besides any leftovers  can keep just in case she is too lazy to eat out while I am away.

Recipe was taken from Kitchen Flavours- Old Fashioned Meat Loaf.

Ingredients: ground beef (I used pork), chopped onion, rolled oats (I used my pre-mixed oatmeal), egg and can tomato.  Mix all the ingredients together and season well with salt and black pepper. I added some cayenne pepper as well and some breadcrumbs (as I find the mixture a bit wet).  

For the glaze/topping: tomato ketchup, mustard (I used wholegrain mustard) and brown sugar mixed together.  

Put the mixture into a loaf tin and level the top.  Spoon the glaze over the meat ( I reserve some of the glaze to brush over the meat half way through the baking). Bake at 160C for around an hour.  

The meat loaf is very moist and tasty.    It was so easy to make and cook..... just leave it to bake in the oven.

Thumbs up indeed!