Spicy Lemon Coconut Sauce

This sauce looks bland from here. I know. All that white. But its totally not. I've had a jar of it in the refrigerator for the past week, and it's one of those things that makes just about everything you put it on (or in) better. I go about making it in a mortar and pestle, but have done it in a food processor in the past when I'm short on time. We're talking about garlic and green chiles worked into a paste, then bulked out with lots of scallions and cilantro. Coconut milk is the base, and the creaminess is balanced out with a good amount of fresh lemon juice.

Parmesan Spread RecipeParmesan Spread Recipe

Here's my list of how I've used it - this recipe makes a couple of cups, and it is quite rich, so a jar goes quite a distance. 1. Swirled into a simple pureed asparagus soup. 2. Small dollops on top of a frittata. 3. Whisked into scrambled eggs. 4. Inside a version of these spring rolls. 5. Thinned out with a bit of broth in a saucepan, I then sauted a couple handfuls of broccoli in it, added tiny pieces of tofu, a couple big spoonfuls of cooked quinoa, and some toasted almonds. Dinner.

There's still half a jar left and thinned out, it makes a really nice base broth for any number of soups. So, next up, I think I'll use it instead of a more traditional curry broth, in a big pot with lots of fresh vegetables, maybe some noodles....

Parmesan Spread RecipeParmesan Spread Recipe

Use full-fat coconut milk here, it gives the sauce better consistency and mouth feel. You can thin it out to your liking from there depending on how you're going to use it. Like I said, it's rich, but a little goes a long way. :)

Continue reading Spicy Lemon Coconut Sauce...


Recipe: Italian Milk Risotto with Cherry Parfait

During the cooking demo with Chef Stefano Merlo at Favola, Le Meridien KL, he showed us how to make 3 dishes.

As promised, here is the recipe for the delicious dessert that he prepared for us - milk risotto with cherry parfait. You can find more photos of the cooking demo by clicking here.




Ingredients (makes 4)
For the milk risotto:
100g carnaroli rice
500ml milk
100g milk powder
50ml cream
45g sugar
1/2 vanilla bean

For the cherry parfait:
175g seedless cherry
200ml water
80g sugar
12 pcs cherry pedicles

1. Soak the rice in water for 2 hours and then drain.

2. Bring the milk, cream, milk powder, sugar and vanilla bean to the boil. Once boiled, pour in the rice and cook at low heat. Stir continuously til rice softens (around 20 minutes).

3. Once cooked, the liquid will be absorbed into the rice. If it's too thick, add some more milk. Cool the mixture down and refridgerate the rice - the rice tastes better after being refridgerated for at least 24 hours.

4. For the cherry parfait, boil the water and sugar until it becomes a syruppy consistency. Place the seedless cherries in a pacojet container and cover with syrup. Place the container in the freezer and freeze at -19C. Run the pacojet to obtain the parfait and rest it in the freezer for 30 minutes.

5. Pour 3 spoonful of cold rice in a cold serving plate (the consistency must be similar to a creamy risotto). Take 3 scoops of cherry parfait with a small ice scoop and place it on the top of the rice. Place cherry pedicle on each cherry parfait and serve immediately.



Note: A Pacojet costs approx. USD$4,000 hence an alternative if you do not have this machine is to use your ice cream maker or buy from store. Vanilla ice cream will go very well with the milk risotto.

The Red Beanbag, Solaris Dutamas

RedBeanBag1
Australian inspired breakfast joint has became popular this past year, most notably is Antipodean in Bangsar (next to La Bodega) and also The Red Beanbag in Solaris Dutamas. Last i know red beanbag only open till 5:00pm daily.

We are looking for Red beanbag in Solaris Dutamas, turn out we walked opposite of where it is situated, might as well take a photo to show location of this restaurant.

RedBeanBag2

Breakfast menu, served all day, till 5:00pm which is their closing time

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View from Red beanbag which is situated one floor ground up.

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bean bag decorations

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Signature breakfast, RM19.90 nett, yummy

Address: The Red Beanbag
Lot A4-1-8, Solaris Dutamas
(opposite Publikas open area)
Jalan Dutamas 1,
50480 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: +603-6211 5116
Busines hour: 8:30am till 5:00pm daily
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! thenormadGourmand

KampungBoyCityGal

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  • Tanjong Jara Retreat: The journey in the Volvo XC60 and McDonalds Chicken Muffin!

    I woke up at the ungodly hour of 4am to finish packing (read: rushing and dumping everything I think I may need into my luggage) before the start of the journey to Tg Jara Resort inKuala Dungun,Terengganu.

    Below: Laptop bag, camera, tripods for the camera, clothes, some books.all into the boot of the Volvo XC60.

    volvo xc60 review - rebeccasaw (2)

    I was anticipating a LONGGGG ride, since it was supposedly a minimum 5 hours ride from KL. I started my journey as early as I could, since I was leaving KL on a Monday morning, and getting stuck in traffic prior to a get-away is not my idea of fun.

    volvo xc60 review-001

    Sunrise. Always captivating.

    volvo xc60 review-003
    Though I picked up the Volvo XC60 2 days back, I didnt get the chance to drive it around much. But the thru and fro trips to the mall were satisfactory enough, and the elevated driving postion did marginally assist short petite girls like me for an advantageousview of the road.

    Below: See how much taller I am standing on the side step into the drivers seat!

    The Volvo XC60 - Review by rebeccasaw

    A common perception among ! all is t hat driving an SUV is safer; most likely due to its size and thus the associated sense of security since other cars on the road would rather not mess with you. But do note that Im making this statement just based on my chatter with friends and should not be taken as a fact.

    But what is a FACT is the Volvos XC60sfuel gauge seems to be moving towards E a bit too fast for me!
    Below: An average of 8.0 km/litre, and when I got speed happy along the highway, I got about 7.0 km/l.

    volvo xc60 - fuel consumption

    My trip to Tanjong Jara and back took 2 full tanks (an approximation since we refuelled a few times along the way without waiting for it to go empty), covering a distance about 500km (each way); with detours in between for food. Other than the initial full tank courtesy of Volvo Malaysia, I pumped another RM150 worth of fuel, Ron97.
    Hmm so what do you guys think of the fuel consumption?
    But of course, IT IS a heavy and powerful car

    Anyhow, with such a long journey ahead, I made MANY pitstops for FOOD, starting with breakfast at McDonalds.

    mcdonalds chicken mcmuffin

    One thing constant about McDonalds is the uniformity of their menu. The only item I been wanting to sample was their NEWChicken Muffin and I was worried that smaller outlets on highways may not offer them. But McD addicts assured me that every McDonalds would have it on their menu.

    At RM2.50 each (now its RM4.50), I grabbed 2!

    mcdonalds chicken mcmuffin-001

    First impressions? 100% chicken meat= YAY!
    At RM2.50 (do note that its RM4.50 now) for a patty this size, I was already thinking of making daily visits (4am 11am) at a McDonalds near me!

    mcdonalds chicken mcmuffin-002

    Thats until I saw the amount of mayonnaise. Heck no. First and last McDonalds Chicken Muffinfor me!

    mcdonalds chicken mcmuffin-003

    Or maybe NOT!
    Because it was really GOOD actually. Think of the McChicken patty in a McD muffin.
    And there you have it, the McDonalds Chicken Muffin!

    mcdonalds chicken mcmuffin-004

    Stomach appeased momentarily, I took the wheel again and braced myself for the rest of the journey. Honest to god, I hate long distance driving. I was hoping that the Volvo XC60 would be snuggly and comfortable thus that will take the edge off the tiring journey.

    volvo xc60 review-002

    volvo xc60 review - rebeccasaw

    So was it a comfort! able jou rney?
    Hint: Stiff suspension!

    Anyhow, next up more FOOD during our pitstops in Kuantan; namely the famous Nasi Lemak Zaman and the Ho Yin Curry Mee!


    Putik Pauh & Maistreet

    Checking out a couple of Malay eateries that have opened this year at Taman Tun.

    First up, Putik Pauh, which channels northeastern fare, including compulsory rice dishes. Might not be mind-blowing, but unpretentiously comforting nonetheless.

    Laksam, also satisfactory. Prices are pleasing; a meal for two can come under RM20.

    Not far away, Maistreet mollifies seekers of street food and shisha.

    Basic fried rice, with chicken, fried egg and omelet. Stomach-stuffing, but nothing more.

    Putik Pauh,
    Jalan Burhanuddin Helmi, Taman Tun Dr Ismail.

    Maistreet Cafe,
    25, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 7, TTDI (behind Presto supermarket).

    Taste test crowns Subway breakfast sandwiches best

    Consumer Reports tested out breakfast sandwiches from fast food chains like McDonald's, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Subway and Starbucks. Picture by Andrea Skjold/shutterstock.com
    NEW YORK, April 27 In a Consumer Reports survey of breakfast sandwiches from major fast food outlets, Subways offerings were deemed the tastiest and the most nutritious.

    After sampling egg sandwiches from Burger King, Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Starbucks and Subway, taste testers chose the sandwich chains Egg White and Cheese on Mornin Flatbread for its tender bread and flavourful egg whites.

    Of the 106 choices, six of the sandwiches were rated Very Good for nutrition and all of them came from Subway.

    The Egg White and Cheese on Mornin Flatbread clocked in at 170 calories and 5g of fat.

    Meanwhile, testers complained that the cheese in Starbucks sandwiches was saucelike and that the eggs in McDonalds Egg McMuffin sandwiches were rubbery. Others had mediocre muffins or flavourless eggs, the report says.

    Fast food chains have been paying more attention to their morning offerings of late, with companies not traditionally known for breakfast launching new menus for the commuter crowd.

    Taco Bell, for instance, introduced its FirstMeal menu across the US last month, which includes sausage, egg, steak or bacon burritos.

    Market research group NPD, meanwhile, says that the breakfast industry is seeing growth worldwide as an untapped market, especially given that 31 million consumers in the US alone say they skip the most important meal of the day.

    To get the most out of your fast food breakfast sandwich, taste testers suggest toasting the bread, skipping the cheese or meat, substituting egg whites for whole eggs, and eating it right away.

    The full story appears in the June issue of Consumer Reports. AFP/Relaxnews


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    Spring theme; of peonies, hydrangeas and hyacinths

    Flowery theme cakes are oh so pretty cause there would be flowers, frills, ruffles and all those romantic girly stuffs. Well, this was for a spring themed birthday celebration for one of my friends mother in law. it was quite a big one. So because the theme is mainly peony and hyacinth (which I never really heard of until I was told about it :P ), the cake revolves around having just this 2 flowers.

    The pic above was one of the 4 peonies, in a lighter shade of pink, aurora I call it. Another was in a darker shade, in thrift / burgundy dust.

    Using dust on flowers are really important as it really makes it pop out! I forgot to steam it, otherwise it would be even nicer! Yes, steam is a term used to run the dusted petalabruptlyover steam to blend the colour more evenly. It works especially well with fillers and berries.

    Ive made peony a cuople of times so it wasnt really much of a problem, but for hyacinth, because Ive not even heard of it before.. Its really quite a tough one to make. I will do up a tutorial for both these flowers when I am not pulling my hair LOL. That saying, when Im free la!!

    The setting of the room was so so pretty, feels like in a enchanted botanical garden. Flowers every where!! Hydrangeas especial! ly. Love them lots! This was a favour box done for each of the guests. 170 of them :)

    Inside the favour boxes were hydrangea and roses decorated orange poppyseed (favourite!) and marbled cupcakes.

    Incase you dont know, my orange poppyseed cake is one of the favourite flavour for my customers. Well, its hard not to like because its made with the natural stuff; orange zest and freshly squeezed orange juice as well!! Real stuff yo..

    Ok. till then xoxo