Pisang Molen (Banana Fritters) - Bandung, Indonesia

All nationalities/localities have their signature dessert. For our part of the world banana fritter is a definite winner. We have the usual form here in Malaysia. It can get pretty boring after some time. I personally cannot recall a stall that offers an 'addictive' version i.e. I have to go back to it again and again.

For all the detractors who have mentioned the health aspects of it bear in mind that people eat all the time. Plus good food attacts the pull factors draw them in like a dragnet. As for banana fritters I measure it by the crispy, not lumpy melt in your mouth fragrant dough. Sometimes the filling may not matter if the dough is bad. So in Malaysia we have many different types of dough being used from the wheat flour to others made from different cereals and the combination of such.

Once the dough's hurdle is cleared lets talk about the fillings. The type of banana being used is obvious. It must be very sweet and after frying is reduced to a nice soft consistency.

Well the Gandasari Pisang Molen in Bandung is reputed to be the best. Always crowded and never short of folks buying boxes of these heavenly desserts. Highly recommended.

Recipe: No-bake Oreo cheesecake (cupcakes)

How time flies.. last month, my little boy turned two! Of course, on his special day, mummy made him a nice cake, or rather cute cupcakes (with all his favorite things) to celebrate.

No-bake Oreo cheese(cup)cake

The kids loved the tofu cheesecake that I made them for their joint birthday, so I decided to make Baby D another cheesecake on his actual birthday. I wanted to form a letter "D" so I made the Oreo cheesecake in cupcake versions. You can also use this recipe to make a 6" cheesecake.

Baby D likes his special "D" cupcakes

How old are you, Baby D?

This is a very easy cake to put together, no baking required. All you need is a rolling pin (to crush the cookies), an electric whisk and a rubber spatula. The original recipe suggests that we chill the cake in the fridge for a few hours, but the cake didn't really set ev! en thoug h I left it in there overnight. It is actually better to freeze it for a couple of hours, then you get an ice-cream like cheesecake (it tastes just like cookies and cream ice cream). Very delish! I wanted to get mini Oreos as cupcake toppers but couldn't find them in KL, so used fresh strawberries instead since birthday boy loves them. You should not omit the lime or lemon juice as it gives the cheesecake a refreshing flavour. I also love lime zest, so threw that in as well ;)

Happy Birthday, my darling boy!

So, did birthday boy like them? You tell me. :)


No bake oreo cheesecake (cupcakes)
Recipe adapted from Tested & Tasted
Preparation time: 45 minutes
No cooking/baking required
Makes 9 cupcakes or 6" cake

For the biscuit base
60g OREO cookies with cream removed, finely crushed (use the cream for the filling)
25g butter, melted

For the filling
250! g cream cheese, softened at room temperature
70g caster sugar plus the cream removed from the cookies for thebiscuit base (approx. 20g)
1 1/2 tsp gelatin powder, melted in 45g of boiling water
Juice and zest of 1 lime
120ml dairy whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
50g OREO cookies, roughly crushed

Fresh strawberries, for topping

1. Arrange 9 cupcake liners on a muffin tray.

2. In a large bowl, combine the melted butter with the crushed Oreo cookies for the base. Mix well until crumbs are evenly moistened. Using a tablespoon, divide the mixture evenly between the cupcake liners, then using the back of the spoon, press down to compact it. Place in the fridge to chill for one hour.

3. For the filling, beat the whipping cream with vanilla extract until soft peaks are formed.

4. Take the cream cheese at least one hour beforehand and leave it at room temperature to soften. In a separate bowl, using an electric whisk, beat the cream cheese and sugar on high speed for 2 minutes till mixture is smooth.Add the gelatin mixture, lime juice and zest and beat for another minute on high speed.

5. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in the whipping cream, follow by the OREO cookie chunks.

6. Gently pour the cream cheese mixture into the cupcake liners, cover loosely with cling film and freeze for at least 2 hours. Take cupcakes out of freezer 10 minutes before serving. Top each cupcake with a halved strawberry.

Angry bird (check!), Oreo cookies (check!), Cream cheese (Check!), Strawberries (Check!).. YUM (Double CHECK!)

World Car-Free Day & We Cycle, Board Train & Ferry to Pulau Ketam

We started from YMCA Brickfields and took a quieter route to the motor lane of Federal Highway. Here we were admiring the rain tree which are getting scarce with new development sprouting in the city.The road was wet after a short down fall but it did not damper us at all we were lucky indeed.Some of the friends waited midway near Subang Jaya.We had several short stops like this one along the motor lane, this was to ensure everyone is alright and no one is left behind.One of the many tunnels of the motor lane some could be dangerous as the lighting was bad. Justbecareful there are lot of speeding mototcycles, just take extra cautious.Mr. Sam Cheong was the one who organised this ride and he is well experienced in such event and and is veryfamiliarwith the route. Thanks to Sam Cheong.It was nice to know that Klang is appearing and looking forward for the food.

The weather was excellent the sun did not bully us and we reached Klang town sound and safe.

Approaching Littl! e India of Klang.Chong Kok Kopitiam, a popular coffee shop in Klang which is very near the train station.The kopitiam was packed and we couldn't wait for proper seats so we had ours at the verandah and it was fun eating this way.The crowd came for this food, Nasi Lemak so were we.....The wooden bucket where the steamed coconut milk flavour nasi was kept, this one was emptied the business was terribly good.We had to fold our bikes and bagged them in order to embark on the train (a must if you are travelling on train in Malaysia)A short wait for the train for Port Kelang at the platform and a good time to share and mingle with new friends.The train or known as "Kommuter" is new & clean which was a surprise to many of us. Well done and keep it up that way.Finally we reached Port Kelang and took a group photo here.It was a short walk from the train station to the jetty and the ticket is RM7.00 one way.Let's board the boat.The boat ride was fun and with friends cracking jokes here and there.It took about half an hour to reach the island from Port Klang.Upon landing on this island, we set up our bikes and were ready to roam the place. We were as if aliens with helmets on 2 wheels. The community loves it.This island is a unique island, a community of itself with all necessaryamenitiesand facilities of what a common community should be. And the basic mode of transportation here is bicyclesprobably99% of them.

Some of the scenery of our day adventure in this island.

Time to go back and wait for our boat at the jetty.There was no room for our bicycles in the boat and they had to be placed outside. Many of us were worried for our bikes while we were in the enclosed boat.Though our bicycles were in the carrying bags but it was also a bitstrenuoushopping from one transportation to another.Everyone had a good day and most of us for the first time experienced the combination of various transportations to Pulau Ketam without our cars.
My destination was Kuala Lumpur, the old KTM train station.

It was a memorable day and an enjoyable cycling day to Pulau Ketam.