Salted

I learnt this recipe from my mum. I love stir fried pork belly with salted fish as it was flavourful and goes so well with rice and plain porridge. 

I got some salted mackerel fish from my mum not long ago. I don't really fancy eating this type of salted fish (as it is) so I decided to use it up for this recipe. Thanks mum for giving me some of your salted fish. Lol. 

Ingredients:

Pork belly, about 500g

Salted mackerel fish, about 2 -3 tbsp 

Ginger, sliced finely or shredded

Water to boil the pork belly 

Salt 

Cooking oil, about 2 tbsp 

Dashes of dark soy sauce (optional)

Methods:

1. In a pot of boiling water, add in the pork belly. Let it cook. Drain and cut to small slices once it has cool down. 

2. In a pan, add in the cooking oil. Once heated up, add in the ginger. Stir fried till fragrant and turn browner.

3. Add in the pork belly. Saute for a while before adding salt to taste. 

4. Mince or pound the salted fish. Then add the salted fish to the pan.  If you like the dish to be darker in colour, then can sprinkle few dashes of dark soy sauce to it. Mix well and let the dish cook for a while before dish out.

Special

A brunch appointment with a friend in Stutong yesterday. Our friend chosen this coffee shop for brunch, namely Heng Ki Kopitiam next to Foody Goody Cafe in Stutong. 

A treat by our friend; he recommended the fried mihun to me. Special fried mihun from the noodle stall (kolo mee) . 

And when it came, I was surprised!! More like  shocked!! Didn't expect the special was like this!!

Protein filled plate, with sliced pork belly, braised pork belly and more!! I like that they used those very fine mihun, like the Heng Hua mihun which went well with the ingredients. Slightly salty for me but overall, it was nice and wholesome. I found it hard to finish it!!

As for my man, our friend recommended kolo mee special, and that how his brunch looked like!! How special it was with those innards at the side. There was an innards soup to go with it which I didn't take shot of. Not sure how much our food cost as our friend paid for it. 

Both of us skipped our lunch yesterday.

That early

It was Malaysia Day. Not meant to sleep in and wake up late that day. Both hubby and Jan had their own agenda that weekend.

Jan enrolled herself in a Youth Communication Camp in Borneo Happy Farm for 2 nights, so needed to drop her off at Civic Centre for gathering by 6am. Few schools joined in this camp, so few buses to pick them up to the farm. 

Hubby and I drove her off when it was still very dark as it was not yet 6am. Most of her classmates and teachers were already there when we reached around 555am. Some parents even accompanied their children while waiting for the teachers or day to turn brighter. As for Jan, after bidding her goodbye, hubby and I were off to find any coffee shops that opened that early to fill up our tummies.

Photo taken after we finished our breakfast

Initially Huan Lok Cafe was our first choice but it wasn't opened. So we tried our luck at the next road, and that was how we ended up at this Hon Hin Cafe at Jalan Abell for a very early breakfast!

Inside of Hon Hin Cafe

Some people were even earlier than us, as few tables were occupied when we entered the shop. Hubby did the ordering from the noodle stall right in the front of the shop while I checked out the menu on the wall. They have toasts and other light breakfast, mostly made by the Caucasian guy that mending the drink stall. 

Yours truly who wasn't much awake on a public holiday (photo below). Wishing that she was in bed right at that moment!! Lol. 

It's me!

Our comforting and warm breakfast came in a quick time! Each of us had the mixed pork soup plus noodle set for RM10. Good to take on an early and cold morning but I was having tough time finishing it. 

Probably it was too early to digest on such heavy food. Luckily I had my man to help me finish it up. Total cost for our breakfast was RM30 plus tapau.

Liver,pig's blood, intestine, pig's skin etc in the soup

We tapaued 2 kolo mee for the boys who were still sleeping when we reached home, slightly before 7am. And hubby got himself ready and left the house before 8am for his weekend fishing trip. So that weekend, only me and the boys holding on the fort. What a way to enjoy our Malaysia's Day weekend!! Lol. 

My treat

Kids! They are easily pleased. Especially when they are smaller!! Lol. 

For Jamie's birthday, I treated him to one of his favourite meal, Sugarbun!! The dad treated him to his other favourite meal, sushi on that Sunday while my treat was the day earlier. 

He had the broasted chicken with savoury rice set, which he enjoyed very much. The other kids also had the same set while I went for the above set (broasted chicken, fish fillet and savoury rice). Jan and I shared the fish fillet.

Total was RM46.25 and after included the container/processing fee and delivery fee, I paid up RM54.24 via Food Panda app.

Joining in the fun

September 11 was Jamie's birthday. So last Sunday, he turned 9. We decided to make it a memorable day for him and his siblings by bringing them out for a little outdoor fun to celebrate. We hardly did much for the past 2 years on his special day due to Covid-19 so we decided it was high time for a little celebration.

Something different for him. We brought him out for a fun time in Sentosa Theme Park. An indoor fun, games and sports park for all ages. RM88 per person for the kids that covered 14 activities. We added another RM45 per person for the go cart racing, which yours truly joining in the fun!!

We were very early, reached there before 10am. The centre only opened at 10am. Good idea to come early as we basically had the whole place to ourselves!! Only after 12, more crowds coming in and by then, we almost finished most of the activities!!

Started off with the EV go cart, the 4 of us had fun racing on the track. First time for all of us; we spent a good 10 minutes thrilling on the track. 

Then the kids went for archery...

Nintendo game, Sony VR, PS4, blaster game and so forth. The kids covered all the 14 activities, which last for 3 hours (including a short lunch break)

For lunch, we ordered burgers and fries from the centre. RM49.50 for 5 burgers and 1 pack of French fries. 

Then the kids proceed to the last activity, which was the 5D museum before we headed home. 

Everyone was tired after the activities and since the next day was the school day, everyone knocked out early in the evening. 

Honest remark: The place was rather run down, not much maintenance in place and some equipment was unusable. Lack of staff and the staff at present was not knowledgeable when asked on the activities. 

The parts

My man bought 2 big mackerels not long ago. I cut the fishes and packed properly in containers before store in freezer. Usually I would keep the fish heads as well, to cook curry fish head but my kids don't fancy the sight of the head so I tend to discard them sometimes.

I would keep the tails and the few cuts of the fish from head down to cook curry instead. For instance, last week, I took out a container of the parts to cook assam pedas. 

No, I didn't cook from scratch. It would be too troublesome. The easy way out, from paste. I bought this Chef-Ku Assam Pedas paste from Emart. 

Never try this brand before, so not sure how good it is. It is easy to use and cook, based on the instructions. 

Anyone try this brand before?? Any good recommendation for Assam fish paste, so maybe I will look out for and try next time.  

As for my assam pedas fish, I simply heat up the paste in a pot under medium heat. Then slowly add water, about a cup first. Once boiling, toss in the seasoned fish parts (seasoned with salt and pepper) and sliced tomato, and mix the paste. Add another cup of water. 

Cook for about 10 minutes or till the fish is cooked!! I added about 1 teaspoon of salt before turn off the heat. That's it!! Easy and hassle-free, right??

Verdict?? Not too spicy according to my tastebud. Or maybe I added too much water?? Anyway, no precise measurement given in the instruction so I was based on my own preference. 

Recipe and gift box

I saw this recipe from Christine's Recipes and I immediately knew that I needed to try it out! I had 2 chicken thighs the freezer so on Monday, I went on to give her recipe a test.

It turned out flavourful and what I expected.  I love Shao xing wine, so this dish is definitely a keep for me.

Shao xing with wolfberries chicken thighs (Recipe adapted from Christine's Recipe)

Ingredients:

2 chicken thighs, chopped to biteable size

5 garlic cloves, minced

1 shallot, sliced

Few slices of ginger

2 tbsp shaoxing wine

1/4 cup of water

1 medium sized rock sugar, about 25gm

1 spring onion, chopped

2 tbsp wolfberries, rinse and soak for 5 minutes and drain

Cooking oil

Marinade for chicken thighs:

3 tsp light soy sauce

1 tsp dark soy sauce

1 tsp oyster sauce

2 tsp sesame oil

Methods:

1. Mix the marinade well before pouring onto the chicken. Mix well and set aside for about 30 minutes.

2. Heat up about 2 - 3 tbsp of cooking oil in a wok. Saute garlic, shallot and ginger till fragrant before adding in the chicken with the marinade.Stir fry the meat till change colour.

3. Add in the water and rock sugar.  Sprinkle 2 tbsp of shaoxing wine and give the meat a good stir.

4. Cover the wok and let it cook for about 15 to 20 minutes till the sauce thicken and chicken is cooked.

5. Can add water if you prefer some gravy or too dry. Lastly add in the wolfberries and spring onion, stir to mix and turn off the heat. Serve warm!

On the very same day, hubby passed me this lovely bag before he was off to Sri Aman to work.  Actually it was a gift box.  A mooncake gift from a friend.  Lovely, don't you think so??  Mooncake gift box sure is getting more lavish and creative now   No wonder mooncake is getting more expensive.  We are paying for the gift box as well!!  

And today is the actual Mid-Autumn Festival, so I would like to wish all my blogger friends and readers, A Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!!!

The best

When everyone makes time and gathers over the holiday, it is definitely one of the best memories. It was Malaysia Independence Day, so a public holiday on Wednesday.  Dad called for a lunch gathering a week earlier, so we did a potluck at his house that afternoon.

Everyone contributed to the potluck.  Look at all the food we were having! It didn't looked much unlike the one we had in June. Nevertheless, there was something for everyone.

My brother ordered dayak dishes from Lepau Restaurant. This ethnic restaurant has been around, serving Orang Ulu and Dayak cuisine to the Sarawakian.  For lunch, we were having its sambal petai and pansuh ayam.

The petai was way too spicy and oily for our palate but it was nice.  Pity it was too oily, otherwise I would have packed some home. But the ayam pansuh won the praises around the table.  It was very well cooked and so delicious and appetising. 

I tapaued some leftover and heated up for dinner that day.  Some more I added some water and tuak (rice wine) to it for more added flavour. Take note that Lepau Restaurant serves no pork and halal certified, so no wine added to this dish. 

 

This pork pata was bought by my sister from Shoprite Cafe & Grill. Not that big portion but just nice to share around.  The skin was crispy but the meat was slightly tough.  Overly baked I guess.  Overall, it was alright.

Pork and chicken satay bought by dad, which were my boys' favourite especially the pork satay. 

As for me, I was in charge of buying KFC fried chicken. It has been a while since I had fried chickens from this franchise chain so I decided to buy KFC for lunch. 12 pieces combo with mashed potato, fries and 1 bottle of soft drink and 2 packs of chicken nugget (6 pieces each). I went to the nearby chain as early as 930am to buy them!

Lastly 2 pans of pizza from Pizza Hut.  Hawaiian chicken and triple chicken pizza. Many leftovers of pizza, as my kids didn't ate much of them.  I guess they had enough of pizza during Jay's birthday treat a week ago so they didn't take many pieces that Wednesday.

So, what do you think of our Merdeka lunch?? That was how we celebrated our 65th Independence Day.  With family, loved ones and food.

Foggy

It was 29 August. And we woke up to a very foggy morning. When sending Jan to school early in the morning, the visibility was rather poor; hardly can see the road. Furthermore it was dark when we went out around 615am. Even around 630am when the sun usually is rising, it was still very foggy and blur to see well.

Photos were taken when I was on my way home which was around 640am. Luckily it was clear later in the morning. But not when hubby and I went out for breakfast around 730am, as some parts were covered with fog and not yet clear. 

My man was craving for big breakfast again, and his choice for a nice Western breakfast was this food court which was on the other side of Batu Kawa. He liked it very much and sang praises especially its scrambled egg. Very buttery and garlicky. He got his share of breakfast while my choice was this pork kway teow soup. 

RM8 for this simple, comforting noodle soup. Good enough to warm my body and last me till lunch time, which was after I picked up both Jan and Jamie and reached home before 1pm.

What to have

We were back to this food court last weekend after a short break. Of course, a fresher choice as we usually go to 2 or 3 eateries and kind of bored of having the same stuff.

Unlike those places we usually patronise, there are some dishes we can't find there. Like dim sum. The dim sum in this Premier Food Republic was alright and decent, and hubby quite enjoyed its lo mai kai. Beside lo mai kai, he also ordered har kaw and bacon wrapped dim sum. That was what he had last week. 

And this was what I have that morning. Never tasted the Sarawak laksa in my previous visits so I was excited to give it a taste. 

Good choice as it was nice but what even nicer was I found it served chicken feet as well!! So I ordered a small bowl of Sarawak laksa (RM8) and a bowl of chicken feet (RM5). Of course the chicken feet was for sharing among me and hubby.

The Sarawak laksa was rather on spicy side; too 'lemak' for me. But overall, it tasted alright. 

And as Mid Autumn festival is next week, we bought some mooncakes to uphold the tradition. There was a Mooncake booth in Aeon Mall so after our breakfast and a short rest at home, we headed to the mall to get some mooncakes.

Actually bought a box for my grandma as we were visiting her in the afternoon. We bought a box from Oversea for her and at the same time, we bought some for ourselves to enjoy. 

The mooncakes we have, 3 different brands. Casahana, Kam Lun Tai and Oversea. Not cheap and I can't imagine how much they will cost next year!!