Healthy dessert..is there such a thing?

Yes, according to this blogger and she's got photos, recipes & calorie counts to proof it!

http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/about-2/

Here's a sample of her recipes :

Chocolate Fudge Pie

■1 package silken or firm tofu (such as 12.3 oz Mori-Nu or Mori-Nu lite)
■1 tsp cocoa powder
■1 tsp pure vanilla extract
■2 T nondairy milk
■scant 1/8 tsp salt
■8 to 10 oz chocolate chips (a little over 1 and 1/3c or more)
■2-3 T agave or other sweetener (When I make this just for me, I omit)
■optional: extracts, flavorings, or liqueurs

Melt the chocolate (either on the stove or in the microwave), then throw everything into a food processor and blend until super-smooth. Pour into a pie crust if desired. (I hate pie crust and therefore usually keep it crustless.) Fridge until chilled. This gets firmer and firmer, the longer it sits. (It’s firmer if you use firm tofu and more like mousse pie if you use silken.)

Chocolatecoveredkatie says:
I promise you, everyone will rave about it, and no one will believe it has tofu!!
You truly can make this in just 5 minutes!
Nutritional Info:
■143 calories
■6 grams fat
■2.5 grams protein
■0mg cholesterol

These stats were calculated using 8 slices. Some of my testers say it’s so rich that it should be ten slices… and I say it’s so good that it should be six . (Add about 7 calories per slice for each T of agave used.)

Going ORGANIC ... Justlife

I came to know of justlife through the Climate Change event @ Bukit Jalil recently. I've always been sceptical of these 'organic' kind of shops -- Expensive! .. comes to mind. This view is shared by many, .. but I always remind myself - in order to accept or reject a concept/idea, we should study it, give it a chance for we may learn a thing or two. Either way, we will benefit from the knowledge gained, regardless of whether we decide to follow the path to an organic way of life or NOT!

Having read their magazine, checked out their website, seen their commitment in organizing the Climate Change event,.. maybe there is some thing more to this....

No GMO, fair price to farmers, respect for nature, .. See, read for yourself ... and you decide ...
http://www.justlifeshop.com/pages/about_us.html

For Lui Cha lovers!

I'm intrigued by this Hakka dish (originally vegetarian). A search on the net shows that I'm not the only one.. here, pls allow me to gather all Ho Po Lui Cha sites, blogs, recipes together so we Lui Cha lovers can unite... ha. ha. UNITY through FOOD!

EatingAsia
http://eatingasia.typepad.com/eatingasia/2006/02/green_tea_soup_.html?cid=126752744#comment-126752744 (the story)

The WeekEnd Chef
http://www.theweekendchef.com.my/2005/08/22/hor-por-lui-cha/ (the recipe)

Across the causeway...
http://sg.88db.com/sg/Services/Post_Detail.page/food_entertainment/hawker_food/?PostID=206795 (where to eat it in Singapore)

Lei Cha on Wikipedia..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_cha (the whole story)

Also known as Thunder Tea Rice @SS2 shop
http://masak-masak.blogspot.com/2007/01/lui-cha-or-thunder-tea-rice-restoran.html

Kuali, The Star
http://kuali.com/recipes/viewrecipe.asp?r=1022 (recipe)


Lui Cha is the food of the hillside monks.. must have 7 greens, eaten only in Aug/Sep
http://www.fh2o.kuchingkayak.com/2006/07/of-lui-cha-and-vegetarian-hillside.html

Btw, how do you eat it? What's the traditional way... I read somewhere that you pour the soup into the rice & veggie !! I prefer to eat them separately... lots of chewing required, though....ha ha. Also eaten with rice crispies (mai peng) instead of white rice.

My favourite is the one in the coffeeshop across the road from Spectrum Shopping Mall, Bandar Baru Ampang (opposite end to Hong Leong Bank).

Sakae Salad

Sakae Sushi is a chain of Japanese restaurants in Klang Valley. Its philosophy, as stated in its menu - to provide good and economical food to its patrons. According to its story, the couple who founded the restaurant are fond of Japanese food but because of its usually high price, his wife used to do mental sums, adding up the bill and had to think carefully not to order beyond her budget. This, of course took much of the enjoyment out of the dining experience.

But don't be mistaken, cheap doesn't mean styrofoam plates and plastic chairs. The restaurant that I visited recently is in Subang Parade (G27A, Grd flr) was trendy and high-tech, with computer monitors and mouse at each table for placing your orders. The waitress that attended to me was young but very efficient and energetic.

Always looking for healthy food choices, I ordered the chawan mushi (steamed egg @ Rm1.90) , sushi (@RM 3.90 per plate) and Sakae Salad (RM8.90).

The Sakae Salad is somewhat like our Chinese Yee Sang. It came with delectable portions of jellyfish, seaweed, finely shredded cabbage and some crispy bits and crunchy bits, topped with 3 rolls of salmon in the center. And served in a beautiful ceramic black speckled bowl. Only the thick lemon sauce is a bit rich. I made the mistake of pouring half of it into the salad before mixing it. The jellyfish was already saucy and only needed a bit of the lemon sauce.

For some peace & quiet, to contemplate your meal!

My favourite spots are :

EDEN CAFE @ Amcorp Mall
- sit in the long padded bench, inside, furthest away from the counter.
I once seeked refuge from the hustle & bustle of the Sunday Flea Market and ducked into this cafe which serves a fairly decent ciabatta (type of Italian bread) Cajun chicken sandwich. I had chamomile tea, which is said to be soothing. Note: No more ciabatta sandwich. Now - Beef salami on Focaccia (Italian bread made with olive oil & oregano herb)

Service was friendly and non-obtrusive. I could feel comfortable enough to take out my book for a short read. There were only a few customers. Since the sandwich was to come with potato chips, I casually asked the male waiter if I could change it for some fresh veggie and he obliged with an understanding smile. Thumbs up for service! The female waiter politely commented that she liked my purse (it had an unusual feature) and the lady in the next table also noticed it, so there was some light conversation before I left, feeling refreshed & happy!! :))

TARBUSH @ Ampang Point
A Lebanese / Middle Eastern restaurant which started as a kiosk in the same mall. Its was very popular. A few years later, it expanded into a restaurant (and another in Bkt Bintang, I think). I had falafel sandwich which is chickpea (kacang kuda) patties deep fried and wrapped in the Arabic flat bread stuffed with salad leaves and a touch of hummus (blended chickpea paste). Served with some onion pickles, and French fries which I declined and the cook gave me a weird stare!

I also tried the 'Wara Ainab' which is flavoured rice wrapped in pickled wines leaves and steamed. Makes a good appetiser! I once saw it being made on TV during one of those Ramadan cooking shows. To compliment the meal, I ordered the Arabic tea, which is hot black tea poured into a cup with some mint leaves in it. A nice refreshing taste! I once had it with some honey at another restaurant.

It's quite a good place to hang out too. They have an interesting a decor : dark 3-D mural of Arabic pots and jars lining the whole beige wall, and two wooden camels in attendance! Service is average but obliging. I (being a bit finicky... not my usual self, I hope) asked for the menu a few times - wanted to try out the authentic dishes. Btw, a little tip : tabouleh is a parsley-based salad. You know, the type of parsley (dark green, small leaves) they use to garnish Western dishes. It has a strong taste and some (like myself) find it unpalatable!

ONAGI Japanese Restaurant (next to Hock Choon supermarket, opposite The Amp Walk & Sucasa)
The chef & owner formerly worked at Kampachi (THE Japanese restaurant most famous for its buffet-you have to book months in advance.. I was told some years ago) for more 10 years. Whenever I visit Japanese restaurants, I almost always order Saba Shioyaki and I have practically tasted the best & the worst of the lot. Onagi serves the best Saba Shioyaki I've ever had. The fish was fresh, and grilled to perfection - succulent inside & crisp on the outside, sealing in the juices. The portion was ample and the price was reasonable.

Although the waiters were young & inexperienced, the senior person at the counter was attentive. He recommended a potato salad to go with the fish but I felt the portion may be too filling, so he gave me a 'half' portion and charged half the price of that in the menu! Quite surprising. I've heard of half portions but never heard of any restaurants in KL implementing it. .. (maybe got to get out more... ha ha). ...The chilled potato salad was delicious, by the way.