Cool Food Truck!

 

Like something right out of the Mad Max movie, this is Maximus-Minimus with its 'urban assault hog' vehicle serving Maximus pork sandwich which has a spicy sauce and Minimus pork sandwich which has a sweet-sour sauce.

It is served with a vinegrette based salad of also two flavours - Maximus salad served with Minimus sandwich and Minimus salad served with Maximus. ..A kinda Ying-Yang balance of flavours.

For more punishment, you can order a sandwich with extra Hurt! - a spicy powder.. :Hurt me!

There's also a grilled chicken sandwich..

I saw this on Eat It, from AFC (Asian Food Channel) 

Onions - which one to use?

Did u know?

Cauliflower Mash

Do you like cauliflower?  Most of us dont know what to do with it!

Well, here's one way. Make it into a mash. The author of this recipe says it's like mash potato, but much, much healthier!  Do try it out

Cauliflower Mash

Serves 2

Ingredients

• 1 head organic cauliflower, chopped
• 1-2 tbsp olive oil (depending on desired consistency)
• 1 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
• 2 tsp sage
• 1 tsp rosemary
• Sea salt and pepper

Directions

1. In a large pot, steam cauliflower over medium heat for 15-20, until a knife easily slices through cauliflower.
2. Add cauliflower to food processor.
3. Add olive oil, almond milk, and spices.
4. Process until smooth. (may need to add additional olive oil/almond milk until you get desired texture.
5. Serve and enjoy!

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-12741/the-best-cauliflower-mash-ever.html

Houseplant cupcakes

Saw this at Treehugger's FB post

How cute is this???
Alana Jones-Mann, baker & DIY maker's cactus cupcakes has been re-blogged in many sites. And here I'm doing it again. Just got to let people view her INGENUITY not only in her idea of making cactus-like toppings but also her whole composition of natural paper cups, rock-like base and the green frosting piped so ingeniously!

And guess what? She also is has a step-by-step tutorial how to do this!! THANKS, ALANA for sharing.

Just one of the steps in her tutorial!

SO... go visit her website : http://alanajonesmann.com/2013/04/diy-house-plant-cupcakes/

For char siew lovers..

Ever heard of  Bu jian tian" char siew?  According to blogger, ieatishootipost.sg, this means char siew (Chinese barbeque) made with pork from the part of the pig that 'never sees the sun'!

What's that?...

Tender, juicy, fatty & meaty char siew

 http://ieatishootipost.sg/2009/01/fatty-cheongs-char-siew-to-get-good.html

Moroccan Tagine - Vegan

I chanced upon this recipe and thot it would be a great to try this out although i dont have the traditional tagine pot.

It also it reminds me of the Moroccan restaurant i visited while on holiday in Penang. It was just next to our hotel. I had the chicken version but enjoyed the gravy the most. So looking forward to trying this vegan version :

Here's the ingredient list for my shopping cart : 

Moroccan Root Vegetable Tagine
2 cinnamon sticks
1 1/2 tsp cloves
3 tbsp coriander seeds
olive oil
1 tbsp ground turmeric
1 large Spanish onion, finely chopped
3 1/2 ounces ginger, grated 
1 red chili, seeded and chopped
6 garlic cloves, crushed
2 cans tomatoes, chopped
1 sweet potato, halved and sliced
2 fennel bulbs, cut into batons
1 celeriac root, cut into batons
1/2 bunch spinach
handful of cilantro, chopped
4-5 dates, chopped
1/4 preserved lemon peel, chopped

(will have to substitute the fennel buls and celeriac root with other vegs cos its very expensive over here

Al-Medina Moroccan Restaurant in Penang

Ever seen the Tajine (or sometimes spelt Tagine)? A form of cooking pot / method using a cone shape claypot. Recently i had the pleasure of visiting Al-Medina Moroccan Restaurant (next to Copthorne Orchid Hotel), Tanjung Bungah, Penang. (+6011-1640 0470) and chatted with Abel, its managing director.

It's a lovely place. I was taken on a tour of the restaurant..

The tajine pots

You have a choice of seating styles / dining areas.

'Wakaf 'style seating

Verandah seating

or under the garden cabana

or indoors where u get to view  Abel's collection 

of tajine and art & crafts (acquired during his travels to various countries)

 

The man, himself.. Abel. Thank you for your hospitality!

And Mom loved his pouffs. 

 As mom & i have just had our dinner across the road (didnt see this place until on our way back!), but i still wanted to try the tajine, so i packed the chicken tajine set back to the hotel for our late supper treat!

Chicken Tajine with carrot, potato and bitter gourd veggies, served with Tajine bread

See how succulent is the chicken and the root veggies just the right tenderness

Now comes the bread..

to soak up the gravy!

Yummy! 

The chicken and veggies are stewed in the claypot from 1-2hrs til its tender. 

A must try when u r in Penang and want to try something different.. There's lamb, hummus, kebabs too.. opened for breakfast & thru out the day...

Wanted to return for the Hummus & Minced Lamb and flat bread, but alas..mom was tired out the following day after a visit to New World Park 

and so we had room service :(

How to test eggs for freshness

This is a great tip from https://www.facebook.com/emasherbs

No bake apple pie!

This i love for two reasons ;
1)  No bake
2)  No processed sugar

I'm keeping these recipes for days i will hv chance to try these out :

Raw Spiced Apple Pie The pie has a lovely crunch to it with the sweet flavor of cinnamon added in. Sometimes I'll make up mini cup versions which is great for parties and snacks!

Strawberry Chocolate cupcake (Vegan)

This is one recipe i am hoping to try out soon, after i get my "affairs in order"... Maybe for this Xmas? as thank-you gifts? The best is that NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED in this cupcake. This is vegan!

So before the recipe disappears, i hope Jamie Heimbuch will not mind me posting this recipe and her delicious photos of the cup-cakes here :

Artisan breads - making the perfect loaf

I just love those wholemeal, multi-grained breads. I've tried so many commercial types which i suspect do not use enuff of the real, good stuff!

So it's refreshing to read of bakers in Malaysia starting to make & sell artisan bread. One was in Jln Ipoh, KL...wee bit too far for me, and to day in The Star (14 Nov, Business section) is one nearer to home - Artisan Touch!

They even have an online ordering service by CookieJar
They also run bread classes

Chillie sauce - not from the bottle

The main ingredients

I found this out by mistake. Mom was blending a small amount of some ginger, red chillies & garlic together. But as with most blenders, they need some liquid to help stir the ingredients around when blending or else u get uneven sized bits. So mom added some water, a bit too much - so much so that when she poured it out, it looked too diluted to be the 'san yong choi' sauce for Hainanese Chicken rice.

Being the inventive mom that she is, she asked me to add some cornflour and cook it... Then it looked just like the chillie sauce u pour from the bottle!

Wonderbag -- a no electricity needed slow-cooker

http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/wonderbag-electricity-free-slow-cooker.html

"Because it works by using a little fuel to bring foods to a boil before putting the hot pot in the bag, Collins notes that the Wonderbag greatly reduces the use of additional energy and frees up women's precious time. This means women can cook delicious, hot meals while saving energy and money for their families and spend more hours looking after children, learning or earning their own income..."

Check it out!
...
CP:  Reminds me a tip my roommate gave me when we were renting rooms and no access to the kitchen accept to boil water. She would put a handful of  barley grains into the thermo flask and pour in hot boiling water. Then she will close the lid and let it sit for a few hours. Then in the evening we get a 'cooling' barley water to drink, just like as if it has been boiling in the pot the whole day (when mom used to make).

I guess, when u live away from home, one has to improvise :)

Focaccia to bake

This focaccia looks so yummy.. Think i'll try my hand at this again. I have not been baking for a long time.

Time to rekindle the baker in me!

A week of experimental cooking

I must confess - my creation of a new recipe is usually influenced by what i have in hand / in the fridge. However, for my Green & Clean - Project CrazeeFit, i also want to create flavourful meals that don't require any bottled sauces (chilly, tomato or oyster sauce) or dashes of Ajinomoto (MSG).

GREEN = refers to meals composed mainly of veggies, nuts, herb, tubers, roots, beans but may contain seafood & some meat (but in smaller proportion).

CLEAN = as mentioned above, meals with minimum processed foods, flavours derived from spices, herbs, salt & pepper, using fresh (instead of canned) ingredients, minimum dairy products, less oil used (only Peanut oil & EVOO), cooking methods - raw, steam, blanched and light stir frying and greens from my own garden.

HOPE / VISION / MISSION -  ambitiously trying to re-do traditional Malaysian food (which is rather un-healthy), fusion food - taking the best ideas from different culinary cultures and getting people to accept this as staples or at least get people to think or rather re-think they cooking methods / choices.

Oh..also i dont measure the ingredients, just using commonsense & experimentation. Cooking time also is dependent on observation & sniffing!! LOL..I can imagine those throwing up their hands and saying that's CRAZEE!!  

Besides being short of time (lazy, too) and also wanting people who follow my recipe ideas to OBSERVE and GET INVOLVED in their own cooking process. When there's no measurement, one is forced to look, think and judge for themselves and not follow blindly and thus INSPIRE CREATIVITY!  

Wasnt that how granny used to do it?

Disclaimers aside,..let's GET COOKING !

SATURDAY'S MEAL -  SPAGHETTI  ULAM

More Clean Meal ideas (to come)

SUNDAY'S MEAL

Sup Ikan (Fish head soup)

MONDAY'S MEAL

Soba Telur Asin & Asparagus

TUEDAY'S MEAL

Steamed Chicken Breast & Asparagus with Toast & Lurpak salted butter

WEDNESDAY'S MEAL

Steamed Broccoli, Salsa & leftover mamak's Tandoori & Naan

THURSDAY'S MEAL

Broccoli & Butterhead, whole grain mustard on toast with Maasdammer cheese and more Salsa

WHY THE SUDDEN INTEREST in eating healthier?  http://crazeefit.blogspot.com/2013/10/infiniti-fitness-beyond-to-rescue.html

Spaghetti Ulam

SPAGHETTI ULAM

Shopping list :

• Spaghetti
• Bunga Kantan (edible Ginger flower)
• Serai (lemongrass - use only the bottom fragrant purplish parts)
• Daun Kaduk (Piper sarmentosum similar but not betel/sirih leaf)
• Kerisik (grate coconut, slowly & constantly stir-fried in a pan with no added oil until brown & aromatic. Then pound in a stone mortar. Cool and store in fridge)
• Onions or shallots (small onions) - sliced thinly
• Lime  or Limau kasturi (calimansi)
• Black pepper (ground)
• Salt / Braggs Liquid Amino
• Chilli padi (small yet very spicy version) or spicy sambal / sambal belacan
• Carrots (cut in large chunks)

Boost protein intake (if you are working out at the gym) :  

- Add boiled beans (Green Love Mixed beans) or steamed chicken (breast, keel with no skin)

Going green & clean!

KALE & PISTACHIO PESTO SPAGHETTI

Looking for healthier food intake, GOING GREEN & CLEAN is my tag line for the days ahead in my quest for getting fit again after a disasterous 2 years of un-mindful eating. (as usual - due to overload on stressful projects & emotional yo-yo).

I wanna come CLEAN in many ways.  I'm starting with FOOD INTAKE (notice-i'm not gonna use the emotion-loaded word - DIET).

So here's are some great tips on EATING PASTA WITHOUT TOO MUCH CALORIC INTAKE and veggie recipes (full with flavour from green veg, beans, herbs, nuts) to try.

Keeping Calories in Check. Remember that it’s easy to go overboard on calories when dining on pasta. One cup of cooked spaghetti has approximately 220 calories. Pile 3 or 4 cups on your dinner plate (not unheard of) are we’re talking 660 to 880 calories without any sauces or add-ins. To keep calories in check, cut down on pasta portions and bulk up with loads of veggies and herbs.

Boosting the fiber can also help make your dish more filling. Swap enriched white pasta for whole-grain varieties like whole wheat, quinoa or spelt. Add hunger-fighting protein with beans, lentils or edamame.

Be careful not to overload on cheese as it can push the envelope on calories, fat, cholesterol and sodium. A small amount of a flavorful cheese goes a long way.

Vegan Cherry Ripe Balls

I like simple recipes. This has only 4 ingredients. And it is also vegan. Veggieful.com  has this recipe...

http://www.veggieful.com/2013/07/vegan-cherry-ripe-balls-recipe.html

Juicing for Digestion

DIGESTION HELP

Digestion Tea can be a big help in battling digestive problems. http://www.emasherbs.com/REMEDIES/digestion.htm

Here is also a great well to settle your tummy.

Papaya is a rich source of valuable proteolytic enzymes, such as papain, chymopapain, caricain and glycyl endopeptidase, that can greatly aid in digestion.

Kale is a superstar in the arena of carotenoids and flavonoids, two powerful antioxidants that protect our cells from free radicals that cause oxidative stress. The key flavonoids kaempferol and quercitin (not to dismiss the 45 other distinctive flavonoids in kale) have also been shown to specifically fight against the formation of cancerous cells. With the addition of high doses of well-known antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin A, and manganese, kale is certainly a smart choice in the battle against cellular oxidation.

Cabbage is rich in dietary fiber, supporting optimal performance of the digestive system. Fiber acts as an excellent detoxifier. It thoroughly cleanses the stomach and intestines. It has a mild laxative effect which helps to stimulate bowel movement and helps to prevent constipation.

Ginger contains two constituents – gingerol and shogaol – which are thought to help stimulate your body’s flow of digestive juices such as saliva, gastric secretions and bile tone around the intestines and aid the stomach in moving food down the digestive tract.

Lemon contains citric acid that causes a production of digestive enzymes, such as pepsin, that continue breaking down the food. Lemons contain about 7 to 8 percent citric acid, which can help lead to a "problem-free" digestion as it helps your stomach's own digestive liquids.

Peppermint can relieve nausea and discomfort. Menthol and methyl salicylate are the main active ingredients of peppermint. Internally, they have anti-spasmodic actions, with calming effects on the muscles of the stomach, intestinal tract, and uterus.

Tasty juicing recipes

Talk about juicing and u get images of green, goooey tasting drinks only the Incredible Hulk would think of drinking. But these recipes from Torrie Pattillo promises not to be. It is meant for the juicing beginner, to slowly ease in the juicing habit. I have yet to try it out but I'm blogging this to not lose the recipe.

Note: Try to use organic produce when possible. If not possible, simply clean produce well. Remove rind, core and peel. Juice produce, pour over ice and enjoy.

1. Happy Green Juice

• 1 cucumber 
• 2 celery stalks
• 2 pears 
• 1/3 cantaloupe 
• 6-8 kale leaves
• 1/2 lemon 
• 1 inch of ginger 

2. Drink Your Produce Green Juice

• 4 carrots 
• 1 cucumber
• 1-2 cups of spinach
• 1 lemon 
• 1 gala or pink lady apple
• 1 pear 

3. Green Lemonade

• 3 cups of spinach
• 1 lemon 
• 1 cucumber 
• 1 pear 
• 1 gala apple 

Once you get acclimated to the taste, I highly encourage an 80/20 ratio for green juice (80% vegetables, 20% fruit). 

Tip: Never juice bananas or avocado, and follow your juicer's manual, especially as it pertains to leafy greens.

Source:  http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-8155/3-yummy-green-juice-recipes-to-convert-skeptics.html