Three Cups Chicken (San Bei Zhi)

3 Cups Chicken also know as Basil Chicken

The first time I try three Cup chicken,was at Davids-Taiwanese-Gourmet in Queens.That was almost 6 or 7 years ago. Three Cups Chicken is a Taiwanese dish ,also know as "San Bei Zhi".This restaurant serve authentic Taiwanese dish .Their menu have alot of Taiwan Special Dish like porridge,intestines,pig blood ,ear,tongue,skin and etc.It's quite an eye opening and refreshing to try Taiwan food once a while.

When I was at bestyetmarket for food shopping ,I saw a whole bunch of fresh basil with root attached on sale.I have no idea what should I do with the basil I bought.I thinking maybe I should replant the root after I freeze the leaves.Suddenly,I'm thinking about 3 cups chicken.I bought 3 lbs of whole leg from waldbaums 2 days ago on the weekly sale.That right!! I can use whole leg chicken to make 3 Cups chicken.Although Three Cup Chicken is named for its three liquid ingredients--sesame oil, rice wine and soy sauce--its enticing aroma is what attracts your attention. Scents of ginger and basil waft from this version of the traditional Taiwanese dish. Such a fragrant meal seems like it would take awhile to prepare, but this comes together quickly.

Ingredients

3 pound of chicken leg,cut up 1/2

1/2 cup of sesame oil

3 inch piece of ginger root( peeled, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds)

10 cloves of garlic, lightly smashed

1/2 cup shaoxing wine or other rice wine

1/2 cup soy sauce

2 tablespoons sugar

3/4 cup loosely packed basil leaves

1 Onion(sliced) optional

Method

Cut the chicken parts into 2-inch pieces using a cleaver. Set aside. Heat sesame oil in a large skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the ginger and garlic and cook until aromatic, for 1 minute. Increase the heat to high and add the chicken. Cook and stir ,the chicken until the flesh no longer looks pink, for 3 minutes. Add the shaoxing wine, soy sauce and sugar, stirring to mix well. Cover the skillet or wok and cook, stirring occasionally, until the liquid is reduced by half or thicking.And the chicken is cooked thoroughly for 15 to 20 minutes. Add in the basil just before serving.This serving is good for 4 person.For anyone who want to try Taiwanese dish,should try 3 cups chicken first before go to next level.I serve it with Jasmine's white rice.That is Mishu and mine dinner for few days.

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Porterhouse Steak and Sangria

Porterhouse Steak with Shrimp ,shell chesse and string beans.

Sangria also know as Spanish cocktail!!

Elliot just pass his motorcycle license.He is so happy and thrill that he was able to pass his practical exam when he's only have one day training course.He want us to go out and celebrate but I told him ,I already prepare his dinner and drink.He called all his friends and inform them about his result.Well,he said to me"I'm so excited and aren't you happy for me?".Of course I am!!I said.Then he said "I know you have your motorcycle license at young age,so you think it's not a big deal but to me it is a big deal"!!".And he go on with his rambling," you have to bear with me this few days,I'm going to keep talking about it all the time ."!.That right,he keep talking that he is going to buy a bike and bring Victory catalog home with him .Yesterday,he even bring me to Victory show room on the way to apple picking.All the Bike in the show room is so cool and so damn expensive!!.I told him,why not wait until he more confident with his skill first before getting himself a bike.He is so disappointed that I'm not really support his idea.I know he is the kind of "hangat hangat tahi ayam'person.In weeks or months,he will just lost his interest.Why buy a bike that he can only use for summer?.That is not practical.Yes,it's an expensive hobby too.I told him,I don't mind he buy one if we have few hundreds thousands just sitting in the bank right now.He understand my point and didn't argue about it.That is good about him,that he trust my judgement about our financial situation.I applaud him to trust me .
So, I quickly cook his simply dinner.Porterhouse Steak with Shrimp .I add some steam string beans with butter and shell cheese on the side too.I just rub the steak with some garlic,parsley and salt seasoning.On top of his meal,I make a jug of Sangria to celebrate with him.."Cheers to your Motorcycle license'!!

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Apple Picking at Fort Salonga

Mishu filling the bag with apples she pluck...small one!!

Mishu looking for the next target!

Ripe Raspberry is quite sweet.

Raspberry Trees

Mishu inspect her apples.

Mishu suddenly bring her book to show me.It's Andy the Apple!!.I read for her but she keep flipping the pages to show me all the apples are with eyes and mouth.For a while I'm thinking,she might interested if she go to apple orchard to see the real apple.Quickly ,I 'google' in my area for apple picking farm.I found few farms in my county but the nearest one is fortsalongafarm.I tell Elliot about my idea and he agree to go with us.It's might be fun for Mishu,since she never pick any real apple from the orchard.It's just take us 20 minutes drive from our home.Elliot know his island better than me.Well,unfortunately,the farm policy insist each adult to paid $10 for 1/4 bushel of apples.I never been to this farm,so I find their policy are quite weird and unreasonable.I been to apple farm in Upstate ,New York and the farm didn't charge us per head count like here.Instead we just pick the apples and bring it to the cashier for weighting.We just paid whatever price goes by accordingly to the apple per pound.Elliot decided not to enter the orchard and he wait in our van for us.We can't even finish a bag of apple,for sure .The caretaker refused to let Elliot step in the orchard for photo taking.I find out that the caretaker is very bossy and intolerance person.They keep telling me about their rules and regulations.They ask me to twist the apple and not to pull the apple from the tree.Said it will hurt the tree and it won't bloom next year.One of the lady lecture me when Mishu simply plucked the unmarked apple tree.They give me a piece of paper in which indicated the numbers and names of each apple.I can only pluck the apples from the trees where it's mark with white flag.Later on,Elliot told me he heard they complaint about me.
Mishu is so excited when she see apple orchard for the first time.She been running and plucking the apple for the first 10 minutes.We just spend about 30 minutes in the orchard.Some of the apple is still unripe.I like Fuji apple but Fuji's is not ripe until October.Beside that the farm also have Raspberry picking.
On our way home ,I'm thinking,what should I do with the full bag of apples?'.Maybe I should bake some apple pie or make some apple jam.I have never bake any apple dessert or make any apple jam ,but there is always a first time for everything!!.I'm up to the challenge!!..

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Fried Loh Mein a.k.a Mee Goreng

This plate of Loh Mein is for Mishu.She love shrimp and chinese sausage!!

This is my Mee Goreng extra spicy!!

Yesterday,I made Fried Noodle for Mishu and myself.I still have half packet of yellow noodles left over,so I better cook it before it gone bad.Usually when we order fried noodles in Chinese take out restaurant in US,we called Loh Mein.Don't mistaken for Loh Mee Malaysia style.Actually it's Mee Goreng but I dunno why American chinese restaurant called it Loh Mein instead of "Chow Mein".And in fact, Chow Mein in Chinese restaurant are Stir Fried Mix Cabbage with meat in corn starch.Weird !!I still can't figure out why until now.Well,I cook with shrimp,long hot pepper,onion,chinese sausage,egg,tomato and fried Tofu.Beside that I add alot of minced fresh garlic and shallot.I also add oyster sauce ,dark sweet soy sauce and chicken flavor powder.Too bad I don't have any Chinese vegetable.I only have iceberg lettuce,so I guess lettuce doesn't go well together with mee goreng.This is a very easy cooking meal.I think people like me who are not expert in cooking can make this dish,then everybody who love to eat fried noodles can cook this dish as well in their home..Less than 30 minutes,our dinner is ready!!.Makan time ,Mishu!!.Come!

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My Brick Crust Pepperoni Pizza!!

Today made Brick Pepperoni Pizza with 3 cheese

The second attempt but the crust it as hard as Brick!!

Used ready permix dough from store but this pizza was burn

I have try to make pizza dough the 3rd time this week.I have no idea why the dough doesn't rise as it said on the recipe book.Maybe I didn't follow the right measurement or I failed to understand how to make dough.Whatever reason,I still process my pizza with the topping.I promise Elliot that when he wake up in the morning his pizza will be ready waiting for him on the counter for breakfast.My first attempt,I make 2 trays.He been eating both tray for the last 3 days for his breakfast.The crust is hard like brick but he still eating it.I guess he try to be supportive or else I won't make any more pizza for him.The other day,I just bought a ready mix pizza dough from supermarket ,unfortunately I didn't watch the oven timer and let it burn.Elliot told me to throw in garbage.He drove to his favourite pizza place and order 2 pieces for himself and one for Mishu.He know that I not crazy for pizza.Today again,I use my last pack of yeast.I think the dough doesn't rise,I have no idea why..Anyway,like usual I spread spaghetti sauce, pepperoni ,mozzarella ,Parmesan and yellow cheese on it.After 20 mins in oven,I quickly bring it out,not burn this time.Elliot happily eat his warm and cheesy pizza even though the dough doesn't rise to the max.I'm going to keep trying until my pizza dough rise and perfect.Never said die attitude!!

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Chicken and Ribs Chinese Herbal Soup

A Bowl of Chicken Herbal soup for Mishu

Dry red dates,dry longon,pak kei and tong sam

Dry Lycium Barbarumi(kei chi) and Polygonatum(yoke chok)

Tonight I didn't cook any meal,still have plenty of left over.So I just brew a Chinese herbs soup.I remember the last time I had this soup was two and half years ago.My mom brought some Chinese herbs for my confinements and I still have some left over .Well,I believe some of my Malaysian friend told me that every once a month we need to drink or consume Chinese herbs soup to cleansing our body from toxin.Accordingly to Chinese,drinking Chinese herbs soup can balance up our heaty body or vice verse.But for me I have no idea which is heaty or cooling herbs.I just know the soup taste good not bitter or hard to sallow.I still have some end pork ribs bone and chicken whole leg.It's quite easy to brew Chinese soup.All in one pot.

Here is my own recipe

4 pcs of end pork ribs

2 pc of chicken whole leg(remove the fat and skin)

Boil a pot of hot water for the meats to be wash and remove the fats or oily consistent.Just let the meat in the boiling water for 5 to 10 mins.Take out the meats from boiling pot.Run the meats under cool water to removed the excess fats

4 Qtr of water boiled to 2 qtr of soup

50 gm of Ziziphus(Red dates or hong chor)

200 gm of dry logan

50 gm of Radix Astragali(pak kay)

100 gm of Frutus Lychii(kei chi)

50 gm of Biskut Kelapa(tong kui)

100 gm Polygonatum(yoke chok)

Salt to taste

I love to put alots of Frutus Lychii in the soup. .It's just take an hour and half to the soup to get ready to serve.Mishu love it and keep asking for more after a small bowl.The herbal soup is really sweet because of 'kei chi' and dry Logan.I have no idea ,what this soup mean..Yin or Yang..as long as it's herbal and she love to drink, that's matter.

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BBQ Pork Ribs

Yesterday,I bought a pack of pork ribs from meatfarms.Well,what should I cook this with ribs?.Thinking wisely and looking for recipes book again .I'm thinking of 'bak kut teh' but I don't have "fried to-fu ' and it seem a shame and waste that I have to chop this nice looking ribs into small pieces.So to make things easier for me ,I marinated the whole pork ribs with spices in zip lock bag in fridge for overnight.I know Elliot prefer BBQ ribs rather than 'Bak Kut teh".Accordingly to him "bak kut teh' herbs smell stinky,especially when I brew it. .So I took out the marinated ribs and broil it into my oven for one hour.Since today been raining whole day and is quite cold,so I'm happily use my oven for the 3 time.Early in the morning I test make my pizza dough,quite disappointed because the flour doesn't rise to my expectation.Ok..I'll post about my pizza making failure post after this topic.

Here is my BBQ Pork Ribs recipe

Ingrendients

One whole pork ribs(clean and removed fat)

2 tbsp of 5 spices powder

2 tbsp of Hoisin sauce

2 tbsp of yellow mustard

2 tbsp of sugar

1 tsp of salt

Mix all the ingredient's well in zip lock bag with ribs for 8hours or overnight.

Method

Lay flat the whole Ribs on an aluminium foil(I hate to wash the pan,so I just use foil) over a rack in a deep tray .Fill some water in the deep tray.I was told by few restaurant chef that put some water in the tray under meat will make the meat moisture and tender.Wrapped the whole ribs with aluminium foil all over to prevent the meat to get too dry..Pre heat one to 425 F and let it broil for 45 min .After 45 mins,open the top foil and check the meat with chopstick.Just poke with chopstick and if the chopstick go all the way through,that mean,it's cook.Let the foil open to broil the top part until golden brown.Basting the ribs with the juice or sauce on the foil.Let's not forget to brush with peterluger sauce on the finish touch.Let the ribs broil for another 10 mins.Ready to serve .

Elliot and Mishu love it.The bone fell of the meat itself.The meat is so juicy and tender.Love peterluger sauce.This sauce owner a.k.a restaurant is very famous and rated by Zagat 23 year in row for the number 1 SteakHouse in NY.I ate in their restaurant once, years ago for chicken dish since I don't eat beef or steak.The furniture are more than hundred years old.Very antique as well as their wait-staff.I thought I was in senior home!!You can get the sauce in any supermarket.

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Raisin Teabread

Inspired by Sous Chef Gertrude Snippetsofmylife again to made Raisin Teabread instead of raisin cake .This is my ever first time in my life I try to make tea bread from scratch.I use a electric whipper left over by my mother-in-law.I have no idea how to operate the machine.I have to seek Elliot help to set up and put it together.He told me that machine is older than me!!Since I never make any cake or bread from scratch,it's never cross my mind to get a new one.Well,if this experience making teabread will success,I'm going to buy a new hand whip machine soon.I bought this bread book recipe years ago and now I use it to mix with Chef Gertrude fruit cake recipe.

Ingredients :
4 packet of dried raisin
1/2 cup of Malibu rum.(I don't have dark or white rum)
2 sticks of butter
1 cups of coconut dark brown sugar
4 eggs
3 cups of flour
1 tsp of baking powder
2 tsp sugar
Zest of 1 orange

1) Soak the dry raisin with Malibu rum and Orange juice for overnight in the refrigerator
2)Clean up my mini non stick baking tin
3) Cream butter and sugar until blend thoroughly
4) Add all the eggs mix
5) Mix in orange zest
6) Add in soak dry raisins and then fold in sifted flour and baking powder
7) Pour batter into prepared cake tin.
8) Bake in a pre-heated 375 degree F oven for 70 mins or until centre is firm to touch or well risen.
9) Let the cake cool in the tin before removing the cake.
10)Remove the bread from the tin and turn the bread out on to a wire rack after 2-3 minutes.

I cut a piece in the center after it cool down.What I found is that tea bread is quite dry compare with cake.Or it's me that make the tea bread dry?.Well,I think I need to have more practise to make it taste good.I think it's not really hard to make cake or tea bread after this experience.The most important is to organise and prepare the ingredients in advance.So next time I will prepared all the needed ingredients in days or week before I try another new recipe.Now I have the courage to try the next step.Elliot just told me that he don't like the taste.So I guess,I'm the only one who is going to eat the rest of my Raisin TeaBread.

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Singapore Curry Laksa Noodles

The packaging is well presentable with daun kesom picture on the package.But there is none daun kesom in the paste or in the ingredients .What a misleading product!

I add more cococnut milk to make it 'lemak' as it supposed to be in Singapore Curry Laksa Noodles.

Recently,I been looking high and low for Singapore Curry Laksa Noodles Paste.I been craving for this dish since last month.Whenever I have the chance to go to Elmhurst Queens ,I will try my best to eat in or take out this dish at about Taste Good Malaysia Restaurant.Elsa and Belancan from mybuddies praise that Prima 's brand product for Singapore Curry Laksa is very very good.The last time I was in Chinatown,I search for this Prima's brand but unfortunately, no store in NYC carry this brand yet.But I found Asian Home Gourmet Brand for Singapore Curry Laksa Paste.In no time I quickly snatch few packets of their products.Well,I'm quite disappointed with their Singapore Curry Laksa paste.Their packaging is well presentable but the paste is very small compare with other brand like Delimas.Beside that the paste don't have daun kesum for Singapore Curry Laksa.I guess this company don't have any idea what is Singapore Curry Laksa!!.How can a Singapore Curry Laksa paste don't have daum kesum on the side or in the paste??.It's just the taste of regular curry laksa with very mild taste and flavor.The instruction on the back of the package suggested for 3 serving but I just add 400 ml coconut milk in the can and another 100 ml of water.It's just good for 2 serving instead of 3 as suggested.I make it with 'lai fun'(round rice noodle) ,shrimp,fried to-fu,chicken,fish cake and Delimas Crispy Shrimp Chilli mytasteofasia.

I promise myself in future I won't buy this Asian Home Gourmet Singapore Curry Laksa.It's not up to my expectation.Maybe, my taste for this Singapore Curry Laksa Noodles was spoilt by eating in Taste Good Restaurant since their are the best of all I have try so far.I hope Prima's product will carry their supply in NYC.I have to try this brand since myBuddies members give this brand 5 stars!

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Fried Wanton a.k.a Deep Pocket

Close up look Fried Wanton

This is my 3rd attempt,that today I try again using egg roll skin to wrap my Fried Wanton with 2 style.Did you see the different fried wanton style look familiar??.I have no idea why my wanton skin look 'dirty'!

This is the 2ND attempt I'm making fried wanton using Cantonese wanton skin wrapped.Still not up to my expectation.

Taste not too bad but the appearance not really look good.I used new oil but still the filling leak out.1st effort to make fried wanton.

Used Cantonese Wanton skin the 1st time to make fried 'deep pocket'

Inspired by Talented Chef Gertrude's Fried Wanton featured in Snippets of My Life, I been try this dish for 3 times.The first 2 time I used Cantonese Wanton wrapper which is yellowish and the skin is very fragile.Both time ,after fried my wanton skin look bad.It's seem like the filling or juice leak out while frying.Today, I try again using egg roll skin instead of Cantonese Wanton skin.I try to foil it in different way too ,to prevent the filling from leaking.I guess I still need more practise to wrap the skin.Maybe I will try to bake it instead of frying .I have to seek Chef Gertrude advise why my Fried Wanton skin don't look clean.It's there is a special way to deep fried it?.

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Birthday Pool Party!

Hit the shoes full of candy' Games'!.

Girls line up going in the pool.

Happy Birthday to Kylie!.

All the girls dipped their fingers on the ice cream cake

Mishu thought it's her Birthday too! .Wearing Princess Tiara

Mishu said"Cheeeesee" with mouth open.

Mishu push by her dad in baby floater happily

Kylie the Birthday girl..Sweet smile!

Mishu a.k.a Kayla climbing up and down at play set.

Today our neighbor invite us over for their daughter Kylie 8 th Birthday Party.We spend almost 5 hours at their place.They are very nice people who always lead us a hand when we ask for help.When we are away they will pick up our mail or help us regarding home improvement project.Actually it's just a Pool party for the kids .We adults just hang around drinking and eating while the kids swimming in the pool.Before Kylie's friends parents come to pick them up,Kylie cut her carvel ice cream cake and we all sing "Happy Birthday to her. And later on, she open her Birthday presents with all the girls surrounding her .Her presents are' special makeup 'box,DVD,books,bag,crayon,shoes and bratz .Mishu enjoy herself tremulously and refused to come home.At night fall,Kylie and her sisters shower and change to their PJ's.We have to drag Mishu home.After giving Mishu a shower,she climb herself to a guest room bed and sleep.I guess she been tired from swimming,running and playing on the slide whole afternoon.It's been a long day for her with all the excitements.Hope she will sleep all the way till morning. Tough luck!

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Chicken Tikka Masala Mix by Patel Bros

We was at Jackson Height ,Queens last month.Elliot want to eat Indian food buffet in Jackson Diner.Jackson Height is one of the famous Little Indian Town for Indian in the city.He keep talking about Jackson Diner at 74 st and Broadway.Hence,I love to go to Jackson Height because I can get a lots of Asian and Indian food there.Few door step away from Jackson Diner there is a huge Indian grocery store patelbrothersusa.patelbrothersusa sell everything from spices to rice and frozen food as well.I like their Muruku,Kacang mix and Thai's small chili(mostly their are very spicy without question!).So I grab few packets of Indian paste which I never try before.I'm in challenge for any new items.So today,I use Chicken Tikka Masala Mix paste to cook our dinner .Since I have a whole pack of chicken drumstick in my fridge,I'm lazy to defrost boneless chicken as suggest in the packet.On the back of packet there are 2 way to cook this dish either microwave or on the stove top.I prefer to cook on the stove top because I can see what I''m doing especially my first time cooking Indian food.

Method..here is goes..

Mix thoroughly the entire content of the paste with 2 cups 300ml of water and 100 m of plain yogurt.(I used vanilla yogurt which I bought for Mishu )in a bowl.Take 6 drumsticks(cut into2 pc) and fry in 25 g(used 1/2 stick) of butter in my non stick pan until it's turn golden brown.Add the mixture from the bowl and cook till the gravy becomes thick.

Note :Do not add anything else.The paste mix contain oil and salt.

Ingredient's in the paste;

Onion,refined sunflowers oil,garlic,ginger,red chili powder,salt ,tomato,spices,turmeric and lemon.Made in India.

I follow the instruction on the packet and my dinner is ready in 30 minutes.It's very easy.Of course it's not spicy at all accordingly to my spicy level but I can add spicy sauce later.I eat with Jasmine rice since I didn't have Basmati rice with me.Elliot and Mishu enjoy this not spicyChicken Tikka Masala for tonight dinner.I would suggest anyone who like Indian food to try Patel paste for home cooking.As we all know eating Indian food in the Indian restaurant is quite pricey especially in US.

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Pasta with Salmon and Parmesan Cheese

Italian herbs..Thyme or Oregano?

Tonight ,Elliot suggest to me that he want to eat pasta.Last week ,we shopped at biglots and he bought few cans of salmon and tuna.It's weird that he won't eat any fresh fish in bone except sardine and salmon in can.Well,since he said he don't mind the bone in salmon,I start looking at my recipe book which I bought at Walden Book store in the mall.It's called Italian by Carla Capalbo. I found one similar recipe.Penna with Tuna and Mozzarella.First of all,I don't have mozzarella and secondly I have leftover bow tie and elbow paste in small quantity each.So,I will just have to use my left over pasta but atleast I have some idea how to cook his pasta.Instead of tuna as the book said,I use salmon in can.I substitutes mozzarella with Parmesan cheese.My garden have a some Oregano or Thyme.Actually,I dunno,what is that plant.I go to supermarket to identify my plants but still I'm not very sure which is Oregano or Thyme.Both look very identical.Anyway,I just use it.Just called it Italian herbs.

Here is my own recipe

Ingredients

.......................

400 gm elbow and bow tie pasta

2 cloves of garlic

2 stalk of chop fresh cilantro

1 can of salmon,drains the water

5 tsp of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp fresh thyme/oregano

1 tsp dry basil

100 gm of Parmesan cheese

Elliot dinner ready in less half and hour.Honestly this dish or most of American dish is much easier to cook and prepare .Preparation time is shorter and easier than Malaysia or Asian dish.

I need to be creative and full of ideas.Creative is what I don't have!!.That is the reason I have to look for other chef ideas.Any one can identified what it this Italian herb?.

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Delimas Crispy Shrimp Chilli from myTOA

New Delimas!!Huge and bigger!!

My humble "CKT"

Yesterday,I went to collect my van from dealership.Well,now I have my van with me,so I planning to go shopping at the mall simon with Mishu.It's just 10 minutes drive from my home.We shopped from 4 pm to 9 pm.Elliot called to ask how we doing and why we took so long?.Well,shopping,what do you think?.I told him.Bought quite a lots of items.I let talk about it in next topic.Okay time to go home before the mall closed.Once I step in front my front porch,I saw this big box sitting in front of my door step with my name on it.It's a from mytasteofasia and Elliot quickly open it.Full of various Malaysia products.I'm surprised at mytasteofasia gesture to send me their sample for me .I told Ray that he do not need to send me the new product sample.I don't mind link mytasteofasia in my blog when I write about the food that I cook or eat .I have nothing to lose,just linking myTOA.Helping a fellow Malaysian is my honour especially he have done so much in mybuddies to help some people to find information and advise on certain official issue.He put so much of his time,effort and even contribute his own money for mybuddies to stay alive. I admire his don't said die spirit and will.

Furthermore,I can always buy Malaysia product in NYC..But anyhow, he found my address thru my last year order.

To make my long story short,I 'm surprised that Delimas products have a good packaging compare with Tean's.I like Delimas Crispy Shrimp Chilli,it's bigger bottle as well as in net weight compare with Tean's.Delimas 340 gm vs Tean's 240 gm same price.What a good deal!!.I still have leftover fresh keoy teow.Well,I think I should make my style Char Keoy Teow!.

Here is my own recipe

.........................................

2 sheet fresh Keoy Teow(cut)

1 clove fresh garlic(minced)

2 stick chinese sausage(sliced thin)

5 nos eggs

200 gm minced pork

10 pcs shrimp

1 head broccoli

50gm fish cake(sliced thin)

Seasoning

-----------

Dark/caramel soy sauce( Yuen Chun brand)

2 tsp knorr's chicken powder

2 spoon oyster sauce

2 tsp sesame oil(Ghee Hing)

Garnishing

------------

Fried shallot

Cilantro

Delimas crispy shrimp chilli

I should really defrost frozen Keoy Teow in microwave first instead I let it run under warm water.Big mistake!!.Now the keoy teow is too sticky and mushy to fried.Well,this is Mishu and mine dinner for tonight!.Don't waste good food!.I like my food hot and spicy,so I add Delimas Crispy Shrimp Chilli since I run out of chilli padi !!.

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Flintstones!!!!

Hey!!Mummy,how about another one candy?.Blue color!

Mummy!!Look at my tooth.Flinstone make me smile!!Yummy!

Mishu have stop drinking her milk now .She even refused to eat cheese or any dairy product.It's almost been 3 months since she had her last high fever.Before her high fever she drink her milk daily in bottle.At that time the emergency room doctor advise me not to give her any milk,just water or juices for few days until her fever gone.Since that day she hate milk and cheese. I try to give her yogurt and smoothie.Yes,she will drink smoothie and eat yogurt on the first 2 days ,maybe she see it's something new for her to try.Starting from the moment she eat solid food,she loved cheese dearly.She will grab her daddy cheese from his plate and eat it.At that time,I not really keen to feed her cheese afraid she will get too chubby or overweight.Well,now I try to force her to drink milk with every possible way and everyday but it's useless.I even mix it with chocolate or strawberry flavor and chill it. She will puke out or refused to open her mouth.Anyway,she still a toddler and need her Vitamin D and calcium at this age until 5 or 6 year old at least.
Last week ,she visited her pediatrician for regular check up and vaccines.I told her doctor about her situation.Her doctor suggest that I get flintstonesvitamins for her if she keep not taking any milk or dairy.Okay...I go to Walmart to buy her flintstonesvitamins but I have no idea which one to choose.On the shelf there are 4 type of category in which are Complete,Gummies,Plus and My First.Her doctor didn't tell me which one to get,so I assume Complete is better since it said COMPLETE!..Wow!!Mishu love her Flintstones, she thought it's a colorful candy.Her doctor warn me to keep this vitamin out of her reach because she will keep eating thought it's candy and it look like real candy too.
Today I read an article in MSN about raising baby cost.It's said raising a baby will cost $290K thru the age of 17.moneycentral even break up the figure and cost .
Well,I guess the cost of TLC cannot written down in number and figure.It's not easy to be parents.We have to worried about her from the moment she come to this world until we drop dead.No matter how old they are.We as her parents will try to give her best of everything within our ability.When she grown up,it's up to her to be fiel piety to us.We don't expect her to support or take care of us in our financial when we're in golden year.We just want her to be a good person,have a decent career and take responsibility of herself and family.Don't all of us expect this from our children?.Today world is very different from our time.But still I want Mishu to value our Chinese teaching even she is just half chinese.It's up to her to apply that in her life,later.

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Cap Burung Nuri Fish Curry Powder

Hot and Spicy Curry Fish

5 qtr of curry sauce for 5 more dinner!!

I bought 2 lbs of okra in Chinatown last week.The okra is going to turn black since it's been almost a week old.The aunty who sell it at the road side won't let me 'pick' because she said it's very cheap item.$1.00 per pound but anyway,I dunno the different to pick which is good or which is bad,so I just let her pack it for me.I guess right now is harvest season for all vegetables.Okay,what am I going to cook with this okra?.Stir fried dry shrimp with sambal or fish curry?.I guess,I like fish curry since I bought 4 pieces of Mackerel.Actually,I want to use that mackerel for keropok lekor but I must make a mistake thinking Ikan Kembung and Ikan Parang is the same family.Keropok Lekor use Ikan Parang which Ikan Parang have less tiny spike bones.

I didn't get to buy any ready made Curry Fish Paste .All I have is Assam Fish Paste in three different companies.I think I never see any Curry Fish Paste in the market from any company made in Malaysia.I have Cap Burung Nuri Fish Curry Powder as well as Baba's Curry Powder which I bought from the city.You can always get from mytasofasia online store.They have a large selection of Malaysia paste and sauce.Since I'm using Burung Nuri Curry Powder, I still have to work my spices from the scratch.I start to cut and pound my ingredients in pestle(batu lesung).I bought my pestle in marshallsonline for $15.00,not too bad,right?.Of course I have food blender but I'm too lazy to put it together and take it out and wash one by one after finish .I have to microwave galangal(lengkus) for 5 minutes because it's fresh but in frozen form.You can get fresh galangal vacuum pack from any Asian food mart in frozen section.

Here is my own recipe..

Curry Gravy(A)

---------------

4 big spoon of curry powder

100 gm of dried chilly(soak in hot water for 30 mins)

3 stalk of lemongrass (sliced fine)

2 clove of fresh garlic

5 clove of shallot

1 small pc of galangal

1 small pc of ginger

2 spoon ground chilly

Note:All the above ingredient to be pound of blend until fine

Main ingredient(B)

---------------------

4 pcs of Mackerel(clean,head attached)

3 pc long red pepper

1 nos bell pepper

2 lbs of okra

2 nos sweet onion

2 nos tomato

1 pint of whole milk

2 can of coconut Milk

2 cube Knorr's fish flavor

2 tsp salt

2 tsp sugar

Method

________
Stir fried all the curry ingredient with vegetable/corn oil until brown.Or until you can smell the aroma .Add all the vegetable and coconut milk until boiling. At the boiling level add whole milk and fish into the curry together with all the seasoning.Don't let the fish cook too long.10 minutes should be good.Serve it with white rice .

I prefer to cook with non stick anodize pot.I don't have to worry about burning or sticking at the bottom.I hear some people or expert said it's much healthier than the regular pot which can be rusty.Mostly all my pots and woks which I have ,I bought it from macys .I think Macy's have good price for is clearance sale.Sometimes the price can go down beyond other speciality store.When my Curry fish is ready on the table with my white rice Mishu come over.She said "mommy!!....eat!!."Memo and Tory"!!.."Tory,Memo Fish!!..she point to my 2 fish with head attached.She want to eat curry fish!!.She love Nemo and Dory but she still want to eat them!!Well,I feed her with my chopstick since it have lot of small bone.She finish the whole fish and asking for more water!.She said"hot"hot"!!..but keep eating!!..She still asking for second one,I told her tomorrow.Now I have a' member'(kaki) to eat curry with me!!.Viola!

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Tenderloin Char Siew Sauce By Asian Meals

The sauce is liquid

Elliot suggest I put some mayo's ,no cilantro,please

I been running out of idea what to cook for Elliot dinner.He love mostly meat and bread.I remember I bought a vacuum pack of pork tenderloin last 2 weeks ago and defrost yesterday in regular temperature.I keep scratching my head,what should I cook with this tenderloin?.He don't like spicy and too much spices on his meal.ahhaa!!..I still have a packet of char siew sauce by Asian Meals carefood in my cupboard.I didn't try any of this brand product yet.I think, I bought it the last couple of months ago when I was in Elmhurst for food shopping.I have a packet of yellow curry the same brand but I don't think Elliot will appreciated the yellow curry flavor.

I marinated the pork tenderloin in zip lock bag and let it sit in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours as the package instruction.Since I don't have my van today,I have to ask Elliot to drive me to supermarket to get some grocery.He won't let me drive his car,said his is dodge semi Hemi!!.I want to buy french loaf and make sandwich for him like the Vietnamese sandwich style.The instruction on the package said it's very easy to prepared.Just marinated the char siew sauce with tenderloin.I used oven instead of BBQ pit.I afraid I'm going to burn the meat.I wrapped the tenderloin with aluminium foil on a rack with some water under it.I saw Chinese restaurants use water to fill the bottom of the grill oven before BBQ the meat.They said the meat will retained it moisture and juice after the long hours in the oven .I shoved the meat in the oven at 450 F for 20 min.After 20 min I unwrap the foil to let the meat get brown on the top side.After 10 min turn the meat to the other side again for the meat to get brown.I used the sauce on the aluminium foil to bast the meat .All together it's take less than one hours for this Char Siew to make it to the table.Elliot keep asking me,why it take so long??.Why you need to take picture?.Why you want to decorate?..Sorry,I'm not good at presentation...furthermore he keep rushing me for his dinner..

I took a bite and it's not bad at all.Would recommend anyone to try this Char Siew sauce by Asian Meals..Maybe next time,I'm going to use chicken wing with this sauce to BBQ it..

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Homemade Maki

My avocado is turning to black color..pity

Elliot love sushi,the only and one Asian food he like.He rarely eat my Asian cooking specially the hot and spicy one.So I will try to make sushi for him once in a blue moon.I 'm not an expert but try my best to make the sushi rice stick to seaweed sheet without breaking it while rolling it to make a maki.I prefer to use Kirby than cucumber but since cucumber is season now and is very cheap too,why not?.I bought sushi rice premix vinegar and Japanese made mayonnaise from food market.It's much easy and more authentic. I add a little bit if everything into the roll.Cream cheese,fish stick(kani),avocado,fry egg(tamago),cucumber,Salmon(sake),steam shrimp(ebi),fish egg(tobiko/masago) ,seaweed wrap(wakeme)and sesame seeds.Mostly all my Japanese ingredients bought from asian supermarket in NYC.JFC jfc is the largest suppiler for Japanese food product in North America.They supply their products throughout all the Japanese restaurants in the nation.

I will marinated my fresh salmon for an hour into apple cider vinegar mix with salt first to kill the bacteria and remove the fishy smell.I learn this from a Malaysian chef who own a Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn.Anyway,it's up to individual preference.Not every chef want to that,too much trouble and work.

Look at my unskilled maki..Look so pathetic!!.I prefer to use less rice since Elliot don't like to eat too much rice.Eventually,he will eat it ,he said the look doesn't matter.He is happy with the meal I make him,that matter.He even give me an compliment!!..He keep telling his friend that I make him a fantastic sushi!!..hahaha!!...I think it's time I have to ask him to buy me a new digital camera!!

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Yeung Tau Foo in Taucu

My special Taucu"Yuen Chun'

Yeung Tau Foo with Sweet Bean Paste

Pan fried until cooked and almost burn!!

Today,I decide to have Yeung Tau Foo with Mishu for dinner.I bought ready premix fish paste from Asian Food Market in Chinatown.I afraid the mix fish paste going bad since it been 3 days sitting in my fridge.Usually I bought premix fish paste to stuff bean curd paper and fresh red long pepper.Mostly all Asian food market in the city do sell premix fish paste,so it's save me the trouble do everything from scratch.And again it depend on the store who make it,some really make it very good and after cook ,I can feel the 'kick' when I bite it.But today batch of paste is not really good,it's mushy.To make a note to myself,I will not buy premix fish paste from this food market again.

Anyway,I never know how it going to turn out unless I cook and eat it.I recall the last premix fish paste I bought from Flushing food market is quite good.The best fish paste I bought before was in Brooklyn foods market in Ave U.I can feel the bouncy of the meat when I bite it.I cook it with Yuen Chun sweet bean paste which I bought from Topline in Elmhurst. .Yeun Chun product are made in Malaysia. yuenchun I bought their thick dark soy sauce too.It's very pure and original than what I used which made in China.Maybe because I'm so used to eat Malaysia products,I find products made in China smell weird and tasteless..Since my camera is not powerful and old,the picture I capture is not appetizing or colorful. But as long as it's eatable,I'm OK with it.I remember my mom always cook "yeung tau foo with sweet bean paste" this style.Next time I'm going to dip with curry sauce instead.

Here is my own receipe..

1 pint of premix fish paste(from store)

2 sheet of frozen bean curd(cut to 4 pcs)

2 pcs long red pepper(cut middle and remove the seeds)

3 pcs okra(cut middle and removed the stem)

2 spoon of Tauchu

2 tsp of sugar

2 spoon of corn starch

I almost finish the whole dish by myself.Mishu just eat few some spoon of her rice with sauce and left the table,I think she not interested.Maybe I will let her eat her left over tomorrow.Actually ,this Yeung Tau Foo is quite easy to prepared.If anyone who miss this dish for along time,this is the meal to try out!.

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Fruit of the King

Look at the Blue Ribbon!! Monthong Durian

The top packet made from China..the candy color is brown

Both packets made from Thailand..taste creamy and Durian!!

Last 2 days ago,I was in Chinatown,NYC for food shopping.I bought a bunch of Malaysia goodies.When I'm shop in any Chinatown,I won't fail not to bring home any of my favourite goodies.I know few Asian grocery stores in the city speciality selling Malaysia ,Indonesia and Thailand products.I walk in one of the grocery store Kam Man on Canal St.On the entrance on the first shelf I saw some durian candy..Viola!!!..I quickly push Mishu's stroller and grabs all the packets candy and shove in to her basket under her seat..There are 3 different companies produce the candy.2 company made the candy from Thailand in which the paper wrapped is in clear and I can see the candy is so yellow like Durian.And the other one made from China is in bigger packet.So I guess bigger always doesn't taste better and it's from China.Anyway,I won't pass not to try it. So all together I bought 6 packets of Durian's candy.
After shop in Kam Man Food store I heading to Asian Food Market in Mulberry St.I love this store .You can find all their location in here explorechinatown .This store is in the process of closing ,but the lady boss let me in since she saw me running toward them.I found alots of Malaysia spiced products there.But since all of them waiting for me ,I better hurry up.We chat for a while,I request her to order in Prima's Product.I told her that I hear that this product is very good.She told me that she will do that since she have alots of American looking for new items too.Walking down the street toward Bayard St at the corner I saw a fruit vendor selling Durian.And this is Monthong Durian wiht blue ribbon.I keep looking for this brand ,I prefer this brand because it have the powerful flavor and taste.This is the same Monthong Durian brand in vacuum freezer packet. thaitastes
Mishu love the durian candy but she refused to eat Monthong durian this time.I open every each of the candy and I found out that the candy from Thailand taste like real durian.The price is reasonable and can consider good for candy.The fruit vendor owner ask me to buy 2 nos of his durian and will give me a better price.The told me"One pound for $1.40 but if you buy two I will give you $1.20 per pound.I said to him..'.'sorry...ah sok..no..I'm the only one who eat durian in my home,so one is enough for me''.Then he said Ok,I will charge you $1.30 per lbs.I gladly hand him my money.
So today I eat all my favourite food!!..Monthong Durian and Durian candy!!!.Feel better after this feast!!.Make my day!

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Penang Nyonya Prawn Noodle Soup

Penang Nyonya Prawn Keoy Toew Soup....anyone??


I need a comfort food after all the running around.Since I wake up extremely early today(usually I sleep until noon),I figure out that I should cook something spicy and soupy for myself.Furthermore,I didn't see so much rain this whole summer until today.Been raining whole day and feel slightly chill and cold.I'm ,the person who don't like cloudy and raining day,it's make me miserable and depressed.Adding the problem with my dented bumper.Elliot is very opposite from me.He loves rain especially when the rain make a very loud noise hitting the ground.He been cheerful the whole time when it rain.Maybe because I come from a tropical country,raining day is very common for me.
I found Penang Nyonya Prawn Soup hl-spices base in Chinatown by Hup Loong.I never try this brand Prawn Noodles Soup.What a heck!!Prawn Noodle Soup today!!.I only bought a packet of Assam Laksa and Prawn Noodle Soup.So I start to read the instruction on the back of the packet.It's very easy.Just make a base soup with any meat bone before pour the prawn powder base into it.To my surprise,the powder base is so strong in belacan fragrant.Of course I love that smell.I start to prepared the ingredient as well.

Here is my own recipe.....serving for 4 persons

3 Quart of water for base soup(I put whole chicken breast and some prawn shell in it)
3 soup spoon of Penang Prawn powder
2 pcs of rock sugar
1 tsp salt
2 cubes of shrimp Knorr's
1/2 packet of fry fish cake(sliced it thin)
1 whole chicken breast(shredded)
1/2 lbs shrimp
1 sheet of Keoy Teow( cut 1/2 in each strand)
1 spoon of Tean's shrimp crispy chilly
1 spoon of Fried shallot.
4 nos of hard boiled eggs

It's just took me 30 mins to prepared this dish.It's not bad at all although it's not spicy enough for me.Tomorrow, I'm going to eat the left over with mee hoon again.The most important ,I must have it with fried shallot and shrimp crispy chilli to make this dish stand out..You can find crispy shrimp in this online store mytasteofasia.Again not all fried shallot taste good.The last brand I bought taste like eating paper and stale too .I prefer fried shallot made in Thailand than China. Anyone for Prawn Keoy Teow Soup?..I'm not a professional chef but my meal is good to make my tummy feel good that matter..

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My Quest's

This morning,Elliot woke me up at 6.30 am.We both going to send our van to dealership to diagnose the problem.On the way,my van die on me.I'm just 2 miles away from the dealership.The alternator dead yesterday and today the battery give out as well.We try to jump up my van using Elliot car ,but the battery is completely dead.Elliot use his car to push my van all the all to the dealership.Well,luckily the traffic is not too bad.At the dealership parking lot,I quickly jump down from my van and take a look at the bumper.I'm so horrified that there is 3 spots dented on it.This bumper is the second bumper replaced to the original .The original bumper was hit in an accident just after a month old.Last summer ,we decided to get a van for family use.While I was driving to portjefferson,a joker hit me at the red light stop.He fall asleep while we driving 5 mph.Luckily I was able to claimed the from his insurance company.The other party insurance company paid the total cost for me to replaced my bumper to a brand new one from Nissan and car rental as well. Imagine, I use two bumpers within a year!!!..
After I park my van at Nissan dealership parking lot,Elliot drive me home.The dealership will open at 9.00 am but their service is first come first serve basic.Mostly the consumers will stand in line waiting for them to open the front door.Elliot go back to dealership again to hand over the key.When he is back to from dealership,he is so furious.The service guy told him that he have to paid for diagnostics which is $95.He argue with him about the warranty.The service man suggested Elliot to call corporate office nissanusa/about/corporate-info/community-relations about his problem.Elliot do as what he suggested.He call Nissan corporate office and complain about our van problem."how can a alternator blew
out in a year old car?.The battery dead just after a year old.That impossible for a brand new van.The brake is wobble when we drive at high speed".The corporate office customer service promise to deal with the problem after taking down all the informations.
At 3.00 pm we drop by again at the dealership's to pick Mishu's car seat and some items in the van.They told Elliot that our van will be ready on Tuesday.And they are going to bear for all the repair cost .Thanks God!!!.I think we bought a defective brand new van.In the same time another customer bring in the same model van as us with the same problem.On the way home,we recall the argument we had last year when we decide which company van we should get.Elliot want to buy Caravan from Dodge but I don't like American car.I prefer Japanese car which is Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna but Nissan offer an awesome discount and rebate,so we choose Nissan Quest instead.At the same time Nissan was able to offer a good price for' trade in' Elliot's brand new Stratus.

Well now we have to live with it whether we like it or not.

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My day at Montauk Point

Gosman's Dock Inlet

Montauk POINT Light House

Gosman's Dock Restaurant outside

Christmas Trees for Sale

DuckWalk Vinery.

Look so juicy but bitter

Beautiful Grapes

Crafted wooden Old man holding Grapes

Tasting,touring and retail room ..complimentary!!

Mishu plucking the grapes...taste too bitter

Duckwalk Vinery back process house

Dunno what the name but it's real fresh flowers!!

Mishu running in the farm..Dunno what the flower name..maybe Iris

Locally grow cucumber..look so fresh and green

Squash and Zucchine locally grow

Hot chilli Pepper from local farm

Today,we take a ride to Montauk onmontauk Elliot keep telling me that he is on vacation and he would like to go somewhere nearby for 2-3 days.I 'm not really in the mood.He even suggested for us to go to Lake George in New York Upstate.Well,his vacation is going to be over soon in two days.So,this morning,he wake me up.He ask me to get ready and we're heading to Montauk.I guess,Montauk is cool and fun since I love beach.He dislike beach,said the sand and salt make him feel uncomfortable.So for him to take an initiative want to go to beach,that mean he really want to go out and humor me.It's approximately take us one hour drive and 50 miles each way to go to Montauk Point.We drive pass WestHamptons,BridgeHamptons,EastHamptons and Southampton's before reach Montauk Harbour.On the way we also stop by a winery to taste the wine .There is plenty of winery in that area.We stop at Duckwalk Vinery duckwalk.I was in this winery few years back.They produced their own wine and bottled it as well.I saw their brand selling in all Liquors stores in Long Island.After Duckwalk winery we stop at farm stall to buy some fresh products at road side stall.Elliot bought a Granny Smith Apple and I bought some cucumber.
Then we are on our way again toward the harbour.Montauk Habour is the dock where commercial fisherman catch their fish to supply to restaurant and retail.And they also cater to any one who love fishing for Day trip fishing in deep Atlantic Ocean.I remember the last time I was here fishing with few friends from work.We took a whole day trip to catch Sea Bass and Porgies.I was so sea sick and just sitting holding my head while others keep fishing.Few old American guys on the boat took a pity on me,throw some of their fish into my bucket.At least I have fish to shown when I get back home.Not so shame.

Today outing really bring a nice memories back to me.We eat at Gosman's Dock Restaurant on the dock.The price is quite expensive because it 's a tourist attraction and also is a rich and famous neighbor too.Beside that all the restaurants only open 6 months in a year.The rest of the 6 months ,they have to closed.
After we finish eating,we heading to Montauk Point where the light house located and it's the end of Long Island.The air is quite chill and windy.We stop for awhile to take some photos.To my surprised Elliot only come to Montauk once ,that was 20 years ago.Since he dislike beach,I don't blame him.I show him Montauk beach before we heading home.We let Mishu play at the playground and sand.The beach is almost empty.I guess it's too cold and chilly for vacationers to stay late.There is plenty of Inn's and Motel for vacationers.I can't take the chill anymore,so I suggest that we go home.

We found out that our one year old brand new van have problem.The battery and brake light came out on the dash board indicate something is wrong.Elliot wasting no time,ask me to let him drive.And he drive 80 mph to fly home.He afraid our van going to die on us and it's very expensive to get a tow truck from there .Properly will cost us few hundred of dollar just for towing.Tomorrow,we going to send our van to dealership shop to check what is going wrong.Hope our van still under guarantee or warranty.Overall,our outing is quite awesome beside our van problems .I would recommend anyone to try Montauk for their vacation or day outing..There are plenty of activities you can do there.Fishing, golfing,yachting,shopping and suntanning..

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Young Coconut

This Young Coconut is unbelieveable sweet and natural..

Today,I decided to make my trip to NYC,Chinatown explorechinatownWell,I woke up quite late,so I hurry take a shower and dress up to begin my trip.I plan to eat my lunch in Malaysia Restaurant as well.I invite Elliot to go with my since he on vacation again but he declined.He dislike hot and humid summer in the city.He rather stay at home enjoying the AC.Mishu refused to stay with him,so I drag her with me as well.

It's a nice and smooth ride to downtown.Luckily I found a meter parking on Mott's Street and Bayard Street.After feeding my parking meter,I go to find the restaurant that I never eat there before.I saw the restaurant hiding in between the big building the last time I was there.The name is New Malaysia Restaurant at Bowery Street and Elizabeth Street.To my surprise,the restaurant menu is quite different from others Malaysia Restaurant that I visited.I chat with a Aunty next table,she told me this Malaysia restaurant is the very first and old Malaysia Restaurant in NYC.I ordered Curry Laksa Noodles with Yeung Tau Fu for myself and Fried Hokkien Mee for Mishu.Sorry,I forget to bring my camera with me .I'm rushing to get out from my house to beat the traffic hour.After we finish our meal,we walk to Canal Street.I want to buy some Asian grocery and perishable.On Canal Street road side,I saw a vendor stall selling young fresh coconut.Customer lining up waiting for their young coconut to be open by chopper.The owner use his skill with both hand and chop open the coconut easily.Then I also request mine to be open and he insert a straw for me.I took a sip before I handle to Mishu.It's very sweet and cooling.The owner ask for $1.50 and I'm gladly hand my money to him..A sweet and nice cooling drink in hot and humid summer .I would recommend anyone who visit Chinatown,NYC should try this young coconut!!..Better than anything else!!

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Before and After

Top Chandelier After remodel with hammer spray paint and candle sleeves..Changed frosted bulbs to clear one.Below is Before remodel with rusty and dirty crystal eyes drop .Which one look better??

Don't throw away old and rusty stuffs in your house.You can always modified and make it look new with some creative idea.Look at my chandelier,before clean up and make up,look so bad and untidy.Sometimes,we just want to buy new thing because we just see what the flyer advertised in there.I keep urge Elliot to change our chandelier when we bought our home from his mother..But he not really want to do it because he is very sentimental.Furthermore,his family who own mostly all our furnitures for almost many many years ago .We even inherited a set of hundred years old dining table and secretary table from his mother.Elliot not so keen for my suggestion to change the old chandelier.He said we rarely eat in the dining room.But to me it look so old and dirty. I want to change it to something look elegant which advertised in Ikea's or HomeDepot.
For a while,I accept the fact that he not going to replaced the old chandelier.One day, I removed the crystal glass dropping around it and surprisely found that the steel have beautiful crafted design on it.I gave him the idea of just remodelling it by spraying hammer paint on it and change all the sleeves.We bought candle design sleeves from Home Depot and paint from Walmart.Overall,we save almost a hundred dollars if we have the old one replaced.And now it look like a brand new one from Home Depot!!!.Actually,I read about remodel your old stuffs with budget from Better Home and Garden Magazine bhg which I subscripts monthly.It's a good and informative magazine for ideas and suggestion. Look at my chandelier before and after..Which one look better??

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Mishu's Little Room.

Her overcrowed clothes from right

Her overcrowed clothes on left

Lilo's ,Chicken Little,Pumba,Tigger,Garfield ,Gloria,Crush, Barbie and friends sleep in her crib.

7 Drawfs only.so sad..Princess Mishu left them..Baby Marvin's ,Tweety and Hello Kitty have to join them!!

Mishu built in cupboard closet with Plush Toys Deco around her room.Mr Snake,Bunny Rabbit and Tweety.

I choose green color paint for Mishu's room when she was born.The color is very green,maybe I'm color blind.Elliot want me to choose the color which I like to paint in her room.Since everybody love pink for girl,so I want something different.Actually,I choose apple green on the sample card while we shop at Home Depot but it's turn out not the apple green I wanted after we painted her room wall.Well,since the damaged was done,we cannot return back the paint to HomeDepot.

I even decorated her room with some stickers and border which I bought from Babies U R's.Mostly all her baby stuffs was given by my friends and ex co-workers.I don't mind use, 'Used' baby stuffs at all.Knowing baby grow up so fast and it's a waste of money to buy her new stuffs and use it for few months only.One of my friend gave me two used cribs,one portable and another one is regular size for toddler.Lately Mishu, refused to take her nap in her crib .I have no way to make her sleep there.Well,I think it's my fault that I let her sleep with me after she had her high fever 2 months ago.Now days she used to sleep with me.Is there any way for me to put her back to her room?.I'm thinking of getting her a twin size bed to replace her crib.Easily for her to let herself out and in from her bed or her room.Or maybe she don't like her room?.What do you think about her room?.

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How much is my Mushroom worth?

Oh!! Boy!..Look at my lawn!! .Something is wrong on my soil,I think.Mushroom is growing everywhere at my back yard lawn..I 'm wondering what is happening??.They grow so fast within few days after I removed.I fertilized the soil in the early spring.I have no idea whether this mushroom is poison or not...can be eat or not.I dare not to try..I wish they are Portabella or Shitake mushroom instead.At least I can cook and eat it!!..How about stir fry sambal mushroom??..Anyone?

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My humble Assam Ikan Bawal with Kaffir Lime Leaf

I'm craving for Singapore Curry Laksa Noodles..I keep looking everywhere to get the paste but not available at this moment.The restaurant I always enjoy this special noodles soup is not near my home.It take me 45 minutes to drive there without traffic.To make the long story short...so I start looking at my Malaysia paste stock in my cupboards..I buy all my stock in Queens or NYC .But for those who don't live in NYC or the vicinity...you can always go to mytasteofasia
for your Asian supply. mytasteofasia have big and variety selection of asian product.
Since I stock plenty of convenience paste,hmmmm. thinking...what should I substitutes for my craving??..I saw 2 packets of Tean's Assam Fish paste in the corner..Quickly ,I start to pull out vegetable and fish from my fridge before I change my mind again..
Luckily I found a Prompret fish in freezer.I love gravy and vegetables..so I add cabbage as well.So here it's my dinner..Assam Ikan Bawal Putih.Still have leftover gravy,tomorrow I'm going to add shrimp in to it.

My humble Assam Prompret with Kaffir Lime leafs ..

One Packet of Tean's Assam Fish Paste

1 teaspoon corn oil

1 clove garlic
2 big spoon of sugar
1 big spoon of Tamarind powder
1 teaspoon of salt
5-6 piece of Kaffir lime leaf
1 big spoon of sambal Olek chili Boh
1/4 nos of cabbage
2 pcs hotlong fresh pepper
1 nos green bell pepper

1 nos Tomato
1 packet of frozen okra(200gm)
1 pc Prompret
2 cups of water
1 cube of Knorr's Shrimp Cube

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My little Jungle full of Poison Ivy!!

I think Poison Ivy leafs look like "sweet potato leaf"..right?.

Look at the ground!!Poison Ivy crawling everywhere.

'My Little Jungle' at my backyard.

What would you do if you see this mess??.Actually,this is my backyard.Yes,my property is almost one acre.The original mess is worst than what you seeing now.Last 2 years ago ,I started to clean and removed all the bitchy plant like poison Ivy,weeds and little oak trees.My little jungle have ample of healthy Poison Ivy spreading all over the ground and climbing any trees like fire.It's look like sweet potato leafs..I'm thinking of cooking Sweet Potato leafs with shrimp paste ,Malaysian style!.I wish!!

It's very hard to kill Poison Ivy.I can't burn it because the smoke is deadly when we inhaled.So,I have to buy a special chemical to spray on the leaf before removed the vein from the ground.Since then I learn quite a lot about this plant from net http://www.poison-ivy.org/

Since Mishu don't leave me alone now.(Elliot said she is my shadow).I don't dare to go in my little jungle to clean up anymore.Mishu will eventually follow me in there and start picking ,plucking and touching everything .Once she touch the poison Ivy,she going to get rashes and itchiness for weeks.So for now ,I will let it stay this way until next year.Well, should I hire a landscaping company for clean up or hire 'day" workers and supervise myself??.I should calculate my budget cost before getting quote..Cheap 'day' labor or professional removal company?.What do you think?.Hmmmm...

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Which one would you like Shrubs, Annuals and Perennial?

When I moved in to Long Island,New York surburb few years ago,I have no idea what is a annuals plants and what is a perennial plant?.At that time, I started to clean up my yard and garden.I went to shop at Walmart and Home Depot for plants which I see my neighbour garden.I saw some tags written on certain plants as Perennial for Iris and Lily.And later in the summer,I saw Annuals written on the tag of Impatient and Petunias.It's take me awhile to understand what is the different of both category plants after some online research.

During my first year ,I removed all the matured and dying shrubs and replaced it again.Since in-store gardening in my area doesn't sell privet amour hedge,I have to ordered from online store which is directgardening.This store have quite a lot of hedges selection.I learned that we can return the plants if it die within a year of the purchase date.It's something new to me since I never do any gardening.Some of the items arrived in bad condition.I ordered some tulip bulbs,roses hedge and hostas as well .I have to send in the invoice which it's attached with my order in order to get a new plants.After a few days my replacement plants arrived in one piece.I'm quite happy with the products and service .

I preferred shrubs if I have to choose between annuals and perennial. Shrubs like Evergreen and Magnolia are very easy to cares.And it's hardy die on me.I just need to trim the hedges few times in the summer.I don't have to water or fertilize it.As for perennial,it's will come back every year in the early spring and summer.But the flowers will bloom just for 2 to 3 weeks only.I like Day lily and Tulip.

Annuals will bloom very beautifully during the whole summer but it's won't come back the next year.I guess since I live in zone 7,annuals die during winter season.Maybe in southern part of the country, annuals will survivor longer in warmer weather.

But still, during each summer, I will get little bit of everything to balance up my garden.Am I envy my neighbour garden?Of Course,I am.

Anyway,when my garden bloom of beautiful flowers,I feel cheerful and wonderful.

Which one would you prefer?. Shrubs,Annuals or Perennial?.

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Why Malaysia Politician Afraid Of Blogger?

Although,I'm a Malaysian who reside in USA for the last 13 years.I still very much love my country and family there.I know there is no why that we can compare US and Malaysia democracy system.But as a human being we are allow to voice our opinion and debate in writing or orally.That is what we called "Freedom of Speech".Of course,sometimes we can't simply said or write what we want in certain issue.Marina M write her view in her blog "when did blogger get so powerful'?rantingsbymm.blogspot
Malaysia General Election is around the corner.It's reported that Malaysian government warn blogger to control their blogs or website to avoid slander being hurled against leaders. He warned blogger to exercise caution in their articles and to lodge reports directly to the Anti-Corruption Agency, rather than post unfair accusations on their web sites.Even the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was quoted by the Sunday Star as warning blogger not to go overboard as they were liable for defamation.Since that I saw quite alots of predominated blogger or website have tone down their view about Malaysia leaders especially commentaries that include criticism of government policies, as much of the country's traditional media are controlled by political parties and the government.Yes,I don't blame them.You have no idea what you can get yourself into when dealing with Malaysian government policy.Not everybody is Raja Petra who have the ball and connection in royal family.

Khairy Jamaluddin, deputy youth leader of the ruling Malay party and the prime minister's son-in-law, called for legal action taken against blogger who spread lies and slander."There are no laws in the cyberworld except for the law of the jungle. As such, action must be taken so that the monkeys behave," Khairy was quoted .Its a shame for this developing country that we have leaders that have undeveloped brains .

Well,that remark is an insult and low class which come out from the mouth of a leader who is so call OXbridge graduated and billionaires.How can he call his own rakyat "MONKEY"?.This leaders want to take action with blogger who critic and condemn them??.What a shame!.By calling his rakyat name it is not going to do him anything good .Such a highly educated and brilliant man,using such words for his speech??.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday that "any new laws tailored to censor the Internet would represent a significant step backward for press freedom in Malaysia."That true but what can we as the rakyat do??....Use your power to VOTE them out!!.We do not need this kind of leaders.Why don't the leaders take a look how US Presidential debate in YouTube?.Just learn a thing or two from there.How about take questions from their rakyat for a start?.

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