Thursday, December 25, 2008

Malaysia Street Food: Otak-otak (鲤鱼包)and Chendol

my home made Vietnamese Spring Roll for my guest, during the christmas party
Thanks to Heather as my cooking coach:)
This is called Otak-otak
(Fish Mousse Grilled on a Banana Leaf)
To learn more about otak-otak, click HERE
Otak-otak recipe from web, click HERE
i m not a typical Otak-otak fan but i don't reject if some one treat me or approach me to buy.
A nyoya aunty approach me today while we were having lunch in one of the local cafe in Burmah Road, Penang about this, her home made otak-otak. One piece cost RM2.50.

Chendol is so much a delightful dessert u should never missed if u visit South East Asia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore. Being in a all year long big sunshine state, Malaysian always favor ice shaved dessert top with lots of sweetern milk, coconut milk or palm sugar. We purposely went for this Chendol food advanture today afternoon after completed our lunch (where i hv my otak-otak). Guess i didnt "visited" this stall for the past 10 years!!

Red jag is red bean, white jag is coconut milk, green jag is full of Chendol

The worker busy shaving the ice (刨冰)from the ice shaving machine

Then the shaved ice is scoop into the bowl, top with chendol, red bean, palm sugar and coconut milk. Here u go! i bet u will never go wrong with this dessert when u r under the hot sun in Malaysia!

Look at my awful look when conquering a bowl of chendol in my hand! Despite the keep growing big tummy, we basically can't resist good street food in Malaysia, m i rite!?
This is a real live street food scenario where vendors selling food at street or roadside, while food lover buy and enjoy the food just right beside the stall by standing (as no table or chair is provided)


i found a pretty detailed Chendol recipe HERE. If u miss your chendol while u r in oversea, tell me if this recipe really works for u!

Monday, December 22, 2008

请你吃肉骨茶(Bak Kut Teh)

今天和妹妹一家及妈妈约好去品尝肉骨茶,妹妹说要请客!我觉得身为大马华裔,一定要向我的海外读者介绍这一道具大马华人的代表性美食。 在美国旅居时也尝试煮, 因为带了肉骨茶包料过去。味道还可以。

这一锅的肉骨茶,色,香,味具全,就像一品锅,有好多好多的料啊!

From Wikipedia about Bak Kut Teh:
肉骨茶(閩南語白話字拼音:bah-kut-tê) 是一種流行於東南亞馬來西亞新加坡一帶的食品,是以配合中藥煲成的,並沒有茶葉的成份,但是由於食用時多會泡茶解湯肉的肥膩,所以一般都習稱肉骨茶。其中,以巴生肉骨茶最為著名。
肉骨茶雖名為茶,但實為混合中藥、香料(包括八角茴香、桂香、丁香、大蒜)及肉排熬制多個小時的濃湯。在馬來西亞的一些小鎮的餐館會加入海參和鮑魚一起熬制。
肉骨茶通常伴白飯或以油條蘸湯來吃。以醬油、碎紅椒和蒜蓉一起調味。 各類中國清茶(馬來西亞的巴生河流域地區以鐡觀音最為流行)通常會隨湯奉上,相信可以清走豬肉的油膩。在馬來西亞,肉骨茶是一道典型的早點菜式。
顺道介绍我的妹妹和妈妈。

妈妈今年63了,保养还不赖。

Saturday, December 20, 2008

冬至节吃汤圆

根据维基百科,自由的百科全书诠释“冬至节”:
  • 冬至是农历二十四节气之一。这一天北半球黑夜最长,白昼最短。俗称“冬节”、“长至节”、“亚岁”等
  • 目前澳門是華人社會唯一以冬至作公眾假期的地區
  • 中国北方有冬至日吃饺子的习俗,南方某些地方有冬至日吃湯圓的習俗,傳說在漢朝的醫聖張仲景體念家鄉鄉民在寒冬中工作的辛苦,在冬至那天利用羊肉等祛寒的藥材包在皮中,作成耳朵的樣子,給鄉民們治病補身,這個藥方的名字叫作「祛寒嬌耳湯」,嬌耳就是餃兒。中國南方則有吃湯圓等甜食的習俗,江浙一帶在冬至吃汤圆外,还要吃桂花酒酿,并祭祖,苏州还有桂花冬酿酒,只在此时节上市。大湯圓有餡的「粉團」是用于晚上祭祖,而無餡較小的粉圓用于早上拜神。


在台灣冬至的湯圓有紅白兩色,另有較大的湯圓,內包有芝蔴、花生、或鮮肉等內餡。今天我搓得汤圆内馅就是包有芝麻加花生,因为是老公的最爱。在美国时,总爱去华人超市购买冷冻的,由台湾进口的花生汤圆,自己负责煮糖水,糖水除了糖,还加了浓浓东南亚风味的香兰叶和嫩姜一块。(如下图所示)

我的小孩爱吃不裹内馅的汤圆,倒是喜欢在汤圆上洒炒好的花生芝麻,一粒一粒沾着吃。这种吃法比较象我们大马的“芝麻粟”,通常是路边的小贩在兜售,是道地的大马小吃。

小孩吃了汤圆,象征又长大了一岁。我愿我的小孩们,快乐,健康的成长, 那我就可以养尊处优了,哈哈:)

Merry Christmas 2008

i wish all my friends and reader Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Look Forward for a better year in 2009!




Monday, December 15, 2008

From Iron Point to BaysWater

Today, Dec 15th 2008,
my blog has officialy change its title from Iron Point Snapshot to BaysWater Snapshot.
No doubts i hv mix feeling to leave behind Iron Point, However i somehow has no choice! BaysWater (My real home in Malaysia) featuring and reflecting the real life of mine in my home country located in Penang Island, Malaysia.
The return visit to Iron Point, Folsom is unknown as of now. I hv no feasibility when i could cuddle every panoramic and nolstagic memory, so does the attached feeling on Iron Point again.

This is the sweet moment in my life, i shall never forget it and keep the sweet feeling lasting. The kids look forward to go back again some how. Iron Point, has always become their "word of Mouth" whenever they make comparison against Malaysia and USA. Funny rite!

Taiwanese Food in Penang, Malaysia

Wanna introduce a local Taiwanese food chain in Northen Malaysia, especially Penang Island and Prai mainland--> 600cc Taiwanese Food.

The shop is own by a Taiwanese lady who has been residing in Malaysiafor more than 10 years. She is currently having about 6 chains around Penang island and Prai area, serving authentic Taiwanese recipe food and drinks.

menu including: 雪花,甜不辣

Does it looks tempting?

we ordered: 炸酱面,卤肉饭


牛肉面

Traditional Taiwan Style Beef stew

i hv one quite good recipe to share here.


卤肉饭

William's favorite, especially the 卤蛋

Taiwanese good friend Shu Chun淑君's husband has a good hand in prepare this authentic taiwanese dish..He used to cook several times and i had the chance to taste it. By far, he cooks among the best mince meat rice (卤肉饭)i ever tasted b4. 5 STAR granted to you, Brian:)

Taiwanese style bubble Milk tea with pearl

台式泡沫珍珠奶茶

This is my favorite! i remember i bought this milk tea @ GreatMall, San Jose, at USD3. Ironically, i like the milk tea only and not the black pearl in it!

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Lake side Park in Penang Island, Malaysia

Benjamin enjoyed feeding the duck with bread cumbs.

This is a man-made lake in Penang Island.

The scenery. Harmony and lovely blue-sky all year long...my lovely country
Hello everyone! this is my latest posting taken today afternoon! Pls comment:)

Benjamin was so fascinated by the colourful playground!

Malaysian Street Food Introduction: Grilled/BBQ Chicken Wing (With charcoal) 碳烧鸡翼
this is a typical BBQ chicken wing stall u may found in most of the hawker foodcourt in Malaysia. The chicken wing (they do sell drumstick as well) will be marinated in their secret sauce 24 hours prior to BBQ with charcoal. Chicken wing is selling at RM1.80 (approx 50 cent USD)per piece, serve with hot and sweet dipping sauce.


鸡肉串沙爹
Do u find this BBQ chicken skewer familiar?
it is called SATAY in Malay language (Malaysian National Language). It is the most famous local food in Malaysia and South East Asian countries like Thailand and Indonesia particularly. BBQ chicken skewer dip with sweet and hot peanut sauce!! oh my God! it is gonna kill you...To learn more about Satay, here u go!

尤鱼空心菜
Cuttle Fish with kangkong leaf (空心菜), spread with hoisin sauce and ground peanut. The combination of sweet hoisin sauce and crispy cuttle fish is such a perfect match and serve as one of the most delightful supper choice for Malaysian.
Stay tune for more Malaysian local food in my next post! See u!