Sunday Funday: Mr & Ms and sunshine

Sundays are for maxxing and relaxing – it ain’t too taxing.

Ready for a mother-daughter breakfast date – H&M short shorts, Zara blue silk blouse, Prada handbag and Stella McCartney sunnies

Earring (from Topshop) and collar details (from Zara)

Hair details – I braided my own hair then wound it over my head and clipped it in place for a summery, simple, and stylish headband!

This morning, my mum and I decided to treat ourselves to a breakfast date at Mr & Ms at Ara Damansara. She had raved about their breakfasts, also mentioning that it was an airy but cosy restaurant, and it was always jam-packed for Sunday breakfasts. I was a little doubtful, but upon pulling up to the restaurant she was right! It was completely full but luckily they had a free table for two; as we sat down, I saw about three parties outside having to wait for an available table. Service was quick, friendly and helpful – in no time, we were tucking into our freshly squeezed juices and delicious meals.

My mother had the muesli with milk, yoghurt, fruit, and roasted nuts

I treated myself to a Vegan Big Brekky

We were in and out within an hour – it was a quick and bright breakfast pick-me-up for the both of us but tomorrow, we’ve decided to visit them again for a leisurely lunch. Call them on 03-78596665 or visit the cafe at: Ara Damansara B-G-3A, Block B, Oasis Square, Jalan PJU 1A/7A, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya, 47301.

When I came home, there seemed nothing better to do than to float around the pool. In fact, it was the best thing to do.

 

Happy Sunday everyone!

 

Banana bread with dark chocolate chunks = BLISS.

I cannot get over how well this banana bread turned out! It’s moist, fragrant, and beautifully enriched by the sweetness and taste of the bananas – the dark chocolate chips I added also balanced the flavours out perfectly. Each bite into a chunk of decadent chocolate sent a shockwave of semisweet bitterness that was nothing short of scrumptious. I couldn’t think of any better way to start the weekend (and kick away the effects of the night before) than to bake something again for the whole family, especially after Friday when my brownies had been such a success!

Just like my brownies, I used the slightly more indulgent Valrhona 70% cacao chocolate rather than chocolate chips, but as always, any sort of chopped chocolate or chocolate chips would be fine – be more adventurous and add different fruits instead, like a handful of blueberries, cranberries, or dried cherries!

Fresh out the oven!

Ready in about 1 1/2 hours, this recipe will make one loaf

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda OR 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate
• 2 1/3 cups mashed, ripe or overripe bananas

A rich, banana bread batter

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celsius, and lightly grease a loaf pan (mine was 9×5 inch) or line it with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine the sifted flour, baking soda OR baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract; stir in the eggs and mashed bananas until it is all well mixed.
4. Pour the banana mixture into the dry ingredient mixture, and also add the chopped chocolate chunks; stir gently just to combine and moisten.
5. Pour into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a toothpick in the centre of the loaf comes out clean.
6. Let bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove the load and leave it to cool on a wire rack – enjoy!

Just waiting for that breadknife to slice through

This recipe is relatively quick and very simple – but there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid your baking endeavour from going horribly wrong. Firstly, in the fourth step when both wet and dry ingredients are combined, combine them very gently! If you overmix, the bread will come out very dry – it is crucial to stir them just to moisten the dry ingredients with the wet. Secondly, in order for the bread to cook evenly, bake it on the middle rack of your oven. I have altered this recipe from the original by lowering the temperature slightly and extending the cooking time marginally, in response to comments claiming that the break was not cooked evenly enough. Moreover, I like my bananas to be super-mashed without any lumps so the flavour is deeply imbued into the bread, as opposed to the occasional bite of banana chunk – but to each his own.

Once served, make sure to store the loaf in an airtight container, bread holder, or keep it in the freezer if you wish to save it. It’s delicious toasted, but I personally love it just on its own!

Perfect the way it is

Recipe adapted and altered from the original, posted by Shelley Albeluhn on http://www.allrecipes.com

Irresistably Moist, Chocolatey Brownies

I omitted the word ‘fudgy’ for a reason. This particular recipe was a failed attempt in the quest for the perfectly fudgy brownies, but it was an unexpected victory in the slightly less infamous struggle, that is, the search for the perfectly moist cakey brownies, to suit those for whom ‘fudgy’ is sickly. Admittedly, there aren’t that many people who feel that way, but there is an abundance of people like me: someone who will love a good brownie, fudgy or cakey, as long as it’s rich, succulent and jam-packed with chocolate flavour.

But seriously…how good does that look!?

I’m certain that if you reduce the cooking time by ten minutes, your brownies will turn out as fudgy and chewy as any fan of decadence could wish it to be, but the recipe I post below here will give you what I ended up with – moist brownies that border on chewy but are equally delicious (its been less than a day and I only have five tiny cubes of brownie left, thanks to my ravenous family). This recipe is quick, easy, and most of the ingredients should be readily available at home. Of course, adding chocolate chips, chopped nuts, dried fruits and the like are completely optional, but they do add a nice kick. I’m a chocoholic, so I decided to add a handful of chopped Valrhona 70% cacao dark chocolate – a little indulgent, a little pricey, but completely worth it in every bite.

Total time: 45 mins, Makes 16-25 servings depending on how large you cut your pieces

(Make sure to store your brownies in an airtight container once cooled, to avoid them going stale)

• 1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup nuts/chocolate chips/dried fruits etc. or a mixture of all (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees celsius.
2. Combine the sifted flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl.
3. Melt the butter in a separate microwavable bowl, using the microwave at 10-15 second intervals on high.
4. Once melted, transfer to a large mixing bowl and stir in the cocoa powder; mix in the sugar, eggs and vanilla extract.
5. Mix in the dry ingredients, including the additional fillings if using.
6. Grease a baking tray with butter, cooking spray, or line it with parchment paper.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared tray, leveling out the surface and sprinkling the top with some chocolate chips if desired.
8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the edges have produced that coveted crispy crust; take them out to cool completely and enjoy!

16 large and decadent brownies

Recipe adapted from Sam #3’s version on http://www.food.com

Girls Only Roadtrip: Penang!

Last week, my grandmother, mother, little sister and I embarked on a three-day roadtrip to Penang, envisaging a trip full of great sights and even greater food – we were not disappointed!

Ernest Zacharevik’s ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’ mural on Armenian Street

We stayed at G-Hotel, which was situated by the seaside right on Gurney Drive – in terms of location, it was stellar. Especially with our car on hand, it was easy to navigate around Georgetown, since we were already in such an ideal spot. I would definitely reccomend this hotel, and try to get a sea-facing room if you can – the view is stunning. Its also situated directly beside Gurney Plaza and the Gurney Paragon Mall is just down the road; this was excellent for shopping and watching movies at the GSC cinema (watch Captain Ameria: The Winter Soldier, it was so good!). As we were only there for a few days, we had to make the most of the time we had, cramming it full of shopping, sightseeing, and all that hawker food of course!

Indulging at the Gurney Drive Hawker Centre

‘Don’t interrupt me while I’m eating’

Everyday we lulled ourselves into food comas, going overboard with as many different dishes as we could possibly stomach, always trying to find the best kuay teow, cendol, or rojak (our favourites). My popo loved seeing all the temples, especially the Wat Chaiyamangakalaram or Reclining Buddha temple – she hadn’t been to Penang for years and I feel like the trip brought back very happy memories. Snake Temple was exciting for all of us; at the Tokong Ular, we saw vipers draped across altars (in an architecturally ornate and beautiful temple, I might add) and I even had a huge python draped across me!

In front of Wat Chaiyamangkalaram

My eight-year old and eight foot long reptile friend

Armenian Street, where I insisted we visit because I was determined to see ‘Little Children on a Bicycle’, proved to full of hidden gems. Not only did we see some fantastic street art, but walking up and down the street we stumbled upon a batik museum, and one of the best henna artists I had ever encountered. Entrance to the non-profit museum was RM 5, and it contained three floors displaying the works of some of Malaysia and Asia’s best batik artists. It’s a pity that we weren’t able to purchase any of the pieces displayed – my mother desperately wanted some for the house, just like the one below. Batik painting as a fine art form was not something I had encountered before, but I think I’ve developed a new found love for it. The detail and skill going into each work was astounding, not to mention the diversity of the medium – if we could have brought any of those paintings home, I have no doubt we’d try and take it all!

An example of Ismail Mat Hussain’s work

While we took turns to have our henna done on Armenian Street, we bought ice-balls from a stall opposite that sold huge balls of shaved ice drenched in either orange, rose, or sarsi flavoured syrup, perfect in the sweltering heat. This was the first time I had colour on my henna, and the artist Ratna Geetha (you can reach her at 0164359981) worked quickly, expertly, and also charged a reasonable price (RM 45 for my mother’s foot, and both my little sister and my hands). The finished products were fantastic.

Rediscovering Penang was an experience we all enjoyed, with its colonial inspired streets, multicultural sights and mouthwatering food. As we made our way back home, crossing the Penang Bridge and then stopping in Tapah on the way for some rest and some more delicacies, I felt like my love for Malaysia had just grown exponentially. It’s a wonderful thing to restore a fascination with old destinations, and so too is it to renew one’s love for home.

After burning a lot of things…Kampachi!

As I mentioned, Qing Ming was a family affair and because Pavillion wasn’t too far away and we’re all obsessed with Japanese food…Kampachi was the choice for Sunday family lunch!

Popo and Arif showing off their toothy grins

We’d all been here many times before, but that doesn’t mean it gets any less delicious, or that it’s not worth taking pictures of the food (a stereotypically Asian habit I think I have gracefully acquired and proudly embraced). Kampachi at Pavillion has always been very good, even if a little pricey, so I’m not posting this so much as a review but more of as a celebration. Japanese food mixed with family, sprinkled with paying homage to the dead, and finished off with a heavy dose of culturally fulfilling pyromania? Now if that isn’t an occasion to rejoice, I don’t know what is!

Assorted Sashimi Platter (for 3-5 persons), RM 300

Cold Soba with Ebi Tempura, Tempura Vegetables and Dipping Sauce, RM 28

Tuna Belly (and it went in my belly) Roll and Unagi Roll

Deep Fried Unagi Roll

I’m sorry I don’t have the prices for all the pictures posted above, so go and check out Kampachi for yourself or visit them at http://www.kampachi.com.my for more details!

Qing Ming: remembering the dead and comforting the living

Last Sunday, my family and I visited my grandfather’s ashes for Qing Ming. For those who don’t know, the Qing Ming  Festival is a traditional Chinese occasion where we visit the graves of our loved ones, and is a time for remembrance, reflection, and respect. For us, as it has been every year since my grandfather passed away, it is always a family event where we offer food and joss paper goods to him, as well as to our maternal great-grandmother and my grandfather”s sister (all their ashes reside in the same pagoda).

A sea of people make offerings and say prayers for their lost loved ones

My mother is Chinese but my father is Malay, and here in Malaysia, that means that by blood, my siblings and I are muslim – not to mention my mother and her mother converted. However, my mother has always insisted on our multiculturalism, and especially in the diverse backdrop that is Malaysia and my grandfather unconverted, we have never had any qualms about regularly visiting the temple and performing these traditionally Chinese rites – in fact, it is something we are all very proud of. Alongside speaking both Cantonese and Malay, following the practices of both our cultures helps to remind my family of our roots and where we come from. These are things that will never change.

The Qing Ming festival is a revered and serious occasion in Malaysia, and the jostling crowds of people at the temple last Sunday are testament to that fact. The temple grounds were overflowing with people, and combined with the marginally thinner cloud of smoke, perpetually summer sun, and the stress of carrying so many things around, it wasn’t exactly the most glamorous experience. But, it is and always will be, a crucial part of our family life (and not to mention vital experience to ensure that my children will do the same and correctly). For me, as it clearly was to so many others there, this affair wasn’t just something we felt compelled to do, obligated by tradition and convention, but it was something we all wanted to do, in memory and out of love for those that we had lost.

Minus my eldest brother, my siblings and I pose with our popo in front of gong gong’s brand new mansion!

In light of all these rituals, homages and customs, my mother often says that we do it to comfort the living, and not just to remember the dead. This is not something I am unwilling to agree with, or shy to admit. In fact, I feel like this realization is crucial; in comforting our living selves we are reminded that we will not always be living, that those who are dead made us who we are today, and that these things are just a few among many, that tie us as a humanity – together.

One Lucky Sunday: A Badminton Superstar, Halle Berry’s Ex and Fast, Fast Cars

The Sunday that rounded off the Formula One weekend was a great one. I was lucky enough to spend the final day of the Malaysian Grand Prix’14 in the Paddock Club, and needless to say, it was an amazing experience! Not to mention, I met one of my heroes that day: Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

Nothing but smiles with the badminton legend

For those who don’t know, Lee Chong Wei is one of Malaysia’s national icons, and one of the idols for many sporting dreamers out there. I don’t even have to play badminton to feel inspired by him, or be in awe of his 5 awards, 53 titles and 28 runner-ups – the World Championships and the Olympics amongst a myriad of others. In fact, I would never even consider myself a sportswoman, but Lee Chong Wei is about a lot more than just badminton. I’m always met with surprise when I voice how much I admire him, and constantly asked the question: do you even play badminton, do you even play sport? The answer, really, is no, but I can assure you that most of the people who have watched and supported him through the years will say the same thing. He embodies my country, our country, and all the hard work that has gone into putting Malaysia on a global stage. I remember almost crying when he lost an Olympic gold medal for the second time to Lin Dan, but that loss was not so much a defeat when one remembers how far he had gone to get there in the first place; for me, Lee Chong Wei has sailed through a sea of triumphs, and no matter what, will remain a paragon of determination and skill to inspire not only Malaysians, but dreamers around the world. I am proud to call myself a Malaysian, standing by his side.

Moving on from my patriotic sermon, I also had the chance to meet Eric Benét. He’s a four-time grammy nominated artist and also happens to be Halle Berry’s husband – needless to say, he was just as charming and handsome as I would have thought, and had a surprising penchant for selfies.

Selfie time in Lewis Hamilton’s pit before the race

Unfortunately, I didn’t manage to grab a picture with all the wonderful people I was there with – of which there were many, including a very handsome Benedict Cumberbatch – but all I can say, is that I feel very grateful and blessed to have been in such esteemed company (of which the best was of course my father, who was my date for the day).

The best view!

Because I study abroad, I haven’t really been able to go to the F1 for the last few years. I had forgotten how exhilirating it was when the race started, when something went wrong, or when a driver was doing everything right (go Lewis Hamilton, go Petronas!). I hold a deep respect for everyone who organized and partook in the Grand Prix, and can safely say that it is something that Malaysia is, and will continue to be, very proud about.

One Steamy Night at the Empire: Jibby & Co

Admittedly, my title probably makes this family outing seem much more exciting than it actually was. BUT, it was indeed a very hot evening, and we did go to the Empire shopping mall to dine at a newly opened restaurant: Jibby & Co.

Getting into it

My mum has wanted to go there since it opened, but found that it was always too crowded and the wait too long – a good sign, I think. The restaurant itself is wonderful; it is airy with high ceilings and subtly eclectic decor, minimalist, but very different. The whole thing ended up feeling like we were eating in a very, very nice greenhouse.

There is a huge variety of food and drink, from local food with a twist to western fare that is filling and fantastic. It is also worth noting that this restaurant serves halal food only. The Western dishes were certainly much better than the local, but overall, everything was delicious. The dinner menu is more ambitious than many would assume (as is the breakfast), and I think it paid off. My main course was mouthwatering: a soft shell crab burger on brioche with Asian coleslaw, spicy mayonnaise, and perfectly crisp, sweet potato fries. Yum!

Soft Shell Crab Burger on Brioche, RM 28

Jibby’s Platter, RM 32

Panko Crumbed Soft Boiled Egg and Smoked Salmon Salad, RM 35

All the salads are quite large – try the Spiced Chickpeas or Roasted Aubergine salads, they were equally satisfying – and would act as light mains. Perfectly adequate with just a side of sweet potato fries perhaps…I’m in love with sweet potato fries and I’m probably just trying to coerce you into having just as much as I do!

Java Noodles Rojak, RM 23

Crispy Panko Chicken Schnitzel, RM 35

Service wasn’t brilliant, but for a busy Saturday night was understandable, even if a little disappointing. Just a note of warning: apparently if you don’t outline what dishes you’d like first, they arrive in a scattered manner with no order at all – our salads came after all our mains, and they seemed to be serving one dish at a time. Also, the air conditioning is a little on the chillier side, bring a cardigan if you get cold easily!

Cooling off even more with some ice-cold mocktails in charming jars (Passionade and Ice Crushed Lemonade with Mint/Mojito, both RM 15)

For reservations you can call Jibby & Co on 03-56137070 on Mondays to Thursdays, or visit them directly at the Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang.

Beef, Beer, PIE.

One of my favourite dishes we cooked in Switzerland was a tender, moist, and wonderfully filling steak and ale pie. I loved this recipe so much that I’ve already cooked it here in Malaysia for my family – my Chinese grandmother is always very perplexed when I cook a Western dish because to her, this style of cooking is unfamiliar and foreign. But…she ate it all up and absolutely loved it! As the woman who taught my mother to cook and was always the masterchef of our kitchen, I have a huge amount of respect for her opinion. This recipe is adapted from Jamie Oliver’s and may take a lot of time, but most of that is just a pot sitting on the stove or in the oven- believe me, it is all worth it.

Tender and flavourful beef with a wonderfully crispy crust!

Steak and Guiness Pie

3 hours 50 minutes cooking time, serves 6

• Olive oil
• 3 medium red onions, peeled and chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
• 2 carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 sticks celery, trimmed and chopped
• 1 packet of white button mushrooms, sliced
• 1 kg quality brisket of beef or stewing beef, cut into cubes
• Rosemary, salt, and 1 tsp pepper (to season)
• 440ml Guiness (1 can)
• 2 heaped tablespoons of plain flour
• 80 g freshly grated cheddar cheese
• 200g ready-made puff pastry
• 1 egg, beaten

1. Preheat the oven to 190 degrees celsius. Heat the olive oil in a large, oven proof pan and gently fry the onions on low heat until they are slightly browned.
2. Turn the heat up and add the garlic, celery, carrots, and mushrooms. Give this a quick stir before stirring in the beef. Season with rosemary, a pinch of salt, and a level teaspoon of pepper. Fry and stir regularly for 3-4 minutes to make sure the beef is browned on the outside.
3. Pour in the guinness, mix in the flour, and add just enough water to cover. Alternatively you can add beef stock, but be careful to taste the stew before adding the cheese later as the beef stock will make the dish saltier, and you may wish to add less cheese or none at all.
4. Bring to a simmer, cover the pan with the lid and place in the preheated oven to cook for 1 1/2 hours. Remove from the oven, give the stew a stir and return to the oven to cook for another 45 minutes, or until the beef is tender and the stew is rich, dark and thick. If the stew is still quite liquidy, return to the hob and reduce.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese. Season slightly if desired and leave to cool.
6. Using a clean, floured work surface and a floured rolling pin, roll out the pastry to an even thickness of approximately three mm, paying attention to match the pastry to roughly the same shape as the pie dish you will be baking in.
7. Pour the stew into the pie dish and using a pastry brush, lightly coat the edges of the dish with the egg wash. Cover with the puff pastry, pinching the sides in to adhere to the dish. Score the pastry lightly with a knife to create a criss-cross pattern – coat the puff pastry lid in the egg wash.
8. Bake the pie in the preheated oven (190 degrees celsius) for 45 minutes until the pastry is golden and crisp. Best served warm!

Switzerland: Friends and Food!

As soon as our term ended, I was lucky enough to go on a skiing holiday to Switzerland in a little resort called Crans-Montana in the Valais, where my family and I have a home. I was accompanied by my boyfriend and my three best friends from boarding school. The trip proved to be full of more sun than snow, but despite this, we had four amazing mornings of skiing, followed by delicious lunches and dinners mostly cooked by ourselves. There were also a lot of word games, watching CNN (the only English channel!), hot chocolate and laughter. It was nice to get away from the bustling city and wifi, especially with old friends and a current romance in tow. On the final night, we lavished our university friends who were also in the resort, with a delicious three-course dinner party we cooked all by ourselves!

Our first day of skiing – it was a beautiful clear day

For our dinner party, the starter platter consisted of: mushrooms sautéed with a wine sauce, wrapped and baked in puff pastry parcels; caramelised onions and goats cheese crostini; a selection of paté, and a selection of cheese. The main course was a soy-maple glazed roast salmon, with soy roasted broccoli and egg fried rice on the side. We ended with an amazing apple and rasberry crumble, clasically paired with vanilla ice cream. Hopefully I will put up the recipes soon! Our friends were kind enough to supply the wine for the night and needless to say, just like the many wine-filled nights before, we had a fantastic time.

Our starter platter

My boyfriend and I (and an alpine kiss!)

There’s nothing quite like fresh mountain air, good food, and even better company.