Vegetarianism is not just a diet, it's compassion

2012-04-11T07:55:00.002-07:00

Nasi Kunyit with Vegetarian Curry Mutton - RM 11.90

Have chosen to have a gathering with my friends at Pappa Rich as I just learnt that they have a good selection of Vegetarian dishes.

Other than the usual nasi lemak with vegetarian sambal, they have now added two more, one with nasi kunyit and the other with nasi lemak, both served with vegetarian curry mutton.
During my earlier visit I have tried the nasi lemak with vegetarian mutton which was very tasty and filling as the serving was really generous. This time I tried it with nasi kunyit and am very happy with it too as the glutinous rice was steamed to perfection and together with the vegetarian mutton, long beans, fried peanuts, half an egg and slices of cucumber was really satisfying.
For noodles menu, they have the Pappa fried meehoon served with either vegetarian sambal or vegetarian mutton. For those who prefer something soupy, there is the vegetarian noodle soup with mutton.
Pappa steamed pau, wholemeal red bean pau and vegetarian steamed glutinous rice with mushroom are available for dim sum lovers.
Lastly, Pappa Ketupat with Roasted Coconut Floss can be ordered together with vegetarian curry mutton.
For dim sum lovers, they have two types of paus - Pappa steamed pau and wholemeal red bean pau - and vegetarian steamed glutinous rice with mushroom.
Lastly, Pappa Ketupat with Roasted Coconut Floss goes well with Vegetarian Curry Mutton.
I enjoyed my nasi kunyit with vegetarian curry mutton and my friends were all happy with their orders too. However, we do have two complains. First is that it was a hot day and we did not realize that only two ceiling fans were on but not the air-conditioning. We just presumed that they should be on. Half way through our meal, we really felt the heat and were all sweating and only when we complained did the staff switched on the air-condition. Second is that the glasses in which the drinks were served were full of stains. They should give their glasses a good scrub with VIM/JIF.

PappaRich PJ

No.2 & 4, Jalan 52/18 Merdeka Square, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Tel: +603 7954 1585

Revisited - Peace Harmony, Sydney

2012-03-12T04:31:00.001-07:00

Yes, we're back for a 2nd visit, to our delightful find right in the heart of Sydney's bustling CBD. Situated within a comfortable walking distance from Wynyard station or Darling Harbour, Peace Harmony is quite centrally and conveniently located for both tourists and Sydney's worker bees. Only downside is, lunch gets very busy and you would often find that you would have to wait for your table if you did not book ahead. However, fear not, as their take-away service is very efficient and you would get your food within 5-10 minutes, and it's cheaper to take away too. Since Darling Harbour is just a stone's throw away with ample benches by the harbour, why not consider saving a few dollars and taking your takeaway boxes with you to enjoy a little sun and the sea?

Pad Thai - It came sweet, and I do not like sweet. I want mine SPICY!!!!

Jungle Curry -oh boy was this spicy! :)

Dimsum that came with the set lunch
Veggie drumstick (beancurd sheet rolled on stick, deep fried)
Soy Chicken Satay (Veggie Chicken marinated in Satay powder and coconut milk topped with peanut sauce)
Money bag (mixed vegetables, water chestnut and veggie meat wrapped in chinese dumplng pastry)
Curry Puff (Potato, carrot, corn and pea cooked with curry powder)

Beverage that came with the set lunch

Red Curry - the popular thai curry cooked with bamboo shoots, vegetables in red chilli paste, coconut milk, veggie meat and tofu

Bacon Style Rashes - Best for Aussie BBQs

2012-03-11T03:37:00.004-07:00

Aussies are known for their BBQs and they are proud of it. Almost every Australian household owns a BBQ grill. Unfortunately for vegetarians in Asia, when it comes to BBQ, we are often "left out", but fear not, as the Aussies do not deprive their guests as Vegetarian Bacon Style Rashes are one of the many "BBQ-friendly" meat alternative available in all woolworths / coles supermarkets. Priced at $4 for 125g, it comes packed with nutrition as it is fortified with zinc, iron and b12. You would also be pleased to know that its colors are from natural sources - beetroot!

Here's the recipe I'll be sharing with you today: The Aussie Big Breakfast for vegetarians.

Ingredients (serves 4):
100g Button Mushrooms
1 can of Heinz baked beans
6 free range eggs
50g of long beans
1 pack of bacon styled rashes
4 tablespoon of olive oil
Freshly Ground Black Pepper
Pinch of salt

Method:
1) Beat eggs in a bowl. Add long beans to the egg mixture
2) Thinly slice the mushrooms, cap down on the chopping board.
3) Heat oil in a non-stick frying pan, and pan fry the eggs and long beans. Gently flip the half-cooked frittata and pan fry until golden on both sides
4) The move on to pan frying the mushrooms and heating up the baked beans.
5) Finally pan fry the bacon styled rashes and serve and enjoy while it's still hot!

Ta-da!!!

Sure looks like the real thing doesn't it?

Here's what to look out for when you head into woolworths or coles :)

Green Life Vegetarian @ The Curve, Mutiara Damansara

2012-03-02T05:49:00.005-08:00

Happy that I could find vegetarian food when I went shopping at The Curve. Helping was generous but the food served were all cold. Fortunately the rice and the soup are hot. The set comes with rice plus 3 veggie dishes with a free bowl of soup and request for brown rice ia an additional 50 sen.

IPC Shopping Centre
Lower Ground Floor, Lot LG62
No.2, Jalan PJU 7/2
Mutiara Damansara
47800 Petaling Jaya
Selangor Darul Ehsan

Awesome vegetarian Thai @ Peace Harmony, Sydney CBD, Australia

2012-02-20T01:53:00.001-08:00

Yay to the first authentic Thai eatery outside of Thailand, in fact I have yet to dine at a full vegetarian in Thailand, so do let me know if you know of any good ones!

Peace Harmony is a Thai vegetarian eatery located in the heart of Sydney's CBD. They are open for lunch and dinner, so head on over if you are in town! However, they do get very busy, so reservations are highly recommended!

Green Curry - a bit too coconut milky and a bit too sweet. I think most Malaysians prefer their curry to be more spicy and not sweet.

Soy Fish - this dish is made perfect by the sweet and sour sauce that comes with it.

Pad Prik Khing. We loved this dish. It was spicy and yet not overly creamy / oily. Best companion for a bowl of warm rice!

Peace Harmony
Address: 44 Erskine Street Sydney NSW

Phone: +61 2 9262 2247

Interesting Vegetarian Sushi

2012-02-19T01:26:00.000-08:00

I like it when chefs go natural when it comes to vegetarian. I hate it when they try to imitate all the "meat" dishes out there, it's like telling everyone, we vegetarians don't have anything to eat, so we have to "imitate" meat, which is simply not true!!! Now, this is what I call all natural sushi! :)

Vegetable sushi - looks crunchy! :)

pic source: shizuokagourmet

Vegetarianism on the rise as people become aware of health and environmental rationale for eating less meat

2012-02-19T01:16:00.000-08:00

Vegetarianism on the rise as people become aware of health and environmental rationale for eating less meat

By Jessica Lim @ Straits Times

A vegetarian? 'Oh, are you a Buddhist or a Hindu?' That was a typical exchange in the 1990s when Dr George Jacobs, 59, president of the Vegetarian Society, told people he was vegetarian.

But that mindset is slowly changing, he said.

'More people have become aware of the health and environmental rationale for eating less or no meat,' said the university lecturer.

The questions he now gets are different too. 'Times have changed. Today's vegetarianism is not our parents' vegetarianism.'

___________________

Compassionate Vegetarian: Vegetarianism is not a religion, it is a lifestyle and compassion for animals.

Chinese New Year meal at Chef Low Organic Kitchen

2012-01-29T05:01:00.000-08:00

We were wondering where to go for a meal and a gathering on this second day of Chinese New Year and called up a few restaurants to find out if they are opened for business. When we got through to Chef Low Organic Kitchen, we were delighted to know that they open from 6pm onwards and immediately made our booking for 4 people.
We arrived at 6.30 and were glad that the place was only half full and was not rowdy with the CNY crowd.
Without delay we quickly placed our orders which include the "Fatt Choy Yee Sang" which I normally will not miss. It is not that I wish to be prosperous after eating this dish but that I like the accompaniment of the different raw salads that goes with the dish. However, this yee sang is not delectable to my taste buds and as such, do not think I would like to recommend it.
The Beancurd Winter Melon ( Dong Bor RO) was special and tasted really good but portion was a little too small. Nyonya fish was good and the Xiao Bai Cai's portion was more than enough for the four of us.
After settling the bill, it was so nice of the boss to present us with a plate of ''wor tip'' on the house. Thank you. This dessert is normally deep fried but we got was baked and I like it very much as it was light and fluffy and the sweetness was just right.

Yee Sang (Small) - RM 38.80

Beancurd Winter Melon - RM 21.90

Nyonya Assam Fish (s) RM 18.90

Xiao Bai Cai (L) - RM 18.90

Wor Tip - Complimentary On The House

Name: Chef Low Organic Kitchen
Address: C-G-43, Camillia, 10 Boulevard, Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-7725 7154

Thermomix - easy and delicious rice recipe

2012-01-09T21:11:00.000-08:00

I do not quite like to follow recipes and like to just cook whatever I find in my fridge. So today when I opened my fridge I found my that there is some purple cabbage and turnip leftovers. Since I am going to include the walnuts and almonds later into the rice, I chopped them all on speed 8 for 20 sec, remove and set aside to be used later. Then I put in the purple cabbage first and chopped them on speed 8 for half a minute and then added the turnip and continued for another half minute. I cooked them in them directly in the TM bowl as I do not want the nutrients to be drained out if I cook them in the basket on 100C for 15mins on speed 4. Lastly, just add in the chopped walnuts, almonds and some raisins and cook another 2 mins.
Leave in bowl for 10 mins before dishing out to be served. The rice turned out to be very colorful and tasty. My family liked it.

Baia THE ITALIAN, Cockle Bay Wharf, Sydney, Australia

2012-01-09T01:03:00.000-08:00

Sydney used to be more known for its beaches while Melbourne is more known for its food, cafes and culture. However, Sydney is fast catching up and in recent years, more and more restaurants and cafes have sprouted around the city, making it a city that has everything under the sun. Well, nestled somewhere in the heart of the CBD, we visited Baia, THE ITALIAN on Cockle Bay Wharf. Having the impression that nothing could beat the restaurant standards of the famous Lygon Street in Melbourne, we were not expecting a lot when we decided to dine there. However, we were thrilled to be proven wrong. Read on and I bet that you'll be drooling before reaching the end of this post.

Risotto ai funghi - mushroom risotto $25
Pan roasted porcini mushroom risotto with chives, black truffles and cream fraiche
This was a real gem. I normally dislike risottos as I normally find them a little overwhelming in terms of the cream that is used in the dish, however, I am pleased to say that this is one of the best risottos I have had so far. Will have to go to Italy to try out the more traditional and authentic ones before I comment any further :D

Pappardelle alla vegeteriana - $25
Homemade pappardelle with pan-roasted cherry tomatoes soft goats feta, baby spinach and cold pressed extra virgin olive oil.
Pappardelles are extra large fettuccine and this is actually our first time trying it. Until today, I think italian pastas only vary in shapes not that much in taste, unlike chinese noodles which is very varied in all color, shape, taste and texture. Apart from the noodles being a little fatter than the usual fettuccine, I did not find this dish to be anything special.

Traditional Tiramisu - $17.50
The famous Italian Tiramisu is really just layers of homemade mascarporne and lady fingers soaked in coffee liquor and served on a lattice of vanilla bean anglaise and dark chocolate. Tiramisus are one of the most easy DIY cakes but I always would like to explore new and different versions to see if there are any rooms for improvements when I next make them. This is a little drier than my tiramisu recipe and is more of a cake than my serve-in-a-dessert-cup-and-eat-with-a-spoon version. So, I guess the art of dining really depends on the individual which version a diner prefers and there isn't really a perfect recipe that would satisfy everyone. Nonetheless, I enjoyed this version of the tiramisu, though I really do prefer like my own version where the cake drowns in coffee liquor as then the aroma of the coffee is so much stronger which then makes it more indulging than the drier version.

Passionfruit Souffle - served with lemon sorbet and fresh passionfruit - $17.50
OMG! This was definitely a dreamy dessert. The souffle arrived at our table feather light and airy. The crispy outer made it almost something to crave for every single day. Served with a dollop of icy lemon sorbet, this dessert is something to die for. Only downside is that I might not want to pay $17.50 for another one in the near future.

Address: Baia THE ITALIAN, 114 Cockle Bay Wharf,
Darling Harbour, 2000 Sydney, Australia
Tel No: 9283 3434

Madeleine's Original Portugese Egg Tart & Puff- Singapore

2012-01-08T21:54:00.000-08:00

I had these pictures taken sometime ago when I was in Singapore and we passed by this egg tart shop that does not look impressive at all but was told that they sell really good and tasty egg tarts. So we stopped to buy some to try out. Unfortunately, as it is quite late in the afternoon, only a few tarts are left and we just bought whatever that are left in the trays. We could not wait and once in the car we started eating them immediately and could not agree more with what comments we hear about their tarts. The pastry was so soft and flaky and melt in the mouth as soon as you bite into them and the egg custard was just to the right sweetness.

Name: Madeleine's Original Portugese Egg Tart & Puff
Address: 198 Tanjong Katong Road, Singapore 436997
Tel: +65 6247 9363

No visit to Sydney is complete without dining at the famous Pancakes on the Rocks

2012-01-03T23:26:00.000-08:00

No visit to Sydney is complete without savoring the famous pancakes at Pancakes on the Rocks. Conveniently located at the famous "Rocks" of Sydney, about 10 minutes walk from Circular Quay, and open for 24 hours a day, you have no excuse for not being able to make time for the sinful pancakes, but be sure to make a reservation especially if you are planning to dine on a Friday night.

For all the chocoholics out there, this chocolate pancake is definitely a must-try. Two thick pancakes are topped with generous amount of walnuts and drizzled with a sinful amount of chocolate sauce and chocolate ice-cream. This will most certainly complete a chocoholic's visit to Sydney.

For those that do not have a sweet tooth for dessert pancakes, fear not, Pancake on the Rocks also serves savory pancakes and I must say this Fresh Mushroom Crepe has got to be one of the best savory pancakes I have ever tasted. The crepes are packed full of fresh mushrooms and goes tremendously well with the fresh cream and spinach sauce.

If you are ordering the savory pancakes, make sure you ask for some wedges too. However, you should be aware that having sour cream and sweet chilli on the sides cost an extra $1 each.

White and Red wine that goes perfectly with the pancakes :)

Address: 4 Hickson Rd, The Rocks, Sydney
Trading Hours: 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS A WEEK
Phone: 02 9247 6371 | Fax: 02 9252 2900
Email: therocks@pancakesontherocks.com.au
Website: http://pancakesontherocks.com.au/home

Traditional French Macaroons @ Nelly Julien

2012-01-03T22:14:00.000-08:00

I have developed an immense love for France. The culture, the food, the breathtaking sights, the people, and the list goes on.

And of course, the french dessert that tops my favorite list is the French Macaroon. They now come in a variety of flavors, pistachio, chocolate, vanilla, blueberry, etc. I opted for the traditional flavor, chocolate. Macaroons are all about their texture. The crispy outer and soft inside instantly combined and melted in my mouth and coated my tongue with a layer of delicious chocolate liquid. This macaroon is not overly sweet, unlike many of the macaroons I have tried back home and makes one craving for another almost instantly. Unfortunately, I was still full from lunch and can only make room for one macaroon this time.

Look at how big it is!

The perfect macaroon

Look at all the delicious French Pastries! I wonder how the French can stay so slim!

Address: 85 Rue Saint Domnique 75007 Paris, France
Telephone: 01 45 51 88 77

Deliciously sinful chocolate French Crepes at Au Petit Creux,

2012-01-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Paris - the land of delicious but sinful desserts. If you choose to visit Paris, forget about your dieting plans, it can wait.

The French are so known for their desserts that many actually flock to Paris just to savor all the well known desserts at their native land.

Located at Sacre Coeur, is a little cafe that serves the famous French Crepes. You can choose from a variety of crepes, from crepes that are oozing with melted chocolate to crepes that are packed full of fresh fruits to savory crepes. All crepes are available for takeaway so that you can continue your tourist adventure while savoring the delicious crepes in the busy tourist streets of Montmartre. :D

Look at the chocolate oozing out at the bottom!

This is the famous and breathtakingly beautiful Sacre Coeur and the streets of Montmartre- a free attraction, but make sure you go early to avoid large crowds

Green gourmet St. Leonards Vegetarian Restaurant- Sydney, Australia

2012-01-01T04:01:00.000-08:00

Came across this eatery when I was googling for vegetarian food on the Internet, and I must say that it is an awesome find and is a must visit for fellow vegetarians in Sydney. It is actually a vegan Chinese restaurant and offers plenty of healthy and wholesome Chinese food.

On our first visit we had item #38 on the menu, the Lion King claypot comes with heaps of veggies and "fish cakes", not exactly sure what the restaurant calls them, but it tastes like vegetarian fish cakes to me, so don't quote me when you order this dish at the restaurant. We particularly enjoyed this dish a lot and will definitely order this again.

Item 38 on the menu: Lion King Pot - AUD 15.80

The second dish is the Golden Fish which comes in a sweet and spicy sauce. We find it quite tentalizing as this is not the usual type of vegetarian fish we get in Malaysia. It is coated with a layer of yam, which makes it rather special and unique.

Item 40 on the menu: Golden Fish - AUD 15.80

The third dish is recommended by the staff as we requested for a very spicy dish on the menu and he told us that they can make anything in the menu into a spicy dish. So we agreed to order the Spicy Sichuan Eggplant thinking that it would be just eggplant cooked in some Sichuan spicy sauce but regretfully we the dish arrived we were very disappointed as the eggplants were coated with a thick layer of flour and deep fried .... a method which we always disliked. It is our mistake for not enquiring how the dish was to be prepared. We did not like this dish as there was really only a tiny piece of eggplant in the very thickly coated flour. We would rather the chef just cook the plain eggplants in the spicy sauce.

Item 47 on the menu: Spicy Sichuan Eggplant - AUD 15.80

Green Gourmet St. Leonards
Address: 538 Pacific Highway, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
Tel: 02-9439 6533
Buses that travels on the pacific highway, like M20 will get you to the doorstep of the restaurant :)

Vietnamese Vegetarian @ Vina Vegetarian Restaurant, Newtown, Sydney, Australia

2011-12-26T03:23:00.000-08:00

We were simply thrilled to be able to locate a Vietnamese eatery, no, not just a vegetarian-friendly one, but a 100% vegetarian (vegan in fact) one! Located just minutes from the busy Sydney CBD in the bustling and filled with interesting little shops, is a town called 'Newtown', which I can't help but find it very similar to Brunswick in Melbourne. Newtown is a little gem known for all the awesome restaurants, cafes, take-aways, and it is also home to another 100% thai vegan restaurant. I did not get to try the Thai restaurant (Green Palace - 182 King St, Newtown, NSW) on this occasion and will most definitely find time to try it out!

Vina is a family-run business and has the most awesome waitress ever. She was highly efficient in showing us to our table, bringing us a bottle of water without us having to ask and also recommended us the best Vietnamese noodles we have ever had!

I highly recommend that you try this: Vina Pho Bo (Mock Beef Noodle Soup) $12
The soup has a cinnamon kick to the "beef broth". It is not spicy but I would say it's somewhat sweet to the palette - something I have never tasted back home in Malaysia. 5 stars!

Spicy Vietnamese Rice Noodle Soup $12
This somehow tastes like the Malaysian "prawn noodle", and is not exactly spicy (well, not to a Malaysian that is used to extremely spicy food). So, naturally, I wouldn't have enjoyed this dish as much as I was told that it is "really spicy". I'd prefer to have the beef noodle anytime.

Fresh Rice Paper Rolls (3 for $6)
These rice paper rolls are filled with rice noodles, mock ham, tofu, lettuce and mint. I felt that it wasn't worth the money, but we liked the sauce a lot. The mock ham added a flavor that you will not get elsewhere, so that must be a plus point for this eatery, though too much of mock stuff is not really healthy.

All in all a very enjoyable visit. I'd definitely go for the Beef Noodle again during my next visit. :D

Contact: 02-9557 0456
Address: 395 King St Newtown, NSW, Australia
Train: Newtown (restaurant is within walking distance :D )

Flowers blooming on my curry leaves plant!!!

2011-12-18T20:22:00.000-08:00

Has anyone ever had flowers blooming on their curry leaves plant? Well, I was pleasantly surprised when buds started to show on my plant and slowly but surely flowers started to bloom when the buds were ripe. I plucked a few flowers and mashed them up and the aroma of curry was even more intense than the leaves themselves. Do share with me if there is any special use for the flowers.

Grenier de Notre Dame, Paris

2011-10-13T22:34:00.000-07:00

Ranked #563 out of 4957 restaurants in Paris, Le Grenier de Notre-Dame offers exquisite vegetarian dining just 5-minutes walk away from the world famous Notre-Dame cathedral.

Grenier de Notre Dame is a tight little restaurant, but it is supplemented by the attentive and friendly service by the waiters. We were shown to our table on the ground level almost immediately and we were very glad that they had a table for us, despite not making a booking beforehand. However, we did arrive early (6-ish), so you should not follow suit by not making a booking prior to your visit!

Complimentary nut platter as an appetizer.
We both ordered Red Wine and a Champagne that was infused with raspberries to give it an extra berry kick (Kir Vin Blanc-Euro 4, Kir Royal- Euro 5.50)

The french and their plats (english translations: dishes)

This dish, is by far the most tasty, wholesome and natural vegetarian dish I have ever had in my life! No offence to Asian vegetarian eateries, but I always find the veggie restaurants offering more mock-meat than vegetables in their natural form.
I also have never imagined myself saying, "This tofu served in a French restaurant actually tastes much better than the tofu served in any Asian restaurant!", but this is a FACT. The lightly grilled tofu was so tasty that I did not need any sauce to go with it and found it mouthwatering-ly indulging to the palette.

Assiette Gourmande - Euro 17.95

Baked apples stuffed with tasty fillings to go with a piping hot casserole.
Highly recommended!!!

Assiette Berbere - Euro 16.95

Address: 18 Rue de la Bûcherie 75005 Paris, France
Phone: 01 43 29 98 29
Reservations: Recommended

NEW vegetarian stall at Pavilion KL

2011-09-24T04:13:00.000-07:00

Was extremely delighted to find a new vegetarian stall in Pavilion KL's Food Republic. Was expecting near to taste-less / unsatisfying food but I was proven to be so WRONG. Not only is it very tasty, the portion was so huge that we struggled to finish our food despite being famished from a whole day's worth of walking around Sungai Wang, Low Yat and Pavilion! Prices were very good value given the extremely huge portion and delicious taste! :) Head over to lot 1.44.00, you should be able to see it when you get to Madam Kwan's.

Chap Fan

Chap Fan (Bitter gourd and tofu with minced "meat")

"Fish" head noodles @ RM7.90++
Highly recommended! A must try for noodle lovers!!!

Malaysian buffet

Malaysian buffet

Ala carte

Healthy way of stir frying asparagus by THERMOMIX

2011-08-17T01:52:00.001-07:00

I read that asparagus has many health benefits so I have decided to add it as a part of my healthy diet.

Here are some of the benefits of asparagus. It can detoxify our system, has anti-aging functions, can protect against cancer, reduces pain and inflammation, can prevent osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, can help prevent birth defects, is considered an aphrodisiac and especially as heart disease is very common now asparagus can help to reduce the risk of heart disease as it has a good source of folate which helps to regulate the amino acid homocysteine, which in high levels can be a strong risk factor in heart disease.

I find that by using THERMOMIX to stir fry my asparagus, it helps to retain the nutrients as the machine does not heat up to more than 110 degree and still stays green and fresh when it is ready to be served.

I would like to share here a very simple and easy to cook asparagus.

Ingredients:
300 gm asparagus
50 gm Japanese mushrooms
Small pc of ginger
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp of miso to taste
Method:
1. Place a small pc of ginger into TM bowl and use TURBO speed for 1 sec to chop it up
2. Add in 2 tsp of olive oil and set temperature to 100, time to 5 mins, speed at stir fry and remember to use reverse mode to avoid vege being chopped up
3. After 1 minute, remove measuring cup to add in asparagus without removing the cover.
Replace MC when all asparagus have been added.
4. After 4 minutes remove MC again and add in the mushrooms.
5. At last 30 sec add in a tsp of miso
6. Remove immediately from TM bowl and serve immediately. Notice that vege is still fresh
green in color.

ANYONE INTERESTED TO HAVE A DEMO ON THIS WONDERFUL MACHINE MAY EMAIL TO:

thermomixhealthyliving@gmail.com

Notice that asparagus still stay freshly green
after frying

Homemade Banana Ice Cream

2011-08-14T01:36:00.000-07:00

I had a bunch of bananas and their skin were already turning black. It cannot be kept for another day as they will be dropping off one by one and will go bad. I put the whole bunch in a plastic bag and kept them in the freezer overnight. Next morning I removed them from the freezer and the skin could be peeled off very easily. Cut them into halves and placed in the blender. I did not have to add anything extra and just had to pulverized them from speed 1-10 for one minute and a bowl of extra creamy banana ice-cream is ready as a dessert.
There was a bowl leftover and after one week, I took it out from the freezer and again could easily break them up into a few pieces to be placed in the blender and pulverize from speed 1-10 for half a minute. The taste is even more creamy and delicious.

ANYONE INTERESTED TO HAVE A DEMO ON THE WONDERFUL MACHINE (THERMOMIX) MAY EMAIL TO:

thermomixhealthyliving@gmail.com

2nd blending of ice-cream after one week

(more creamy)

Homemade Mushroom Soup

2011-08-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

I have never attempted to make mushroom soup before as I feel that it is too much of a hassle having to weigh, cook and then to blend. However, today I felt like a very wholesome and chunky bowl of Mushroom soup. There isn't enough kick, even with the "chunky" commercial soup out there, so I decided to make my own using my new machine - Thermomix! The super machine that can weigh, blend and cook all the ingredients in one place.

Ingredients:
1 small onion
1 packet of button mushrooms, about 300 gm
1 bay leaf
20 gm soy milk
400 gm water
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt and a dash of pepper to taste
Method:
1. Cut onion and mushrooms into thick slices
2. Fry them in olive oil for 2 mins at medium (scale 4) at 100 degrees
3. Add in 400 gm water and cook for 10 minutes at speed 2 at 100 degrees
4. Add in 20 gm soy milk and blend at high (scale 9) slowly increasing it from speed 1 for 2 minutes
5. Add in salt and before serving add a dash of pepper

ANYONE INTERESTED TO HAVE A DEMO ON THIS WONDERFUL MACHINE MAY EMAIL TO:

thermomixhealthyliving@gmail.com

Best Thai Pineapple Fried Rice Ever - only at Yishensu, 1Utama

2011-08-12T01:17:00.000-07:00

As you may or may not know, One Utama's old wing is nearing the end of its facelift and is expected to reopen to shoppers soon, with some shops already upgraded and resumed operations. I do not know the exact reopening date, but if you are thinking to visit and get a sneak preview of what's coming but is having trouble finding the motivation to do so, worry not, as here's a good reason for you to visit this very weekend!

Yishensu, the vegetarian connoisseur, serves the BEST pineapple fried rice in town. Do opt for the "special" as you get extra toppings like macadamias, cashews, raisins, mock fish flakes from the ordinary version. It has a "curry" and tangy kick to it, making it a very appetising meal indeed.

Emperor Tofu (RM 16)
I liked the presentation of this dish and it was a perfect dish to go with steaming hot white rice
Fried Oat Prawn (RM 18)
I loved the generous serving of crunchy oats that coated the spongy mock prawn. I don't really fancy mock prawns a lot, and would actually prefer if they used something else instead, like something tofu based.
Then there is the not-so-special Char Kway Teow. I have to admit, nothing beats the Char Kway Teow served at Blue Boy Mansion. Read it here Blue Boy Mansion

Address: 1 Utama Shopping Mall (Old Wing), Lot G207 (Ground Floor), No 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama, 48700 Petaling Jaya
Location: Near TGIF Fridays

Brooklyn Bridge + takeaway meal while we queue for broadway tickets!

2011-08-11T17:19:00.000-07:00

No visit to New York is complete until one visits the famous Brooklyn Bridge, one of the oldest suspension bridges in the US. Brooklyn Bridge spans over the East River, connecting Brooklyn and the ever bustling Manhattan.

The long walk to the first Brooklyn Bridge tower from Manhattan from the east end of center street.

Heavy traffic headed to Manhattan

View of Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge's first tower

New York has many delis spread all around Manhattan that offers similar variety of fresh / pickled food. All you have to do is to pack your food into the containers and they weigh it. I don't like the concept, as I often end up with a "heart attack" when I see the amount I'm charged.

Looks darn tasty isn't it??? Beetroots, Brussel Sprouts, Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Cous-cous etc.

Fresh mangoes+ grilled asparagus, a weird but tasty combination!

It's hard work to get discounted broadway tix.... look at the loooooooong queue.

Pret A Manger - one of New York's deli chain

2011-08-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

For 25 years Pret's been creating handmade natural food, without the hidden chemicals, additives and preservatives. New York is practically a haven for health concious peeps like me as there are countless delis, cafes and restaurants that offer wholesome and healthy options. We stopped by Pret A Manger for our first breakfast in New York and were absolutely delighted with the variety of fresh choices available. It took us 10 minutes, before we were able to finally decide what to have that morning.

I went for the Red pepper tapenade and soft cheese sandwich. Pret's red pepper tapenade is made with blended roasted red peppers, olive oil and tomatoes which is then added to the sandwich together with with creamy soft cheese, freshly sliced tomatoes, red peppers, toasted flaked almonds and wild rocket. Ah, I could really have this every morning!

For my wakeup drink, I decided on a flat white, a strong, creamy milk, with a Pret Base (full shot of espresso). Pret shared their secret to making their Flat White on their website. They revealed that the secret is all in the milk, stemming from the idea of mixing a latte and Cappuccino together. Mixing the two milk styles is called stretching, it creates a fantastic mix; creamy and thick without being too light or foamy. Because it has the same size Pret base but made in a smaller cup it means you can drink more of our Flat Whites through the day with the same kick as our other espresso based coffees. Perfect wakeup drink.

Actually, the Pret store that we visited was really near the world trade center, which is currently under construction. I will leave that for another post, so stay tuned for that!

After breakfast, we continued our New York walking tour, making the World Financial Center our second stop.

Winter Garden

View from the outside: World Financial Center + Winter Garden

view of the statue of liberty from the world financial center
so tiny right!

harbour view from the world financial center