Just Cuz We Like It: September 2010

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Kitchen DIY #2 - Black Pepper Chicken

Now I know some of you might be thinking black pepper chicken ah, aiyo anybody also can do la. But this black pepper chicken recipe is not the normal "lee kum kee" type black pepper sauce with chicken :) Its yummier...

Recipe courtesy of Andrew Tan

First marinate chicken fillets with desired amount of crushed black pepper, salt and soy sauce.

I had 11 medium sized chicken fillets, so I used:

- 5 tbsp of crushed black pepper

- 2 tsps of salt

- 1 tbsp of soy sauce

If you like, you can add Lea&Perrins worcestershire sauce to the marinade to give it more flavour.

Leave for 1-2 hours (preferably overnight). Then pan fry the chicken fillets till golden brown, making sure the inside is cooked as well. For a healthier option use olive oil.

Ok the chicken is ready. Now for the sauce.

You'll need:

- 2 big onions

- 2 tsp cornflour

- half a bowl of hot milk

- 3 tbsp crushed black pepper

- half tsp of salt

First, cut the onions into wedges. Then add the black pepper, salt and cornflour into the bowl of hot milk and mix well.

Sweat the onions on a frying pan over medium heat till lightly brown. Then add the milk mixture in and stir well. The sauce should increase in consistency as the boils. If you prefer a thicker gravy feel free to add more cornflour.

Presenting the end product :)

Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Cristang

The ever famous Cristang :)
A friend told me about their renowned "P7 - Urban Legend"- a pork burger topped with bacon, melted cheese and a mix of petai and minced pork chilli con carne, and I knew I had to try it.
I went with the cellotape gang and believe me when I say, we weren't disappointed at all ^^

Their burger menu:
P1 : pork patty (RM16.80)
P2 : P1 + back bacon (RM19.80)
P3 : P2 + minced pork chilli con carne (RM23.80)
P4 : P3 + petai in patty (RM25.80)
P5 : P4 + cajun grilled prawns (RM28.80)
P6 : P5 + grilled fresh cut pineapples (RM30.80)
P7 : P4 + melted cheese (RM28.80)
P8 : Tandoori pork burger (RM28.80)
P9 : The Korean inspired - pork burger with kimchi (RM30.80)

Clockwise from top: Cristang menu front page, Bacon & Shrimp Carbonara Fettucine , P7 - Urban Legend

No cellotape gathering is complete without dessert :) Shown above is their homemade oreo ice-cream (RM12.80) and [inset] Apple pie a la Mode (RM12.80).

Wasn't a fan of their apple pie but the oreo ice-cream was pretty good :) kinda like oreos Mcflurry except with more oreos.

We only ordered 3 drinks in total. The Black Monkey (L)- Coke + Mango juice , Green Heaven (R) - Apple + Lychee juice and Cristang Special Coffee (not shown in pic) - coffee + sugarcane.

Both mocktails were too sweet and Cristang Special was nothing special. Next time I'm sticking to beer since it'd probably go well with the pork burger =p

Cellotape gang minus one

Some random little boy lying on the floor and rolling about happily while his parents indulge in a wine and beer fest.

Cristang is at:

B-G-19, 8 Avenue, Pusat Perniagaan Seksyen 8, Jalan Sungai Jernih 8/1,Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Tel: 03-79567877

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Loving Minerals

I've always preferred mineral cosmetics cuz it's better for my type of skin and less likely to cause breakouts :) So when I saw Loving Minerals I decided to just give it a try cuz they offer cute little samples at only RM5!

I love opening postal packages :) hehe. Was delighted to recieve the package only 2 days after purchase and it even came in a cute little white pouch with a red jeweled flower on it. Me like!

There so many types of foundations, powders and eyeshadows to choose from but I settled with Monave Claire Concealer Foundation , Lumiere Sheer Silk Powder, and Pink Pearl Eyeshadow.

I was a bit sceptical about how well a powder concealer foundation could actually work but the monave claire did a pretty good job of concealing. Although it takes at least 2 applications to properly conceal and putting more than 2 layers gives a slight cakey appearance.

The sheer silk powder was perfect for setting the foundation and gave my skin a nice matte look. And it's actually a good oil control product as it kept my skin shine free for hours! Would definitely consider investing in this one.

The pink pearl eyeshadow was my fave. To me, it was perfect as a base cuz its not too pink and has a nice pearly sheen as well. Best part is I got this for free! All I had to do was add loving minerals on facebook :)

Verdict:

Will definitely explore and invest in their eyeshadows. (RM24-RM29) The silk powder is tempting but I don't know if it's worth the price (RM58). I'll give the foundation a pass :/

The Sloppy Burger Ramli and some useful tips.

As a Malaysian, i would say that i'm proud of our Malaysian-made burger Ramli. everytime i order this burger at one of the roadside push-stalls i would go for the burger daging special (beef burger wrapped in egg). the beef patty and egg combination is yummy and everything is over the top. black pepper sauce, mayonnaise, chilli sauce, salad, cucumber. everything in one burger.

But when i say everything is over the top (and worth the price of RM1.50-2.50 too), messiness is another thing that is done all out too. 1 tip for you girls out there: Never order this burger when you're on a first date:) or when u're out in a group with cute guys you don't know, who might get interested to know you! make sure you have enough tissues to wipe off your mouth after each bite.

To experience this messy sloppy burger like the above for yourself, dropby:

Kafe Chenderasari
1st Floor
Hospital Kuala Lumpur

...or any burger stalls by the roadside.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Sushi Tei opens in Pavilion KL

It was weeks before that we saw the big construction board in Pavilion KL with the name Sushi Tei on it. That was when i got excited yeaaaah..Sushi Tei's comin to KL:D My first time was at the Tropicana City Mall branch with my colleagues on one of our luxurious friday lunches. By luxurious i meant us government servants get 2 and a half hours lunch break on fridays. Almost every week we'll go around testing out different restaurants around kl. cuz life is good like that:) btw back then i was impressed with the generosity and the affordability of the lunch sets offered and thought it would definitely make me a happier person (and also all KLites Japanese food addicts) if one branch is opened in KLCC or Pavilion.

Because my ongoing mission is to tryout all the different sashimi sets and dons at all the japanese restaurants, as usual, i ordered the Salmon Don. it was priced at RM12.50. Don is rice and lauk by the way, as a Malaysian would put it. First thought when the waiter brought it to me: "Keciknyeee...kedekut" ...but surprisingly the don does come with a lot of rice in that tiny little bowl. so don't judge a book by it's cover. haha. and underneath all those slices of salmon, they sprinkled seaweed flakes and sesame seeds. i usually order miso soup together as a side dish but this small little don already has enough flavor. i'd give it a 5 stars actually:)

Salmon sashimi, ikura and rice - small bowl with a great package.

Hubby ordered the Ten Don. this one actually smelt like goreng pisang but taste different. 2 big prawns, lady fingers and pumpkin tempura. plus rice, of course. costs about RM13.

Light and crispy tempura!

That's it for now. glad to bring this good news to u KLites who go all the way to Tropicana mall in PJ for Sushi Tei and to whoever who havent tried this restaurant, dropby for lunch today:)

Sushi Tei Restaurant
1.18.01, Level 1
Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

Website: http://www.sushitei.com/

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Pick of the week - Chilli Pan Mee

Warning : NON-HALAL

Chilli Pan Mee from Super Kitchen Restaurant.
Super yummy and only RM5.50!! First you add the amount of chilli as desired, then you break the runny egg yolk and mix the noodles well. And then, woah... awesome...

This definitely makes it into my list of top 10 local food :) I actually prefer Super Kitchen over Kin Kin mainly due to the service difference. Also because I think the noodle texture at Super Kitchen is nicer, but that's just me =p

Super Kitchen Restaurant :
42, Jalan SS2/10, Taman Bahagia,
47000, Petaling Jaya.
Tel: 03-78772281

Beauty DIY - Liese Hair Dye

After all the hype I heard about this new foam hair dye I decided to just give it a try, since its seems pretty easy to do. There are many colours available but cuz I wanted a darker shade than my current one I decided to go for Ash Brown :)

These are the contents inside the Liese Hair Dye package. (Clockwise from top) The number 1&2 solutions, the foaming nozzle, the allergy test patch, nutrient hair conditioner and gloves.

After reading the instructions I decided to just do the allergy test since this foaming chemical is pretty new and I wouldn't know if I was allergic to it or not. Instructions says to leave it on for 48 hours and check for any reaction but I reckon if my skin's not even red after 2 hours of application I should be fine.

Allergy test:

Step 1 - two drops of solution 1

Step 2 - three drops of solution 2

Step 3 - stir properly to ensure even mix

Step 4 - apply coin size patch on inner arm and leave for 30 mins to 2 hours. Check for reaction (eg redness, itchiness, burning sensation)

Dyeing process:

1. Pour solution 1 into solution 2 bottle.

2. Cap the bottle and gently invert a few times to mix contents.

3. Install foaming nozzle and squeeze bottle to dispense foaming dye.

After application and massaging the foam dye your hair will look like this. Exactly like shampooed hair.

I must say I like the result cuz it evenly covered my hair from root to tip, covering my previous dye. And the resulting colour is actually pretty similar to the colour displayed on the box.

The only dissatisfaction I had was that this hair dye makes the hair very dry, even more drying then normal hair dye. A hairstylist even said many people have been going to saloons to get treatment due to the super drying effect of this hair dye. That's why I made it a point to leave the dye in for less than 30 mins and use good conditioner and serum after dyeing the hair.

Today is the 7th day after dyeing and the colour still looks good, no split ends have appeared yet, and there's less hair fall compared to normal dye. So would I use this again? Yes I would :)

Liese is available at Watsons, Guardian and Sasa @RM37.80

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Hoop Vocab #8 - Front Lay

Get yer knee up

Pull yourself up

Land on the hoop..but not on your crotch!

End it by arching your back...tadaa! The Front Lay.

When we first tried the Front Lay, we each got ourselves unattractive bruises on our right inner thigh. However, like everyone says, practice makes perfect. with each attempt we improve in adjusting our weight in order to avoid those nasty bruises:)

We still needta train to get up on the hoop MORE gracefully. lucky for you guys you don't have to watch us on video this time around!

p/s - Aerial Arts must not be attempt thru step by step photos like this. Our entries are all to keep track of what we've learnt since they teach us new stuff every week. Check out www.vivastage.my/ to join us;)

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Silks Vocab #1 - Figure Head

Back needs to be more arched :/

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Foodventure #3 - Lotus Garden

We're not exactly spoilt for choice when it comes to workday lunch but among the limited selection this has to be one of my faves. They call it "Soon Tet Bagus Teh", we call it fake bak kut teh complete with fake pork meat and stomach :) People who generally like a more herby taste in their bak kut teh will like this too! Location? Lotus Garden Vegetarian Restaurant, on Jalan Pahang opposite HKL.

The humble exterior of the restaurant.

One of my fave drinks which only lotus garden serves --> MYspecial coffee (RM2.60)
Its a yummy mix of coffee, milo and rose syrup. First time I tried it I was surprised how well these 3 blended together.

Fake Bak Kut Teh with rice and all-important-cilipadi (RM10)

The fake pork meat

Marsha, Sab and I --> the 1Malaysia gang =p

Monday, September 20, 2010

Foodventure #2 - D'Italiane Kitchen

People tell me Sunway Giza is a Food Haven and I heartily agree!
Haven't tried all the makan places there since there are so many, so I'll just take it one step at a time :)
Merv's back in KL for the weekend and we decided to check out D'Italiane Kitchen since Karin recommended it. And for starters we had:

Di Mare soup - a tomato-ey soup with prawns, calamari, mussels and fish fillet. It wasn't fantastic but their fresh mushroom soup, which we also tried, was pretty good.

Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms. Not the best I've had but still not bad, plus the mushrooms were big.

The mains included: Sicilian Seafood pizza. The taste so-so only la but the crusts were thin, just the way I like it. Yellow Cab pizzas are so much better though :)

And salmon with shallot sauce. This was probably the best out of all the food we ordered that day.

My post-meal drink: Cranberry mojito. I generally prefer my cocktails strong and less sweet. This was super mild and super sweet so... thumbs down for me :/

Overall, the ambience of this place is nice and the food is not bad but not really worth the price imho. If I ever do come back it'll be for this, their bailey's Latte which is the only awesome thing I had that day.

Cheese :)

Friday, September 17, 2010

Foodventure #1 - Rakuzen

Our beloved Marsha is leaving us for good so we decided to have a farewell lunch for her at one of our favourite haunts: Rakuzen.

Cuz We. Love. Japanese. Food. :)

And also because Rakuzen has a wide selection of Jap food with pretty good lunch sets and fresh sashimi. Although its on the pricier side, me thinks its value worthy ;p

This is my all time fave --> Yakiniku Zen (Grilled beef set) RM28

I always always order this at Rakuzen :)

And Sab's fave --> Chirashidon set RM30

She orders chirashidon at almost every jap restaurant she visits :D

Some group pics with Dear Marsha. We're gonna miss you babe!!

Before leaving the waitress told us Rakuzen Chulan Square is gonna be relocating to "G-tower" down the road in October 2010. And apparently it'll have a garden in the front and everything so we can't wait!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Kitchen DIY #1: Jeruk Petai (Preserved Bitter Beans)

Parkia speciosa (petai, bitter bean, sataw, twisted cluster bean, yongchaa, yongchaak, zawngtah or stink bean) is a plant which bears long, flat edible beans with bright green seeds the size and shape of plump almonds which have a rather peculiar smell, characterised by some as being similar to that added to methane gas.

~Wikipedia

I just felt like sharing a random recipe today. Not everyone can tolerate the nasty smell of petai. The whiff of it when it's been cooked in the kitchen, the smell of it in your mouth while you're eating it, and the aftermath bloat (for certain people) and how the toilet smells like after you do your business few hours after.

However, since it's Malaysia Day and all..lets appreciate what our country has in its forests and what our nenek moyangs like to eat, be it any race at all- malay, chinese or indian. Got this recipe from my mom who got it from her nenek (who is my moyang) all the way from Perak. it's a malay dish, eaten with rice. some may find it smelly but it's yummy anyways. kalau takut, makan la activated charcoal right after. helps absorb the smell somehow:P

You'll need:

some petai (choose nicer ones please. these were given to me by ma-in-law the day before. forgot to put in fridge:)

some chilli padi, to be smashed/ketuk/lenyek

some garam kasar, to be rinsed and set aside

a container to preserve your beans in. preferably a nice glass jar cuz it will look prettier when it's done.

Since this recipe is age old, there's no precise measurement of all the ingredients. add more chillis if you want it spicier, more salt if u think it's too little. orang melayu kate, agak-agak je.

Step 1: Peel away skin, set the beans aside.