A favourite DESSERT to share........

Desserts are sweet foods or dishes which are being served at the end of each meals. The most popular desserts are cakes, cookies, pastries, ice-cream, pie, candies, fruits, salads, jellies, custards, sweet soups and many others.

Today, I would like to share a simple Chinese dessert recipe with all my online friends, which is known as 'Tongsui' in Cantonese.

You will need:

1. White Fungus - soak it in water, clean it and tear it into desired size pieces
2. Gingko Nuts - readily purchased from supermarkets in packet form. Cut nuts into half, scrap off the small bud in the center (as it is bitter), clean and drain
3. Dried Longan - wash and drain
4. Dried Red Dates - wash and drain
5. Barley (Imported type) - wash, soak for a while, drain
   
6. Pandan Leaves - clean & tied in knot
7. Rock Sugar

Tips: The amount of ingredients is based on individual's requirements. However for barley it is advised not to put too much as the soup will be sticky. For Longan and Red Dates it should be much lesser than white fungus and gingko nuts as it is meant for flavour and colours.

Few simple steps........

1. Boil water in a pot (amount depending on the ingredients and how much you intend to cook) together with the knoted pandan leaves and barley.
   
2. When the barley is slightly soft, put in the white fungus and let it boil again.
3. Add in the red dates.
4. Next, put in the gingko nuts
5. When every ingredients in the pot is almost done, start putting in the rock sugar, stir well and taste. (Remember rock sugar takes some time to dissolve)
6. Finally, put in the dried longan and let it boil for a while.
   
7. Remove the soup from stove and let it cool, serve.

Tips: This soup can be consume either warm or cold. It tastes better when put in the fridge overnight.

Here's a bowl of 'Tongsui' from my home kitchen to be shared with all.......

"HAPPY COOKING"

A short 'getaway' [Final]

It's Monday, the 23rd of August, I wake up early and as usual boil water for a cup of hot coffee! With the rising of the morning sun and standing at the balcony looking out towards the congested surroundings of Cheras, this is what I have to share........

With our packing all done we then left in Alex's car. As he has some errand to run he drop us off at One Utama. Together with Karen, who is on leave, we decided to have our breakfast inside OU. Our first stop is at........

This eating place serves many types of Malaysian foods..... we all look and flip through the menu thinking of what food to taste and try...... finally came a waitress who informed us that most of the food in the menu are 'out-of-stock', due to good business yesterday (Sunday) and the stocks of the ingredients are not being replenished yet. The waitress apologise and we left!

As we walk further off, we saw this Restaurant 3JC, was informed it's already open and so we landed there, enjoying the nice Chinese foods with the neat and tidy set-up of the restaurant.

With a full stomach, we stroll around for a while till Alex fetch us and we have a stop by at Taman Bahagia to buy the delicious and special Indian Rojak. We also bought extra back to Kuching for Aaron. We then have a slow drive to the LCCT, check-in and board our flight back to Kuching. It's indeed an adventurous short getaway!!! Hoping to have more of such travels in the future...........

A celebration of Moon Cakes & Lanterns.......

Chinese all over the world are celebrating Mid Autumn Festival or commonly known as 'Moon Cake Festival' or "Moon Festival" on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar.

Since at a very young age, this festival is being captured in my mind as a celebration of 'moon cakes' and 'lanterns'. Varieties of moon cakes are being on sale and during our young days we enjoyed munching those sweet and tasty moon cakes. On the night of the festival, moon cakes are being served with tea, while the children enjoyed marching around with their beautiful lanterns.

Today, most people are more health conscious, thus choosing the moon cakes which is less sweet is most people's concerned, including myself off course. Today most moon cake makers are more sensitive to the requirements and concerns of the customers, so we can easily purchase the moon cakes which are less sweet compared to the olden days. In today's modern scenario, not many young children are seen carrying their lanterns on the night of this festival. Coming to think of it, I just wonder?????? "will this festival be forgotten in the years of the new generations to come???????????"

I prepare a very simple family dinner for the three of us and we all enjoyed it very much. Here's to share...........

(Top) Stir fry prawns with cashew nuts & Midin with belachan
(Bottom) Fried Rice with bacon & ham topped with fried onion & garlic
and..... ingredients for Steamboat

These are my favourite moon cakes...........

Before I pen off, let me take this golden opportunity to wish all Chinese throughout the whole world.........

A short 'getaway' [Part 5]

It's Sunday morning, 22nd August....... with a good night sleep we all wake up feeling fresh and after our morning shower we went down to have our breakfast which is provided for in the hotel. After breakfast we went back to our hotel room to get our luggages and straight to the lobby for checking out, as we do not intend to waste time coming back.

Our plan is to visit the Kek Lok Si Temple, which is a must-visit place if we are in Penang!!!

We then purchase tickets for the ride on the Inclined Lift to the bronze Kuan Yin Statue........

The scenery and views surrounding the Kuan Yin Statue are really breath taking........ The twelve Chinese Zodiac animal statues are being displayed along the pathway to this temple (below left).

After completing our rounds throughout this temple, we decided to have our lunch and head on back to the mainland of Penang, this time taking the ferry instead of the Penang Bridge.

Alex and Karen take turns in the driving as we journeyed back to Kuala Lumpur. Though the journey is long but we get to see more places through this road-trips holiday.

A short 'getaway' [Part 4]

After a short rest we decided to take a car ride around Penang....... Karen, then come up with the idea of visiting 'The Heritage Jewel of Penang - KHOO KONGSI', which is also declared as UNESCO World Heritage Site. We made our way there, bought tickets and begin with our tour........

Next, we stop by for a bowl of Penang's famous Teo Chew Chendol at Lebuh Keng Kwee, Penang Road. The unique thing about this chendol stall is - queue, wait for you turn, order, serve, pay & enjoy the tasty bowl of chendol standing....... (no chair or tables)!

After 'coooooling off' from the bowl of chendol, we made our journey to Batu Ferringhi, not with the intention of 'food' or 'shopping' but the beach and off course phototaking!!!!

Feeling exhausted, we then made our way back to our hotel and manage to get a short nap. After shower we decided to go for a dinner as well as to celebrate hubby's birthday. Karen decided on........

Though the dishes are different from the normal Nyonya dishes, but they all tastes great, something different for our taste buds........

After this full-filling Nyonya meal, we decided to take a stroll down Gurney Drive Hawker Center to grab some Penang specialties :Penang Fried Kway Tiaw, Satay, Kuih & drinks. Happy with those food in hand, we then made our way back to our hotel. Eating in the hotel room can be rather fun at times and it simply is a reminiscent of home & family members together!!!! As it was quite late, so we all call it a day......... Zzzzzzzzzz "Good Night!"