Simple Recipe - Carrot Egg

You must be kidding, everyone can cook an egg dish. Yes, yes, I know, with eggs you can do wonder, steam, fry etc.

Just let me share this simple dish which looks similar to scramble egg that my youngest son loves and he will ask if I have not been cooking after a long time. I think it is a real long time since I last cooked this dish, could be 10 months ago.

Simple, you only need eggs and carrot. I am sure all the little kids will love it too.  I am using here left over carrot, so you can see from the picture Carrot Egg but not enough carrot!

Carrot Egg 

Ingredients
2 Eggs
1 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 whole carrot
3 tablespoon cooking oil

Method
Beat eggs, add light soy sauce
Set aside
Cut carrot into strip
Heat up wok
Put in oil
Add in carrot, stir fry till soft
Now add in eggs, stir the egg till cook into small pieces

Hotel Accommodation in Boracay

There are lots of hotels along the White Beach.  White Beach is segregate to Station 1, Station 2 and Station 3. If you prefer a quiet place, go for Station 3.  Station 2 is the most happening area.  Station 1 not bad too.

If you prefer more privacy, then you may stay at Bulabog beach area.

However, I prefer white beach area Station 2 which is very convenient as is only 10 minutes walk to both Station 1 and Station 3.  D Talipapa and D Mall are both located at Station 2

The rates of hotels here go according to season.  Some information here which may helps in your selection:

Hennan Garden
A Triple A resort in the long beach, situated in the middle of Boracay's 4 kilometer white sand beach.
Tariff Rate: Deluxe Php6,720, Family Room Php11,424 with breakfast
www.hennan.com

Boracay Regency (Hennan Regency)
A beachfront Triple A resort situated in the centre of Station 2
Tariff Rate: Superior Room Php7,728, Family Room Php14,000 with breakfast
www.boracayregency.com

Boracay Mandarin Island Hotel
Accredited Triple A Resort, situated beachfront of Station 2
Tariff Rate: Deluxe Php8,000, Deluxe Family Php13,000. Only deluxe family and suites are provided with complimentary breakfast
www.boracaymandarin.com

Boracay Uptown
Located at D Mall Station 2, easy access to shopping and food
Tariff Rate: Superior Php6,300, 2 Bedroom Suite Php17,100.
Their Executive Suite, Premier Suite and Superior Room are good for 2 persons only.
www.boracayuptown.com


We love our accommodation at Boracay Regency which we booked through RCI.  Steps away to beach and just besides the swimming pool.  Location is so convenient with lots of eateries around.

Our room at Boracay Regency North Wing

Latest East wing of Boracay Regency

Swimming Pool besides our room

Choon Prawn Mee House @ Taman Paramount

If you are in Petaling Jaya area and looking for prawn mee, try Choon Penang Prawn Mee at Taman Paramount. The owner, Mr Peter Kang was operating a stall at O & S Restaurant before moving to his own restaurant in November 2013. He has been selling prawn mee for the past 30 years.

Operating from a whole shop now, he has more space to add on varieties here. Besides prawn mee, they also have Penang Loh Mee, Penang Chee Cheong Fun, Penang Kuey Toew Teng, Nyonya Dry Curry Mee, Homemade Lor Bak, Stew Chicken Feet, Nasi Lemak and Nyonya Rice Special.

As a small eater, I just ordered their normal Prawn mee (RM7 per bowl). For me it was a bit oily and the broth, on the sweet side. Overall, it was good but really depends on individual preference. My husband ordered addition of pork ribs and squid whereas my son ordered addition of pork intestines and big prawn to the normal size which cost RM13 a bowl each.  

We also ordered a plate of Stew Chicken Feet but not to my son's preference but was alright with my husband.  

The price range of their prawn noodle is from RM7 to RM18.  The higher price will comes with King prawn.

Normal Prawn Mee (RM7)

Stew Chicken Feet (RM7)

Location:

Choon Prawn Mee House
13 Jalan 20/14, Taman Paramount
Petaling Jaya
Tel: 012-265 8193

Business hours: 
7am to 4pm (Mon-Sat)
7am to 4.30pm (Sat/Sun/public holiday)

Simple Recipe - Soy Sauce Chicken

Chicken is always a favorite among the kids no matter how you cook it.  But if I were to cook curry, it definite hit off with my boys. But today I have decided to just cook simple and quick one, Soy Sauce Chicken.  

The gravy alone is so appetizing to go with plain rice.The comment I have got from my younger son, "mom this is good, you have not been cooking this for quite sometimes".

Ingredients
10 pcs of chicken
2 inch ginger cut strip finely
1 tbls minced garlic

Sauce
1/2 tbls Dark Soy Sauce
2 tbls Light Soy Sauce
1 tbls Oyster Sauce
3 tbls Shoaxing Chinese Wine
Water

Method
Put 2 tbls Cooking Oil and 1 tbls Sesame Oil into wok
Then ginger and garlic, stir fry till aromatic
Follow by chicken pieces
Add dark soy, light soy and oyster sauce
Put in water to cover the chicken
Simmer till chicken is cooked
Lastly the Chinese wine, stir for less than a minute

Yup, we are done.  Is really that simple.

Simple Recipe - Braised Chinese Mushroom

Cooking has been my daily task ever since I have stopped working. At times you gotta be creative but unfortunately I am not at all a creative person. Not every recipe you google will suit your tastebud.

Since I have many packets of chinese mushroom and the lazy me, just use mushroom to braise as a dish. Though normally I will put in dried oyster, scallop and fish maw which I will use a different recipe. As for below recipe, you will get a mild simple braised chinese mushroom dish, nothing to shout about.

Ingredients:
25 pcs Chinese Mushroom (marinate with 2 tbls sesame oil & 2 tbls oyster sauce)
Ginger (bruised)
Whole Garlic (bruised)

Sauce:
2 tbls Lea & Perrins Worcheshire sauce
2 tbls Sweet Soy Sauce
2 tbls Teriyaki Sauce
1/2 tbls Oyster Sauce
1/2 tsp pepper
Water from soaked mushroom
1 - 2 medium bowl water

Method
Wash the mushroom, soak with hot water
Cut the stem away. Rub with cornflour, then rinse to soften it.
Then use 2 tbls each of sesame oil & oyster sauce marinate overnight in fridge
Is fine if you do not marinate overnight, an hour or more will do

Put 2 tbls cooking oil into a pot
Follow by ginger and garlic
Then mushroom
Add in all listed under sauce above, stir well
Then add waters
Simmer till mushroom tender
Gradually add water mushroom is still not tender

Lastly, if you prefer a thicker sauce, take 1/2 teaspoon starch flour mix with 2 tbls water, add into the pot and boil 1-2 minutes.

Ravi's Banana Leaf Rice @ Solaris Mont Kiara

Being a Malaysian, we are living in a multi-racial country.  Thus we are truly blessed, spoil by lots of food choices and different cuisines.

Banana leaf rice, an Indian cuisine, has always been our all time favorite, serve with vegetables, crispy pappadam and drench with curries of your choice. Here they only serve either dhall, chicken or fish curry. You can have mixture of the curries, totally up to your preference.

This was the second time I visited this Ravi's Banana Leaf Rice at Solaris Mont Kiara situated among plenty of Koreans Restaurants.  We had fried mackerel fish (RM6.50 per piece) , deep fried squid, fried chicken (RM6.50 per piece) and mutton varuval (RM9.50 por plate).  I loved the tender squid in crispy batter.  The mackerel fish was tender too. However my son complained that the mutton was a bit hard this time.  As for the fried chicken,  it was not well marinated.

Banana Leave Set Meal for RM7 per set

Try this place and you might love it. Total bill came up to RM85.15 for 4 person with 4 drinks.

Location:
Ravi's Banana Leaf
Jalan Solaris 2
Solaris Mont Kiara
Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-6211 6611

Tradition Birthday Nooodle (Penang Lam Mee)

This was what both my darlings wished for, homecooked tradition birthday noodle (Penang Lam Mee) for their birthday. Both hubby and son are sharing the same birthday in October.

Suppose to bake a cake for their birthday but since I have been busy, I just got them a cake from Secret Recipe, their favorite New York Cheese cake.

Cooked a big pot of soup (with prawn and pork belly) for dinner celebration and their definite third serving next morning for breakfast or brunch.

Sambal belacan (pounded chili with shrimp paste then squeeze in lots of lime and calamansi juice) is a must to go with the noodle.  I have bought two types of yellow noodle, thick and thin as hubby prefer later whereas son loves mixture of both.

It was just a simple celebration with family members. My son was extra happy getting angpows from his aunties (my sisters in law)!

Wish both of them loads of happiness and good health always.

Ingredients:
For soup
2 pork belly - boil in soup, then cut strip
2 kilos medium/large deshelled prawn- fry till dry
150 gm rock sugar
Salt to taste

Garnishing:
7 beaten eggs - add soya sauce, then fry thinly and cut strip
10 leaves of lettuce - cut strip
250 gm of bean sprouts - blanched
20 small onions - slice, fried till brown

Sambal belacan(pounded)
22 Red Chilies
5 Bird Eyes Chilies
Shrimp paste (toast without oil)
Add 10 calamansi & 4 lime juice
Add a teaspoon sugar/ to taste

Simple Recipe - Stir Fry Brinjal

Another simple brinjal dish that I would like to share. However, it takes time as you need pre-fried the brinjal first but cooking it is very easy.

You can always create your own recipe that suits your taste bud instead of follow strictly to the recipe you find online.

Ingredients
3 approximately 6" brinjals
1 tablespoon Dried Shrimp (minced)
3 Bird Eyes Cili (cut)
1 tablespoon minced garlic
4 tablespoon Soya Sauce
2 tablespoon Rice Vinegar (optional)
1/2 teaspoon pepper

Method
Cut the brinjal wash & squeeze/pat dry, sprinkle some tapioca flour and pre -fried in cooking oil, set aside

Put a tablespoon oil in the wok
Throw in the garlic, dried shrimp, cili
Stir in the bowl of mixture of soya sauce, rice vinegar and pepper
Once mixture boiled, put in the fried brinjal

Simple Recipe-Pacri Brinjal

Pacri brinjal is one of my favorite and at times I laughed at how my younger son will tell me "Mom, it has been a while you have not cook Pacri Terung".

Not all dishes with brinjal that he will eat but he loves brinjal cook this way.

Ingredients
7 Brinjals approximately 6" length - split in the middle till about 1" before the head of the brinjal

7 Egg - hard boil
Boil in water for 10-12 minutes, add in 1/2 teaspoon salt in boiling water for easy peeling of shell

Cili Blend:
10 Small Onion
5 Garlic
Dried Chili - 1 medium soup bowl soaked with hot water
Shrimp paste

Spices to blend (fry without oil under slow fire before blend):
Half small bowl coriander seed
3 Cloves
Less than 1/2 tablespoon Cumin Seed (jintan putih)
Less than 1/4 tablespoon Anise Seed (jintan manis)

1 coconut =1 1/2 medium soup bowl of coconut milk

Method
Heat up wok or pot
Put in 5 tblspoon cooking oil
Add in 12 tblspoon cili blend
Stir till aroma, add the blended spice
Scoop a table of coconut milk if is too dried, stir till aroma
Put in 2 teaspoon each sugar and salt
Add in the coconut milk
Put in the brinjal, cook till soft
Lastly add in the hard boiled egg

Campbell Road Ban Kee @ Gombak Batu 4

The first time i went to this restaurant was few years back when they were at Batu 4 Jalan Gombak. This was my second time but at their new place Jalan Suria Setapak.

I like their dishes here, simple and tasty. Located in an intermediate shop, we were here at 8pm, the tables were 90% full. I thought to myself, the serving must be slow. To my surprise after we placed our order, less than 15 minutes our food was served.

Our order for 4 pax, Talapia fish bean sauce steam, Mantis prawn salty egg, Clam (lala) in superior gravy, Water Spinach stir fry with cili & shrimp paste with 4 plates rice and chinese tea cost RM94.

Location
Campbell Road Ban Kee
No 2A Jalan Suria Setapak
Gombak Batu 4
53000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 012 6984 532/016 6577 492
Opening hours: 5pm-12.30am

Boracay -Spa & Massage Treatment

Pampering should be one of to do list in any vacation.  After all, we have been working so hard, right? From upscale pampering to budget treatment, there are plenty choices you will come across along White Beach or Bulabog beach.

If you prefer five star, there are Regency's Kai Spa, Mandala Spa and Tirta Spa among others. I consider Khan Spa, Sands Spa, Merry Heart Spa, Yasuragi as medium range whereas if you are on a tight budget, there are lots along White Beach under the open air and sea breeze.

We tried Khan Spa  (Korean owned) at Station 1, White Beach on our second day there. Theirs are combination of Swedish (gliding) and Shiatsu (finger pressure).  Nine private rooms, each with 2 beds. As for foot reflexology, the seats will be all seaview. 

For an hour of massage: Dry Php600, aroma oil Php800, aroma oil include facial Php900.

Khan Spa

On our last evening there, we tried Sands Spa at Sands Hotel, Station 3.  If you are in a group, go after 4 pm as prior to that only one therapist is available. After 4 pm, there will be four therapist. However, theirs with no private room but 10 beds separated with curtains.

For an hour massage: Sandstorm (combination of Swedish and Shiatsu technique), Swedish or Shiatsu, Hand & Foot Reflex Accupressure or Foot massage at Php450. 

Foot Scrub with massage Php600. Deep Tissue or Thai massage at Php650.  My hubby was satisfied with his deep tissue massage where he had requested the therapist to concentrate only on his shoulder and neck.

If you are at Bulabog, try Merry Heart or Lim Spa.

Merry Heart Spa caters to mostly Koreans USD15 per hour massage. Lim's Spa is a beautifully designed Spa.  These two are located at 1A Main Road, Bulabog.

Lim Spa

Kai Spa

Khan Spa
Station 1
Tel: 036 288 2440/288 2441
Open 10 am - 12 am
Php 600 onwards

Sands Spa
Boracay Sands Hotel
Station 3
Tel: 036 288 4966/4967
Open: 10 am - 1 pm
Php 450 onwards

A few others that I have came accross:

Mandarin Spa
Mandarin Island Hotel
Beach Front Station 2
Tel: 63 36 288 3444/4999
Php1,100 onwards

Kai Spa
Regency Beach Resort
Beach Front Station 2
Tel: 63 36 288 6111 local 426
Php1,300 onwards

Tirta Spa
Tambisaan Jetty Port Road
After Sabong arena
Php2,000 onwards

Palassa Spa
Station 1 Main Road
Palassa Building

Yasuragi Spa
Hotel Surfside
End of Station 3 (if you are coming from Station 2 or 1)
Tel: 036 288 5320
Open: 10 am - 11 pm
Php500 onwards

All treatment 50% off from 11 am - 3.30 pm

Merry Heart Spa
Road 1-A Bulabog
Tel: 036 288 2575

Lim Spa
Road 1-A Bulabog

Simple Recipe - Ko Tao

Ko Tao as how my husband's family pronounced it. I am not sure what you call it in English.

A dish that maybe lots of young people do not have the chance to taste it.  Consider this as appetizer which you need lots of fried small onion and chili sauce as condiments. All you need is just Tapioca starch, small clam (lala) and small onion.

Ingredients

For the batter:
500gm tapioca flour
Use a medium bowl measure the flour will roughly gave you 2.5 bowls.
Use 5 bowls of water
Dilute the flour, add 4 teaspoon salt

Method:

Fry the small clam (lala) 1 kilo, then discard shell
The water from cook lala, add into batter
20 small onion slice and fried till crispy, set aside
Leave the oil use to fry small onion, pour in the tapioca flour batter, add in the lala
Keep on stir till it becomes sticky

Restoran New I Po @ Klang

Craving for roast duck, wish to taste a heavenly juicy and tender duck meat? Look for this restaurant at Bandar Botanic in Klang.  The duck breast is not hard, the meat very well marinated with crispy skin. We took this opportunity to drive all the way there since the one week school holiday was extended another day due to haze.

Dip into either sweet or spicy bean sauce but without the sauce, is just as tasty.

A duck portion for 4 person with a plate of Char Siew and Sour Spicy Mustard Green Soup with 4 drinks cost us RM81.70.

The rice served here is more of a healthier version, so do not expect aromatic rice.

Location
Restoran New I Po (since 1999)
26 Jalan Kasuarina 6/KS7
Bandar Botanic
41200 Klang
Tel: 03 3319 1193/010 231 5541