Simple Recipe - Pandan Juice

Only 2 ingredients for a medium pot of screw pine (pandan) juice. Of course the main ingredient will be screw pine leaves, just use about 20 leaves (put extra or up to 30 if the leaves are shorter/smaller in size) and rock sugar.  I used screw pine leaves from my backyard mini garden.

Boil water in a medium pot, put in screwpine leaves, boil till it turns soft, then only add 3/4 or whole packet of sugar.  Do adjust accordingly to your tastebud and depends on how much water you put. Type of sugar that give the juice a better taste is called honey rock sugar.

Once cool down, chill it in the fridge. Such a refreshing drink for the scorching hot weather. I am sure you will ask for more.

Honey Rock Sugar 250gm packing

Screw pine (Pandan) leaves

Simple Recipe - Steam Minced Pork with Salted Fish

I have not been cooking this dish for a real long time, having to try eating healthily as salted fish is considered unhealthy but really is taste so good especially if you go with curry, salted fish is its partner.

Here for Steam Minced Pork with Salted Fish, I am using only 3 ingredients; minced meat, salted fish and ginger. So is real simple and real quick. Do adjust accordingly the amount you require for salted fish depending on how much minced meat you are using.

Steam Minced Pork with Salted Fish

Ingredients
Minced Meat
Salted Fish
Ginger 

Method
Marinate minced meat with:
1.5 teaspoon cornflour
1.5 tablespoon light soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 tablespoon chinese cooking wine
Dash of pepper
Keep in fridge for at least 30 minutes

Cut salted fish into pieces, add onto the marinated meat
Lay the meat on a plate
Top with slice ginger strip 
Steam for 10 minutes

If you are in a rush, this appetizing meal  is real quick to prepare.

Food to eat in Kuantan and Kemaman

The last we visited Kuantan was 16 years ago where my youngest boy was only 1 year old, a trip treated by hubby's cousin brother. Times flies, now is only 2.5 - 3 hours away with Karak Highway whereas those days took 4 hours.

This time round, wife of hubby's nephew booked Samsuria Beach Apartment Resort from the bank she worked with. The 2 rooms with attached bathroom 100 sq ft apartment unit were well maintained. You may utilize its facility such as swimming pool and gym.  Best thing is beach front. This resort is located at Jalan Sg Ular Damai 1.

Beach Front Resort

From this resort, it takes approximately 30 minutes to Kuantan town or Kemaman.

Some of us checked in by 3.30pm but since my elder son on internship and younger son had to attend tuition, we only reached there by 1.30am when everyone has gone to bed!

That night the others have gone for dinner at Tong Juan famous for stuffed crab and also bought some Keropok Lekor.  You can find a lots of stalls selling Keropok Lekor on your right if you are travelling from Kemaman to Kuantan.

Treasures inside Stuff Crab

Stuff Crab @ RM8.50/pc

The next morning we had brunch at Hoi Yin Curry Laksa nearby Teluk Cempedak Beach. Nothing to shout about as we preferred more creamy spicier version but Hoi Yin is totally the opposite.  Then we had a stroll at Teluk Cempedak Beach.  Here you can find McDonald, KFC, Starbucks and Chatime besides a few set up stalls selling clothing.

Teluk Cempedak Beach

Our group loves eating, so off we went for Cendol Air Putih, a right decision we made since the weather is scorching hot. I love the soft Cendol, Nasi Lemak bungkus and also Lampak Udang (glutinous rice rolls filled with saute spiced paste).

In Kuantan is a must for you to buy their famous salted fish. We stopped at Hasil Laut Kiah Kee to shop for salted fish and dried stuff. You can get lots of dried shrimp, anchovies, squid, scallop and oyster here.

Hasil Laut Kiah Kee

Then back to our hotel for a rest before heading out for dinner later.Recommended by nephew's girlfriend, we had dinner at Alor Akar Seafood Restaurant, just ordered any of their signature dishes, thumbs up for every dish we had and the price is very reasonable.

Large Prawn Sambal

Herbal Chicken

After dinner, we had so much joy at the white sandy beach besides the hotel, searching for crabs. It so fun chasing after the crab when it tried to run away.

One of the crab which we then let go

As we will be heading home the next day,   we did not want to miss the opportunity of trying the famous Kuantan Satay i.e. Terminal Satay Zul. We went to their original outlet at Jalan Alor Akar, not far from where we had our dinner.  Since the tables were full, we ended up packing satays for supper. No regret, everyone loves the satay, nasi impit (rice cubes) and its kuah kacang (peanut sauce)

The takeaway station

The next morning, we checked out by 11 am and traveled north to Kemaman as we wanted to have our brunch at Hai Peng Kopitiam in Kemaman. This was the place frequented by my ex-bosses whenever they travel to Kemaman office  Some liked the nasi lemak here but some felt the sambal is a bit sweet. Everyone agreed the nasi dagang here was superb. Toast with banana and peanut butter seems is a must try but none of us try it!  Try thei toast which fill with generous kaya and butter and do not forget their aromatic cofffee. 

We head back to KL after Kemaman but pit stop at Bentong for Kow Pow Ice Cream.

Restaurant Tong Juan
K117, Jalan Sulaimani
24000 Kemaman
Terengganu
Tel: +60 9-859 1346

Hoi Yin Curry Laksa
No 31, Jalan Teluk Cempedak
25050 Kuantan
Pahang
Tel: +60 9-567 3871
(Close alternate Monday)

Cendol Air Putih
B-260E, Jalan Air Putih
25300 Kuantan
Pahang
Tel: +60 9-568 0720
(Opening hours 12 - 5.30 pm, Close Monday)

Hasil Laut Kiah Kee
C140A, Bt 8
Jalan Gambang
Kuantan
Tel: +60 9 538 4255

Alor Akar Seafood Restaurant
Lot 7695 & 7696 Jalan Kubang Buaya
25300 Kuantan
Pahang
(Opening hour: 6 pm - 12 am) 

Terminal Satay Zul
A 2600, Jalan Alor Akar, off Jalan Teluk Sisek
25250 Kuantan
Pahang, Malaysia
Tel: +609-5381253

Hai Peng Kopitiam
K-3753, Jalan Sulaimani
Chukai 
24000 Kemaman
Terengganu
Tel: +60 9 859 7810
Opening hours: Daily 6.45 am - 6 pm

Simple Recipe - Minced Pork with Basil

The holy basil gives you an aromatic smell and is best to cook with chicken or minced pork. We fell in love with this having to tried it at Bangkok. It is a very simple dish yet goes well with rice.

The sauce that I used here depends on quantity of minced pork you gonna cook. So just adjust accordingly. It takes about 10 minutes to cook this dish, quick and yummy.

Ingredients
Minced pork
Minced garlic
Bunch of basil leaves

Method
Marinade minced pork with soy sauce, sesame oil, dash of pepper and  tapioca flour.

Heat up wok
Put in cooking oil
Follow by minced garlic
Add in minced pork
Throw in some oyster sauce, fish sauce and thick soy sauce (if you prefer)
Add in some water
When minced pork is cooked, lastly add basil

Here I did not use dark soy sauce, thus the light color of the dish.

My Backyard Mini Garden

My hubby is really a kampung boy. He loves to rear fish, birds, dogs and gardening. We always have small potted plants growing curry leaves, mint leaves, basil leaves, kaffir lime leaves, kesum/laksa leaves, pandan/screw pine leaves and lemongrass enough for my cooking whenever needed.

Besides we also plant spinach and water morning glory, bittergourd, tomato, spring onion and blue pea flower.

He had beautify the whole area and since been visiting his new baby every morning before he leaves for work. He will water the plants, making sure they are growing well. In addition, he also bought two trees planted in a big nice pot. In the planning, he wanted to plant creepers on top of the area. My oh, my old man! 😅.

Latest addition, a mini pond with intention of rearing various species of gold fish and to put water lily.

Mint Leaves from my garden

Basil 

Willow

Goldfish

Casabrina

Look, we managed to grow bittergourd, both pictures were 3 days apart. The last photo was 2 days later.