Julie & Julia

Yes, I have been away again and this time it was on a career type of conference which was an amazing eye opener to me as well as it was my first time visiting the US of A. Boy was I overwhelmed by the supermarkets, so much so that I dare not step foot into the shop the second time! Things here in portions are HUGE. From taking about 2 minutes to cross the highway roads to massive sizes of smoothies enough to fill you up for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There are so many different restaurants like all-you-can-eat crab, Denny's, TGI's and even one was called Happy restaurant LOL.

Anyway, I saw this movie clip on my flight back in which I really highly recommend to you food lovers =). It is based on 2 real live stories of about 2 ladies who share similar ambitions, dreams, and problems in which food was their way of escaping life's cold and brittle moments. This I give you the trailer:

Are you related to some bits of their lives? ;) Click here for the link

The coolest part to me is that I actually know what Le Cordon Bleu and Larousse Grastonomique is! omigosh...something I never ever in my life would figure when watching a movie. Note to everyone: HG is very ignorant when it comes to celebreties and dramas plus little stuff like landmarks in movies.

Anyhoo, I bought some nice dessert ingredients while I was in the states =). That I shall keep until my next post!

Fish Porridge aka Congee

After being back for a few days with the cold kicking in, I was craving for something soupy but yet filling and comforting. Not only that, of course with this weather, one would just want to crawl into bed and 'hibernate'. Hence I find that the best way to keep alert and 'awake' through this 'challengin' and dull weather is to go for brain food - FISH.

Behold here is my simple version of cooking up a fish congee or fish porridge. It is super easy, and very very quick (Does help abit when there is plentiful of chinese ingredients in the pantry unused)

For 2 people

Ingredients

• 2 fish fillet of your preference (I used Haddock)
• 2 tbsp sesame oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup rice
• 3 cups water
• 1/4 cup chopped ginger
  
• 1/2 cup spring onions chopped
• 1/2 dried shallots
• 3 tbsp roasted ground peanuts
• Soy Sauce to taste
• White pepper powder to taste

Method

1. Coat the fillets with sesame oil. Further rub salt and ginger on the fish prior to placing it in a rice pot
2. In a rice pot, wash the rice a couple of times before adding 3 cups of water.
3. Add ginger and fillets into the pot
4. Let the rice cooker cook. If you don't have a rice cooker, a normal pot is also possible. Place the pot on the stove and place the power on high, bring it to a boil and let it simmer.
   
5. While simmering, stir the rice in the pot so that the rice does not stick on the bottom of the pot and burn. Do this every 2  minutes. This process is also used if you're using the rice cooker.
   
6. Keep stirring until the rice doubles its size and expands until soft and 'mashed' in a way that you do not require much effort to press each rice with your fingers.
7. Add water if necessary if the mixture gets dry. At this time, the fish meat would be soft and will easily be mixed as you stir.
8. Scoop into a suitable bowl and add the following in order: soy sauce, peanuts, spring onions, shallots and white pepper.
9. Mix and Eat! Nom nom nom.
   

I'm back! for a short while

Yes I am back indeed and from a wonderful and most heart fulfilling trip back to my home country not only catching up with family and friends but also to actually realise the amount of food variety I was flooded in! This is my first time back really appreciating the abundance of dishes I was surrounded with. I literally was a changed person. More 'Malaysian' and more to my roots which marvels me alot haha.

Well, let me tell you a little story about me. I had a kitchen in the house that put me off from even stepping into. Yes, this was my kitchen back home. There is only room for one person: My grandma who I now wish to continue her cooking skills.

As well as my family, though born and bred in Malaysia, surprisingly have the least interest in food. This is very unusual because majority speaking, everyone I know appreciates food a whole lot coming from this country. So it is rather surprising how I am the only one to be hooked lol.

Anyway, 3 weeks is alot to catch up so I will perhaps just show the amount of food I had while I was back ;).

In the mean time, I am off again for another trip before I actually attempt to make something in the kitchen. Till then, keep drooling!