A paw full of spice makes everything nice
If you are a follower or even a fan of this blog, you’ll know that I love roasted red peppers (also pork belly, pasta and all things chicken but I digress). No offense to fresh, crunchy, raw red peppers, but roasted is where it is at. Soft, sweet and the perfect accompaniment to cheese (which…
Years ago I decided to expand my culinary horizons by attending a Pakistani cooking class. At that time, I knew nothing about Indian and Pakistani cuisine. I wasn’t even a big fan of it back then. However, if an opportunity arises to expand your horizons, take it. Never turn down the chance to learn. The…
The Holiday Hangover Happy New Year everyone! For many people in the Western world, the holiday season is over and thank God for that. Yes participating in all the festivities was fun, imbibing in all those specialty cocktails was treat and gorging on that decadent food was a sumptuous pleasure. I bet right now, you…
No two curries are the same… It can be a little odd talking about food in Malaysia – and Malaysians do love to talk about food. Dishes that are popular in China, such as Lazijiding (dry fried chicken with chili peppers) simply don’t exist here. The little bottles of black vinegar that are ubiquitous in…
Oh, dinner salad. The often overlooked attempt at a healthy green side dish. Most of the time it is an after thought, following on to more glamorous main entrees like a lasagna, pizza or a roast: “just throw together some lettuce, tomato, cucumber, maybe go crazy and add some sliced onion or bell…
What do you think of when you think of vegetables? Do flashbacks of your childhood spring up? A stern parent pointing their finger at you while threatening no dessert if you don’t finish your greens? Does your imagination conjure up something dull, lifeless and tasteless? Something frozen or from a can? Something you eat…
What is there to say about this omelette? What anecdote or clever quip can I use to describe it? How shall I sing its praises? Should I discuss how the combination of sweet Marsala wine and lemony thyme are soaked up by meaty mushrooms? Should I elaborate about how much I love those…
Maybe it’s the perennial summer we have here in Malaysia or the anticipation of holiday eating, but more and more everyday I find myself wanting lighter and healthier meals. For many though, ‘lighter and healthier’ is synonymous for ‘bland and a buzzkill to eat’. Not necessarily. This dish is fast…
Can you have too much of a good spice? Nah! As a child, I have fond memories of watching my mother and grandmother in the kitchen making chicken soup. They’d dig around in the spice drawer and take out that special ingredient that always make the soup extra delicious. It was in these moments that…
I have fond childhood memories of my mother going to Taco Time and coming back with crispy burritos for my brother, sister and I. Long and crispy and wrapped in that crispy paper bag with unsealed open ends on both sides…I can hear myself crunching into it now. Recently I…
Zha Jiang Mian translates to “fried noodle sauce” meaning that you must ‘fry’ or simmer the sauce and add it to the noodles later, almost like a Chinese version of spaghetti with marinara sauce. Although this dish is typically made with minced meat, I prefer the vegetarian version…
When I told my husband that I was experimenting with making vegan breakfast burritos, he asked why I, a non-Vegan, would attempt such an unnecessary feat. To which I replied: ‘Does not a Vegan want to eat the same delicious food, do they not get bored with the same tasteless…
I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – no one cooks better vegetarian and vegan food than countries in Asia. Some of my favorite foods are vegetarian and vegan: Karela chips from India, traditional Bibimbap from South Korea, tofu of all kinds, and of course, any vegetarian Indian…
For me, a meal isn’t complete without a big heaping pile of vegetables. However, I’m married to a man who thinks potatoes are the only vegetable he will ever need. Don’t get me wrong, potatoes are a great vegetable but I like a little color and variety on my plate. Recently, I’ve been…
One of my favorite dishes in one of my favorite restaurants in Kuala Lumpur is Masala Cheese Balls at the Gem Restaurant in Little India. I just can’t get enough of them and having to share a serving of these delicious morsels with my dining partners is just devastating to me. So, you…
Contrary to what some people think about me, I am not against vegetarianism or veganism. Less animal consumption is not only healthier but better for the environment as well. Husband and child aside, I’m pretty laissez-faire when it comes to other people’s eating habits along with how their beliefs and views impact their dietary preferences….
One of the best things to eat here in Malaysia is banana leaf curry. Nothing hits the spot like a big pile of rice with curry on top, crispy papadums on the side, and a plethora of vegetable curries; all eaten off a huge banana leaf. For someone like me who likes to taste a little…
One would think that the only vegetable my husband knows to exist is cabbage and potatoes. I swear to God we have the same conversation every week and will probably continue to do so until someone takes the initiative to stop asking hence ending the vicious cycle. “What do you want to…
I was never really a big fan of onion rings. I know looking at these pictures, one could think that was ridiculous. I mean-look at them. Golden brown and crisp with a sheen of grease that just tempts you like a sea siren’s call. Meh…just not for me. I always…
Every once in a while I get a craving for sweet and sour pork. Truth be told, this is not one of my favorite Chinese dishes, it wasn’t particularly even easy to find on a menu in Beijing. It was more of a Westernized version of Chinese food than anything else. BUT with its crispy and…