COMING BACK SOON!

coming back soon!

winter winter

go on, go on rain; just keep pouring,

as we won't be able to feel you til next Jan 09.

That's the weather in capital of ca.

As the rain took a rest, i walked, smelling the clean air,
blowing breeze aches the bone.

Watching the pond filled with water, two geese having fun.

It is so relaxing. no stress, nothing to give a thought of,
swimming so calm and gentle.

Wish I could read what's in the brain of these geese, ha ha.
Keep warm everyone.
Let's wait for the spring, it will be there before we realize

Lemongrass Substitute

****** Yeah ! a substitute for lemongrass. *******

Lemongrass is a key ingredient in some of south east cooking.

However, lemongrass is only available in asian stores.

Even we can purchase the ground dry lemongrass from stores,

but it certainly can't replace the flavor and aroma of fresh lemongrass.

If unable to find lemongrass, here's a substitute; it makes about 2 teaspoon

I came across this easy lemongrass substitution tip from a cooking book,

which I got from the library.

Here it is:

6-8 mint leaves
2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp chopped fresh ginger

Squeeze lime juice in a bowl and add sugar and stir until sugar dissolve. Then add the chopped ginger. Then add the finely chopped mint leave into the bowl.

In most cooking, the roots of lemongrass chopped and grind to used,

my friend thought me that long grassy leave can be added into,

when boiling tea, makes aromatic herbal tea, and soothing in this winter weather.

Chicken Rendang

Happy 2008 to everyone!

Hardly can blog, since kids were home for holidays.

Aahh! Let's talk about what I made here.

This dish is a Malay food called Chicken Rendang.

The preparation takes awhile, since needed grinding of ingredients, but the taste; I like it.

1lb chicken

Ingredient A:
2 stalk lemon grass /serai - ground
1 inch galangal / lengkuas -ground
1 tbsp chopped ginger - ground
2 tbsp chopped garlic - ground
1/2 cup chopped onion - ground

3-4 chillies & 1 small tomato - grind to make a paste

Ingredient B:
1/4 cup shredded coconut - roasted and ground fine
1/4 cup peanut - roasted and ground
few kafir leaves / limau purut

On the stove, in a heavy pan, add 2 tablespoon of oil, then include chicken and all ingredients from A. Keep stirring as it cooks. Don't forget to add salt to it. When the chicken is all cooked, add ingredient B to it, continue stirring for 5 minutes.

Then ready to enjoy! Serve with rice.

JellyJelly

AGAR-AGAR LONGAN

Mmmm!
This is a Malaysian desert with a little twist in it; I mean the color and the longan fruit.
It's an easy to prepare and fast.
The ingredients are:

• agar-agar - 1 pack
  
• sugar - 1 1/2 cups
  
• thick coconut milk - 1 cup
  
• canned longan - 1 can chopped
  
• water - 5 cups
  
• yellow food coloring (can be color of your choice)
  

1. After bringing the water to boil, add the agar-agar and let it dissolve in boiling for about 5 to 7 minutes.
2. Then add sugar, keep stirring until sugar dissolve.
3. Now mix the coconut milk and food coloring.
4. Pour the mixture into a tray and let it thicken . It usually takes 2 to 3 hours
5. Cut into your favorite shape and serve it.

***********Agar-agar is a substitute for gelatine. Agar-agar is made out of seaweed. Many sweets and desserts in Asia uses agar-agar; mainly in Malaysia and Indonesia.************
........................................................................................................................................................................

Eating Out

What you think about eating out?

Yup, like eating at a restaurant or even a fast food.
I do take my children out to eat, but not always... not everyweek.
I surely believe that we have to feed our children the best healthy food.... as we are raising them for their best future.....not only giving them best education is our duty... also providing the right food is our responsiblity. We as an adult... the most important person in our kids life... we are the role model for our kids... first we need to be an example ourselves. WHAT we eat is....what our kids grow up eating. Don't you agree with me??

We might think what eating out could do ....little mistakes today, can damage our body in long run... so does to our children. We all know too much fat is not good for body but why still we need them, the outside food certainly uses so much oil and sodium to make food taste great. We can do the best cooking at home with lesser oil and salt. Isn't it is possible to reduce fried food?


Little things that we do today for our children, would give them better living tomorrow.

Give me 5

I read this in one of Bev Bos's book. My kids love it try with yours.

Giveme 5
On the other side
cut the pickle
get a tickle.

Let your kid low 5 you, then turn your hand other side. put both your left and rigth pointer together and let your kid pretend cut in the middle with her hand. at the end tikcle your child in tommy. Your child surely will laugh in fun and want it again and again.
TRY IT!

tall and strong

 

this photo was capture by my brother, while our recent visit to Malaysia. the petronas tower located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
i just wanted to share the beauty of this building. you should visit some time, too.

yum! yum!

This dish is not only for kids, but adults would enjoy it too. I made roasted pepper, tomato, onion and baked salmon fish. Then chopped cucumber and apples. So I just cooked rice with some peas and chopped carrot.

Tested and my kids loved it and cleaned the plate.

So I guess for kids to eat their vegetable, presentation of food is important. I prepared and made it to my kids taste and with all the possible colors in food that can be found. Of all, it is very easy to prepare and most of all very healthy.

I totally believe that, kids need to eat from every food group and have the correct portion of food. As we cook for our kids, I feel that it is our responsibility to prepare a good healthy rainbow dish. Then, can give a dessert at the end, it is not necessary for a kid to know what the dessert is. That will make a kid to give a plenty for excuse to finish the greens.....but I to agree for some group of children , you need to say 'if you finish this, then you get your dessert'. So as parents we need to act smart and fast, to judge the situation and keep our children healthy.

Don't you agree with me: "today's healthy children is tomorrow's brain of our country."

eating right

Eating the right food is very important for kids. Don't you agree with me? The children need the balanced diet, they need the rainbow, more colors in food, more nutrients for our children. I don't believe it is hard to find, it is just how much time an adult willing to put in preparing a child's food.

Are you a working mom, and cooking does take up time? Then let's make it fun, get your children to involve, they would surely be excited do it. My girls love to shred, peel and cut the vegetables. Dad can help, too. Even a stay home mom, would like to get their kids learn to cook. Believe me, you child would surely like to do the dishes.

So enjoy preparing food and feed the correct food to your kid.