Food Entry, after a LOOOONNNGGG time -p

yup! finally an entry on FOOD!!

This week, I've been fasting to pay of my 'debts' and yesterday, I decided to have rice porridge with condiments for buka puasa.

I usually have 2 ways of enjoying my porridge ~ either chinese style or berlauk a la Kg. Baru :-)

Last night, I decided to be greedy and have it both ways!! LOL LOL LOL

The first side dish was Stir-Fried Oyster Mushrooms in Oyster Sauce.

you need:
1 med-sized pkg oyster mushrooms (white or grey)
1 Tbs. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
1/4 cup oyster sauce + half the amount of water
ground white pepper
a wee bit of sugar, to taste

how to:
heat oil and fry garlic till fragrant.
add in the sesame oil and stir. quickly add in the other ingredients and stir well.
cook till mushroom start to wilt, then turn of heat. Check seasoning.
Serve hot.

Another favourite is Spicy Black Pepper Beef.

you need:
250g beef slices (approx.)
marinate with 1 Tbs dark soy sauce and 1 Tbs oyster sauce.
pound:
3 cloves garlic
6 - 7 cili padi
2 shallots
2 Tbs. black peppercorns
a pinch of salt
1/4 cup water
sugar, to taste
coarsely chopped coriander leaves
* veg of your choice i.e. carrots, capsicum, spring onions, etc. (optional)

how to:
heat oil in wok and fry the pounded ingredients till fragrant.
add in the beef slices and fry till half done. add in veg, if using.
add in water and simmer till done.
season (no salt is added due to the use of soy sauce & oyster sauce), and stir in the coriander leaves just before serving.

We also had Ginger & Tauchu Chicken.

you need:
1 pkt chicken breast, sliced
1 inch ginger, sliced thinly
2 - 3 shallots, pounded
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pc. lemongrass, bruised
1 Tbs. oyster sauce
1 Tbs. tauchu
water
sugar, to taste
chopped chinese parsley and spring onions, for garnish

how to:
heat oil and fry all aromatics till fragrant and start to dry out. add in the chicken strips.
fry further till chicken is cooked through, then add sauces and water. simmer till chicken is tender, and season. no salt required due to the use of tauchu and oyster sauce. sprinkle with garnish just before serving.

And these are my must-have condiments ~ pickled lettuce (or so it says on the can), preserved peanuts and chopped spring onions.


THREE other crucial condiments are missing but since I ran out, no choice :-s Had to just make do. What are the missing items?

• Salted Egg
• Fried Onions/Shallots
• Fried Peanuts :-)
  

However, it was a very satisfying meal indeed........... :-)

And this "Bare-backed-then-Stuffed Cencaru" was a dish from the previous day.

you need:
2 pcs cencaru (or kembung or whatever fish you fancy)
salt & turmeric powder ~ rubbed into the fish
2 Tbs. pounded shallots
1 Tbs. pounded garlic
2 Tbs. chili paste (chili boh)
1 large onion, sliced in rings
1/4 cup tamarind juice (using 1 tsp. of tamarind)
sugar to taste

banana leaf/foil
olive oil

how to:
in a wok, heat a fair amount of oil and fry the pounded ingredients & chili paste until fragrant and slightly dry. add in the sliced onions. cook until onion is soft, then add the tamarind juice. simmer and stir, then check seasoning. set aside.

pre-heat oven to 200'C - 220'C.

line a baking tray with foil or banana leaf.

scoop the sambal mixture into the fish cavity (if using whole fish) or on top of fish slices (if using fish steaks), place fish on the banana leaf and drizzle quite generously with olive oil. top with a layer (or TWO!) of banana leaf and place in hot oven. cook for approx. 30 mins. serve hot.

I don't really fancy cencaru, but hubby seems to be partial to it, and he's the one who usually buys them at the pasar borong. I'd usually go for senangin, siakap, kerapu or bawal (both the white pomfret or the 'black' version). Sometimes I get a hankering for certain types of fish, then I'd go from stall to stall to look for it.

And while on the subject of fish, if the fish is bought, I would eat it, but not really devour it even if it was my favourite fish prepared the way I like it. If however, the fish was caught fresh by hubby on his trips, I can gobble up a whole good-sized kerapu on my own LOL LOL LOL

While on this subject i.e. food, with Ramadhan coming in close, hubby mentioned yesterday that he'll soon need to go out and look for crabs :-D :-D :-D

OK OK.... he will not be our crabbing, but will call up his 'supplier' in Pulau Ketam and get it there.

Wonder when, if ever, he'll go and start fishing for tiger prawns again.............
(that was his thing when I was pregnant with Aina)






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