Journey to Whatever

This week had been a very busy week and also a very surprising week.

First of all, I have a new nephew via my cousin J. And this is fifth child and second son.   This came as a surprise to me because I didn't even know that P was pregnant.

That was the surprise close to home.  The other surprises were that my niece and nephew over the seas got married.  Little D, the one I meet like twenty years ago, got married.  Then MR, who I don't know but I know his father, also got married. 

I got off on a sick day this week - a real sick day.  I got conjunctivitis- how- I really don't know.  So I drove into the sideline but got deeper and deeper into nowhere, because I decide to delete something, two more nonsense and unnecessary pests pop up.  Now, I really have to be steadfast and buckle down to this journey on the sideline so I could get to my destination.

Work is good. Just like in Goldilocks and the baby's bear bed - I have to wake up before I get caught by the bears coming home.  I am okay just as long as I am careful and do all the tasks at hand.  I just have to start reaping the harvests that I'd sowed.

My foray to Indian (inspired) food

When my cousin came to town a few of weeks ago, I took her to Mrs. Balbir's, a long established Indian Restaurant.  This is one of the best Indian restaurant in town, situated in a cud-de-sac on Soi 11.  Also, its very popular with the expat community here in Bangkok.

I am not very fond of Indian food but I really like for Dahl, Naan and Bhindi Bhaji (Okra with Onions), especially the Okra.  So I googled my favorite and found a simple and easy recipe. 

Bhindi bhaji (Okra with Onions)  

• 
  
  2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
• 
  
  1 onion, chopped
• 
  
  ½ tsp ground cumin
• 
  
  ½ tsp ground coriander
• 
  
  ½ tsp chilli powder
• 
  
  ¼ tsp ground turmeric
• 
  
  150g/5¼ oz tomatoes, chopped
• 
  
  450g/16oz okra, cut into 1in/3cm pieces
  
  
  Preparation:
  
  
  1. Heat the oil in a wok. Add the onions and spices and fry for 3-5 minutes until the onions are transparent. Tip in the tomatoes and cook for a minute or two.
  2. Throw in the okra and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the okra is cooked through.
  3. Season well and serve.
  
  
  From BBC Food.
  
  My first time into the preparing for the food, I didn't have onions but I had carrots.  so I shredded carrots into thin stripes.  Hey, I am not cook.  But it worked with a little sugar to cut the bitterness.
  
  

  

  
  
  Then on my second try, I add in seafood and noodle.  This also worked.
  
  Enjoy!
  
  
  
  

You know when you're old when. . .

This is one of my favorite soup and its low cal too.  When I was a child, I didn't really like this soup because of the bitter melon.  As like its namesake, when bitter melon not done right, then it's bitter.  However, when don't correctly, then the melon contribute a sweetness to the soup.  It still have an after taste but it's not bitter anymore.

Because it's bitter, my mother always said that bitter melon is good for your health; "Bitter is medicine".  I don't know how true this is but there are studies that state bitter melon fruit and leaves have been used to cure cancer and diabetes.  Some studies state that it shrinks hemorrhoids.  All I know that I am considered old because I love this soup because when you're old you like the bitter melon.

Bitter Melon Soup with Sparerib Soup - Kaeng Chued Mara

3 cups of water
1/2 cup spareribs, small (preferably ribs with soft bone)
2 tbsp soy sauce
1 pinch ground pepper
1 clove of garlic
1 bitter melon, cut up into 2 x 2 pieces

Cut the bitter melon across to 2" pieces.  Cut those piece lengthwise and remove the white fluff  and seed.  Soak the beitter melon in salt water before adding to soup (about an hour).

Heat the water and spareribs on medium heat.  Add ground pepper, garlic and soy sauce and let simmer on low or medium heat.  Add the bitter melon pieces and let simmer until the bitter melon is soft, easy to cut the melon a spoon. You may need to add more water from time to time. Also add soy sauce if needed.

If want a vegetarian fare, skip the spareribs and use vegetable stock.  Add more vegetables like carrots, turnips and other tubular roots.

Enjoy!

Stir fried Chicken Noodles - not your Pad Thai

Kuay Tiew Kuo Kai  is not your "Pad Thai" and they are not related, but they are similar.  And very simple and very  quick to prepare too.

Recipe can be found at http://www.khiewchanta.com/archives/noodle-dishes/

40 gms Chicken Breast
50 gms Flat Rice Noodles
1 Egg
2 Tablespoons Fish Sauce
2 Tablespoons Light Soy Sauce
3 Garlic Cloves
1/2 Teaspoon Sugar
1/4 Teaspoon White Pepper
1 Tablespoon Chopped Spring Onions
1 Tablespoon Chopped Coriander Leaves
                                                                                    1 Tablespoon Oil


 Preparation:
1. Soak the rice noodle in warm water for 15 minutes to soften them.
2. Clean the chicken and chop into bite sized strips.
3. Peel and chop the garlic. Fry in the frying pan for a few seconds just to release the garlic smell.
4. Add the chicken and fry for 3 minutes until cooked.
5. Add the egg and the noodles and stir fry for 1 minute.
6. Add the fish sauce, light soy sauce, sugar, white pepper spring onions and coriander and stir fry for 1 minute more.

Instead of chicken, you can substitute with tentacles of octopus which will give it a crunchy feel to the dish.  If vegetarian, substitute chicken with firm tofu.

Enjoy

Yen Ta Fo - Red Noodle

Yen Ta Fo, to me is an enigma.  I suspected that the dish has it roots from the Chinese immigrants, just like most of the the noodle dishes in Thailand.  Yes, even our claim-to-fame "Pad Thai".  I suspect any thing that has to with noodles, whether its egg noodles or fettuccine, it has its roots from China-let the scholars debate about it- I stand firm.  But, yen-ta-fo is not your ordinary noodle dish because of its red sauce.

You can have this dish with egg noodle, ramen noodles, rice noodles and even vermicelli (glass noodles).  I like it with egg noodle and lots of veggies.

For a detailed information about yen-ta-fo: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yen-ta-fo/

And here is a good recipe for the dish:

Ingredients: For 1 servings

1 lb. rice noodles
2 1/2 chicken stock
50g. (1 1/5 oz.) dried cuttlefish, boiled
5 pork, boiled and sliced
6 fishballs or porkballs, boiled
5 slices of fried tofu (optional)
1 tbs. morning glory, cut into 2 inch long pieces, boiled
50g. (1 1/5 oz.) jelly fish, boiled
2 tsp. salted soybean paste
2 tsp. fish sauce
2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. chilli powder
2 tsp. vinegar or lime juice
2 tsp. vegetable oil


Preparation:


1. Soak the rice noodles in warm water until tender. Boil for 3-5 minutes. Then, remove. Put vegetable oil over the noodles, and quickly stir so that the noodles will not stick together.

2. In a pot, boil the fish balls*, jelly fish*, morning glory (kang kong), and tofu with the chicken stock. Then season with salted soybean paste and sugar.

*fish balls can be substituted with barbecued pork
*jelly fish can be substituted with squid or shrimp

3. When serving, place the noodles in a serving dish and pour the soup over it. Season with fish sauce, sugar, chilli powder, and vinegar as desired.

Note : If you prefer dried "Yen Ta Fo", just exclude the chicken stock from the dish.

Courtesy of Thailand.com

Try to remember

Can't believe its September already.  This always remind me of a few of my favorite songs

September from the play Fantasticks.  Never saw the play even though I lived down the street from the theather during my NYC days.  But I can imagine Robert Goulet belting it out on stage.

Then, Earth, Wind and Fire's September.  Great classic tune from a great band, and one of the best dance tunes for my generation.  Talking about dancing, the DoSe is tonight and I am going.

Gee. . .I am rambling.  Will take lots of pictures to share. . .stay tune.

Exercise in the Morning

I am not fitness expert but I agree that exercising in the morning is just great.  This is an article I found on the internet www.healthylivingwithellie.com/

Healthy Living with Ellie Krieger
Up With the Sun

There are plenty of reasons to exercise first thing in the morning. For one, you get it out of the way and don't have to worry about fitting it in as the day goes on. Exercise also kick-starts your morning, waking you up and boosting your energy level for the day's tasks. And it may help you sleep better. A recent study of postmenopausal women showed that those who exercised in the morning — but not at other times of the day — slept better at night. Researchers think that morning exercise may help get the body clock in alignment.

Well, I been doing the exercise in the morning for about 18 months now.  Not every morning, but at least 3 times a week, however, I go to the gym at least 5 times a week.  Yes, I am an exercise nut and I am glad because if not, I am your regular couch potato.