Gong Xi Fa Cai & Happy Valentine's Day

Orange Yoghurt Cupcakes

I've used the same recipe for Citrus Yoghurt Muffins for this with a couple of changes. Since I've oranges in my fridge only, so I've just used orange zest. For the oil, I've used Carotino oil which is a palm oil that came in a deep red hue. I decided to try this Carotino that I've gotten in sample bottle after reading that one can create a very nicely coloured cake in a newspaper feature.

Check out the colour of the muffin! It is indeed a very very rich orangey colour. Compared with the Citrus Yoghurt Muffins, this batch looked so good! The muffins are moist and I can safely scoot off to get a bottle of Carotino oil just for baking! This seems like a great item to be served during the Chinese New Year.

Double Lou Hei @ Greenview

**Non-Halal**


Funny one has gotten to lou sang or lou hei (tossing of raw fish) earlier and earlier by the year :p Yes my first was a couple of weeks ago at Restoran Green View together with 2 tables of floggers and friends which explained why 2 plates of yue sang (raw fish) were on one table!





The merrymaking went ermmm very loud with lots of yum sengs in between the delish dishes ordered by Frat... We yum seng to practically everything and anything... yes even to the cakes that FBB brought. This went on till the shutters were all down kekeke. Thanks to all whom have made this dinner a great one ;-)



So have you started lou hei for the year?


Restoran Green View
No. 6 & 8 Jalan 19/3
46300 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Tel: (603) 7958 1076 or 7954 9263
Opening Hours: 11.00am - 11.00pm

SHF #61: Sweet Comforts - Round Up

The recently concluded Sugar High Friday hosted by Kate of A Merrier World have been compiled and rounded up. Check Kate's round up here on the desserts that you turn to for comfort.

I've submitted an Apple and Persimmon Crumble for this event.

Review: Ina Sambal Udang Pan Mee Goreng

I got this pack of Ina Sambal Udang Pan Mee Goreng by Yugatrade at Jusco. I like Ina's pan meen and yee meen so decided to try this sambal udang version. I can't remember how much but it's a mixed pack of 5 different flavours.



Inside the packet, it contained the dried noodles, a packet of dehydrated vegetables, a pack of dark soy sauce, a pack of seasoning and a pack of sambal udang.



Cooked the noodles according to instructions and poured in all the ingredients.




Mixed them up and voila... dinner!



Easy peasy. This tasted ok only, perhaps not enough sambal udang. I shall stick with the soupy pan meen which tasted like the real thing especially the ikan bilis soup. The yee meen soup tasted exactly like claypot yee meen, just remember to crack in an egg!

Review: Alexis Bistro and Wine Bar @ The Gardens

I've been to all Alexis outlets but I'm liking it here at The Gardens. The place is spacious with high ceiling, food is good and best of all service is at its best on the day I was there. I also noticed they have tapas here in the menu.

So we have one serving of button mushroom (RM15) from the tapas menu. The mushrooms were halved swimming in a creamy garlicky gravy. Toasted french loaves rounds that came with it were great in mopping up the tasty gravy.



BoiBoi loved his Club Sandwich (RM20) but who doesn't when there are thick layer of chicken slices, ham (I can't remember of which kind but definitely not pork since this place is pork free), fried egg, and green salad leaves in between 2 slices of fresh toasts. The portion is rather huge as it came with a side salad and tonnes of fries. Thank goodness I did not order any mains since I have to perform my *ahem* Alam Flora duty that evening by picking up the salad and bits and pieces of his sandwich but he wallopped quite a fair bit though.



Capt'n Hook who is not a fan of pasta asked for a Penne Carbonara (RM32). He gave a rare full praise for his carbonara that have pieces of ham and mushrooms. I took a bite and I guess I know why... the sauce is not sickly rich which is great as it doesn't make one feel "jelak" quickly.



We were rather full but as usual BoiBoi would loved to have dessert to end his meal. What more when he had already spied the cake display as he went "browsing" around. I had to manipulate and control his ordering so that we won't end up with something rich. Since he loved pavlova, I managed to convinced him into having a Chocolate Nutty Meringue (RM15). It's our first time trying this as we'll usually stuck at Tiramisu :p This is a brilliant dessert with light marshmallowy chocolate meringue in between light chocolate cream and chopped pecans and macadamia, lots of them oh yum! There are a lot of nuts on top as well! I'm sooooo gonna make this one day!!!



Ahhh another good food option at The Gardens ;-) other than The Yogitree, Yuzu, Gelatissimo, I Love Yoo, Nyonya Colors, Belanga, Fong Lye, sbread, Shihlin...


Alexis Bistro and Wine Bar
Lot f209 1st Floor
The Gardens
Mid Valley City
Lingkaran Syed Putra
59200 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: (603) 2287 2281

Braised Spare Ribs With Baked Beans

**Non-Halal**




This recipe appeared in Yum Yum magazine issue 63 and seems very appealing. Kinda special since we usually have baked beans on its own or cooked with eggs or with some mince meat. Very easy to prepare and would become a firm favourite if one love baked beans.

Braised Spare Ribs With Baked Beans

1 tbsp oil
1 onion, cut into pieces
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 red chillies, cut into pieces (I omitted)
600g spare ribs, cut into pieces
1 tin baked beans

(A)
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp tomato sauce
600ml water
1 tsp sugar

1. Heat oil and saute onion until aromatic. Add tomatoes, red chillies, spare ribs and stir-fry until well mixed.

2. Add (A) and bring to boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 40 mins or until rins are tender.

3. Lastly add in baked beans and bring to boil. Dish and serve with rice.

Ref: Yum Yum issue 63

Oh yeah I've read this article earlier and it's rather interesting...

10 things you did not know about baked beans
By Karen Inge

They're a staple quick meal in many houses, but just how nutritious are they for you and your family?

1. Baked beans contain energy giving, low glycaemic index carbohydrates.


2. A cup of baked beans is a great source of protein with more than 10 grams of protein equal to 50 gram steak or 11/2 eggs.


3. The fibre in a cup of baked beans is 12 grams equal to more than 8 large sandwich slices multigrain bread, or 11/4 cups toasted muesli or 4 medium unpeeled green apples.


4. Baked Beans are international. Versions of baked beans are found in many countries from France home of the cassoulet through to the USA with Boston (Navy) Baked Beans.


5. A cup of baked beans is about 900 kilojoules or just less than 10% daily intake energy requirement for the average person.


6. Baked beans are low in fat (less than 1%) with less than 2 grams of fat per cup. They are super low in saturated fats and as a vegetable contain no cholesterol.


7. Most baked beans are also an excellent source of tomato containing the antioxidant lycopene.


8. Baked beans contain folate a vitamin essential to release the energy in our food. One cup of Baked Beans provides more than 25% of the daily requirement (RDI 400 micrograms/day adults and teenagers).


9. We do not have digestive enzymes for all carbohydrates including raffinose found in dried beans and legumes. Gut micro-flora break down this carbohydrate and a byproduct is gas. Raffinose can be reduced in beans that are soaked first and the water discarded.

Source: The Australian Women's Weekly