What I've been up to

Been MIA for a while due to a very bad episode of gout. For the past two months or so, I've been hobbling on my new pair of crutches or walking with a limp when the swelling, fever and pain goes down. From the remarks of people who've seen me since, I've also lost a ton of weight. That's nice (the weight lost, not the comment) but as I've pointed out, not exactly the easiest way to do so!

I've actually been cooking some, organizing my room (yes been 3 months and tho it's shaping up, I still have a pile of junk smack in middle of the room I've been putting off organizing). For frens who have been out of touch or haven't walked into the former book cave, its now a brighter, PINKER and more (and here's the word again) organized place to sleep, eat and breathe in.

Only one problem now. Since the new maid came and my mom decided to spring clean the fridge (number 2), there's been a bad smell wafting around that area...
It smells like milk gone bad, blue cheese or something of the sort. Looks like we'll have to call the fridge repair man to come and find out what's wrong. The smells been around for almost a week and I believe the next time I ever come across blue cheese I'll be running like the wind.

Old Pontian Cafe

I was hanging around CCK Lot 1 the other day after tuition and decided to have dinner out since I would be starving by the time I arrived home. That's when I came across a new stall in the Lot 1 shopping mall that served Pontian style wanton noodles.

Now this is not the first time I've come across the so-called Pontian wanton noodles and the one across the road from my house is so-so, at best in taste. The noodles aren't bad but the wantons are little more than a token smear of filling (more like a dab) and a whole lot of empty wanton skin.

This Pontian Cafe outlet (I saw one at Bt. Panjang as well) served portions of noodles in small ($3.30) and large ($3.80). I ordered the large with chilli and was pleasantly surprised by the noodles and the wantons both. A hefty amount of noodles were given with a few slices of char siew and a couple of fried wantons. This came with a bowl of soup (too much msg in this) with some boiled wantons as well. The noodles had a wonderful chewy texture, were cooked al dente (as the Italians love to say) and although it was a large bowl of noodles, I finished it all! The wantons had just enough filling, not over or under-filled.There could have been more char siew and I wouldn't have minded a little more wantons, but overall, the noodles were good and I only paid $3.50(think the other price is for take away).

The cafe also serves other types of noodles, but its only my first visit. Maybe next time I will try the other dishes and get back to you on those. >_< (And no, they are not paying me to advertise for them. LOL.)

P.S: In my hurry to eat up the noodles, I didn't take a pic. Will do so next time I go there. And yes, there will be a next time, I really like the noodles =D.

Bumper Update (Pre-CNY)

I'll be heading down to Malaysia during the Chinese New Year long weekend and will hopefully have something to add to this blog post CNY! (haha =P)

For the moment, I have been really free since my tuition load is LOW! WAh!!! If your kid needs a tutor, call me (LOL)! So to use that free time constructively, I have been experimenting with recipes I have never tried (LAME isn't it >_<, and I am such a food lover too!)

Wierd Cherry Tomato from my MOM's garden (her friend's tomato plant)

Just wanted to show how cute and unusual some plants grow up to be kekekek. This gourd shape little darling is somewhere around the house. Going to become my afternoon snack! SLURP!!


Lamb Stew ala Indian/Morrocan Style



I was trying out this recipe in a book by Chefs John Burton Race and Angela Hartnett 'Cooking for Beginners'. Modified it to add Indian spices from the local spice shop as well as some locally made yogurt. I actually added the whole packet of spice mix! But it turned out great anyway (LOL), altho the kids refused to eat it. They found the spices too strong!


Jamie's Minestrone Soup (from Allrecipes.com)

The kids may not have liked the spicy Morrocan/Indian Lamb stew but they certainly loved this minestrone soup! Sourced from Allrecipes.com (my fav place for recipes), this is one of the best minestrone soup I have ever tasted (or made =D). I used alphabet pasta to make it fun for the kids and used only one pulse (kidney beans), but this was still great! More yummy food will be coming up!