M & J opened their home for the “Mamak Stall” Chinese New Gathering as usual. We are always grateful for their generosity.
It was a beautiful sunny day after the wind storm a day before.
Mandarin oranges for fullness and wealth, i.e. good fortune.
J made a lot of Chinese New Year goodies. We can always find some comfort food here. The above were some pineapple cookies in the shape of tangerine and little piggy. J is so creative. (more…)
Ben found a bag of dried chickpeas in the pantry. He decided to make some chickpea snacks that he used to have in his childhood. In the old days in Kuala Lumpur, we had mobile Indian snacks trader who sell peanuts, chickpeas, etc. They used old newspapers or magazine to roll into a cone as the packaging material for the products.
We called them “kacang puteh man” because when they come to a residential area, they will shout “kacang puteh” to promote their presence. They are often found outside the cinemas, school, wet market, etc.
Ingredients
Source: this recipe is adapted from itdoesnttastelikechicken.com
Ben and the boys like fatty pork. Me, not so much.
Ben made the above Braised Pork Hock in a pressure cooker.
Ingredients
Source: this recipe is from spicenpans.com
Ben got this recipe from Reddit. It sounded auspicious and great to be served during Chinese New Year.
In plain English, this dish is known as Spicy Fried Hard-Boiled Eggs Hunan style. We enjoyed the crispiness of the eggs and the aromatics from the green onions and of course the spiciness of it.
Ingredients
Source: Reddit.com/Cooking – mthmchris
Chowtimes wishes all good health and good fortune in the coming pig year. Ben, Suanne, Arkensen & Nanzaro
A few of the participants from the Experience Works program which I attended in early 2018 got together for lunch.
Eva suggested Chongqing Restaurant as she and her gardening group used to dine here. The restaurant was not very busy on the Saturday that we met here.
Elena and I arrived first. She ordered a pork dumpling from the dim sum section to start off as she was hungry. When the rest of the group arrived, she took charge of the rest of the ordering. We had fried rice with shrimp to go with other dishes.
Since Eva is a vegetarian, we ordered one of her favourite dish, Fried Green Bean Szechuan style. (more…)
Here is another recipe from The Woks of Life, one of Ben’s favourite following.
We made this for one of the Christmas potluck gathering.
Ingredients
Source: this recipe is adapted from The Woks of Life
We bought a bag of very cheap white potatoes from a grocery store along Fraser St, something like $1.49 for a bag. It was on sale because some of the bags were wet. I found one bag that was not wet and I made sure I pad dry the potatoes with paper towel when I got home.
Ingredients
Source: this recipe is adapted from The Woks of Life
Ben made some daikon and carrot pickles as appetizer at home. I’m impressed by his patience in cutting the daikon and carrot into the match stick size.
These daikon and carrot refrigerator pickles are found in Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches and is known as “do chua”. Some Chinese restaurants also serve this as appetizers along with fried peanuts.
Ingredients
Source: this recipe is adapted from simplyrecipes.com
After the walk at the Lights of Lafarge, Nanzaro recommended to have dinner at Popeye’s in Coquitlam since we were in the neighbourhood.
Popeye’s is located in the Fremont Village. Luckily, it’s opened on Christmas day.
The seating area is partitioned into 2 sections by this spice display unit, quite creative.
Since this is a fast food place, you order at the counter and pick up your order. They will call your name when the order is ready.
The walls are decorated with the Popeye’s history and how the chicken is made.
We ordered the 8 pc family deal for $19.99. It came in a paper box.
The top layer are the big pieces from chicken breast and thighs. (more…)