Ayam Masak Merah

I cook today. Yey! ... It's been a while since I stepped in the kitchen heh... Since I'm on mc, I will slowly cook for myself and the husband.

Today Ayam masak Merah was a success.  I don't normally follow 1 recipe but a few so I can try and decide which one I will keep.  I have been following Mat Gebu for a few years now.  His recipes are nice and traditional for most. I like to take reference from his blog as the ingredients are easy too find and not so complicate. I refer to some other sites too lah... Slamat mencuba. Fuuuuuh I've always wanted to say that.

Recipe taken from:  Tiffinbiru (I alter the ingredients abit)

Ingredients

*Mix of breast meat and wings
*1 tbsp blended dried chili
*1 tsp turmeric powder
*1/2 tsp salt
*1/2 tsp pepper

* Mix and marinate the item above for 15mins or more

1 big onion (sliced)
3 tbsp blended dried chili (put more if you want to)
1/2 bottle of tomato sauce
2 sticks of lemongrass (bashed)
A few sprig of curry leaves
1 cinnamon stick
1 pc star anise
1/2 cup water
Salt to taste

Ingredients to blend
1 big onion
3 cloves garlic
1 inch ginger

Method

• Fry the marinated chicken. Half cooked and take it out and drain the oil.
• Pour out the excess oil.  Oil enough for sautee. 
• Add lemongrass, sliced onion, curry leaves, cinnamon stick and star anise.  Stir for a few mins till the aroma rises
• Add the blended ingredients and add a spoon or 2 of the blended chili. Cook it will for 10-15 mins with stirring.
• Add tomato sauce and salt cook till the sauce thickens and add in the fried chicken and mix well.
• Stir and leave it for 5mins and off the heat.
• Ready to be eaten.  Garnish with fried shallots and chop corriander

Family Trip to Batam

I can't remember when was the last trip, I'm glad this trip happen. We were supposed to take the the 1st ferry to Batam but there's a bit of a hiccup.  FYI. Wave Master no longer operating so for future travels, please use other agents.  Since our next ferry is in the afternoon ... the kids were getting restless ... the adults were bored and I just stoned away. Decided to walk around vivo bearing in mind not to purchase anything.

Finally the ferry arrived.  We took Sindo. And it took a longer route to Batam.  We reached 1.5hr later. The driver and tour guide were waiting for us.  Yes tour guide.  I've been to batam countless of time and this was the first time we had a tour guide and it was a good thing. That countless trips to Batam with the intention of mainly grocery shopping, watch movie, eat and spa.  This time round I just follow the crowd with NO intention of getting anything. (nie macam yaya oni lah)

1st stop was lunch at Pak Datuk.  They serve Padang food and they were delish. Look at that spread it was from one end to another end of the table.  There were 14 of us.  Our tummy were happy!

Pak Datuk is located at Jl. Jend. A. Yani, Ruko Mahkota Raya Blok C No.1&2, Kepulauan Riau 29432, Indonesia

The tour guide was entertaining.  He managed to lift up the moods of our cranky mothers (that's very important) and also share stories and history of the places.

With that full belly they sent us to check in hotel. So we can do our prayers and relax for awhile before we head down to the mall. We stayed at Swiss-Belhotel Harbour Bay. A very decent hotel which I fell in love with. Very cosy bed, Strong free wifi and well-equipped toilet. There's swimming pool, sauna and gym ... not that I use the facilities but quite motivated to exercise just by looking at it.  Plus point they have their own mall and the harbour terminal is just across the road.

Hotel located at Jl. Duyung, Sei Jodoh, Batu Ampar, Kepulauan Riau 29432, Indonesia

I managed to nap. We went DC Mall (Diamond City Mall).  Of cos it is the makciks haven.  It was like a race cos we only have 1.5hr to shop ... ONLY.  I bought 4 instant shawls, 1 prayer mat, keropok kerapak and bubble tea in 30mins. We relax one corner and wait for the rest to finish shopping.

DC Mall located at Jalan Duyung, Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia

I did not buy from the shop below cos they sell cook turtle eggs!!!! I want to cry ok. How can they do that. Turtles are endangered species ok. I was very emo when a guy came up to me to sell his turtle eggs.

After DC Mall, we went Nagoya Hill.  I normally come here for my massage and A&W. Here we also had 1.5hrs to shop.  I went to hypermart to get titbits and fresh care. Took me less than 30mins and we parked ourselves in front of Jco.  The hubby dozed off. 

Nagoya Hill is located at Jl. Teuku Umar Nagoya, Komplek Nagoya Hill Superblock, Batam, Kepulauan Riau, Indonesia

After all that shopping, its time for dinner.  Majority love seafood so we had dinner at Golden Prawn 933. When we arrived, there was loud music and karaoking going on.  It was a birthday celebration.  Very entertaining to see all the drunk faces dancing and singing the night away. 

Golden Prawn 933 is located at Jalan Bengkong Laut, Kepulauan Riau 29432, Indonesia

Do note there's no price on the menu.  Please clarify.  We were in for a rude shock went we got the bill.  With the quality of food, I don't think I want to pay that much.

PS: Its cheaper to eat at Senibong lol.

So ... huge dinner ... is there room for Pisang Keju (Cheese Banana)?! This Pisang Keju is the new craze in Spore, Msia and Indo ... but it's not so new lah ... probably started 3rd quarter of last year.

This one here was a thinly sliced banana, thinly coated with batter and deep fry. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and chocolate powder (some use chocolate rice or chocolate sauce)

We got ours here! No address cos it's at the road side and I was not listening properly but I think it's Pisang Keju Terowongan 77 

Even with full belly, hubby and me managed to finish it.  It was so yummy!!!

Breakfast at the hotel had a decent spread.  I was so excited when I saw shepherd's pie ... I took my plate and open the lid ... It was steamed rice -_____-'' how in the world I read it as shepherd's pie haiz.  After breakfast we went to find money changer ... yes money changer as dinner puts a hole on our pocket hahahah.  After that I when back to the hotel and sleep.  The hubby went to the pool ehem.

12nb time to check out and I'm stuck to bed.  Lucky yesterday I decided to pack my bag.  Haiz back to reality soon.  Last stop was the Mega Mall.  

Here own time own target. All of us split up.  Hubby, me and his 2 nephews went to watch Fast and Furious 7 for $4ea AWESOME! It was a great movie... to me at least.

We had Bakso for lunch. It was fast and furious too if we do not want to miss the ferry hahahah ....

Nap in ferry on the way back to home gound.

Here's the damage when the person say she has nothing and no intention to shop ... Win oleidie lar ... And we bought 10 boxes of Pisang Keju to bring home... 10 boxes!!!!

Penang and Family

It was supposed to be a solo trip but I managed to make my siblings come with me ... Hello Penang!!! My last Penang trip was Jan 2013.  It's good to be back.

This trip agenda is to just EAT. Yes just Eat!. So here's a few places that I want to go,

Nasi Kandar Line Clear - FOUND!

Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul - FOUND!

Gurney Drive (Pasembur, Assam Laksa and Kway Teow Penang - FOUND!

Ayu Mee Udang - FOUND!

Coffee Tree - FOUND!

Tau Sar Peah

Apom Chooi

Mugshot - FOUND!

Moustache House - FOUND!

Moon Tree 47

Penang has alot of street arts be it paint, caricature, graffiti .... here is one at the entrance of the hotel we stayed in.

This Hotel is not bad.  There's pros and cons

Pros: Good location, walking distance to places we wanna explore, decent room

Cons: Family room do not have toilet inside the room and there's only 1 miserable plug for charging

Location: 380, Lebuh Chulia, Georgetown

Empty walls ... What empty walls?!  No walls are empty.  Most are covered with colourful graffiti...

The rustic looking old school windows and doors

We've reached Penang at 9am.  Put our bags at the hotel and out we go to look for breakfast. Nasi Kandar Line Clear is a walking distance from the hotel.

Location: 177 Penang Road, Penang

A huge portion of rice, chicken, veggies and 'kuah banjir' (with mixed gravies) thats only RM6.50?!!!! and I had to share this with my lil brother.  Heavy breakfast!

Must look out for the fish logo ok?!

After our heavy breakfast we walked around the area ... there's a morning market just an alley away ... fresh vegetables , fishes , chickens and other stuff ... like over-priced toothbrush ... #justsaying

Its a 5 mins walk from the hotel to this Camera Museum. There's 3 parts: The Cafe, The Shop and The Museum.  There's a RM20 entry fee to the museum.  There's a set of questions that you can fill up and at the end of the walk they give you a small token.  We took it seriously ... like very serious hahahah ...

1. What is SLR

2. What is TLR

3. The oldest camera in the museum

4. The first digital camera

5. Name the Machine Gun camera in WWII

I cheated ... I used my lifeline ... text your hubby for answers =p

Location: 49 Lebuh Muntri, Penang

Happy 3-monthsary!!! hee hee ... I managed to convince this 2 to come with me on my hectic and compact trip to penang ... and thank god they agreed.

My vain 21 years old little brother ... He had to help me carry everything ... But oklah I treated him to good food ... Win-win situation.

The Camera Museum Cafe.  This is Oreo Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice-Cream.

Warm Chocolate Brownie with Vanilla Ice-Cream for Shakilah

Iced Mocha in a lens mug how appropriate...

Beside the Camera Museum is a PURRFECT Cat Cafe!!!! we did not manage to see the cats as it was packed and we did not make reservation.  We thought of coming back but I think we forget lol ..

Penang Road FAMOUS Teochew Chendul.

Must look for the Phua Chu Kang photo ok its at the top left hand corner.

Location: Lebuh Keng Kwee, Penang

Chendul!!! this one down here is a must have! ... Super long Q and stall opens at 10.30am.  What I like about this chendul ... it's the light coconut milk, fragrant gula melaka and the bowl of chilled chendul under the blistering sun makes it sogooooood! 2 bowls pls.

The star in any pasembur is the cucur udang ... and when you ask where is the best pasembur some will say Gurney Drive ... ok lets go there.

Location: Beside Plaza Gurney

This mamak is very famous.  He was featured in newspapers, KOSMOS and tv food channel ...

1 word - PASSION.  He has passion ... lots of it ... and style arh ... He has motion when cutting the item ... he dance and sing ... he enjoys what he does ... it was pure entertainment ...

This costed RM65 ... remind me not to let Oyin choose the item.  He took 1 huge fried crab, 2 huge fried prawns .... and i left him to get drinks and he told me it RM65 i almost fainted ... we finished it ... clean plates ... yes! and no room for Assam Laksa and Kway Teow basah ...

We went cold storage at Plaza Gurney and decided to end the day in bed watching movies and eating chips.

Earlier that afternoon ... we went Coffee Tree. I go Keraaaazy! ... We end up getting 10 pkts RM38 - RM48 ea ... the good thing is you can try before you buy ... Some are funky flavour if you are game ... I'm not that adventurous lah ...

Location: 20-A Jalan Bagan Jermal, Georgetown

When we came back ... we saw small pull-cart shop popping along the road in front of the hotel.  We bathe and rested and the 2 brothers go get dinner ... they came back with burger that is as big as my palm!!! ... and oyin had ostrich burger that he said tasted like beef -___-'' ... mine was chicken just plain chicken ...

Some ate on the floor ... some on the bed ,,, ehem ...

Cannot wake up the next day too tired ...

I am so proud ... I packed my clothes and kopi without my hubby ,,,, fuuuiyoooh ...

Out looking for breakfast ... we took a wrong way to subway ... =D

Mugshot were full when we arrived ...

Location: 302 Chulia Street

Kapten Kling Mosque

Moustache Houze was not open too =( were we that early?!

Location: No 24. Lebuh Campbell

Beside Moustache Houze was Sugar Honey ...

and the SAFE s ROOM ...

and we finally found subway ... hahahhaha a good 45mins walk and 3000 iphone steps ... if we go to right of the hotel we could reach subway in less than 10mins ... sorry lah I donno how to read map ...

Nice MnM coloured scooters for rent ..

He who has the DAGU PANTAT!!!!

Mee Udang for lunch and again we were early.

Location: 936B, Lengkok Kampung Masjid Satu, Telok Kumbar

Thank you for taking us in ... Restaurant opens at 1.30pm and we reached quite early ... and ask whether we can sit around while waiting cos its so humid outside.  The man who took our order was quite friendly and did our order straight away ...

This is what we came here for ... ps: normal mee udang has 4 of these ... special has 7 O_O ... and you cannot get this in SG ... especially for that prawn size and the price.

Alhamdulillah ... We can go back SG smiling ...

Time to go home ... I wish I can stay longer ... actually I can but I did not apply for longer leave heeh ... stupiak ... but ok lah I had fun spending time with my siblings

Tapping on super fast wifi ...

til the next trip ... =p Apr looks good!