Fusilli Pasta with White Sauce

Fusilli Pasta with White Sauce

For Pasta:

• 1 Pack of Fusilli Pasta
• saltvegetable
• margarine
• water

Sauce:

• 2 spoons margarine
• 10 shrimps
• 2 clove minced garlic
• finely diced onion
• sliced or chopped mushrooms
• water
• cornstarch (dissolve in cold water)
• soy sauce
• salt and pepper to taste

For Garnishing

• fresh chopped parsley
• red cili

Method

For Pasta:

Put water in a pot to boil, when it starts to boil add fusilli and let to boil for about 10 -15 minutes. When fusilli pasta has turned soft and ready, drain the water and add 2-3 tablespoons of margarine in the fusilli pasta and mix.

For Sauce:

·         Heat in a pot 2 spoons of margarine, add shrimps to fry for 2 minutes, add garlic,

and onion for 2 more minutes and add the sliced or chopped mushrooms, water and allow to cook for 5-10 minutes. At the end add the cornstarch, soy sauce and salt and pepper to taste.

Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and red cili.

Tips: A good recipe for vegetarian`s lovers also, just take out the shrimps from recipe. 

Fried noodles ( Mee goreng)

Fried noodles ( Mee goreng)

Fried noodles ( Mee goreng) is  a Malaysian common favorite dish. Can be eaten any time as breakfast, lunch or dinner...

For Malaysians, noodles are alternatives to the rice as the main meal.

It is being sold almost any where in the country, in street stalls, mamak stalls, restaurants and even hotels.

A plate of Fried noodles ( Mee goreng) would cost around RM4 - RM5, depending on the additional add-ins (fried eggs, shrimps or fried chicken)

The fried noodles is made with thin spaghetti like yellow noodles, fried with garlic, onion, prawn, squids, chicken,  beef, chili, cabbages, tomatoes, egg and bean sprouts.





Ingredients:

• oil for fry
• 100 gram chicken boneless
• 10 shrimps
• 1 pack of yellow noodles ( soak for 10 minutes in hot water prior to fry)
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 onion
• 1 red cili 
• 1 tomato
• thick soy sauce
• cili sauce
• salt and sugar to taste 
• 4-5 spinach leaves

For garnishing (optional) : red chili, cucumber and lime.

Method:

Soak the yellow noodles for 10 minutes in hot water prior to fry, drain the water before frying process.

Heat on medium heat in a wok the oil for fry add the garlic, onion, chili (all sliced).
Fry for 2-3 minutes until fragrant. Then add the tomato slices..let for 2 minutes. Add the chicken (cut into small pieces) and the shrimp...allow to fry for 5 minutes...

Add the cili sauce, soy sauce, salt and sugar stir until form a paste like...add the yellow noddles and mix all together keep stir and fry for 5 more minutes, at the end add an egg inside and keep stir until the egg is cooked and mixed good in the fried noodles, add 4-5 spinach leaves(cut into small pieces)

When the fried noodles are ready garnish with red cili, cucumber, lime. (optional).







 

Petronas Towers or Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Towers or  Petronas Twin Towers

Petronas Towers or  Petronas Twin Towers

When hear about Malaysia, the thought flies to Petronas Towers or  Petronas Twin Towers, which is a twin skyscrapers in Kuala Lumpur.  You can see them from almost anywhere in the city in Kuala Lumpur.
They have a special and unique design.

Situated in between the two towers is a shopping complex, Suria KLCC, which houses all range of products, both luxurious and common brands, art gallery, a philharmonic theater and aquarium.

On 41st floor of the twin towers is a sky bridge which connects the two Towers. Visitors are only permitted on this floor. All other floors are occupied by offices prohibited to visitors.

The Petronas Towers or  Petronas Twin Towers are one of the best attraction for tourist in Kuala Lumpur.

At night the twins towers has outstanding view, fully lightened and great for some photo shots.

In the vicinity, there is also a green Park. The KLCC Park features: the Lake Symphony, Jogging Track and Foot path, Ornamental Water Features, Children Playground and Mosque.

Breaded fish fillet with Coleslaw and fries

Breaded fish fillet with Coleslaw and fries Ingredients: Oil for deep fry  Fish fillet  Flour  Bread crumbs  Egg  Lemon juice from a lemon  Salt Pepper

Directions:

Mix flour, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Separately, in a bowl beat the egg.

Heat the oil for fry in a pan. Dip the fish fillet in the flour mixture, followed subsequently in the beaten egg and place into frying pan and fry both sides until golden brown, from time to time pour lemon juice on the breaded fish.

Serve with: Coleslaw and fries.

My first experience in a Malay cooking class: the famous Nasi Lemak

Everyone knows: the way to a man's love is through his belly.

Everyone knows: the way to a man's love is through his belly.

As most of the Europeans we believe with the saying that the way to a man`s love is through his stomach...and i do believe in it! It`s a great feeling to cook with your own hands and your loves ones to enjoy the food...maybe these days it is more popular to have a maid or just to go eat out...as in Malaysia it is still affordable to eat outside.

Sometimes I too enjoy to eat outside...but not all the times as the food may vary and not according to my taste and when this happens, I always say to my self, "I can cook better...".

As a Romanian, it is shamefully to not knowing how to cook, we enjoy looking at our mom or grandmothers cooking....but not everybody enjoy it due to:

• Lack of cooking  knowledge or experience
• Laziness
• Careers
• Tiring
• Pride

I started to cook Malay food referring to Cookbooks and Internet...but i always had in my mind to attend to some professional cooking class...after few searches on Google i found Lazat Cooking Class in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, I was honored to book a menu class and to participate in my first malay cooking class.

The class started around 8:30 am with a morning walk to the wet market, getting familiar with the Malaysian vegetables, spices, fruits and many more...

The cooking class starts at around 10 am, with the traditional nasi lemak (the rice: which is a fragrant rice dish cooked in coconut milk and "pandan" leaf commonly found in Malaysia), Kuih Cara (Savoury Meat Filled Cups), Sambal Tumis Udang (Prawn in Sambal Sauce) and Sago Gula Melaka (Sago Pudding With Palm Sugar).

The class went smoothly, a great atmosphere and kindness from the chefs/trainers...the class conducted was a real cooking class, not just a demo...was really enjoyed grinding the cili, onion, garlic in the traditional mortar, which is known in Malay as the "Lesung Batu"....everybody prepared their own ingredients for the dishes at their respective cooking station.

Cooking station	Lesung (Mortar)

The Attendees were Australians, a Japanese and  me (Romanian).

I recommend this experience  to any one interested in cooking. I do improve my nasi lemak cooking...

To reach Lazat you can check their site: 
http://www.malaysia-klcookingclass.com

Everyone knows: the way to a man's love is through his belly.

Everyone knows: the way to a man's love is through his belly.

Wet market in Malaysia

I enjoy to go to the wet market early in the morning. That is when the things there are fresh... late in the afternoon their condition will be slightly deteriorated.

Some large wet markets will offer you almost everything such as herbs, spices, vegetables, chicken, lamb, beef, fish, squids, shrimps, eggs,  fruits, dried products.

Major Herbs Of Malaysia

Tongkat ali, Eurycoma Longifolia, Misai Kucing, Kacip Fatimah, Stivia, Pecah Beling and many more.The herbs are commonly, but not necessarily, mixed in many malay cusine or for health benefits.

Major Vegetables Of Malaysia

Curry leaves, Pandan, Lemongrass, Cili padi, Red cili, Cucumber, Carrot, Salad, French beans, Bitter gourd, Eggplant, Ginger, Turmeric, Lemons, Squash, Coconut, Chinese cabbage, Choy Sum, Galangal, Spinach and many more.

Major Meats Of Malaysia

Mutton, Chicken, beef, Lamb, Goat (pork meat is widely consumed by Non-Muslims)

Major Sea food Of Malaysia

Shrimps, Prawn, Ketam, Kerang, Siput lala, Sotong, Squid, Lobster, Fish a lot of types: Tilapia, Shark, Sulphur goatfish, Merah, Kakap merah,Kaci kakap, Siakap putih,  Kayu, Kurau, Salmon etc.

Major Dried food of Malaysia

Dried fish, Dried shrimp, Dried chicken, Dried beef,  Dried fruits, Dried cili, Dried onion, Dried garlic.

Major Fruits Of Malaysia

Mango, Durian, Rambutan, Pineapple, Mangosteen, Jackfruit, Banana, Guava
Water-apple, Starfruit, Coconut, Nipah Palm Fruit, Salak, Sugar palm fruit, Pomegranate, Lime
Papaya, Breadfruit, Ciku

   

Malaysia Eid Fitr celebration - Hari Raya AidilFitri Kediaman Perdana Menteri Putrajaya 2012

In Malaysia we start the Eid Fitr, with the Eid prayer at the Masjid Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Putrajaya  or Iron Mosque is the second principal mosque in Putrajaya, after Masjid Putra. It`s a new Masjid opened in 2010, for the public.

After the prayers, we proceeded to the Kediaman Perdana Menteri Putrajaya, where an Open House is held by the Prime Minister and his cabinet team, specially for the Eid.

I had the chance to greet the Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak , Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, Barisan Nasional leaders such as MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

I waited in a long queue for around 45 minutes to greet the Malaysian`s Ministers....a unique experience. While queuing saw different faces from all over the world, Chinese, Indians, Bangladesh, Europeans and many more....from all different backgrounds.  

After greeted the Malaysian`s Ministers, we were given gifts in the form of a big container of cookies and a glass memorabilia mug....Children present were also given some money popular in Malaysia as "duit raya" on the Eid occasion..



At the Open House, all are served with various local cuisines at a large tent set up in the compound vicinity. A very nice place, with beautiful arrangements, balloons, clown, entrainment shows, and lots of food such as: Rendang, Ketupat, Rice Briyani, Laksa, Mee Curry, Cendol, Cakes, Fruits, Curry Puff, Iced Drinks, Sate, Nasi Impit, Kacang Sauce, Roti boom, Bihun Soup and many more.

The atmosphere was unique, an auspicious and peaceful Eid feeling and celebration...children were happy and had the chance to meet people from all over the world, Muslims and Non-Muslims, curious with our Eid celebration! Looking forward to Eid Fitr 2013!


Happy Eid All! Selamat Hari Raya semua! Eid Mubarak!