Pesto Pasta @ Customized Version

Craving for spaghetti badly, but I been very boring with Spaghetti Carbonara sauce and Spaghetti Bolognese sauce. I want some changes in life. It's happened that day I ever tried delicious Spinach Spaghetti in restaurants, curiosity for me to find out more. Proper steps makes a lot of difference in taste wise.

Ingredients for Pesto Sauce:-
Servings 3-4 person

1. 50 grams raw pine nuts very lightly toast (omit with groundnuts)
2. large bunch of basil young leaves (picked and chopped)
3. 50 grams Parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
4. 150 ml olive oil, plus extra for storing
5. 1 small squeeze lemon juice
6. 350 grams pasta
7. Sea salt and pepper

For toppings:-
1. Fried Smoked bacon
2. Cherries baby tomatoes

Directions:-
1. Heat a small frying pan over a low heat.
2. Cook the groundnuts until golden, shaking occasionally.
3. Put into a food processor or blender with the remaining ingredients basil, groundnuts,
    Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and lemon juice) and process until smooth.
4. To prepare the pasta: Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water over high heat
    until al dente, keep on stir with tung to prevent it from sticking, about 8-10 minutes.
    Drain the spaghetti, keep the remaining pasta water.
    Add a few teaspoons of the water to the remaining pesto sauce to smooth-then the paste.
5. Place the pasta in a large bowl, then add the pesto sauce,
    1 tbsp olive oil and toss to coat.
6. Garnish with the smoked bacon, shaved Parmesan cheese, and cherries baby tomatoes.
    Drizzle with of oil over and serve.

Tips: for the left over Pesto sauce, sealed it tight into bottle, keep refrigerator for storing.

Pasta Pesto Sauce

Pasta Pesto Sauce

To my surprised, I quite enjoyed it. Basil is a powerfully aromatic herb and a little goes a long way. The pesto will more easily stay vibrant green and the flavor of the basil will still come through, though just not as strongly. Plus fragrant nutty flavor with olive oil and Parmesan Cheese, sourish with lemon juice. Simple meal, in a healthy way, it takes 30 min for preparation. Give it a try.. enjoy..!! =D

A Pie Thing @ Damansara Utama, Petaling Jaya

Damansara Utama facing in front of LDP

A date together during weekend to try out pies in Damansara Utama. Pie in cafe concept first time ever I hear in food blogging session. Every time been reading, coffee and cakes, if not English big breakfast etc. This is something unique which attracted me to try. Pie only woh.. what is so special?

As I step in, long queue at the door entrance, lot's of noisy from inside, curious to know. I sense fragrant food smell makes me drooling. First timer don't know much about procedure during ordering process. After I start picking up, then I only realized it's self service at the front counter. Basically you need to queue at the counter, next place your order and get a table. If you're coming with friends it's best deal, one person get table and the other will do the ordering process, to minimize time frame and also secure yourself with a table since the large crowd overwhelming during peak hours.

Ready made PIES

Fast Selling PIES

Ready made savory pies are available ranges from Pulled Lamb, Cheesy chicken, Chicken mushroom, Chili Cheese (beef), Chunky Steak (beef) and Creamy Spinach (Vegetarian). Can't wait to eat, when I'm in the queue the aroma of pies tempted me that much.

The Mashacre + Soda Set = RM19.90

The Mashacre with Pulled Lamb + Mashed Potato + Peas + Gravy

One of the best signature pie is The Mashacre. I get to know there's set for this, pie and drink. I opted Pulled Lamb Pie topped with mashed potatoes and peas. Large pie served with tiny cube lamb meat, cube carrot and flavorsome gravy. Generous amount of fillings plus it's crunchy when biting the outer layer of pie. I love mashed potatoes and peas, smooth and creamy to go with gravy. I also love ginger ale soda, fresh, soothing and refreshing after eating pie.

The Mashacre + Bottled Water = RM17.90 set

The Mashacre + Soda = RM19.90 set

Chicken Mushroom - Pie + Mashed Potato + Gravy (RM14.90)

Chicken Mushroom - Pie + Mashed Pumpkin + Gravy (RM14.90)

Another pie of my favorite Chicken Mushroom topped with mashed potatoes and gravy. Savory with chicken meat and mushroom, indulgence, mouth watering. Choice of most eatery in this cafe. I'm thinking if I could request for more gravy instead? There's also mashed pumpkin topping instead of mashed potato, I tried pumpkin as well, for my liking I prefer mashed pumpkin more.

Sweet Pie - S'Mores Pie (RM9.90)

I'm full with pies in my tummy, but there's slightly little space for sweet pie as in dessert. They do serve sweet pies like S'Mores Pie, Apple Crumble, The Elvis, Sweet Potato Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, etc. I opted S'Mores Pie because it's the best sellers of among all sweet pies.

Wow! I see cute little Marshmallows it's on top of the pie. I quite impressed with the presentation neat and tidy, slightly disturbed by the taste wise, TOO SWEET, in my individual opinions. Crunchy pie made very similar towards egg tart, topped with layer of thick chocolate liquid decorated with marshmallows on top. Unbearable with the level of sweetness, no doubt it's delicious. For healthy concerns you might need to think twice before order.

Iced Latte Coffee [RM10.00]

Iced Mocha [RM12.00]

Desserts must enjoy with a cup of nice coffee, they do serve coffee too. Strong brew Iced Latte Coffee quite smooth and nice to drink. It's good to enjoy during tea break or yum cha sessions during the night. I prefer Mocha Iced, coffee plus cocoa at the right taste. Sipping it slowly, quite relax and enjoy after whole day activities.

Enjoying myself here, quick services and friendly staffs. WIFI is available too and environmental friendly. Most of the utensils made from papers and plastics, recyclable  A Pie Thing Cafe provide varieties of sweet and savory pies. Been trying two flavors, my final outcome I still prefer savory pies compare to sweet pies. Pricing quite reasonable, worth while trying if you're fan of PIE. Be early to get freshly bakes pies as they're fast selling.

A Pie Thing Cafe
No. 128G, Jalan SS21/35, Damansara Utama,
Petaling Jaya, 47400 Selangor

Business Hours:
Tue - Thu: 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Fri - Sat: 4:00 pm - 12:00 am
Sun: 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/apiething
Twitter: https://twitter.com/apiething
Email: fourquarters.co@gmail.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/apiething

Tomato Rice @ Customized Version

My weekend project, been excited to try out  "How to make Whole Tomato Rice" I'm actually joining the fun and craze over the social media and Internet chain. I really dunno what is so good about this recipe, finally I found tips and clearer picture on how to cook this recipe.

Video references link from Ochikeron Chef



The original version from Ochikeron are the basic stuffs simple and easy, but I would like to customize a bit because I like more filling, making project Tomato Rice more colorful, thus I add extra ingredients. Please refer recipe below for more details. This all base on my individual preferences. :

Recipe for Customized version of Whole Tomato Rice

Difficulty: Easy
Time: Approximately 10-15 min (depending on individual rice cooker)
Rice Cooker: I'm using steamer high pressure rice cooker
Number of servings: 2-4 servings

Ingredients:
1 cup rice (you can use regular rice at your own preferences)
1 big tomato
1 pinch of salt
1 pinch of pepper
2 tsp corn oil ( the best recommended olive oil)

Customized Ingredients:
1/4 green peas (rinse well)
2 sausages (cut into tiny slice)
2 slices of chicken ham (cut into tiny cube size)

Directions:
1. Wash rice and rinse well, set aside
2. Wash green peas and tomato and rinse well
3. Unpack sausages and chicken ham, cut into tiny slice, set aside
4. Place rice in a pot and add water to the appropriate level indicated in the pot.
3. Add salt, pepper, and olive oil, and mix well.
4. Remove the tomato stem, and place it into center pot.
6. Add all the customized ingredients (green peas, sausages and chicken ham) into pot
5. Place the pot into the rice cooker. Cover and press the button to start.
6. When it's done, toss the rice lightly using a rice paddle, then serve.

I quite like the outcome of my customized tomato rices, it's neat and tidy. Cute tomato well seated nicely inside just like a warm house surrounded by greenly mother nature. I'm satisfied with outcome presentation. In terms of taste wise it's delicious, sourish with tomatoes, meat and peas. Not that oily, it's very much healthy for diet. Next round I try to include other ingredients. Hope you all like it. Enjoy~ xD

Ochikeron Chef
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ochikeron
Blog: http://createeathappy.blogspot.com/
YouTube: http://youtu.be/7LK8pRv0smE
Instagram: http://instagram.com/ochikeron

Boat Noodle @ The School Jaya One, Petaling Jaya

Everyone is talking about Boat Noodle few months back, I'm trying to access their main branch in Empire Damansara late night after finishing work, totally fail at all. First timer, I'm guided by Waze GPS, some how I got lost into LDP Kepong twice in such a big U-Turn, ended up I gave up because too pissed off. T_T

Boat Noodle, The School Jaya One

I believe in faith, till last weekend I happened to be in Jaya One, wanted to try out Marufuku Udon, ended up I saw Boat Noodle as I by pass Jaya One parking bay. Boat Noodle attracted me that much, thus I change my mind, telling myself why not give a try to this Boat Noodles instead, since it's not much crowd during lunch hour Saturday noon.

Quite a number of eateries dining in

As I step in, there's a table in the center of the shop, behind it's Boat Noodles back wall, automatic pop out in my mind it's strategic place for photography. I can't stop holding phone, set into "camera mood" for friendly shoot. Friend stop me a while, because I'm suppose to place order first whereby stomach is yelling for food badly.

Boat Noodle Menu

Waiter bring us, thick menu which is labelled clearly. Next, we're given a pencil and printed form paper to note down, what we want to order. You can repeat your orders anytime. What is so special about boat noodle? Boat noodle or Kuai-tiao ruea in Thai language means the soup base noodle used to be serve on boats (Sampan) during the old times to the sellers who row the boat along fishing village built on the wooden houses.

Serving in small tiny portions

Patiently waited nearly about 15 mins for the food to arrive. Jaw dropped, such a small tiny portion, the amount of serving is equivalent to a scoop of noodle in a spoon at the price of RM1.90 each. No wonder I keep on saw next table neighbor keep on repeating order until stacking up all the bowls. I wonder how's the taste of it? Let's try.. arrrgghh.. hungry! Jom makan-makan~

Pathumthani Chicken Boat Noodle RM1.90

Two types of varieties for the soup base, they do not serve dried noodle, slightly different from the main branch. You can either choose beef or chicken meats on your noodles. Pathumthani has the dark soy sauce broth, sourish with delicate spicy flavor. Combination of 19 herbs and also 5 spices powders, star anise (bunga cengkih) and cinnamon sticks (kayu manis).

Combine well before eating

Before you eat, combine well or mix together with chopsticks and spoon so that the broth well coated with noodles and spices. If you like extra taste, you might want to add on some extra chilies flakes to test out the level of spiciness in your tongue. For me, I just want to try the original taste. Pathumthani noodle served with fish ball, spices, a bit shredded chicken, bean sprouts, Cilantro herbs, sourish spicy, appetizing indeed.

Ayutthaya Chicken Boat Noodle RM1.90

I opted for Ayutthaya Chicken Boat Noodle instead, combination of ten herbs which the broth is thicker than Pathumthani, brownish with mildly spicy taste. Ayutthaya Chicken Boat heavily infused with spices, shredded chicken meat, bean sprouts, fresh Cilantro herbs. I would prefer Pathumthani instead of  Ayutthaya

Fruit Salad RM5.90

Not just noodle, there also side dishes for this. If you're fan of salad, then you must try this Boat Noodle Fruit Salad. Combination of fresh corns, tomatoes cherries, sweet grapes, pink jambu, peanuts, bird eye red chilies (chili padi), drizzles with spicy sourish sauce, in cold servings. First try it's fresh appetizing the more I eat the more I feel spiciness till burning tongue. Why? I'm not aware of bird eye red chilies SEEDS, so be extra careful you eat. You might want to omit seeds before eating.

Grilled Chicken meat balls RM4.90

Another side dishes which I find it quite good to share. Grilled Chicken meat balls skewers. Chewy, fresh coated with sourish Thai sauce. Grilled beef meat balls skewers available in Boat Noodle menu.

Drink of the day RM3.90

Definitively you need a drink after eating spicy food. Boat Noodle do serve their original drink of the day called Bai Toey in Thailand (Pandan lemongrass) to wash away heat after eating spicy food. Refreshing serve in cold.

Thai Iced Coffee or Kaffe Yen RM6.90

Dessert after meal, Thai Iced Coffee or Kaffe Yen is a must. Strong coffee aroma well mix with milk and ice. Out come it's good when I sipped it. Another good quality of coffee remains in my heart at the affordable price. Convience pre packed in a beautiful container where by you can easily take away. Sip it slowly remember to enjoy the aroma coffee.

Awesome Kaffe Yen ^_^

Overall Boat Noodles, it's quite friendly services and comfortable to dine in. In terms of taste wise moderately good but not very good in serving portions but if you want to join the fun for stacking up how many bowls, you can try it too. Most important this shop pork free and it's HALAL suitable for all the eateries out there. They have branches in Publika KL, Ikon Taman Connaught, Empire Damansara and The School Jaya One.

Unit 100-P2.033, The School, Jaya One,
No. 72A, Jalan Universiti,
46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Business Hour: 10AM - 10PM
URL: www.boatnoodle.com.my
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meesampan

Newton Circus Food Centre @ Singapore

My first itinerary after I landed in Singapore, my superior bought us to Newton Circus Food Centre to try out local Singaporean hawkers food. Newton Circus Food Centre it's famous for tourist destination, I got to know local people less dining in here because it's label as overprice, charging base on tourist price. A bit of history from expert, newton circus renovated as open air hawker centre right in the middle of town part of the reason to promote Singapore Tourism.

Journey takes me around 20-30 min from Macpherson Road after office hour by car. Reached Newton slightly around 7PM (GMT+8 ) with hot evening. Cleaned and tiny, I started to hear loud noise ordering food here and there. I'm surprised every table it's pack with tourist. I really wonder if the food here it's good? Superior get a table for 5 of us, Immediately we had someone trying to push seafood onto us and the drinks auntie trying to get us to order a drink. I'm puzzled at the moment, not sure what do they serve, despite the ordering process I let my expert boss handle it...

After long day, I quench my throat with a cup of cold sugarcane water.. freshly made, huge cup, hot weather I desperately I need another cup of water. The moment I drink.. my stomach is yelling for food. What will they order for tonite? A lot question mark in my head... etc..

After waited around 20-25 min, here are the 3 dished being served.. Fried BBQ chicken wings, Pork and chicken Satay, Fried Carrot Cakes (sweet version) available. Hungry can't wait to eat. It's almost same the the type of food between Singapore and Malaysia, is the taste same too?? Let's try it out..

My boss told everyone to try this Grilled Sting Stay in Singapore, in Malaysia the locals always describe as Ikan Bakar. This is also one of favorite food that I love the most, Singapore have the similar version, but the sambal slightly sweeter and spicier type. Before eating it's a must to squeeze lime (limau kasturi), you will have sourish, spicy taste kicking opening appetite, hawkers grilled well, sting way was fresh. I couldn't recall from which stall no.. recommended to eat while it's still hot.

Next move on the Grilled BBQ Chicken Wings. In Singapore they use lime, but I'm used to honey version type in Malaysia. Lime taste it's a different version which it's actually not bad. Well marinated, grilled at the right heat, tender and moist.. acceptable, must eat with your hand more like finger linkin good..

Newton Circus do have Satay too! I'm rather surprised that boss ordered pork satay! First time had pork satay, well seasoned, skewered and then grilled or barbecued over a wood or charcoal fire, served with peanut sauce. Also beside pork, I had chicken satay too! Oh yummy! xD

Something new for me, which is the fried carrot cakes, the versions served by hawkers in Singapore, where Teo Chews live, are typically prepared by frying the carrot cake with chopped preserved turnip, diced garlic, eggs, and Chinese fish sauce in place of soya sauce. Chopped spring onion is added just before serving

There are two variants: the "white" version does not use sweet soy sauce, and the carrot cake is fried on top of a beaten egg to form a crust; the "black" version uses sweet sauce (molasses) and the egg is simply mixed in with the carrot cake. I prefer the sweet sauce compare to white version earlier on for Singapore taste.

Last dish of the day is the fried Oyster Omelette, version very similar to Malaysia, let see if it's good. The dish consists of an omelette with a filling primarily composed of small oysters.Oyster here are huge, big and fresh, never let me down for the taste, fragrant and less oil.

Overall dining in Newton Circus it's not bad, don't complaint for the price while you eat here. Newton Circus cater mainly for tourist destination so please bear with the price hike. I'm bloated with food through out the night. Happy and enjoying eating.

Newton Food Centre (纽顿熟食中心)
Address: Newton, Singapore
Business Hours 12:00 pm – 2:00 am