Happy Birthday to me....2011

In a matter of less than 2 hours from now, I'll be 38. That's right, 38. My pre-40s, that's what my friend kept reminding me. Of lately, a much bigger issue has been sitting on my mind than worrying about turning 38.

However, with the fast turn of events for the past 24 hours. I can 50% confidently say that some of my worries have been settled. A few big projects coming along. Just hope everything fall back into places and I can carry on with my life.

I will emerge from this crisis much stronger.

Happy Birthday Rizal.

New year, new beginning.....

It's almost two weeks into 2011. Happy New Year to one and all. If you have not made any resolutions for 2011, there's still time. I'm happy and proud to say that I managed to achieve my four resolutions of 2010 except one. Will try to achieve that in 2011.

In addition, I have added on a few items to my resolutions to 2011. Just to replace those I've achieved and I must say, this time they are more ambitious than it ever been. full-stop.

Ok, back to our story. Over the course of few weeks since I've last blogged, I've learnt a 'new' cooking recipe. It came about while talking over mojito with a female friend and the topic of cooking got into the picture. Being a cooking enthusiast, I took the chance to solve some of the difficulties I've been facing.

So, the topic was fried sardines. Those type that came in tin and most would be familiar with the 'Ayam Brand'. The sardines dont come fried in the can, and I learnt it the hard way.

My first attempt was a disaster. Instead of fry-ing the sardines by itself, I've put everything in the can, including the tomato sauces that came with it, into the pan. Add to that, I did not cover with a lid not knowing that everything will explode while being cooked. Lesson learnt.

Frustrated, I've made the long distance call to Malacca. Knowing her son best, my mom already guessed that I'd be asking about cooking. Beats me how she knows it.

Step by Step on making Fried Sardines. (ok maybe many of you know how to cook this. But hey I'm new in this ok?)
1) Remove the sardines from the can and place in the pan. Do not include the tomato sauce that came with it.
2) Add a little cooking oil to the pan and cook the sardines over small heart. DO NOT forget to cover with a lid.
3) While cooking, prepare the rest of the ingredients.
- 1 big onion. Slice or dice, up to you.
- 1 clove of garlic. thinly slice.
- 1 red chilli, or dried chilli.
- soya sauce black. to taste.
4) Once the fishes are fried or dried(avoid it turning black or burnt). remove and place on a plate.
5) Place all the rest of the ingredients into the pan, and pan-fry them till fragrant.
6) Once cooked, place the cooked onions and all on top of the fried sardines and voila...we have fried sardines.

Can be eaten with bread or rice.
And I've been cooking this quite often now.

Disclaimer: No matter how delicious a food is, do eat in moderation.

Inspired by accident

It was another tiring day Saturday for me at work. After having my dinner, just watch tv to relax and pass the time. I was channel surfing and realise that on Saturdays the programmes are duhhh....if you don't already know.

I chance upon okto or was it CNA? but hey they were showing 'Accidental Chef'' and this young chap was going around sampling and learning common foods of the Baba's and the Eurasian community in singapore. The show's concept was simple, these locals show the young chap how the dishes are done and he got to taste and give his honest opinion of it. At the end of it, he in turn made up resipes inspired from the local's ingredient and create his own specialty. Take back from the program, I was so inspired by this simple concept that, to create a great, good food doesn't have to follow standards or the usual ingredients. But you got to know your basics of cooking.

For example, certain items can only be cooked half done, while there are other ingredients that just doesn;t go with a certain item. Vice versa. So, considering that I'm so new to cooking, there's a lot of things for me to learn eh?

And the learning journey continues....

Welcome

Welcome to my first post for this blog. losemytummychef is my blog about my journey of trying to cook. I've had tried a couple of times and find that it's kinda therapeutic. And what better way then to blog about it.

As my earlier experimental dishes were picked up from a 'lose weight' book, I've been dishing out sort of all the healthy foods such as chicken salad, roast beef with cheddar cheese, salsa chicken wrap etc. etc. So, in this blog, I'm gonna write recipes, cooking tips, exercise regime I'm starting. YES, what better way to keep motivated then writing about it. I can keep track of my progress or lack of it and for all to see. Abit paiseh right?

In the works also, I'm thinking of learning some malay/javanese/thai/boyanese dishes from my mom. Yes, I'm made up of those dialects. Complicated sia. I can tell you the history of my family but it will take a Starbucks latte and muffins to tell the whole story *hint *hint. Anyway, that means I would have to take a trip up north to Malacca and spend a couple of days to get all those recipes and cook under the supervision of my mom. No, we're not from Malacca. I can tell you the whole story of HOW they end up in Malacca but this story would require a Marche dinner. heh...yes it's that complicated.

I vividly remember when she was still staying in Singapore and I was still schooling back then when she would, being a housewife, cook breakfast, lunch, tea-time goodies and dinner for us. There were the jemput-jemput ikan bilis, lauk chelok for dinner, mango sticky rice for tea-time, baked bananas with melted cheese(this one I gotta master it, dont think I've seen this one anywhere and not sure where she learnt it). There were also the boiled tapioca cooked with gula melaka and my favourite dish would be the 'ikan pecel'. It is BBQ pomfret fish cooked in coconut milk and belacan and using a special leaf(daun chekor).

So just a lookout for all this in my blog.