Not Your Usual Nasi Goreng

Ha! Why am I calling this Not Your Usual Nasi Goreng (fried rice)?

Usually, we'll just use cooked white rice to make fried rice. THIS recipe requires you to ditch the rice cooker for a heavy pan and cook the rice yourself. Still, it is as easy as other recipes I've shared, I promise.

In this recipe, I used shrimps but you can use squid, chicken, meat, veggie or whatever you can find in your fridge. Season accordingly.

Ingredients for 2 servings

• 1 cup uncooked, washed long grain rice

• 2 cups chicken broth (I cheated & used 2 cups water + 1/2 tbsp chicken seasoning)

• 1 tbsp salted butter

• 2 tbsp olive oil

• 10-12 peeled, deveined shrimps

• 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese

• 1 tbsp chopped parsley

• 1 tsp salt & pepper

Steps

1) Season shrimps with salt & pepper. Put aside. 

2) Melt butter in heavy pan, stir in rice. Add chicken broth. Let boil & once all liquid absorbed, cover the pan. Cook on low heat for 15 minutes.

3) Heat olive oil in a wok. Cook shrimps before adding in cooked rice, cheese & parsley. Mix well.

P.s. Stir rice occassionally after 8 minutes of covering the pan (after liquid all absorbed).

... and that's why this is Not Your Ordinary Nasi Goreng Udang ;)

Blackberry Swirl Pound Cake

Blackberry Swirl Pound Cake

For this recipe, I added some dollops of Nutella because I want to finish whatever left in the jar. Delicious!

Ingredients for 4 - 6 servings

• 1/2 stick unsalted butter

• 1/2 cup blackberries

• 1/2 cup white sugar

• 2/3 cup cake flour

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1/4 tsp baking powder

• 1 egg

• 1/4 tsp vanilla essence

• 3 tbsp sour cream

Steps

1) Puree blackberry with 1 tbsp sugar. Sift flour, salt & baking powder in a bowl.

2) Beat butter & sugar until fluffy. Add egg & vanilla until combined.

3) Add 1/3 of flour mixture, alternating with 1/2 sour cream, ending with flour. Mix well.

4) Pour half batter into pan, dot with blackberry puree. Repeat. Swirl with skewer.

5) Bake at 180°C for 50 - 60 minutes.

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Pusing-pusing Port Dickson

#PusingPusingPortDickson

Date: 23rd - 24th August 2014

Helloooooo~

Seems forever since the last time I posted a #GoJalan2 entry, eh? Anyway, it's time to visit Port Dickson! Did you know that other than the beaches, there are a few point of interests that you might want to visit. I missed the Kompleks Sejarah Pengkalan Kempas this time but I'll try to visit it the next time I can.

  I did manage to visit a few places worth of mention though. So next time you're there for some sand and sun, do visit these places as well!

  First, I went to the Lukut Museum or Muzium Kota Lukut just before the Port Dickson town (from KL). Don't use Waze or Google Map. Follow the signboard once you exit the highway. 

There was no other visitor when I arrived and that made me very happy. Despite having to climb up some stairs. There are plenty of stairs here and I don't remember if the place is wheelchair-friendly. 

  The old fort is situated above the hill and I guess visitors can climb up those stairs to reach the fort after/before visiting the museum. I drove up the hill after touring the museum, of course.

Stairs going up to the old fort (I guess)

The Lukut Fort

That's the fort! No short cut as the wall is quite high and surrounded by (empty) moat so you gotta walk. Totally worth it. Especially since there was no other visitor :p But you might want to visit in the morning or late evening when it isn't too hot.

  I spent more time than what I expected in Muzium Kota Lukut- well over an hour. So I had just enough time for my spa appointment in Thai Odyssey The Guest Hotel & Spa.

  Rejuvenated after a good traditional Thai massage, time to fill my tummy! Lunch was at Mannusalwa. I wanted cheese naan, unfortunately they are only available in the evening. Had chicken briyani instead. Oh so sedap! The curry was rich but the rice not too 'heavy' and I like the fried chicken.

Chicken Briyani <3<3<3<3

Just after 3 p.m. I checked-in at Port Dickson Golf & Country Club. It seems like the standard check-in time in Port Dickson is 3 p.m. Most places I've been to offers check-in at 2 p.m kan? The accommodation was okay, check-in was quick and efficient.

After quickly refreshing up, I headed out to the Muzium Tentera Darat or the PD Army Museum. It is situated in the Bandar Tentera Darat and therefore easy to find as long as you follow the signboard. 

Army Museum ahead~

Yep. More stairs to climb!

Stairs from the parking lot

You'll need over an hour to fully appreciate this place, despite many of the interactive displays were out of service. It has a tunnel that isn't as scary as the one in Penang War Museum :)

End of tunnel

Then, we drove around finding beaches and taking photos. PD beaches are cleaner than I remember. Kudos to those in charge!

Dickson Beach

Blue Lagoon

Dickson Beach

Then, it started to rain. Heavily. 

Tar pao-ed dinner from King's Char Kuey Teow and ate in the room. Yummy! Can't find the pic though but definitely a place to check out if you like char kuetiau. It is situated right next to the main road near a junction. There's a huge, pretty tree in front of it.

Sunday, I switched off my tourist mode and put on baju kurung for my friend's wedding. End of #PusingPusingPortDickson~

Vanilla Muffins

Vanilla Muffins

There are times when cupcakes are just too sweet but you want something cake-like anyway. Muffins are great substitute and without icings, it simply means that you can eat them as soon as they cool down enough not to burn your tongue!

Master this easy recipe and then you can experiment with corn, spices, berries and anything you can think of!

Ingredients for 12 muffins

• 1/2 cup butter

• 1/3 cup sugar

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1 egg

• 1/2 tbsp vanilla essence
• 1/2 tsp salt

• 2 cups flour

• 1 tbsp baking powder

• 1/2 cup milk

Steps

1) Beat softened butter, sugar, honey, egg & vanilla essence until smooth.

2) Sift flour, salt & baking powder. Pour half into mixture in step 1, alternating with milk then the last half. Mix well.

3) Spoon mixture into muffin cups & bake at 180°C for 25 minutes.

P.s. I love the crust!

TalentLounge, PJ Trade Centre, Damansara Perdana

A building right opposite

We had a farewell cum belated birthday gathering at TalentLounge in Damansara Perdana. It's a cosy place at night and I heard that it is even better during the day. It is not secluded but can be easily missed if you don't know what to look for.

  Many of us arrived late that night. Partly due to traffic congestion and mostly due to wrongly tagged address in Waze. So, don't use Waze location to find this place. The tagged location is within the Damansara Perdana area but definitely nowhere near.

  I sent 'my current location' to friends together with instruction that include 'unlit junction', 'dark parking', and 'walk towards light'. One friend was even sent the picture above so he could drive towards it like some sort of beacon. For first-timers, daytime patronage is highly recommended.

From where I sat...

Taste - #iLike the fish & chips. Could't have too much chips though as they had chili flakes & they made me cough. Fellow diners reactions to their main dish/snacks were all positive. 

Price - Not cheap but not too expensive. Fish & chips (RM27), eggs benedict (RM24), S.Pallegrino (RM10), ice coffee cubes (RM10) & macchiato (RM8). Sirloin steaks and salmon are about RM40 each, so that's alright. Total RM400+ for 9 pax and 2 of us only had drinks.

Ambiance - Very comfortable. I love the high ceiling and the sofas. Great place for an open mic session and many more. It truly is a space for talents.

They have books!

and a stage (duh!)

and sofas...

...and I want this for my home library!

Here's my fish & chips. Not the best I've had but not the worst either. It's good, don't get me wrong. Ms. A said the tomato is delicious so I gave her mine. Yup that little tomato in the middle.

Fish & chips and sparkling juice (lemon)

Eggs benedict (S)

Some other dishes ordered by friends... I didn't get pic of all the dishes.

Fries with mozzarella & gravy

Fries and chili beef

The building itself, Menara Mustapha Kamal is a great venue for photoshoot and if you love photography, modern architecture and design, give this place a visit. Remember to bring your camera!

Spicy & Sour Shrimp

Spicy & Sour Shrimp with Colourful Butter Fried Rice

If you prefer, you may have the spicy & sour shrimp with plain rice as well. Oh, I think it can work with angel hair or bihun as well! The shrimp was more sour than spicy because I love sour more than spicy. Add red or green chili if you wish for more heat ;)

Okay here's the recipe.

Ingredients for 2

• 10 shrimps

• 1/2 tbsp chili paste

• 1 clove garlic

• 3 limes zested & juiced

• 1/2 orange zested & juiced

• 1tbsp olive oil

• Salt

• 1 tsp sugar

• Cooking oil

Steps

1) Blend chili paste, chopped garlic, lime zest, lime juice, orange zest, orange juice, olive oil & some salt.

2) Pour mixture into plastic/ziplock bag/bowl. Marinade shrimp for at least 20 minutes.

3) Stir-fry shrimp with marinade until cooked. Add sugar.

Save receipe in your phone for easy reference ;)

MacSpiral & Cheese

MacSpiral & Cheese

Truth is, I ran out of elbow pasta (macaroni). There was only one cup left and so I decided to add some spiral and it turned out nicely. None of that bellyful discomfort after you've had some rich mac and cheese.

We (2 of us) finished this in one night - dinner & supper/sahur. Well, AD finished his half during dinner.

Ingredients for 4 servings

• 1 cup elbow pasta

• 1 cup spiral pasta

• 3 pcs cheddar cheese

• 1/4 salt

• 1 cup flour

• 1/2 tsp black pepper

• 1/2 tsp curry powder

• 1/3 cup sour cream

• 1 egg

• 1 cup heavy cream

• 1 tsp Worcestershire

• Shredded mozarella

• Grated parmesan

Steps

1) Cook pasta al dente. Drain & place into baking dish with bits of 1 pc cheddar. Put aside.

2) In a bowl whisk salt, flour, black pepper, curry powder, sour cream, egg, heavy cream & Worcestershire. Pour & stir with pasta.

3) Top with 2 cheddar, some mozarella & parmesan. Bake at 180°C for 30 minutes.

Baliayu Spa Sanctuary, Paradigm Mall

Reception area

I first visited Baliayu Spa Sanctuary after I couldn't get a slot at another spa. You can try your luck and walk-in here on weekdays but best to make an appointment. Just call 03-7887 1213 between 10 am - 10 pm in advance. According to a staff, their busy period is in the morning and early evening (around 4 to 6).

They offer some packages if you're interested but I only took aromatherapy massage, which I recommend. Price wise is standard but do look out for their promo. Service very friendly :) Oh, I love their ginger tea!

Disposable thong, hair cap for ladies

Couple room

Couple room

No-veggie Turmeric Chicken Fried Rice

No-veggie Turmeric Chicken Fried Rice

Chicken fried with turmeric or ayam masak kunyit is one of my favourite dish. Fried rice is super easy. Combine the two, we get my favourite dish easily!

Ingredients for 2 - 3 pax

• 1 1/2 cups rice
• 3 slices chicken fillet
• 2 tbsp turmeric
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 onion*
• 2 cloves garlic*
• 1 tbsp oyster sauce
• 1/2 tbsp chilli
• 1/3 cup anchovies
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tbsp chicken seasoning powder or 1/2 cube
• Cooking oil

*optional especially if you're like me & you hate veggie :p

Steps

1) Cook rice, let cool. Coat diced chicken with turmeric, sprinkle salt. Put aside.

2) Fry diced chicken in 3-4 tbsp cooking oil until cooked, add in onion, garlic, anchovies, chilli, oyster sauce & chicken seasoning. You can take out the onion & garlic after a minute for no-veggie dish.

3) Add in rice. Make a well in the center of wok & break the eggs. Let egg cook a bit then mix everything well until cooked. Serve!

PNK Sepang Resort

Hello!

Happy eid ul Fitr, maaf zahir batin to all Muslim readers. Hope you had a wonderful raya and will enjoy all the open houses throughout this months. Tweet me at @SheaSonia if you find/make any interesting dish or cookies. I'd love to see them!

To others, how was your holiday? I know some people were very anxious to get back to work. You aren't one of them, are you?

Anyway, mom booked some chalets in Bagan Lalang, Selangor on third day of raya. Commonly known as Chalet Persatuan Nelayan Bagan Lalang, PNK Sepang Resort offers basic accommodation suitable for families.

Entrance facing the sea

Booking - Can't find online booking facility. Call 03-3141 3182 or email pnk_sepang@yahoo.com

Rate - Fair & affordable from RM80+ per night

Location - Good. Near seafood restaurants that Bagan Lalang is popular of. Separated from the beach by a road.

Dining - Not applicable but you can have BBQ here, BYO style.

Service - Average. No room service, please note.

Overall 2 <3<3 of 5

This is the room that I got

If anyone in your party is fussy like me, but you want to book this place anyway, heed these tips:

1) Arrive during daytime

2) Avoid chalet no. 14 (Ros)

3) Consider bringing your own bed sheet & blanket

I arrived late at night and I was honestly appalled at the state of the chalet. Gaudy wall colors, harsh lighting and dubious looking beds. I couldn't sleep the first night but things looked better during the day. I blame the lighting.

Rickety almari

Living area

Bathroom. Got hot water, don't worry. Still I geli >.<

View from bed. Hate the blanket & bed sheet

The picture above is one of the pics I took while I couldn't sleep the first night I arrived. The living area is behind the door with no lock. There are a king/queen bed and a single bed in the room. I placed my luggage on the single bed instead of the rickety wardrobe.

Other chalets. There are a few gazebos (wakaf) opposite the chalets

There were ants everywhere. Aside from cats.

To check-out return the towel, TV remote and room key. And you're done!

Being with my extended family saved the trip for me. Oh, and the view across the road :)

Not very clean but acceptable enough

If you're on a budget or wish to have BBQ or simple cooking for big family getaway, this might be a good option for you. Just try to get chalet no. 16 & 17. They are better, in my opinion.