21 Happy Dumpling Festival!

Dumpling Day is here and typical me purchased a few to savour. I like joining in the fun! I do the same for Mooncake Day and have my tang yuans on Winter Solstice Festival.

I got these rice dumplings from a roadside stall at Restoran DU Cafe, Dataran Sunway. This uncle sells local kuih and cakes but on this particular weekend, his table was loaded with bak changs and nothing else.  

Roadside Stall at Restoran DU Cafe, Dataran Sunway

There are several varieties of sticky rice dumplings out there ranging from sweet to savoury - my favourite is those with meat filling, like the one pictured below.

Sticky Rice Dumpling

Rice Dumpling with Meat and Bean Filling

I don't think I've ever tasted a bak chang I didn't like so I'm warning you now - I should be the last person you think of to ask for an opinion on where to get the best. Haha!

We are like dumplings. We have different ingredients in us. That's what makes us a dumpling. That's what makes us unique - Ryan Hu

Happy Dumpling Day!

11 Two Weeks Into Woof Woof Year

If it were possible for blogs to collect dust - FuuuUuuhhHh ..*cough-cough* .. that's how long I've been away. Life happened and it happened interestingly. Weeks were spent spring cleaning and redecorating the home.

I took my sweet time too, having read at least fifteen books in between, my hands unable to put any down once the first page is turned save for food and the occasional cuppa. It was difficult trying to disconnect myself from tales of vampire romance and sword wielding unearthly creatures.

Then there were meet-ups with close friends and relatives to pass on CNY goodies. We caught up with what's going on with each other. There was the traveling - seven days in Penang! I'm now back in KL and ready to rumble.... at least I think my washing machine is,looking at the pile of dirty laundry I have to do.

Penang Island

I thought to ease into the New Year with some quiet time but phlegmy cough and a runny nose made me miserable for a week. Miserable, but not wholly uncheerful. That didn't stop me from tidying the home and cleaning up the mess left by my partying pigeon buddies - and boy, did they party!

These are some of the food I enjoyed in the early weeks of the Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration. It began with an eight-course Reunion Dinner at Baview Hotel.

Prawn Dish

Reunion Dinner

On the first day of CNY, mee sua (longevity noodles) in herbal chicken soup is a must for us as it is a symbol of longevity. MIL never fails to cook this. It's a family tradition that has been practiced for decades. Long live Sharon!

Mee Sua in Herbal Chicken Soup

We headed out to catch the lion dance after that. It is an auspicious thing for us, all about ushering in good luck.

Lion Dance

Tong Tong Chiang

Days later, MIL treated the family to her famous 'kiam chye boey' - a sour, spicy, moreish stew made from leftovers. Roasted pork belly, roasted duck, chicken, mustard greens, dried chilli and preserved plums cooked in a huge pot until the flavours come together in a rich gravy best savoured with rice or noodles.

Kiam Chye Boey (Mustard greens, leftover meat stew)

To summarise, CNY is mostly about food, friends and family for me. So there you go - my first couple of weeks into The Year of The Dog.

18 The Fest, The Food, The Fish

Women Fest Malaysia, Malaysia's first fashion and beauty festival, was held last weekend at Matrade Exhibition Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

WomenFest Malaysia 2017 with me as self-appointed Official Supporter

I popped by early Sunday morning to see what it's all about since it's nearby home and also because I'm pretty much a big fan of the Malaysian Women's Weekly magazine. Their events have always been exciting! I was even hoping to meet the Editor. Lol. No such luck after rounding the area twice.

I spun the wheel at the lucky draw booth and received a couple of discount vouchers.

WomenFest Malaysia 2017 - Lucky Draws and Beauty Booths

Although it was fun, it was only a half-hour adventure for me. Zoomed in and out after a quick browse at the booths. There were many food trucks outside but none called out to my taste buds. It was a case of 'just not in the mood for such stuff right now'.

WomenFest Malaysia 2017 - Talks and Food Trucks

Hubs and I left the festival to explore the newly opened road, DUKE 2, that leads to Desa ParkCity. There, we had lunch at Amelio Restaurant, which I blogged about before here.

We ordered the yummy pork curry pizza and Texan meatballs. It was a satisfying meal. The pork meat was tender, the cheese was heavenly and I love the crispy thin crust! The meatballs? Juicy!

Pork Curry Pizza

Pork Curry Pizza

Texan Meatballs

The same two warm and friendly staff attended to us.

After that, we checked out Desa ParkCity's latest development, South Brooks and the PPA1M civil servant housing, which was right next to the church. Not intending to get a home here. Just being a busybody! The monthly maintenance fee in this community is obscene. I would save that money for a holiday.

We dropped by Plaza Arkadia for a walkabout too, exploring mostly empty shop lots. It was humid although the skies were a gloomy grey so I popped into Coffee Bean to get a chilled drink.

Ice Blended Caramel, No Coffee

Our day out ended with a trip to Taman Tun's night market which opened earlier than usual possibly due to a forecast of rain. I did a bit of marketing and was excited to get a plate of medium-sized fresh fish (6pcs) for RM13. My only mistake was to trust them to remove the scales lining the middle. I usually do it myself, but since they asked ... sweetly.

Minutes later, my beautiful fish was mutilated, skin and flesh brutally torn off, some so deeply that parts of the bone could be seen. Pretty sure my heart plonked down to the bottom. Sigh, but I couldn't be mad at the guy - he was smiling and friendly so I returned his smile too. Keep calm and relax - It's SUNday!

Here it is freshly fried, the better looking side:

Fried Fish Dinner

With that, I end this post with warm wishes for a wonderful week for all of us. Tata!

15 The Love Is Big In February

Happy Valentine's Day! 💕

There was Chap Goh Mei aka Chinese Valentine's Day last Saturday and then there's today, February 14th, which is celebrated worldwide. It is a day for love and romance. For me, the celebration includes everyone I cherish in my heart - spouse, family, friends online and offline, and even you who's reading this.

Anyway, Chap Goh Mei which falls on the 15th day of Chinese New Year marks the last day of the festival. Traditionally, we eat a sweet dessert called Bubur Cha Cha or Pengat on this day. I do not know why exactly. All I can guess is that it could be wishes for a sweet year ahead for all of us. It is also said that Cha Cha is taken to mean Che Che which means abundance in Hokkien.

This year I attempted a simplified version of Pengat. Yams were sold out so I made the decision not to stick to the recipe. I got myself some honey sweet potatoes instead - just one variety.

I also made my own tapioca starch jellies this year. Tapioca jellies are really easy to make; only tapioca starch and hot water is needed! This, I have to say was a fun affair. I totally loved how the tapioca flour flowed through my hands and spread across my cutting board like molten lava when I added a little too much hot water in it.  Rolling the dough out to cut shapes out of it was the tricky part for me. I used a cookie cutter. The dough wasn't what I was used to but I got the hang of it soon enough.

And produced this pretty version of a sweet dessert.

Pengat with Handmade Tapioca Jellies

I am mighty pleased with it and will probably make it again. 💓 That said, I have yet to decide what to cook for tonight's romantic dinner..am I late? Will I be rushing it? We'll see.

With that, I leave you with warm wishes of love and happiness for the day.

15 My Chinese New Year

'Tis the season for feasting, they say. The term 'Eat and Be Merry ' applies to many families during Chinese New Year. We really eat and do it non-stop!

This year we had our reunion dinner at Copthorne Hotel, Penang. The atmosphere was lively with cheerful chatter from every table. Service was good too and the food was delicious. They had someone dress up as the God of Prosperity to go around the hall stopping at each table to give out ang pao packets filled with a chocolate coin and lucky numbers for 4D.

Our reunion dinner:

Reunion Dinner (Yee Sang, Prawns, Broccoli with Fatt Choy, Fish, Lotus Rice and the Dessert

Early next morning, MIL made her signature herbal chicken soup to go with mee sua aka longevity noodles. It is our first meal of the new year. Live long and prosper - that's what this signifies.

Herbal Kampung Chicken Soup

Mee Sua aka Longevity Noodles with Boiled Egg and Herbal Chicken Soup

Then, we headed out to see the lion dance. This is said to bring good luck.

Lion Dance

The first day of the Rooster year was spent welcoming visiting relatives and exchanging ang paos. When it comes to giving or receiving ang pao from MIL (in our family at least), we would bow or kneel and wish her well.

Bow, Wish Your Parents Well, Accept

These are the CNY cookies served to the guests. It made our lunch too. I think we ate half of it!

CNY Cookies

In the evening, it was a steamboat dinner.

Steamboat Dinner

And that's just the first day of the Rooster year. Let me tell you about my second day...in another post. Lol.

6 On the first day of the Monkey Year ..

On the first day of Chinese New Year ..

    I jumped out of bed at 6am, showered and caught the sunrise! Every CNY, I'd have this spirit of seizing the day. On other days, I believe in staying in bed later than necessary and dreaming of breakfast in bed...who's with me?

Mum-in-law would be up early too. She puts in the final touches on her herbal chicken soup, which is to be eaten with misua. These noodles symbolise longevity. We began our morning (and this has been a yearly ritual) with an auspicious breakfast of misua in herbal chicken soup for long life to be blessed upon us.

Herbal Chicken Soup Misua

Right after that, and dressed in our new red t-shirts, hubs and I made our way outside to see the lion dance. We have always made it a point to wear red on the first day as it is said to symbolise prosperity and joy.

The troupe arrived at 8.15am and the lion dance was performed. Mandarin oranges were given out, the lettuce was plucked from a high ceiling, and the ang pao (red packet) taken in appreciation. The lion is said to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck.

The Lion Dancers Getting Into Position

Lion Dance

We went back into our home and waited to receive visiting relatives. Shouts of "Huat arh! Huat arh! " tells us they've arrived. There was lively banter, ang paos (red packets) were distributed to kids and unmarried persons, and a group photograph was snapped for remembrance. It has been this way for as long as I can remember!

In the afternoon, we all took a nap before making our way to a steamboat restaurant for dinner. This wasn't always the practice. This was something that began because it was more convenient than cooking at home. Also, mum-in-law is no longer the sprightly woman she once was. It would have been too taxing.

Steamboat Dinner

That ends the first day of the Monkey year for us. How did you spend your day on Chinese New Year?

12 Our Lunar New Year Practices

I can't believe that Chap Goh Meh is over! It marks the last day of the Lunar New Year celebration. Back to long months of quietness until the next festive celebration, which for me would be Christmas.

I remember the road trip to Penang just the week before. We had wanted to cross the new bridge to the island, but a flash of lightning appeared before our eyes in between frightening-looking dark clouds. We chickened out.

"Better use the old bridge."  I blurted out. "At least there are many cars there. We brave the storm together with them.." I'm still chuckling over our reaction that day.

On the eve of Chinese New Year eve, the usual ancestor prayers were performed. The family sat down and started folding joss paper into the shape of a Chinese gold ingot (Sycee). Pictured below is one I folded - nice or not?

Joss paper folded into a gold ingot.

My sister-in-law laid food on a table in front of the ancestor worship area. The family burned a few joss sticks, knelt in front of the altar and paid their respects. Fifteen minutes later, two coins were tossed to determine if the worship could be concluded or if the souls were still eating.

Food for ancestor worship.

After the conclusion of the worship, bags of joss paper were brought out to be burned.

Joss paper is placed in a cage container for burning.

Tea, water and rice was thrown around it. The spring onion was used to splash the water. I have often wondered why this needed to be done, but always forget to ask as we are ushered into the house soon after.

The burning of Joss Paper.

Tea, water and rice.

Finally, we sat together for a meal. This signifies the end of our duties to the ancestor. We can now carry on with our meal and the Lunar New Year celebrations.

The family eats together!

Jelly, Lychee Dessert

I will share how we typically celebrate the first day of Chinese New Year in another blog post. Until then, have a great week!

10 The Reunion Dinner - Huat Arh!

Huat arh! is kind of a rallying cry (to me) for prosperity to be blessed upon us. The first time I heard it, I was tickled to bits. It is often cheered out with a lot of positive energy. Huat is prosperity in Hokkien, by the way.

We are greeted with huat arh! every Chinese New Year. It's a common practice on hubs side of the family. My side of the family are of Hakka descent. Hence, we would go, "Kong Hee Fatt Choy! Choy Sin tao lor!" which simply means - 'Wishing you prosperity. The God of Prosperity is arriving!' The second sentence was really started by my aunt.

We had our reunion dinner at Bayview Hotel Georgetown this year. The meal began with a Prosperity Toss (Lo Hei). Following tradition, we tossed the raw fish salad and uttered auspicious wishes. The higher the toss, the better, as it is said to mean higher growth in fortune and good luck.

I took a short video of us in action. Can you hear the 'Huat arh! Huat arh!' ?

This is the dish before the toss. It was served with Norwegian salmon and fried soft shell crab. Yum!

Prosperity Yee Sang

Our reunion dinner was an 8-course meal. Below are pics of the rest of the dishes we had that day. I missed snapping a pic of the Fatt Choy Roast Spring Chicken. Guess I was too caught up with eating!

Seafood soup with Crab Meat, Fish Maw and Sea Asparagus

King Prawns with Shimeji Mushroom

Sea Cucumber with Black Moss and Broccoli

Steamed Fish

Crispy Noodles covered in Seafood Sauce

A Mango Ice Cream dessert and Deep fried Nian Gao

I've included a pic of the menu to show you how food is typically described during Chinese New Year. Words like 'heavenly', 'harmonious' and 'happiness' are used to enhance a feeling of auspiciousness to the dish. The word 'golden' would probably be included too if pumpkin was in the list of ingredients.

The Reunion Dinner Menu

Here's a look of the place. It's spacious. Service was excellent with each dish being served on time and without the sloppiness that usually comes with reunion dinners at packed halls.

Reunion Dinner Hall at Bayview Hotel Georgetown

As far as reunion dinners go, we all agreed that this was the best we've had so far!

18 Royal Floria Putrajaya Festival 2015

Every middle of the year, a little corner of Putrajaya is transformed into a garden paradise. Beautiful landscaping, creative planting, competitions, handicrafts, garden supplies, souvenirs, food and live performances bring the place alive with feelings of wonderment and excitement. One word describes Floria Putrajaya - 'happening!'

Visitors come from afar and the place is packed on weekends. The best time for a quiet walkabout would be to come on a week day.

Floria Putrajaya 2015

I paid a nominal price to enter the site. The stroll along the walkway took more time than I intended because it was hard not to stop and admire the flowers.

Flowers Along The Walkway

It was very thoughtful of festival organisers to leave name tags identifying the plants and flowers around.

Painted Nettle Name Tag

Interesting landscaping ideas fill every corner of the festival. Taman Kufi Perbadanan Putrajaya won the Outstanding Garden Award in the Special Garden category. This was one of my favourites.

Taman Kufi Perbadanan Putrajaya

I thought that Taman DiRaja Negeri Sembilan was quite beautiful too. It's neat and very local. My family has a similar gazebo built in our garden back in my hometown.

Taman DiRaja Negeri Sembilan

Other competitions such as the Dining Room Design, Innovative Wall Art and more were held indoors.

Venise Bee from Singapore won the Gold award for the Princess' Headwear category. This is her entry - Enigmatic Empress of the Gold Sands. A beautiful piece.

Venise Bee - Gold Award Princess' Headwear

With flowers come many shutterbugs. There was just so much to snap. This shutterbug was no different. Below are some pictures to give you an idea what this festival is all about.

1) Flowers to feast your eyes on.

Royal Floria Putrajaya 2015

2) Landscaping ideas.

A Landscape Design By Majlis Perbandaran Johor Bahru Tengah

3) Creative gardening.

A Design By MBPJ

4) A glimpse into the art of floral designing.

Designed By Rudy T. Mintarto (Indonesia)

5) Supplies that will excite any avid gardener.

Gardening Supplies At Royal Floria Putrajaya Festival 2015

That's that on my walkabout at our annual flower festival which ran from May 30 to June 7 this year. Are you marking your calendar to attend next year's? I am!