Stir Fried Water Spinach (Kangkong Goreng)

This morning, I bought a bundle of water spinach (or Kangkong as Malaysian called it). It is an essential dish, both in homestyle cooking and at restaurants. Water spinach is a very common vegetable in Malaysia, as well as other South East Asian countries. It's usually cook with hot chilli pepper and shrimp paste. However, you can just cook it with just garlic or onions (depend on your taste).

It's simple to cook, just basically get all the leaves and the young stems. The older stems, can be planted and it grows very easy. I am going to plant all the stems from this, so that can have plenty of it during this spring through autumn.

Directions

1. Smash the garlic and remove the skin or slice onions. Set aside.
2. Prepare the vegetable by breaking off the leaves at the base, and then breaking the stems with your hands at about 1.5″ intervals. Leave the top last part of stem intact with the top 2 leaves on. Wash the water spinach and shake it dry.
3. Heat your pan on medium high and add the oil till it's hot.
4. Throw the garlic or onions in, stir quickly until it just starts to turn light brown. If your pan is hot enough, this should be less than 10 seconds. Then throw the vegetable in with the chilies. It should sizzle like crazy. Flip the vegetables and spread out a few times to make sure they evenly cook. Then add the water, bean sauce & oyster sauce, and stir for maybe 1 more minute, until the vegetable is finished. They’re done when the leaves are dark green and wilted and the stem is medium green. Don’t overcook, or they’ll taste bad.

This is half of the bundle of the water spinach I cooked and finished it all for my lunch. Don't want to keep it in the fridge.

Cooking Method.
1) Take all the leaves and young stalk (stems) and wash it.
2) Just few slices of onions.
3) 1 can of spicy shrimp paste (or shrimp paste and chilli peppers)
4) 1 or 2 tablespoon of olive oil or vegetable oil.
5) Heat oil, saute the onions till soft or light brown. Then add the spinach leaves.. stir till it's shrink in the skillet or woke. Then add the spicy shrimp paste and stir till well-cooked. (Till the leaves look darked green).

My Zucchini Plants

Zucchini is a type of squash, mostly called it summer squash. The zucchini can be yellow, green or light green, and generally has a similar shape to a ridged cucumber, though a few cultivars are available that produce round or bottle-shaped fruit. Its' leaves resemble the pumpkin but it has broader leave and spiky than that of pumpkin. In 2007, I planted some in my garden and it grew so well. Everyday, I picked one or two zucchini, fresh from the garden to cook as a side dish for dinner. My husband likes the zucchini very much. Sometimes, I made zucchini bread out of it or I stir fry it with mushroom.

In summer 2008, I grew them again and it was growing so well and all blooming with flowers. Hoping to see its produce too.. as my husband like to eat zucchini. I told him, that he would eat lots and lots of them, when I saw all the new flowers and young zucchinis sprouting from their vines. I guess, I talk too early to say that to him. It didn't happen the way I was hoping it would be.


The pests! The vine borers infested all of the plants.. and soon they were beginning to die. Every single little zucchini fruit turn yellow and died. I have tried to spray them with pesticide but it didn't work, as once their inside the vine it's difficult to get rid of them. I pulled all of them out from the garden and threw away the old leaves but the young leaves and its flowers.. I took them to cook it. You might be surprised to know that, but being a person who likes to eat lots of green vegetables and it turn out pretty well.

Here is what I did with those leaves.

Cabbage Rolls

I have tried this recipe few times now. My husband like it very much.

Ingredient:
12 leaves cabbage
1 lb. extra lean ground beef or turkey
1 cup of cooked white rice
1 egg (beaten)
1/4 cup minced onions
1¼ tsp. black pepper
1¼ tsp. salt
1/4 cup milk

Sauce
1 cup of can tomatoe sauce
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. lemon juice (I used red wine vinegar to substitute this as I didn't have lemon)
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce (soy sauce alternative if u don't have)

Step to cook

Boil the cabbage leaves for 2 minutes and drain water.

Mix ground beef (or turkey) with rice, egg, pepper, milk and salt until well-mixed. As per ingredients above.

Roll mixture in the cabbage leaves.

Rolls - ready to be put in the slow cooker.

Lay rolls nicely in the slow cooker.

In a bowl, mix the tomato sauce, brown sugar, lemon juice and Worcestershire sauce. Then pour the sauce mixture on the top of the cabbage rolls (as shown above). Cook on low for 8-9 hours.

Serve it with mashed potatoes or toasted bread and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

Super Moist Chocolate Cake

Today, I bake 2 chocolate cakes for my son, he has been asking me to bake it since yesterday but I didn't have time. I have been trying many recipes on chocolate cakes but this is by far the most surprisingly delightful moist cake. There is one more thing you would like about this cake, it does not require any egg(s) in the ingredient. It is great for adults and for kids ages 3 and up.

Ingredients :
1½ Cups of all-purpose flour
3 Tablespoons of Hershey Cocoa (or any good quality cocoa powder)
1 Teaspoon of baking soda
1 Cup of white or brown sugar
½ Teaspoon of salt (optional)
5 Tablespoons of olive oil (can substitute with any veg. oil or canola oil)
1 Tablespoon of white vinegar
1 Teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 Cup of cold water

Direction:
1. Put the flour into mixing bowl, add cocoa, baking soda, sugar and salt. Mix well.

2. Make three deep holes in the dry mixture. Into one, pour the oil, into the next, pour the vinegar and into the next, pour the vanilla.

3. Pour water into the bowl, over all of it and making a great big mess.

4. Mix the wet and dry ingredients together until there are no more lumps and pour into a 9 x 9 inch baking pan, two inches deep. The baking pan doesn't have to be greased (optional).

5. Bake it at 350º F (175º C) for about 30-35 minutes. Test with a fork or toothpick in the centre, if it comes out clean, then it's done.

Enjoy this delicious cake. You will be surprised at its moistness and richness. It can be cooled and iced with your choice of icing or can be enjoyed on its own. The batter can also be used to make cupcakes.

Tips:
For an instant cake, have the dry ingredients premixed at hand, then simply add the wet ingredients when you want a fresh treat! it makes a great birthday cake? It can even freezes well.

Preparation time : 15 mins + 30 mins. bake.

These two cakes are ready to be layered, with frosting in between.

The Frosting:

1 Stick of Butter
1 (8 oz) pkt of cream cheese
2 Cups (16 oz) of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla extract
1 tsp of orange rind (fresh or dry)

1. Beat the cream cheese, add butter, orange rind and vanilla and beat for a minute.
2. Add Sugar and beat till fluffy.

This is the frosting that has already been mixed. Ready to put on the cake.

Slowly spread the frosting on the first cake and then put the second cake on the top and spread all over.

Both cakes are now covered with the frosting and become one cake.

Decorate it with some cherries.

This is how the cake look like, from inside. It's very delicious and moist. My husband and son really like it.

My Birthday !!!

Today, it's my birthday and I am now in my mid 40's (won't wanna tell you how old but you can guess). I can't believe it!! Oh, no... I am an old lady but young at heart. Well, time passed so quickly, we didn't realised it. Everyone has to go through these stages of life. Nevertheless, I am so thankful to God for giving me this opportunity to live a wonderful time on this earth. I have been blessed with wonderful people around me especially my husband, son and my parents, and not forgetting all my siblings, uncles, aunt and many good friends. Life is like a roller coaster - where we go through the ups and downs in life but that's okey.
"We should develope an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to us, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than our current situation."

Through all circumstances, we do learn something from it and it makes us more mature, wiser, stronger person and making better decision in life. As we age gracefully, may we learn to take things one a time and leave the rest to God. For our life is in His hand!

I thank God for all the good things happened to me and all the bad times because I become more stronger and learned from it. I know God has a purpose for each one of us in life. If we live according to His will, He will make a way for us. I am going to make full used of my time while I am still on earth and wait upon Him. When my life is finished on this earth, I will see Jesus face to face. How awesome is that. Jesus is the deliverer! Thank you Jesus for all the blessings you gave me.

Bouquet of flowers from my husband.
Thank you honey and I love you!

This morning I baked a birthday cake for myself. This is the first time I bake my own cake! It's a simple cake and first time I try it.

Around noon time, my friend Ms. Corliss Chatman, came to take me out for lunch. We went to Salt Grass Steak House. She is my close friend that I have hear and she cares alot about me. Jesus, bless her sweet heart.

I thank God for giving me such a sweet and wonderful friend, like you!
and while waiting for the food, we drank a glass of "long island tea". Can feel the warm goes into my body.

Look! Corliss asked me to dress up in my best, so I have to do it. Infact, I wore jean and a top but she asked me to change!.

She also in her best! She is eating up her soup.

Me, eating my soup. So nice.

This is her main dish.
Rib eye Steak, mashed potatoes and brocolli.

This is mine.
Steak, shrimp fritters, zucchinis and onion rings. Infact, I asked for shrimp scampi but they wrongly gave me. So in the end, I have both. I can't finish and pack back. Both of us were full because of the bread and soup that we have before it.

Eating my steak. The rest, I packed and took home.

She silently requested a piece of birthday cake for me. I was so embarrased and they sang "Happy Birthday to me".
That was our dessert.

Cheese Cake with the stawberry glaze.

Later that evening, after dinner. I was asked to blow the candles for my b/day cake. Sorry, we didn't have the right candles.

After John and son sang happy birthday, then I blew the candles. Simple but memorable.

Terung Asam (Sour Eggplant)

The terung asam or sour eggplant (or terung iban) as most dayak people called it in Sarawak. It is a rare type of eggplant where you never find in other places. It is grown very well in Sarawak of East Malaysia (part of Borneo Island) and are sold commercially at the vegetables market. Sour eggplant is one of the favourite vegetable, in Sarawak among the native ethnic groups, malays or even the chinese people. It has thorny tree and leaves, so you need to be careful when picking the fruits. The fruit is green when it is still young as seen in the picture and when it is riped it turn a bright yellow or slightly orange. The ripe fruits are sour. It has alot of seeds.

This is the terung asam (sour eggplant) I grew last year and has flowers too but it didn't bear fruit except one. It barely survived. I guess, the climate is not suitable for it over here or not enough pollination by the bees.

This is the sour eggplant which I grew.

There were about 10 trees of the terung asam I grew in my garden and bears alot of flowers.. but only this one made it through. I called it a "miracle eggplant".

"Close look at the fruit.


I was hoping to keep this till ripe but it fell of by itself. Sad!!

Anyway, I still can cook it.

Some people like to cook it when it is still green and some people like to cook it when it is ripe. I like it both ways.

This is what I cooked out of the only eggplant I had. It doesn't taste sour as the ripe one. Just saute minced onions, then add chicken and add the sliced eggplant, cooked till it's soft. Season it to your taste.

These are the ripe terung asam.
When it is ripe it taste sour.

Ikan Patin masak lemak with terung asam and put some chillie peppers with it. Taste so delicious.

Hiking in the Cumberland Gap

The trail map at the Parking Area.

A scene from wooden bridge crossing the stream.

Taking a picture before going up the hill.

On the Saturday, December 27 2008, at 10 o'clock morning, drove to the Cumberland Gap National Park once again. This time we hiked at another trail called the Sugar run trail. It was quiet morning. As we walked up the long hilly trail, there were no sign of other people there. However, it was quite eerie though, when we found some new animal track (footprint) - we couldn't figure if the footprint was belong to a wolf or dog or a bear. When we reached the top area, we saw four peoples with their dog.. but they were coming up on the other trail called the Lewis Hollow Trail on other side of the mountain. I think they went for camping as they carried a lot of things in their backpack. We also went down the lewis hollow trail till we found a cave but we couldn't enter it as we didn't bring any torch light with us. We saw some people at the cave too but they didn't go further inside, guess they didn't bring torch light either.

Going down the Lewis Hollow Trail.

Taking a pose at the mouth of the cave.

John taking a pose at the edge of the boulder outside the cave.

John II playing at the lost stream (actually the streams suddenly disappeared in that.

Taking a break, munching a bar

We took a break for few minutes and then, we climbed back the lewis hollow trail to the top and down the Sugar run trail again. By that time, it was already 2 o'clock in the afternoon.

Another pose with John II, with those green moss rocks.

John II showing his climbing talent..

John taking another shot on the top of the big boulder. It's quite steep and scary if you look down.

John II and I picking rocks nearby stream.