Dry Palak Paneer （Indian Cottage Cheese In Spinach Gravy) 菠菜奶豆腐

Paneer is a type of fresh cheese common in South Asia, it is an acid-set farmer cheese made by curdling milk with lemon juice or any type of food acid.

A very good source of protein and calcium for vegetarian, could be made into many delicious dishes. Palak Paneer is one of them. I personally like my spinach in this dish in chunk, many recipe asked to puree it, won't change much of the taste, only visual and a little different in texture, perhaps.

奶豆腐其实不是豆腐，它更接近奶酪（cheese），是一种奶制品。做法是把牛奶加醋点凝固之后压制成豆腐状再进行烹饪。是高钙高蛋白食品，也是素食者很好的一个选择。

这道菠菜奶豆腐是北印度很有名的一道菜，做法很多，我也做过好几个版本。我特别喜欢这个干锅版，味道很香，很下饭。

【豇豆/菜豆煎蛋】Long Bean Fried Egg

在吉隆坡生活的时候，最经常吃的午饭就是到“杂饭档”打包一个饭盒。 一个鱼或者肉，一个蛋，一个菜，加上白饭，就是很丰富的一餐了。

这个豇豆煎蛋做法简单，经济实惠，也是杂饭档经常出现的菜肴之一。也是我饭盒里的常客，想家了，做个豇豆煎蛋吃吃吧！

This dish just brought me  all the way back to life in KL...

I used to packed my lunch box (Fan Hup) from the hawker stall that sell mixed rice (Zap Fan), meaning mix dishes with rice, the hawker will hand you half a box of white rice and you could choose any type of dishes normally consist of all sort of home cook-liked dishes.

Its economical, and very comforting food.... indeed.

Lightly Pickled Cucumber （Aa-Jaat) 泰式凉拌黄瓜

I have planted a cucumber plant this summer with this crunchy yummy pickle in mind. I had been eating my harvest as salad or juicing them so far!

Here it comes the end of planting season and I find myself with the very last 3 cucumbers I picked from my garden. 

I will have to wait for one year if I don't make this pickle now!

夏季的时候我种了好两棵黄瓜，第一个念头就是想要做这个在家乡常吃的清爽拌黄瓜，结果每次收成的黄瓜都被我当水果吃了或榨汁喝了。

今天收成的这三根是这一季最后的收成了。再不做这款凉拌黄瓜，大概就要等明年了啦！

Chinese Style Almond Tea 【杏仁茶】

Legend has it that this almond milk was the beauty secret used by all concubines at the Imperial palace in ancient China.

It is also recorded in Chinese Medicine book that almond could help in skincare, lung care (to prevent cough and  asthma) and its rich fiber could also help prevent constipation and will help reducing cholesterol!

Note: The almonds used here is different than the almond we snack on, the two type of almonds I used for this milk could be found in Chinese/Asian supermarket or Chinese medicine shop, it is mostly used in medicine/soup in Chinese culinary.

杏仁茶能够养颜，润肺，润肠，还可以止咳平喘。很适合用来预防秋燥，做法也不难，常喝还可以美白祛斑，降低胆固醇喔！

【马来红烧鱼】Ikan Masak Kicap (Fried Pomfret in Soy Sauce)

马来红烧鱼是很地道的一款马来民族菜肴，味道层次很丰富。
在马来西亚一般多选择海鱼做这道菜，鲭鱼是首先，金鲳鱼这么做也特别好吃。

This is a very typical Malay dish, savory, rich in flavor and goes well with steam rice.

It is better to make with sea fish, Mackerel was the first choice for many Malaysian, and pomfret works well too!

【奶豆腐馅饼 】Paneer Paratha (Stuffed Cottage Cheese Flat bread)

奶豆腐馅饼是印度家庭里很普遍的早餐，奶豆腐的蛋白质和面饼的碳水化合物是很好的配搭。
早上吃上两张这样的饼既耐饱也营养丰富喔！

Paneer is a type of Indian Cottage cheese. It is a very good source of protein, a very well loved food by Indian.

Paneer paratha is a type of bread stuffed with spiced Paneer, it is a well blend of protein and carbohydrate, a very good breakfast choice!

【米片土豆】Aloo Poha （Flattened Rice with Potato）

Aloo Poha 是印巴尼泊尔很普遍的早饭。Poha（米片）是把大米压成片方便粗存的一种做法，做的时候稍微泡水发涨，米片很好处理，也很好做，时间短，也容易消化。

所以很适合作为早餐的材料。

Aloo Poha is a well loved breakfast in India, Pakistan and Nepal.

Poha is a type of flattened rice, it is very easy to prepare this type of rice, all you need to do is to wash and briefly soak it with water, it will then swell up, and could be cooked in a very short time. A very good choice for busy morning indeed!

【牛油果奶昔 】Avocado Milkshake

牛油果含有非常丰富的维生素，其中维生素E是超强的抗氧化物。能够延缓衰老，令皮肤头发指甲健康漂亮。牛油果丰富的不饱和脂肪还可以有效预防与减少心血管方面的疾病。

在这个干燥的秋季，来杯油滑的牛油果奶昔即可润肤，又可保健，还特别好喝呢！

Avocado is truly a nutrition powerhouse, it is especially rich in Vitamin E, which is great to help in delay aging, also make your skin, hair and nail glow!

It's rich monounsaturated fat could also help to keep cholesterol level in check, which help to prevent all sort of cardiovascular diseases.

Since the weather is getting colder and dryer by the day, a glass of silky avocado milkshake not only is a good breakfast choice, it also help to keep your skin moist and body healthy!

Simple Baked Curry Puff

Curry puff is a very hearty snacks for me, I am still living in the world of 3 curry puffs for a Ringgit (Malaysian Currency). I was surprised to see the price AND reduced size curry puff at the road side stall last time when I visited Malaysia. It was just costing a lot more, at much smaller portion! Talking about inflation huh!

It make sense to make it at home... I guess. As I do not fry much, I decided to come up with a baked version of Curry Puff, the shell is somewhat different in texture, still tasty nonetheless.

Thai Steamed Fish with Calamansi and Garlic 【泰式蒜蓉蒸鱼】

This simple recipe is so simple that I couldn't believe it delivers such a brilliant taste!

The best part about it? It doesn't stink the kitchen like any other fish recipe! 

Perfect for winter cooking, it's warm, it's spicy, it's delicious...... Couldn't ask for more!

这个蒸鱼食谱简单快捷到让人不可置信，也好吃到让人不可置信。是个清爽开胃健康，做完厨房还完全没有油烟味的食谱，很适合冬季时做给家人吃哦！

没吃过泰式蒸鱼或对泰国菜没有印象的朋友，建议试试这个蒸鱼,这道十五分钟就能上桌的好菜。

相信你一定会爱上它喔！

Lemongrass ginger tea 【香茅姜茶】

Changes from seasons means one could easily catch cold. A cup of lemongrass ginger tea could help to prevent sickness, in case of sickness, to ease symptoms!

换季的时候特别容易患上感冒，用新鲜或者干燥的香茅煮茶饮用，可以帮助促进血液循环放松精神。可舒缓感冒时的症状，也有预防的功效。

Yong Tau Foo （Stuffed Vegetables and Tofu）【客家酿豆腐】

These stuffed Vegetable/Tofu has a very interesting name. Whatever you choose to make this dish with, it is called "Yong Tau Foo" （Literally means Stuffed Tofu) in Malaysia ! 

And you could stuff basically any vegetables or bean curd products that you could think of.

这个菜在马来西亚，不管酿的是什么一律统称“酿豆腐”。小时候根本没觉得这有什么不妥，后来有一次带个香港朋友去吃有名的“安邦酿豆腐”她就问道：“明明是酿各种东西嘛！为什么就叫酿豆腐呢？”我才发现，是喔！酿豆腐不是一个统称，它是酿豆腐而已啊！

去年种了一棵Hot Banana高产得吓人，就做了好几次的酿辣椒，俊爹很爱吃，一直念念不忘，今年问了好几遍。


我看着天已经凉了，就把院子里的辣椒和茄子全收了，做一次酿多宝让老公一饱口福吧！

Keema Curry / Minced Meat Curry 【肉末咖喱】

This Keema Curry is a Pakistani dish that I learnt from a friend, it is less spicy compared to most of the other type of curries, suitable for those who likes curries and can't take too much spiciness.

It is normally made with minced beef or mutton, I used minced turkey in my recipe and it still taste stunning! You just gotta try it!

肉末咖喱是印度以北/巴基斯坦的一道家常菜，是咖喱菜里比较少见的一个做法。一般用的是牛肉或羊肉末，我用了火鸡肉末来做这道菜味道也很好吃。

这道菜盖饭非常好吃，香料充分和肉末融合了，也不会太辣，喜欢咖喱菜的朋友可以试试看。

【芙蓉烧包】Seremban Baked Pau

芙蓉（Seremban）是马来西亚森美兰州（Negeri Sembilan)的首府，这个烧包是一开始在芙蓉开始生产的，比较有名的是拉杭区的奇美烧包。后来渐渐地全马来西亚各地都买得到这个烧包了。

我从前出远门的时候喜欢买一盒烧包，摆在车子里，是个很方便好吃的小点。

一直很想自己在家做一次这个烧包，趁这个长周末，就做一次吧！

Seremban is the capital of the state of Negeri Sembilan in Malaysia, this Baked Pau was initially made famous in an area name Rahang in Seremban, and eventually became the favorite pastry/snacks  for all Malaysian.

I used to buy a box of this famous pastry whenever I have to travel long distance, it’s a very convenient snack and does not require heating. I have been wanting to make this pastry once at home since I can't get this anywhere in the States... So I did!

Calamansi Juice/ Air Limau

Calamansi/Limau Kasturi Juice was a very refreshing beverage found only in the south east asia.


This particular citrus fruit is a very useful ingredient in the house. It could be use in cooking, season for soup, make into dipping sauce, salad dressing, beverage，cocktail,it is also a natural cleanser/deodorizer, we use this to clean our hand after cutting/cleaning fish!


Beside all that, I simply just love the smell and taste of it!I found not just Pandan leaves in Arizona this time, I also found this fresh Calamansi that I missed so much...

Since it's Mooncake festival today, and I had way too many Mooncake... its time to have this refreshing drink to help digest!

Gobi Manchurian (Sweet and Sour Cauliflower)

During my years in India, I often encountered a question that I could not answer until much later. The question goes : "Can you teach me how to make Gobi Manchurian, the CHINESE FOOD ?"

????????????????????????????

Oh yes, you heard it right, a Chinese dish that no Chinese ever heard forget eating back home in China. It is a dish that surely show up on the menu of any Chinese restaurant in India. A dish took me a long time to figure out what it is. Longer time to explain to my Indian friends that Gobi Manchurian is NOT a Chinese dish, and Manchu is NOT a state in China, it refers to the tri-states area up north in China in ancient time, the term Manchu is no longer in use geographically nowadays, Manchurian now refers to one ethnic group in China, and we find no trace of this dish in the Manchu's recipes...."

I could only imagine now that this delicious Indian-Chinese dish was created long back by some well-wished Chinese chef try to make a dish that suits the local taste buds with some local ingredients. It probably is a derivation from the the famous sweet and sour pork dish name guobaorou "锅包肉” from the northern part of China, Just a vegetarian version, with quite a number of modifications!

Pandan Barley Water 【香兰薏米水】

Barley water is well known for its cooling property, it is used especially in the Southeast Asia, where the tropical climate brings with it the heat and humidity, this particular beverage could help to prevent dehydration and cool down the body.

It is normally made with screw pine leaves/Pandan leaves to give a sweet distinctive smell to the already very nice and creamy flavor  of barley.

It is very hard to find fresh screw pine leaves here in the States. Last week when I was traveling for work in Arizona, I paid a visit to a close friend, she show me around and I saw fresh Pandan leaves sold in the Asian supermarket. I was elated and waste no time to bring one packet home!

The Chinese traditional herb and medicine also believed that barley could help to reduce weight, cure water retention, is a good source of fibre, and could help to whiten skin tone. If used for long term, could also help to prevent freckles and wrinkles! Talking about home-made skincare huh!

东南亚天气炎热，很容易上火，所以那里的人都习惯喝点凉茶或者可以清热祛湿的饮料。这个香兰薏米水就是其中一种，香浓的薏米加上班/香兰叶的甜香，是一种让人不会忘怀的味道！

百度百科说：薏米是常用的中药．又是普遍、常吃的食物，性味甘淡微寒，有利水消肿、健脾去湿、舒筋除痹、清热排脓等功效，为常用的利水渗湿药。薏仁又是一种美容食品，常食可以保持人体皮肤光泽细腻，消除粉刺、斑雀、老年斑、妊娠斑、蝴蝶斑，对脱屑、痤疮、皲裂、皮肤粗糙等都有良好疗效。

上个星期出差亚利桑那，承蒙老友Linda收留，在她家住了几天。某天跟着她去亚洲超市买菜，可爱的Linda刚刚才跟我投诉说亚利桑那买不到新鲜的香兰叶一边就拿着一大包的新鲜香兰叶问我说：“盈盈这个是不是新鲜的粽叶啊？”我拿过来一闻，马上睁大眼说：“这不就是新鲜的香兰叶吗？”

谢谢Linda热情的款待，也谢谢她送我的新鲜香兰叶，让好久没机会喝新鲜香兰叶做的薏米水的我得以一尝久违的味道。

【糖酥饼】Beijing Traditional Pastry -- Sugar Puff

有一天看见网友『糖排』根据他姥姥传下来的做法做了这个糖酥饼。我很喜欢传统家常的食谱，觉得它们都有着浓浓的乡土味。而且这个小点是素食的，很适合做了请我的素食朋友们。

于是我就把食谱量化，做了好吃的糖酥饼。传统的做法和食谱要把它传下去喔！

A friend of mine posted his grand mother's recipe of this traditional Beijing pastry in a forum that I visited. Though I never have this pastry before and have absolutely no idea how it (should) taste. I decided to give it a try.

For I have this heartfelt feeling for anything traditional, especially those inherited from our fore-parents, those passes on to generations only by word of mouth...

The original recipe posted by my friend was without precise measurement, like his grandmother, he too goes by his gut feeling. So I decided to come up with my version of measurements for record sake.

I did send a few of this pastry to two of my Beijing friends to try, their comments? 

Superb! Just like how it should taste like back home... So I guess this is a safe recipe ehh...

Pressed Tofu Knot and Pork Belly Stew 【百叶结烤肉】

My favorite author Yi Su wrote about this dish several times in her books and I often wondered how will it taste. Not until much later that I finally had a chance to try this typical Shanghainese dish in my Shanghai friend's house.

The Asian supermarkets here sell this pressed tofu knot (百叶结) fresh,  it is so much easier to make this dish here than in Shanghai I guess.

The Shanghainese used to cut the pressed tofu and tie it into knots just to make this dish!

以前看亦舒的小说，总看到她写的这道江南菜百叶结烤肉，就一直在想，百叶结到底怎么去烤肉呢？

一直到在一位上海朋友家吃过这道菜，我才恍然大悟。原来百叶结“烤”肉是百叶结烧肉的意思啊！

我很喜欢百叶结的口感，这里超市也买得到新鲜的百叶结，就做了一次百叶结烤肉，很香，很下饭喔！