LEMON GRASS MAMA

AS SALAM, I FIRST TASTED THIS DISH WHEN I WAS STILL IN MY EARLY TEENS AT A FRIEND'S HOME. AND STILL LOVE THIS DISH UNTIL TODAY. ONCE AGAIN, THE KEBUN IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS SO USEFUL. WE PLANTED A FEW BANANA TREES AND BESIDES BEARING FRUITS, THE YOUNG TREES CAN BE COOKED, MASAK LEMAK OR TUMIS BELACAN. THAT'S WHAT MY MUM DID YESTERDAY. YOUNG TREES IT TAKES SOMEONE WHO CAN REALLY CUT DOWN THE YOUNG TREES AND SPLIT OPEN THE TRUNK TO GET THE YOUNG SHOOT. ITS THE YOUNG SHOOT INSIDE THE TREE TRUNK THAT WE CUT INTO PIECES TO COOK LIKE OTHER VEGETABLES. YOU SHOULD TRY THIS DISH.... MASAK LEMAK UMBUT PISANG SEDAP...!

bunga kobis brokoli cooked version AS SALAM, I HAD JUST BOUGHT BROCCOLI AND CAULIFLOWER FOR DINNER. MY FAMILY LIKE THAT VEGETABLE AND I READ THAT ITS ALSO GOOD FOR THE BRAIN. AND I HAVE PROOF FOR YOU THAT IT DOES WONDERS FOR MY SON'. THIS IS JUST LIKE ONE OF THE DAYS WHEN YOU FEEL LAZY TO DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING INSIDE THE HOUSE . THE KIDS ARE FREE TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE WISHED THEY COULD HAVE DONE A LONG TIME AGO..... BUT.....AT THE END OF THE DAY, JUST AS YOU ARE ABOUT TO SPRING UP FROM BED OR UNLOCK YOUR EYES FROM  THE TV TO HAVE A NICE SHOWER BEFORE CONTINUING THE LAZY MOMENTS...... SUDDENLY, YOUR EYES SEEMED TO POP OUT FROM THE SOCKETS AND YOUR TONGUE HANGS OUT FROM LOOKING AT WHAT IS BEING DONE TO THE SHOWER! I COULD HAVE SWORN NOTHING HAPPENED IN THE SHOWER WHEN MY YOUNGEST WENT IN TO DO HIS BUSINESS. COME TO THINK OF IT, HE WAS UNUSUALLY QUIET , OTHERWISE YOU CAN HEAR SONGS RECORDED OVER AND OVER  AGAIN. AT OTHER TIMES YOU CAN EVEN H

SUP GEAR BOX AS SALAM, I BROUGHT MY MUM AND SIS TO SUNDAY MARKET RECENTLY. IT IS ONE OF THE LARGEST IN TOWN. EVERYTHING IS THERE FOR YOUR NEEDS AND MY FAVORITE IS THE FOOD STALLS. DON'T FORGET THE KICAP CILI API WE SKIP BREAKFAST AT HOME JUST SO THAT WE CAN ENJOY BREAKFAST AT ONE OF THE STALLS BEFORE PROCEEDING TO THE VEGETABLES LATER. IT WAS A HOT SUNDAY BUT WE JUST CAN'T RESIST THE GEAR BOX SOUP. WHEN I FIRST CAME ACROSS THIS MENU A FEW YEARS BACK, IT LOOK SO STRANGE WHEN THE WHOLE BONE IS STICKING OUT FROM YOUR BOWL OF SOUP...AND DON'T FORGET THE BIG STRAW PUT INSIDE THE STUMP FOR YOU TO SLOWLY DRINK THE RICHNESS OF FATS INSIDE! ADD SOUP TO THE MEE ANOTHER VERSION FROM THE SOUP, JUST ADD YOUR FAVORITE MEE TO THE SOUP OR EAT WITH  RICE. MALAYSIANS ARE SO CREATIVE WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD!

POKOK SERAI FINALLY, LEMON GRASS! SO ITS CALLED AS SALAM, MY SECOND YOUNGEST SON WAS BEING TESTED BY HIS GRANDMA THE OTHER DAY. HE WAS GIVEN THE DUTY TO TAKE A FEW STALKS OF SERAI FROM OUR KEBUN INFRONT OF THE HOUSE. HE HESITATE FOR A WHILE BEFORE HE FINALLY TOOK A KNIFE FROM THE KITCHEN AND WALK CONFIDENTLY TOWARDS THE FEW BUSHES OF SERAI. I WATCH FROM THE PORCH JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT HE TOOK THE RIGHT STALKS. AFTER LOOKING AT HIM FOR A FEW MINUTES, I JUST COULDN'T RESIST TO MAKE A CLOSEUP  VIEW AND LOOK! HE HACKED A FEW STALKS AND I HAD TO SAVE THE REST AND TELL HIM INCH BY INCH AS TO HOW HE SHOULD CUT THE STALKS NICELY AND LET IT GROW AGAIN. WE DON'T BALIK KAMPUNG THAT OFTEN AND MY CHILDREN DIDN'T GET THE FEEL OF GETTING THEIR OWN FOOD FROM THE GARDEN OR REBAN AYAM....THEY GREW UP IN THE CITY AND AMONG FAST FOOD...IT'S A PITY. SO, PARENTS OUT THERE, LET YOUR CHILDREN BALIK KAMPUNG OFTEN AND FEEL REAL KAMPUNG LIFE AND MAKE THEM PROUD OF THEIR OWN

by the river AS SALAM, ...AND OFF TO WHERE THE HEART BRINGS. ITS ALWAYS AN IMPROMPTU AFFAIR FOR THIS FAMILY. YOU CAN SAY, IT'S A LUCKY DAY SHOULD EVERYONE HAVE DECIDED A DAY EARLIER. LIKE TODAY, DECISION TIME IS  APPROX 8:00am! AFTER THAT, EVERYONE ABOUT 12 OF US SCATTERED ALL OVER THE HOUSE GETTING READY...3 BATHROOMS FULL ALL OF A SUDDEN, A FEW TO THE IRONING BOARD,  THE REST TO THE KITCHEN....KNIVES, SPOONS, STOVE, SALT, SAUCE , PEPPER, FISH, TURKEY , MAGGI MEE, POTS, GRILLER PAN, DISP PLATE & CUPS ALL PACKED INTO BASKET. ONE IS MAKING FRIED RICE, ANOTHER FRYING BREADED CHICKEN, AND ANOTHER TUMBUK SAMBAL BELACAN.... ..AND YOU CAN HEAR CHAOS AMONG THE CHILDREN ASKING EACH OTHER OR RATHER TELLING ABOUT WHAT TOWEL TO BRING , SHOULD I BRING EXTRA SHIRT..WHAT IF I DON'T GET INTO THE RIVER, SHOULD I BRING MY SHORTS, INSTEAD, JUST INCASE...AND ONE EVEN SAID "DON'T FORGET YOUR PLASTIC BAG " THAT IS TO PUT WET CLOTHES AFTER BATHING IN T

AS SALAM, A FEW IN THE FAMILY GO ON DIET. ....OR SO. IT LOOKS LIKE DIET FOOD AND TASTELESS....   LOOK AT THE COLOR I BOUGHT A BEAUTIFUL PURPLE CABBAGE FOR SALAD AND LOOK AT WHAT ONE OF MY DAUGHTER JUST DID...OR COOK..THE BEAUTIFUL COLOR GONE AND THERE'S NO HAPPINESS AT ALL IN THE BOWL.... DON'T ASK ME ABOUT THE TASTE. IT'S LIKE THE SALT, SEASONINGS COMPANY HAVE GONE ON STRIKE!                                                                                 CAN'T TELL  HOW IT IS CRUELLY COOKED.! ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER HAS THIS UNUSUAL DIET ,TOO. A BOWL OF MAGGI MEE DROWN IN HOT WATER. LEAVE FOR A FEW MINUTES ( SAME AS INSTRUCTIONS ON COVER) ...ONCE DONE, EVERY STRAND OF MEE IS VANISHED! MEE DROWN IN HOT WATER! ADD A PIECE OF FRIED CHICKEN AND......ITS READY

WE HAVE THIS IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE AS SALAM, MY BRO-IN LAW HAS GREEN FINGERS, ANYTHING THAT HE PLANTS WILL GROW. WHEN HE WAS STAYING WITH US BEFORE HE GOT A JOB, HE TOOK THE ADVANTAGE TO PLANT A FEW FRUIT TREES, CHILIES, VEGETABLES, ETC . RASA MACAM DURIAN BELANDA READY TO EAT THANKS TO HIM, IT IS REALLY A SOOTHING SIGHT WHEN YOU HAVE A BUSY DAY AT WORK AND COME BACK TO SEE THE GARDEN COME TO LIFE. THIS IS FROM THE VEGE GARDEN IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE

BLACK PEPPER SEAFOOD & RICE AS SALAM, WE WENT TO A FOOD COURT IN TOWN LAST NIGHT AND THE LONG LIST OF MENUS PASTED ON THE WALL OF EACH STALL IS SO INVITING AND WE HAD TO WALK TO EVERY STALL JUST TO MAKE SURE OF WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO ORDER . FINALLY, WE DECIDED TO TRY THIS WONDERFUL MENU SERVED IN A WOK! I REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE SMALL, WE HAVE LOTS OF DO'S AND DON'T FROM GRANDMA...AND IF SHE'S STILL WITH US, SHE CERTAINLY WILL NOT ORDER WHAT WE HAVE ORDERED..AND MIND YOU, WE MAY NOT HAVE THE CHANCE TO ORDER AT ALL! BLACK PEPPER BEEF ANYWAY, ZAMAN SUDAH BERUBAH AND THE FOOD IS INTERESTINGLY GOOD! NASI GORENG AYAM NO, WE DIDN'T EAT THE WOK!

HUNGRY.... AS SALAM, STEAMED SAUSAGES AT ONE OF OUR OUTING, WHEN WE BROUGHT OUR OWN FOOD, PREPARATION WAS SIMPLE. EVERYTHING WAS BOILED OR STEAMED AND FROM CANNED FOOD. MIND YOU, IT IS TASTIER THAN EATEN AT HOME. I GUESS, THE ENVIRONMENT HELPS A LOT. IT MAKES THE FOOD TASTES BETTER .......   WITH BLACK SAUCE                                      ...FROM 7TH FLOOR

I TOLD YOU SO.... AS SALAM, SANTAN,TAHU,SOTONG,TELOR,TEMPE,NASI IMPIT....ADUUH... I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT LONTONG KLANG LOOKS LIKE AND WHY IS IT EVERYONE'S FAVORITE. I HAVE TRIED LONTONG A FEW YEARS BACK AND IT TASTES LIKE ANY MASAK LEMAK BUT I SOON FOUND OUT WHY THIS MENU IS SO SPECIAL HERE AND I AM TELLING YOU OUT THERE, PLEASE DON'T TURN AWAY FROM THIS DISH! LOOK AT PICS AND IT EXPLAINS WHY.

AS SALAM, SESAR LUNJUR,AS WE CALL IT BACK HOME OUR FAMILY HAVE OUR OWN FAVORITE MENU. OUR OWN LOCAL TASTE WHICH WE CAN ONLY GET FROM HOME. BUT SOME DISHES, WE IMPROVISE ACCORDING TO WHAT WE CAN FIND AROUND TOWN HERE... ADD BAWANG2 DI TUTUK DENGAN CABIK & READY TO COOK AS BASE FOR FRIED RICE OR BIHUN! ALMOST DONE...TERUNG ASAM + IKAN GERUT FROM CHEF OMAR AND MIND YOU...OUR MEN AROUND THE HOUSE CAN SURELY COOK! MACAM ASAM PEDAS IKAN,  SWEET SOUR...BYK GIK BAH.  SWEET SOUR FROM CHEF OMAR