When desperate and lazy...

One of those days again when i'm home alone and ever so lazy to go out just to buy food for one or cook. Opened the cupboard and i found this! So apa lagi...hentam je laaa.

I'm not really a fan of instant food BUT just tried it anyway cause it's so simple. Basically all you need is this:

Some milk and butter and that packet is the cheese sauce that comes together in the box. Just boil some water and toss in the macaroni. Wait for 5-10 minutes or until it is cooked and then drain. Toss back into the pan and return to heat and then add the cheese, butter and milk. Stir till all are incorporated and then tadaa!

Mac & Cheese... on a scale of 10 i'll give it a 5 la...because it was edible and taste was just okay. I only ate 1/4 and was done with it already. Kept the rest for family when later i added some chicken meat and more cheese sauce. (from the huge can i brought back from sabah remember?) heheheee...

Oh yes yes...i cook too :P

This dish is one of my all time favourites cooked by my aunt in Sabah. It's kinda like her trademark thing. Whenever i'm there it's like 'wajib' for her to cook it for me. I loooove it and can just eat it with hot white fluffy rice. That would make my day. I'm talking about 'daging kering' or some might call it 'daging masak kuning'. Hmmm i guess in english it would be stir-fried beef in tumeric? i'm not sure.

Anyway during my last trip to Sabah, she taught me how to cook it (it's very simple actually) and so i did! But i still have to say her's taste better than mine...:) I'm gonna share the recipe here but i must warn that there are no proper measurements as it's more like a 'ikut citarasa sendiri' kinda dish. hehehehhe...


potato wedges frying away i just had to hold a perfectly rounded sliced onion in my palm

Daging Kering/Masak Kuning

2 potatoes, cut into wedges
oil for frying
about 500g boneless beef, cut into cubes/bite sizes
1 tsp tumeric powder
1 tbsp tamarind juice
1 big onion, sliced
1 tbsp ghee
salt to taste

beef boiling in water...lama lagi nak kering nih

-Shallow fry the potato wedges until golden. Place on paper towels and keep the remaining oil for later.
-Place beef cubes and tumeric powder into a wok and cover with water. Boil covered until beef is tender or water had dried up. (this may take a while but it's worth the wait)
-When water has dried up, add the remaining potato oil little by little just enough to coat the beef everytime. Stir-fry the beef till dry and then add the tamarind juice and ghee.
-Next add salt and just before turning off the heat, throw in the onions and fry till just soft. (or as how you like it)
-Lastly toss beef and potatoes together and serve.

walah!!! the end product :P

MMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm.........that's all i can say

When you have no lunch at home

There's always one of those days where you don't know what to eat or you're at home and there's no lunch and you're lazy to go out just to buy something, so i searched inside my fridge to see what leftovers i could clear up. Well, i found half a mini tub of feta cheese in oil with herbs and some pesto which i had made couple of days back with pasta and had extra. Since there was fresh bread lying around i decided to have a sandwich instead of using the pesto for pasta again. I added an extra slice of kraft cheese just for cheeses sake and used my mini frying pan to heat up the whole sandwich for extra crunch and melted cheese. Sorry i don't have pictures of the finished product because i practically wolfed it down once it was done. Hehehehee....and i have to say i liked it...nice and light...! here i'm writing down the recipe for the pesto and i guess the rest is basically ready-made store bought. Do try it and feel free to add more or minus off some ingredients. Tell me how it turned out ya??

SPINACH WALNUT PESTO
(adapted from women's weekly pasta cookbook)

250g baby spinach leaves, trimmed
1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup coarsely grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Blend or process spinach, nuts, garlic, cheese and juice until almost smooth. While the motor is still operating, gradually add oil through the hole on top until pesto is of desired consistency.

Makes about 11/2 cups

To assemble the sandwich, take two slices of bread and spread on the pesto evenly. Lay the slice cheese on one side and crumble on the feta. Drizzle some extra virgin olive oil (i used the oil from the feta) and lastly close the top with the other side of bread. Place sandwich on the pan and bring to a low heat on both sides.