Fu Chuk Barley Dessert with Ginkgo

Sea coconut is on the low.  Had to resort to barley now.  I guess you all can have this a try.  It's all knocking, peeling, washing, soaking, boiling, and lastly eating :P

Fu Chuk Barley Dessert with Gingko

Ingredients:

• 300gm Barley (depends on you)
• 2 packets of preserved Winter Melon or Rock Sugar (depends on how sweet you want it)
• 300gm Ginkgo Seeds (depends on you)
• 5-6 pieces of Dry Fu Chuk (Dried Soya Pieces....i think)

Steps:

1. Prepare your Ginkgo Seeds.  If you bought those still in their shells, just follow the steps.  If you had yours without the shells, proceed to Step 4.
2. Knock the nuts with a hammer or a nutcracker until there's a small crack.  Peel the shell off.  Put the seeds aside.

3. Boil the seeds in hot water for approx. 15 minutes.  Under a running tap, peel off its skin and it should be golden yellow.  Put it aside.

4. Choose a big pot.  Wash your barley in it.  Wash off the starch and weevils.

5. Put in the Gingko Seeds and Preserved Winter Melon  into the pot.  Fill it with water until its 3/4 of the pot.  Put the pot over a low heat and cover the pot.

6. While waiting for it to boil, wash your 'Fu Chuk' and soak it in water till it becomes beige in color.

7. When the pot is already boiling (approx. 30-45 mins), put in the soaked 'Fu Chuk'.  Only the 'Fu Chuk' and not the water.  Boil for another 15mins until the 'Fu Chuk' is in small tiny pieces.
8. Leave it to cool and you may serve.

Enjoy :)

Pulau Ketam

 

My parents were down in KL for the long Wesak weekend, and yes! I know this is an overdue post :P Since I was the guide, I decided to get out from the city and head to Pulau Ketam!  Something different, gigantic skyscrapers and windowed displays weren't that appealing.

 

Pulau Ketam is located near Port Klang, about 35 minutes via boat ride.  You may head to Port Klang via car or the KTM commuter, and catch a boat for RM7 (one-way) at the newly constructed jetty.  FYI, the jetty is very near to the Port Klang KTM commuter station, and don't take the boat at the aged jetty (if you don't want to find yourself in Indonesia).

 

There are 2 types of boats available - the plane like speed boat (look at pic), and the open ones.  The open boats might be slower but you can soak up the sun and with the air in your hair, and take some magnificent shots of the surroundings.

 

Once we reached the jetty and with our stomachs growling in hunger, we patronized the first restaurant we saw after disembarking.  Ordered a shocking number of dishes until the waitress stopped us :P  It wasn't too expensive, just around RM23 per pax.

 

 

After having a great meal, we walked around the tiny fishing village of Pulau Ketam.  Mind you to take a cap or umbrella or some sun block, the Sun can be quite unforgiving!  You might take note of the many stalls selling Calm Omelette aka 'La La Jien', do try the inner stalls :)  Heading back to the mainland is also RM7.

 

Up in the Air with Balloons

Sorry no recipes again.  I was busy attending the 2nd Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta.

Putrajaya was packed to the extent that there were no more parking spots.  There were families with their kids.  Kids running about.  The bigger kids were playing with their DSLRs.  This pains me to see new modeled DSLRs and I'm still using a Nikon D70s.  Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful and happy with my dear D70s.

There were rides for the public on the Hot Air Balloon, but the line was long and they just flew about 3 storeys.  So it kinda put me off.

I actually went there twice in hopes to get Darth Vader.  Sadly, I wasn't able to.  First Attempt - I was late.  Second Attempt - It prematurely landed! Why ooo Why!

Enjoy some of the photos here, but do drop by the full set at this link.

Salary Survey 2010 for Malaysia (II)

Someone was kind enough to send me this link of an industrial salary survey conducted by Kelly Services.

I found that this link is quite useful as it has the survey of previous years.

A note to job seekers out there, please don't sell yourself too cheap, as it will affect the rest of us. Which employer wouldn't want a cheaper staff?

Kelly Services - Malaysia Salary Survey 2010
 
Kelly Services is a US-based company. Kelly offers outsourcing & consulting services and staffing services including temporary , temp-to-hire, and permanent placement. Sourced from Wikipedia.org

Salary Survey 2010 for Malaysia

Been working very hard and wondering whether are you being paid accordingly for the work done?

Do check out this industrial salary survey conducted by Robert Walters.

Malaysia Salary Survey 2010
 
Robert Walters is a London-based recruitment consultancy. The company is specialized in recruitment, executive search and recruitment outsourcing businesses, with 38 offices in 17 countries. Sourced from Wikipedia.org

After CNY

Just reached KL after 4 hours of driving.  The highways was having sporadic standstills, only to find out that it was caused by nosy drivers, whom were checking out accidents or cars getting summonses by the police.

When I caught glimpse of the Sungai Buloh Jejantas Pitstop, I knew that CNY celebrations are over for me :(

I guess its not a big deal for me, as it same as every year except my cousins weren't here, and the angpow collection seems to be getting lesser and lesser! 


Back to hustle and bustle of everyday life.  I hope your CNY was a great one!

CNY Exodus

I guess most of everybody would be hitting for the highway today and tomorrow.  Hoping to reach home in time for the annual reunion dinner with the family.

Do take note of the traffic as time draws closer to tomorrow night, the traffic would be murder.  Drive cautiously, keep a distance with the car in front - better to kiss your love one rather than a stranger's car butt, and don't speed - government already gave the police a new toy gun to play that can target cars a kilometre away and it's handheld enabled.

Here are some links that might help you to plan your exodus.
Integrated Transport Information System - ITIS @ http://www.itis.com.my/
Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia - LLM @ http://llmtrafik.gov.my/
Lembaga Lebuhraya Malaysia Hotline for Live Traffic Update (7am - 10pm) @ 1800 88 7752
PLUS Travel Suggestion @ http://www.plus.com.my/index.php?eID=tx_cms_showpic&file=uploads%2Fpics%2FJadual-TTA-_BI_.jpg&width=800m&height=1000&bodyTag=%3Cbody%20bgColor%3D%22%23dddddd%22%3E&wrap=%3Ca%20href%3D%22javascript%3Aclose%28%29%3B%22%3E%20%7C%20%3C%2Fa%3E&md5=a198fcf2ab86b1667d563422465d0290

Have a safe journey back and Happy Chinese New Year! 恭喜发财！

Onde-onde

This post was from version 1.0.
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I had this liking for 'onde-onde' (on-day on-day) or glutinous rice balls in desiccated coconut. This is a traditional Malaysian dessert or kuih as we would categorize it.

Here's the recipe for you all to try but it is in estimation.

Ingredients:

• 10 stalks/palm-sized bundles Pandan Leaves
• 1 Coconut Sugar Block / Gula Melaka
• Salt
• Desiccated Coconut
• 500g Glutinous Rice Flour

Steps:

1. Wash the Pandan Leaves. Cut them into small pieces. Blend it with a Blender, while blending add in a little water. Sift it and throw away the crushed leaves. Purpose is to extract the juice. It should amount to 1/2 cup diluted.
2. Use a mortar to break the Gula Melaka into small pieces.

3. Sprinkle a little salt. Mix the Pandan Juice into the Glutinous Rice Flour gradually while kneading. Ensure you don't overdo the juice pouring. Knead it into a dough.

4. Boil a pot of hot water over a low heat.
5. Pinch a little dough, enough to make a small ball. Put a piece or 2 of the Gula Melaka into the ball and roll it back into shape.

6. Drop the ball into the boiling water. It will sink but after a minute, it will float. Wait until it floats.

7. Use a strainer to pick the ball up and roll it around in a tray of dessicated coconut.

8. Repeat Step 5 - 7 until you finish the dough.
9. Let it cool and then you may serve.

Remember to keep it in the refrigerator. It cannot be kept for long.
Good luck and enjoy!