Masak

No plans on my Off today so I decided to Masak. It means “to cook” in Malay.

I am not a great cook. I still have a long way to go. Even my dad is a better cook than me. I took up Food and Nutrition subject during secondary school, aspiring to be a Cook one day. Got into a Hospitality Diploma and went through a Culinary module. Ace it and somewhere down the road, I just lost the interest. Hell’s Kitchen was the cause of it, I thought. (I watch too much haha!) I was not sure if I would be able to withstand while working under pressure in the kitchen.

Lost interest it may seem however, the passion is still there to learn new recipes and improve on my skills. When I was a student, I used to cook quite often because no one’s at home. I would whip out local dish and sometimes, customise old and new recipes to suit my taste bud. Now that I’m working, time is scarce.

As for today, YES! I found the time!

Spent $100 on the groceries. It is the weekday so, Giant Supermarket is less pack. Easier for me to manoeuvre my trolley. But I still prefer Market Place at Tanglin Mall. That place totally feels like a private supermarket for me and also, it is slightly expensive.

Hello Kitchen, we meet again. 

After the construction work going on in the kitchen with sugar, spice and everything nice, above is the outcome of today’s Masak.

Presenting… Pan-Fried Salmon Al-Bihin with stir-fry baby tomatoes and mushrooms. 

What’s with the name?

Hahaha I’ve been listening to this Arab song by Wael Kfoury – Bihin (He Longs). Came across this song on Youtube, sang by Arab Idol Mohammed Assaf. Thus, I decided to search for the original singer and now, it’s on my playlist. You should give it a try if you a middle-east fan.

So ya, in addition, I long to eat Salmon. So why not? – Pan-fried Salmon Al-Bihin. Just go with it. Hah!

Ingredients. 

1. Salmon (Season it with salt and pepper. Pan-fried to the desired rareness)
2. Baby tomatoes and mushroom (Stir-fried using the leftover oils from the salmon. Seasoned with salt and pepper)
3. Sides: Potatoes and baby carrots. (Boiled them to its chewable state)
4. Wash and dry lettuces.

I like to keep it simple and I know it could have been better. I saw how salmon can be made into more appetising and delicious dish.

Let’s call it a day. I guess this is the last dish I’m cooking before Ramadhan. It is around the corner and it falls on this Sunday. Usually on fasting month, I don’t cook. I just buy from Bazaar.

Oh and happy trying uh. Heh!

-dhannieArmanie

Good food and great company. Awesome combo! No matter how busy we are, we will always find time to meet and catch up with one another. It don’t matter if it’s over a cup of coffee or even after long tiring day at work. The quality time we had in order to foster stronger friendship matters to us most. At the end of the day, we will be there for one another 🙂

But first, let me take a foodie!

L’Entrée 

Caesar Salad with Smoked Salmon

Clam Chowder Soup

Good food is good. Love the Clam Chowder Soup. Tasty and plenty of clams to fish from the bread-bowl. Crispy bread too. Definitely will come back for more. Impressive Caesar Salad with Smoke Salmon that came in a big bowl. All four of us had our fair share. Salmon… Those “fitches” are happily swimming in my stomach. Yum. 

Le Plat Principal 

Seafood Platter

Seafood platter was terrific! Calamari, Prawns and Fish. As you can see, we had a lot of greens. That was because we decided not to eat heavy as we might going for supper. So, we thought this was a good choice. And yes, we were not disappointed. 

Le Dessert

De Bomb!

The Star of the night! Stunning entrance to our table and what else can I say? This beauty got devoured in less than 8 minutes. 

– dhanniearmanie

Blessed.

A wonderful week for me when my friends and family decided to throw not one, but two celebrations for my birthday. Thank you so much once again lovelies.. I am blessed. There were more food to enjoy than I expected. Screw my Exercise Schedule. FOOD GLORIOUS FOOD! The recent one was at Sakura Buffet Pasir Ris. The cousin decided to surprise me with a Chocolate Cake (Alamak! Forgot to take picture of it. Too busy admiring it) and it was brought to my table by one of the staff. I was busy devouring my sushi and when suddenly, the whole restaurant played a birthday song. Strange, I looked around whose birthday was it. And of course, the cake was brought to my table. I did not suspect anything in the first place. People in the restaurant were all staring at my table. What am I suppose to do, Wave at them? Haha! This is what we call Surprises. I looked silly in surprises but heck care, stare all you want. I have the cake. Haha nevertheless, thank you. It was the thought that counts. Let the picture below do the talking. Sakura Buffet was awesome. A feast for a Prince, I would say, because I know there are better Buffet spread out there and I have yet to discover.

My favourite segment of the restaurant. Giving in to my sweet tooth monster.

Not much of fruits spread. Yet, acceptable.

Fried dried corner. The Salmon Skin at the top left was something you won’t get everyday. Fatty fatty nice nice.

I called this the western segment because it’s near to the pizzas. A substitute of the local dish so usually, I will attack these first.

PIZZASSSS… Dear Jennifer Lawrence, Pizza for you? 🙂

Yerp… see-food.

AHHH… my favourite segment of all time. The sashimi and the sushi.. I love Japanes food. It’s like I’m suppose to born there but got diverted into this Island somehow. Hoho!

Local dishes.. Not a fan. Because it’s like every other day.

Local dishes again. Nevermind, I skip.

– Dhannie Armanie

The Forgotten Sunnah – Standing in the Rain

After months of dry spell in Sg, it finally rained. Bless.

Fiqhul Hadith

The Forgotten Sunnah – Standing in the Rain 

An unusual sound penetrated my train of thought as I sat studying at my desk. I looked up pensively from my book and a few moments passed before I realised that what I was hearing was the sound of pouring rain. A sound so common back in my hometown,Cape Town, was now so foreign to me in the desert city of Madinah.

I rushed out onto the balcony to admire the rainfall. As I stood, witnessing Allah’s answer to the prayers of the community, a strange sight caught my eye down below. A man, instead of running for cover, walked calmly to and into his building. He reappeared shortly carrying a chair. Still in a state of composure, he placed thechair out in the pouring rain and just sat down! He appeared to be enjoying the sensation of the raindrops falling on…

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Man, prata kosong satu!

Prata for thought.

Came across this in Facebook and spent a good 10 minutes talking to myself, explaining and justifying my choice on which prata will I choose.

Both same size and same flavour (Kosong or in other words Plain), obviously, I would choose Prata A.

Don’t be fooled by the look of Prata B. Looks can be deceiving. Can’t deny the satisfying look it has and cost slightly more… But still, the price is an important factor.

Probably, I’m used to buying my prata meal from Adam Road Food Centre that cost $1.20. Imagine one day if the price surge to $1.80… RIDICULOUS! And I think I will stop buying from them. Hopefully, they maintain the price because one of the stall owners have the best hands 🙂

Prata + Teh  = A simple luxury. Woots~

 

Sweet Tooth

The weather is killing me. If you are saying that the grasses are greener on the other side, come let me show you in Singapore. The grasses are browner on this side. It dried up 😦 

Met mom at Bugis and we decided to have our lunch at Zam Zam. She felt like having Murtabak. Let’s Go! 

I totally forgot that today is Sunday. The place was packed. For my reader who do not know what is Zam Zam, it is an Indian-Muslim restaurant located at North Bridge Road just opposite the magnificent Sultan Mosque. The place offers the authentic taste of Murtabak, Prata, Nasi Briyani and many more. You won’t regret. 🙂

Lunch was satisfying and we decided to walk around the vicinity. Told mom that I wanted to look around for this shop – Threadbare and Squirrel. Found the shop at Bali Lane. Hmm… nothing caught my attention. The price… *shake head*. The quality of the shirt is quite thick. Probably, it’s worth the price with that kind of material. BUT, with this kind of weather in Singapore, you don’t expect me to wear and sweat a bucket throughout the day. Haha! Maybe I’ll consider the shop once again. 

What is lunch without a dessert? Since we are around the corner, let’s drop by at Maison Ikkoku. Located at 20 Kandahar Street. Again it’s Sunday and we waited for a seat. Not that long. With this kind of heat, we need a cool cafe badly. Our first time here. Mom loves the cafe concept. The ambience was great. The hanging old wardrobes/cupboards on the walls and ceiling gave a great nostalgia to mom as she used to grow with these antiques in the 70s and 80s. She did wonder what if the wardrobe fall off…haha oopps. *touch wood* We don’t want that happen. Just come down to the cafe and take a look for yourself. Those things defy gravity.

First stop, TOFFEE NUT CAKE. (Mom’s order)

• Freaking awesome!
• Cake is soft. Not too chocolaty. Toffee, chocolate and I think with a tinge of coffee. 
• In my opinion, this cake goes well with a Toffee Nut Latte from Starbucks. (Sadly, the cafe offer no Toffee Nut Latte) Sprinkle more of that shit on the drink to enhance both Toffee Nut flavours. Ain’t nobody got time to be stingy.

 

Next, let’s graciously welcome Salted Caramel Rainbow Cake. 

• Alright, this one I just died. Freaking Orgasmic! My sweet tooth can’t handle it. Haha!
• The cake is superbly moist. Eat, prey and fell in love. Do it all over again. 
• Unfortunately, I didn’t finish it. Too sweet la. I just can’t. 

Alright, that a wrap! Hope you enjoy this post. If you guys an interesting cafe to share in our little red dot, do drop by in the comments. Cafe-hopping seems to be the next in-thing for Singaporeans of all ages. Have a nice day!

– Dhannie Armanie.