Crab Soup for the Soul.

Remember the very short and simple crab soup recipe I got from my sister last 2 weeks?

Last week I elaborate it in my own way. You see, Im not good at cooking. But I truly have this hyper complicated hard to please kind of taste buds. Every time I ate something delicious and try to cook it myself, I troubled myself with adding something more according to my taste buds demand, try to maximize the delicious taste which is already there. That's how difficult I am. That's why I am so lazy to cook. But the taste of Crab soup cooked by my sister.. calling me to cook it over the weekend just to get over my crazy crave. So I went grocery shopping after work.

My friend told me, to choose a good, crab with fat meat, I have to find a female crab with flap like the one I circled in red. So I got myself 2 fat crab and it costs me like RM 9 / USD 3

Since I don't really do authentic Malay/Asian cook in my kitchen, I had to buy a full cart of ingredient just to cook for 1. So, that's why I only do the serious cooking like.. once a year.  

Like that. 
I haven't cook a serious cook for quite a while, except for western / italian cook for the lazy, I was confused when it comes to get spring onions with chives.

See? Until I have to ask the lady at weighing scale to reconfirm it for me.

Anyways, back at home - Saturday. I don't do laundry, bath my cats or clean the house. I spend all day just to make this happen. Sigh.

So, yea, young ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon stick, fennel, cardamom, cloves and small onion.

Cut / minced all above except the seeds. Set off half of small onion and mix it with pinch of salt - fry separately, as a tasty garnish for the soup later. 

Next, to add color to your soup is - tomatoes, baby carrot, parlay parsley, spring onions and lime is to be used later after everything is done. Add to taste kata orang

Fry all the seeds till its's slightly brown. Here, I don't have time frame like cook book written by the pro chefs. I just stood there and just make a connection with the things that I cook. The smell, the color and the sound of oil crackling can tell when it is right. That's the secret cooking with your heart gitu. Haha.

Then add minced/ cut garlic, young ginger and onions in. At this point of time, the smell is heavenly. Although you still don't know how it taste like, this smell makes you feel proud of your self. Because you are able to make your kitchen/ house smell like your MOM DO!

Here's why I use young ginger. Young ginger is less bitter than old one. For those who don't like the taste of ginger when you accidentally bite it, you won't have this problem with young ginger. In fact, it taste better when you chew on broth young ginger.

Add water and baby carrot must go first. Because, it takes quite sometime to soften the carrot even it's a baby one.

Here, I add half spoon of seasoning "Pasti Sedap" as told by my sister. Im not fan of seasoning since it contains MSG. Add salt and ground pepper to taste. I don;t put any spicy ingredient into my soup because it's a healing type of meals :)

After your heart tell you it's time - put in crabs and sliced tomatoes. Simmer it for a while. Lastly, sprinkle the chopped parlay parsley and spring onion in the end.

In your sweet white soup bowl, sprinkle fried salted onion and squeeze in lime drops.

Enjoy while outside is cold raining weather  with your cats sitting beside you and try hard to put their snout in.

I wonder can I use the same method for ALASKAN KING CRAB??

:)

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Pizza Weekend and Dem DJs

I forego club attending for quite sometimes already. Not that I love to be at the club - full of smoke, the smell of alcohol, bad sound system, sucky live band who think they are all that, pervert married man looking for young girlfriend (or unhappy wife, in worst case) - Nope, there is nothing good about club really. Especially when you don't smoke and/or drink. Far from looking eligible man (yuck!, in a club? seriously).

Having a white BF didn't change anything. He hates club too. Most of so called Muslim Malays even drink alcohol more than my BF. He prefer movie and pizza over the weekends. He can sit in front of his laptop for hours as mine with my desktop. I think he loves workout & eat more than he loves me! Ha! 

Speaking about Pizza - Mike been missing his fave food (maybe homesick) since he came back from his  IndoChina trip. We've been searching for Papa John Pizza for 2 days. And yet we can't find its outlet. Seen somewhere, but totally forgot which shopping mall has it. So we settled down at Pizza Milano at 1Utama - and afer a bite, we conclude that Pizza Milano's is more like instant pizza. Like, pop out from cold storage box and heat it in microwave kind of pizza. Frustrating.

The next day the searching of good Italian pizza continues. So we found ourselves Spaghetti Grill at Mid Valley. We kind of stunned with its Wild Mushroom Pizza! Thick with alfredo sauce and cheese, and came with free pasta. Verdict: Yes to wild mushroom pizza. No to free pasta. I don't know was it because it is free or that is how they their grilled chicken pasta always taste like - dry and tasteless :(

Anyways,  was at Stage's Avenue K last weekend to watch the finale of Malaysia DJ Battle 2012. Well, Im not into scratch and mix sound either. Just R&B and Jazz, that's all for lady at my age (old) But I was there to give moral support to one of the DJ which I happen to know - since his mom is my Godmom. So, yea - that was the reason why I be able to stand among beautiful youngsters.

With DJ Blackheart

I didn't watch the Semi Final or battle before that. The finalist are A-MarQ, Aiman Jaafar, Blackheart, Kaiserkev, Pimppy Dog and Saintz Rafeal. Well, if you ask me whether I know any of their work, nope. I never heard of them until last Saturday night! In fact, I don't know any Except Blackheart. But, hey! now I knew. So now I feel like less auntie now. I'm catching up with them youngsters.

Here's a video of DJ Blackheart performance last Saturday :)

and as well as DJ Pimppy Dog. His mix made me wiggle my hip a little bit that night :)

The competition started out at 9pm, which is quite early for party goers. But by the 6th finalist, the crowd is getting heavier, so as the smoke, neon and lasers... 

  
I thanked God for not letting me to hear any Gangnam Style beat or to see those kiddos doing the horse riding move. Blessed!!!! #ihategangnamstyle

And the result - 
Art of Turntablism category won by 
DJ Tatsuro (1st) and DJ Smith (2nd)

Mixing Category
DJ A-MarQ (1st) and DJ Kaiserkev (2nd)

and by midnight, just like Cinderella, I flee to my (pumpkin) car.. the time is running out..November..than December...before my wrinkle appear more visible under neon light among these youngsters.. I was no longer feel like I belong to that club anymore. So I fled :|

Haha.

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Nothing but Ordinary March.

Im not busy, Im just lazy. There. I respect those bloggers who able to post their stuffs up like everyday, or trice a day. Oh, I forgot. They are students. Ha. No offence. My mouth just itchy.

Besides complaining every Sunday night for tomorrow is gonna be Monday, and cheering up in a break of  dawn on Friday, on Facebook, um, That’s it.. I was a little bit upset because I missed the Hot air balloon festival at Putrajaya last Saturday, 19th, due to the rainy weather. I went there, just to get wet. No colorful balloons, no cotton candy, no hot air balloon ride, no fireworks. I was looking forward to it since February! But all I got was a messy hair. I looked like a heartbroken banshee. The only nice picture I took was this alley covered by a green leafy bamboo. Taken at Alamanda, Putrajaya.

I put the title of the album like : “A short trip to Korea” on my facebook’s album and actually another friend bought it! He sent me a message and told me how envy he was. I told him that is impossible because I only got 29 pictures uploaded. It didn’t looks or sound like me in a real trip at all!

 

I met my long lost Korean friend that day. We haven’t met for almost 3 years, and here he is. All grown up. I discovered that there is a Korean shop selling all those Korean’s food at Lower ground 1Utama new wing, called Lotte Mart, too. He was running happily to the shop and showed me his favorite snacks when he was a little. And he let me try a chocolate cookies which he claimed that he never had a chance to eat when he was a little. Uh,

what an emotional purchase.

The shop also selling a homemade Kimchi! and it only costs at MYR10. I remembered how expensive a bowl of Kimchi soup costs me here. Next time I just come to Lotte Mart whenever I have a crave for Kimchi soup.

…and now Im addicted to it. I have 02 boxes in my room now :P I keep eating it like 3 pieces a day. Haha. Thanks MJ. And oh, I keep on eating at sushi King for a good cause! 1% of your total bill will be donated to Japan earthquake & tsunami victims.

*we are helping with fun eating. Heezz.

I got hundreds of Phuket pictures and story, but what the heck, Im too lazy! I will talk about it some other time though. Share the experience and tips for those who intended to start their 1st cheap so called overseas sightseeing kan.. Next post. I promise.

Here is a sneak peek :)

Oppss… Sorry!

I went out every weekends these days. I spent my whole day outside. Like starting from brunch till night. Just hang out with friend and girlfriend. Eating, movie, shopping, bitching and eating. It has been a while I don’t go out for brunch. I have trouble to wake up early until recently. It must be the collagen juice that I am taking for the past 1 month =)

 

When it comes to eateries, you should always come to the Curve, Damansara. Al fresco. beautiful set, beautiful peoples and sunshine appears more beautiful at this joint. Ha!

Oh.. this cafe is super beautiful. It makes people who step in it feel beautiful! Not many cafe or restaurant able to give such feeling! Dinner is a must! We really spent one whole day at the Curve. Come here for a  shot. I guarantee you, you will look beautiful! or, feeling beautiful, at least. hehe

Hey, I just bought this fake glasses to get a nerdy look. Sabar je la eh…

and loves that candid shot. Cheeky!

Life can never be too empty when you have friends like mine. Someone told me that I have more good friends than most people do. I don’t know, I don’t have many friends. But whoever I have with me now are the best. It’s not the quantity that matters I guess. I’ve known them for many years, one, two of them since primary school, but mostly were from University. I have only few friends who are really willing to laugh and cry with. An extended family, separated before down to earth or whatever you want to call it. One or two of them really hold my darkest secrets. Flaws and mistakes brought us closer, we grow together in finding the meaning of essence of life. It’s very hard for me to open up to a new people, even just for a small friendship. I need to fall in love even for a friendship. It is love that keep us together all along.

** we manage to meet up only night time due to super busy life. Haha.

Well, maybe me and my girls don’t have the best man and love in our life unlike some other lucky girls out there. But we are the luckiest to have each other.

“Maybe our girlfriends are our soulmates and guys are just people to have fun with.” ~Sex and the City

XOXO.

 

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Australia: I love autumn in Melbourne. You should too.

Bila nak habis da…

This time Im posting a slightly huge ass photo so that you could ‘almost’ feel like you were there. Can? Theehee..

Also summing up all photos on my 5th day trip cuz Im getting the feeling that my post about Melbourne and its picture is getting moldy.

And even they are moldy, the memories stay as if just happened to me yesterday. Still remember the smell of fat roses along Brunswick streets, easy crisp autumn breeze (even fresher than aircond room here in Malaysia) and the taste of creamy chai latte which can never be found anywhere …



#1
Blooming roses were everywhere, in Harry’s neighbor fences. I just pulled them bent to me and smell them as much as I wanted.

 

#2
Passes by graffiti walls at Brusnwick st.

 

#3
I don’t know what is the story behind this art

 

#4
My 1st experience taking train to the central! He hu.

 

#5
Alaaa.. dalam komuter, LRT.. tak le sibuk nak bergambar kan.

 

#6



#7
You will passes by many popular landmarks sight from north to central Melbourne like Etihad Stadium  Eureka Tower and Crown Casinos.

 

#8
People looking at me while I took this picture. They must be like “ damn.. another tourist who took picture of everything including lamp post.”





#9
my homesick started to kicking in on my 5th day in Melbourne. I kept whining to Harry that it will be nice if I can eat rice, malaysian curry or nasi lemak..

 

#10

Wish granted!  - HAPPY OR NOT???

 

#11
When it comes to local foods, yep, Im very, merry picky. But at this moment, I think that was the best chicken curry in the whole world!

 

#12
and this is Harry’s.. rendang beef with Singha beer for lunch? Yuck!

 

#13
and Miss Nina’s Ginger Chicken with Bak choy. She’s so hungry (and misses the rice too much) till she skipped the food photograph session.

 

#14
Can u smell this spanking new cute red boots?
 
The weather gets chilly and windy, so I bought this pair of Paul Frank’s red boots. No! I didn’t intended to get people’s attention with this candy bright color oke? It’s for Harry & Miss Nina to spot me a mile away in case I lost them! Thee hee..

 
Initially I wanted to get myself a UGG boots. Too bad those which available in Melbourne were designed for winter season – thick & bulky. They do not have the cardigan (crochet) type like in USA. And Harry keep on reminding me from time to time..even 1 month before the trip -  that he don’t want to be near me if I wear UGG boots! I said to him that Megan Fox, Sienna Miller were seen wearing UGG boots, what’s wrong with that? “It is so hillybilly! don’t copy those stupid American, to us UGG boots is the UGGliest piece”

WTF? – UGG boots company, please sue Harry for such statement can?


 

#15
Tummy full, ‘foodhomesick’ healed, comfy new red boots, so I am ready to comb every streets in Central Melbourne.

 

#16
…ah, another cute graffiti. I was told that graffiti is illegal in Melbourne, but I almost believe that, it was  permitted to make one of the main attraction in the city! Cuz it were everywhere!  and easy on the eyes.

 

#17
I hardly see car smokes in here as if I can walk without my contact lens on because everything is very clear to my sight. And you can see people cycling in town for leisure & to work. If in KL, confirm mati kena langgar on the spot dekat traffic light. Tak pun, mati due to suffocation of car’s smoke. Anyway, 1 thing I’ve notice.. people still look stylish and very urban cycling in the middle of the city in Melbourne or London.. but not to Asian country ya? Why??

 

#18
See? This is what I got from my Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam) visit. Looks very laoya right? Was it because they do the ‘threesome’ cycling ey?

 

#19
Some church along Swanston street. I don’t remember the name of it.

.

#20
State Library Victoria. Look at very healthy loafing activity in front of the building. If u take a closer look, they are really reading some books and doing a group discussion. Healthy environment. No wonder thousand of Asians migrate to this city to raise and school their kids.

 

#21
Cute wrought iron bench along the street

 

#22
Edgy statue. Kalau raksaksa lalu ni kan.. berdarah kaki dia tersandung ni.

 

#23
Royal Melbourne Institute Technology University (RMIT) in the center of Melbourne. Look at the unique facelift of  the building which reflects its reputation in art and aeronautical engineering.

 

#24
According to the QS world university ranking, RMIT university is ranked at number 10 among 100 university in Australia, offering 700 programs ranging from boring, dry courses as Accounting to out of this world, Aerospace.

 

#25
Every block's design is different from another, maybe it was designed according to its three academically contextual colleges - "Business" , "Design and Social Context" and "Science, Engineering and Health"


 

#26
oh, if u looking for HardRock in Melbourne, be ready with your carabiners and harness - because it's not a Bistro pub, but a rock climbing club. Haha.. what a healthy city.

 

#27
Lucky that Im in a very comfortable boots. I suggest that whoever come to Melbourne do get yourself a comfortable pair of shoes because u will do a lot of walkings and sightseeing. Your gorgeous branded stiletto won't serve its function very well here unless you come here to eat food, shop your 2nd hand branded handbags and fly home.

I mean, get yourself a calculator girl, no matter how cheap those branded stuff outside Malaysia, but by taking your flight ticket, accommodation cost, luggage charge and time into a consideration, the price will be the same as you get in Pavillion or KLCC doorstep. If those latest designs are unavailable in our country - online shopping la.

You are not a descendant of Lim Goh Tong or Prime Minister's wife, go abroad just to do shopping spree. If u love to do that so much, go apply a job as a purchaser lo. *vomit*

“Wealth is of the heart and mind, not the pocket” ~ Billionaire Boys Club.




#28
Melbourne City Baths - where you can find gymnasium, personal trainer, swimming pool and lessons, Spa & Sauna, Massage, Fitness class, Tennis & football court in one place.

 

#29
Taking picture of my boots while waiting for Miss Nina photo shooting session with Harry.

 

#30
Harry showing the specimen of car park saman.

 

#31
Very victorian police station entrance.

 

#32
Strolling around behind State Library of Victoria.

 



#33



#34



#35
Argghh.. too many places, so little time. Autumn in Melbourne made day shorter than night. It starting to get dark at 5.30pm =(
 
Lookie! Tram Restaurant behind! Been there, done that!

 

#36
We skipped China Town for today, and we went there the next day after our winery tours in Yarra Valley

 

#37
The First Federal Parliament building. So boring.

 

#38
ahh. this is much better with the sight of my red boots in it. haha.

 



#39



#40
Cute doggie crossing the street.

 

#41
"Two things stand like stone: kindness in another's trouble, Courage in your own" ~ Adam Lindsay Gordon. Well, Im not into history, so if u want to know who the heck is Adam Lindsay Gordon is, read  it HERE.

 

#42
Adam Lindsay close shot.

 

#43
Victoria - where carriage meets yellow cab. You can find fine 5 stars hotel called Windsor here. All buildings architecture situated along this spring street (East Melbourne) were similar -  very victorian, from parliament house to treasury building to hotel as well as its shop lots.

 

#44
The day is getting darker, and we finally set our foot into The Treasury Garden, located in front of old treasury  buildings.

 

#45
Nina & Harry playing hide and seek.



#46
Old Treasury building? it looks very new to me.

 

#47
My other favorite pose  - "A Tree Hugger" of showing how much I love and appreciate vegetation. Harry says : "WWF will not take u as their ambassador just by looking at your tree hugging picture girl."
oh, what the hell...

 

#48
I only managed to take this picture few minutes before the sun lights were totally off. I wish I reach there sooner like at 3pm.. so that I can capture more gorgeous colorful picture of this garden.

 

#49
Candylike!

 

#50
Then we continue our night walks to Fitzroy Garden. It is much more beautiful than Treasury Garden but, too bad I can't show you how beautiful it is...

 

#51
Captain Cook's cottage. I didn't bring my tripod.. so this is the result of my night shot without flashes. I've noticed that the door and window frames of this cottage are very small.. was he a midget? You should come here before 5pm in order to see what's inside this cottage and see an idea of life in the 1700's.

 

#52
We were searching for this for quite sometimes, in the dark, reading signs & direction just to see..this? I mean.. I was expecting something like fireflies hanging around the tree, leprechaun, dwarfs, gnomes and pookas dancing underneath .. because I never did a research about Fairies Trees in Fitzroy Garden until Nina mentioned it to me.

 

#53
It turned out that it is only a Red Gum tree stump, carved into not so lovely shapes of fairies families. I only appreciate that this stump is more than 300 years in age, but not the carvings. Boo!

 

#54
This little model of Tudor village is located right in front of lame Fairies Tree stump. It is a gift from 7 year old boy, Edgar Wilson - of saying thanks for sending food to Britain during WWII. Really..?? hmm it makes sense since Lego wasn't invented yet during WWII

 

#55
Ya.. This maybe cute, but this 'sights and attractions' in Fitzroy Garden was so overrated. And none of those visitors and website ever mention about the real attraction in Fitzroy Garden at night until I discovered IT myself!

 


#56
A wild, cute POSSUM! They are everywhere! fat, fluffy, wide round eyes, stand on its two feet. I mean, it is very hard to see a wake up koalas, so a standing wild Possum can be a very nice substitute la.

 

#57
I baited it with a piece of leaf so that I can take a closer picture of it and it worked! The possum sniffed that green thingy and...

 

#58
"Nahh.. this is not food. U stupid human. No food no talk, or talk to my fat ass."
and don't want to be friends with me & gone =(

 

I was very tired and hungry.. but still we paid our last visit to Federation Square. Federation Square is the place where u can find art exhibitions, event launches, cultural festivals and more. It just nothing happen when we were there. Oppsss.. wrong day.

 





#60
We were very hungry, we could finish a whole cow that day. If u are in the same situation like us, in a chilly autumn night & hungry like a beast, I suggest u to come to Alasya Turkish Restaurant located at 555 Sydney Rd, Brunswick. This restaurant never seen empty and the crowd of people in here were so lively. (but I forgot to snap other patrons since Im too giddy due to starvation.
.
.
.
.

#61
HAPPY or NOT?

 

#62
This restaurant has 2 section, with Turkish simple embellishment - because they are selling food, not interior design ideas. We were among the earliest bird who stepped in for dinner, so there were 2-3 tables behind us still empty.

 

#63
They served us with 5 types of dips - Green one is olive cream, white one is something like hummus, sweet and sour chilly types and I forgot the other 2. Colorful!!!!





#64
I think I can be settled by scooping in all these 5 types of dip without the main course le. Siao.

 


#65
and oh the bread.. ohhhh the bread... so soft and warm.. the aroma of freshly bake bread almost made me orgasm. The taste? Out of this world! I never had a bread so yummy like this in my entire life... until.. now! I keep on stuffing this bread into my mouth until I don;t bother to wait for the main course!

 


#66
Im a salad lover, but I don;t give a damn of these colorful salad, and keep stuffing those breads on and on.

.

#67
I don't remember this eerie ball name & I don't like the looks of it!



#68
This is how it looks like inside, rice with lamb. Eeekkk.. I hate lamb.



#69
Here comes the main course. Grilled green chilly, eggplant, chicken, beef and lamb fillet soaked in olive oil and super awesome chilly sauce. OMG!!! and my stomach already filled with the bread.. how.. how???



#70
Up close shot to make u salivate. Kindly wipe your drools on your keyboard after you finish reading this post please.
 
I keep on trying to stuff in these god like heaven grilled food - 2 slices of beef and 1 slices of chicken. Then I whispers to Harry "can we pack it home?? Cuz I wanna eat this tomorrow! Tonight is very unfair.. I can't eat it all.."

 
According to Harry, it is illegal to pack unfinished food after there were several cases where people got food poisoned due to inappropriate way of storing, reheating it. and the restaurant gets the blame for it. But Miss Nina use all her PR skill power & talked to the restaurant - and yays! I can bring these home! Hehe.



#71
..and we end our day with sweet baklava and few more sickly sweet dessert.








"Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station".~ Lisa St. Aubin de Teran

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