Spicy Prawn Spaghetti

Since I didn't go grocery shopping I had limited ingredients to really whip up anything!!! I remembered I had prawns in the freezer and spaghetti stored in the pantry so I whipped up this delicious spicy prawn spaghetti!! It only takes about half an hour to whip up ...its quick, easy and very tasty!

This will serve about 4 people

Spicy Prawn Spaghetti

You will need:

• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1 pack of thick spaghetti
• 20 prawns (divide 5 for each person)
• 1 onion diced
• 2 cloves of garlic
  
• 1 - 2 tbs of sambal oelek relish
  
• 1 - 2 tbs of tomato paste
• pepper
  
• herbs (mint, parsley, basil etc)
  

Instructions:

Firstly in a pot, cook pasta according to directions or until al dente and drain

In a pan, add olive oil, garlic and onion and saute. Add prawns. Cook the prawns until it changes colour. This will take about 1 minute each side. Remove the prawns. You do not want to over cook them.

In the same pan, add the spaghetti, sambal oelek relish, tomato paste and pepper. Mix through until the sauces coat the spaghetti. And add the prawns to heat through again.

Divide spaghetti and 5 prawns on each plate. Garnish with herbs and serve immediately

Eid-Al-Adha Celebration

A couple of days ago I was invited to a lunch celebrating Eid-Al-Adha عيد الأضحى which is in Islam - Festival of Sacrifice. The day is elebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eid_al-Adha). And I think they sacrifice a goat too during that celebration.

Going to the lunch was a pretty good experience for me. I was greeted by Muslim women - some wearing hijabs and some wearing traditional Indonesian outfits. The food was so different I needed to try every bit of it! The food looked different from what I cooked and surprisingly it wasn't really spicy at all! I really enjoyed the Beef Rendang which wasn't too spicy and the beef was so tender and juicy! Since it was halal it was so fresh!! And I had a lot of other things but I don't know what their names were lol.....I had the women that cooked the food repeated the names of the food again and again but still I forgot! lols.

Some pics (taken with my really old point and shoot camera):

The food inside. There was more outside!

Beef Rendang. I think this was the best out of all the dishes I tasted.

Coconut chicken. And see the white parcels? Those are rice blocks. You cut them up into cubes and you eat it with beef rendang. But I rather it with just steamed rice.

Cold jelly cup. This was just plain milk mixed with palm sugar and canned fruit like lychee, logan, jellies etc.

Assorted cakes - cassava cake, glutinous peanut rice cake, pancake with peanut chocolate paste and pandan cake which I am familiar with.

This is spicy fish with peanuts. Pretty fishy and salty!

Overall, I had a good day and it was a good experience too see how Muslims celebrate their religion. Lots of food, drink and conversation. I enjoyed it. At the end of the lunch the woman gave away pretty much all the food! That was a bonus! I didn't need to cook on Friday night! I think I am going to make the Beef Rendang it tasted pretty good!

Che Choui (Banana Coconut Tapioca/Sago Pudding Dessert)

 Hello! Thank goodness it's a Friday!! I was meaning to post this up the other day but I was too busy getting ready for the Britney Spears Australian Circus Tour the other night and too tired to do anything afterwards! I had a wonderful night! I got the ticket from my long time friend as an early xmas present! She's such a sweetie! As for now as a small thank you gesture I made her: Che Chuoi (Banana Tapioca/Sago Pudding Dessert) and a dozen of the Porteguese Custard Tarts.


Che Chuoi or Banana Coconut Tapioca/Sago Pudding Dessert is a popular Vietnamese dessert usually sold by street vendors in Vietnam as a cool quick snack. Here you will find this dessert in front of the counter at most Asian grocers. You will find these fresh warm desserts on Saturday morning but then when cooled it will set and go thick instead of a smooth runny consistency like custard when hot. The dessert is usually sprinkled with granulated roasted peanuts and roasted sesame seeds. Other toppings may include sliced mango, pineapple or fresh fruit but personally I just like it simple!!! You don't want to mix too much stuff in it otherwise you can't taste the main ingredient - the bananas. The ingredients are minimal. You only need a few.


Che Choui (Banana Coconut Tapioca/Sago Pudding Dessert)
Serves 6 to 8 people.

Ingredients (you can get these at the local Asian Markets e.g. Inala, Sunnybank or even Woolworths! Sago is in Woolworths in the pudding/canned fruit aisle)

• 1 cup tapioca pearls (or sago too)
  
• 1 to 2 cups for water
• 3/4 to 1 cup of white sugar
• drop of vanilla essence
  
• 1 can (400g) of coconut milk
• 3 bananas sliced side ways (you can use any banana's but lady finger's are preferred)
  
• extra water

Instructions

The first step is to place the tapioca pearls in a bowl or plastic container and cover with water for at least 1 to 2 hours. It should double in size and fluffed. After 2 hours, in a pot add a bit more water and cook the pearls on med high heat. It should look transparent and feel jelly or gummy. Don't over cook cause it's still going to be cooked in the coconut milk.

the tapioca pearls should change from solid colour to transparent and double in size.


the tapioca pearls cooked - should look transparent and feel gummy

Secondly, mix in the coconut milk, sugar, vanilla and put low to med heat until you see bubbles coming up. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Then add the sliced bananas into the mixture and cook for another 5 minutes or less until you smell a banana aroma. Be careful not to break up the bananas otherwise the pudding will look mushy. Leave for about 15 minutes.

Lastly, leave to cool and eat warm sprinkled with peanuts and sesame seeds.

You can have it cold as well. It's refreshing and cool for summer. I like ladle the pudding into individual plastic Chinese takeaway containers and pop them in fridge for 2 hours. When cooled the consistency of the pudding gets thick soft jelly like consistency and not runny when hot.

cold Banana Tapioca Pudding Dessert topped with peanuts and sesame seeds.

Easy wasn't it? You should try it! I know most Asian desserts look ugly but hey it tastes great! Better than a chocolate bar!

Kim Lan Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant @ the Valley, Brisbane

Kim Lan Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant @ the Valley Brisbane is one of the best Vietnamese / Chinese Restaurants I have ever been to. My first step into this cosy little restaurant was back in the old days while I was still a student attending QUT. Every single Friday my friend and I would treat ourselves to cheap and tasty meals here. We made it a permanent ritual. It's not far away from the City (5-8 minute bus ride) and within student budget, we could order a main meal and a dessert! I think costing me about under $13 at the time. They always keep their prices low to suit everyone! The restaurant is only about a 5 min walk from Brunswick Station too! So it is pretty convenient.

The restaurant is tucked away in the inner street.
photo courtesy of truelocal.com.au

When you walk inside, you will feel a nice relaxed atmosphere, turquoise walls, traditional paintings and onto the side a big mirrored wall so you can check yourself out (lol) while waiting to be served and your order to arrive. You can either buy your drinks but often they will give a complimentary black tea or cold water. Which is great! Music played in the background would be typically Chinese music (I have never heard any Vietnamese) like Jay Chou, Twins, and Andy Lau. The service is efficient and friendly. Ever since dining in this restaurant there is no problem of service. Well except one waitress that worked there who was pretty impatient and never smiled but the good thing is that she is not there no more!

I usually order the barbeque duck or pork with steamed green vegetables on the side with soy however, the pho and the deep fried ice cream always gets me!

Best Pho in the Valley!

This is the best pho in the valley! It's pretty almost like the Thanh Phu's Pho. This one is a lot deeper in flavour and darker in colour and it's usually loaded with more broth. Served with the meal is the usual - fresh garnishes like thai basil, mint and lime. Sauces include fresh chili, hoi sin and chili sauce. I would be so full after this meal but.....I always have room for this delicious fried ice cream with my favourite topping - Caramel! When served it's hot, buiscuit-y, coconut-y and crunchy. One bit into it you will find yourself indulging into the caramel saunce, into the warm sweet top layers with the rough crunch and then slowly devouring into the cold vanilla ice cream. Oh I am in heaven!

Best deep fried ice cream

I am thinking going back here again. I haven't been since finishing university! I know a long time ago. The food is cheap, the service is quick, the music sounds good to my ears and they have the best fried ice cream and pho here!

If you want to get here I recommend to catch public transport because if you are thinking of just going to dine don't drive the car cause there is no free parking unless finding off street parking which will take ages to find! Park is I .. think $10 to park at the parking lot since I last been there.



Overall rating:

Affordability: CHEAP!
Eftpos/Credit card: Mastercard, Eftpos, Cash, Visa

Food: 8
Ambience: 6
Service: 8.5
Value: 9

Open: 7 Days Lunch and Dinner
Menu costs: Mains under $20
Takeaway: Yes

Address:
Shop 5, 12 Duncan St, FORTITUDE VALLEY, QLD, 4006
Phone (07) 3852 1878




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