Seafood Japanese Udon Soup Noodle

A perfect recipe for Siaopo when she is too lazy and yet need to satisfy her domestic kingdom.

She can't believe how ridiculously easy it is to make a restaurant-like Seafood Japanese Udon Soup Noodle.

Perhaps, she has gone too far on the " restaurant-like". "Home-like " sounds better.

Ingredients
1 packet of Udon Noodle (boiled)
6 fish balls
Handful of prawns
1 tbsp chicken Stocks

Garnish
Spring Onions (chopped)
Fried garlic
1 tbsp soy sauce
Dash of Pepper

Method

1. Boil a pot of water. Add in chicken stocks.
2. Put in fish balls and prawns
3. Add in cooked Udon noodle.
4. Garnish with ingredients.

Rum and Raisin Chiffon Cake

Hubby and Siaopo will both eat like a horse when it comes to any Rum and Raisin flavoured food.

Siaopo must admit, in any occasion, both fight over Rum and Raisin ice-Cream, Rum and Raisin fudge and Rum and Raisin chocolate.

Today siaopo made a huge discovery, though. Huge.

She has successfully baked Rum and Raisin Chiffon Cake. Eccellente !

It's now a proven craze in Siaopo's kitchen.

Similar method, steps and ingredients as Pandan Chiffon Cake. Replace coconut milk with fresh milk and 2 tbsp of Rum Flavoring. Fold in raisins just before pouring the batter into the tube.

Steamed Banana Cup Cake

Siaopo is back to weekend kitchen-affair after a couple of busy weeks.

There goes Siaopo's idea for the over-ripe bananas sitting in the fruit basket.

Ingredients
2 eggs
100g caster sugar
2 ripe bananas
130g self-raising flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
70g vegetable oil

Method

1. Sift flour and bicarbonate soda.
2. Beat eggs and sugar.
3. Mix mashed bananas and beat till well-combined.
4. Gently fold flour mixture and oil.
5. Pour batter into mould.
6. Steam over high heat for 25 minutes.

More visitors

For couple living abroad can be a very lonely bother at times - there's no one else around.

It's nice when some far-away Malaysian friends drop in to say hello.

Yes, more visitors.

Being visited seems to take on more meaning as it's a superb chance to introduce someone to the fair city of Newcastle Upon Tyne ! ha ha...

LM and Zac came up from London recently to stay with Siaopo and hubby for 2 nights.

LM's elder brother, Alex and hubby go back a long way. They were at High School together.

For Siaopo and hubby, it's been a joy having them around.

Hope they've had great fun too !

LM and Siaopo

@ Infamous Newcastle Millennium Bridge

Dinner at Kebabish Indian Restaurant

Fried Chicken Wings

Hubby gobbled these fried chicken wings like there's no tomorrow !

Ingredients
1 packet of chicken wings (halved )
1 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp garlic powder
6 tbsp of cornflour (coating)

Method

1. Mix coriander and garlic powder with the chicken wings.
2. Marinate overnight.
3. Heat wok with oil. Coat wings with cornflour and fry over medium heat.
4. Drain off oil on paper towel.
5. Serve with chili sauce.

Kristie's Christening Day

Ah....Siaopo's two mischievous kids.

The elder one looking after the younger one....ha ha

Ah yes, it's a scene of getting Kristie ready for her Christening Ceremony.

Siaopo was skipping with joy when the Kongs graciously asked if Siaopo and hubby would do them the honour of being the Godparents to Kristie.

Siaopo said YES immediately. She was THRILLED !

Hubby and Siaopo were gloriously honoured to have Kristie as their God Daughter.

Ecstatic, Siaopo should say, on the past Sunday. Is Kristie's Christening Day.

The Baptism ceremony for Kristie was held in Holy Trinity Church Gateshead.

It was truly a significant event for this sweetheart. The day marks the start of her journey of faith, turning towards Christ and a visible sign of God's love.

Wonderful, sweet, well-behaved Kristie tolerantly allowed the Minister to pour water on her head and making the sign of cross on her forehead.

Kristie was incredibly amazing !

Everyone was extremely impressed with the little angel's performance. Bravo!

The newly appointed Godparents

A little keepsake gift from the Godparents to commemorate the event...

Uncle, I want monies ££££ please....

Nasi Goreng Thai

It was a hectic day at work for Siaopo. Everybody in the office just wants her blood today !

How distressed she was ! Grrrr...

Simple Nasi Goreng Thai is just perfect for the night.

Ingredients
2 eggs (beaten)
1 can SPAM meat (cubed)
I packet of Seri Aji powder Nasi Goreng Thai
1 tbsp garlic (chopped)
1 onion (chopped)
2 cups of cooked rice
2 spring onions (chopped)

Method

1. Heat oil in wok. Add beaten egg and swirl it around to set like a thin pancake.
2. Slide pancake, roll up and cut into strips. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in wok. Add onions and garlic.
4. Add in seasoning and mix well.
5. Add in SPAM and and rice until everything heated through.
6. Add in spring onions.
7. Garnish with egg strips and chili.

The Child with 3D glasses ...

Siaopo has a child. It's a boy. His name is Hubby.

Three things Siaopo tells about her so-called son :

One, he possess the characteristics of a child.
Two, he adores kids TV programmes.
Three, he doesn't know how to dress himself up.

All Siaopo can say is, he drives her up the wall with his cheekiness. A mischievous child. A demon, he is.

For fact, Siaopo is generally soft, anything-goes kind of person, destined to be bullied left, right and center by this CHILD !

This so-called son of hers is a real TV junkie who watches hours of TV a day. TV made much of him.

His favorite : Cartoon.

He giggles at Pokemon, memorises the Lion King theme song and watches THE SHREK million of times !

Ridiculous, Siaopo must say.

Something new this week has enlighten this child again.

Sainsbury is giving out 3D glasses for FREE and able to enjoy the full effects of Channel 4 programme.

Here he is enjoying the 3D movies on Channel 4. He is full of joy and giggles.....

The kid with his FREE AND COOL 3D glasses

Be quick. Pick up a free pair of 3D glasses from any Sainsbury's store and Enjoy !

The Weekend...

A weekend of no cooking. Siaopo had ditch her weekend housewife role for a workshop event at Yorkshire.

Though the workshop was awe-inspiring, Siaopo can't help but think that those hands of hers are better used for chopping poultry, kneading dough, ironing clothes than jotting down notes, business networking on weekends.

Siaopo has got no career-minded aspirations whatsoever.

Sad, sad, sad.

The thoughts of ditching her career for a full-time housewife always crop up. Well, she actually felt glad to slowly welcome the vestige of the housewife inspiration to her persona. Well of course, the other side always looks deceptively greener.

Argh....Siaopo is just going through the Big-30-years old (mid-life) crisis funk !

OK, back to the trip again.

Siaopo was glad that hubby was kind enough to tag along . The driving duties of less than 2 hours - not her but him. ha ha..

The question : How did hubby spend his day while waiting for Siaopo's full-day workshop event?

The answer : Go Golfing at neary Golf course ! Yipee...

And so, Friday's free night-stay was spent in hotel in Yorkshire. Extended Saturday night's stay in Leeds and was kindly sponsored by hubby.

Siaopo and hubby managed to wander into Leeds City Center on Saturday night, had dinner at a recommended Chinese restaurant and explored into Harrogate town on Sunday mid-day on their way back to Newcastle.

Except for the fact that Siaopo had to attend workshop, and hubby had a row with the front desk hotel personnel, it was otherwise an awesome holiday . ha ha...

Leaving for workshop - "BYE . ENJOY YOUR GOLF "

Red Chillies - highly recommended restaurant

Clockwise : Sze-Zhuan Seafood Hot Pot, Fried Tofu and Stir-fry Pig's Intestine with spring onions ( hubby's favorite)

So, the food...are they good ? You bet !

German Christmas Market @ Leeds

Harrogate Town Center

Now, having missed her weekend housewife duties, Siaopo will have a tough week ahead - with evenings catching up all the cleaning, ironing, grocery shopping and .....cooking. Sigh...

Soy Sauce Chicken Wings

After few days of eating out, hubby and Siaopo are missing home cooking ! ha ha

Food Critic hubby commented Soy Sauce Chicken Wings as normal and nothing spectacular! He prefer his favorite Buffalo Wings.

Ingredients
1 packet chicken wings ( halve)
3 tbsp sugar
6 tbsp soy sauce
1/2 cloves garlic (peeled)
1 tbsp ground ginger
2 tbsp oil
2 stalks spring onions (chopped)

Method

1. Blend all ingredients above to form mixture.
2. Add the wings and marinate for 1 hour.
3. Pre-heat oven to 185 degree.
4. Place wings on baking tray and baste with sauce.
5. Bake for 20 minutes. Turn over and bake for another 20 minutes.
6. Serve warm.

Three course meal - Soy Sauce Chicken Wings, stir-fry broccoli and lotus root soup

Kristie Turns Two

The little girl turned two last weekend. She had a wonderful birthday party.

Lots of birthday balloons all over. Her wonderful mummy got up from bed just before dawn to decorate the room for her birthday celebration to surprise her. What a lucky girl!

Kristie's second birthday party was very different from her first.

On her first birthday party, she was petrified,yelling and trying to turn away from the lit candle.

On her second, she now knows what birthdays are and was smilling happily away when everyone standing around to sing her birthday song.

This sweet little angel has definitely grown up!

Aunty and uncle here hope you love the gift ya?

Yummy yummy food...

Siaopo and hubby with their best buddy..

The big TWO..

Claypot Chicken Rice ( Nga Po Fun )

Siaopo is in the final stages of recovery. Fingers crossed.

Siaopo is back to cooking mode. A simple yet delicious Claypot Chicken Rice. She cooked the rice with rice cooker instead of claypot.

Ingredients
1lb chicken (cubed)
2 cups of rice
10 Chinese mushroom (soak and slice)
1 egg

Marinate
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp Chinese wine
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp ginger juice
1 tbsp cornflour

Seasoning
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp chicken stock
1 tsp sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
300 ml water

Method

1. Marinate chicken for 30 minutes.
2. Heat wok with oil. Add chicken and mushrooms. stir fry.
   
3. Mix rice with seasoning. Put rice in rice cooker.
4. After 10 minutes, add in cooked mixture.
5. Crack egg into cooker 5 minutes before rice cooked.
6. Garnish with spring onions.

Breakie and Lunch Box

Siaopo's grateful thanks to the many wishes for her recovery. She is on her way to recovery and has return to work.

A special thanks to Alice for the miracle medication. It really does work!

The tablets has help Siaopo's whooping cough tail away in hidden silence. Ichiban !

And so, it's been a tired, sick day with no cooking affairs.

In other words, there is no home-packed lunch nor breakfast to work. (leftover dinner dishes normally for lunch box next day)

Siaopo, the bread-lover, can easily do with sandwiches.

As for hubby, the number 1 bread-hater, though, will call it a disastrous day if his food boxes turn out to be sandwiches !

And so, Siaopo settled his food boxes for simple sushi as breakfast and frozen chunk for his lunch. Easy-peasy.

TADAH !

Simple tuna/egg sushi served with wasabi.

Oh Gosh ! Siaopo need to brush-up her sushi rolling skills.

Siaopo basically chuck the BirdEye chicken breast and McCain curly fries into the oven.

So, what's next ? Just chuck the boxes into the refrigerator till tomorrow morning and guess what? No more morning rush for Siaopo ! Well organised...Yipee...

Chicken breast, curly fries, two scoop of Tesco coleslaw with cucumbers

Food for the sick.....

Monday at work was horrible in matter of fact.

Being tired, coughing and aching-throat, Siaopo have figured out that a cold, flu were on its way.

And.. Bingo ! Tuesday morning, Siaopo was sick like a dog!

Siaopo has to call in sick. She remembered the last time she called in sick was 2 years ago with the same sickness - flu, cold, chest infection, fever, sore throat and many more...

One thing for definite - all illness but AIDS. "Says Who ? Says Siaopo"! ha ha

She felt cold and shivery, weak and shaky whole day. Terrible headache hits her like a hammer blow.

She felt as if she has suffered from those incurable diseases. Much to her relief, she discovered that cold and flu are not in the list of incurable diseases by Wikipedia after googling for it over the Internet.

She has no appetite for food at all which is extremely unusual for piggy Siaopo.

Her stomach gave her a nasty flip looking at the bread, biscuits, cereal...etc. So, she ended up cooking her own yummy special congee.

Yummy yummy-the best sick recipe ever,so to speak ! ha ha

Is not fun being sick. Hope she will be up and running around again soon.

To her own disbelief, she actually miss her work just one day away from office !! What on earth is happening to her ?? What a crazy lady she is - no wonder her nick name SIAOPO came in so handy...!

Behind the Scene with Siaopo...

The Lady Behind the Scene !!!

Come on, let's meet Siaopo - the lady behind penang-siaopo's blog at her messy kitchen!

Buffalo Wings

A dish that brought back fond memories!

Cooking Buffalo Wings certainly brought back fond memories of Siaopo's University years in Buffalo City, NY.

Happy days, sad days...Siaopo misses them all !

Ingredients
1 packet of chicken wings (cut into small parts)

Marinate
2 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
Coating
120g plain flour ( sifted)
30g cornflour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Sauce
5 tbsp Tabasco Sauce
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp water

Method

1. Marinate chicken for 3 hours.
2. Coat chicken wings in flour mixture.
3. Heat wok with oil at medium heat.
4. Fry wing until crispy. Drain excess oil in kitchen towel.
5. Heat wok with little oil at low heat.
6. Add sauce mixture and fried wings.
7. Toss slightly and serve warm.