tempura x cha soba

I think I will always like to try to make Japanese food at home, because it's healthy and pretty easy to make.

But the thing is, although it is pretty to make (in terms of the steps needed to take), the flavour will always seems off.

I think its because of the soy sauce I bought. For Japanese soy sauce, it's hard to find one which is halal or those that does not contain any alcohol. /the challenge is real/

The ones without alcohol are the one that taste weird. Like seriously, the soy sauce I'm using now is soy based and it is so thick and strong, even when diluted it still taste strong. I'm not sure if that is supposed to be good or not. And it does not taste anywhere near Kikkoman's lovely soy sauce.

/first world soy sauce problems/

Food-venture and University food

I go back to Singapore every week from KL, so there's always room for some adventures and new food discoveries.

 Like this.

 It's nice though. Really nice! It's sweet! It's like a better version of ondeh ondeh.
Or oneh-oneh (as my Chinese friends called it).

And not forgetting, the new or variety of food that my University has.

Like this...err I forgot what is it.
Claypot something....

Quite cheap and it's nice!!!



I'm not suspicious of food most of the time, but recently, I am. After episodes of food poisoning and stomach discomfort from the food eaten in Malaysia. (;_;). How I wish that's not the case!

Stomach! GANBATTE!

MUFE Adventure.

For a countless number of times, I've helped out at MUFE by lending my face to their students to practice their makeup skills on. In return, I get make up vouchers. Not bad of a deal I'd say, I get quality makeup at a cheaper rate, their product ain't cheap out there and I'm an addict for makeup but I don't like using low-end products despite being a peasant.

Once, I helped them out at their relatively new academy. To my surprise, there was only one student during that time. It's good for the student but awkward for me. But it was good, their teacher is a sweetheart so I don't mind. Normally, there'd be more than 3 students per batch. Small class, always have been.

Okay, their new academy is in town, their no longer premise used for teaching (still in use but as a shop), was also in town. But this time, it's on the skirts of town rather than being in the centre of town, so it's a bit harder for us to find food for lunch.

That being a one-on-one class is good because the future make up artist would talk to me (or maybe she's the only who's really nice), so we talked a lot with or without the teacher. And she asked for out for lunch, dont get me wrong, but most of the time when I'm helping, I'd be having lunch by myself (loner by default), so I was really thrilled.

She bought me to lunch at a cosy cafe right beside the academy. And then it struck me that...I need to draw out money, because....we're eating in a quiant place in town, it ought to cost more than 10 dollars. I had 20, and I'm the type who prefers to have spare cash even after spending it on neccessaties. I'm torn, but I'm like to hell with it, and just go in the shop with her.

Ordered a grilled/smoked salmon sandwich, (because it's a cafe, and it didn't bear any sign of y'know, it being halal otr not, there's lots of angmoh's so yeah guess not, and mind you, I'm working on this aspect of mine). So, going for fish is safest and salmon is the only fish in the menu, and salmon being salmon, it's a wee bit expensive. So damn. But I ordered anyways.

The dish came, with some chips and salad on the side, and oh my god, that's the nicest combi I've ever tried. And the nicest salad at that, they sprinkled sunflower seeds on the salad, brilliant, tastes so good.

So we talked a lot over lunch as well (didn't know I had this in me, but I guess its the company I'm in, with clicked and most didn't ha). She's an adult like super adult, with kids and stuffs, so I'm surprised as well.

Our meal ended and we asked for the bill.

Normally, I'd be fumbling for my wallet and fumbling with my money. Fumbled for a bit till I get the amount right. She didn't, she whipped out a fifty and settled both of our bills, and says that it's on her. Like omg how cool is that.

From that day on, I wish and envisioned myself to be like that once I become a super adult.

God, I find inspiration in the weirdest of situation.

 Anyways, the drink I ordered is super nice too.

After that i went straight to school, because I'm supposed to be involved in TP's orientation. so lul. Forgive my priorities. Vanity first.

 The make up for that day.

 Love the lipstick.

 And ostrish eye lash. She 's rich I'd tell you, she used the REAL MUFE fake eyelashes. Most people just buy an off-brand lash and would take it and use it on others. (they cleaned it first of course).  But not her, so omg. And those MUFE eyelashes don't come cheap.

Thanks, to her, I have 2 MUFE eyelashes fitted for my eyes. haha

 Went to school straight because I'm super late.
Late I am.

So I joined HSSFO and learnt how to ride a pennyboard.

 Step.

I'd love to have one....another thing to put in my wants list then.

Ha.

Tupai laut.

Les vacances dernier, I had this for lunch.

It's a self service kind of lunch where you pick what you wanna eat. In Malaysia, everything is basically the same as in Singapore (food-wise), so I was looking for something local, like something special to that region (Sabah).

And I saw this.
It's sea weed.
So weird.

Seaweed in Malay is Rumpai Laut, or was it rumput laut?
I don't know, but i am known for having hearing difficulty, I heard the cashier saying its tupai laut, when I asked her what's this.

Tupai laut means, sea squirrel.

I'm like what the hell, is it sandy or something?

So I took some and had a few.

It taste...weird. Maybe it has to be cooked longer? Since its sea stuff, it taste very...umi.

And I dipped it in chilli, when I thought its soya sauce since its totally black with no chilli residues.
MAN THAT TASTE REALLY WEIRD.

Spicy sea.


Didn't finish it.

End of story.

Steam boat

One of my wishes to be able to make/cook/prepare a really good steamboat, I've always seen really good, salivating-worthy steamboats on the telly or people's feed. Although, most of which are Chinese/Korean/Japanese style (equates to non-halal, pork present hot water party).

So yeah, I really would liek re-create those yummy dishes, I mean, the Chinese always has this yearly steamboat fest with their family or friends. I've tried doing some on my own and with my friends, but damn, we're nowhere near nor close to the original Chinese standards, ours still look yummy or nice, but presentation wise and after a few minutes of cooking....it just....don't look nice. Disorganized even.

 I think a key factor to such unpassable steam boat is because we don't do this often enough, despite researching on how to make it as authentic or lively as possible before attempting a steam boat.

I also guess it's because, it's not in our culture to hold such a banquet.

 What's a Malay style feats? Hmm, I don't know. Main dish plus side dish and rice and more rice? I don't know. My family don't go for feast. We eat modestly. (right)

 I picture steamboat to have lots of meat or seafood, like those being portrayed in the media, well the 'boat' is boiling hot and you would just swoosh your sliced meat in it to cook it and its done. And you put things in and take it out shortly after.

 And I believe the authentic steam boat don't really have lots of processed seafood in it aye?
We're still students, so...we can't afford much.

ONE DAY.

 Is it passable enough?

Not yet.

I don't think so

 Anyways, we had fun while at it, so I guess that's the only thing that matters.

 I arranged those meat and fish slices.
Maybe I am too hardcore in being ideal.

But meh.

Honestly, I don't like it if there's too much processed seafood.
I guess I am more of a raw fish and raw meat kinda person.

Although...by going raw...it will inevitably incur more cost.

Instant popcorn

That is not paryicularly nice,

Because...


its butter-flavoured.

BUT

There were no caramel.

Do Americans really like their popcorn white and tasteless?
I don't get it man.

So,

What I did was to add sugar in it, to  caramelized it, and it pretty much does the trick.

The popcorn taste better and that trick saved the popcorn from going into the trash too soon.

And I might also just add a teeny bit of honey, I think.

Ramadhan is coming...

 which means, I get to have this as dessert on most days~!
Its not like I can't get it at other time of the year. But, yeah every time its ramadhan, this fits the bigger picture.

What's this?

Pistachio!

This is a type of Arabic sweets.
It's like ice-cream but its not cold. Yes, literally.

It is called Halawa, and halawa literally means sweet.


I am not a fan of ice-cream, thus this is the thing for me, its sweet yet not overpoweringly sweet.
I swear you won't get sick of it or nauseous even after eating spoonfuls after spoonfuls.


Yum yum indeed.

Some time ago...

 I made this for lunch, put the ham in to make it more...cheery.
But the tomatoes did a good job on that.

This reminds me,

I'm not as healthy as before.
Whatever happened?

I put an ounce of the blame on blue cheese, horrid taste it had.
Non of this part pertains to my wrap though, in my wrap, I used lovely lovely feta cheese.


Well...

That was random.









ANYWAYS,


I got my blog layout changed, actually no, blogger forced me to change into their newly developed skin/layout.
My header's picture is an old old old photo back when I was still...new to jrock/visual-kei.
That's Lolita23Q.

Anyways again,
I got a hard time finding a suitable music player, since the one I was using all this while couldn't seem to work.
And, I change the music on my blog after SO SO SO long.

Not sure if my taste just got better, but it's Jeffree Star!
and


I LOVE HIM TO BITS.


Bang your head, break your neck!

a comparable bakery.

 Paul at Ngee Ann city~


Saw this bakery from a magazine, paid them a visit because they said that this is a legit french bakery.

Anyhoos,

I feel their croissant is okay, like mah mah , but!
their chocolate croissant is super delicious~!

Price wise...uh abit on the expensive side.
Well, seeing their location and reputation.

something i abstain from...

or somewhat avoid is meat.

Here's the inside scoop:

I took Health Psychology as an elective and one of the individual work was to come up with a health changing behavior.

So i chose something that has relation with food or diet rather than healthier living, exercise. With exercise... I know that I won't keep to the routine/rule/or whatever but! with food, I fare much better in terms of discipline.

Hence, I voluntarily chose to become a Pescetarian. Pescetarian is a type of vegetarian but they include seafood into their diet.
Personally, I do have the plans of being a vegetarian maybe in the super far future, so this project is a milestone, a stepping stone to that plan being a reality.

BUT DAMN!

My mom was not totally into the no-meat-no-chicks idea.

Though the project has ended, I am still continuing this newly adopted diet of mine, from my extensive research (prior and during the project), I find this diet very beneficial!










^^^^
Above,

Is one of my last heavily meaty meal, I can't avoid that one, it was at my family's close acquaintance's social gathering.

Today's Hachi picture of the day...

(-ω-｀ )=3 meep meep. 

Hachi is eating.