Recipe: Beef Rendang... and other happenings

I threw away my old hairbrush the other day, a brown wooden stalwart my mum had given me when I was about 15, to replace my previous hairbrush (a pink Little Five Stars cartoon nylon bristle cutie for kids). I never replaced it, even though it gained a few broken bristles over the years, because for me, a hairbrush was purely functional. So long as it got rid of tangles and kept my hair presentable, I was happy to use it.

But now I'm 31, a different person, and yet the same. I still like my hairbrushes functional, but my idea of "functional" has changed. I don't know where I picked up my taste for the little things in life - it's the type of quiet metamorphosis that only time can wrought. So...

My new Mason Pearson nylon/bristle brush

Moving on to my next topic (and admittedly exercising tenuous artistic licence here) may I say that it's the same with beef rendang - this quiet metamorphosis. Beef rendang can be described as a slow reverse braise. Imagine the meat transforming in its braising liquid over hours on the stove, its muscle-holding collagen slowly melting, the coconutty liquid slowly evaporating, the spices blossoming into a heady fragrance. For a long time, nothing exciting happens - the stew-like thing bubbles away obliviously, everything is calm. Then, suddenly, when almost all the liquid has gone, something magical happens. A clear shiny orange film begins to separate, and the spice-clad chunks of beef, tenderised by the hours, are left browning in their own oil. Metamorphasis, I tell you.

This recipe is adapted from Molly Steven's excellent tome on All About Braising, with several tweaks from home:

Update: New batch

with new Le Creuset cocotte (13th July 2007)

Beef Rendang

(sorry my guests were so hungry I didn't get to take any pics! But will attempt again some time this week... watch this post!)

Paste:

6 chilli padis (the small ones), chopped coarsely

2 lemongrass stalks (remove the outer woody layer), chopped coarsely

4 shallots, chopped coarsely

3 garlic cloves, chopped coarsely

2.5" ginger, chopped coarsely

2" tumeric (the tumeric found in England tends to be quite skinny, so I use 3x 2" roots), chopped coarsely

2" galangal, chopped coarsely

5 candlenuts (buah keras)

pinch of coarse salt

Braise:

1kg beef shank + 0.5kg brisket

2 tbsp oil

3 star anise

5 cardamon pods

2 cinnamon sticks

1 1/2 tsp sugar (or slightly more if you like your rendang sweet)

salt

1 can coconut milk (or as needed)

4 kaffir lime leaves (optional)

~ * ~

1. Grind all the paste ingredients in a food processor, adding 2-3 tbsp of water if too dry. The result should be a yellow paste with no fibrous bits in it.

2. Heat oil in a heavy bottomed pot (I use Pyrex or Le Creuset). Fry paste for about 8 minutes until it appears a bit glossy. Throw in the star anise, cardamon and cinnamon. Stir a few times to let the spices blossom. Then add the meat and mix, coating the meat evenly with the paste.

3. Add enough coconut milk to cover the meat, and season with sugar and a generous pinch of salt. Stir to blend everything - the liquid should turn a pale yellow. Bring to a gentle simmer and braise on a very low fire, uncovered, for about 2.5 hours. Stir occasionally, making sure that the simmer remains quiet (no torrent of bubbles). If necessary, take the pot away from the fire for a while till it "calms down" before returning it to the fire.

4. The liquid will darken as it cooks. When the liquid reduces to a thick paste, stir in the lime leaves and continue braising. Soon, a film of oil will separate out from the paste. When this happens, the beef will fry in its own oil until it is browned. This should take another 45 mins-1hr, stirring more frequently.

5. The result is a dry braise, chunks of beef with the aromatic and exotic paste clinging to each piece. Garnish with coriander and/or thinly sliced red chillis.

Serves 4-6.

A spicy prelude to ngoh hiang (Peranakan spring rolls), briyani, goreng pisang (deep fried bananas) and films like '10 Things I Hate About You', served with bucketfuls of conversation and laughter.

Update: Leftovers (from 13th July)

roll of ngoh hiang I fried on the Wednesday next

Weekend is here!

The state flower of Kansas

Am riding on a high at the moment, having just submitted around 18,000 words that make up the first chapter of my thesis. Woohoo! Still one bit to write up, but otherwise it's DONE.

Plus, I made it to church tonight. Anna and I had a drink and a long ride home together afterwards, which was very nice indeed.

Will write more over the weekend.

I'm alive

Blurry mobile phone photo:

Steak au poivre, with crispy roast potatoes, and mushroom risotto that I whipped up last night

- there was also a green salad with vinaigrette

Been very very very very very busy at work. But I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 1st of June, 1st of June. One more week. Will get there. Otherwise, head above water, still talking to God.

Weekend, posted Monday night

Lava cake

picture from stonewallkitchen

- unfortunately we were so eager to eat the cake I forgot to take any pics!

It's Sunday morning. I've just woken up and my entire body aches from basketball yesterday. Gee, the boys sure are committed to their game - defence defence! this is how you block! just throw the ball! *push* keep to your zone! (ok, I didn't think it was very gentlemanly to push me, but that was someone else from another team) At one point I did feel like crying, but I don't think that would have gone down very well with the men. So I decided instead to to kill myself on the court. And now my name is down for another b-ball session next weekend. Am I a total sucker for punishment or what? Oh golly...

Saturday evening. American boy invited me and my good girlfriend, M, for a wine and cheese evening - we were going to open the bottle of rosso I had given him from Rome. There were his mum's recipe for beef enchiladas, refried beans, homemade salsa - I was tres impressed! As a surprise, I whipped up a batch of lava cakes for pudding. The aim was just to have a relaxed and enjoyable evening - good food, good friends, good conversation, good wine - what more can you ask?

Oh, and my handbag got stolen. Gone, everything. Prada wallet with cash, credit cards, drivers licence, work ID, shopping cards etc., housekeys, office keys, Tiffany swiss army knife, Bible, Mont Blanc pen, Chanel lipstick in 'Downtown', Oyster card, notebook with 2 1/2 years worth of PhD notes, Creative Muvo Slim MP3 player... Gone, everything. Was surprisingly c'est la vie, to be honest (although pained at thought of losing PhD notes - all else can be replaced). Ah well, some things to give thanks for:

- the fact that I had miraculously put my mobile phone in my jeans pocket that night (I never do that!),

- friends who offered cash and shelter (lost my housekeys, remember?),

- the kind tube man at Oxford Circus who called the control room and my destination tube station so that I could ride home for free, and

- whoever's got my handbag also has my Bible now.

Gee, this is a somewhat boring post.

Just the road and I

So proud of myself. Went running again today. I've hit a 'two traffic lights' milestone (excellent for me) and maintained it this week. haha. People say you should run at least 3 1/2 hours each week... oh golly, I've just calculated it - that's 1/2 hour everyday! Ahh... Playing basketball this Saturday!

Summary, Singapore elections

"If you care too much about Singapore, first it'll break your spirit, and finally it will break your heart." - Alfian Sa'at

I feel it. And like love, I choose to leave first, before it breaks my heart.

Levant

My lovely prayer partner, A, organised a second birthday party for me last night, together with American boy. (They had both not been able to celebrate with me last Sunday, you see, being out of town.) We went to Levant (Jason Court, Wigmore Street, W1) - a heady concoction of great Lebanese food, exotic cocktails, pulsating music and belly dancing. We did it all - baba ganouj, fattoush, hummus, grilled kebabs, shisha (not me) and more. The pics tell everything!

--> My shehrazad (tequila, lime juice, fresh mint, lychee juice... I think) in the foreground.






















-->
Learning how to do the "boob" thing.

The lovely, glamourous A

Singaporean Chicken Curry

what I had for lunch yesterday AND today...

American boy requested something authentically "Singaporean", so I cooked chicken curry with rice for Sunday lunch. Due to time constraints, I secretly opened a pack of curry paste. Hey! The only saving grace I would include is that I did lug it all the way from Singapore! Mum's home recipe will have to wait another day. Highly recommended for curry pastes is the brand, Brahmin, which can be found in most supermarkets in Singapore and, in London, I've seen it in Loon Fung supermarket (Gerrard Street, Chinatown / Alperton). This should be enhanced with a finely chopped onion and fresh red chillis, and optionally, fresh coriander. One can use coconut milk or, for a healthier alternative, fresh milk (add a few chopped fresh tomatoes for flavour).

Moreover, I had to compromise and substitute chicken pieces (skin, bones and all) with chicken fillets this time. hm.

Recipe: Easy Enchiladas

my lunch today: cheese enchiladas

I've been dying to try make enchiladas ever since American boy raved about it. Apparently they are great comfort food. So I took the opportunity to troop down to Tesco in Brixton to pick up some ingredients today (on my way to the post office, ok?). Boy, it's a hot muggy day!

This recipe is adapted from Elise.

Easy Enchiladas

8 corn tortillas (I used El Paso, which seems to be the only brand carried by major supermarkets in this country)

1 large onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup mild salsa (I opened a jar this time, El Paso again. Will make own salsa when have more time.)

3 tbsp tomato paste, dissolved in 1 cup water

1 can chopped tomatoes (This was Napolitana. Couldn't find any fire roasted ones at my local Tesco.)

600g mild cheddar, grated

1 dollop sour cream

~*~

1. Heat some oil in a large saucepan. Fry each tortilla for 2-3 seconds and transfer onto plate prelaid with kitchen roll (to absorb any excess oil). Add more oil in between if required. Leave aside.

2. Saute onion and garlic. Add salsa and stir. Add tomato paste mixture and stir. Add chopped tomatoes and stir. Taste. Add sugar if the sauce is too acidic.

3. Cover 2/3 of a tortilla lightly with cheese and roll. Place in casserole. Do the same with the other tortillas, arranging them neatly in casserole.

A batch of chilli chicken enchiladas I made a coupla weeks later

- the light in my kitchen is reeeally yellow...

4. Pour the sauce over the tortillas, making sure they are all covered.

5. Cover with remaining cheese.

6. Put in preheated oven (175 degrees celcius) for 10 minutes or until cheese melts and starts bubbling.

7. Take out of oven. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper (optional).

8. Serve the enchiladas with a metal ladle (it cuts better), with a dollop of sour cream on the side.

Recipe: Easy Eggs Benedict

What I had for brunch today - love runny eggs!

When you are working at home and have no groceries to speak of, this is what you do:

Easy Eggs Benedict

2 slices toast / toasted muffins

4 slices pancetta / bacon (I always keep a pack of pancetta in the fridge - useful for a quick spaghetti carbonara, english breakfast, or in this case, eggs benedict)

Hollandaise sauce

1 egg (I always make sure I have eggs in the fridge too. They are so useful for reasons given before... hm, a lot of my favourite dishes seem to involve runny eggs and bacon...)

1 tbsp white wine vinegar

cayenne pepper (optional)

~ * ~

1. Toast bread.

2. Fry pancetta in 1 tbsp of olive oil till crispy.

3. Hollandaise sauce. er, I opened a bottle. This was Sainsbury's. Will make own hollandaise sauce and bread when have more time.

4. Fill a small pot with 2 inches of water and bring to boil. Add vinegar. Lower fire to a simmer. Use a wooden spoon to stir until water is whirling. Crack egg in middle of pot. Leave for 3 minutes (time it!).

5. Layer toast and bacon. Remove egg from water with a slotted spoon and place on top. Spoon hollandaise sauce over and around arrangement.

6. Sprinkle with cayenne pepper for a little kick... and voila! Easy Eggs Benedict.

Nightfall

Working late in my bedroom. A glass of wine, some chocolates from last night, Takiko Kato in the background, and my solitude. Feeling peaceful, despite deadline and upcoming grad conference. Someone out there is thinking of me.

P.S. I love my pearl earrings. Thank you, mummy & daddy.

More birthday prezzies

There was Crabtree & Evelyn rose scented bath set and card from C, earrings and bangles from V, card from M, and Paul A. Young chocs from landlord (also ex-boyfriend's brother - it's a complicated thing). And I couldn't help sneak another pic or two of orchids, which I've brought home. There's occasional mobile connection in Tunisia afterall. =)

Am working at home over the next coupla days to avoid non-thesis related work distractions...

Rome - a photo essay

Porta Portese market on Sunday morning...






















A sunny afternoon in Villa Borghese...














Wandering around Piazza Navona and Campo di Fiori, and encountering the reason we are in Rome...




















Pampered at the St Regis Le Grand Hotel...
















Wandering around the Pantheon on my own, Monday morning...

Lunch at Maccheroni. Highly recommended are the bucatini all'amatriciana (tomato sauce with fried pancetta or pork cheek, laced with chilli pepper and liberally dusted with grated Pecorino romano cheese) and fried artichokes (which unfortunately had been consumed by the time this pic was taken).

Then pick up some coffee to take home at Tazza d'Oro (Via degli Organi 84) and gelato at Giolitti (Via degli Uffici del Vicario 40) on the way back. Coffee and wine make the best souveniers from Rome, I think. Also brought back two bottles of rosso from the Taurasi region and a bottle of an interestingly named bianco, Est Est Est!. Highly recommended for wine shopping is Enoteca (Via Torino 132/133).

Meeting the girls at the Spanish Steps...

Last day in Rome...

Expresso and casseta at Dagnino (Galleria Esedra, Via Vittorio Emanuele Orlando 75). Be eye-filled with a vast array of Sicilian pastries. Nice way to laze away the last day, sitting in the sun-filled atrium.

review: Foliage

Foliage, The Mandarin Oriental

I was running 15 minutes late for my own birthday lunch. C and M were already seated next to the lovely view of Hyde park (I had specifically requested a window table), and the lovely spring greens, pinks, yellows and purple tulips were waving from just outside the gracious bank of windows. L had texted earlier to say she had missed the train and would be running late, and V got a little lost but found us eventually.

I love Foliage. It is the most unpretentious restaurants I have had the pleasure to dine in, bright and tranquil, just the right venue for a girly lunch. And the set menu for lunch is an unbelievable steal - one of the best kept secrets in London, I believe. Well, there was a little scare at first, actually. Our tables had been set with the tasting menu (the more expensive one) discretely placed beneath our glass plates, causing a momentary confusion in my head. Then very calmly, I asked to see their "other menus" (including the cheaper du jour menu) and the wine list (to assure the head waiter we weren't entire cheapskates). Not a blip of change in expression, just a smile and an 'of course, madam'. How charming.

On the sommelier's recommendation, we went for a Pinot Noir - light but still robust. I had a choice of two French bottles (fruity) and a New Zealand bottle (robust), and decided it would be interesting to try a New World version. M and I also ordered apertifs - go slow on these please: the bartender mixes a pretty strong cocktail in this place!

Amuses consisted of a tomatolline (none of us liked it - fish sauce and tomato jelly don't really go), sashimi (my favourite) and rarebit. For starters, three of my companions selected the 'Veloute of cauliflower, cucumber and smoked salmon with Oscietra caviar', which they reported as exquisite with such a delightfully light touch. I had the '‘Oeuf mollet’ garnished a la Bourguignone, red wine sauce, with herbed croutons' to start - it was just totally sexy to break the half-boiled egg and watch the runny yolk melt over the bed of bacon/onion/mushroom it was resting on. L reported her 'Warm terrine of goat cheese and red pepper with herb salad, red pepper sorbet, and olive croquante' as just what she wanted and delicious.

For the main courses, all five of us went for the roast rump of lamb. What was truly surprising was how generous the portions were - I actually got two fist-sized chunks of meat! M found the lamb a bit stringy, and I agreed that the roast could have been carved more scientifically. However, the side bed of cabbage with cherry tomatoes and caramelized lemon went great with the roast indeed, I thought.

For pudding, I simply had to have the 'Bitter Valrhona chocolate tart with blood orange and cardamom sorbet', come on! I loved how the bitter-sweet of the Valrhona chocolate was balanced out by the sour-sweet of the sorbet. Together with girlfriends conversation over coffee/tea, complimentary pastries (including a blueberry macaron!), a beautiful sunny day outside, and charming service, this birthday lunch was exactly what I was looking for.

The reading in church afterwards was a wonderful experience. It truly made me very happy to be able to read God's word to so many people on my birthday. Ex-boyfriend stopped by to hand me a card for my birthday after the service. Read it on the way back. I think he meant what he wrote. We have good memories, and that's something to be thankful for. Then I thought of Aa again and texted him, but think there's no mobile reception in Tunisia. Came home, changed out of my blue dress into jeans, and met up with some colleagues in Shoreditch for some pulsating Afro music and a pint (wisely, no tequila shots). Cool place. Grabbed a lamb shish kebab - was hungry. Drizzly bus ride home. Bed.

In conclusion, a perfect birthday. I think everything has really fallen into place, and more importantly, I now have the confidence of knowing that God is always there, continually conforming us into the image of Christ. He is doing beautiful things.