Cooking with Jackie Recipe: Hainanese Chicken Rice via Rice Cooker

Well, I assume cooking is like doing laboratory work. LOL~
Just that cooking is messier than laboratory work. I don't cook. I just cook for the fun of it or to challenge myself?? ;)
Let me share with you on my 2014 project Cooking with Jackie Recipe. :P
I got inspired by my friend who tried cooking this while she's working in a rural area in the state of Sarawak. 
Anyway, I fancy how easy it is to only use a rice cooker (like a magic pot) to do all the dishes. So, no big fuss or whatsoever! wtf~ haha~

Ok, so here's the simple steps:

If your chicken is frozen, bring it out from the refrigerator to thaw it first.
This dishes need a lot of minced garlic and ginger. No exact of how many cloves you may need.
Mix 2 tablespoonful of sesame oil, 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 tablespoonful of light soy sauce into the pot with minced garlic and ginger.
Let it sit in for 10- 15 min. (this is according to my own style)

Prepare 2 cups of rice.
Wash and rinse it until you may think that the rice is good to be cooked (as usual...you know how to wash a pot of rice in general, right? I observed my mom do the washing when I was in primary school. But never done it until it's necessary :P)
Don't add to much water for this (so, reduce a bit of the water level), cause chicken fats may add additional water to the rice.
Place pandan leaves into the rice cooker and cut some ginger and add onto the rice.

Next, slowly place the seasoned chicken above the rice inside the rice cooker.
Then, press down the rice cooker button to cook it.
Your rice and chicken will be ready to eat when the button pops up.

 Additionally, for Hainanese style, you may need to prepare the ginger juice by mincing or chopping up more of the ginger and mixed with a bit of minced garlic. Squeeze 2- 3 lime juice into the mixed ginger & garlic.
As for the red chilli sauce, mince the red chilli up (3-4 red chilli, according to you) and add in a bit of minced garlic. Squeeze 3-4 lime juice to mix it. Lastly, add 1 - 2 teaspoonful of sugar to taste. 

My chicken may look a bit brownish rather than whitish in colour as I'm using a rice cooker to cook this at one shot. Usually, the whole chicken is blanched in a pot of boiling water separately.
Anyway, it smells really great (I'm not going to lie) :P. I guess it's because of the sesame oil.
Decorate with some cut of spring onions.
Your homemade Hainanese Chicken Rice is ready to be served.
My mom said not salty enough. I guess too salty is not good either. It can give you hypertension. But you could actually serve with dark sweet soy sauce together to mix in your rice.
I will just stick to my limey red chilli juice sauce, it really gives nice taste to everything. :)

Aerial look of my homemade chicken rice.

My mom is my first customer. This is her rating (at knife point~ wtf~lol~ kidding...the plate above is for her...she ate it all cleanly...so, I guess it's nice and that she was hungry too.).
I am my own second customer and my dad was the third customer.  

Coffee Smith Penang @ Maritime Piazza, Karpal Singh Drive: Dinner Time

Coffee Smith, a franchise from Taipei Taiwan has reached its shore in Malaysia. First outlet in Malaysia, Penang! (That's what I read..) Yay~ But be warned, it's the kind of Western food, not Taiwanese food :P

It has just been opened less than a month. This outlet is located at the newly named drive, Karpal Singh Drive. Therefore, even Google map has not been updated on its map direction.
Karpal Singh is the late lawyer & politician of Malaysia who is known as someone who fought for justice, for the people of all mankind, especially the poor. However, fate did not sided him much and he passed away in a freak accident. Therefore, in the honour for all his fights and kind doings, the local government renamed this whole road Sungai Pinang as Karpal Singh Drive.
Coffee Smith is situated at ground floor of Maritime Piazza, in which it is directly overlooking parts of the Penang Straits Malacca sea.

Persiaran Karpal Singh in Malay language or Karpal Singh Drive in English.



Coffee Smith fully lighted signboard at outside of its coffee shop. So, you won't miss it. It's also at the corner unit.

The lighted ceiling clock at the walkway. Impressive and unique!

Maritime Piazza. The cylindrical lightings at the roof shining straight to the sky looks amazing, as if someone is calling for Batman. LOL~

          The Coffee Smith menu  in a newspaper form.    
         

Looks like one is reading the newspaper, right? 

The internal cafe surroundings.

Pouring the lil' teapot, fat and stout *sings I'm a lil' teapot, fat & stout*

Rose Fruit Tea @ RM15.00 a potty for two cups.
#fragrant #flavourful #healthytea

Seasonal Fish with Pumpkin Risotto @ RM22/plate
Not sure how to describe it in detail. However, I just know how to say that it was "MMmmm...delish!!!"

Hokkaido Scallop Cream with Fish Roe Linguine decorated with cut seaweed @ RM22/plate
Surprisingly, this creamy dish wasn't cloying or rich at all, you'll leave you lickin' its plate and utensils till its last drop cause basically I love fish roe. :P
It was good, but I think the risotto tasted better. I read reviews from other blogger before I went to try it. However, the blogger made it as the food was heavenly great. So, our expectation was so high on the taste, that we were a bit disappointed. But it's still good! 

With my new boyfie, Pasta & I! *peace out* LOL. wtf~

Marble Cheese Cake for Dessert @ RM7.90
#yumyum

That's all for this week! :)

Map directions to Coffee Smith @ Karpal Singh Drive.

De Tai Tong Cafe @ Cintra Street, Georgetown: Dim Sum for Breakfast

Here comes a short introduction on dim sum. 
Dim Sum refers to the Cantonese style food with small bite-sized food served in a saucer plate which is then placed in a wooden golden colour steamer basket. 
All you may need to do is to find your table to sit and wait for the carts to past by your table. Just stop those senior citizen aunties pushing the carts and order the choice of food placed inside the shelves.

At Cintra Street in English or Lebuh Cintra in Malay language

De Tai Tong Cafe for Dim Sum (opens whole day long)

If you feel like having a nice recommended dim sum for breakfast, do drop by at the city centre area, whereby the street is located directly opposite the Prangin Mall building. 
When you've turned into Jalan Sungai Ujong, go straight and you will reach a small crossroad, continue to go straight into the next road called Cintra Street. Then, be a bit alert and look to your right side, the cafe is located at the corner of the prewar olden days building. One can easily spot the dim sum cafe as there will be many customers either standing up waiting for their vacant seated tables or they could be sitting right up to the entrance area.

If you reached the cafe before the usual peak hours for breakfast, say around less then 8.30am, probably you don't need to queue for a table. This cafe is not air-conditioned. So, probably you might feel quite stuffy & warm in a later day.

Hong Kong style Chee Cheong Fun which is made of rice noodle has several shrimps inside as the filling. The noodle is lightly folded and made into a roll. Soy sauce is poured over the plate to be mixed together before eating it.
The top part in red colour is the sweet & sour sambal chilli paste for an extra kick.
This is my favourite chee cheong fun!

Small bite-sized food that I mentioned earlier.
The left side is the chicken legs dish (be warned, I know most Westerners might not like eating chicken legs, there are plenty of other choices to choose from), followed by the top is the pai kuat ong or pork ribs meat and the right side is the crabstick with pork meat filling rolled with seaweed.
Most dim sum uses pork meat or prawns as their fillings.
So, technically, this type of food is non-halal which is not to be eaten by the Muslims.

If I'm not mistaken, the auntie told me that it is called Ti Huang Pau. I'm just guessing on the translated name, I think it means Emperor's Steamed Bun.

This is the filling. It is exactly like Lo Mai Kai, the sticky glutinous rice with pork meat, mushrooms and etc.
I think it is really sinful with a lot of carbohydrate. It is also covered with buns. You don't only eat the sticky rice, you have to eat the external buns too. o.O
It's not the kinda my liking though the auntie fully recommended it. It's the most expensive as compared to the other steamed buns.

Top left pic is some rolled kind of meat filling dish.
Bottom plate is the deep fried yam dish.
Top right pic is the Ti Huang Pao (Emperor's Steamed bun for the emperors??!?). 

That's all about dim sum. It may look small bite-sized dishes in small saucer plates, but after a few plates ordered, you'll definitely feel really full! *fat die me* :D

Map direction to the dim sum cafe

An Evening of Lights @ UNESCO Heritage Site of Khoo Kongsi, Georgetown: Every Last Friday, Saturday, Sunday of Each Month

Yo guys..
Just to share with all of you who are planning to stop by Georgetown, Penang in Malaysia. 
Do plan your dates well and to include in your itinerary for this free visits organized by the Penang State Government for free. Yesss! No entrance fee charges or whatsoever for this Khoo Kongsi event.

The Khoo Clan Temple built back in 1906 with lighting during the event. In other days, it's not open during night time.

Khoo is the surname for the clan. This clan marks the dominant presence of Chinese in Penang and the most wealthy clan at that time in the 19th century. The Khoo clan originated from China and emigrated to Melaka and Penang as traders. Most history are like that la...
Inside the vicinity area of the complex, it has this grandest clan temple, which is highly ornamented in architecture. It was built in 1906.

As you can see, the Penang state is listed as one of the World's Unesco Heritage Sites. Therefore, this special events are only available during the last Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each month throughout the year. Expect to have locals and foreigners at those places too. I've been to two of the events like this back in April 2014 for the first time, as a local. lol~ wtf~ It's really a good thing as going to places like this, I would be able to learn more on my own local culture. It was quite overwhelming. There was lion dances, some stalls by the roadside selling light snacks, crafts before the main event began inside the heritage site, Khoo Kongsi ;)

Lion dance dancing & jumping on metal stilts/ bars

Impressive lion dance by trained teenagers

Lion dance

However, as foreigners, the purpose of one visiting or touring to other countries and places is to learn about other cultures. So, take this free advantage to join in this event on every last month. Of course, take good care of your personal belongings in crowded places, wherever you go. Although, nothing happens at most of the time. One could also find police officers stationed around the area during those events. 

You can also refer to this website displayed below:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/penangglobaltourism/14219305791/sizes/o/

The temple lightings

I thought I saw God of Fortune!! :)

Remember to be there if possible cause it's worth your time. Till then. Adios~ :D

Map directions to Khoo Kongsi Heritage Site. Other than that, the ones circled in pink shows other heritage buildings I've been too, so far.

Baumkuchen @ Treecake @ German Layered Cake: Cravings Satisfied :)

I finally got to satisfy my cravings on Baumkuchen OR it is also known as Treecake OR German Layered Cake in the European countries. 

I feel that this layer cake is so special as its characteristic is in the form of a ring! 
There are layer cakes being sold here, however, the flavours (e.g. buttered/ mocha/ chocolate/ almond) and the shapes (squarish) are different too. 

So, I requested my friend to get me this treecake when he went over to Japan for a visitation. 
I got to know that Japan has made this treecake or baumkuchen very famous there, ever since early 20th century when a German first introduced this cake there. I also thought of trying the matcha flavoured cake as I've never seen layered cake in those flavour before too and because I also like to drink green tea.
I always think & search about food one lahhh...LOL~ wth~ 
My mom sometimes say that I'm like an expecting mommy-to-be, kept having cravings to satisfy. LMAO~
I eat to live? :P

Tadaaa~~ 

I got a box!! :)

Never expected it to be packs of baumkuchen. I thought a pack of it for tasting would do. ;)
#Gorojima-Kintoki #yellowsweetpotatoflavour #redsweetpotatoflavour



Red Sweet Potato flavoured baumkuchen. Tasted exactly of sweet potato. At first it tasted a bit weird as I've never eaten a sweet potato flavoured cake before. But, I grew to like it. The cake tasted soft too. Nice!There are also baumkuchen covered with a layer of chocolate too, from google search.

 

Yellow Sweet Potato flavoured baumkuchen. Feels like not much different than the red one. Still tasted flavourful with sweet potato laa..

Can use to enlarge your eyeball too. lol~

                                   

 

Lastly, can use to enlarge your lips too. LOL~ wtf~ Just goofy-ing around~ hehe~

Till here, on baumkuchen. Good night! Hasta la vista, babay~ :P

                                   

Golden Gate Steamboat Restaurant @ Cantonment Road, Penang: Family Dinner

If you have a family reunion/ gathering/ rendezvous or you're in the mood craving for a hot bowl of clear soup, do drop by at this steamboat restaurant which is located next to Gurney Drive, off Cantonment Road, Georgetown, Penang! I bet this restaurant will definitely make you going back for more. Trust me, I'm a food specialist! :D LOL~wtf~

Golden Gate Steamboat Restaurant
*taken with my new phone, Samsung Galaxy S5. Sorry, phone is good, however, the photographer is still no good. haha~* 

This restaurant has been existing for more than 25 years and it is actually in an old, big bungalow. They only serve a pot of clear yummy broth steamboat soup~ It may appear to be an ordinary restaurant to you as most steamboat restaurants nowadays serve either with BBQ grilled pit alongside or they have a combination steamboat pot which could accommodate half clear soup and Tom Yam spicy soup too. So fancy~ 

Their price is also reasonable and the environment is air-conditioned too! You won't feel that warm while having a bowl of hot soup! This restaurant opens only for dinner and it is always jam packed with customers, especially the Japanese! They were enjoying their time there, and you could easily spot them by listening to their talk and laughter. 
Steamboat originates from the Chinese, it is also similar to Japanese Shabu-Shabu. 
Anyway, the Chinese and Japanese have a long history together (go check it out if you would want to know more la). Therefore, it's not strange that a lot of things resemble to the same thing or slightly different, but the idea is there laa~~

The pot to do the steamboat.
In the olden days, ppl used charcoal to boil those soup. But nowadays, a gas is being attached and used to speed up the boiling process of the soup and food.
(Photos shot using the S-view of Galaxy S5, therefore it turned out in square frame.)

Seaweed wrapped meat, Mushroom stuffed meat & Beancurd skin with meat filling 

Fish balls, Seafood balls, Crab stick & Squids

First, close the metal lid. Wait for the soup to be boiled. Then, open the lid and place all the ingredients you've got according to the amount you would be able to have at one go. Beware, dumping all the ingredients at one shot and if you couldn't be able to wallop all when it's boiled, I'm afraid your food will be overcooked. Close the metal lid and wait for a few minutes to boil.

White Noodles (Tang Hoon in Hokkien or Glass Noodles in English), Yellow Noodles (I called Boric Acid noodles as the noodles makers use this acid to preserve the noodles and to prevent it from sticking among each other) and Green Spinach Noodle. 

Tadaaaa~ When it's cooked, you'll be able to see the steam coming out from the hollow, middle vent! Then, remove the metal lid and pick your food to eat :-)

Yummy~~Delicious~ Oishi ne~ My bowl of steamboat food & soup!!! *Slurp*

That's all for a bowl of delicious steamboat! You may go for a few rounds too! 

Map directions to Golden Gate Steamboat Restaurant. Turn right at the one way traffic lights from Kelawai Road into Cantonment Road. Go straight and look out to your left hand side. The bungalow building will be on your left. You won't miss out.