12062016 RedHot Curry

Time to make curry again but this time, I'll be using a different curry mix. The previous ones were good but this is slightly different. Then again, if you ask me about them, they're all the same to me.

Anyway, the difference this time, apart from the new pre-mix is that I have been authorised to add in three full chillies. Full as in WITH the seeds.

This curry marinated onion/chicken was int he freezer since April...

The pre-mix stuff I had and some left by my Wife on her last visit. Actually the two on the upper left does not count. I am going to use the RedHot brand on the right.

The usual procedure begins, which is to ignore the instructions on the package, followed by the frying of garlic, (yes), onions and then the curry marinated onions/chicken. Yeah, the pre-mix look like those sambal chili which you add on your curry mee or what nots.

At this time, I am wishing I had some petai to go with them. It looked red hot (but not the taste)

Finally, I added in three stir-fried medium anorexic brinjals into the mix.

And with my Wife's blessings, I am allowed  to add three  chilies WITH  their seeds into the mix

Simmer and boy it does not taste hot at all

More simmering while I take a shower

Finally, add some milk when mot of the liquid has been boiled off. Yeah, the long simmering made the sauce thicker, and with the help of the potatoes, of course.

Finally, 8 large boxes (with meat) and four round ones (with brinjals) ready for the freezer.

Update (30 minutes later): Still doesn't taste hot and could have done better if I used santan (coconut milk) but that would spoil the curry very fast. Maybe I should have  let it cool overnight for everything to flavour in as well instead of straight to the freezer (I was sleepy already)

12062016 Advanced Salad Preparation

Salads has to be fresh and eating those that are weeks old are not adviseable. And depending on the sauce you used, its all soggy and brown in the end. When you see  it, you know you're playing with the diarrhea roulette.

The salads tends to juice out after a day or so and its not a good thing. So, this time, I am going  to try another method; dice all the fresh stuff but  don't mix them yet and store them all in the fridge. Only when I really need to make the actual salad, I'll boil the eggs, potatoes and add in the sauce/mayo.

Red Pepper Grenadine. Tasted more normal

I am starting to get the hang of removing the turnip's skin.

And so, there you have it. The diced cucumbers, carrots, turnips, onions and chillies, ready to go into  the fridge.

This is the other half of the Roasted Chicken which my Wife bought for me from Giant. Since it  was in the fridge, the cold had literally frozen everything which made it easier for me to remove the flesh (or dismantle it)

Yep, I'd say they qualify for the salads or a new one. But in the meantime, into the fridge they go.

This would be my weekly fruits. Wife aid to leave the skin on so that they last longer. I think I'm going to slice/cube some and add them to the ice-cream...

Apple juice and cubed kiwis. Horrible

So, technically, for the next 10 days or so, I will have fresh salad.

12062016 My IKEA Linnmon Table (aka The WORKS Table)

I'm not as limber as I thought and so, if I need to sit down and do some 'work' for more than 10 minutes, I need to do it on a proper table. The place where I stayed has one which suited my needs but its a common table downstairs for everyone to have their meals. And so, with the new housemate who arrived last week, this is now no longer an option.

Weeks ago, I wanted a stable RM212.90 Melltorp with rectangular legs but when I came back from my Holidays, it has been reserved. So, the RM169.90 Linnmon which was 2 feet shorter, was the best I could do for my back. I could pay another RM25 for a 6 feet version but its stability was more of a concern since the table itself is not made from actual wood.

I needed a table, not only to work but also to continue on my Piscean Works stuff. Without a car or the Family here, most evenings can be really boring to the point you just want to stare at the dropping paint flakes on the ceiling or meet Mr. Sandman earlier. I could also enjoy myself with some movies downloaded for me through my friends but I do not want to watch it the whole night/morning I am doing this to make sure I do not fall into other temptations which I do not want to be a part of.

How IKEA stuff came to Kuching, I don't really know. There is no IKEA Centre here either but then again, it beats going around second-hand shops and depending on taxis all day. This alone would have more than doubled the price of the table.

Luckily the Van still does its marketing round the next day (Sunday) and I was able to get the problem sorted out. All I had to do was to talk nicely to them, showed them the receipt to prove that the purchase was still withing the two day warranty period (but no refunds, though) and it was settled with smiles all round.

Carrying the table was not a problem since it was lightweight. The anorexic Van driver could even carry it. It's just... cumbersome. So, on a nice Sunday mid-morning, I am enjoying myself with some brief DIY and ignoring a cup of RTFM at the same time...

Then the problem started. I forgot to check the parts yesterday as I was too excited, convincing myself that the Van was waiting for me. So, understandably, when I came back in the rainy evening for a nice screwing about, only to be foiled my a missing part.

The only consolation was that the staff told me that had the last set of black legs for the table instead of the usual blue which I gladly accepted. And so, today, by hook or by crook, if there's any exchange, I really want  to keep the black ones.

Let's set the timer and throw away the instructions...

The table is Linnmon because the sticker said so.

And the legs are called Adils (not Adelle...)

A quick glance at the labels and its all in Chinese, Korean, Thai, Taiwanese and non-English. It hasn't hit me yet.

Hmm... there  is something wrong with this part. They gave me five screws yet I could only get in four. Even the instructions said so... weird

All the other three metal plates have five holes, which is a relief.

Looking back at the packaging again with languages designed to defeat a Banana, I think they got these stuff from places other than Malaysia...

Finally, after 20 minutes of screwing around and getting a strategic blister in the middle finger, the Works Table is set up!

Boy, the amount of plastic and pulp waste for just a table

In the end, its more or less, goodbye to sore backaches and a more enjoying session with the table.

Oh, yeah, what a difference 2 inches can do to your back in 15 minutes. But this would mean one less person sitting for dinner... (OK, until I get my own chair, that is)