#ewew cooks Big Breakfast

I'm a big fan of Big Breakfasts and I'm not alone in this predicament (I'm sure) as these Big Breakfasts are so popular that every brunch place in town have them on their menu.  So, I do like to make it at home whenever I can as it's pretty easy to do.

But my homemade version can be as expensive as those served in restaurants as I don't compromise on the quality of store-bought goods that go towards the making of my Big Breakfast.  And here's the list of items that's a must-have on my plate of Big Breakfast.

First up, you start off any plate of western breakfast with eggs.  I like to use "Kampong" Eggs @ RM3 (for 5) as I find these free range eggs have the best tasting yolks.  I would suggest that you cook the eggs first when your non-stick pan is at its cleanest.  This is my sunny side up egg (coz scrambled eggs need a bit more work)!

[#Note: But, you can use any eggs of your choice.  Well, indulge me for a while (if you can) on my favourite subject...and P/S: this is specially for Mun :D  Here's a comparison of the eggs (commonly found here) and their colour, side by side.  The 1st row are the regular eggs (typical grocery store eggs) where the yolks are pale yellow and the shells are thinner (the cheapest and least tasty of the 3).  The 2nd row are those eggs low in cholesterol or high in omega-3 where the yolks are more orangy and the shell has a light brown hue (healthier choice or marketing gimmick?).  The 3rd row are kampong eggs (the ones I like best) where the yolks are bright orange and plump, the whites are firmer and the shells are whitish and thicker (the costlier and best tasting one of the 3, also nutritionally better, comes from 'happy' chickens, and the best option for soft-boiled eggs).]

Next, you got to have ham like this Spam Luncheon Ham @ RM9.98 (for 4 pcs/RM4.89 per 100g).  Pan fry until you get a nice sear to enhance its fragrance.  I like the taste of this one as it has both the taste of ham and spam in one...best of both worlds!

Of course, you must include sausages (of any type).  I would usually pick those processed breakfast sausages but the vendor recommended that I buy these Fresh Oxford Sausages @ RM12.58 (for 2 pcs/RM6.29 per 100g)...ooo, the name 'Oxford' sounds so 'posh' already!

Oh, why did I listen to her?  These sausages were fresh (meaning you have to cook them from scratch) and, because they were so thick, they needed a long time to cook (over very low heat, otherwise they'll burn).

Obviously, with my kind of patience, mine didn't cook through and I had to cut them up into pcs and throw them into the pan again.  Flavour wise, they definitely tasted better than the processed sausages (in fact, this one had a bit of wine flavour in it) but it's just too much of a hassle, if you ask me, so stick to your processed sausages (which will cost less as well).

Another super important item on your Big Breakfast platter is the must-have bacon.  A breakfast plate without bacon...is just not breakfast.  The world is a happier place with bacon!  I chose Premium Streaky Bacon @ RM14.12 (for 6 pcs/RM6.99 per 100g) because the fatty parts will enable the bacon to crisp up beautifully.  I would normally cook the bacon last as it tends to make your pan sticky + it releases a lot of oil (that needs to be discarded).

OMG, this bacon is to die for...super crispy, fragrant, salty....everything a bacon should be!
 

For the side show, get some Swiss Brown Mushrooms @ RM8.99 (or you can use white button mushrooms) and sauté them with a little olive oil and season to taste with salt and black pepper.

I prefer the taste of brown mushrooms compared to white ones (+ they also have a longer shelf life).  You can also throw in a couple of greens to make it 'healthier' but, let's face it, who are we kidding?

A Big Breakfast would not be complete without a hash brown.  I use Simplot Hash Brown @ RM8.50 (for a box of 10 pcs).  Pan fry with a little olive oil until nice and crispy on the outside.

Assemble your platter with 3 pcs of crunchy bacon, 2 slices of spam luncheon ham, a freshly grilled sausage, a sunny side up egg, a crispy hash brown and some sautéed mushrooms.

Serve that with 2 slices of toast with Lurpak Butter (slightly salted) @ RM7.50 (for 10 pcs) and Heinz Strawberry Jam @ RM5 (for 12 pcs) or any butter/jam of your choice.  I bought a mixed pack that had other flavours (like Apricot and Marmalade) but found only the strawberry jam to be acceptable, taste wise.

And that....ladies and gentleman....is my home cooked Big Breakfast that's as good as any Antipodean Big Breakfast (I think)!  These are just the brands that I usually use but you can substitute with your own favourite brands...not a problem.

If I were to add up my (slightly decadent) homemade Big Breakfast it will cost me about RM25 for one serving.  Not cheap, eh?  Cost wise, it may look like it's more expensive than, say, Antipodean's but this is not just any Big Breakfast....this is an Extra Big 'Big Breakfast' ;)  It'll surely please (and fill up) your 'man'...and (in some cases) your 'woman' too :D :D  For smaller eaters, I would suggest that you reduce the portions accordingly (which would bring the price down to a more acceptable level of about RM15 a serving).

All we want for Christmas (or Boxing Day) morning is.......a Big Breakfast?  Who wouldn't!

It's the most magical time of the year...

Serves 1 'Big Appetite'---b..u....r..r...r..p....p (oops, excuse me)!!
 

It's that time of the year again....

It's that time of the year again....'tis the season to be naughty jolly.....Christmas will soon be upon us!

All the shopping malls in the city are decked out in their finest and decorated to the brim as they try to outdo one another with their towering decorations.  This is the best time to visit (and shop) to have some of that Christmas cheer and spirit rub off on you.

So, I thought I'll share some of these beautifully decorated malls with you (those that I happen to visit while doing some Xmas shopping) and hope the pics bring some festive cheer into your homes...Ho Ho Ho!

 

Pavilion (Bukit Bintang entrance)

 

...with rows of Red Xmas trees filled with giant snowflakes and oversized presents!

Ferris Wheel of Joy (I think coz it's the only thing I found that was turning)
 

Pavilion (centre court)

Theme: Christmas Magnificence

 

It's the land of magnificence with dancing Santa Claus and Christmas bears...

 

....interactive figurines and singing snowmen =)

 

Gigantic 12m Santa Claus in LED lights

 

Intermark Mall (main entrance)

 

Intermark Mall (aisle in front of the restaurants)

 

What I loved were the ornaments hanging from the ceiling made up of presents, soft toys, Xmas stockings, candy canes, teddy bears, shining stars, Xmas wreaths and more :)

 

KLCC (concourse)

 

Theme: The Gift of Heaven

 

KLCC (fountain area)
...is where you'd find the tallest Christmas tree in Malaysia (it seems), standing at 32m in height and 14m in width, which took about 9 weeks to erect and assemble!

Great Eastern Mall (concourse)

The décor is minimal and simplistic but managed to catch some carollers singing festive tunes.....and somehow, the mall comes alive with the Christmas spirit ;)

 

Mid Valley (concourse)

 

Theme: Fairy Tails in Wonderland

 

Be enchanted with a luscious green landscape of a beautiful garden adorned with giant mushrooms, brightly decorated gazebos, lovable animals, multi-coloured flowers and eye-catching butterflies and bees :-)

My Christmas pressies are ready and wrapped!

Enjoy the most wonderful time of the year (with your family and friends)...
....and may all your wishes come true this Yuletide season!!!

So, were you...naughty.....or nice....this year??

Will Santa bring you a present...muahahaha???

 

M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S   E V E R Y O N E !!!

 

Sushi Tei @ Pavilion

Sushi Tei (which originated from Singapore) is yet another popular sushi chain restaurant in Malaysia (with outlets in Klang Valley, Penang and Kota Kinabalu) serving "a good deal of sushi" (+ an array of other delicious Japanese cuisine).

In the mood for some Japanese food (and a light meal), we ended up at Sushi Tei @ Pavilion one Saturday evening.

We started with the Special Unagi Roll @ RM17.80 (for small) which had 4 pcs of omelette and cucumber sushi roll topped with unagi (eel) with a drizzle of mayo and sweet sauce.

Who doesn't love these caramelised sweet tasting eels?  One of our absolute favourites!

Next came an onslaught of "mentai" (cod roe)....we (or I) just can't get enough of it.  If you've been following my other sushi posts (like Sakae Sushi and Sushi Zanmai), you'd know that this is our top, top, top favourite!! Just put it on anything and it'll turn that dish from good to utterly sensational!!

The first to arrive was the Tamago Mentai Mayo @ RM6 for 2 pcs of omelette sushi with cod roe (of course)......;)

....and the Salmon Mentai @ RM7.20 which is cooked salmon with cod roe (again).  Ok, ok...I know....you can't see the egg nor the salmon coz the mentaiko is just 'overflowing'..kekeke, I likey!

Next up was more mentai, of course....the Kaki Mentai Mayo @ RM7.20 for 2 pcs of fresh oysters cooked with (even more) cod roe :D  Squeeze a little lemon juice to cut through the slight saltiness of the roe...and you're good to go!

For my main course, I went with the (no guesses needed) Salmon Mentaiyaki @ RM17.80 which is a pc of grilled salmon with cod roe and mayo (or you can opt for the grilled salmon with miso instead).

Let me scrape away the (abundant) mentaiko so that you can see (some) of the salmon underneath!

Finally, a main course without mentaiko, the Ten Don (Regular) @ RM14.80 which comprised of assorted tempura on rice.  This dish came with 2 tempura prawns and tempura vegetables of eggplant, carrot and green bell pepper.

Crispy, crunchy tempura is always a mainstay favourite at any Japanese restaurants.  As I weren't very hungry that night, I was not able to sample more dishes...ah, well...I could always come back ;)

Our drinks were a glass of filtered water @ RM1 and something called Sunrise @ RM7.50 (can't remember the fruit juice combo of this, though I remembered the taste of orange in it).

My Personal Opinion

Sushi Tei is yet another good place to have sushi.  Although Sushi Tei is also a "kaiten" sushi, there weren't that many sushi plates moving on the conveyor belt though.  So, my orders of sushi came freshly made and piping hot...and that was a plus for me!  The other thing that I really liked is that they were really generous with the cod roe here (though it can be a tad salty for some taste buds because of the abundance of it).

Their prices may be a tad higher than Sushi Zanmai (which seems to be the more popular one currently, probably because of its affordability) but the dishes are served hot at Sushi Tei...and that should endear them to some patrons.

For me, most of the big brands "kaiten" sushi out there (like Sakae Sushi and Sushi Zanmai) are decent enough (for the prices we pay)...it just depends on which is your favourite (as long as it's not the mediocre Sushi King for me)!  Personally, it's Sushi Tei vs Sushi Zanmai anytime but my son seems to like Sakae Sushi (for some 'unexplainable' reason).  I guess it's 'to each his own' as we all seem to have our perennial favourites!!

It's a marvellous month...for celebration!

Sushi Tei

Lot 1.18.01 Level 1

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur

168 Jalan Bukit Bintang

55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2141 4640

Christmas.....at Home

It's less than 10 days to Christmas Eve...and now is probably the time to think if you'd be celebrating (and cooking) at home or making the necessary reservations to dine out at a fancy restaurant, I guess.  [#Tip: If you're thinking of dining out, Angus Steakhouse, The Pressroom or Jake's is a probable choice (though prices are on the higher end, at least to me) or Victoria Station, The Ship, Coliseum or Castell (which is still pretty popular for many because of its affordability) though I would suggest that you stick with their 'a la carte' menu rather than their 'set meals' (if you want better quality food as I had a disastrous one once).]

It's certainly not cheap for those on a budget looking forward to a nice holiday season meal with their families and loved ones.  With the price of most festive meals costing in the region of RM100 (or more) per person, a home cooked meal nowadays doesn't seem that bad.

The few recipes that I've posted in my blog (recently) may come in handy for those thinking of eating in (as opposed to eating out at an expensive restaurant) this year.  I have done this for family and friends before (in the past) and it never failed to get good feedbacks.  Maybe you can give this a try....and (hopefully) get the same positive reviews too *fingers crossed*!  And this is one Xmas dinner that won't cost you 'an arm and a leg' :D

So, let's recap (and revisit) some of the choices (and recipes) available to you in the cooking posts I've put up so far (just some from my archives).  They're not that difficult for amateur cooks (like me) and some are simple enough (for just about anyone) to follow.

First, you'll need to start off with an appetiser.  Choose between...

....a Shrimp & Mango Cocktail

....or a Salad Veronique

 

....or a Borsch Soup

 

....or a Fresh Fruit Salad
 

For your main course, you can go with either.....

...Roasted Chicken with Thyme

...or Roasted Chicken with Rosemary

 

...or Grilled Prawns with Garlic & Butter

 

...or Spaghetti & Meatballs
 

...or even Pan-fried Salmon Fillet (this will be the costliest option, of course)

.......and serve that with your best.....

 

.....Thyme Roasted Potatoes

.....or Rosemary Roasted Potatoes

 

.....and a side of vegetables of your choice
 

For dessert, stick with fruits...which is the easiest to do.  I like to use fresh mango (but with a twist).
Grate some lime zest (make sure you don't get the white parts which will be bitter) and mix (pound) them with a little sugar.  Sprinkle on top your sliced mangoes.
This gives a fragrant and refreshing lift to your (otherwise) mundane mangoes.

 

...Fresh Mango (with a lime zest & sugar mix)

...or Fresh (Hawaiian) Papaya (with a wedge of lime)

...or a scoop of your favourite (Haagen Dazs) ice cream, perhaps?

(since I didn't have any ice cream with me, I had to borrow this pic *wink*)

...or even some (or more like 2 pcs)....keke...of Godiva chocolates for a bit of that festive spirit ;)
(I just received this a few days earlier from a neighbour...thanks)

Get a few inexpensive bottles of Sparkling Juice

(and serve that chilled as your drinks for the night)

Finally, end with a good cup of hot coffee

(add a cookie by the side to make it look more like one served at a fancy cafe)! :D

 

Damage: Probably in the region of RM25 - RM45 per pax

(depending on your choice of mains but minus the ice cream and chocolates...hehe)

Now, that's a complete Xmas dinner if I do say so myself.  A meal that's palate.....as well as.....wallet friendly!!  Who says you can't have a lovely Christmas dinner......at home!!  

 

Hope you have a wonderful and enjoyable meal this holiday season with family and friends.....whether at home or in a fancy restaurant!!!

Have the merriest Christmas possible!