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Friday, May 11, 2018

Pomegranate Mojito Mocktail Recipe



The days are getting hotter over here in our neck of the woods. We do get rains from time to time as being a tropical country Malaysia, it always rains here. There are two season only here, rainy and summer and each has its own beauty. Summer means we need to keep re-hydrating with drinking plenty of fluids and having light meals as well. When I last went to our local vegetable market, I saw pomegranate, so couldn’t stop myself from picking some for our daily usage. However, I soon realized they are little sour. But I needed to use them anyhow. 


This mojito mocktail recipe comes handy in this case, it’s such a refreshing non-alcoholic drink on a hot summer evening. I really like to unwind myself with a glass of cool pomegranate mojito and a book with me or catch up with dear daughter when she comes back from her school in the evening.
Now to the recipe
Pomegranate Mojito Mocktail Recipe
Recipe requirements ( serve-1)
  • 1 fresh Pomegranate
  • 2 tbs of fresh lemon juice
  • 2-3 tsp of sugar or honey as sweetener
  • About half a can of Sprite or 150 ml roughly
  • 2 tsp of freshly grated ginger




Method
  • Cut pomegranate into half. With the help of hand juicer, squeeze out fresh pomegranate juice.
  • Squeeze out excess juice from seeds. Discard seeds.
  • Now in a mixer, blend lemon and pomegranate juice, sugar and lemon juice well.
  • Add in freshly grated ginger into the mixture.
  • Put this mixture for refrigeration about 2-3 hrs. It will be nice if you can do this overnight.
  • At the time of serving, fill in the serving glass with ice cubes as desired.
  • Pour this pomegranate juice mix in to serving glasses.
  • Now pour Sprite slowly from one side of the glass and give 1-2 stir with a stirrer. Serve immediately.
  • This recipe is for 1 glass or 1 serving only. Increase the quantities for 4-5 people as required.
  • Serve chilled. You can spike it with rum in place of sprite.This is the virgin Mojito version with out any alcohol.



You all have a relaxing weekend and happy cooking.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Best places to eat in Kuala Lumpur- for family

We have lived in Kuala Lumpur for two years now. It seems like yesterday, when we arrived fresh in Kuala Lumpur with no clues how the city will greet us. We were still adjusting to the new routines here in our host country, exploring local vegetable markets and grocers simultaneously. It was not like easy cake-walk for us, but slowly and gradually we got a hang of this city and its people. With so many varieties of cuisine here, Kuala Lumpur is a foodie’s paradise. Its Malay , Chinese and Indian population makes this city such a thriving and lively place to be in.The cosmopolitan nature of this city means you can easily find high end eating joints at one side and on other side, local small vendors who home-cook food daily, start their small and convenient food-stalls during lunch and dinner hours and sell their home-cooked food. This contrast makes it even more interesting and enticing. We as a family don’t go out often during weekdays. But once a weekend, we do try eating out as it gives me a break from my daily cooking spree. I was thinking to write about Kuala Lumpur's food world, but I refrain myself from doing it from these past years, as I needed some experiences before I could write about this topic.
Here is our list of eating out .The criteria of all these places is one thing-family eating out, where they can sit , have a pleasant talk , spent some time and eat delicious food.If you happen to shop in Shopping mall , there are plenty of eating places one can go and eat.
I have listed good restaurants, local food places(some on a budget) and places where you can grab a bite and do take-aways as well, their food outlets as well.
Now to the list-


      Pappa Rich – Bangsar, Mid Valley Garden mall – tried the breakfast menu thick roti steam with butter+Kaya...…chicken satay , black pepper chicken siew mai , nasi lemak  with curry chicken, Char Kway Teo , Asam Laksa, Curry Laksa, Prawn mee ( my favourite), Ipoh Kway Teo soup with prawn and chicken slices,Hainan steamed rice chicken, Dessert-Cendol and drinks – coolers and iced beverages.Price-$$


      Chilies- 1 Utama, mid valley megamall- Mexican cuisine...Cajun chicken sandwich, Cajun pasta , prawn scampi pasta , Rancharo chicken tacos, Grilled chicken fajita trio( served with 3 flour tortilla + sour cream+Guacomole+salsa+pico de gello , all you need is to make your own fajita and relish) chicken enchilada,  Chipotle chicken fresh bowl ( Tex-mix), watermelon Margarita ( cocktail- those who prefer little spiked Tequila drinks) , classic Mojito, Bloody Mary etc and  I would rather go for Virgin Pomegranate Mojito( alcohol free) or watermelon juice, mango fizz, strawberry lemonade.…..they cater to specific food habits also , like we got chicken quesadilla in place of beef quesadilla as requested.Price-$$$

      Marco creative cuisine - 1 utama shopping mall – fine dining –Their pasta recipes - and dessert...creme brulee with white chocolate sherbet are worth it...Price-$$$$


I  dare you to try their squid ink Japonica rice. Anyone!!

   Mikey’s original New York pizza – mid valley megamall. We tried their Loco Mexican Pizza and chicken parmigiana. The view is also nice over there. You can eat and get to see people all across the shopping mall.Price-$$$
      Breakfast/ Brunch/ High Tea at Corus Hotel – The choice of brunch or high tea recipes are ample over here. A nice and fine dining 4 star hotel. For a nice brunch get-together they have Dondang Sayang Coffee house which serves all day along. The choices are varied – from continental to local Malay cuisine. The ambience is nice and warm. If you like to eat food in a good ambience and in relaxed way, suggest to have weekend High-tea there.Price-$$$$


  Pulp at Papa Palheta- Bangsar for coffee break. 




Their Hot chocolate is also delicious. I have written a review about this place as well here.Price-$$


     Secret recipe – what not to like about it. You can choose variety of pastries. Chicken satay ( Malaysian favourite recipe) , Thai style fried rice, Noodles in tom yum soup, curry laksa, Special seafood Mee Mamak ( Malaysian recipe) , it has good western menu choices as well and their pasta recipes are also worth trying – Pasta Arrabiata spaghetti , spicy seafood pasta medley and lasagne just to name a few are worth trying it.Price-$$


And the absolutely delicious dessert ( array of cakes and pastries- black forest, double chocolate pastry, chocolate brulee,capachino cheese  etc.) . 
Venue- the Midvalley shopping mall and Sunway Pyramid mall. They have branches all across Malaysia and also in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand.


     Sri Nirvana Maju Banana Leaf – Bangsar – Kuala Lumpur food arena is not complete if you don’t go to these local banana leaf restaurants. Why they are called banana leaf, well food is served over banana leaf, what else. This is a traditional South- Indian food fair to be precise. Two varieties of vegetarian recipe dhal, then followed by non-vegetarian dish, dessert, drinks and poppadum. You can fill your tummy and heart both.Price-$$
     Rasa Uttara – Mid valley shopping mall – local Malay cuisine. We have liked their Nasi Goreng.Specially Ayam Rendang Uttara , Ayam Kari Kaptan.Price-$$



  ChatterBox – 1 utama shopping mall and Bangsar Village – Non-Halal – this restaurant serves one of the most delicious clay pot chicken we have eaten. Simple recipe but served warm every time we have ordered. Their vegetarian food menu is also nice.Price-$$
  Fahrenheit 600 – Publika shopping mall– Their pasta Napoli and Snow white recipes, mushroom chicken lasagne are worth trying. Their breakfast menu is also worth it..Price-$$$ 




Wong Kok – 1 Utama shopping mall, Petaling Jaya, Chinese cuisine- the options for choosing Chinese noodles recipes are plenty. Price-$$
Their black pepper chicken and rice is delicious.
Oasis Food Court in Mid-valley is worth a visit.You have display of many local food joints.Price-$
Food court in Pavillion Bukit Bintang- many local and international cuisine outlet at reasonable price. 
This was part -1 of the foodie journey in Kuala Lumpur, we will post second part in coming weeks.

This blogpost is our way of appreciating Kuala Lumpur and its magnificent food world and it’s cuisine. 
I personally have learned a lot of new recipes, terms and history about local food. I will keep writing about that from time to time.I have also blogged local recipes Belanak Fish curry-here, Singapore style beehun -here and -Prawn Mee soup-here and also with local ingredients Belanak Fish here , Ash Gourd here , Mackerel fish - here, Ong Choi Green leaves- here , Siakap fish - here Sunlady melon here.
I do hope this post will help all of you, who are new to this city and don’t know where to start their foodie journey.