Oojengster Shell Out Feast!

Assalamualaikum wbt

Final exam has already ended finally, and so, in order to celebrate this happiness (as if we had never have final examinations before hahaha), we held an Oojengster's Shell Out Feast!

Yeah, Shell Out has been so famous lately because of its uniqueness of having the dining concept on the table, WITHOUT the plates, forks, spoons and other proper dishware for dining. That is just a very cool and casual way of eating out, especially when they serve seafood, where you need to fold your sleeves up, and get all messy to dig out and enjoy the tender juicy meat inside the shells.

However since the news saying the restaurant does not own a Halal certificate went viral, everybody just freaked out and decided to not go there (plus, the expensive price). I do not know who is the person who started the Shell Out at home, but it also went viral afterwards as it save much more cost, and of course Halal guaranteed. Since then, everybody seems to be trying the Shell Out concept at home, doing it for family events and friends. And we.... decided to try it out too! Hence, the Shell Out Feast at our little college room.

We started all by doing the groceries, buying all the ingredients and of course, the seafood needed.

Before the groceries took place, we have had all the items needed listed down, including the recipes! We allocated a RM20 budget per person, so that's a total of RM160 all together. That seems a lot. Since none of us have the experience of buying seafood on our own, we did our survey to search for the standard prices for the seafood that we wanted to buy. Looking at all all the prices, we freaked out! 

RM20-RM30 per kilo of crab? RM25-RM27 per kilo for squid? So how about prawns? And and, we still have clams to buy okay, don't forget! Oh, and chicken tooooo! Is our budget enough? How much can we get for a kilo? And there you go, the googling and blog readings started. So after some readings on some of the blogger experience having Shell Out at home, it looks like the budget that we had seems to be enough. At that time, we just surrendered and hoped that it will be adequate. We had even be ready to cancel out some items just in case the budget went over the limit.  

Once we started the grocery at Giant, we went straight to the seafood dept. I was hesitated to choose the crab at first. I mean, come on, what do I need to check before choosing the PERFECT crab? Is this okay? How about this one? Uncle in front of me must have been laughing inside while watching me choosing the crab. Huh. But in the end, I just thickened my face, matter no more on the criteria and chose them like a PRO! Bhahaha. I took only 4 pcs while my mind whispering "Cukuplah tu. 4 kerat 2 jadilah 8. Sorang separuh. Yang ni entah-entah dah lebih sekilo.". But then after weighing and pricing, "Eh, RM11 only?". So I immediately asked my friend to get more of it. We added 4-5 pcs after that hahaha. Well, amateur seafood buyer. Full of drama. 

Back to the college, we started to unpack all of the things, separating the veggies and the seafood items. Since the budget seemed to be more than enough, we even got to buy some more items that were not in the list such as the dory fish, some surimi (fishball, crabstick etc), wedges, and more veggies. After the tasks have been delegated, works started to begin! Some were cutting the veggies, the paste ingredients, some were trimming and washing the seafood, the chicken, overall, everybody were working together splendidly!

So here is our menu and rough budget for the Shell Out dining:

Chilli Crab and Squid

Butter Prawn and Clams (Lala)

Dory Sweet and Sour

Tom Yam with Surimis and Veggies

Salad

Buttered Shittake Mushroom

Fried Chicken

Potato wedges

8-9 pcs Ketam Bunga (Medium)  = RM23

1 Whole Chicken = RM10

2 pkts 400g Frozen Peeled Baby Shrimp (because fresh shrimps are not available) = RM23

Approx 900g of Surimi (Fishball, Crab Stick, Seafood Tofu) = RM19

1 pack of Lala =  RM9-RM10

1 pack of 600g Frozen Dory Cube = RM9
5pcs of Squid XL = RM14

All the balance are used for veggies, spices, sauces, wedges and other miscellaneous ingredients.
A total of RM160 for 8 person (or more actually) and there are still leftovers after eating. 

We started the preparation at about 5.00pm, and officially finished all of the cooking by around 8.00pm. After everybody took their shower, we then laid the 'plastic mat' on the floor, pulled out all of the dishes on it, recited the prayer, and started digging in!

Everybody was having a good time eating, chit chatting but still in disbelief that everything was prepared on our own. We were scared at first having the thought that it might gonna be a disaster because we never prepared these kind of dishes on our own. Besides, seafood is quite sensitive in terms of its preparation, the cleaning, the cooking method and so on and we just don't wanna ruin it. So having the dishes all set in front of us, was just a part of the satisfaction. Alhamdulillah. Creditlah sikit come onnn, we never cooked such expensive food and make it delicious hahaaa! 

It was nice to hear compliments from each other on the dishes that have been prepared. A kind of appreciation you know. We were having such a good time together. The fact that this is the last gathering with complete all 8 of us was quite an emotional feeling although none of us really show it to each other. We don't know when are we going to have the chance to gather this way again. Mache and Syu is leaving for their practical soon. So it will be only all 6 of us left, and the most painful part is, I'm going to be left without a roommate after almost 4 years of being with the same person. It's going to be a very tough and challenging final semester and I can no longer go crazy, gossip or spill out all of the emotions to my roommate when there are things go wrong. I'm sorry, I'm just quite sentimental when it comes to this matter. Okaaayyy let's move on! *wipe tears*

Anyway Alhamdulillahhhhhh the plan went very well. Everybody enjoyed the food, enjoyed the talk, enjoyed the laughter, enjoyed having bloated stomach for eating too much hahaha, enjoyed everything! I am very very very grateful, having to be blessed with this kind of friendship and FRIENDS like them. I know myself very much and I really do not deserve all these kindness around me, all these wonderful people around me. May Allah grant each one of you and myself His blessings, His kindness, and shower us all with His unconditional love. It has finally came to the final semester and may we all graduate with flying colours, and most importantly, may we all in the end be united in the paradise. After all, that's our life goals. Amiin, insya Allah.

Hiks. 

#10 Recipe Tryout: Garlic Cheese Ball

Assalamualaikum wbt

Well, this is an old post. Hihi. You see, I am very interested in food, especially savoury food. The problem is, I am a lazy bump when it comes into entering the kitchen, and thinking of preparing all of the ingredients makes me get even lazier. Plus, 50% of the recipes that I tried, will eventually lead to failure. *sigh*

Nevertheless, I am still into it and my interest towards recipe tryout has not been fading. Thus, I tried this: Garlic Cheese Ball.

This is my recipe and adapted just a little bit from the steam bun recipe.

Bread:
300g wheat flour/ all purpose flour/pau flour
30g garlic spread
15g oregano/Italian herbs 
50g sugar
15g shortening
1 teaspoon yeast
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons bread softener
1 egg
A pinch of salt
Olives oil/ any cooking oil
Some water

Filling:
Cheddar cheese or Mozarella cheese

The first step of this recipe is to make sure that the yeast is soaked in about 50ml of lukewarm water. Just enough to mix the yeast. Let it sit for around 10 minutes.

While waiting for the yeast mixture to bubble up, mix all of the bread ingredients (except the water) in a bowl. Knead them slowly. I advice you to use a mixer to mix them evenly and get a much consistent texture. But you could always go with the traditional way of mixing them with your bare hands.

After that, add in the yeast mixture to bind all of the ingredients together. Add in the water little by little until a soft texture is obtained. It will be just a little sticky. If water is overly poured, be sure to adjust it with some flour, just enough to get the right texture and reduce the stickiness.

Once the dough is formed, add in some olive oil to smoothen the texture and avoid it from sticking to the wall of the bowl. Then cover the bowl with damped cloth and let it rest for 2 hours.

When the dough has risen, punch the center of the dough to release the air and knead them a little bit more. Form small balls with the dough and fill the center with the cheese. Be sure to seal the dough properly to avoid the cheese from oozing out while frying. Hahaaa

Once the balls are set, heat the oil and fry them until golden brown. Eat it while it is still warm to get the melting cheese in your mouth!

You can always modify the recipe to your favourite preferences by replacing it with cinnamon, curry leaves, or simply plain dough. Happy tryout!

Sketch Tools

Assalamualaikum wbt

The start of study week.

I'm waiting for the day after today to go back home. 

While waiting for that, these tools gonna be my companion for a while. 

This has been my favourite past time since I was small.

I must admit, I am not a creative person. I only know how to copy other people's sketch. I've tried doing it few times, on my own, using my imagination, but it turned out ugly.

*sigh*

But I know I'm capable to do this on my own. I mean, using my ow draft, sketch and vision. I just need to brush it up a little bit more ey? 

Here fishy fishy

Assalamualaikum wbt

Today Ummi bought my favourite catfish and taught me how to clean them properly.
She used flour to remove the slime on the fish. 

Esok, kita kasi goreng masak cili api!

#9 Recipe Tryout: Mint Egg Sandwich with Cheese Layer

Assalamualaikum wbt

I know this might appear inappropriate to post about this in the month of Ramadhan, but I just can't help it!

I was craving for something one day and I open the fridge to see what I can find. Then I saw the leftover hard-boiled eggs and I thought, " Let's make some scramble eggs!"

So I took it out, mashed it with a fork and add mayonnaise, salt, and pepper into it. Just to give it a little surprise, I've added some fine slices of mint leaves into it and continue to stir it with the rest of the ingredients. While doing this, I've actually toasted my bread in the oven until it turns brown and crispy. Before that, I've spread some butter on it to enhance the flavour when eating it later.

After that, I put a slice of cheese on top of the bread slice then spread some scrambled eggs before popping it into the oven to melt the cheese and make it warm. Ya see, this is the outcome.

When everything seems to be ready, my final task is to just put everything together into layers of sandwiches. I loooooove cheese and lots of vegetables!!

And there you go. Tadaaaa!

Alhamdulillah. This is best to be accompanied with a cup of coffee, like what I did, or perhaps a glass of float! Satisfaction!

#8 Recipe Tryout: French Onion Soup Chicken Stew

Assalamualaikum wbt

It's Ummi's birthday today and alhamdulillah, she has turned 48! May Allah bless you and continue to give you the strength in facing life challenges. May Allah grant you with a good health, blessings and graces. As you said, aged to perfection. =)

So we've celebrated Ummi's birthday today during iftar. She got two cakes today eyyyy!! One from her students and one from us. Me and Saibah had also prepared a special treat for Ummi.

French Onion Soup Chicken Stew

We were inspired and felt so eager to do it after watching Chef Michael's show on Food Network. Plus, we were fasting at that time. So every dishes done by him looked tremendously delicious and tempting! Imagine the thick caramelised onion soup together with shredded chickens, topped with slices of baguette and melted cheese. Yummy!

Alhamdulillah we've made it. Although it has a bit of smoky taste due to the burnt soup while we were making it hahaha. But hey, first timer always be forgiven. We could make it again the next time with other spices add into it to give it a little twist. 

Get the recipe here. 

#7 Recipe Tryout: Moist Chocolate Cake

Assalamualaikum wbt

Fuh fuh fuh! Lama dah tak bukak blog ni lepas balik rumah. Yes, I'm enjoying every bits of my time at home, and I'll try to make use of it properly because guess what, I'll be back to college earlier than others to carry out my duty. And, Alhamdulillah, it's Ramadhan already. How fast time flies! I've got changes to do during this Ramadhan and I'll hope I'll make it insya Allah. Got lots of things to be improved.

So, few days before Ramadhan started, I've made a steam chocolate cake that should be topped with chocolate ganache. It was supposed to be a classic chocolate cake, with shining chocolate ganache topping, and it was supposed to be MOIST! But then yeah, I screwed up the ganache and so I failed to make it look good, and therefore it can't be used as my topping.

Well, disappointed of course, but it was not a problem. So I replaced it with VIVO topping and some chocolate chips and voila! Heee...

Now that looks better.

It was stored in the fridge for few days so it harden a bit. Well, 'moist' chocolate cake turns out to be 'dry' due to the hot weather hohoho. But today, I cut slices of the cake, heat it, and eat it with vanilla ice cream. Vanilla has always been my favourite, and that has make the cake taste delicious again. =P

Get the recipe here.

#6 Recipe Tryout: Kerabu Mangga

Assalamualaikum wbt

Kerabu mangga pertama.

My own version. 

Muahaha.

#5 Recipe Tryout: Sesame Chicken

Assalamualaikum wbt

This was done few days ago. I forgot. Eheh.

It was kind of Chinese dish.
Finished!

#4 Recipe Tryout: Hot Dog Rolls & DIY Notice Board

Assalamualaikum wbt

Today's achievement. Alhamdulillah.

 It was a little over baked though. But hey! A first-timer did it! Applause! Ahahah.

I still need to make improvements to these. Always need to. Insya Allah.
And today's another achievement is the new notice board. It was actually a 'pot mat'. Haha

Well, this is for the little sisters. I know they were excited for it just because of the bear wrapper. Need to work it out a little bit more to get it done.

I try to make today a productive one, and I think I did it. =)


  

#3 Recipe Tryout: Oreo Tiramisu

Assalamualaikum wbt

And today's special dessert iiiiiiiissssssss: Oreo Tiramisu!

I'd always wanted to try making my own Tiramisu but always thought that it is a complicated recipe with expensive ingredients, and therefore I didn't proceed. But then one day I followed a pastry class and had the chance to learn to make Tiramisu cake. That is when I found out it ain't that complicated to be made.

What I did was replacing the ingredients with a cheaper one. Classic mascarpone cheese and ladyfinger biscuits are substituted with just cream cheese and spongecake. And since this should be an oreo tiramisu, I've added layers of oreo between them. Plus, tiramisu is a no-bake-cake. All you have to do is just layer the ingredients one by one and cover them all with vivo. Chill it, and it is ready to be eaten. 

Tadaaaa! I just can't believe that I've finally made them by my own. Alhamdulillah =)

Well, it supposed to look like layers of Oreo and cream cheese, but this one is lacked of Oreo pieces, and coffee too, so it doesn't look like one. Hehe. It's my first try anyway. Improvement can always be made. Yeay!

#2 Recipe Tryout: One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

Assalamualaikum wbt

It's Friday, and my mood is at its best since I've been very excited to try out this recipe.
Alhamdulillah, family members enjoyed it =)

To give a little Asian twist, I've added Bunapi and Bunashimeji mushroom.

All in one pot: linguine pastas, mushroom, basil, tomatoes, shallots, garlic, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and olive oil

Everything is put in a pot and is cooked all at once, together. It turned out almost like a fried pasta. Ehem. But it taste quite good though. I just need to add more water the next time I make this so that there will be more gravy.

 

The One Pot Tomato Basil Pasta now in one plate.

Alright, 2nd recipe tryout: DONE!

The 2014 Ultimate Resolution: 100 Recipes to Try

Assalamualaikum wbt

Day 30 of 2014.
So one of my resolution for the new year is to try out 100 new recipes. Challenge accepted!
Ceh!

Ini resipi Ayam Masak Madu sebenarnya. Tapi disebabkan aku terlebih kicap dan sos tiram, jadi hasilnya tak seperti yang aku bayangkan, maka aku bagi nama resipi ni Ayam Madu Gelap. So I guess this is the first recipe to be tried this year ey? Huahuahua!

And to accompany this dish, I've made Potato Salad. Oh well. I can never make one as delicious as Maya's potato salad. *sigh*

So that's my achievement setelah lama tak masuk dapur dan gian nak keletang keletung bagi bising. Muehehe.  And today, Cinnamon Roll again! To fulfill Ummi's request and to welcome Maya home from PLKN. Alhamdulillah, it works for the third time! and to add in the joy, cinnamon roll is finally completed with successful vanilla sugar glaze. Yeay!

Mengharapkan agar kerajinan dan semangat ke dapur ini tetap ada supaya azam dapat dicapai. Hehe. More recipes to come! Insya Allah =)

Suatu Pagi: Pasar Tani MAEPS

Assalamualaikum wbt

Pagi hari ini cerah dan indah. Ambil masa hari ini untuk rehatkan diri dari kesibukan dunia sekejap.

Mache balik dari TOCIE terus ajak pergi ke Pasar Tani MAEPS.

"Nak pergi ke tak nak, nak pergi ke tak nak"

Okee, pergilah.

Kayuh basikal.

Penatnya... lebih teruk dari yang aku sangka. Jalan pun tak penat macamni tau. Mahu salahkan basikal ke, atau salah aku badan makin berat? T.T

Agenda utamanya: Cari baju untuk ayah Syu.
Agenda kedua: MAKAN!

Serius cakap penat gila mengayuh, tapi seronok gila balik dengan makanan di tangan. Haha

Kuih Peneram

Tauhu Bakar

Mihun sup

Takoyaki

Tauhu Bakar dengan Kuah Rojak

Sedapnyaaaaaaaa!

You see, what I love about pasar tani is that you will get to see lots and lots of food! Macam-macam ada. Kadang yang kau tak pernah nampak pun boleh jumpa. hihi.
Oh, aku masih menyimpan impian yang sama. FOOD TOUR! Insya Allah, one day =)

Burger to Burger

Assalamualaikum wbt

You know how you can turn simple and processed food into something that taste different yet delicious? Muehehe.

Stir fry burger strips with sweet sesame blackpepper sauce

Aku masak ni untuk adik-adik sebab aku dah tak ada idea dah nak masak apa untuk diorang. Ini memang masakan orang malas -.-'

Lemon Choc Cheesecake with Walnut Bits

Assalamualaikum wbt

A modification from Maya's lemon choc pie. It doesn't taste that good due to the sourness but it is still better than the pie. Haha. Somehow, I managed to reduce the sourness a bit when I eat it with the whipped cream. Whipped cream is my favourite! Oh well, I should have just left it unbaked after I mixed it all together to smoothen the texture. It was actually a good recipe and it can be done perfectly just by reducing the amount of lemon squeezed into it. Perhaps some lemon zest would be enough already. It will taste good. Trust me. =)

I know, I know. It doesn't even looks like a cheesecake T.T