Cookbook

Monday, December 31, 2012

Les Mis and Starbucks

Great movie that fills in the gaps for me even though I have watched the musical once and rehearsed and performed the songs plenty of times. Worth every dollar for the movie ticket. The movie is almost as long as the musical itself, and is a 'musical' as it plays out the entire repertoire with the actors and actresses singing.

About the movie : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(2012_film)

Poster for the Les Mis movie.
The child actress (the young Cosette) looks alot like the image in the musical poster and novel

Elephant of the Bastille.
I got curious about this old monument that's now no more.
It was recreated for the Les Mis movie. Seen in the novel and also in the movie Moulin Rogue.

A midnight meal of beef goulash to warm the soul

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Tsuyu for udon

Tsuyu as soup base for udon

1 portion : 2 portion water

a gift of dried udon. Touted to be among the top 3 brands in Japan

Tsuyu, and instructions on usage

Tsuyu - soup base for udon and stew

Japanese meat stew
- meat (pork, beef or chicken)
- potato, carrot, onion
- oil for frying
- water
- beancurd (taukwa)
- 2 tbsp sugar + 2 tbsp mirin + 4 tbsp shoyu (alternatively, use 1 portion Tsuyu : 4 portion water)

Fry meat.
Add in potato/onion/carrot
Add water to cover ingredients, boil on high fire
Remove scum from surface
Add seasoning
Simmer till ingredients are tender.

Japanese beef stew

pork belly

Tsuyu, with instructions on usage

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Taiwan 2012 - Jiufen

Interesting eats at Jiufen.
Jiufen's downtown winding streets was used as the model for the Japanese anime Spirited Away.

賴阿婆芋圓 Grandma Lai’s Yuyuan (Taro Balls)
This is a unique dessert found in Jiufen, taro/yam balls in sweet soup. You can choose to have it hot or cold. There are several shops selling this dessert but Grandma Lai’s is said to be the original and best one.
地址: 新北市瑞芳區基山街143號
Address: 143 Jishan St, Rueifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan 224

Chewy bits

Quaint shop space, with assorted tables made of stone and wood

Li Yi Pineapple Tarts and SunCakes

李儀餅店 http://www.lecake.com.tw/index2.asp
You pay for your order, and they get it delivered to your hotel. Saved us the hassle of luggingthe boxes back

Almond Powder

We got this from oneof the first few stalls as we entered from where 7-11 is. They sell Gingko Nut powder too. We’re told that if you are having a cough, the almond powder drink should be drunk straight, without sugar added.

Dried Pi-pa

Not cheap, but this is really good for coughs and throats. You can eat it straight or boil the dried fruits with water and some salt.

Friendly seller

You can order by phone, without making a trip to Jiufen we were told

Fishballs

There's a very popular restaurant that sells fishballs and is terribly crowded.

Popiah skin filled with crushedpeanuts and icecream

Looked nice but we did not try it due to the cold and wet weather.

红糟肉圆

You can find this at a number of shops.

Other sights :

No room to move! Tourists came by the busloads

A pork seller

End of the street, or beginning, depending on which way you started

The tight winding streets open up to this view

Taiwan 2012 - Yehliu 野柳

About Yehliu : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yehliu

Beautiful coastal rock formations in the geopark. A pity about the huge crowds and the rain. And we were disappointed that the famed queen's head rock was so tiny, and since it was perpetually surrounded by a long line of tourists waiting to be photographed with it, we decided not to make our way near it nor join the fray but only looked at it from a distance.

Beside the geopark is a sheltered street food / market area and we spent a nice half hour wandering around it. Offerings include ice-cream, seafood, crispy seaweed, oyster omellete, toys, souvenirs.