Life After the Rains

I could not help noticing that my garden was brimming with life after the recent bout of rain. It has been raining every day for the past few days, heavier sometimes and a light drizzle at others, or just looming heavy clouds waiting for the next cue to fall.

The sun filtering through gaps in the leaves

This morning, the sun breaks through the clouds. There was an inevitable hive of activity. The plants seemed more alive; insects and plants both were busy basking in the morning sunlight, maybe preparing for yet another onslaught of rain.

A black mushroom

'siblings in a row'

Beautiful, isn't it? Flowers of our common chives.

Busy web weaving?

Very busy having a meeting? Or consolidating resources?

Black ants, busy building a new nest

They do complement one another beautifully.

The moist ground is our favorite place for our home.

Caveat Emptor, "Let the Buyer Beware"

I am not convinced it was a human error neither am I convinced it is a system error. What is it then? The blanks .......are for you to fill after going through the scenarios that developed and prompted me to such a unpleasant conclusion.

We went to do our usual supermarket shopping and picked up a styrofoam tray of middle eastern dates covered in cling film. It has a price label indicating RM14.98 for a kilogram, packing date and the Price for that particular tray of 500 gms of the dates at RM7.49. Simple enough. But it was not to be. After paying the cashier for our purchases that day, I browsed through the receipt and was surprised to find a RM14.98 item. I double checked, was convinced there was an error, requested the cashier to re‐ check the item. The conclusion was that the Fruit Dates were scanned and picked up by the scanner/Point‐Of‐Sales system at RM14.98. The cashier approached her supervisor and explained to me that their system had picked up the item as a kilogram pack. I was duly reimbursed the amount overcharged.

The explanation given to me seemed ridiculous? If their system at some point was able to print out the price label, indicating the price/kg and the price for that particular pack, then I believe at some other point in time the correct pricing has been altered with. Was it deliberate? Was it a system error?  

Luckily, I did not buy much on that day and was easily drawn to the incorrect amount charged. Had there been more items, or more items of similar value, there could be an oversight.

I do hope it is a case of negligence by the supermarket, and not being diligent in staff training and supervision. However, I do have my doubts that it is as simple as that. Similar incidents have happened before and it is difficult to brush it off as negligence.

I hope that other shoppers experiencing similar incidents would be able to get back their losses and the managements of Supermarkets will do something to prevent that occurrences. (Not only this one).

Imagine, if there are shoppers, (how many?) unaware of such discrepancies and the supermarkets getting away with it, not for one item, as such incidents are not uncommon, but for.......... items.

Is it then a case of an unscrupulous trader taking advantage of naive consumers? The consumer could be enticed to buy thinking it is a good bargain as the Fruit Dates are of good quality. A justification for the vendor could be that those dates should have priced at twice the price per kilogram! 

Perut Ikan Curry (Preserved Fish Stomach Curry)

I usually would have some frozen Preserved Fish Stomach in my freezer (preserved by generously

covering the stomachs with salt, something like 2-3 pieces of finger length fish stomachs with 2-3 tsp. of salt).I usually request for some fish stomachs from my fish monger, enough to at least fill a small jam jar, as it is not very pleasant to clean these stomachs, so I do prefer to do more of it and less often, rather than doing less of it and more frequent.

Besides, I prefer the homemade to the commercial ones, that is one of the reason, I endure some unpleasantness to savor a wonderful curry, picked up from the culinary skills imparted by my late mother-in-law.

To describe it simply, I would say it is a potpourri of aromatic herbs, vegetables and seafood cooked in a medley of spices, tamarind juice and coconut milk.

This recipe would give you a about 3- 4 litres of Perut Ikan curry. You could half the recipe or freeze the balance.

Ingredients :

2 -3 pieces of approximately finger length preserved fish stomachs (leave the salt, or saltish gravy behind, only to be added if your curry needs more salt to taste.)

300 to 400 gm large or medium sized prawns 

Spices to be grounded :	Herbs to be thinly shredded
10 - 12 dried chillies seeded	Some limau purut/kaffir lime leaves (thinly shredded)
12 shallots/onions	15 sprigs Daun kesum/ Vietnamese coriander(or Vietnamese mint)
6 pips garlic	1-2 bunga kantan(torch ginger flower)
2 lemon grass
1 tsp shrimp paste/belachan

  

Other spices : 5 tabsp of fish curry powder, or 4 tabsp of wet curry fish paste(this can be bought from the market)

Vegetables :

One 454 gm tin canned pineapple cubes, cut the larger pieces into 2

2 bunches or 200 gms 'daun kadok' or wild betel leaves(a type of aromatic ground creepers)

200-300 gms long beans

2 round medium-sized brinjals or 1 large long brinjal

Half grated coconut, to get about 150-200 ml of thick coconut milk

Half cup tamarind /(assam jawa) from about 1/2 tabsp of the paste (I usually bought those seedless tamarind paste                                                                                               

Preparation :

1. Grind the chillies, shallots, garlic, lemon grass and belachan together.
2. Clean the prawns, by trimming off the heads, sharp tails and trim open the back to remove intestines with a pair of scissors. I prefer not to remove the shells.
3. Cut long beans into 2 cm. lengths. Cut the brinjals into similar sizes as the long beans. (Remove the skin).
4. Fry/sauté ground spices in oil till fragrant and oil surfaces. Then add in the fish curry paste. Fry till fragrant.
5. Add in the fish stomach(s).
6. Add in the long beans, followed by the brinjals and lightly fry.
7. Next add in a cup of water, bring to boil.
8. Add in the prawns, cubed pineapples, shredded herbs (daun kesum, limau purut leaves and bunga kantan) and assam jawa juice.
9. Add in more water if necessary.
10. Bring to boil till vegetables are almost done.
11. Then add in the thick coconut milk and shredded daun kado leaves.
12. Simmer till the coconut milk comes a boil to finish cooking and test for taste. Add in more salt if necessary.

 You could serve the curry with rice or bread. It is equally delicious with either one.

NOTES :

1. I have always use canned pineapples, (please drain them, you may use some of the syrup if necessary)

as they are less sour and they save me the hassle of cutting them. It is not easy to buy ready-cut fresh pineapples 

over here.

2. If you do not have preserved fish stomachs, you may substitute them with salted fish. The taste would not

deviate too much, you would still have a great dish because of all the other great ingredients.

An Unintentional Victim?

Recently, it happened again. I am sure some of you had experienced it before. Paying more for an item than the price displayed for the item on a supermarket shelf.

How many of us have been so subjected to such pricing unawares? How many of us had brushed it off? I had previously done so, but not for the latest incident. The amount overcharged is small and going back to put in your claim would mean driving to the supermarket and putting away some time for it. The thing that irked me then was how often it could have happened and was it an honest mistake or a deliberate inefficiency. If it was the later, not putting in a complaint could mean that the aggressor could get bolder, and more victims.   

This time round, the amount overcharged is a mere two ringgit, on top of that the offer price was printed in

large fonts on the packaging. I had to check out the outlet's contact number and get routed to the person-in-charge. I had to wait to be contacted again while they verify my claim. Next, I had to go back to the supermarket tugging along my good(s) and receipt, with a pathetic, upset expression, wait for further verification, fill up a form and..... No I did not get my money back, I was informed that I have to go down the aisles, and get a replacement good of similar value or more. So there you have me, looking around for something cheap as at that moment, I most certainly do not feel like increasing their bottom line, however minute it may be.

So, would I go through the same process again if I so happened to be such a victim again? 

Do you think I should?

My Blog ... Sad progress

Is my blog experiencing a sad and slow demise? 

I started my blog about 2 years ago, with just the objective of putting down, some of the things that came to me as I go through my daily routines. I had hoped that it will keep me active and alert.

I know very well that I would not be writing much about my personal experiences, knowing full well that there would, not be much to tell. On top of that being a Malaysian of Chinese ethnic, some sentiments are usually kept private. Besides not being well exposed, and not well experienced and  knowledgeable enough of all worldly things is a drawback too. That is why my blog is not specific on its genre, more of a potpourri of all things.

So is that an excuse for its lethargy and early hibernation? I guess not. I hope not. I just have to strive to do better, otherwise it will inevitably be on the path to its slow and uneventful retirement.

Simple, Easy ‘Ice Kacang’

Our local ‘Ice Kacang’ or literally translated as ‘Peanut Ice’, is undoubtedly a favorite dessert for many, including yours truly.

Aahh, it was so hot and you were so thirsty, and images of your favorite dessert keep floating across your rapacious mind.

You headed for some leftovers of your red bean soup, in the fridge. Voila, your expedition to concoct your own ‘Ice Kacang’ that hot afternoon was just about to begin.

That's my concoction

You eagerly filled your bowl, with four spoonfuls of the thick, leftover red bean soup. Then you reached for your freezer and your favorite Nestle Vanilla Ice Cream, 2 scoops should be adequate, (you thought to yourself). Somehow I have a weakness for Nestle Vanilla Ice Cream, I find it creamier and being not so sweet, the light vanilla taste is so very good. It is simply scrumptious for me. I find other brands not so delectable. Then you stretched out your hand for that cookie jar filled with great tasting roasted peanuts. You sprinkle some on top of your red bean soup, and there, you have it, undeniably a marvelous companion. With your cool, sweet companion, you headed toward your comfortable chair in front of the television. Isn’t that a great way to spend a nice, lazy, relaxing afternoon.

Is this the original?

I assure you that you will enjoy it very much, although it might not look and taste exactly like the original and traditional ice-kacang.

Traditional or original, all are just so good

All you need is some of the ubiquitous red bean soup, which we all had, at one time or another made some. Make use of the leftover/ balance of the red bean soup. (Especially if what is left is thick and gluey, your family and friends may have taken most of the liquid.) Try adding some ice cubes, or ice shavings, or any confections, jellies or delicacies that you fancy. How about adding some ‘chendol’, blueberries or cranberries? Yummy! There goes my dieting plan through the window, but who cares!