Category: Random Rants

Foodie Fridays: Vietnamese Fusion Rolls with Peanut Hoisin Sauce

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Hello everyone.  Fridays = Food.  Well OK to be very honest, Everyday = Food! 🙂  I just absolutely love food.  I’m always on the quest to try out new things as food should be interesting and fun!  I bought rice paper and googled a few recipes for Vietnamese Rolls, most of which seemed rather yummy but I lacked ingredients, so I made up my own.  🙂  Yummy Vegetarian Rolls!

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Don’t they just look gorgeous?  I tried to make them as colorful as possible 🙂  It’s really a healthy side – somewhat like a salad roll. Yes that’s how I roll. LOL

 

Vietnamese Fusion Rolls with Peanut Hoisin Sauce

Makes enough for 2 people as a side.

Ingredients:

  • 4 rice paper sheets
  • 1 carrot, grated
  • 4 tbsp sweet corn
  • Mock Fish, baked and cut in strips
  • 1/5 packet of Rice noodles, boiled and drained
  • Some shredded lettuce
  • Handful of Thai Basil Leaves
  • FOR DIPPING SAUCE:  2 tbsp Hoisin Sauce, Pepper, Water and Crushed Peanuts

Method:

  1. Prepare Rice Sheets (follow directions on the packet – Dip in warm water and it’s ready to roll!)
  2. Place the ingredients in the middle, and roll it upwards – just like a burrito. Simple.
  3. Mix the sauce in a bowl with some water and crushed peanuts.  Mix it to the desired consistency and taste you would like.  You can add some soya sauce if you like or chilli sauce!

Enjoy!! 🙂

x

B

Singapore Day 2014 in London

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Hello all..  My feet feel the itch, the desire to travel.  So the only travelling I managed to do lately is travel to Singapore Day in London.  LOL!  It honestly felt like I was in Singapore.  We had to register way in advance as the entry is free.  It was strictly for Singaporeans, which I really liked as the feeling of being there was exclusive.  Although saying that, you can register a Non-Singaporean Plus One that’s a family member.  Which was great as I would have loved to go with my husband.  He loves Singaporean Food – even more than me.

The Perks of Singapore Day:

  • Best Chefs from Singapore flown to London to serve FREE FOOD for all.  The queues were really long – but the taste of Singapore was priceless.  I was a happy person.  Especially eating freshly made Roti-Prata.  The one hour wait was worth it.
  • You mingle with about 10 000 Singaporeans from UK and Europe.  It’s pretty extraordinary that a day like this can bring everyone together.
  • You feel extra patriotic.  I wore Red, it pretty much SPELLS OUT PATRIOTISM.  I was simply proud to be Singaporean.  I loved every minute of it.  Maybe being away from a country really makes you appreciate your country more 🙂
  • The PM was the guest of honour and I got a picture with him.  Well sort of, but managed a handshake.  Maybe the Red Shirt did the trick? LOL.
  • To end the day off there was chilled water.  That might sound trivial but on a hot day, chilled bottle water is truly appreciated.
  • Well planned till the last detail…!

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Casuarina Curry.  The prata is awesome and crispy.  My mouth is watering thinking about it….!

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So many people.  Turn out was so great that somehow I didn’t manage to meet all my friends that were there. Unfortunately, the phone network wasn’t too great.

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The PM of Singapore – Lee Hsien Loong.Image

 

My RED SHIRT that got me noticed?  LOL.

 

All in all – really enjoyed a taste of home in London..!

xx

B

Vegetarian Tuna Avocado Jacket Potato Topped with Chia Seeds

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Hello all!  Yesterday I wanted to eat a Jacket Potato but without all the cheese, just something different.  So I whipped this up – to add to B’s easy collection of Recipes 🙂  

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And then I thought.. Let me just add Chia Seeds to it for a boost in health 😉

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Vegetarian Tuna Avocado Jacket Potato with Chia Seeds

Bakes: How ever many potatoes you bake, I baked 2!

Ingredients:

  • 2 Jacket Potatoes
  • 1 Packet Vegetarian Tuna
  • 1 Avocado
  • 2 Tbsp Mayo
  • 1 can Sweet Corn
  • 2 Tbsp Chia Seeds
  • To taste:  S & P, mustard, tabasco

Method:

  1. Preheat oven to 200 C.
  2. Wash the potatoes.
  3. Cut a cross in the middle of the potato.
  4. Poke all sides with a fork for even baking.
  5. Bake for 1 hour 20 mins.
  6. In the meantime, wash the tuna with a strainer to remove excess oil.
  7. Mix tuna with Mayo, salt, pepper, tabasco, mustard.
  8. Add sweet corn to the mixture.
  9. Put this mixture in the potato when it’s done.
  10. Top it up with pieces of Avocado and sprinkle Chia Seeds on top!

My husband really enjoyed this for lunch 🙂  So it’s definitely going to be something we have more often.  I’ve just been in the whole AVOCADO mood. 🙂  Hope everyones been fab! 

xx

B

Japanese Money Envelope – Kinpu

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Hello everyone!  So today I stumbled upon this blog post: How To Make a Japanese Money Envelope.  It was so reminiscent of my times in Japan.  (One reason how I came up with Envylope App). Japanese people are really into culture and aesthetics.

In their culture – money envelopes (kinpu) as a form of gift giving is predominant.  They give money to one another for new births, marriages, new houses, funerals even they “pay” money to tutors in a “money-envelope” as it is considered to be more polite.  The envelope they choose for the various occasion is different too.  Each type of envelope has a different symbolic characteristic.  I honestly love their culture – it’s just so interesting.  I miss JAPAN!

This made me think that I absolutely must get a translation of Envylope App  in the Japan App Store ASAP!  🙂

And in my spare time, I can learn how to make a Japanese Money Envelope too! hehehe

Hope everyones been wonderful. Here’s a link to Asian Cultures that use Envelopes as gift giving – written by me 😉 .

Any tips/comments on the Japan App Market is welcomed!

xx

B

Chinese Style Glazed Ginger Brussel Sprouts Stir Fry

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Hello everyone!  So yes I have been up to cooking – but its been pretty busy with Envylope so I’ve not been posting much.  But I must.  I must.  Just simply because I really do enjoy blogging!

So I wanted something easy, quick and healthy as a stir fry to have with Tofu Hoisin Steaks (the easiest Tofu dish you can ever whip up).

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And a close up of the greens…  The texture was just right and so was the sauce!  

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It was yum!  Being Vegetarian you have to try to like all kinds of vegetables otherwise it’s pretty limited!

 

B’s Chinese Style Ginger Glazed Brussel Sprouts

Makes: Enough for 3-4 people

Ingredients:

  • 1 packet Brussel Sprouts
  • 3-4 Chestnut Mushrooms, sliced
  • 2-3 carrots, sliced
  • A tsp of ginger, cut into strips
  • 2 Tbsp Seasame Oil

Ingredients for Sauce:

  • 4 Tbsp Soya Sauce
  • 1 heaped Tbsp Cornstarch
  • 2 1/2 Tbsp Rice Vinegar
  • 1/3 cup water
  • Pepper

Method:

  1. Put 2 Tbsp of Sesame Oil on pan.  Cook Ginger on low flame.
  2. Mix Sauces in a Bowl with a whisk.
  3. Add vegetables to the pan.  I like the order of Mushrooms-Carrots-Brussels. 
  4. After vegetables are all cooked (about 8-10mins), add the sauce to the pan and stir it in.
  5. It will be done in 2-3 mins!  Let the sauce thicken and glaze the vegetables 🙂

Hope you enjoy it! 

xx

B

Amit & Bandhna (Envylope App) are off to an Indian Wedding Fair Today!

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Hello bloggers!  Hope everyone’s enjoying their weekend so far.  Just thought it would be terribly unfair to not let you guys know of my App on half-price today.  How can it just be on discount for strangers and not my readers?  NOT FAIR.  So if anyone’s interested and hasn’t downloaded it yet – Envylope is just 69P today (until Midnight London Time!) 

xx

B

Foodie Fridays: Japanese Bento

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My friend from Japan gave me a beautiful gift.  Two Bentos!  I’ve been looking around for them but haven’t come across any in London.  I saw a nice one on Amazon but it was 33 pounds for ONE BENTO.  That is crazy.  I briefly mentioned it to her and she was so kind to get me 2 as a gift.  I insisted to pay her back but she said it was from a closing down sale and it was pretty cheap (I’m hoping that was true) 😉  When people are kind to you – its just heart warming and worth a mention.

Since I got back I’ve had the urge to use the Bentos, so I finally did!

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The eating experience was just so much nicer.  An easy meal became an extravagant meal!

FYI – The Bento consists of Brown Rice, Grilled Carrots, Asparagus & Mushrooms, Pan-Fried Tofu Steaks with a drizzle of Teriyaki Sauce, Quorn Chicken Strips with Japanese BBQ sauce and sesame seeds. Garnished with Japanese Ginger and Wasabi 🙂

Thanks Trendy x

Rainbow Zebra Nails

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Hello everyone!  Hope everyones been good 🙂

When I was away at my sisters wedding I got my nails done to match all the bright coloured indian clothes.  What could be better than Rainbow Zebra Nails?!  It’s pretty loud and bright, but nothing short of gorgeous I would say! 🙂  

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The manicurist was so happy with her art that she took a photo on her own phone to keep! 🙂

xx

B

Foodie Fridays: Chinese New Year Salad – Yusheng

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I got to eat amazing Yusheng this year.  For those of you who haven’t tried it- you are seriously missing out on life itself.  It’s got the crunch, the flavour and meaning behind it.  It’s amazing.

Each ingredient in the salad signifies a different meaning that provides luck for the New Year.  Chinese believe that the higher you toss the salad while mixing it – the more luck you get!  Just imagine, you’re given the green light to make a mess in a sophisticated restaurant.  It’s a child’s dream.  Oh – wait – it was really fun for me too.  Just wonder what does says about me 😉

I took a picture of it before eating it.  It was terribly tough to do that – as I couldn’t wait to dig in.  So happy that I was in Singapore during that period 🙂

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I really want to try to make it at home.  I did some googling – came across this recipe which I’m thinking of modifying a bit to suit me more.  Will post my version up when I try it out.  I think I might need to make a trip to the Chinese Supermarket for some ingredients though!

Hope everyone’s been quite the foodie lately!

xx

B

 

Envylope by Amit & Bandhna – Reviewed Online!

4 Comments

Hello everyone.  I am very much alive and have not died – just in case any one of you morbid people were wondering!  LOL! Although,  I feel it has been just way too long since I have blogged.  I’m back home (finally), so you’ll be hearing from me much more.  My veggie-food experiments will also be on a high as I’ve missed the kitchen! Now, who would have thought?  Well, I have missed cooking my own food.  I’ve been on the go for quite awhile and I just want to eat my own stuff now!!

Anyways –  I was super excited to see my name on a review site!  So rewarding!  I just had to share it 🙂

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My name on this site…. Yaey!!  So it’s always beneficial to have a unique name as chances are almost certain that its you 😉  Hope everyone has been really well.  A huge thank you to my new followers as well –  I’m usually very active, so you’ll be hearing from me more.  Looking forward to checking out everyones blog too!

Hope everyone has had a Sparkling New Year – a Belated Happy New Year From Sparkle Bubble! 

xx

B