Monday, September 2, 2013

Recipe: Malaysian Prawn Laksa


Laksa is a beautiful Malaysian inspired prawn and noodle soup.

Ingredients:
  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • 10 button mushrooms, washed and quartered

Tioman Island, Malaysia: 5* Japa Mala Resort and Spa

Travelling in Asia has always been an adventure for us.  This trip we ventured to an area called Tioman in Malaysia.  We stayed at one of the resorts which in our opinion was perfect for a honeymoon getaway, with rooms hidden in the forest on the hillside overlooking breathtaking ocean views.  The resort is unspoilt therefore making it the perfect place to unwind and relax.  


Friday, August 23, 2013

Recipe: German Schnitzel



German Chicken Schnitzel
Ingredients:
4 butterflied chicken fillets (deskinned)
2 tablespoons of flour
3 eggs

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Oberhausen, Germany

Oberhausen is well known for the biggest shopping mall in Europe i.e. CentrO as well as being the home to Paul the Octopus.  

Unfortunately we were not able to have a glimpse of Paul as he passed on in October 2010 prior to us immigrating to Europe however his shrine can be found at the Sea Life Centre.  For those who are not familiar with Paul, he was the oracle used to predict the results of the soccer matches in which Germany played.  He and his accurate predictions received global recognition during the 2010 world cup.  

Recipe: Guinness Shephard's Pie


Guinness Shephards Pie is synonymous with Ireland.  A moreish pie made with lamb as the theory is that shephards are concered with sheep rather than cattle or any other type of meat.
Made with rich lamb mince and topped with a buttery potato mash, this dish is an absolute winner.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Recipe: Mozambican Peri Peri Prawns


Piri Piri Prawns are absolutely divine!  This recipe calls for at least 3 hours of marinating before the prawns are ready however there is initial prep work which preferably should be done the day before for maximum flavor.

Recipe: Tanzanian Peanut and Spinach Curry

  


Mchicha is a traditional Peanut and Spinach curry of Tanzania.  It’s a tasty vegetarian dish which we quite enjoyed during our meatless fasting days during our travels.

Recipe: Kenyan Dawa Cocktail





The word Dawa means "medicine" in Swahili and is said to be so potent that it will cure whichever ailment you have 

Nurburgring, Germany

"For a quick lap at the Nürburgring, you've probably experienced more in seven minutes...than most people have experienced in all their life in the way of fear, in the way of tension, in the way of animosity towards machinery and to a racetrack." —Jackie Stewart"


The Nürburgring Cornering Map

A tick off our bucket list was the invigorating experience of being able to race in an BMW M3 around the Nürburgring race track.  We have had a passion for high performance cars since our childhood days.  The sound of a mind-bendingly, reason-defyingly fast engine translates into a sweet serenade for us.  Ironically, when we met many years ago... our interests were so much alike that being able to appreciate the Nürburgring experience together has definately proved to be one of our highlighted memories together.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Dublin, Ireland...

Home to one of the world's most influential rock bands, The beatles - Dublin was a city we were excited to visit.  As it was our first trip to Ireland, we decided to stay at a central point with easy access to all amenities such as the Hop on Hop off bus,  Aircoach to the airport, Temple bar, restaurants and local shopping area's.


Ha'penny Bridge over Liffey River.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The majestic temples of Siem Reap...

Being granted the opportunity to visit Siem Reap was sheer luck as we were told by one of our local Cambodian friends, that part of their beliefs is to visit Siem Reap at least once in their lifetime.  Almost as a pilgrimage to the once holy land, Siem Reap is home to many majestic temples located in the north west region of Cambodia.  These temples awe visitors around the world with their enormity and rich heritage.  Built over a millennium ago, the temples still flaunt the reminisce of Khmer civilization and art.  We must admit that even though the temples are ancient in age, the carvings are still well preserved and magnificent to view.


The magnificent carvings on the temple walls and pillars.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

The Great Expat checklist...

The thought of packing up all your belongings and moving to a totally new country is quite daunting however its also a chance to start over, a brand new chapter... a brand new adventure which offers so much to learn.  This chapter contains hints and tips learned during our transition...



In your current country of residence, its best to always have a check list to work from.  This way with the stress of moving, you are at less risk of forgetting tasks to complete.

Recipe: Namibian Coffee Creamer Tart



Travelling has its perks of learning about cultures and various cuisines.  Special characteristic styles of cooking practices and traditions which have become part of our culinary tastecapades.  We've tried to re-invent the dishes we have enjoyed on our travels and have the pleasure of sharing it with you all below...




Namibian coffee creamer tart (also called Cremora Tart)
Ingredients:
200g Tennis biscuits or Graham crackers (usually one packet of biscuits)
1 can of Condensed milk
100g butter (can substitute butter with margarine)
About ½ cup of Lemon juice (we prefer fresh lemon juice for a truly zesty flavor)
2 cups of Coffee creamer (Cremora)
1 cup of Full cream milk (can substitute with 1 cup of water if you prefer)

Method:
1.  To begin, crush the tennis biscuits or graham crackers and combine with the butter to form a 
     crumbly mixture. 
2.  Grease a pie dish and line it with the biscuit mixture.  Ensure it is evenly lined and place the crust in 
     the fridge to set for about 30 minutes.
3.  In a clean separate bowl, combine the condensed milk and lemon juice and leave to stand for a 
     while whilst you begin whisking the coffee creamer with milk (or water depending on your taste) in 
     a separate bowl until it thickens.
4.  Once you have completed mixing the coffee creamer mixture, combine it with the condensed milk 
     and lemon mixture.
5.  Mix thoroughly and pour into the pie crust which was resting in the fridge.
6.  Place in fridge for an hour to set.
7.  Cut into slices and serve.


Saturday, August 3, 2013

Cambodia...

Cambodia was one of the countries that hit home for us.  Beautiful, humble people who albeit healing from one of the world's worst atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s.  
Don't be mistaken by the depressing Tuol Sleng or Killing Fields tourist attractions, as the Kingdom of Cambodia offers much more richness in heritage.

Arriving at Phnom Penh International airport, we headed to the hotel to check in and freshen up.  Phnom Penh has an interesting story to it... legend has it that the name stretches back to the late 14th century, when an old woman named Penh stumbled upon a tree with a handful of Buddha images stuck on one of its branches.  The lady, Penh retrieved these images and had a hill (phnom) built to house them hence the name Phnom Penh was born.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Mozambique

Visiting Mozambique brought back some childhood memories for myself where my dad would prepare delicious peri peri LM prawns as a Sunday accompaniment to family lunch.  I recall my dad explaining that LM stood for Lourenço Marques, words which seemed strange at the time for a 8 year old.  18 years later, we got to visit Lourenço Marques which is today known as the city of Maputo in Mozambique.  Maputo is also widely known as the City of Acacias as the acacia tree's are commonly found along this coastal country.





Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Giving Back...

The best gift one can give a complete stranger, is the gift of compassion.  Being brought up in an environment where helping the less fortunate was habitual, we continued doing so from Netherlands.



Nearly every person has something that they do not need or no longer use, which another person could benefit from.  Donating these type of items to the less fortunate is a wonderful way to give back to the community.


Saturday, July 27, 2013

Tanzania...




Bordered by Kenya and Uganda, Tanzania is one of the East Africa countries which boasts majestic tourist attractions such as Zanzibar, the stunning Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, Lake Victoria to name a few.

For our journey to this beautiful country, we began in Dar-es-Salaam.  “Dar” as it is known by the locals, is Tanzania’s richest and largest city.  Surprisingly quite a modern and busy city, Dar was a great place to shop especially for Tanzanites :) A rare stone, which is graded by the 5 C’s i.e. Colour, Clarity, Cut, Carat, Confidence (Certificate). 

Friday, July 26, 2013

Namibia...

Somewhere between the Kalahari and the South Atlantic, you’ll find a wonderful country rich in vast landscapes, beautiful mountains, colonial cities and a wide abundance of wildlife. Namibia as it known these days,  can very much be labelled as one of the youngest countries in Africa.

Kenya, Nairobi...

Nairobi… the capital and largest city in Kenya, welcomed us with fantastic weather during this trip.  Interestingly enough, the name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyrobi, which translates to "cold water". The phrase is also the Maasai name of the Nairobi river, which in turn lent its name to the city. Home to the Maasai tribe, the city also boasts a diverse multicultural composition of people who settled in the city from British occupied regions such as India, Pakistan, Somalia and Sudan.