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Friday, April 27, 2007

Makan sedap


Tempeh tauhu goreng
Originally uploaded by jyew.
It was a trip "back home" for us tonight when we had Eric, Amy and Finn over for some home-cooked Singaporean comfort food. Ever since I was in Chicago, Jude's been on a gastronomic mission to recreate all our favorite foods from home- from char kway teow to sambal tempeh. And tonight, we hope we came close...
Dinner Menu
Kari Ayam (Singaporean chicken curry)
Sambal Udang (Sweet & spicy shrimp)
Tempeh Tauhu Goreng (Stir-fried tempeh and tofu with green beans)
Nasi Lemak (Rice cooked with coconut milk)
Kacang Ikan Bilis (Fried dried anchovies with roasted peanuts)

I was particularly happy with how my nasi lemak turned out- it was rich surely, but not overwhelmingly so that it distracted from the other dishes. My chicken curry doesn't come close to how my mom or Jude's mom make it, but considering how deprived we've been of this most basic of Singaporean comfort foods, tonight's version was a virtual godsend. And especially on a rainy, cold evening like tonight, rib-sticking, spicy food hit just that right spot. We can't claim credit for everything though- due credit must be given to James Oseland (& his book that Jude bought me for my birthday) and Prima Taste for being vital members in tonight's little experiment ;)

Most importantly, we had great company! Eric and Amy even brought us a sampler of all-American desserts from Zingerman's- pecan pie, Canadian maple syrup pie, and lemon meringue pie- to complement the Southeast-Asian entrees sampler :) And of course, there was also the after-dinner entertainment that they so thoughtfully brought along with them- a most precious display of delightful, spontaneous Finn-ness as the little one ran around our coffee table and laid on the floor with Jude with his toy airplane :) Thanks for coming guys, and for joining us on our little gastronomical trip home!

[Photos here.]

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So do you recommend the James Oseland book, then?

serene said...

absolutely! it doesn't only have authentic recipes, but good explanations of the various ingredients, and a strong narrative too, which is rare in cookbooks.