Double Boiled Prawns in Coconut Juice

Tis the season for pasar malam near our home again!

The only 2 things I buy from there are putu piring (I can eat 10 at a go) and whole coconuts. The coconuts are convenient to consume as they've got their tops cut off. As I was happily sipping one of them, I was thinking of what to do with the rest. Lightning struck in my big eccentric head and I was sufficiently inspired to make this dish.

So easy to make coz' the prawns are double boiled in their own little container with a lid. And the container is disposable too! Actually, they make very good pots for hanging plants.

"Walnut Butter"

I gave up eating anything containing large amounts of hydrogenated oil about 10 years ago... thanks to a brilliant health-conscious chemist friend, who educated me on the evils of trans fats. Never did like margarine or vegetable shortening anyway. More butter, lard and coconut oil for me!

But I like peanut butter on my toast! I've made my own, but I think walnuts are better for you, so I came up with a walnut butter recipe, though it's more like a spread. I wake up some mornings and think how good life is because I can have toast with my walnut spread. :)

Melitzanes Tiganites

This is my version of Greek Battered Eggplant. It's excellent as a party finger food or appetizer. Trouble is that it has to be served very warm, which means you have to be slaving over the stove while your guests are enjoying themselves. Eventually, they'll come hovering over the stove too coz' they can't wait to be served. :))

Seafood Pancakes

This is my version of the Korean dish (Hey-Mul Pajun). It's so easy to make in your own home. The kids successfully learnt how to make it during one of our workshops. They did such a good job... cutting, mixing and spreading and flipping. You should see them! Thumbs up :)

Ba Li Tong

My sister-in-law first described this exotic food many years ago. She talked about the knocking and sucking at the shell, picking at it with a toothpick, really got me curious...

I actually didn't even get to try it till 3 years ago, in Penang. And one more time in Changi Village. This time I saw a whole bag of it being sold for just $2. They are nice and fresh, still moving!

Despite the way they look, they're really good. That is if you can contort your lips effectively around the openings to get to the small morsels of flesh hidden in the spiral shells.

It's a negative calorie food I tell you. The amount of energy expanded in extracting those guys exceeds the calories they contain. Oh, but I forgot to account for the dipping sauce: chinchalok, garlic, chilli sauce and lime. Sorry!