Sunday March 1, 2009
Mosquito fix
Makan makan by FARIDAH BEGUM
An easy and inexpensive tip to overcome the invasion of mosquitoes.
THE weather has been erratic, with temperatures reaching 40°C during the afternoons followed by heavy downpours. Sometimes, however, the hot spell lasts for days, and when it rains, it rains cats and dogs.
When such weather is upon us, guess who comes over to stay for a long uninvited visit? The mosquitoes!
Given the worrying news reports that many died from dengue, especially in the Klang Valley, it was a pleasant surprise when a friend generously e-mailed an easy and cheap way of keeping your home safe from these pests.
The email reads:
“Mosquito control technique – useful tip!
If you have lemon flavoured dishwashing liquid, just pour a few drops into a white dinner plate filled with a little water. Set the dish on your porch, patio, picnic table, park bench or any outdoor area. The mosquitoes will flock to it and drop dead shortly after drinking the mixture.”
My friend added that it helps control the number of mosquitoes around your home and is especially good if you have pets and young children.
The weather and mosquitoes aside, and besides our usual talk about food, keeping a clean home is very important.
While some look forward to the annual spring cleaning, I have a phobia about leaving cleaning to the last minute. Concern for hygiene and an allergy to dust are factors that govern my initiative in keeping the home clean.
For many, house cleaning is not on their list of likes but it’s something that needs to be done and it doesn’t really take the whole weekend to do it, even if you don’t have a maid.
Work on cleaning the home on a schedule and you will eventually end up with a constantly habitable abode.
Cleaning is not so unpleasant and can be good for you if you are in need of exercise and don’t want to spend money on a gym membership.
Anyway, a healthy lifestyle includes exercise and what better way than to exercise and clean the home at the same time. It makes you healthy, happy and content.
Back to food.
Work has been piling at the office and with the current economic climate, most of us are doing the work of two or three people. This leaves very little time for mothers like me who want our children to have home cooked lunches. Not only does it save money, it allows us to plan nutritious meals for our young ones.
With hour-long lunch hours, most of my cooking is pretty regimented with soups, curries and gulai cooked before I leave for the office in the morning and a quick stir-fry vegetable dish when I come home for lunch.
It is increasingly difficult to plan appealing lunches with such short breaks but there must be strategy and will to fulfil these obligations.
This week I present two simple and quick recipes that are not only tasty but they would cover all your nutritional needs and appeal to all members of the family.
The simple fried beef is a versatile dish as you can substitute the beef for chicken, mutton, chicken liver, fish fillet, prawn and even squid.
The great thing about such easy recipes is that you can almost twist it to be what you want it to be and it works! Try it and let me know about your efforts. Have a great Sunday!
> Faridah Begum loves cooking up a storm in the kitchen with family and friends, whenever possible.
Vegetable on the Double
Vegetable on the Double Ingredients
6 shallots – sliced thinly
100g anchovies (ikan bilis) – washed and drained
600g green stemmed vegetables – bok choy or white stemmed bok choy or mustard leaves, or even spinach
1 cup coconut cream
2 cups water
Salt to taste
Method
Place the coconut cream, water and salt in a pot. Bring to boil and let it simmer for about two minutes. Add the shallots and anchovies and let the coconut milk continue simmering. Add the vegetables and let it simmer for another five minutes or until the vegetables are cooked and soft. Serve with warm rice.
Simple Fried Beef
Ingredients
300g beef tenderloin or fillet (preferably with a little fat) – sliced against the grain thinly
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder
2 big onions – cut into rings
6 bird’s eye chillies or 2 dried chillies or 2 fresh red chillies sliced
2 tablespoon cooking oil
Method
Marinate the beef with salt and turmeric powder for at least 20 minutes. Heat the cooking oil in a wok and stir-fry the beef until it is cooked and a little charred at the edges. Add the onions and chillies and continue frying over a medium fire until the onions are soft. Serve.
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