Walnut Carrot Muffins

My mood of baking suddenly stormed me last week and been trying out some recipe that I collected from Internet, friends, families and books. And today I am about to share with you the recipe by Amy Beh. I saw this recipe from The Star newspaper few years back and I couldn't remember when? It must be very long time. ^-^

I kept telling myself that one day I should try and bake some carrot cake as I enjoyed having carrot cake while I studying overseas. In my mind, I always think that carrot cake must be very hard to bake. And few days ago, I want to try baking something using oil as I am running out of butter after baking few batch of cookies. Then I flipped through all the recipe and I saw Walnut Carrot Muffins recipe. After browse through the ingredients, I decided to give it a try since I got all the ingredients.

Walnut Carrot Muffins

Ingredients: A. 2 eggs

175g soft brown sugar

120ml corn oil

B. (combined and sifted twice)

200g plain flour

1/2 tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

1/4 tsp salt

C. 40g walnuts, coarsely chopped

180g carrot, grated

40g pitted prunes, chopped (I substitute this with sultanas)

Method:

1. Put ingredients (A) into a large mixing bowl.

2. Add in sifted dry ingredients (B) and mix well by using a hand whisk. Do not over-mix.

3. Add grated carrot and mix then stir in walnuts and pitted prunes (in my case sultanas).

4. Spoon out the batter to fill greased muffins pan moulds to three quarter full.

5. Bake in preheated oven at 190 degree C for 20 - 25 minutes or until muffins are fully risen and cooked through.

* I would like to add more walnut and sultanas in my next baking for this recipe as I love nuts. ^-^*

I found that this recipe is easy to prepare and the outcome of the muffins are fluffy and firmed. Most importantly, it is very healthy and not sweet. It is suitable for kids and elderly. My neighbour kids and hubby love it. ^-^

Give it a try if you like Walnut Carrot Muffins. Perhaps you can try baking some of this for your mother for Mother's Day. ^-^

Invited Review - Demax Restaurant @ D'Piazza Mall, Penang

This is actually a late post since I am busy for the past few months and do not have time to upload the pictures. Since recently I have more time, I decided to blog about this first since this review was done end of February, 2010.

Few days ago, I passed by D' Piazza Mall and realised that there are more restaurant compare to late February, 2010. But I still have no chance to try out any of those restaurant yet. However, I am going to review

Demax Restaurant

Location: No. 27 Jalan Mahsuri,

11900 Bayan Baru, Penang, Penang.

Business Hour: 10.30am to 2.30pm, 6.00pm to10.00pm

Email: demax_restaurant@hotmail.com

Interior of Demax Restaurant (Ground Floor)

Interior of Demax Restaurant @ Level 1

Interior setting @ Level 1

Comfortable Couch @ Level 1

Let me started by sharing with you the beverages that we had tested for the night first:

Ice Blended Smoothies Blackcurrant (RM4.50) & Ice Blended Smoothies Mango (RM4.50)

Ice Blended Smoothies Milo (RM4.50) & 滄 海 一 香 Shandy + Champagne + Sea coconut (RM5.90)

I have tried several smoothies in the past and I found that the smoothies serve here are just average but something caught my eyes were the Shandy , Champagne and Sea Coconut. I found that the proportion of the shandy and champagne are not handle well. I found that the shandy covered the champagne taste. But the colour of the drink looks nice.

Detox health drink 排 毒 健 康 飲 品 (Carrot, cucumber, apple, beetroot, celery) RM5.90 & Fresh Lemon Honey Drink (RM3.50)

They also offer some detox health drink. You can try it out if you need some detox. The drink is quite refreshing. The fresh Lemon honey drink is also very refreshing.

Special Fried Rice 霸 王 炒 飯 (RM12.00)
This is one of their popular special fried rice. I quite enjoy this plate of fried rice. As the fried rice got it's "wok hei". Although there are not much ingredients in it. However, I found that the price is a bit too steep. It is for 2 person share.

Tom yam Noodles (RM5.80)

If you like tom yam and you couldn't handle spiciness, this might be one of your choice as the tom yam is not spicy at all. It is rather on the sweet side. However, I like some spicy and sourness on my tom yam.

Seafood Noodle 海 鮮 清 湯 麵 (RM6.50)

If you like something light, perhaps you can try their seafood noodle.

Oyster Noodle (RM5.80)

Are you fans of oyster noodles? Here, they also serve some oyster noodles.

Lime Steamed Siakap 酸 柑 蒸 石 甲 (RM28)

Want some "chu char"? Here, you also can enjoy "chu char". We try some of the foods such as lime steamed siakap. It is quite an appetising dish. As it is something spicy and sour.

Salad Chicken (Small RM8.00, Large RM16.00)

Care for some salad chicken? Well, the chicken does not look appetising, it's look rather dull. But when we saw the photos on the shop, it's different story. So I think they should maintain their consistency.

Curry Sotong (RM8.00)

Curry Sotong are not bad. As I love curry very much. But I prefer bigger sotong in my curry. ^-^

Special Tofu 招 牌 豆 腐 (Small RM8.00 / Medium RM10.00 / Large RM12.00)
This is one of the dishes I found that is not bad. But I think for those who hate the "Shaoxing" wine would not like it as I think they have put a bit too much of that in the dish. But I enjoy that. ^-^

Ice Sour Plum Pork Rib 冰 梅 骨 (Small RM8.50)
The looks of this dish are nice. But I found it rather sweet than sour. Perhaps they should put more sour plum in there. But like the textures of the pork rib.

Thai Style Chicken 泰 式 雞 (Medium RM14.00)

This dish is not too bad. If they can fry the chicken till golden brown, it would be better. The textures of the chicken are not bad.

Apart from all that, they also have some special set lunch:

Set Lunch : Big Bowl Rice 大碗飯 (Including Rice + Soup of the day + Drink + Fruit) RM11.90 nett.

Drink's choice are Yin Yong Milk Tea, Soya Milk or Lemon Tea.

Sample Lunch Photos

(a) Special Fried Fish (Sa Bee Hu) 三味魚.

(b) Sweet & Sour Chicken

c) Kong Pou Pork

Overall, I find that they have some space for improvement. The good news to dine in this place is there are no government tax nor service charge.

I would like to thank Mr. Tonny and Cariso for the invitation.

Yee Sun Kai Chok @ Cintra Street, Penang

Hubby and I have been wanted to try out the Cintra Street Yee Sin Kai Chok for quite sometime. But since my gal don't like porridge since baby, we did not have the chance to try it out. Not until one night when my gal was too full to consume anything since she had a late afternoon tea that day. So we have the opportunity to savour the hot pipping Yee Sun Lai Chok.

This stall operate quite late. When we arrived there about 8pm, we just saw the stall owner busy preparing the ingredients and just about to start operation. I heard and saw many floggers blog about this place before and heard many rumours about the stall owner attitude. And I am quite worry about it too. As I am the one went there to order. hahahhaha..... my heart was just pounding......pounding very fast when I am walking towards the stall....... ^-^

Out of surprise, I did not get scolded. I just do my order and run...... ^-^ All I know is to place your order and don't repeat your order again unless she asked you. As she did not reply me when I make my order. I assume that she got what I meant. I think she will get annoyed if you keep repeating your order as what the other customer did in front of me. ^-^

I ordered Chicken porridge, Yee Sun porridge and also a plate of pak cham kai.

Chicken Porridge

I opt for the chicken porridge as hubby go for Yee Sun porridge. My bowl of chicken porridge has a very nice aroma. And I can't wait to try it after I finished snapping the photos. Inside the porridge there are some thinly sliced ginger and also chicken chunks. Apart from that there are also some sprinkle of spring onion, lettuce, you tiaw and pepper. I found that they are too generous in sprinkle pepper in my bowl of chicken porridge.

The chicken porridge taste nice even without the pepper itself. ^-^

Yee Sun Porridge

Hubby opts for yee sun porridge (fish porridge). Hubby commented that the fish is very fresh and the porridge is rich in flavour.

Pak Cham Kai

Hubby is the fans of pak cham kai. And every where he went and saw this dish, he will usually order it and try. Hubby and my gal complained to me that I should order a big served of pak cham kai for them. lol As they enjoyed it very much.

My gal cannot stop having the pak cham kai once she first tested the first bite of it. As it is very tender and succulent. My gal hate to bite something very hard and this suits her taste buds. I think she is the one who finished this plate of pak cham kai. Hubby and I make fun of her where she told us that she not going to take anything there. And she gave us a mischievous smile. ^-^

Just before we left the shop, I quickly snapped a photo to show you the stall along the road side. It is very easy to locate if they operate. As some time they have some rest. We been there for few times last year after the 1st visit and found that was not open perhaps the stall owner went for holiday. ^-^

Sister's Char Koay Teow @ Macalister Road, Penang

Whenever there are visitors coming to Penang, one of the hawker delicacies that they wanted to try is "Char Koay Teow". As you can always see in some other state in Malaysia that they served "Penang Char Koay Teow". So I think "Char Koay Teow" is a must try foods for all the visitors.

Today, I am about to share with you is one of the popular char koay teow in Penang. You must have heard "Sister's Char Koay Teow" before right? Well, this is the CKT that I am about to blog for today.

This CKT stall is locate in Lam Heng Cafe, No. 185, Macalister Road, Penang. It is just opposite of Loh Guan Lye Specialist Centre.

How do you classify the best CKT? I guessed everyone in their heart/mind have their own version of best CKT. As some like it wet and some like it dry. However, I prefer my CKT in dry version. ^-^ And with some chilies to bring out the fragrant of the CKT.

One thing in mind that you have to remember while dining in here. Is to prepare to wait. Even though that we went there very early in the morning. I still have to wait for very long. As I think the helper mixed up my order and gave it to some one who came later than me. So hubby went and complaint about it. After a long wait I get to savour the

Popular Sister's Char Koay Teow

I can differentiate the different of sister's char koay teow and others as the CKT is top with some crab meat. I think this is one of their "attraction" and also "specialties".

From the photos, you cannot see any traces of chilies in there. But it is cooked with chilies and it is quite spicy for some. You can always ask for less chilies if you cannot take too spicy foods.

Oh Kuih

While waiting for CKT, hubby order some Oh Kuih to try.

Braised Chicken Feet

Apart from the oh Kuih, hubby also ordered braised chicken feet to try. As the oh kuih and the braised chicken feet are offer by the same stall owner.

From I first spotted of the braised chicken feet, I am telling myself that it looks so dark and must be very salty. But it turns out to be wrong. It was sweet instead. The chicken feet is not very tender. As it is have the springy textures there. But I enjoyed the braised mushroom. It is very juicy and full of flavor in it.

Lor Mee

Hubby opt for the lor mee as he is not CKT fans. He loves noodles rather than koay teow. Hubby commented that the lor mee is not bad.

Apart from the above foods, you can also opt for some steamed bun and dim sum which sold in front of the shop. Where I saw may people stop by to take away to work.

Batu Lanchang Market, Penang

If you wonder where is FoOd PaRaDiSe? Why there is no post at all since February? And no blog hopping as well. ^-^ Well, I am kinda tied up with my work load and also the overseas trip for weeks. I still remember that I owned a blog here and not forgetting to "snap snap snap" while I "eat eat eat". So there will be some overseas review in my coming up posts.

Thank you for visiting my sites from time to time. And thank you for leaving comments. I am back now and hope to share with all of you more mouthful and delicious foods.

For a start, I will start with a short introduction to Batu Lanchang foods in the morning session. All the while I thought that Batu Lanchang market only serves food during lunch session but I only realised that my info were wrong. As during one morning last year, I happened to stop by Batu Lanchang to do some work. I realised that there are people and cars around Batu Lanchang Food Court. Out of curiosity after I have finished my job. I went there and check it out. And I saw some shops (Opposite to the KFC side) was opened for breakfast.

So I decided to go there and try out the breakfast the following weekend. I been there few times now. And there are several stalls serving, dim sum, roti bakar, half boiled eggs, assorted pau, nasi lemak, wantan mee, curry mee and also chicken rice.

I did not manage to try all the foods but I have try the following foods:

Wantan Mee

I am not sure why, since after the first trip there, my gal always ordered the wantan noodles when we dine in there for breakfast. My gal was telling me that she loves the textures of the noodles. I tried once and the noodles got its springy textures. Whenever I had noodles, I love springy textures than the soft and lumpy types texture.

My daughter and hubby always had the noodles and gave me all the wantan whenever they had wantan mee. I always told them that they should ordered the noodles without wantan. ^-^

Curry Mee
There is one stall selling curry mee in the morning session. I saw some tables are having curry mee and the bowl of curry mee that they are having looks fiercely red. So I decided to give it a try.

When the bowl of curry mee arrived, you will see the curry mee is actually white in colour and came with a spoonful of special red chillies paste.

After mixing up with the chili pastes, you can see the fiery red bowl of curry mee. It has a very strong fragrant of curry flavours as you could see from the photos that there are lots of santan (coconut milk) in there. If you like the rich santan curry noodles flavours you might like to give this a try.

Roti Bakar

Although this is not the famous roti bakar in town but we enjoy having it. As when the roti bakar arrived in our tables, it is still very hot and crunchy. My gal loves that and we always ordered some to share among us.

If you are just like me and not sure that there are morning session of hawker foods in Batu Lanchang, perhaps you can drop by and try it out. But please be reminded that there are only several stalls available in the morning session. There will be more stalls opening during lunch hours.