Food and Books Galore at Book Exchange Programme Year End Gathering 2013

Hello hello...sorry ya...Mamarazzi have been very lazy  busy these couple weeks. Supposed to update about our trip to Indonesia...uploaded the photos but yet to draft the post and then so many things cropped up. 

House warming la, baking la, shopping for Christmas pressie la, attending Hi5 House Party la this and that. Don't know where to begin...well..maybe I do .....

Last week, we were invited by the organisers and volunteers at Subang Jaya Book Exchange Programme to attend their private potluck gathering.

As it fell on Winter Solstice festival, Mamarazzi decided to make some Thong Yuen (Sweet dessert) to bring along to the gathering. It's easy to make.  Just add some water to Glutinous Rice Flour and made into dough. Add some coloring and roll them up into small round balls. Drop them into hot boiling water and when they float iup, it means that it's ready to be eaten. 

For the first time she put Gula Nisan *not batu nisan ok* as fillings. Gula Nisan is a type of sweet products made of coconut inflorescence.

Boiled some sugar water with some slices of ginger and some Pandan Leaves (Screwpine leaves) . Add it to the boiled Thong Yuen and the sweet dessert is done.

It is said that eating Thong Yuen  will make a person a year older and a year wiser.

 

When we arrived, there was already a food galore awaiting.

 Creampuff from Kee's Puffs, Glutinous Rice, Yam Cake, Salad and sweet dessert

We added Thong Yuen and Fried Fish Keropok(Crispy) to the fruit cake and pizza....wait a minute....where are the grilled Chicken Drumstick....hmmm...that was delicious....Mamarazzi's PC must have "ate" them

 But Mamarazzi had to say that the dish that steal her heart was this simple looking Kerabu Bihun (Rice Vermicelli Salad). It may look simple but the taste...oh my kucing!...super yummy!!!...Mamarazzi had 3 heaping of this...or was it 4....hmmm..it was very appetising as it had a sourish taste and very aromatic.

It was contributed by Ms Lilly Phoon and made by her Mom, Mrs Phoon.

 After that we played some games ...I pretend read a bit.

Eee....paiseh betul coz Mamarazzi didn't know there was going to be a gift exchange too. She came with two bunches of bananas(meaning empty handed). Should had asked first leh. Bad  Mamarazzi.

Thank you for the gift .

While on our way out of the place, I noticed that there was a picture dictionary laying on the side walk. It was wet. Auntie Fay was trying to dry it up. Someone left a bunch of books at the gate and it got wet when it rained. 

Auntie Fay let me have it. We came home tried to dry it. Sadly some pages got stuck together and some words peeled off. Still I insisted on reading it. It's my new fad. Now I like reading picture dictionary .

A reminder.. if anyone wish to drop books to SJBEP when it's closed, please make sure that the books are wrapped nicely so that it's protected from the weather. So sad this book got wet and some pages unreadable. Such a waste of a lovely book.

Mamarazzi have been dreaming of the delicious Kerabu Bihun for a week. To her delight, Ms Lilly had shared the recipe last night. Thus this morning Mamarazzi woke Papa up to go hunting for ingredients to make the Kerabu Bihun. 

The easiest ingredient to find was these Kafir Lime Leaves. Growing in the playground near our house.

After some hunting, Mamarazzi finally found everything that is required to make the Kerabu Bihun

Here is the recipe to that mouthwatering Kerabu Bihun which Mrs Phoon has kindly agreed to shared with us and the readers here. Thank you a million Mrs Phoon! *hugs*

Ingredients:

 
Beehoon (rice vermicelli) – soaked in water, boil and drain

Fish sauce to taste

 
Tom yam paste

Mint leaves

 
Bunga kantan (ginger torch flower) – sliced finely

Cilantro – cut into 1” lengths

Bean sprouts – cleaned and boiled

Daun limau purut (kaffir lime leaves) – sliced finely

Ikan bilis (anchovies)  – fried in oil till crispy, then crumble into smaller bits

Garlic – minced and fried in oil till golden brown

Onions – sliced thinly

Lemon or lime juice

Cili padi (bird’s eye chillies) – sliced

Method:

Mix and toss everything together. Serve. Eat. Enjoy.

Mamarazzi made some...but replaced the bird's eye chili with red chili. Taste? It's definitely not as good as the one made by Mrs Phoon.  

Mamarazzi's ones lack of flavour and way too sour. Next time must add larger portion of the ingredients and less lime juice. 

Looks like Mamarazzi needs more practise...who wanna volunteer as white mice  hands up!

 Today was the last book exchange session of 2013.....spotted these yummy Isaac Asimov books.

 Mamarazzi took two home. Must have been her lucky day as a volunteer found two copies of Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote.

 Some very interesting titles had came in. It has been a long time since Mamarazzi seen a book by K.S.Maniam.  

As  for me...I found myself three new books. What a lovely end of the year session.

Thank you once again to everyone in SJBEP, Lilly and Mrs Phoon for sharing her recipe ..yumz!