Culinary Inspiration and Adventures

The last few weeks have been inspirational to say the least.  At the beginning of the year I decided I was going to learn to cook more vegetarian.  Here in Asia, cooking without meat is pretty easy and veggies are quite plentiful.  There are several reasons I feel this push to cook without meat.  First, my Brother-in-Law has been following a new diet.  It includes no meat and includes many grains and fresh fruits and vegetables.  He looks great, has a lot more energy, and has dropped his cholesterol considerably.  I have also started reading a book recommended by my neighbor titled "The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics".  Fascinating!  Lastly, since fruits and vegetables are easy to get and inexpensive I figured I had better think about it.  Keep in mind I don't think I can completely cut out meat, but it sure is an adventure trying.


My inspiration began a few weeks ago when I took a cooking class.  My friend Kristin invited me and I thought it was a good way to "get out of the house".  Well, I had a blast and learned so much about food and culture that I realized it was something that I "needed to do".  Our class was at someone's home in the center of town.  Their kitchen was "AMAZING" on Singapore condo standards with an island and lots of space.  I was so jealous of that kitchen that I have been thinking about it now for weeks!  Oh well, I'll have to be happy with my tiny space.  So that day we cooked:
Wontons and Sumai - made from a filling of shrimp, water chesnuts etc. We fried and steamed them
Po Piah - a Paranakan(Chinese and Malay) dish which is a spring roll of sorts.  Delicious!!
Pandan Chicken - Specially seasoned chicken wrapped in a Pandan leaf (sister of the Palm tree)
Curry Puffs - an indian specialty, yummy!
And Nagasari - a banana and coconut dessert wrapped in a banana leaf


After the class I was inspired to try more local food in my cooking and learn more about the local vegetables.  I quickly signed up for the Tekka Market tour the following week.  Even though I had been to Tekka several times I thought it would be good to know how and what to buy from the local selections.


Our market tour started at the Vietnamese stall then on to the Vegetable stall. This visit is best described in photos.  Be sure to read past the photos as lot of other interesting things to come later.

 Tapioca Root

 Wing Bean

 Banana Flower (You can cook with these, and yes, from the banana tree)

 Banana trunk and Sugar Cane 

(Sugar Cane drinks are very popular here.  They grind the sugar cane till the juice comes out.  If you get a chance, try it with some lemon.  Delicious!)

 Banana Leaves

 Loofa plant

Yep, that's what they use to make the scrubby things you use in the shower

 Lotus Root

 Lemongrass

 Blue Ginger

 Ginger Flower Bud

 Curry Leaf

 Tiny Eggplants 

(Used in Thai food)

 Tofu/Bean Curd stall

Really cheap!  I got 2 squares for less than $1.50.

 Tempeh

Fermented soybean cake

Tempeh - the paper wrapped packages

 Noodles!

The flat ones that are used in Thai are in the center of the photo.

 Dried fish

 More dried fish

Not sure I will graduate to cooking with these; nor do I want to!

 Turmeric

 Purple Yam

 Jack Fruit

The fish selection at one stall from above.

So, did you know that the curry spice is not actually one spice?  Nope!  It is a combination of:  turmeric, chili powder (not the one we use in chili), and cumin.  So funny, I never thought I liked curry, but I like all these spices individually.  Maybe it was how it was used, but let me tell you the curry puffs that we made in class were great!

At the end of our Market tour we went for a tea and some snacks at a local Indian restaurant.  Our tour guide Kay is Indian and she did all the ordering.  Delicious!  I really enjoyed the Masala tea.  Below is a pic of them pouring the tea to "cool it off".  Our waiter poured the lightly sweetened seasoned tea from cup to cup to cool it down to drinking temperature.  What a nifty idea.  (If you can do it without spilling!)

Last week I attempted to create some sauces with tofu.  I tried a recipe for Mayo and Sour Cream.  Neither really turned out like I wanted.  I also tried a recipe for ricotta cheese.  I am hoping to make that into Lasagna rolls.  We'll see how that one tastes.

Since the tofu thing wasn't working out as great as I wanted I figured I had better put in an order for some chicken.  I called and placed my order with the "Chicken Man".  There really is a "Chicken Man" here. You call him up and place an order and he will deliver fresh chicken to your door.  And let me tell you, it is the best chicken!  I got my order and got everything in the freezer except for one whole chicken which I decided I would roast.  Yesterday, I opened the fridge to get the chicken and quickly saw the poor bird's head curled up in the bag.  I pulled out the bird realizing that I had forgotten to tell them to "remove the head and feet".  It is common here to cook the WHOLE chicken.  I remembered now that I was supposed to order it American style.  Although, American style is when they remove all of the extras.  I do like "some" of the parts and wanted them to bring those.  Well they brought those and a lot more too!  

Ugh!  Now I had to be the brave housewife that I am and do some heavy chopping.  E was so interested in what I was doing.  She had to touch the chicken's feet before I chopped and was not at all afraid.  With knife in hand and my little E at a safe distance I went to chopping.   Time to chop!  I had to cover the head so I could go about my business.  After a few wacks the head was gone.  The feet were a little easier.  Now my chicken looked like what I was used to!  Normally I use the neck to make broth, but I was so grossed out by that head that I threw them out.  Bye, Bye Birdie!

At the end of the night when we sat down to dinner with a yummy smelling freshly roasted chicken; I had almost forgotten about my adventure in chicken butchery.  That is until the hubby brought it up.  One fleeting thought about it and I quickly put it out of my head as I took another bite of my chicken.  Humm, maybe I really should become a vegetarian!