Of Lifestyle and Fertility

One of my favorite fruit/vegetable juice/smoothie has to be from beetroot . I blend or mix whatever fruits or vegetables I have in the refrigerator but basically my recipe for beetroot juice is;

• Quarter of beetroot
• Celery stick
• 1 frozen banana (makes the juice sweet and creamy)
• Quarter of cucumber
• Bunch of mint leaves
• 1 teaspoon of virgin coconut oil (vco)

Beets are claimed to be one of the healthiest food or superfood you can juice. With lots of benefit it really is worth your time to juice everyday.

I got my virgin coconut oil supply from a relative who is located in Kudat, Sabah. Kudat, my husband's hometown, has always been known for its coconut groves. Recently, VCO (virgin coconut oil) was making its presence with its health values. I got this for a fraction of the price but if you get them from the pharmacies it can be quite expensive. So, for those who are interested leave me a message.

Try my other recipes of juice/smoothie goodness.

Yellow juice/smoothie is made from;

• Half zucchini
• Celery stick
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 1 orange
• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 tsp vco

While green juice/smoothie is made from;

• Bunch of spinach leaves
• Half cucumber or zucchini
• 1/2 tsp grated ginger
• 2 frozen bananas
• 1 tsp vco

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Art of Healing - Doodle

The Pursuit Curve Doodle

The world of art is awesome! I found a new way to doodle! Instead of just doodling away or whatever you have in mind, create images by drawing lines or whirls in structured patterns. 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the idea of the adults coloring book (being famous of all is the Secret Garden Coloring Book), starts from Zentangle, created by Maria Thomas and Rick Roberts. Zentangle is an abstract drawing created by using repetitive patterns. It is easy-to-learn, very much relaxing and fun. You just have to repeat drawing the patterns and voila!, you have an intricate drawing that looks like from a professional.

I am not much of an artist but everyone can doodle....

Edge of Book Doodle

Mandala art on a recycle cake board

Zentangle in a Circle 

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You Will Never Believe the Bizarre Truth Behind this Indonesian Cuisine

Bosou (Source)

If you are a true Kadazan-Dusun you must have at least consume ‘bosou’ or pickled fish/meat. The main ingredient to ferment the raw fish or meat is what we called ‘pangi’. ‘Pangi’ is made from what the Malay called ‘buah kepayang’. It is a type of nut which is poisonous in nature and in order to consume it one has to prepare it in such a way to get rid of the poison then only you can used in dishes.

Pangi/Buah Kepayang/Kluwak nuts (Source)

According to Chowhound, in Indonesia, in order to process the nut, it would be buried in volcanic ash and allowed to mature. Then it need to be soaked in water for 3 days. The water needs to be changed and the nuts brushed clean daily.

In Sabah though, normally by the Kadazan-Dusuns, pangi is used as a food preservative (as well as for making 'bosou') where pieces of meat or fish will be covered by pounded flesh of the nut before drying them under the sun. Now, I'm not sure whether it is process (of getting rid of the poison) before being used as a food preservative, but by the sound of it the flesh of the nut is just pounded into a powdery substances before using.

Mostly I don’t care what’s in the dish as long as it’s good to eat. But since I think I would like to make ‘bosou’ someday I might as well get to know my dishes. Now, ‘bosou’ might have a pungent smell for some, but when it is stir fried with onion, garlic and bird-eye chilly, you might as well add another bowl of rice. It is so good…I tell you.

Now, imagine my surprise when I come across a recipe which used ‘pangi’ or what the Indonesian called ‘keluwak/kluak/kluwak’ nuts in a SOUP! Now, that bizzare. What would it taste like? I know that ‘pangi’ has a bit of bitterness to it. Black, powdery, bitter substance in a liquid dish?

Introducing Nasi Rawon, a traditional beef stew or soup accompanied with rice (nasi), hence the name. Interestingly, the deep black color of the soup is from the kluwak nuts, the main spices in the soup. This dish is typically from the Indonesian province of East Java particularly in Surabaya.  There is even a restaurant in Surabaya which is called Rawon Setan (Devil’s Rawon) which is listed in tripadvisor and according to some a must visit.

Looks appetizing with the rich black broth

It's interesting human is capable of using deadly resources of food to accustom to our need. Surely there must have cases in the olden days where people died from consuming this type of food before they learn how to process it. 

I wouldn't mind trying one since it's a very popular dish that there is even a version of it in Singapore. I wonder if it's available in Malaysia...

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RIP Chester of Linkin Park

Waking up to a message in a whatapps group of the suicide of Chester Bennington, singer of Linkin Park was just surreal. According to the news the group was in the middle of a tour and I think it's just unbelievable that he would suddenly commit suicide.

There's more to a story. Apparently, the singer was alone at home when everybody is out of town and he was suffering from drug and alcohol abuse apart from, I believed, depression.

Linkin Park was one my favourite rock band or what we called alternative rock band in the 90's after Limp Bizkit.

Watching back at their video music, it's just so sad that someone at the age of 41 has left this world unsatisfied of their life.

Rest in peace, Chester.

Link story from:
http://m.tmz.com/#article/2017/07/20/linkin-park-singer-chester-bennington-dead-commits-suicide/

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