Asian Noodle Soup and Malaysian Postcards

Malaysia- It is not so long ago when I visited this beautiful part of Asia and wondered at the beauty of the mixture of it's culture: Malay, Chinese and Indian. And I tell you I still have the taste of this delicious noodle soup I had at that small village while waiting for our train. Those moments are priceless! After so long hiatus ( a rollercoaster ride of adventure) I'm glad to announce that my kitchen is back! See you all soon!

Asian Noodle Soup

for 4 persons

Ingredients:
1 pack of rice noodle soup
1 liter of chicken stock
200 g of ground pork
8 pieces of fish balls
2 teaspoons of Fish sauce
2 tablespoons of garlic oil
some Bok choy or young spinach leaves for garnishing

Preparation:
1. Cook the noodles as per direction.
2. In another casserole boil the chicken stock. Add the ground pork and the fish balls. Season with fish sauce to taste.
3. Put the noodles in their individual bowl. Scoop a soup, the ground, and some fish balls. Garnish with bok choy leaves and garlic oil on the top

The colorful kelantan market of Kota Baru

The beautiful muslim city of Kota baru

Cafeteria Malaysian style

Tea plantation Cameron Highlands

London, here and there

I'm finally back from our one week London trip. I must admit that I was a bit skeptic on having a great weather there and was sad to leave the beautiful sun here in Provence. But much to my surprise we had a fantastic sunny blue sky during our London escapade while a gloomy wetty weather was unexpectedly waiting for us here in France.

Meanwhile hope you all enjoy this bunch of photos I took from my "still broken camera" to keep everyone entertained this weekend. As I told you last time that our vacation was sort of "last minute'ly" decided and purchased nothing was prepared which is not very me when it comes to travelling and vacation :-).

I have heard so many times about London and its attractions and I was really looking forward in enjoying them all and of course to have my picture taken in front of it! What I didn't expect was how beautiful and charming this city is. We took a low-cost plane between Marseille and London and arrived there around midnight. We rented a flat in a lovely 17th century Mansion few blocks from Gloucester Underground station. It was immaculately clean with a small kitchen and a balcony. And to top it all we had a chamber maid that' was like a magician in cleaning up all the mess behind us every single day we were there. I told hubby that I want one when will be back in France. :-)

With the short time we had we didn't waste a single moment to visit each of them running here in there with our baby pushchair. My daughter was really behaved during the entire trip and she loved museums! Hahahaha! Anyways London is not London without seeing Westminster Abbey, London Eye, the British Museum, Picadilly Circus and the Tower Bridge. I enjoyed the "yeoman guide" that were garbed in red costumes and tells theatrically all the juicy gossips of the royalties. I almost had a fight in the tower when was told I couldn't bring my daughter's baby puschair but having heard all those stories of heads chopped off and people tortured in that part of the castle I immediately listened to them. After all history repeats itself.

On our gastronmic escapade however we went beyond "fish and chips" and "potato jacket" menus. We tried several restaurants and one of my favorite was an authentic Thai Restaurant were both ambiance and food was really amazing. The chicken pandan really melted on my mouth and one of these days I will try to do this Thai dish. After enjoying some freshly made vegetable gyoza's at Japan Center on the second day I suggested hubby we try eating at Wagamama for some Ramen. But I was disappointed with their Ramen: the noodles were overcooked, the soup was not really boiling hot and I tasted some Ramen far better when I was in Japan. But my favorite of all was "fooding" at Camden market. The ambiance is vibrant and dynamic with different food stalls freshly made right in front of you for a not so hefty price. I had one dozen of freshly made donuts, a slice of dulche de leche tart, blueberry muffins and what else ahhh I had some Bagels that were really heavenly good!!

Sigh, some good things never last. Till here and I will be back with my regular blogging activities next week. Tomorrow is my sister-in-law's wedding where I am supposed to sing so you imagine my feelings right at this moment. I'll be sharing again some photos next week it's a promise and probably a youtube video of me singing ;-)

Chocolate Crème Dessert & Lavender Fields

Chocolate Creme Dessert

If you have never been to Southern France yet or have been there and longing to see this beautiful region once again; allow me to tag you along with me as we take a short side-trip there in land of wine and cheeses.

Southern France is famous for its Middle ages Roman ruins, arena and beautiful paysages of blue sky, rosemary and thymes that is magnificently illustrated in the paintings of the world renowned painter Cezanne. This region is also home to pristine and turquoise blue water of Mediterranean sea, singing cicadas, delicious bouillabaise soup, sweet calisson (melon and marzipan candies) and of course the fragrant flowers of lavander.

For this edition of my Friday Dose of Chocolate, I'll be sharing with you the wonders of nature that we saw one saturday afternoon while having an impromptu picnic on the blazing road of tour de France.

Chocolate Pudding (Crème Dessert au Chocolat
recipe of Cyril Lygnac

2 eggs
4 egg yolks
55 grams of icing sugar
15 cl of milk
35 cl of heavy cream
120 g of dark chocolate

Preheat the oven at 130° celsius. In a salad bowl beat the eggs, 4 egg yolks and sugar together. In a casserole bring to a boil the milk and heavy cream. Turn off the fire and add the chocolate. Mix them well. Pour gently the chocolate mixture on the beaten eggs and sugar mixture. Mix them well. Filter the liquid in order to have a smooth texture. Cook in the oven for 35 minutes. Then wait for about an hour before pouring them on your individual serving glasses or bowl. Put in the fridge for at least 3 hours before serving. You can top it with fresh fruits of your choice.

No words can describe the beauty and fragrant hidden in this field.
Your eyes will make you believe you are staring the blue sea.
A memory and scent that will linger forever.

Try my other chocolate recipes:

Toblerone Molten cake
Mini Dacquiose Cake In Chocolate Cream chantilly