SERA BESTARI CATERING

Catering in Finas 27 Jan 2010

We had a job in Finas, National Film Development department which is located in Jalan Hulu Kelang on Wednesday 27 Jan 2010. It was a lunch reception for 100pax, we were need to be at the venue by 11.30 am... the job was running smoothly and organized, thanks to Willy and Kumar for their efficiency in handling the reception with good compliments from us. Really love working together with Willy, he has a very good and pleasant character .... very handy and efficient. He works with sincerity and passions, a person who can count on... Thanks again Willy...!

Menu

Nasi Putih Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi Sambal Udang Petai Tauhu Jepun Hong Kong Sayur Campur Telur Asin Dan Ikan Kering Ulam-Ulaman Dan Sambal Belacan Puding Mangga Buah-Buahan Potong Minuman Sejuk

A friendship of 20 years... Me and Sera, working hand in hand to make it successful in this catering industry... A one year old business, developing and we are in the process of making a strong base by catering events and joining exhibitions... I love what I am doing and really glad to have a friend and so called sister like Sera.. Thanks for the friendship... may Lord pull us through... Amin

CHICKEN LOVERS PART II

Ayam Masak Lemak Cili Padi

This is one of the famous Malay dishes.... Chicken In Spicy Yellow Coconut Milk. Negeri Sembilan origins, one of the fourteen states in Malaysia located about 1 hour journey from Kuala Lumpur... Negeri Sembilan cuisines are well known with pungent and chili hot tongue biting... A lot of chilies, but i really like it...
Thanks to Aunt Hamidah, Sera's mom... My childhood friend and a very good friend. They have taught me this very delicious chicken dish. Very simple and absolutely finger liking good! Not necessary with chicken only, it goes well with fish, beef and even prawn... the smell of fresh turmeric and lemongrass gives a lot of authentic taste and tangy aroma. And It is just irresistible.. YAYY..... I can't help myself from eating double as much as than usual.... Dealing with it, I am lacking of self control.... YAY....
Traditionally adding in coconut milk, nowadays will be more convenient with packed and pasteurized coconut milk... 250 ml in a packet is equivalent to 1 thick coconut milk... In my cooking, if I am using ready-to-use coconut milk, I love to mix in evaporated milk to add more milky taste into the dish...

Ingredients :
1/2 bird of chicken
1 packet of coconut milk
Evaporated milk
Potato
Lemongrass
Chilies
Fresh turmeric
Turmeric leaves
Garcinia rind
Salt

• Blend turmeric and chilies
  
• Pound lemongrass
• Add in with chicken and coconut milk
• Add in potato and evaporated milk
• Simmer till tender
  
• Add in garcinia rind and turmeric leaves
• Add in salt and ready to serve
  

FOR CHICKEN LOVERS.....

Chicken Karahi

My Jackel is being too much baby... She always want to be pampered, she loves me to baby talk her... Jackel eats a lot and plays a lot too, the weather isn't that hot.. otherwise she will be making noise.... maybe feeling uncomfortable.... My sweet little Jackel... She has been living with me for the past 4 months.... ever since I found her by the road side... Petite with naive looks in the eyes.... but smart and sweet....
MEOOOWWW..... she comes with a greeting every time I got to mom's house.... a loyal friend and a very good listener. A fun traveler as well, she was with me up and down from Kuala Lumpur to Jitra and from Jitra back to Kuala Lumpur again...
Today, my Jackel got very excited with something that i brought from home.... I packed some of my Chicken Karahi which I cooked last night to mom's house... Some food for my brothers to try..... the smell from the chicken was driving Jackel crazy.... she couldn't stop making noise... I guess she can sense how good the cook is.... the smell tells everything.... :p YUMMMY....
This dish is nice with chapati and even with rice, make it a little soupy by adding more liquid... add in shredded cooked chicken breast instead of whole chicken and sprinkle with chopped parsley, then it will be very nice with French toast...! Even me will start MEOOOWING too.... MEOWWW....
Chicken Karahi is very similar to Chicken Caldareta from the Philippines... Chicken Caldareta has more ingredients such as potato, carrot and bell pepper... but the taste is almost the same, except for Chicken Karahi is slightly pungent with chili powder and green chili..... Asian Fusion....

Ingredients :
1/2 bird of chicken
2 onions
5 garlic
1 inch of ginger
Tomato and green chili
Chili powder
Salt
Cooking oil

• Heat oil and saute onion
• Add in salt, garlic and ginger
• Add in chicken and simmer
• Add in tomato and green chili
  
• Simmer till tender and ready to serve
  

OKRA MASALA

Bhindi Masala

Last week, I had chapati with Aloo Gobhi... Potato and cauliflower dish, a perfect vegetarian menu. Today I cooked Bhindi Masala for the dinner... Masala is a term used in South Asian cuisines, a combination of ingredients which is mainly used in cooking.... Spices mixed with onion, garlic and ginger to enhance taste and flavor. Saute Masala till golden brown before adding in other ingredients.
Masala dishes are well done in cooking... Very likely for today's menu, Lady's Fingers are well cooked till mushy .... excellent with chapati.... It takes time to cook unlike Chinese cuisines takes a while to be cooked.... A short cooking time on very high flame...
I have never tried any Punjabi cuisine before.... I find it very tasty and well accepted by our locals here. Indian cuisines, besides Roti Canai, Tosai and varies type of curries.... not much we can get from the the stalls nor regular restaurants... Thanks to my darling Monkey Man... for your kindness to share these beautiful cuisines ...

MY LAZY DAY

Ikan Asam

My brothers doesn't really eat much, and they are a bit fussy and particular about food.... One, can't eat chicken and seafood... Another one, doesn't like some vegetables.... he only eats selected vegetables.... MMMM..... It's not easy to be a 'momma' or I could say a 'cook' for these two guys... For something simple and to make my job easier, I cooked fish and vegetables in one dish... Easy...! 'Ikan Asam' Fried Fish In Tamarind Juice And Vegetables.. Saute onion, garlic and ginger... Tamarind juice, salt and sugar... Some vegetables, for my recipe today.... I love to use zucchini and cherry tomato..... Welcome to the simplicity of Malay cuisine....

HEALTHY CHAPATI

Chapati And Aloo Gobhi

I have learned another new thing... Chapati, a healthy lifestyle... Made of Atta flour, a kind of wheat grown on Indian subcontinent region. I like Chapati compare to Roti Canai or also known as Roti Prata, less oily and very easy to prepare. Unlike Roti Canai, skills needed in preparation process... Only expert can twirl the dough beautifully, you might need to attend some intensive training at Mamak's restaurant or stall.... :p
It is a new thing for me, making chapati... from preparing the dough till cooking it on skillet. The ingredients in making the dough is very simple... A sufficient amount of water and Atta flour, and knead well. Margarine or butter can be added to the dough, the chapati will be more tender. Dough shaped and rounded, pinwheel is used to flatten it... and straight on pre-heated skillet. Not to long, it takes only 5-7 minutes to be cooked on medium heat... Easy rite????
Menu for dinner tonight is Chapati and Aloo Gobhi, a vegetables dish which I find it very tasty and great to be eaten with chapati. 'Aloo' means potato and 'Gobhi' is cauliflower in Urdu language. It's potato and cauliflower dish cooked with some spices, a healthy and very tasty lifestyle..... YUMMY....

Aloo Gobhi

Ingredients :
Potato and cauliflower
Tomato
Chili
Onion
Garlic and ginger
Water
Chili powder
Curry powder
Salt
Cooking oil

• Cut cauliflower and potato into small pieces
• Heat oil and saute onion, garlic, chili and ginger
• Add in potato and cauliflower
• Add in tomato, chili powder and curry powder
  
• Add in water and simmer till tender
  
• Add in salt and ready to serve