*Ang-ang-boh-hai-lang*

15th day of the Chinese New Year.

Everyone, (in Canto) Fatt-cho-mei? (in Mandarin) Far-ler-ma? (in Hokkien) Huat-liau-boi? (in Manglish) Prosper (more towards gambling winnings) yet?

Not apple-wor.

Became a fan only a few years back when I took a chance on smaller ones from Spain and China. They were sweet. Had always admired the big ones from Spain but felt the price was ridiculous. Maybe it's my curiousity streak but more suspiciously it's the spiraling prices of our local fruits (a simple unassuming pomelo from Perak state is going for RM10 minimum!), RM4.90 for an exotic looking Pomegranate from far away Spain seem to hurt my pocket no more. Well, it's not an often splurge.

Any idea whether this is the best way to get to the rubies?

It was huge. Inside, the sections were packed with rubies.

I thoroughly enjoyed the smaller ones before with sweet rubies popping in my mouth (except for a certain type from China with hard seeds). This was sourish and the relatively big and tough seeds in the rubies were quite tiresome to chew after sometime.

Still got one more in fridge. Think it'll fare better after a few days?

RM4.90 for 1 from Hock Choon Grocery, Jalan Ampang.

Note: Ang-ang-boh-hai-lang is in Hokkien dialect literately translated as red-red-no-harm-people. The colour red is auspicious to Chinese, believes to bring prosperity and good luck.

May all the good wishes and hopes written on all thrown Mandarin oranges into any water source tonight, on this HAPPY CHAP GOH MEH, come true!

Penang Joe Coconut Jelly

Here's a short cool filler post away from my scathing hot China backpack trip series. Come out come out wherever you are!

Smooth. Translucent. Almost. Wombly. Sweet. Slightly. Fragrant. Suggestively.*AHHHMMMMum mum mum mum* while it's cold.Repeat 5 spoonful times.

For you to ask where to mum-mum, please contact joezcoco@yahoo.com.

For me it's a private number. Not to Joe. To a kind friend who travels from the island to KL in a speed machine. Pity not often enough. *sigh*. This luscious delicacy does not keep at all. Must be consumed in 4 hours max, I'm told.

Folks, if you have the chance slip it down your scratchy throat, jump at it!

Cool time out in Xi'an China

So hot my cap was crispy outside, damp inside. Shades dripped sweat.

There's only so much walkabouts in the heat that one can tolerate. When we spied this, I almost thought it a mirage. Not memorably sweet but real juicy. Pity the watermelon was not iced (better if it comes with a block of ice to sit on) but just look at that chopper. Cool huh.

Where to hide, where to hide when the sun doesn't seemed exhausted at all though it was tolling since 6am! Yessiirrreee, that star burns like no tomorrow from dawn till dusk during summer in the good 'ol Middle Kingdom. Everyday. When smiley weather person on the morning news predicts 34-36 degrees celcius, it's considered a cool day. (-_-)"

Unoriginal, uninteresting. But with air-conditioner at full blast, we gladly colonised a 1+1+1 settee here for hours on alternate days. Thank the Power-That-Be for franchises.

We were in Xi'an for 5D4N. Too long a stay for non-history (should it be historic? Historical?) buffs. Guilty. We were there mainly just to see the touristy Warriors. No doubt we went around other sites of interest but the punishing weather made the hours quite laborious. 3D2N would had been adequate. However, the extra days were unavoidable for we wanted to grab a much cheaper flight to Beijing.

Settees were set free dinner time - sunset. A cool 4 hours respite with great company, now that's a holiday.

The King, Queen & Jester

Hail the King!

In physical form they are rolling down the hills, bouncing in lorries, basking by the roadsides, dozing in supermarkets.In vapours, unmistakably it's in the air and on the locals' breath (and other bodily air disseminator).

Durians.

This is not the most sought after Musang King (because I do not like the slight bitter taste) but just an ordinary gradeless village variety. Shhwweeeet crrreeaamy gooeyyyyy pungent yum-yum!Have it with rice, nice! (hey you there, stop making that ewwws look.)

Bow to the Queen!Ok. These are way old pictures taken with my RAZR handphone. Been eating bags of it lately and yet kept forgetting to snap any. Sadly the supply nowadays are mostly from Thailand. Was told that the local variety is of better grade so they are exported to developed countries. *sigh* Well, these are still sweet messy eats. Oh these are mangosteens, manggis in Malay.

Look, the Jester!On Ugly Betty, it's smacked with the name Tico Berries. Now tell me does it not sound like Tickle (&) Bare Me? In Malaysia, it's rambutan. Twist it open and wahlah! Jokes aside... just bite. Smmmooothh shhhweeeeet succcuuulent juicy inside. But careful, remember the woody core else the joke may be on you. Usually I'll peel a good bunch and refrigerate the succulent seeds for easy snacks.Again, these were brought in from our North neighbour. Yes, because the local variety is of bett... blah blah blah. Are we saying that we are too underdeveloped for our developed fruits? We are going backwards or are our fruits just advancing faster? What's next? Rice? Petrol? Ooops that's already in the works.

That's all for now. This post was done before I went on my 2 weeks trip which sad to say, I did not really enjoy the eats I had. (i_i). Hope to have more royalties to cheer me up this weekend!

Passion is small part Sweet big part Sour (shivers) .. to me

*face all scrunched up*And that is just by recalling the taste. Are you one of those who claim these are fragrantly sweet. Fragrant? I'm sold. Sweet? *deeper face scrunch*

Nevertheless I'll still buy them to add to juices (my latest craving is to blend it with Mango and cold milk), salads and sometimes eat as is when I feel bloated after a heavy meal.

I'm a looonnnngggg way from baking these:-

Stop guessing. Of course such gorgeous pictures were nicked from here.

Due to the thick skin it can be quite a challenge to get to the pulps. On lazy days especially when no one's watching and being way underdressed for any occasion it's fun to open it up by tearing with fingernails.

Otherwise, a small knife or dagger will be more civilised. The skin tends to be slippery so nick it with the point first then cut.

Spoon up the wet pulps or just lick them off.

From my limited knowledge, Passion Fruit is easily available at the fruit stalls dotting hilly Janda Baik (a turn off on the way to Genting Highlands, Pahang).

This batch, I bought from the Sri Rampai, Kuala Lumpur, night market on Thursdays. RM10 for 13 tightly packed in a plastic bag. It's not always available though.

Health & Nutrition Benefits of Eating Passion Fruit (source)

- The juice of passion fruit reduces cancer cell growth. Though research is underway on this issue, the phytochemicals in the fruit juice are considered to inhibit cancer cell growth.

- The phenolic acids and flavonoids present in the fruit are supposed to possess heart-protecting function.

- The phenolic profile of the fruit is known for its anti-microbial activity.

- Passion fruit is a good source of antioxidants, both water soluble and fat soluble ones.

- Passion fruit is considered good for products which require pasteurization.

- The fruit is quite high in carbohydrates and simple sugars, which improves athletic performance.

- It contains plant sterols, which help in lowering the levels of cholesterol.

- Passion fruit is a reservoir of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and Potassium.

- The seeds of the fruit are very vital sources of fiber.

- It is supposed to possess somniferous properties, which when taken before going to bed, help the person to relax and have a restful sleep.

- It is very good for attaining optimum health and to reduce weight.

Have a healthy weekend everyone!

Mangga Lemak err .. Fatty Mango?

Yes. I've been blog-quiet for quite sometime. Miss me?

Didn't go anywhere. On the contrary, stayed put at home so much so there're obvious dents with possible shades of fungal growth on couch and mattress. So what action (or more accurate, inaction) kept me away and will continue to do so for at least another 2 weeks? A long-winded intriguing Cantonese Drama Series, The Gem of Lifeand two arm muscle building novels. Heavy on the biceps but easy on mind.

Here, a quick sweet post to keep my dear almost abandoned blog afloat.

They don't turn yellow and even if not ripe they are just a tad sour.

Local produce in June July but now, from Thailand.

Get them from night (pasar malam ) and morning wet markets, RM5.00 for 2 kgs! Depending on size, it'll be about 10 smooth succulent juicy fruit. Hmm think over this 2 months I've easily consumed 7kgs!

TRIVIA

FRESH FRUITS TYPE................QUANTITY............... FAT (g)
Grapefruit.......................................... 1/2 med..................... 0.1
Grapes.................................................. 10 ...........................0.1
Peach.................................................. 1 med........................0.1
Figs....................................................2 small....................... 0.2
Honeydew melon, cubed.................... 1 cup..........................0.2
Orange, all varieties............................ 1 med ........................0.2
Papaya, cubed.....................................1 cup......................... 0.2
Kiwifruit..............................................1 med...........................0.3
Apricots...............................................3 med...........................0.4
Cantaloupe, cubed...............................1 cup..........................0.4
Apple, with peel..................................1 med..........................0.5
Banana................................................1 med..........................0.6
Blueberries..........................................1 cup..........................0.6
Mango............................................1 med........................... 0.6
Nectarine........................................... 1 med......................... 0.6
Strawberries........................................1 cup..........................0.6
Bartlett pear........................................1 med.........................0.7
Pineapple, cubed.................................1 cup..........................0.7
Raspberries.........................................1 cup......................... 0.7
Sweet cherries.......................................10............................0.7
Watermelon ........................................1 cup......................... 0.7
Plums..................................................2 med........................ 0.8
Florida avocado.................................. 1 med....................... 15.4
California avocado................................1 med.........................30.0

National Service

Just a follow-up informative post. That's my national service part. =P

I raved about my newly discovered local fruit here but was stumped when it came to telling all and sundry exactly where I bought them. A few weekends ago I made a trip up North of the Peninsula again and hunted down this elusive (to me that is as obviously it never went anywhere else) stall.

Avocado fans, thank me in fruits please for I have scored the ultimate interface instrument since discovery of the earth is round and now flat again . . . . . . . the NAME CARD.

Stall no. 7 at Tapah Rest Area on the North South Expressway .

Please note that it's on the side one travels from South to North. NOT when you travel back down to Kuala Lumpur from say, Penang.

Do use it wisely. Call in advance. I left empty handed in September. According to Mr Ooi the harvesting is done in certain months only. “Come back in October or November”, he suggested. Else just get a pomelo which I did. RM12.00 it was! It was easily smaller than my head minus all the bangs and wild wild hair. Things are getting superficially pricey Itelu and don't you get me started on our freshly minted Finance Minister proclaiming about no recession-lah, solid resources-lah, strong reserves-lah when the rest of the world is bracing for the worst and dishing out rescue packa ... blah..blah..blah.

So anyone travelling this coming Deepavalli weekend?

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Local Avocado!

Could it be for anything else?

Yay, feels sooo gooood not to be the last to know of this. Dear young grasshoppers out there, blame the supermarkets. Why don’t they sell locally grown avocados AND the fruit is always in purple?
Got the fruit from a Rest and Service Area along the North South Expressway . Sorry but I cannot remember which one other than it was within Perak territory.

I would have missed it if not for the stall keeper’s gigantic sign. AVOCADO 1KG RM10. Being green (both fruit and me) and for that size, I am guilty of having mistaken it many times for mangoes. According to the jolly man, Perak produces 2 types. One forever green like this while another type turns purple when ripe.

Oooh I had mine in ecpc cold cream style. Try it.

• Cut into halves.
• Discard seed.
• Scrape flesh into a fridge or freezer friendly container.
• Add a desirable amount of honey.
• Mix well until creamy.
• Refrigerate or freeze. Consume when cold.

My effort maybe ugly but Y U M M Y !!

Note:-
The stall seller mentioned that an avocado a day keeps wrinkles away. Pity I forgot to ask for pictures of his wife and daughters (if any). He? He looks good for the age he claimed he is.

Do you know ...

.. what this is? Actually that was. It and its few members have been fully digested and toilet-ed a few moons back. I mean the green fruit, not the table spoon.

A Northern Malaysian produce!

Before:-After:-

Australian Mango

Fruit of the Gods or God wannabe(s).Please excuse the lack of effort in the presentation. I only had enough self restraint to control my hands from dumping the camera and grabbing the pieces. Frankly if not for this post, I would be gnawing on it whole.The bliss of eating at own home sweet home. Chomp chomp chomp. Okay, I was also not alone (evidenced by the modeling hand in first picture) so I need to slice it up to share. But the seed (most Whites call it stone) is mine. Always.For those who are not as gluttonous as moi, take a peep here for a nicer way to plate this juicy fruit as well as methods to choose and keep. But bet most already know how. Left me who only knows how to eat (most times). By the way, the site has a few interesting mango recipes too but hey, I prefer mine in the nude - al naturel.

This imported fruit emitted a fragrant smell but the firm flesh was not as sweet as those from the Asian region, namely Thailand, Pakistan, Philippines and Malaysia. Unlike baked desserts, I prefer my fruits ultra sweet.

Conclusion: curiosity satisfied, no more next time especially when its price remains at this minimum:-

Bought it from: Sogo Supermarket, Kuala Lumpur

Teaser: In reference to my opening statement, I’ll narrate an interesting tale when I feature this delectable fruit again. Very soon. *cross all limbs*