CHASE YOUR MONDAY BLUES AWAY WITH THESE FACTS!

Good Morning everyone! Are you feeling the Monday blues just like me? Well, why don’t we chase away all the Monday blues far from us by discovering more facts that are simply mind blowing? That’s cool with you? Then, let’s go!

Have you ever wondered, why does Hamburgers are being called as Hamburgers? Mmm.. A good question eh? Let us find out why! In the early 18^th century, some Germans noticed during their travels to Asia that the locals would stuff their beef between their saddles while they would ride, to help soften it for later consumption. The Germans loved the idea of soft seasoned meat, and so they brought the idea back to their home in Hamburg. As time went on, soon it became known as Hamburg meat. A few years later, as German immigrants made their way to U.S, they shared the recipe of Hamburg meat. It wasn’t long before people began to put their own spin on things. Legend has it, that the first known Hamburger, in the form we think of it today, rather than just softened, seasoned steak, as it was originally, was made my Charlie Nagreen.

Second facts of the day are also very closely related to Hamburger as well. Have you ever had any doubts on where do French fries actually originate from? Crunchy, golden slices of goodness, mm... What a wonderful invention! Exactly who came up with this idea? Let’s find out. Historical accounts indicate that the Belgians were possibly trying to frying up thin strips of potatoes as early as the late 17^th century in the Meuse Valley between Dinant and Liege, in Belgium. In this area, it is very common for the people to fry up small fish as a staple for their meals. However when the river froze up thick enough, it tended to make it difficult to get fish. So instead of drying up fished in this time, they turn to potatoes where they slice the potatoes thin just like the fish. At the same time, the French claimed that they invented the French fries. Once it became popular that the French have invented French fries, especially in Paris, push-cart vendors’ starts to sell them and call them “frittes”.

I am a fan of butter, and jam goes great with butter. Wait, is that jam or jelly? Honestly. I didn’t know that jam and jelly had any difference; I thought they were the same thing! Well you know what? I WAS WRONG! Well the difference is here, jelly is strictly made from the juice of fruit, while jam is made from the crushed fruit. Specifically, jelly is made by crushing fruit, then straining out everything except for the juice. The juice is then boiled, typically with sugar and pectin added, the latter of which is reacts with the sugar and heat to give the jelly a thicker consistency for spreading. The first step in making jam is about the same as making jelly, but instead of straining the juice, the crushed fruit is left in. Unlike most jellies, jam may not contain pectin, as the mashed fruit will often give it sufficiently good consistency of spreading. If you are wondering on how to differentiate jelly from jam, all you have to know is that jelly will spread out evenly while jam will tend to be a little lumpy.

Hope you guys enjoy all the facts, as well as facts from last week! We will have more to discover in the future, I’m sure! Till then, adiyos!

Ribs, Anyone? Head To Morganfield's

If you are craving for a heavenly slab of ribs generously slathered with smoky barbecue sauce, then head over to Morganfield's. The speciality of the house is the sticky bones pork ribs.

The ambience of their outlets is very cosy and comfortable, with earthy wooden furnishings and soften lighting even during lunch time. But I guess they can certainly try to have a theme to the music played as there seems to be a mix of country, jazz, Sinatra and K-pop. This is supposed to be a all American country restaurant, after all.

But on the food, and this place is certainly a carnivore's dream.

First off, their signature sticky bones pork ribs.

Sticky Bones Pork Ribs (RM38.90)

This is only half a slab and an absolute must try! The ribs are generously slathered with barbecue sauce. The sauce has a very smoky flavor, probably from the hickory wood used to prepare the ribs. It is not too sweet, nor too tangy. The meat falls off the bones immediately.

The meat falls off the bones effortlessly

For you polite eaters out there, ditch your cutlery for this one. The only way to eat ribs is with your fingers and licking off the excess sauce after that for maximum enjoyment ;)

 Customers can order a full slab as well for RM68.90.

I ordered from their set menu which starts as RM16.90 and comes with their soup of the day or salad and endless refills of soft drinks.

Mushroom Potato Soup

I'll just give their soup an "acceptable" grade as it didn't really blow me away. It is rich and creamy, though.

For my main course, I chose their Tequila Infused Chicken.

Tequila Infused Chicken (RM18.90 with their set menu)

Don't expect to get drunk with this. There is barely any hint of tequila in the chicken, but one thing really impressed me.

Can you see the juice in the meat?

It's the fact that they managed to keep the juice in the chicken so they run out the minute the meat is cut. This makes the meat moist and very tasty. Definitely a thumbs up!

And the French fries that comes with dish are crispy and don't turn soft too soon. Look closely and you will noticed that the potatoes are cooked with their skin on for added goodness.

No dessert is included in the set menu but when I saw this particular dish, I couldn't resist ordering anyway.

Bread Pudding With Vanilla Ice Cream & Whiskey Sauce

This is to die for! Warm bread pudding that is moist and creamy, yet melts in your mouth, that little hint of cinnamon, the vanilla ice cream and that whiskey sauce with its very prominent taste of whiskey. Don't take too much of the ice cream with each mouthful or it will overpower the other flavors. Instead, a tiny bit of ice cream with each bite will ensure that you get a warm mouthful that is bursting with warm, happy flavors. Don't worry, you won't get intoxicated.

And now, on with the food porn.

Beer Battered Fish Fillet (RM18.90 from the set menu)

Black Pepper Chicken Chop

The Cheesy Burger (RM22.90)

1/4 Barbecue Chicken

Grilled Ranch Chicken

Definitely go check out Morganfield's when you have a gathering with friends for good food and whiling away the hours in their cosy ambience, but make reservations first, especially during lunch and dinner time and it could be hard to get a table.

There are currently 3 outlets in Malaysia:

* Pavillion, KL
* Gurney Paragon, Penang
* Queensbay Mall, Penang

ANOTHER THREE SURPRISING FACTS OF THE DAY… ARRR!

Ahoy! How are you guys feeling today? Must be in high spirit I bet! For working class people Friday must be one of the happiest days ever. There’s also another specialty about today, it’s “International Talk-Like-A-Pirate Day! ARRRR! So today, I will try to implement “pirate slang” as much as I can in upcoming facts. Ye’ can try it with your mateys later; Jolly up ye’ mood! After all it is the fun that counts! Shall we get started? Aye Aye matey!

Onions has been used in ye’ dish for ages, and each time ye’ peel the skin off, ye’ feel t’tears comin’ rollin down ye’ cheek, ye’ know why? Have ye’ been thinkin’ me hearties? (Droppin’ the pirate slang for scientific terms!) Well, it’d because onions absorb sulfur from the soil. When onions are chopped, it ends up breaking cells within the onion, which releases certain enzymes. These enzymes react with the sulfur, creating amino acid sulfoxides. This in turn, creates the highly unstable syn-propanethial-S-oxide, which is a combination of a sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, & hydrogen sulfide. When this substance, in a gaseous state, comes in contact with the moisture in your eyes, it triggers a burning sensation via the ciliary nerve. When the brain gets the message that there’s an irritant in the eyes, it kicks the lachrymal glands into overdrive, trying to flush the irritant out of ye’ eye with tears. It sure is irritatin’, feels a lot like one eyed pirate, thanks to the irritation!

Up next! Ye’ like munchin’ popcorns? I be’ great grand fan of popcorn! ye’ been thinkin’ why d' sweet lil’ popcorns pop? Think no more! I be’ here to tell ye’ why! (Droppin’ it again!) There are three main elements of corn that have to come together to produce popcorn kernels that are good for popping. Those three elements are the percentage of water content, hard, undamaged, water impermeable shell; and a starchy center. When the kernels are heated up, the water inside begins to steam. The starch inside the kernel then turns into a kind of a gel like substance as a result of this. Eventually, the pressure of the steam gets so great that the hard shell bursts! When this happens, the steam rapidly expands, which results in the gel expanding out and hardening into airy foam. Basically the gelatinized starch expands, forming a thin airy bubbled jelly which fuses together and then solidifies very quickly as it is exposed to air and cools off. The cooling sets the starch and protein polymers into the white puffy flakes, we know as popcorns. Walla!

Avast! Next up is somethin’ deep from the ocean me' sail on! Lobsters and crabs! Arrr! Have ye’ mateys e’er thought why do these rascals turn’red? The exoskeleton of most crustacean are made up of several pigments, one of which is a carotenoid called astaxanthin which provides a red tint. At normal temperature and when it’s alive, the pigments is hidden because they are covered with other protein chains that give their shells the bluish-gray and brownish green color we see. Exposure to heat destroys these protein chains, while the carotenoid pigment, astaxanthin remains stable. So when you cook a lobster or a crab or any other delicious crustacean mateys, the heat breaks down all the pigments except the astaxanthin; thus causing the striking, bright color of red.

Shiver me timbers! Some fine facts we ha’e here! Now ye’ kno’ some facts that many don'! Go thar’ share ye’ pirate spirit! Ha’e a grand, great day! So long me hearty, ARRR!

FOUR SURPRISING FACTS OF THE DAY!

First of all, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Happy admiring the gorgeous full moon, as well as chomping down your moon cake!

I had a rough night last night, so today I wasn’t going to feel surprise at anything I see anymore. Well my nonchalance obviously did not last long, thanks to these awesome facts that I’ve decided to share with you guys! Be prepared to have your mind blown with these wonderful facts! Let’s check it out!

Have you ever wondered why do crackers have holes? Well, turns out the holes are there for a reason, and not for decoration purpose. Without these holes, crackers would not be able to bake properly. These holes will allow steam to escape during cooking. If you have notice, regular biscuits that we bake normally would rise a little, but these crackers will remain flat thanks to these holes. The holes positioning and numbers are depends on the size of the crackers. Let’s say the positioning of the holes are too close, the crackers will be too dry and hard. If they are too far apart, then the crackers will rise a bit and form bubbles which are quite unpleasant.

Ah-ha! Million dollar question! Have you ever thought why milk is white?  Well here’s why! Milk contains 87% water and 13% of various protein as well as fat. One of the major properties among these proteins is called casein, four types of which will make up 80% of the protein. The casein protein somehow suspended uniformly throughout the milk. White objects in nature appear such when there is some level of light diffusion going on and no parts of the visible spectrum gets reflected off the object any more than any other part of that area of the light spectrum. These casein proteins and some of the fats in the milk scatter and deflect light uniformly throughout the visual spectrum. This results in the milk being fairly opaque and appearing white to our eyes.

I am a huge fan of spicy food! So this fact serves me well. Why peppers taste hot? The heat sensation in the chili peppers is caused by capsaicin, which happens to be colorless, odorless, oily chemical that can be found in peppers. Capsaicin binds with certain sensory neurons which then trick your body into thinking that it is being burned or at least experiencing excessive amounts of heat in the area that the capsaicin comes in contact with, even though there’s no actual burning is taking place.

The fourth and final fact of the day is quite similar to the previous fact. Have you ever tasted mint, and have wondered why mint tastes cold? The thing here is, a chemical in mint, namely menthol tricks the brain into thinking that the area that has been applied by menthol is cold, even though it’s just the same. To be exact, menthol binds with cold-sensitive receptors in your skin; these receptors contain things called “ion channels”. The menthol makes these much more sensitive than normal and thus tricks your brain into thinking you are feeling a cold sensation. When in reality, everything else is exactly at the same temperature as before! 

SWEET FACTS OF PURE HONEY

I'm sure you are familiar with the name calling, “Honey,” just hearing the term alone can make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside and keep us feeling sweet and happy for the day. However, the real deal- Honey itself contains so much of benefits to the body and today yours truly will share with you amazing benefits of honey! Here we go!

Honey is known for containing anti-bacterial, anti-fungal as well as anti-viral properties. What’s better in battling cold and some irritation with zero medication? Honey of course!

Apart from that, honey also promotes digestive health. There are plenty of people out there who suffer from lack of proper digestive system, and honey can boost to digest properly. Also, honey works as remedy for skin wounds as well as infections. It also stabilized blood pressure, as well as balances sugar levels. How cool is that?

This is something that I practice every now and then. Whenever I am about to go on stage to belt one or two songs of mine, I tend to take a spoonful of honey to relieve my throat. Honey is also known to eliminate phlegm from your throat, and gives you a relieve sensation. Honey also known to calm nerves, probably this is why I don’t have stage fright most of the time.

Another remarkable advantage of eating honey is that it also helps with asthma symptoms. Asthma patients will find honey very helpful, in reducing asthma attacks. Also, honey is used to treat ulcers. Aren’t these facts amazing? 

Not only that, honey also able to reduce fever and fights fatigue! If you had a long day and feeling exhausted, well I guess it’s time to have a spoonful of honey to fight away your weariness!

Wow, so many wonderful facts about honey, and aren't they all wonderful? Get your share of honey today and get all sweetened up for the day and walk your way to healthier lifestyle today! 

Penang Beef Koay Teow

There are a few places in Penang to get beef koay teow, but today, we will look at 3 that are considered above average.

One thing patrons of beef koay teow need to look out for is to make sure that the sellers clean the ingredients very well, especially the innards like beef tripe. Otherwise the lingering smell will spoil any appetite.


Sin Yin Nam Cafe, New Lane

Situated at the corner of New Lane and Macalister Road, the beef koay teow stall here is very popular amongst tourists and locals alike.

However, quality is somewhat inconsistent, with the broth having a sourish undertone, most likely from coriander, which is more pronounced on certain days while conspicuous on other days.

Understandably, they cater to local taste buds, who feel that the smell of beef is less than appealing. Therefore, majority of beef koay teow sellers tend to use copious amounts of herbs like coriander to mask the smell.

Other than that, it is still appetizing, with beef balls, strips of beef, beef tripe and tendons.

Prices start from RM10.00


Kang Beef House

This establishment takes beef offerings to a new level with more dishes than just beef koay teow.

If you want something that is less soupy, try their crystal beef fried rice (RM12.80). They add rice krispys to the fried rice so every mouthful is a delightful crunchy experience. For those who prefer their rice a little moist, they may add soup that accompanies the rice.

For an appetizer, try their crispy deep fried beef balls with croutons (RM4.80).

Their beef koay teow comes in 3 different versions:

* Regular
* Claypot
* Herbal (tastes like bak kut teh)

If you happen to have a vegetarian in your midst, they will not be left out as well. Their vegetarian fried hor fan is just as tasty, even for a meat lover like yours truly.

They also have beef steamboat for big celebrations (RM20.00 per pax) with a variety of beefy-licious ingredients such as rib, tripe, balls, intestines and sirloin.

By special request, customers can also get the penis. What does that taste like? Well, the shaft is pretty much like tendons - opaque and tasteless. The balls, however, are an acquired taste but the texture is smooth. Will I eat it again? No thanks.

Overall, Kang Beef House trumps in terms of variety of dishes. However, my one complaint is that the taste of their broth can be more bold. As it is, the flavor is very diluted. At times, it feels like boiling water with a hint of beef.

Again, I'm not sure whether it is because locals tend to shun the smell of beef and they try their best to mask the smell, which to me is really unnecessary.

Kang Beef House is located on Perak Road, just a stone's throw away from the Jelutong police station. They open during lunch time and dinner as well and are closed on Tuesdays. However, the fried dishes are only available from dinner time onwards.


Kedai Kopi Lam Ah

Also popularly known as Bomba Beef Koay Teow amongst Penangites as it is situated just opposite the fire station, the beef koay teow here definitely rules the bull pen.

The coffee shop is at the corner of Beach Street and Chulia Street.

The thick broth filled with beefy goodness always gets slurped to the last drop. The pretty lady who runs the stall there has been selling beef koay teow since 1997.

Customers can have the choice of choosing koay teow, egg noodles, a combo of koay teow and egg noodles or rice. They can also choose to have dry koay teow instead of the soupy version.

Toppings include strips of raw beef that are seared with the hot beef broth, beef balls, tripe and tendons.

Note worthy is their sauce which accompanies the beef koay teow. It is a special blend of sweet sauce and chilli sauce that is created by the proprietress. You are not going to find this anywhere else.

Prices start from RM10.00.

The downside is that due to its popularity, finding an available table, especially for lone diners, can pose a challenge. Due to its location in one of the busiest sections of Georgetown, parking is also a problem, especially during weekdays when offices are opened. It doesn't get any easier during the weekends either.

The coffee shop is also pretty warm, so if possible, try to get a table that is near the doorways.

And again, because business is so good, it can be quite a long wait before you finally get your bowl of beefy heaven, so while waiting, customers can order the fried oyster, the only other stall in the coffee shop.

They open from Mondays to Saturdays from 11.00 am till around 3.00 pm or the beef koay teow is sold out, whichever comes first.


So that's the run up on the good beef koay teow available in Penang. If you have any other recommendations, please let us know and this bak ong will head over to the place to get the scoop ;)

BUNCH OF BENEFITS WITH BANANA

Holla people! After a couple of days of break, we meet again! Well today, I would like to enlighten you about the good stuff- Bananas! Bananas are enriched with multiple benefits and packed with vitamins. But did you know that bananas are also made to battle different kind of illness? Well that's true! Today, I will share with you guys on the benefits that you will enjoy simply by consuming bananas.

Did you know bananas are known for reducing depression? Depression can be ugly, without proper treatment might lead to mental disorder. It is also not a disease that should be taken lightly, therefore, try to consume more bananas and keep those depressions far away from you!

Apart from that, Bananas are also great to regulate your bowel system. It is important to eliminate and empty your bowels every day, and with a little help, you would not have to face this problem anymore! 

Another wonderful benefit of bananas is also reducing the risk of heart disease as well as blood pressure. Malaysians commonly suffers from these 2 illnesses and one of the most efficient ways to battle your illness is with bananas! Cheap and delicious!

Bananas also has the power to reduce menstrual pain. Only ladies will understand how agonizing this pain will be. Just imagine, by eating bananas, your menstrual pain will decrease, how awesome is that?

One of the most amazing benefits by consuming bananas is that it helps individuals to quit smoking. Smoking is injurious not only to the smoker but also to those around them, therefore if you are trying to quit smoking, eat lots of bananas today and experience a healthier lifestyle!