Quick Friday Night Supper - Udon Noodle

This was my Friday supper, a quick & easy udon noodle soup with:

- Cantonese meatball
- Shiitake mushroom
- Zha Cai (Chinese style pickle vegetable)
- Broccoli

Thoughts & tips after the meal:
- Broccoli was very soft, should have put into the water much later or use something like lettuce or Chinese cabbage
- The shiitake mushrooms we got are dry ones, best to prepare earlier by soak in water first
- The pickle vegetable comes in very small packet, easy to use. I like them.
- All the things are available in Chinese Supermarket, we go to the one by N1 City (you can see it from Virgin Active)
- Meatballs are not cheap but extremely easy to use. Cook in soup or chop to stir fry, as you wish
- Udon noodle are in very small packets as well, portion is average

Kinder Surprise

THE KINDER SURPRISE EGGS

MILK AND DARK CHOCOLATE SHELL

BEST PART OF IT - THE YELLOW PLASTIC EGG SHELL

IT'S A TOY CAR THIS TIME!

END PRODUCT

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES!

WHEN I HEARD THE WORD "KINDER", ALL IT WILL REMIND ME IS THE KINDER SURPRISE.

DO NOT GIVE ME THOSE KINDER JOY CHOCOLATE BALLS! (THEY ARE NOT NEARLY AS FUN AS THE KINDER SURPRISE!) SADLY I NEED TO IMPORT THESE FROM THE UK TO SA NOW. (THANKS SIS)

SOUTH AFRICAN VERSION (DUE TO OUR WARM WEATHER)

MY FIRST MEMORY OF THESE EGGS DATED BACK TO WHEN I WAS ABOUT 5.

TV ADS WAS CRAZY BACK THEN! (IN HONG KONG) 

IT STATE THAT ONE EGG CAN SATISFY 3 OF YOUR WISHES, WHEN I STILL DON 'T REALLY CARE WHAT IS THE THIRD ONE OTHER THAN THE CHOCOLATES AND TOYS.

BUT AS A CHILD, NORMALLY WHEN YOU GO OUT WITH YOUR PARENTS TO SHOPPING, AND YOU HAVE GRABBED A TROLLEY HAND-FULL OF TOYS & SNACKS, AND AT THE END OF THE DAY YOUR PARENTS WILL SAY, "JOHNNY, YOU CAN PICK ONE ONLY!"

AND HERE COMES THE LIFESAVER! THE KINDER SURPRISE!

FUN FACT: KINDER SURPRISE IS BANNED IN THE USA, AS THEY TAKE IT AS POTENTIAL THREAT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY. (NOT SURE IF THAT IS TRUE.)

Braai @ Home - Beat inflation!

How proper was my salad? Had to use the feta!

The must haves

& the drink

& the meat!

Oh South Africans love to braai for sure and the difference between South African braai and what I experienced back in Asia. South Africans view braais as a very simple thing, not much hassle, not much planning, just bring meat. In Asia, braaing takes more planning & more variety of food needs to be prepared and it is not always so easy to find the space to braai. Not everyone have space at home so often, braai happens in parks & riverside.

We had a very simple braai over the public holiday as the family is eating out less these days, tough times! I prepared a simple salad with green pepper, tomato, lettuce, sweet corn and feta cheese. We had to use the feta cheese from Fruit & Veg's Wednesday special a few weeks ago. Because of the cheese, I did not make the Thai salad dressing I was thinking of.

Garlic bread is a must have for me when we braai, I was so stubborn on having a garlic bread. We went to three different supermarkets just so I can have my garlic bread! I am difficult sometimes lol.

Not much I can say about the meat but if you have not lived in South Africa then when you come visit, you must try Jimmy's Sauce with your meat. It is simply amazing, I love my chicken wings with Jimmy's. Yum, I am drooling as I am typing!