I made hum choy tofu soup since i had gotten hold of some hum choy last week.  Nope.. we donch have this in our local grocery store.. and like i said before.. i need to drive 4hrs to Halifax to get this.. and another 4hrs home.  So you can imagine.. how i feel each time.. i’m able to get some chinese food.  Thanks to our awesome customer/friend, Paul .. who was up in Halifax . .and picked these up for me.    Can’t ask for a customer/friend, because his wife .. would do the same for me.. if she was up in Halifax. This time.. i had forgotten to put in some ginger to my hum choy soup.  The next time.. i will try to remember.  My mom used to say that by putting a piece of ginger in it.. it’s not too cooling.  My brat loves it.. i let her have rice with soup.. and some chicken pieces.  As usual, i used the slow cooker to do the cooking.

They have instant noodles here too.. called the Mr Noodles.. but i never can stomach them.. because they are not the same as our chinese instant noodles.  The texture .. and the flavor is just not right.. so i never bother to eat them.  I can either get these from the city.. which is about 4hrs drive away or get someone to send it me .. from home.

My lil’ brat loves her chinese noodles.. that is what we called it, to differentiate from the Mr Noodles that we can get here.  I put mushrooms, tofu, shredded chicken for her.. and baby corn if she wants with them.  She loves it.. and she would tell me..  “yer the best cook in the world . .mom!” very cute.

If there is one thing the “ang moh” would eat .. is chicken rice from home.  When you can’t get the authentic ones.. you make do with the closest.. and Asian Home Gourmet is easy to prepare.  But you see, we can’t get it here.. we either have to go to the city.. or like this packet.. it came from a great blogging friend.  Thank you very much.  Of course, we already ate it and it was great.. but just enough for one meal .. for the 3 of us.

PS :  For your info, when “ang moh” went to Singapore to visit me .. for 5 weeks.. before i came home with him permanently, he would eat only chicken rice.. and satay.

So any kind soul outta the 10 thousands of visitors here everyday ..  would like to send me some chicken rice paste.. please let me know.. muahhahahaha!!!  If no one sends me some.. i know .. i can count on Barb from ChumsyAshley to take pity on me.. and send me some.. muahahahha!! right Barb..??

It is not easy for me to get lotus roots here in Nova Scotia.  I have to take a 4hrs car ride to the city.. to get some .. and even then.. the lotus roots look horrid.  If I order them. .and get a courier service to bring some chinese food down from the asian grocery store.. you can bet that the lady boss will give me stuff that are either expired.. or about to rot.. like these lotus roots.  But I’m at her mercy. .and take whatever that i can get .. and make the best outta it.

If you are thinking of migrating.. or kahwin cowboy.. like myself.. you better think again.. because you won’t get the kinda food you can get from home easily.. and you will definitely get home sick.  Love or no love.. you are gonna start resenting.. if you cannot go home frequently for a visit.. or get food from home easily.  So .. either move to a chinese city in ang moh land.. or marry someone RICH..!!!  ok.. ok.. not rich.. but at least can afford to let you go home every 2 years.. and NOT OWNING THEIR OWN BUSINESS..!!!

Why sinful..?? look at what they put in their fruits.. just to get the “ang mohs” to eat fruits.  In all my years here.. i donch see many ppl craving for fruits like I do.   When the “ang mohs” eat salad.. they soak their salads with thousand island dressing.. and to them.. that’s as healthy as it gets.

In my 9 years in Canada.. i’ve never bought one of these.. but i succumbed to my weakness .. and wanted to taste and see what it is .. all about.  I thought maybe.. the i can eat them slowly .. if it turned out too rich.

Sinful or not..?? strawberries.. were quite a few.. but the top filled with chocolate cream… and chocolate chips .. and also some sort of spongy cake at the bottom.. was truly rich.  I took 3 days to finish it.  Cost about $3.29.   I guess this must be the only way to get the “ang mohs” to eat fruits… but even with all those sinful chocolate cream.. my “ang moh” wouldn’t eat fruits.  *slap forehead*

See that lil’ piece of siew yoke on the side..??  yes.. that one.  Courtesy of Mr Choo from the Chinese restaurant.  Truth be told .. i’m not a great fan of siew yoke… never wanna touch them .. when i was home.. but after 9 yrs in Canada.. and no siew yoke to eat.. you can imagine my delight when i got a piece of it.  Why he only gave me one piece..  God knows..???!!!??  but beggards can’t be choosers right..??  but there were some duck meat too.. and the mushrooms were home cooked on my own.. and i made a meal outta it.  Told yer.. it’s nice to know the boss of the chinese restaurant .. but his rice.. was too dry .. i used my own rice.

For those from Asia.. and living in the West, I am sure you can agree with me.. that we try very hard to hold on to our traditions.. and our cultural background.. for the sake of our children.  Sure I have been in the West for a long time.. but i refused to speak like the “ang mohs” because, I am me.. and like it or not.. people just gotta accept me .. as I am.

Some ppl thinks it is fun.. to make fun of the way i speak.. and the way .. i am superstitious .. and so forth.  They donch understand .. that these were the way i was brought up.. and those of my ancestor.  Therefore, when we do have Asians around.. we try our very best.. in our own little ways.. to exchange oranges.. and “ang pows” ..  not because to see who gives the most ang pow.. but moreso because of tradition.. and what we Chinese believe.. some good luck .. and good sayings.

So this year’s Chinese New Year.. i made sure.. i gave Mr Choo (from the Chinese restaurant)  a basket of 8 oranges.. and 2 ang pows symbolizes “fatt, fatt”.  And i also went beyond the call of duty.. and called .. Mr Choo’s landlord.. to give him a money plant .. before the Chinese New Year is over.. and told him.. it’s our tradition.  Mr Choo’s business landlord was also ours.. some many years ago.. and he is by far the best person and landlord that we’ve come across.. and YES..!!  He did give Mr Choo that money plant.

How do you try to keep tradition.. in a foreign land..  ??  share share lah.

So what do one eat .. during days of freezing rain..?? and yes.. we had freezing rain . and winter storm yesterday.. and to keep safe.. we didn’t wanna drive to the store.. and open the store.. and risked our lives.  So what I did was cooked red bean soup.. easy peasy.. and donch even cost me more than $1.50 for a big pot of it.  I threw everything into the slow cooker with some orange peel.. and when it was boiling .. i put in the cane sugar.. and then some sago.. and stirred every now and then.  Darn easy lah. .i tell yer. I didn’t have any white nuts.. else i will add it in.. while it is boiling too.  You can also consider putting “tong yuen” .. when you are ready to eat.

Back home..it’s so easy to just buy a bowl for $1 or $0.50 cents.. so i never ever learned to cook it.. but since i’m in a foreign land.. no choice lor..    wanna eat.. gotta cook yourself.  Can you imagine.. how reach the dessert aunties and uncles are..?? so cheap.. the ingredients.. and sell so ex to us.. no wonder they can drive Mercedes lah and have expensive doggies and pet beds special ordered.

Chicken pot pie like this can only be bought at the local grocery store.  I love the flaky pastry more than the meat inside and for about $3.99, this is definitely too much for me to stomach.  I only eat half of it at a time because it’s is filled to the brim with chicken meat, some kinda white sauce and vegies.   I am sure for something like that you will have to pay double for it, food like these are ultra cheap.. and ask anyone from here.. making pot pies like this is easy peasy… the “ang mohs” love food like that.

When i was living in Asia.. i loved food like that.. but now.. quite “jerlat” .. cannot really stomach a lot of these very often.  But of course, this is a lot healthier than eating pizzas from Greco .. or chicken wings from Pizza Delight.  What about you..?? can you survive on pot pies alone..??

Some things are cheap here.. while in Asia.. you can’t get it as cheap.  Of course, you can get the food like hom either.  Salmon like this .. goes on sale pretty often.  At $4.99 .. one can replicate and try to make sushi.. or a salmon bagel.  I used to love Salmon a lot… and when i go for a buffet dinner.. or the reason why.. i go for a buffet dinner.. it’s because i wanna eat as much salmon and oysters as possible.

One of the previous Ms Singapore.. told  me.. she buys them frozen. .and only eats them.. because they are good for keeping her weight steady.   And truth be told, she is still as beautiful as the day .. she was crowned Ms Singapore..  but married with kids now.   5 pieces .. at $4.99 .. to some is pretty ex.. but it’s reasonable to me.. i get a few meals outta it.   The “ang moh” donch eat salmon.. neither does the kid.. so it’s all for me only.  Hallelujah..!!!  But at this moment.. i’ll give up all the salmon .. for a plate of char kway teow – with lard pieces too.. hahhahaha!!!  the way to a heart attack.. muahhahaha!!!

Donch get me wrong.. there are good food in Canada.. as you can see on John Chow’s blog.. but just not where i am in Nova Scotia.. unfortunately.  The nearest Asian grocery store is 4 hours by car.  Yes.. you can take a 45mins flight at $150 one way… but that would be too expensive for me to justify eh. Anyhow.. look at how grand .. this Japanese restaurant is .. to have such a advert .. to promote the restaurant.

Miku Restaurant from John Chow on Vimeo.

There is really not much I must eat here.. but one has gotta eat right..?  The man eats just to stay alive .. and I won’t waste my calories.. on anything .. not good.  Fish and chips was what the man ordered the other day..  and as you can see .. he asked for onion rings instead.  The rings were overcooked.. and the fish .. it was real fish.. and not some fish sticks.  Must be a good half of a fish here.  The fish didn’t have any taste .. it was alright.. nothing spectacular.

Take out fish and onion rings .. cost – $5.98 + tax, no really that ex.. but neither cheap.. if you think of it.. x 30days.  Would you eat something like that..????  it’s edible mind you .. but would you waste yer calories.. on something like that..??

Happy V-Day everyone! so what did you do .. or what are you planning to do on V-Day..??  The “ang moh” asked me if we Asians celebrate V-Day differently.. in which i stopped for a few seconds.. to think of how i spent V-day back home some 9 yrs ago.. before coming to Canada. So yes..! all you asians out there.. celebrating V-day.. leave comment .. and let me know.. how you spent V-day.. or how you plan to celebrate this day.  Or do you think .. that it is over-rated .. like all other occassions.

As for us.. let me leave you with this .. Heart shaped brownie with marsmallows.. actually meant for the brat’s school party .. that we missed .. because she was sick.  So whether you are celebrating or not .. let me wish you a great day .. ahead.  As for me and the “ang moh” we will be stucked here at the store.. and hopefully we can get out for a good meal tomorrow – for sundays are our only off day.

Every now and then.. i need some food from home to keep me sane in this darn cold winter.  Do not be mistaken.. for winter here isn’t 3 months long.. but a good 6 months.. at the very least.   Summer goes so quick.. that you donch even know that Summer was here.   Every year.. as i go thru’ winter.. it becomes harder to stay here.  Had it not been for the business.. and the “ang moh’s” family and extended ones.. i would have certainly gone home.  The flight home is about 28hrs .. and i know my brat would not be able to take such a long flight, and i can’t go anywheres without her .. so there is no way .. i can come home now.. till she is older.

Thank God.. for blogging buddy turned into good friend – Barb and her awesome hubby, Andy.. who keeps sending stuff to me.  Had it not been this bowl of Curry noodles.. i would really feel like crying the other nite.. because my brat has been sick for a whole month now.  Eating this bowl of noodles.. keep my sanity.. and kept me going.  Thank you so much, Barb..!!!   Donch know what i would do without these authentic curries from home.

For as long as I can remember .. i have always tried to eat healthy.. and live healthy.  I’ve read and been told so many times.. about Cranberry Juice.. that is great for UTI (Urinary Tract Infection).  Well.. i never had them.. *touch wood* .. but i do try and drink them.  But alas.. coming to Canada.. i can only find Cranberry Cocktail.. and not juice.. but no choice lor.. i still buy.. but i drink them really diluted.

The other day..by fluk .. i found the REAL cranberry juice.. and not COCKTAIL..!!  i was excited..but darn.. such a small bottle cost about $6 .. i hesitated.. but the “ang moh” just took it outta the shelves and put it in the grocery cart.   How did it taste..?? like cranberry juice lor.. but they say to put sugar.. but i just drink it.. as is.. with water lah.. of course.. i can’t take sugar.. and seriously speaking.. i donch like sugar either.

Ok.. for those who are still not sure.. for UTI . .never drink cranberry cocktail.. only cranberry juice.  It is said that Cranberry cocktail..is made of half a bottle of sugar.  Pure juice and nothing else, now i can be as strong as those steel buildings i keep seeing sprout up in the  neighbourhood.

I’m sure all of you have seen lobsters before.. but have you seen a blue lobsters..??  in the recent years.. here in Nova Scotia.. we’ve found some blue lobsters.. and why are they blue..??  they are born this way.. i heard.. it’s is some kind of pigmentation in the skin .. therefore it is this color.  Normal and majority of the lobsters caught in this fishing village are orangy in color.. and lobsters go cheap enough.. if you know where to get them.  At $5 a pop.. you can’t go wrong.

With the recent economy.. the lobster fishermen were kind badly hit earlier this year.. and they went on the streets and sold their lobsters for $5 a piece.. instead of selling it to a wholesaler for $3.50/pound.  Their way of protesting..  it seems.  Having said that.. we all know that the fishermen are never happy .. even if the prices were good.. or the catch were good that year.  Every year.. they complained about something.

As for myself.. i’m just into the lobster for making lobster bisque.  Yes.. little soup.. but lots of lobsters. What about you ..???  what do you do with your lobsters..?? how do you like it..?? i also like lobster salad .. like those bad home in Asia.  And a girlfriend just offered me some New York Yankees tickets in exchange for some lobsters.

Found some golden raspberries at the grocery store the other day.. and didn’t even think of buying it to try it.  We’ve tasted a lot of the normal raspberries .. because the spouse’s parents grow their own vegies and fruits.. and raspberries is one that the kid love most.  Today i went back to the grocery store .. to buy some.. but they didn’t have any.  Well.. next time eh.

Pretty expensive as you can see .. about $5 a box.

Chua’s choice has gotta be my favorite food show.  Why..??  well .. Mr Chua is from my hometown of course.. but this show brings you to all over Hong Kong .. and even Macau.  Here he teaches you not only to eat good food.. but how to eat good food. Enjoy..!! i’m bringing you a whole series of it .. an episode everyday.  Let me know if you like it or not eh.. 

We all loved visiting Disney but having been there so many times, one has gotta find an alternative like Branson.  It is touted to be the best place for kids with all sorts of rides. It’s definitely a great place for a family vacation.  In terms of affordability there is a package to fit everyone’s budget.

Of course, not only is Branson great for kids it is also great for the adults/parents.  The many shows and many attractions are for the whole family.  It is my Las Vegas without the casinos.  Not only do they have more than 30 rides but there are great places where a foodie like myself can eat various cuisines.

Check out their Platinum Package with the $30 Red Lobster/Olive Garden gift card and coupon savings for shopping, that’s what I am eyeing for. 3 days and 2 nights is just nice for us for we can’t afford to be away from our business for too long. Planning for a holiday? Try Branson Missouri, I bet you will keep coming back because “Your Happiness Is Their Success”.