The perfect bite: Cempedak fritters

I've alway loved cempedak fritters and allow me to share with you a little tea time indulgence we’ve had yesterday, of which I can’t stop thinking about at this very moment. A stroll around any markets or pasar malam here will have you drawn towards the vast array of these aromatic fruits. With its pungent aroma, my knees got all wobbly and I couldn't resist buying them. Having them deep fried is simply delicious as the crispiness of the fritters are plain enticing to the taste-buds! As tempting as it may sound, it is one of the tropical fruits that is available once a year when it is in season.

Incase you are wondering, the scientific name is artocarpus integer but I find it hard to pronounce and it just sounds a bit weird to me. Cempedak looks similar to the jackfruit in appearance except that it is much smaller in size but it is definitely huge in comparison to other fruits. It is also sweet, sticky and when the fruit is ripe, it emits a strong, unique aroma that fills the environment, similar to the durians. If you like durians, it's no big deal for you to conquer the cempedak too.


The outer husk will turn light green when the fruit is ripe with dark brown spots appearing on the entire flattened studs. It also appears to be slightly sticky when you touch it due to the secretion of white latex through the husk.

As the fruit secretes sticky latex, it is best to apply a liberal coating of clean oil on your knife before and after cutting open the cempedak. The husk is thick, yet soft, so it is easy to cut it length-wise into half.

There are about 50 to 60 pulps which can be eaten raw and they are fragrant, sweet, yellowish-orange flesh which encases each brown seed inside.

Here's my version of quick and easy to prepare snack. The combination of flour, a tablespoon of rice flour, a dash of salt, sugar and ENO impart a delicate sweet, rich and delightful flavour. When the batter is set, deep fried until golden brown. Remove the fritters from the wok and set aside for at least 15 mins.

The delish fritters are always a hit in the household and voila, the whole plate was emptied within secs by the hungry kids. It's easy enough to prepare and perfect to snack on in front of the TV with a cup of flavourful tea. They are a popular choice amongst those who love crispy batter with that wonderful crunchy texture as you savour every bite.

The hard seeds are edible too when boiled or roasted but we don't eat them

So what are you people waiting for, savour these fruits which is in season now and have fun.

First Commenter - Ladyviral

PhotoHunt - Pink

Pink isn't my color so when I saw there was an upcoming pink theme, I was literally at a loss. Despite pink not being my favourite colour, I'm still looking forward to another great photo hunt this week. As I was hunting for photos, I thought of flowers. You never realize how many pink things surrounding us until you start searching. Anyway, my recent vacation to Cameron Highlands brought me into contact with pink blooming plants. They may not be glorious, but they are pink!



While going through my old photos, I also came across a few cache of photos that I took at Penang Safari Festival a few years ago. The main entrance itself was truly eye catching with the adorable pink hello kitties waving and greeting us. Being a fan of Hello Kitty, I was thrilled to witness up, close and personal of the famous cartoon character along with other dazzling and impressive lanterns brightened up the sky.






Happy weekend and Happy Pink Hunting!

First Commenter - Lina

Wordless Wednesday - Miniature Pineapples

The mini pineapple could remain on the plant for another couple of months from this stage.

After a few months, the leaves on top of the fruit gets considerably larger.

There is a patch of miniature pineapples with long narrow yellow-green leaves armed with sharp little thorns growing here in my garden. These are not edible but I like to use them in arrangements and decorations as they make really cute centerpieces.


First Commenter - Thrifty Living Mom

Music Monday - A Tribute to Michael Jackson : King of Pop

Like the rest of the world, I was in a state of utter shock and devastated to hear the news of the untimely death of pop icon Michael Jackson. When my boss broke the tragic news to me, I was in a state of disbelief. Although he has no reason to lie to me, I refuse to believe the news. But curiosity got the better of me. So when I finally switched on my laptop, the news of his death spread like wildfire through news sites, social networks and Twitter non-stop. It was simply shocking.

I spend my childhood listening to Michael’s timeless music and words cannot describe how much the legendary King will be missed. Although I've never been a huge fan of Michael Jackson, it made me sad that the legendary King of Pop was gone despite all the controversies surrounding him in the past decades. So keeping his personal life aside, it’s the music and amazing talent of Michael Jackson, that we should all remember him.

Having said that, he was an undoubtedly amazing moon walker I've ever seen and I don't think we will ever have another magnificent King like him for the rest of the decade because he’s irreplaceable in every sense of the word. Almost instantly, a musical tribute filled the airwaves with his greatest hits. As sad as it may sound, his legacy will never die and forever be cherished in the heart of millions who treasured his undeniable talent.

May his soul rest in peace. I sincerely hope he has finally found some form of peace and happiness in his life he was never able to find in this world. My heart goes out to his three kids and other members of his family.

Until then, I'm featuring a couple of Michael's inspirational songs this week for your listening pleasure. Happy listening!

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Lyrics | Michael Jackson lyrics - You Are Not Alone lyrics

From LYRICSMODE.COM lyrics archive

Lyrics | Michael Jackson lyrics - Heal The World lyrics

Come join Music Monday and share your songs with us. One simple rule, leave ONLY the actual post link here. You can grab this code at LJL Please note these links are STRICTLY for Music Monday participants only. All others will be deleted without prejudice.






First Commenter

PhotoHunt - Flags

I think cupcake flags are just so cool, especially when it comes to parties and special occasions. They instantly add a touch of fun to a batch of cupcakes and they are great to set the mood and carry the mood over the dessert table.

I've always loved cupcakes which are sweet handful that requires no knife, no spoon and no fork. You just peel back the paper and eat. Not only are they yummy indulgence, they are the ideal portion size and I can see why most people and even kids are so captivated with these little treats. They're something easy to hold and eat with one hand, easy to display and easy to serve, don't you think?

Malaysian cupcake flags

If you're feeling patriotic, I bet that would be the excellent patriotic touch to any desserts for the upcoming Independence Day party. Alternatively, desserts can be personalised with different flag designs to suit the occasion.


Have a great weekend and Happy PhotoHunting!

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First Commenter - Mei Teng

Wordless Wednesday - Koi Fish

Colourful koi fish (Japanese word for fish) swimming gracefully in the pond. They are also commonly known as the Japanese carp. I could feel the serenity of nature and I simply love the way the fish are swimming in groups, yet so close together. My kids are delighted by the enchanting colours with its contrasting patterns. The bold colors of each koi makes the pond comes alive.

According to Japanese legend, if a koi succeeded in swimming all the way up the Yellow River to a point called Dragon Gate, it will literally transform into a Dragon. Based on that legend, it became a symbol of worldly aspiration and advancement. They are now bred all over the world and Koi tattoos have also gained popularity in North America.

In chinese culture, it is believed that these symbolic fish brings good luck to the owners. As much as I would like to breed these fish, they can be highly prized and you need to dig deep into your pockets to stock a large pond with Koi. I guess I'll only consider these fish if I have got plenty of money to spare. :)

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First Commenter

Durians, anyone?

It's that time of the year again when durian or commonly known as 'The King of Fruits' stalls crowded the roadsides, all packed with mountains of durians. Yup, it’s durian frenzy here in Penang/Kedah and there are plenty of durian stalls selling this thorny fruit at every corner of the streets. Although I'm afraid of piling on the calories but when it comes to durians, I throw caution to the wind. Needless to say, I was looking forward to savour a good feast of this fabulous tasting fruits.

While some people consider the smell of durian as notoriously stinky and repulsive, I find this thorny fruit sinfully aromatic. Some can be dry, others creamy, like ice cream or chocolate in taste. I personally like smaller durians with bittersweet taste and the slightly fermented aroma of liquor to it. These are all good durians that should be highly appreciated to its fullest. Infact, the taste and quality of durians really differ depending on the origin and the degree of ripeness. The best place to get good durians is still Balik Pulau, Penang. I find durians from Thailand which are much bigger in size to be less desirable in terms of taste, smell and especially texture.

It was also interesting to note that there are many unique nicknames for different version of durian fruits that reflects its characteristics or even named after Jackie Chan's wife. As much as I love durians, it's difficult to be able to differentiate or remember the taste of one from the other. I couldn't even recall the name of my favourite.

These are some selection of branded durians. Prices are between RM12-13 per kilo in my neighbourhood. I normally spend about RM100-200 for these exotic spicky fruits every year.

Each species has a distinct taste and odour. For every pause for the next variety, it is best to rinse your mouth with plain water so that you can exquisitely acquire the exact taste for each cultivar and not having your taste buds to dance with undiscovered delight. My hubby loves the ones with golden or orange flesh which are popular in demand and secures the highest price, especially if it is accompanied with a great taste.

A small seed with milky, heavenly texture

A taste that's out of this world

Can you spot the worm hole on the husk? Now, don't be turned off by the sight of worm holes. It is a good indication that these durians are grown in pesticide- free environment.

As durians have warming properties, it's quite a common practise to pour water into the husk of the fruit after the pulp has been consumed and drink it.

An alternative method is to eat the durian in accompaniment with mangosteens, which is considered to have cooling properties.

It looks like unpeel cloves of garlic and whitish creamy against the fruit's purple backdrop. Incase you are wondering, the season for durians is typically from June to August, which coincides with mangosteens too.

Love it or loathe it, durians will stand out like no other fruit. For durian lovers, happy durian hunting! :D

First Commenter - Mei Teng