Hot Beef Fried Rice

I woke up this morning with a 'dreamy illussion' that I had to take something full for breakfast. Going to bed with an empty stomach gave me a very moody dreamy like feeling...that anytime my legs will become like jellies. The rattlings and rumblings of the empty stomach were a warning that it should be filled soon. I could hear the sound of the acidic counterparts somewhere in my middle area, fighting to say, "Hey...fill me up!". Not good for a woman in her late thirties who is depending on tons of fibres,vitamins and supplements to boost her weaning energy. She needs real food. Real food! Real food that can make her feel fit until the middle of the day.

So...with dreamy eyes, hair tied in a pony tail I headed towards the kitchen. What has to come first? I wanted something fast to cook and simply delicious and fulfilling at the same time. This is the only way I can feel 'kenyang' or full. I peeped inside the refrigerator. Hmm...chicken, fish, prawns, every little tiny bits and pieces of each of them. Hmm...my eyes roved to the right..a small bundle of red frozen meat captured my eyes. Walla! Meat...The last time I had a bite was maybe a month ago, so I knew this would be it. I knew I had rice leftovers the night before, and voila...this would be great for my fried rice!

And oh yes...I wanted something hot...and spicy...so I took out a packet of cili padi to boost my rice. If you would like to try this spicy fried rice with beef, well you can reduce the heat by cutting off the chilli...but that will not give you an ommpphh! Enjoy!

Hot Beef fried Rice

Ingredients

3 cups of cooked rice,leftovers would be okay

3 garlic,finely chopped

1 big onion,finely chopped

8 cili padi,finely pounded

1 handful of ikan bilis,finely pounded

2 tbsp oyster sauce

2 tbsp soy sauce

300 gm beef, very thinly sliced

2 eggs, beaten

pepper

salt

dried onion, for garnishing

spring onions, for garnishing (finely sliced)

Methods

1. Put oil in a heated pan. When the pan is hot, put in chopped onion and garlic. Stir for 30 seconds.

2. Add in pounded ikan bilis, cili padi and beef. Stir until all are mixed and cooked.

3. Add oyster sauce,soy sauce,pepper and salt. Stir well.

4. Add in the rice, reduce the heat, and mix all ingredients until all are well mixed together.

5. Make a well in the middle and add beaten eggs.

6. Cook and mix the eggs with the rice. Increase the heat once all ingredients are well mixed.

7. For another minute, mix well or until the rice becomes a bit dry.

8. Serve with sliced cucumber,tomatoes and sambal belacan.

*Serve 3-4 people

*To make a milder version, reduce the cili padi or cut it off altogether, or substitute it with chilli paste. But the taste will be different!

One Nasi Lemak Please!

"Nasi Lemak....nasi lemak....20 sen satu!"

A glimpse of a boy carrying a basket selling nasi lemak from door to door flashed to my eyes. He put his biscycle againt the wall and took out a few folds of nasi lemak and put them in a plastic bag.

"Jual ya kak!" he took the money and pulled his bicycle away in haste, cycling and making rounds to ensure that his nasi lemak would be sold before noon.

As I drove my car this morning after sending my daughter to her school, the reminiscene of that little boy and his bicycle and nasi lemak brought back old times to mind. While his image was still flashing in my mind, I stopped by a roadstall almost knocking a sign post that was too near the road. I watched. A few stalls stood erect alongside one another. A few people were choosing and looking. Some gushed inside their car with a few plastic bags. Hungry perhaps. Or maybe there were visitors at the house.

Hesitantly, I picked the nearest stall to me. I got out of the car. A woman greeeted me with a smile.

"Nasi lemak, kak?" she asked without hesitation. A few drops or perspirations were trickling down her forehead. She flipped a row of plastic covers and exposed varieties of delicacies to choose from. One by one, I stretched my eyes covering from the nearest to the farthest that I can see. The woman waited patiently. I was still hesitant. Hmm...No, not today. No kuih for today. No sweet desserts....Just simply nasi lemak.

"Nasi lemak 4." I opened my purse.

"Ya kak," the woman quickly put the folded nasi lemak into a plastic bag.

I took the bag.

"Empat Ringgit kak," the woman flashed her teeth.

"Eh...dah naik lagi harga?" I was not amused.

"Beras dah mahal kak," the woman explained.

"Yalah," I paid the new price.

My thoughts were flying everywhere. Everything has changed. The oil price. The political scenarios. The crime levels. The good and the bandits. The cements. The food. And now the rice. My eyes flashed back to that little boy and his nasi lemak. Cycling peacefully. Only God knew what was in his mind at that time. But I was sure it was not about the hike in pricings. Maybe to him, what matter was he sold his nasi lemak and made his mom happy. The whole family can eat and live at peace.

Now, we buy our nasi lemak sparingly. Eventhough RM1 or RM 1.20 for one folded nasi lemak is still reasonable, still the price is hike. To reduce some spendings on nasi lemak bungkus, why not cook some at home for all to enjoy. Share mom's secret recipes above!