Monday, November 22, 2010

Monday Trivia : Olive Oil


Came across this youtube video and some questions I have in mind about my favourite type of oil answered. In this video, Bob Blumer answered a question on whether there is a difference between expensive and cheap olive oil. I use olive oil in all of my cooking except when a recipe calls specifically for other types of oil. For example, when baking red velvet cupcakes, I use the vegetable oil instead.

Anyway, according to Bob Blumer in this interview video, there won't be any difference. But you'll be insane if you use your expensive bottles for cooking. Spare your expensive ones for salad dressing instead.

My further research reveals that, there is a difference in taste depending from where the olive oil comes from. The difference is very subtle and only the experts could tell, not the ordinary consumers like us though. The difference normally stems from the different species, climate and soil condition of where the olives are grown. Spain, Greece and Italy are the main olive oil producers apparently. Hmm, I remember seeing only the Italian on the supermarkets shelves. Hence for me, the association between olive oil is always with Italy. Call me ignorant, but I have yet to find the others on my next visit to the supermarket.

But hey, guess what apparently between the 3 countries, Italy is the smallest producer and most of the oil that is claimed Italian could really be either Spanish or Greek or a combination of the two! But, Italy is the better marketeer! Well, I would say their marketing works! Again, for me olive oil is always Italian! Haha. Whatever it is, be it Italian, Spanish or Greek, it all tastes the same to me. Guess it all depends on the freshness, quality, our taste preference s (be it ordinary, virgin, extra virgin) and price. There you go, a trivia for your Monday blues. Will share some olive oil salad dressing recipes in my upcoming posts ya!


Sunday, November 21, 2010

Un-Unified

It has been more than a week without the internet at home. Dang! So much for high speed broadband! Do something about it already, TM! Been calling them everyday, but kept getting the same feedback and passed to this and that department. From customer service to technical to software! It's tiring, you know! I wonder if I should downgrade back to streamyx or be on the lookout for services from other providers. How do you guys get connected at home?





- Jabberholic babbles from her iPhone

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Blumer Who?

Everybody knows Nigella Lawson, Jamie Oliver and Anthony Bourdain. The hot TV domestic goddess, the naked chef and the sarcastic touring cook would normally be how people around me describe these celebrity chefs respectively. But mention Bob Blumer, I get blank stares. Well, at least from people who do not switch to the cook shows on TV.

I am a fan of Bob Blumer! It was love at first sight when I saw him on TLC, which was formerly known as Discovery Travel & Living Channel (on Astro's 707). Have you guys seen that guy with the tornado hairdo (or Marge Simpson's ?) cooking and touring in in the toaster mobile? The programme is called Surreal Gourmet and it centres around Bob cooking and hosting dinner parties over 30 states in that creatively designed mobile. The food were prepared and presented in ways that were anything but ordinary. Imagine, poaching salmon in dishwasher, cooking in the dark and making baseball-shaped shepherd's pie!

Blumer's latest show, which he hosts and co-created is called Glutton for Punishment. The series, now in its 4th season on TLC, is made up of food-related challenges. In each episode, he is given 5 days to become proficient in the episode's featured specialty. And then with his new acquired skills, he goes against the experts in the fields. He either ended up surprising the experts by acing the challenges or accepting defeat humbly. One thing I truly admire about Bob is the fact that how genuinely enthusiastic he is in all his shows and also that he is no cocky guy! In the recent episode, he challenged tea masters in a Kung Fu Tea Challenge in China.

The foodie, traveller and adrenaline junkie that I am is able to instantly connect to this great culinary adventurer's personality and out-of-this world shows. Oooh, I sure have an endless list of questions to ask him if I ever get to meet him in person! *hint! hint* TLC ;) Apart from having tried making some of his gourmet looking and delicious but easy recipes, I have also recently redesigned my small kitchen without having to renovate and spending a cent! Check out the featured video on his webbie http://www.bobblumer.com/ for his 10 DIY practical kitchen design tips. Blumer is certainly one heck of an imaginative culinary personality. I look forward to more extreme epicurean quests, engaging stories and practical tips from him. Tune in to Glutton For Punishment on TLC on Wednesdays at 9.30pm. Repeats on Thursdays (3.30am, 8.30am & 3.30pm) and Sundays (11.10am). M'sian time ya ;) He'll be attempting to eat 40 feet (!) of raw nettles and mastering the art of sushi making in the coming episodes. Enjoy!
Note : Pics googled

Friday, November 12, 2010

TLC

OMG! OMG! Am still shaking while writing this! Just received a great piece of news from my ever favourite channel on TV! Will surely blog more about this but one thing for sure, TLC rocks!



- Jabberholic babbles from her iPhone

Sunday, November 07, 2010

Masak Campak-Campak

I tend to become creative with cooking when :

a) There's not much left in the fridge
b) There are leftovers from the day before
c) The raw materials on the shelves are nearing their expiration dates
d) Am just plain lazy

Here are some of my lazy-creative dishes..Haha..


Nachos - Organic tortilla chips with leftover bolognese sauce + homemade guacomale dip + grated cheddar and parmesan cheese + sliced pickled jalapenos


Seared bananas - Overly ripe bananas + shaved parmesan + raw cane sugar


Omelette - Eggs + milk + green apples + pepper + shaved parmesan


Hmmm..they are all with cheese ay? Yupp, am one cheese lover here, y'all!