Last Sunday (Thaipusam) I went to Aeon with my partner for our usual grocery run. At 10:00am sharp, when the shutters opened, we were the first to enter the lower ground floor. Upstairs, we were greeted by the crowd from the main entrance. The Chinese New Year (CNY) shopping frenzy is in full swing folks!
Then I noticed that the ngaku (arrowhead) buying frenzy is also on. Full ON! I saw many aunties (and an uncle or two) making a beeline for the pile of ngaku and frantically picking their choices. Nope, I am not going anywhere near those. I swore that I would never ever ever sweat in the kitchen again slicing and frying ngaku.
Anyway, since Monday is a public holiday (to replace Sunday) I decided to go to Aeon again for my CNY shopping. I needed some clothes and shoes. My partner dropped me off at 1-Utama at 9:30am. Since I was early, I had this idea of taking shots of the decorations like what I see other bloggers doing.
Then I got distracted by the snacks on display.
We are a multi-cultural country and that is why we also eat murukku and rempeyek during CNY.
To be honest, I wasn't really into the decorations. Besides, the crowd was building up. I don't like crowds so I quickly made my way to the ladies department to look for my clothes.
Buying clothes and shoes is not my favorite activity. I dread it mainly because I can't find what I like. If the design is right, the color is wrong. If the color and design is right, why do they have to add ruffles? I hate ruffles. When I finally find what I like, my size is not available. And the story goes on....
So I left empty handed. I meant to go to the supermarket to scout for some ingredients but again I got distracted. By this....
Ah! This is what I like.
I went to browse the seeds section but I couldn't find what I wanted. So I walked into Daiso to buy this....
Do you see an element of premeditation? Premeditation. The thin line between manslaughter and murder.
Then I went up to the supermarket. It was only 10:30am and they ran out of baskets. Basket!!! I had to walk to the check out counter to get one.
And then I made my way to the ngaku. Busted! There were only two other ladies picking ngaku. I could see why. The stock of ngaku was not the best. They were leftovers. But still I managed to pick up some.
These cost me a mere RM1.60. Back home, I cleaned and peeled them. The slicer I picked up from Daiso did a good job.
I fried these in hot oil. All that time, I was sweating away.
Why did I put myself through this? Why??? Because....
Noms!
Heee...heeee....heeee..... Worth the sweat I tell you.
This time, instead of salt, I seasoned the chips with Cajun seasoning for something different.
This thing, once you munch, you can't stop. The Cajun seasoning was great. The chips tasted exotic. Salty and spicy. Whatever happened to losing weight, huh? I don't have an answer right now >.< But I'll give you the recipe :D
Cajun Arrowhead Chips
Recipe source : Phong Hong
Ingredients :
- Arrowhead roots (ngaku) as many as you like
- Cajun seasoning
- oil for deep frying
Method :
1. Wash and peel the arrowhead roots.
2. Slice thinly using a mandolin or knife.
3. Deep fry the slices in hot oil.
4. Drain on paper towels and season with Cajun seasoning.
5. Cool the chips before storing in airtight container.
For more detailed instructions and tips, please refer here.
Then I noticed that the ngaku (arrowhead) buying frenzy is also on. Full ON! I saw many aunties (and an uncle or two) making a beeline for the pile of ngaku and frantically picking their choices. Nope, I am not going anywhere near those. I swore that I would never ever ever sweat in the kitchen again slicing and frying ngaku.
Anyway, since Monday is a public holiday (to replace Sunday) I decided to go to Aeon again for my CNY shopping. I needed some clothes and shoes. My partner dropped me off at 1-Utama at 9:30am. Since I was early, I had this idea of taking shots of the decorations like what I see other bloggers doing.
Then I got distracted by the snacks on display.
We are a multi-cultural country and that is why we also eat murukku and rempeyek during CNY.
To be honest, I wasn't really into the decorations. Besides, the crowd was building up. I don't like crowds so I quickly made my way to the ladies department to look for my clothes.
Buying clothes and shoes is not my favorite activity. I dread it mainly because I can't find what I like. If the design is right, the color is wrong. If the color and design is right, why do they have to add ruffles? I hate ruffles. When I finally find what I like, my size is not available. And the story goes on....
 |
| I'm not paying RM99.00 for that. |
Ah! This is what I like.
I went to browse the seeds section but I couldn't find what I wanted. So I walked into Daiso to buy this....
Do you see an element of premeditation? Premeditation. The thin line between manslaughter and murder.
Then I went up to the supermarket. It was only 10:30am and they ran out of baskets. Basket!!! I had to walk to the check out counter to get one.
 |
| No more baskets! |
These cost me a mere RM1.60. Back home, I cleaned and peeled them. The slicer I picked up from Daiso did a good job.
I fried these in hot oil. All that time, I was sweating away.
Why did I put myself through this? Why??? Because....
Noms!
Heee...heeee....heeee..... Worth the sweat I tell you.
This time, instead of salt, I seasoned the chips with Cajun seasoning for something different.
This thing, once you munch, you can't stop. The Cajun seasoning was great. The chips tasted exotic. Salty and spicy. Whatever happened to losing weight, huh? I don't have an answer right now >.< But I'll give you the recipe :D
Cajun Arrowhead Chips
Recipe source : Phong Hong
Ingredients :
- Arrowhead roots (ngaku) as many as you like
- Cajun seasoning
- oil for deep frying
Method :
1. Wash and peel the arrowhead roots.
2. Slice thinly using a mandolin or knife.
3. Deep fry the slices in hot oil.
4. Drain on paper towels and season with Cajun seasoning.
5. Cool the chips before storing in airtight container.
For more detailed instructions and tips, please refer here.
This post is linked to Cook & Celebrate Chinese New Year 2016 hosted by Yen from GoodyFoodies, Diana from The Domestic Goddess Wannabe and Zoe from Bake for Happy Kids.
So that's for CNY ? Wow... Your friends and relatives who visited you must be those lucky ones !
ReplyDeleteNo lah, I just make for myself only muahahahaha!!
DeleteOh, I like your ngaku with cajun seasoning instead of salt! Most of us swear we won't go through all that trouble of making but, in the end, our lust for eating takes over...wakakaka! :D But this is one snack I can safely and definitely say I won't be attempting coz I'm too afraid of those mandolin slices...watched too many cooking competitions where I see contestants slice of the tips of their fingers....ouch and yikes! >.<
ReplyDeleteI know there are those slices that come with a gadget where you can spike the thing you want to slice but that results in too much wastage as the part that's spiked can't go completely through the slicer. I once used a rectangular grater/slicer and sliced off a bit of my skin...and that was the end of that! :'(
*slicers
DeleteI know what you mean, I was super careful when slicing the ngaku. I went real sloooowww.... I once sliced off some skin when I cut myself while using a microplane to zest lemons. Ouch!
Deletehahahaha!! Lust for eating always takes over :D
DeleteYou write a lot to mislead us, and I am almost tempted to comment about how I also have troubles buying clothes in Malaysia, mostly due to the inconsistent sizing, but...
ReplyDeleteLet me summarize, the key points of this blog post is:
"I'm not going to buy ngaku... bla bla bla bla bla... bla bla bla bla bla... Oh I'm buying ngaku! Oh my cajun and sweat flavored ngaku chips is so nice!"
Btw, I think it is a great idea to season it with cajun seasoning. I want one! No, I mean I want 10 jars!
hahahaha!! I was telling grandmother stories :D The cajun chips were so good! :D
DeleteMy girl loves this. Don't think we have this here, but I go some from friends in KL. She can finish one whole tub in one sitting. I love that rempeyek...and the muruku too, I'm more into those than the ngaku chips.
ReplyDeleteNgaku chips are quite pricey, something like RM18 per canister. Not buying any-can't imagine paying so much to add to my waistline hah..hah...
DeleteArrowhead chip, once start, can't stop eating, hehe...
ReplyDeleteYah, keep on eating until boh liao.
DeleteHi Phong Hong,
ReplyDeleteWell, I won't be sweating ... cos every year my MIL will make a big tub for us to enjoy during CNU ... her specialty in making arrowhead chips :)
Karen, you are so lucky!
DeleteHi Phong Hong, I'm surprised you fried Ngaku Chips but these are very addictive and irresistible, some more with Cajun seasoning. I didn't fry Ngaku chips this year for my family but ended frying lots of it for my neighbor who fell sick 1/4 way through frying. She was already sick 2 days before yet she is so gutsy to go ahead with the frying even after my warning. She called me for SOS.
ReplyDeleteKimmy, you are such a good neighbor to lend a helping hand. I salute you and those who can fry lots and lots of ngaku chips. Just for that little bit also I felt that it was so much work and so hot!
DeleteAiyoh. I want that chips alsoooo. Send some please!!!! Hehehe
ReplyDeletehee..hee...boh liao :D
Deletecan try salt and vinegar ngaku kah
ReplyDeleteMacam fish and chips kah? heh..heh...
Deleteso, your CNY shopping started already?? hahaha, or you just went to the mall to test-water last weekend?? i just went to get two hampers for customers, and wow, the mall was actually quite packed with people even on a weekday morning.. sure all went there to grab CNY goodies as well as CNY clothes.. it's actually nice to see people buying lots of stuffs and feel happy for them~~ :p
ReplyDeleteI cannot tahan lah, so many people. I will have to shop after CNY.
DeleteCNY biscuits, hmmm, probably will get less because in the end, they ended up in our own stomachs only.. those plants looks nice, and i guess maybe getting one or two to decorate working desks would be nice and auspicious.. CNY clothes, hmmm, i won't get a top for RM99 also.. have been doing some (online) shopping all year round and hence still have lots of clothes not yet wear, can keep for CNY lor.. so i guess i'm done already..
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried online shopping because scared that the size might not be ngum. I prefer to try on before I buy. I didn't buy the plants because I know that when it reach my home, it will slowly die hah..hah..
Deleteone of the most popular and liked by many CNY snacks, hahaha!! eih, you only managed to get that handful of arrowheads, hahaha.. i think those won't be able to last till CNY but already in your stomach probably by the time you published this post, hahaha.. i tell you, it takes so many cumbersome efforts to peel la, to slice la, to deep fried la, to drain the oil la etc etc.. popping into the mouth is just a second, and once you pop you can't stop..
ReplyDeleteAll into my tummy liao lah. Cannot tahan heh..heh... It's a lot of work. Just for that small bit also I feel so tired but makan, sekelip mata saja sudah habis! That's why the ready made ones are so pricey.
Deletehmmm, looking at your cajun arrowhead chips.. probably you can try other flavors like those potato chips in the market.. hehehe, all flavored powder and you shake shake shake only.. now, maybe i would still prefer the lightly salted ones, hahaha!! :D
ReplyDeleteYa lah, can try different flavorings. See how if I can get some more hee..hee...
DeleteHa ha Phong Hong, I also bought the same slicer at Diaso! Maybe I will try the cajun too. I too dislike buying clothes, shoes, etc..same reasons as yours.
ReplyDeleteNancy, the slicer is good right? hee..hee... But must be careful not to get our fingers cut.
DeleteTrue! Why do shoes always come with ruffles? As for the chops, my fave is to toss the chips with furukake from Daiso for a Japanese twist.
ReplyDeleteI have heard of furikake but have yet to taste!
DeleteAt first, I thought these were from a bag---they look so perfect (not that I have any doubt that you can make amazing food!). I love that you used cajun seasonings---so yummy!
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you for the compliments!
DeleteI love to eat ngaku chips but I have never bought them because they are too expensive and I am too lazy to fry them, hahahaha so no ngaku chips for me. One thing for sure, frying them yourself, you get to eat a lot of them for the same price of just one container of ngaku chips.
ReplyDeleteYup, can eat more much cheaply but have to sweat like mad!
DeleteHi Phong Hong,
ReplyDeleteYour post reminds me of Joyce who fry a lot of ngaku chips for CNY too :D Yum yum!
Zoe
Zoe, I am in a way glad I don't have the energy to fry lots or else I will be munching lots of ngaku chips and get fatter and fatter :D
DeleteHi Phong Hong, hahaha ngaku is one of those things I am too lazy to fry at home... so just buy! :P It is so addictive and we easily finish 1 jar in a day.
ReplyDeleteGong Xi Fa Cai to u and your family!
Yen, I am too kedekut to buy hee..hee..
DeleteGong Xi Fa Cai to you and your family too!