Was just reflecting momentarily on how some people's brand of Christianity can come off as totally off-putting, and how other people's comes off as absolutely beautiful. I s'pose it's all in the execution, really.

Hmm.

Was ridiculously unproductive yesterday in terms of study. In terms of cooking though, I produced coconut noodles of a superlative nature!

It's so funny...when was the year of the huge huge bush fires? 94? 96? Anyway, I can't remember (someone enlighten me), but we were in Queensland over that Summer (we DROVE all the way to the Whitsundays...go figure), and so when we wanted to drive back down into Sydney, we couldn't get back in because of the bushfires, and were forced to stop in Newcastle (I remember having to sleep across two small armchairs because all we could get was one double room between the 4 of us). In Teo family tradition, we proceeded to suss out the city (and that word is sitting uncomfortably when describing Newcastle) for an Asian restaurant, eventually coming across this Vietnamese one, which ended up being pretty crap, aside from their coconut noodles. And to think that all these years on (almost 10!), I've remembered and managed to make a pretty good reproduction of the recipie, even after so long. Well, hats off to me, I says! hahahhaahaha.

I reproduce my (very ad hoc) recipie here in case you are moved to try it...yummmmm...(why is it that the yummy things are usually unhealthy??)

Em's reproduction of Newcastle Coconut Noodles- Serves 2
Ingredients
1/2 a small tin of coconut cream
2 tsps of cornflour disolved in a little hot water
About 3/4 cup of pork mince
1/2 cup small prawns
1 fresh chilli, sliced (to taste)
Dried chilli flakes (to taste)
1 stick of lemongrass, chopped finely
2 sprig-things (you know what I mean!) of coriander, chopped (keep leaves and stalks separate)
1 small lebanese cucumber, shredded
1 sprig-thing of Shallots, chopped finely
1 1/2 tablespoons of oil
Pinch of salt
Pinch of sugar
Enough spaghetti for 2...!

Method
1. Place oil, lemongrass and coriander stalks in a pot, and heat til aromatic
2. Put in the prawns, and cook til done. Set aside the prawns, keeping the oil.
3. Brown the pork mince in the pot, seasoning with a pinch of salt and sugar (to taste)
4. Add the coconut cream, chilli (fresh and dried), and some of the coriander leaves, and let it simmer for 5 mins, stirring occasionally.
5. Add the cornflour and water to the mixture and stir through. Simmer for another 2 mins, or til thickened. Remove from the heat.
6. Prepare the spaghetti, as per the packet.
7. Serve spaghetti with coconut/pork mixture, topped with the prawns, and garnished with the shallots, remaining coriander and cucumber.

On the off off chance that anyone tries that recipie, let me know how it went! hehehehehe. Otherwise, it's here for posterity.

I'm supposed to be on Austlii looking up legislation that I need to print for the impending Property exam....better move...

ciao!