12 Malaysian Street Food Delights

From the famous Jalan Alor food street to the Gurney Drive, you can feast your senses and your tummy on a Malaysian street food tour from Kuala Lumpur to Penang. Let us take you along on this culinary hunt for the best Malaysian street food:

1. Penang Assam Laksa (Rice Noodles In Fishy Soup)

Malaysian street food recipes vary in different parts of the country. In Penang the humble noodle soup dish (laksa) is transformed into a tangy and delightful concoction by adding Assam (tamarind) and many more flavourful herbs, making it one of the most popular Malaysian street foods. Flat thick rice noodles and mackerel shavings give the broth its flavor while lemongrass, ginger flower, and Vietnamese mint leaves tantalize your taste buds with every spoonful. Add just a scoop of shrimp paste to this mix and you’re in for a treat!

2. Rojak (Fruit And Vegetable Salad)

Don’t let the name deceive you into wondering what a salad is doing on the best Malaysian street food list. This quintessentially Malaysian variant is a sweet and sour preparation of assorted fruits and vegetables in shrimp sauce garnished with crushed peanuts. It typically uses turnips, cucumber, green mangoes, bean sprouts, fried tofu, and green apples. The Penang style rojak uses guava and honey too; the final dressing of sugar, chili, lime juice, and shrimp paste suffuses the dish with its unique flavor.

3. Ipoh Hor Fun

These unique flat rice noodles found nowhere else in the world have not just a delightful taste but also an interesting story to tell. Brought to Malaysia by the Chinese immigrants at Ipoh (in Perak State), these noodles are said to get their unmatched flavour by using the special spring water from limestone hills around Ipoh. The rice noodles are served in a rich chicken and prawns broth with shredded chicken, prawns, mushrooms, spring onions, fish balls, et al. Also called Kai See Hor Fun, they are sometimes served with hot chillies in soy sauce.

4. Hokkien Mee

Brought to Malaysia by the Hokkien immigrants from China, this is another Malaysian food offering a flavor overload with its range of ingredients. Yellow egg noodles cooked in a dark soy sauce are then topped with pork meat, squid, prawns, and pork lard. A little sambal balacan gives it a nice spicy hint. The Penang variant is cooked in shrimp stock and garnished with fish cake, spring onions, and lime to give it a distinct flavor, while keeping the basic dish same.

5. Lok Lok/Satay Celup

Literally meaning “dip dip” this is one ubiquitous Malaysian street food that offers a variety of tastes in a single satiating meal. The idea is to choose from a range of Malaysian food skewers with varying prices, and dip them in a steaming hot delicious broth. This fun way of community eating around a single clay hotpot is now hugely popular through food trucks around the cities. The semi-cooked skewers include meatballs, prawn, cockles, etc which are dipped in either hot peanut sauce or boiling soup stock.

6. Nasi Lemak

Though Nasi Lemak is known the world over and available at most restaurants and cafes, nothing beats the fresh banana leaf packages sold on the streets. This popular Malaysian food is primarily a delicious and sumptuous rice breakfast dish. The delicious coconut cooked rice is perfectly served with boiled egg, cucumbers and fried anchovies in shrimp paste and chili sauce. This fragrant rice dish is apparently considered as the national dish of Malaysia.

7. Chee Cheong Fun

Chee Cheong Fun is originally a Cantonese dish belonging to southern China and Hong Kong, yet it is popular in Malaysia. Perfect as a hearty breakfast or a satiating mi-day Malaysian snack, this rice noodle dish is a must-feature on every Malaysian street-food list for its simple yet flavourful offering. Though similar too yet distinct from the rice-noodle rolls sold at dimsum stalls, this one uses thick rice noodles in a dark sweet shrimp sauce with some chilli sauce.

8. Chendol

This creamy and flavourful Malaysian dessert is a must-try for those with a sweet tooth and an appetite for unusual and interesting dishes. Prepared with coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, and ice shavings, Chendol is usually served in a tall glass or a bowl. The green jelly-like noodles made from mung-bean flour and food coloring (from the pendan leaf, a vanilla like plant) give the dish its unique taste and drool-worthy appearance. Many vendors also garnish it with diced jackfruit and sweetened red beans called ‘durian’ before serving you this delightful Malaysian street food in Kuala Lumpur.

9. Char Kuey Teow

One of the most flavourful noodle preparations among the best Malayasian food, this smoky version is a must try when visiting the country. Flat rice noodles cooked in a traditional Chinese wok at high flame, turn to this aromatic delight with a distinct smoky flavour. Soy sauce, prawns, bean sprouts, spring onions and sausages lend their flavours and taste to make it the king of Malay noodle dishes. The noodles are usually cooked in small batches to retain the smoky aroma. Certain special versions are peppered with mantis prawns and crabs.

10. Batu Maung Satay (Grilled Meat On Skewers)

No Malaysian street food market is complete without the huge open ovens loaded with meat skewers being char-grilled to perfection. Marinated pork, chicken and beef pieces on bamboo skewers are served smoky hot with peanut sauce, cucumber chunks and raw onions. The sight of enthusiastic satay vendors fanning their ovens to serve you these perfectly grilled yummy chunks is enough to set your stomach rumbling!

Newborn Week: Top 7 Newborn Care Tips

Newborn Care Tips

We are celebrating the Newborn Baby Week (15-21 Nov.). This post will be our contribution to this event. So let’s start the Newborn baby care tips.

1. Holding

Newborn babies may seem more delicate and fragile to you. But, don’t be afraid to touch and hold your little one. A study shows that a baby held for about two hours per day will thrive better and cry less. So give time to your baby and hold them confidently.

2. Bathing

Giving a bath to the infant is one of the biggest challenges for new moms. You can watch various videos to learn how to give a bath to the baby. Make sure that you have all the bathing supplies ready before undressing the baby. Most importantly, choose the right products for your baby. Research before applying anything to your little one’s skin.

3. Diaper Change

Many new parents don’t know how to change the diaper, or how many diapers should be changed per day. To make it easier for you, stock up plenty of diapers before you bring your baby home. Don’t forget about the nappy rashes. Most children between the age of 0-2 years develop nappy rashes.

When you see the first sign of redness, without any delay, apply a safe yet effective cream to cure the rashes. It’s better to consult your doctor for the right product.

4. Comforting

On average, a baby cries for nearly 2 hours a day during the initial 3 months. This is normal for any baby. To make your baby comfortable, first, you need to figure out the cause of his/her discomfort. There could be many reasons:

• The baby could be hungry
• He/she may have gas
• He/She needs a diaper changing
• The baby needs a nap
• Baby could be overstimulated by noise, lights or activity

The reason could be any of the above. You just need to figure out. If you don’t understand the reason for crying, consult a doctor or take the help of elderly women in the family.

5. Body Massage

Research has shown that massage can calm the body and make your baby feel comfortable. This improves a baby’s sleep pattern and makes the baby less irritable. Several videos are available on the internet that can help you learn good massage technique. Massage is not possible without safe and effective oil. So choose something good for your child. You can also consult the doctor about this.

6. Feeding and Burping

We all know that nothing is better for a newborn baby than breast milk. Full of nutritional – made for an infant. Unfortunately, sometimes mothers cannot breastfeed their babies. It could be due to some medical reasons or other special circumstances. You must consult your paediatrician on how to feed your newborn baby most effectively in such cases.

As per the doctor’s advice, burp your baby often because babies usually swallow air during feedings, which can make them fussy. Try burping your baby after every 2–3 ounces (60–90 millilitres), if you bottle-feed and each time you switch breasts if you breastfeed.

7. Sleeping Basics

It’s not easy to understand the sleeping timetable of the infant. The infant who needs you every minute sleeps more than 16 hours a day. Like adults, your baby also develops their sleep patterns and cycles. But keep in mind, always place babies on their backs, when sleeping, to reduce the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

It’s not easy to understand what your baby wants because they can’t speak. Either they cry or smile. But as time passes, you get to know about the newborn care of your baby.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have mentioned some of the tips that can guide you about Newborn care. We all know that a newborn baby is very delicate to handle, especially for a new mom. So we need to do research and learn about newborn baby care. We need to monitor their morning to night activities to analyze their schedules and habits.

Most Brilliant Grocery Shopping Tips of All Time

Want to be a smarter grocery shopper? Then you’ve clicked on the right story! In this list, you’ll find the most brilliant secrets to saving money, cutting down on waste, finding the best groceries, and having a more enjoyable time at the grocery store. Because we all have to grocery shop — and it may as well be pleasant (dare we say fun, even?) and not a stressor on our lives or our budgets.

Here are the 30 smartest grocery shopping tips of all time.

1. Be careful with coupons.

THEY’RE A TRAP. (Kind of.) If you’ve scored a coupon for something you always buy, then by all means, use it. But if you are clipping coupons for the sake of clipping coupons and subsequently add 20 things to your list that you wouldn’t have bought otherwise, you’re not saving … you’re spending!

2. Learn the dating system.

Don’t pass up deals because you get tripped up between the “sell-by” and the “use-by” dates. If something is on sale and today is its “sell-by” date, chances are, it’s still totally fine! That’s not a safety date and you can use the product after the sell-by date.

3. If you forget your list, try wandering the aisles.

You know that grocery list that you carefully compiled earlier today … and then immediately left on the kitchen table? According to researchers, the best thing to do if you’ve left your list behind is to wander to aisles. It will eventually spark item recognition. Pretty cool right?

4. Look for the clearance section.

Often when we shop in clothing stores, the first place we head to is the sale rack. So how come we don’t do the same in the grocery store? Chances are, your local supermarket has a clearance section, featuring various markdowns of the week. Start there to see which items you can check off your list and then make your way around the rest of the store for the rest.

5. Do some simple math to decipher the price tag.

If you’re not super brand-loyal or just want to make sure you’re getting the best price, consider doing some math. Instead of just looking at the price tag, divide the price by the units and compare to the other options on the shelf. Buy whatever is cheapest by the unit to get the most bang for your buck.

6. Prioritize a plant-based menu.

Some of the store’s priciest options are behind the meat and seafood counters, so if you’re looking for a place to save, those are the heavy-hitters. You’ll instantly see a drop in your grocery bill if you pick a few nights a week for veggie-focused meals. It’s a strategy that some of our favorite nutritionist experts highly recommend.

7. Sign up for the loyalty card.

If you don’t have a rewards card for your most-frequented grocery store, there’s a 100 percent chance that you’re missing out on major savings. Do yourself a favor and seek it out. It only takes 30 seconds to sign up and is almost always free.

8. Shop your fridge/pantry/freezer first.

Before you make your list, take inventory of what you already have in stock. This is as simple as looking through your fridge, pantry, and freezer to see what you have to work with. Make a meal plan and add what you need from there.

9. Track your spending.

The smartest way to grocery shop is to make a budget and stick to it. Fact: If you treat your grocery budget like a challenge to conquer, the process can actually be kind of fun. Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what Associate Food Editor, Meghan Splawn, learned after meticulously tracking her family’s spending.

10. Don’t pay for pre-packaged convenience.

It can be tempting to purchase pre-chopped, pre-sliced, pre-portioned, pre-packed ingredients, because they’re just so darn easy, but that convenience comes with a price. One of our writers did a cost breakdown and found that, in some cases, it can DOUBLE the price. Not worth it!

Using Diapers Safely for Newborns and Babies!

As your little bundle of joy arrives in the world, one thing is sure that your days and nights will be extremely busy. All your tasks will revolve around your baby’s routine. You will do everything to make sure your baby is happy. For a few months to come, a baby’s job is to drink breastmilk and urinate and poop. And this increases your duties in turn. You will have to frequently check, whether he has wet his crib or not, if yes, then clean him and make him feel comfortable. It can be cumbersome, that is why nowadays new parents have resorted to disposable diapers to keep their babies dry and comfortable. But, how safe are these diapers for newborns? Do you know?

Are Diapers Safe for Infants?

There are mixed opinions about the usage of diapers. Elderly people are against using diapers and think that mothers use it for their convenience, avoiding the hassles of frequent cleaning and washing. Baby Diapers cause rashes and infections, and so its excessive use is not a healthy practice. However, young mothers argue that diapers are specially designed for babies with the utmost care. So, they are typically safe to use.

What are Diapers Made of?

There are cloth diapers and disposable diapers. Cloth diapers are typically the ones that are soft and reusable. You can wash, dry and reuse them. However, disposable diapers are made of different materials, which are as follows:

1. Sodium Polyacrylate

It is a polymer used in diapers and is an absorbent. To ensure that it is not directly in contact with the baby’s skin, this polymer is placed in the core of the diaper and packed with layers of other materials. Acrylic acid mixed with this polymer can cause irritation in some babies.

2. Dye

Some diapers have wetness indicators. Dyes are used in these indicators. They are also used as a part of colored patterns outside the diaper and the leg cuffs. Dyes can cause skin rashes in some babies.

3. Volatile Organic Compounds

Fragrances are sometimes used in diapers to prevent bad odor. However, these fragrances emit volatile organic compounds that are harmful to the baby. Compounds like toluene and xylene can cause skin irritation.

4. Dioxins

When wood pulp is bleached and used to make diapers, it produces dioxins. Remnants of dioxin can be present in the diaper. It is considered to be less harmful, but it is always better to be aware of the presence of dioxins.

Now that you are aware of the components of diapers, it is advisable to choose the diapers for your baby, wisely.

Precautions to Take Before Using Diapers for Babies

Diapers are in direct contact with a baby’s skin, so it is advisable to take precautions before using diapers for babies. Following are some precautions to take:

• Check the baby’s skin to ensure that there are no rashes. Some babies are very sensitive and can develop rashes.
• Specially designed overnight disposable diapers can be used at night.
• Avoid heavier diapers during the daytime. Use gel-based diapers or diapers with skin creams or cloth diapers.
• Change diapers once in two to three hours to avoid rashes and infections. When babies pass stool, ensure that you change the diaper immediately.
• After removing the diaper, don’t make your baby wear another diaper immediately. Allow his skin to breathe, let it be free for some time.
• Clean your baby’s skin with baby wipes or cloth after removing the diaper. You can use baby lotion, coconut oil, moisturizers, and baby powder. All these accessories help in maintaining good hygiene.

The initial phase of motherhood is hectic because you strive to give the best to your baby. While diapers can make things easier, using diapers for longer periods generates heat. So, frequently changing diapers is the key to ensure that your baby is dry, comfortable, and healthy.

How to Make Handmade Jewelry!

Part1

Getting Started With Jewelry Making

1. 
   

   
   1
   Buy a jewelry kit. For an easy transition into jewelry making, visit your local craft store and buy a jewelry making kit. Jewelry making kits provide you with basic supplies and tools that allow you to customize different jewelry pieces and make them all your own. Most kits come with some basic instructions with different jewelry ideas, but you can use your imagination to create whatever kind of jewelry you want.
   

   • There are many variations of jewelry making kits depending on what specific kind of jewelry you want to make.
   • For example, there are beading jewelry kits, stringing jewelry kits, and wire jewelry kits, just to name a few.
2. 
   

   
   2
   Pick out a specific jewelry project you want to try. Because there is such a variety in possible pieces of jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings), made out of many possible materials (beads, wire, string, resin, paper, etc.), pick out a material and piece of jewelry you want to work on making. Find inspiration by visiting jewelry stores or looking online at social platforms, visual organizational websites, or jewelry retailer websites.^[1]
3. 
   

   
   3
   Purchase jewelry making tools. Depending on what kind of jewelry you plan to make, you’ll probably need some basic tools to complete your project. Some basic tools all beginners should consider having include:
   

   • A variety of pliers – round nose pliers, chain nose pliers, step jaw pliers, bent closing pliers, and nylon jaw pliers
   • A metal ruler that measures both centimeters and inches
   • Wire cutters
   • Practice wire, to practice bending and shaping you wire before you attempt to bend your more expensive wire for your actual project
   • Peg boards for bending wire
4. 
   

   
   4
   Purchase handmade jewelry supplies. Handmade jewelry can be crafted with many different kinds of supplies, but there are a few basic supplies that are used on most handmade jewelry pieces. Jewelry kits can provide you with general or project specific supplies, but if you plan to start making jewelry without using a kit, you need to purchase some supplies on your own. Consider buying some:
   

   • Beads
   • Jewelry wire in common gauge sizes (18, 20, and 22); 20 gauge is best for beginners
   • Clasps and closures
   • Jump rings
   Expert Answer

   Q

   When asked, "What are the staples in your jewlery making arsenal?"

   

   EXPERT ADVICE

   Ylva Bosemark, jewelry maker, responded: "One component that I’ve been having a lot of fun playing around with is the paint. Usually I’ll hand paint my laser cut pieces. Then, I also have a lot of the standard jewelry equipment: jump rings, pliers, ear hooks, and beads for necklaces."
5. 
   

   
   5
   Become familiar with basic jewelry measurements. In order to determine how big or small you want your jewelry piece to be, familiarize yourself with some basic jewelry measurements. There are common, standard sizes for necklaces, and bracelets (depending on if the jewelry is for men or women), and how long you want the piece to hang.^[2]
   

   • For example, different necklace styles are certain lengths. Chokers are about 14 – 16 inches in length, princess style necklaces are about 17 – 19 inches in length, and rope necklaces are about 34 inches in length and longer.^[3]
   • Necklaces that fall just below the collar bone tend to measure about 17 inches for women, and about 20 inches for men.^[4] Common bracelet lengths measure about 7 inches for women, and between 8 – 11 inches for men.^[5]
6. 
   

   
   6
   Learn some basic jewelry making skills and techniques. In order to begin the process of making your own jewelry piece, you must learn some basic skills and techniques in order to successfully complete your project. Common skills and techniques that must be learned include opening jump rings, cutting wire, wire working, stringing, and using jigs and pegs, just to name a few.
   

   • To learn these different techniques you can read jewelry making books, search for tutorials, and take jewelry making workshops.
   • Search online for instructions on how to make the the specific earrings, bracelet, ring, or other kind of jewelry you want to try making.
7. 
   

   
   7
   Assemble your required materials. Once you have a chosen jewelry project that you want to make, gather and assemble all of the needed materials. Again, your materials can come from a jewelry making kit, or you can research a style of jewelry, determine the level of difficulty, and then buy the necessary materials yourself.
   

   • For example, in order to start making charm earrings, you first have to select the charms you want to use.^[6] Charms can be found online, at craft stores, or jewelry stores. Then you have to select your earring findings, which are the parts of the earring that fit through your ear piercing.
   • When you are ready to begin making your jewelry, go over the instructions that you have acquired on how to make the jewelry piece.
8. 
   

   
   8
   Practice the technique before you make the real thing. As mentioned earlier, for wire jewelry, having practice wire is a good idea to practice and conquer a jewelry making technique before you move on to bending and cutting your more expensive wire. That way, you get the hang of the technique with lots of repetition, so your final product is of high quality.
   

   • No matter what kind of jewelry material you are using, always try to practice the technique first, before using your actual, precious jewelry materials.
   • Thin, copper wire is always a good choice for practice wire.

Part2

Making Earrings

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   1
   Try making Swarovski crystal earrings. These earrings are fairly simple to make, and only require two crystals for your charms, two jump rings, and two earring findings.^[7] You will also need a set of pliers to help open and close the jewelry pieces.
2. 
   

   
   2
   Add the crystals to the jump rings. Use your pliers to twist and open up the two jump rings. Feed the crystals onto the jump rings through the holes in the charms.^[8]
   

   • Be sure that if you crystals have a distinct front and back side, that the front side will be showing forward once you close the jump ring and put on the earring. If not, you can always reopen the jump ring and turn the crystal around on the ring.
3. 
   

   
   3
   Add the earring finds to the jump rings. Once the crystals are on the jump rings, slide the earring findings onto the jump rings. You should be able to hold a jump ring and have both the crystal and earring finding hanging off. Use your pliers to close and secure the jump rings.
   

   • This earring project can take less than five minutes, and at the end, you have a unique pair of beautiful earrings.^[9]

Part3

Making a Bracelet

1. 
   

   
   1
   Try making a beaded bracelet. A simple beaded bracelet is a great way to begin making handmade bracelets. For this bracelet you will need beads of your choosing, beading wire, wire cutters, crimp beads, jump rings, and a closing clasp.^[10]
2. 
   

   
   2
   Add beads to your bracelet wire. Begin by stringing your beads onto the wire still attached to the spool. Keeping the wire attached to the spool allows you to change your mind about the length of the bracelet as you make it.^[11] Keep stringing on beads until you make the bracelet as long as you like.
3. 
   

   
   3
   Determine your bracelet length. Figure out how much length the clasp and jump ring are going to add to your final product bracelet, take that into consideration, and remove some beads equivalent to that length.^[12]
4. 
   

   
   4
   Add a jump ring to an end of your bracelet. Add on a crimp bead and a jump ring to the end of your bracelet. Leave yourself a bit of room on the end of the wire. Take the tag end of the wire and thread it back through the end crimp bead.^[13] You want the jump ring to be dangling on the wire loop.
5. 
   

   
   5
   Secure an end to your bracelet. Keep threading the wire through the rest of the beads until the jump ring is pulled taut against the wire. Use your crimping pliers to clamp down on the crimp bead and secure the crimp bead.^[14]
   

   • You can also trim away the excess wire near the crimp bead so you don’t get poked. Repeat this process with the other side of bracelet.
   • Add a clasp to an end of the bracelet. Add a clasp onto one of the end jump rings by using pliers to twist and open a jump ring, and then feed the clasp onto the ring.^[15] Close the jump ring, and connect your bracelet together.
   • This same technique can be used with longer wire and more beads to make a simple necklace.

Part4

Making a Ring

1. 
   

   
   1
   Try making a beaded ring. A beaded ring is a really easy and simple project for a beginning jewelry maker. For a beaded ring, you will need some small, glass, seed beads, nylon fishing line to serve as your ring thread, and some bead glue.^[16]
2. 
   

   
   2
   Feed your beginning beads onto your ring thread. Begin with approximately 10 – 12 inches of ring thread. Feed on three small glass beads in any color of your choosing.
   

   • When the three beads are on the thread, hold the two ends of the thread together and allow the beads to fall to the middle of the thread.^[17]
3. 
   

   
   3
   Thread the connecting bead. Add a fourth bead to one of the thread ends, but do not let it fall down to meet the rest of the beads. Instead, take the other end of the ring thread, and feed it through the top of the bead.^[18]
   

   • The two bracelet threads should now be coming out from opposite directions from the bead. Pull the threads outward in opposite directions to string the bead into place.^[19]
   • This fourth bead will act as a bridge between the other beads.
4. 
   

   
   4
   Continue adding beads to the ring thread. Add one bead each to the different thread ends. Then add a third bead to act as the connecting, bridge bead.^[20] Like you did before, feed both ends of the ring thread through the bead (threading the thread in opposite directions), and pull the thread ends away to secure the bead.
   

   • Keep adding beads in this manner until the length of the ring becomes long enough to wrap around your finger.^[21]
   • You can intermittently check the length of the ring by wrapping it around your finger. Just make sure you hold onto the loose end of the ring.
5. 
   

   
   5
   Connect the ends of the ring together. Pass the two loose ends of the ring thread through the hole in the very first bead of the ring.^[22] Consider repeating threading the ring thread through the bead to make the connection more secure. Tie the thread ends in a knot to finish the ring.