Growing Malabar Spinach In My Garden.

At first, I tried to grow this veggie from the remaining stems after I have plucked the leaves and young shoots for cooking. Probably the stems were too tender and it didn't grow well. I used to call this veggie - the Slimy Veggie or Saan Choy. Some restaurants called it "Wong Tai Choy" or Emperor Veggie in Cantonese.

Some of its common names are Malabar Spinach, African Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Vine Spinach, Red Vine Spinach, Climbing Spinach, Creeping Spinach, Buffalo Spinach, Its scientific name is Basella Alba.

 I was blessed with some Malabar Spinach seeds by a friend and I planted them in a shallow pot.

 The seeds sprouted and they grew healthily even though they were very crowded in the pot.

 This is the green type. I have also eaten the red or purple type.

 It is a climber plant with soft stems and succulent leaves.  It grows well in normal garden soil and it likes full sunlight. It is also a fast growing plant.

 It is high in Calcium, Iron, Vitamin and Protein, etc. It is also cooling for the stomach and helps in constipation. Malabar Spinach can be used in soups or in stir fries. 

 I harvested the plants while they were still young and tender. I cut the plants 2 inches above the ground to enable new shoots to grow again. 

 "Don't you understand yet?" Jesus asked.

"Anything you eat passes through the stomach

and then goes into the sewer.

But the words you speak comes from the heart

- that's what defiles you.

For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery,

all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

These are what defile you.

Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you."

(Matthew 15:16-20, NLT)

Enjoying Gopeng Mee At Metro Cafe, Ipoh.

Last Monday, my friend and I were once again on our way to town to run our once a month errands. This time, we went to Poslaju first because I need to send something to Kuala Lumpur and then did some banking, both in Ipoh old town.

Since we were in old town, my friend suggested we had breakfast in Metro Cafe, which we have not been for a long, long time.

Surprisingly, the name Metro Cafe is hung on the side wall inside the shop.

 We both ordered wanton noodle with chicken meat.

You can see the thin wanton noodle under the chicken meat and gravy.

 One normal portion of wantons (I forgot the number of wantons in the soup). We requested to add a piece of sui kao (big dumpling) together with the wantons.

 Pickled green chili in chili sauce to go with the noodles.

Total cost of 2 sets of noodles cost about RM15 (approx. 3.85 USD).

I forgot the exact amount.

 This is the stall selling Gopeng Mee.

The noodles still taste good after all these years.

 The shop is along Jalan Tun Sambanthan, Ipoh old town.

After our breakfast, we drove to Ipoh new town to run other errands and we passed by this horse on the roadside in old town. We do not know what "The Happy 8" is all about. 

 Today, I am sharing some kitties images which I have taken during my morning walking exercise.

 I do not know whether it is a stray or belongs to someone staying nearby.

 Another kitty near the drain.

 Kitty thinking, "Should I climb up the tree to escape from her?"

 "Or should I go the other way?"

 Another kitty on the move.....

Linking to Saturday's Critters.

Once a leper came and knelt in front of him and begged to be healed.

"If you want to, you can make me well again," he pled.

And Jesus, move with pity, touched him and said,

"I want to! Be healed!"

Immediately the leprosy was gone - the man was healed!

(Mark 1:40-42, TLB)

Dinner At Shun Min Restaurant, Jalan Pasir Pinji, Ipoh.

A friend has been telling us about this restaurant and suggested that we can go and try the food there when we are free. So 2 weeks ago, we were free to have dinner together.

Hubby and I went to pick up our friend from her house. 

All along the way, I have been watching the sky. The setting sun was hidden by the cloud.

 Then I was reminded of the saying about behind every dark cloud there is a silver lining.

 The dark cloud represents our unpleasant or difficult time and the silver lining represents hope in something good. Romans 8:28 (TLB) - And we know that all that happens to us is working for our good if we love God and are fitting into His plans.

Slowly more light was shining from behind the cloud.

 More light peeking through the cloud.

John 1:5 (NIV)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 Thanks to our friend, we found the restaurant along Jalan Pasir Pinji.

 We were among the early birds and hungry ones too!

 Stewed pork trotters - we finished all and almost cleared the gravy too.

 Boiled old cucumber with pork rib soup - well cooked and flavourful.

Deep fried mantis prawn cooked with dried chilis and onions.

The taste was not quite to our liking.

Crunchy blanched iceberg lettuce with deep fried chopped garlic & oil.

 Overall, the 3 of us had a very satisfying dinner
for the total cost of RM 39.10 (approx. 10.02 USD).

Linking to Skywatch Friday.