I almost forgot that I promised to post some dessert pictures from my trip to Jakarta. LOL, for those that know me, they know I love my dessert. :)
Challenges:
Now, you're ready for more food stories? Seriously, my trip home always involved food. The first picture is not dessert, but I just want to share it, cause I simply love the pic. See how they shaped the rice like a cone and the banana leaves underneath? For me, this is sooo Indonesia. Love eating this way. I guess the banana leaves brings back childhood memory. For to go food, they often wrap the food layered in banana leaves.
Now, this, isn't it look pretty? See, I don't feel guilty in having dessert after most of my meals in Indonesia. Cause most of them are made of fruit. This was made of strawberry, lychee, and I forgot what they called those seeds. But they are good for you, especially during hot weather, they help cool down the body.
This one was made of grass jelly and lychee. Both desserts served with a little bit of sweet juice on the bottom and best served cold. The grass jelly is also another thing that's great to help cool down the body. I love eating this in hot weather. Oh yeah,the name may not sound appetizing, but they are sweet & yummy (but not super sweet, which is great). Sprinkle a bit of lime.... yumm....ie..... Sweet & fresh!
Hmm... writing about dessert on my blog may not be such a good idea. It makes me hungry and homesick. Sigh... this is one of my favorite. We call it "cendol". Lots of shaved ice, coconut milk, liquid brown sugar, those green worm looking thingy (LOL, they're made of flour and something, have kind of like thick jello texture), and if you're in Medan where I grew up, they usually add "tape" (made of soybean). Sometime they add black or red beans, too. The texture, the flavor... heaven!
Another healthy snack that I love, love, love is "
rujak". It's basically mix of fruits served with spicy sauce. There are many different way to make the sauce. I love the one where they used "Stone Banana" as it added some crunchiness to the sauce. Traditionally to make the sauce, we use stone grinder, put the palm sugar, the stone banana, peanuts, fresh chilly peppers, etc. and grind it using a small oval stone. For the fruit, typically you used guava, young papaya, mango, pineapple, jicama, and cucumber. I used to have this as an afternoon snack.
I guess that's why I am not big into warm served dessert. I like my dessert cold or super cold. :) Now, I am super hungry and craving some Indonesian dessert big time. I guess it's time to stalk the Indonesian consulate again and see when they will have this available. Every Saturday the Indonesian consulate in Houston sell different Indonesian food and snack; and hubby and I would go there to get me some stuff, so he doesn't have to listen to my whining how much I miss my Indonesian food. :) And yes, I savor those food to the last bite!
Hope you enjoy the pics. Have a great hump day, peeps!