EmmaGoodEgg

Arabian Nights

I had a bit of a surreal evening last night at the Empire.  We had dinner with the folks at the Atrium to enjoy the Marvels of the Middle East courtesy of the Madinat Jumeirah Dubai.  There was quite an Arabic spread.  I enjoyed the beef ribs soup (even the thought of it could make you grow another throbbing toe) and stuffed vine-leaves, amongst the usual Empire buffet spread of fresh seafood, local food and the Japanese stall.

The Atrium was fairly crowded and I noticed some patrons from other hotels in Brunei.  It’s heartening to see our businesses have a competitive streak.  I also noticed a group of diners from some Middle-Eastern or Eastern-European country, I really couldn’t tell so don't quote me, who livened the place up a little bit.  No discredit to the hotel, which tried to create an Arabian Nights ambience and succeeded, if only for the waiters dressed in jubbahs.

Anyway, back to the Middle-Eastern men (snazzily dressed - the husband noticed the white linen trousers) and European women (tartily dressed - I noticed the model-thin woman with superb red strappy heels AND the no-VPL woman) who proved to be an asset to the duo that serenaded us with funky Arabic tunes.

In the middle of all those swivel swivel thoughts (don’t you get these when listening to an Arabic song?) 1 Arab playboy and his Russian girlfriend proceeded to belly dance for our benefit, right in the middle of us conservative folks.  I felt like I entered the Twilight Zone.

But we all had a swell evening despite, or because, of the added entertainment.  For a few moments it really did feel like a happy Middle East.

My Weekend

was great  

28th January 2005 Friday Evening

We got us a WEBER KETTLE!  And we have J&J to thank for it

The 1st recipe tried on the Weber?  Fake Beer-Can Chicken!  The husband's recipe goes like this:

Season whole chicken with butter, garlic, rosemary, lemon and salt & pepper.  The ideal thing to do is to put the seasoning under the skin of the chicken (which we did).

Brown the seasoned chicken in a frying pan.

Open fake beer, don't bother taking a swig.

After which, place fake beer can on Weber grill...Put chicken on the fake beer can, standing upright, so that fake beer will steam and evaporate into the chicken when cooking.

Cover the Weber for about an hour...

The gang (minus Zubby & S, who we missed!) was around to test the Weber.  Myuzim was also around this weekend, which made it extra special...

29th January 2005 Saturday

The husband had work today so he got up early, poor baby.  Myuzim and I picked him up at noon for lunch @ Twelv.  After lunch we trawled about the shops and Woodstock and we got us a daybed.

Dropped the husband back to the office after lunch and the daybed, and Myuzim at ISB for basketball (Myuzim's team won againt SAS wooohoooo!).  I went to the Communist Shoppe all by my lonesome and got some DVDs to watch... 

By 6pm my boys got home, as did the daybed.  Its snug and cosy in my verandah and makes me think of Bali .

Our saturday night was mellow.  After a dinner of lamb chops courtesy of the Weber, Myuzim went to bed early, and the husband and I followed shortly after.

30th January 2005 Sunday

My boys and I had a super Popular Brunch.  We stopped by Athirah and got some magazines to mong the afternoon away.  Myuzim had a birthday party to attend and the husband and I swam a bit and monged away...

Super.  Goodnight folks.

A recipe from Sheriff M. Stewart

Not the 'jailbird' one, but the one that actually PUTS people in jail!

Potato Chips ala M

1. Fry the onions (M suggests Bombay Onions as they are sweeter) and potatoes together until cooked.

2. Then take the onions and potatoes out (leaving the pan on the stove heating up) and dab them on paper-towels to soak up the excess oil.

3. Put the onions and potatoes back into the now v. hot pan and fry again for a few minutes.

Must try this recipe soon!

Saturday Night Fever

and we're at home watching 'The Incredibles' on DVD.  Its super being at home with time to leisurely mong.

My knees are feeling like jell-o.  Before dinner, the husband & I had massages at home.  Having a massage at home listening to the music on TV makes me feel like I'm soaking the rays on a sunny holiday   Nice.  v. nice.  Much appreciated after 2 days of almost constant rain

Despite the whole of this afternoon raining cats & dogs, I did good by running all my errands.  The husband was hard at work, but we met for lunch in town.  I took the laundry, grocery-shopped, got gas, pictures from Alley the Frame Maker and contacts.  Must've been the multivits the husband is making me take.  Good stuff that ginseng.

The husband directed dinner tonight.  Bernie cooked.  We had 'fake beer-battered fish', some vegetables, rice and myumyum sambal.  Here's how to fake beer-batter fish fillets:

1. Get some white fish and have them filleted.

2. Mix flour, olive oil and eggs together.

3. Salt & Pepper to taste.

3. Mix in the fake beer and off you go.

Luverly.  My man should quit his day job.

My movie-sifu JoBlo gave 'The Incredibles' 8/10.  I think Pixar did a super job, but I found it less...riveting, to borrow the words of my friend Babs, than 'Nemo'.  I wouldn't mind some of Elasticgirl's powers though.  The husband wouldn't either, I suspect  

Anyhoo, I'm gonna go and eat a Twix.  Later.

Come On Down

Martha!  The recipe for the 'perfect roast chicken' here.

I am so happy it turned out great.  Sitting about drinking MissTinis and waiting to slip into my 'Dr. Ruth' mode.

Later, if I am not too tired.