Sambal

Not many people, i doubt any of you, would realize that i came up with the name Samba Masala in SMU. Was helping out wif the 2nd Patron's day event when Margaret wanted to name the percussion group. I decided Rhythm Masala was good but the name was already taken up. So Samba Masala was the next best thing. oh well, anyways,

Talking about Samba, i juz had a chat wif Firdaus, Khai and Faizah about my National Service days on how tough it was to cook for oneself. Being a trainer in the Special Operations Command aka Riot Squad aka Red Bus, was certainly a gruelling position and i need to take care of my diet. It really does help when you go back to your quarters and your fellow colleague tells you that he has dinner ready.

Wan: Miel! Dinner is ready man!

Ja: oh, great! I'm hungry man! What's for dinner?

Wan: we have sambal wif fish

Ja: uhuh and?

Wan: Sambal wif fish and sambal wif fish. So what would it be?

Ja: Haiz... sambal wif fish sounds nice... Canlah

Wan: WOkies! one sambal fish coming up.

What can i say? the fella bought one gani sack of DRIED CHILLIES! wth? lol. we were so poor back then, we had to rely on chilli to add flava to our food. put the chillies in the blender, put water, sugar, blend. Voila! Chilli paste....

The rice was perfect, the drink was cold. Perfect. The dark soy sauce was within reach. Perfect. The fried sambal fish. Dunno yet. No comments.

As i tucked in, the sambal was ALIVE. It was biting my tongue.

Wan: Not bad ah the sambal fish. (reaching for the cold drink)

Ja: yeah. nice. (waiting for my turn to drink from the bottle)

it was a silent treatment. Everybody knew that the fish was HOT. lol. it was more out of courtesy that we didnt comment on anything because it was a lot of hardwork trying to get dinner done. I pushed the sambal aside to one corner of the plate and poured more dark soy sauce on the plate. The trick work. But of course, the water seems to run out faster than the fish itself.

there was a time where, we had sambal chicken for dinner. it was so hot that i went to the tap, washed the chicken wif running water and put it on my plate. lol. added some chilli here and there for taste. but thats it. i was so frustrated wif chilli, that i went online while at work to find a better recipe for dinner.

and so i went for a recipe hunt. stumbled upon this webbie that showed me how to cook sweet and sour fish. and so i did. went back to my quarters and started to cook

ingredients for sweet and sour fish?

1. Chilli sauce
2. Tomato sauce
3. Fish cakes
4. Diced onions

Directions: Put in onions and sate them till aroma rises. Then add chilli sauce in hot pan, put in tomato sauce next. Stir. put in fish cakes. Voila! Sweet and sour fish!

Thats it. Lol. The guys were surprised that i cooked for that night. i was so damn irritated wif sambal that we have to start having better menus. i even tried cooking cabbage wif sate gravy. eh damn nicelah! gotta be creative in your cooking and hope that it'll turn out good. But not all cooking experience ended wif a good note.

Cooking Chaos: My friend wanted to cook egg. He poured oil and put it on the frying wok. He forgot about his frying pan and went to play game. 10 mins later, my whole quarters was in smoke. The frying pan was on fire. Smoke was everywhere and the guys had to evacuate my quaters... WHat luck. that was the only time, i swear, i got the chance to use my gas mask when it was supposed to only be used during times of gas warfare. well, this time round, its more smoke warfare. so funny, the guys were coughing outside, and trying to catch their breathe. it was more like a simulation of the gas chamber, a gas exercise where all the troopers had to undergo. try and imagine your room full of smoke. you cant see nuts. that was the real deal at that time. i couldnt see nuts. lol... miss those times.

oh well, these are sweet memories that i juz cant let go. once in a while, when the mood is right, i would share these happy moments of mine. tomoro, if i'm free, i'll talk about the Chinatown incident. Damn funny. I'd have to show you to make it even funnier.

Anyways, drop down carnival at chijmes if you're free tomoro, tuesday at 9pm.

ja
tired from recording