KIDS HOLIDAY COOKING CLASSES

Ola everyone!

In my cooking and teaching career, I receive many emails, mother's on behalf of their children, husbands for their wives, women and men for themselves and young adults for themselves. Some husbands say that they couldn't take it anymore. We eat out all the time, if we do eat at home, the food is out of the can or package and the saddest part is, "our 2 year old" is eating the same stuff. Mums call and say "I can't stand it any longer, "My kids are idle, stubborn and sit around on the internet all of the time, please, please, bring back your classes or at least run some holiday classes"! Young adults write and say "I want to be independent, now that I'm working, I can afford it"! Some wives say "I'm sick and tired of cooking the same thing day in and day out". Well, blame is such a useless waste of energy, it's another powerless act, don't you think?

You see, these classes are available all year long but nothing can change if we don't take action. Mothers and Fathers, today, we have the opportunity to raise our daughters and sons to be who we say we want them to be. If we do the things we say we want then there is an excellent chance that our children will grow into people we admire and want to have as friends. Self fulfilled and successful.

Cooking is really much more than what we choose to know about it. Apart from the "science and math" that we have to apply while we act on it, it's a constant learning ground. We become expose to timing, how to use appliances (not just buy them and keep them high up on your designer cabinets 😜), to keep and take stock of food and provisions, how to entertain, the not so glamorous bits of how to prepare, clean, wash up and put stuff back to its proper place and how to be creative. By creative, I mean by making full use of what you have and not just what we can present. At the end of the day and most importantly, your child will learn to choose activities that are productive and result oriented. 

This is what my son said to me this morning. " I feel cooking is like a paradox. Here you are like a God in the kitchen and then out of the blue, you make one small movecreator"!

Call me quickly.

Love and Peace, Jen

THE FUNDAMENTALS OF COOKING

The time has finally arrived for you to take that step into the kitchen. Imagine in 3 weeks, a life change can happen - that's how short a time it takes to get happy, be confident and take charge of the food you eat and eventually will serve. No more helplessness, anxiety attacks or stress (fear) in the kitchen! 

Say yes to nurturing and nourishing yourself, family and friends that you love; to those potlucks and your turn to hosting that party! 

Yes, its time, to make a shift, create a new pattern, to be willing to change!

DAY 1 - EGGS, EGGS, EGGS

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In this class you will discover all you need to know about eggs, the anatomy and if you're a woman, why you should eat eggs! You will go home confident with 6 techniques of: "how to boil the perfect egg", "poach an egg", "fry an egg", "scramble eggs", "whip up a Frittata" and; make a delicious appetizer called "Devilled Eggs". Never again will you wonder about the egg!

DAY 2 - VEGETABLE - "plant cultivated for food, edible herb or root." - 1967

At last, you get to know about the power of plants. Vegetables are indispensable to the human body. Everyday our organism needs the substances that they contain, namely: vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, proteins, water and fiber. So, we get acquainted with roasting some, frying some and tossing a salad. 

DAY 3 - CHICKEN - "a population of more than 24 billion" - 2003

Did you know that chickens of Indian origin were first domesticated by humans for the purposes of cockfighting! Yes, that's true, very little attention was given to the chicken for its meat or their eggs. Chicken meat is very rich in protein, easily digestible and low in fat if served without the skin. In this particular class you get to learn "how to cook" our infamous "Kicap Chicken" and also "how to roast a chicken" for that special occasion.

DAY 4 - PASTA TO NOODLES 

Pasta was first mentioned in writing during the 11th century but it's not sure if they were not already known in China. Whatever the case, did you know that there is nothing compared to making your own pasta? Take it from us, come, learn from Jen and Brabon; who learnt "How to make pasta" from the women of Tuscany themselves. Jen will also teach you how to make an authentic Ale Olio just like how they make it in Italy!

DAY 5 - SANDWICHES - The English have it crust-less, for lunch, to school, for picnics

We, will explore it, sandscape it, simplify it, glorify it and even scandalize it - no kidding!!!

DAY 6 - BEEF -The Big 10 - Iron (helps the body use oxygen), Choline (supports nervous system development), Protein (helps preserve and build muscle), Selenium (helps protects cells from damage), Vitamins B6 and B12 (helps maintain brain function), Zinc (helps maintain a healthy immune system), Phosphorus (helps build bones and teeth), Niacin (supports energy production and metabolism), Riboflavin (helps convert food into fuel) 

For this particular class, Jen will demonstrate "How to cook Cantonese Beef Brisket" in a pressure cooker. What local produce goes well with this dish and how easy it is to whip up a one dish "gourmet" meal in less than an hour. You will be thrilled to go home and test it out yourself. 

DAY 7 - NOODLES TO PASTA - The word derives from the German word "Nudel"

Search no more as we cook up Malaysia's most sought after noodle "The Penang Fried Kway Teow" and as if it isn't enough, we go out into the garden and re-create, The Palencia's "Hot Plate Spicy Noodle". 

DAY 8 - POTATOES are not just good, they're good for you! Learn about potato nutrition, other fun facts, own a "Potato Risotto" recipe, and unearth all the goodness of potatoes!

With only 6 ingredients, Jen will share with you a potato recipe that will showcase the potato as a centre stage instead of how it is usually served as an accompaniment. Learn how in modern cooking, the risotto has become today a way of cooking. 

DAY 9 - SOUP - There's nothing like a great bowl of soup to nourish the soul

Put a stop to canned or dried soups and welcome a fresh bowl instead. Take your pick from Pumpkin Soup to Roasted Asparagus Soup to French Onion Soup to a spicy Locro de Argentina. 

DAY 10 - STEW - Thanks but no thanks, I make my own...

Don on your apron and learn how a stew can turn a dreary day into a special occasion, feed a lot of people and keep for ages! 

DAY 11 - CAKE - There are no words to describe the pleasure of baking a simple but perfect cake 

There's an overload of cake books full of 101 recipes out there that would get you into a coma instead of getting you into baking. In this class, Jen will reveal to you about the simplicity of baking. How to tell what baking ingredients are for, what ingredients really do for your cake and most importantly, how to ensure you can bake the simplest, most perfect, melt in your mouth, "Butter Cake" in the world. It's a guarantee to kick start you onto your future baking adventures. 

DAY 12 - BOLOGNESE - A treasure to learn in life!

The Bolognese is an introduction to slow cooking that involves several techniques like sweating, sautéing and braising. If you had the opportunity to learn an amazing recipe for a Bolognese, the rest to Italian cooking becomes easy. This sauce is so versatile that you can use it for the traditional Spaghetti, filling cannelloni to layering up a lasagne. This is a recipe you won't share with anyone, it becomes an heirloom. 

New intake starting 6th June 2016 - 2pm to 5pm

Love and Peace, Jen  

HIGHLIGHTS IN THE KLANG VALLEY

Hey Everyone,

It's been like forever since my last update and as much as I had planned to regulate my writing and regiment our schedule, destiny got the better of me and us!

Firstly, you know how the music world can get complacent, and we don't have to spell it out but there are times we have felt more frustrated than awed. Well, after 12 years in the business, biting our tongues and with 7 inches between our ears, there's only so much hope we can put up with. Imagine our surprise when Petronas came forward and offered us, yes us SABAHANS, an opportunity to explore our talent and get our work out to the public?

"Is this a joke?" I asked. "I tell you what," I said to them, "Call us back only when you're serious, really serious", I volunteered.

As it turned out, phew, what a break! It wasn't a joke. Check out what we did. Kudos to our Mia Palencia!   

Now there we were, busy as ever with the "Kembali" timeline, giving our all and, mind you, losing our minds. Emails poured in; and the phones just kept ringing.

"The Hindu: Life and Style/Metroplus, Her World, Marie Claire, Capital FM, Going Places, Fried Chillies, LifestyleAsia Kuala Lumpur, Men's Folio, Bloggers, Malaysia Tourism, Japanese Media, but, but I'm not ready! The place is not ready! And I have to cook; we're booked! And besides, I have to teach and blog, and what about my writing, huh?"

My heartfelt thanks to:

Shonali Muthaly of The Hindu Times for two articles:

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/metroplus/article3383899.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/Food/article2899739.ece

Renyi Lim of Marie Claire for our feature 

http://jensundergroundclub.blogspot.com/p/media.html

Xandra Ooi and Liang of Capital FM - Natasha and I had an awesome time!

Vivian Chong and Lee Kuen of Going Places - out in this July issue, we haven't seen this yet

Marie Lim of Her World - coming out in August, and

Kenny Mah of Men's Folio - coming out in September

Sean of Eat Drink KL Blog

http://eatdrinkkl.blogspot.com/2012/03/jens-underground-supper-club.html

Chris Healy Blog

http://followchris.me/2012/04/making-rounds/

Yin Jie Blog

http://malaysianbaby.blogspot.com/2012/04/jens-underground-supper-club.html

Alexandra Prabaharan of LifestyleAsia and Friedchillies 

http://my.lifestyleasia.com/en/features/wine-and-dine/kl-s-underground-supper-clubs-11052/

http://www.friedchillies.com/articles/detail/take-it-way-down-underground/

Liyana Dizzy Blog 

http://dizzy.li/tag/jens-underground-supperclub/

Syafinaz of Tourism Malaysia and Japan Media

Then, "What did you say? Come again . Discovery Channel Asia? What do they want? Are you kidding me? But, 

my face! I'm fat!"

Well, meet Aaron Craze everyone, celebrity Chef from London! If you've not met him on TV, "Rude Boy Food", Aaron was the winner of "Jamie's Chef" a television competition created by Jamie Oliver in 2007. Since then he has opened a restaurant with Jamie and written a book "Aaron cooks Italian". 

Aaron was here at Jen's Underground Supper Club and Jen's Homegrown Cooking Academy filming his soon to air "Taste Off" series which will air via Travel and Living on Discovery Channel in September. During this particular episode in Kuala Lumpur, Aaron will meet three homegrown or self-taught chefs, learn a dish from each of them, then take on a challenge to beat "one of them" on her/his featured dish.

When Aaron and Discovery Channel chose me, I decided to challenge Aaron with my "Sirloin Beef Rendang". To see who wins -(we had nine food test-tasters) - catch our episode!

OUR YOUNGEST ASPIRING SONGWRITER Christian Palencia 
also got to Jam with Aaron Craze   

So now with most of the dust settled, here are the July updates:

TOURIST COOKING CLASS
Every Tuesdays and Wednesdays

Elaiph and Rob 
Rob Hope is Britain's Most Aspiring World Leading Body Builder 

Shonali Muthaly from The Hindu Times and Chris Healy - A World Traveler from USA 

JEN'S LITTLE HOMEGROWN CHEFS
Happy to mention that Vignes Balasingam has agreed to come forward as our official photographer.

Clarissa is only 9 years old and she made this cake with Jen for a special Hantaran 

JEN'S UNDERGROUND SUPPER CLUB
Open for Dinner bookings Thursdays to Saturdays with the exception of the first Thursday of every month when we only open for "Tea". Do take note that this Wednesday 4th July, we will be open especially for 4 beautiful ladies (serious foodies) from India who are coming to Malaysia to specifically dine at our destination. We welcome you to join us!

HARI RAYA PINEAPPLE TARTLETS AND KUIH MAKMUR
Thank you to all who have placed your orders. If you have not, please do so now! For my Kuih Makmur lovers, I've gone all out to get the bestest peanuts from KK so you can expect them to be even more special this time round.

Kuih Makmur 

Pineapple Tartlets

JEN'S 2012 UPDATES!

Hey Everyone!

Finally 2011 is officially over (4th February - enter the Dragon, Ren Chen) and I’ve only just completed auditing our 2011 list...which then brings us to visualize upcoming goals and plans for 2012! “What?” you might say “I did mine like months agooo”. Well, I know, I know, thing is, I do struggle year in, year out. Don’t you?

The following are some memorable mentions for 2011


Turning wiser at 55?

with the help of Vanessa and Mia...

Home vacation with “The Mafias” to our beautiful tropical hometown Kota Kinabalu

On the way to Pulau Sapi (loosely translated, Cow Island)

Mosaic Music Festival Singapore 2011 with Mia Palencia - thank you Ester (for bringing us in the second time), Mosaic Music Festival and Carlota Lo for her most gracious hospitality 

Outdoor Theatre - Mia performing a collaboration with Adhitia from Indonesia

Mia  indoors at "The Living Room" backed by our favourite friends Zalila and Melina

"in the house" interview

Jen, Nessa, Brabon, Mia, Vanessa Chua and Carlota Lo

Manhattan Transfer, New York Voices (double bill) and Raul Midon in Concert 

Appeared on RTM1, TV2, TV3 and NTV7 www.homegrownchefs.blogspot.com

A feature in Female Magazine

Turned the “BIG 50”

Ethereal Pear Charlotte

Our 3rd daughter Vanessa Twyla graduated

Our future writer

Having the cake and eating it!!!

Our son Christian Palencia's confirmation

My son, Christian

Jen’s Homegrown Academy 1st Anniversary and exceeding 100 students

Jen’s Homegrown Academy 1st first official graduation 11 proud apprentices

Travelled to Paris, Lourdes, Geneva, Zurich, Mount Appenzell, Arth-Goldau, Luzern, Epesses, Montreaux, Bex, Gstaad, , Thun, Montespertoli, Firenzi, Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Rome, Biene, Tramalar, Bern, Jungfrau, Fribourg, Neuchatel  

Prayed at Lourdes, The Vatican City and visited more than 20 churches throughout Europe

Read “In Search of Bacchus”, “The sharper your knife, The less you cry”, “Enter the 10 Gods”, “Analyse the Gods”, “Letting go”, “Linchpin”, “The Rules of Wealth”, “The Prince”

Became a Blogger www.jenthecookingtourist.blogspot.com

Officially an Underground Chef 

http://thestar.com.my/lifestyle/story.asp?file=%2F2012%2F1%2F2%2Flifeliving%2F9936247&sec=lifeliving#.TwEY24YncvE.facebook

Experienced Fete de la Musique, Paris Jazz Festival, Latin Street Festival, Zurich and Montreaux Jazz Festival

Attended several Cooking and Baking Classes in Paris, Tuscany and Switzerland

Corrine Preteur (Ceo of Lifestyle Vacations) Chef Patrick and Moi

Chef Myriam

Chef Patricia

My beautiful friends and Chef Laura in Tuscano

Learnt to speak French and Italian

Brabon and I celebrated an advance “Anniversary” playing in the snow during summer at Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe - a gift from Kurt and Olga Wittwer

Stayed at Podere Dell’ Anselmo, a vineyard and olive oil estate amidst the magnificent Tuscan countryside and learnt from Fabrizio himself; about wines and olive oils www.forconi.it

The ever charming Fabrizio whose hospitality cannot be matched!

Got our 1st review on Tripadvisor for Jen’s Homegrown Cooking Academy “Tourist Class” http://www.tripadvisor.com.my/ShowUserReviews-g298570-d2477681-r123131870-Jen_s_Homegrown_Cooking_Academy-Kuala_Lumpur_Wilayah_Persekutuan.html

Mia Palencia’s 1st Official Music Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwrhRF-ssvk

Mia Palencia’s  1st Australian “Bernie Shines” TV Commercial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5CNhmYbjm0

Suffice to say, we’re certainly not quite sure how we might match 2011 at all! Well, I’m guessing “what better way than to kick off 2012 by first putting our skills into action” huh? So for now, here are some early ideas we have lined up and so to say, ride The Dragon…

Jen’s Underground Supper Club

Kiss crowded restaurants and the same old predictable boring thingy goodbye this Valentine's and take the love of your life for a stylish European secret supper adventure...tell me, when was the last time you did something super exciting together huh? Open bookings are available for 14th February and 1st March. Also while you’re at it, ask us about our specially designed “Custom-Made Cocktails Events” and watch out for our upcoming “Real Jack Daniels Burger Friday Nights - no bluff”!

“Take A Bow” Dinner and Jazz with Mia Palencia at Hotel Equatorial - 30th March, Friday at RM200nett - Yes folks, specially flown in courtesy by Hotel Equatorial…besides MPO is history…and Mia Palencia has just got better and better…come, take a bow and join us for “our last gig at Hotel Equatorial”…secure your bookings with us now. Call us at 03 7728 7909 or 016 916 8598 or Hotel Equatorial direct, more details to follow up soon.

Jen’s Homegrown Cooking Academy

1)   Level 1 Apprenticeship - registration is happening now with classes resuming this 18th February. They’re saying “Help your kids to help themselves”

2)    Master Chef At Home - 24th February - “Cooking in Tuscany” - Don your Aprons and learn, or sharpen your skills, and discover the secrets to making crispy delicious “Fried Zucchini”, The perfect “Eggplant Parmigiana” (I’m not kidding) and the most spoken about “Classic Tiramisu” after which we sit down and indulge in your very own efforts. Want to make it more fun? Come and learn with a partner and bring that bottle of wine along with you! Don’t wait, we’ve been having lots of fun!

3)    Happy Customers - Click and read what the young and old have to say!

4)    Bridal Showers - It’s a hit and new on the block

5)    Tourist Class - Don’t know what to suggest or do with your visiting guests or clients? Send them to us for an awesome, delicious, authentic and classic “Malaysian Cooking Culinary Adventure”

Jen’s HomeKitchen

This is just a gentle reminder to remind everyone of our occasional Famous Cookies, Celebratory Cakes and Poolside Catering (New). 

Find us and Like us on Facebook

If you haven’t, then do so now!!! Wake up and smell “The Starbucks” folks, don’t be so old-fashioned or afraid and be left behind. Haven’t you notice that our entire planet is in our fingertips!

Jen’s Underground Supper Club

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jens-Underground-Supper-Club/146649492069201

Jen’s Homegrown Cooking Academy

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jens-Homegrown-Cooking-Academy/166713690034351?ref=ts

Jen’s HomeKitchen

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jens-Homekitchen/148931251798415

Happy 2012 everyone, I look forward to cooking for you and welcoming you to our Underground Supper Club and Cooking School. Oh and thank you for spreading the joys, your continuous support is precious to us!

As always our gratitude and special thanks to

The Star, Female Magazine, Expatriate Lifestyle Magazine, Women’s Weekly Magazine, Time Out KL, RTM1, TV2, TV3 and NTV7

Love and Peace always, Jen