May 26th, 2009Prata and mixed veggies for lunch
It has been about 1 1/2 weeks since I’ve moved to the new place. In an attempt to cut down on my monthly expenses, I’ve been making my own lunch instead of eating outside. I usually make sandwiches before rushing to revision class but today I had prata, mixed veggies and a green tea & apple drink for lunch.
We usually buy the big packs of roti pratas (30 pcs in one pack) that we keep in the freezer.
It’s not really possible to tell from the pic but a prata is about the size of my hand when my fingers are spread out.
I was only going to make two pratas but that didn’t seem healthy at all. That’s why I cooked some mixed veggies. 
I had already eaten a piece of the egg before taking this photo. 
We only have cheese singles in the fridge and that’s what I used on the 2nd prata.
I can’t live without tabasco. haha. This one is the smoked tabasco (it’s written Chipotle tabasco on the main label) and there’s a little left in the bottle. I prefer the original tabasco.
I was feeling very full after eating and I can’t help but wonder how on earth I used to be able to eat two rotis (the big rotis in Mauritius!) back when I was still in Mauritius. A roti in Mauritius is about the size of two roti pratas in Singapore.
I hope that I can really cut down on my expenses. I’ve started to keep a little notebook where I write down everything that I buy and the prices. Eating out all the time is expensive.
I’ve never took the SG-Dubai-Mru...
I’m so glad that I went home.
that not only looks delicious but also healthy !
Quote?That seems delicious. Ah the hot tabasco! A few drops are enough for me.
I woke up quite late and I found a roti left from last night. It was delicious and it really filled me up.
Quote?I had roti for breakfast today.
The mixed veggies are attractively colourful
I prefer Mauritian rotis as they are not as oily as the roti pratas here. I’m not into roti pratas. I prefer chapatti or naan … There is also frozen chapatti, just like those frozen roti pratas. Have your tried?
I’ve never bought smoked Tabasco. I watched a show on TV the other day and they were showing us how Tabasco is prepared in Louisiana. They even have Tabasco-flavoured ice cream there! I wonder how this taste like!
My mum always encourages us to cook because outside food isn’t healthy. I’ve not really calculated or compared whether me cooking dinner everyday for 2 persons is actually cheaper than eating out at hawkers or food courts. But it’s definitely cheaper if eating out at restaurants everyday. The main reason why I’m cooking is mostly for health reasons and I really hope that my schedule will still permit me to cook everyday! Sometimes life gets very busy!
Quote?morinn, the Chipotle tabasco(smoked tabasco) isn’t hot. I used to think that the original red tabasco was hot but not anymore. I’m too used to it now. I wonder how many differents types of tabasco are sold in Mauritius.
Quote?This is interesting. hehe.
I haven’t tried the habanero tabasco yet. That one is supposed to be really hot.
Carine, I didn’t use oil when I made the roti pratas. I only used the oil for the egg.
Roti prata is sold in carrefour in Shanghai as well but back then I was always using oil to cook the prata. The prata absorbs oil too easily and I didn’t like it.
When I came to Singapore, I saw my friend make the prata without using oil. That’s what I do now. I remove the roti prata straight from the freezer and don’t even have to wait. I cook the roti prata until it fluffs up, flip it over and wait until it is a bit brown on both sides. If I want to make egg prata, then I use oil for the egg.
I haven’t tried the frozen chapattis yet. Will try soon.
I’m not sure if I’ll be cooking dinner because of the open kitchen. I want to cook food which reminds me of my mum’s cooking and that’s mostly Chinese food.
wow. Tabasco-flavoured ice cream ? I’d love to try that.
Quote?@ Aline
I never use oil when I pan fry those frozen pratas because they are already very oily!
Besides, if I’m not wrong the instruction says to just heat them until brown … no adding oil mentioned right… it’s the same for the chapatti should you get some one day.
Have you tried those dried fish (like shredded paper) that they sell as a snack? My auntie thought they had to be fried and she fried them!
She said it was nice and crispy!
Quote?The one I buy is the ‘Chinatown’ brand. The instructions say to use 1/2 tablespoon of oil but my friend told me not to use any oil to pan fry the frozen pratas. Without using oil, the roti pratas don’t feel oily at all to me but maybe that’s because I’ve eaten the very oily ones back in Shanghai. haha
Yes. I love those! I haven’t bought any in Singapore but I used to snack on them very often in Shanghai. I like the spicy one. My Japanese friends gave me some one day and I was hooked. hehe My friends like to eat the dried fish when they are hanging out and drinking beer. eh? Fry them? I’ve never thought of doing that before but now that you mention it, I might just try out of curiosity. I wonder if they really become crispy.
Quote?@ Aline
I like to have them when watching movies and sometimes I will sneak in a packet or two at the cinema ;) I think there are many different brands. Some are Japanese, some are made in Malaysia I think. I usually buy the ones made in Malaysia.
Yeah she said they turned out crispy and she liked them.
Quote?Toujours le manger meme
“In an attempt to cut down on my monthly expenses, I’ve been making my own lunch instead of eating outside.” Of course it’s more economical … and healthier as well (most of the time). Btw how are you doing now? Still these panick attacks?
Quote?how about tacos ?
Quote?@ “Eating out all the time is expensive. ” -> duh!
Quote?lol
hey take a look here
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/search_results.php?searchby=Category&f_bank=na&f_foodplace=na&f_cuisine=na&f_price=na&f_recommend=4&f_zone=0&sortlocationby=abc&f_zip=–&country=147
Quote?Bruno, I love food. It’ a good thing that you weren’t reading my blog when I was in Shanghai for 4 years. I was posting food pics even more often back then.
Healthier yes but not necessarily cheaper. It all depends on what I eat outside and what I cook at home.
That wasn’t a panic attack but sleep paralysis. Apart from that one time, it didn’t happen again. *touch wood*
Quote?David, tacos is also okay. Btw.. thanks for the link. I’ll have a look.
Quote?waz, well eating out can also be less expensive than cooking at home.
It all depends on what I cook and what food I eat when I eat outside. 
I also have to buy utensils first but in the long run, it is worth it. 
Quote?” I also have to buy utensils first but in the long run, it is worth it.” hmmm, these were among the 1st things I bought, along with a duvet.
Quote?eat student style -> insta noodle! very cheap! all kinda flava!
Quote?So “prata” is the bread, right? Looks good! Where it is from? Never heard of that before.
Quote?@ waz,
Only if I’m feeling too lazy to cook something or even make a sandwich.
Quote?Instant noodles?
@ Zhu
It’s kind of a local version of Indian paratha. 
Quote?Roti prata is a pancake bread which is very popular in Singapore and Malaysia.
Aline,
for you ! - lol
http://www.razor.tv/site/servlet/segment/main/news/29518.html%3Bjsessionid=9620391599AC847171D246147AE64FFC.00
Quote?