Monday, July 30, 2012

"I also don't know" and "also can"

Though the phrases "I also don't know" and "also can" are not uncommon in Malaysia when I hear them I am reminded of our former driver, Vincent. When we asked him a question, his answer would usually be one of these phrases. He is one of the most hardworking and cheerful guys we know and any boss would love to have him as an employee. After working for us four years he resigned to expand his hawker business and we are very happy for him. It is no surprise to us that he and his lovely wife were successful in their enterprise.


Quay Lo and I sometimes use his favorite phrases to tease each other. For example, when we say something to the other, for emphasis and reassurance, we might say "You know what I mean?" It has become a private joke between us to answer "I also don't know." Or, we might ask each other if we would like to go out for lunch and the other would answer, "Also can." That usually causes us both to laugh out loud. 


Do you remember my post about picking berries in a berry farm in California? After that, I made a berry pie with the all the different kinds of fresh berries we picked and all together was a wonderful experience.  There are no berries to pick in Kuala Lumpur but we can buy fresh berries or use the frozen ones if we want to make a berry pie. One morning, my Quay Lo told me that he loves blackberry pie. POOF!! Genie Lucy made him a blackberry pie that evening. I could not get fresh blackberries, so I used frozen ones and they are from the states. The pie came out almost as delicious as the one I made with the fresh berries. So I can say that the frozen ones "ALSO CAN" , but please don't ask me how much is the frozen blackberries because I "ALSO DON'T KNOW". LOL! I forgot to look at the price when I bought them. A thousand apologies.


Blackberry Pie
make 2 six inches pie



This dish was featured in Asian Food Channel (Official)
Facebook page on 31 July 2012



Filling Ingredients:
1 packet 12 oz. frozen blackberries
3 tbs brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 rounded tbs flour


Method to prepare the filling:
Add frozen blackberries and sugar into a medium pot over medium heat. Stir till sugar is dissolved. Add cinnamon and nutmeg and mix well. Add in flour and mix well. Turn off heat and set aside.


Crust ingredients: 
250 gms flour
150 gms cold butter (cut into small cubes)
63 gms icing sugar
3 tbs ice cold water

Method to make the crust and assemble pie:
Combine flour and sugar in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Add butter and mixed well with the flour and sugar. Use fingers to break up the butter until the mixture has a pebbley tetxure. Gently shape into 4 discs, two bigger than the other, with the size depending on the pie plate or rings you use. Press the dough just enough to form the discs, but do not over handle. You should be able to see little bits of butter in the dough. These small chunks of butter are what will allow the resulting crust to be flaky. Sprinkle a little flour around the discs. Wrap each disc in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least an hour, or store for up to two days.

Remove one crust disk from the refrigerator. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes in order to soften just enough to make rolling out a bit easier. Roll out with a rolling pin in between two piece of clinging plastic wrap to a circle according to the size desired and about 1/8 inch thick. Carefully place loosely into pie pan. Gently press the pie dough down so that it lines the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Use a rolling pin or scrapper to trim off overhanging dough. Add half of the filling to the pie and dot with butter. Roll out second disk of dough, as before. Lay dough over. Use the rolling pin or scrapper to trim off the over hanging dough and seal the dough with your fingers. Poke holes on the top pie crust with a fork. Do the same for the second pie.

Bake in preheated 350°F oven for 40 minutes depending on the temperature of your oven. If the top begins to brown before the baking time is done, cover the top of the pie with some aluminium foil with the shiny side up to finish baking. This pie is best served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

44 comments:

  1. That pie is so yummy looking. I used to buy frozen berries to make yogurt smoothie. Now for making pies also can! But when shall I make ? I also don't know!

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  2. You've sugar in your pastry? Usually, I don't add any - tumpang the sweetness from the filling. Lovely looking pie, yours!

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    1. For berry pie, I will use a little sugar. Thanks for your compliment.

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  3. This is lovely! How I wish I can have that for my breakfast today :P. It would be a perfect combination with a cup of coffee!

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    1. Kitty, yes this is divine with a cup of premium brewed coffee.

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  4. A couple who use to tease each other often is always a happy couple in their daily life! Delicious pie you have made. I loves fruits pie. Wish I am next door to you. :-)

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    1. I would love to have you as my neighbor. We can taste each other's food or even bake and cooking together. That will be fun.

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  5. Look at that ooze! Yum! Where do you find the time and energy to go gallivanting, visit friends, eat and still cook/bake such fancy, scrumptious things? What's your secret? Good time management? Uppers? Hehe .... or just plenty of caffeine?
    Homemade's the best ... no scrimping on the filling!

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    1. Aunty Lucy, I seldom go gallivanting lah and I don't drink as much coffee as my Quay Lo. So both your guesses are out and there is no secret to share. hehe Yes homemade anything is always better cos quality ingredients will be used.

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  6. wow....pie full of blackberries filling, who can resist it?

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  7. Lovely pie! It is so expensive getting berries in Singapore. haiz... so I am drooling on yours.

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    1. It is very expensive here as well. Have to keep this dessert as a treat.

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  8. Oh yummy and expensive pies, lol! Very familiar phrases you've wrote about in this post, never fail to hear it few times in a day at work and sometimes makes me want to choke the breath out of the person who said it! lol!

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    1. Jenny you cracked me up! I know how "geram" one can make you with those two phrases, especially the phrase "I also don't know." when you are looking for an answer.

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  9. well, I don't know this phrase is a very bad phrase for me. and most of my friend don't really wanna communicate with me just because of that lol

    until I know how to talk nicely and using my brain wisely. unless some of my friend ask me what I am going to eat for dinner or lunch, I will answer them I don't know LOL!

    :) have a nice day to u!

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    1. Kian Fai, haha, you cracked me up when you said your friends don't wanna communicate with you because of what you answered them. I don't blame them. Good for them to do that to you so now you exercise your brai and answer wisely. Answer them I don't know sounds a bit better than I also don't know. LOL!

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  10. wahaha happen to me too. Sometime boss ask me where is the drawings filling in the file? But I swear I did file it and now it missing. All I can reply him is "I dunno wor."

    Your blackberries pie look so tempting.

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    1. hahaha, next time try saying "I also don't know." and see what is his response.

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  11. Yes, yes, yes, I do remember reading about your previous posting about the berries picking! Some studies showed that frozen fruits/vegetables contain more vitamins than the "fresh" ones, depend on how the fresh vegetables being delivered to the end users. In Australia, some of the "fresh" fruits have been stored in the freezer for months before they come to the market! And very common to find "fresh-looking" pears with a rotten centre parts which are quite annoying! Here, I like to use Sara Lee's raspberries & they look in good shape though after thawing.

    Oh, before I forgot, I do have to say something here. You had a driver? Man!

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    1. Jessie, thanks for the info on the vitatmins in the frozen fruits/vegetables. It is good to know. Yes, I had a driver but since he resigned we did not employ another. Now I am the driver. LOL!

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  12. Hahaha! We do use also can as our private joke too, and the reverse 'can also'. What a coincidence!

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    1. Oh yes, that is another of our favorite phrase but that is between me and my first late hubby.

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  13. "I also dont know" how to bake this... but I "also can" eat if given an opportunity! :)

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    1. Claire, you very clever. Stay I also don't know about cooking and baking and just eat all the yummy bakes and dishes other do for you. You truly "also can" hahaha

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  14. hahahahhaa. aiyoh. We, Malaysians always use these two phrases lar. If your quay lo were to speak with me, I think he would've laughed out loud many times already!

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    1. Carolyn, my Quay Lo is now Malaysianized. He often also don't know and he also can listen to our Manglish and not laugh out loud to save us face. LOL!

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  15. looking so yummy your berry-pie! I love fresh-picked berries too:-)) greetings from Holland!

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    1. Hi Jana, welcome to my blog and thanks for leaving your comment. Hope to see you again soon.

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  16. Oh my, that blackberry pie just needs a big dollop of King Island cream. :-)

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  17. It's so nice that a phrase or two brings laughter to you and your husband...I love those little inside jokes :) Your pie looks spectacular! What perfect crust! I'll take mine with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, too :)

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    1. Thanks Lizzy. Life if more interesting if we can laugh easily, even at two silly phrases.

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  18. Awww.. so sweet and it sure did cracked me up.. Berries are so ex here right? What to do? I wished I could smuggle a whole truck load of them back while I was in SF. So cheap, and I was like oh I wanted this pack and that pack of berries. But then no kitchen for me to play there.. LOL.. We will meet up soon and when I mean soon = next week or the next? I am so free and single every weekend.. So buzz me or better yet, I will buzz you ladies till you all say enough Jo! point taken.. we are coming to hang out with ya'. Huggssss, Jo

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    1. Okay will arrange with Ping and Shannon and BUZZZZZ you! Hugs.

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  19. it is expensive here blackberries... I love them but my family doesnt because of the seeds. You pie looks fabulous as always.... :)

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    1. I know, it is an expensive dessert and I also know that many are not fond of the seeds. Well if you give me a buzz a few days before our next meet up, I make a small one for you:D

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  20. Hi Quay Po!

    Sorry it's been so long since I last visited. The kiddies are demanding a bit less time now so I'm trying to catch up on my fave blogs.

    You and your Quay Lo are such an adorable couple! I really do hope we have a chance to meet one day! Inside jokes are the best, aren't they? Really shows how close you are with that person. Made me laugh when you said you also don't know the price of the berries coz I do the same sometimes when hubby asks me how much something was. All he can do now is shake his head and accept that he was the one who chose me. Lol.

    Your blackberry pie looks delicious! I'm sure every bite got sweeter and sweeter for your Quay Lo. You both are very lucky to have each other. Two ppl who can cook so well and are crazy about each other. Keep it going, you love birds! :D I hope you and your family are doing well. Hope to be dropping by more often. Take care, my dear.

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    1. BIG BEAR HUG LeQuan!! You bright up my day with your visit. I miss reading your comments on my post. It is very nice of you to drop by when you can. You to take care and be in touch. XOXO

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  21. Dear Quay Po this pie look absolutely amazing, I love berries and especially blackberries!!xx

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