The air was refreshingly invigorating. The grounds were wet from the afternoon rainstorm that stopped just a while ago. We were greeted by these pinwheel-like crepe jasmine as we traipsed around the Secret Garden of 1 Utama with our cameras. The deluge may have washed away their intoxicating fragrance but the water droplets clinging on to their white petals made them look pristine still.
The distinct fragrance of lemon grass adds that extra zing to food cooked with it. I love the slightly chewy bits of lemon grass in my Lemongrass Fish Curry and the saliva-inducing aroma in the Sambal Petai Prawns and Sambal Prawns. A glass of cold lemon grass drink would be a perfect ending to a meal with any of those delicious dishes. This refreshing drink can be easily made by mashing ten stalks of mashed lemon grass and allowing it to simmer in two liters of water for one hour. Add rock sugar (to taste) last and turn off the heat when dissolved. It can be taken hot or chilled. How I wish I am sipping on a glass of cold cold lemon grass drink now, especially in this excruciatingly hot weather.