Just Ducky!

My old family friends, the Wongs, always share their yummy discoveries with my family. From true, authentic Nyonya chang coloured with the pea flower to produced the distinctive blue markings on the sweet meat-filled rice dumpling; to wonderful forest durians, Uncle Bob and Auntie Carol have always thought of us.

Their latest discovery is a supplier of smoked duck. Not the Chinese waxed duck, but really smoke-cured duck which is wonderful with a salad, or in a sandwich. I've also been known to eat hunks of it on its own, relishing the saltiness. Erin has picked up this habit too!

Kit and I have been trying out different instant noodles from the larger hyper markets and grocery stores. Giant's house brand is so-so. The No Frills brand which Giant also carries is much better and has been a pantry staple. Tesco Value noodles are awful - starchy and water logged. Walk away to take a phone call and you return to this mass of soaked, bloated noodles, with no soup left. We recently tried the EconSave brand of instant noodles, from the grocers of the same name, in Overseas Union Garden, and we were very impressed with how good the noodles were. Firm to the bite, not too overly starchy, and with the soup packets being very tasty and not overly salty, they are definitely a good alternative to Maggie or any of the better known noodle brands. And with savings of up to RM1.20 per pack of five, I think it is a really good way to pinch some pennies.

Smoked duck and EconSave noodles. Cheap and chic. Sort of.

Kit dressed up the chicken flavoured noodles with sliced smoked duck, and turned the simple meal into something really satisfying and a bit more classy.