15-07-2025
Generating income with new, creative recipes
Participants taking part in the 'Resepi Jadi Rezeki' one-day CSR event at PPR Seri Alam in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
A dish called 'Marry Me Chicken Chop', created by housewife and mother-of-two Siti Hajar Abdul Latif, caught the judges' attention in a cooking competition.
Consisting of a grilled deboned chicken thigh that had been marinated with spices and coated with Kimball Keju-Nara pasta sauce, it was garnished with halved cherry tomatoes and served with a side salad of shredded cabbage and carrots.
Siti Hajar's creative name for her dish was one of the factors that helped her clinch the third prize of RM1,000 at the 'Resepi Jadi Rezeki' event, a corporate social responsibility exercise to empower B40 women by Suria FM radio station − which is under Star Media Group − and Kimball Malaysia.
The goal of the one-day workshop at Seri Alam People's Housing Project (PPR) in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, was to teach participants how to come up with different kinds of dishes that could help them generate income via the food business.
The participants of about 20 were mostly housewives and working mothers who are residents of the PPR.
Livening up the occasion was celebrity chef Muhammad Fikree Najib Aznan, who is better known as 'Chef Fikrie', and Suria FM announcer Nor Shafiza Iskandar Azizan who goes by the moniker 'Cik Piah'.
Participants were first given a demonstration by Chef Fikrie on how to cook two dishes – lemongrass chicken chop and spaghetti in a cheesy sauce as well as sweet and sour fish fillets.
According to Chef Fikrie, both these dishes have commercial viability, with the former, which makes use of Kimball's line of sauces, Ayam-Nara and Keju-Nara, selling for up to RM15 a plate.
One of the participants was retiree Koh Kwang Sin, who used to operate a vegetarian stall at a food court for 30 years.
Her signature dish then was tomato egg and she said that Kimball's tomato sauce was always her brand of choice in the ingredients list.
Koh, a mother of four and grandmother of seven, loves cooking for her family.
She had heard about the event from friends who encouraged her to take part.
'I hope to learn more new recipes to cook for my family.
'Good food always brings them together,' she said.
A cooking competition was held after lunch where participants were required to cook, plate and garnish one dish each within an hour.
The first prize of RM3,000 was won by housewife Syura Zolkeplee, with her entry Spaghetti Kimball Johor.
Syura, who has two children, said she would be using part of her prize money to renew her road tax.
The second prize of RM2,000 was won by mother-of-four Masni Adnan, a mixed-rice seller, with her entry of tomato soup pasta.
In addition to creativity, taste, texture and aroma, the dishes were also judged on nutritional value and hygiene.
The children present at the event were treated to games and other activities.
Also in attendance were Kimball Malaysia brand manager Chloe Lim and PPR Seri Alam Fasa 2 Residents Association secretary Mad Azmi Sulaiman.
The next 'Resepi Jadi Rezeki' events will take place at Desa Rejang Public Housing (PA) in Setapak Jaya on July 19 and PPR Bukit Jalil, both in Kuala Lumpur, on July 26.
The event is open to female Malaysians over 18 years old, preferably those residing at these people's housing projects.
Visit Suria FM social media pages for entry forms.
