A plate of noodles

Whenever we had this dish, it often reminds me of the late Raymond Koh. He was my hubby's best friend since Secondary school. They studied together and kept in contact even after school. When we were dating, my hubby would introduce Raymond and his girlfriend to me. As with all good things and with good friends, my hubby wants me to know about his friends too.

When we got married, Raymond got married too. And he stayed 2 blocks away from us. Almost without fail, every fortnight, Raymond and his wife would invite us over to his place for games and food. The men will play card games or watch football together and the women would talk in the kitchen. I was hopeless back then, I couldn't cook or bake at all. But Raymond's wife was an excellent cook.

She would cook this simple dish of fried bee hoon with shredded cabbage and some fresh prawns. Mrs RK takes much pride in cooking this and often enough, I was left out as I have nothing to share. So I ended up watching TV and sitting around doing nothing.



They had a son who was the same age with our eldest daughter, Natasha. Some 14 years ago, Raymond told us that he had a rare blood disorder. Later we found that it was leukemia. A year later, the illness took our dear friend away. Leaving behind Mrs RK and his young son.

Mrs RK was devastated and kept away from everyone. She was too depressed and later we found out that she moved out of the flat too. We lost contact with her.

Over the years, when I pick up cooking, I improvised many fried noodles dishes to recreate the one she cooked for us. And this recipe I have now, comes close to what we had.

So this post, I dedicate to our late friend, Raymond Koh. We have always thought of you, and remembered you.

Fried Bee Hoon
Ingredients
1 packet of bee hoon, soak in water to soften
1 large white cabbage, washed, shredded
20 pcs fresh grey prawns, devein, shelled, cut into chunks
3 tbsp oyster sauce
3 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp fine sugar
200ml water
1 clove of garlic, chopped

100ml onion oil

Method
1. Heat up the wok with onion oil and add garlic to stir fry till fragrant.
2. Add prawns, fish sauce and fry for 2 mins.
3. Add cabbage, oyster sauce, sugar and water and fry for another 2 minutes over high heat.
4. Add soften bee hoon and stir fry till noodles soak up liquid sauces
5. Turn off the fire, dish out and serve immediately.

Its good on its own, or you can eat this with freshly cut chillies.