KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 10 — Sometimes I enjoy the simple things in life. Sometimes a little complexity can be a delicious distraction.

For the former, a Chinese New Year treat of steamed nian gao with shredded coconut and gula Melaka (that’s it — no other ingredients!) comes to mind.

Or I could go entirely in the other direction and conjure up an entire Yuletide feast, complete with hors d’oeuvres; aromatic garlic bread; a warm salad of roasted pumpkin, grilled French beans, feta cheese and Christmas ham; mushroom risotto and an impressive main course of Duck à l’Orange.