Monday, December 24, 2007

BBQ at Costa Sands chalet

My sister-in-law, Tracy and brother-in-law, Jason rented a chalet at Pasir Ris on 23 Dec 2007. It's a family gathering for Christmas. We had to leave early as our son, Ray Han was tired and sleepy. Here are some photos taken by me. This layered cake is spongy, moist and yummy! It was baked by my sister-in-law, Lian Choo's colleague. This is something new to me. I didn't eat this as I was busy with my son, also I have forgotten all about it. :P My hubby told me it's very yummy! This was prepared by my sister-in-law, Ching Lian.
Not sure where they got this otak-otak from? It's very "hot" and "spicy", everyone likes it.

This "bee-hoon" (rice vermicelli) was fried by me. I manage to take a shot when eaten half-way.

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Christmas Star Cookies

My hubby prefers cookies without sugar coating.

These cookies are quite small. Specially baked for my daughter's friends.



Jasmin from M4M shared this recipe with us. This recipe is taken from a past issue of Donna Hay magazine featuring Christmas treats.

Donna Hay's Star Cookies
Makes 32.

Ingredients:
250g butter, softened
175g castor sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg yolk
337g plain flour, sifted
1/2 cup clear sanding sugar ( I use 1000's & 100's)

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 180C.
2. Place the butter and sugar in an electric mixer and beat until pale and creamy.
3. Add the vanilla and egg yolk and beat well to combine.
4. Add the flour and beat until a smooth dough forms.
5. Divide the dough into four portions and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes or until dough is firm.
6. Roll out each portion of dough between two sheets of non-stick baking paper until 3mm thick.
7. Remove the baking paper and use a 7cm star-shaped cookie cutter to cut out eight rounds from each sheet.
8. Place the cookies on baking trays lined with baking paper, sprinkle with the clear sanding sugar and bake for 8 minutes or until the cookies are light golden.
9. Cool on wire racks.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Grilled Chicken Wings

It goes well with fried rice.
Grilling the wings in the oven.
Ready to eat.

I cooked these wings last night for dinner. Everyone in the family likes it, including my 15 months old son. Here's the recipe for you to try.

Barbecued Chicken Wings

Ingredients:
7 chicken wings
1 tsp cooking wine 绍兴酒 or 米酒
1 tsp sesame oil
2 tbsp light soya sauce 酱青

2 tbsp dark soya sauce 酱油
2 tbsp oyster sauce 蚝油
2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
1 tsp pepper

Method:
Combine all the ingredients and marinate the chicken wings for about 2 hours or overnight (keep in the fridge). Grill the chicken wings in the preheated oven at 200 deg C for about 30 minutes or until cooked and golden brown (reduce the temperature to 160 deg C after 20 minutes of cooking). Rotate the tray around in every 10 minutes and flip the chicken wings using a thong or a pair of wooden chopsticks.
Tips: I bought a packet of chicken wings (2 kg) consists of 21 wings in total. I divide them into 3 portions. Wash them thoroughly in running water, drain and put them in 3 plastic bags (2 layers each), that is 7 wings in a plastic bag (2 layers). I put all the ingredients in the bag of wings and shake it. No mess.

I also have two more recipes for BBQ.

BBQ Wings/Meat
Ingredients:
1 kg Chicken Wings/Meat
2 cloves garlic
a thumb sized of ginger
2 tbsp chilli powder
2 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp salt

Method:
Grind garlic, ginger to a paste. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Marinade the wings/meat in the fridge for at least 2 hours before barbequing.
----------------
BBQ Prawns/fish
Ingredients:
1 kg prawns/fish

2 tbsp light soya sauce
1 tsp tumeric powder
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 tsp sesame oil

1 tsp salt
Some curry leaves

Method:
Marinade the prawns/fish in the fridge for at least 2 hours before barbequing.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Ways of preparing food

Ways of preparing food

Aging
A process in which meat is tenderised by keeping it a t temperatures of between 0 deg C and 20 deg C for a period of time. This allows enzymes to break down it's tough connective tissues.

Bouquet Garni
A small bundle of herbs, usually comprising bay leaf, parsley and thyme, used to enhance the flavour of a soup or stew.

Butterfly
To slit a piece of food in half horizontally, cutting it almost through, so that it resembles butterful wings when opened up. Chops, large prawns and fish fillets are often done this way so that they cook more quickly.

Reduction
To cook over very high heat, uncovered, until the liquid is reduced by evaporation. This will enhance the flavour of the food.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Multi-purpose Sambal

Found this recipe in my old recipe book.

Sambal forever. Make a batch of this to eat with everything -- mee siam, mee rebus, lontong, nasi lemak (add ikan bilis, a.k.a. anchovis) and fried rice. This is the sambal staple of hawkers. It keeps for ages -- up to three months refrigerated, or a year frozen.

Multi-purpose Sambal

Ingredients:
40 dried chillies, soaked in water for 1 hour
15 shallots
40g toasted belacan (shrimp paste)
100g dried shrimps, soaked in water
5 tsps sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tbsps tamarind mixed with 100ml water and strained
80 ml thick coconut milk
8 tbsps cooking oil

Method:
Blend dried chillies, shallots, belacan and dried shrimps in as little water as possible.
Heat oil and saute the blended ingredients over a low flame till aromatic and oil separates.
Add the remaining ingredients and simmer till oil surfaces.
Cool thoroughly before storing. Don't skim off oil from the sambal. The oil helps preserve the sambal.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Marble Cupcakes





I have this "Marble Cake" recipe for almost 20 years. Thought of baking it today since I have so much baking ingredients in my fridge. keke..
Yay!! I'm so happy! Ray Han likes to eat this cake. All my effort is not wasted. hehe...

The texture of this cake is very soft, not too sweet.
This recipe makes about 12 cupcakes


Marble Cake

Ingredients:
310g cake flour (original recipe call for self-raising flour)
2 tsp baking powder (Omit this if using self-raising flour)
250g salted butter
250g castor sugar
4 eggs (beaten)
45g baking chocolate melted with 1 tbsp milk (I use double-boil method)
1 tbsp cocoa powder (I add this to make it more chocolate flavour)
1/2 tsp vanilla essence
3 tbsp milk

Method:
Cream butter and sugar till light and fluffy.
Add egg mixture gradually, beat well after each addition.
Fold in sifted flour lightly into the mixture.
Add a little milk and vanilla essence and mix well.
Divide mixture into two equal portions.
Add melted chocolate and cocoa powder to one portion.
Scoop a tablespoon of batter into the paper cup, add the chocolate batter over it, repeat the process till all the paper cups filled with 1/2 full of batter.
Use a teaspoon or sharp object to stir the batter in the paper cups lightly, but don't overmix.
Bake in a preheated oven at 170 deg C for about 25 minutes or till the test skewer comes out clean.

Monday, December 10, 2007

Bread Pudding



Bread Pudding
Ingredients:
6 slices bread
400ml milk
3 eggs
5 tbsp sugar
3 tbsp raisins
50g butter
red and green cherries (optional)
Method:
Cut each slice of bread diagonally into 2 triangles. Spread with butter and bake in the preheated oven for about 5 minutes.
Beat the eggs with sugar, add milk and mix well.
Arrange the bread evenly on the baking tin (I use pyrex bakeware). Sprinkle raisins over the bread. Pour in egg mixture and soak the bread with egg mixture.
Put it into a preheated oven at 180 deg C for about 25 minutes. Serve hot.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

Wedding Invitation

The "kuihs" and "epok epok" are very yummy!
By just looking at this "nasi bryani" makes you drool... all of us love this dish!
My neighbour invited us to their 2nd son's wedding ceremony today. We knew them for about 8 years, they are very friendly people. I have taken some photos of the food we ate to show you.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Funny Home Video

I laughed when I was filming them. Aiyo! Look at Sue Jean's cheeky face and Ray Han's expression.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Sharing Session on Cupcake Making

Thanks Brenda for showing us the making of cupcake.

Brenda invited us to her place yesterday to show us "the making of Chocolate Cupcakes". She shared with us many tips (use a pouring cup to fill the muffin cups with batter) and terms about baking of cupcakes. She even showed us the steps of mixing the ingredients and explained to us in detail. I have taken some pictures of her cupcakes to show you.
Look at the colours of the buttercream. So bright and beautiful!

The flower was made of fondant (sugar paste or gum paste).
Brenda measures the ingredients...

The buttercream above looks like a flower. So beautiful!
I'm going to try her recipe myself.
If you want to try it, here's the recipe...
Chocolate Cupcakes
Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour (plain flour)
1/4 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons of baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/3 cups white sugar (fine sugar or castor sugar)
2 eggs (room temperature)
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (can use vanilla essence)
1 cup milk (UHT milk or fresh milk)
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 175 deg C. Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add in the eggs one at the time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well.
4. Fill the muffin cups slightly more than half full.
5. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a stick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
6. Frost with your favourite frosting when cool.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Chicken Curry

This Thai Green Curry is "sedap" (delicious)!
Sue Jean prefers this curry, it's not very spicy but yummy!

We had these curry for lunch. *burp*!

You can find both curries at Sun Plaza's Foodcourt, Level 3.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Making of You Tiao ~ Hong Kong Style



You Tiao

Adapted from Chinese Snacks, Wei-Chuan's Cookbook

makes about 10 seven inch pieces.

Ingredients:

260 g bread flour (about 2 cups)

175 ml water (about 2/3 cup)

1 tsp baking powder

2/3 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp alum

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

1. Mix water with baking powder, baking soda, alum, and salt until dissolved. Pour this solution in the flour and mix until combined. The mixture will be sticky so make sure to wet your hands periodically to mix.

2. Let this sit for about 30 minutes and gently use your fingers to knead until dough is more elastic.

3. Spray a plastic ziploc bag with oil and place the dough in the bag. Place a heavy object on top to flatten the dough. Let sit for 4 hours.

4. Heat enough oil for deep frying to about 350-375 F. 5. Use scissors to cut a side of the zip loc bag to open. Cut dough in half, and slice each half to ten equal pieces, about 3/4 inch wide. Stack two pieces together and use the back of a knife to press the middle to make an indentation.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

White Chocolate Chips Chocolate Cookies




These crunchy chocolate cookies studded with white chocolate chips is the reverse of many chocolate chips cookies.
This recipe makes 4 dozen. So I freeze half of the dough in the plastic container and scoop out spoonfuls of dough to bake whenever we have a hankering for freshly baked cookies.

Ingredients:
2 cups plain flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Hersley Brand)
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
250g salted butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup castor sugar
2 eggs
100g white chocolate chips (you can add more if you like)

Method:
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at the time, mixing well after each addition.
Sift in the dry ingredients and mix until blended. Stir in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate the dough until firm, about 1-2 hours.
Preheat the oven at 165 deg C. Place a baking paper on the baking sheet or grease the tray with butter. Use a teaspoon to scoop the dough and shape into a round ball. Place the round dough 2 inches apart from each other on the baking sheet and bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until the edges turn crispy.
Let the cookies sit on the baking sheets for a few minutes before lifting them off and cool completely on a wire rack. Store these cookies (cooled) in an airtight container, can keep for 4 to 5 days.

Baked Vegeroni with Bacon and Cheese





Yesterday I baked this dish again. This time I use bacon instead of fresh chicken meat. Also the "Can Soup" has been replaced with Mushroom Soup without chicken in it. The only seasoning I used for this dish is ground black pepper. No salt added, as the bacon is quite salty.

As for the recipe, you can refer here.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Thai Fried Tang Hoon

This fried tang-hoon (glass noodle) is delicious! I didn't fry it though. I bought this from a Thai Viet Stall at "Kopitiam" at level 3, Sun Plaza. It's only S$3.60 after a 10 % discount (must use Kopitiam Card for payment). Usual Price is $4.00 which is about the same price as most "zi-char" stalls at coffeeshops.

Next time, I shall fry my version of fried "tanghoon" using the ingredients like Cabbage, large onions, chinese celery, bean sprouts, carrots, eggs, fresh prawns, fresh squids, and "tang-hoon of course.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Monday, November 5, 2007

Baked Macaroni with Cheese

Yummy cheese...

This is our lunch for today. Sue Jean told me she can't wait to eat it.



With some ingredients...
Ready to eat...
Hot and fresh from the oven..

Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Macaroni is children’s favourite dish. The colourful variety makes for a more attractive presentation and green macaroni is often spinach-enriched, making it a useful source of iron.

Serves: 4 people

Ingredients:
150g Vegeroni Spirals Macaroni
1 can (300g) Cream of chicken mushroom soup
300ml Water
125g grated Mozzarella Cheese
150 - 200g Fresh Chicken Breast
1 large White Onion (diced)
1 Tomato (diced)
2 tsp Butter
a pinch of black pepper and salt to taste


Method:
Bring water to the boil in a pot, adding 1/2 teaspoon butter and a tablespoon of salt. Boil the pasta for about 10 minutes until it is tender. Drain and leave aside to cool.

Heat butter in frying pan and fry diced onions until fragrant. Add diced chicken and stir fry for a minute. Add diced tomatoes and season with a dash of pepper and salt. Turn off the heat and leave aside to cool.

Heat the can soup with 1 can (300ml) of water. Place macaroni in oven proof dish and pour hot soup over to the depth of the dish.

Mix onion, tomato and chicken mixture into the cooked macaroni and mix well. Sprinkle cheese over the macaroni mixture with a generous sprinkle of black pepper.

Bake in the oven at 190 deg C for about 10 minutes or until cheese melts and turns a golden brown. Serve warm.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Soft and Moist Banana Cake

Freshly Baked Soft and Moist Banana Cake.
Ready to eat...
The texture from the cuppies...
Small cuppies...
The texture from the loaf...

I have come out with this recipe, I did an experiment, by adding a little milk and extra butter, the cake will become a little moist and soft. The rest of the ingredients are quite similar to most of the banana cake recipes. The amount of the ingredients can be changed a little to suit your taste.

Soft and Moist Banana Cake
This recipe yield 6 small cuppies and a loaf.

Ingredients:
250g salted butter
1 1/2 cups castor sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
4 tbsp milk
1 1/2 cups mashed banana
2 cups plain flour (sift together with 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda and 1 tsp baking powder)
Some Walnuts to sprinkle on top

Method:
Cream butter and sugar in a mixing bowl. Add in eggs, vanilla essence and milk and mix well.
Add mashed banana into the mixture and mix well. Finally add in sifted flour and mix well.
Pour into a loaf pan (I use Pyrex baking loaf pan).
Bake in preheated oven at 160 deg C for 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If the top layer turns brown after 15 minutes, cover it with a piece of aluminium foil.
Cool cakes in the pan then remove. Use a sharp knife to slice and serve.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Sue Jean's Photo Frame

Hello Kitty Photo Frame ~ coloured by Sue Jean
Sue Jean showed me this photo frame when I was picking her up from her school at 1 pm yesterday.
She was very happy and told me lots of things about her school. Her form teacher, Mrs Lee gave everybody a photo frame to colour in class. She used coloured pens (probably was given by her teacher) to "paint" it. So colourful and nice! I told her. She told me to print a photo of her with her brother, Ray Han and was eager to show her friends the photo on it today.
The photo can't be printed due to some problems with the printer driver, so need to re-install the driver. The photo wasn't ready yet, Sue Jean told me it's ok mummy, can do it later. So sweet of her!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

Little Sandwich

This morning I went to supermarket and saw some lettuce, so fresh and green. So I bought it and decided to make some sandwiches for lunch today. I have some tomatoes, cheese and eggs in the fridge. My daughter likes ham, tuna with mayonaise, so I bought all the ingredients as needed.
Here are some cut-out sandwiches. To make my daughter happy, I decorate it with seaweed. Guess what's that seaweed? HAHAHA... it's my daughter's favourite snack, Tao Kae Noi Tom Yam Flavoured Crispy Seaweed. My daughter was very happy!
I beat some eggs with sugar and light soya sauce. I use a frying pan to make some omelettes.
See... the sandwich is smiling... hahaha!!!

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

8 minutes work out



I have to do this everyday. Hopefully I can get back my figure. hehe...

Friday, October 26, 2007

Steps on wrapping a rice dumpling

Read more about bak chang

Chocolate Chips Cream Cheese Muffins















This muffin is so yummy! I have read some good reviews about this muffins from Lee Lee (Hugbear) and Jestina. It's so tempting! So I decided to bake some to try. The result is fantastic! If you like cheese, this muffin taste heavenly and you will not stop eating.

Thanks Aunty Yochana for sharing her wonderful recipes generously with us.


Here's the recipe. I did some changes to minimise the washing and cleaning (need to look after baby). Making muffins is easier than baking a cake. The difference is for muffins, batter must be lumpy, as for cakes, we have to make sure the batter is creamy.

This recipe yield 10 small little cuppies.



Ingredients:
80 g Sugar
2 eggs

Sift together:
180 g cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt

60 ml fresh milk
70 g melted butter

Mix all the fillings together:
100 g Cream cheese - softened
1 1/2 tbsp castor sugar

Some chocolate chips for sprinkling


Method:
I use wooden spoon to cream eggs and castor sugar. Add in fresh milk and melted butter into mixture and lightly mix it. Sift flour ingredients into the mixture and mix till well mixed.
Spoon batter into paper cups and then scoop a teaspoon of cream cheese mixture on top and some batter to cover the cheese, then sprinkle some chocolate chips on top.
Bake in preheated oven at 180 deg C for about 20 minutes or till golden brown.
Remove from oven and cool on wire rack. Serve warm with a cup of tea/coffee.

I had 3 muffins for breakfast. *burp*!