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Thursday, August 25, 2011

TOFU NUGGETS

1 package firm tofu - 1/4 cup flour (more or less)
1 egg equivalent (2 whites or your favorite sub)
1 cup fine dry bread or cracker crumbs (mixtures are fun)
1 teaspoon garlic salt - 1 teaspoon paprika - 1 dash or a few grinds of pepper

Cut tofu into your favorite configuration (my toddler likes fingers).
Spread flour on a small plate or flat dish. Beat egg equivalent in a
shallow dish. Mix remaining ingredients in shallow dish. Turn each
piece of tofu in the flour to cover, then into the egg, then crumbs, and
then to the rack. Chilling will help to set the coating, but you can just bake right away. Bake at 350 degrees F
for 15-20 minutes until crisp. Serve with a dipping sauce

PUPS IN A BLANKET

One pack of all-beef, or turkey all-natural (or tofu) hot dogs
Puff pastry dough or Ready-to-Bake Crescent Rolls or Lavash or Wraps
Veggies & Cheese

Directions:
In a skillet, cook the (tofu) dogs until they brown and blister- may boil if using meat dogs, while the dough sits out defrosting.
Wrap the dogs in a square of the dough and roll them up like a cigar with veggies & cheese.
Cut into smaller pieces to desired Toddler-friendly size.
In an oven preheated to 375-400 degrees F, bake the rolled dogs for about 25min. or until they are fluffy and golden brown.

Serve with Sweet Potato Fries or Veggie Sticks and Dipping Sauce

NANA'S CREAMED PEAS & NUGGETS

4 cups peas, fresh, frozen (or canned as a last resort)
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons flour
2 tablespoons butter
salt and pepper to taste
pieces of chicken, fish, pork or beef

Melt butter in a large sauce pan and whisk in flour- allow to cook for 1 minute.
Slowly add milk, whisking to prevent lumps. Add salt, pepper and other spices as desired. Cook until sauce begins to thicken. Add peas, stir and cook until peas are heated through (about 5-7 minutes) Add meat Serve warm alone or over multi-grain toast. **Other veggies may be added if you desire, however - ensure that ratio of veggies equals 4 cups!**

CHICKEN POTATO CHOWDER

1/3 C. diced and cooked boneless breast or ground chicken
1/4 C. cubed and cooked potato
3 T. shredded mild Cheddar or American cheese
1/4 C. milk
2 tsp. butter
Peas, carrots and/or corn

Mix chicken, veggies, potato, milk, and butter in a small saucepan. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in cheese. Serve warm.

PASTA SALAD

1 bag of tri-color pasta (shaped in wheels or another "fun" shape if possible)
1 C chopped fresh broccoli
1/4 C sliced black olives
1/2 C baby Carrots, julienne
1/2 C zucchini, sliced thin
1/2 red onion, sliced very thin
2 T olive oil
black pepper and lemon juice (low-fat salad dressing if your choose)

Boil pasta al dente. Sauté broccoli, carrots, zucchini in olive oil until crisp yet tender. Drain & rinse pasta. Combine pasta and vegetables in large bowl and add parmesan cheese to lightly coat. Add black pepper and lemon juice if you wish. Serve warm or cold

"TRADITIONAL" GRILLED CHEESE

Warm frying pan and take out 2 slices of cheese from the fridge
Lightly butter 2 slices of whole grain bread
When frying pan has warmed, lay one slice of bread butter-side down top with 2 slices of cheese and then top with remaining slice of bread;
butter side up. Fry and flip sandwich as needed until bread becomes golden and toasted.

Hide meat and/or veggies in there!! Turkey, Chicken, Cooked Broccoli, Carrot Slivers, Onions, Peppers, Tomatoes or even Green Beans for example!

PEANUT BUTTER & BANANA GRILLED SANDWICH

Peanut Butter
Bananas
Whole Grain Bread

Warm frying pan
Lightly butter 2 slices of whole grain bread

When frying pan has warmed, lay one slice of bread butter-side down and spread with peanut butter and thinly sliced bananas
Top with remaining slice of bread; butter side up. Fry and flip sandwich as needed until bread becomes golden and toasted.

Applesauce Pancakes

1 cup flour –
1/4 teaspoon salt –
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 tablespoon melted butter –
1/2 cup milk –
1 beaten egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla –
1 1/4 cups applesauce

Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a medium mixing bowl. Combine butter, milk and egg. Stir into dry ingredients. Add vanilla and applesauce; beat well. Spoon batter into a hot, well greased griddle, enough batter to applesauce pancakes about 4 inches in diameter.  **Freezes Well**

Cheesy Scrambled Eggs

3 eggs
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/4 cup milk
dash of pepper and/or garlic powder (optional)

Whisk all ingredients in a bowl until frothy then pour in a warmed frying pan. Stir as the egg mix is cooking. Eggs are done when firm and not runny.

Add veggies or even crumbled turkey sausage to this recipe if desired.

Farmer's Breakfast

2 1/2 cups grated potatoes (about 3 medium potatoes)
1/4 cup margarine or butter –
2 tablespoons milk
6 eggs –
1 cup chopped ham
Seasoning salt and pepper (amount you desire) –
Some Grated cheese (if desired)

Peel and grate the potatoes. Place margarine or butter in frying pan and let melt. Add grated potatoes. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes. In a small mixing bowl, mix the eggs and milk together. Once potatoes are cooked, add ham and eggs.
Stir until eggs are cooked. Sprinkle with cheese then serve.

Toasted Egg Smiles - Yummy and Fun Toddler Egg Breakfast!

Prepare a Frying Pan with either pats of butter or non-stick spray.
1 Slice of Bread, 1 Egg, 1/4 c Milk, Small slice of cheese

Take the bread slice and cut out 2 circles for eyes and a longer curved hole for a mouth below the "eyes".
Butter one side of bread and lay in warmed frying pan, butter side down.
As bread begins to fry, Scramble egg and milk together (OR you may simply crack a whole egg over the bread in the pan without adding milk or scrambling).
Pour scrambled egg over the bread. Flip bread/egg when the egg showing thru the "eyes" and "mouth" becomes firm.

Fry for another 5-10 minutes depending on your cook top temperature.
Prior to taking out of pan, place a strip of cheese over the "eyes" and let melt to give your toasted egg smile some "hair"

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Vegetable Stock for Babies

Ingredients:
- 2 large carrots
- 2 large onions
- 2 celery stalks
- 1 turnip
- 10 black peppercorns
- 1 bulb of garlic
- pinch thyme
- pinch parsley
- 1 bay leaf


Preparation:
1) Peel all the vegetables and the garlic cloves and chop them roughly.

2) Put them into a large cooking pot along with the peppercorns and the herbs and cover them with water.

3) Bring the water to a boil over a high heat, then lower the heat until the water is simmering.

4) Continue to simmer for an hour, then remove from the heat and allow to cool.

5) Strain - and your veggie broth is ready to use!

Sweet Potato Soup for Babies

Ingredients:
- 16 fl oz (2 cups) homemade vegetable stock
- 1 medium sweet potato (peeled and diced)
- 1/2 small onion, chopped
- pinch ground allspice
- 2 whole cloves
 
Preparation:
1) Pour the stock into a saucepan, add the cloves and bring to the boil.
 
2) Add the sweet potato cubes and chopped onion and return to the boil.
 
3) Lower the heat to a simmer, add the allspice and cook until the sweet potato cubes are tender (5 to 10 mins).
 
4) Remove from the heat.
 
5) Remove the cloves (don't forget this step!), then puree the soup until completely smooth. We like to do this right in the pot, using a hand blender.

6) The soup is now ready to serve. If your baby is enjoying texture, then try pureeing only half the mixture, then mashing the rest and finally stirring the two halves together!

Sandwich for Babies

Seven Simple Sandwich Ideas For Baby


1) Banana – what could be easier? Just lightly mash a ripe banana, spread on bread, squash another slice of bread firmly on top and cut into four. Simple, nutritious and yummy!


2) Egg yolk and avocado – packed with nutrients, this creamy and delicious sandwich filling is ready in seconds. Just mash one cooked egg yolk (warm or cooled) with ripe avocado.


3) Canned fish, avocado and yogurt – this is a big favourite in our house and a great source of calcium and essential fatty acids. Use tuna, salmon or sardines (preferably – in the case of salmon and sardines – WITH their bones and skin) and mash thoroughly with ripe avocado and a little unflavoured, whole milk yogurt (here’s how to make your own).


4) Veggies and cream cheese – simply take one of your portions of pureed vegetables (something like butternut squash or carrot has the ideal texture – thinner purees like zucchini tend to be too watery) and blend with cream cheese. Mmm!


5) Chicken salad – combine cooked, finely chopped chicken with finely chopped melon, then add enough natural yogurt to hold the entire mixture together.


6) Beans – try these easy and delicious recipes for Pureed Beans and Ricotta and Bean Spread… they both make fantastic fillings for sandwiches!

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Crispy Pork

Ingredients:
- 500g pork belly, cut into thin slices
- Some cornflour
- 2 cups oil for deep frying

Marinade:
- 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 1 tbsp rice wine
- ½ egg
- 1 tbsp cornflour
- ½ tbsp sugar
- ½ tbsp light soy sauce
- Dash of sesame oil and pepper

Sauce:
- ½ tbsp oil
- 1 tbsp chopped garlic
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp light soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar

Preparation:
1) Combine sliced pork belly with marinade and marinate for 1 hour. Coat with cornflour and deep-fry until golden brown and crispy. Dish and drain.

2) Heat up ½ tbsp oil and sauté chopped garlic until fragrant. Add in the remaining ingredients and cook until the sauce thickened. Add in crispy pork belly and mix well. Dish up and serve. 

Double Stir Fried Pork in Soy Bean Paste (Sauce)

Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lb lean pork (loin), cut into ¾ inch cubes
- 3 tbsps oil
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp dry sherry
- 1 ½ tsps bean sauce
- 1 tbsps soy sauce
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp lard
- 1 tsp cornstarch, dissolved in 3 tbsps stock or water


Preparation:
1) Rub the pork with 1 ½ tbsps of oil. Mix together the hoisin sauce, sherry, soy bean sauce, soy sauce and sugar in a bowl. Heat the remaining oil in a wok or pan over high heat. Add the pork and stir-fry over high heat for 2 minutes. Drain the pork and set aside. Discard the cooking oil from the wok or pan.

2) Add the lard to the pan and melt over moderate heat. Add the soy bean sauce mixture and stir well. Add the cornstarch mixture and cook, stirring until thickened.

3) Return the pork to the pan and quick-fry, stirring for 1 minute. Serve hot on a bed of shredded lettuce, if liked.

Spicy Chinese-style Pork

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. lean, cubed pork
- 6 tbsp. light soy sauce, divided
- 4 tbsp. lemon juice
- 2 tsp. cornstarch
- 4 tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1/8 tsp. red pepper hot sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 red ell pepper, sliced in strips
- 1 sm. onion, chopped
- 1/3 c. dry roasted peanuts
- 2 tbsps. oil for stir frying


Preparation:
1) Marinate pork cubes in 2 tbsps. soy sauce for 1/2 hour.

2) Mix together remaining soy sauce, lemon juice, cornstarch, sugar, hot sauce and 1/2 cup water. Set aside.

3) Stir fry pork and garlic in 2 tbsps. hot oil until brown; add pepper and onion, cook 3 minutes more.

4) Add cornstarch mixture, cook until thick and bubbly. Add peanuts and serve over rice.

Barbecued Pork

This is a Southern Chinese recipe.

Ingredients:
- 2 tbsps soy sauce
- 2 tbsps dry sherry
- 2 tsps sesame oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsps ginger juice
- 2 tbsps clear honey or corn syrup
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 lb pork butt, cut into 2 x 2 x 4 inch chunks


Preparation:
1) Mix together the soy sauce, sherry, salt, ginger, honey or syrup, sugar and garlic in a dish. Add the pork and leave to marinate got at least 6 hours in the refrigerator, turning the meat occasionally.

2) Place the pork on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Roast in a preheated moderate oven (180°C/350°F, Gas Mark 4) for 40 to 45 minutes or until tender, basting with the pan juices frequently.

3) Cut into serving pieces and arrange on a plate. Serve hot or cold.

Chef's Note: This barbecued pork can be chopped and used as a filling for Barbecued Meat Buns, a favorite Chinese lunch or snack.

Ginger Pork

Serves 6

Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. pork cubes 1-inch size (may be cut from pork chops)
- Flour
- 3 tbsp. cooking oil
- 1/2 c. chicken broth (may use bouillon cubes
- 1/3 c. soy sauce
- 2-4 tbsp. sherry
- 1 sm. clove garlic, minced
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 c. chopped green onion (or regular onion)
- 1 tbsp. honey
- 1 can water chestnuts, drained and sliced


Preparation:
1) Dredge meat in flour.

2) Heat oil in large skillet or electric fry pan.

3) Add half meat; brown quickly. Remove and brown rest of meat. Pour excess oil from pan.

4) Combine chicken broth, soy sauce and sherry. Add other ingredients. Place in pan with meat. Simmer covered 15 minutes or until meat is tender.

5) Add 1 can drained, sliced water chestnuts or bean sprouts (or canned). Heat through. Serve over hot fluffy rice.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Chicken Karaage (Sesame Fried Chicken)

Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breasts/chicken thighs (cut into small pieces/cubes)
- 3 inches fresh ginger (peeled and pounded with a mortar and pestle to extract 2 tablespoons of ginger juice)
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 6 tablespoons sake
- 1/8 teaspoon sesame oil (optional)
- Corn starch to coat the chicken
- Oil for deep frying


Preparation:
1) Use paper towels to pat dry the chicken pieces and transfer to a bowl. Add in sake, ginger juice, soy sauce, sesame oil (optional) and marinate for 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken pieces out of the marinate and coat them evenly with corn starch. Shake off excess.

2) Deep-fry in oil for two times. Heat up a wok/pot of cooking oil. When the cooking oil is hot enough for frying, drop the chicken pieces into the oil and quickly deep fry them until they float. Transfer them out onto a plate and wait for a couple of minutes.

3) Put the chicken back into the oil and deep-fry until golden brown and crunchy. Dish out to a plate or bowl lined with paper towels to absorb the excess oil, serve hot with a slice of lemon and mayonnaise.

Cook’s Notes:
1) I used young chicken breast and the meat was really juicy and tender.
2) Deep-frying twice ensures that the chicken pieces are crunchy and stay crunchy even after a few hours.

Orange Chicken Recipe (Orange Peel Chicken) 陈皮鸡

Ingredients:
- 1/2 pound chicken breast (cut into bite-size cubes)
- 5 dried red chilies (cut into 1.5 inch length, seeded and soaked in warm water)
- 1 teaspoon minced orange zest
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 inch ginger (minced)
- 1 stalk scallion (use the white part only, cut into thin threads for garnishing)
- 2 teaspoons oil
- Oil for deep frying


Orange Sauce:
- 1/4 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
- 3 tablespoons canned chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
- 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 5 teaspoons sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon white pepper powder
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- Salt to taste


Frying Batter:
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 oz. all-purpose flour
- 1 oz. corn starch
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 egg
- 1 teaspoon cooking oil
- 1 small pinch of salt


Preparation:
1) Mix the orange sauce ingredients and set aside.

2) Mix the frying batter and dip the chicken meat into the batter. Heat up a pot/wok of cooking oil. When the cooking oil is hot enough for frying, drop the chicken pieces into the oil and deep fry them until they turn golden brown or crispy. Transfer them out onto a plate lined with paper towels to soak up the excess oil.

3) In a wok, add 2 teaspoons of cooking oil and quickly stir-fry the minced garlic and ginger until aromatic.

4) Add in the dried red chilies and toss around until you smell the spicy aroma. Follow by the minced orange zest and then chicken. Quickly stir the chicken around before adding the orange sauce mixture. Continue to stir-fry until the sauce thicken.

5) Dish out, garnish with the scallion threads and serve immediately with steamed white rice.

Teriyaki Chicken

Ingredients:
- 300g deboned chicken thighs
- 1 tbsp sake
- 4 tbsp soya sauce
- 4-5 tbsp mirin
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 1 tbsp vegetable oil

Preparation:
1) In a bowl, put in sake, soya sauce, mirin and sugar. Mix well and marinate the chicken in it for about 20 minutes.

2) Heat the oil in a pan, brown both sides of the chicken thighs and leave until cooked.

3)  Pour in the teriyaki sauce that was used to marinate chicken in the pan and continue to cook until the chicken has glazed and covered the chicken.

4) Remove the pan from heat, serve on a plate and drizzle any remaining sauce from the frying pan.

5) Serve the teriyaki chicken with boiled rice or salad leaves.

Lettuce Wraps (Lettuce-wrapped Chicken)

Ingredients:
- 1 lb. boneless and skinless chicken breast (ground)
- 3 dried shitake mushrooms (soaked in warm water until soft, remove stems and chopped finely)
- 3 cloves garlic (chopped finely)
- 2 fresh water chestnuts (chopped finely)
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil


Marinate:
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon kecap manis (sweet soy sauce) or dark soy sauce (for coloring)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
- 1 stalk scallion (finely chopped)
- 3 dashes white pepper powder
- 1 fresh and cold iceberg lettuce head


Hoisin-Ponzu Dipping Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 tablespoon Japanese ponzu sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Sriracha chili sauce
- 1 tablespoon warm water (to dilute the dipping sauce)


Sweet Chili Sauce:
- 4 tablespoons Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce
- Some cilantro leaves (chopped)
- 1/2 tablespoon lime juice


Preparation:
1) Mix the ground chicken meat, chopped mushrooms and water chestnuts with all the marinate ingredients. Set aside for 15 minutes.

2) Mix the dipping sauces and set aside. Heat up a wok and add the cooking oil. Saute the garlic until light brown and then add the chicken. Stir-fry the ground chicken and break up the lumps so they form nice small pieces. Continue to stir-fry until the chicken is cooked. Dish out and set aside.

3) Carefully peel off the lettuce leaves from the iceberg lettuce head. Be careful not to break the leaves.

4) Scoop up a big spoonsful of chicken and place it in the middle of a lettuce leaf. Wrap it up and dip into the hoisin-ponzu sauce or sweet chili sauce before eating. Alternatively, you can add the sauce on top of the chicken before eating.

Soto Ayam

Serves 8-10


Ingredients:
- 2 chicken whole legs or breasts (bone-in)
- 2 big red onions
- 5 garlic
- 2inch ginger
- 4-spices (1 star anise seed, 3 cloves, 3 cardamon & 1-inch cinnamon stick)
- Rinsed 5 cups water
- 1/3 cup coconut milk
- Salt and sugar to taste
- 5 tablespoons vegetable oil


Preparation:
1) Grind onion, garlic and ginger in the blender.

2) In a pot, heat the oil and add the 4-spices until fragrant. Add in the gounded ingredients and stir continuosly until fragrant.

3) Add water and chicken, let it boil. About 30 min.

4) Take the chicken out and let them cool.

5) Add coconut milk into the pot together with salt and sugar to taste. If necessary, add another cup of water.

6) In the meantime, shred the meat of the chicken and add them back into the pot together with the bones. Let it boil for another 15-20min. Serve hot with rice cakes/nasi impit (cut into bite-sized cubes) or vermicelli and bean sprouts.

Monday, February 14, 2011

PHILLY OREO Cheesecake

Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 6 hour 5 min
Makes: 16 servings


Ingredients:
- 1 pkg. (1 lb. 2 oz.) OREO Cookies, divided
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 4 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
- 4 eggs


Preparation:
1) Heat oven to 325ºF. Line 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Process 30 cookies in food processor until finely ground. Add butter; mix well. Press onto bottom of pan.

2) Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating after each just until blended.

3) Chop remaining cookies; stir 1-1/2 cups into batter. Pour over crust; top with remaining chopped cookies.
4) Bake 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to lift cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sweet Potatoes with Dried Longan Dessert Soup

Serve 4 - 6

Ingredients:
- 2 regular yellow flesh sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized/ small cubes
- 2 regular orange flesh sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite-sized/ small cubes
- 1 palm-sized honey rock sugar (or normal rock sugar, if desired)
- 1 thick slice of ginger (about 1cm thick, thumb-sized), lightly smashed once
- 1 pot of water (about 1500ml)


Preparation:
1) Bring a pot of water to a boil and add ginger slice.

2) Put in dried longan, yellow and orange flesh sweet potatoes, and bring them to another boil.

3) Reduce heat to low fire, add rock sugar, and simmer for 20 - 30 minutes, or until sweet potatoes just soften.

4) Serve hot.


Of course, you can have some sweet potato caserroles or briny-taste dishes, instead of having it sweet. Give me some time, I will have more sweet potatoes recipe in due (trying… winking smile)!


A bowl of this sweet potato dessert soup with dried longan counts about 120kcal.


Tips: Please do not over-cook the sweet potatoes as it will become too soft to yield the right texture.
* Cut the sweet potatoes into small cube size makes the cooking faster. It is also easier for the children to chew. Most of all, it looks much more presentable in appearance when served.
* Do simmer the rock sugar together with the sweet potatoes to attain perfect sweetness.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Tau Suan

Ingredients:
- 200 grammes of split green / mung beans (soak for 15 minutes – if using rice cooker, soak for 30 minutes if steaming)
- 4 pandan leaves (washed and knotted)
- 200 grammes sugar / rock sugar
- 1 bowl potato starch (mix potato flour with water till you get a thick starchy solution)
- 2 litres water

Preparation:
1) Cook the split green beans by using rice cooker / steaming. If you are using the rice cooker, place beans in the cooker and add water till water has just covered the surface. Turn on the rice cooker and allow it to cook. If you are steaming the beans, drain water and steam it on a suitable plate for 20 minutes on high heat. (Taste the beans frequently after the first 15 minutes to check if they are done. Rinse the cooked beans lightly under running water and set aside.) After the beans have cooked, gently fluff them using a fork.

2) Cook sugar syrup by bringing to boil the 2 litres of water in a pot / sauce pan with the pandan leaves thrown in. Once water is boiling, add sugar and stir till sugar has fully melted. (Some also add dried tangerine peel – to make a light syrup, sweetened to suit yourself.)

3) Gradually stir in the potato starch mixture into the sugar syrup to thicken the syrup till it becomes gluey. Take care to add potato starch in small amounts at a time and stir well to prevent lumpiness. (For every litre of syrup, dissolve 20g of water chestnut starch and 15g of potato starch in a little water, then stir into the syrup and simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.)

4) Once the syrup has thicken, stir in the mung beans, and when the tau suan just comes up to a boil, turn off the heat. Serve immediately with thinly sliced yau char kueh.

Note: Once most starches reach their thickening peak, further stirring and heating will thin them out, so if you want to make tau suan in advance, cook the mung beans and make the syrup first, then thicken and assemble the dessert just before serving.

豆沙饼 - Tau Sa Piah

Makes 15 pcs

Ingredients:
Dough A:
- 120g flour
- 60g shortening
Dough B:
- 120g all-purpose flour, sifted
- 30g icing sugar
- 30g shortening
- 60ml water
Filling (sweet):
- 3/4 cup peeled mung beans (soaked for 2-3 hrs, steamed and mashed/blended)
- 3 tbsp cooking oil
- 1 bulb shallot, sliced thinly (about 1 tbsp heap)
- 1/2 cup sugar*
- 1/2 tsp salt*
- 1 tsp grated orange grind

* There are two types of tau sa piah, if you prefer the 'savory' version, reduce the amount of sugar and increase the amount of salt. Also, add a little bit of ground white pepper.

Preparation:
1) Filling: Combine sugar, salt, and mashed beans in a large bowl. Mix well.

2) Heat oil in wok or pan. Stir-fry the shallots till fragrant and lightly browned, removed fried shallot and set aside for later use. Stir in orange grind and bean mixture, stir-fry on low heat till it becomes dry and able to form a ball. It would not take too long.

3) Remove from heat and stir in fried shallots. Cool completely, divide and shape filling into 15 equal portion balls.

4) Dough: Prepare dough A and B separately using the same method. Bring together all ingredients for each dough, mix well and knead to form soft dough. Cover and let them stand for 30 minutes. Divide and shape each dough into 15 equal portion balls.

5) Assemble: Wrap dough B around dough A. Roll it out into 15 x 3 cm (approx.) rectangle with a rolling pin, then roll up from the short end, repeat this step again.

6) Roll it out into 10 cm diameter circle and place the filling at the center. Bring all edges together and pinch to seal.

7) Egg wash and sprinkle some sesame seeds on the top if desired.

8) Preheat oven at 180 degree C and bake for 20 minutes till golden brown.

Notes: This pastry recipe can be used in making baked savory meat bun - 'shao bao' and other baked dim sum items. I steamed/cooked the mung beans using microwave, added some water and cooked on 'Defrost' mode for 10 minutes. Same method as in cooking steamed rice.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Foody Sites I Luv!

http://rasamalaysia.com/
http://lilyanette.blogspot.com/
http://mykitch3n.blogspot.com/
http://www.epicurious.com/

Muah Chee

Ingredients:
- 8 oz glutinous rice flour
- 2 tablespoons tapioca flour
- 1 1/2 cup water
- Some cooking oil (for greasing)
- Fried shallot crisps
Rosted Peanuts Mixture
- 4 oz ground roasted peanuts
- 4 oz sugar
- 2 oz sesame seeds (lightly toasted)

Preparation:
1) Mix the glutinous rice flour and tapioca flour with water to form a batter. Transfer the batter into a greased pan. Steamed over high heat for 10-15 minutes until the glutinous rice paste is completely cooked through in the center. Let cool.

2) In a deep dish, mix the ground roasted peanuts, sugar, and sesame seeds well. Cut a small piece of the rice paste using a plastic knife. Drop it into the mixture and start cutting the rice paste into smaller cubes. Coat well with the mixture, dish out and serve immediately with some fried shallot crisps.

Note: If you want a sinfully delicious Muar Chee, add some lard into the ground peanuts and/or the steamed glutinous rice paste. It’s not healthy but it will taste even better.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Fried Carrot Cake (Black / White)

Ingredients:
- 1 pound daikon (also called Chinese radish or luo bo)
- 7 tablespoons peanut or vegetable oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 cups finely ground rice flour (not sweet; an Asian brand such as Erawan)
- 2 cups water
- 6 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons chopped garlic
- 1/4 cup ketjap manis (Indonesian sweet soy sauce) or thick soy sauce
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sambal oelek or Sriracha (Southeast Asian chile sauce) plus additional for serving
- 3 scallions, chopped (1/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup loosely packed sprigs fresh cilantro

Special equipment: a well-seasoned 14-inch flat-bottomed wok with lid
 
Preparation:
Make and steam cake:
1) Oil bottom and side of a 9-inch round cake pan.

2) Peel daikon, then shred in a food processor fitted with medium shredding disk. Reserve any liquid.

3) Heat wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates instantly. Pour 3 tablespoons oil down side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl, coating side. When oil begins to smoke, add daikon with any liquid, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and stir-fry 3 minutes. Cover and cook over moderately low heat, stirring and breaking up daikon occasionally, until daikon is very tender, about 15 minutes.

4) Whisk together rice flour and water in a large bowl until smooth, then stir in daikon (mixture will be lumpy) and pour into cake pan.

5) Set a steamer rack inside cleaned wok and fill wok with water (not above steamer rack), then bring to a boil. Reduce heat to moderate and steam cake in pan on rack, covered, 1 hour (replenish water as necessary). Wearing oven mitts, transfer pan to a cooling rack and cool about 1 1/2 hours. Wrap pan tightly with plastic wrap and chill at least 8 hours.

Make stir-fry:
1) Run a knife along edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a cutting board, rapping on bottom of pan until cake is released. Blot with paper towels. Cut cake into 1/2-inch cubes.

2) Beat together eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a bowl.

3) Heat dried wok over high heat until a drop of water evaporates instantly. Pour remaining 4 tablespoons oil down side of wok, then tilt wok to swirl, coating side. When oil begins to smoke, add cake cubes, garlic, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and stir-fry, letting cake rest on bottom and sides of wok about 10 seconds between stirs, until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes. (Cubes will soften and may stick to wok. Scrape brown bits from bottom of wok and continue stir-frying.)

4) Add eggs to wok and stir-fry until eggs are just set, about 1 minute.

5) Stir in ketjap manis(if you want black), sambal oelek, and scallions, then transfer to a serving dish and scatter cilantro on top. Serve with additional sambal oelek.

Prawn Aglio Olio

Serves 1 pax

Ingredients:
- 100g spaghetti
- 1-2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- 5 large prawns/shrimps (shells & veins removed)*
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh english parsley/basil (I use 1/2 tbsp of dried basil)
- chilli flakes (optional)
- salt/garlic salt

Preparations:
1) Add some vegetable oil and salt to a pot of water, and boil the spaghetti till al dente (according to the instructions on the package). Drain & set aside.

2) In a saucepan (medium flame), heat olive oil and stir fry chopped garlic, parsley/basil and chilli flakes till they are infused with the oil.

3) Add the prawns and stir fry till they are cooked. Toss in the pasta and stir evenly.

4) Season with salt (about 1/2 tsp and add more if needed) and stir well. You can garnish with parsley flakes, grated cheese and garlic bits before serving.