Monday, December 31, 2012

Matcha bread




Ingredients: 600g loaf (206 x 108 x100h)
230g bread flour
70g cake flour
30g sugar
milk + 1 yolk = 210g (I used skim milk)
4.5g salt
18g unsalted butter (I used 20g)
4g yeast
Green tea powder 3-4g
Almond powder 100g
         

Method:
 
1. Heat up milk and yolk to temperature of 38C. (I beat the yolk lightly with milk and send it to the microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds).
2. Put everything in bread machine and set to dough cycle. Let it knead for 20 minutes. Stop the cycle and restart the dough cycle and let it knead for another 15 minutes.
3. Divide dough into equal dough ( about 50g each) and rest for 5 min
4. Roll into round shape .
5. Final proof for 50-60 min
6. Egg wash the bread
7. Bake in oven for 20 min at 180 degrees.

Original recipe adapted from :http://perfectpandas.com/2008/01/08/panda-bread/
 

Brussel sprouts

Brussels sprouts, as with broccoli and other brassicas, contains sulforaphane, a chemical believed to have potent anticancer properties. Although boiling reduces the level of the anticancer compounds, steaming, and stir frying do not result in significant loss.[14]
Brussels sprouts and other brassicas are also a source of indole-3-carbinol, a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and appears to block the growth of cancer cells.
Excess eating of this vegetable may not be suitable for heart patients taking anticoagulant because it contains vitamin K. In one such reported incident, doctors determined that reason behind worsening condition of a heart patient was excess eating of Brussels sprouts. This vegetable is rich in vitamin K that is used by body for blood clotting so some heart patients taking anticoagulants may have to avoid its excess intake.


 
 
 
Ingredients
 
300 g of Brussel sprouts
 
1 red pepper
 
Garlic
 
black pepper
 
Salt
 
Chicken stock
 
 
Methods
 
Cut off the bottom part of the brussel sprouts.
Half the brussel sprout
Wash throughly
 
Smash some garlic
Dice up some red peppers
 
Heat up frying pan
Pour some olive oil
Stir fried the garlic first
Then add in diced red pepper , follow by brussel sprouts
Add in  a dash of black pepper and salt
Add in 2 Tbsp of chicken stock.
Fried till soft
 
Served immediately
 
 
 


Cotton cheesecake








A)
250g Cream Cheese
200ml Fresh milk

B)
100g Butter

C)
6 egg yolks
1 tbsp lemon juice


D)
20g Corn Flour
50g cake flour


E)
6 egg whites
1/4 cream of tartar *( can replace with lemon juice)
140g caster sugar


Toppings :

Mixed berries jam
Fresh strawberries and blueberries
Powdered sugar


Method
1. Pour A into a pot and simmer till smooth. Add in B and mix well. Remove and let cool.
2.Mix in C till well incorporated and stir in D. Set aside.
3. Whisk E till soft peak, add in cheese mixture, mix till well combined.
4.Pour batter into a lined 9″ baking tin and steam-bake at 160C for 60 minutes.
5. Let it cool for about 5 minutes and remove liners
6. Cool completely and put into fridge for 2 hours
7. Decorate with your desired toppings.

Original receipe taken from :http://munchministry.com/recipe/cotton-cheesecake/








Oreo and walnut bread loaf



Ingredients: 600g loaf (206 x 108 x100h)

230g bread flour
70g cake flour
30g sugar
milk + 1 yolk = 210g (I used skim milk)
4.5g salt
18g unsalted butter (I used 20g)
4g yeast
Oreo biscuits ( 12 pieces break into 4 pieces each)
Walnut ( 100g) Crushed into small pieces


Method:
1. Heat up milk and yolk to temperature of 38C. (I beat the yolk lightly with milk and send it to the microwave on HIGH for 30 seconds).
2. Put everything in bread machine and set to sweet bread.
3. Bread is ready.
Original Recipe taken from : http://perfectpandas.com/2008/01/08/panda-bread/

Hearty wholemeal wraps


Ingredients:

1 pack of mission wraps
Few slices of honey ham
Salad of your choice
Tuna
Shredded cheese
Jap mayo

Methods


Place 1 wrap on a plate. Put shredded cheese on top
Microwave for about 30 seconds till cheese slightly melt
Place tuna, ham, salad on top
Top with mayo.
Wrap up and slice into half
Ready and enjoy.

Ham n Cheese and pork floss breads

 

Ingredients
  • 370 gm bread flour
  • 65 gm caster sugar
  • 5 gm salt
  • 12 gm full cream milk powder
  • 6 gm instant dry yeast
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 30 gm whisked egg
  • 125 gm milk
  • 120 gm tangzhong 
  • 75ml whipping cream
  • 35 gm unsalted butter, softened
Toppings:
Honey baked ham ( slices into long stripes)
Shredded cheese
Pork Floss
Jap mayo

Add all the ingredients into a breadmaker, the wet ingredients then the dry ingredients. When all the ingredients come together ( about 5mins) , add butter and continue kneading till dough is smooth and elastic. I selected dough mode and let the dough complete 1st round of proofing about 1hr. My total dough time is 1hr and 30mins.
Then transfer the dough to a clean surface. Deflate the dough and divide to about 50 to 60g each. Cover and rest the dough for about 10mins at room temperature.
Roll out each dough into a round shape and place into a muffin cup.
Allow for final proofing of 50 mins -60 mins
Preheat your oven to 180 degrees.
When the dough rises and almost reaches to the rim of the muffin cup, lightly brush the surface with whisked egg.
Top with your desired topping like ham , cheese and bake for about 20 mins or until top turn brown.
Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack.
For pork floss topping, After the buns have cooled, spread some Jap mayo on to the bread and dip into pork floss.

For Tangzhong :
For this receipe, i use 25g of bread flour and 125ml of water.
Cook over medium low heat and stirring consistently till mixture thicker and lines appear.
Cover with cling wrap and let it cool.
Can use it when room temperature is attain.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Super soft Pandan chiffon cake



This is my favourite as there is no coconut milk use in this recipe and only fresh pandan juice is used. No cream of tartar used here as well.
 
 

Super moist cake

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ingredients:

 
 
5 egg yolks
30g caster sugar
70g pandan juice * fresh
50g vegetable oil
83g cake flour
 
 
Egg white batter
 
5 egg white
70g caster sugar
 
 
Method:
 
Add egg yolk to caster sugar , cream with a spatula or mixer till sugar melts
Add fresh pandan juice , oil and blend well till smooth and shiny
Add cake flour and mix well
Whip egg white till foamy add sugar in 3 batches and whip till stiff peaks formed.
Add 1/3 whipped whites to egg yolk batter swirl in with spatula and mix well
Add in remaining egg whites till all mixed well
Pour batter in chiffon mold ( mine is 21cm )
Bake in preheat oven for 45 mintues at 170 degrees
Invert immediately when out of oven
Cool completely before remove from mold.
 
 
Recipe originated from my friend Amy .

Pig stomach mee sau


Red wine chicken Mee sau



Cheesy and rosemary focaccia






Wanton





 Ingredients:

500g of wanton skin ( round / square)
300g of minced pork / chicken meat
200g of prawns ( minced)
6 -7water chestnuts ( chopped finely)
spring onions ( chopped finely)
1 egg
corn flour
1 TB of sesame oil
1 TB of soya sauce
1 TB of oyster sauce
a dash of pepper


Methods:

Mixed all the ingredients together.
Store in the fridge for about 1/2 hour
Wrap the meat with the wanton skin
Can deep fry as snacks or steam for soup




 

Mixed sweet potatoes soup





Ingredients:

3 purple sweet potatoes
3 yellow sweet potatoes
10 red dates
some wolfberries
A few slices of ginger
Honey
3 litres of water


Methods:

Wash and peel the sweet potatoes
Cut into cubes
Bowl a big pot of water
Add all the ingredients in except the wolfberries and honey
Boil for about 30mins till the sweet potatoes had soften.
Serve with honey and wolfberries



Baked Portobello with garlic



Ingredients:

1 pack of potobello
1 big garlic ( chopped finely)
2 tablespoon of olive oil ( good ones)
Some Sea salt


Methods:

Wash the Portobello and pat dry
Heat up the wok
Place 1 tablespoon of olive oil  and the garlic
Stir fry a while and be careful not to burn the garlic
Add in Portobello and stir fry a while
Place the Portobello on a baking tray and sprinkle some sea salt on top
Bake in oven for 15 minutes on grill mode
Serve hot

Peanuts roots soup

 
 
 
 
 

This is an interesting and yummy soup. I never heard of it before until I read it from a blog that  many parents believe that the roots of peanut help children to  grow taller. I honestly don't know if this is true, but my research on the web makes me want to this soup for my family.

Peanut root, according to research, is full of the anti-oxidant, Resveratrol, usually associated with red wine, which helps protects the heart and lower cholesterol, and helps prevent cancer. The finished soup is full of peanut fragrance and my 3 kids love the soup.


Ingredients:

Peanut Root, 500g
Pork Muscle / lean pork, 500gm
Water, 3L
5 red dates
5 dry scallops
some wolfberries


Method:

1. Place all ingredients in a soup pot, filled with 4l of water
2. Bring to the boil for 30 mins, then boil over medium-low heat for 2 hrs.
3. salt to taste


Note:

- To wash Peanut Roots, stripe off the top leaves, only leaving those near the bottom. The leaves would give the soup a biter taste. I usually wash it several times, shaking the roots in the water like whisking, to loosen the soil and dirt.



Original recipe from :http://whatscookingdaddy.blogspot.sg/2007/09/peanut-root-soup.html

Macadamia n chocolate chips cookies




Ingredients
  • 115gm unsalted butter
  • 50gm white sugar
  • 100gm brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 190gm plain flour
  • 100  of Hershey semi sweet chocolate chips
  • Some macadamia nuts
  • 10gm of almond flakes
Method
  1. Cream butter and all sugar together until light & fluffy.
  2. Beat in egg until well blended. Stir in vanilla. Add Baking soda into batter along with the salt. Beat briefly.
  3. Sift in flour and fold till batter formed. Stir in chocolate chips and almond flakes until well mixed.
  4. Drop large spoonfuls of batter onto lined baking sheets. (I use an ice-cream scoop) and place one macadamia nuts on each cookie.
  5. Bake in preheated oven at 180 degree for 12-15mins until the edges are lightly brown.
  6. Cool on baking sheets for 5 mins before transferring on wire rack to cool completely  before storing.

Original recipe taken below :
http://munchministry.com/recipe/chocolate-chip-nut-cookies/

French fingerling potatoes




Ingredients:

1 pack of fingerling potatoes
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoons of Italian herbs



Methods:

Blanch the potatoes in water until soft
Rinse off the water and put on a serving plate
Add in Olive oil and Italian herbs to garnish and serve


Avocado Smoothie



Avocado Health Benefits

 Although avocados have a higher fat content than other fruits and veggies, they are full of healthy poly and monounsaturated fats which improve heart health, reduce cholesterol levels, lower the risk of breast cancer and help to slow down the release of sugar into the bloodstream. Avocados also boost the body’s ability to absorb essential fat-soluble nutrients like alpha and beta-carotene. Their creamy texture makes a great addition to smoothies and can be paired with many fruits, vegetables or other ingredients. My fav combo will be with sushi.


Ingredients:


1 ripe avocado
1 cup milk
1 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup of water


Directions:
  1. Place all ingredients in blender and puree until smooth.
  2. Garnish with a sprig of mint or coco powder.
 For more variety of recipes, you may refer to the below link for more.

http://dailydelights.sheknows.com/articles/824049/how-to-make-an-avocado-smoothie

Tofu patties


Ingredients:

 370 g tofu
 200g fish paste
 1 whole corn ( kennels)
 some spring onions ( chopped finely)
100g of minced chicken meat
5-6 pieces of water chestnuts ( minced finely)


Methods:

Make sure the tofu is pat dry before smashing it. Mixed all together.
Add some oyster sauce, sesame oil, light soya sauce, some pepper, some rice flour to keep the mixture sticky. use a spoon to make a round shape and put the paste on the frying pan, fry till both side brown. Served hot. 

You can add in seafood like prawns if prefer.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Baked Teriyaki Salmon




Ingredients:

1 piece of salmon
1 small Japanese cucumber
2 small cherry tomatoes
A dash of salt
Teriyaki sauce


Methods:

1) Wash salmon and remove any bones
2) Place on a baking tray and sprinkle a dash of salt
3) Place in oven and bake at 200 degrees for 15 to 20 mins
4) Serve with teriyaki sauce on top


Claypot sake tofu



Ingredients:

1 Silken tofu
4 pieces of snow crab leg
few pieces of carrots
few pieces of fish cake
few sprigs of spring onions

Sauce:

120ml of dashi
50ml of sake
5 ml of shoyu


Methods:

Cut the ingredients into small pieces
Please the tofu into a claypot and arrange the ingredients nicely on top
Add in the sauce
Cover and steam on high heat for 8-10 minutes. Ready to serve.

Chawanmushi- Crab meat egg custard

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ingredients:
 
4 pieces of fresh crab leg
4 pieces of fish cakes
20g of bonito flakes
4 eggs
1 package of dashi about 4g
300ml water
 
Seasonings:
 
1 Tbs mirin
1 Tbs light shoyu
 
Methods:
 
1) Bring water to boil, add in bonito flakes and boil for 1 minutes
2) Filter the water and add in dashi to mix well
3) Once the stock cool, add in eggs and seasonings
4) Divide the mixture into 4 bowls and put in crab leg and fish cakes
5) Steam on high for 5 minutes and serve.
 
 
 

 


Friday, November 2, 2012

Baked cheesy ham and pumpkin and potatoes cakes



 
 
 
 
Ingredients:
 
5 potatoes
1/2 small pumpkin
shredded cheese
3-4 slices of honey baked ham( cut into small pieces)
2 tablespoons of butter milk
Japanese mayo
Japanese seaweeds
A dash of black pepper
 
 
Methods:
 
Peel off the skins of potatoes and pumpkin
Cut into big pieces and boil till soften
Smash the potatoes and pumpkin together
Add in butter milk , mayo and black pepper
Mix till all creamy
Take a baking cup, add in a few ham
Add in the creamy mixture till 3/4 full
Top with shredded cheese and dash of seaweeds
Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes on grill mode
 

Canberry Mixed tea chiffon cake




Ingredients:

Set A
6 egg yolk
30g caster sugar
2/4tsp salt
80g veg. oil
6 bags Lipton Cranberry Raspberry & Strawberry Tea Bag
120g hot water



Set B
 150g cake flour
3/4tsp  baking powder

 

Set C
6 egg white
130g caster sugar
1/2tsp cream of tartar



Set D

 80g dried cranberry (mix with some flour and sift away excess flour)








 

Methods:

1. Preheat oven to 175C.
2. Sift Set B :flour and baking powder, set aside.
3. Cut the tea bags, pour tea leaf into a cup.
4. Pour hot water into it and leave it aside to cool.
5. With a hand whisk, whisk Set A: egg yolk, salt and sugar together.
6. Add oil, tea together with the tea leaf residue and flour into the egg yolk batter.
7. Whisk until well combined.
8. Use a mixer, whisk Set C: the egg whites and cream of tartar till frothy.
9. Gradually add in sugar and whisk till stiff peaks form.
10.Fold in 1/4 of the meringue into the egg yolk mixture until combined.
11.Then fold in the rest of the meringue  lightly until well combined.
12. Lastly fold in the Set D: floured dried cranberry.
13.Pour batter into a tube pan, smooth the surface.
14.Place pan into a preheated oven and bake for 55mins.
15.Remove from oven, invert cake onto table top and leave it cool.
16.Remove cake from pan and serve.


Thanks to Fion Lim for sharing this receipe

Rosemary and onions Focaccia




Ingredients

WET
100g Tangzhong (water roux method)
64g water
20g extra virgin olive oil



DRY
200g bread flour
20g milk powder (can be substituted by creamer) 
10g castor sugar 
4g instant dry yeast
3g salt


10g fresh rosemary ( from NTUC finest / Cold Storage), 

 Pluck the leaves and chop into small pieces.
1/2 red onion (chop finely)

Toppings
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil infused with rosemary leaves
Cherry tomato ( slice into half )

Methods

1. Place wet ingredients first followed by the dry ingredients. Sugar place along the sides and at the center use finger to gently dig a shallow hole (don't go all the way touching the wet ingredients) and pour yeast into the hole.

2. Choose DOUGH function on bread machine.


3. Dough function requires 1hr30min. Start the BM and it will mix for few mins and stop.

4. Leave the BM alone to let it finish it's job, this includes the 1st proof. When the BM is proofing, do not open the lid.

5. After 1hr30mins, the BM will beep that job is done. On a lightly floured top and flour your hands, remove dough from BM and gently punch the dough to release air and knead a bit. Dough is very sticky but this is normal. Roll into round ball and cove with cling wrap for 2nd proof for about 15mins. Brush your square baking tray with olive oil. Shape the dough into square shape and place it into the baking tray and gently spread to fit the tray shape .


6. Cover dough with cling wrap and proof for the 3rd time, requires 50mins or double the dough size.

7. Dip your index finger into the olive oil infused with rosemary and start to poke holes on the dough. The depth is about 1/2 inch deep. Brush the dough surface with olive oil infused with rosemary and sprinkle the rosemary as topping. I added cherry tomatoes into the holes.

8. Bake at pre-heated oven at 200 degrees for 20 mins.

 Special Thanks to Jenia and Yukie for sharing this wonderful recipes. 




Double boiled black chicken herbal soup



 
 
 
Ingredients:
 
15 Red dates
20g Cordyceps Militaris
Some wolfberries
4 pieces of Dang Shen
3 pieces of Huai Shan
3 pieces of Qi Pian
4 pieces of Tian Qi
1/4 black chicken
 
Methods:
 
Wash the herbs and chicken
Put all the herbs and chicken into the double boiler
Boil on high for 15 minutes and simmer on low flame for 4 hours
 
 
 

 

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Red wine chicken 红糟鸡



Ingredients

1kg of chicken wings
4-5 slices of gingers
1-2  clove garlic
Red Dreg
3 tablespoon of rice wine
2 tablespoon of soya sauce
A dash of pepper
spring onions for garnish


Methods

1) Wash the chicken wings clean
2) Add oil , stir fried the garlics and gingers till fragrant
3) Add in chicken wings
4) fry till slight brown
5) Add in rice wine , soya sauce, pepper
6) then add in red dreg till the consistency you want
7) cover and simmer over small heat for 15 minutes ( till chicken wings cooked)
8) serve hot with spring onions




Martell drunken prawns




Ingredients
- 400g  fresh big  prawns
- 3 tbsp Chinese wine (Hua Diao Jiu 花雕酒 or Shao Xing Jiu 绍兴酒)
- 4-6  tablespoons of Martell ( enough to cover the prawns)
- 1 tablespoon of sesame oil
- a handful of wolfberries
- 3 thick spring onion stalks (the bottom white part)
- 3 to 5 slices of ginger
-  for garnish - spring onions  and coriander


Directions

1. Trim off the feelers off the prawns and clean the prawns with salt water
2.  Arrange the spring onions stalks in the bowl and arrange the prawns in a claypot bowl
3. Pour in Martell and chinese wine over prawns and rest for 5 minutes
4. Add in the sesame oil ,ginger slices ,wolfberries
5. Steam on high heat for 10-15 minutes till prawns turn red ( do not over cook)
6. Garnish with spring onions and coriander.
7. Enjoy while hot !


Monday, October 29, 2012

Hakka Abacus Seeds




My mum and I decided to make this dish today. Our first attempt. The suan pan zi is consider a sucessful because it taste very "Q" and very fragrant. Congrats MUM!! U did it !

History:
suan pan zi, or abacus seeds, has one counting his blessings the minute one bites into the springy discs of yam, shaped after its namesake. This traditional Hakka dish is eaten during festive celebrations such as Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival for prosperity.

Abacus seeds, however, is a simple dish to make. The only things one needs to pay attention to, s is the tapioca flour-to-yam ratio, and the process of kneading the dough. Too much flour, and the yam discs become hard. Too much yam, and the seeds will not hold their shape.It is also important to knead the yam and flour together while the boiled yam paste is still warm. The heat from the yam paste might be a little uncomfortable but doing so ensures that the abacus seeds have a springy bite.



Ingredients:


1kg purple yam, cleaned, peeled and diced.


4 tsp salt


700g tapioca flour


6 Tbs cooking oil


3 tsp sesame oil


2 tsp soya sauce


10 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced


100g dried shrimp, coarsely blended


150g dried Chinese mushroom, soaked till soft and sliced


100g minced pork ( optional)


2 tsp pepper


1 tsp oyster sauce

Garnish: spring onions and celery



Methods:

Steam the yam until it is soft and mash it while it is hot.

Stir in the tapioca flour and salt and knead into a dough. Pinch off enough dough to roll into a ball 2cm in diameter. Press the ball between your thumb and forefinger so that it is depressed in the middle and shaped like an abacus seed. Repeat until dough is used up.

Fill a pot with water to the three-quarter mark and bring it to a boil. Place abacus seeds in the pot and cook it for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the seeds from sticking to the bottom of the pot. When cooked, the seeds will float to the top. Scoop out the cooked abacus seeds and leave them aside to drain.To a hot wok, add 4 Tbs of oil and fry the garlic for 2 minutes till golden brown before adding dried shrimp and mushroom. Stir fry the mixture for another 5 minutes, then set aside.

Add 2 Tbs of oil to the hot wok and fry the minced pork for about 10 minutes until all the moisture in the wok has evaporated.10. To the minced pork, add in the cooked garlic, dried shrimp, mushroom, abacus seeds as well as pepper and soya sauce. Stir fry for 5 minutes.
Serve with chopped spring onions and celery. Enjoy!!!

We can try replacing it with pumpkin instead. But we need more flour because pumpkin contains more moisture than yam.