Saturday

Curry Noodles

This Chinese New Year vacation was filled with cooking activities. All of my family members were here and imagine the amount of food that needed to be prepared on the table during those times. Even though we did not celebrate Chinese New Year, but the atmosphere was like a celebration. 

Normally, what we would have is simple. Main dish, vegetables and a side dish. But when we had all the family members gathered at the same place, the joy of cooking was made merrier. The kitchen was filled with jokes, conversations and laughter, hence time flew very fast, without we knew it, the food was already done. One of the dishes that I cooked for dinner was curry noodles. But instead of the typical yellow noodles that we often have, I substituted them with spaghetti. In fact, I felt that spaghetti taste better. Do try this easy recipe for your friends and family.

Ingredients
4 chicken breasts, cubed
fish balls, as desired
fish cakes, sliced thinly, as desired
tofu puff, halves, as desired
spring onions, thinly sliced
1 packet spaghetti, boiled and drained
200 bean sprouts, blanched
green vegetables (sawi), blanched
Oil, as needed
salt, as desired

To be blended
6 garlic 
4 big onions
2 inch ginger

Other Ingredients
6 table spoon chicken/meat curry powder, add with water to form a paste
500ml thick coconut milk
3 strands curry leaves
2 cinnamon sticks
4 star anise
8 cloves
water, as desired

Methods
1. In a big pot, add in some oil. When the oil is hot, put in cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and curry leaves. Stir well for a few seconds until aromatic.

2. After that, put in the blended items and stir well until the ingredients turn golden brown.

3. Add in the curry paste and cook well for about half an hour or until the paste has become thick and separated from the oil. Be careful to look after the paste and heat. You may add in some water to avoid burning.

4. When the paste is separated from the oil, add in the chicken breasts and cook until tender.

5. Then, you can add in the coconut milk and water as needed. Add some salt as well.

6. Cook for about 20 minutes or until the broth has thickens a bit before adding in the tofu puff, fish balls and fish cakes. Cook and stir well from time to time.

7. When the tofu puffs have soften, you can turn off the heat.

8. Serve in a bowl with spaghetti, spring onions, bean sprouts, sawi and a sambal of your preferences (optional)

*serves 10-12 people


Sunday

Rice Porridge and Tempe Sambal

Sometimes you can get tired of eating the same old food or any fancy food that fill you table. Sometimes, you would like to eat something simple, soft and ideal for the stomach especially after taking too much meat and proteins. A simple dish like this rice porridge is best taken with something that can add some punch and flavour to it. Normally, we would eat this with fried salted fish and anchovies, but this time I have made a hot tempe sambal to be taken with the porridge. Do try!

Ingredients (For the rice porridge)
1 cup rice
salt, to taste
6 cups water or more

*Cook the rice until very tender.

Tempe Sambal
2 squares of tempe, cut into small cubes
a handful of anchovies, cleaned
4 fresh red chillies, pounded
6 bird's eye chillies, pounded
2 garlic, pounded
1 big onion, pounded
salt, to taste
1 tea spoon sugar
1 table spoon vinegar
oil, for frying

Methods
1. Fry the anchovies and tempe until golden and crispy. Put them aside for later use.

2. In a hot frying pan, add some oil and fry the pounded items until they become aromatic.

3. Add in the sugar and vinegar before adding in some salt.

5. Cook and stir well before adding in the anchovies and tempe.

6. Stir well for a few seconds, before turning off the heat.

7. Serves with the rice porridge while still hot.

*serves 2-4 people
 

Saturday

Apple Pie

My first attempt to make an apple pie was a few years ago. I do not make it often as I dread the idea of kneading a dough for the pastry. But nowadays, you can get a ready made pastry at the hypermarket, hence make my life easier. This recipe is one of them. I used a ready made pastry hence my preparation time is cut into half. Do try this very easy and simple recipe for your family! 

Ingredients
Ready made pastry, as required ( this depends on the size of your pie- I used 6 inch round tray for this recipe)


To be mixed together
6 green apples, peeled and cut into thin wedges
3 table spoon flour
3-4 table spoon cinnamon powder
4 table spoon sugar
2 table spoon brown sugar

*Mix all ingredients well.

Methods
1. In a pie tray, put in one layer of the pastry at the bottom and around the tray until it covers the whole tray. Pour in some green beans (to set the pastry) and bake for about 10-15 minutes before taking it out of the oven. Take out the green beans as well.

2. After that, add in the apple mixture into the tray and cover the top with another layer of pastry until it covers all surface. You can make some simple designs at the top layer depending on you own creativity.

3. Bake for about 45 minutes to an hour, medium heat or until golden brown and the apples have turned soft.

4. Let it cool before serving.

*serves 4-6 people


Spicy Grilled Chicken with Hot Sauce

Grilling is one of the fastest and easiest thing to do when you have limited time in the kitchen. Besides, it is also healthy because no oil is needed to cook it. If you like spicy food, you can try this recipe. You will love it! Do try!

Ingredients (For marinade)
4 chicken thighs, cleaned
1 table spoon cumin powder
1 table spoon coriander powder
1 table spoon paprika
1 tea spoon garam masala
1 tea spoon turmeric powder
1 tea spoon black pepper
salt, to taste

*Marinade the chicken with all ingredients for an hour or more before grilling.

Hot Sauce (To be blended)
a handful of dried chillies
3 garlic
1cm ginger
1 table spoon sugar
1-2 table spoon vinegar
salt, to taste

*Cook in a medium heat until thick.

*serves 2-4 people