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

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
 

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

Chicken Soup with Vegetables

Chicken soup is one the most popular dishes in the family. My kids enjoy this soup very much and since cooking it is not a daunting task, I would not mind preparing it over and over again. Normally, chicken soup Malay style is thin, almost watery like. Potatoes and carrots are often added to boost the taste. However, I prefer to add any vegetable that I have in the fridge, as long as they can fit in. Hence, this easy, simple and delicious soup that any one can enjoy at home. Do try!

Ingredients

2 chicken breasts, cubed

4 garlic, chopped

2 inch ginger, thinly sliced

2 big onions, thinly sliced

3 dried chillies

brocolli, as desired

2 potatoes, cubed

baby corns, as desired

1 carrot, sliced

2 table spoon black pepper

1 table spoon white pepper

salt, to taste

water, as needed

2 table spoon oil

 

Methods

1. In a heated pot, pour in some oil and throw in the garlic, ginger, big onions. Stir until golden brown.

2. Add in the chicken and stir for a few minutes before adding in enough water to cover the whole chicken. Cook until simmer.

3. If the water dries, you can add in as much water as you desire and cook until the chicken is tender.

4. When the chicken is tender, you can add in the vegetables one by one and cook until the vegetables are soft.

5. Add some salt, black and white pepper before continue cooking, and until all ingredients blend well together.

6. Lastly, put in the dried chillies and simmer for another minute.

7. You can serve with rice or bread while still hot.

*serves 4-6 people

 

 

Eggless Steamed Chocolate Cake

I have been looking for a simple eggless cake from the internet and I came across a simple one that caught my eyes. The original recipe is just a plain simple vanilla cake, but I have added some chocolates and made some adjustments to my liking. To  my surprise, the cake turned out very well and the taste was outstanding. Do try!

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups Flour

2 teaspoons Baking Powder 

1 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 teaspoon Salt 

1 cup melted sugar

1 can evaporated milk + 2 tablespoons Vinegar (Mix well and leave for about 15 mins)

2 tablespoons Vanilla Extract 

1/2 cup Melted Butter

1 cup cocoa powder

250gm cooking chocolate, double boil

Methods

1. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch pan and line it with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and stir in the the wet ingredients one by one. Stir the mixture together using a whisk. Some lumps is okay.
4. Pour the batter in the prepared pan and tap the pan to even it out and break the air bubbles if any.
5. Steam it for an hour or until cooked in a medium heat.
6. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack and remove the cake after 15-20 minutes. Place the cake on the rack for it to cool down completely before slicing it.
7. You can make some chocolate toppings by mixing some cooking chocolate, sugar, butter and some flour until thickens.
8. Decorate the cake as you desired. 

Chicken and Vegetable Stew

I got ourselves some nice corns, therefore the idea to make some vegetable stew came to mind. Whenever I am out of ideas or feel like eating something light, I would make some stew. It does not matter whether it is chicken or meat stew, the taste would remind me of my childhood and hence, this delicious dish. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1/2 chicken, cut into small parts
3 garlic, chopped
2 big onions, sliced thinly
1 inch ginger, sliced thinly
1 carrot, cubed
1 corn, cut into small portions ( blanch or boil them first)
3 potatoes, cubed
button mushrooms, as desired
3 Table spoon black pepper sauce
2 Table spoon sweet soy sauce
1 Table spoon oyster sauce
lots of black and white pepper
2-3 flour, for thickening
some margarine
salt, to taste
water, as needed

Methods
1. In a heated pot, add in the margarine. When the margarine melts, put in sliced onions, ginger and garlic. Fry until golden brown.

2. Add in the flour and some water. Stir well until the mixture thickens then add more water. Cook for another 2-3 minutes.

3. Then, add in the chicken parts and stir well for a few seconds before adding in enough water to cover the whole chicken. Let it simmer for a few minutes.

4. When the chicken is tender, put in the black pepper sauce, sweet soy sauce and oyster sauce. Stir well.

5. Add in the vegetables one by one with corn the last.

6. When the vegetables are half tender, add in salt and lots of black and white pepper to taste.

7. Cook until the broth thickens and all the ingredients well cooked.

8. Best served with bread or rice.

*serves 4-6 people

Grilled Fish - Simple Recipe

When you have a very limited time to prepare your food, this would be ideal. You do not need much ingredients and all can be marinaded before time or in fact a day's ahead. Even though it is very simple to do, you would not want to compromise on its taste. Thus, make sure that all all well marinaded and you will not get disappointed. Enjoy!

Ingredients

4 fish, any type but I used Selar

6 fresh chillies, pounded

3 garlic, pounded

1 big onion, pounded

3 table spoon thick tamarind juice

salt, to taste

Methods

1. Marinade the fish with all ingredients for a few hours or overnight.

2. Wrap each fish with aluminium foil and grill in medium heat until cooked.

3. Best served with rice and some soy dip.

*serves 3-4 people

Pompret with Soy Sauce

This is one of my favourite dishes that reminds me of my childhood. My mom use to make this dish when I was young that it has become one of the most sought after dishes even when I grow up. Every time I sample this dish, I would be brought back to the 'yesteryears' where life was simple and glee. Do try this simple dish but very delectable especially if you connects it with your childhood years. Enjoy!

Ingredients
2 pompret, washed and marinade with salt and turmeric
2 table spoon chilly paste
3 garlic, blend
2 big onions, blend
1 cm ginger, blend
1 table spoon sugar
salty soy sauce, as desired
sweet soy sauce, as desired
salt, if needed

Methods
1. Fry the pompret and put aside.

2. In a pan, fry the blended items until aromatic. Then put in the chilly paste. Stir well.

3. Let them simmer, before adding sugar, salt, soy sauce and some water, if needed.

4. Let it cook for a few minutes before putting in the fried pompret.

5. Serve with hot piping rice.

*serves 2-4 people

Turmeric Chicken

Every time we go to any Thai restaurant, I would order this for my children. Sometimes, it is better if you can make them yourself, which could save you some penny. Besides, you can control the oiliness which is frequent in any Thai restaurant. So here it goes...

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, cubed
2 table spoon turmeric
3 garlic, chopped
1 inch ginger, chopped
1 big onion, sliced thinly
1 carrot, sliced thinly
6 long beans, sliced 1cm thick
salt
pepper, as desired
oil, for frying

Methods
1. Fry the garlic, ginger and onions until golden brown.

2. Add in the chicken and fry until tender. Do not add water. Stir well.

3. When the chicken is tender, add turmeric, carrots and long beans and stir again.

4. Add salt and pepper to taste before serving.

5. Serve with plain rice while still hot.

*serves 4-6 people