Mushroom, Carrot and Onion Tempura

My sister in law just got back from Cameron Highlands with some beautiful and fresh vegetables like mushrooms and carrots. She also got us lots of strawberries, green leafy vegetables like kailan, and some fresh cabbages. This morning, every one was having a light breakfast of bread and scramble eggs, therefore by eleven am everybody was hungry. I decided to fry some of the vegetables ala tempura style as finger food that we could take before having our lunch later on. So here it is... Enjoy!

Ingredients
5 medium size oyster mushroom, shredded in stripes
1 carrot, cut thinly
1 big onion, cut in rings
Oil, for frying

Batter
2-3 cups of wheat flour
1 egg
salt to taste
a pinch of pepper
a pinch of garam masala
a pinch of sodium bicarbonate
water, as desired

Methods
1. In a large bowl, mix the batter ingredients until you find a thick consistency that can coat the vegetables.

2. Dip each cut vegetable individually and deep fry until they turn golden brown.

3. Serve in a serving dish while still hot.

*serves 3-6 people

Fish Soup ( Singgang Ikan)

There are times when you do not feel like eating anything hot or spicy much more food with high in fat and make you full to the brim. After having too much or curries and kurma, I decided to make fish soup that is simple for the whole family. My kids love sipping soups and although we do not make fish soup as often as chicken soup, this dish is simple, mild and soft for the stomach. Also suitable when you have a fever and could not take any solid food or anything spicy. So this meal will be perfect for that! Do try!

Ingredients
2-4 fishes, any type
1 inch ginger,
1 inch galangal
1 big onion
1 table spoon coriander herbs
3-6 asam gelugur
1 tea spoon coarse black pepper
1 table spoon budu
2-3 fresh red chillies/ bird's eye chillies
salt, to taste
water, as desired

Methods
1. In a pot, put in all the ingredients except the fish and brew them for about five to ten minutes. This is to let all the ingredients immerse together and to cook thoroughly before putting in the fish. As fishes take a short time to cook, it is better you make your broth first and put the fishes last.

2. When the broth is brewed thoroughly, add in the fishes and cook until another five to eight minutes or until the fishes are tender.

3. Serve in a serving plate with white plain rice.

*serves 2-4 people

Chicken Stew

I love eating chicken stew with toasted bread. Even better if you have mashed potatoes cooked with minced chicken and onions and fresh salads as side dishes. Yummy! Chicken stew would be perfect to eat when you want to have something light but healthy and filling at the same time and not too heavy on the stomach. Do try this simple dish but yet very tasty indeed! Enjoy!



Ingredients
12 parts of chicken, cleaned thoroughly
4 garlic, finely chopped
2 big onions, finely chopped
2 table spoon black pepper, finely pounded
6 potatoes, cut quarterly
2 carrots, cut 1 inch thick
1 table spoon thyme or any dried herbs
some coriander leaves, cut into 1 cm long
some spring onions, cut into 1 cm long
2 table spoon flour, or as needed
1 small can green peas
salt, to taste
Oil

Methods
1. In a pot, pour in some oil. When the oil is heating up, throw in chopped onions and garlic. Fry until golden brown.

2. Put in the chicken and fry with the onions for a few seconds before putting in the flour. Mix all well.

3. Pour in some water just enough to cover the chicken. Cook for about fifteen minutes or until the chicken is half tender.

4. When the chicken is half tender, add in the potatoes, carrots and black pepper. Stir well. You may add some more water to cook the chicken, potatoes and carrots.

5. Waif for about 20 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients like dried thyme, coriander leaves, spring onions, salt and lastly green peas.

6. Make sure the gravy is a bit thick before serving in a serving plate or with your chosen side dishes. You may add more flour if required to thicken the stew.

* Serves 4-8 people

Oat Pancake

I was hovering around the pantry looking for something to prepare for tea as my stomach was rumbling. Initially I was thinking to fry some anchovies and onions dumplings but changed my mind when I saw a big packet of leftovers oat sitting in the pantry for quite some time now. I had some self-raising flour from the last cake I baked, therefore I thought making oat pancakes would be suitable for the rainy evening. I managed to make a few pancakes but most of them had been taken up by my kids before they even reach the plates! I drizzled some honey and raisins to enhance the taste of the soft pancakes. Do try!

Ingredients
3 cups of instant oats
1 cup self-raising flour
1 cup fresh milk
4 table spoon sugar
juice from 1 orange

Garnishing
Honey
Raisins

Methods
1. Mix all ingredients into a loose batter and fry one by one in a frying pan until golden brown.

2. Arrange the pancakes in a serving plate and drizzle some honey and scatter some raisins before serving with your favourite hot tea.

*serves 2-4 people

Cucumber and Apple Salad

I love eating salads especially cucumber salads. I also prefer cucumber, pineapple and carrot salads as well. Not only they are easy to prepare, the combination gives a very balanced taste to the taste buds especially if you add some vinegar and sugar to it. I normally will add some onions, garlic and ginger to my salads, but for this one I omitted them and just mix the salad with some salt, sugar and vinegar. Very crunchy to eat on its own while watching your favourite tv program, as I always do! Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 granny smith apple, sliced thinly
1 cucumber, unseeded and sliced thinly
2 table spoon sugar
1/2 tea spoon salt
2 table spoon vinegar

Methods
1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl and let it cool in the fridge before serving.

*serves 1-2 people

Pudding Trifle

I was thinking of what to make for dessert during the last Eid'l Adha celebration that was on a few weeks ago. Deciding on not to bake any cookies or buy any at the stores, I was opting to make one simple dessert that can melt in your mouth within seconds. I was looking through some ideas from the net, and my eyes caught something that I like. Pudding Trifle. Hence, the decision was made on spot. Since it is very easy to do and requires little amount of time to prepare it, I quickly got the ingredients and made one for my family. It was a pleasure to see that the kids and adults enjoying the food and I am thinking now to make another one this week end! Do try!

Ingredients

First layer
1 loaf of swiss roll cake, any flavour

* cut into thin slices and arrange at the bottom of the serving dish

Second layer
2-3 cups of custard flour
1 can evaporated milk
2 table spoon sugar

* Combine all ingredients and heat in a pot until the custard turns thick ( if your custard is not thick enough, you may add more custard flour but make sure that you dissolve the flour with water first before putting it in the pot)

Third layer
1 packet of powdered crystal jelly, any colour and flavour

* Mix the ingredients as instructed in the packet with water and boil until dissolved

Forth layer
1 can of mixed fruit cocktails

Fifth layer
1 bottle of whipping cream

Top layer
Canned peaches
Some cherries

Methods
1. By following the layers as I put it above, do the step one by one.

2. Arrange the sliced swiss roll cake at the bottom of your serving dish.

3. Pour in the custard sauce on top of the cakes until all surface is covered.

4. Let the custard cool for a while before pouring in the crystal jelly that has been cooked.

5. Spread a can of mixed fruit cocktail over the jelly and let it cool in the fridge for a few hours.

6. Before serving, add the whipping cream on top and arrange some peaches and cherries as you prefer.

*serves 8-10 people

Tomato Rice

It is common in our family to eat tomato rice. Besides healthy, it is flavorful and light. We had tomato rice a couple of weeks ago taken together with dalca or vegetable and meat salad together with chicken kurma and cucumber salad. It is very easy to prepare and here is the one that I usually make for my family. Enjoy!

Ingredients

6 cups of rice, cleaned and tossed
1 cinnamon stick
5 cloves
2 star anise
5 cardamon pods
2 screwpine leaves (daun pandan)
6 fresh red tomatoes, finely chopped
1 grated carrot
1 can of evaporated milk
salt, to taste

Blended/Pounded/Chopped Items
4 garlic
2 inch ginger
2 big onions

Garnishing
Raisins
Grated carrots
Fried onions

Methods

1. In a pot, pour some oil until it is heating a bit. Put in cinnamon stick, cardamon pods, cloves, star anise and screwpine leaves. Mix for a few seconds before putting in the blended items. Mix well until all ingredients turn aromatic.

2. After that, put in the chopped tomatoes and carrot and cook until very tender.

3. After the tomatoes and carrots are dissolved, add in the rice. Stir well until all ingredients are coated well.

4. Add in the evaporated milk, salt and water until it is enough to cook the rice (you have to adjust the water according to your type of rice or cups)

5. Cook the rice until it is done.

6. When it is ready, serve in a serving plate with some raisins, fried onions and grated carrots.

*serves 4-6 people

Soda and Rose Syrup Punch

Whenever we have invited guests or having a feast or celebration, we would prepare this delicious soda punch to every one's delight. This punch will be on the table every Eid celebration and if it is not there, we would feel like our meals are not complete. Last Sunday was another feast that we had and as usual every one was waiting for this sweet and tangy drinks to savour. Do try!

Ingredients
3 cups of rose syrup
3 cups of orange juice concentrated
2 bottles of ice cream soda
Lots of ice

Methods

Mix all ingredients in a large punch bowl with lots of ice. You can adjust the taste and sweetness of the drinks according to your likings by adding more or less ingredients as stated above.

How to Make Chapati and Sardine Dip

I have been delaying my plan to make a home made chapati until today. The atta flour has been in the pantry for weeks now to my oblivion, stacking in between packets of pasta and coarse sugar and other bits and pieces of everything. Not until this morning that I feel the enthusiasm to make some hence what you see in the picture. Chapati is very healthy and it contains low calorie. Easy to make and prepare. If you need a filling and healthy breakfast, this would be it. Enjoy!

Chapati Ingredients
3 cups of Atta flour
2 table spoon margarine
a pinch of salt
water

Method

Mix all ingredients with some water until you can form a big dough. Make small rounded shape dough from the big one so you can easily roll the dough individually later. Let the dough rest for at least half an hour before you roll each small dough to a round shape. Cook in a flat non-stick pan until it cooks.

* can make 8 small chapatis

Sardine Dip Ingredients
2 cans of sardine in tomato sauce
2 garlic, crushed
2 big onions, chopped
1 cm galangal, chopped
2 lemon grass
1 potato, cubed
1 carrot, cubed
2 table spoon tamarind juice
1 tea spoon paprika
salt, to taste

Methods

1. In a hot pan, fry the onions until golden brown. Add the galangal and lemon grass. Stir well.

2. After a few seconds, add the potatoes and carrots. Add some water to soften the potatoes and carrots.

3. When the potatoes and carrots have become tender, add the sardine will all the sauce. Add some water, tamarind juice and salt.

4. Cook until the broth has turned quite thick.

5. Serve with the chapati while still hot.

Hari Raya Haji Dishes

Last Sunday was another day of celebration for the Muslims. It was Eid'l Adha celebration that is synonym with the Haj in the month of Zulhijjah in Islamic calender. In fact, Eid'l Adha is celebrated during wukuf in Arafah where millions of Muslims will surrender themselves in following the rituals that they need to perform during Haj. We had a great family gathering during this time. We had cooked varieties of food from the traditional ones like lemang and rendang to the more contemporary like the chocolate cake and pudding trifles. We also had glutinous rice with meat besamah (curry), nasi impit or pressed rice with peanut gravy and nyonya laksa. The food lasted until dinner and we had a fabulous time with laughs and laughter and the kindred spirit among family members.