Fluffy Pancake

My kids simply love pancakes. Normally, the pancakes would not reach the table by the time I finish with the cooking. I was looking at some old pancake photographs from my computer when my niece saw some of them and she quickly requested me to make some pancakes for her. She is staying with us for two weeks during the school holiday which will end until the first week of January. So, as not to disappoint her, I agreed. So, I prepared this very easy and simple fluffy pancakes that I learned from a friend of mine and they turned out great! Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups milk
4 Table spoon white vinegar
2 cup all-purpose flour
6 Table spoon white sugar
1 tea spoon baking powder
1/2 tea spoon baking soda
1/2 tea spoon salt
1 egg
4 Table spoon butter, melted

Methods
1. Mix milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes.

2. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

3. Whisk egg and butter into the milk and vinegar mixture. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until the batter is smooth.

4. Heat a small skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray or a thin layer of butter. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

*serves 6 small pancakes
If you want to make more pancakes, just double or triple the portion of the ingredients

A Happy Get Together!

It would be very seldom that me and my siblings and in laws would eat out together because normally we would either eat at home or have takeaways. But this time, I gave the suggestion that we all should spend some time to eat at a good hotel or restaurant as a big family and had a different ambiance to our dining experience. The idea started when I took my two kids to a breakfast buffet at Hotel Sri Malaysia in Taiping a week ago and I thought since my brother and his family were coming, we should try the buffet. But the idea to take them to the same hotel changed as my sister in law was worried if her kids would not be able to get up too early in the morning since it was a school holiday. So, we then decided to take lunch instead at a hotel by the lake called Flemington Hotel.

The food was superb! With the portion that they serve, it was equal with the price that they offer. The three decker sandwiches were served with some fries. The tuna sandwiches were light although I prefer more peppery taste to them, well after taking one small bite from my daughter who ordered them. I had a slightly sour spaghetti bolognaise but the taste was good as what I do at home. Fish and chips was served in a big portion with the crunchy outside layer. My mom and daughter had a tasty and creamy mushroom soup with a hint of minty flavour which was slightly different than what they normally have. The chicken pinatta was delicious with tomato based sauce and some pasta at the bottom. But the highlight was the special fried rice that came together with two satay sticks, chicken wings, crackers and fried egg with a side sambal belacan dip for that extra ommph that could fill your stomach the whole day! Top it up with some iced lychee that they served in a jar, I guess the bills were worth the food after all!

Next week, my sister would drop by and we have planned ahead to stay in a chalet and enjoy the food there. But that will be another story!

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.