Yam in red 红运（芋）当头

Every year, My sister will cook 罗汉斋(mixed vegetable) with red fermented beancurd(南乳) and my mom will always cook Braised lotus root with red fermented beancurd for me. So this CNY, I thought of using yam to cook with it. It is very easy to cook and it always taste good. I think the Chinese name is better and it's auspicious. This is the recipe:

Ingredient:
1 cube red fermented beancurd
1/3 yam (cut into chunks)
1 tsp garlic
1 cup chicken stock
100g mince meat
Sugar to taste (optional)

Method:
1. Heat pan with oil. Fried garlic to fragrant.
2. Add fermented beancurd cube and quickly smash it.
3. Add mince meat, cook and stir well.
4. Add yam and chicken stock, stir well. Lower heat and simmer till yam turn soft.
5. Sugar to taste. Ready to serve.

I have submitted this post to Aspiring Bakers #15: Auspicious dishes for CNY(Jan 2012) hosted by wen of Wen's Delight

Yam Rice 好芋（预）头饭

恭喜发财 to all! This is my first post in Feb that is with CNY recipe (Sorry if I have bored you with my emotional post earlier).
I cooked this dish the day before CNY eve for our reunion dinner. I learnt this dish from ”吃饭皇帝大”. This is a very easy, delicious and definitely auspicious dish that can substitute for white rice especially during CNY. Why? In Chinese, yam is 芋头(yu tou), same pronunciation as 预头(luck), so pls enjoy and try at home before and after 15th day of CNY, wish you all year good luck.

Ingredient:
1 & 1/2 cup white rice
1/3 yam (cut to cubes)
2 tbs dried shrimp(chopped lightly)
1 tsp chopped garlic
1 Chinese sausage (lap chiong)(cut to cubes)
2 tbs rice wine
1 tbs dark soy sauce
1 tsp fish sauce
A pitch of pepper

Method:
1. Cook rice in rice cooker.
2. Heat pan/wok. Fried yam (without oil) till golden brown. Set aside.
3. Add oil. Fried chopped garlic and dried shrimp till fragrant.
4. Add sausage cubes and fry well.
5. Add rice wine and stir well.
6. Add dark soy sauce, fish sauce and pepper and stir well.
7. Lastly add yam cubes and stir well.
8. Pour all cooked ingredients into rice cooker and stir immediately into the hot rice. Stir well.
9. Cover cooker lid and continue to warm rice in "warm" mode. After 15 minutes, it's ready to serve.

I have submitted this post to Aspiring Bakers #15: Auspicious dishes for CNY(Jan 2012) hosted by wen of Wen's Delight and very good recipes breakfast challenge.

Poll for 2012: what do you work for?

I have been thinking about my future in 2011.. 2012 keep me thinking about now.. What's next for me? What should I do next? And one question that comes into my mind is: "what do I work for?"
I remembered when I just graduated from school, I wanted to look for a job that I liked(for passion), then when I have my own flat I worked for my goal(earn CPF). Now I work for money to survive.. But do I want to continue this way? Maybe not. But to a few of my close friends out there, they believe that I should work for money and keep encouraging me to stay and work.. And I start to ponder, maybe this is really necessary..
I am looking for an answer .. Pls share with me if you work for: money, goal or passion? Pls participate in the poll on the right and let me know what's the majority. Maybe then I have a clearer picture of what should be my motivation for 2012.
As an appreciation, I will give to 3 lucky readers a box of handmade cookies. One condition: You must leave your comment so that i know you have participated in the poll. Hear from you soon ;)

New year New beginning

I recently subscribed to Food network channel. In most cooking programmes, I have seen all celebrity chefs used a knife-like grater to get orange or lemon zest. It looked so easy, unlike the many graters I bought from Daiso that were hard to get zest out and have to clean the trapped holes like hell.

So on the last day of 2011, few hours before 2012, on my way to Ivin's restaurant for new year gathering, I decided to drop by Tott and get myself this celebrity chef "must have" grater as a reward(no more cleaning like mad in 2012). I got it for $37.

I can't wait to try on 010112. Indeed, it was a breeze! It's so light! And the zest came out so easy and fast and so fine! And the best part is, it did not trap the zest. Just rinsed with water and it was all cleaned!

I am so happy with this new investment! What a good way to start 2012!

1st CNY goodies order.. And more to come

This is my first post in 2012. Goodbye 2011! It seems 2012 is a good year for me. I got more CNY goodies orders and I have a few good 贵人 to keep me positive.

I am very grateful for the good vibes that is coming and I am positive that I will be better in year 2012. better in terms of mood, energy, drive and luck. Hope you feel it too.

Grateful 2011, Welcome 2012!

My colleagues and friends know i am into cooking and baking, so these are some related gifts that I got for this year christmas. Thanks to all my dear friends! ;)

Today is the last day of 2011 and I'm so looking forward to new year 2012! Let 2011 be bygone and welcome 2012! Happy new year to all that read my blog! Although this is a young blog but I get readers from all over the world and Thank you so much for your support!

You have made my days in 2011, and give me drive to be better in 2012. See you soon and hope to see you more in 2012 and wish you peace, health and happiness.

Merry X'mas! Chocolate and Raisin Cookies

Belated Merry X'mas and Happy New Year!! This is what I baked and gave to my colleagues and friends before Christmas. I baked cookies in three batches: first was with chocolate chips, second batch was with M & M(as nose or mouth) and raisins(as eyes) and third batch was using chocolate chips and raisins.

All these are using the recipe I posted earlier.

Besides cookies, I also baked and gave chocolate cupcakes. This time I used another easy chocolate cakes recipe. Will post the recipe later. Stay tune. :)

Easy Chocolate Chip Cookies

I know what to give to my dear colleagues but still tossing with what type of cookies to bake. As X'mas celebration is just in few days time, I need to look for something easy and quick to make. This recipe does not require mixer and is a one bowl formula!

I did not use wheat flour but self raising flour and it turned out pretty good for my first attempt! Just the right texture, not too hard nor soft. As I added orange zest, it did give a hint of refreshing orange flavor. Guessed my colleagues will like it! Very good recipe to adopt.

Ingredients: (make 44-45 cookies)
2/3 cup brown sugar (I used 1/3 cup)
1/3 cup vegetable oil (I used olive oil)
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 large egg
1 cup self Raising flour (sifted-I omitted baking powder and salt)
70gm dark chocolate chips
Zest from 1/2 orange

Methods:
1. Preheat oven to 175 deg C. Lined with cooking sheet.
2. Mix together brown sugar, oil, vanilla essence and egg. When well mixed, add self raising flour and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips and orange zest.
3. Scoop small teaspoon of soft dough onto cooking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Cookies is ready when edge turn slightly brown.
5. Cool on wire rack. Dust with icing sugar.

Although it's not very creative, but it's christmasy. Therefore I have submitted this post to very good recipes white Christmas challenge.

X'mas Orange Yogurt Cupcakes

Wanted to get my mom a X'mas present. Since she likes orange colour and likes to eat orange cake, I decided to make her orange cupcakes. As X'mas is around the corner, I need to look for a easy and fast to make, no mixer required orange cake recipe. Among all that I have searched, this Martha stewart's recipe post is one that fits my requirement:

Ingredients: (make 15 small cupcakes)
1 cup all purpose flour(I used 1/3 cup top flour + 2/3 cup cake flour)
1/2 cup 2 tsp caster sugar (I only used 1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup plain yogurt (equivalent to 1 cup of Meiji low fat plain yogurt)
1/4 cup vegetable oil
Zest and juice from 1/2 orange
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla essence

1 orange (segmented)
Icing sugar for dusting

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 175 deg C.
2. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
3. Pour yogurt, oil, egg, vanilla essence, orange zest and juice in a bowl. Stir well with a whisk.
4. Add sifted dry ingredients gradually till well mixed.
5. Fill each cup 3/4 full. Top with orange segment.
6. Bake for 25 minutes, till skewer comes out clean.
7. Let cool on wire rack.
8. Dust cupcakes with icing sugar.

Verdict: this recipe is good for beginner like me. It did not fail me although it was my first attempt. I modified a little if you compared. I like the soft and moist texture. Will definitely bake this again next time. Hope my mom likes it too.

Although it's not very creative, but it's christmasy. Therefore I have submitted this post to Aspiring bakers: #14: Christmas creative bakes(dec 2011) hosted by hankerie and White Christmas by very good recipes.

Easy Curry Tuna Pizza

I like to watch "省时间达人“and always inspired by how the guest chefs cooked. There was a few episodes that showed how to make pizza in different ways. I was inspired and came out with my own version:

Ingredients: (1 serving)
1 pc Spring Home frozen prata
1/2 can curry tuna
1 small onion(diced)
2 tbsp mozzarella sliced cheese

Method:
1. Pan fried frozen prata without any oil till golden brown and fluffy. Set aside.
2. Heat Pan with vegetable oil, fried onion dices till transparent and fragrant. Off the heat.
3. pour tuna in a bowl. Add fried onion dices and stir well.
4. spread tuna evenly on prata. Sprinkle cheese on top.
5. Put in preheated oven at 160 deg C for 5 minutes.
6. Ready to serve.

Verdict: I liked the crispy prata crust! Although it was smaller and thinner than normal pizza, it was very filling. After having one for breakfast, I was already full.

Prawn Pancake

Each time we go to Ding Tai Fong(鼎泰丰）, we will order the prawn pancake. Recently saw a post by wokkingmum, she said that she likes to eat that too and shared her recipe. I get inspired and modified to this recipe:

Ingredients: (serving for 2)
15 medium prawns
1 sheet dried bean curd skin

Seasoning:
1/2 tbsp corn flour
1/2 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp rice wine
A pinch of salt
1 stalk coriander (chopped)

Method:
1. Remove prawns shell, pat dry, mince and chop prawns to almost paste like.
1. Marinate prawn paste with seasoning. Set overnight.
2. Layer a piece of 15 x 15cm slightly damp bean curd skin.
3. Spread prawn paste at the centre of bean curd skin, fold like a flat spring roll.
4. Dust pancake lightly with Corn flour.
5. Pan fry both side on medium low heat till golden brown and completely cooked.
6. Ready to serve.

Teriyaki Sweet Corn

I remembered during a trip to Bali last year , we had seafood dinner by a beach(don't know what beach). Before dinner were served, we saw a guy selling BBQ corn near the shore and the smell was so good. We can't resist the smell, so each bought one corn. It was not the normal butter corn, taste more like marinated in teriyaki sauce. It was so good, I had 2 in a row before dinner were served. That experience was so unforgettable and I hope to bring back that sweet taste I had. So here is what I did:

Ingredients:
1 corn (cut to half)
Some Teriyaki sauce
Some olive oil and salt

Method:
1. Preheat oven at 180 deg C. (better if you have grill pan)
1. Blanch corn in boiling water with a few drop of Olive oil and a pinch of salt. Blanch for 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. Brush corn evenly with teriyaki sauce and wrap in aluminum foil.
3. Bake/grill for 15 minutes.
4. Ready to serve.

As I baked the corn and not grilled, the corn lacked the burnt taste and smell as the one in Bali. Maybe next time I should marinate for 1 day before grill? Anyway, overall it was good, but can be better. ;)

Papaya Milk木瓜牛奶

I miss Taiwan and hope i can go there for holiday next year. Each time i go, night markets especially 师大夜市 is a place that i cannot miss. Papaya milk in Taiwan is like pearl tea in Singapore, very popular and can find in most night markets. The locals believe that drink more papaya milk can enhance their "assets". Recently, I stumbled upon Carol's post on papaya milk, and it makes me want to replicate, in hope to bring me closer to my long waited holiday.

Ingredients: (make 1 glass)

200g papaya
120g milk (I choose low fat milk)
1 tbs honey
Some ice cubes

Method:
Put everything in juicer and blend well, ready to serve.

Note: I like more papaya in my milk, that's why the ratio is not 1:1 as the adopted recipe.