Showing posts with label Egg Dish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Egg Dish. Show all posts

Friday 23 October 2015

5 Singapore Local Foods That Can Make You Happy

Singapore is a food paradise with wide range of cuisines and tantalising food from hawker centres to restaurant that satisfy our food craving at any time of the day. With busy work schedules like juggling appointments, meetings and generating reports; I am sure everyone is looking forward for some mood-lifting food to perk-up the tiring day. No matter how challenging your days are, it is easier to face it when your spirits are high than moody and feeling hungry.

For me I am easily satisfied with either a plate of fried rice with sunny-side-up egg, fish soup or fried oyster omelette together with an ice-cold Coke® to end my hectic day. In this article I would like to share five of my mood booster foods which I hope they will help to brighten up your mood in a way.

Friday 14 June 2013

Father's Day Breakfast Bento With Lee Kum Kee Ketchup

With Father's Day just a few days around the corner, I would like to wish all Fathers out there a happy and blessed day with your family and loved ones. Although it's not quite popular for people in Asia to celebrate Father's Day instead of Mother's Day but I am sure the newest generations are more willing to whip up something for their dad.

Since we will be away for holidays during Father's Day, my boy and I managed to put up a quick and easy Father's Day Breakfast using tomato sauce as one of the main ingredients which we would like to share with you.


LEE KUM KEE NEW PRODUCTS


Before we start off with the recipe, just to share that this June, Lee Kum Kee has launched three new products in major supermarkets like Cold Storage and Giant and they are such as:-

Tomato Ketchup (S$1.25) which made from high quality tomatoes with no added preservatives or colouring.

Pure Sesame Oil (S$3.30) which is carefully processed to retain strong flavour of sesame seeds. This condiment is my great helper in my kitchen that enhance the flavour of our dishes with just a few dashes.

Chu Hou Paste (S$3.50) is made from soybeans, garlic, ginger and sesame seeds which is a convenient cooking sauce for braising, marinating or cooking meats and vegetables.


On top of the new products, Lee Kum Kee also printed some recipe cards which enable shoppers to pick up from the supermarkets to try out with the new range of products launched. Would share with you my favourite recipe using Chu Hou Paste (柱侯酱) to make the "Stewed Chicken" in upcoming post soon.


FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST BENTO
(using Lee Kum Kee Ketchup)


With the launched of the new products, Lee Kum Kee also come up with a "Share And Love Lee Kum Kee Ketchup 14-day Bloggers Challenge". In this challenge participating bloggers need to complete a few tasks in order to earn points which accumulated from the "Likes" and "Shares" through their Facebook and Instagram. So if you like my Bento recipe(s), do help to support my #LKKKetuchup Bento Photos with Like(s) and Share(s) over at my Facbook Page and Instagram too!  


(Serves: 1 | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 10 minutes)

Ingredients:
2 Slices of Sandwich Bread
2 - 3 Fresh Shittake Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 Cup of Mozzarella Cheese
4 Tablespoons Lee Kum Kee Ketchup
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Fresh Milk / Pouring Cream
1 Small Tomato, diced
2 Mini Japanese Sausage
1 Slice of Sandwich Cheese
Some Steamed Corn Kernels
Some Cherry Tomato
Seasonal Fresh Fruit

Tools Needed:
Bento Box
Side Dishes Food Casing
Alphabet and Heart-shape Food Cutters
Food Tweezer
Bento Food Pick (optional)

Method:-
1. Using a 8cm wide heart-shaped food cutter, cutout two heart shapes from bread and lightly toast it in the oven toaster for 1 minute each side. Set aside.

2. Spread a layer of Lee Kum Kee Ketchup on the toasted bread, top it with some Mozzarella cheese and mushrooms.

3. Pop them back into the oven toaster and bake for 1 minute or till cheese melt.

4. While the bread is in the oven toaster, prepare the scramble egg by heating up a small frying pan with 1 teaspoon of oil/butter.

5. On low heat, add in the diced tomato and quick it a quick stir for 10 seconds before swirling in the egg mixture (beat egg with 1 milk/pouring cream) and cook till almost done.

6. Next adding in 1 tablespoons of Lee Kum Kee Ketchup and stir till the mixture is well-mixed. Remove and set aside.

7. Assemble the scramble egg and sausage into the bento box then start decorating the heart-shaped pizza toast with some lettering cutout from the sandwich cheese.

"I Love Dad" Pizza Toast
8. When done, arrange them nicely back into the prepared bento box and serve.


Actually there are many ways which you could incorporate Ketchup into your cooking instead of using it only as a dipping sauce. And I am sure you have many good ideas which you might like to share with us too, so do drop me a comment on your "secret ketchup recipe" too! Till then have a great week ahead. Cheers!

Monday 10 September 2012

{6 New Recipes} Lunch Gathering At My Place

Recently I have invited a few foodie friends over for a lunch gathering and I was quiet nervous about what to include on that day's menu. To be frankly this is my very first time cooking so many dishes within 2.5 hours to serve 10 person. And the stress level is pretty "high" on my end as most of invited are "food bloggers" who tried many delicious food from all over the restaurants and cafes.

And although this is a casual lunch gathering, I still hope to receive honest feedback on my cooking in order to fine tune my skills not only to cook for my family but for friends who loves food as well. So during the lunch, everyone exchanged views and comments on the food and I am glad everyone enjoys the dishes. Below are a few new recipes of the dishes we had  on that day which you might be interested to try at home.

Menu For The Lunch Gathering!


BAKED ROSEMARY HONEY CHICKEN MID-JOINTS


Photo Credit: Celes from Celestial Delish
This is one of my favourite potluck dish which is very easy to prepare. What you need to do is to marinate it with rosemary, honey and etc before leaving it in the fridge overnight or at least an hour or two. Instead of baking it in the oven, you could also use it as one of the BBQ items too. Recipe can be found HERE.



BAKED SALMON WITH SWEETCORN, TOMATO AND CHEESE


In our household, our favourite way to prepare salmon is to bake it together with lots of shredded cheese, sweetcorn and Japanese Mayonnaise. We love the creamy taste of the mayonnaise and cheese covering the crunchy sweetcorn kernels and juicy salmon cubes. Occasionally I would also throw in some cherry tomato to enhance the flavour.


(Serves: 2-3  | Preparation: 10 minutes  | Cooking: 20 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 1 Salmon Fillet (350g), cut into 1.5" cubes
  • Some Japanese Mayonnaise
  • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Corn Kernels
  • 4 - 5 Cherry Tomato, halves
  • 1/2 Cup of Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
  • Some Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Method:-
1. Arrange salmon cubes on a baking plate, top with generous amount of Japanese mayonnaise and sprinkler some freshly ground black pepper on it.

2. Evenly scatter sweetcorn kernel and tomato on the salmon cubes and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.

3. Bake prepared salmon in an oven toaster or preheat 200 degree Celsius oven for 15 - 20 minutes or till salmon is cooked to your preference.

Tip:
~ If cherry tomato is not available, you can replace it with a tomato and cut it into wedges.



FRIED CP GYOZA AND FISHBALLS


Photo Credit: Celes from Celestial Delish
CP Chicken Gyoza with Lime and Chilli Mayonnaise Sauce is one of my "new" recipes which I have collaborated with CP Frozen Food for their new Chicken Gyoza. Recipe will be available on their website or recipe cards soon.


OKARA OMELETTE


Using the left over Okara (soybean residues) filtered from my Homemade Organic Soybean Milk to prepare this simple and yet delicious "Okara Omelette" for the guest. Recipe can be found HERE.



RED WINE LEES CHICKEN


Red Wine Lee Chicken is one of the popular dishes taken during confinement. It is prepared using glutinous rice wine, red wine lee and Ginger. Ginger is use to enhance the fragrance of this dish as well it posses warm and healthy properties which can “expel winds” in the body. Whereas wine is helpful in warming and nourishing the body, which promotes blood circulation.

(Serves: 2 | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 20 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 Portion Chicken, chopped to smaller pieces
  • 250ml Glutinous Rice Wine (米酒)
  • 2 Tablespoon Red Glutinous Wine Lees (红槽)
  • 6 Slices Ginger, cut to thin strips
  • 2 Tablespoons Sesame Oil
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Dark Soy Sauce
  • 2 Small Cubes Rock Sugar (about 3 - 5g)
  • Some Coriander

Method:-
1. Heat up a wok or claypot with 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. Add ginger and fry them till fragrant and slightly brown.

2. Add marinated chicken pieces (lightly season it with 1 teaspoon each of cornflour, sesame oil and light soya for 3 - 5 minutes) and stir-fry until the chicken is cooked on the surface.

3. Add in red wine less, dark soy sauce and fry for a few seconds before pouring in the glutinous rice wine. Stir well. Cover with lid and let it simmer on low heat for about 8 minutes.

4. Next add rock sugar for sweetness as well as enhance a beautiful glazed finish. Simmer with lid closed for another 8 - 10 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.

5. Turn off heat, drizzle one tablespoons of Hua Diao Jiu (紹興花雕酒) and splash of sesame oil for extra fragrance and taste.

6. Garnish coriander and serve with steamed white rice.




STEAMED CHICKEN WITH RICE WINE


Steamed Chicken With Rice Wine is one of quick and easy dishes that I learnt from my friend, Tracy during one of my visit to her place. You could prepared everything ahead and put it in the fridge a few hours before steaming to let the rice wine and ginger taste infused into the chicken. We simply love this dish and especially the "wine" taste gravy which is the a "nutritious" chicken broth.

(Serves: 2 | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 30 - 45 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 1/2 Portion Of Chicken (600g), cut into pieces
  • 5 Red Dates, sliced
  • 3 Slices of Dang Gui
  • 4 - 6 Small Shittake Mushroom, optional
  • 1 Tablespoon Wolfberries (枸杞)
  • 150ml Sweet Glutinous Rice Wine
Marinade:
1/2 Tablespoon of Fresh Ginger Juice
1/4 Teaspoon of Salt

Method:-
1. Trim, clean and pat dry chicken pieces, marinate it with ginger juice and salt for 5 minutes.

2. Place marinated chicken together with the rest of the ingredient in a steaming bowl or wrapped it up in aluminum foil with baking paper that resemble a parcel.

3. Steamed over medium heat using either stove or electrical steamer for about 30 - 45 minutes till meat is tender.

Tip:
~ If glutinous rice wine is not available, you can replace it 100ml of Cooking Wine - Hua Diao Jiu (紹興花雕酒).

~ You can use either fresh or dried shiitake mushroom according to your preference.



STEAMED DRUNKEN PRAWNS


There are a few methods to prepare "Drunken Prawns" where you could soaked the prawns in either cooking wine, rice wine or drinking liquor like XO to draw the flavour of the prawns. Here as I wanted to retain the sweetness and flavour of the prawns, I soaked it with glutinous rice wine and steamed till cooked before I drizzle some "Huiji Waist Tonic (汇集补腰精)" to further enhance the taste.

(Serves: 2-3  | Preparation: 15 minutes | Cooking: 7 - 10 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 10 - 12 Fresh Large Prawns
  • 3 Slices of Ginger, shredded
  • 1 Stall of Spring Onion, cut into section
  • 1/2 Tablespoon of Wolfberries (枸杞)
  • 100ml of Sweet Glutinous Rice Wine
  • 1 Cup (20ml) Huiji Waist Tonic (汇集补腰精)

Method:-
1.Trim the feelers of prawns, rise and arrange on a deep steaming plate with some shredded ginger and spring onion below.

2.Top the balance shredded ginger, spring onion, wolfberries and rice wine over prawns and let it soaked for about 5 - 10 minutes.

3. Steam over medium high heat using either stove or electrical steamer for about 7 - 10 minutes.

4. When done, remove and drizzle Huiji Waist Tonic (汇集补腰精) over it and serve immediately.

Tip:
~ If glutinous rice wine is not available, you can replace it 50ml of Cooking Wine - Hua Diao Jiu (紹興花雕酒).



STEAMED EGG WITH SALTED FISH MEATBALLS


It has being long since I last made this dish because I can't really make good steamed egg custard which look "smooth" without big pocket holes (like those shown above). But this is indeed one of my favourite childhood dish that my dad used to cook for us. I love the salted fish fragrant and taste from the meatballs which contrast well with the egg custard.


(Serves: 2-3Preparation: 15 minutes | Cooking: 10 - 12 minutes)

Ingredients:
100g Minced Pork/Chicken Meat
20g (1/4 portion) Mackerel Salted Fish
2 Eggs (55g)
160ml Drinking Water

Seasoning:
1/4 Teaspoon Cornflour 1/2 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Light Soy Sauce / Fish Sauce
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Sugar

Method:-
1. Marinate minced meat with chopped salted fish and seasoning together for about 10 minutes or an hour more in the fridge for better flavour.

2. Divide the marinated minced meat into small portions to form meatballs.

3. Arrange them on steaming plate and set aside while preparing the egg mixture.

4. Whisk eggs for a few seconds, add in water and mix till well combined.

5. Strained egg mixture into the prepared meatballs plate, cover with aluminum foil and steam over medium low heat for about 10 - 12 minutes.

6. Garnish with some fried shallot and spring onion before serving.



STEAMED FISH FILLET WITH KIWIFRUITS


You might be wondering how is the taste of this dish and is it worth "experimenting" this recipe on your fish. To be more simplify, this "Steamed Fish Fillet With Kiwifruits" taste just like "Teochew" style steamed fish with either salted vegetables or preserved plum.

Surprisingly the kiwifruits taste slightly sweet and sour and it indeed flavour the fish and sauce of this dish. Very appetizing dish that worth trying.


(Serves: 2 | Preparation: 5 minutes | Cooking: 12 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 300g of Fish Fillet
  • 1 Zespri Kiwifruit, cut into wedges
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Cooking Wine
  • 4 Slices of Ginger, Shredded
  • 1 Stall of Spring Onion (optional), cut into sections
  • Some Wolfberries (枸杞)
  • Freshly Ground Pepper
  • Some Sliced Chilli, optional
Method:-
1. Clean and pat dry fish fillet, arrange it on steaming plate together with the rest of the ingredients.

2. Steam it over medium using stove or electrical steamer for about 12 minutes depending the thickness of the fish.

Tip:
~ You can use any type of fish fillet such as Threadfin, White Snapper, Grouper or even salmon to your preference.



STEAMED TOFU WITH MINCED MEAT


Tofu is an excellent ingredients to cook in term of it's cost and health benefits. It is economic and yet contains good source of high protein and calcium which is good for the family. Here I am using both minced pork and shrimp for this recipe but you could always replaced minced pork with minced chicken or omit shrimp depending on your preference. For a better texture and crunch, I added some chopped water chestnut and carrot to enhance it's flavour too.


(Serves: 2-3   | Preparation: 15 minutes | Cooking: 6 - 8 minutes)

Ingredients A:
  • 1 Tube Silken Egg/Plain Tofu
  • 50g Minced Meat
  • 2 - 3 Prawns (optional), finely chopped
  • Some Wolfberries (枸杞)
  • 1 Teaspoon Light Soy Sauce
  • Coriander Leaves, optional

Ingredient B:
  • 1 Teaspoon Light Soy Sauce
  • 1 Teaspoon Corn Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Cooking Wine
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Pepper
  • 2 Water Chestnut, finely chopped
  • 2 Slices Carrot, cut into strips and chopped
  • Some chopped Spring Onion

Method:-
1. Mix minced meat and prawn together with "ingredient B" till well combined and set aside for at least 5 minutes.

2. Cut tofu into circles and arrange on steaming plate, top each slices of tofu evenly with the marinaded meat mixture.

3. Place some wolfberry and coriander leave on the prepared tofu, drizzle 1 teaspoon of light soy sauce around the tofu.

4. Steamed for 6 - 8 minutes depend on the thickness of the meat mixture.

5. Garnish with some chopped spring onion, coriander leave or fried shallot and serve immediately.

Tip:
~ Egg tofu can always be replaced with square silken tofu that is suitable for steaming.

Photo Credit: Celes from Celestial Delish
Lastly, hope these quick and easy recipes above are useful to help you in your daily or weekend cooking ideas.

Photo Credit: Celes from Celestial Delish
Other than the above homecook dishes, Celes also bake a Chocolate Mocha Mousse Cake (recipe HERE) to celebrate Hazel's birthday.

Photo Credit: Celes from Celestial Delish
Whereas Hazel from 爱makan baked us some Pandan Cupcakes with yummy cream cheese spread.

Monday 6 August 2012

Cook For Family - Our 3 Generations Cooking Together for the #CookForFamily Initiative

I am so thrilled to be among one of hundred bloggers who had being invited by Daniel, from Daniel's Food Diary to take part in this #CookForFamily initiative started by him. As we know, his main objective is to get more bloggers, and hopefully their fans and followers, to start cooking and having family bonding with their families.

As for myself, I always tried to cook at least 2 meals per days during weekdays and hopefully one on weekend, especially Sunday.  And to support this #CookForFamily initiative, even my 8 years old boy who often helps up in the kitchen (washing and cutting) also volunteer to cook simple dish for us.  Below you can see some of the shots and dishes that he had cooked under our supervision. Overall we had fun and laughter in the kitchen sharing our family bonding and cooking skill together which makes meal time a fun time too.


#CookForFamily


I love to have soup during my meals and I brew soup almost everyday. Out of all the different kinds of soup we usually had, herbal soup is one of our family favourite. Here I specially made this "Herbal Black Chicken Soup" for mum with added Dang Shen, Ginseng and Dried Longan to regulate blood chemistry, strengthen the body as well as circulate the Qi in the body.


(Serves: 4      | Preparation: 10 minutes        | Cooking: 60 minutes)

Ingredients:
1 Black Chicken (乌鸡) / Half Portion of Chicken (600g)
2 Pieces of Dried Ginseng(人渗)
5 Pieces of Dang Shen(党参), cut into halves
8 - 10 Pieces of Big Red Dates(红枣)
20g Dried Longan (龙眼干)
10g Wolfberries (枸杞)
1.8 Litres Boiling Water

Method:-
1. Rinse the dry herbs and set aside. Bring a pot of water to boil and blanch the prepared black chicken which had being trimmed and cleaned.

2. Meanwhile using a soup pot (i used a big claypot), bring 1.8 litres of water to boil and add in all the ingredients including the blanched black chicken.

3. When the mixture comes to boil again, lower the heat and simmer over the lowest heat for at least an hour (careful of the heat and don't let the soup dried up). Alternatively,

4. You can transfer the soup to a slow-cooker and cook it on AUTO mode for about 2 hours.

5. Serve warm before meal or at night before sleep. This soup has a natural sweetness due to the herbs used so usually I won't add in extra seasoning or salt.

Stir-fry Celery With Sea Cucumber is one of my favourite vegetable dish which mum always cooked for us. And here for the #CookForFamily post, she prepared this dish especially for me while I take care of the herbal soup section.


(Serves: 4        | Preparation: 10 minutes         | Cooking: 6 minutes)

Ingredients:
2 Sticks of Celery
1 Small Red Capsicum, sliced
5 Fresh Shiitake Mushroom, sliced
1 Packet of Sweet Peas
2 Pieces of Sea Cucumber, sliced
2 - 3 Slices of Ginger
Some Chicken Stock Powder for seasoning

Method:-
1. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the outer skin of the celery and cut it into thick slices. Set aside.

2. Saute ginger with 1/2 tablespoon of cooking oil till fragrant, add in celery and mushrooms, toss for a 30 seconds in the Happy Call Pan (HCP).

3. Next add in the remaining ingredients such as red capsicum, sweet peas and sea cucumber.

4. Add in the seasonings and give it a quick stir, cover the pan and let it simmer on low heat for 3 minutes.

5. Drizzle some cooking wine, stir to mix well and dish up to serve.


My little boy on the other hand also volunteer to join us with the #CookForFamily task where he marinated the chicken wings using Wokkingmum's "Grilled Chicken Wings with Fermented Beancurd" recipe. He choose this recipe because he knows that both grandma and I love fermented beancurd which we always had it with our porridge.

Recipe adapted from Wokkingmum website HERE.

(Make: 12 Chicken Wings    | Preparation: 5 minutes   | Cooking: 25 - 30 minutes)

Ingredients:
12 Chicken Wings, halved
2 Tablespoons of sauce from Fermented Beancurd
1.5 Pieced of Fermented Beancurd
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Teaspoon Cooking Wine


Method:-
1. Using the back of the spoon mashed fermented beancurd and mix it with the sauce.

2. Next stir in sugar till well mixed.

3. Marinate chicken wings with the mixture together with some cooking wine for at least an hour before cooking.

4. Arrange marinated chicken wings on baking tray which is lined with baking paper, grill in the preheated 220 Degree Celsius oven for about 25 - 30 minutes or chicken is cooked.


As mum love fish compared to meat, I always tried to incorporate at least 1 dish with fish whenever she comes over for dinner. Here we have a simple steamed fish dish using Threadfin fish head and ready pack Portuguese sauce. To success remember to get fresh fish head, steamed it to just done (do not over cooked), drizzle with some Portuguese sauce and steamed for another 1 minutes.


SOME OF THE MEALS WE COOKED IN JULY


All these photos (except the one with my boy doing cooking) are taken from my daily Instagram shots which I have shared online.






Any simple dish will bring a smile on your loved ones face. In fact it can be just a bowl of instant noodle with an egg or even simple ham and cheese sandwiches for breakfast. For me it is more of the thoughts, loves and bonding time together that counts rather than the expensive ingredients or time spent on preparing the meals.

Photo credited to Daniel from Daniel Food Diary

So from today onwards, let's start to prepare something simple for your family as as head start and don't use the excuse that you can't cook or u are too busy. I am sure frying an sunny egg or boiling a hard boiled egg that served with bread and beverages won't even take up more than 15 minutes of your time a day.

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