[April $20 Budget Meal] Cream of Cauliflower Soup and Ham and Egg Pizza Tart

So fast, another week has past and today we are into the 3rd weeks of April where Good Friday and Easter Sunday will be on this week. Till now I have not thought about preparing anything for our Easter Sunday compared to what I have done last year on the "Chocolate Hot Cross Buns" and "Nested Easter". So I guess I have to work hard on that and find some inspiration for our Church, Good Friday picnic special.

If you followed this blog, last Monday our menu was on Asian flavour such as "Five Nuts Soup and Steamed Dumplings with Assorted Vegetables". Today we are having something western which cost around S$8.60 for 2 - 3 servings.

Cauliflower can be roasted, boiled, fried, steamed or eaten raw. This is the first time I  am using cauliflower to make soup and I am really surprised with it's outcome which is so tasty and it is definitely a great way to hide veggies especially in kid's meal. For this version, I have omitted the cream and replace it with extra 50g of potatoes to act as a nature thickening agent for a healthier soup.

CAULIFLOWER SOUP

Ingredients: (Serves 2 - 3)
1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1cm Cube of Butter
1 Medium White Onion, roughly chopped
2 Garlic Cloves, Crushed
300g Cauliflower, cut into florets
200g Potatoes, peeled and chopped
400ml Instant Chicken Stock
150ml Hot Water

Method:-

1. Heat oil and butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic cook and stir occasionally for about 3 minutes or until onion has softened.

2. Add cauliflower and potato, stir and cook for 3 minutes.

3. Next pour in stock and water. Season with pepper. Cover and bring to the boil.

4. Reduce heat to medium low. Simmer for about 20 minutes or until potato is tender. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

5. Blend the soup, in batches until smooth then return to pan over low heat.

6. Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until heated through. Serve with some freshly ground pepper.


Total cost for this dish is about S$2.50 with breakdown shown below:-
Cost of Ingredients:
~ Cauliflower = S$1.00
~ Potatoes Onion = S$1.00
~ Chicken Stock = S$0.50

Here we give a twist on the usual thin crust or handmade pizza dough by replacing it with the crispy think layer of ready-rolled puff pastry sheet. This recipe makes each and every slices of your cheesy pizza with a delightful flaky bites. So why not give this a try and I am sure all your kids and friends will love this for a chance.

HAM AND EGG PIZZA TART

Ingredients: (Serves 2 - 3)
1 Sheet of Puff Pastry, partially thawed
1 1/2 Tablespoon of Barbecue/Pizza Sauce
1/2 - 3/4 Cup Grated Mozzarella Cheese
50g Shaved Honey Baked Ham
1 - 2 Eggs
5 Cherry Tomatoes, halved
1/2 Small Green Capsicum, cut into strips

Method:-

1. Preheat oven to 180 degree fan-forced and grease 1 large pizza tray.

2. Cut a 20cm round from the puff pastry sheet using a plate or bowl as a guide. With a small knife, cut a 1 cm border around pastry.(carefully not to cut through it as this will act as a border around the tart).

3. Place the round on prepared tray, spread inside circle with barbecue sauce and sprinkle it evenly with half of the grated mozzarella cheese.

4. Brush/spray border with oil. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes or until sides have puffed.

5. Remove tray from oven, crack egg(s) onto the center of the tart, top with shaved ham, tomatoes, capsicum strips and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

6. Bake for another 15 minutes or until egg whites have set and cheese is golden. Serve with prepared soup.


Total cost for this dish is about S$6.10 with breakdown shown below:-
Cost of Ingredients:
~ Cheese = S$2.00
~ Shaved Ham = S$1.50
~ Cherry Tomatoes and Capsicum = S$1.60
~ Puff Pastry Sheet - S$1.00

Making pizza is one of the interesting task for kids to take part in the kitchen. They can help to spread the sauce and arrange whatever toppings that they preferred while the adults can just stand by the side and help to supervise and place the prepared pizza into and out of the oven. And homemade pizza can be even easier with ready-made pizza base or with any interesting base that you can think of, such as:- Puff Pastry, Sandwich Slice Bread, Pita Bread, Tortilla Sheet, Baguette and etc.

Since our "Easter April Budget Meal"(click the link and scroll down for the details at the end of the post) theme is using egg as a main ingredient, I have added an egg onto my pizza tart which which it a twist to the usual pizza that we often have.

Thanks for all your "BUZZ(s)" and support friends. Cream of Cauliflower Soup and Ham and Egg Pizza Tart post has make it to FoodBuzz Today's Top 9, 19th April 2011.(Here)

Featured On: FoodBuzz Today's Top 9, 19th April 2011.(Here)

CLOSING DATE FOR [EASTER APRIL BUDGET MEAL] EVENT:

~ Monday, 25 April 2011, 2359 hours  and all entries will be compiled and posted on 30th April 2011.

[Sandwich Sealer Giveaway] Bread Pockets Bento Set

Thanks to those of you who participated in the "Gyoza Mold Giveaway" event which is ending on coming Monday, 18 April 2011. Here I am having another “Giveaway” which consists of a “Sandwich Sealer plus Heart Shaped Food Picks”. With this sandwich sealer you can make your favourite sandwich with all kind of fillings from sweet to savory without worrying that the fillings will drop-off from the sides and etc.

If you are interested to win a set of this "Sandwich Sealer plus Heart Shaped Food Picks", just leave your Name and with a type of your favourite sandwich filling (tuna, egg mayonnaise, jam) "I love xxxxx" in the comment box and I will pick ONE Lucky winner on Wednesday, 20 April 2011. Do check the result after Noon, 21 April 2011.

I have a few different types of Sandwich Sealer/Cutter at home which we usually use to rotate around when making sealed/opened sandwich for our breakfast or picnic. Here I use the sandwich sealer shown below to make some ham and egg sandwich serve with chocolate chips cookies, chocolate, apple and drink for a quick lunch before my boy goes to his Sunday class.

Method:-

1. Warm the bread in the microwave oven according to the instruction menu (shown at the back of the sandwich sealer packaging). Place the bread onto the center of the frame, then place your desire filling onto the bread. (refer to the step by step photos above)

2. Warm another slice of bread in the microwave oven, cover the first bread and filling with this bread by aligning its placement with the first bread.

3. Place the bread cutter onto the bread.

4. Carefully press the bread cutter downwards.

5. Hold up the bread crust while holding down the bread cutter to see if the crust has been thoroughly cut.

6. Remove the bread cutter and the entire crust from the mold and the sandwich should be completely sealed.

Ok, that's all for this simple post. Have a great weekend everyone and if you are interested to win a set of this Sandwich Sealer plus Heart Shaped Food Picks, do start leaving your comments now :) Have Fun everyone!


[Updated on 21 April 2011]

GIVEAWAY RESULTS!!!!!

GIVEAWAY RESULTS ARE OUT! Are you the Lucky One!!!!!

Steamed Milk With Egg Whites and Purple Sweet Potato

I have being using Purple Sweet Potato to try out a few recipes in this blog such as "Purple Sweet Potato Mantou - 紫番薯馒头", "Purple Sweet Potato Chiffon Cake" and "Assorted Sweet Potato Huat Kueh". These Purple Sweet Potato is richly nutritious as they are fat-free and low in calories, high in fiber and great for people who are carbohydrate sensitive and most importantly it is loaded with antioxidants.

In this post I am using some steamed purple sweet potato as the filling for the Steamed Milk With Egg Whites dessert. Normally you can find this Steamed Milk With Egg White custard at most of the Hong Kong Style Dessert Stalls which served without any fillings in it. But for my version I choose to add in some purple sweet potato to which has a very lovey purple colour that contrast well with the white milk custard.

Ingredients: (serves 2)
200ml Fresh Milk
2 Large Egg White, (60g egg)
2 Tablespoons Sugar
100g Steamed Purple Sweet Potato, cut into small cubes
4 - 6 Ready To Eat Ginkgo Nuts

Method:

1. Add milk in a microwave safe bowl, heat on HIGH powder for 60 - 90 seconds (depend on microwave voltage) till milk is warm. Add in sugar and stir till dissolved. Set aside

2. Gently beat the egg whites till a bit frosty. Sieved it over a fine sieve into the milk mixture.

3. Give it a few stir using a fork or chopstick to mix well.

4. Place 1 to 1.5 tablespoon of mashed purple sweet potato into each rice bowl (about 250 - 300ml) and use the back of a spoon gently press and spread out the sweet potato evenly in the bowl.

5. Next slowly sift the milk mixture into each bowl. Wrapped it with clear-wrap.

6. Steam over medium heat for 8 minutes, open the clear wrap, add in a few pieces of the reserve sweet potato cubes and ginkgo nuts and continue to steam on medium heat for another 1 - 1 1/2 minutes till slightly firm.

TIPS:

1. You can either steamed the sweet potato over medium heat on stove for 8 - 10 minutes; OR

2. Place sweet potato cubes in a microwave safe bowl together with 1 tablespoon of water and cook on HIGH for 3 - 4 minutes. Give it a quick stir every 1 minute to make sure that the sweet potato cubes are evenly cooked.

Steamed Milk With Egg Whites and Purple Sweet Potato

If you cannot get hold of purple sweet potato over at your side, you can always mix and match to replace the fillings with whatever you preferred. Here I have another sample using mashed pumpkin for the fillings or you can even add in cream corn like one of my friend, Joyce did.

STEAMED MILK WITH EGG WHITES AND MASHED PUMPKIN

Ingredients: (serve 1)
100ml Fresh Milk
1 Large Egg White, (60g egg)
1 Tablespoons Sugar
1 Tablespoon of Mashed Pumpkin Paste

Garnish:
Some Wolfberries
Extra 1 1/2 Teaspoon of Mashed Pumpkin Paste

Method:

1. Add milk in a microwave safe bowl, heat on HIGH powder for 40 - 60 seconds (depend on microwave voltage) till milk is warm. Add in sugar and stir till dissolved. Set aside

2. Gently beat the egg whites till a bit frosty. Sieved it over a fine sieve into the milk mixture.

3. Give it a few stir using a fork or chopstick to mix well.

4. Place 1 to 1.5 tablespoon of mashed pumpkin into the rice bowl (about 250 - 300ml) and use the back of a spoon gently press and spread out the sweet potato evenly in the bowl.

5. Next slowly sift the milk mixture into each bowl. Wrapped it with clear-wrap.

6. Steam over medium heat for 8 minutes, open the clear wrap, add in a some mashed pumpkin paste, wolfberries and continue to steam on medium heat for another 1 - 1 1/2 minutes till slightly firm.


If you don't like to have any extra fillings, you can always make it PLAIN using just egg whites and fresh milk. And I am sure you will love that smooth and silky texture of the healthy quick and easy dessert. Do share with me your view if you do try out this recipe and what are some other fillings that you could add in.

Surprised to know about this Steamed Milk With Egg Whites and Purple Sweet Potato(Chinese version) being mentioned on 20th April 2011, MyPaper through one of the blog readers.

P/s: Another "Steamed Milk With Egg Whites and Mashed Pumpkin" recipe included plus mentioned of this recipe on 20th April 2011, MyPaper too.

[Win $13,000] Nature Valley New Delectable Chewy Bar

In early April this year, Nature Valley has launched at new chewy bar that comes in two flavours – Mixed Berry; Fruit and Nut. The bars are made with all-natural ingredients, such as almonds, peanuts, cranberries, blueberries and whole-grain oats that are of good health benefit to our body. Personally I prefer the Fruit and Nut option because I love the nutty taste and chewy texture of this healthy snacks. And most importantly they are not too sweet to my liking and it definitely makes at prefer snack at anytime of the day.

Nature Valley Chewy Bars are priced at S$6.30 per six-pouch box and are now available for sale at major supermarkets for a limited time only or while stocks last. For more information on the Nature Valley products or latest promotions, please visit: www.facebook.com/NatureValleySingapore for details.

PROMOTION:

From 18 April to 29 May 2011, just buy any two boxes of Nature Valley granola bars to enter an island-wide promotion, which enable you to stand a chance to win $13,000 cash.

GIVEAWAYS:

And for those Radio 91.3FM listeners, you can also get complimentary Nature Valley granola bars when you tune in to the station for the car decal giveaways on 21 and 28 April 2011.

As for those who are craving for something crunchy instead of chewy, perhaps you might want to pick up a box of this Nature Valley crunchy snack bars that are made with whole grain oats with no artificial colours or preservatives. They are available in delicious crunchy flavours such as Oats and Honey, Roasted Almond, Maple Brown Sugar, Apple Crisp and a Variety Pack at only S$6.30 per six-pouch box.