Friday, 18 May 2012

{EVENT ENDED} Gold Kili Coffee plus Frezfruta Jam Giveaway!


Hi! It's Friday again and it's time to slow down your pace and get ready for the weekend break if you have being work too hard for the week. Here I have some new products review plus giveaways to brighten up your day as well as boost up your energy with a cup of fragrant coffee from Gold Kili.

I am sure most of you who stays in Singapore have either tried or heard of "Gold Kili" products before. Since 1985, Gold Kili has being a local coffee manufacturer and distributor with great selection of Instant Beverages such as their ever popular Instant Honey Ginger and Instant Honey Chrysanthemum. And just recently Lion City Distribution, a joint venture between Gold Kili and Frezfruta has launched a total of 7 products on their improved coffee, tea, cereal and jam which some are shown on the post below.


GOLD KILI
Double Shot Instant White Coffee And Kopi O


Double Shot Instant White Coffee features the strong full-bodied taste of the finest Arabica Beans blended with a rich creamer and as well first instant coffee in the market which has "Inulin(寡糖)" added. Inulin is known to promote the growth of good Bifidus bacteria to help maintain a good digestive systems which worth giving it a Shot!
Retail Price: S$6.50/packet of 15 sachets


Kopi-O 35% Less Sugar is a new and improved from Gold Kili's 2-in-1 Kopi-O (35% Less Sugar) using 100% ground coffee that’s traditionally roasted in Singapore but this new packaging comes with less sugar for the health-conscious. So for those who prefer non-milk coffee this will be a great choice to start your day with.
Retail Price: S$4.30/packet of 20 sachets



FREZFRUTA KAYA AND JAMS


For regular consumer, you will notice they orange-coloured Frezfruta Kaya has actually being replace from "tin-can" to a classy glass bottle like what other competitor brands used. Although this traditional kaya might not be of liking to those who fancy thick, creamy and fragrant kaya such as from Yakun toast but in another view this might be someone else favourite too. So for a chance no harm giving this a try on your toast or baguette.
Retail Price: S$2.25/bottle


Frezefruta Peach as well as Frezefruta Apple Blueberry Jam are new fruits jam in the  market made from IQF(Individually Quick Frozen) fresh fruits, with a high fruit content of 50%  that is natural goodness at its best. Although I do make my own jam from time to time(read more on homemade jam recipes here) but it has never come across my mind to combine apple with blueberry into jam. So upon trying their Apple Blueberry Jam it indeed gives me a light and refreshing berries taste which goes well with a few cream crackers and a cup of tea.
Retail Price: S$3.00/bottle


For more product updates and recipes using Gold Kili and Frezfruta Jam, you can follow Lion City Distribution(the official distributor of Gold Kili Coffee & Beverages products, Frezfruta Jam and Kaya as well as other food items in Singapore)at their facebook page HERE.

EVENT ENDED AS ON 20 May 2012

GIVEAWAYS! - SINGAPORE ONLY


Thanks to the sponsors Frezfruta and Gold Kili. Here we are giving away a set each of the above items(Peach, Apple blueberry Jams and Kaya, Double Shot White Coffee and Kopi-O Less 35% sugar) to 3 Lucky Readers of Cuisine Paradise. To participate, please please refer to our facebook page HERE.

NOTE:-
~ For those who has no facebook account but wish to join in this Giveaway. Please leave a comment on which is your favourite old Kili Beverage or Frezfruta Jam.
Example:- I love Gold Kili Kopi-O 35% Less Sugar

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Bibimbap ( 비빔밥)


Bibimbap(비빔밥) which means "mixed rice" is a healthy and hearty everyday dish that consists of steamed rice, vegetables and meat. And before the rice is placed in the bowl, the bottom of the bowl is coated with sesame oil making the layer of the rice forms a crispy crust at the bottom(a bit similar to our Asian Claypot Rice) while the dish is often serve with a dollop of gochujang.


BIBIMBAP
(비빔밥)


There are a few common of vegetables used in Bibimbap such as julienne cucumber or zucchini, mushrooms, soy bean sprouts, carrots, spinach and etc. And if for health reason or personal preference, beef can often be substituted with chicken or seafood too.


(Serves: 2          | Preparation: 15 minutes          | Cooking: 15 - 20 minutes)

Ingredients:
2 Serving Portions of Cooked White Rice
4 Medium Fresh Shiitake Mushrooms, cut into thin slices
60g Bean Sprout
1 Small Carrot, julienne
1 Small Zucchini, julienne
100g Spinach, blanched
Some Cabbage Kimchi, optional
2 Eggs
3 Garlic Cloves, finely chopped

Drizzling Sauce:
1 Tablespoon Sesame Oil
1/2 Tablespoon Sesame Seeds
Pinch of Salt

To Serve:
Gochujang/Bibimbap Paste
1 Teaspoon Toasted Sesame Seeds
Extra Sesame Oil

Method:-
1. Fill a medium saucepan or pot with water and bring to boil. Blanch the spinach for about 1 minute, drain, rinse with cold water and squeeze out any excess liquid.

2. Roughly cut spinach into section and add in half of the drizzling sauce and mix well. Set aside.

3. Repeat the same produce as above with the bean sprouts.

4. Add 1 teaspoon of sesame oil in a small frying pan/saucepan, saute the zucchini with some chopped garlic till zucchini soften. Remove and set aside.

5. Repeat the step with carrot and mushrooms, keeping them separate.


6. Using individual heatproof casserole dish, grease inside lightly with some sesame oil, add 1 portion of the rice and place over high heat for 3 minutes to sear the rice.

7. At the meantime, prepare the pan and fry the sunny-side up egg.

8. To serve, remove casserole from heat, place egg in the center and arrange the prepared vegetables alternatively around the egg. Sprinkle with extra sesame seeds and sesame oil, serve immediately with some gochujang paste on the side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE:-
~ If you have time, prepared all the side vegetables ahead in the morning and keep them in the fridge so that you would be able to get the dish ready in 10 minutes during lunch or dinner.

Often a raw/fried egg together with sliced meat (usually beef) are the two commonly additions to Bibimbap but for my version, I have adapted most of the common ingredients except meat which I have left out for this recipe. To start the meal, just give the mixture a few stirs to combine the ingredients and enjoy.

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Taiyaki (たい焼き)


Taiyaki (たい焼き) is a Japanese fish shaped pancake which is commonly filled with red bean paste that is made from sweetened azuki beans. But in these day, there are many other fillings such as custard, chocolate, cream cheese or even sausage in it.

As usual the creative and wonder members in Munch Ministry facebook group always bring up interesting kitchen gadgets to share with the rest of the members and just recently, there is a rave in making these cute Taiyaki in the group due to some promotion on the Taiyaki Pan shown above.


TAIYAKI
(たい焼き)


All related Photos and Recipes of Taiyaki are ©Copyright by Ellena Guan of Cuisine Paradise. All rights reserved.

These yummy little treat is actually very easy to make at home if you have a Taiyaki Pan. What you required is to get hold a pack of Pancake Premix plus some Instant Fillings such as Cream Cheese, Nutella, Peanut Butter, Kaya and etc.


(Make: 6 |            Preparation: 3 minutes |             Cooking: 20 minutes)

Ingredients:
150g (1 sachet) Morinaga Pancake Premix
1 Large Egg, 60g
100ml Fresh Milk
1/2 Tablespoon Cornflour
Some Nutella, Peanut Butter, Cream Cheese or etc
1 Taiyaki Pan


Method:-
1. Whisk egg and milk together in a mixing bowl or jug till combined. Add in 1 sachet of Morinaga pancake premix and stir till the mixture resemble cake batter.

2. Lightly brush oil on both inner sides of the Taiyaki pan. Preheat it 30 seconds before ladle a small amount of batter(refer to the step-by-step photo above) to the preheated pan (on one deeper print side).

3. Add your desire fillings such as 1 tablespoon of nutella/peanut. Next pour a little more batter just enough to cover the paste. Close the pan and cook for 1 minute 20 seconds on medium low heat.

4. Flip the pan over, cook for another 1 minute or more, open the pan slight and check the colour of the fish. Careful not to overcook and burn it as they should be golden brown on each side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOTE:-
~ To get a nice evenly golden brown colour for your Taiyaki, the "secret" lies on the heat and timing for cooking the Taiyaki.



All related Photos and Recipes of Taiyaki are ©Copyright by Ellena Guan of Cuisine Paradise. All rights reserved.

Above is my first batch of assorted Taiyaki (たい焼き) made using Morinaga Pancake Premix filled with some of our favourite spread such as Cream Cheese and Nutella . And all these are made in less than 30 minutes where you can prepared a delicious and healthy breakfast or snack for your kids. I am sure nobody will be able to resists a piping hot Taiyaki with crispy outsider layer and soft inner texture with oozing filling in their mouth.

Tastes Of Penang At Sentosa

Tastes of Penang is the first of Sentosa's 40th anniversary food events to be held by the sea. And for the ongoing 11 days event, patrons can enjoy buffet spread and live cooking stations of Penang hawker favourites and scrumptious home-style dishes such as Char Mui(fried porridge), Char Hum(fried cockles), Nasi Kander and etc by a team of expert Penang chefs, who cook these authentic dishes that are not commonly found in Singapore.


TASTES OF PENANG AT SENTOSA


For appetizer, we start off with "Fruit Rojak" which consists chunks of fresh fruits such as pineapple and rose apple together with cucumber, stuffed beancurd puff and etc mixed with their special spicy sauce and generous amount of crashed peanuts. Just a note, this Penang style fruit rojak does not contain the usually "shrimp paste" like we we had in Singapore.

At the buffet spread you can find two different flavour of Char Hum(fried cockles) such as the Penang sweet version vs the Singapore spicy choice.

First we have Char Hum (fried cockles) with sweet sauce from Penang which is something new to me as I have never eaten cockles prepared in such manner before. The sauce is quiet tasty and it blends well with the fresh cockles to brings out it's flavour. Moreover these cockles are all opened so as to make it more convenience for everyone to consume.

Although the "sweet" version taste good with the extra nutty flavour from the crashed peanuts but we still preferred the "spicy" version where deep-fried pork lard and curry leaves are added to enhance the flavour.

Lok Bak or also known as "Ngo Hiang" (which we are more familiar) is made with mixture of minced and chunk of meat together with five-spice powder instead of minced meat, prawn, water chestnut, yam or etc that we used to eat in Singapore.

Char Mui (fried porridge) is one of the "unique" dish which is hard to find in Penang nowadays. This dish is made with some prawns, meats, dried cuttlefish, black soy sauce together with porridge and etc. The mixture is then "stir-fry" until thicken and fully absorbed the flavour from the cuttlefish and the rest of the ingredients before loading it with lots of chives (ku chai) and serve hot. Emmm perhaps I can try to replicate this at home.

Penang Bak Kut Teh  has a fragrant Chinese herbal broth that goes together with some Pork ribs, Pork Belly and black mushrooms . Each mouthful of the soup leaves your mouth lingering with the aroma from the nourishing herbs like dang gui and yuzhu. Personally I enjoyed the taste of this soup which is not very peppery as compared to some that I have tried.

Penang Hokkien Mee (Prawn Noodle Soup) has a flavorsome broth which simmer with pork ribs, prawn shells, prawn heads and etc. The bowl of noodle soup usually consists of prawn, sliced pork, kang kong(Chinese spinach), hard-boiled egg and yellow noodle served with generous amount of broth and topped with some crispy deep-fried pork lard.

Penang Char Kway Teow is a "must try" because it is individually fried upon order to maintain the taste and quality of each serving. We simply love this especially it's fragrant "wok hei" plus the thin rice smooth noodles which infused the flavour of the cockles, prawn and egg, definitely this has won our votes for second helping.

Nasi Kandar is a popular northern Malaysian dish which originates from Penang. It consists of steamed rice which served with a variety of curries and side dishes. Although I prefer to have individual dishes separated from the rice but the idea of eating this in a new way indeed surprised me with his unique combination of flavours when everything is mixed up before consuming. Somehow or rather it gives me a thought like eating "bibimbap" using different ingredients.

Above are some of the side dishes for the Nasi Kandar where you can see:- Sambal Fish, Udang Sambal, Spicy Cabbage, Curry Brinjal and etc.

Penang Assam Laksa has a bit different taste which is a little more spicy and sourish than those sold in Singapore. No wonder the Chef suggest that I should only eat this as the last dish so that it would not affect the taste apart from the rest of the dishes.



DESSERT AND BEVERAGE



Chendol is a very delicate and fragrant dessert which served with shaved ice and drizzled of Gula Melaka(coconut sweet) syrup and coconut milk. According to the chef, the Chendol strips used are imported from Penang instead of the usual darker colour chendol strips used in Singapore. Over the taste is quite but I would prefer less coconut milk so that I could enjoy the unique taste of the gula melaka syrup.

So excited to spot "Durian Pengat" at their dessert counter and I find this year's pengat is much better and stronger in taste compared to what I had last year during "The Ultimate Crab & Durian Buffet @ Sentosa Boardwalk".

Nothing fancy about these Assorted Nonya Kueh so you can left this out if you are too full for any dessert.

This is my favourite cooling drinks which I often grab from my market fruits' stall. To me, nothing beats some cold fresh coconut juice to quench your thirst during warm weather. And also this works well for the body while we gets to enjoy the spicy and strong flavour from the Penang food. Other than the refreshing juice, there are also some wobble jelly in it which makes you go "crazy" to scoop more and more, perhaps you might even go for a second order as this is definitely a refreshing drink.

For more photos related to the "Tastes of Penang At Sentosa" you can click on the facebook link HERE. Lastly I would like to thank Lisa from Sentosa Leisure Group for the tasting invites.


TASTES OF PENANG
Date: 10 - 20 May 2012
Time: 6pm - 11pm (Mon- Thu), 4pm to 11pm (Fri - Sun)
Venue: Tastes of Asia, Level 2 (near Beach Station)

Price: S$42.90++ per adult; S$19.90++ per child (5 to 11 years old)
(Includes admission to Images of Singapore and complimentary parking at Beach Station. Sentosa Island Admission charges apply.)

For reservations, call 6279 1767 or email carla_cardona@sentosa.com.sg.

ShareThis