Wednesday 6 February 2013

Longan And Cranberry Yogurt Cake

Chinese New Year (CNY) usually cannot go without some auspicious cakes like Kueh Lapis Legit (千层糕), Kueh Baulu ((鸡蛋糕), Walnut Cake and etc. This year, I have come up with a something new apart from the usual CNY cake using "orange zest, dried longan, cranberry, chia seeds, yogurt and Cointreau" to bake this Longan And Cranberry Yogurt Cake for Chinese New Year.

Tuesday 5 February 2013

Usher In The Year Of The Snake @ PARKROYAL on Beach Road

To celebrate coming Chinese Lunar New Year, Plaza Brasserie is having the Prosperity Buffet from 28 February to 24 February 2013 as well as the Prosperity Buffet Feast Reunion Dinner on 09 February 2013 to satisfy all cravings.

In addition, Chinese New Year banquet dinner can also be celebrated at their ballroom on 09 February 2013 where guests can look forward to lion dance performance, Tea Appreciation performance by the Si Chuan Dou Hua tea master and the God of Fortune who will be making guest appearance to celebrate the Luna New Year with the guests too.

Ushering into the Year of Snakes, Chef Jackson has come up with a new creation of Fruity Yu Sheng which consists of fresh tropical fruits like Mandarin Oranges, Peaches, Rose Apples, Rock Melon, Dried Persimmons, Green Manago and Papaya. This new creation of Chef Jackson symbolizes an abundance of wealth and a well-rounded life which enhanced with Chef's fruit Flavoured Sauce.

Personally I love the sweet and refreshing after taste of this Fruity Yusheng which makes me craving for more after each mouthful.  But if you are not into fruits, traditional Yu Sheng will also be available too. 

Mini Pen Cai
Although the this is known as "Mini Pen Cai" but within you could find many special ingredients such as Fish Maw, Prawns, Sea Cucumber, Sliced Abalone, Roast Duck, Chicken, Pork, Cabbage, Black Moss and etc building up this pot of luxury comfort food.

Chili Crab

Crystal Pork Slices With Thai Dressing

Fish Maw Soup

Kong Ba Bao

Steamed Fried Rice With Preserved Meat with Lotus Leaf
Other than the highlight on Fruity Yu Sheng and Mini Pen Cai, there are also many other auspicious dishes like Eight Treasure Boneless Duck, Chilli Crab, Braised Pork Knuckle with Dried Oyster and Black Moss, Fish Maw Soup, Braised Sea Cucumber With Roasted Pork, Kong Ba Bao and many others.

Assorted Colourful Sushi and Sashimi
Despite of all the delicious Chinese New Year cuisine, whenever I visit Plaza Brasserie, the first station I start with is their Sushi Counter where I love to pick up some colourful sushi and salmon sashimi as starter. Sushi lover should not miss out this station where you get to enjoy some of your favourite sushi, tuna/salmon plus edamame and teriyaki chicken.

Traditional Egg Tarlets
There are quite a range of dessert at their buffet line where you could pick your choice from Pineapple Tartlets, Love Letters, Almond Cookies, Sesame Glutinous Rice Balls in Red Bean Soup, Egg Tartlets and Lapis Cake too.

Durian Nian Gao With Bak Kua
But out of all choices, my favourite is still their Durian Nian Gao with Bak Kua which I recommend you to give it a try if you like the combination of sweet nian gao with durian fragrance to pair with some savory bak kua (BBQ pork) toppings.


Plaza Brasserie @ PARKROYAL On Beach Road
7500A Beach Road
Singapore 199591
Reservation: (65) 6505 5710
Website: Prosperous Celebrations


FESTIVE BUFFET
Pre and Post Chinese New Year (28 January - 24 February 2013)
Lunch
28 Jan - 24 Feb 2013: S$45.00 (Adult); S$27.00 (Child)
09 Feb 2013: S$45.00 (Adult); S$27.00 (Child)
10 - 11 Feb 2013:  S$62.00 (Adult); S$37.00 (Child)

Dinner
28 Jan - 24 Feb 2013: S$58.00 (Adult); S$35.00 (Child)
09 Feb 2013: S$78.00 (Adult); S$47.00 (Child)
10 - 11 Feb 2013:  S$62.00 (Adult); S$37.00 (Child)

Banquet Reunion Dinner
09 Feb 2013: S$65.00 (Adult); S$39.00 (Child)


Reunion Steam Boat Buffet at Banquet (min 8 persons per table)
09 Feb 2013: S$58.00 (Adult); S$35.00 (Child)

*Child below 4 years old dines for free.
Prices are subject to service charge and government taxes.

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Teochew Style Steamed Fish With MAGGI plus Lunar New Year Gift Pack Giveaway

I am sure most of you are familiar with the brand name MAGGI which carry signatures items such as Maggi chilli sauce, Maggi Instant Curry Noodles, Maggi Seasoning and etc. This year, MAGGI prepares an Exclusive Chinese New Year Gift Pack which includes a recipe booklet (with 8 auspicious recipes), Maggi Concentrated Chicken Stock, Premium Oyster Sauce, Seasoning and Dried Mushrooms that packed in a lovely new year designed gift box.

So with Chinese New Year just a few days around the corner, why not whipping up some tasty homemade meals to delight your loved ones and enjoy precious moments of happiness with your family. Here I have tried one of the recipe from the booklet which is Teochew Style Steamed Fish shown below.


TEOCHEW STYLE STEAMED FISH
年年有余潮洲蒸


Recipe extracted from Reunion delights made with MAGGI recipes booklet.


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

Ingredients:
  • 1 White Pomfret (700g), with 2 slits cut on both sides
  • 2 Teaspoons MAGGI Seasoning (No Added MSG)
  • 2 Dried Mushrooms (soaked and sliced)
  • 1 Piece Salted Mustard (soaked and sliced)
  • 2 Sour Plums, lightly crushed
  • 1 Tomato, cut into wedges
  • 1 Tablespoon Shredded Ginger
Seasoning Sauce(Mixed Together)
1 Tablespoon MAGGI® Concentrated Chicken Stock (healthier choice, less salt)
1 Teaspoon Sesame oil
50ml Water

Garnishing
1 Red Chilli (seeded and sliced)
Coriander Leave (cut into sections)


Method:-
1. Rub white pomfret with MAGGI Seasoning (No Added MSG) and place it on a plate.

2. Put the dried mushrooms, sour plums, salted mustard and ginger on the fish and transfer into the steamer. Steam for 7 minutes.

3. Pour seasoning sauce over the fish. Place the tomato slices on the fish and steam together for another 3 minutes.

4. Garnish with red chilli and coriander leaves. Serve hot.



For your information, this festive season MAGGI is having an Exclusive Chinese New Year Gift Pack retailing at a promotional rate of S$10.80 per pack at major supermarket and it consists of the following products:

~ MAGGI® Concentrated Chicken Stock (Healthier Choice Symbol, Less Salt, No added MSG and Halal certified);

~ MAGGI® Premium Oyster Sauce (Healthier Choice Symbol, Less Salt, No added MSG and Halal certified);

~ MAGGI® Seasoning (No added MSG);

~ 80g of premium Dried Mushroom (worth S$6.00); and

~ Eight Treasures Pot Recipe Booklet.



EIGHT TREASURES POT
吉祥如意八宝煲


Other than the steamed fish recipe above, I am also going to try out their Eight Treasures Pot (吉祥如意八宝煲) recipe which is an auspicious and symbolic dish befitting this festive occasion. And other than the 8 different gourmet ingredients, what makes this dish special is the MAGGI Concentrated Chicken Stock that not only adds flavour, but also boosts the aroma and enhances the dish with the richness of double-boiled taste.

Recipe extracted from Reunion delights made with MAGGI recipes booklet.

(Serves: 8 | Preparation: 10 minutes | Cooking: 40 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 8 Canned Baby Abalone
  • 8 Dried Mushrooms, soaked
  • 8 Dried Scallops, washed and soaked with 200ml hot water (retain as stock for later use)
  • 8 Large Dried Oysters, washed and soaked
  • 60g Fish Maw, soaked and squeezed to remove excess water. Slice into 3cm pieces
  • 120g Sea Cucumber (ready to use), slice into 3cm pieces
  • 400g Lettuce, washed
  • 6 Red Dates, soaked
  • 1 Tablespoon Wolfberries (soaked)
  • 5 cloves Garlic, sliced
  • 5 slices Young Ginger
  • 3 Tablespoons Chinese cooking wine, optional
  • 3 Tablespoon Cornflour, mixed with 3 tbsp water
  • 500ml Water, including 200ml of scallop stock retained after soaking the scallops
Seasoning (Mixed Together)
2 Tablespoons MAGGI® Concentrated Chicken Stock (healthier choice, less salt)
1 Tablespoon MAGGI® Premium Oyster Sauce (healthier choice, less salt)
1/2 Tablespoon MAGGI® Seasoning (No Added MSG)
2 Teaspoon Sesame oil

Garnishing
1 Stalk Coriander leaves, cut into sections

Method:-
1. Heat oil to fry garlic and young ginger till fragrant. Add mushrooms, oysters, sea cucumber, fish maw and red dates. Stir­‐fry well and add water.

2. Braise the ingredients for 20 minutes at low heat, covered. Add wolfberries and seasoning sauce, then braise for another 20 minutes.

3. Add baby abalone and cook till all ingredients are tender. Season with cooking wine and thicken the gravy with the cornflour mixture.

4. Lastly, add lettuce and garnish with coriander leaves before serving.




GIVEAWAYS!


To encourage more home cooked dishes for this festive season, Cuisine Paradise is partnering with MAGGI to giveaway Two sets of the above Exclusive Chinese New Year Gift Pack (retailing at S$10.80) to two lucky readers.

How To Win:-
1. Comment (on this post) and share with us a Chinese New Year dish that you your family enjoys ;

2. Click LIKE and SHARE the above photo over at Cuisine Paradise Facebook Page (here); AND

Leaving a comment (on facebook) that sharing with us which is your favourite MAGGI product(s) .

Closing Date: 06 February 2013 (Wednesday), 12.00 NOON
*Giveaway is open to those reside in SINGAPORE only and I would courier the items to winners with a valid delivery address.


[Giveaway result updated on 06 Feb 2013]



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Monday 4 February 2013

Osmanthus And Chestnut Koi Jelly Plus Osmanthus Flower Giveaways

Thinking of what dessert to make this coming Chinese New Year? Why not try this super easy Osmanthus And Chestnut Koi Jelly which I am sure your guests would be impress with those cute and auspicious Koi Fish (锦鲤) and Ingot (元宝). With just 3 main ingredients such as Osmanthus Flower, Konnyaku Jelly and Water Chestnut you could easily replicated this dessert which is similar to Osmanthus Cake (桂花糕) but in jelly form rather than cake.


OSMANTHUS AND CHESTNUT KOI JELLY


For this jelly dessert I did not add any food colouring and the "golden colour" effect comes from the natural colour of the Osmanthus flowers itself. So if your prefer a darker colour,  you could either add in a teaspoon more of the Osmanthus flower or a few drops of yellow food coloring. But if you cannot get hold of any Osmanthus Flower or Konnyaku Jelly, you could try another flavour instead of Osmanthus using Lemongrass with a reference recipe here.

As for the Koi And Ingot jelly mould, you could get it from Kitchen Caper. I bought mine with 3 different assorted mould for S$5.00 during their festive promotion.  


(Serves: 4-6  | Preparation: 15 minutes  | Cooking: 7 minutes)

Ingredients:
  • 1 Packet Red Man Brand Konnyaku Premix Jelly Powder
  • 1200ml Water
  • 3 - 4 Teaspoons Osmanthus Flower
  • 1.5 Tablespoons Wolfberries, soaked till soften
  • 8 Water Chestnuts, skin removed and diced
  • 1 Knot of Pandan Leave, optional


Method:-
1. In a pot, add 1200ml of water and bring to boil together with pandan leave for 3 minutes to infuse the water with pandan leave fragrance. 

2. Lower the heat, add in osmanthus flowers and simmer on low heat for 2 minutes.

3. On the lowest heat, slowly stir in Konnyaku Jelly Powder using a balloon whisk or wooden spoon until powder fully dissolved. Turn off the heat and remove from stove.

4. Add 2 wolfberries (pre-soaked in water for 3 - 5 minutes till puff) and 1/2 - 1 teaspoon of water chestnut in each jelly mould (refer to the photo above).

5. Slowly pour in jelly solution into the prepared mould. Cool and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours to firm it before serving.


Osmanthus And Chestnut Koi Jelly

Steam Osmanthus Cod Fish

Glutinous Red Date With Osmanthus Syrup

Huiji Steamed Pomfret With Osmanthus

Osmanthus Honey Tea
If you have no time to involve yourself in the kitchen, perhaps a cup of this refreshing Osmanthus Honey Tea (recipe) will be great to help smoothing your mood as well as detoxification and beauty maintenance.


GIVEAWAYS


Lastly in order for those who are interested to try our Osmanthus Flower. I would be giving away 2 trial packet (4g each) of Osmanthus Flowers to 2 Lucky Readers to try out some of the related recipes that I have shared.


How To Win:-
1. Comment (on this post) which recipe with Osmanthus Flowers that you would like to try.

2. Click LIKE and SHARE the above photo over at Cuisine Paradise Facebook Page (here); AND

Leaving a comment (on facebook) that you have "Like And Share" the above.

Closing Date: 05 February 2013 (Tuesday), 12.00 NOON
*Giveaway is open to ALL READERS of Cuisine Paradise with a valid mailing address.


[Giveaway Result Updated on 05 Feb 2013]


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