#305: Simple spicy pickle: recipe#200

I have not been to GIANT yet nor going shopping for fresh food as we will be flying off to KK tomorrow. My hubby will be going to Penang next Sunday for a month course. So, I will be a "supermom" for a month. BTW, I craved for "acar" so, there's only a can of "jaruk lobak putih" in the pantry and I made this:

Ingredients:
1 can pickled radish
1/2 Spanish onion-sliced thinly
1 clove garlic-sliced
1 tsp curry powder- add more if you prefer
1 large red chili-sliced
1 tbsp chili sauce
1/2 tsp lemon juice
salt and sugar to taste - optional

steps:
1. Heat oil in wok, add in the onion, sliced chili and garlic- stir to combine
2. When the onion and garlic is soft, add in the rest of the ingredients except the lemon juice.
3. Turn off the flame, add in the lemon juice and adjust seasoning.

#304 : Indian Semolina Puding: recipe#199

HAPPY HOLIDAY!!!!!!!!!!! especially to my colleagues, friends and families who happen to be TEACHERS. Enjoy yourselves. To SLY, Bon Voyage... banyak2 tah shopping :)

I always like to eat this pudding . However, the ones sold at shops are usually very sweet , so on last Sunday, I tried making the pudding with less sugar and it was surprisingly delicious and off course very easy to make.

Ingredients ( serves 4)
1/2 cup semolina
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup whole milk
3/4 cup water
1tablespoon ghee / butter
4 cardamom pods.
raisins

orange colouring

steps:
1. Heat butter in a pot, add in the cardamom.
2. add semolina and sugar, stir mixture thoroughly.
3. Add in the milk and water and some raisins while stirring the mixture constantly.
4. remove the cardamoms when the mixture thickens.
5. When the mixture thickens (mashed potato constancy), remove from flame.
6. Transfer the mixture into a small size container, and leave it to cool before serving.

#303 MICROWAVE OVEN AND CANCER

I received this e-mail from Ms SLY. For everyone, this is for your immediate action.

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins

This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well.

Johns Hopkins - Cancer News from Johns Hopkins


No plastic containers in micro


No water bottles in freezer.


No plastic wrap in microwave..

A dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer.
Dioxins are highly poisonous to the cells of our bodies. Don't freeze your plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently, Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital, was on a TV program to explain this health hazard. He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us.
He said that we should not be heating our food in the microwave using plastic containers...
This especially applies to foods that contain fat. He said that the combination of fat, high heat, and plastics releases dioxin into the food and ultimately into the cells of the body...

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Corning Ware, Pyrex or ceramic containers for heating food... You get the same results, only without the dioxin. So such things as TV dinners, instant ramen and soups, etc., should be removed from the container and heated in something else.

Paper isn't bad but you don't know what is in the paper. It's just safer to use tempered glass, Corning Ware, etc.

He reminded us that a while ago some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the foam containers to paper. The dioxin problem is one of the reasons...

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Saran, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave. As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food.
Cover food with a paper towel instead.

#302 BIRTHDAY SHOUT OUT TO MIMI

It's Mimi's 25th Birthday today, May she be bless with good health and happiness.... Mimi, here's for you

#301 FOOD CONTAINING POTASSIUM

Potassium : A micro nutrient needed daily to maintain good health and strong body. A very important element for those who try to lose weight. Potassium imbalance can lead to serious health consequences.

Potassium jobs in our body include to ensure proper functioning of cells, regulate blood pressure and to keep the right balance of water in all cells including muscles and fat cells.

High Potassium:
- Banana
- Kiwi
- Orange
- Honeydew
- Tomato
- Spinach ( Bayam)
- Potato
- Milk
- Fish
- Prunes

Moderate Potassium
- Apples
- Carrots
- Corn
- mushrooms
- Brinjal
- Onions
- Peach
- pears
- water melon
- Onion
- Pineapples
- Raisins

Low potassium
-Cabbage
- Cucumber
-grapes
- plums

#300: Microwave spice pecans: recipe#198

While watching tv last night, my hubby told me he was craving for nuts. I have some pecans and walnuts in my fridge, so I decided to make some pecans for snacks.

Ingredients:
1 cup pecans
1 dsp sugar
1 dsp condensed milk
1/2 tsp salt
1 dsp butter
1 tsp Thailand spice - you can use all spice, nutmeg or curry.

Steps:
1. In a bowl, using bare hand, mix thoroughly all ingredients.
2. Transfer the mixture into a glass or ceramic bowl.
3. Microwave mixture at high for 1 minute, stir.
4. Microwave for another 15 seconds, stir.
5. Repeat step no 4 until the nuts are cooked ( total cooking time : 3 minutes)
6. When cooked, place nuts on grease paper until nuts are cooled before transferring them into an air tight container

p/s- I don't think the nuts will make it to the container at all, believe me, they will all disappear after a while :)

#299 Garlics anyone???

GARLIC : The many reasons why you should eat them

Garlics and onions are from the same group of plants. Both types are from the genus Allium. It is considered to be the number 1 veggies in terms of its medicinal properties. Here are some of the many benefits of eating garlics:

* Lowers blood cholesterol
* Lowers blood pressure
* Prevents arteriosclerosis
* Enhance killer cells ( increase your resistance against infections)
* Improve heart conditions
* contains many anti-cancer chemicals and antioxidants .
* contains substance that able to combats bacteria, viruses and worms.
* decrease premature aging
* Has anti-fungal properties
* helps to release gas

Note: You can eat them raw but do not exceed 3 cloves per day.

#298: Express " Ayam Percik" : recipe #197

This recipe is of Malaysian origin. I modified it to suit my busy lifestyle :) . Best eaten with "Kampong" rice.

p/s~ we are still amahless

Ingredients:

A- mix together and marinate for at least 20 minutes
1 whole chicken- fat and skin removed, cut into big pieces and rinse.
1 tbsp mustard
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tbsp lemon juice- I used ready-made juice available in most supermarkets.

B- blended together
1 tbsp dried chili paste
1 Spanish onion
2 cloves garlic
1 garlic-sized shrimp paste
1 tsp ready-made tamarind paste

C- other
salt
sugar
rice flour slurry
coconut milk- 1/2 can
oil

Steps:

1. Heat oil in pot, add blended ingredients and stir to combine
2. Add in C , stir frequently, until the sauce is thick and oil starts to separate.
3. Add in the chicken and cook at medium flame uncovered for at least 15 minutes.
4. Remove chicken pieces and grill for about 10 minutes per side, or until well browned, basting them with the remaining gravy.
5. Dish up and serve with warm rice.

#297 PTEB class of 2007 awarding ceremony

Congratulations to PTEBians of class 2007 who had received their awards today. Special mention to my ex-students: Lim Ren Foo, Zulzawawi, Ak Muhd Amal Nur Qasman, Roxine, Phui Mung, Geok Yin, Alynn @ Nurhafizah, Eliah Azizan, Nurhasyimah, Noryourhanes and Wee Hong. Good Luck on your "Next big step".

CLICK HERE for more pictures

#296 : Dried prawn and fermented durian "sambal" : recipe#195

My late paternal grand mother aka nini Imah was a remarkable cook. Her specialty was sambal making. I am glad that I had the chance to "babysit" her while waiting for my A'level results and did "pick up" some of her skills, if not all. This sambal is my own creation based on what I have learned from her.

Dried prawns are basically made from low-grade prawns, boiled with salt and dried under the sun for days. Fermented Durian aka "Tempoyak" is made from over riped Durian fermented with salt. This "sambal" can be made spicer with the addition of bird-eye chilies.

Ingredients:

A-
1 handful dried prawns-soaked in water
2 tbsp fermented durian @ Tempoyak
2 tbsp dried chili paste
1 Spanish onion-chopped
2 garlics
water-just enough to blend the ingredients

B
sugar
salt to taste
lime juice
oil

steps
1. Heat oil in wok
2. Add blended ingredients, sugar and salt
3. Stir to combine and simmer until the "sambal" thickens ( about 20 minutes)
4. Add in the lime juice, adjust taste and dish up.

#295 Practical session- Block 1 Saturday Afternoon

#294: Tagliatelle with pastrami and sun-dried tomato :recipe#194

Tagliatelle is the classic pasta of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Individually, they are long, flat ribbons, similar in shape to Kway Teow, but typically about 0.65cm to 1cm (0.25 to 0.375 inches) wide. I bought these the other day at Batu Bersurat and totally forgot about it until today. So, its tagliatelle for dinner tonight.

Ingredients
Tagliatelle- for 4 persons: boiled in water seasoned with oil and salt, drained
2 garlics-chopped
20 slices of pastrami-sliced thinly
basil leaves-chopped
4-5 pieces of sun-dried tomato - thinly sliced
3 slices of cheese-sliced thinly
a little milk

seasoning:
salt
white pepper
chicken stock

steps:
1. In a pan, heat a little olive oil and add in chopped garlic. Fry till the garlic is light brown in colour
2. Add in the pastrami, tomatoes and basil leaves, stir to combine and fry for about 2 minutes.
3. Add in the pasta, stir and fry for another minute or so.
4. Add in the milk and seasoning, stir.
5. lastly add in the cheese and dish up

#293 Boy with awesome voice : David Archuleta

#292 Grey's anatomy featured song~ How to save a life

Love this song...

#291 "MAKAN" TIME

We had a small gathering to celebrate Bazilah's birthday. I invited her aunties and uncle for tea today. I cooked Mee Kari Singapura and prepared tidbits such as Salmon Sushi, home-made chicken nuggets , pulut serunding and pizza. I baked her rich chocolate cupcakes, and frost it with mascarpone cheese icing as her birthday cake. The pictures speak.

#290 HAPPY 12TH BIRTHDAY ....

To My beloved first-born .... Auni Bazilah Zainal. Time really flies. I remembered I was just finished cooking for your dad's "sungkai" when I had blood spotting, and being new parents to be, we went to RIPAS straight away although I had no contractions yet. Your dad slept outside the ward , just in-case you were born that night. You didn't , you were born the next day at 11.43 p.m. instead. That was 27th Ramadhan , 2 days before the Hari Raya 1996.

Happy Birthday darling, from all of us at home :)

#289 Blueberry bars : recipe #172

I am at the moment doing my laundry. While waiting for the wash to be completed, I decided to blog to "de-stress" myself. I have 3 containers of blue berries, so I used some to make these.

Ingredients:
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
4 tbsp butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg
2 tbsp blueberry paste

steps:
Preheat oven to 170 degrees celsius
grease an 8 inch square cake pan.
In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt, set aside.
In a ceramic bowl, melt butter in the microwave oven on high for 1 minute. Add sugar and stir well. Stir in the egg and vanilla and stir to combine.
Add flour mixture to the egg mixture and stir until mixed. Stir in the blueberry.
Pour mixture in the prepared pan.
Bake for 25 minutes or when bars appear set (edges will be brown).
Let cool for about 20 minutes, lift from pan and slice into bars of your desired size.

#288 Happy Chinese New Year 2008

To everybody, especially to my colleagues, friends and students.
Wishing you all happiness and success always.

#287 : Portuguese egg tart: recipe #171

I was doing my test papers the other day when my hubby asked me to watch the programme on Macau food. One of the sought after desserts are the tarts. These tarts are different as puff pastry is used instead of the normal short-crust pastry. The burnt looking custard filling is actually the "signature" of these tarts. I have all the ingredients in my kitchen so I made 6 of these. So here we go...

Ingredients:
Puff pastry ( made from scratch or buy ready made from supermarkets)
butter (to brush the muffin pan)

filling:
1/3 cup whip cream
1/3 cup milk
1/3 sugar
4 egg yolks

STEPS:
- roll out the puff pastry, and cut it to your desired size.
- brush the inside of the pans with butter, so the pastry doesn't stick
- to prepare the filling: beat the yolk with sugar, slowly add in the milk and cream mixture.
-pour the filling to the pastry prepared earlier.
-bake at 190C for about 10 minutes or until the custard is set and the pastry is crispy .

#286: Semolina Biscuits : recipe#170

This is one of the recipes from the yesteryears. I was craving for it and here it is:

Ingredients:
2/3 cup ghee
2/3 cup icing sugar
1/3 cup semolina
2 and 1/3 cup flour
- extra sugar for sprinkling

steps:
1. cream butter and sugar till fluffy
2. Add in the semolina , stir to combine.
3. Lastly, add in the flour.
4. Take a bit of the mixture and roll it into small balls , place the balls onto a baking tin and flatten their centers by pressing them with a finger.
5. Bake in a preheated oven at 160 C till biscuits are crispy.
6. When the biscuits are ready, sprinkle them with more icing sugar. When cooled, keep them in an airtight container.