happy 1st birthday "A SmALL FaMiLy with a BIG ApPeTiTe"

yeah, happy 1st birthday, my blog...i love you because i love food and i love all food lovers who become my friends and my sifu...thank you all for sharing lovely recipes and i shared them with other people who loves simplicity and challenge in their kitchens!

let's keep on sharing, friends and keep the heat on the ovens and stove flaming!!!

tuna and cheese quiche

a lovely dish adapted from Greatest Ever Potato book...serves with fresh green salad...

2 3/4 cup diced potoatoes

2 tbsp butter

6 tbsp flour

filling:

1 tbsp olive oil

1 shallot, chopped

1 garlic clove, crushed

1 red bellpepper, seeded and diced

1 can tuna in water, drained

1 celery stick, chopped

1 tomato, chopped

2/3 cup milk

3 eggs, beaten

1 tbsp dried mixed herbs

1/2 cup grated cheddar chees (i used sliced cheddar cheese)

salt and pepper

• 
  
  cook the potaotes in a pan of boiling water for 10 min or until tender


• 
  
  drain and mash the potatoes. add butter and flour and mix to form dough.(alternatively you can put everything into a food processor and process, but it won't become a dough consistency)


• 
  
  knead the dough and press into a baking dish. prick with fork and bake in a preheated oven at 200 degrees for 20 min


• 
  
  meanwhile, heat oil in skillet, cook the shallot, garlic, bellpepper, celery and adding the tomaotes last. cook for 5 min. sppon the mixture into the flan shell. flake the tuna and arrange it on top of the vegetables filling


• 
  
  in a bowl, mix the eggs, milk and herbs and season. pour the egg mixture into the flan shell and sprinkle the cheese on top


• 
  
  bake in the oven for 20 min or until the filling has set

chicken lasagne

a simplified version of lasagne...i used the readymade spaghetti sauce to make the chicken mixture...very creamy and tastes so italianies!...

2 tbsp olive oil

500g minced chicken

1/2 jar of readymade spaghetti sauce (i used Tesco's product)

12 sheets no-precook lasagne sheets

salt and blackpepper to taste

cheese sauce:

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup plain flour

2 1/2 cup milk

1 cup grated cheddar cheese

• 
  
  heat oil in pan, brown the minced chicken over high heat, stirring constantly.


• 
  
  add the readymade spaghetti sauce. bring to boil, cover and simmer for 30 min


• 
  
  make the cheese sauce. melt the butter in a saucepan over a low heat, stir in the flour and cook for 1 min, stirring constantly. gradually add the milk, stirring constantly until the mixture boils and thickens. stir in 3/4 of the grated cheese until it melts, season to taste


• 
  
  preheat oven to 190 degrees. make layers of chicken mixture, lasgne and cheese sauce in an ovenproof dish, starting and finishing with a layer of chicken mixture


• 
  
  pour the remaining cheese sauce evenly on top. sprinkle with the remaining cheese and bake for 1 hour or until bubbling and lightly browned on top

madeira cake

a lovely, moist and soft lemony taste cake...i like the texture...very easy to make...from a recipe book of my friend, Teh...

180g butter, softened

3/4 cup castor sugar

3 eggs, beaten

1 1/3 cup self-raising flour

2 tsp grated lemon rind

1 tsp lemon juice

2 tsp castor sugar for sprinkling

• prehat oven 160 degrees


• grease and flour a pan (18cm)


• beat butter and suggar until pale


• add eggs, one at a time, gradually beating well after each addition


• fold in flour, lemon rind and lemon juice


• sprinkle extra sugar over top (i omit this)


• bake for 1 hour or until done

moist chocolate cake - a wedding gift

i made this as a wedding gift to a family member....

seafood pasta olio e aglio

also from the same book, 500 greatest-ever pasta recipes, but i came out with my own version...

1/2 cup olive oil

2 cloves garlic, crushed

450g spaghetti/pasta, prepared according to the instruction and drain (i used elbow macaroni)

2 tbsp fresh parsley (i used mixed dried herbs)

salt and blackpepper

cod fillet ]

prawns fillet ] blanched in hot water

squid ]

• heat olive oil in a medium pan and add the garlic and a pinch of salt. cook over low heat, stirring constantly. do not allow the garlic to become too brown or it will taste bitter


• add the blacnhed seafood to the oil


• put the drained pasta in a clean pan. add the warm garlic and oil with plenty of blackpepper and herbs. toss to coat


• serve immediately

baked pasta- updated!

lovely pasta from my 500 pastas recipes book....will write the recipe later....

ok, here's the recipe,folks...sorry for the delay!...

1tbsp olive oil
350g mince meat/chicken
1 onion, chopped
1 garlic, chopped
1 can chopped tomatoes ( i used 4 ripe tomatoes, chopped)
1 tbsp dried mixed herbs
2 tbsp tomato puree
350g pasta prepared according to the packets instruction and drain

cheese sauce:
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup plain flour
1 3/4 cup milk
2 eggs yolk
2/3 cup grated parmesan
salt and blackpepper

• heat olive oil in pan, add minced meat, fry over moderate heat, stirring
  occasionally, for about 10 min until browned
• add onion and cook for 5 min, stirring occasionally
• stir in the garlic, tomatoes, herbs and tomato puree. bring to boil, cover
  and simmer for 30 min
• meanwhile make the cheese sauce. melt the butter in a small pan, stir in
  flour and cook for 1-2 min, stirring constantly. gradually add the milk,
  stirring constantly until sauce boils and thickens. whisk in the egg yolks and
  cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste
• toss the pasta with the meat sauce
• preheat grill. pour the pasta into baking dish, spoon the cheese sauce on
  top and place under grill until well browned. serve immediately

spicy chicken in red gravy

also from mamafami and sis rossya...i love the taste and smell....

1 chicken ~ cut to small pieces and half fry

3 onions ~ cut into rings

3 cloves

4 cardamons

3 cm cinnamon sticks

200 g tomato puree

4 tomatoes ~ cut into 6 portion

green peas

crispy fried shallots

2 lemon grass ~ bruised

3 cm galanggal ~ bruised

2 bunches corriander leaves ~ snipped

salt and sugar to taste

To grind :

10 dried chillies

4 cloves garlic

3 cm ginger

2 tablespoon corriander seeds

1 tablespoon fennel

Method :

1. Heat oil. Saute onion, cinnamon stick, cloves, cardamons, lemon grass, galanggal and grounded ingredients till fragrant.

2. Add in 1 cup of water, half fried chicken, tomato puree, salt and sugar. Cook till thickens.

3. Add in the cut tomatoes, green peas, crispy fried onion and corriander leaves.

4. Cover the pot and remove from heat.

Harissa Rice

i'm entertaining some friends today, so i tried out this recipe from Mamafami and Sis Rossya...i also made spicy chicken in red gravy...turned out lovely and delicious...a great combination...!

1 kg Basmathi rice

Enough water

To grind/blend :

1 teaspoon cumin

3 cm ginger

10 cloves garlic

3 onions ~ sliced

500 g carrot ~ roughly grated

3 bunches corriander ~ clean the roots and grind with 5 green chillies

2 cinnamon sticks

6 cloves

10 cardamons

salt to taste

crispy fried shallots

raisins

oil or margarine to cook

Method :

1. Wash the rice. Mix with grated carrots and put through a collander till all the water had drained out.

2. Heat oil/margarine on low heat. Fry onion till soft.

3. Add in blended ingredients, cinnamon stick, cloves and cardamons. Add in the grounded chillies and corriander roots. Fry till fragrant.

4. Add in enough water and salt.

5. When boiling, put in the rice mixed with carrots and leave to cook.

6. Garnish with coriander leaves, fried shallots and raisins

full cake decorating intensive course

i attended a 2-days full cake decorating intensive course with my dear sis/sifu, kak Ayuliana...it was 1 year ago, i joined the basic cupcakes and cookies decorating with her...i am touched with ther good hospitality and kindness and her utmost patience in guiding and teaching me on various methods and techniques of decorating 8 cakes in 2 days!!!! it was a superb and valuable 2 days experience with her....! i also made friend with kak Rozi who attended the same class too...

look at the cakes i decorated!! i am really impress and satisfied with my efforts! hehehe....

and Jihan loves them all!!!

vadai

my favourite Indian delicacies!!! thanx to kak rinn for the superb and easy recipe...!!! tastes delicious!!

250g dhal

2 dried chillies, finely sliced

2 stalks cyrru leaves, finely sliced

1/2 onion, chopped

1 tsp fennel seed

1/2 tsp salt

oil

• soak the dhal for 4 hours


• toss dry


• blend the dhal till fine


• mix all other ingredients together with the dhal


• shape the vadai, using your hand and a plastic brushed with a bit of oil


• put the vadai on a greased pan


• deep fry on a medium fire till golden brown

fresh banana cake with chocolate rice

from mamazieza's fotopages...i really like the texture...moist and fluffy...tastes yummyyyyy!!!

250 gm butter

190 gm sugar/brown sugar

1 tspfull ovalette

4 eggs - medium

1 tsp vanilla

275 gm flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp bicarbonate soda

250 gm mashed banana

100 gm chocolate rice

• beat the butter and sugar until white and fluffy


• add one egg at a time together with the ovalette, beating well after each addition


• add the bananas.


• add in flour which has been sifted with the rising agent.


• add the chocolate rice, mix it lightly


• bake in a preheated oven 180 degrees for 45 min or till done

chocolate rice orange muffins

moist and lovely....from kak liza's fotopages...

ingredients A

2 cups flour ]

1 tsp baking powder ] sifted twice

1/2 tsp soda bicarbonate ]

1 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp chocolate rice

chocolate chips for sprinkle (optional)

ingredients B

1/2 cup butter melted

1 cup orange juice

1 egg lightly beaten

1 tsp orange emulco

• preheat oven 180 degrees for 15 min


• mix all ingredients in A


• pour in B into A, mix well


• fill in the muffin cups 3/4 full. sprinkle with extra chocolate chips if you wish


• bake for 20 min or till done

rich butter cake

easy butter cake from a recipe book belongs to my friend, Teh....very moist and rich and yummy too!!!

250g butter, softened

1 cup castor sugar

4 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cup self raising flour ] sifted

1/2 cup plain flour ]

3/4 cup milk

• preheat oven 180 degrees. grease a 20cm baking pan and line with paper


• beat butter and sugar till light and fluffy


• add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition


• add in vanilla, beat till combined


• fold in sifted flour alternate with milk


• bake for 1 hour or until done

honey muffins

tried out this recipe from the NST... nice and lovely...

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup orange juice

1/3 cup butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

• combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside
• in a mixing bowl, beat eggs. add honey, orange juice, butter and vanilla. mix well
• stir into dry ingredients until batter is formed
• fill muffin cups
• bake at 180 degrees for 15-20 min

dried squid sambal with peanut

adapted from Kak Jun's recipe..i bought the dried squid in Lumut recently....smells good and tastes delicious!

dried squid, soaked in water

4 tbsp chilli paste

1 onion ]

2 garlic ] blended

1 inch ginger ]

1 lemongrass, lightly pounded

1 tbsp sugar

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp soy sauce

tamarind juice

salt

2 tbsp grounded peanut

1 onion, sliced

kaffir leaves, sliced

• heat oil in wok, fry the blended ingredients and chilli paste till fragrant


• add in lemongrass, tamarind juice and dried squid, cook until the squid soften


• add in the onion rings


• season with salt, sugar and soy sauce


• add in the grounded peanut and kaffir leaves. mix well


• remove freom heat

special tuna and cheese sandwiches

i bought a bottle of mixed pickle from Tesco today....i made it into lovely creamy, tasty tuna and cheese sandwiches! this is my dinner today...

wholemeal bread

lettuce

alfafa sprout

tomatoes, sliced

tuna in water chunks

feta cheese, crumbled

mixed pickle

Italian salad dressing

• spread some pickle on the bread


• mix the tuna, feta cheese and a dash of Italian salad dressing


• spread the tuna mixture in top of the prepared bread


• top with tomatoes, lettuce and alfafa sprout


• cover the top with another bread slice

egg sandwich

made this for lunch for travelling to Swiss Garden Damai Laut....absolutely lovely....

wholemeal bread

hard boiled eggs

tomatoes, sliced

lettuce

mayonaise

curry powder

mixed herbs

• mash the eggs and mix with mayonaise, curry powder and mixed herbs


• spread some mayonaise on the bread. top with the egg mixture


• put some lettuce nad tomatoes on top


• the cover with another slice of bread

Flying Chillies

i was craving for real thai tom yam, so went to Midvalley Gardens and had dinner at Flying Chillies....i ordered Meehoon Tom Yam and Iced Thai Coffee, while hubby ordered Pineapple Fried Rice and Ice Blended Mocha and we also ordered Thai parcels (someting like fried wantan)...

i like the ambience and simply love the food.....! the price was ok...

Seafood Tom Yam

this time, i tried out the recipe from Mat Gebu...he uses Life's tom yam paste which is easily available at any supermarket or sundry shop....tasted simply lovely!

8- 10 squid

8 - 10 prawn

squid balls

carrots

oyster mushroom

cauliflower

baby corns

onion

tomato

bird's eye chillis

2 tbsp Life's Tom Yam paste

2 lemongrass, lightly pounded

1 cm galangal, lightly pounded

1 cm ginger, lightly pounded

1 chicken cube

kaffir leaves

coriander leaves

3 tbsp lime juice

1 tbsp fish sauce

• pour about 700ml water in a pot and let boil


• add in tom yam paste, lemongrass, galangal, ginger and chicken cube


• add in carrots, bird's eye chilli and onion. let the carrots soften


• then add in prawn, squid and the balls and all vegetables, let boil


• add in sugar and fish sauce according to taste


• add in lime juice, kaffir leaves and coriander leaves


• once cooked, serve hot

Chicken basil

tried out this recipe from kak Ummi...lovely...i like the smell of basil so much...yummy..!

500g chicken pieces

5 garlic, finely chopped
1 cup basil leaves

2 tbsp chilli paste

1 tbsp fish sauce
1/2 tsp belacan paste (i omitted)

1 tsp salt (or according to taste)

1 tsp sugar
2 tbsp oil

tumeric powder and salt

• coat the chicken pieces with salt and tumeric powder. heat oil in pan, fry the chicken till golden and remove


• leave some oil in pan, add in chilli paste and belacan paste. fry till fragrant


• add in garlic, fish sauce and basil leaves


• add in salt and sugar


• add in the fried chicken, mix well


• remove from heat

chicken curry(ii)

another version of chicken curry...simple and easy...

chicken pieces

cinnamon stick

cloves

star anise

4 tsbp curry powder mix with water

oil

coconut milk (i used fresh milk)

curry leaves

carrots and potatoes and tomatoes

blended:

1 tsp cumin

4 shallots

2 garlic

1 inch ginger

• heat oil in pot, add in cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves and blended ingredients fry till fragrant



• add in curry leaves and curry powder mixture,mix well



• add in chicken pieces, cook until the flesh becomes white.



• add in water



• add in potatoes and carrots, let boil until it becomes cooked



• add in coconut milk/fresh milk



• season with salt



• remove from heat and serve

coffee muffin with chocolate chips

tried out this lovely muffin recipe from kak hanieliza...

A:

350 g flour

3 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

200 g brown sugar

B:

150 ml corn oil

250 ml coffee milk(Dutchlady)

1 tsp nescafe

1 egg, lightly beaten

1tsp vanilla

chocolate chips

• preheat oven 180 degrees for 15 min


• sift the flour with baking powder


• mix all ingredients in A


• add in B ingredients into A, mix well


• spoon in the batter into muffin cups


• sprinkle some chocolate chips on top


• bake for 20 min