Saturday, May 31, 2008

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!!!



Tuesday, May 27, 2008

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

Monday, May 26, 2008

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


Friday, May 23, 2008

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

Thursday, May 22, 2008

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!!!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

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!!! Roll


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


Friday, May 16, 2008

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