It is good to know cooking...

Farming: Red Clover & Broccoli Sprouts

2010-03-31T08:18:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 10 minutes (everyday)
Duration to Harvest: 6 - 7 days

Ingredients:

1/2 Tbsp of Red Clover Seeds (organic)
1/2 Tbsp of Broccoli Beans (organic)
Water

Steps (Day 1):

In a container (glass bottle or plastic box that can places food), put in both seeds.
Add in water (never use boiled water because the seeds need oxygen from the water) to fill the container into half-full.
Leave the container in a dark place & away from light (make sure it is not covered) for 8 hours or over night & allows germination process.

Mix both red clover & broccoli seeds makes the sprouting easier (broccoli seeds need more care than red clover).

How much of seeds depend on the size of the container.

For this glass bottle, I fill it with a layer of seeds covering the bottom.

Remember not to put in dead water (boiled water).

More than half will do.

Leave it for 8 hours.

Steps (Day 1 - after 8 hours):

The water turns yellowish & you can see the dirt. Also, the seeds become a bit bigger than before (the seeds absorb water & prepare for sprouting).
Pour out the dirty water & drain the seeds (you can cover the lid with a cloth that has very tidy holes to avoid you accidentally pour the seeds out).
Pour in water & shake the bottle (like washing the seeds), then drain the seeds.
Wash the seeds & drain them again.
Leave it uncovered in a dark place overnight.

You can place the cover on the lid, without closing it to prevent unwanted dirt.

Must wash & drain twice to discard the dirt.

You can shake the bottle to distribute them evenly.

Seeds become bigger after germination process.

Steps (Day 2 - day & night):

Some seeds start sprouting in the container.
Wash & drain the sprouts twice in the morning.
Leave it uncovered in a dark place.
At night, wash & drain the sprouts twice.
Leave it uncovered in a dark place overnight.

Broccoli seeds may sprout slower than red clover seeds.

You need to be careful when you drain the seeds.

The seeds will become too wet if you did not drain them well.

Steps (Day 3 - day & night):

You may see some fury stuff with the seeds (it is the broccoli sprout). Also, some uneasy smell from the sprouts (broccoli sprouts have a stronger one).
Repeat the steps you have done in day 2 - wash & drain.

The sprouts grow bigger in day 3.

And sometimes squeeze together for more space.

Normally the bottom ones will get wet a bit.

Whereas the top ones are dry.

Steps (Day 4 - day & night):

Repeat the steps in day 3 for day & night.

Almost ready to.

You can transfer the sprouts to another container to discard the hulls as well.

Still growing.

Steps (Day 5):

Wash & drain the sprouts twice.
Now, you can transfer the sprouts into another container.
Leave them in a place that has light source (but not directly sun-light).
The sprouts can be consumed within day 5 & day 7 (depends on your preference).

Again, make sure they are well-drained.

It is difficult to separate the hulls.

You can enjoy your healthy sprouts anytime you want.

Red clover sprout (on right) has a simple leaves.It is good in lowering cholesterol, improving urine production & blood circulation (reducing the possibility of blood clots & arterial plaques) & limiting the development of benign prostate hyperplasia. Also, it is used for hot flashes/ flushes, PMS, breast enhancement & breast health, & help to prevent osteoporosis. However, it has side effect also (http://menopause-herbs.femhealth.net/red-clover-benefits-side-effects.htm).

Broccoli sprout (on left) has leaves like apple shape. It contains cancer-protective compounds (sulforaphane). Three-day-old of broccoli sprouts contain 10-100 times higher levels of glucoraphanin (the glucosinolate of sulforaphane) than the mature plants. Also, it contains Vitamins A, C & E, calcium & fiber, among a long list of nutrients.

I found that it is much more easier to sprout on some flat surface, especially on transparent container.

The sprouts spread evenly and grow tiny (you can see the roots also).

And, it is easy to drain by using a fine sieve.

Tips:

In order not to waste too many water, you may use the 'dirty water' to water other plants.
You can start another sprouting in day 3 or 4; depends on your demand.
You can get some organic seeds from some Internet stores if it is difficult to find in your place.

Recipe: Glutinous Rice Ball Fillied with Red Bean & Coated with Black Sesame Powder

2010-02-26T07:55:00.000-08:00

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 60 minutes

First 10 minutes in high heat & remaining 50 minutes in low medium heat.

Keep on stirring to avoid the red beans burn & stick on bottom.

Red bean paste (blended cooked red beans, brown sugar, cinnamon powder & salt).

Mixed black sesame seeds powder, brown sugar & salt.

To make a rice ball: Firstly, roll it.

Secondly, make a hole.

Thirdly, seal it to close the gap.

Rice balls in boiling water (they sink when you put them in).

Then they float (to show they are cooked).

Rice balls in ice water.

Remember to drain the rice balls.

Coated with sesame powder.

Of course you need to roll all evenly.

They smell great.

And taste delicious too!

"ta-rang! Glutinous Rice Balls Filled with Red Bean Paste & Coated with Black Sesame Powder".

Enjoy! ;)

Ingredients:

4 cups of Glutinous rice flour
1 1/2 cups of Boiling water
1 cups of Red bean (washed)
2 cups of Brown sugar
1 1/2 cups of Black sesame seeds (rise & drained)
2 3/4 tsps of Salt
1 tsp of Cinnamon powder

Steps:

In a pot, cook red bean with 4 cups of water (heat over high heat for 10 minutes, then simmer in low medium heat for 50 minutes).
In a bowl, mix glutinous rice flour, 4 Tbsp of sugar & 2 tsp of salt.
Pour 1 1/2 cups of boiling water into (2) little by little & mix to form a dough. Cover with plastic bag & set aside.
Cook sesame seeds in a pan over medium heat (remember to stir).
Lower the heat once the sesame seeds pop, keep on stirring until they are crispy (about 5 minutes).
When the sesame seeds cool down, grind them into powder form.
In a separate bowl, mix sesame seeds powder, 4 Tbsp of brown sugar & 1/4 tsp of salt.
Once the beans are fully cooked, crush or blend them with 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 tsp of salt & cinnamon powder.
Divide dough into 2 & roll each to form a cylinder shape with your hand .
Divide & cut the dough into 40 pieces.
Roll each dough & make a hole in the middle with your thumb.
Put some red bean paste into the hole & close it tightly.
Repeat previous 2 steps until all rice balls are filled with red bean paste.
In a pot with boiling water, put in all rice balls carefully & cook them until they float (about 3 minutes).
Transfer the cooked rice balls into ice water & drain them.
Roll the rice balls in the bowl with sesame seeds powder.
Ready to serve.

Tips:

Remember to keep on stirring the red beans while cooking.
You may need to add more cups of water if the heat is too high or the red bean is too dry.
You can roll the rice balls according to your preference sizes (but too small is difficult to close the section).
Don't put too much red bean paste into each rice ball (it makes the rice ball difficult to seal).
When you seal the rice balls, press slowly with gentle (pressing too hard will break the rice balls).

Recipe: Carrot Cake

2010-01-31T06:23:00.000-08:00

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Baking Time: 40-50 minutes

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups of Vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups of Brown sugar
2 tsp of Vanilla essence
2 cups of All-purpose flour
2 tsp of Baking soda
2 tsp of Baking powder
1/2 tsp of Salt
2 tsp of Cinnamon powder
3 cups of Grated carrots

Steps:

In a large bowl, beat eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla essence.
Add in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon powder. Beat well.
Stir in carrots until the mixture form evenly.
Bake in a preheat oven at 175ºc for 40-50 minutes.

Tips:

When you prepare the grated carrots, there is excessive juice extracted from the grated carrots. Do not throw it (mix the juice into the mixture).
The mixture will look quite wet and liquid-type (don't worry).
You can substitute grated carrots with grated pumpkin (it tastes nice as well).

Recipe: Sesame Seeds Sweet Buns

2009-11-15T04:05:00.000-08:00

Preparation Time: 90 minutes
Baking Time: 20 minutes

Finally, I make it... ;) All together 15 breads.

Though is a bit dark, hehe... (9 here)

Need to fit into other 2 small baking trays... (3 here)

Ops! Change shapes, may be it is too packed (3 more here)

Soft inside. [ding dong ding dong, successful v(==)v ].

Let me slice it...

Into 6 pieces...

Really soft (better consume within 2 days)

Ingredients:

600g High Protein Bread Flour
1 1/2 tsp of Instant Yeast
1 tsp of Bread Improver
1 1/4 tsp of Salt
100g Brown Sugar
3 Tbsp of Milk Powder
1 Egg
300 - 350ml Water
50g Butter (room temparture)
Some White Sesame Seeds
Melted Butter (for brushing)

Steps:

Mix ingredients 1-8 and knead till it can stretch into thin sheet (about 10 minutes).
Add in butter and knead till smooth. Cover dough and leave it to prove till double in bulk.
Knead again till smooth (about 10 minutes). Cover and rest for 15 minutes.
Divide dough into 15 portions and shape each into a ball.
Arrange onto a baking tray. Leave to prove till double in bulk.
Spray little water onto the dough and sprinkle some sesame seeds on top of it.
Bake in a preheat oven at 200ºc for 20 minutes.
brush with melted butter.

Tips:

In step 1, mixual of ingredients will turns separated doughs to a sticky dough. The longer time you knead it, the less stickiness of the dough. (somehow, there is few that sticks on your fingers)
In step 2, adding butter into the dough will first cause the dough to separate apart. Don't worry, as you knead it longer, a whole dough will be formed slowly.
In step 5, as the dough will raise into a double size, so leave some space between them.
You can cover the dough with cling wrap or clean cloth.

Recipe: Banana Cake

2009-11-08T04:03:00.000-08:00

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 40-50 minutes

In the baking process...

Start rising...

In 175ºc, hot...

Turning color...

Few cuts to test whether the internal is cooked. (Initially, I bake for 40 minutes - follow the original recipe - but, it is not fully cooked)

Emm, it doesn't looks nice externally (maybe the color of banana slices is too dark).

However, it really tastes good. Must try.

Ingredients:

250g All-purpose Flour
1 tsp of Baking Powder
1/4 tsp of Bicarbonate Soda
250g Butter (room temparture)
200g Brown Sugar
1/4 tsp of Salt
5 Eggs
1 tsp of Vanilla Essence (optional)
250g Mashed Bananas

Steps:

Shift all-purpose flour, baking powder and bicarbonate soda.
In another medium bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and salt until well-blended. Add in eggs one by one and vanilla essence and beat well.
Fold in the flour mixture into (2) until well-combined.
Fold in mashed bananas into the batter.
Place a piece of baking paper on the cake tray and pour the batter on it.
Cut and place banana slices on top of the cake batter.
Bake in a preheat oven at 175ºc for 40-50 minutes (until golden brown).

Tips:

You can use white sugar to substitute brown sugar (but brown sugar is more healthier). If the bananas that you bought is not sweet enough, you can add more sugar.
You can use a fork to mash bananas.
You can choose not to place banana slices on top of the cake batter (if you think it doesn't looks good).

Recipe: Chocolate Chips & Almonds Cookies

2009-08-31T02:18:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Baking Time: 10 minutes

My end products. Let's take a picture: Pose 1.

How about Pose 2?

My cookies look bigger (I use table spoon and scope too much, hehe ;)).

A clearer view. Do these look delicious?

I got 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc, about 12 big cookies.

Actually more than that.

Testing time. Now, you see it.

Now, you don't. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

125g All-purpose Flour (1 cup)
1/2 tsp of Baking Soda
1/4 tsp of Salt
115g Butter (room temparture) (1/2 cup)
100g Brown Sugar (1/2 cup)
50g Sugar (1/4 cup)
1 Egg
1 tsp of Vanilla Essence
80g Chocolate Chips
80g Almonds

Steps:

Shift both all-purpose flour and baking soda. Mix them well with salt.
In another medium bowl, beat butter, brown sugar and sugar until well-blended. Add in egg and vanilla essence and beat well.
Fold in the flour mixture into (2) until well-combined.
Fold in 60g chocolate chips and all almonds into the batter.
Place a piece of baking paper on the tray and scope the batter using a tea spoon on it. Make sure there are some spaces (about 2 inches apart) between 2 cookies.
Bake in a preheat oven at 175ºc for 10 minutes.
In minute 6th, put the remainder chocolate chips on top of the cookies.

Tips:

You can replace almonds with other nuts of your choice.
Why I use teaspoon to scope? Actually, I use a tablespoon to scope the cookies that I bake (shown in picture), so you can see some are really big. Of course you can decide the size.
Do not flatten the battle that you scope on the baking tray as it will be shaped during the baking process.
Why I separate the chocolate chips? So that the cookies look nicer whereby some chips are seen on the top. (Hehe, I forget to add chips on top this time, may be next time).

Recipe: Quiche

2009-07-14T21:19:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 8 minutes
Baking Time: 30 minutes

Preparing ingredients...

Garlic, shallots, onions...

Fried bacon makes the Quiche much more delicious (remember to discard excessive fat, if possible).

Making pastry on pie dish using hands (remember to use a fork to press some holes on the pastry).

Ready to bake.

Those dark brown color things is not burn, it is Parmesan cheese.

This time I put bacon, mushrooms & garlic, shallots & onions.

Yummy yummy... ;)

Ingredients (Pastry):

120g Shortening
200g Plain Flour
Pinch of Salt
1 Egg
2 Tbsp of Fresh Milk

Ingredients (Filling):

200ml Fresh Milk
500ml Whipping Cream
50g Plain Flour
Parmesan Cheese
3 cloves of Onions (ring)
5 cloves of Shallots (minced by food processor)
5 pips of Garlics (minced by food processor)
1 can of Luncheon Meat (pieces) or bacon (pieces)
2 Tbsp of Oil
Salt and Pepper for season

Optional Ingredient:

Different veges (corns, carrots, beans, sweet basils, celery, etc).
Mushrooms

Steps:

Mix all pastry ingredients to form a dough. Flatten the dough and shape it into a pie dish.
In a medium heat pan, add some oil to stir fry onions, shallots and garlics till fragrant.
Add luncheon meat into (2) and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
Season with salt and pepper.
Spread filling into the pie dish evenly.
In a seperate bowl, mix fresh milk, whipping cream and flour well. Pour the mixture into the pie dish and spread some parmesan cheese on the top.
Bake in a preheat oven at 200ºc for 30 minutes.

Tips:

Do not knead the dough too hard to prevent toughened pastry.
Luncheon meat can be replaced with ham or bacon if you don't like can food or with optional ingredients if you prefer veges.
Best to serve while quiche is warm.

Recipe: Organic Oat + Omlette + Seaweed

2009-07-09T07:37:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 2 minutes
CookingTime: 10 minutes

Who say oat is tasteless? It can be varied to add flavour and suit your taste too.

Ingredients:

5 Tbsp Organic Oat
250ml Hot Water
Japanese Instant Seaweed
1 Egg

Optional Ingredient:

Veges for omlette (Spring Onion, Carrot, Bean).

Steps:

Mix oat and hot water in a pot. Turn to medium heat and cook for 10 minutes (you may add in seaweed in between the cooking).
Meanwhile, in a seperate pan, add a bit olive oil and fry the veges (about 1 minute).
Add in beated egg into the veges and stir-fry the omlette.
Both oat and omlettle are ready to serve.

Tips:

The cooking time of the oat depends on your preference. Longer cooking and more water will produce soft texture (like porridge).
If you are new to oat products, you may find uneasy to consume it in 'hard' texture. So, you may want to cook the oat a bit longer.

Recipe: French Baguettes

2009-05-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 100 minutes (actually most of the time is waiting time)
Baking Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

90g Plain Flour
360g Bread Flour
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Sugar
3 tsp Instant Yeast
250ml Water
10g Shortening

Optional Ingredient:

Different flavour (crushed garlic, grated lemon zest, sunflower seeds, chocolate chips, crushed almond, etc).

Steps:

Mix plain flour, bread flour, salt, sugar and instant yeast.
Add in water and knead to form a dough.
Add shorrtening and knead to form a smooth and elastic dough. Leave it to rise for 45 minutes.
Divide the dough into 3 portions and mould each of them into balls. Let them rest for 10 minutes.
Flatten the dough and roll them into stick shapes (about 30cm long). Leave them to prove for 30 minutes.
In a baking tray, place all the 3 rolls of dough onto it.
Brush them with water and slash the tops with a sharp knife 3 or 4 times.
Bake in a preheat oven at 220ºc for 25 minutes.

Tips:

In the baking tray, place a piece of baking paper and put some flour to avoid stickiness.
You can add flovour to the baguettes according to your preferences by mixing the chosen ingredients in step 5.
Consume as early as possible to taste the fresh baguettes.

Recipe: "Lo Mai Gai"

2009-04-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 50 minutes
Cooking + SteamTime: (10 + 40) minutes

Ingredients (top - chicken; bottom (clock-wise) - garlic, onion, chinese mushroom, dried shrimps, chili). This can be prepared within few minutes; using food processor; haha.

Taste: Dried shrimps and other ingredients add fragrance and make the dish more delicious.
Best for: dim sum.

Ingredient 1:

2 cups grutinous rice (soaked overnight and drained)

Ingredient 2:

200g chicken (sliced) + 2 Tbsp soy sauce + 1 tsp dark soy sauce + 1 tsp 5-spices powder + 1 tsp sugar (soak for 15 minutes)

Ingredient 3:

3 cloves of garlics (finely chopped)
2 cloves of onions (finely chopped)
2 Tbsp dried shrimps (soaked, drained and finely chopped)
5 dried mushrooms (soaked, drained and finely chopped)

Other Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups water
Salt and pepper

Optional Ingredient:

Chili (finely chopped)
Scallions (finely chopped)
Coriander (finely chopped)

Steps:

Heat the pan with olive oil.
Add in garlic and onion. Cook till garlic and onion almost turns golden color (medium heat).
Add in dried shrimps and mushroom (cook for about 1 minute).
Add in chicken (the chicken will turn into white once it is cooked). Raise it.
In another pan/ wok (medium heat), cook glutinous rice and water. Cook till all the water dissolves into the rice. [You have to keep on turning the rice to make sure it is evenly cooked]
Mix all ingredients and season with salt and pepper. Turn off the fire.
Steam at a high heat steamer for 40 minutes.
Once it is cooked, sprinkle with spring onion, chili and corriander.

Tips:

You can add more dark soy sauce if the color is not enough dark.
Basically 1 cup of glutinous rice requires 3/4 cups of water. Too much water will cause the rice overcooked and it tastes too smooth.

Recipe: Baked Omlette

2009-04-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 5 minutes
Cooking + Baking Time: (5 + 10) minutes

Taste: Cripspy potatoes on top and moisture inside
(fill with veges, eggs & milk mixtures).
Best for: Spaghetti or potluck.

This one is with Cheddar Cheese (for those who loves cheese)

Ingredients:

3 potatoes (sliced)
1 clove of onion (sliced)
3 large eggs (beat well)

Optional Ingredient:

Other vegetables (corn, celery, asparagus, chili, long bean, etc) can be added based on personal preference.

Steps:

Heat the pan with olive oil.
Cook potatoes until soft (about 2 minutes).
Add in onion (and optional ingredient, if there is any) and season with salt and pepper. Cook till onion turns soft. Turn off the fire.
In a baking tray, put a thin layer of olive oil to avoid stickiness.
Pour the cooked vegetables into the baking tray. (You may place the potatoes on top as to make it crispy during baking).
Add in eggs mixsture.
Bake in a preheat oven at 220ºc for 10 minutes.

Tips:

In the baking tray, all veges should be covered with eggs. If not, add egg mixsture.
You can substitute 3 large eggs with 2 medium eggs +180ml of milk. Mixture of eggs and milk will produce moisture and soft omlette compared to eggs mixture alone.

Recipe: "Boogogee" (Korean Beef Strips)

2009-02-24T07:04:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

200g beef strips
1 yellow onion (sliced)
1 clove of garlic (finely chopped)
1 can of coke
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp soya sauce
pepper (enough for seasoning)

Optional Ingredient:

1 stalk corriander (coarsely chopped)

Steps:

Soak beef strips in coke for 5 minutes and well-drained.
Heat the pan with olive oil.
Stir fry garlic and onion in medium heat until soft (about 2 - 3 minutes).
Add in beef strips and season with pepper. Cook for 4 - 5 minutes.
Discard the excessive sauce from the beef strips.
In a separate pan, shimmer soya sauce and 1/4 of coke.
Add back beef strips and corriander. Cook for 2 minutes.

Tips:

When you cook the beef strips in step 4, you will see some bloods from the beef. It is normal. Therefore, you must discard these in step 5, else, it looks unpleasant to eat.
If you are health conscious and dislike coke, it can be replaced with terriyaki sauce and season with substantial amount of sugar to balance the taste.

Recipe: Kim Chi Soup

2009-02-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

1 small bowl of kim chi (with gravy)
1 carrot (thick julienne cut)
1 potato (thick julienne cut)
1 clove of garlic (finely chopped)
1 Tbsp olive oil
2 1/2 small bowls of water

Optional ingredients (pick your own preference):

Veges: oyster mushroom, golden needle mushroom, califlower
Meat: 1/2 can of tuna in salt water (drained and flaked), sausage, beef strips, ham

Steps:

Heat the pot with olive oil.
Stir fry garlic, carrot and potato until mildly cooked (about 1 - 2 minutes).
Add in kim chi (with gravy) and water.
Shimmer for 10 minutes.
Add in optional ingredients.
Season with salt when the optional ingredients are fully cooked.

Tips:

You can substitute salt and tuna with 1/4 chicken cube if you don't like the fishy taste.
The taste of the kim chi soup might vary (depends on the kim chi used). So, better buy it from some Korean mart.

A Warm Birthday Dinner

2009-02-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

Was thinking to have a dinner at my place for birthday celebration. But, I'm afraid it is too rush for preparation as I will only be back on the night before. Besides, I also worry that nobody will entertain me as that day is a week day and many of my friends are busy working. Somehow, I sent the invitation to them for a try (I think I miss out some... Sorry ya...), Surprisely, almost all of them turn up. As an appreciation, Hubby and I tried our best to prepare a healthy dinner consisiting kim chi steamboat, 'boogoogee' (cola beef), crabs and fruit juice.

My Lovely Birthday Cake

Time for a Wish

Like the Presents (pleasant smell of fragrance and lovely T)

Pretty Friends... ;)

"I had a wonderful dinner and a great time together with you all on my birthday. Thanks for coming, thanks all your greetings and presents as well... ;)"

Do I Look Like a Pregnant Lady?

2009-02-21T08:02:00.000-08:00

Went to the super market yesterday to get some veges and other stuff. At the fruits session, the durian store had attracted me as it smells really great. I felt a strong craving for buying it. But, was thinking of eating too much will cause in weight gain. While I was standing beside the store with my hubby and was struggling to make a decision between 'yes, just buy it' and 'no, just forget it', a 'makcik' (a shopper) just said something to me. "Moi, belilah, belilah! Kalau pregnant mesti mau makan sesuatu punya." "Makcik, I tak ada pregnant lah!!!" Exclaimed me.

'Gosh! do I look like a pregnant lady???' This is the first question I thought of. I better behave and control my diet. Sob sob sob :( :(

However, we bought the durian also (he was the one to seduce me to buy... actually he wanted to eat too ler...). Hehe...

Movie: All About Women

2009-01-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

Went for a movie on Tuesday, tittled "All About Women". Before watching the movie, I have quite a high expectation on it as it was directed by Xu Hak, a popular director in the Chinese movie industry. However, when I was in the cinema watching the movie... Question turned up: "OMG! Is this movie really by him? " "Huh? like that also can? Sigh!!!"

The movie (for me) is very bad ler... It is like a combination of several genres (kung fu? love story? animation? music? comedy?). But, it did not meet any categories (kung fu scene is not outstanding enough, love story is not touching enough, animation is not lively enough, music is not attractive enough, comedy is not humorous enough). May be you try to fit it into a category and tell me. Yeah, not to forget, the main story is about phernomone... phernomone... and phernomone... The story line is terrible too (may be I am not that "high level" enough to understand and appraise the story).

So, when I walked out from the cinema, I really have no idea about what have I watched. My mind was totally blank and confused about the story. My suggestion to those who wanted to watch the movie, please not to expect much. Or, a better suggestion, not to watch the movie if you have option.

Perhaps my comments are not too harsh... ;)

Recipe: BBQ Chicken with Honey Lemon

2008-11-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:

4 portions of chicken
1/2 lemon
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves of garlic (with skin)

Steps:

Clean the chicken.
Squeeze lemon juice into a baking tray (the squeezed lemon can be placed into the tray as well).
Add olive oil, honey and garlic.
Put in chicken into the tray.
Season with salt and pepper.
Bake in a preheat oven (with fan) at 180ºc for 50 minutes.

Tips: You can turn the chicken occasionally (about 15 minutes once) to ensure all parts are baked evenly.

It is rather easy to make a delicious BBQ chicken, without setting up the BBQ equipments. Feel free to try it out.

Food Processor Really Makes Things Easier

2008-08-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

Preparation Time: 10 minutes (chopping) + 4 hours (Marinating) + 10 minutes (wrapping)
Cooking Time: 12 minutes

You can place a piece of banana leave and some Chinese cabbages on the bottom of the steamer to add fragrance and avoid stickiness.

Make sure the steamer is covered well.

Eat while it is warm.

Ingredients:

200g minced chicken/ pork
200g minced prawn
4 soaked mushroom (finely drained and chopped)
80g bamboo shoots (finely drained and chopped)
1 teaspoon chicken essence
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon of pepper
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
1 egg white
1 1/2 Tablespoon corn flour
30 pieces wantan skin (rounded-shape)
2 salted egg yolk (cooked) or some ebiko or crab egg for dressing

Steps (Preparing)

Mix chicken, prawn, salt and chicken essence into a big bowl
Add in mushroom and bamboo shoots, sugar, sesame oil and pepper
Add in egg white and stir thoroughly (mixture looks wet a bit)
Add in corn flour and mix well (flour will lock and firm the mixture)
Put the mixture into refrigerator for at least 4 hours (you can cover with plastic seal)
Cover meat with wantan skin and shape it well (like "siew mai")
Add dressing on top of each "siew mai"

Steps (Steaming)

Add enough water into the wok or steamer
Put a piece of baking paper (punched holes) or few pieces of chinese cabbage ("pak choi") on the steaming stray to avoid stickiness.
Place "siew mai" onto the tray and steam for 10 minutes

Tips: Meat, mushroom and bamboo shoots MUST be "dry" enough, else the excessive water will ruin your delicious "siew mai".

Recipe: Basil Beer Bread

2008-06-02T02:20:00.000-07:00

When I found this recipe, I was attacted by its simplicity (basically there is only 1 step, that is, to mix everything together... hehe... it suits me well). And, not to forget, I have basil plant at my place and have no idea on when to use it except for creamy cheese spaghetti. But, the thing is, I over-estimated the weight of basil leaves. I thought 10 leaves will make up 30g. At the end, I have to clear all (try to imagine the basil plant is "botak" now) for this bread.

About the taste, it tasted like... beer (but not as strong as you drink as sugar was added). It is bitter for me cox I don't like beer very much. I think next time I got to substitute the beer with milk. But I have to plant some new basil plants first... ;) hehehe...

If you like to try on something different, it is good to experiment on.
Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:

375g self-raising flour
30g chopped fresh basil leaves
4 tbsp sugar
1 tsp crushed black pepper
375ml beer

Steps:

Mix all ingredients in a mixing bowl.
Bake in 50 minutes at 160ºc .

Extra easy, right?

No More Hawker Stalls at Desa Setapak

2008-05-22T03:38:00.001-07:00

Yesterday night when I passed by Taman Desa Setapak , I was so surprised that over hundreds of hawker stalls have been demolited by DBKL yesterday morning.

For those who wanted to find Chinese hawker stalls in Taman Desa Setapak(Wangsa Maju LRT), or purposely come to the area for food recommended by "Ho Chiak", would be disappointed now.

More pictures and details, please refer to these links:
http://weechookeong.blogspot.com/2008/05/dbkl-playing-politics-and-its-action.html
http://chinese3.cari.com.my/myforum/viewthread.php?tid=1221372&extra=page%3D1

So Embarrass to Tell...

2008-05-21T09:33:00.000-07:00

that this is my first blog...

"Unbelievable? Believe it."

I always believe that to get started is always difficult. That could be one of the reasons why I did not start my blog long long time ago. I have the plan before (I couldn't remmember since when), but the plan never turn into action due to laziness and worries.

I know what is in your mind. You might think that "hey, you are in IT field and you are telling me that you only start to learn to use this thing now? So...." Embarrass ya... I also feel kinda...
But, after the encouragement of my friend (you know who you are, hehe... thanks!), I decided to create my blog. Perhaps it will never be too late.