Friday 3 July 2009

Hainanese Chicken Rice 海南鸡饭



If you are in Malaysia or Singapore, you might see a lots of stalls, shops or food courts will sell this common rice dish. It is not expensive and worth to try once if you haven't eat it before and trust me, you will never forget it again. Homesick.... making this dish for my family cause it is easy, tasty and simple to do. Besides, I want to introduce it to my kids - it is quite pity if a chinese don't know their culture, food and etc. Hope you will likes it too.

Source: Malaysianfood

Ingredients:
Chicken and chicken broth:
1 whole chicken ( I used drumsticks)
5-6 scallion/spring onions
6 ginger slices
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 white peppercorns
salt
Rice:
3 cups rice (wash and drained)
1 tsp garlic
2 tsp salt
21/2 tbsp oil
6 cups chicken broth from above chicken broth
6 pandan leaves
Hainanese Chili Sauce:
1 tbsp lemon juice/lime juice
2 tbsp chicken broth from above
2 tsp sugar
some red chilies (finely chopped)
4 garlics, finely chopped
1 inch ginger, finely chopped

Method:
1. Put all chicken broth ingredient and enough water into a pot, bring to boil, turn lower heat and simmer till the chicken is done. Don't overcook.
2. Remove chicken and immers in a basin of cold water. Save the chicken broth.
3. In a wok, heat oil, saute garlic till fragnant and put all the rice ingredients, transfer it into rice cooker to cook. Stir throughly before serving and remove pandan leaves.
4. Serve the rice and chicken with some cucumber slices and of course the chilies sauce too. Enjoy!

Notes:
1. The reaon to saok the cooked chicken in a basin of cold water is to create the skin and meat just nice but not overcook and you may find out the skin is crispier.
2. I still have some chicken broth, I served it with rice as soup.

Soy Bean Milk vs Palm sugar Soy Bean Milk 纯豆奶与椰糖豆浆




Soya bean milk is always welcome in our family, weather is too hot. Kids wants some different taste in stead of milk, so I decided to make this soya bean milk by myself as I still have soya bea in my pantry. This time I add some palm sugar in one part of milk, It taste so great --- almost same likes my hometown palm sugar soya bean milk. Worth to try.

Source : Amy Beh

Ingredints:
400g soya beans
1.8 litres water
110g castor sugar
3–4 screwpine leaves (pandan leaves), knotted

Method:
1. Soak soya beans in water overnight. Clean and drain well in a colander. Put the beans with half the amount of water in a food processor. Blend into a watery paste then strain the mixture into a large saucepan. Pour in the remaining water and add the screwpine leaves.
2. Use a ladle to stir the soya bean milk continuously (this is to prevent burning). Cook the soya bean milk over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Remove the screwpine leaves and pour the soya bean milk through a fine strainer. Add in sugar and stir until it dissolves.

Notes:
1. I didn't use all sugar as I plan to make a part of palm sugar flavour.
2. Nice to serve cool or hot.

Malaysian Mah Lai Koh 马来糕




Malaysian Mah Lai Koh is a bit darker than chinese style mah lai koh. I adapted this recipe from seadragon. It is really worth to try ----- easy, simple and tasty and most important is ------soft yet moist and fluffy. Thanks Seadragon.

Ingredients:
150g (1 cup) plain flour
40g (4 tbsp) custard powder
4 eggs
220g (1 cup) caster sugar
1/3 tsp vanilla extract
40ml (2 tbsp) evaporated milk
20ml (1 tbsp) treacle (molasses), or honey
1 1/3 tsp baking powder
1/3 tsp bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)
100ml canola oil

Methods:

1. Line the base of a deep 18cm steaming pan with holes (or 20cm bamboo steamer) with a double layer of muslin. Grease and line the sides with baking paper. Sift plain flour and custard powder twice and set aside.
2. Whisk eggs for 1 minute, then gradually add sugar and beat until pale and fluffy, and the mixture leaves a trail of ribbon when you lift the beater. Total beating time can be 6 to 10 minutes depending on the power of your beater.
3. Sift the flour mixture in a few batches onto the egg mixture and fold in after sifting in each batch. Mix in vanilla. Cover the bowl with cling film and set aside for 1 hour.
4. After the batter has rested for 1 hour, start boiling water in a steamer. Stir treacle into evaporated milk and mix well. Sift baking powder and soda then add to the milk mixture, mix evenly making sure there are no lumps of the raising agents. Pour the mixture into the batter with the oil. Fold in properly until evenly mixed.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and steam over high heat for 45 to 50 minutes, or until cooked. Remember to replenish steamer with hot water whenever it starts to dry up.

Notes:
1. I use 5 medium eggs in stead of 4 large eggs.
2. I used 70g plain flour and 120g custard powder.

Cheese Sponge Cake 乳酪威风蛋糕




I still have cream cheese in my fridge, kids want chiffon cake and I combinethese two ideas. Finely I found out and adapted this recipe from Baking Mum (she bake great!). It taste awesom, fluffy, soft and moist. I bake it in my new non-stick baking tray, so it didn't rice a lots but it is still nice. Next time will used my chiffon mould to bake it.

Source: Baking Mum

Ingredients
A:
60g milk
40g cream cheese
25g butter
B:
65g flour (sifted)
C:
4 egg yolks
D:
4 egg whites
90g sugar
pinch of salt
1/8 tsp cream of tartar

Method
1. Preheat oven 170˚C.
2. Cook (A) over double-boiler until well blended and thickens. Remove from double-boiler and let it cool down.
3. Add (C) into cooled down cheese mixture and mix until well combined.
4. Fold in (B) and mix until smooth.
5. Beat egg whites until frothy, add cream of tartar and beat till soft peaks. Add salt and sugar and beat till stiff peaks.
6. Fold 1/2 of the egg whites into cheese mixture, gently with a rubber spatula until just blended.
7. Pour cheese mixture (step 6) into the rest of egg whites, fold it gently with rubber spatula until blended.
8. Put batter into a 9-inch chiffon cake pan, bang the pan on a hard surface to release the bubbles and bake for 35 - 40 minutes.
9. When the cake is cooked, invert the cake to cool. Remove the cake from the cake pan when it is completely cool.

Notes:
1. Have a look at here which baking mum bake so nice!!! http://bakingmum.blogspot.com/2008/10/cheese-chiffon-cake.html
2. Don't used non-stick pan.

Donut - Doughnut - 甜甜圈 - 唐纳滋 - 多拿滋



Donuts, a piece sweet deep-fried dough (bread alike) or by baked batter (cake alike). Personally I prefer bread alike donut with just coating by sugar. Donuts may coated by chocolate, icing sugar or etc. Make these donuts for my kids as a treat as they behave very good in the week.

Source: Alan Ooi

Ingredients;
(A)300g high protein flour
200g plain flour
80g sugar
5g salt
20g milk powder
10g yeast
(B) 230ml water
1 medium egg
(C) shortening/oil/butter/margerine
Coating : sugar

Methods:
1. Combine (A), add in (B) and knead into dough. Add in (C) and continue knead until smooth, elastic and shiny dough.
2. Cover the dough and let it proo for 30 minutes (double bulk), Roll out the dough for 1cm thickness.
3. Use doughnut cutter to cut out doughnuts, let it on tray and proof for another 20 minutes (double bulk).
4. Use medium heat to deep-fry the doughnut till golden brown. Remove, place on absorbent paper and dredge with sugar whiles it is still hot.


Notes:
1. I didn't have high protein flour, I used 500g plain flour.

Grilled Char Siew 叉烧



Char Siew, or known as barbequed pork, which famous in every corner of the world. Normally, peoples will used belly pork but we are so scared of fatty meat and we always use lean meat likes tenderloin or good quality back ham cause these parts of lean pork are the beast!

Source : Amy Beh

Ingredients:
Marinade:

1.2kg sugar
55g preserved soybean paste
55g hoisin sauce
20g fermented bean curd (nam yue)
500ml light soya sauce
250ml dark soya sauce
Red dye (optional)
1.5kg belly pork (remove skin)

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC.
2. Mix the marinade ingredients.
3. Divide pork belly into five strips (about 300g each). Marinate pork belly strips for about 3 hours. Carefully pierce the marinated pork belly strips vertically with a skewer.
4. Roast pork belly in the oven for 30 minutes, basting the meat with the marinade every ten
minutes.

Notes:

1. I used lean meat, so I marinated it longer time.
2. I didn't use so much sugar as I don't likes too sweet.

Cajun Style Salmon 火烤法式三文鱼



I bought some salmon strips from market, then only realise why it is cheaper than salmon filets (I always buy one). The reason is it contain a lots of fat on top of salmon strip. What to do? I hated wasting things, so I decided to grill it or pan fry it with using any oil. I won't cook it in japanese teriyaki sauce but I used Cajun mix from supermarket to marinated it for hours than pan fry it without using any oil. Cause as I fry it, it release all the fat, I throw away the fat and fry it till crispy. The result is good, will try it again.

Chinese Spring Onion Pancakes 葱油饼



My mum will making this chinese sylt chapati during my childhood as served it as our snack. Finely, I adapted this recipe from Amy Beh. It is very nice, tasty and simple. Hope you will enjoy it. I will ask my taiwanese friend how to make it and compare the recipes.

Source : Amy Beh

Ingredients
250g plain flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp castor sugar
125ml hot water
30g melted margarine/oil
50ml cold water
1 tbsp lime juice
Green portion of 3 stalks spring onions
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
Extra melted margarine
Flour for dusting

Method:

1. Chop spring onions. Combine with salt and sugar for one minute, lightly squeeze out excess liquid and set aside.
2. Sift flour with salt into a deep bowl. Stir in sugar. Make a well in the centre. Stir in hot water, followed by melted margarine, cold water and lime juice to form a soft dough. (If dough is too stiff, add a little cold water; if it is too soft, add a little flour.)
3. Knead dough for 10 to 15 minutes. Divide into six equal balls and rub each with extra melted margarine. Place balls in an airtight container. Cover and leave aside for two to three hours.
4. Flatten each piece with a rolling pin till paper-thin. Spread 1 tbsp spring onion on top of each. Fold in both sides. Pull up and roll into a rope, then oil dough downwards into a round bun. Flatten with a rolling pin to form a pancake.
5. Sprinkle melted margarine generously on an iron griddle and fry pancake on both sides till golden brown. Serve warm.

Notes:
1. You may deep-freeze it in freezer and pan fry it again before served.

Yam Rice - Taro Rice - 芋头饭




Yam or better known as taro in US, Yam rice is a very common yet famous one bowl meal in chinese culture. I am craving for this meal since a long time. I bought a frozen yam in chinatown supermarket to try out the quality of yam. But, I am too lazy to cook or bake goodies, I used the frozen yam to cook this dish. Yummy, easy and nutritious!!!!!!!! It taste so nice till my kids begging me cook it again next weekend.

Source: Jo from saucing around, Amy Beh

Ingredients:
2 rice cups(300g) of rice, washed and drained
4 shallots, sliced
20g dried shrimps, soaked and chopped
6 mushrooms, soaked and diced
300g yam, diced
4 tbsp oil for frying
Seasoning:
2 tbsp oyster sauce
2 tsp light soy sauce
Few drops of sesame oil
Dash of pepper
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp concentrated chicken stock
4 rice cups water
1.5 tsp dark soy sauce, for color when necessary
Garnishing:
Chopped spring onions

Method:

1. Prepare all the ingredients as directed above.
2. Heat oil in a wok. Fry shallots till golden brown.
3. Add dried shrimps and fry till fragrant. Add in yam and mushrooms. Continue to fry till half-cooked.
4. Add rice and seasoning. Stir-fry to incorporate well.
5. Dish out to rice cooker, add water and boil rice as usual.
6. Serve rice hot with chopped spring onions spinkled on top.

Notes:
1. You may add some meat into this dish.
2. You can use pumkin in stead of yam.
3. My grandmom always fry some bacon, dish out and sprinkle on top the yam rice just before serve.

Couscous & Tomatoes Egg Drops Soup 古斯米 与 蛋花汤





This turkish salad or known better as bulgur salad is my family's favourite. My turkish friend teach me how to make it as I love it so much..... being begging her to tech me for a long time. Will post up the recipe soon!!!

Asam Laksa 阿三拉沙

Turkish Delight 土儿其糖

Wake-up and Start to love yourself!!!!!!!!

John Hopkins Update- Good article

AFTER YEARS OF TELLING PEOPLE CHEMOTHERAPY IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRY ('TRY', BEING THE KEY WORD) TO ELIMINATE CANCER, JOHNS HOPKINS IS FINALLY STARTING
TO TELL YOU THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE WAY.

Cancer Update from Johns Hopkins:
1. Every person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the detectable size.
2. Cancer cells occur between 6 to more than 10 times in a person's lifetime.
3 When the person's immune system is strong the cancer cells will be destroyed and prevented from multiplying and forming tumors.

4. When a person has cancer it indicates the person has multiple nutritional deficiencies. These could be due to genetic, environmental, food and lifestyle factors.

5. To overcome the multiple nutritional deficiencies, changing diet and including supplements will strengthen the immune system.
6. Chemotherapy involves poisoning the rapidly-growing cancer cells and also destroys rapidly-growing healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract etc, and can cause organ damage, like liver, kidneys, heart, lungs etc.
7. Radiation while destroying cancer cells also burns, scars and damages healthy cells, tissues and organs.
8. Initial treatment with chemotherapy and radiation will often reduce tumor size. However prolonged use of chemotherapy and radiation do not result in more tumor destruction.
9. When the body has too much toxic burden from chemotherapy and radiation the immune system is either compromised or destroyed, hence the person can succumb to various kinds of infections and complications.
10. Chemotherapy and radiation can cause cancer cells to mutate and become resistant and difficult to destroy. Surgery can also cause cancer cells to spread to other sites.
11. An effective way to battle cancer is to starve the cancer cells by not feeding it with the foods it needs to multiply.

CANCER CELLS FEED ON:

a. Sugar is a cancer-feeder. By cutting off sugar it cuts off one important food supply to the cancer cells. Sugar substitutes like NutraSweet, Equal, Spoonful, etc are made with Aspartame and it is harmful. A better natural substitute would be Manuka honey or molasses but only in very small amounts. Table salt has a chemical added to make it white in color. Better alternative is Bragg's aminos or sea salt.
b. Milk causes the body to produce mucus, especially in the gastro-intestinal tract. Cancer feeds on mucus. By cutting off milk and substituting with unsweetened soy milk cancer cells are being starved.
c. Cancer cells thrive in an acid environment. A meat-based diet is acidic and it is best to eat fish, and a little chicken rather than beef or pork. Meat also contain s livestock antibiotics, growth hormones and parasites, which are all harmful, especially to people with cancer.
d. A diet made of 80% fresh vegetables and juice, whole grains, seeds, nuts and a little fruits help put the body into an alkaline environment. About 20% can be from cooked food including beans. Fresh vegetable juices provide live enzymes that are easily absorbed and reach down to cellular levels within 15 minutes to nourish and enhance growth of healthy cells. To obtain live enzymes for building healthy cells try and drink fresh vegetable juice (most vegetables including bean sprouts) and eat some raw vegetables 2 or 3 times a day. Enzymes are destroyed at temperatures of
104 degrees F (40 degrees C).
e. Avoid coffee, tea, and chocolate, which have high caffeine. Green tea is a better alternative and has cancer fighting properties. Water-best to
drink purified water, or filtered, to avoid known toxins and heavy metals in tap water. Distilled water is acidic, avoid it.
12. Meat protein is difficult to digest and requires a lot of digestive enzymes. Undigested meat remaining in the intestines becomes putrefied and leads to more toxic buildup.
13. Cancer cell walls have a tough protein covering. By refraining from or eating less meat it frees more enzymes to attack the protein walls of cancer cells and allows the body's killer cells to destroy the cancer cells.
14. Some supplements build up the immune system (IP6, Florescence, Essiac, anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals, EFAs etc.) to enable the bodies own killer cells to destroy cancer cells. Other supplements like vitamin E are known to cause apoptosis, or programmed cell death, the body's normal method of disposing of damaged, unwanted, or unneeded cells.
15. Cancer is a disease of the mind, body, and spirit. A proactive and positive spirit will help the cancer warrior be a survivor. Anger,
un-forgiveness and bitterness put the body into a stressful and acidic environment. Learn to have a loving and forgiving spirit. Learn to relax and enjoy life.
16. Cancer cells cannot thrive in an oxygenated environment. Exercising daily, and deep breathing help to get more oxygen down to the cellular level. Oxygen therapy is another means employed to destroy cancer cells.
1. No plastic containers in micro.
2. No water bottles in freezer.
3. No plastic wrap in microwave.
Johns Hopkins has recently sent this out in its newsletters. This information is being circulated at Walter Reed Army Medical Center as well. Dioxin chemicals cause 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, Dr. Edward Fujimoto, Wellness Program Manager at Cast le 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 pape r. 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.

This is an article that should be shared with anyone important in your life.