Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
HOMEMADE OTAH
My kids love otah. They use to buy it from some a Malay uncle near my house who is selling it on his mobile stall. It’s not cheap take into consideration of the portion. So, one day I told my kids, “Hey kids. Your mum knows how to do it. Fresher, tastier and most of all……cheaper.”
The best is to use oily fish like mackerel. If you wish to be innovative, you can also try other fish like tuna, sardine, salmon, etc. When you have excess fishes in your fridge and you are tired of frying or steaming, try doing otah with it.
What you need :
Mackerel fish – 200gm (Mince into fish paste)
Corn Flour – 3 tablespoon
Sambal Chilli – 3 tablespoon (if you like it spicy, you can add more)
Oyster Sauce – 1 teaspoon
Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. There after, you can either steam it, bake it or BBQ it.
(A) Steam :
Put all your otah mixture on a plate.
Boil some water in your wok, place a metal stand and place your plate on top.
Cover it and steam for about 10 minutes.
(B) Bake :
Place your otah on greased aluminium foil and wrap it up firmly.
You may pack them in about 10 wraps.
Preheat your oven (not microwave oven of course) 220 degree C
Place all the otah warp into the oven and bake them for 10 minutes
(C) BBQ :
The most authenticable way is to wrap them in banana leaves.
Place the otah mix in the center of banana leaves and faster with
toothpicks at both end.
BBQ them on charcoal for 5 - 10 minutes depends on how strong
the fire is.
(In the above slide show, I Steam the otah. We serve the otah with Chicken Soup Macaroni top with Japanese spices. My sons love potato chips. Thus, I let them have it as a side dish. Funny right. Anyway, they love it.)
Tips :
For busy people like me….Hmm…..actually busy is only an excuse. Lazy is the reason :P
You may consider getting fish paste from supermarket where they sell such paste for making fish balls. As for Sambal chilli, you can also get it off the racks. It comes in many varieties and brands. You can find them in bottles and packets. You can also get it from wet market where there are stall selling pre-mixed spices.
If you wish to mix your own house brand sambal chili, you can make it with onion, turmeric, galangal, chili, balachan, garlic, buah keras and lemon grass. (haha…troublesome isn’t it ?) I skip this. Yeah…
I like to add some surprises in my otah. Sometime, I’ll add some squid, prawn or crab meat. My preference is squid but my kids prefer prawn and crab stick.
If you are not sure whether the otah is cooked, you can use toothpick or satay stick to test by poking it into the otah. If it comes out clean, your otah is done.
It’s very simple and I’m sure, you will do it again and again after your first try.
The best is to use oily fish like mackerel. If you wish to be innovative, you can also try other fish like tuna, sardine, salmon, etc. When you have excess fishes in your fridge and you are tired of frying or steaming, try doing otah with it.
What you need :
Mackerel fish – 200gm (Mince into fish paste)
Corn Flour – 3 tablespoon
Sambal Chilli – 3 tablespoon (if you like it spicy, you can add more)
Oyster Sauce – 1 teaspoon
Place all the ingredients in a bowl and mix well. There after, you can either steam it, bake it or BBQ it.
(A) Steam :
Put all your otah mixture on a plate.
Boil some water in your wok, place a metal stand and place your plate on top.
Cover it and steam for about 10 minutes.
(B) Bake :
Place your otah on greased aluminium foil and wrap it up firmly.
You may pack them in about 10 wraps.
Preheat your oven (not microwave oven of course) 220 degree C
Place all the otah warp into the oven and bake them for 10 minutes
(C) BBQ :
The most authenticable way is to wrap them in banana leaves.
Place the otah mix in the center of banana leaves and faster with
toothpicks at both end.
BBQ them on charcoal for 5 - 10 minutes depends on how strong
the fire is.
(In the above slide show, I Steam the otah. We serve the otah with Chicken Soup Macaroni top with Japanese spices. My sons love potato chips. Thus, I let them have it as a side dish. Funny right. Anyway, they love it.)
Tips :
For busy people like me….Hmm…..actually busy is only an excuse. Lazy is the reason :P
You may consider getting fish paste from supermarket where they sell such paste for making fish balls. As for Sambal chilli, you can also get it off the racks. It comes in many varieties and brands. You can find them in bottles and packets. You can also get it from wet market where there are stall selling pre-mixed spices.
If you wish to mix your own house brand sambal chili, you can make it with onion, turmeric, galangal, chili, balachan, garlic, buah keras and lemon grass. (haha…troublesome isn’t it ?) I skip this. Yeah…
I like to add some surprises in my otah. Sometime, I’ll add some squid, prawn or crab meat. My preference is squid but my kids prefer prawn and crab stick.
If you are not sure whether the otah is cooked, you can use toothpick or satay stick to test by poking it into the otah. If it comes out clean, your otah is done.
It’s very simple and I’m sure, you will do it again and again after your first try.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
FRUITY PRAWN SALAD
Ingredient :
One Canned of Mixed Cocktail Fruit
250g of Fresh Prawn
Coleslaw (I prefer Kraft Coleslaw)
Cook prawn, deshell and halved it. Drain syrup off the canned cocktail fruit. Place cocktail fruit into a nice plate and lay the prawns nicely on the fruit. Chill them in the fridge till ready to serve.
Upon arrival of your hungry guests, squeeze coleslaw on the salad and serve them with pride. You may light a candle and place it on the salad, dance or march your way to the dinning table. Impress your guest with impressive low cost salad ;-)
There’s no secret to this recipe. Just Serve Cold.
One Canned of Mixed Cocktail Fruit
250g of Fresh Prawn
Coleslaw (I prefer Kraft Coleslaw)
Cook prawn, deshell and halved it. Drain syrup off the canned cocktail fruit. Place cocktail fruit into a nice plate and lay the prawns nicely on the fruit. Chill them in the fridge till ready to serve.
Upon arrival of your hungry guests, squeeze coleslaw on the salad and serve them with pride. You may light a candle and place it on the salad, dance or march your way to the dinning table. Impress your guest with impressive low cost salad ;-)
There’s no secret to this recipe. Just Serve Cold.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
NON BAKE PEACH CHEESE CAKE
The Cheese Cake Picture looks familiar ?? Yes, I posted it in my earlier blog post when we had it as a Singapore National Day Birthday Cake on our national day celebration. I've been receiving some requests for sharing the recipe of my Non Bake Peach Cheese Cake. It's easy to prepare and save you some trouble of baking. Kids can do it so why don't you give it a try.
INGREDIENTS :
The Cake :
400g Digestive Biscuits
120g Butter (melted)
1-1/2 tsp Gelatin
100ml Hot Water
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
250g Philadelphia Cream Cheese
4 tbsp Condensed Milk
1 tin Evaporated Milk – Chilled overnight
The Top Decoration :
1/2 Peaches (sliced)
2 tbsp Gelatin Dissolved with little Hot Water
METHOD :
1. Crush biscuits into fine crumbs. Mix the crumbs with melted butter in a mixing bowl. Mix well and press crumb mixture into a 9” baking tin to form a firm and even crust. Chill for 2 hours while making the filling
2. Dissolve 1-1/2 tsp gelatin with hot water. Stir in the lemon juice and put aside.
3. Mix cream cheese and condensed milk well.
4. Whip the chilled evaporated milk until thick and combine with the gelatin mixture and (3). Beat till the mixture is smooth. Pour filling into crust and decorate with sliced peach. Pour the dissolved 2tbsp gelatin over the cheese. Chill overnight to set.
TIPS :
1) I prefer to line the tin with aluminum foil before pressing the crumb into the tin for easy removal. It’s not necessary but I prefer as it’s really very easy when removing the cake fro
m the tin.
2) I add extra peach cubes into the cake to give it an extra peach flavor and it looks prettier and colorful when you present slice cake to your guess.
3) You may wish to use Oleo biscuits if you like to add some chocolate flavor into your every bite. Digestive biscuits are preferred as it will compliment the light and fruity cheese cake.
The Cake :400g Digestive Biscuits
120g Butter (melted)
1-1/2 tsp Gelatin
100ml Hot Water
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
250g Philadelphia Cream Cheese
4 tbsp Condensed Milk
1 tin Evaporated Milk – Chilled overnight
The Top Decoration :
1/2 Peaches (sliced)
2 tbsp Gelatin Dissolved with little Hot Water
METHOD :
1. Crush biscuits into fine crumbs. Mix the crumbs with melted butter in a mixing bowl. Mix well and press crumb mixture into a 9” baking tin to form a firm and even crust. Chill for 2 hours while making the filling
2. Dissolve 1-1/2 tsp gelatin with hot water. Stir in the lemon juice and put aside.
3. Mix cream cheese and condensed milk well.
4. Whip the chilled evaporated milk until thick and combine with the gelatin mixture and (3). Beat till the mixture is smooth. Pour filling into crust and decorate with sliced peach. Pour the dissolved 2tbsp gelatin over the cheese. Chill overnight to set.
TIPS :
1) I prefer to line the tin with aluminum foil before pressing the crumb into the tin for easy removal. It’s not necessary but I prefer as it’s really very easy when removing the cake fro
m the tin.2) I add extra peach cubes into the cake to give it an extra peach flavor and it looks prettier and colorful when you present slice cake to your guess.
3) You may wish to use Oleo biscuits if you like to add some chocolate flavor into your every bite. Digestive biscuits are preferred as it will compliment the light and fruity cheese cake.
4) I actually freeze it at times and serve it as ice-creme. My kids really love their cheesy ice-creme. Best of all, it's calcium rich.
4) Be creative by changing the fruits to Kiwi, Strawberries, Blue Berries or any seasonal fruits of your choice.
4) Be creative by changing the fruits to Kiwi, Strawberries, Blue Berries or any seasonal fruits of your choice.
Friday, August 22, 2008
HOMEMADE SNOW....Kids having Fun
I rarely buy toys for my kids. It's an idea passed down from my grandmother to my mother to me. The idea is not to buy toys but to invent toys or games for kids.
Since I was very young, my mother always says she doesn't believe in ready made toys as they are not fun. I have 3 brothers and I'm the youngest. We always invented toys made from papers, cups, discarded items like pot, wire, rope, etc etc. We make use of recycle items and convert it into toy house, cable cars (using boxes and ropes and attached to our double deck bed), build rooms using blankets and bamboo sticks in our bedrooms (we even have a tiny toilet in our room), paper balls, boat, kite etc. Anybody came out with an idea of certain toy, we would make that fun toy immediately. Most of the time the craft is done by my eldest bro as he is the smartest among us.
Many times, we would come out with script and act it out as a game. My eldest bro was always the bad guy, my younger bros were the heroes and I was the princess they need to protect and rescue. We played haunted house (my second brother is ghost and we are visitors cos my second bro acts ghost well), zoo (my bros are animals and I'm visitor), hero rescue, ghost comb (my second bro...ghost again...holding a ghost come and chased after us. Whoever being poked by comb would be the ghost), riding mad horse (my bros are the mad horse and I need to ride on them till I fell from their back). It's really fun and at zero cost.
Now, it's my turn to pass this idea to my kids. I started with them when they were very young. When they were one year old, I made toys from papers and cloth. When they get older, they are able to make themselves. It just happen naturally.
My kids simply love their own invented games and toys. There's once my youngest son told me "mum, ready made toys are not interesting as compare to the toys or games we come out with ourselves." I guess, it's the fulfillment that hey have being able to create something fun to play. At times when my kids receive toys as birthday and Christmas presents, they really love the toys but the feelings are a bit different. They will play for some time and you will notice that they normally put them aside and go back to their own games.
Here is a vedio I capture when my younger son was playing "Homemade Snow" with his sister using papers. See how much fun they have. Enjoy the vedio. Cheers.
Encourage your kids to make their own toys. It's good to practice their imagination and encourage their development of motor skill too. Best of all, it's Save the Gaya act and Save Your Money too.
Since I was very young, my mother always says she doesn't believe in ready made toys as they are not fun. I have 3 brothers and I'm the youngest. We always invented toys made from papers, cups, discarded items like pot, wire, rope, etc etc. We make use of recycle items and convert it into toy house, cable cars (using boxes and ropes and attached to our double deck bed), build rooms using blankets and bamboo sticks in our bedrooms (we even have a tiny toilet in our room), paper balls, boat, kite etc. Anybody came out with an idea of certain toy, we would make that fun toy immediately. Most of the time the craft is done by my eldest bro as he is the smartest among us.
Many times, we would come out with script and act it out as a game. My eldest bro was always the bad guy, my younger bros were the heroes and I was the princess they need to protect and rescue. We played haunted house (my second brother is ghost and we are visitors cos my second bro acts ghost well), zoo (my bros are animals and I'm visitor), hero rescue, ghost comb (my second bro...ghost again...holding a ghost come and chased after us. Whoever being poked by comb would be the ghost), riding mad horse (my bros are the mad horse and I need to ride on them till I fell from their back). It's really fun and at zero cost.
Now, it's my turn to pass this idea to my kids. I started with them when they were very young. When they were one year old, I made toys from papers and cloth. When they get older, they are able to make themselves. It just happen naturally.
My kids simply love their own invented games and toys. There's once my youngest son told me "mum, ready made toys are not interesting as compare to the toys or games we come out with ourselves." I guess, it's the fulfillment that hey have being able to create something fun to play. At times when my kids receive toys as birthday and Christmas presents, they really love the toys but the feelings are a bit different. They will play for some time and you will notice that they normally put them aside and go back to their own games.
Here is a vedio I capture when my younger son was playing "Homemade Snow" with his sister using papers. See how much fun they have. Enjoy the vedio. Cheers.
Encourage your kids to make their own toys. It's good to practice their imagination and encourage their development of motor skill too. Best of all, it's Save the Gaya act and Save Your Money too.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Homemade Pizza (AMC Pot / Oven Bake)
As what have mentioned in Pebble’s blog, it’s so convenient to call a pizza company and ask for delivery. My family love pizza with extra cheese toppings as the regular toppings are normally not to our satisfaction.
Extra toppings = extra money. Thus, auntie like me is always looking out for cheaper alternatives. There’s pizza joints that offer buy one get one free. Hey, it’s still not cheap and doesn’t taste as good without extra toppings. I’m greedy though…. :P
You can also make your pizza at home with ready made pizza base and spread your pizza sauce, cheese, toppings. However, nothing is cheaper and better then a Homemade Pizza with homemade dough. Thanks to Pebble and SC for this easy recipe. It works like miracle. It taste good and it’s absolutely easy to make.
I’m using AMC pan but if you do not have one, an oven is equally good.
INGREDIENTS FOR PIZZA BASE
1/2 bowl fresh / low-fat milk
1 Egg
1 tsp dry yeast
a pinch of find salt / sea-salt
a pinch of sugar
1-1/4 bowl of plain flour
INGREDIENTS FOR SEAFOOD PIZZA TOPPING
tomato base (note: you can use paste sauce)
sliced ham (cut into squares)
sliced bacon (cut into squares)
sliced mushrooms
sliced prawn
sliced crab meat
sliced pineapple (cut into small pieces)
sliced capsicum
grated mozzarella cheese
shaved or grated parmesan cheese
INGREDIENTS FOR PORT FLOSS PIZZA TOPPING
tomato base (note: you can use paste sauce)
mayonnaise (optional but it really taste better with it)
pork floss (I choose one with sesame seed and seaweed)
grated mozzarella cheese
shaved or grated parmesan cheese
METHOD
1. Mix the milk, egg, yeast, sugar and salt in a big mixing bowl.
2. Add the flour and mix till a dough forms.
3. Knead the dough.
4. Cover the dough with a wet cloth (note: remember to squeeze out as much water as possible) and leave the dough to rise for about 30 minutes. The dough will rise about another 3/4 of the original height.
5. Grease the inside of an AMC flat pan with butter / margarine.
6. Place the dough in the middle of the pan and use your fingers to spread out the dough until it covers the bottom of the pan and a little of the sides of the pan.
7. Cover the entire pizza base with a layer of tomato / pasta sauce.
8. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese liberally.
9. Add the bacon, ham, mushroom and pineapple (note: the ingredients are to be squeezed as dry as possible before placing them on the pizza base).
10. Top with shaved parmesan cheese and grated mozzarella cheese.
11. Flatten the pizza so that the cooked pizza will turn out even.
12. Cover the pan with the AMC cover and cook on a low flame until the dial reaches "M". The cooking time is about 15 minutes.
As the dough will rise after 30 minutes, place the dough in a tall container and cover it with wet cloth. If you place it in a small container or bowl, the dough will rise and touches the wet cloth. Why should you spend extra time washing the cloth isn’t it ?
The above pizza topping is for Seafood Pizza. Use your imagination and creativity to make your unique pizza. Give your invention a name. I name mine Kim Tian Regency Royal Pizza.
I made two pizzas at one go. One is Seafood Pizza and the other is Pork Floss Pizza. For Pork Floss Pizza, since the floss is cooked, I cook the base with tomato base, mayonnaise and cheese without topping the floss. Once the base is ready, I spread a bit more mayonnaise (so that the floss can stick to the base) and top the base luxuriously with seaweed pork floss.
My Fun with Kids & Friends
Our Royal Pizza was served with mixed vegetable salad, coleslaws, cakes, and drinks. It’s a Saturday night party feast.
Do it with your kids. My kids did it with me with minimum help. They feel very encouraging being able to show their talent. My Buddies TS and UR tried the pizza and the result is ……thumbs up. My eldest son Supercute can’t get enough of it and he did another two pizzas on the following morning as our surprise breakfast. He serves with hot lemon tea. Simply Delicious !!! Thank you son.
Extra toppings = extra money. Thus, auntie like me is always looking out for cheaper alternatives. There’s pizza joints that offer buy one get one free. Hey, it’s still not cheap and doesn’t taste as good without extra toppings. I’m greedy though…. :P
You can also make your pizza at home with ready made pizza base and spread your pizza sauce, cheese, toppings. However, nothing is cheaper and better then a Homemade Pizza with homemade dough. Thanks to Pebble and SC for this easy recipe. It works like miracle. It taste good and it’s absolutely easy to make.
I’m using AMC pan but if you do not have one, an oven is equally good.
INGREDIENTS FOR PIZZA BASE
1/2 bowl fresh / low-fat milk
1 Egg
1 tsp dry yeast
a pinch of find salt / sea-salt
a pinch of sugar
1-1/4 bowl of plain flour
INGREDIENTS FOR SEAFOOD PIZZA TOPPINGtomato base (note: you can use paste sauce)
sliced ham (cut into squares)
sliced bacon (cut into squares)
sliced mushrooms
sliced prawn
sliced crab meat
sliced pineapple (cut into small pieces)
sliced capsicum
grated mozzarella cheese
shaved or grated parmesan cheese
INGREDIENTS FOR PORT FLOSS PIZZA TOPPING
tomato base (note: you can use paste sauce)
mayonnaise (optional but it really taste better with it)
pork floss (I choose one with sesame seed and seaweed)
grated mozzarella cheese
shaved or grated parmesan cheese
METHOD
1. Mix the milk, egg, yeast, sugar and salt in a big mixing bowl.
2. Add the flour and mix till a dough forms.
3. Knead the dough.
4. Cover the dough with a wet cloth (note: remember to squeeze out as much water as possible) and leave the dough to rise for about 30 minutes. The dough will rise about another 3/4 of the original height.
5. Grease the inside of an AMC flat pan with butter / margarine.
6. Place the dough in the middle of the pan and use your fingers to spread out the dough until it covers the bottom of the pan and a little of the sides of the pan.
7. Cover the entire pizza base with a layer of tomato / pasta sauce.
8. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese liberally.
9. Add the bacon, ham, mushroom and pineapple (note: the ingredients are to be squeezed as dry as possible before placing them on the pizza base).
10. Top with shaved parmesan cheese and grated mozzarella cheese.
11. Flatten the pizza so that the cooked pizza will turn out even.
12. Cover the pan with the AMC cover and cook on a low flame until the dial reaches "M". The cooking time is about 15 minutes.
Remarks & Tips
As the dough will rise after 30 minutes, place the dough in a tall container and cover it with wet cloth. If you place it in a small container or bowl, the dough will rise and touches the wet cloth. Why should you spend extra time washing the cloth isn’t it ?
The above pizza topping is for Seafood Pizza. Use your imagination and creativity to make your unique pizza. Give your invention a name. I name mine Kim Tian Regency Royal Pizza.
I made two pizzas at one go. One is Seafood Pizza and the other is Pork Floss Pizza. For Pork Floss Pizza, since the floss is cooked, I cook the base with tomato base, mayonnaise and cheese without topping the floss. Once the base is ready, I spread a bit more mayonnaise (so that the floss can stick to the base) and top the base luxuriously with seaweed pork floss.
My Fun with Kids & Friends
Our Royal Pizza was served with mixed vegetable salad, coleslaws, cakes, and drinks. It’s a Saturday night party feast.
Do it with your kids. My kids did it with me with minimum help. They feel very encouraging being able to show their talent. My Buddies TS and UR tried the pizza and the result is ……thumbs up. My eldest son Supercute can’t get enough of it and he did another two pizzas on the following morning as our surprise breakfast. He serves with hot lemon tea. Simply Delicious !!! Thank you son.
Pay less, get better pizza PLUS lots and lots of fun in the process of preparing and eating. Homemade is the best.
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