Mushroom XO Sauce

Am in the mood to create my own XO sauce BUT using mushroom instead. Cuz I been wanting to get rid of the packs of dried mushroom in the fridge. I bough few packs without realizing that I have another 2 packs in the fridge. Yes, that's a very bad habit! I should have checked my stock, write down a shopping list b4 purchasing anything. Haiz... what done cannot be undone and the easiest way to use up these dried mushroom is to cook a sauce.

These sauces are so useful...Toss it with boiled noodles to enjoy simple lunch, pan fried with carrot cake to have a quick tea break, stir fry with fried tau kua as a dish for dinner... lots and lots more.

Simple ingredients;
Dried mushroom, soaked in hot water, squeeze dry and chopped into small bits 
Chopped garlic
Minced bean paste
Chili paste
Oyster sauce
Stock
Oil for frying
-Fry shallots in oil till golden brown, add garlic and continue frying for a min.
-Add mushroom, fry for a min. (adding more oil if necessary)
-Add bean paste, chili paste and oyster sauce.
-Stir in 1 tbsp stock, bring to boil and simmer until thickens.
-Remove from heat and let it cool.

Curry Veggie

A different curry for diner tonight?! Yes, meatless! lolz.... Always the usual classic chicken curry is nothing new and as I have crave for cabbage, decided to cook curry veggie instead.

 Ingredients A:
Oil for frying
Shallots slices
1 glove garlic, chopped
2 tsp chili paste
40g curry powder
1/2 tsp tumeric powder
1/2 tsp corriander power
-Fry shallots and garlic with oil till brown.
-Add chili paste, fry for a min
-Add rest of the ingredients and fry.
-Add more oil if necessary
-Set aside for later use

Ingredients B:
Cabbage, break into small pcs
Carrots, cut into thick slices
Tau pok, cut into pcs
Potatoes, large cubes, steamed
Evaporated milk
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp sugar
Water
-Boil cabbage and carrots with water till slightly soft
-Add ingredient A, potatoes & tau pok
-Bring to full boil and simmer
-Season to taste
-Enjoy!

2 more plate of rice please! lolz... best serve with plain rice or blanched noodles, top with an egg. :-)

Lunch On 大年初二

Day 2 of CNY and most of the eateries nearby are still close due to the festive period, i decided to prepare some quick and simple dishes for lunch.

大福大贵乌金 ~ pan fried century egg with thai chili sauce.

天赐良鸡~ steamed chicken drum with thigh, serve with salty sesame drizzle.

如意鲍片翡翠痘苗

团圆饭 2012

To most chinses, CNY reunion dinner which falls on the eve of Chinese New Year is meaningful and normally during this day, the dishes will symbolise good luck and wealth. Our familys' dinner menu are as follows;

吉祥乳猪

黄金虾条

富贵海参饺

翡翠蒜

福气猪肚海参汤

五香花菇小白菜

A very daring style of adding 5 spice mushrooms with veggie. And yes, I did worry in the 1st place 'What if i add too much 5 spice powder and it cover the fragrant of the mushroom?' 'What if it taste awful?' Erm... dun worry as this shall be a trial and error dish and the VERDICT- it turns out perfectly fine and was so yummy that Adam is full praises. !st time he come across such a unique veggie dish, he said. :-P

Ingredients;
1 bunch xiao bai chye
Dried mushrooms, soaked and drained
Garlic, minced
Dashes of 5 spice powder
Salt
Oyster sauce
Oil for frying
20ml water

Method;
-Rinse and cut xiao bai cai into smaller section.
-Shred mushrooms and set aside.
-Fry garlic till fragrant, toss in xiao bai chye.
-Fry for 2 mins, add oyster sauce, salt and water.
-Dish up and serve on serving plate, reserve vege stock.
-Fry mushrooms till fragrant, stir in some 5 spice powder and add vege stock.
-Simmer and serve over xiao bai chye.
-Enjoy!

香闷梅菜

I specially cooked some 梅菜 to use them as fillings for wrapping glutinous rice dumplings today. After using the portion which i wanted, the rest will be our dinner!

Ingredients;
1 bunch dried 梅菜
1 handful garlic
Some pork belly
Salt
Hot boiling water

Method;
-Pour hot boiling over 梅菜 and soaked for 1 hour.
-Rinsed and run under tap water to remove sand particles.
-Drained and chopped into smaller pieces.
-Boil 梅菜, garlic & water for 30mins, add pork belly and salt.
-Bring to full boil, simmer for 1-2 hours and serve.
-Enjoy!

Stir Fry Cabbage With Oyster Sauce

I didn't have a chance to shop for groceries on Sunday morning hence we do not have any veggie to cook for dinner. Lucky Adam and Jesper were out in the afternoon and were on their way back from the central. Knowing that they will be back b4 dinner, Mum requested the 'boys' to shop for vegetables. Erm... boy + vegetable? = no link! Lolz... I doubt the 2 guys in my house knows how to select veggie ba!

Ingredients;
Cabbage, break into smaller pieces
Some dried shrimps, soak and drained
1/2 carrot, shred
1 glove garlic, chopped
Oil for frying
Oyster sauce
30 ml water
Pinch of salt

Method;
-Fry garlic in oil till fragrant, add dried shrimps.
-Toss in carrots and cabbage.
-Fry till cabbage slightly soften.
-Season to taste, add stock and cover with lid to simmer.
-Serve & enjoy!

Close up of the veggie.

咸鱼银芽

A very sinful dish which was being banned in my family for quite sometimes until..... recently, Linda gave dad some salted fish while she bought from her recent Malaysia trip. Can reject mum's request, hence I allow this dish to be serve for dinner tonite. Lolz...

Ingredients;
2 handful of beansprouts
1 stalk spring onion, cut into sections of 3cm length
1 red chili, cut into strips
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pc salted fish(threadfin), cut into 3cm
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying

Method;
-Fry salted fish in oil till crispy and fragrant, drained.
-Fry garlic with little bit oil, toss in beansprouts and fry for a min.
-Stir in chili, green onions and salted fish.
-Mix well & serve.
-Enjoy!

韭菜虾米炒蛋

Chives is Teochew's favourite. However, for a non-Teochew like me, I do fancy chives, when it's being cooked the smell less way!

Ingredients;
1 bunch chives, cut into length of 4 cm
1 handful dried shrimps, soaked and drained
1 egg
1 clove garlic, minced
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying

Method,
-Scrambled eggs in little bit of oil, set aside for later use.
-Fry garlic in oil till fragrant.
-Add dried shrimp, continue to fry for about 2 mins.
-Stir in chives, fry for awhile.
-Return eggs to wok, season to taste.
-Give it a quick stir and serve.
-Enjoy!

蒜蓉苋菜

I've come across an article recently, when the Chinese author wrote on her book which states her early life in Shanghai.
In the book, she mentioned a few of her favourite dishes and 1 of it is 'stir fry red spinach' where she describe as ' a plate of western bonsai'

Comes to think of it, the small portion of red among the green does looks abit like how she described it to be.After reading through the article, i been craving for the western bonsai till now and hence, decided to cook this simple dish tonite.

Ingredients;
1 bunch red spinach
1 clove garlic
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying

Method;
-Fry garlic in oil till fragrant.
-Toss in spinach, fry for a min or two.
-Season to taste.
-Fry for another min & serve.
-Enjoy!

Healthy Brown Rice Dinner

Should i start on counting calories again? Hmm... maybe i should eat more fiber food or fat burning food ya! Alright den! Shall start with tonite's dinner since i have brown rice at home! :-)
And the motto for tonite's dinner is less oil less calories!

Brown rice ingredients;
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 stalk chye sim stem
2 drops of oil
-On a non-stick frying pan, fry chye sim stem for 30 secs.
-Add brown rice and fry till well mix.
-Serve.

Cabbage ingredients;
Few leaves of cabbage, break into smaller pieces
Some dried shrimps
beancurd puff, cut into thin slices
1 garlic, chopped
Pinch of salt
Stock / water
Oil for frying
-Fry garlic in oil till lightly brown.
-Add cabbage and fry till soften.
-Add stock and bring to boil.
-Toss in beancurd puffs.
-Season to taste.
-Remove when cabbage soften.

金银苋菜

Whenever i walked pass the zhu chao stall at the coffeeshop near my office, I will always focus on the poster of the trio egg spinach. Immediately, i have lots of thinking and ideas running in my mind on how to change the recipe according to my preference.

1stly, i'm not a fan of salted egg, 2nd, if i'm gonna use 3 kinds of egg in a single dish, i'm afraid the calories and cholesterol intake will exceed. Therefore, decided to add some omega 3 into the dish.

Ingredients:
1 bunch 苋菜
1 century egg, cut into pieces
1 handful silver fish
1 clove garlic, minced
Stock or water
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying

Method;
-Fry garlic in oil till fragrant, add silver fish and fry for a min.
-Toss in 苋菜, fry till soften.
-Season to taste, add stock and bring to boil.
-Add century egg and simmer for 3 mins.
-Serve & enjoy!

Hey, these beautiful prints resembles small flowers ya? Until today den i realise that almost every century egg has these 'small flowers'. Cool!

烧肉白菜焖发菜丝

Mum set aside a bunch of 发菜after offering to Tian Gong on the 9th day of the lunar new year and it had been sitting at a corner of the shelf since. Hence, i decided to whip up a dish with it.
Ingredients;
Wong bok, shred
Roasted pork, cut into strips
1 bunch 发菜, wash & drained
A handful of dried shrimp, wash & drained
1 clove garlic, minced
Oil for frying
Stock
Pinch of salt
Oyster sauce

Method;
-Fry roasted pork strips till fragrant, set aside for later use.
-Fry garlic in hot till fragrant, stir in dried shrimp, continue to fry for a min.
-Add wong bok and fry till soften, add stock, seasoning & 发菜.
-When gravy thickens, toss in roasted pork & serve.
-Enjoy!

A mouthful of everything! haha....

Cauliflower Forests In Buttered Nestum

I'm addicted to cooking "buttered nestum food"! After the buttered pumpkin with nestum last night, i can't seem to stop. Actually, many kinds of ingredients can be used to replace the pumpkin. If you are not a fan of sweet pumpkin, u can use yam, cauliflower, prawns, cuttlefish, brinjals, prawns etc....

Ingredients;
Cauliflower, cut into small forests
Seasoned batter
Pinch of salt
Curry leaves
Butter
Oil for shallow frying

Method;
-Prepare seasoned batter by mixing flour, cornflour and garlic salt together.
-Add water, stir until it reaches your desire consistency.
-Dip little forests into batter, shallow fry in hot oil.
-Drained when they turn golden brown.
-Melt butter, fry curry leaves till fragrant.
-Add nestum and salt.
-Toss in cauliflower and mix well.
-Serve while hot.
-Enjoy!
A great afternoon snack!

Cabbage & Mixed Peas Stir Fry

Less salt less oil is my motto in cooking always and seems like i'm gonna drive mum crazy. She like adding loads and loads of oil to greens and always the veggie would lose their colours and nutrients. Let me do all the cooking tonight for a healthier us. haha...

Ingredients;
4-5 leaves cabbage, cut into sections
A handful of holland peas, shred
2 baby carrots, cut into sticks
1 garlic, minced
Oyster sauce
Pinch of salt
Rojak flower sambal chili
Stock
Oil for frying

Method,
-Fry garlic in hot oil till fragrant, add carrots and fry for a min.
-Stir in cabbage, fry for a min, add stock and simmer till soften.
-Toss in holland peas.
-Season to taste, serve.
-Enjoy!

Light, simple, healthy green for our dinner.

辣椒虾米帝皇苗

Today is the 1st time 帝皇苗 appear on our dining table. Yes, 1st time. Y? Well, becuz we seldom buy those veggie which we do not know how to cook nor no one in the family eats. This is Aunty Magaret's favorite veggie and she would always cook this dish. Occasionally when i was being invited for dinner, i get to savour this dish.

What i like about this dish is that it has a slimy texture, some sort like okra and these kinda slimy veggie fry well with chili. I decided to do some experiment to see how it goes, given my cooking skill, shouldn't turn out too bad ya!

Ingredients;
1 packet ti huang miao
Oil for frying
Spicy shrimp sambal
Pinch of salt
1 tsp homemade sambal chili

Method;
-Toss di huang miao in hot oil for a min, push to side of the wok.
-Fry spicy shrimp sambal for a min, add sambal chili and mix well.
-Season with salt, give it a quick stir and serve.
-Enjoy!
The veggie is best cook in spicy sambal. Ooh.... think i can have more than 2 serving of rice with this dish! :-P

四大天王

I once ate a similar dish in JB and decided to give it a try with different kind of veggie. U can use any kind of veggie you prefer but more appropriate will be those with goes well with chili and non-leafy. Therefore, i selected few of my favorite veggie to be the 4 heavenly king.

Ingredients;
French beans
Holland beans
Brinjals
Okara
Carrots
Large ikan bilis
Garlic, minced
Chili padi, chopped
1 tsp homemade chili paste
1 tsp oyster sauce
Pinch of sugar
Pinch of salt
Oil for frying

Method;
-Scalded brinjal in hot oil for a while and drained.
-Fry ikan bilis in little oil till crispy and browned, drained & set aside for later use.
-On a clean wok, fry garlic and chili till fragrant, add carrots and fry for a min.
-Add the rest of veggie, give it a quick stir.
-Season to taste.
-Sprinkle with fried ikan bilis and serve.
-Enjoy!

A very tasty and delightfully dish. A simple dish with various kinds of veggie make dineer more exciting. :-)

*Reason to scald brinjal in hot oil b4 cooking is to prevent the change of colour.

清炒豆苗

What's the secret to cooking the best dou miao? To be able to control the flame and cooking time. If dou is being cooked for the long, it will lost its crunch and become difficult to chew. On the other hand, if it is being cook too green, it will have a greeny smell and taste just like grass or uncooked vegetables.
I used to hate dou maio due to the greeny taste but ever since i master the skill of cooking it, i simply love them for the fresh and crunch.

Ingredients;
1 pack of dou miao
Some lard bits
Pinch of salt
Oyster sauce

Methods;
-Wash & soak dou miao for 5 mins, drained.
-Prepare crispy lard bits by frying lard bits in a heated wok till crispy and brown.
-Drained and pour out excess oil.
-Fry dou miao in wok for 2 mins, add seasoning and crispy lard bits.
-Serve & Enjoy!

Fresh and sweet vegetable with a crunch. Delicious!

Potato Slices Stewed

I still can recall the 1st time i ate this dish was when i was in primary 3. Wow... time flies & how come my memory is so good?
Well, cuz that was the 1st time ever in my life i had to eat take away dinner from a coffeeshop. All the while mum would prepare dinner & wait for us to come back home for dinner, however during those period, mum was at the hospital as she gave birth to Adam. Actually during the times when mum was not at home, i learnt lots of things. Being the onli gal in the family, i've to take care of Dad & Jesper, all the household chores etc... hey, tt's a great learning experience for me.
For the 1st 2 days i would buy take away for dinner & after mum was discharged from hospital, i took care of her confinement diet & that was when i began the cooking journey of my life.

Oops... better come back to topic. During the time of buying dinner, i was delighted to see so many dishes right in front of my eyes & Jesper loves the potato stew which was y it created a deep impression in me.

Ingredients;
2 medium potatoes, sliced
1 garlic, chopped
1 large onion, wedged
Black fungus, shred
Some button mushrooms, sliced
1/2 carrot, sliced
1 stalk scallion, cut into 3 cm length
Oyster sauce
Dark soy sauce
Salt
Sugar
Stock

Method;
-Shallow fry potato slices till cooked, drained.
-Fry garlic till fragrant, add carrots and fry for a min.
-Stir in black fungus, button mushrooms & onion.
-Pour in stock, seasoning & potatoes.
-Boil till gravy thicken, toss in scallion & serve.
-Enjoy!

A very hawker style dish, commonly found at a economic rice stall.

Scrambled Omelette With Bittergourd

Bittergourd with egg or egg with bittergourd, there are many ways of cooking & presenting the dish when u play around with different proportion of ingredients.
Whenever mum cook bittergourd with egg, the main ingredients will always be bittergourd. However, tis time round i would prefer egg as the main ingredient.

Ingredients;
1 section bittergourd, bout 4cm height
1 glove garlic, minced
1 small onion
2 medium eggs
Salt
Oil for frying

Method,
-Slice bittergourd thinly, marinate with salt & set aside for 15 mins.
-Rinse off salt from bittergourd. This is done in order to remove some bitterness from the gourd.
-Fry garlic with oil till fragrant, stir in bittergourd and fry for a min.
-Beat eggs with bittergourd & onion, add a pinch of salt.
-Heat oil in wok, pour in egg mixture and let mixture set.
-Flip over and brown the other side.
-Scrambled the omelette & serve.
-Enjoy!

Hmm... though it is bittergourd omelette, it goes great with any rice dish. Delicious!