Steamed Chicken Rice

Heard from many that chicken rice is easy to prepare so decided to try when I spotted the recipe. The method goes like this: Rub salt and sesame oil on the chicken and steam it for 30 minutes. Sound simple? After the chicken was cooked, realize there's a problem "I do not know how to cut a steamed chicken!" (eventhough it was only half a chicken). Asked help from my maid and she said "Maam, I don't know, maam". Oops! So I know that I have no choice but to just try. There I went "Yee Hah" a few times and the half chicken was finally chopped up. My hubby was surprise to see my new trial and took a picture of it. Presentation? Trying hard to make it looks appetizing :-).

The chicken tasted alright with the sauce. Ingredients for the sauce: Chicken stock (from the steamed chicken), sesame oil, soya sauce and dark soya sauce. For the rice, it doesn't turn out so good. Used butter and garlic. It tasted just like normal white rice. Skipped the chili preparation although knowing it will give a "kick" to the overall meal. Will try again .......

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Fried Bean Sprout

There is no vegetable left in the fridge so grabbed 2 pieces of white tofu and some bean sprouts from a mini market nearby my home after work to complement with a chicken dish. Firstly, deep fry the white tofu, sliced and put aside. Heat up the wok with oil, add chopped garlic, sliced carrots, spring onion, bean sprout and salt to taste. Stir fry for about 5 - 7 minutes. Garnish with fried shallots.

Steamboat Dinner

Hubby's colleagues arranged for a steamboat dinner party at our place. His boss supplied most of the ingredients (very generous supply that can last for another meal!) and we prepare the soup and food arrangement. A satisfying meal complete with soft drinks topped with Baskin Robbins vanilla ice-cream - supplied by his colleagues too.

Steamed pork with soy bean paste

This is one of my favorite dish since young and is now my hubby's favorite too. Most importantly it's easy and fast to cook.

Ingredients:

500g pork (cut into cubes)
3 tbsp soy bean paste
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp sugar
5 red-eye chilli

Method:
Mix the pork with cornstarch and soy bean paste and place it on a steam plate. Sprinkle the sugar and red-eye chilli on it and steam for 10 minutes. Serve hot.

Marble Cake

Steamed Minced Pork with Salted Egg

My grandma and mum used to make this which goes very well with porridge/congee. Easy and yummy!Ingredients:
600g of minced pork
2 salted eggs
2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water

Method:
Mix the cornstarch into the minced pork and place it on a steam plate. Place the salted eggs onto the mixture. Remember to break-up the yolks. Add in the water and steam for 10 minutes.

Cereal Muffin

These muffins were specially baked for my 2 children as they contain Nestle cereals and they enjoyed it.

This recipe was adapted from Nestle recipe booklet.

Ingredients:
1 cup self-raising flour
1/2 teaspoon baking power
3/4 cup NESTLE wheat + milk infant cereal
150 g butter or margarine
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon essence of vanilla
1/2 cup milk
Method:
Sift flour and baking power together. Sitr in NESTLE wheat + milk infant cereal. Cream butter and sugar until light and creamy. Stir in egg and essence. Fold in flour mixture alternatively into patty tins to 3/4 full, spread evenly. Bake in preheated 180C oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.

Honey Chicken Rice

My colleagues and I are regulars to a cafe called "Ice-Cream House" for lunch and we usually ordered the set lunch comprising rice with a dish of our choice, a bowl of soup, a drink and a scoop of ice-cream. The idea of placing a sunny side-up egg on the rice is interesting. This makes preparing a meal fast and easy as I only need to cook one dish :-)

Recipe for the honey chicken was adopted from Bay Books

Fried fish with ginger

Thinking of cooking sth quick and simple which goes well with plain porridge. Finally decided to go back to basic by improving skill in frying fish. Crispy inside and soft inside. Mom's tip: Don't cook with slow fire. Rub the fish with salt and fry for about 10 minutes depending on the size of the fish. Place the fish on a plate. Fry sliced ginger and place them on the fish and add in soya sauce. Served immediately with hot porridge. Long beans with fried eggs made a good combination.

Plain Mini Cupcakes

Daughter loves cakes with buttercream. Was not really satisfied with the buttercream recipe that I've tried before. Am quite delighted with this new found butter icing recipe which taste better in terms of its texture and level of sweetness.

Ingredients:

100 g butter

200 g icing sugar

2 tablespoons cold milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla or other essence

Method:

Cream the butter until light and creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, alternately with milk. Continue beating until is light and fluffy. Beat in essence until well blended.