Easy sausage and bake beans pie.

Tags

bake beans, esy, mashed potatos, pie, sausage

This is one of my son favourites. He always asked for more when I do this. This dish is very simple and a cheat. All I needed was some mashed potatoes , a can of bake beans, some mix vegetables and chicken sausages.

6-7 medium size potatoes, cubed
1can bake beans
1rice bowl of mix vegetables
A few chicken sausage, mine was a huge 1.

5tbsp of milk(might need more, making sure that it is not too dry)
2tbsp of mayonnaise (I’m using Japanese Mayo )
Salt and pepper to taste
2tbsp tomato ketchup(squeeze bottle, I squeeze it all over the filling)

Steam the potatoes till soft about 20 mins. While it is still hot, mash it and add milk, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Mix well and put a side.

Preheat the oven at 200*c.Get a deep dish and pour in the bake beans, mixed vegetables, salt and pepper, ketchup and 2tbsp of water. Mix till everything combine. Next put in sliced sausages or ham or chicken pieces and top with mashed potatoes .
Then heat the pie in the oven for 20mins or till mashed potatoes started to brown. Now the pie is ready, cool it for 5 minutes before serving. Viola!! 

 

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Wholemeal mantou with pumpkin and black sesame.

Tags

black sesame, gojiberries, mantou, pumpkin, steam bun, steaming, wholemeal

Mantou is a type of Chinese plain bun. Normally is white or red in colour. To make it interesting we can put purée vegetable and seeds.
I have wanted to make it for a very very long time. Every time I wanted to make it, something comes up.. Finally I’ve got time for this. To make it more healthy, I’ve added Wholemeal flour and purée pumpkin.

100g Pumpkin without skin
90g Water
3/4tsp Instant yeast
200g Pau flour/Hong Kong flour
50g of Wholemeal flour
3 tbsp Caster sugar
2tbsp Vegetable oil or olive oil
2 tbsp Black sesame seeds (toasted)
2tbsp gojiberries , soaked and soften

Steam the pumpkin till soft, about 15 mins and mash it while it is still hot. Set aside till cool.
In a small bowl, mix instant yeast and water together.
Next on a table top, pour out flour and make a well in the middle. Add sugar, puree and oil. After that, the instant yeast and water into it. Mix well, and use hand to knead the mixture to a smooth dough and no longer sticky, add toasted black sesame seed, knead well again. Cover dough and rest for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Now, dust table top with some flour and roll out the dough into a rectangle shape. Brush some water on top of the surface and add goji berries all over it.
After that, roll up the dough like a Swiss roll. Roll the dough tightly (this is important so the mantou remains in a nice shape after steaming), into a log.

Cut the dough into small pieces (8pieces) and put the small mantou on a small piece of wax paper. Spray some water on the surface of the Mantou.
Put the mantous in the steamer and proof for 20 minutes or double in volume.
Fill up water in a steamer on the stove.
Turn the fire to high and bring water to a boil, then turn the fire to medium, steam the mantous for 15 minutes.
Or you can put it in a electric steamer and steam it for 15 mins.
Leave for 5 mins before opening. This will helps to maintain its shape and texture.

**Cover the cover with a cloth, this will prevent water dripping down on the mantous.
** Store the cool steam buns in a air tight container. These buns stay soft until the following day. But if you wanted a more softer texture the following day, do re- steam it for 5minutes and serve warm. Enjoy!

Covering the cover with cloth

Tomato rice in a cooker. (One pot meal)

Tags

bean curb, chicken, mest, mix vegetables, mushroom, pumpkin, rice cooker meal, tofu, tomato dishes, tomato rice

This recipe is very simple and yummy. It is also healthy and low in fat. My little sous chef love to cook this and she is so proud of it. If you are trying to get help from your young children, this recipe is a good start. They eat their vegetables too.

Recipe.
2 cup of rice
11/2 rice bowl of water

1big tomato
3/4 rice bowl of mix vegetables
1 rice bowl of pumpkin
1pc of firm bean curb , cubed
1/2 a bowl of mushroom
3/4 rice bowl of chicken , sliced ( or any other meat or seafood)

Seasoning
1tbsp of olive oil/ fried garlic oil
1tsp of salt and pepper to taste

Firstly, you will need to wash the rice till water is clear. Then add 11/2 rice bowl of water in. Next put in all the seasoning and mix well. Now add in all the vegetables, bean curbs, mushroom, pumpkin and chicken . Mix till everything is all over. Lastly put the tomato in the middle.
Next put the pot back to the cooker and cook rice as usual. When is ready, mix up the rice so that all the liquid from the tomato is evenly distributed. Pre- plate it and top it with a fried egg. Is easy, delicious and not wiping up the kitchen. Smart!!

**pumpkin and tomato will make the rice wet, therefore I have reduced the water to 1 1/2 bowl. If you are not using pumpkin, you will need to add a little more. ( not more than 2 bowl)

Braised ribs with pumpkin.

Tags

braised ribs, chinese wine, peanuts, pumpkin, ribs, shaoxing wine

I was at the market yesterday and pumpkins are in season. Pumpkins are rich in antioxidant, vitamin A and C . The main nutrient is lutein which is good for the eyes. Is really sweet and creamy on its own. Below is a recipe for braised ribs with pumpkin.

Recipe
400gm pumpkin, cube or thickly sliced
450gm short ribs
80gm of raw peanuts ( or can peanuts)
1pc of bean curb , cubed
700ml water

Seasoning
1tbsp oyster sauce
1tbsp soy sauce
1/2tsp salt
1tbsp so diced garlic
1tbsp of thinly sliced ginger
Pepper to taste

Heat up the wok and pour in 2tbsp of oil and sauté the garlic and ginger for a minute on medium heat. Add the ribs and all the seasoning . Stir fried till ribs changed colour. Then add the raw peanuts (if using raw peanuts) and fried for a minute to two. Add water bring to a boil on high heat, reduce to low heat and simmer for 45 mins . Next put in the pumpkin, bean curb and can peanuts if you are using can peanuts and simmer for another 10 to 15 mins,. Put on high heat till the sauce is thick. Lastly, add 1tbsp of Chinese wine (shaoxing wine) before turning off heat. Is best to serve hot with white rice.

Indian borage / Mexican mint :effective cough remedy from the garden.

INDIAN BORAGE
Other names:Country borage,French thyme / Spanish thyme ,Mexican mint, Da shou xiang (in Chinese), bangun- bangun (in Malay )

The leaves are commonly used to treat coughs. It is known to be an effective expectorant. The simplest method is to chew a leaf. For us,( Chinese) we make tea by boiling the leaves in water and adding some rock sugar to the tea. We also boil soup with the leaves and some meat. Or you can pound the leaves and mix it with a spoon of honey. Personally I find the pounding method works and easier to accept than chewing it on its own. It works for my children and I’m ecstatic with it. It is also rich in antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Aside from treating cough, it is also used for blocked nose. Rub the leaves, and inhale the vapor. Or crushed the leave and put it in a bowl of hot water. Cover with towel and inhale the vapor.
For Burns, Sores, Insect Bites and Stings, and skin conditions such as eczema. Pound the leaves to a pulp, and then apply it to the affected areas.

The tea made from the leaves of the Indian borage is also used for treating:
Bronchitis,Asthma, Colds, flus, other viral conditions,Indigestion, flatulence, stomach cramps, Insomnia, Pain (Headaches, menstrual pain, rheumatoid pain) and diarrhoea. It also help new mummies with breast milk production. Lastly, It is said to be anti cancerous …

Remedy from my garden.

Recipe
10-15 leaves
1 tbsp Manuka honey or other honey

Pound the leaves and put it in a muslin cloth, squeeze dry . Stir in a spoon of honey and drink immediately.
Alternately, you can boiled the chopped leaves and stem for 10mins. Add rock sugar to taste and drink lukewarm. Hope this will work for you too.

Yacon Tong Sui (sweet dessert.)

Tags

longan, red dates, rock sugar., sweet dessert, yacon

Yacon is a sweet-tasting and crunchy roots that can be eaten raw or cook. It can be eaten as it is, in salad, in soup and in dessert. It is also very high in fiber and low in calories which makes it healthy and nutritious. Yacon has also been known to improve digestion by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

This Yacon sweet soup taste refreshing with a light and sweet fragrant . It is good for cooling the body and quenching thirst . It can be consume hot or cold. Below is the recipe for this tong Sui.

Ingredients

1 big Yacon root (shreadded )
1 cup of dried longan
8 red dates( remove seed)
2tbsp rock sugar
2.5liter water

Method

Place water in a pot and add all the herbs, sugar and yacon.
Simmer over low heat for about 1 hour or you can put it in a slow cooker, auto heat for 2.5-3 hours.
Ladle into dessert soup bowls and serve. It can be chilled and serve cold.
Enjoy!

Steam chicken with dates and ginkgo nuts

Tags

black dates, chicken, confinement, dates, ginkgo, goji berries, red dates, sesame oil

This dish is healthy and very easy to make. Is one of the dish I ate during confinement. The dates are good for blood circulation, goji berries are good for eyes and the ginkgo nuts are good for memory. It helps the new mummies to replenished their blood and energy.

1 half chicken
5 red dates, without seed
5 black dates,with seed
10 ginkgo nuts
15goji berries
3 pcs mushroom, sliced
A few slices of ginger
1 tbsp of sesame oil
11/2 tbsp of soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
Optional,1 tbsp of Chinese wine/ brandy

Wash, clean and dry the chicken. Rub the chicken with salt and pepper and put it on a dish. Add the sliced ginger and set aside.
Soaked the mushroom till soft and slice it. Wash dates, ginkgo nuts (without skin and shell) and goji berries till clean. Put it all over the chicken and drizzle the sesame oil and soy sauce over it. Heat it in a steamer for 45mins or till drumstick is fully cooked. It is really sweet and delicious.
** insert skewer into the drumstick until clear liquid can be seen.

The chicken was finished before I can take picture of it. Below was a smaller portion without the mushroom and ginkgo…

Pork Donburi ( Japanese pork with egg rice bowl)

Tags

donburi, egg with rice, garlic, onions, pork, steam rice

During my first pregnancy I was nuts about Japanese rice bowl. I can’t be going to the restaurant everyday and so I made my own.. Is not bad and is easy. Is healthy and low in fat. Here’s my version of pork Donburi .. Hope you will like it.

Recipe
400 gm sliced pork
1 big onion, cut into wedges
1tbsp of grated ginger
2-3 cloves of garlic, diced
Eggs
Seaweeds and sesame seeds for garnishes

Seasoning
4tbsp Japanese noodle soup
2tbsp mirin
2tbsp sake
4-5tbsp of soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste
**if you are not using mirin and sake substitute with 2 tbsp of sugar.

2cups of water

First, Marinate the sliced pork with half of all the seasoning and some sesame oil for half and hour.
Heat up the wok and pour the water in. When is boiling add the other half of all the seasoning in, garlic and grated garlic. Depending whether you like the onion to be crunchy or soft, you can put in the marinated pork and cook till the meat is cook about 2-3mins. This depends on how thick you sliced your meat, when the all meat turns white is ready. Set aside.
There are two ways to do the eggs.

1. As the meat is ready , crack in one egg at a time near the side . You will be able to fit in 4 eggs. Make sure not to break the egg yolk. Simmer it till eggs are half cook or to your liking.

2.In another pan , do sunny side up to your liking. I like my egg yolk half cook.
Now putting everything in.
Serve the meat with sauce and egg on top of julienne Japanese cucumber and a hot bowl of steamed rice. Sprinkle seaweed and sesame seeds on top of the egg. Enjoy ! Itadakimasu !

Korean cold potatoes, appetizer

Tags

appetizer, cold dish, korean, onions, potatoes, sesame

Is going to be busy tonight. So I’m going to do this and put it in the fridge. All I need is to bring it out from the fridge tonight.
Recipe
2 medium potatoes , cut into cube
1 large onions, cut into wedges
1 cup of water
1tbsp sugar
21/2tbsp soy sauce
1tsp dark soy sauce
2 tbsp corn syrup ( substitute with 1tbsp sugar)
2 cloves of garlic, diced
Pepper and salt to taste

Heat 1tbsp of oil till hot. Add the potatoes and fried for 5 mins. Follow by the onions and fried for a min. Next pour in the water and add all the sauces and sugar. Simmer till almost dry or potatoes are soft.Add garlic and sesame, salt and pepper till mixed. Dish out and let it cool before putting it in the fridge. When is ready to eat, take the cold potatoes out and garnish with spring onions.
Mashikeh-mogo (Bon-Appetit)

Avocado and orange salad.

Tags

avocados, cranberries, healthy, oranges, salad

Something healthy for today recipe…

This salad is really easy and simple. Aside from that is healthy and delicious. All you need are some avocados, oranges, cranberries and sugar..

1avocado, cut into cube
1oranges, wedges and cut into half
1tbsp of cranberries
1-2tbsp of sugar depend on individual taste
1-2 tbsp of lemon juice or orange juice

All you need to do is to mix everything up. That all.. Easy!!