2013 February 8th till 14th Home Cooking

CNY falls on 10th of February this year. I spent most of my time at home but I am glad I managed to cook a reunion dinner for Hunny and I to eat on 9th Feb.




One Pot Chicken Rice Reunion Meal with Hunny

Here are the rest of the food I cooked from 8th Feb till 14th Feb 2013.



Dinner on 8th Feb - Fried Black Pomfret, Blanched Baby Kai Lan, Sambal and Cucumber. Served with Bitter Kale Stew




Healthy Breakfast - Prata Dog, Strawberries and Blueberries, Pineapple and Guava. I think that smoothie was a Banana Blueberry mix

Rice, Sambal Asparagus Petai Stir Fry, Beanpaste Steamed White Pomfret, ABC Soup




Blueberry Smoothie with Luncheon Meat Salad Sandwich, Luncheon Meat, Blueberries, Tomatoes, Salad Leaves and 2 Hard Boiled Eggs




Happy Call Pan Grilled Chicken Chop, Soup Potatoes and Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes and Lettuce served with ABC Soup and Pineapple Smoothie



A Closer look at my V-Day Dinner



So Yummy...!! I Like and it was cooked without oil in the HCP

HCP Chicken Chop Recipe

1 x Boneless Chicken Maryland

Marinade Ingredients
2 Tbsp Nando's Garlic Peri Peri Sauce
1 Tbsp Lea and Perrins Worchestershire Sauce
1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
Salt and Pepper to Taste

1. Marinate the chicken with the Marinade Ingredients for at least 30 minutes before cooking
2. Heat up the Happycall Pan and put the Chicken Skin face down on the grill grooved side of the pan and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes before turning the pan to the other side and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes
3. Switch off the fire and let the chicken chop rest in the pan for 10 minutes. Serve immediately after putting it on the plate

The joys of HCP is that no need to add extra oil and the chicken still stayed so nice and juicy!

Now's let us see what week 3 of Feb has in store for us.....

1st till 7th February Home Cooking

CNY is normally a feasting month but being freshly widowed, I can't enjoy my usual CNY celebrations and feasting. This year marks a quieter affair for me as this is the 1st time in 5 years my Hunny is not with me during CNY.

Breakfast - Sausage, Mashed Potato over a bed of fried yellow onions, Sunny side Up Egg, Pineapples, Lettuce and tomatoes served with Banana Pineappe Smoothie



A closer look at Breakfast -

A closer look at Breakfast - Sausage, Mashed Potato over a bed of fried yellow onions, Sunny side Up Egg, Pineapples, Lettuce and tomatoes served with Banana Pineappe Smoothie

My Homemade Mashed Potato tastes so good and so much better than the KFC powdered type. You will enjoy a light creamy mashed potato and to me, I don't need any extra gravy to go with it. Sometimes, I even eat it cold and it tastes like savoury ice cream!

Here's the recipe for it



Homemade Mashed Potato (can last 4 servings for me)

1 Medium Russet Potato

1 Tbsp Butter (can be omitted)

3 Tbsp Japanese Mayo (Approximate measurement because I squeeze from the bottle)

4 Tbsp Milk (Approximate measurement because I just pour out of the milk carton due to gut feel)

Salt and Pepper to Taste

1. Fill a pot with enough water to cover the potato at least over by 1 inch. Boil the washed potato over medium heat for 30 to 40 minutes. Test with a fork to make sure the potato is cooked through

2. Prepare a basin or bowl deep of icy cold water enough to submerge the potato in

3. Put the hot potato in to the icy cold water for easier peeling. The sudden shock of cold water against the hot potato will make the skin easier to peel.

4. Put the skinned potato into another bowl and mash with a fork till the consistency you like. I don't mash mine too fine as I like fine bits of potato to bite on. Russet Potatoes are good for mash as it's a powdery potato

5. Put the butter, Mayo and Milk in to the hot mash and mix till light and fluffy

6. Season with Salt and Pepper to taste

7. U may serve it hot or let it cool before storing in the fridge. Please consume within 3 to 4 days as it contains dairy products

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Quickie Lunch - Leftover KFC, Cherry Tomatoes, Lettuce, Mash Potato and an Orange Pineapple Smoothie

Dinner - Lamb Stew over mashed potato, Soup Carrots and Lettuce

Breakfast - Cornflakes, Raisins and Milk, Sausage, Mash Potato, Cherry Tomatoes and Orange Pineapple Smoothie

Fruity Lunch - Guava and Pineapple sprinkled with Assam powder, Kiwi and sweet Korean strawberries

Lunch - Leftover Lamb Stew and Banana Yogurt Smoothie

A closer look at my happy breakfast - Lettuce, Sunny side up Egg, Tomato and Sausage

Happy Breakfast with Strawberry Banana Smoothie

Quick Lunch - Maggi Mee Asam Laksa, Fried Gyoza and Mixed Berries Smoothie

Breakfast - Blueberries pancakes, Kiwi, Guava and Mixed Berries Smoothie

Breakfast - Prata Cheesey Dog, Mashed Potato, Kiwi, Lettuce and Pineapple Orange Yogurt Smoothie

Prata Cheesey Dog is really delicious although it's a sinful combination. To make the Prata Dog, you will need

Prata Cheesey Dog
1 x Frozen Prata/Roti Canai (I use Kawan brand)
1 x Sausage
1 slice of cheese
Oil to fry the sausage and Prata

1. Oil the pan and fry the sausage till browned and cooked
2. Using the same pan, fry the Prata till golden brown on both sides
3. Put the hot Prata on a plate and put a slice of cheese on to it and then put the sausage and roll it. You may want to secure the ends with a toothpick till the shape sets.
4. You may want to add some lettuce in for a healthier add-on

One Pot Chicken Rice served with ginger scallions dipping sauce and cucumber. This dipping sauce recipe was adapted from http://www.mykitchensnippets.com/2010/09/ginger-scallion-dipping-sauce.html 

As it's only me eating. Here is my One Pot Chicken Rice Recipe.

One Pot Chicken Rice

Chicken and Marinade
1 x Boneless Chicken Maryland (Thigh and Drumstick Attached)
1 Tbsp Sesame Oil
1 Tsp Salt
1 Inch Old Ginger, finely chopped
A sprinkle of ground white pepper

Rice
1 Cup Rice ( I used a mixture of long grain fragrant rice + short grain rice + Barley), soaked in water for at 20 minutes before cooking
1.5 Cups of Water/Chicken Stock Broth
2 x Garlic Clove, finely sliced
1 x small onion, finely sliced
1 Tbsp Cooking Oil
1 Tbsp Butter/Planta
1 Knot of Pandan/Screwpine Leaves
Salt to taste

Garnishing
1 x sliced cucumber
1 stalk of spring onion

Dipping Sauce
Please refer to http://www.mykitchensnippets.com/2010/09/ginger-scallion-dipping-sauce.html

1. Marinade the whole Maryland with Salt, ginger and sesame oil and pepper for at least 30 minutes
2. Heat up the Oil and Butter/Planta and add in the garlic and onion to fry till light golden brown and fragrant.
3. Add in the soaked rice that has been drained of water and fry around a bit and then add in the 1.5 cups of water. Add in salt to taste
4. Lay the chicken maryland flesh side down on top of the rice mixture and add the knot of pandan/screwpine leaves.
5. Let it boil on high heat till it bubbles (about 5 to 10 minutes) and then reduce to low heat and let it slowly cook for the next 15 to 20 minutes. Off the fire and let the pot sit for another 10 minutes.
6. Remove the screwpine leaves and take out the Chicken Maryland and cut to slices. Scoop the rice out.
7. Arrange on plate and serve with sliced cucumbers and the ginger dipping sauce.

Blueberry Pancakes, Guava and Pineapple Banana Smoothie

The blueberries pancakes are really light, fluffy and tasty. Here's my recipe for it.

Pancakes 

100g Self Raising Flour (If you don't have Self-Raising Flour, then use all-purpose flour with 1 tsp of baking powder added in), sifted
1 Tbsp Caster Sugar
1 pinch of salt
100ml Milk
2 Tbsp of Olive Oil/Vegetable Oil/cooled melted Butter
1 egg
Oil for frying

1. Mix the flour, sugar, salt together and make a well in the centre.
2. Add the egg, milk and oil in and slowly mix till you get a not too thin or thick mixture. Thin mixture will make you crepes instead of pancakes. Thick mixture will give you hotcakes. You have to get an in between consistency
3. Heat up the pan and evenly coat it with oil. I used a pouring cup to pour the batter into the pan. Less mess than ladling
4. Adjust the heat to medium and pour a portion of the batter in. Add as many blueberries or any fruit as u like into the still liquid batter in the pan
5. Wait for a minute or two and then flip the pancake over to the other side carefully. Wait till the other side browns and then remove and put on your serving plate.
6. Repeat till your batter finishes. You may need to re-oil the pan

Lunch - Wholemeal Spaghetti with Sundried Tomatoes tossed with Olive Oil and sprinkled with chilli flakes, broccoli, and luncheon meat fries served with honey mustard lime mayo 

Simple Dinner - Mee suah with Baby Kailan in Rooting For You Soup and Curry Chicken

This wraps up 1st week of Feb 2013 home cooking.

January 2013 Home Cooking

I love to cook but when Hunny passed away, I couldn't bring myself to cook anything till after I recovered slightly after my women power support groups help lift up my dying spirit.

In January, my cooking skills were rather rusty but I have made progess. I am an emo cooker and seldom follow exact measurements as I am only cooking for myself and often have to cut ingredient portions.

Dinner - Monin Cocktail Passionfruit Minty Lychee served with Medium Rare Steak, Lettuce, Spaghetti and Broccoli

A closer view of 9th Jan Dinner

Breakfast - Luncheon Meat, Tempe, Pineapples with Assam powder, A slice of homemade butter cake, a slice of carrot walnut cake and orange segments served with a glass of fresh milk



Fried Marinated Black Pomfret with ginger, served with half a lime, lettuce, sambal and cherry tomatoes

Lunch - Lotus Leaf Buns served with Gyoza, Curry Chicken and Soup

Snack time - Sommerby Apple Cider on the rocks served with Lays Potato Chips

Dinner - Chicken Curry, Soup and Luncheon meat Fried Rice

Breakfast - Delicious SG Gardenia Banana Walnut Bread spread with Nutella and served with a mug of milk

Snack - Gardenia Banana Walnut Bread, a slice of butter cake and a mug of milk

Lunch - Luncheon Meat Fried Rice, Broccoli and Guava with Assam Powder

Dinner - Luncheon Meat Fried Rice, Cabbage Stew, Ginger steamed prawns

Rooting For You Soup - Lotus Root, Carrot, Arrowroot, Dried Mussels, Pork Ribs, Roast Pork Bones, and Chicken Feet Slow Boiled soup



Quick Cheat Dinner - KFC Chicken, Mixed Grains Rice, Cabbage Stew and Rooting For You Soup

Breakfast - Lamb Sausage, Homemade mashed potato, Carrots from the soup, Fried Onions, Guava sprinkled with assam powder

Breakfast - Sausage, Mashed Potato with sweet potato, Lotus Leave Bun stuffed with Lettuce and Ham, Guava and pineapple sprinkled with Assam Powder and Golden Kiwi



Breakfast - Sausage, Sunny Side Up Egg, Lotus Leaf Buns, Cherry Tomatoes, Kiwi, Pineapple sprinkled with Assam Powder

Fish Soup

Lunch - Sunny Side Up Egg, Mixed Grain Rice, Tofu, Tempe, Lettuce with Mandarin Orange segments

Lunch - Salted Vege Soup with Mee Suah, Ham Lotus Leaf Buns, Pineapple with Assam Powder and Autumn Seedless Black Grapes

Breakfast - Sausage, Mashed Potato, Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Pineapples, Grapes and Orange

Dinner - Med Rare Tenderloin Steak, Lettuce, Pineapple, Grapes, Cherry Tomatoes and Mashed Potato

Lunch - Steamed Pomfret with Xiao Bai Cai and Egg Tofu served with Pumpkin Carrot Soup Rice

Breakfast - Pumpkin Carrot Soup, Sausage, Mashed Potato, Wholemeal Bun, Guava, Fried Egg and Kiwi

Lunch - Tomyam Fried Rice, Sunny Side Up Fried Egg, Xiao Bai Cai and Wintermelon Soup

Breakfast - Cornflakes, Milk and Raisins, Sausage, Mashed Potato and Kiwi

Breakfast - Cornflakes, Choc Bits, Raisins with milk, Ham, Cheese and Lettuce Sandwich and Guava

Breakfast - Sausage, Banana Walnut Bread, Mashed Potato, Fried Onions, Grapes, Kiwi, sunny side up egg and a cup of milk

Lunch - Cabbage Soup, Stir Fry Woods Ear Fungus and Pork

Lunch -Steak, Grapes, Mashed Potato, Pumpkin and Kiwi

A closer view of the juicy steak



Breakfast - Ginger Milk Tea, Bread, Jam, Sausage, Kiwi and Guava

Lunch - Wholemeal Spaghetti, Pumpkin, Sausage, Button Mushrooms and Lettuce with a glass of milk

Rice, Blanched Lettuce, Steamed White Pomfret with ginger and tomatoes

Breakfast - French Toast, Jam, Kiwi, Luncheon Meat, Hard Boiled Egg, Lettuce and Milk

Lunch - Pacific Clams Creamy Sauce Wholemeal Spaghetti with Broccoli

Dinner - Rice, Cabbage Stew, Broccoli with Pacific Clams served with ABC soup

Breakfast - Grilled Cheese Toast, Pear, Lettuce, Fried Egg and Nestum 3-in-1

Lunch - Rice, Cabbage Stew and spring onion ginger fried pork

Breakfast - French Toast, Passion Fruit, Kiwi, Jambu Air and Milk

Dinner - Rice, Tofu, Blanched Cai Xin, ABC Soup

That's all for January Home Cooking 100% cooked by Bunny... :)