Fish You Like and the Alternative

Saw this in a magazine I borrowed from the library... If you are not able to get a certain type of fish that you like, you might wanna try an alternative.

Substitute...
Chilean Sea Bass with Black Cod
Swordfish with Wahoo
Atlantic Cod with Alaskan Pollack
Snapper n Grouper with Tilapia

Cheesy Bread (using Bread Machine)

Cheesy Bread

Ingredients

1 cup + 1 T water

3 T olive oil

1 T sugar

2 T dry milk powder

1 T kosher salt

2 t vital wheat gluten flour

2/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/3 cup grated sharp cheddar

1/3 cup grated swiss cheese

3 cups unbleached bread flour

2 t bread machine yeast

Instructions

1. Following the sequence of the above list, place the ingredients in the bread pan.

2. Press MENU and select BASIC

3. Press SIZE and select LARGE

4. Press COLOR and select MEDIUM

5. Press START

6. Total machine time is 3h.

Notes:

(I) This is so easy, just dump everything inside and wait. Haha!

(II) The bread is very tasty, prob due to the various cheeses.

(III) The texture is very heavy and 1 slice on its own is enough for breakfast.

New Gadgets have Arrived

The bread machine and the bakeware set have both arrived. I have yet to test them out as I was a tad busy with things. However, I made pumpkin cake and banana fritters this week.

I will be trying out the gadgets next week. Stay tuned!

Steamed Pumpkin Cake

Steamed Pumpkin Cake

Ingredients:
800g Pumpkin Flesh

Batter mix:
500 g rice flour
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
6 cups hot water

Fried Ingredients:
80 g dried shrimps(soften with water, minced or use mini ones)
2 chinese sausages(diced)
15 chinese preserved mushrooms(soaked, sliced thinly)
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp pepper

Method:
1. Steam pumpkin slices over high heat. Mashed while its still hot. Set aside.
2. In a pan, stir fry mini dried shrimps till fragrant.
3. Add the sliced mushrooms, chinese sausage and seasonings.
4. Stir fry for 3 mins. Set aside.
5. In a cool wok, add hot water slowly into batter mix flour and stir constantly. Stir till flour dissolves.

6. Pour in hot water slowly and stir to ensure that the rice flour do not become sticky and lumpy
7. Add mashed pumpkin and mix.
8. Add Fried ingredients.
9. Stir to mix everything.
10. Put the wok over low heat, stiring continously until batter is dry and sticky
11. Line pan with glass paper and pour contents into it.
12. Steam over high heat for 60 minutes.
13. Leave to cool in room temperature for 1 hour.
14. Cut into slices.

Note: I find this recipe slightly too salty for my liking.

New Gadget on the Way.

I bought a new gadget - a bread maker, which is due to arrive 21 Oct.

Here's a picture of the Wolfgang Puck Programmable Dual-Blade Bread Maker.

Product Features: (taken from product description on webby)

• Dual kneading blades - provides a more thorough kneading job even with large loaves
• 11 digital pre-programmed modes - automatically adjusts the cycle times to match your specific baking needs: basic, whole wheat, French, quick, sweet, cake, jam, dough, rapid bake, bake, gluten-free and custom settings
• Custom setting allows you to set the machine to cater to your family's preference
• Large LCD display with clock timer - gives you easy-to-read controls and allows you to monitor your time and settings as you bake
• 24-hour delay bake programmable timer - works around your schedule and does nearly everything for you
• Produces 2 and 2.5 lb. loaf - sensational capacity for family-size baking
• Dual kneading blades - provides a more thorough kneading job even with large loaves
• Keep-warm feature at end of cycle - sustains the temperature of the bread so you get fresh, warm results, ready when you are
• Adjustable crust control - easily obtain the exact crust that fits your preference - light, medium or dark
• Dishwasher safe nonstick bread pan and kneading blades
• Large viewing window - allows you to view the process without interrupting any of the cycles
• Cool-touch housing - helps prevent burns and allows for easy access

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

1/2 cup rolled oats (ground finely or use quick oats)

2-1/4 cups all purpose flour

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon powder

1 cup/2 sticks butter (I used unsalted)

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar (originally to use 3/4 cup)

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1 tsp lemon juice

2 eggs

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1-1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Method :

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF / 177ºC.

2. Combine ground oats, flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon powder in a mixing bowl.

3. Cream butter, brown sugar, sugar, vanilla extract and lemon juice in mixer. Add eggs and beat till fluffy.

4. Stir in flour mixture, mixing well. Add the chocolate chips and walnuts to the dough and mix well.

5. Scoop and shape the dough to your liking onto lined baking sheets.

6. Bake 14 to 16 mins or till lightly browned.

7. Cool completely before storing.

三杯鸡

三杯鸡 (Three cups chicken)

(Recipe taken from http://www.bakingmum.blogspot.com/)

Ingredients:
1 chicken (I bought no growth hormone added type)
10 slices ginger
15 cloves garlic
2 red chilli (cut into big pieces)
2 stalks green onions (cut into 2 inch pieces)
2 stalk basil

Seasonings:
1/4 cup sesame oil
¼ cup light soy sauce
1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine
2 tsp sugar
3 cinnamon stick
pepper
chilli powder (I used Cayenne Pepper)
1/4 tsp five spice powder
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp black vinegar
1 tbsp dark soy sauce

Methods:
1. Clean chicken well and cut up into smaller pieces.
2. In a claypot/corning ware, put the ginger, garlic, chilli, green onions at the bottom.
3. Place the chicken pieces on top the ingredients.
4. Add all the seasonings.
4. Use high heat to cook the chicken uncovered for about 15 mins.
5. Add in basil, cover and continue to cook until the sauce thickens to your liking.

Cook and Cook

As mentioned in an earlier post, I now cook once a week for Ken to bring makan to work. The group of 6 men now take turns to cook everyday, which is a nice break for me. :p

Today Ken is working night shift, meaning I cook in the morning and he bring it as dinner for the guys. As I ran out of ideas what to cook, I was looking around on some blogs for inspiration and found a recipe for a 三杯鸡. It seemed easy to cook and it was, the result was not bad too - just that the chicken a bit tough.

Here's what the guys are having for dinner today... (sorry about the blur pics, my editing skills sucks)

Seems like a lot? Actually I prepared 4 portion of fried rice to go with the chicken. I wanted all of them to try the Xin Hua Noodles thingy that my MIL will cook every 1st day of CNY. All you have to do is put some Xin Hua Noodles in a bowl and add in the Mixed Vegetables. The Fried Omelette Strips, Fried Shallots, Peanuts and Hei Cai are toppings to enhance the flavour. Suppose to add Hua Diao Wine before eating but I dunno how to pack that. Haha.

The noodles is very precious, brought from Singapore and I still have some in the fridge. I am keeping it for CNY. :) As you noticed, it's somewhat a vegetarian meal, it's pretty nice if served hot. Hope they will enjoy it.

The Impossible Thing Happened

Oh gosh! I have done it! I bought something I saw on the TV Shopping Channels. Urgh! What have I done?!?!

This was what made me sink to a new low.

This is a 10-pc. Silicone Collapsible Bake & Carry Bakeware Set. Includes two 9" round pans, 8-1/2" brownie pan, six-cup Texas muffin pan, loaf pan with meatloaf insert, 15" x 11" baking mat, 12" x 8" toaster mat, 15" x 11" baking board, and plastic lid.

I bought the mocha (brown) colored set. Haiz. I hope that it is as good as it seems on the TV. Oh man! I am such a sucker! Everything is supposed to be collaspsible and can be packed into the container, which could be used to carry any baked goods as well. I was thinking of replacing quite a bit of what I had due to stubborn stains, etc. I shall try baking something once I get my hands on it. Suppose to receive it on Oct 22nd, will post my experiment here.