Steamed Herbal Chicken

Went to Aunty Ah Choo's house for the past few days to see her new born grandson. Look at the confinement dishes she cook for her daughter in-law makes my saliva drool from my mouth.

Today reach home head straight to the fridge and take out all the Chinese Herbs and going to steam Kampung Chicken with Chinese Herbs. Simple and easy to prepare, yet delicious.............

Here is the recipe.

Ingredients:
10 pcs dang guai
10 red dates
1 tbsp kei zhi
10 pcs yuk chuok
Some ginger, cut into thin strips
2 chicken thighs, cut into pieces
1/2 cup of water

Marinade :
1 tsp salt
1 tsp light soya sauce
Some sesame oil
A dash of pepper
1 tsp cornflour

Method:
1. Put all the Chinese Herbs and the water in a saucepan. Cook at low heat for 30 minutes. Remove and keep aside.
2. Marinade the chicken thighs with the salt, soya sauce, sesame oil, pepper and cornflour.
3. Arrange chicken on a shallow plate and pour with the herbal soup.
4. Top with ginger strips and steam for 30 minutes or until cooked. Serve hot with rice or mee suah.

Note : For more Ummmphh... you can add some DOM into it.

Thai Style Fried Chicken

Yesterday I was on MC cos I am SICK ! Having sore throat and headache. Maybe because ate too much 'ginger chicken wine' from Aunty Ah Choo's place. That is why too heaty !

Hardly eat anything yestarday and stay in the room, on the air-con and watch the T-Drama Meteor Garden from morning till evening before I start to cook for dinner. Too lazy to think what to cook so look through the recipe book and saw this 'Thai Style Fried Chicken' with Cucumber Salad.

This is what you need.

Ingredients :

2 chicken thigh, de-boned

1 tsp salt

A dash of pepper

1 tbsp corn flour

1 egg , beaten

Some Kentucky Friend Chciken flour for coating

Method :

1. Marinade chicken thigh with salt, pepper and cornflour overnight.

2. Then coat the chicken into beaten egg and Kentucky flour. Deep fry till golden brown.

3. Cut into small pieces and arrange on the plate. Before you serve add some cucumber salad at the side of the fried chicken.

To make the Cucumber Salad :

Ingredients :
2 cucumber, cut into thin strips
Some chilli padi, cut into small pieces
1 big onion, cut into rings
2 tbsp vinegar
3 tbsp sugar
Some Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce

Method :
1. Mix all the ingredients and keep in the fridge overnight before you serve with the fried chicken.

Stir-fry Pasta with Sardines

After few days didn't cook, I actually become lazier to think of what to cook now. Tonight dinner is pretty simple and I actually fried some pasta with sardines. The sardines I am referring to is not the sardines in tomato sauce. I am actually using the King Oscar's Sardines in Oil.

Try this out if you want to have some fried pasta or pasta goreng!

Ingredients :

250 gm spaghetti, boiled till 'al-dente'

Some chopped garlic

1 cup of mix vegetables

1 can of sardines in oil

3 tbsp of tomato paste

1/2 cup of water

Salt and sugar to taste

Some black pepper course

Method :

1. Heat pan with oil from the sardines.

2. Sautee chopped garlic till fragrant.

3. Add in mixed vegetables and sardines. Fry for a minute.

4. Then add in tomato paste, water, salt and sugar to taste.

5. Add in spaghetti and black pepper course and mixed well. Dish up.

Where to go ?

Yesterday was having the monthly meeting in the office the whole day. As usual reach home about 6 pm after the meeting and the two kids was having cough and flu. After both of them eat the medicine, it was suppose to be sedative and I thought both will sleep quite early and I can watch my T-drama but both of them are so active and lively after that.

Le-Ann and Ee-Thern was begging dearie Daddy to bring them out for 'kai kai' and finally bring them to Alamanda, Putrajaya the nearest to my house. Hang around at TOY CITY to see toys and as usual both will get excited to the toys and I will start saying " SEE ONLY NO BUYING "

Look how happy both of them once we reach there. My little boy is real naughty and want to walk by himself and would not let both me and dearie Suki to hold his hand. I was thinking if one day he lost in the shopping mall, what will be my first reaction? I think I will go hysteria first!

An influence from the movie MARS, and Ee-Thern and Le-Ann come across this bike at TOY CITY and insisted me to take down for them to sit on it. Little Ee-Thern keep saying ' Mama, Kor Kor bike ' and he is referring to the movie MARS - Vick Zhou aka Chen Ling riding his racing bike. Both me and Suki feel tempted to buy this for him cos he is so cute sitting on it and looks like ' pai kin nah '. When I look at the price tag - RM299 and got discount 20%. Better not to buy cos so expensive and we go away from that area becauseI know if all of us still hang there for another 10 minutes and I bet dearie Suki will buy this for him. So better 'ciao' !

Went over to Carrefour and I tell myself not to buy anything but still end up spending RM65.00 for foods and we buy all the unessary junk food, Korean instant noodle and off course Suki favourite durian !

Egg Tart

Bake some 'Egg Tart' last weekend cos still have some of the leftover evaporated milk I used to cook the Fish Fillet Meehoon Soup. Better don't waste it.

First time baking the 'Egg Tart' and I am not so satisfied with the result cos I am in a hurry so 'chinchai' do only. When eat it once out of the oven is nice cos the pastry is still crispy but after a while it become soggy. Some more dearie Suki say look so ' keap si'. Anyway I think he just talk only la cos he ate 4 Egg Tarts that night.

So here is the recipe :

Ingredients :

Pastry

100gm flour

1 tbsp milk powder

50gm butter

20gm icing sugar

1 egg

Filling

3 eggs

250ml Evaporated milk

3 tbsp icing sugar

1 tsp vanilla essence

Method :

1. To make the pasty, mix all ingredients to form a soft dough. Keep in the fridge for 30 minutes.

2. Divide the dough into 6 portions and press into a tart mould.

3. Bake at 180'C for 10 minutes.

4. For the filling, beat the eggs and mix all the ingredients together. Use a siever and sieve it.

5. Poor the egg custard into half cook pastry and bake at 180'C for 15 -20 minutes or until the egg set.

Today's Inspiration

I was early today in the office and come across an email send by my good friend Vivian. Pretty interesting to share with all of you out there.

Today's Inspiration

How To Stay Young

1. Throw out non-essential numbers.

This includes age, weight and height.

Let the doctor worry about them. That is why we pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends.

The grouches pull you down.

( Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches )

3. Keep learning.

Learn more about computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.

Never let the brain idle.

" An idle mind is the devil's workshop"

And the devil's name is Alzheimer's !

4. Enjoy the simple things in life.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you grasp for breath.

And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him or her !

6. The tears happen.

Endure, grieve and move on. The only person who is with us, our entire life, is ourself. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love.

Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.

8. Cherish your health.

If is is good, preserve it.

If it is unstable, improve it.

If it is beyond what you can improve, get help!

9. Don't take guilt trips.

Take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country, but NOT to where guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every oppurtunity.

Fish Filllet Meehoon Soup

Last week dearie Suki was down with fever and sore throat and hardly can eat rice. He requested for something soft so I decided to cook Fish Fillet Meehoon Soup for him. The meehoon soup I cook is actually the 'Fish Head Meehoon Soup' just like those selling at the hawker stall. I have my own version of it by using the 'Wan Yue' fish fillet.

Here is my 'Fish Fillet Meehoon Soup' recipe.

Ingredietns :

Fish fillet( I used Wan Yue )

Meehoon, blanch with hot water till soft

2 tomatoes, cut into wedges

Preserved salted vegetables ( ham choi ), sliced thinly

Ginger, sliced thinly

Spring onion, cut into 3cm lengthwise

1 cube Knorr Chicken Stock

2 litre of water

1/2 can of Evaporated milk

Salt & Pepper to taste

Sesame oil

Method:

1. Deep fried the fish fillet till golden brown and set aside.

2.Put the water in a pot and bring to boil.

3. Then add in the tomatoes, ginger, perserved salted vegetables and the chicken stock. Let it boil for 20 minutes.

4. Add in the evaporated milk and add salt, pepper and sesame oil to taste.

5. Then add in meehoon and the spring onion. Serve hot.

Posing for Mommy

I was compiling my kids photos and come across that my little Le-Ann is quite photogenic in a sense that she likes to do various pose while taking pictures. Real ' heau' one ....

Self potrait of little Le-Ann

Le-Ann enjoying mommy 'Fish Fillet Meehoon Soup'


Showing off the ring mommy bought for her at Mid Valley


Sunday morning --- bicycle time

Both of them real good at times

First time in history Ee-Thern is so playful infront of camera

Announcement : It's a BOY !

Finally, Weng Leong's wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy at 2.8 kg today. So cute the little baby boy and makes me think back when I have Ee-Thern 2 years ago. Time really flies fast. So good luck to him and welcome to the parenthood.

Yam Puffs

Left some yam pastry from yesterday yam ring that I make. Without wasting it I transform it into yam puffs for dearie Suki afternoon snack. Managed to get 6 yam puffs or we called it 'Wo Kok' when we order Dim Sum.

Ingredients :

For the filling :

Some minced pork

1 tsp soya sauce

1 tsp dark soya sauce

1 tbsp oyster sauce

1 tsp sugar

A dash of pepper

Some green peas

Cornstarch for thickening

Method :

1. Heat oil in pan. Add in minced pork and stir fry till cooked.

2. Add in the rest of the ingredients.

3. Then add in the green peas and some cornstarch to thicken. Set aside and let it cool.

4. Wrap the filling in the yam pastry and deep fried with hot oil till golden brown.

Yam Ring - Fatt Put

For months I didnt go out and eat at the restaurant because of the kids--> HAVOC and I rather eat at home. One of my favourite dish that both of us ( me and dearie Suki ) must order is the 'Yam Ring ( Fatt Put )' either with 'Kung Pow' 'Kai Ting' or 'Har Kow' !

Search through the recipe from the web and finally found one.

Ingredients :
For Yam Ring
300gm yam, cut into small pieces
45gm tang mien fun
50gm shortening
Some beehoon
Some cashew nuts

Seasoning :
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp Chinese five spice
A dash of pepper

Method :
1. Steam yam till soft. Then mashed the cooked yam with a pestal till smooth.
2. Then mix the yam with the tangmien fun, shortening, and the seasoning ingredients.
3. Chill for 30 minutes in the fridge.
4. Shape the yam dough into a round ring.
5. Deep fry in a very hot oil till golden brown. Set aside.
6. Then deep fry some beehoon till crispy. Set aside.

Ingredients :
For Kung Pow Kai Ting
3 chicken breast, cut into cubes
1 big onion, sliced
6 pcs of dried chillies, cut into 3 cm lengthwise
1/2 cup of mixed vegetables
Some spring onions, cut into 3 cm lengthwise
Cornstarch for thickening

Seasoning :
1 tbsp soya sauce
1 tsp dark soya sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp sugar
A dash of pepper
Some sesame oil
1 tsp Hsiao Hsing Wine

Method :
1. Heat oil in pan. Sautee the sliced big onion and dried chillies till fragrant.
2. Add in chicken cubes and stir fry till cooked.
3. Add in the seasoning ingredients.
4. Mixed well and then add in the mixed vegetables and spring onion. Stir for a while and lastly add in the cornstarch for thickening.

To assemble the 'Yam Ring'
1. Use a flat plate.
2. Put the fried crispy meehoon on the plate.
3. Then lay yam ring on top of the fried crispy meehoon.
4. Scoop the kung pow kai ting into the ring and top with cashew nuts.

Shopping with The Kids

As promised to my kids that I will bring them to shopping mall on Saturday when I am not working. So yesterday evening so coincidentally dearie Suki have an appointment at Mid Valley at 9.30pm. So we followed daddy to Mid Valley at night after dinner at home.

Once reach there, dearie Suki went for his appointment and I bring the kids to the PETS WONDERLAND. Little Ee-Thern was so excited there cos he just loves doggy and meow meow. Wah this boy really not scared one dare to touch the fur. I also don't dare to touch.

After hanging around for 1/2 an hour, then we head to Toys R US. On our way there, my little princess saw a ring and insist me to buy for her. So OK la I buy for her and a small ' lau yar' ring cost RM9.90 and she really 'heau' one so small know all this. Reach Toys R US and as usual whatever they see also want to buy and makes me headache. Hang around there till the shop close at 10 pm and 4 of us don't know where to go anymore and at last go JUSCO to buy drinks.

Bought 2 rows of Vitagen for them and I think both must be very thirsty. After paying money we find a place to sit and wait for dearie Suki to call me. After finish 2 Vitagen each, finally dearie Suki called and he pick us up and head back to home. Both Le-Ann and Ee-Thern must be very tired slept in the car and we supposed to go for 'Wan Tan Mee' supper at Jln Chan Sow Lin but got to cancel off.

Tonight both of us going to have Instant Noodle for supper again !

Production Shooting at KDU

Saturday supposed to be at home but end up got to go and work because some last minute confirmation on product sponsorship for a reality game show. One of the production house called me up and proposed to me San Remo pasta product sponsorship on a reality game show and the cost is RM50,000 !!! End up I say no cos don't have so much fund available and manage to squeeze them to RM3,000 in cash and RM1,000 products in kind. Hehehe... 'keng leh' me squeeze until so little and it is a damn good deal !

They did the outdoor shooting at this KDU's Hospitality and Culinary School and I got no choice have to be there to make sure they really use my products. The host for this show is Aric Ho and Easy Chan..... a new actor and actress from those ' New Star Search' last year.

According to the producer this show will be aired on NTV7 from 2nd June'07 at 10.15pm. So remember oh to watch this programme I think it is called ' Champion Kitchen ' but my slot don't know in which episode leh ? Must check with the producer when are they going to air my section.

So boring alone there cos all the crew and host... weird weird one. Called Tania to come over to have a look since she is staying so near. Furthermore also a good exposure for freshies like her. Wah ... I thought she won't come but she really turn up. Both of us real excited and m real busy taking photos and I think those production crews must be thinking weakun' or 'its our father co.'

Aiyar... halfway taking photos my battery is out of order and luckily Tania got a camera phone and she help me to snap the scene until that host 'Aric Ho' so perasan thought we took his picture. ---> 'Hello small boy we kiasu one only take our products to show principal not taking you leh' ( I was mumbling to Tania )

Anyway I didn't stay till the end of the shooting cos got to rush back to pick up the kids from my babysitter house.

Some of the behind the scene shooting

After all, it is quite a good publicity for the pasta I am handling. Imagine I only pay RM4,000 and there will be about 200,000 viewers over at NTV7. So..... per reach is about RM0.02... eh buy one candy also RM0.20 already. So you think is it worth or not ? Off course yes lor !

Reward for ah girl ....

When come to Monday I will have pressure and stress cos need to bring Le-Ann to music class at night. Not only I have to rush back from office at 5.15pm sharp and prepare dinner for dearie Suki but is because this little girl don't concentrate in the class.

The first two lessons she is enjoying herself in the class and following what the teacher say but after that every Monday is like hell to me. Once the class start she will start saying ......

" Mommy I wan oi oi (sleep) "

" Mommy dun wan learn "

" Mommy out pleaseeeeee "

" Mommy I wan sweet "

" Mommy carry " and the list goes on...........................

Want to stop the lesson also cannot cos already pay for the full term fees. So I 'mati mati' also must let her finish this term.

Hubby Suki fetch us to the music school and before we get down from the car, both father and daughter talk in the car and another words the daddy lecturing his small little girl to behave herself and must follow what the teacher teach her. I cross my finger hard so that she will listen this time.

Really works woh.... she is following the lesson and behave herself well. You know why cos her daddy promise her if she behave she will have ice-cream tonight.

This girl really remember what her daddy promised to give her and today she is asking for the ice-cream from him. So cannot 'tipu' her and gave her one Cornetto ice-cream and she is happily eating it with her brother.

I hope she will behave herself next week so that I no need to go through those stress every Monday and in another words I think I am a 'KIASU' mommy !

Grill Spare Ribs

Brought home some of the Kikkoman products from my company. Although the label is damaged but still can be used leh... some more this products is so expensive selling in the supermarkets.

Yesterday night I marinated 4 spare ribs and today I grill it when I reach home from office. Well , I am satisfied with the results and the ribs tastes so good and the meat is so juicy and tender after the grilling process in the oven. Plus the sauce is real good. Each of us have one ribs to enjoy tonight ( me, dearie hubby and my little girl Le-Ann finish one pork rib by herself ) and it was finger licking good.

As for the secret of the marination I actually uses :

Kikkoman Thick Teriyaki Sauce

Kikkoman Honey & Soy Sauce

Tabasco Chipolte

McCormick Meat Tenderizer

Then marinate the spare ribs overnight and grill in the oven at 200 degree celcius at 40 minutes. I also add a dash of parsley flakes on top of the ribs before I put into the oven.

Look at my little girl, happily enjoying the spare ribs and we eat till so clean. Left another one and hubby Suki say keep that for his dinner tomorrow. Looks like he also enjoy it and it would be nice if this can go along with a glass of red wine. Not bad huh, my grill spare ribs. Taste wise can compare with the Rib Shop in Damansara la I think but in term of food presentation cannot compare with them. Hihihi.........