Tea Leave Eggs

I simply just love Tea Leaves Eggs aka 茶叶蛋。 But it is so expensive nowadays to buy it outside. Around $1 to $1.50 per egg! Why not spend about $3 and you can cook 10 eggs? 

Ingredient:

1 pack of 5 spice - the 50 cent pack I had showed in my previous post
10 eggs
2 tablespoon of sugar
3 tablespoon of light soya sauce
1 tablespoon of dark soya sauce
3 sliced of dang gui aka Angelica roots - for extra herbal taste
2 tea bag of Tie Guan Yin or Pu Er or any black tea leaves you prefer


Method:

1) Hard boiled the eggs first and dish out to cool. Use a metal spoon to crack the egg shells.
2) In another pot, bring water to boil and add in all the other ingredients.
3) Add in the eggs and simmer for 1 hour. Tah-dah!

It's so simple right?

Braised Duck Wings and feet

My father and my girl love duck wings and feet. My father used to buy the duck feet from the local duck rice stall and it costs about 50 cents for 2 feet. It was so expensive! So when he has cravings for it, I will cook this dish for the family.

Serves 4

Ingredients

10 duck wings
10 duck drumsticks
10 duck feet
2 pieces of ginger - sliced
1 packet of 5 spice - not the powder type, cost 50 cents each pack
1 box of hard boiled quail eggs - about 15 eggs
Rock sugar or sugar cane rock sugar
1 cup of light soya sauce
4 tablespoon of dark soya sauce
2 tablespoon of oyster sauce
2 tablespoon of shaoxing wine


Method:

1) wash and cut the fingernails of the duck feet
2) Blanched the duck feet, wings and drums.
3) In a pot with boiling water, add in the ginger slices and 5 spices.
4) Add in the duck feet and bring to boil. Boil for 15 mins first then add in the wings and drums.
5) Stir in the light soya sauce, dark soya sauce and oyster sauce.
6) Boil for 15 mins and add in the hard boiled quail eggs.
7) Add in the rock sugar according to your preference taste. For me I put more as they prefer sweeter and thicken sauce.
8) Continue to simmer until the meat are tender for about 30 mins. Stir in the shaoxing wine for taste. Serve hot with rice. 


PS:

For those who only put in little bit of rock sugar and still wants a richer n thicker sauce, stir in 2 tablespoon of flour water and mix well. The wings and drums to add later is to prevent the meat too soft when the feet is not cooked completely.

Simple DIY Kaya

Love eating kaya? Try this on your own! Simple and comforting with bread toast.

Ingredient:

3 eggs

250 gram of fine sugar

300ml of coconut milk - I bought those small packet as cannot find fresh coconut milk

few stalks of pandan leaves

Method:

1) Mix the eggs, sugar and coconut milk together in bowl.

2) Use a sieve and pour into a wok.

3) Put in the pandan leaves and using small heat, keep stirring.

4) Stir quickly until the kaya becomes thicken. It takes about 10 mins only.

5) Off the heat, take out the pandan leaves and let it cool awhile before keep in glass jar.

PS:

I ever tried using coarse sugar and the kaya texture is not very smooth. Tried using blender and it will taste smoother and richer.

Black Vinegar Pig Trotters

Pig trotters anyone? Love this spicy and sour pig trotter especially with a bowl of hot rice. When I had my girl, I had tried this dish before and it was so spicy due to the extra more old ginger that my mother had added in. Old folks used to believe that ginger can expelled the "wind" in our body especially to the new mothers, they must eat more of this and while the pig trotters are full of collagen, it is so nourishing to our skin. So even if you are not doing your confinement, you must try this dish out. 

Serve 2

Ingredients:

1 big piece of pig trotter - chopped

3 pieces of old ginger - peeled and smashed briefly
2 Hard Boiled eggs - take out egg shell
1 bottle of black sweet rice vinegar - I used Chan Kong Thye doggy brand
2 Tablespoon brown sugar
200 ml of Zhejiang black vinegar
1 tablespoon of shaoxing wine
Sesame oil
Water
Salt


Method:

1) Blanch the pig trotter and set aside
2) In a wok, heat up the sesame oil and fry the gingers till fragrant.
3) Add in the blanched Pig Trotters and fry together with the gingers.
4) Stir in the brown sugar, mix well.
5) Transfer all to a pot, add the water just enough to cover the pig trotters and bring to boil.
6) Add abit of salt, then the 2 vinegars. Add in the 2 eggs.
7) Boil for around 45 mins in medium heat or till the meat has soften. 
8) Stir in the shaoxing wine for taste. Serve hot.


PS:

This is so yummy with rice. I can basically eat 2 big bowls of rice just with this dish! Well this recipe is not very traditional but because I am a working mum. Basically I do not have much time and effort. So I created this simpler ingredients and it cooks faster. It tastes yummy too.

Sweet and Sour Lotus Roots

I love lotus root this vegetables. Remember my mother always boiled it with spare ribs as a soup and I love it so much. This time round I have decided to use a different method to cook this baby. It was so appetizing.

Ingredient:

1 Medium Lotus Root - washed, peeled and sliced

2 gloves garlic - chopped finely

2 tablespoon light soya sauce

1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoon of sugar

1/2 cup water

Method:

1) Add oil, fry the garlic till fragrant, add in the lotus root and stir fry awhile.

2) Add the light soya sauce and stir well, continue to stir fry until half cook

3) Add in the vinegar, stir well and stir fry for 2 mins

4) Add the water and simmer till cooked.

5) Stir in the sugar till it dissolve and the sauce has reduced. Serve hot or cold.

PS:

It has the sweet and sour taste if you like those cold chinese dishes. Very appetizing and goes well with other dishes. Simple and easy to make.

Cheng Tng aka Sweet chinese dessert

Happy Mother's Day to all the ladies out there! Today I cooked Cheng Tng which is a sweet chinese dessert for my mother. I remember I used to eat this outside at the hawker centre when the weather is so hot. One small bowl with shaved ice on top that costs about $1.50. Nowadays during the first day of Chinese New Year, I will boil this dessert to eat as a blessing for "tian tian mi mi" meaning gaining sweetness in chinese.

Ingredients:

2 flower of white fungus - soak and trim

1 handful of dried long gans

1 handful of red dates

1 can of white gingkos - easier to use can type

3 pandan leaves

1 handful of dried winter melon strips

2 tablespoon of sago - soaked n drained

1/2 cups of black sugar

Method:

1) boil half pot of water with the pandan leaves and red dates first.

2) When it boils, add in the long gans, melon strips and white fungus. Bring to boil again.

3) Add in the gingko nuts and black sugar.

4) When the red dates have broken, add in the sago. Boil for another 5-10 mins in medium heat.

Serve hot or cold.

PS:

If you prefer sweeter taste like me, throw in some rock sugar to taste.

I don't dare to take lotus seed so I didn't put. You can add in if you like but remember to take out the middle root. Else it will be bitter.

Soya Sauce Chicken wings with potato

My girl simple love chicken wings. My mother used to cook this chicken wings when I was young. When my girl starts to eat proper meals on her own, I will cook this dish for her. She loves to grab the chicken wings with her hands and suck her fingers. The sauce is tasty on the white rice too. My god-children will request me to cook this dish for them whenever they come over to stay too. It is simple and everyone's favourite. 

Ingredients:

10 pieces of Mid joint wings

2 medium potatoes - cut into big chunks

2 cloves garlic - cut into small pieces

1 small ginger - sliced

3 tablespoon of oyster sauce

1 tablespoon of dark soya sauce

2 tablespoon of light soya sauce

2 teaspoon of shaoxing wine

sugar to taste

2 teaspoon of flour water

1 cup water

Method

1) Marinate the chicken wing with some soya sauce and dark soya sauce for 10 minutes

2) In a hot pan, fry the ginger and the garlics till fragrant.

3) Add in the chicken wings and fry awhile till the skin is light brown.

4) Add in the potatoes and stir fry awhile.

5) Add in the oyster sauce, light soya sauce and dark soya sauce. Mix well.

6) Keep frying it till the chicken wings are half cooked.

7) Add in the water and simmer it for 10 minutes. Occasionally flip the wings for balancing the taste.

8) When the water has reduced a bit, add in the sugar, shaoxing wine and flour water. Done.

PS:

Sometimes i will add in quail eggs too.  

Simple Minestrone Soup

I love soups...all kind of soups be it western or chinese style. I used to buy cans of soup for the rainy days or supper. It is not as fresh with the preservatives and of cos there are not much ingredients inside. Thus I used the fresh vegetables to make it and keep inside the ziplock bags and freeze them. Great for rainy days and those days when you need a quick supper.

Ingredients:

2 small cans of Hunts tomato paste
1 large carrot - chopped into cubes
1 cauliflower - chopped into cubes
2 large US potatoes - chopped into cubes
3 stalks of celery - chopped into cubes
1 large yellow onion - chopped into cubes
1/2 round cabbage - cut into small sizes
black pepper
salt

Method:

1) In a pot, fry the onions to half cooked and add in the vegetables.
2) Fry for awhile and stir in the tomato paste. Mix well.
3) Add in hot water, stir well and bring to boil.
4) Season with salt and pepper.

PS:

To keep the soup, make sure they are entirely cool down then put in ziplock bags. Make sure you let out all the air in the ziplock bag if your soup is not full in it.
If you want to defrost the soup, Use hot boiling water in a shallow pan and dip the ziplock bag in it. 

*You can also add in the pasta if you want it.

AN pang Yong Tau Fu

My parents love yong tau fu. Personally I do not really fancy it though. But One day my boss brought me to this place to try out their popular Anpang style yong tau fu. From there on, I simply love it so much that I requested my boss to bring me there again.

You can choose from white rice or even Lor mee to go with the yong tau fu.

Fried wantons.

This is the address.

It is not expensive and I can tell you during lunch time, there will be long queue.  You must not miss the fried wantons and the Lor mee. Try it today!

Salted Vegetables / Giam Cai

Not sure how many of you are fans of "giam cai" aka salted vegetables. I love to eat giam cai especially with bak ku teh. My father and mother love "giam cai" so much that they can literally eat everyday! I always make a big pot of "giam cai" when they were staying with me months ago. 

Ingredient:

1 stalk salted vegetable
1 head garlics - peeled
3 tablespoon sugar
1 red chilli - de-seed and cut into strips 

Methods

1) chopped the salted vegetable and soak in water for 10 mins. Drain the water.
2) Heat up the oil with oil and fry the garlics
3) Add in the salted vegetables and stir fry awhile.
4) Add the sugar and chilli. 
5) Add some hot water and simmer it for 20 mins.


PS:

If you want to keep for next day, pour in some olive oil and keep in containers. It can last for few days. My mum will use the leftover to steam fishes. It taste good too. 

Waffles

I still remember back in the 90s, I used to go ga-ga over A&W ice cream waffle. Oh my! Top it off with curly fries and the famous Root Beer float! Well, it's a shame that you can't find it anymore in Singapore. My girl is too a fan for waffles since young.

Look at how she enjoyed the chocolate ice cream waffle! 

The famous Root Beer Float.

The crispy curly fries..Oh My I cannot forget this!

And the ice cream waffle too!

We were so thrilled to find A&W outlets in Bangkok! Can't wait to go there and eat these again! Too bad here do not have. So one weekend morning, I made a simple waffle for my girl.

Makes 4 waffles

Ingredients:

2 Cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoon of baking soda

2 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon of salt 

2 cups of fresh milk

2 eggs

2 tables olive oil

Method:

1) Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl and stir well. Try not to have any lumps in the mixture

2) On the waffle maker to preheat it and brush the waffle maker with some olive oil to prevent the mixture from sticking to it. Pour the mixture into it and cook till done.

3) Top it off with butter and maple syrup and serve hot!

PS:

You can do other variation by topping it with strawberries or blueberries or even ice cream!  

  

Chocolate Chip Cupcakes

We simply just love cupcakes and muffins. On a Saturday afternoon, i decided to bake chocolate chips cupcakes. This is a simple recipe for chocolate lovers. 

Ingredients:

260 grams self raising flour

40 grams of cocoa powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

170 gram of soft butter

200 gram of sugar

2 eggs

200 ml of fresh milk

1 teaspoon of vanilla essence

chocolate chips

Method:

1) Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Add in the eggs and mix well.

2) Pour in the fresh milk and vanilla essence and stir.

3) Beat in the flour, cocoa powder and salt. Make sure the mixture are well combined.

4) Scoop the mixture into the muffin cups about 3/4 full. Add the chocolate chips on top.

5) Bake at 170 degree for 25 minutes.

PS:

Different ovens may not have the same temperature based on my experience. I will suggest you keep a watchful eye on the muffins as sometimes 25 minutes is too long for the baking process.

Rice Wine Frog Legs

Me and my girl are a fan for frog legs... Normally when we eat out, we only can find Gong Bao Tian ji which is so spicy for us as we are not spicy lovers. One day I went to the market and the fishmonger was promoting the frogs 4 for $10. I thought why not? So I went back and cooked this.

Ingredients:

4 Frogs - chopped
Light Soy Sauce
Sesame Oil
Sugar
Rice wine
Sliced Ginger
Peeled Garlics
Spring Onions


Method:

1) Marinate the frogs with sesame oil, sugar and light soy sauce for at least 15 minutes.
2) Heat up a wok and stir fry the garlic and ginger. 
3) Pour in the frogs with the marinated sauce. Lower the flame and stir fry for 1 minute.
4) Add in the rice wine and simmer till the sauce thickens.
5) Garnish with spring onions. Serve hot.


PS:

Add in more sugar if you are cooking for kids who may not stand the wine smell.

Simple noodles Soup

When my girl is growing up, I always have to crack my brain to open up more ideas on the recipes to let her accept the food that she doesn't like to eat. She hates Da Bai Cai aka chinese cabbage. I don't understand why, it is so sweet and tasty! Anyway kids are like that. We used to be like them though. LOL. So one day, I managed to make her accept that vegetables by cooking this...

Now you see the reason why she accepted? haha...Because other ingredient's taste have covered the chinese cabbage's original "rawful" taste. 

Ingredients:

1/2 chinese cabbage - chopped roughly
5 bacon strips - cut into small size
1 carrot - sliced thinly
1/2 pack of minced pork
1 litre of water
1/2 cup of milk
a small bunch of flat rice noodles aka small kway tiao

Method:

1) Stir fry the small bacon strips till cooked. Dish up set aside. 
2) Using the bacon oil, add in the carrots and cabbage and stir fry till cooked.
3) Add in the minced pork and stir well. Pour in the cooked bacon strips. 
4) Pour in the water and bring to boil. Season with salt. 
5) Put the noodles in and cook. Once it is ready add in the milk and stir well. Serve hot.

PS:

This is a simple meal and easy to make. My girl finish the whole pot of noodles and the soup.She even eaten up the vegetables! :) 

Balsamic Sauce Salad

Recently I started to munch more on vegetables as an afternoon snack on weekends. I find this quite appetizing and it became a must snack every weekend. Simple yet satisfactory.

Ingredients:

1 cold Japanese cucumbers 
cold cherry tomatoes
Honey baked ham

Sauce:
1 tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar
1 tablespoon of sugar
2 tablespoon of olive oil

Method:
1) Cut the cucumber into bite size.
2) Add in the tomatoes and ham
3) Warm the balsamic vinegar and stir in the sugar till dissolved. Add in the olive oil and mix again.
4) Pour the sauce on the salad and enjoy!

Baked hassleback Potatoes

On Labour Day morning, I decided to make American Breakfast for my girl. Hassleback baked potatoes with fried bacon. She love it so much and finish my portion too. Best to go with a glass of cold orange juice. Yummy!

Ingredients:

Bacon strips
Medium size potatoes - unpeeled
Sour Cream
Butter

Method:

1) Cut thinly on the potatoes as shown in the picture above. Careful not to cut all the way and leave around 1cm at the base to hold the potatoes in place.
2) Season with salt and black pepper.
3) Oil the baking tray and pre-heat the oven to 160 degrees.
4) Place the potatoes and baked for 15 minutes
5) Take out from the oven and brush them with melted butter.
6) Bake again for another 10 minutes. Meanwhile fry the bacons and dish them aside on the plate.
7) Once the potatoes are baked, take out and brush with butter again.   
8) Top with sour cream and chopped spring onions. Serve hot.

PS:

Alternatively, you can baked with shredded cheddar cheese at the last 10 minutes for a more cheesy taste.